Advice on a compromise shore/trolling/popper rod

[Yorkshire Boy]

At the end of the year I hope to go on a late honeymoon. My wife is thinking of somewhere like Mauritius. In fact she's happy to go anywhere which is luxurious for her and in which I can do some fishing.

I'll be taking 2 spinning rods which I bought in Japan. Both are 9 1/2ft 3pce, the lighter one casts up to 40grms. The heavier one casts up to 98grms. The lighter is perfect for our seabass, the heavier is designed for yellowtails in Japan, the adverts said it could take up to a 10kg drag. The lighter rod will be pared with a Technium 5000 reel. The heavier rod with a Twinpower 8000.

So, I'd like something for beach/rock fishing with bait. And something that can throw a 4oz popper and 6oz jigs. Something that could troll a lure.

I know that what ever I choose will be a compromise.

I've been looking at catfish rods.
The E.T. Big Game Brute rod, 10ft, 3pce 4-10oz. Sold through the Friendly Fisherman. Its landed some impressive fish.

What do you fellows think?
Can you think of any other makes for me to have a look at?

Thanks,
John.

[Yorkshire Boy]

Any comments?
I've got a Penn Seatrek 12ft 3pce beach rod, but that's no use off a boat.

I was also thinking the Big Game Brute Rod might be useful for shore conger. Not to mention somewhere like the river Ebro for catfish or trolling for Nile Perch.

[PanamaJack]

Hi John
Um .... I suspect it's going to be albut impossible to suggest an adequate compromise.

Those spin rods and surf caster could work from the shore, although bear in mind that they do catch some very large Giant Trevally in Mauritius - some approaching 100lbs. But all are much too long and not robust enough to troll from a boat with. There something around 7 to 7 1/2ft would be more appropriate.

Given that you're only going to fish for a couple of days you might want to look back at earlier posts on Mauritius. There's reference to a shore (and inshore) fishing guide on one of those. He would certainly have appropriate tackle as part of his package price, although you'd probably have to pay extra for any lures you lose.

As to the offshore boats they would be fully equipped with tackle. Although you'll find even for the 'bait', Skipjack Tuna up to 30 odd pounds, they'd use 50lb test. For the 'biggies', and a friend of mine a couple of days ago caught a 1200lb Blue Marlin from the island, they're using 80s or 130lb test.
Dave

[Yorkshire Boy]

Blimey that is heavy tackle, and scary huge fish!!!

What with money been tight, I don't think that I'll be able to afford a game boat session. So I think shore fishing might be the best option.

Thanks for reminding me to use the search option (sorry about that, I just went straight into posting a new thread). :doh:

When I was in Japan I saw a GT shore lure rod, very expensive!

There's also the Greys 3pce twin tip, Power Popper Rod, I think it's called that?

I was told by the guy in the shop that the "Big Game Brute" has caught cats to 150lb and sturgeon to 200lb. People have used them to cast 4oz poppers as well. Maybe if I'm just shore fishing this could be OK?

I could get my lass who's still in Japan to get me a good large fixed spool reel.

To be honest, I'll be happy to catch anything. I'm sure even a 10lb fish over there will fight great, especially on my lighter spin outfit.

Dawn and dusk lure fishing, with maybe a few hours on a night soaking a dead bait. The rest of the time I should really spend with my wife!

Thanks for the reply Dave, I'll go search the forum.

[martinw]

Ive trolled inshore with plugs and cast heavy lures with an uptider
not perfect but it does cover lots of uses. it would not make much impression on GT's though!

[Yorkshire Boy]

Hey thanks for the reply. Very interesting.

Apparently the Big Game Brute is a lot stiffer than a regular uptider. I'm guessing that if Canadian guides have caught white sturgeon to 200lb then it must have a bit of grunt.

I'll let you know what I choose and I'll post pictures if I catch anything.

Regards, John.

[PanamaJack]

Hi John
It was only when re-reading your original post that I realised Mauritius was just an example, a possibility.

