Which downrigger for a dredge?

[Hroonk]

Anyone have a suggestion for a downrigger while pulling a dredge or planer for hoo's and bluefins on a small boat?

I'm getting tired of running a 50w out of a rod-rigger with only a piece of parachute chord keeping it from the abysis.

Would a Penn Fathomaster 600 do the job?

[Speckulator]

I have been using a penn fathomaster to pull a dredge for the past couple years and it does fine. I prefer having the long
(48") boom though...it gives you a little more room to turn and keep the dredge from rubbing on the side of the boat as much when it is cranked up. It will also do fine pulling a planer for wahoo, bluefins, etc.

[92 feet down]

I'm pretty sure Penn doesn't make downriggers anymore. Sux, 'cause I have a FathomMaster & if something on it breaks, I'm pretty much screwed.

[snowranger]

That is what I use (actually the 625 to get it out in the clean water). Works great.