Saragosa 18000

[whittley580]

Hi guys,

Am new to the forum (but a long term viewer) and I must say the information/expertise available here is as good if not better than even the best tackle shop.

I am looking for a rod to match to a Saragosa 18000 with 65lb braid. I will b using the rod from a boat on hopefully a variety of applications but primarily livebaiting ,bottom bouncing, lure casting and trolling. Bit of an allrounder rod really.We target kingfish mainly on inshore reefs (I am located in Sydney) , but will also use the rod for bottom bashing in up to 100m of water (snapper leads up to 12oz).

I’ve searched around the forums and visited a few tackleshops and the rods that seem to fit the bill all seem to fall into that jig spin category, namely (and in no order of preference ) :

WILSON LIVE FIBRE RLFSSTXVS350G DEEP JIG VENOM SPIN ROD

DAIWA MONSTER MESH MAX MXS531-250 SPIN JIG ROD

SHIMANO T CURVE DEEP JIG 200 SPIN ROD

Crystal Blue Power Tip CB-601JSH 6’ 1 HEAVY 25-30kg JIG SPIN

Fin-Nor Offshore 80lb Overhead 6' 37kg

Saltist Demon Blood DB 56-6/8 Spin 167cm Heavy Regular 210-350g PE 6-8

The rod cannot be soft in the tip as dangling 350 gram leads can be an issue…

I want a rod that can put some serious pressure on a decent king (with the rod doing the majority of the work and not me !!) and to be able to bottom fish as well. Im thinking of something around the 6 to 6.5 ft, some of those jig spin rods come in at around the 5.5ft (168cm) .

I would appreciate your expertise on this as I am going around in circles.. ..Am I completely off the track with the above rods ? Are there better/more suitable rods that will fit the bill ? Possibly a rod more appropiate to spinning/popping ..??

So I guess I am asking for your opinions on what you think would be appropiate.. (let me know if I have left out important info)

My budget is up to $400 approx..

Thanks in advance …

Kev

[Bentstik]

I have the same reel on a Shimano T Curve jig spin 400 and is nicely balanced. Have used it several times but yet to christen it.

Cheers.

[whittley580]

I have the same reel on a Shimano T Curve jig spin 400 and is nicely balanced. Have used it several times but yet to christen it.

Cheers.

Thanks Bentstik for the input...I went to our local TackleWorld and BCFs and went through a few sticks....

I looked at the Silstar JSH, the Fin-nor, Monster Mesh Max, the Demon blood and T curve Jig spin 200..All are good rods and I dont think you could go wrong with either of them...

Loaded up, they all had a distinct parobolic character to them and the entire stick down to the butt was in full use.. Have to say though that the standouts (IMHO) were the Silstar stick and Fin-nor in the 80lb.. both 6 footers...the Demon blood in the Pe 6/8 is also a very good stick,tough as nails but at 5ft 6" was a little short for me. The least expensive was the Silstar, but it didnt feel as though it was any less able to complete the task...The Fin-nor 80lb weighed bugger all as well...

Didnt have a chance to give the LF Venom a go...but have read that these rods are absolute bullet proof

so decisions decisions....I'll have to give them all another go and see

thanks again for all the advice...I'll give the Tcurve 200/400 another go as it got a couple of thumbs up here..will keep you posted...

Kev

[Bentstik]

No worries goodluck in your choice.

Cheers