"riverman" wrote in message
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SNIP
What do folks recommend?

--riverman



For a reel, the Okuma Airframe is hard to beat for light /medium SW fishing.
Cheap, corrosion proof, light ( Carbon fibre), and extremely reliable. You
wont be fishing for tuna I suppose? You may need to use Gelspun backing, in
order to get reasonable capacity. Thirty to thirty five feet of AFTM #12
line ( the front of a cheap DT) as a head, will set you up for most
situations. A floater, and an intermediate are most useful.
Bonefish, or heavy tarpon and the like will probably blow this reel
up pretty quickly, but it is cheap enough.

If you are after big game fish, then you need a completely different
class of gear, and it is very expensive. Reels like Pate, and Tibor
are then essential. Better to rent it and see what you like before
investing that much money.

If you are just after normal sal****er fish, mostly from the shore, etc
practically any medium to stiff action rod in the 9´6" to 10´ ( You are
a fairly big guy, so the ten footer should not be a problem) AFTM 7...9
will cover most bases. You can buy these cheap enough, almost anywhere.
Avoid reel seats with wooden spacers and the like, also those with aluminium
and other metal ( they tend to "Bind" when coated in salt). Go for plastic.
Fuji´s are about the best. Get an uplocking reel-seat, and if you can, get a
rod with an extension butt, ( detachable "fighting" butt), this can be
useful. Single foot rings are my preference.

You still have to wash the gear off in freshwater after every trip.

Avoid the brand names, they are all rather too expensive. Go for a "no-name"
Chinese, or Taiwanese rod. These are generally good quality, ( often direct
rip-offs of major brand names). and cheap enough. There are plenty of such
available in Hong Kong.

Don´t spend much money on the stuff. Use the cheap gear first, and see how
you get on with it. You may never have to change!

TL
MC