Rod strength for yellowtail/wsb - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ccacher1 · 07-30-2013, 10:17 AM

Hey guys,

I just picked up a Seagate 35 and put 50lb braid on it with a 20lb mono top shot. I have an 8' Teramar medium heavy, 15-30lb line, and 3/4-2oz lure weight...just wondering if I can get away with using this for dropping live bait for yellowtail and wsb or do I need something stronger? If so whats a good rod setup?

07-30-2013, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccacher1

Hey guys,

I just picked up a Seagate 35 and put 50lb braid on it with a 20lb mono top shot. I have an 8' Teramar medium heavy, 15-30lb line, and 3/4-2oz lure weight...just wondering if I can get away with using this for dropping live bait for yellowtail and wsb or do I need something stronger? If so whats a good rod setup?

Sounds like it would be just fine, however I would ditch the topshop and use 30lb floro leaders instead. It's all personal preference but it's always worked for me

steveooo · 07-30-2013, 10:28 AM

I have that same teramar, and I've caught YT on it. It's definitely not the ideal rod, but the teramars are pretty fast action, and have enough backbone that you can get away with it.

I like something in the 25-40lb, or 30-50lb range for our local fish. If you are going to fish spectra with a short top shot, look for a parabolic rod that will make up for the lack of stretch in the spectra.

ccacher1 · 07-30-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveooo

I have that same teramar, and I've caught YT on it. It's definitely not the ideal rod, but the teramars are pretty fast action, and have enough backbone that you can get away with it.

I like something in the 25-40lb, or 30-50lb range for our local fish. If you are going to fish spectra with a short top shot, look for a parabolic rod that will make up for the lack of stretch in the spectra.

Hmm...is there a specific rod brand/model in the $100 range that you would recommend?

ccacher1 · 07-30-2013, 11:03 AM

Follow up question. Could I just use 30lb mono the whole way instead of spectra?

steveooo · 07-30-2013, 11:05 AM

I'd look for a used Seeker Classic or Calstar live bait rod. You should be able to find a gently used one in the $100 range pretty easily. If you want to go new, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Ugly Stick Tiger rods. The gear heads may scoff at them- but they are nice, inexpensive, durable rods that can put up with the abuse.

Contact fishaholic on this site to see what he has. I bet he could set you up with something that would be ideal for a pretty good price.

jorluivil · 07-30-2013, 11:34 AM

yes you can, its all in the fight.

I've also fought and brought up to color a few BSB on these rods.

These are the two rods(teramar) that I use the most for hali's, yt or wsb fishing. It takes a little longer to get the fish up to gaff/color but its lots of fun

silentsmell · 07-30-2013, 11:40 AM

Hit up fishaholic, he's got what you need for sure. If you don't mind a used rod, you can save a lot.

boxturtle · 07-30-2013, 02:15 PM

reel is good for 30lb mono...with 50lb spectra i would do a top shot of 30lb...rod is a lil light for that reel....for me in generally i would go with the in between spot of a rated rod for example a 20-40 rod would be 30lb your teramar is probally 20-25lb rod . You still could catch a 40lb tuna with it of course...now the confusing part some rods are now rated for spectra and not mono....

StinkyMatt · 07-30-2013, 03:55 PM

Go fish with thegear you have.

If you hook and not land several big fish than go get a different rod. Many of us dream of monster 50 yt and we oversize our gear.

Tight lines.

I would maybe up my line to 30. Just don't do 20 pound line in the kelp, it will probably be too weak.

FishNinjaY · 07-30-2013, 04:26 PM

good reads.. subscribe.

scotty1369 · 07-30-2013, 04:40 PM

Im using a seeker american I picked up at big 5. Its 7ft rated at 15 20 and 25 lbs line. I love the rod cause it is super flexible. I just picked up a 20lbs and 28lbs yellowtail on it too using a dropper loop. I have 65lbs spectra with 25lbs mono topshot.

tacmik · 07-30-2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccacher1

Hmm...is there a specific rod brand/model in the $100 range that you would recommend?

Ugly Stick. Never let me down.

07-30-2013, 05:19 PM

My whole arsenal is compiled of seeker stealths. They have never let me down. They are lightweight, they look nice, and very very affordable

scotty1369 · 07-30-2013, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drake

My whole arsenal is compiled of seeker stealths. They have never let me down. They are lightweight, they look nice, and very very affordable

Ive seen a bunch of those at the BIG5 in el cajon. they are running 129.99. Im sure if you get a coupon you can get them for a better price. Ive been tempted to pick one up, but I have no need for it.

