need help bad - California Fishing

Zihua-Kenny · 11-12-2004, 01:16 AM

First let me tell you about me, I live in Zihuatanejo, 150 miles north of Acapulco.
I have lived here all my life and have gone fishing since I was a kid.
I fish by hand, I caught an 80lb sailfish by hand, real nice experience.
I just bought my first spinning reel combo, Penn 4500SS for small fishing.

People here us big reels for big game fishing, Marlin, sailfish, big yellow fin tuna (300lb), and they dont use lighter reels. and they troll mostly all the time
I want to buy a small casting trolling reel, for wahoo, mahi mahi, jacks, mackarel. no more than 55lb fish.
what would you recommend? I want to buy a combo, either Penn or Shimano.
and I have lots of questions.
I havent cast before, and I also read that is for more advanced fishermen, well guess what, I dont care, I will practice as long as it takes until I get it mastered, I have read a lot about birds nest and those things.
Sooner or later I will be able to cast.
Here are my questions

1.- is there a diference with levelwind and no-levelwind for casting?
2.- for the above fish I mentioned, what would be best level or no level?
3.- I have used Penn 99% of the time and they are real good and lasting reels.
4.- between Penn 525 mag and 310GTi series what would be better or what other you recommend?, one has levelwind and other doesnt
5.- what tipe of line for the above fish would you recomend, we use mm for the fishing line and I would buy good line in the US.
6.- I reel with my right hand, are those reels for me? are mostly casting reels reeled by right hand?

I thank you very much for your help. I will need as much info as possible so I can buy my new fishing rod and try it.
I leave tomorrow for snook, and snapper fishing, wish me luck (fishing by hand)

Zihua-Kenny · 11-12-2004, 01:29 AM

I forgot to ask, in the desciption it says like the Penn international 975LD 300yrds/15lb, is that me minimum or maximun LB line you can put on it?

Wahoo! · 11-12-2004, 11:16 AM

Welcome to the board Kenny! I know there are a lot of guys on this board that can help you out with this info. I'll get back to you with some info after work today when I have more time to respond to your questions. Good luck fishing tomorrow!

fishinkid · 11-12-2004, 04:54 PM

max amount of line of that size i beleve it will fish up to 25-30 pound line . in my opinion though the penn 975ld on a 8 foot pole is a good combo but the 525 casts better than all of them. then the 310 is a little outdated in my opinion but they cast decent the reson i think they are out dated is the drags and alot of people dont like level winds is because if a fish is pulling drag the level wind will sometimes end up at one side and and the line comeing off the other side causing a criss cross action that will increase the drag and bust the line that is why i am going to get a topless frame for my 975ld and it will be easier to cast

fishinkid · 11-12-2004, 04:55 PM

what are you going to fish for with this reel you want

Zihua-Kenny · 11-12-2004, 05:06 PM

Thanks for the input, mostrly I will be fishing, roosterfish, wahoo, mahi mahi, groupers, mackerel, jacks, maybe small tunas 50lb.
So you suggest no levelwind right? I looked at some penn and yes the 310 does look out dated, the 535 and 525 mag look new, or at least not as old as the GTi series

Zihua-Kenny · 11-12-2004, 05:10 PM

Now I ask beacause, we are a small town, our tackle shops dont offer that much, so I dont have the chance to go and look and feel anything really, it´s just by catalogue and pictures and research

DementedFish · 11-12-2004, 07:15 PM

The Penn International 975 is a good tough reel with a great drag. This will be able to handle mahi mahi, wahoo, tuna etc. This is probably the best reel for the money for what you want. If you want a good trolling reel, buy a Shimano Tiagra, or a TLD. They're good reels, but expensive. If you want to save some money, buy a Daiwa Sealine trolling reel.

Non-levelwind reels are a little easier and better at casting. If you are a beginner on casting conventional reels, get the Shimano Calcutta 400s. Its an open frame reel with a clutch bar, which is very easy to cast with. It is also a VERY light reel weighing only at 11 oz.

ALL conventional reels are right handed. You will probably want to use 35 pound test for fishing Wahoo, Tuna, and Mahi Mahi. But thats fishing with bait. If your trolling, You will need a BIG reel with probably 100lb test.

Hope this helps! Any more questions?

Zihua-Kenny · 11-13-2004, 02:57 AM

That sure did work, a friend of mine is telling me to buy the calcutta 400s, it is expensive but I think it´s worth it.
Just one more question, between the Shimano calcuta 400s and the Penn 525 mag, for what I have been reading, calcutta seems to be better, is this right, I´t not a cheap model, but I would make an effort to pay it, I dont want a cheap crapy reel either.
Thanks again for your comments.

other, this would go with a 7 to 8ft rod H or MH? I think the Penn Slammer Rods look good

DementedFish · 11-13-2004, 02:11 PM

I have never used a Calcutta before, but in my opinion, the calcutta isnt worth the money. The heaviest thing you can catch on these is yellowtail. If i were you, if you want a good easy casting reel, get the shimano cardiff 300. I have this reel, and its a very smooth, and its awesome at casting.

As for the calcutta 400s vs the penn 525, they are COMPLETELY different reels. The 525 is probably better built, and will hold much larger fish than the calcutta. Also, with its high gear ratio, this is a perfect reel for fishing surface iron. If you are thinking of getting this reel, also consider the Shimano Torium, and the Daiwa Sealine. These three reels are all very similiar, and are all good.

DementedFish · 11-13-2004, 02:12 PM

O yea, on the calcutta or the cardiff, you'll want to use a small rod that has a trigger. With the Penn 525, Shimano Torium, or Daiwa Sealine, you'll want to use a big game rod. The calcutta or cardiff cant handle casting iron.

Zihua-Kenny · 11-13-2004, 03:13 PM

Thanks again for the input, I think I will go with the shimano calcutta 400s, for trolling I have lots of friends with big reels, actualy that is why I´m buying the casting reel, nobody here casts, we do but by hand, and for a big roosterfish bringing the fish to the boat by hand it´s a hard job.
Thanks again, I will buy the calcutta, would you say a 7 foot rod is ok, medium to heavy use would be fine?
After I do some fishing with this I´ll see what else I buy.
And if someone comes to Zihuatanejo, give me a buzz and I´ll take you to some good fishing spots

DementedFish · 11-13-2004, 03:27 PM

Ya a 7ft rod would be perfect.

Cuban_Fish · 11-13-2004, 04:30 PM

If you get a PENN get the lever drag. It is better then the push button release. IMHO

trout guy · 11-13-2004, 05:02 PM

a good shimano to invest your money in is a torium it can hold good amounts of line and can handle many differnt fishing conditions. the reel works well for tossing iron, fly lining, and fishing with bottom rigs. i have a torium 30 and love it. here are some specifications on the torium reels

http://fish.shimano.com/publish/cont...nPar.0001.html