New fisher here..tips are welcomed

RayVer · Master Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 111

Hello all. I'm new to the fishing world. I just started "self-teaching" myself how to fish at the age of 21 about 3 weeks ago. I decided to try it out one day with a walmart rod and quickly became somewhat addicted to the whole process.

For my first 2 days at the skyway pier I caught one spanish mackeral and one sheepshead.

For starters I have 4 fishing rods (3 walmart brand and 1 shimano baitrunner 4500 reel with a penn rod). The reason I have 4 and have only been fishing for less than a month is because I usually go with my girlfriend.

I have a small tackle box with a bunch of fishing items and tools, and a fish id & regulation book with ruler. I also have 4 small buckets for bait, 1 5 foot casting net, 1 5-gallon shrimp bait bucket with aerator and another 5 gallon bucket with

I bought a $100 casting reel but when I took it out on the pier I couldn't figure out how to cast it. The whole thumb-technique was hard to figure out (wish I had someone to show me). I went ahead and returned it same day and got the Shimano baitrunner 4500 spinning reel with rod.

Hopefully one day I'll learn how to using casting reels and get one again.

pierfish · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject:

Buddy you are in the right place Wink

You need to come out with us some time and over time you will want to upgrade your equipment. Everyone starts somewhere Laughing

RayVer · Master Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 111

I'm down for showing up whenever you guys are there. I love fishing at the pier. I told my roommate about it and he was to go with me next time I head over there.

pierfish · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:35 pm Post subject:

Sounds good, we are always there lol. If not me someone on here is there. Pucky and Aqua are fishaholics.

RayVer · Master Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 111

hmm turns out after a little more research online turns outs that fishing rod I bought and returned has a trolling reel which for my understanding if for boats only. Is this correct?

I felt like an idiot out there trying to cast it. I'm assuming these types of reels aren't meant for that.

pucky · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

what are you talking about?!? i havent been fishing in 4 days!!

RayVer i started off just like you. Walmart rod, tackle box and gotcha lures. All i ever caught was a mackerel or 2 and you've already gotten a sheepshead! Pierfish is right about the equipment... everyone wants to upgrade sooner or later. I upgrade my grouper reel every month! (inside joke)

i don't think ill make it out there anytime this week. i'm going to shoot for monday afternoon. that afternoon outgoing tide looks good.

RayVer · Master Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 111

next monday? I'll probably show up. I have a class in the morning that ends at 11am and from there on I'm free.

so about that trolling rod. Thats made for boats only right?

pucky · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:11 pm Post subject:

yea it sounds like you gotta pretty heavy rod. you could probably return it for a cheaper rod and get a better shimano reel like a Stradic. (nothing wrong at all with the baitrunner) Pierfish will chime in with his love for Stradics.

a lighter spinning rod to match the weight class of your reel would be better. i'd go with a Medium 7' (or 7'6" for extra casting distance) 12-20lb spinning rod and spool your reel with 20lb power pro. you can crank fish in all day with a balanced setup very easily.

RayVer · Master Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 111

Now i'm wondering if I should keep the Shimano baitcaster 4500 with penn 7' rod or return it and try to get an actual baitcasting set-up and not a trolling setup like the first one I got and returned. or maybe even return it for another set up with a spinning reel.

pucky · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject:

you don't need a baitcaster for the piers. theyre better suited for throwing lures inshore because a trained thumb can control the cast better than a spinning reel.

what are the specs on your rod? It will say on the rod itself just above the handle. should be something like 7ft H 30-50lb. or something like that.

your baitrunner is fine... you'll be able to catch a good majority of whats catchable right now... ladyfish, mackerel, bonita, bluefish, small grouper, small kingfish, stingray! i can't think of anything else. i bet you would be more interested in buying a big conventional reel before you even think about upgrading on the baitrunner.

pierfish · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject:

Keep the spinning gear and get you a nice 4/0 reel with a good rod, preferably Penn or Shimano, fish that you will need it for:

Small sharks
Tarpon
Cobia aka Ling

I recommend spooling it with 50lb test mono or Power pro, determined by preference.

RayVer · Master Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 111

the rod I have with the baitcaster 4500 is a 7ft 12-20 Lb rod.

i'm confused about the different types of reels...I thought a conventional was the same as baitcaster.

anyhow I already have a spinning reel that works pretty well (30lb rod). I am looking for a rod/reel replacement to catch (hopefully) bigger fish. Iniatially I bought a trolling reel setup, was frustrated after realizing it didnt work and returned it and got the baitcaster 4500 in exchange. I havn't used that one yet.

My budget is $250. I need help!

pucky · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject:

i gotcha. i think i got confused with the trolling reel part. sounds like your penn rod is fine for the baitrunner. so your spinning rig is set. now you're wanting a bigger rig...

for $250 you can get a good conventional setup to start off with. you can find some pretty nice used rigs around tampa. reels that come to mind are penn 113 (or 113h), daiwa 350h and 400h. they run for $100-120 brand new. i just bought a 350h for $55 shipped on ebay. boatersworld almost always has a sale on a 113h and a 6'6 penn rod for $100.

RayVer · Master Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 111

okay thanks for the info. I'll be shopping for one soon.

Now for these "conventional" reels. Are they hard to learn?
I tried casting with that 'trolling' reel (without knowing what it was) and it seemed almost impossible but then again that was a trolling reel and not a conventional reel.

pierfish · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

Like everything it takes practice. You will get the hang of it. Try to avoid reels with level winds.