SJC91 · 07-30-2013, 08:26 PM

Hi guys I don't mean to threadjack but I didn't want to start a whole new thread...about how much line at a minimum should you have on your reel when fishing the kelp for yellows and such?

StinkyMatt · 07-30-2013, 11:57 PM

If you are in 124 feet of water, at least 124 feet of line.

Whatever your reel holds.

The advantage of being in a yak is that you will likely do much of your fighting up and down. Rarely will you fish in more than 200 feet.

Almost every single reel has excess capacity for so cal fishing.

07-30-2013, 10:17 AM	#1
ccacher1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 157	Rod strength for yellowtail/wsb Hey guys, I just picked up a Seagate 35 and put 50lb braid on it with a 20lb mono top shot. I have an 8' Teramar medium heavy, 15-30lb line, and 3/4-2oz lure weight...just wondering if I can get away with using this for dropping live bait for yellowtail and wsb or do I need something stronger? If so whats a good rod setup? __________________ fish forever, work whenever

07-30-2013, 11:03 AM	#5
ccacher1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 157	Follow up question. Could I just use 30lb mono the whole way instead of spectra? __________________ fish forever, work whenever

07-30-2013, 11:34 AM	#7
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,855	yes you can, its all in the fight. I've also fought and brought up to color a few BSB on these rods. These are the two rods(teramar) that I use the most for hali's, yt or wsb fishing. It takes a little longer to get the fish up to gaff/color but its lots of fun __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

07-30-2013, 04:40 PM	#12
scotty1369 Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: san diego Posts: 82	. Im using a seeker american I picked up at big 5. Its 7ft rated at 15 20 and 25 lbs line. I love the rod cause it is super flexible. I just picked up a 20lbs and 28lbs yellowtail on it too using a dropper loop. I have 65lbs spectra with 25lbs mono topshot.

07-30-2013, 10:28 AM	#3
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	I have that same teramar, and I've caught YT on it. It's definitely not the ideal rod, but the teramars are pretty fast action, and have enough backbone that you can get away with it. I like something in the 25-40lb, or 30-50lb range for our local fish. If you are going to fish spectra with a short top shot, look for a parabolic rod that will make up for the lack of stretch in the spectra.

07-30-2013, 11:05 AM	#6
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	I'd look for a used Seeker Classic or Calstar live bait rod. You should be able to find a gently used one in the $100 range pretty easily. If you want to go new, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Ugly Stick Tiger rods. The gear heads may scoff at them- but they are nice, inexpensive, durable rods that can put up with the abuse. Contact fishaholic on this site to see what he has. I bet he could set you up with something that would be ideal for a pretty good price.

07-30-2013, 11:40 AM	#8
silentsmell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 117	Hit up fishaholic, he's got what you need for sure. If you don't mind a used rod, you can save a lot.

07-30-2013, 02:15 PM	#9
boxturtle Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 291	reel is good for 30lb mono...with 50lb spectra i would do a top shot of 30lb...rod is a lil light for that reel....for me in generally i would go with the in between spot of a rated rod for example a 20-40 rod would be 30lb your teramar is probally 20-25lb rod . You still could catch a 40lb tuna with it of course...now the confusing part some rods are now rated for spectra and not mono....

07-30-2013, 03:55 PM	#10
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,168	Go fish with thegear you have. If you hook and not land several big fish than go get a different rod. Many of us dream of monster 50 yt and we oversize our gear. Tight lines. I would maybe up my line to 30. Just don't do 20 pound line in the kelp, it will probably be too weak.

07-30-2013, 04:26 PM	#11
FishNinjaY Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 428	good reads.. subscribe.

07-30-2013, 05:19 PM	#14
Drake Guest Posts: n/a	My whole arsenal is compiled of seeker stealths. They have never let me down. They are lightweight, they look nice, and very very affordable

07-30-2013, 08:26 PM	#16
SJC91 Junior Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 2	Hi guys I don't mean to threadjack but I didn't want to start a whole new thread...about how much line at a minimum should you have on your reel when fishing the kelp for yellows and such?

07-30-2013, 11:57 PM	#17
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,168	If you are in 124 feet of water, at least 124 feet of line. Whatever your reel holds. The advantage of being in a yak is that you will likely do much of your fighting up and down. Rarely will you fish in more than 200 feet. Almost every single reel has excess capacity for so cal fishing.