Newbie looking for starter rod/reel recommendation/primer

I just bought a Kayak which I plan to use mainly for ab diving and spearfishing but I'd like to try fishing with rod/reel.  I apologize if this is a stupid question, but can any one recommend a general purpose rod/reel combo for ocean fishing (rod length, reel type, etc)?  Also, any suggestions on basic techniques, etc?  I'd like to try for rockfish, perch and possibly halibut or lings.  If someone knows of a good basic ocean kayak fishing primer, I'd be grateful if you can point me to it.  I do some pier and surf fishing and a lot of freshwater fishing but I’m still fairly new to ocean fishing.

Thanks!

Since you are an ab diver, I imagine you will be getting into rockfish, which invariably will include their nemesis and ours, the Lings.  A extra heavy duty rod (if there is a good chance you will get into the 20 pounders, lighter if not) of about 7.5 feet (graphite flipping stick from Bass Pro is one option) and a salt water rated reel which can hold about 200 yds of 30lbs test line.  Smaller reel if you intend on fishing closer to shore, say about 70 feet deep.

I use anywhere from 15 to 30lbs test main line for rockfish depending on where I go and what I expect.  However, 30lbs test is about the max for me because once you are snagged, it can get hairy trying to pull free with the 30.  There are only so many time you can cut your line before you will have to stop fishing.  Those are the times where you wish you had tied a defective knot and that the line would just break at the lure.   

This setup would be an overkill for perch.  However, I have not targeted perch on a kayak.  I got some incidentally jigging for rockfish.  It would be interesting to target perch, especially when they are in the surf.

What setup do you have for your pier fishing?  If the gear is salt water rated (it gets wet in a kayak), you may just want to fish a few times with it to find out what works for you.  My favorite rod was a 6.5 feet long med action glass rod with a small reel to match that I used to catch little bluegills and my first thirty something inch Ling all on the same trip.

     

Go to Sport Chalet and get the Penn 500 jigmaster combo and you will be set. Put 30 lb line on it. You can spend a lot more but you don't need to.

Go to Sport Chalet and get the Penn 500 jigmaster combo and you will be set. Put 30 lb line on it. You can spend a lot more but you don't need to.

yup Penn 500 and a 7' Ugly Stick tiger...You are set for most of the fishing you'd ever do locally in the salt.

allwen

Thanks, all.  That was easy

Penn Squidder with 30lb mono or PowerPro and a 7' Ugly Stick Tiger.

Penn Squidder with 30lb mono or PowerPro and a 7' Ugly Stick Tiger.

Yup squidder.

Hi Yaker:

      I have a Penn 9M for bait fishing, 505 Jig and Boat, 310GTI for Yak
fishing. I have caught a lot of fish on my 505 but, It's a little heavy
and, isn't a level wind.
      I like the Ugly line becasuse of the cost but, I made a CalStar 196-7
light Rod. I like a Fast tip with a stiff Butt.
                                                                        Sea-ya
  Penn 310 GTI INTEL                                                                      Ernie
http://www.google.com/products?q=penn+310+gti&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=__L1SYTwCai-tAOrsLXyCg&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

Penn 9M INTEL

http://www.google.com/products?q=penn+9m+reel&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=bPP1SZfcM4fqtAPQ3tnQCg&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title
                                                             

These guys have given you great advice, diver8.

My advice is cheaper and works very well.  Look at Wal-Mart or K-Mart for a Shakespeare "Big Water Combo".  It's a spinning outfit that you can get in 7 or 8' length and it comes with a heavy duty spinning reel loaded with 20 or 25 pound line.  We're talking $40 or so.  This rig takes a beating and catches big lingcod just fine. 

Once you know how much you'll use it and how hard you'll be on it you can upgrade to the nicer stuff.  It took me years to figure out that an upgrade was in order, and sometimes I actually miss my old cheap crap!   

I like 2 piece rods cause they are easy to stow.

it's not 'politically correct' to catch a fish on two-piece rod, but they are plenty strong for the fishing we do.

J