Right now my rod is a 14' cabelas bigwater collapsible surf rod and no reel yet. I was testing it out with a large catfish spinning reel with 65# braid spiderwire. I could get about 70 yards at best before the line kept catching funny on the spool.

What would be the best spinning reel for me to use to try getting out to the second gut? It seems like I am casting far enough, but it keeps catching weird. I would prefer to use spiderwire braid as my main line but am also open to use mono backing or something if that flies off the reel better.

You need one big DAIWA SURF SPINNING REEL,(look for in e-bay),15-20lb. main line and shock leader 20-30lb.

15-20lb will usually do the trick mate, however you could get away with 8lb depending on your circumstances with a leader (10lb to every 1oz ie 3oz=30lb 4oz=40lb etc) the length of the rod and drop to your rig with a good half dozen turns on the spool. also try clipping your rig down for more distance if you're just using the basic over head thump
hope this helps a little..

Yeah, both help a lot! Thanks!

I'm trying to stay versatile so I can target croaker, jacks, reds, and small sharks so about twenty should be enough. I was as BPS yesterday checking out reels and I kept going back to check out the big ole' daiwa they had... so that is a good sign. lol.

alot of guys here also use 'continenta' style rods,these being 15-17ft long and maybe three or four piece rods. therefore the effort needed is much less to gain a bigger distance, also, i aint sure if you guys do this or not but often if i fish two rods i'll fish one as far as i can knock it and fish the other 10-20yards into the breaking surf. more often than not i catch on the close range one catching flounders bass and codling and the takes can be explosive

oh i forgot to ask,can you pendulum cast??

Take a look here..
http://nickawaymedia.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1971
http://www.vimeo.com/2077685

Also a Cannon will help..
http://breakawayusa.com/shop/cannon.jpg

What kind of casting distance could the cannon add usually? Man I wish I saw those casting vids before I went to PINS, could of used it.

Who puts out decent quality 12-14' conventional rods? I have my avet on a 10' tsunami now but....

theres loads in the uk for all price ranges/ability's mate but i think the postage would kill it for you. not sure what you guys have available there?

Breakaway Rods are great rods for the money. There not cheap but not as much as a Zziplex,GLoomis,Lami or Century. Check out the HDX and call Nick at Breakaway. He is a stand up guy.

you guys have century rods there? they're made not too far from where i live

We have a few..Have to pay a arm,leg and another arm for one.
The rods we cast within our group are a TTR, WR300. Zziplex LT-14, XTR Ground Caster.

ttr is a monster of a rod and can bite back lol the others i know of but never used, what sort of money is a new ttr there?