need some trolling gear advice

[elcarlstono]

I'm starting to get into near-shore trolling. Main target will be spanish mackerel, bluefish, trout and maybe the occasional false albacore or king that comes along (to start with).
I've mostly been a surf or inshore fisherman so I'm a total novice. I put some surf reels on trolling rods this weekend with mixed results. The Daiwa Slosh 30 handled it just fine but my Abu 6500 C3CT  struggled with drag on a #2 planer (had to lock it down). 
I'd love to use older Penn's, but there are sooo many models out there I don't know where to start.
I suppose I want something that will easily spool 300 yds of 30# and has a stout enough drag for a #2 planer, appears to be my most immediate requirement.  Doesn't have to be levelwind, but wouldn't say no to the right price.

There's a Penn Leveline 350 for sale locally for $30.

Thanks!

[oc1]

Penn intended the Leveline to be a casting reel but they failed at the job.  They are most suited as trolling reels despite the wide frame.

[Keta]

You are better off with a Jigmaster,  or a  smaller Senator,  a 112H or 113H.

[thorhammer]

What Lee said...Long Beach 65 works great too and can be had cheaply, just a little slower should you get a kingfish, but the stump puller gear is good for cranking the planer back when it isn't tripped. The 112H (3/0) is perfect. 309 is about same size and a great planer reel, but levelwinds and kings don't play well together. 209's are great on Spanish, blues, fat alberts and light bottom fishing.

[thrasher]

I like the Jigmaster 505HS and the Speedmaster IV but I alike high speed reels.

I got tired of cranking up planners that weren't tripped, I never figured out the trick to manually trip them. So I switched to cigar trolling weights.

My buddy ran a planner with a down rigger clip attached to it off a corner cleat on some heavy mono. Let your line back and then clip it and drop the planner. Fish would pop it out and someone would hand line the planner up.

[Gfish]

Mono or braid?, levelwind or no?, old-school or new-fangled? I like my Amassadeur 9000 2-speed, an oldie but goodie. I don't think too much about high-speed retrieve for trolling since I don't wind in more than a couple of times. Another slow tuff wench is my Senator 2/0.

[thrasher]

Mono or braid?, levelwind or no?, old-school or new-fangled? I like my Amassadeur 9000 2-speed, an oldie but goodie. I don't think too much about high-speed retrieve for trolling since I don't wind in more than a couple of times. Another slow tuff wench is my Senator 2/0.

I see what you mean with high speed but sometimes I clear four rods while buddy is fighting a big one. Plus that size reel doubles as my bottom rods later in the day and pulling up 6+ ozs of lead in 100'+ water gets to be a pain at 3:1

[thorhammer]

elcarlstono, where you be? Looking at your target species and the fact that you own a 6500 C3CT and SL 30, I bet you're near me...those are OBX mainstays and Spanish says not to far north, and bluefish says not too far south...

[elcarlstono]

elcarlstono, where you be? Looking at your target species and the fact that you own a 6500 C3CT and SL 30, I bet you're near me...those are OBX mainstays and Spanish says not to far north, and bluefish says not too far south...

Yep, you found me.  I take my boat out of Harkers Island but I can still be found surf fishing on CaLo and sometimes still get up to Hatteras. 

Mono or braid?, levelwind or no?, old-school or new-fangled? I like my Amassadeur 9000 2-speed, an oldie but goodie. I don't think too much about high-speed retrieve for trolling since I don't wind in more than a couple of times. Another slow tuff wench is my Senator 2/0.

Mono almost exclusively.  I'll fish either old-school or new-fangled, based on what I find for sale, but I do prefer the look of old-school reels.  I do not require levelwind, but again, for the right deal I will consider it.

[thorhammer]

I'm in Raleigh, late of Wilmy. Cut my teeth in Morehead / AB / EI. Headed to Buxton a week in Oct for dem drums. Three jigmasters and an LB 65 or 66/67 for bigger planer should do nicely, or 113H all around. Jiggys can still be cast for cobia and 4:1 is a bit better for kings, and tons of upgrades available should you desire. I pulled 0, 00, and 1 planer or planer and two with trolling leads, plus a bird back on top (all with Clark's), or you can easily target kingfish with that spread of larger planer like a 2, 3, or 4 on the LB and surface bait the other three (whichever it is). I used Hookup rigs on all when kingfishing.

John,

[Patudo]

Planers, even small ones, pull HARD.  Look at the surface area of most deep diving plugs (which also pull hard) then compare to even a small planer.  For trolling high resistance gear like that, a 4/0 Senator (113H and other red variants) really isn't overkill. 

The Abu 6500 isn't a trolling reel and should be reserved for boat casting - even if you plan to troll it's worth keeping a couple of casting/spinning rods at the ready in case you see surface activity, and catching any of those fish you mention on casting gear is going to be much more sporty than on planer rods - or maybe set up with a jig/bucktail that you can work while drifting. 

[Bill B]

My vote would be the 113H.  If the Italian Gladiator can use his for sailfish I'm sure it will beat anything your after.  Bill

[elcarlstono]

I forgot I rebuilt an Ocean City 112 a couple years ago, but never lined it.  I'm thinking it is also up to the task.