Can a senator 6/0 handle it? The low gear ratio is a plus in my book, but at what point or size of bft would using the senator 6/0 be detrimental? With all the bft bites here in San Diego we set up some heavy trolling rods with 6/0s and will test it out this weekend. If you have experience fighting tuna with these venerable senators please share.
I'm thinking a beefed up 114h? You could but I'd want a good size 2 speed with 80-100 lb if I had a choice. It would be easier in a skiff if you can use the boat to your advantage. On a party boat you'd have your hands full but plenty of big tuna were killed with those back in the day.
What do you mean by beefed up? The 114H has the same drive train as a 9/0, and loads of big fish were caught with them. An aluminum frame, SS sleeve and carbontex drag stack would you pull on that reel about as hard as you can standing up, so the question is having a rod that can load to the reel strength rather than have you slugging it out on your muscle with a broomstick. I caught a 250 lb, 8 foot shark on a 114HLW and I pulled on it hard enough to permanently torque a solid glas Magnaflex rod out of alignment trying to get the fish off the bottom. BFT is gonna pull harder than most sharks it size more than likely, but you get the point. Were me I'd load with 100lb braid and 130 topshot and give a try
Can it be done? Yes. Would it be my first choice? No.
The BFT this year have been real line shy. This is normal for BFT but this year it seems more so. If you have been keeping a eye on the fish counts you will see that more fish are being lost after being hooked than landed. This is not strange but the lost fish numbers seem to be way up this year. People are having to step down to 25-30 lb fluorocarbon just to get bit. There has been some landed on the heavier line but not a lot. For whatever reason the BFT don't seem to be biting the flat fall jigs or the yummy fliers well this year so light line and bait has been the norm. The season is still in it's early stage so this could change. So a reel that can hold lots of 25-40 lb line should work and a 6/0 will cover that.
Like Swami I'd choose a 2 speed. The lower gear in the 6/0 is good once the fish is strait up and down. BFT once hooked many times will rip off line and head toward the surface, change directions several times when on top, massive head shakes, charge the boat and such. This is where a higher speed is nice to keep up with the fish and keep the line tight.
I'd think so, but I'd want the HLW model for more line capacity.
no, i'd go with a good quality two speed, a makaira 20 or visx 20, for 100# braid and topshot. :-\
Well, since you are asking about the 6/0 and not comparing to any other reels, it could absolutely handle BFT in 100# range.
Sal
Tell this guy he is using the wrong reel !! Lol Stock 6/0 East coast on Yankee Fleet long time ago. John Taylor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1KAZw12lwA&t=216s
Yep, and while I haven't landed a 100lber on it, I have boated a couple in the 70-80lb range on my beefed up 6/0. It was a walk in the park for it.
https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=10286.0
One of these days I'll get a chance to deep drop to swords with it. I have no doubt it will handle that mechanically, but the gear ratio of the PC gears may make it a "challenge".
With all due respect to everyone I'm not sure you are getting what's going on with the BFT bite here in So Cal at this time. This year it has been a light line fishery, really light. Many times 40 lb fluoro won't get touched so you need to drop down in test. I spent 45 minutes on a estimated 90 lb plus BFT. Silly me I left the 30 and 35 lb fluoro at home so I jumped from 40 lb to 25 lb on another setup as I didn't have anything to fill the gap. As soon as I'm bit the captain comes out of the wheelhouse and says "Mark what are you fishing"? I say "Jeff we are going to loose this fish".
I was fishing my modded SLSH 20 with 300 yards of 40 lb braid to the 25 lb fluoro topper. The reels 6/1 gears really didn't help but I got the fish to gaff range. The deckhand says just two more cranks and we will stick this pig. I mean the gaff was in the water just waiting which most deckhands don't do until it is time to stick a fish. This fish was right there, not at deep color, not 10 yards from the boat but just right out of gaff range. I pull hard and get one crank the deckhand is leaning over ready to stick the fish and then the sound of SNAP/POW of the fish gaining it's freedom. Was I mad? You bet but not because the fish got away but because I knew right from the start I was under gunned. It only took 45 minutes to loose this fish and in reality it should of been gone in less than 10 minutes.
