"Rob2" wrote in message .au...
It's all a bit of a compromise. I suppose the first question I
should be asking is how much line do you need to catch a reasonable
size marlin? As we'll be stand-up fishing, anything more that 80lb
line would be pointless. A 50W reel can fit 550yds of 80lb mono.
Is 550yds enough? We'll be chasing them down with the boat, but as
I assume marlin can swim at least as quick as sailfish and obviously
pull a lot harder, I reckon 550 sounds a bit light on.

I could go 50lb, but not only would I be reducing my chances of
landing one, I'm not happy with the thought of killing one by
fighting it for too long.

That gives two options - use a bigger reel or use a thinner line.
The thought of stand-up fishing with a 3kg+ winch doesn't hold much
appeal, so I'd prefer to limit the reel size to a 50W.

I've had plenty of experience with both braid & dacron, but no
experience with marlin. I use dacron for sharks, macks & tuna, and
when bottom bouncing I use braid (stick a bit of sticking plaster on
my thumb). In both cases I use a bimini double attached to a swivel
with a cats paw). I then just clip on whatever leader is
appropriate for what I'm chasing. The sailfish I've caught have
been on mono though.

I've just bought a 24-37kg stick with roller guides, so shouldn't be
any problem winding a join on. My dilemma is what kind of join in
what kind of line.

Rob

Rob,

If your looking for Tuna, a 50 is just fine, and if the Marlin are
small, say under 300 pounds, the 50 will do also. But if the marlin
run larger than that, and your not a highly skilled light tackle guy,
with a boat, and a captian, that can really chase a fish, I would go
with the larger reel with the higher line capacity. I've always been
amazed at the runs a marlin can make, and if a big one comes along,
and your on a stand up 50, well, just remenber, ice first, then heat,
he's going to cause you some pain.

I still remember a Blue Marlin five years ago or so that hit a bent
butt 130 that was fought from a full size chair that took such a hard
run that he stood the angler up in the chair, we never stopped him, he
almost stripped that 130 with 200 pound test line and 50 pounds of
drag. He partially straightened a very large hook on that run, that's
how we lost him, we were going in reverse as fast as we could. When it
was over, we were all stunned, from start to finish the fight probably
lasted 2 or 3 minutes. Had that fish hit a 50 it would have been
stripped before we even got it out of the rod holder. When we know
their's big blues around, the 50's get put away. Because you know what
happens when you have all the big stuff out and only one small rod
out. Which rod get's hit?

At least with the larger reel you can increase the drag enought to
slow him down and wear him out. And you can probably get away with
more mistakes you or the captian make. A shorter fight is better for
you, and the fish, if you intend to release him.