Advice For New Rod and Reel Combo

A couple years ago I got hooked on saltwater fishing. It started out with cheap walmart spincast combos from a dock in the bay, to deep sea and pier fishing. I purchased a Penn Senator 113H2 and haven't had much luck with it! It is way too big and hard to cast off of the pier or from the shore, so Im in the market for a new combo. Ive been looking at the Penn Pursuit II Combos. But I dont know what size. I'm leaning toward the 8000 model because I really dont want to have to buy any more rods for a while, so I figure if I go with this model I can pretty much catch anything(within reason). Is there any reason not to go bigger? The main problem though is that I dont know what size rod to go with it. The options that it comes with is 7' and 10'. I want to do a bit of pier fishing, dock fishing, and maybe some surf fishing. I also have a lake house, so if theres any way to do any type of bass/catfish fishing with it then that would be awesome to double the usefulness.

The reason you're having trouble casting the Senator is because it was not made for casting...it is designed to be used on a boat as a drop rig. The 8000 will be more than enough reel for the pier and/or surf fishing (and probably overkill)...and will definitely be overkill for bass and catfish. The 10' rod will be too long for the pier, but it will work for surf fishing.

If you're dead set on the Pursuit combo, get the 8000 with 7' rod for the larger species from the pier and surf fishing, and get a smaller combo (4000 model reel) for smaller species and bass and catfish.

The Penn 6000 class will handle most everything you get into from shore or pier without the added weight of the 8000. It doubles well for cats and stripers in freshwater. A good medium heavy action 7 ft 6 in rod or 8' medium will do wonders. If u head to gulf shores, stop at J&m. Good honest folks will fix u right up with what u need from a vast selection of man toys. If u have something lighter, spinning tackle, bring it. You can catch lots of fish in the salt on light tackle with the added bonus of actually fighting the fish. Or feeding the sharks, sometimes. 15# mono, btw.

Do not buy the 8000.

Buy a Battle II Combo.
Either 4000 or 5000 reel paired with a 7'-8', Med or Med-heavy rod with a Fast action.
Spool with 12# mono.
You'll be good to go for almost anything on the pier, in the surf and even FW Bass/Cats.

One rig can't do it all, but it can do a lot and do it in a semi-satisfactory way.
But you really need multiple rods to do any one thing 'well'.

I bought the bigger BAass Pro combo with 8' rod for my first trip to the pier. Now I use Shimano Senderos (or whatever model it is) 4000 sized on BPS Pro-Comp 7' medium rods. Right around $100 out the door. Never feel undergunned at the pier, course I haven't hooked a king or cobia. Even run a $12 Daiwa IX 2500 on a $12 Shimano rod while I'm there. Landed nice bonitos on the Daiwa and in freshwater a 20# buffalo. I use these rods fishing tailraces below a local dam. Catch big stripers, cats, landed a 5' gar the other day.

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Originally Posted by ChileRelleno

Do not buy the 8000.

Buy a Battle II Combo.
Either 4000 or 5000 reel paired with a 7'-8', Med or Med-heavy rod with a Fast action.
Spool with 12# mono.
You'll be good to go for almost anything on the pier, in the surf and even FW Bass/Cats.

One rig can't do it all, but it can do a lot and do it in a semi-satisfactory way.
But you really need multiple rods to do any one thing 'well'.

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++ on the Penn Battle II combo or get Battle II reel separate and pair with a Battalion rod. My wife and non-fishing friends constantly ask why so many rod/reels, I just say fishing is like golf you need a different stick for different situations.

Okay! Those are all really good points! I know that both of you guys are saying the Penn Battle II, but its just a bit more than what I was wanting to spend. With only going to the beach once or twice a year, would the pursuit II suffice, or do you think its essential to spend the extra money on the Battle? Also I hear what everyone is saying about the 8000 being way to big. Chances are that I wont be catching many big fish anyway, and its no fun reeling a small-medium size fish in without having to fight it at all. That being said I would like to maybe target a shark or two! Its always been a dream of mine to catch one. I dont want it to be a huge shark. What would be a good size to target, and what size reel would accommodate this best?

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Originally Posted by Ryan98720

Okay! Those are all really good points! I know that both of you guys are saying the Penn Battle II, but its just a bit more than what I was wanting to spend. With only going to the beach once or twice a year, would the pursuit II suffice, or do you think its essential to spend the extra money on the Battle? Also I hear what everyone is saying about the 8000 being way to big. Chances are that I wont be catching many big fish anyway, and its no fun reeling a small-medium size fish in without having to fight it at all. That being said I would like to maybe target a shark or two! Its always been a dream of mine to catch one. I dont want it to be a huge shark. What would be a good size to target, and what size reel would accommodate this best?

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Not to advertise but check out, Walmart online. They have the Penn Battle II combo for $115.00, 5000 reel with 8' two piece rod. Not a bad deal, not sure what your budget is. If possible I would get Fierce before Pursuit, remember the more you can invest, to a point, the better the equipment, the better it will fish and last longer.