9 days? howd we go from 11 to 9 in 1 day? just kidding

I think Im going to have to buy a new setup for jigging on this trip, IF only I can make up my mind!

Allen, did you see that setup Kil was jigging with? I throw bigger gear for trout in the surf! He said that little JM PE4 would get 25# of drag. I am thinking about getting an outfit like that just to shock people when I haul in a big fish.

yeah, he let me "handle" it, it looked sweet, I have to admit Im about >< close to buying that exact reel, or maybe the avet sx raptor
they are a little high at 515 and 439 but, I have to say being able to pull ~25# of drag and still have free spool, in a reel that size would be great! they'll hold 300ish yards of 65# spectra, should be more than enough for all but the biggest brutes we'd run into in the gulf. incidentally, the jm pe5 is rated at 25lbs strike and 50 lbs max and the avet at 17 strike to 25 full.

Im thinking that if I get a new baby jigging combo, I may actually jig more, as it is, thats probably my least favorite way of catching tuna, I only do it when nothing else is working or I want to wake up!. With the appropriate setup, this might end up eating into my topwater time!

so many decisions, the jm reel looks sweet, has better drag etc but, will service be an issue? I can tear down an avet in no time flat and have parts here next day if needed, with a JM reel, what would that be like.

I am anxiously waiting for the various raptors too. SX is smaller than I want, because I want a topshot. I like the Avets simplicity, and I want a two speed. If the LX raptor gets close to 30# of drag at strike, that's my next reel no matter what it costs.

For a tuna jigger, I guess 17# at strike is fine. But I jig bottom fish too so I want more to put the brakes on them and 2spd to winch them out. Maybe I do need both. :-)

you can get both reels now, I have to say hossing in an aj on an sx would be an amazing feat!!! Im leaning to get the sx raptor, I figure if im tuna jigging Ill leave it on strike, but if im bottom fishing ill crank it up to full, and see what it can do. Im still totally up in the air though. the JM reel just seems too bling bling for me, Im a pretty simple fisher, I just want it to preform, I dont really care what it looks like (theres a reason some of my rods dont have butt wraps)

I have to say that I think either one will be a good choice, now I just need to make up my mind (in a weeks time) actually, its more like a days time since they both need to be shipped.

Avet also has the Mag-ed Casting Narrow Jig Hoo X or HXJ 5/2 MC Jigging Reel.. Magnetic Cast control and 2 speed... that is a heck of a reel.

Ok, I just did it, ordered a blue avet sx raptor, serial #39
Gonna be loaded with 300 yds of 60# jb hollow

Im going to be aiming for a YFT with this reel, I dont care if I have to chunk with it! LOL

I just realized that my avet exw 4/0 (giant size) reel has the exact same factory drag specs as this baby killer. of course Ive upped the factory drags on the exw4/0 but still, this should be a fun time!! for the record, I swear that if I get hooked up on this reel and it cant do the job, I will instantly cut the line when it impacts others fishing (or my arms fall off)!

Look forward to seeing your bling jig. I have a rookie question. I just received a spool of 80lb hollow, if I unroll it on a football field to mark it every 50 ft for depth finding will I hurt anything?

The question on smaller reels with large drag ratings is "will they hold up." I got into that once. Started with an honest 24 pounds of drag and ended with 12 (twelve) pounds of drag. The question is can the reel sustain the drag over a long fight?

BTW: I used my Avet pro for amberjack.

Darn hard to do this accurately, hollow tends to strech a little the further you go( anywhere from 4 to 7 %).

Nah wont hurt a thing, mine are marked but, actually was done in my garage 25' at a time (marked every 50')

Jerry is right though the spectra will stretch a little bit when dry, but its not really important as its all relative, as you'll likely only know that the fish are marked at 200' and youll know you got bit at 5 marks that might be 250' out but how far down? if there is current it could be anywhere from 100 to 250' down. as long as you know it wont matter.

Also, here's a tip, mark your line in a way that you know which mark your at with a simple glance. invariably youll take your eye off the line while its going out and not know whether your at 100' or 200' (chatting or moving while someone is fighting a fish in front of where you used to be)

This is the primary reason I havent switched to depthfinder line, as its a simple repeating color pattern, I dont know if I can keep that straight, I can easily see my dashes and knots on the line as it goes out though, that and im at least somewhat cheap

Agree, its not so much knowing how deep you are as it is getting back to whatever depth you just hooked up. I count, some mark lines. I have even seen people hold the line so it piles up on one side as they fight the fish so they know dropping back down to go just below the pile.

Allen congrats on the reel. You may end to fighting at max drag but I am anxious to see if the reel can handle it too. What rod are you going to put it on? I checked and the raptor lx is not going to be out for a while. The HX is next to be 'raptorized.'

Snagged thank you for the input on stretch in hollow, I appreciate it very much. I hadnt thought about the drift and not being straight down but that makes perfect common sense (although sense doesn't seem to be to common). I think I will mark the line as I dont think I am talented enough to count while my jig sinks and talk to someone at the same time.

Is anyone giving tropical depression Henri a second thought?

i laid out a tape measure on my first jig combo and spent hours marking the line..... honestly.. i never used it.. I would let the jig out until it stopped(fish hit) or until I counted to a certain number...

and bazz taught me the pull 2 foot of line at a time thing, for vertical jiggin in the daytime. (grab at the reel and pull out until you hit the first guide,with your hand, and thats about 2'.. do this 50 times and you are at 100' deep.

never mention weather related topics before a fishing trip.... bad juju. you must now contact Dr Sharks psychoanalysist in southern africa(hes the one with the purple balls) to do a snake dance and sacrifice a chicken to the weather gods...

Weather? Who was talking about weather? I was referring to my state of mind ever since I decided to go on this trip. My depression has been disappearing as we get closer to the date. BTW, my middle name is Henri...

Does anyone know if Fisherman's Wharf has a place to store empty 150 qt. coolers while we are out fishing? We don't have a vehicle to secure our coolers in. Thanks!

I have a topper on my truck and you are welcome to store a few in it, if any one else needs to store somthing just let me know and I will try to make room.

We usually bring 4 150 qt coolers, two for each of us coming from the Austin area. They fill up the bed of Marlin's truck (no topper) so will you have enough room? Sure do appreciate the offer.

I assume they are letting us take a cooler onboard? Marlin and I usually share one large cooler on the boat so we'll need to store the other 3 coolers.

Tying some wind-ons tonight! It almost tuna time!

They should fit.

Yes, you can take a cooler on board. Deckhands are around to carry it up to the top for you also.

Four 150qt coolers. I like the way ya'll think!

Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" for a TUNA HAUL!!

i bet thats an understatement... I have a stinkin sucspicion that yous guys will have a meat haul from heck!

I have a topper you're welcome to store stuff under as well, Ive seen people put 2 150qts in the front seat of a cab and a half truck and it never seems to be an issue.

Also, Im not going to talk about the weather but, I am going to post some links that may be of use

http://www.stormsurf.com/4cast/mht/gom.html
http://www.stormsurf.com/cgi-bin/uf.cgi?ID=wna.42019.bull.6.png

http://www.lajollasurf.org/images/caanim.gif

http://swellwatch.wetsand.com/#place=24.126701958681668_-87.93457_5_1486_height_none_Sat_-1

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/latest_run/wna_ecg.anim.gif


http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/WestGulf.shtml
http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=GC&program=Maps