I have been using a 6/0 loaded with braid on the sand for the last year. I really thonk im ready to step it up to an actual shark setup.
If I got.a small conventional, like a 50, I wouldn,t need to buy a rod because I already have a rod that is perfect for a 50. I do know that it is too smqll and wouldnt hold up to the "rigors" of the sand. I do want to get a senator. I want something bigger than a 9/0, but not as costly as a 12/0. I think a 10/0 on eBay would do it. I think 500yds of 100lb braid, and a topshot of 80-100lb mono, would be good.
I always fish off the beach, so I dont think I need a long rod. I like the look and feel of a custom, so I camt make up my mind of what blank I need for it. The Calstar Baja Boomer looks good. And I think Fuji hardloy guides will be good with a roller tip. I want a butt that could be fished in a harness, so I think an 18 inch butt with a gimbal will be perfect.
What are your opinions?
What should I change?
Love the advice!
-Kevin
if our gonna go with a 10/0 you might as well go with a 12/0 and a 12/0 will be cheaper and better in the sand then a 50 or 50 wide.
10/0 cost more than 12's any day. And a 10 is not a sufficient reel. if u wanna know the truth a 12 will not be much better. i know most of the people on this fourm will say that a senator is the best shark reel u can buy. I own or have owned a reel from just about every company and i have owned all the bigger senators. if u r only going to have one reel for sharking a 50w filled with 100 lb braid with a 100lb mono top shot is the way 2 go put it on a 80lb class 8 ft rod and u can stop some serious fish. u will end up with about 1500 yards of braid and 200 of mono depending on the 50w u end up with. u can catch big fish with either but a senator will blow out when filled with strait mono it pushes the sides of the spool out and it will blow hole right in the side plates of your reel. I would say look for an avet ex 50w and u will be set. i have been fishing an avet tr-x 50w since the came out and it is still goin strong and it has been on a peir or beach 3 to 5 days a week since i got it it has well over 250 fish on the one reel so anyone who says there not a durable is full of ...... hope this helps. u can pm me if u have any questions about reel choice. And if u do end up looking for a avet contact cape haze rods and he can hook u up
10/0 or 12/0 on an 8ft 50-100lb seeker
i wouldnt rule out your 6/0 with braid although the wide version would be quite a bit better - take a look at this member and his accomplishments - he has a 12/0 but most if not all of these nice fish were caught on the equivalent of a 4/0 wide - you can do more than you think with the smaller reels if you set them up right and fish them right !!
http://www.southfloridasharkclub.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=3864
that fish in my avatar was caught on one of the smallest reels i own and is my biggest fish to date.
I agree with "SCOUT04", Little reels are always good luck.....I caught A very big hammer 'est400lbs' on A 9/0 with 50 mono! 
I just got an old-school Star Rod "Deluxe 81" on Sharksonthesand.com.
The nice man I talked to that was selling the rod said it was very stiff and could possible seat a 12/0, and, I've got an OLD BUT GOOD 12/0 coming my way soon
I just got an old-school Star Rod "Deluxe 81" on Sharksonthesand.com.
The nice man I talked to that was selling the rod said it was very stiff and could possible seat a 12/0, and, I've got an OLD BUT GOOD 12/0 coming my way soon
Glad you got a bigger setup on the way..............looking forward to seeing reports of what you catch with it in the future
I have to completely disagree with you on the pricing of a 10/0 vs. 12/0, when I was in search of my reels I found about 8 different 12/0s in the $100-300 range and only 2 10/0s in horrible condition one for $250 and the other for $350.
Either way, like scout says, size doesn't matter if you have a good reel and set it up properly, my 12/0 is fully custom from drag to gears to special painted spool and sideplates on a 9ft gator, it definitely has its battle scars but it's my favorite set up for the bridges and works fine from the beach.
About the spool parting on the senators, most of the time that happens because the line isn't packed on the reel correctly, but occasionally you will get a bad spool that may warp, twist, or part.
I am also in favor of the lever drag reels, have used shimano, okuma, duel, avet, and penn lever drags and say that they are very smooth, the only problem I see with some of those reels is the amount of drag, have you tried holding onto a rod with 70-80lbs of drag on it?... not an easy task.
My biggest shark to date was on my 9/0 with 60lb mono, a 10ft tiger caught in january off the pier.
Another thing to take in mind is not to doubt the bigger older reels, some of the biggest sharks i have ever seen by far were on 14/0s, 16/0s, and 130s
Just an average fisherman.