Corpusfishing.com

[landlocked beachbum]

I'm not far from starting on my new stand up boat rod for those nice offshore trips. Here's the blank that I've settled on. It's a powerhouse while still having a very forgiving tip so that it can still be used for jigging and live bait work. The blank is made by Pacific Bay and is 6'6", has a #9 tip and .881" butt with fast action.


Even though it's not yet in my hands and built, I can't WAIT to fish with it!!!!



Unique new construction
These blanks consist of a pure graphite
shaft, which transitions into an e-glass
tip section for unrivaled lightness and
power. Available in black only.
Oversize shipping charges apply. See "terms & conditions"
Pacific Bay PBX Series Composite Graphite Blanks

X2G66H 30-60 1-6 6’6” 1 FAST MEDIUM/HEAVY 9.0 0.881” 10.2 oz.
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Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[Silver_King]

Turbo guides and aluminum reel seat? Sounds nice.
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-Mando

[landlocked beachbum]

Still pondering guides but aluminum seat for sure! It may go against the grain (what else is new) but I'm leaning far and away towards making this a spinning rig and using one of the Fin Nor models. They are built like tanks, have great drags and hold lots of line: http://www.finnorfishing.com/OffshoreOFS.html I checked out the Penns too, but they are way lighter and that means less metal!!!! Plus, having a heavy reel isn't all bad when you have 4 - 12 oz on the business end, as far as having a comfortably balanced rig.

I was reading many reviews last night on Cabelas and Bass Pro. Very few were less than 5 star................. one or two didn't have much nice to say, but if I was standing on the street corner giving away free Andrew Jacksons, someone would find fault with it!!!!!!! My reason is that I'm right handed and I'm having bicep tendon issues with my left shoulder. That means that I shouldn't be horsing a rod with a big fish on the other end with my left arm, and to me at least, using a rig with the guides and reel facing the line pull and reeling with my left hand is just more comfortable........................ the whole rig wants to stay that way instead of flipping over as with a standard rig. I could wrap the guides around to do a similar thing but that still puts the reel on top and me holding the rod with my left arm. Most of the conventional baitcaster/offshore reels don't come with a handle on the left side.

50 lb braid with a long shock leader should fit the bill nicely!
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Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[landlocked beachbum]

Fishing dudes and dudettes: I had never heard of this company before I started searching for the right rod blank: http://www.donartrods.com/index.html

I'm not attempting to undercut any local tackle dealers, just giving y'all a heads up if like me, you were having trouble finding what you really wanted.

They have great pricing, a huge inventory and Dean Pertot has been very helpful with blank suggestions and info.
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Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[ROBDOG]

Thanks,

I was about to place an order with mudhole but I'll check these guys out.

[omaka]

those FinNor Offshore reels are very heavy and have lots of play on the anti reverse. what sort of offshore jigging you have in mind? the OFS 65 is the lightest reel at 31oz - not an ideal reel for jigging. Ok for dunking bait.

[landlocked beachbum]

Yeah, some of the reviews talked about some back play and the weight. It's not a set in stone deal, just kicking the tires..................... that's why I posted: there are many here who have some knowledge of things that I don't or about things that I haven't run into or experienced yet.

I did read many reviews about the Fin Nors and their brute strength fish stopping power and that matters more to me than weight. Some of the "offshore" Penn spinners only go up to 20 lbs of drag force. That may be fine and dandy on an uncrowded charter boat where only one person is fighting a fish at a time and the skipper can back down to gain line, but on a crowded party boat with 19 other lines in the water and the hook out, I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!! I was thumbing the crap out of the spool on the boat reels last May just to add some drag and keep out of as many tangles as possible, and was still tangled up at least 2-3 times.

I also realize that a spinner may not be the best choice for everything or everyone, but it's a compromise that my left shoulder will have to make.

If I was made of $$$$$$$ then there would be plenty of options but my pain threshold for an offshore spinner is in the $150 - $200 range and no higher, with the bottom of the range being highly desirable!!!
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Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[omaka]

beachbum, jigging is addicting if you haven't found that out yet. I'm also a spinner guy...lefty too, but I also jig with conventionals 5% of the time with both left and right handles.

When you come around to it, you must try popping with long rods for tuna - just as addicting as jigging. It's an awesome experience seeing a 70lb - 100lb tuna explode on your topwater lure.

Whatever setup you decide on good luck and good fishing.

Jig till it hurts and then jig some more.

[landlocked beachbum]

That's the direction that I'm going. Looks like a hoot, and the big plus to me is that the technique targets larger, more desirable species that I want to catch/eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just like using live pinfish or arties instead of dead shrimp or squid......................... no hardheads and other trash wasting my time at the other end of the line!

Those Butterfly jigs aren't cheap but hey, you gotta pay to play, and considered against the time, money and/or effort that it takes to net/catch bait and the hooks, weights and other rigging that go with bait fishing, it sounds like a refreshing way to fish. Then there's also the fuel savings from not dragging around 100s of lbs of water in the baitwell(s) to keep the bait alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[omaka]

Shimano butterfly jigs not cheap and you will pay mostly for their name. There's many other good/excellent and just as effective jigs out there that will catch you loads of fish, and lot cheaper too. Just to name a few are Williamson "Benthos" and RiverSeas2 Turkey Sliders. Don't forget the Diamond jigs - it still catches lots of fish.

The early Trevalas rods are too wimpy and lack backbone and bottomed out when loaded, many hard core jig anglers called them noodle rods. I was disappointed when i bought mine and gave it away to my brother who lives in Vegas and use it jigging for big stripes at Lake Mead. The rod is awesome for that application - but too soft for tuna unless you like to ultra light fish offshore.

The new Trevalas are much improved and stronger but still, IMO, to soft for decent size tuna. Checkout Daiwa Saltiga and Uglystik Tiger Lite jigging rods as they are excellent rods for the money.

I just picked up a Tiger Lite jig rod for $69 at Bass Pro....strong thin rod.

[landlocked beachbum]

Thanks!

Anyone tried these out? They look sweet and at least the specs say that they should handle some hard fighting fish!!!!

http://www.quantumfishing.com/products/1933/BOCA-JIG.aspx
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Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[cuzn dave]

Hey, Dave,
Some people like that Cabo 60 or 80 spinner.
Shimano saragosa, too.
If you want conventional Avet makes a lefty.
My butterfly jigging setup is a Torium 20 on a Trevala and as said above it's a noodle rod.
Brought in lots of blackfin and small AJ's but I shudder to think of trying to bring in a 60-80# AJ.
I'd like to have a little heavier rig.
You can find the jigs for 4-5$ if you shop.
Got to use braid, too.

[landlocked beachbum]

Thanks! I use nothing but braid, PERIOD!!!!

This is all sounding VERY cool to me, I can't wait to get the setup and get offshore for the first try!!!
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Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[omaka]

A few jiggers on the 360Tuna site uses the Quantum Cabos and like them. The reels have a good drag system using carbontex/ceramic type drag washers which is very strong.

There were some minor issues with the 80 but otherwise feedback on the reels were generally positive.