Saltwater Pole and Reel

It's a sport with more salt exposure and immersion than most other fishing, and the learning curve for feeling comfortable on your yak, landing fish on a yak, transport and use of gear on a yak...etc. requires your focus beyond careful gear protection level at times, so you're more likely to be a little rough on stuff.  I'd go value but proven record in the Uglystik with Penn - easy, widely available, great capabilities...  can't go wrong.  Best of luck, and enjoy it.   

A budget setup at this point in time would be nice but not required. I still need to buy an FF and looking at the Lowrance 5 and HH 5 series so that's gonna be another $400+. On top of the fact I just bought the yak, pfd, and paddle for $1150 on Sunday, I am not sure how much I can get away with without sleeping on the couch for a month.

At this point in time I open to all setups and information so please keep it coming. Thank you for all the input up to this point.

As one of the most experienced kayak fishermen on this board, my recccomendation is to spend some money NOW.  On a nice comfortable couch!

Then, go buy whatever you want for fishing....


Bushy

PS seriously, I'm in GB2's camp.  get an ugly stick and a econ Penn reel to start. 

+1 on the econo setups mentioned. If it's rockfish you are after, big $$$ won't make much difference in your catch. Just make sure the rod is 7+ foot to get the line around your bow.

It's a sport with more salt exposure and immersion than most other fishing, and the learning curve for feeling comfortable on your yak, landing fish on a yak, transport and use of gear on a yak...etc. requires your focus beyond careful gear protection level at times, so you're more likely to be a little rough on stuff.  I'd go value but proven record in the Uglystik with Penn - easy, widely available, great capabilities...  can't go wrong.  Best of luck, and enjoy it.   

+1 in the beginning you will do things like put the pole in your underarm while trying to hoist a big fish on board.  It will eventually slip and after clipping the fish, you discover your reel has been underwater for minutes.  You try a surf launch landing and you and you reel eat sand. 

so keep it simple and tough, ugly stick and inexpensive penn reels.  Once you get more experience you can upgrade.  My son started fishing very young on a kayak and that is what he used and did not manage to harm the equipment.  Caught lots of fish too!  Oh and the fish in my pic to the left was caught on a budget berkeley rod with an ancient penn 10 reel.

You are more likely to farm a rod or break it on a surf launch when you are starting out so personally, I would go budget. In addition, you probably don't know what kind of fish you will end up targeting. Most start out rockfishing and for that, a barbie rod will work. Once you figure out what your target species is, then spend some bucks on a good set up.

The Penn/Ugly Stick Tiger is standard issue on many party boats and six pack charters. I fished on a very good 6 pack last weekend and the skipper was using an Ugly Stick Tiger on his down rigger and hooked a 30# salmon. Believe me those rods work just fine for anything you will catch in NCAL and they take a real beating. They wouldn't be my choice for pelagics but for salmon, sea bass, halibut and sturgeon they are an excellent choice. Penn reels also take a beating and are easy to work on and repair. I like to support products made in the USA so here is what I would recommend for low end and high end:

Entry Level:
Penn 310 GT2 $99
Shakespeare BWC 2201-2 270 Ugly Stik Tiger Rod – Casting $65 (2 piece rods are nice for travel and for in-hull storage for surf launches) or Shakespeare Ugly Stik Tiger Lite Casting Rods BWCL2200 6'6 (rockfishing) $65

High End
Avet SX 5.3 $160
Lamiglas Tri-Flex Graphite Inshore TFX7030C $205

Very High End
Penn 975 LW $300 or Avet SX 6/4 $250
Calstar GFGR700XLH    $250 or Seeker Hercules SHS 70L $328.00

Trevala/Revo Toro is the most common NCKA high end setup (about $450). The Trevala was designed for butterfly jigging and isn't a great casting rod and the Revo has some maintenance issues and is hard to service. So for the $400 price point and you want something that casts well and is also good for jigging, I would go with a Daiwa Lexa 300 and Lamiglas Tri-Flex Graphite Inshore TFX7030C.

