Best All Around Saltwater Rod and Reel

I am sitting here in my den staring at about 30 rods and reels mounted on my ceiling. The only problem is most are fly rods and freshwater. Being in Redding that works; however, I am doing my best to hit saltwater. I found an old Penn Senator 2/0 mounted on a old Skipper's Special made by Garcia 6'10" Med. action fast taper 15-40 Pound test in the mass that my father gave me 30 years ago. Never been used. Old school looking. I also was given a 7' foot 12-30 pound test line Tiger Ugly Stick without a reel. I am wonder if I should find a reel for that Tiger rod? If so, What would be a quality SW reel for that rod? Think this would work? Does the old schooler sound like it might work for an around sw rod and reel. What is the best all around SW set up. My son and I are going to need to gear up and head on over. What is in the SW? It like a magnet!  Thanks for your help!

The 7' Tiger Ugly Stik should do fine for most salt water fishing.  Put the Penn Senator on this Ugly Stik and you're ready to roll...I meant fish 

I agree with Sailfish. Both the 2/0 and the uglystick are saltwater standbys. Not lightweight but very durable. You could do anything locally with that stick from rockfish to live bait albacore on a party boat.

Lot's of your freshwater stuff will work great for saltwater too. The freshwater bass type gear is great for light tackle rockfishing.

Good luck out there!

-Eliot

The recommendations are good, however, it is LOT of fun to catch rockfish on fairly light rigs.

IMHO, an Ugly Stick with ML action in a 6'-6" and a 4000 series cheapo Shimano spinning outfit can take it, but you gotta work for it, you don't get to just horse it in. A good Ling in the 30" range will about double that rod over . . . . 

If you are gonna encounter bigger game, it'd be good to heavier equipment at hand, too.

What is the best all around SW set up.

Completely dependent on your budget, intended use and expectations.

As far as "What will work" ........pretty much anything 

What is the best all around SW set up.

Completely dependent on your budget, intended use and expectations.

As far as "What will work" ........pretty much anything 

And something that won't make you cry if you lose it. 

How important are things like number of bearings, gear ratio, level wind and lever drag?

Thanks

put a Penn 500 on that ugly stick and you are set.

there really is no "best all around" saltwater reel per se, but for NorCal, the 500/US combo is bullet proof and will handle just about anything you might hook up.

Cheap too.

Allen

How important are things like number of bearings, gear ratio, level wind and lever drag?

Thanks

huh?

 
they are not that important.
However, I find I like the newish level wind reels-they cast fine & not having to lay the line on manually is nice. lever drags are not necessary for most kayak fishing.
Gear ratio, that's personal preference. How fast of a retrieve do you prefer?

huh?

 
they are not that important.
However, I find I like the newish level wind reels-they cast fine & not having to lay the line on manually is nice. lever drags are not necessary for most kayak fishing.
Gear ratio, that's personal preference. How fast of a retrieve do you prefer?

I have know idea.  Just started ocean fishing in July.  A boat fishing friend recommended a 4:1 was good. 

How important are things like number of bearings, gear ratio, level wind and lever drag?

Thanks

All personal preferrence. There's cheap dependable workhorses and there's hot rods....all depends on your budget and how meticulous you are about cleaning/maintaining your gear.

Someone already stated that no one rod/reel combo is going to do it all.
My advice is to err on the light side. The smaller fish are going to be more plentiful and easy to catch, and are lotsa fun on the light rig. I go out with 3 rods, light, medium, and heavy, and many times while using the heavy one I keep wanting to use the light one that I know will hook fish.
Many guys are familiar with the phenomenom of having more fun catching live bait versus using the live bait.

Go fishing a few times with what you have.  Get some salt water experience under your belt.  (My friend said the fish don't care what you're fishing with right after he boated a 40# Halibut on an old 1950's rod and reel that hasn't seen any care for 20 years.)  See how it works, and meanwhile, talk to other guys you fish with and see what they are using and check it out.  How long a rid do you need to get the line around the bow of your boat?  What are you're target fish usually?  Determine what size line you primarily use, 15#, 20#, 30#?  Just using mono or braid and mono?  Talk to some guys at your local tackle shop and check out their recommendations.  Find out what you get for the money.  Don't be in a hurry.  Can you store your rods and reels inside your kayak when launching and returning to the beach?  If not, I wouldn't go high end.  Get a feel for this kind of stuff before you start spending money.  You"ll start getting an idea of what you want....then you'll decide you want another set up.....and on and on.

I fished for many years with hand me downs and rods I found SCUBA diving under piers with old Penn reels left from my Dad.  Over the years, I've purchased several rods and reels, but the two reels I go to the most are a Shimano Calcutta 400 level wind that is light and casts beautifully and an Avet SX that I got from work as a retirement gift.  (They go inside my yak when launching and returning to the beach.)

Good Luck!  Picking out gear is almost as fun as fishing.

Check out the Shimano Trevala 7' w/ braided line wt: 20 50lb with the power medium light action paired with the Avet SX 5.0.1
I also have the 6'6" Travela Jig Rod w/ braided line wt:30 to 80lb. paired up with a Shimano

Ocean Fishing must have combo in my books and from what I have seen from other OG's on the board

I have an exact setup as you Frank. I love that combo.
The Trevala 7' and the Avet.

Jedmo