Offshore Game

[CubasFinest12]

Thank you all for the advice. I know not to go the 30w route, as I have had bigeyes/bigger over BFT smoke the small stuff close to the boat and dump a reel before you can even blink.

My big question was for the penn internationals. Every boat I work on, every where i look i see internationals. Now if it aint broke, dont fix it, but last trip I had gone out I fished with Avets. They were so smooth, and so much lighter that I was honestly blown away.

[Jigman13]

We run all Internationals and Tiagras from 30w to 80w offshore; all 2 sp.

We absolutely SMOKED an Penn 80w last Aug on a #750+ blue marlin. We landed the fish though after almost 2 hours (boatside release). It was a testament of quality. We had to send the reel in to be rebuilt as it was unusable after that fish. The guy at Penn just said "Jesus Christ, what did you do?!" LOL

There's a reason the upper echelon of for-hire offshore captains use Penns and Shimanos. I've also heard some positive things about the Makairas, but I have zero experience using them, and I have a really hard time wandering from things that are tried, trusted and true.

In terms of used or new--all depends on budget. If you can find used its obviously cheaper, but you're buying an unknown that may need to be majorly serviced. During a pandemic, that service could take months at either a private reel place or the manufacturer. Are you buying for this season or next season?

If you buy new, it's ready to fish outta the box--just get it spooled professionally.

We just wont use an Avet trolling offshore. If you want lighter, look into the Talicas. The 25 holds like 750 yards of 80 lb braid and has 45 lbs of drag. That's stopping power. You can turn a #200 eyeball or BFT over with that no problem--at half the weight of a Tiagra 30.

[hammer4reel]

Thinking you can’t catch most bluefin in our waters on a 30 wide is silly .
They hold three times more line than you need to fight blue fins to giant size .
Most guys with any time in have landed 70” fish on jigging equipment that holds half the line a 30 wide does .
.
Most new reels are lighter than those in years past .
The new internationals using bridge construction on their 2 speed reels have made them much stronger .

Lots of guys who aren’t fishing enough to invest in gold do great with carbon reels by Penn and Shimano.

Sure they won’t hold up over time to Big Eyes .
But they are fine for 98% of the bluefin and yellowfins in our water .

If you think your going to go out and just hammer big eyes it just doesn’t happen most of the season .

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

Thinking you can’t catch most bluefin in our waters on a 30 wide is silly .
They hold three times more line than you need to fight blue fins to giant size .
Most guys with any time in have landed 70” fish on jigging equipment that holds half the line a 30 wide does.

well said. hard to argue with this!

[Capt. Lou]

Originally Posted by CubasFinest12

Thank you all for the advice. I know not to go the 30w route, as I have had bigeyes/bigger over BFT smoke the small stuff close to the boat and dump a reel before you can even blink.

My big question was for the penn internationals. Every boat I work on, every where i look i see internationals. Now if it aint broke, dont fix it, but last trip I had gone out I fished with Avets. They were so smooth, and so much lighter that I was honestly blown away.

I have personally taken many tuna in the 70-80’ era on straight 50 ‘s ! A lot over 200# ! In fact I’ve taken hundred with straight 6/0 reels !
So if a 30 W was stripped by a big eye at boat side after a fight , only thing I can drag was too loose ! May I ask why u didn’t chase the fish ! Like Dan said those 2
W reels will get it done easily !!