Big T

Welcome aboard! I have an assortment of brands, most of my reels see double duty, fresh and inshore saltwater. I have two Shimano's, a Pflueger that my wife uses, 1 Quantum Kinetic 40, a Penn 450 ssq that I pciked up, it is one of the last ones made in the USA. The newer ones are being made in China. And one Ambassaduer 4600 C3. Even though I like my Shimano's I not so loyal that I will not try another brand.

While I do not have picutres, I once cuaght a ramora (sucker fish) while King Makeral Fishing. I tend to think a shark was near my bait and the ramora happend to get snagged.

Good - Shimano Sahara $59.99 Better- Shimano Symtre $79.99 Even Better Shimano Stradic $119-$159.99 BPS has some excellent combos as well, I believe you can get a Shahara/Bionic Blade combo on sale for $89.99. Also even though I personally like Shimano reels better, you can get a Plfueger President/ BPs Extreme combo for around $99, this is an excellent setup as well. I use a 400o sereis reel because I need more line capicity due to the fact as I use the same reels for inshore saltwater, however for bass fishing a 2500 series will be sufficent and much lighter.

I believe they use the modified stuff. Money talks and given the right amount any athlete or pro fisherman will swear by a product. For example, I have been watching George Poveromo's World of Saltwater fishing for years, and he always fished with and endoresed Yozuri Hybrid line, now for this season all of a sudden he swears by Suffix and has them as a sponsor. I konw people change their mind a try new stuff, but it just seem funny when you see someone like that do it. It seems too commericial. I also would be willing to bet that Shaw Grigsby has never fished with one of those cheap Quantum Combos that Dick's Sporting Goods sells with is name on it either. However these are just my opinions. Big T

North Carolina adult basic statewide freshwater is $15. Starting Jan.1, Saltwater license is another $15 or you can purchase a salt/fresh water license for $35. Good for a period of one year from time of purchase. Freshwater trout stamps are extra. You can bring as many rods as you can fit in the boat. a . For 2007 NC is also doing away with allowing people fishing in their county of residence with natural bait for free.

Papa Tom, I use the larger reels as well, I have two Shimano's in the 4000 series. One is a Sahara and the other is a Symtre. I had a 2500 Sahara and did not like it, it seemed too small. I guess I am partial to the larger reels because most of my reels see double duty between Bass fishing and inshore saltwater, where line capacity is a must. Big T

Yes the local Wal-Mart carries Silver Thread An40, as as matter of fact they are one of the few places here in town that actually carries it. I bought some for my inshore reels this past summer. The local tackle shops do not even have it. It is not very popular around here, unlike other brands like Big Game and Ande or Power Pro Braid. ;D

Wal-mart had the smaller 300 yard spools, but I think you were wanting bulk so that might not help.

I was just wondering, because when someone says Kingfish down south around the Carolina's, they are talking about King Mackeral and I have heard of fish called a Kingfish. I figured you wer up north when you wer talking about catching Tautogs, I do not think we have those this far south.

Where are you located. When you say Kingfish, are you talking about King Makeral or something else. If you want a really good reel at fair price. I would look at a Shimano Sahara, also the Spheros 3000 or 4000 would be good. The Spheros is supposed to be made for saltwater. I have Symtre which is better than the Sahara's that I have use with no problems for five years in the slat. Big T

How do you like your Penn 440 SSg, I just bought a 450. I pared it with a 7ft. Key Largo. I am going to use mine for general inshore, mainly redfish and Sheepshead. My wife has aPlfeuger that she uses on a Cape Fear rod that I won. She love her Pflueger. her first one started looking crappy after one season in the salt, it still worked fine but I had to replace it because she fell on a jetty wall and chipped the spool. As the reel was discontinued by Pflueger. However the new reel I bought had spare Aluminum Spool that fit it, so now I have an extra back up reel.

