OTI 300 or 600??

[KeepItReel]

Looking at the OTI 300 or 600 conventional for grouper fishing primarily in 80-120' with occasional deeper drops in 200-400'. Primary target would be grouper/AJ's and such. Jigs will be 112-140 gm but occasionally up to 300 gm. I already have a Trevala XXH and Barefoot 4'10" rated for 400 gm jigs. These rods both need more backbone for this fishing in my opinion. Trying to decide between the OTI 300 and 600. This is a difficult fishery to find the right rod I think because you need a very stiff rod capable of at least 25 pounds of drag (maybe more when you have to thumb it) yet something capable of working jigs that typically are 110 to 150 gm jigs. Will be paired with a Saltiga 30T with Carbonex drag.
Thanks!

[kilsong]

Looking at the OTI 300 or 600 conventional for grouper fishing primarily in 80-120' with occasional deeper drops in 200-400'. Primary target would be grouper/AJ's and such. Jigs will be 112-140 gm but occasionally up to 300 gm. I already have a Trevala XXH and Barefoot 4'10" rated for 400 gm jigs. These rods both need more backbone for this fishing in my opinion. Trying to decide between the OTI 300 and 600. This is a difficult fishery to find the right rod I think because you need a very stiff rod capable of at least 25 pounds of drag (maybe more when you have to thumb it) yet something capable of working jigs that typically are 110 to 150 gm jigs. Will be paired with a Saltiga 30T with Carbonex drag.
Thanks!

It is not easy to recommend a rod for you as you are looking for a rod with 25 lbs plus drag while you like to use about 4 oz jigs.
First of all, I am wondering why you use such a small jigs for grouper and AJ . I use mostly 6 - 8 oz (170 g - 225g) for grouper or AJ.
OTI 300g is good for max drag of 18-20 lbs. So if you use 25 plus lbs drag, OTI600g is your choice.
However, we successfully fish JM Power Spell 300g rods for grouper and AJ with about 20 lbs drag in NC.

[KeepItReel]

Thanks Kilsong. The grouper here seem to prefer the smaller jigs...possibly because they have more action. I I am typically more or less in 100' so there is no need for a big heavy jig. If the OTI 300 is comparable to the Trevala XXH in max drag capabilities then I think I need the 600. It sounds like I will pushing the limits of the 300. I don't want to spend more than what the OTI's cost, so the JM is out of my price range.
Thanks again.

[paul708]

it sounds like the OTI 600 would be a good choice.
between those you picked.

there are a few other blank choices in the lower price range.

[gman]

Both are good rods but the 600 is ALOT of rod. Depends on your style do you like bend or a stiffer rod

[kilsong]

Thanks Kilsong. The grouper here seem to prefer the smaller jigs...possibly because they have more action. I I am typically more or less in 100' so there is no need for a big heavy jig. If the OTI 300 is comparable to the Trevala XXH in max drag capabilities then I think I need the 600. It sounds like I will pushing the limits of the 300. I don't want to spend more than what the OTI's cost, so the JM is out of my price range.
Thanks again.

trevala XXH is 250g rod. I am surprised you said 400g Barefoot doesn't have enough backbone. OTI 300g has more backbone than Trevala XXH, but 400g Barefoot should have more backbone than 300g OTI rod. OTI will introduce 400g soon. That might be better option for you.
The reference of JM 300g is not to sell, but to tell some use lighter rods for grouper and AJ with lighter drag.

[KeepItReel]

The 400 gm Barefoot pretty much bottoms out pulling 20#.

[Sea Draggin]

Jigs will be 112-140 gm but occasionally up to 300 gm.

You have answered your own question. 300g jigs = 300g rod to load properly. I jigged all day today using 240 and 300g jigs, then back to 240g jigs because I was tired. I used my daiwa 300g rod without any problem at all.

The 600g rod is way, way to much for the lighter jigs you plan on using. I think it is bad that it was even suggested that this was an ok choice.

The 30t will be a perfect match up for the 300g rod.

[masonboro]

Sorry just reread post.I thought you were talking about JM not OTI.

[SeaBiscuit]

I think KeepItReel makes an excellent point here. Jigging rods may well be built to correspond to the weight of the jigs folks intent to use, but in the case of yo yo bottom jigging the typical "light" jigging rods bend way too much on a serious gag bite, often allowing the fish to rock.
I have caught plenty of large fish, including gag groupers on trevala XH and XXH, so I am not saying it does not work, however, for yo yo bottom jigging grouper specifically, I prefer a much stiffer, longer graphite rod. The Calstar graphiter 40 - 100 blank builds a great such rod of 6-7 feet. I fish mine with the 30T saltiga at 22 lbs of drag as well and turn fish much faster than when using typical parabolic jigging rods with the same reel and same drag. By the way, I noticed on another post Kilsong stating that the calstar graphiters are cheap and heavy. That is not the case with mine. The blank retails $ 120 and my finished rod weighs less than 9 oz.

I have not had the opportunity to try any high quality "heavy" jigging rods, they may well be up to the task, however they'd have to be a whole lot stiffer than trevala XXH.

SeaBiscuit