12/0 or 14/0 ?and also where to find spare parts

I think it all depends on where you are fishing. If you are fishing an area with mostly sand and not many shells, then a 6/0wide spooled with braid will allow you to put the hurt of pretty much any size fish. Now if you are in an area with a good amount of shell and deep guts, using braid is going to be a bad idea. That is when you are going to come in the problem of line capacity on a 6/0 wide or 9/0 spooled with mono. For deep drop baits 500+ yards, I would go with a 12/0 with 100lb mono. A 14/0 spooled with 130lb mono is not going to get you much extra line. Plus if that studs spools you down on a 12/0 with 100lb then he will probably do the same to a 14/0 with 130lb. There are going to be some that you just can't stop. I am personally a mono fan, so I would say that a 12/0 would be my choice. Just my .02 cents.

-SA

For me i would have to say my goto big gun is my 12/0 on a 7' 1" old school 80 to 130 fenwick with big foot rollers.I have that thing loaded with 1000 yards of 100 lb mono.The washers and gears have been up graded.If this hand cannon cant stop em,then i am not on top of my game.I have fished will's 14/0 and that thing is a MONSTER.I notice that the old school guys fish the big reels on the HUGH rods 9' plus.I just think they weigh so much and are hard to work with.I love the short rods 7' all the way down to my favorite 9/0 on a 5'6" key largo custom rod.I have stoped 10 ft plus sharks on that bad boy in less than a 1/2 hour.

a 14/0 is the only way to go when targeting the "one".....its can be a cumbersome reel at first, but when in a harness it is a very powerfull tool to get the job done on a big Bull or Hammer.... sharks that pull a lotta drag and make long sustaining sometimes endless runs.....we have caught many big sharks on smaller reels but im pretty used to the 14/0 and so is zac cause its all we primarly use for a reason...it dishearting to spend all those hours with a smaller reel soaking a bait and get spooled on it feeling helpless.......but fish what is comfortible to you when starting out, then move up if needed. some summers we have to go down in our Line test to reach these fish and some times fish on the hub so to speak fishing out in destanation unkown to get the bite..smaller reel cant do that leaving your bait in fishless waters.....ive just givin you the 2 best reasons to "go big or go home"....our style is aggressive and productive and willing to take that chance...ill do it with a bigger reel anyday...a smaller reel has its limits in my teams eyes, but they do have a purpose at times as well....mike

you may be right but i will always stick to my lucky 12/o it is lucky rod for me

14ft plus hammers on bridge, and evn some times beach will strip a 12/0 with ease, and on a bridge like long key, a 14/0 is also powerless at times

For me i would have to say my goto big gun is my 12/0 on a 7' 1" old school 80 to 130 fenwick with big foot rollers.I have that thing loaded with 1000 yards of 100 lb mono.The washers and gears have been up graded.If this hand cannon cant stop em,then i am not on top of my game.I have fished will's 14/0 and that thing is a MONSTER.I notice that the old school guys fish the big reels on the HUGH rods 9' plus.I just think they weigh so much and are hard to work with.I love the short rods 7' all the way down to my favorite 9/0 on a 5'6" key largo custom rod.I have stoped 10 ft plus sharks on that bad boy in less than a 1/2 hour.

Texas style fishing is totally different I would assume but I agree with this post mostly....after some drag work I was able to get a 12/0 to outperform a 16/0 fully locked down. I'd probably have to say that it had about 20% more drag strength than the 16/0 after the carbon vs metal washers were manipulated. In my opinion, the 12/0 is the go-to reel being easier to deal with and balance when harnessed in....the drags can be tweaked to solve one problem....addition of the very expensive braid lines on the backing will solve the other problem. I normally stick to rods no longer than 6'6" but I can see where the longer rods are helpful when the drop is out 500+ yards....the Australians fish with very short rods though and their waters are deep as well.

Good conversational post....

