Beginner fisher needs advice on rod/gear

Started by Trigger3lite, April 08, 2015, 04:09:54 PM

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Trigger3lite

I already posted this on the general forum section but was told that posting it here would help.
I was also told to speak with Ron from Valley Sports and I will do just that after I get more wisdom from this sub-forum.

I live in Brooklyn New York and I want to get into the hobby of fishing. I'm a fast learner but I have no idea what brands of rods/reels/ or any type of gear I should get. I want to get 3 rods and I can budget up $300 on all the gear I would need to have a comfortable fishing experience. The fish I'm targeting is striped bass, blue fish, and flounder. The places I'm going to fish at is a nearby pier and a beach. Thank you for your help

analfisherman

Pferox, as mentioned before.

I got my eye on you.  ~roflmao ~roflmao

Actually I'm just logging off and saw your post again.  lo

PLUS I forgot to WELCOME you to the site!!!

SO, WELCOME TO THE SITE!  ;D
"Fishing isn't life or death... it's more important than that."

Trigger3lite


Pferox

Welcome to the site.  I've never fished around your neighborhood, but can give you some general information.  Then we can get through this together, hows that.  ;)  Because I know figuring what to do when first starting out is a challenge, and a big learning experience.

I suggest you start slow, get one rod and fish.  As you go along you will learn what you would like in a particular rod for particular situations, and as time goes on, you will end up with rooms full of them like I have.   ~b~

Starting out, invest in a combo.  They are usually matched to each other, after the first combo, you will start to get a better understanding of what you would like to have. 

Invest in a Pier / Bridge net when fishing piers, it makes life easier retrieving your catch, and saves the rod tip.  Around here you can get a decent one for about $30 including the rope you will need to operate it.

Stick with the bigger names, Daiwa, Penn, Okuma, and Shimano, as an example.  They tend to last longer making the slightly higher initial investment well worth it.

I would start off with a reel in the 5000 range, able to hold a generous supply of 15 to 20 lb mono.  Rod lengths for pier fishing usually run between 6 and 10 feet long, where 7 and 8 feet are more common.  Surf fishing rods are usually much longer.

For castability of a wide range of weights I would go with a Medium or Medium heavy rod.  Casting in the 1 to 4 ounce range for a pier, and 1 to 5 or 6 ounce range for surf.

Get a assortment of weights, a good suggestion is to see what everyone else uses on your pier, ask a local bait / tackle shop near where you are going to fish, they can be very helpful with rigging to start out with.

Ok, here is something to start thinking about, hopefully somebody a little more familiar with that neck of the woods will chime in.  Ask any question ...... we should be able to answer it, if not we will try to find somebody who can.

Once again, welcome to the site, and C'mon lets get salty!!



"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Pferox

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

LMAO I was just about to ask what you think about Ron, and BOOM! You answered without me asking.

Pferox

I post around here with a lot of information about inexpensive rods.  Many of them are inshore rods more than pier rods, although I use them on piers.  As you gain experience (like years of it) you can get away with inshore stuff on piers. Then again, I take great pride in breaking rods.  ~bb

One way to get on the water fast is to A. Order a combo from RON!  While you are waiting for it to be delivered go to (I can't believe I'm saying this) WalMart and look at a combo called TIGER SPINNING.  They run about $20.  The reels stink, but will last for a while to get you on the water, plan on replacing it with a good 4000 or 5000 sized reel by next year at the longest.  The rod, if you are careful with it, will last quite a while.  The first one I got was about 15 years old (I can't believe it is that long already).  I gave it to a friend of mine who needed a rod and it is still casting one and two ounce leads every time he goes out. (With a different reel, though)

The ones out now are actually the third generation, I have owned each of the previous generations and they are very nice beginner rods, and at $20 you won't be too hurt if a 100lb striper hooks up and breaks it all to heck.  After that happens the first time, you will quickly know what you need to do to keep that from happening again.  Well, unless you are me.  ~an~

While at Wally's get a spool of 15 to 20 lb monofilament line, Big Game, Cajun LIghtening, Stren, Sufix Siege, any of those.  Take the line off of the reel and respool with the line you bought.  I'm not sure about the Strenn or the Suffix, but one 1/4 lb spool of the other ones will be enough to do both reels, the Tiger and the one FROM RON!

I don't know how much fishing you have done, but this is a good way to learn about changing line, because as time goes along, you will become an expert.

If you want another tirade, ask me about hooks.  ~roflmao




"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

I'm actually not a complete beginner at fishing. I spent a good few months fishing with my uncle, but his equipment was very budget. He would fish on the pier with me and I lost a nice big blue fish trying to pull it out because the line couldn't handle the weight. (Surprisingly the rod tip didn't break.) I setup the gear myself but never had to change out the line. I changed my mind about the 3 rods, I want 2. One nice one for myself and maybe a combo for my brother. Budget is still $300 including any accessories I might need. I do a lot of computer building and picking out parts for computers is more complicating than getting a rod together in my opinion. I think I might pick out the stuff myself. My initial question was to get some brand names to start searching from and you already gave me them. I'm going to start from there.

