Just picked up a Mak Sea 30 for hopefull giant bluefin fishing here in the Northeast. I have a black hole giant for stand-up but curious on any other blank recommendations. I like a rod that is more moderate action than fast, and someone mentioned a calstar 655xxh. Not sure if a Gen 2 cow rod from black hole would work but interested in what some of you may recommend. As always, thank you all!

Arthur,
[ctsfishing.com]

Regards,
Herb
US Rep CTS



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/2021 09:44PM by Herb Ladenheim.

Herb, thanks for chiming in. The 5'6" blanks seems like an 80 lb rod though.

The American Tackle AXST series of blanks are great stand up rods. I've built many on these blanks. The 5'6" XH is my favorite.

Capt. Craig Freeman
Grading Scales Sportfishing and Back River Rods

Arthur Amaral Wrote:
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> Herb, thanks for chiming in. The 5'6" blanks seems
> like an 80 lb rod though.


Arthur,
The 24km is 53#
Herb

I'll be using 130lb hollow and hopefully no more than 45 lbs of drag. Just don't want a broom stick? Need something that has a nice bend, and not so much strain on my back as a stiff rod would do.

Hello Arthur.

I like the American Tackle Capt. Freeman suggests but I also like

Batson FSU56XXH 5'6" 80-100# Stand-Up 0.990 15.0 Moderate XX-Heavy 14.9oz. Also recommended by Keven Knox.

Both work well in NC for BF tuna.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Thank you for the reply. I'll look at the batson blanks in that category, you got me at the moderate action lol.

Robert A. Guist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello Arthur.
>
> I like the American Tackle Capt. Freeman suggests
> but I also like
>
> Batson FSU56XXH 5'6" 80-100# Stand-Up 0.990 15.0 M
> oderate XX-Heavy 14.9oz. Also recommended by Keven
> Knox.
>
> Both work well in NC for BF tuna.
>
>
> Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.


Robert, my concern is the line rating given to this blank. I know companies are "different " when rating their blanks, but could this blank handle a drag pressure up to 45 lbs if need be, for giants?

Hello Arthur.

I cant handle 45# drag if I'm not in a chair or at least a harness, but yes it will handle it, however a total lockdown with a 400#er might break it, so don't lock it down with a real heavy tuna.

The biggest tuna I've caught with that rod is (had to look it up) 243#, and I've brought a 9' (not counting the tail) Thresher to the boat & released it.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Robert A. Guist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello Arthur.
>
> I cant handle 45# drag if I'm not in a chair or at
> least a harness, but yes it will handle it,
> however a total lockdown with a 400#er might break
> it, so don't lock it down with a real heavy tuna.
>
> The biggest tuna I've caught with that rod is (had
> to look it up) 243#, and I've brought a 9' (not
> counting the tail) Thresher to the boat & released
> it.
>
> Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Robert, the bluefin this way are true giants, 600 pounders are very common. I would definitely have a harness on! Just need to know that the rod can handle such fish. There are a handful of blanks in the 50-130 lb range and keeping my eyes peeled for any I may not have heard of or that people have experience with here.

Hello Arthur.

For Stand-up I would NOT go bigger, but if you are after 600#ers a chair and use this Super Seeker:

SS-3X5 7'0" 1 100-Unlimited F 12.0 1.08 21.17 Brown $244.00
You should be able to bring in about anything smaller than your boat.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Robert A. Guist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello Arthur.
>
> For Stand-up I would NOT go bigger, but if you are
> after 600#ers a chair and use this Super Seeker:
>
> SS-3X5 7'0" 1 100-Unlimited
> F 12.0 1.08 21.17 Brown $244.00
> You should be able to bring in about anything
> smaller than your boat.
>
>
> Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Robert, thank you for your advice, I'll definitely take a look at the batson blank. I'm not looking to commercial fish, just stand up for fun. There aren't a whole lot of stand up blanks that can handle the big fish, that aren't stiff. Here, 130lb test line is becoming the norm as a lot of people are using smaller hooks. What a lot of people don't understand is that too fast a rod, without a whole lot of give, equates to more pulled hooks. I work on a boat and experienced but old school mentality captains still use their telephone pole rods and pull hooks like crazy.

Arthur,
45lb of drag is huge and can be humanly dangerous for stand-up fishing; you are obviously a better man than me. With that said, I would stick with Calstar or Seeker.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Mark Talmo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Arthur,
> 45lb of drag is huge and can be humanly dangerous
> for stand-up fishing; you are obviously a better
> man than me. With that said, I would stick with
> Calstar or Seeker.


Mark,

I would never do it without a trusted friend holding onto me or in rough seas, I'd like to live to see the next day. Takes a bit of trial getting used to "sitting" with the harness etc on, a big oak tree and capable reel helps figure out the stance lol. My black hole giant is more than capable, just want something for the 30w to fit. BTW, I had a #4 sized bent butt put onto that rod, in case myself or someone else gets uncomfortable/unsure, it can be put into a rod holder and fished that way. Our safety is first!