HEN FEEN

the shear cranking power of the 14/0 cant be matched with anything out there ....it is a winch, the narrow spool allows you to put line back on the reel quickly and even more line per crank as the spool fills up.....works great under a load of giant powerfull fishes weight, smaller reels cant handle that with the highter gear ratio's, you cant turn the handle....it is the ultimate tool when pursueing giant sharks for most people....were talking about and trying 130's next year for numerous reasons.... for the one piece frame aspect and better made gears, for our aggro stlye.... we have no problem with the drag on the 14/0 it puts out more than we can stand up and hold on to, it will pull you in the drink....but were fishing new territory as well that will need it, and something that wont break down......

we have been tearing up our senators as of late....the bridges wont hold up on our 12/0's after one or two fish they need to be replaced....very odd, but our fishing style has gotten more aggressive .....

heres a 14/0 bridge and gear snapped off with a big fish on....strap in the harness...what if the dog gave way and the reel over run and backlashed.....i hate thinking about that one.....the hook pulled thank god!

theres big fish out there have the right tool when the right time comes along....my best advice, no matter how many sharks you catch... the biggest ones get you the most respect!....mike

i go with my oldschool 14/0 on a 10ft rod. a lil more heavy but im young and can handle it. it holds more line and has the guts 2get it done.i, like mike and team am to agressive when i fish and most of my fish are from bridges and piers so you get a big fish on #100 or smaller isnt gonna stop him from going under and popping you. go big or go home

p.s when on the bridges you have to rember your best friend is leverage. short rods with a bridge = poped off (faster anyhow)

HOLY MARY!! That picture is insane SM42....

I've heard about upgrading the main gear, dog, and gear sleeve when manipulating drags to outperform their original intentions....I personally have only done this with casting reels but I can see where you would have to do this if the standard gears aren't lasting like the one you mentioned. The "in" thing right now seems to be smaller, lighter, and stronger....little toy reels that can pull in 200# Tuna's with 40#'s of drag using heavy braids and small spools....leaving the big bruiser Senators in the dust (apparently). I'm curious....if you've managed to work your way through the standard gears on the big boy senators....has any of your crew busted out the Tiagras and Internationals to be put to the test?

I have never heard of a Land Based catch smoking an International.

HEN FEEN

p.s when on the bridges you have to rember your best friend is leverage. short rods with a bridge = poped off (faster anyhow)

I can see where the long rods are a must now.....in Texas we only use 9+ footers to get above the seaweed....every piece of equipment serves its purpose.

HEN FEEN

HOLY MARY!! That picture is insane SM42....

I've heard about upgrading the main gear, dog, and gear sleeve when manipulating drags to outperform their original intentions....I personally have only done this with casting reels but I can see where you would have to do this if the standard gears aren't lasting like the one you mentioned. The "in" thing right now seems to be smaller, lighter, and stronger....little toy reels that can pull in 200# Tuna's with 40#'s of drag using heavy braids and small spools....leaving the big bruiser Senators in the dust (apparently). I'm curious....if you've managed to work your way through the standard gears on the big boy senators....has any of your crew busted out the Tiagras and Internationals to be put to the test?

I have never heard of a Land Based catch smoking an International.

HEN FEEN

were working on getting some type of 130's before the season starts again...lotts of 80w's around for sale but we want the big boy! we havent found the right deal on what were looking for, some low gears specs are to hight on a few models....them smaller type reels may work for tunas but sharks no they wont ...been there done that , you cant crank when the line is strait out in front of ya hundreds of yards away...maybe something that has sounded on ya to where you can do short pumps to get them up diffent animals and diffrent zoo... i havent meet anyone who has great success with those type smaller reels with braid in catching some of the fish we catch....that low gear is the key, besides that we need a winch., we tryed single speed internationals before but they made great strides in the drags keeping them dry and hopefully sand...the older ones got to gritty.. but like zac said we need something to hold up with our aggresive style nowadays....mike

man mike i remember that day well i was holding petes harness with both hands and my heals dug in the sand tring to stop that big boy .. and it is to bad the hook pulled that would have ben last years tourny fish for pete

go acurrate / duels or just keep rebuilding your senaters ya cant beat shear size to stop the big fish

What do you guys mean about fishing agressive? I don't understand how your blowing up reels

What do you guys mean about fishing agressive? I don't understand how your blowing up reels

Agressive is fishing is defined as fishing HARD!!!Working that big fish over and never giving up control.Putting your equipment and your self through the fire and giving it all you have.Never ever stopping the pressure on that shark and work your gear for everything it is worth.I as well have blown up reels by useing them harder that they have ever been worked before.I dont like to lose,i would rather land the shark and blow up my reel than baby the reel and lose the fish.If you fish hard you will be rewarded for your time and effort with a big catch.