My wife managed to break off what looked like a 10 to 15# Red Drum at the boat. I bought a net the next day. My buddy and I had a King Mackeral come loose just as I went to gaff him. It would have went 30 plus #'s. I once reeled in the head of a Mahi Mahi (dolphin) that weighed 10 #'s. A Baracuda took the rest of him from me. > Big T

I am not sure. We do not have many Stripers down here. The only ones we get are the ones that come up the Cape Fear river in the late winter and early spring to spawn. There is a effort by the Army to remove the lock and dams up river towards Fayateville that would restore alot of the Stripers natural spawning grounds. I have never caught a Striper so I can't say for sure. I imagine if it could handle a Redfish it should handle small Stripers. Did you get a Spinning or baicast. I have a 6'6" med. fast spin rod with a Shimano Sahara 4000. I originally had the Sahra 2500 but the reel was small for my applications, so I treded it for the 4000. Big T

Definately get the Mercury! I had a Nissan which are made by Tohatsu and had nothing but problems with it. It ran fine the fisrt year and a half I had it then I started having Carb problems. Granted some of them were my fault. But even after having the Carbs worked on I could not tell you how many times that motor left me stranded in the Intercoastal Waterway last year. It even broke down one day right in the middle of Carolina Beach inlet. I finally got rid of the thing this spring after what suspect was powerheads going bad.The motor was five years old,however it stayed in the shop more over the final two years I had than it did in the water. I upgraded to a four stroke Yamaha. If you could siwng the money I might would get a Yamaha over a Mercury. It's not that I do not like Mercury's, because I looked at buying a Mercury as well. I just like Yamaha's better. It didn't hurt that I found a brand new Yamaha 25 w/electric tilt and trim for $2995. It had no hours.on it. A local dealer sold a boat package and the customer did not want the motor. Dealer sold it to me for cost.

As RW said check the Flea Market on this site. There are some really nice Pflueger reels on there right now. I believe they are Presidents at a really good price.

I have one of these rods and while it is not of the same qulity as the American made Premeirs, it is a good rod for the money. I have used mine for everything from Bass to Inshore Saltwater. It has the same blank as the $90 Premeir, only it is made in China. I am sure you will like it. Big T

How large do you want and what are you going to use it for. I use 4000 series Shimano's, I also have a Quantum Kinetic 40 series and Plfuegers in the 40 series. If you buy a Shimano and want to spend the money I would get either a Symtre or Stradic. I own the Symtre and it has been bullet proof in the saltwater environment where I use it. I have heard that the Stradics are even better than the Symtres. If you want a true saltwater reel try a Penn in the 450 to 550 range or get a Quantum saltwater Catilyst or Cabo. I hear those are great reels as well. As for bass you might want to try a Pflueger President in the 40 series. I hear good things about these reels as well. Oh yeah the 4000 series Shimano's hold 200 yards of 10# and 160 yards of 12# line. MY Quantum 40 size holds 210 yards of 10 # and 200 yards of 12# line.

I am sure you will like the Sedona, Shimano makes very good reels. Like I said I have a Symtre and a Sahara. I aslo have Pfluegers, Penn and Quantum reels. It is all a matter of preference, kinda of like Chevy vs. Ford. Enjoy your new reel and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Big T

Oh yea! ;D Anyways, I have had my Shimano Symtre for five years, and my Pfluegers since I joined this forum. Howver if I had my way all my saltwate equipment would be replaced by Penns. I like Pfluegers for freshwater, but they do not hold up in the inshore environment. :'( .

Personally I would get a Shimano Sahara, but if I were going to choose between the Sedona and the President, the I would get the Presiident. I like Shimano reels but I also have Pfluegers as well. I am also not so closed minded or loyal to Shimano that I will not buy something else. My newest saltwater reel is not even Shimano, it was a Penn. I will say this, if you have Symetre, then the Sahara or even a Sedona will not seem the same. I have a Symtre and I like it twice as much as my Sahara. Hope this helps. Big T

For Bass fishing I would say that the rod is more important, however in the saltwater envrironment I believe that a quality reel with a good solid drag is more important. A huge Redfish or small King Mackeral can destroy a cheap reel with an inferior drag system. But that is a totally different world from Bass fishing.

I am with the majority, go with the Shimano Symtre. I have a 4000 series that has been used in saltwater for five years, never had a problem. Still works as good today as when I bought it. It would probably work better if I had it serviced. I have Sahara as well, great reel for $59 but for $20 more you can buy a Symtre which in my opinion is the better reel.

RICK CLUNN!!!

Rolo is correct about the Jewfish, aka Giliath Grouper being protected. Actually I think they are protected by the Federal Government as well. Huge fine for keeping one. I believe it is up to $10,000 and a nice prison sentence. Anyway they are cool, I once caught small gag grouper and I thought I would never get him off the bottom. I could only imagine what that monster would do. ;D

Panama has Peacocks as well. My uncle lives in Panama City and is buildning a house on Lake Tacun, I believe that is what it is called. He fishes for Peacocks and catches huge Oscars incidently. Tony