How much backing should I put on my Rovex Big Boss lll 8000?

[reelsafariyoutube]

Hi guys!
I am currently trying to calculate the cost of buying a new setup for Rock and Surf fishing. More specifically a setup with more than enough line should I want to target some non-edibles. I want to buy a reel that has spare spools available in SA, one for braid and one for nylon if I want to slide out a live mullet for those big Kob.
I want to buy the Penn Pursuit IV 8000 but I can't find spare spools, so I am now looking at buying a Rovex Big Boss lll 8000. If my calculations are correct, the Big Boss lll 8000 should be able to take 661m of Boss Hi-lite 30lb. Braid is very expensive though and every rand that I can save can help me buy terminal tackle or some lures. Can someone please advise me on how much nylon backing, and what breaking test nylon I should use.
Thanks a lot!
Bernard

 

[DJP]

Best is to get the reels spooled at a tackle shop that has a spooling machine. This will work fine since you have two spools put the braid on first and then top it up with mono. The transfer it to the second spool and it should be prefect. You can do the same at home but spoiling braid under tension with a rod at home normally puts quite a lot of strain on a new reel which you don't really want to do and it's a mission. Or you could just use 600m/40lb of the same braid which should fill the spool. The mono backing diameter is somewhat irrelevant because you will hold your spool before it gets there, you won't want the fish to go into the mono backing. Considering you will use the other spool with mono I'd say use what's left over (although you will use it first) of that mono which will be around 0.5mm, and I don't think you will get more than 350-400m of it on a 8000 spool (if that).

 

[reelsafariyoutube]

Thanks man that is some sound advice!
On another note... are you guys surviving with all the rain? We have a house in Kleinmond and the people are saying that the rain has been hectic

 

[DJP]

Rain is ok here, still early season so the mountain and wetlands can soak up quite a bit. Our issues normally come at the end of winter when there is a cut off low and ground is saturated. Seems everywhere between here East London got quite heavy rains over the last few days.
On the positive all the estuaries around here are in good shape and the mouths remain open so plenty of fish moving around.