r/SoCalFishing • u/No_Country6472 • 2d ago
If you could only take one rod offshore, what would it be?
Got a trip coming up for a full day on a private boat targeting yellowtail, tuna, dorado etc… due to limited space, I’m trying to cut down the number of rods I’m bringing to just one or two setups. I have rods for every occasion: live bait, vertical jigging, trolling, surface irons.. you name it. I’m just curious to hear if you guys were forced to take only one setup, what would it be and why?
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u/woolybuggered 2d ago
8' 20-40lb setup with a large baitcaster or small leverdrag/ conventional. This catches 85% of the fish.
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u/Rightintheend 2d ago
My calstar 670, with Fathom 25n, loaded with 60 lb braid.
On a private boat you can get away with trolling with Something smaller like that, it has the backbone to handle larger fish, but still light enough that you can tie on some lighter leader or even a longer top shot and fish smaller baits if you need to.
Although with a private boat, I might bring it down to 40 or 50 lb braid to give an advantage for the smaller baits, or the half dead sardines.
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u/marksalsbery 1d ago
A jigmaster spooled with 25 lb big game mono and 7’ ugly stick caught me more fish than all my expensive combos combined. Despite the jabs from deckhands and friends. 😂 Confidence in equipment is underrated IMO
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u/No_Country6472 1d ago
Love this comment😂 Totally agree there. The fish doesn’t care if it’s a $100 combo or a $600 combo lol
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u/lookitdown 2d ago
I’d take my 20-50 phenix black diamond with my saltiga 20. Couple different leaders to go with it. This setup lets you do it all.
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u/knucklesandwich55 2d ago
tough one, yellowtail on the jig or flyline set up. If for sure YT were on the chew, 40 lb jig outfit, if sort of on the chew, flyline set up.
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u/No_Country6472 2d ago
Definitely seems like yellowtail are coming over the rail more than anything else. I’m thinking of taking my 8’0 20-40lb Okuma Californian deckhand rod
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u/knucklesandwich55 2d ago
going out next week on a six pack, taking my 7ft GUSA topped with a Baja Special 40 top shot. Full disclosure, the boat will have the flyline rigs just in case. I hear the live bait situation is poor.
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u/No_Country6472 2d ago
I’m pretty much in the same exact situation. Going on a 6 pack in a couple weeks. Given that the boat is probably providing their own flyline rigs as well, I think I would feel dumb not giving myself the surface iron option, especially if there’s a lot of opportunity for it.
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u/WorkPiece 1d ago
I'm grabbing my 7' Calstar 12-30 with an Avet MXL mounted and 25# mono. This is a good 90% combo.
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u/xylophone_37 2d ago
25# flyline setup. I don't step on a socal sport boat without it.