Does anyone know which is better for surf fishing, casting or spinning reels? I am planning on using a 12 foot rod and will be surf fishing Padre Island. Recommendations on line weight would also be welcome.

is the rod for spinning or casting? go with what its made for. The action of the rodis different for spinning and casting, so if you mix the reels up youll have it o the wrong side.


i prefer casting myself. good luck finding a reasonabley piced 12+foot casting rod. All the ones i find have MASSIVE diameter handles, and i dont care for fishing wiht them......

Son, you should fish with what you are comfortable with. If you can cast a bait cast with a 12' rod in the surf then all the power to you. Doesn't really matter what anybody says, it's how you feel that counts.

I like Johnnie Walker Red, but they tell me that Blue is much better. I have tried the Blue and even if the price were the same I would continue to buy Red. See what I�m saying here son?
It's all a matter of preference. Sounds to me as though you have two kinds of reels. Why not take both of them?

If I were to come on to this here site and ask these kids what kind of Scotch I should drink the answers would all be different. Doesn't really matter what anybody says because I am still going to choose Johnnie Walker Red. That is what I am comfortable with, same dilemma you are having with your reels. Figure these things out on your own and it will make you a better fisherman.

Now line wait is going to once again play into what reel you are using.

Good Day

It does make a difference as to which kind of reel you use. It is tough to launch a 12ft rod with a spinning reel, unless you wear some kind of glove on your fingers that hold the line. Loading a 12ft rod puts quite a bit of tension on the line and its not fun to cast a 12ft rod w/spinning reel if it is loaded with braid. The braid feels like it will cut your finger off, so you end up not casting the rod as far as you could. Casting reel on the other hand, load her up and watch the bait fly! The only problem I ever have with a baitcast on a long rod is the spool burning my thumb a little while I try to keep some pressure on the spool.
Get what you are best at and adjust according.

I appreciate the input. I am looking at the 7000 Ambassadeur with 20lb. test. Any thoughts?

thats a bit small on the line cap. If you run braided though it will work, but i would recommend a ten or 11' rod. There a little more controlabell at that length IMO for your average guy. i wouldnt do a 12foot caster over 11' unless your over 6 foot and have a pretty hefty weight. However in a spinning rod, 12-13 is a good length. Longre is not ALWAYS better.


look at the penn 309's as well. take the leve wind off and the have a better line cap with about the same heavy bait casting capacity. it all depends on what your fishing for, how far away, and how much $$ you have.it may take you to or three times to find a surf rod style and height your comfortable with. It took me three shots to find the rod/reel size and type combo i liked.

i'd look at a Penn 555 GS series reel with the Penn Powerstick guide series surf rod. personally i don't and won't use less than 30# line in the surf.

In one of the forums, some guys were talking about using Penn 209, 309, and the senator, you can get these pretty cheap on ebay. I would consider a 10-12 foot rod. you may be able to use a soft leather glove (golf glove) for casting so you don't burn you thumb. plus they have a clicker so that you don't have to watch your rod as much.

the 555 is definetly a better alternative to either the 309 or the 7000

order of prefernceof those 3:

555
309
7000

the senator is to big for my tastes, and if you going to spring for the levelwind, get the 309. Dont worry about buying and extremely nice rig until your sure tyou wantto get into it, though. You may find you dont like fishng the urf much, and spending to much on a pure surf rig would be bad.

personally i use a 4/0 high-speed senator and a 7' offshore rod. i find that a glove inhibits casting ability. personally i just pour some cool clean water on the line and spool to keep it clean and cool

the topic I was refering to was "some penn questions" under Inshore Fishing.