Anyone cast their Senators?

[biggiesmalls]

Does anybody use a 3/0 or a 4/0 for surf casting? Looking into getting one of these for my next project - I'd be using it for casting to sharks, and possibly bull reds. Full set of upgrades would go into it - new handle arm and grip, SS gear sleeve, new drag stack, and more than likely powder coating (now that I know what can and can't be powder coated). I'd load it with 300 yards of 50# braid, and then top it off with 30# mono.

Also - planning on a 4/0 or a 4/0W project as well. This will be loaded with 100 pound braid and probably a topshot of 80 pound mono, used for bigger fish from a boat - stingrays, sharks, grouper, cobia, and maybe others. Won't be getting a one-piece aluminum frame, but it'll get all the other goods (drag, gear sleeve, handle, etc). Going on a 6'6" solid glass thorhammer.

Let me know what you think
-Drew

[thorhammer]

Both will cast but are way overkill for a drum. At OBX the little 525 Mag's routinely park drum over 50 lbs. Your limiter in casting any reel is really your handspan to hold the spool down, then educating your thumb. I was able to get 50 yds out of a 9/0 with a lb of lead but that isn't really practicable.  Remember you have that Daiwa 50...all aluminum and about the same as a 3/0. Carbontex drags and fish it. They are very castable and a great choice for what you want.

Next best bet is a 990 or 980 Magpower. 4/0 drags and will really sling if you do the bearings.

[biggiesmalls]

I'm wanting to stick with a Penn - never actually bought that Daiwa 50, I'm OCD and already have Penn spinners so I'm planning to keep everything Penn for now. It'll be mostly for sharks - if I end up getting a bull red on the setup it'll be fun, but the setup's designed to be used for sharks. I was worried about the frame torquing on the GS and the MAG series - but a 555MAG or 555GS was up near the top of my list, before I heard about this.

[Decker]

I have the Penn Mag 980, which is good for casting, with magnetic control.   I'm not much of a reel geek (or sharker), but my understanding from various notes on the site is that it is as strong as a 113H, yet it is more compact for casting.  Or why not a Jigmaster?   

[oc1]

The quintessential squidder was designed to surf cast for drum and stripers.  No Penn-head would be without one.
-steve

[thorhammer]

Don't worry about torqueing a Magpower; it has solid bars and you'd torque a 3/0 first most likely. You may be in the dirt first. The larger GS's are also very castable; I got a hundo easily with 545 and 20 lb mono. Sorry, I thought you had the 50 in-hand.

There isn't a 555 Mag, unless you have it magged. I recall UK got some 535 and maybe 545's but rare as hen's teeth here. Keep in mind learning to throw any baitcaster, let alone a conventional reel, at night with wind, waves and bait  is a different matter entirely than flat ground in afternoon. Buy a big spool of line, magged or not....9500ss...

[Bryan Young]

Hi Drew,

Yes the 3/0 and 4/0 can be used in surf casting. We even use 6/0 reels in surf casting in Hawaii, but not for me. I don't have large enough hands for the 6/0 reel.

Those reels for 30# top seems a bit large. I would steer you towards a jigmaster instead. Much easier to cast than a 3/0 or 4/0. Plus the cost of the braid to fill those two reels.

And the 4/0 or wide. 80# is much for the 4/0. Better suited is a 6/0 reel with the line strength you are talking about.

[Alto Mare]

Yes there are some that cast their Senators, this guy does it best:
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9570.msg87518#msg87518

Sal

[Gfish]

Guys Surfcasting from the shore on this island(kaua'i) are usually goin after GT's(ulua) and usin ~6oz. Wt. with a slider hook rig(with live bait, usually reef fish)and the most commonly used reel seems to be a 4/0. Many are HLW's and a fair number have upgrades(esp. Newell stuff). Me, I'mna take my chances with a surfcast-designed-spinner ana 10.5 ft Loomis that I can chuck lures with, hopefully without gettin too tired. If I's gonna go to a Senator it'ed be a 4/0, but I'd really wanna strenghen it with a non-post frame( half or full frame). Also, I'd probably mag it( magnets glued to inside of the tail plate) as the start-up of the spool at the beginning of the cast can backlash ya quickly on these conventionals.
Gfish

[Army_of_One]

Guys Surfcasting from the shore on this island(kaua'i) are usually goin after GT's(ulua) and usin ~6oz. Wt. with a slider hook rig(with live bait, usually reef fish)and the most commonly used reel seems to be a 4/0. Many are HLW's and a fair number have upgrades(esp. Newell stuff). Me, I'mna take my chances with a surfcast-spinner ana 10.5 ft Loomis that I can chuck lures with, hopefully without gettin too tired. If I's gonna go to a Senator it'ed be a 4/0, but I'd really wanna strenghen it with a non-post frame( half or full frame). Also, I'd probably mag it( magnets glued to inside of the tail plate) as the start-up of the spool at the beginning of the cast can backlash ya quickly on these conventionals.
Gfish

I agree Gfish.  I've never been good at casting conventionals though.  The taller rod helps keep the line above the wave break that happens near shore, and I can pendulum cast pretty well now, so I don't have to wade in anymore.  I've pulled baby blacktips on my 12 ft. penn rod with a stock 6500 SSV, on 20 lb flouro drop rigs.  I was hoping for pompano, but it seems sharks like sand fleas too.   

[Gfish]

Yes there are some that cast their Senators, this guy does it best:
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9570.msg87518#msg87518

Sal

Deiter's one my reel repair hero's, for steppin over a line that I've been tempted by many times but, I just couldn't pull the trigger.
Gfish

[David Hall]

Hey I thought there was a no politics rule on this site?
I'd like to cast my senator into a crocodile pit!

[Shark Hunter]

Sand Fleas for Sharks?
That sounds like a fish story.

[Army_of_One]

Sand Fleas for Sharks?
That sounds like a fish story.

I have the pictures on Toni's phone.  I think we caught three that day.  That's also when I dropped one short of the surf and used a sand flea rake to get him back in the water. 

[theswimmer]

Try a 2/0  or a 3/0 .
My Grandpa could huck a 2/0 as far as any Jigmaster...
Best,
JT