When people talk about 60-80 lb toppers or heavier it sounds great but in reality most of BFT at this time here wont bite the heavier line with bait.
I charter mastered a 3 day trip on the SOA that went for 20 years strait and our target was BFT if any were to be had. I have caught my share on all types of setups but right now it is a light line fishery. Take this for what it is worth and nothing more.
Good luck on your trip and I'm glad to see you on the AT site.
We actually had some blue fin show up here in the Monterey Bay. No one has live bait, so the private boats are trolling cedar plugs 200 yards behind the boat. It's all heavy troll gear up here. Very tough fishing.
To everyone, thank you for all the input. A lot to digest mentally as I just got back to the computer. I do have a penn fathom 40n2ld and the 2 speed is awesome with yellowtail, we will be trying for BFT soon do I will bring that too. Time to read the replies and watch that video.
BTW mine just has an accurate frame and the cf drag stack from here.
If I's thinkin of doin it, I'd ask myself: "is it worth it to take an increased chance that I might lose the fish"? Cost of trip? Cost of a new reel like a Makaira-2 speed 20(Allen's suggestion)?, etc., etc.
Personally, I've never caught BFT, but it sounds like the "shy bite/light leader conditions" would warrent a reel with more finesse...
Quote from: SevenYearsDown on May 15, 2019, 10:50:18 PM
To everyone, thank you for all the input. A lot to digest mentally as I just got back to the computer. I do have a penn fathom 40n2ld and the 2 speed is awesome with yellowtail, we will be trying for BFT soon do I will bring that too. Time to read the replies and watch that video.
Heck yes, bring that FTM40NLD2. I use mine for 60 lb topshots and if the fish start to bite the jigs again this reel will be great for that. Also it seems to be a late bite into the dark, what we would call a "sun down screamer". When the sun goes down break out the FTM40 with a 60lb topper and good luck.
I'm on a 2 1/2 day next weekend and we'll spend at least the first day looking for BFT. I'm taking 20, 30, 40, 60# rigs plus a jig stick and an extra reel with 50#. My best BFT was 85# on 30#. It doesn't sound like you need the heavy artillery. The fish hitting flat falls have been 50-60#ers. Most are coming on bait with small hooks.
Hi guys, Some good experienced comments here.
FWIW from my experience and to answer to the initial question, I can only relay my personal experience with the 6/0.
I have landed a 75lb BFT on a stock standard 6/0,,,,, and have landed a 70lb kingfish on a stock standard 4/0,
The 4/0 was worse for wear after the 70lb kingfish, in fact i thought I was going to honestly break the reel, such was the pressure being put
on the old girl, it was near new and was in the early 80's, I was on my own boat at the time, so I was well prepared to take my time and couldn't
of cared less about my fishing mates having to wind up there gear and wait till my time was done. The BFT on the 6/0, was trolling a skirt and in all
honesty, the reel handled it brilliantly, I admit previous BFT on my 50 internationals were done a lot quicker and with less effort and I suppose a lot less
risk of loosing the fish, I wouldn't have done this on a charter I admit.
Because of these experiences and my luv of Penns, I'm currently pimping out 2- 113h's and a 113h wide, and a 114h, purely to target Kingfish and
BFT of this size. I figure that yes, I would be far better off if they take the 2 internationals I also use in my spread, but pimped up and far stronger than
original stock reels, I know they will do the job and secretly hoping they take one of the senators !!!!!
My choice is not for everyone, So my answer to them is go buy a 2 speed modern reel that will probably do it a lot easier in all aspects,,,,
But, where's the challenge in that ;D
So, yet to land one on a pimped up 6/0, But yes, they will handle it if you fish to the reel.......
Col
I was thinking, what reel, used under $350 should I look for. Would a penn international 12t that has been blue printed and 2spd work? Is that equal to or better than the fathom?
While some people might want more capacity, I think you will be very well equipped with that 2 speed international.
Ron Jones
for that price range you might find a 30SW- one of my all time favorites, and will hold a ton of 100lb braid plus topshot, so capacity is no issue. Just be sure about drag numbers of any 12 you look at- I'm not sure what they put out if blueprinted.
