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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MasterB8ter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: New Land based Combo
    Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 11:19am
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Hi all, been rock fishing with a 14ft surfcasting combo which has been yielding some success. I am keen to get a new combo sometime in the next 6 months and from what I can see baitunner style reels are pretty gun for straylining.

So far, I have been looking at combos like this, as they seem like they would be pretty usable off the rocks and from a boat: 



Anyone have any experience with these setups and can provide their two cents? Still a rookie and haven't used a bait runner style reel so hoping they are not out my skill level. I am also keen to get into a bit of soft baiting in the future. Would these rods be capable of flicking a soft bait off the rocks on the odd occasion or would I be best to just save up and buy a cheap dedicated setup like this in the future: 


Cheers Fisho's!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 12:56pm
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Titanium
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I don't do much land based fishing, but think you would want the heavier setup for straylining, if not heavier (and longer) rods for fishing from the rocks. The Baitrunner function is not rocket science and quite useful for bait fishing under some circumstances. Look in the "Surfcasting & Rock Fishing" section of the Marine Deals website for combos. 8-10 feet rods seem to be standard for rock fishing. Longer rods can be awkward on a boat, but they are still usable. 

You can flick softies with almost anything, but sensitivity is key, so a dedicated softbait setup with braid on the reel is the way to go. Land based soft bait fishing is quite specialised and I would say only a small proportion of anglers are successful on a regular basis. Soft baiting from a boat is much easier because you can cover a lot of water and find the fish.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MasterB8ter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 4:18pm
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Would you go with a bigger reel than 4000 size? Keen to target Kingies as well eventually so I guess a pretty grunty rod and reel would be a good idea.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 6:40pm
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Titanium
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The way I work out what size reel I want is the smallest reel that will hold enough line of the required breaking strain. Drag used to be a factor, but drags are so good these days that I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it. I would have thought a 6000 or 8000 size reel would suit your needs as you will be fishing with relatively heavy mono.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Shilo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2023 at 8:54am
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For rod length of the rocks, I consider 7ft to be too short.  Yes it is useable just like a 14ft one is but it is not optimum.

When you are hooked up to a Kingi or a good fish on the rocks you will find a lot of situations where you need a bit extra length to guide the fish around rock or obstacle which a short rod makes it hard to do.  Same with trying to control a live bait that has swam too close to the rocks. The flip side is the longer the rod the more leverage the fish has against the angler, which is why 13-14ft rods can be a problem.

To me, a 9-10ft rod is the best size to use as a compromise.  

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 May 2023 at 5:57pm
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Originally posted by Naiioa Naiioa wrote:

Both the Shimano Baitrunner 4000 OC Aquatip Strayline Combo and the PENN Fierce III 4000LL Live Liner Braid Strayline Combo are reputable options for baitrunner-style reels. The Baitrunner feature allows for the fish to take the bait and run with it before engaging the drag, which reduces the chance of the fish feeling resistance and spitting out the bait.

Both combos you mentioned have similar line and weight ratings, so it comes down to personal preference and budget. I suggest going to a local tackle shop https://gunsandgadgets.spammers rus.co.za/ and getting a feel for each combo to see which one you like better.

Regarding soft baiting, the Shimano and PENN combos you mentioned should be capable of flicking a soft bait off the rocks on occasion, but a dedicated soft bait combo may offer better performance. However, if you're on a budget, it might be best to stick with the Shimano or PENN combo for now and save up for a dedicated soft bait setup in the future.

Wow, that AI is getting clever, no big weird font and unusually a post on a recent topic. Not a bad effort Naiioa from Mumbai, but you have to go. Seeya!
Best gurnard fisherman in my street
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