Rod & Reel for Fluke, Porgies & Sea Bass

[MohawkJD]

A few weeks back, I met up with a friend and his 14 year old son at the Edison Fishing Show. The boy, Brad, was all over the place about what set up he wanted his father to buy him. After talking to Brad awhile he started to calm down and answer some of my questions. He said he wanted to use it in another friend's small boat for stripers, fluke, porgies and sea bass. He also liked the green Trevala rods but wasn't sure if he wanted spinning or conventional. I told him to forget stripers for now, the Trevala rod was a very good place for him to start for the other species, use his father's rod for stripers this year. He could work his father for a striper rod and reel next year!

I recommended a Revo Winch or similar from Shimano, but he said he didn't want a low profile reel. What round reel would be a good match for the green Trevala rods? We're also open to suggestions for spinning reels in case he decides to go that route. I'd think the Diawa Ballistic 2500 or 3000 would be a good match. Remember, it's for a 14 year old kid, so we want to take it easy on his Dad!

 

[Capt Richie]

abu garcia C3

 

[FV Lost Time]

Take a look at Tsunami 5 star they come in different lengths both conventional and spinning. Tackle direct has them on sale now $29. I have a few sets as boat rods u will not find a better rod for the money.

 

[Leprechaun]

Can’t do better than those two recommendations!

 

[Leprechaun]

Well, maybe one of those $99 Tsunami Slow Pitch MH rods would be a good choice. Nice moderate action to better cushion big fluke head shakes.

 

[Fishing Nerd]

Well, maybe one of those $99 Tsunami Slow Pitch MH rods would be a good choice. Nice moderate action to better cushion big fluke head shakes.

My 10 year old son's favorite combo - this rod paired with a Maxel Hybrid HY20 reel. Round (though narrow), very light, with a thumb bar for release.

I wouldn't advise the Revo or Accurist (or any other baitcaster) for a younger angler, unless they know what they're doing. I have the Accurist and any time my son or one of his friends gets his hands on it it's birdnest central (despite the fact that I never have a problem with the reel otherwise).

As far as spinning goes - a Daiwa BG 2000 and the same line of rod but in spinning configuration also does a great job for bucktailing for fluke and bait for porgies, sea bass.

 

[NoFlukenName]

Some really good suggestions here. I think at 14 (as opposed to 10, 11 or younger), they should be able to use a baitcaster/conventional set up. Agree with Fishing Nerd that a 10 year old may (stress may) cause bird nests but I think at 14, they should be fine. Sooner or later they have to graduate to the big leagues, right?

 

[Fishing Nerd]

Some really good suggestions here. I think at 14 (as opposed to 10, 11 or younger), they should be able to use a baitcaster/conventional set up. Agree with Fishing Nerd that a 10 year old may (stress may) cause bird nests but I think at 14, they should be fine. Sooner or later they have to graduate to the big leagues, right?

I have 3 kids ranging from 10-17, and over the course of the years I've had countless numbers of their friends - from novice to experienced anglers - onboard the boat with them.

I don't know what it is about the baitcaster - and again, ones that are well known and reliable - but for some reason, kids seem to struggle with those the most. Not sure if it has something to do with the braking mechanism, or if it's harder for them to thumb the spool as they release, but 9 times out of 10 I've had to address a reel issue on the boat with a kid fishing, it's been a baitcaster.

Not the same for conventionals, although for some reason the lever drag on the Avet SX seems to really throw my youngest for a loop sometimes.

 

[MohawkJD]

He doesn't want a baitcaster, so that's not a problem here, but great advice anyway for other kids. As for round conventional, he's used larger ones for cod type fishing in the past, so I don't think those will be a problem. He said he's not sure if he wants a round conventional or spinning. He does like the green shimano rods. I don't know how he found out about them, but I know Lep's a big fan of those, so he's on the right track there. Any sugestions for a spinning reel?

 

[NoFlukenName]

I’ve had great luck with the Daiwa BGs and the Penn Battle IIs. I know you said he’d prefer a spinner but let me throw out the Jigging World Chronos reel. Incredibly smooth and strong level wind conventional reel.

 

[Johnny205]

My go-to rod/reel combo I use for fluke & sea bass is a Tsunami Five Star TFSC=701MH rod paired with a Tsunami TSSD 2000L reel spooled with Power Pro 30lb braid. I paid like $70-$80 for the combo about 4 years ago (Braid was extra.) I may put a slightly bigger reel on it like the Tsunami TSSD-3000L but not sure yet.

I've caught all kinds of bruisers on this setup, a few times even got a double header of 2 4lb sea bass on a hi-lo rig. Held up nicely to that plus some fluke up to 25 inches. I was so impressed that I took it on a cod trip just to see how good it would hold up, but I didn't hook into any cod that day.

Also, in some of the waters I fish over here in CT I have to use 16oz sinkers and the setup holds up just fine while drifting.

Hope this is of any help?

 

[movetheboat]

My 10 year old son's favorite combo - this rod paired with a Maxel Hybrid HY20 reel. Round (though narrow), very light, with a thumb bar for release.

I wouldn't advise the Revo or Accurist (or any other baitcaster) for a younger angler, unless they know what they're doing. I have the Accurist and any time my son or one of his friends gets his hands on it it's birdnest central (despite the fact that I never have a problem with the reel otherwise).

As far as spinning goes - a Daiwa BG 2000 and the same line of rod but in spinning configuration also does a great job for bucktailing for fluke and bait for porgies, sea bass.

I have to give maxel two thumbs up on the warranty....I have a maxel 25 that I barely used, but took it out this season and it started screwing up. To my surprise it has a 5 year warranty and this one is 4 1/2 years old. They said send it in for replacement...I did and a week later a NEW one has arrived. Upon research it appears the earlier models had BUGS. I am not a fan of thumb bars or push buttons as I have found them not able to perform to the fast and furious action that saltwater can produce at times....but it is a PURTY reel.

 

[chunkster]

I found this thread to be very informative. Thank You!