Quote from: MarkT on May 19, 2019, 07:47:27 PM
I'm on a 2 1/2 day next weekend and we'll spend at least the first day looking for BFT. I'm taking 20, 30, 40, 60# rigs plus a jig stick and an extra reel with 50#. My best BFT was 85# on 30#. It doesn't sound like you need the heavy artillery. The fish hitting flat falls have been 50-60#ers. Most are coming on bait with small hooks.
I'm curious about how much line you need to not get spooled when fishing 85# BFT on 30 lb line? Mark, how much line would you guess that fish took?
Thanks, Greg
this is a bluefin that taped out at 93 pounds, landed in 15 minutes on 30 pound seaguar blue label fluoro with 15 pounds of drag. the reel was a penn torque 15 2-speed lever drag with 50 pound braid (not sure how much). the rod was a phenix black diamond hybrid 833MH.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/28/1_17_07_19_11_05_25_28723921.jpeg)
Quote from: Gfish on May 13, 2019, 07:05:59 PM
I'd think so, but I'd want the HLW model for more line capacity.
Funny you should mention that . . .
I have a 114 HLW and a 114 H ( chrome over brass spool ) and I was curious one day.
The 114 H was empty and I was going to change the line on the HLW, so I used the 114H to strip the line off the HLW.
To my surprise, the 114 H held ALL of the line off the HLW, perfectly.
This leads me to believe that Penn created the HLW, once they discovered that the Aluminum Spool reduced line capacity, significantly. I was astonished !
This is true for the 114 HLW and, I suspect that it may also be true for the 113 HLW ( 4/0 ).
Tight Lines !
Dave F.
Quote from: Hunter5 on August 23, 2019, 01:49:52 AM
Quote from: MarkT on May 19, 2019, 07:47:27 PM
I'm on a 2 1/2 day next weekend and we'll spend at least the first day looking for BFT. I'm taking 20, 30, 40, 60# rigs plus a jig stick and an extra reel with 50#. My best BFT was 85# on 30#. It doesn't sound like you need the heavy artillery. The fish hitting flat falls have been 50-60#ers. Most are coming on bait with small hooks.
I'm curious about how much line you need to not get spooled when fishing 85# BFT on 30 lb line? Mark, how much line would you guess that fish took?
Thanks, Greg
I was using an Accurate dx2-400 with 270 yds of 65# spectra and a 30# topshot. I took a dull knife to a gunfight and won anyway! I went around the boat 7 times, 5 times under than anchor line. The fish stayed near the surface until the very end.
On the 2 1/2 day this year I got a 30# BFT on 20# using a Fathom 12. I got a 60# BFT on a 2 day in June on with a Colt Sniper using 50# on a Saltiga 40ld2.
Mark , what is your opinion of the Daiwa Saltiga 40ld2?
I like it. It was my 50# reel a couple of weeks ago on the Cedros trip. I also caught a 60# BFT 5 years ago on it fishing a sardine on 40#.
Nice! Personally the Saltiga 2 speeds are my favorite!
Reconsidering it, what would your personal cost/benefit ratio be, for landing a hooked Bluefin? Thinkin about the time, effort, cost and thrill of success, etc. A pound of Bluefin ranges from 20 - 40$. I've never yet had the opportunity to get one. I think I'd wanna use the best reel I could afford for onea these prized critters.
Still there is very large BFT on the backside of San Clemente. Well large for us anyway, over 300 lbrs have been caught and several long range boats out of SD have been there for about 2 weeks now. Not the same boats but it seems the LR fleet is looking hard at the island.
The larger models are on the yummy fliers, rigged flying fish and a couple on the double trouble rigs.
These are flown on a kite for the most part, sometimes a few balloons can be used when the weather is right but that's not the case right now. Meaning large reels, most often 50 wide reels, spectra backed and two speed. I don't think a boat would even let you fish anything less than that when looking at these fish.
You could fish a reel like that while soaking bait but the odds are way against you. On the kite it just won't happen even if you really want to use a your 6/0. The captain and crew would never put that reel on a kite setup.
100 lbers...well maybe, but right now those are being caught on 30 lb test when a person is lucky enough to get it in gaff range.