One last thing is that saltwater kayak fishing is really hard on reels. Even a Shimano Calcutta will not survive more than a few years without service. So buy reels you can service yourself. I used to own Revos, Lunas and calcuttas but I got rid of them because they were a pain to service, at least for me. Penn, Avet and Newel's are what I use most of the time. I do have a Daiwa saltist LC which I use for salmon trolling and Lexa 300 and like those reels also. I know, TMI. 

+1 on the econo setups mentioned. If it's rockfish you are after, big $$$ won't make much difference in your catch. Just make sure the rod is 7+ foot to get the line around your bow.

They may not make much difference in your catch, but they will affect your comfort.  I like Ugly Stiks.  I own a number of BWC2201's, a "standard issue" here in NorCal.  Are they the first rod I reach for?  NO.  Why not?  Because they are heavy.

-Allen

Do the roll test in the back of your mind: Explain to your significant other that you rolled out at sea, and will have to replace your new rod and reel.  In the back of your mind how is this conversation going?  Not good, don't go to high end off the start.  Our Ace Salmon Slayer to the North fishes with old Penn Reels and Ugly Sticks, and has no [problems putting them in the boat.  I think the most modern thing I have seen Eric with is a Penn GTI, and I think Carter was President when that reel was first released.

Awesome, love this forum. Thanks all for the great info. I am going to pickup a Penn and Ugly Stick setup today.

I picked up a Trevela and Daiwa Lexa 300 last night but I think I will let that one stay safe until I get more seat time.

+1 on the econo setups mentioned. If it's rockfish you are after, big $$$ won't make much difference in your catch. Just make sure the rod is 7+ foot to get the line around your bow.

They may not make much difference in your catch, but they will affect your comfort.  I like Ugly Stiks.  I own a number of BWC2201's, a "standard issue" here in NorCal.  Are they the first rod I reach for?  NO.  Why not?  Because they are heavy.

-Allen

Except for rockfishing, over half the time the rod is in a rod holder (salmon, WSB ect.) so rod weight is less of an issue.

Get rod leashes too. Just because........... ya never know. I use them all the time.  Clavey Paddlesports in Petaluma has them.

Get rod leashes too. Just because........... ya never know. I use them all the time.  Clavey Paddlesports in Petaluma has them.

Cool thank you, I am headed there today to get some wall hangers for the Yaks and my wife's PFD. That is also the place where purchased the Yak's, I try to keep money local when possible.

Ask them for the NCKA 10% discount Eric. Tell em Craig knows ya. Glad you bought local. Its important.

+1 on the econo setups mentioned. If it's rockfish you are after, big $$$ won't make much difference in your catch. Just make sure the rod is 7+ foot to get the line around your bow.

They may not make much difference in your catch, but they will affect your comfort.  I like Ugly Stiks.  I own a number of BWC2201's, a "standard issue" here in NorCal.  Are they the first rod I reach for?  NO.  Why not?  Because they are heavy.

-Allen

Except for rockfishing, over half the time the rod is in a rod holder (salmon, WSB ect.) so rod weight is less of an issue.

Not just while fishing, but also while reeling in fish.  Handling a big bulky rod in the seated kayak position with a fish on the other end of the line, has its own set of issues.  Certainly it can be done, as lots of people do it.  Is it something I chose to do, given that I have other choices?  No.  Would I discourage others from doing so.  No.  But again, choices ...

-Allen

You picked up a Trevala now pick up a ugly stick. Wave them both around. There, see the huge difference? Being comfortable is much better than saving just a few meager dollars. The pleasure of having quality gear that handles well will be long remembered after the junk is sold at the garage sale.

You picked up a Trevala now pick up a ugly stick. Wave them both around. There, see the huge difference? Being comfortable is much better than saving just a few meager dollars. The pleasure of having quality gear that handles well will be long remembered after the junk is sold at the garage sale.

I ordered the Trevala from West Marine so waiting for it to arrive. I picked up an Ugly stick and Penn today from Outdoor Pro shop so I can try to go halibut fishing this weekend. Hoping to land some fish just to get the feel of it on yak.