I’m looking into buying a rod for calico bass and maybe some bigger saltwater fish like yellowtail, but I can’t decide on x heavy or heavy, the only difference is the lure weight, the heavy is 4-8oz and x heavy is 8-14. You think 8-14oz is a bit overkill?

What reel do you plan to use?

Tom

Maybe a curado k or shimano casitas

1 minute ago, WRB said:

What reel do you plan to use?

Tom

Maybe a curado k or shimano casitas, but I’ll only use those reels for like 1-2 oz swimbaits for calicos, I’ll probably buy a much bigger reel for the heavier lures like 5-8oz

Calico bass tend to live in kelp and California yellowtail often hang out under help paddies. Your rod and reel needs to be able to get the fish out of kelp and requires line strong enough to pull the fish out. Both the reels you mentioned could work filled with braid that cuts through kelp, the next problem is the drags would be destroyed quickly.

The rod isn't your problem.

Tom