Help
Here in the east tuna head boat fishing begins after labor day and goes till weather goes bad. I have scheduled 4 24 hour trips on a head boat in NJ, but my target is swords not tuna. Those gals get to be some big critters like up to 300-400 lbs and i have seen a 411 on scales dressed.
MY problem- what outfit to choose for main and for back up. I have accurate atd 80w and penn 80 stw both stock, both loaded with 130 cortland hollow spectra, 200 lb izor flouro leaders. I have never been inside either reel and im not about to do that now. Drag will be 27- 28 lbs as im old fart and more will kill me before the fish. Rods are calstar graphite gf770-xxxh, built suitable for use on the rail.
Does anyone have any info that would help me make decision on which to use as go to outfit and which for back up. If i do hook up it will be a long grueling battle and i sure dont want to hear grinding from the reel guts half way thru the fight.
for now, pull on them both and use the one that is smoother.
recent model accurates all have greased carbon fiber drag washers. at some point i would recommend a full service. but for now you are good go to. the penn 80 should be a two speed (s) with a tube frame (t) and the wide version (w). these older reels had dry carbon fiber drag washers and they will stick. once this reel is properly serviced, either one should be good.
I think the 80s are too big and heavy for 300lb. fish. A Penn International 30 or 50 will do the job just fine. If you are strapped into a fighting chair then you can winch the fish in with the 80 but if you have to stand and fish with it I think it is too clumsy. My opinion only. Dominick
Some serious set-ups! Good luck on your trips, please upload some photos or send them my way and I'll put them up for you. I'd like to do one of these trips next year. Enjoy!
and so i followed the boss mans advice. Hitched up line to trailer hitch and had better half drive slowly down the street. seemed like the atd 80w was smoother so that is my prime cannon, with 80 stw as backup. so far three trips. 3 bites on the big gun a quick run showing power and poof gone, a shark bite off and 100 lb sword. not many bites but the squid with 12"-15" tubes are not daily fare for footballs either. atd performed flawlessly and kicked butt and took a lot of names lol
that sword sure did taste great with lemon butter.