If you could take just one....

[LeftyReeler]

Friend of mine is in the market for an all around setup, not an avid fisherman, but likes to get out maybe 3-4 times a month during the summer. More fair weather fishing than any, light bottom species w/blues and stripers mixed in occasionally. I have given him my recommendation but would like to hear what others have to offer. Again, he is not particular to all the absurd/crazy things we all worry about so an intermediate level set up with the versatility to do all is what I would like to advise to him.

The constraints are as follows:

Budget: $250.00

Option A

Type: Party Boat Fishing

Target Species: Inshore (Fluke, Sea Bass , Blues, Stripers)

Rod: Off the shelf non custom (please specify taper and length)

Reel: Conventional (Mono or Braid capable)

Fisherman: Right Handed Retrieve (I'm a backward lefty)


To make a few changes to spice things up I would be interested to see what people would change given the above would read as follows:

Type: Private Boat/Charter

Rod: Custom ONLY

Hope to see some interesting replies....

[Mark215]

A little past your budget but this is a nice set up, I just found these prices from one site. Your might be able to do better.

Rod - maybe Seeker east cost rod BA-85 I think there around $142
reel - Newell 229 around $134

[Capt. Jerry P]

For an all around rod for sure

A.Kevin Bogan Fish Poison

and

B.Kevin Bogan Fish Poison

Great all around rod for anybody... We have caught all the species above on the rod and it was great for all of them! Many of our customers went out and picked up one of kev rods

You can go get it the way ya want or pick one off the shelf and Kev will help ya pick the right one for no extra charge! He will match it with a real for ya!

Oh and it fits right around your pals budget!

[Ol Pedro]

Real simple the Duck Or Bleed Special . A 40 to 80 lb 6'6" Uglystick and a Jigmaster 500 filled with 30 lb mono .

[Flukinator]

Honestly, the Kevin Bogan basic tog rod I got is probably the perfect rod for just about any inshore fishing all summer long in the ocean. I'd match one up with a Penn Jigmaster if you want to go on the cheaper end, or maybe a Daiwa Sealine 20SHA and would dare anything inshore other than big bluefin to mess with my gear.

If you're talking private boat and more bay fishing than ocean fishing, I'd go lighter, but all-around inshore ocean fishing I think that set-up is tough to beat for the price.

[fishpro28]

Rod:Kevin Bogan ....the poison series is not much more expensive then a rack rod.
Reel: to fit the budget you can get a Takota 600 for around $100
..............
What I would buy on a 250 dollar budget:
Reel: a used Avet SX....$150
Rod: a used Lamiglass rod rated at 20-40lb...$100

[AndyS]

Penn 155L for 40 bux, when he is done with it he can give it to his grandchildren and so on, check the flea markets for the older models.

Any rod will do.

[Rob B]

the tsunami rods hold up pretty good and are very easy on the wallet.

[MoparCharlie]

Avet SX reel and a Shimano Trevala rod 6'6" mh.

Perfect inshore combo.

a little over $250 but worth it.

[JDshots]

I've had good experiences with the Tsunami Airwave rods. The Airwave boat rod can be easily had for under $100.

For a reel, IMHO the Shimano Tekota 600 is a good all-arounder. You should be able to locate one for around $150-160. Spool it with 20-30lb mono and go fishing.