Been lurking on here for a while. I do most of my shark fishing from my boat, but I think I want to give this beach fishing a go. I just got a brand new penn 9/0 off ebay I belive it's the older style but never used. It has the metal spool. I just finished up a tarpon/cobia rod build and want to start up a shark rod. I was think a 8-9 foot 80-100LB class rod. Anyways I was wondering what you experienced sharker's thought I should spool the reel with? I have a spool of 80# berly trilene 700 YDS. Also looking for blanks and the only one I can seem to find is the gator blank from mudhole foe $130 it is a 10 foot blank. I was thinking of cutting it down to 9 foot and throwing some roller guides on it. Any input would help alot. Thanks
80lb mono is very efficient and strong for a 9/0 and can land you some big sharks with some skill and luck. My biggest tiger shark was on a 9/0 with 60lb mono. It was about 10ft. If your worried about a monster put some braid backing, but a 9/0 with 80 or 100lb test regardless of how much line is in it probably won't be able to apply enough pressure for an unstoppable fish. But I think any shark under 10ft shouldn't be a problem with straight mono. Another angler on here landed an 11ft hammer last year on a 9/0 with 80lb mono.
Just an average fisherman.
I use a 9/0 115L2 right now but its the new style with plastic on it.
I had 50lb mono on it that was great for blacktips & casting baits out.
But when I got a 300+ lb nurse I upgraded to 80lb mono and it's perfect for me.
It took me almost 2 hours to get a 8ft 6in nurse In on 50lb test, I couldn't get him in
without feeling like I was putting to much preasure on the line and It was going to break.
With 80lb test I have around 550-600 yards of line. I'm using a 9ft+ 80-130lb rod.
The rod has a plastic reel seat also and I don't really trust it yet.
If you can try to get a metal reel seat on your rod.
LOL Jimmy, your reel has a coated metal reel seat. The closest to a plastic spool you'll find in a senator is a custom graphite spool
Just an average fisherman.
Thanks guys. Now i'm torn between the rod. A seeker 775-8 or the gator glass 10 foot. the only thing about the gator I dont like is it is not finished also I would cut atleast a foot off i as 10 foot is just to much rod to try and store and transport. So I'm leaning a little more twords the seeker but just dont know yet!
I think either blank would be good for your application. There is a discussion on the blanks in he monster shark gear section. I would spool the 9/0 with either 60 or 80lb mono. I personally love Triple Fish mono in 80 and under. If you run 80 then id put at least 150yds of 80braid on the bottom just for the line capacity.
on the rod part. my opinion id go with the seeker. the seeker is light and also has plenty if backbone to turn those fish. a gatorglass is also a greatrod but its a little on the stiffer side for a 9/0 and it weighs plenty more than the seeker. id go seeker all day for a 9/0
i have a old 9/0 and i only use ande line and i am ordering bull buster. i used the 30lb on my old tld25 and i couldnt break it. it is cheap and great line i would look into bull buster and the owner is a member here.
i have a daiwa 900h which is a little bigger than a 9/0 and has more drag but i 1000yds 100# braid backing with a 150yd 125lb top shot for the 9/0 id do 80lb braid with a top shot of 100 you can only put like 27lbs of pressure with it which is why i went daiwa and have the alan tani drag and get 36lbs full spool
Thanks guys for all the input I think I'm going to go with 300 yds of 135 pound calcutta braid followed by as much 80 pound mono I can fit on the reel
Between the Seeker and the Gator, it mainly depends upon the action, and length you like.
The Seeker is a really nice, lightweight blank, whereas the Gator is much heavier, and you can also adjust the action to suit your liking, by either cutting from the top or bottom, or both.
As for guides, DO NOT use all rollers. With sand, rollers can and will seize up. ATS turbo or Fuji turbo guides are both great guides especially when using the braid/mono combo.
On my 9/0's I have 6-700 yards of #80 powerpro, with a 200 yard topshot of momoi 80. This gives you a lot of line cap so you can handle the 3-400 yard drops with ease
Thanks I purchased the seekr S775-8 and am amazed with how light and yet how stiff it is. Just waiting on my RBHG boat guides so I can put it together.