Pferox

That is cool, good luck, keep us informed.  Oh, yea and don't forget to put up the fishing reports with pictures, I am very interested in fishing this area through you and your brother's eyes.

Just remember quality gear isn't always expensive gear, and if you invest in one of those pier nets, it saves a lot of those broken line incidents.  That one I know from experience.

I guarantee you as time goes on, so will your arsenal.   ;)
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

#9
I picked out the rod but am having a bit of trouble with the reel.
The rod I want is the Shimano Teramar Southeast Spinning Rods - 7'6" Medium Heavy
The reels are a bit pricey and I'm looking at the Penn Fierce for it's price. I want to stay at or below $200 with the Rod and Reel alone. Also I'm focusing towards surf fishing instead of pier fishing.

If you have any tips on the Reel I should get, that would be nice.

Pferox

That rod might be a little short for the surf unless you are planning on wading, IMO.  But it is a doable rod.  What size Fierce are you looking at?  I have one and it is a nice reel.  It will take a little more TLC than a SpinfisherV, but it will work.

I have a 2000 Fierce I use with 20lb braid for inshore use, and have caught a few bull reds on it, so it isn't a slouch.  Unlike bass fishing, or some inshore fishing, you don't need a super sensitive rod. 

One of the kings on the block is the Ugly Stick, or Daiwa Beefstick, BTW.
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

#11
Yeah I had no idea you need such a long rod for surf. Right now I'm set on getting the Ugly Stik 12' but not sure about the real. I'm looking at the Emblem Shot Pro-A Surf and I'm liking it. Not sure if i should go with the 5000 or the 6000.

Pferox

Be careful with the Ugly Sticks, they go up to heavy I think it is, and they are very stiff, try to stick with a medium or medium heavy, they flex better thus casting better / longer.  Heavies and up usually are used with external, manual bait deployment.

What line are you thinking about using for that stick?  My 9 footers will see 5000, 6000 reels, when I use braided line, then 6000 and 7000 reels fit the bill, but when tossing mono, 8 and 9000s seem to hold enough line.

You do realize that with surf gear, you have the potential, with the right line, rod/reel, weight, AND technique to cast 100 to 150 yards?  Give or take.  THEN you need at least an extra 100 yards of working line in case you hookup on a long running fish.



"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

BenFishing


Check out Kufa Sports fishing reels.
I bought one of their spinning reels  (a 40), back in 2006.  It has taken some abuse....barracuda, drum, shark, invasive Asian carp by the hundreds (up to around 70 pounds), smaller tarpon (15 to 25 pounds), big catfish, stingray.....
Never had an issue with it.  It casts smooth, and takes a beating
It cost me $40.
I don't know the current cost, or if their quality is still great.  I checked out their site, and I don't see any prices.  Still, probably worth a look....For $40, I feel like I more than got what I paid for.
Yes, that is a gator in my profile picture, but I was trying to catch a bass, so it counts!
One 3ft long, 10 pound "Largemouth" for me.

Pferox

Casting distance is one aspect of longer surf rods, they are also long so you can get the line up out of the water farther away from the shore so that weed, and waves don't mess with your line.  Shorter rods work for fishing the wade gut which is a good way to pass the time away while waiting for a fish to hook up on the big rod, but that one would be used for lure work, bait fishing, things like that.

A little story to make this post longer.  ::)  I fished for mackerel on Gasparilla Island in Florida when the smacks ran.  There I took two rods, a 9 footer with 20lb test 8000 reel and 3 or 4 ounces of weight.  Would chuck that one out a ways, and put it in a sand spike.

I would then use another rod for fishing closer in, holding that one, kind of feel fishing.  I got the bright idea of going with a 1000 reel and a 7 foot medium rod, tossing out a 1 ounce weight. I figured that it would be very light so I could hold and fish it all day long while the big heavy one was sitting on the bank soaking.  It would hold a little over 100 yards of 20lb braid (6lb mono equivalent) line.  I ended up retiring that reel because I could chuck it out, and completely empty the reel 3 out of 5 times.  Granted I could lob it out and not strip all the line off, but I couldn't find a happy medium of casting short but long enough to catch baitfish and not stripping the reel.  I went to a 4000 Penn Captiva and it ended up being a good happy medium, and gave me a wider selection of line types to use.

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

I was going with the Medium Heavy 12' Stick.
25lb mono should work just fine with the Daiwa Spool capacity, with line to spare if I do get that long running fish.

