tuna rod question - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Capt.dan · 07-19-2009, 11:47 AM

I was looking at a local fishing store and saw a ugly stick that was pretty beefy. Its line rating was like 40lbs. would this be a good rod for a spinning reel for tuna? What do most people use for tuna rods when spin fishing for tuna. Thanks

niko · 07-19-2009, 12:35 PM

i've got a couple of cms rods for spinning. very happy w/ both

Capt.dan · 07-19-2009, 01:58 PM

what's cms?

nightfighter · 07-19-2009, 03:45 PM

I asked a similar question not long ago. A member who I trust on tuna do's and don't's suggested I go with a 50-80# rating on the rod for this year's class of fish. My three fish last year were 120-150#, so I am assuming they have put on some more weight since then.

ruhroh · 07-19-2009, 07:24 PM

Heard the Ocean Tackle Tuna Snipers are making a name for themselves.

golden* · 07-20-2009, 02:53 PM

go heavier for sure. the trevala XXH rods are good

big jay · 07-20-2009, 06:14 PM

I'll take a shot at this since I'm a bit of a tackle ho.

I just got an oti tuna sniper 8'6' 60-80lb rod. Lots a power and you can cast a country mile - I've only hooked 2 fish with it, and I busted off both, so I haven't seen it on an extended fight. That said, I'm totally confident.

Van Staal 7' Jigging rod - got 2 and I love them. Sweet spot is 2 oz and is the perfect rod for throwing 11" GotStrypers.

St Croix 7 or 7/12 20-40lb - throws anything, lots of power, great all around rod. One of the board lurkers has a cool video of himself putting the screws to a big fish with that rig. CapeCodKid is also selling one in the classifieds - good deal.

SeaWolf · 07-22-2009, 10:10 AM

you really want at a minimum at 40-60# class rod for tuna over 100 pounds and ideally something in the 60-80# class is better for the tuna that are between 150 and 300 being caught today. after than, it become too hard to fight these fish on spinner gear and you need to start looking at a full harness and 50-80# class conventional reels.

the OTI's are nice, but expensive. throwing the tuna sniper at 8'6" all day is tiring, espeically after hooking a fish. the OTI's are 2 piece w/ the joint above the fore grip. i found them very top heavy. they make shorter ones, which i suggest. you will need to balance casting distance w/ fighting power. at some point you will be compensating somewhere.