Rod recommendations please ?

[Roddy Hays]

Evening all. Gearing up for what hopefully will be a summer of fun for the family off Jupiter, and need to buy two rods for the 20' CC. All of my rods are still in the UK and I can't wait any longer !

So, it being a long time since I bought some rods, I need some help with what it on the market. I have a couple of 12/30 2-speed Beastmasters that I have loaded with 80lb braid as backing, and 50lb mono as a topshot - the intention to fish 50lb or so, dragging for wahoos, kings and whatever else comes along. I have gone heavy since I will obviously be testing lures at the same time and it is not unknown for a blue marlin to put in an appearance off Jupiter. I have some other plans too which lean towards the heavy tackle side.

Anyway, that's the easy end of the equation. The difficult end is choosing a rod, since most of the time it will be the kids doing the winding. Ultimately Mrs Hays and I will probably help out too, so the rod will need to suit both small frames AND still take some stick.

Boat has a transom and bracket, so a short rod is out. I would like Fujis, not rollers, and a slick-butt would be preferable to an alloy for weight purposes. I would also preferably like E-glass, not graphite.

Suggestions ?

[Tsujiki]

Look at Star rods at your local tackle shop. They have everything that you mentioned. Buy a Handcrafted or Deluxe series and stay away from the aerial.

[clt_capt]

I would say custom would be the way to go if you could wait... but Check out Capt. Harry's Caribbean Series... Might be just what you want

[Roddy Hays]

Thanks for the tips, guys. The Star rods look nice but are way more than I want to spend on what are basically a couple of tide-me-over rods till my tackle eventually gets here, but the Caribbean series might fit the bill. Anyone used them ?

[gottaflylee]

Roddy, since you are looking for a couple of " tide-me-over rods", check out the Sea Striker Billfisher series from Henry's Tackle. Here is a link from Tackle Direct...

Stand up rods

[Roddy Hays]

Hi Gottafly. When they say solid glass, do they really mean solid (as in ye olde days) or do they mean "nothing but glass" in the blank ? Any idea ?

[gottaflylee]

Roddy, from what I was told, "E" glass but they were not sure if they were solid or not. I think they would be as the ones that I use for Sailfish are, 12 years in charter and never had one broken and they have been "Gunnel" slammed a lot.

I have a friend that has 4 Aerial Star rods, 20 to 50 pound, that were used 4 times, he is asking $300 for all 4. He had 30s on them.

Feel free to call me.