My wife and I are off to Belize for a week of flats fishing in late March. We've chartered a 40' Sea Ray complete with fishing guide and cook. Staying on the "Mothership", and towing a flats boat, we'll stay in a different caye each night. Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish and snorkeling are on the menu.

We have the fly fishing gear arranged, but will also take spinning gear. What specific rod/reel combinations would you recommend? I'll need one 12lb outfit and one in the 16-20lb range. Both should hold a minimum 200 yards of line.

SBT, first off let me tell you how much I hate you. I'm freezin' my big ole butt off up here in the mountains.
I'd buy something cheap and just leave the rod/reels down there.
What service are you using?

quote:

What specific rod/reel combinations would you recommend?

I like Shimano spinning reels, the Sedona is a nice mix of price and performance, but I have never had a bad one...A Penn 5500 would do nice too, but they tend to be heavy and not as smooth...super tough though. Both will handle the saltwater without a hitch.

Any decent 6-8.5' rod will do. I like to go light, as in a 8-12 lb class rod for 12 lb test line, vs. a 12-17 lb class rod for 12 lb line. Handle a few dozen and see what 'feels' good. I also like relatively stiff spinning rods, not really whippy ones....better 'feel' when working a bait or lure. Others think the whippy rod affects a live bait less, allowing it to run more freely.

Be sure to post a report when you return!

Poletax, it hit 89 degrees yesterday down here, only 83 today. Thanks for keeping that cold crap to yourself!

Thaks you guys. I was looking at the Penn 4300ss, 4400ss and 750ss, but will also check out the Shimano.

Poletax,
It is dead of winter here at 7,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. I know how you feel. Take a look at: http://www.flyfishbelize.com/

In the Penn SS series I have a 4400, 4500, 7500, and 9500. Mostly they are for surf fishing, but it seems that I always have one of the 4400 or 4500 in the boat when I go in the bays. The 5500 will be plenty for 17 lb line. You really shouldn't need 200 yards of anything, even allowing for breakoffs. The only times I have been spooled were a 6/0 wide Penn on one end and a 7' blacktip on the other...with 40 lb Trilene in between, and once in the surf that I never even slowed down...

I have cought redfish to 35 inches on 10 lb line with a Penn 4400...and not gotten to the end of my line. Tarpon are the only ones you mention that could run enough, and it will not matter much what you have...if a big one hits, you are going for a ride.

Have fun!

I checked out the Shimano, boy are they pricey! When you say the Penn SS series is mostly for surf fishing, why is that? Isn't a spinning reel a spinning reel?

I find them heavy to use all day. They work fine for whatever you would use a spinning reel for, but I just feel the weight a bit more than with my Shimano's...surf fishing is a lot of cast and set the rod in a holder. From a boat you are usually holding a rod all day, and there lies the difference. I probably should have said "I mostly end up using them for surf fishing"...not that it is a quality problem...surf fishing is probably harder on tackle that any other kind of fishing.

Like most everything else it is a very subjective thing.

Got it, that makes sense. Thanks.