Your post wasn't directed at me but I'll chime in here and say 20+ lb. red snappers aren't that rare. I've caught a number of them and all with the Torium 30 I recommended in the beginning.

So if a guy wanted to go on a tuna safari trip on a party boat, what rods and reels should he invest in? Lures as well?

On day trips I would also suggest using the reel clamps. You probably dont need them for the fishing but its not unheard of for the reel to disappear off the rod upon returning to port. The clamp makes it harder for thieves to remove quickly and its much more difficult to conceal a six foot rod in your pants for most people.

Tuna safari basic setup BUT this is absolutely not a must.
One 20 or 30 size reel with 80 pound rod for trolling/chuncking/bottom fishing
One jigging reel with rod
One casting reel with rod for popping and swimbaits (commonly a spinner for GOM fisherman)

Strongly encourage you borrow if possible before buying because until you take a few trips and try out different setups you wont know for sure what YOU like.
My first trips I only took one setup. A Daiwa Saltist 50 with a 60 pound live bait rod. In retrospect, wish I had purchased a Daiwa Saltist 30 and jigging rod for 150-250 gram jigs. However, I still had a superb time and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Be careful you can end up with a bunch of nice stuff and not enough time or money to use it properly.

I�ve gotten crappy rods the last couple times I�ve been on Texas party boats. The last time the front handle on the rod was free turning and the line was horribly nicked-up. I lost a pretty good fish and said never again.

I bought myself an Okuma Fishing SLR-30II Solterra 2-Speed Graphite Lever Drag reel and a decent 30-50 pund test rod. 2 speed because I�m older and a couple of trips ago I got throughly whipped by a large yellow fin tuna that was hanging out behind a shrimp boat.

I�m heading out this Friday and need some help on line size. I know the party boat deck hands don�t like braid because it tends to cut other lines. I know they lean towards big mono because it is cheap and provides a margin of safety with their less than prime equipment and largely inexperienced customers. It also simplifies dealing with tangled lines.

What size mono line should I fill the reel with? The reel holds 540 yds of 40lb test
Max drag @ strike w/ freespool- 26lbs, Max drag @ full w/ freespool- 33-Pound
Gear ratio 3.8:1/1.7:1 with 35-Inch and 15-Inch line retrieve.

Do you think line color makes much difference in line this big? If not, I could see some advantage in choosing something other than clear so that my line would stand out from other lines in a tangle or just generally if we were drift fishing.

Thanks in advance for the help.

I have used it all and tend to use heavier equipment, line color I have seen it all used and yes it easier with a different color to un tangle. If possible in a tangle and I can get to my leader I cut it off and retie it is usually much faster to get back fishing, usually it seems to me to be the same ones getting tangled with others , Dacron line is horrible as it floats and if someone is not watching it BAADDD stuff happens, I am not bashful to cut mine loose at all and sometimes other lines have to be sacrificed also. I use heavier tackle as stated, party boat tackle of mine is a 6/0 Senator with 80# mono with steel cable leader and an Avet 30w with 100# mono with same leader. On longer trips than 12 hr I have taken my 9/0. I do fish large baits not the boat squid. In 2010 I caught 38 sharks on 1 trip on the 9/0! It was my best trip. Largest was 7'1" Blacktip, all released.

Someone mentioned that he hasn't found a better way than the party boats for the average guy to get offshore. I would much rather split a full day trip with 3 other guys on a charter boat and not have to mess with [censored] gear and 60 other people.
Even if you have to set up the trip on here with people you don't know.

Where do I find people to share an offshore charter?

There must be a website to help folks that want to go, but don't have enough folks for a charter by themselves.

Where do I find people to share an offshore charter?

There must be a website to help folks that want to go, but don't have enough folks for a charter by themselves.

I would put out an ad here or 2coolfishing or call guides directly and tell them you'd like to split a trip and he may know of people.
Won't be as easy as just showing up at the party boat but it can be done.

I do fish that same boat!
I always use my own stuff.
Penn 309M reels with rods to match reels.40 lb test line..Never had a fish break off except spooled by a large shark once..Boated 40lb kings and lings and 200 lb sharks with these reels and 40 lb line.
stainless steel wire leader 3ft with 3 hook rig..1-2 oz egg sinkers above brass barrel swivels..
live or dead bait or ribbon fish .
Large stainless and gold spoons...fish off bottom...or snapper slappers jigs-blue/white--pink/white
Or large diamond jigs in blue mackerel color..
fish off bottom like you would a fresh water slab..tip your snapper slappers with herring or shad

BEst advise for using charter boat reels. When you get on a boat and get a reel ask the deck hand for some cutters and cut off about 10 ft of line and re rig the weight and hook. Ive seen other people have brake offs because of chaffed line.

Boat tackle is a lot like a cheap hooker. It might be younger than it looks it's just had too many dirty hands all over it all day, everyday. Quick 10 second rinse after one job and ready for the next. Also you definately don't want your friends to see you with it, well unless they use it too.

But I hate being second....or 12th!

Now there is an analogy I will never forget.

It's a good thing you and me don't know what cheap hookers are like ... huh Bryan?