AboutKit Belen Expertise I can help with tackle making questionsinshore/offshore fishing from trolling,drifting, bottom fishing,light to heavy stand up style fishing, SoCAl iron, japanese vertical jigging,surf/shore/rock fishing...done it all!!!
Been a Pro at one time and I used to produce my own lures for trolling and I tie my own jigs and flies as well. More importantly, I'm always glad to help.
Experience I was a professional guide and a tackle manufacturer, was taken under the wing of a retaired marlin skipper who showed me the ropes and later joined the tournament circuit in my country.
I have put those on hold to pursue a career in the corporate world, but I still fish regularly and make my own lures and flies...I get the chance to travel the world and fish all around. I have experience on making the most out of fishing situations like when you have to fish on boats that are not designed for sportfishing. I generally make things challenging just to see how things tick, along the way, you would be amazed at what you learn.
Education/Credentials I hold a Marketing Degree and am currently work for a hotel company in the eMarketing and Communications field, here in Dubai, UAE.
I had undergraduate studies in Business Administration, Psychology and Economics.
Question I would like to try swordfishing off of West Palm Beach during the day. I can't afford a 400 dollar reel. I purchased a Senator 114. It will hold 1500 yards of 100 lb braid. An article I read recommends 1500 yards of 150 lb braid as a top shot to 300 yards of 80 mono. The real holds about 900 yards of 150 braid. I am leaning towards spooling 1500 yards of 100 lb braid. The bottom will be 900-1200 feet. Am I making a mistake going with more line at a lower test? I have been in the Gulf Stream and caught swordfish at night in my 19 foot Key West, but the boat is small and I would rather be out there with boats in the area during the day.
Answer Hi Bill,
Thanks for asking.
heres a really good solution for you: the Penn Metal Senator 114. it retails for around $250, has a max drag of 30lbs, built like a tank, doesn't use a bridge plate so it has better structural integrity.
not a $400 reel, and you still have money left over for your braid.
Now for the main answer. you set the drags of the reels at 1/3 (at the most) and 1/4 (at the last) of the breaking strain of your line. with this in mind, getting 150lbs braid on your reel wont do you any good, at 150lbs test at 1/3 breaking is 50lbs of drag, at 1/4 its 37.5lbs of drag. The ordinary Penn Senator doesn't even give that much drag. The metal senator 114 gives you 30lbs max. So, I would say that your ONLY option is to go with 100lbs braid. If you can't afford a reel that gives you the power, the extra length would give you SOME cushion. On the bitter end though, you have to realize that the fight would last longer.
Another option is for you to save a bit more money and get an AVET pro, you can hunt on ebay for better deals, heres a dealer's link for your reference: http://www.tackledirect.com/avet-pro-ex-reels.html
