So, fellow fishermen, what is your wishlist for what you hope Santa will leave under your tree this year?
While the fishing season isn't over, I have already started restocking. (I purchased a couple of big spools of Berkley Pro Spec line for spring rockfish and drum season.) I purchased a Vega Fish Tamer conventional rod (with maroon and orange wraps) to match with a TLD15 for a lighter boat rod intended to live bait for cobia. Now I am debating on looking at a Vega Interceptor, Shimano Teramar, or St Croix Tidemaster 15-30 pound spinning rod for a lighter, faster action bucktail rod. I would love to get a Shimano Terez Waxwing rod, but I can't find them anywhere and it looks like Shimano ceased production.
On the wish list as well...
1) Shimano Stradic 2500
2) Penn SSV 5500 or a Saragosa 6000
3) An Avid Inshore 7 foot extra fast action medium spinning rod.
Comments
My wish list:
1. Time away from responsibilities to pursue hunting and fishing.
The end.
All jokes aside, I'd love to see some new fly lines, leaders, tippet, and flies in my stocking this year.
I got my wife some waders and boots for under the tree, but it's more for me.
(Yes, she asked for some gear.)
Hopefully, that will lead to some time away AND some fishing.
On my list
1. Higher Quality inshore combo - Penn Conflict 2500 w/Star Rod Stellar Lite or Fenwick HMG (open to advice on rod in $100 price range)
2. Ugly Stik Tiger Elite Casting Rod for Blue and flathead catfish/Cobia
3. Surf Rod for slinging metal at Bluefish/Spanish (open to advice again, same price range as #1) - looking at Penn Prevail 9' version rated for 3/4-3 oz
I have an HMG GS70M-MF paired with a 2500 series (Shimano) reel...excellent inshore saltwater combo.
Make sure whatever reel you buy can be oiled without opening the whole thing up.
Thanks for the tip. I'm definitely looking at a medium power rod on either of those options. It's so versatile for going after a bunch of difference species.
Regarding 2, I would go with a Teramar. I know guys who swear by the Tiger Lites for throwing eels, but to make longer more accurate casts with a bucktail, the Teramar is the perfect cost friendly rod. Pair it up with a Penn SSV 5500 or 6500. The 7 foot 15-30 fast action spinner is a bit light but did the job for me on the charter I went on last year (paired with 6500 Saragosas or Spheros) and the 8 foot 15-40 pound fast action is industry standard in the Bay.
Thanks for the advice, I'm probably going to be chumming if I'm cobia fishing. Does that change your suggestion? I'm also planning on pairing it with my penn squall 15. I'm assuming you are talking about the southeast teramar model. That makes sense to pair with the spin fisher.
I was thinking more along the bucktail front, but the Teramar does come in a conventional model. I have always struggled with the balance of backbone and comfort for a live baiting rod for cobia. I have gone heavy, went back to light, and haven't found the balance. I unloaded my heavy stuff (Tyrnos 30 paired with a Penn Power Stick 30-50 pound rod) and decided to go lighter this year.
The only thing I'm concerned about was how much weight it could toss. With trying to multi-purpose it with catfishing, I want to be comfortable to cast a few ounces plus bait. I'm sure it would work well live baiting out of a boat cause you don't have throw the bait far from the boat. The Ugly Stik I was looking at was in that 20-50 class and could handle 1-5 ounces.
Gotcha... sorry!
You're fine. Good to know what to get if I'm looking to get a bucktail specific combo. Just getting the feel for cobia fishing and it makes more sense for me without a boat that has a tower to try and chum versus sight fish. Teramar doesn't have the 15-40 class in the casting rods that would be what I'm looking for. They just have it in the spinning version.
I already have more fishing gear to last me a lifetime... but I wouldn't mind a rod building kit to finish building my fiberglass rod, a 3Tand reel to match, and a new Regal Revolution high end tying vise.
If Santa is really feeling generous, I need a 20 foot Bay Boat with Yamaha four stroke 150, AND a Hells Bay flats skiff, but I'd settle for a tricked out Gheenoe or Towee.
I have all the crap I need! I have too much crap. I am stuck on a 9.5# bass and a 46" musky. So Santa please deliver that 10# + bass and the 50" clubber musky! Really I have been good because I am too old to be bad.
Stradic is a very fine reel and if I carried one or two rods, that's probably what I'd have.
That said, looks like Shimano has rebranded the Symetre as the Nasci. Not as glamorous as the Stradic but a workhorse of a reel. I have 5 of them going strong with many years of fishing exclusively in saltwater.
Can anyone speak to the differences between a Spheros and a Saragossa?
Last year I got a St. Croix 6.6' light trout rod and Quantum reel to match along with new supplies.
I'm trying to figure out what to put on my list for this year.
I was in Florida this weekend and found an OG Ronco Pocket Fisherman at the Sebring Walmart.
Done.