[The Seeker]

What is your preferred Spinning Reel for jigging BFTs in South Jersey?
Stella I presume, but 10000, 18000 or 20000?
Any other reel suggestions are also appreciated.

Thanks alot.
John

 

[paul708]

I HAVE A stella 10k AND 20k.
i bring both with me.
but i usually use the 10k because its ALOT lighter.

 

[striper2278]

Gonna try my new Saragosa 18000 this summer. She should get'ir done

Have used Rob from the Duct Work's Accurate spinner....Very nice!

 

[John D]

After much research, I decided on the Stella 20000sw. Expect to see a good amount of fish this year pushing 120#+--for these fish, you WILL need the added capacity of the 20000sw. Sure, its 8 oz heavier, which is significant. Spend the extra money buying a lighter jigging rod Peace of mind is pricecless when going after the BEASTS.

The 18000 is the same capacity as the 20000sw, but has a higher retrieve than the 20000sw and is best suited to popping with the 20000sw having a lower gear ratio better suited to jigging--and cranking in fish from the depths.

 

[pwcrab]

I just picked up a Van Staal 250 bail up i am gonna try this year on the bluefin.

 

[RENEGADE SPORTFISHING]

Saragosa 18000F for 2010, not that I have a lot of confidence in any of these spinning reels. Either the anti reverse go or the drags will melt. Lots of receipts and boxes in storage. Stella's are nice but price wise X 6 just not practical.

Capt. Mike

 

[jjfrize]

Try the daiwa saltiga sa series. Not quite as smooth as the stella but definitely more durable and a high quality offshore spinning reel.

 

[Duct Work Sportfishing]

Gonna try my new Saragosa 18000 this summer. She should get'ir done

Have used Rob from the Duct Work's Accurate spinner....Very nice!

Skip did you hear anything about a drag upgrade for our Saragosa? I saw somewhere that Shimano would supply the parts Free of charge? I heard they had a little problem with a blazing first run:huh::huh: ( If so give me a call, we will see if we can get it done, so its GAME ON). Capt Rob

 

[dante2513]

stella's and accurates are both great the saragossa is ok on smaller fish but cant take the abuse of thelarger blue fins, i burnt out 2 last year and know many others who have done the same.

 

[Captain's John & Diana]

This is what I have seen on our boat last year concerning spinners for BFT

I saw a pretty decent number of large Bluefins caught or released on jigs last year on our boat but we did have a much shorter summer season for jigging or chunking when the hot water invaded the Claw and shut down the BFT bite in early August. In other years we were able to catch them well into late August and along with the some smaller size fish much closer to Cape May in big numbers so who really knows what’s in store this coming season. We never saw any of the smaller BFT under 55 inches at all last year and almost every one we caught or released was in the 56-68 inch range. When the tuna are running up around 150 lbs plus like last year it is all Shimano Stella STL 20000 SW on our boat matched with custom Jigging Master Rods only but we do have top end Accurate Boss Extreme conventionals on board also. We have two Shimano Saragosa 18000 F spinners but they only go out if we see tuna in the 50-80 lb range. I personally took our Saragosa 18000 F into Shimano’s USA Headquarters in Irvine, CA and they upgraded the reels in their technical department. We have not gotten to try the new upgraded reel out yet but the way bigger Bluefin pull I do not think this is the real of choice if you fish any amount of days for them. I will be out at the Fred Hall Fishing Show in Long Beach, CA this weekend where all the factory reel teams have booths and discuss this in more detail at the show. Almost all the dedicated jigging pros who fished with us last year and pay for their own equipment use the Shimano Stella's and nothing else from what I saw last year. For canyon yellowfin jigging (if they should every show up) I would suggest a reel like the Saragosa 18000 F but Stella is the best by far overall from what we have seen when the jigging for BFT 150 lbs and up. This also holds true to some degree if you ever go down south and jig for Amberjacks and get into them in the 70-90 lb range but I personally have not done this yet so I am only going on what friends that fish for them have told me.
I feel from my experience if you cannot afford a reel that rivals a Stella in price and performance a conventional would serve you well for jigging especially if you fish where we do and have the very real opportunity to get into tuna over 65 inches on a regular basis. There are some very good conventionals now on the market that when used with spectra can handle some very big tuna and again not sure if I personally trust any spinner on powerful fish except the very best ones on the market today.

 

[J FLORES]

Capt. John,

Very well said.....i agree 100%

 

[Bird of Prey]

Skip did you hear anything about a drag upgrade for our Saragosa? I saw somewhere that Shimano would supply the parts Free of charge? I heard they had a little problem with a blazing first run:huh::huh: ( If so give me a call, we will see if we can get it done, so its GAME ON). Capt Rob

Capt Rob- If you get any further info on this drag upgrade, can you please pass it along. I bought a Saragosa 1800 late last season, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. Thanks in advance.

 

[StealthMode]

Stella 20000SW without a doubt! Durability, smoothness & drag power is unmatched...

 

[striper2278]

Skip did you hear anything about a drag upgrade for our Saragosa? I saw somewhere that Shimano would supply the parts Free of charge? I heard they had a little problem with a blazing first run:huh::huh: ( If so give me a call, we will see if we can get it done, so its GAME ON). Capt Rob

See what you can find out!

 

[John_Henderson]

Shimano will send you a new drag knob for the Sargossa, which is the part that most often fails on bigger runs. For another $11 you can order a set of carbontex drag washers that seem to be smoother and hold up better than stock. It's still not a Stella, but is significantly better than stock.

 

[stripedbass]

Has anyone looked at the saiwa saltiga dog fight reels. it has 6.2:1 High speed gear ratio pulls in over 50 inches of line with every crank and
66 lbs. drag maximum.

 

[J FLORES]

Has anyone looked at the saiwa saltiga dog fight reels. it has 6.2:1 High speed gear ratio pulls in over 50 inches of line with every crank and
66 lbs. drag maximum.

Dog fight is a very good real...they are more popular over seas,as serious
GT popper's use them. But IMO not as smooth as the Stella and i heard
a few of them being blown up on huge GT'S and dogtooth tuna's.

 

[EASTCOASTRIGS]

I love my saragossa does a number on bft!

 

[Duct Work Sportfishing]

Shimano will send you a new drag knob for the Sargossa, which is the part that most often fails on bigger runs. For another $11 you can order a set of carbontex drag washers that seem to be smoother and hold up better than stock. It's still not a Stella, but is significantly better than stock.

That's exactly what I had heard, Thanks John!!:thumbsup::thumbsup: Will call them in the am. I know its not a Stella, but that's what I have the Accurate Twin spin for (and an order in for a stella 20000) Capt Rob

 

[biggietalls89]

seen a Stella on an JPR rod the other day. what a light an deadly setup can handle big fish an wont be tired out as quick jigging.