I just picked up a couple of used 6' and 6'6" beast master rods in the 30# to 40# class for trolling. I'll put a daiwa 20shv on one and load it up with some 50# pp I have laying around and put 30# mono topshot over it.

Sounds solid. I use 20-40 and 30-60 class rods. Usually run straight 30 mono with a 60 or 80 shock leader about 50 ft long. I

I like your #80 shock leader idea

There are 2 reasons i do that. 1, is tail whip from big fish and shark. 2, is when the fish are close to the boat they seem to fight harder so having the extra strength is helpfull.

I don't really troll that much, unless it's dragging some bait under a balloon when moving to a different spot, here on the upper coast (the blue water still eludes me ). We just paddle out and anchor up targeting bull reds and sharks. When the blue water finally calls my number, I'll be using the same rods.

I have rods rated 12-20lbs, 20-50lb and 30-60lb. The reels are spoold with braid (30-50lb) and then a short (15-20') pice of 50lb mono.

For years I used a Shimano 4500 Baitrunner spinning reel. It would hold almost 200 yards of 20 lb P Line mono and was never spooled offshore. It might take a little longer to get a big fish in but will handle about 99 percent of what you will run into. With the baitrunner feature it is hard to beat for live lining live bait. I didn't like using braid offshore as my hands were always wet and if bottom fishing you would always get hung up and have to cut 50 lb braid at surface. With 20 lb mono I could always break it off at hook without slicing my fingers off. Used it with a 7 foot medium heavy rated Star Rod. Using too heavy of a rod and reel will take the fun of catching most of the fish you'll be catching... kingfish, bonito, and sharks.

No longer made but you can find them on E Bay used in excellent condition for less than a 100 bucks. 20 lbs of drag which is more than enough for use in a kayak. Leadered a 200 lb bullshark in less than 30 minutes using one from kayak.



Whatever you use make sure your drag is in good working order. Nothing worse than having a big fish dive straight down at side of your kayak with drag too tight and spitting and sputtering out line.