Advice on surf reels

Since I'm from Indiana I'm pretty limited on my saltwater gear. Currently I have three combos that were all cheap from BPS/cabelas.

My big setup is a stiff10ft ocean master rod with daiwa 5000 emcast plus reel. I hated this rod when I got it because it was too big for small panfish (which is all I could ever catch in NC). Last year I landed a huge jack with no issues on it and several big cats.

Also have the same brands on an 8ft OM and 4000 series emcast. Haven't used this one yet, was a gift from my parents.

third is a really old flimsy rod I use for bait fish, would love not to use it anymore.

question: will the 5000 be enough for land based sharking? Doubt I can cast far enough for the big ones, but what could it handle?

Also, both of my rods seem really stiff (slow action?), what would be a cheap medium fast action rod/reel combo I could hold while spiking my others?

Pm John G on here or stop into J and M when you come in. Very friendly, knowledgable and more than willing to help. As well as about antone on this site.

the 5000 would not work for shark fish in unless ur fish in a puny bait. people use 9/0 senators for shark fish in but u gotta have a kyak. Ive used a penn battle 7000 for fishin small sharks and bull reds. you could target spanish, whiting and pompano off the beach.

as for the rod question just go into j and m tackle and they can hook you up. best service I've ever got from a tackle store.

I won't have access to a yak these year, so I am not worried about catching the huge sharks. Pretty sure it can handle more than a whiting, last year I bullied a 35lb jack in with little effort. Can't even tell when whiting are hooked until I pull it out of the water.

also, I'll be in Dauphin Island so won't be able to make it to j&m unfortunately. I hear great things about the service there.

Not sure where you want to fish but landing a shark from the beach or pier is illegal in Gulf shoers and Orange Beach.

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Originally Posted by chillinfish

Not sure where you want to fish but landing a shark from the beach or pier is illegal in Gulf shoers and Orange Beach.

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Sorry , I noticed I didn't put where I'd be. I edited the post, I'll be in pelican bay in DI. I don't plan to specifically target sharks, but I do plan to throw my bait out with the goal of targeting whatever fish is big enough to bite!

I can't wrap my mind around a spinning reel that claims a #33 max drag for under $100. Does it mean "yes the drag can do this, but you will rip the spool and shaft off the reel if you try?" Because otherwise if you can put 300 yards of #50 braid on it, you could catch a #400 bull with that easily. Sounds ridiculous.

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Originally Posted by Pierless

I can't wrap my mind around a spinning reel that claims a #33 max drag for under $100. Does it mean "yes the drag can do this, but you will rip the spool and shaft off the reel if you try?" Because otherwise if you can put 300 yards of #50 braid on it, you could catch a #400 bull with that easily. Sounds ridiculous.

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I couldn't have said any better. That cracked me up.

So I guess a 400# bull is out of the question! There's no way I could cast far enough to put bait in front of anything even remotely close to that size.

But I'd assume the combo can handle 3ft sharks despite being a cheapo? That's more along the size I was asking about. The size easily caught without kayaking a bait half a mile.

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Originally Posted by Mattb

So I guess a 400# bull is out of the question! There's no way I could cast far enough to put bait in front of anything even remotely close to that size.

But I'd assume the combo can handle 3ft sharks despite being a cheapo? That's more along the size I was asking about. The size easily caught without kayaking a bait half a mile.

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Yeah I'd certainly expect you can have fun wrangling little sharks with that combo, though you might be surprised how close a big one will come once in a while.

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Originally Posted by Pierless

Yeah I'd certainly expect you can have fun wrangling little sharks with that combo, though you might be surprised how close a big one will come once in a while.

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Also, if that cheap combo is rigged up correctly it may hold up long enough to whip a big one or two.

Matt,
let me know when you're going to be in town.
I live in Mobile and love to shark, I've a yak and would be happy to meet some Saturday and soak some baits.
I prefer to take the ferry across to Ft. Morgan an fish the drop-off on the bay side of the Point.

An inexpensive Penn 6/0 or 6/0 wide (400yrds of 50# mono, topped with 50yrds of 80# mono) on a stout 5.5-7' rod, will handle most sharks under 8' if you play'em right.

Your current rig should whip any Blacktip/Spinner, and handle other small-medium sized sharks.
Do not try to put anywhere near the rated drag on that reel, you'll trash it. Heck, 15#s of drag should be fine.

Sounds like a great time. I'll be there the week of Fourth of July. Unfortunately, we arrive Saturday and leave the next week Saturday.

I'm staying close to the golf course on DI. Would that point just south be a decent spot for reds, jacks, sharks?

I'd look into a new setup for sharks, but since I only get to the coast once or twice a year, I may be better off spending a bit on a more versatile equipment.