What was the reel that you were using on your surf rod last time we went to Pacifica? Would you suugest the same or something else for me. I want to use it on the same rod I had then.
Tight lines,
Wade

I was probably using the Penn 525 Mag. It has an insane freespool and is a great reel for throwing the heavier mickies 80-100 yards. However it's too big for lighter lures such as hair raisers and small-medium poppers. An Abu C4 with upgraded components is probably the best choice all around, that also doesn't cost an arm and leg.

Nico

The rod's rated for 3-6oz., with that stated would you go with the ABU or the Penn. I also should say that I want to keep it under $100. On the ABU what would you upgrade 1st 2nd...
Tight lines,
Wade
PS Thanks for the help.

Regardless of the rod, I'd get the Penn if you only want to throw heavy mickies, and the Abu if you want to have something that can throw everything (but not cast a mickey 100 yards). Go this website http://www.hatterasoutfitters.com and check out the Reel Candy page. I would get a power handle and the smoothie metal drag washers to start off with. You can upgrade the performance/casting distance more by getting premium bearings and the dual bearing level wind later.

Thanks Nico,
I'll probably be slinging lot of stuff in the range of the rod. I've got some new Pencil Poppers made up that don't just walk, they Strut the catwalk!
Tight lines,
Wade

Wade is there any striper surfcasting in the Santa Cruz area? Pacifica is best (it used to be unbelievably good at Rockaway Beach, Lind Mar, there, and farther north at the end of Pacifica). Smaller stripers sometimes run outside the surf (but reachable with an average cast) between El Granada (Princeton) and Half Moon Bay (surf better than the Princeton jetty for stripers there in my opinion), but maybe Santa Cruz is too far south for any consistent striper action.

Bob

Wade,

If you are throwing pencil poppers, It's alot easier to throw them with a spinning outfit instead of a conventional reel...



This is how we do it !!!!

Bob,
There are a few Stripers caught every year in the Santa Cruz to Moss Landing area. Nothing like you would see at Pacifica, but I did manage 4 last year. They went 13, 11 and 8#'s with 1 dink. Keep in mind that usually I don't make trips targeting Stripers in this area. I usually get them when I see something happening while going for Halibut. I always try to bring 2 rods, one with a swimbait for the Hali's and one that I'll throw a Spook or Popper on. The most epic day i've seen at New Brighton Beach, 12 Stripers hit the beach all in the 10-15# range. This was the day I got the 13 which actually hit a swimbait that I was waiting for it to hit bottom in 12' from my Kickboat. If I strictly targeted Stripers, I'm sure I could average somewhere around 2 for every 3 trips averaged through the season. There is guy who lives between the Capitola Peir and New Brighton Beach. He always has a fat cigar and often has a fat Striper too. He showed me his log one time and he averaged 9# a day from May through October, and he usually quits before Noon.
Joe,
I know Spinning reels are more popular for throwing PP's, and some guys can work up a good cadence with them. I just like the added power, line capacity, lightweight, and smaller size I get with a good baitcaster. BTW I saw the video! and yes "This IS how we do it!!" }( Big congrats!

Tight lines,
Wade

Thanks Wade. I am intrigued by the "fat guy' with the fat cigars and fat stripers. Is he surfcasting or yaking? What lure is he using?

Catching a striper on a swimbait is no longshot. My son catches stripers using only swimbaits, surfcasting along the beaches between the Princeton breakwater and Half Moon Bay. By the way, I never caught a halibut surfcasting in norcal, whereas halibut are routinely caught surfcasting in socal. Are halibut caught surfcasting in the Santa Cruz area, or is it too much of a longshot?

Good luck in your job search. Are you trying the job-seekers web sites?

Bob

The "Cigar Guy" is also called Dr. Gary and can sometime be found at the Havana Village tobaco shopin Capitola. I talked to him yesterday and the word is no real stripers showing yet. He usually doesn't start targeting them until May. There are 2 dink stripers and a few other fish on display in the peir tank that were caught last month. In general, it's been slow for anything really worth catching for a while.
Tight lines,
Wade

Thanks Wade,

I'm still looking for that teen fish like Joey's I know that the four eyes WILL catch those teen fish and who knows what else.. KEEP ON CHUCKIN !!

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT !!:7