beginner setup?

i am new to kayak fishing. could anyone help guide me in selecting a decent rod and reel setup for ocean fishing? mainly for bass, rockfish, and halibut and such. don't want bottom line either, just about mid grade as far as budget goes.

There's plenty of choices out there, what's your budget?

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I started with bottom line - Shakespear Big Water Combo - a 7.5 or 8' spinning setup with rod, reel and 20 or 25 pound line for less than $50.  Caught nice lingcod and salmon with those before moving up to what I grew up with on my Dad's powerboat - Shakespeare Ugly Stik with a Penn levelwind - you can get in a setup like that for around $100 I think, and it will easily catch all species you're after.  That's what I use.  Good luck.   

thanks for the info guys. budget around 150 so it all sounds do able.

Take a look at Okuma rods. I've really become attached to mine  , and then add a basic Abu Garcia reel.

I used Penn, daiwa, & abu garcias. Enjoyed catching fish on all of them. I like the little Abu C series for some reason though.
Can't go wrong with a Penn/ugly stik tiger though.

Don't go to expensive as the first setup in yak fishing is likely to eventually get sand in it/ busted on a beach landing. (says the guy who now uses an avet half the time ).
If you want your reel to last and do not have a rod pod/hatch, remove it during launches & landings and put it in a drybag or plano box at least.

I'd recommend 30lb braid or 20 lb mono. Don't go too high in the pound test line initially otherwise it becomes a hazard to break off a snag.

Don't go to expensive as the first setup in yak fishing is likely to eventually get sand in it/ busted on a beach landing.

Ditto that!

We generally don't fish too deep, and on a kayak you have a built in drag of sorts.  No sense in spending a lot of money on a reel, (or rod for that matter).

I'm a fan of the older Penn 100 Beachmaster reels.

Ugly stick tiger... mediumish weight.  Penn GT2 reel.  Should be close to on budget, and near bulletproof.

+1 0n the Ugly stick tiger (7 foot or 6.5 foot) in medium  weight with a GT320 level wind is a pretty popular setup sold as a combo in a lot of stores for about 150 give or take. I don't like rods any shorter because a 7 foot is easy to swing around the nose of the kayak. Pretty tough and easy to clean after every trip.

+1  0n the Ugly stick tiger (7 foot or 6.5 foot) in medium  weight with a GT320 level wind is a pretty popular setup sold as a combo in a lot of stores for about 150 give or take. I don't like rods any shorter because a 7 foot is easy to swing around the nose of the kayak. Pretty tough and easy to clean after every trip.

+2

OK, WHAT ARE SOME LOCAL STORES THAT WOULD CARRY SOME OF THESE SETUPS?

+1 0n the Ugly stick tiger (7 foot or 6.5 foot) in medium  weight with a GT320 level wind is a pretty popular setup sold as a combo in a lot of stores for about 150 give or take. I don't like rods any shorter because a 7 foot is easy to swing around the nose of the kayak. Pretty tough and easy to clean after every trip.

7' medium light is my go to. Older 320GTi is better than the newer GT2. 20 plus pound salmon no problem.

OK, WHAT ARE SOME LOCAL STORES THAT WOULD CARRY SOME OF THESE SETUPS?

I don't know where you are but, I actually got this setup at a local Ace hardware at the end of season for 146.00 last year and have seen it at two local sporting goods stores here on the North Coast in the 164.00 range.  Some good deals online as well if your not close to ocean fishing stocked stores.

Most tackle shops carry Okuma. I got (I think) an "Outfitter" rod at Bass Pro Shop. I picked it originally because it could toss 2-3 oz lures, was very light, and had a lifetime over-the-counter warranty. It was ~$100, but that was some years ago. I'd suggest just handling a few and see what you think.  I bought my Abu reels on eBay.

+1 0n the Ugly stick tiger (7 foot or 6.5 foot) in medium  weight with a GT320 level wind is a pretty popular setup sold as a combo in a lot of stores for about 150 give or take. I don't like rods any shorter because a 7 foot is easy to swing around the nose of the kayak. Pretty tough and easy to clean after every trip.

7' medium light is my go to. Older 320GTi is better than the newer GT2. 20 plus pound salmon no problem.

My reel is the the 321GTi (like it lefty) and they were better than the GT2's from what I've heard.  The GT2 is imported... but it is all they make anymore.  Still a good reel for the money though.