So, towards the 'end of the year', other places you might want to consider could be Central America (Costa Rica, Mexico - both Pacific & Caribbean), Venezuela and Cuba, or Kenya. As well there's the Bahamas or even the Florida Keys. But there're loads of others and in most you'd be able to find good quality hotels. Might be worth 'trawling' through some of the previous posts?

But before leaving Mauritius this was the web site of that shore and inshore guide I was referring to - http://www.fishingandhuntingsafaris.com/. A friend who fished with him at the beginning of the year, whilst he didn't catch any GTs, had loads of quite big (and acrobatic) Houndfish on lightish spin gear. But to give you an indication of GTs and the type of tackle required (Martin's reference about their power) you may want to look at the two Mauritian reports on this link - http://www.bluewaterfishing.eu/e_start.html. They're under Trips Reports. One thing you'll see is that Stephan (one of our Club members) is using a Shimano Stella. They are superb reels for that type of fishing but um .... MEGA expensive!

In terms of lures for the Jack species (literally wherever you choose to go) surface poppers fished fast work well. I tend to use lures from the Yo-Zuri range - ones like the Surface Cruisers, Surface (Bull) GTs and Hydro Tigers. But there're a range of other manufacturers (some are on here - http://www.caranx.net - in their on line shop) and quite recently I've seen some really cheap Shakespeare ones that fit the bill.
Dave
PS There's one thing I picked up from one of the Cuban postings regarding lure fishing that you might want to try. The chap mentioned tying a Trout lure on a short length of mono behind the lure. That would often get strikes from smaller fish. And I have to say, when trying to catch bait (Blue Runners) we've used a Sabiki rig (a string of tiny fies) with a hookless popper behind them. The fish come up to investigate the surface disturbance from the popper.

[martinw]

http://www.deepjigging.com/
try this website for further research stuff fishy dreams are made of!

[Yorkshire Boy]

Thanks for the links guys, awesome stuff.

[Yorkshire Boy]

I spent all of last year in Japan and picked up some gear.
My reel for the heavier spinning rod.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/JNC76_2007/IMGP0260.jpg

A few of the 2oz lures to go with the rod and reel.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/JNC76_2007/Japan023.jpg

My suitcase for coming home. I got my lass to post the fishing stuff back to me because there was no room for clothes!
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/JNC76_2007/1d59e702.jpg

[PanamaJack]

Well a word of advice here John. Something you'll need throughout your married life. When 'she who must be obeyed' asked how much any item of fishing tackle costs the answer is always 7/6. (Sorry, that 37.5p in 'new' money.)

Um .... you might just struggle to convince her (and HM Customs officers) with that TwinPower though. Nice reel!

[Yorkshire Boy]

Ha ha, love it!

My wife knows to a certain degree how much I've spent on fishing gear. I have learned the trick of saying "oh this? I've had it ages...." That's a good one that always seems to work on her. One day she'll figure it out and I'll get a :black_eye. Lol.

[rapalajoe]

Hmm...nice revros there at the corner.....that 8000 HG gonna be fine for GT popping....but not for monster....still ok if u come across of any 10-25kg GT....for popping just go for any 8 footer popping rods....u can get a reliable good quality made in PRC or taiwan rod.....but most of popping rod are in 2 pcs....most of them not in equal section....usually offset 2 pcs....so the postage gonna be a bit steep ,u should get 1 when ur in japan last time,if not mistaken u even can get a good quality 2nd hand tackle over there.........cheerrrsss

[Yorkshire Boy]

Thanks for the reply rapalajoe. :thumbs:

The Revros was cheap, only 6000 yen or something.

I had to stop buying tackle while I was out there because it was a never ending process. Besides, I needed some money for my marriage!

I did see some GT rods, they were about 90,000 yen. Ouch....
They were just as you describe, 2 piece but joined above the handle, rather than 2 equal sections.

Any tackle that I do buy will have to be bought on the sly and stashed away from my lass. Then when she does see it I can utter the magic words, "Oh this, I've had it ages..."

I know the catfish rod will be very tiring to use for any length of time. I thought my other spinning rods would be good for that, this would be for a few chucks to see if there are any monsters about. Then at night doing a spot of bait fishing.

Thanks, YB