iB::Topic::Saltwater Baitcaster

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Topic: Saltwater Baitcaster

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jflynn

Minnow

Group: Members
Posts: 7
Joined: Feb. 2006

Posted: Mar. 24 2006,06:39

I have been a freshwater bass fisherman for many years but after retiring to Florida am anxious to begin saltwater fishing. I have rented a kayka twice and tried fishing (no luck yet) and now my freshwater baitcaster is grinding badly. I plan to buy a kayak (OK Drifter) and a new saltwater baitcaster very soon and am looking for recommendations on the reel. I plan to stick with a baitcaster because I am very profecient with them and don't want to learn all over how to cast with a spinning reel. Thanks, John.

krash

Marlin

Group: Members
Posts: 275
Joined: Jan. 2005

Posted: Mar. 24 2006,08:25

Personally I'm not a bait caster confident fisherman, but if it helps I fish with many persons who are and what I see them use most for salty inshore fishing is Shimanos, lowend is the older Curado's, high end $$ Calcutta's.

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SW, Live to Fish, Have Tackle will travel ... >,)))~> ~~~~

frankc

Mullet

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: Oct. 2005

Posted: Mar. 24 2006,09:45

The trick in saltwater is just to keep them cleaned and oiled. Salt & sand in the level wind or bearings = trouble

Don't know what you used in fresh water, but they should be okay in the salt if you rinse and oil them after use. Mine are twenty plus year old Abu reels which will toss a lure farther than I can and very few parts have been replaced in all those years. Handled a fifty lb +/- cobia on 10 or 12 lb line once, so you are not undergunned unless you tie into something which makes long runs.

We are talking casting reels and not spin cast, as spin cast don't seem to handle the salt as well. A $50 well maintained reel will give you better service than a $200 super dooper that is used and not cleaned properly.

chefmik

Marlin

Group: Members
Posts: 274
Joined: Jan. 2004

Posted: Mar. 24 2006,15:57

Hi John, I have a bass pro shop extreme 6 foot medium action IM6 graphite rod with a abu garcia ambassador 5600 reel filled with 15 lb powerpro loaded on it. I picked it up with an interest in a baitcaster....i have spin fished and fly fished most of my fishing life. I do not like baitcasters!!!!
Its for sale if your interested...only used once.
Let me know if interested.
:chef:

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Chef Mike

critterdog Offline

Marlin

Group: Members
Posts: 216
Joined: Dec. 2004

Posted: Mar. 26 2006,14:34

I have used the same ambas 5500 for the last 12 years and the one I had before for 15. I know it is not the top of the line but it is easy to take apart and clean.

I have landed 80lb. plus tarpon with this reel on 12 lb line The only problem was anti reverse bearing couldn't handle the first run because I had the drag too tight. So I learned to loosen the drag and burn my thumb to set the hook.

Never had a problem finding parts for it'only had to wait for it to be ordered once.

I like to melt the grease out of the bearings at first so it casts farther and use only light oil in place of the grease. Keep the worm gear lubed well also and don't let sand get in the worm gear. The only time I use spinning is for ultra light

stant01

Cuda

Group: Members
Posts: 69
Joined: Feb. 2006

Posted: Mar. 27 2006,02:06

Here's another vote for the Ambassadeur reels. I have four: a 5000, a couple of 5500's, and a 6000. The newest is 15 years old; the oldest about 25 years. All are used regularly in salt water, rinsed off afterwards (gentle flood with a hose, never pressure washed), then lightly oil the worm gear, pawl, and handle knobs. All have handled hundreds of big fish: kingfish to 40 lbs, cobia to 45 lbs, snapper to 35 lbs, dolphin to 20 lbs, countless trout and reds, even a 7 1/2 foot sailfish on 20# line once(!) I have to replace the drag washer about once every 5-6 years (becomes chattery, probably from a bit of grease melted off the gear teeth from the heat of battle with a fast-running fish like a kingfish or dolphin), but they are cheap and available in tackle shops. Newer drag materials are probably better than my old ones.
I keep them out of sand, and on the very rare occasion one gets dunked, I pull them open and clean them well.
I also have to replace the tiny anti-backlash weights every 5-7 years when they get oil on them and backlashes suddenly become a problem; but several of them came with each reel, so I have never had to buy any...

All of them will outcast my new-ish Shimano Citica; I wish I hadn't wasted the money on it. Its only advantage is that it is smaller and palms easier, but when one of the Amb's is in my hand it feels like home. Each has a history of many trips that boosts my confidence.

Cookinman

Sailfish

Group: Members
Posts: 160
Joined: June 2006

Posted: June 26 2006,11:00

Quote (chefmik @ Mar. 24 2006,15:57)

Still for Sale chef?
I am interested in the setup if it is...I like ambassadeaur and think they give GREAT bang for the buck.....

jflynn

Minnow

Group: Members
Posts: 7
Joined: Feb. 2006

Posted: Aug. 06 2006,11:15

I think I have solved my problem. Upon the recommendation of one of the salesmen/fishermen at a local tackel shop I bought a Diawa Costal baitcaster. It is great, seems to hold up to the salt very well and casts extremelly well. Mounted on a 7 foot Ugly Stick, this will be my go-to setup.

John