Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) > Tackle & Techniques

Selected Budget Tackle-Up to the task??

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Felix Neuer:
is rods still a point?
if yes, take a look at the Shimano Caranx Kaibutsu.
The Long Cast was my first popping rod and till today I still use it as a backup rod.
maybe a little heavy, but indestructible, which is important to me, as I love the fight in heavy surf.
prices are good, and you get a real solid rod for what you pay for.

greetz

Brandon Khoo:
I think it is important to make the point that if you are going to opt for a Saragosa or a Saltist, please do not expect that the reels are going to perform to the standards of a Saltiga or a Stella over a reasonable period of use. That is just not realistic. They are at best a compromise based on price.

I have over a long period of time broken every single Saltiga and Stella I have used in some way or another and this extends to every Saltiga and Stella released by both companies since the F series Stellas. The only reel I haven't used and I have no intention to is the latest 6500 series Saltiga. I'm not going to go into the reasons why outside of the personal opinion I have that the Dogfight is a stronger reel.

I don't fish a particularly strong drag pressure although there will be times when the reel is asked to go to the mid-teens but normally, my set drag is in the 10-12kg range. This drag pressure used trip in and trip out have compromised everything in my reels ranging from the main gears to the main shaft. If this is happening to Stellas and Saltigas that are used regularly this way, what will happen to reels like the Saragosa and Saltist if they are treated in the same manner?

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of buying these reels. I am simply trying to inject a dose of realism into this discussion. The fact that the Saltist survived one trip to Oman is meaningless to me because I know nothing of the anglers and how the reels were fished. I note that the Saltist has a maximum drag of 15kgs which means its useable drag is probably more around 10-12kg. It would mean something if they survived trip after trip in the hands of someone who really knows how to fish for GTs but I know of noone in this category who uses these reels.

Ben Rivers:
Cheap Option = Shimano Saragosa 18000F and Shimano T Curve GT Special - Looking at change from $600.

If your going to be doing it REGULARLY, save your pennies and get a Stella.

Graham Scott:
Patrick,
For starting out GT fishing the greatest excitement is getting your lure to a fish and witnessing a massive strike. While important, catching the fish is less important. A decent rod like the Shimano GT Special will get your lure to the fish. I started with a Daiwa sealine bull 6000 hi, upgraded to carbotex washers and set the drag around 9 or 10 kg. When this cheap crap reel breaks I have set my sights on on a stella1800 . But like many I couldn't justify the dollars at the start. I am up to about 40 GT's on this reel. Sure I get dusted a few times but I don't spit the dummie when I can't get to 15 kg drag.

So I am sure you will enjoy GT fishing with mid price reels like the Saragossa or saltist. buy some halco roosters and a few dumbbell 200s maybe even some r2s doggie stick baits and have a go! You can go GT fishing on a budget, just not as consistently successfully reliably

If you get hooked then unfortunately your children will probably never see a cent inheritance

Guy Durham:
There is a guy at work that loves his US reels and his big spin number is the Penn Torque. He loves it and can't rate it highly enough. He's not a 'sport fisher' parse, rather he is a bit more sedentary  ;) having said that he regularly catches big Spanish & solid GT's (trolling lures).

He cant fault the reel. Having said that, because they dont distribute them here, importing from the states comes with its costs and warranty claiming issues.  They are a physically substantial reel as well. All told I think the cost runs pretty close to the two main players in this market anyway and you're still exposed to the support issues.

He has a black one that is accented with gold rather than the all gold model that was pictured earlier. It's a Slightly better looking reel but still pretty bloody unattractive  ;D

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