Blackfish Reels

[TomKaye]

Originally Posted by Gabehow

I'm looking to find out what reels people use to fish for tog. I currently own an Avet SX 5.3 MC with 40# PP Spectra on a Shimano TVC-66M Trevala Jigging Rod that I use for inshore fishing. I actually enjoy fishing the Avet, but I don't know if I have enough power in the reel to pull a 8+ lb fish up before he gets into his hole. The Avet SX 5.3 strike drag of 9# and full 14# may be just a little undermatched for a pig. The reason I ask is because I don't want to lose a fish of a lifetime because I'm not setup appropriately.

I know many anglers will say that they fish 50# or 65# braid, but I also use this reel for inshore fluke, sea bass, and jigging for stripers. I may be in the market for a new tog setup, so let me know what your thoughts are.

I bought my adult son this very reel, Avet Sx MC, two Christmases ago along with a Fish Poison rod. He loves the set-up for inshore just as you use it.
I wish I could have bought two. I have a bit heavier Fish Poison, with a Saltist 30 star-drag.
I prefer the Avet.

I've "borrowed" it a few times as he left it in my garage.
I plan to borrow it again this season for tog.
Must admit I've never gotten a double digit tog on the Avet, but have seen others do so.
Tight Lines,
Tom K.

[Joey Dah Fish]

I love my Avet SX I canst see changing to something heavier. I also have an MX I got last year because I felt the same way you do. I found the my arm was fatigued mid trip do to the weight of the larger reel. But I did like it fishing very deep 90 plus feet less reeling

[shrimpman steve]

Originally Posted by Joey Dah Fish

But I did like it fishing very deep 90 plus feet less reeling

Lazy bastid

[Blackfish Doug]

Saltiga 20 good luck finding one & the 30 best reel that I can reccomend. That's all I use for them I also like the trinadad 12 the gold ones. Not the newer silver 12a ones. Also the p series Newell 220 & the 229 are good bets as well.

[njboarder]

If you've got $450-500 to spend on blackfish reel, saltiga 20 or even 15.
If on a budget, avet sxj works fine too.

[socks]

1/0 Penn Senator

[bulletbob]

believe me, I am NOT trying to be a jackass, but I could never understand the need for a $700 rod and reel combo for bottom fish.. A Penn 65 and a boat rod will catch any blackfish that ever lived, and its 3 to 1 ratio will actually have more pulling power to wrestle a big tog out of the rocks than modern high speed reels..

I use a couple of old Ocean City reels that I got at garage sales for I dunno, 2-3 bucks, and I catch blackfish with them just fine..

Ever see a captain or mate on a headboat grab a decrepit old painted rental rod with an ancient Penn reel , fish between a couple of regulars with high tech , high dollar rod/reel combos and make them look like chumps, or a couple of folks with rental rods standing toe to toe with the regulars using high end gear?. I have.. More than once..

Its only my opinion, but the rod is a lot more important than the reel.. A good graphite rod with some backbone and length for leverage, and a good "boat reel" with a well functioning star drag and 30-40 and braid will be just fine.. I suppose an Avet is a wonderful reel, and thats what makes some fisherman happy, having really special gear.. Thats great, I understand that, and appreciate the fact that it is simply something many fishermen enjoy..

However, it won't catch a single blackfish more than a rental rod, IF you know how to catch blackfish... bob