Good saltwater light to med reel and rod for inshore fishing on the gulf coast between $100 and $200?

[Jer]

We have received this question from Larry:

I am looking for a good saltwater light to med. light reel and rod for inshore fishing on the gulf coast. My budget will allow me to spent from $100.00 to $200.00. Your assistance and prompt reply will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I'm going to send him the link to this thread so he can see the replies, so please help him out

[Paul H]

A shimano tld 15 spooled w/ 300 yds of 50# spectra is a good setup for the $. I'm planning on putting carbon tex drag washers on mine this spring, but I didn't have any problems with the factory washers the past two seasons.

If you want to up your budget a tad, you might want to consider the avet jx. I'm planning on getting a pair for the upcoming season.

[lemaymiami]

Here's the first rig I recommend for someone down here in south Florida. It should get the job done anywhere you fish it inshore...

What I'd want is a 7' spinning rod recommended for 8 to 17lb line (lots and lots of these available from every manufacturer and every one much better than what was around when I got started years ago). A really good choice to start would be a TFO spinning rod (Temple Fork Outfitters) that Gary Loomis is designing for them now... and all sell for $99. - not bad at all (and I've been building my own rods for many years.).

The next thing you're going to need is a reel that will hold about 200 yds of 10lb mono and you're set to go. Pick a reel from the big three, Penn, Shimano, or Daiwa with that line capacity then notice that they're making them in different price ranges (take Shimano for instance and look at their 4000 series with Spheros as your starting point, then the Stradic (at about $130 or so) then the Sustain (much more money...). All hold that 200 yds of 10lb line and will get the job done.. (but clearly some are higher quality than others).

My anglers have taken big bonefish, permit up to 35lbs, tarpon up to around 60lbs, and all the other species -- snook, trout, redfish, snapper, sharks (under 100lbs) on rods set up this way. This rig is light enough to fish a live shrimp or small crab, then later in the day toss a 5/8oz plug or spoon, or work a 1/4oz bucktail jig. We've got a few lighter rods and a few much heavier aboard but that standard setup is what we're usually using on the water most days --and that standard 10lb rig (you can use heavier or lighter line but 10lb is just right for us) is usually our starting point.

Hope this helps.

Tight Lines
Capt Bob LeMay

[gottaflylee]

Rods, everyone has their own toughs and here are mine and what I use for my charters...

Saint Croix PREMIER rods...

PS66MF2 6'6" M Fast 2 6 - 12 1⁄ 4 - 5⁄ 8 4.2 4 $ 120

PS66MHF 6'6" MH Fast 1 8 - 14 3⁄ 8 - 3⁄ 4 4.3 5 $ 120

Either of these rods should be found for about $90.00 at a good tackle store, or at least I can find them here for that.

They also make a model called TRIUMPH that is even cheaper and is put together in China...

TRS66MF2 6'6" M Fast 2 6 - 12 1⁄4 - 5⁄ 8 4.3 4 $ 70

Reels...
For the money, Penn is what I like and use for charter.

The Battle, new last year and about $100.00 designed for braid. I would load it with 20 pound braid, nothing smaller and do NOT over load it or load it as fullas you would a reel with mono. BTL3000 is what I would look at.

To step down a notch look at the Penn SARGUS, about $70.00, not as good of drag as the battle but still a good solid reel that will last. I have a set in charter use that is going on for 2 years now. Again I would look at the SG3000, it should handle all you will chase with it.

[lemaymiami]

x2 on the 20lb braid.... If you prefer braid that's the size I'd use instead of the 10lb mono that I use. 10lb braid is very thin compared to 10lb mono so the 20lb braid is the way to go. There is a place for the light 10lb braid - it can turn a very light rod (rated 6 to 12lb line) into a perfect, long casting finesse rod for fish that are up in really shallow stuff and won't tolerate any boats within normal casting distances...