I have to aggree with raggie pup
the Shimano Slade 2500 is a verry nice reel but for the price of the Shimano you can buy two Silstar Hypa 30 reels. I have both reels and they are both working very well.
The Shimano on the Shimano I have 20lb braid and on the Silstar I have 10lb braid. Very important about the braid is that you must at least every 5th time when retrieving your lure wind the braid thight onto your reel, failure to do this will result in some very fine knots coning into your braid when you cast. Ask me I've had it before. At the price this braid comes you need to look after it. As for rods I have the Shimano Schimitar, not very happy with it also got a seven foot Sensation Passion Stick, very nice for the silstar.
As for the lures I started of with Ratfink, Rat Shad and it works I have caught countless Bar Tail Flatheads. I began to think that this is the only fish that I will catch on this drop shot fishing. But after trying some different retrievals I soon got the following, Russel Snapper, Saladfish, Big Eye Kingie, Kob, Shad and so on. I think that Ratfink is a affordable fluke that works. I fish in Richards Bay harbour and where there is a piece of water I try.
Drop Shotting is not about catching huge fish but about the species. You must keep a record of the species you catch. I know a guy from Zululand that just past the 50 species mark. Now that is an achievement. It also for the fun of it teasing that fish into taking your lure, thats what it is about.
Try you'll enjoy it!
Dup