Hi Guys,
As this is my first post let me start by saying that 100% of my GT captures over the last couple of years can be attributed to this forum. The wealth of knowledge contained within these pages is genuinely invaluable and a credit to all involved. At this stage I am an infrequent GT angler (1 to 2 times per year) and mainly do so in conjunction with my surf trips to the Maldives and Indonesia.
Following my in depth reading and evaluation of hundreds of opinions on the forum I purchased a budget Rod and reel setup several years ago consisting of a Tcurve GT Special and Saragosa 18k spooled with 80lb braid. Thanks to your detailed topics on rigging methods I've spent countless enjoyable hours rigging what some would say are probably overkill sized leaders (for the destinations I've been to) but which resulted in only 2 lost fish from roughly 40 hook ups to 30kg. I'm still dreaming of getting to the 50+ club......haha
On a trip last month to the Maldives I had the chance to work again with a fantastic surf boat captain called Patrick who guided us two years ago and who again spent many hours guiding me in the tender to some perfect fishing areas and getting me onto the fish. He is an avid GT popping fisherman himself and having heard he had broken his rod (cheap Penn spin rod circa 10-15kg) the week prior to us arriving and as a thank you for his efforts once again I gifted my rod to him at the end of the trip. I couldn't imagine a more grateful recipient as I remember him watching me handle some big fish on our previous trip and his amazement at even this relatively budget (from this forums perspective) rod's performance on 30kg fish compared to his usual tackle. He would most probably not even be able to access let alone afford such a rod in the Maldives so it felt great to be able to assist him (and my fishing karma should go through the roof....). It should be noted that he probably didn't need it though, as pictures of several 50kg+ fish (my rough estimate from the forums trip report pictures) of his catching at the helm of the boat attested.How he landed them on his rod with a Penn Spinfisher reel will never be known!!!!
With this in mind I am in the market for a replacement rod. My question is whether the Tcurve GT Special is still the right rod in the sub $400 dollar range or whether their are any other rods you would recommend? Unfortunately my budget doesn't allow anything in the mid to upper range rods as I simply don't spend enough time chasing them to justify the cost. In the entry level price range I don't imagine their are any stickbait/popper specific rods and that they are all general purpose rods but for specifications sake I tend to use cup faced poppers in the 125 to 150g range, and stickbaits like the nomad dogtooth 150's and Adhek Gobys.
Ill also just add that for the money I can't fault the Saragosa's performance so far on the fish I have encountered so will continue to use it until (hopefully) a big brute destroys it one day! Then I'll be able to upgrade to the Stella/Saltiga level which will also enhance my usual offshore fishing habits.
Thanks again to all the contributors to this site. You have given me the knowledge to go out there and wrestle some GT's during my trips, with each new trip involving a higher percentage of fishing than the last. I'm absolutely hooked and it won't be long until the first dedicated GT trip gets organised......haha.
Cheers
Dave
