Need some help here.

Selecting a grouper rod for fishing in Straits of Melacca in West Malayia. Estimated size of the giant cod(as Aussies call 'em) is about 300 pounds or so in between 250-300 feet of water. We fish in the asian bottom fishing style with rods in the rod holders. We need to stop the fish from going back into the wrecks. What rods would you guys use? Thanks in advance.

Japanese solid glass blank... blank alone usually retails for 200-300 dollars or so. SIC turbo type guides. I have one built like this and have caught up to 466lb sharks and 400+lb goliath grouper.

Tried fishing this way with a 50-130lb standup tuna blank, but snapped it in half.

[www.alligator-usa.com]

This is the link to a company that sells the complete rods (not blanks), (I created the site yes I am sort of affiliated). Unfortunately, this place does not sell blanks only, but will give you a bit of an idea what the blanks look like.

There isn't a lot of rods that can handle fishing Japanese style, locked in the rodholders with cranked drags and up to 300lb braid. The solid fiberglass blanks have some give but are still strong enough not to snap. This is pretty dangerous fishing in Japan... fishing rods holders get ripped off boat, reels get ripped off.... fishing some serious drag. Some guys use Fin-nor 80's and lock the drags down as far as they can go.

Phil



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2006 01:24AM by Phil Richmond.

CCG - Transportation wise, what is your maximum allowable rod length? Do you need a 2-piece blade, or will you use a metal or hard butt + a one-piece blade above a ferruled reel seat? or what other options may you consider, transportability wise? Malaysia is a long way from Chicago, no? ... LOL, -Cliff Hall.

Take a 14' Surf rod and cut 12' off, that should work, lol!!

Thanks a lot Billy!!!! :)

Cliff, I have no idea what you mean abut 2-piece blades.
Phil, you gave me the info I need in the website. Thanks.

Tw Question Phil, what company was your standup blank from and what are the line poundage ratings on the Alligator Rods? I can't use commercialy made rods because of my very weird physical build. Thanks.

My standup was a Penn International Tuna Stick. Not exactly meant to fight fish out of rod holders.

The Alligator rods are rated up to PE 30 or so, which is about 300lb line. The stuff is like rope. There are some other companies that sell only blanks, Alligator does not cater to the rod builders. The Alligator rods are beautiful, but very spendy (around 800-1,000 dollars) depending on the model.

Here in Japan they have rod holders that are made specifically for fighting the fish out of. I thought it was pretty gay at first, but then I found out that that the fish they are targeting (moroko), some charter boats only land one fish a year. They don't want to take any chances of it getting its head down and getting into the rocks, so they fish very heavy tackle very deep and still get rocked up.

Phil

Thanks Phil...My search continues!!!!!