Travel rod recommendation?

I'm looking for recommendations on a travel rod/reel combo.  I have a vacation planned in March to the Maldives.  While they don't allow fishing from shore there, they do have sit on top kayaks available for use.  I'm looking for a rod that packs/travels nicely.  Something like an 8 foot spinning rod, medium/heavy action for tossing top water plugs at the edge of the reef, preferably a 4 piece rod that packs down nicely that I can lug around in a dufflebag/suitcase.  It's got to be beefy enough to handle the giant trevally and other bruisers that cruise these waters.

-Allen

here you go brada.....


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/common/search/search-results1.jhtml?N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&Ntt=telescopic%20fishing%20rods&QueryText=telescopic%20fishing%20rods&noImage=0


I use the Cabela's IM6 for backpacking in the Sierras.....I just cut the tip a tad bit shorter to get a faster tip action.  

Salamat po.

Or maybe something along the lines of this ... http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0024386315252a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jhtml%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&QueryText=travel+spinning+rods&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jhtml.20&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=travel+spinning+rods&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jhtml

Cabella's does have package options on these rods with the classic Penn 5500SS reel, although I may go 1 step up to the 6500SS which hold 250 yards of 15# and string it up with 20# mono.  Or possibly the 5500 with 20 spectra type line.  Although I don't know how much drag I can put on these reels.  Mr Tani, any input here on a good 20# class spinner?

I don't much care for the telescopic variety.  I've had nothing but problems with those in the past.

-Allen

Hey!
how ya'll are?
My first post!
      the rod that I am using is very unique haven't seen any other yet, however, for compact travel it is the best.
   takes up little room on board, handles beautifully off the yak. to look at it will throw you but keep an open mind and go to  EMMROD.com.

 ps  let us know what you think if you get one   

pole^2, I have a couple big cheap shimano spinning reels, AX 400, AX 500.  very unrefined, but they have caught
fish for me just fine. and if you lose or destroy them, no tears.

They cost about $50 new, don't corrode and you can get them at my local rite-aid.

Alan tani did the drags on these reels when he was @ coastside #2. The drag washers are smaller and fewer
than on an abu garcia ambassadeur, I thought they would be bigger than they were. I lost a little confidence
in them when I saw that. Alan told me he will work on almost anything, but he draws the line @ rear drag spinning reels,
so I've been careful to only get front drag spinning reels!

Also, the famous duo gene kirra and neil kelly of the book "the baja catch", who have documented catching close
to 40,000 fish generally use spinning reels with 20lb test while trolling (yeah, talk about thumbing your nose
at common advice) 4.5" jointed rebel fasttracs.  They only use conventional reels on 40lb line and up it seems.

I would probably stick with 15lb if I was going to be casting a lot.

bring some wire for leaders. no toothy fish here, but everywhere else it seems they are out there. sierra, barracuda...
It's such a great feeling to have a nice coil of wire when lures and bait start getting bitten off.

if I was in your shoes, not casting from shore, I would bring a 6'6 two piece bass rod and a couple ambassadeurs with 30lb spectra
and a spool of 40lb mono for leader, plus some single strand wire, 27lb for toothy fish leaders.

of course, I'm not in your shoes, you lucky dog. have fun.

you might learn to surf real fast too, the maldives have great surf typically. 

John,

Note the date on my original post.  I already did this trip last spring.  A rod would not have done me any good.  They didn't allow fishing from shore OR from kayaks.  The only fishing I got in was some handlining on an arranged night trip.  No surfing for me.  We were in the wrong parts of the islands for that.

-Allen

I just look for the little blue <new> thing. it tricked me. 

next time go to mexico,  .  surfing _and_ fishing. no problema.