Is it BIG enough?

[Pecos]

Would some of you very experiencd types give me your opinions on whether a Penn 30VSX is big and tough enough for general wahoo and tuna trolling if loaded with 80# string and an appropriate topshot? While I am sure everyone might have reels that they would rightly recomend as an alternative, I need to know about the 30VSX's as four have been offered to me in a complicated gun/fishing gear/LT1 engine trade.

I appreciate any help that you boys can give me.

PECOS

[WAHOONBOX]

SINCE YOU JUST GAVE ME SOME VERY SOUND ADVICE IN ANOTHER THREAD...I HOPE TO RETURN DA FAVOR....THIS IS JUST MY OPINION .

A 30 GOLD REEL IS A WASTE OF SPACE ON MY BOAT..........


WITH TUNA AND WAHOO AS THE TARGET......I HAVE WATCHED MEN BUCKLE WITH A FIFTY FOR 20 YRS NOW ON THESE FISH...... SO MY ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION....50'S ALL THE WAY....YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN BOSCOE WILL COME CALLING

OLD RELIABLE LIGHTWEIGHT TLD 25 AND TYRNOS HI-SPEED 30 IS THE TICKET IMO FOR WHITES AND SAILS

[fightingcouch]

A 30vsx would be plenty for tuna/wahoo. Those are my go to reels for the night bite. If you fill it up with a hollow core spectra say 80 pound Jerry Brown then spliced into a top shot of a 100yards of 60-80 it will be more then enough. I also use the 16vsx. Penn came out with a great line of reels for spectra defiantly giving other company's a good run.

[cape_fisherman]

Yep, plenty of reel for ANY wahoo or tuna you'll EVER come across...so long as you load the reel properly. Spectra is the way to go if you're loading 80#. A decent 50-100 yards of topshot should be plenty for trolling. If you're chunking, you could shorten that more.

If you're going all mono, I wouldn't load a 30 class reel with 80#...just not enough capacity.

Best of luck.

Jay

[RUGGERDUDE]

Pecos - I agree with Jay. Go with a braid and topshot it with mono to increase your line capacity. I typically run 50lb test mono on my 30 wides and 80lb on my 50s but I've decided to make the investment this year and go with the braid/top shot combo. We've never run into a problem since I fish on a cc and we can chase fish easily but you never know. Good luck!

Will

[Pecos]

Thanks guys. With ya'lls encouragement I did the deal a couple of hours ago and am now the proud owner of four 30VSXs and a .50 BMG "Windrunner" bolt action rifle. I honestly can't say which part of the trade I am more exicted about trying out. Only two of the reels are spooled...the other two are NIB. The two that have string are wearing 80# PowerPro with no topshot, BUT the .50 came with 27 loaded rounds and 73 virgin IMI cases! Do any of you East coast types ever shoot .50s?

Hmmmmm....anybody have a recomendation for appropriate stand-up rods for the 30s. Unfortunately, the "windrunner" can NOT be shot standing...only from a bi-pod and I already have a Harris that just fits it.

PECOS

[tunakiller 4 hire]

I personally believe that the dream fish you are looking for shows up it is not time to start wishing you had a 50 or bigger out . Murphy's law will get you .

[EMTAE]

LRS50 2 Speed The best all around Charter Boat Reel.YFT,Whoos,BFT(under 300lbs ) and bills from Sails TO 250LB Blue Marlin.Dont have the Gold but after one season The Gold one look like 5yrs.

[wickeditch]

half to agree with the rest 50s 2 speed,my biggest marlin come to da boat on it and never dreamed that big girl was even in the area but glad the 50s was loaded, 2 hours and 47 min, dont let murphy bite you in the butt.

do it right if the cabbage lets you good luck.

[Water Damage]

i totally agree that 50's are great, and by far teh most prevalent reel used.

that being said, I have a friend who has a 50vsx loaded completely with 150# braid that he has used for over a year on his planer rod. I gotta admit, that is one bad ass little reel!!! It will flat stop a #24 planer no problem!!! I could not believe the drag it has, and understand the 30vsx is similar. Who knows how long the 50 will hold up to the rigors of planer rod fishin but I would bet the 30 or 50 will hold any gamefish thrown at it - provided it is spooled properly and you don't have a monster blue boy come visit.

I still would prefer 50's but I think you will be good with the 30vsx based on its drag capacity