Hello, I would like to build a rod for a guy from Florida I purchased a boat from. This fellah went over and above what most folk would have done during this type of transaction. And I now consider him a friend. and i would like to send him a token of my apprecation. does anyone have experiance with trolling that are popular (length,speed,line rating & lure weight) for trolling on the n.west coast of fla for tuna,whaoo,marlin or mahi-mahi? what do you use or recommend ? would they be any diffrent than west coast?
Thanks, Byron

Nowthat you build rods be carefulhow many friends you have. Everyone wnats to trade a day of fishign for a high end custom rod. I'm not saying the guy doesnt' deserve it, just be careful.

I have no idea about trolling in Florida, sorry. I do have an idea about everyone wanting to be a friend to not pay $$$ for a rod.

first thanks billy for taking the time to reply. i have alot of respect for your talent and always enjoy your work.
i know what your saying to be true.but this guy does not even know i build rods or that i'm thinking of building this rod. or i would simply ask him what type of rod he wanted.thanks for those words of wisdom. keep on do'in what you do'in

Questions that need answering if you are to get useful help:
- does he fish stand up or from a chair
- what species does he like to target (BIG difference between tuna/marlin and mahi)
- live bait or lures
- what class of tackle does he like? light, average or unlimited

If you really want to build him a rod he will enjoy and use, then you have to find out how, and for what, he likes to fish. Once you know that the rest is 'easy'. But without that information you're shooting in the dark.

The other part of the question might be, "How much are you willing to spend"? An 80 or 130# class trolling rod with roller guides and curved unibutt isn't going to be cheap!

If he really fishes for what you say in NW Florida then he has a big boat and is running hundreds of miles offshore. I'd imagine he has everything he needs. Maybe what he doesn't have is something closer to an "ultralight" trolling setup. While some fish 4# for marlin I'm not that much of a sport. However a nice 12# class rod would be a blast on dolphin and wahoo.


Russ

I fish East Central Florida...I live 3 miles from the Kennedy Space Center and fish mostly out of either Port Canaveral or Sebastian Inlet. I have built a few "general purpose" rods (if there is such a thing) that cover both bottom fishing for snapper and grouper as well as trolling for mahi, wahoo and kingfish.
I use an E-glass blank (I actually prefer E-glass to graphite for this type of application) with an extended foregrip, either Pac Bay turbo or boat guides, and an aluminum gimbal that is covered with a slip on butt cap when I am bottom fishing.
Mudhole has a very nice series of E-glass boat rod blanks that offer great versatility. They start in the 8-15 lb range and go all the way up to 50-80 lb range. On my last trip out of Sebastian, my wife landed a 265 lb shark on the SPSWB7M...a 15-25 lb rated, light action blank. (She was fishing for sea bass and trigger fish...this came as a HUGE surprise), And btw, I bought this blank in hot pink...it's her "Pink Snapper" rod. Price: $15.95 in black. I just completed rods on the SPSWB7H and the SPSWB7XH...20-40lb and 25 to 50 lb respectively. The most expensive blank in this series is $19.95. Of course, once you add guides, reel seat, gimbal, etc, the money increases, but you can still make a very nice custom built, hand crafted rod for someone for $75 of thereabouts.
Frankly, I think most fishermen would be very pleased with almost ANY rod made just for them. And the real value is not so much in what blank you use, but the craftsmanship, and the friendship accompanying the gift.

without breaking your wallet and giving him a VERY nice rod...

trolling the west coast of florida can also include grouper as well.

American Tackle AXGC70MH 7' 20-50#
Fuji DPSH (will be a size 24 that fits if I remember right)
Grip lengths will highly depend on his arm length and comfort (hint take a look at his other rods for similar purposes), starting point 8-10" rear, 10-12" fore
Fuji BMNAGs w/ MBNAT top
Definitely with a gimbal, smaller fish wont require a belt, but generally guys who fish personal boats (and I am assuming he does mostly as you just bought one from him) will at least have a belt on board for when its needed. Use a nylon/graphite gimbal unless there will always be use of a belt....I know that one from experience

Overall a very light setup that will handle just about anything you can throw at it. Keep in mind that the swords and tuna both are still limited to depth on your coast where as they go as deep as they like on my side.

I also fish East Central Florida for the exact same stuff listed above. I guess I've just gotten spoiled with the light weight of the composites now. :)

This setup will run you quite a bit more than the one listed above, however. Really depends on what you want to spend. Guestimate without pricing it out would run you about double that $75 one listed above.

You know Sean, I wish you hadn't mentioned that blank. I need to go to Mudhole on Thursday. I suspect I may be leaving with one of those...

Don't feel bad Gary. I had just about decided on a blank (RCLB70ML) and someone suggested the American Tackle. Now, within the last hour, two different guys have raved about that AT blank. I don't suppose anyone has fished both?

Dang, here I go getting my mind changed again.....too many decisions for a first time builder:) Heck I can't even figure out what guides to get!



Russ

Check your email Russ.

Russ, you cant go wrong with either of them. I THINK the batson may be a slight bit lighter in weight, but overall they compare to each other very well.

Gary I may see you up there Thursday if you head up late morning, as I'll be picking up a pair in the 30-60# class as well.