BIG grouper rod on a budget?

mdgreco191

Guys with offshore big game bottom fishing experience. What rod should I pair with a 6/0 Penn reel for BIG gag grouper and red snapper?

I am going to fish the middle grounds of the gulf 100 miles from shore. It will be a 12 hour bottom fishing trip out of Madeira beach on a super fast boat. This will be at the beginning of red snapper and gag grouper season.

I looked at a tackledirect brand silver hook heavy rod. It is 50-100lbs. line class, 6 foot, and $99. I like the price, but there is not many reviews to make me confident. Any experience with this rod? Other rod suggestions?

chico

Shimano Tallus rods come in lengths up to 8' and heavy class, a nice rod for a little bit more. Some like the 8' rod for use on a big partyboat.

Kokosing Lover

The shimano Talavera is the next step down and is a very good rod for $99. My snapper rod is a Talavera and it is everything I could want. Have a heavier one as well and is a great grouper rod. Not overly bulky, has good sensitivity and the fast action gives the proper leverage.

Jack Hexter

Check out the Daiwa Sealine SLN70HR-FP. It's a 7' rod rated 40-80 and priced at $60.00. Or, if you can find one, a Ugly Stick 1170 or 1180 at $70.00 but Shakespeare quit making them. Tarpon Fishing Outfitters still has a couple 1180's in stock

Rich M

Get an UGLY STICK - I'm not on a budget and prefer to use them. I have 6 or 8 Ugly Sticks for offshore.

You don't need a 6/0 reel for that trip - unless if you have it already - great reel. Most of the grouper will be under 20 pounds.

My go-to grouper set-up is a $130 Shimano Charter Special (33# of drag per manufacturer) loaded with 80# braid and an 80# top shot, 60-80# leader and 6/0 or 7/0 circle - on a $70 Ugly Stick Tiger jigging rod (100-200# rod). Other rigs are 4/0 Senator on 6 ft Ugly, 4/0 Senator on 5 ft Ugly.

Mako224

I have 2 8' custom ugly sticks 8/10 condition. Can sell them as a set for $150.00 I used them off of the Tortugas and they will handle anything you can throw at them.

andrewthe1

wow glad someone beat me to the ugly stik plug, cant beat them!

Also from my experience long rods: Pro- helps keep the line away from boat, Con- gives the fish more of the "lever"(think seesaw), and they get slammed in doors and fans better LOL

Reel-Lucky

Jack Hexter wrote: »

Or, if you can find one, a Ugly Stick 1170 or 1180 at $70.00 but Shakespeare quit making them. Tarpon Fishing Outfitters still has a couple 1180's in stock

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

~~Mutt~~

12 years ago I stopped in Dogfish Store and bought 4 custom Dogfish stix.. Have had to change the reels a few time but the stix...Not one letdown. They still look new.. Use them way out for big gags and in the summer I sit off Indian Rocks to Redington and slam big tarpon.. If they wear out I will go back and buy another to replace.. I know your title sez budget...but.. Buy once..cry only once...and the rest is history

Reel-Lucky

Agreed, most of my gear (rods) are Dogfish, I have 2 others that are from F.I.S.H. Good stuff.

snookwhisperer

Hey Mutt, what are the models of Dogfish rods you're using? I could use another grouper rod, if it's a good
set up for tarpon, so much the better. Thanks

mdgreco191

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I have some more research to do now! LOL!

~~Mutt~~

snookwhisperer wrote: »

Hey Mutt, what are the models of Dogfish rods you're using? I could use another grouper rod, if it's a good
set up for tarpon, so much the better. Thanks

Here ya go...and they are great for trolling the ditch

~~Mutt~~

Here is a red one....Not sure if they read 15F 1HF 16 F...or something totally different..but..Was looking on the website and I didn't even see one stik with the old style wire frame XB eyes.. Still.. For the money and a go to rod for big fish.. Thumbs up for sure

snookwhisperer

Thanks, good looking rods for sure!

mango mike

~~Mutt~~ wrote: »

12 years ago I stopped in Dogfish Store and bought 4 custom Dogfish stix.. Have had to change the reels a few time but the stix...Not one letdown. They still look new.. Use them way out for big gags and in the summer I sit off Indian Rocks to Redington and slam big tarpon.. If they wear out I will go back and buy another to replace.. I know your title sez budget...but.. Buy once..cry only once...and the rest is history

oh so true. that's why custom rods are the way to go.

Jack Hexter

What is so "custom" about a Dogfish Stick. Yes, they are nice and well built rods, but "custom?" Can you choose the blank, type of guides, number of guides, spiral wrap or not, even color of wraps or design, guide spacing, type of grips, length of grips make and model of reel seat, etc? Do you get to actually talk to the builder and tell him what you want and expect from the rod?

Or

does one just walk in the store and say I want a Dogfish 15F? That's like walking into a tackle shop and saying I want a Daiwa SLN70HR-FP

GratefulEd

Have used Star rods offshore for 40 years now, and they last a long time
Reckon I’ll keep using em for the rest of my fishing life

mdgreco191

Jack Hexter wrote: »

What is so "custom" about a Dogfish Stick. Yes, they are nice and well built rods, but "custom?" Can you choose the blank, type of guides, number of guides, spiral wrap or not, even color of wraps or design, guide spacing, type of grips, length of grips make and model of reel seat, etc? Do you get to actually talk to the builder and tell him what you want and expect from the rod?

Or

does one just walk in the store and say I want a Dogfish 15F? That's like walking into a tackle shop and saying I want a Daiwa SLN70HR-FP

I went to the website and they don't sell "custom" rods online anymore. Unless that part of their website is down? You can get rod and reel combos, but no rods only.

Mako224

Check out Connolly fishing. They have great rods and can match up anything you wont. Starts around 149

PeterC

Many good suggestions here. Sounds like you are going on the Flying Hub 2. Great boat and crew. The Shakespeare Ugly stick is hard to beat. We like the yellow Tiger Series. For the money, or even twice the money they are a great bet. The Black one is also good. Be sure to get one with all metal hardware. No ceramic inserts in the guides. You will not be disappointed and it will give you a good long service life. Many of the other rods mentioned here are also good. Star rods are very good too. The guys at dogfish sell nice rods. The Hubbards tackle shop sells their Killer Stick rod which is very good and has caught countless thousands of big fish. Have a good trip.

~~Mutt~~

Jack Hexter wrote: »

What is so "custom" about a Dogfish Stick. Yes, they are nice and well built rods, but "custom?" Can you choose the blank, type of guides, number of guides, spiral wrap or not, even color of wraps or design, guide spacing, type of grips, length of grips make and model of reel seat, etc? Do you get to actually talk to the builder and tell him what you want and expect from the rod?

Or

does one just walk in the store and say I want a Dogfish 15F? That's like walking into a tackle shop and saying I want a Daiwa SLN70HR-FP

After they moved from Redington to Park Blvd is when I went into the new store. Told them what I wanted..which was 4 offshore rods with standard XB eyes.. not glass. Told them I was grouper, shark, tarpon and rocks...lol... Wanted 2 with a roller tip and gimble butts with out of those..1 red an one blue. The other red an blue has XB eyes on the tip. A week and a half later I went back an picked them up along with 4 Daiwa Sealine 50H to mate with them. Also picked up a 7 ft Star for inshore snookin.. I don't know if they made them there or not but they didn't have them when I was there .. so.. Custom or not??? I got what I wanted ..