Pferox

Quote from: Trigger3lite on April 09, 2015, 10:18:43 AM
I was going with the Medium Heavy 12' Stick.
25lb mono should work just fine with the Daiwa Spool capacity, with line to spare if I do get that long running fish.

Yea, I just checked the website, and they do hold a lot of line, that does sound like a good set up.  Good luck with it, I am really interested in how it works out for you.  Medium heavy is a good choice, I have had my eye on one of those for a bit, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.  Still drooling over the Daiwa beefstick in 15 foot. 

If you are just planning on Surf fishing, then other than a good pair of pliers, and some tackle, and creature comforts,  I can only suggest getting a good rod holder.  Around here we have a lot of sand so we use taller sand spikes, (you can make one out of 4 or 6 feet of PVC pipe the right size) if you have a rocky shoreline, then you might have to look at one of those stands they make for that kind of thing, not sure which would fit the bill your way.

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

So tell me about hooks haha. Let's make this the longest thread on this subforum.
For every sentence I write, you write paragraphs lol.

Pferox

I don't know much about hooks.   ~roflmao

I've gotten to the point that I only use circles, to me they are safer for the fish, and the angler.  Only time that I don't use circles is with lures, and some plastics, depending on the presentation.

I usually make sure the point is not offset, that means the point is in line with the shank.  This insures that the hook moves without hooking up inside the fish, usually.  If I am "feel fishing" then I might use an offset hook because it increases hookups for this kind of presentation, but does increase deep hooked fish.

I also use smaller hooks, usually #1 to #5/0 depending on what is running and what bait I'm using.  #1/0 and 2/0 are generally my most used hook.

There is a lot more, but I'll keep it short. lol.
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Pferox

Here is a good one (if I say so myself) on one type of rigging.
http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=120013.0

BTW, I snell all my circle hooks, actually all my hooks, I found that they work better that way.  There are many ways to snell a hook, here are a couple.

http://www.animatedknots.com/snell/index.php
http://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/snell-knot-uni-version
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

#20
What fish should I be aiming to catch?
I only know of blues, stripers, flounder and some small species of shark which I have all caught.
Here is a list of saltwater fish located in my area. Some of these might be small fish so ignore them.

    Alewife
    American butterfish
    American eel
    American shad
    Atlantic herring
    Atlantic menhaden
    Atlantic needlefish
    Atlantic silverside
    Atlantic sturgeon
    Black drum
    Bluefish
    Gizzard shad
    Lined seahorse
    Mummichog
    Northern pipefish
    Sand lance
    Scup
    Striped bass
    Summer flounder
    Tautog
    Tomcod
    Weakfish
    White perch
    Winter flounder

Also Ron didn't have the Daiwa Emblem in-stock so he offered a cheaper $112 Penn Battle II 6000. I know Penn is a reputable company but from what I hear, you get what you pay for and it's a $60 price difference.

Pferox

Quote from: Trigger3lite on April 09, 2015, 12:29:50 PM
What fish should I be aiming to catch?
I only know of blues, stripers, flounder and some small species of shark which I have all caught.
Here is a list of saltwater fish located in my area. Some of these might be small fish so ignore them.

    Alewife
    American butterfish
    American eel
    American shad
    Atlantic herring
    Atlantic menhaden
    Atlantic needlefish
    Atlantic silverside
    Atlantic sturgeon
    Black drum
    Bluefish
    Gizzard shad
    Lined seahorse
    Mummichog
    Northern pipefish
    Sand lance
    Scup
    Striped bass
    Summer flounder
    Tautog
    Tomcod
    Weakfish
    White perch
    Winter flounder

Also Ron didn't have the Daiwa Emblem in-stock so he offered a cheaper $112 Penn Battle II 6000. I know Penn is a reputable company but from what I hear, you get what you pay for and it's a $60 price difference.

Whatever takes that hook.  Keep which ever are eaters, and of legal size, and toss the rest back after a picture or two.
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito" - African Proverb.  Jim

Trigger3lite

#22
Okay so I'm definitely going with  Penn Battle II 6000 and the Ugly Stik 12' Medium Heavy.

Any specific brand of mono I should get or are they all the same? I'm looking at the Berkley Trilene 25lb.

What swivels should I get and what wire leader should I get? I'm trying to get everything on Amazon so here are their assortments. If I'm missing anything for my tackle box, please tell me.

I'm very grateful for this btw, thank you for showing me the ropes.


Trigger3lite

#24
The reason I ask about the wire leader is because there's a lot of blue fish in my area and I know they're toothy. Would a blue fish not be able to bite through 60lb mono??
Plus I want to learn to make my own rigs instead of buying pre-made.

Edit* Oh you were just giving me an example.