Spinning vs. Casting

Hello all,

I am new to this. I have not purchased my yak yet but I'm looking at new gear. I was wondering what your thoughts were regarding spinning vs. casting for rock cod fishing on a yak.

thanks,
Eddie

casting. You are basically jigging and its way simpler to click it into free spool vs. opening the bail....my 2 cents.

eddie, for rock cod since you are normally fishing straight down or close to it, casting gear will be better.  if you need to cast long distances often or target specific pieces of structure (like bass or stripers), then use whatever gear you are better casting with. 

in general casting gear will be more reliable than spinning gear, especially in the salt.

Welcome to the board Eddie. I am a spinning reel person myself but I have purchased a baitcast
just for rockfish out on the ocean. I like to use baitcast because it is compact and lighter than
if you were using a spinning reel set up. You just simply let the line down and you're fishing. When
it comes to casting far though, I am not good with the baitcast so I go back to spinning reel.

Jedmo

 For Kayak fishing in saltwater a conventional reel is more versatile to start with.
 Rockfishing is mostly vertical drops and short casts while drifting. A casting style reel has more torque to reel up a load from the depths.  You will constantly raising and lowering your bait to stay near the bottom so the freespool lever or thumbar is a big plus.

For me - both.  I never go rockfishing without my conventional set-up and a moderate to light action spinning outfit.  If  the deeper water species are not doing it with the conventional setup, spin-casting light jigs and such up against rockwalls and along kelp beds is a blast for blues and blacks.  I've caught some really big blacks on my spinning outfit by casting right into the wash off rockwalls and letting the jig drop into the hole below the rock.  Using a yak and a spinning setup, many times you can target areas that powerboats can't access.

Casting.....Don't really need to cast a spinning reel.  Also, the drags on a casting reel are way better.... if  you hook up to "Mr. Ling".

Ken kickfish

What they said.  I started with a spin reel because that's what I was comfy with, but once you try it the benefits of conventionals will be readily apparent.

You don't need a winch with tons of capacity, though...  We generally don't fish much deeper than 100 feet.

When I am fishing the kelp for blues and blacks I like a light weight spinning set up. It is a lot easier to cast distance with a 1/8 to 1/4 oz. weight with a spinning reel than a casting reel.
On the other hand my deep water fishing is a conventional reel; left handed of course. 

I would also say that you should always go with what your most comfortable with.  I started with spinning, but now have both.  And if I birds nest my casting reel, I just switch to the spinner for the rest of the day.

Personally I use casting reels, level wind for casting and non levelwind for verticle jigging. However I fish with Kayakito and he uses spinning gear and does fine with lings and verms so I think either is fine. The new spinning reels are pretty good and you even see them on  long range trips.

Scott

I prefer casting for you seem to be in contact with the line more (fingers on the spool, hands on the reel, etc.).  With a spinning reel, there is that time between the line hitting the water, closing the bail and retrieving enough line to be in contact with the line that you are totally out of control.  As well, your fingers are not on the spool to give you that tactile feel of being in control.  "My 2 Cents Worth".

i think casting is better unless for some reason you plan on casting and arent very good with a casting reel

If your gonna be in the ocean I would go with the Casting reels much more reliable I would go with a good brand like Penn and I recently got my hands on a Shimano and LOVE it to death its my baby. I only used spinning reels when i started and the salt just beats on them. My personal opinion and I sucked with casting reels at first.

Many times you get "hammered on the drop" ... with a casting rig you can instantly thumb or engage the reel to set the hook.... I find it quicker than setting the hook on medium or heavy spinning rig....INMO... if what you have or are use to is a spinning rig, handline, etc... go with that... fish will end  up on the stringer.

Welcome

Gue