Penn International kite/swimbait reel

[ernoba]

Hello manne, i have a good problem i need some help with, ive got the choice between a couple of penn international II reels that i want to use as swimbait/kite fishing reels i have the choice between the 50 sw, 30tw and 30 t, now my question is do i go full out with the biggest one? I am thinking it might be a bit heavy literally weight wise, you wont need the shark to tire you out! Or go for one of the smaller ones the 30 tw still holds 900 yards of .55 mono and the 30 t, holds 700 yards of .55, i am thinking to load around 600m of 50lb backing braid and then fill up the rest with .60 mono. And then onto what rod would suit these beasts, would say a 300/8 do the job? Also wondering if a harness would make life easier. Thanks for any replies guys
_seal1_

 

[Dave Batista]

Go for the 50sw. Load it with 100lb braid and some 0.8mm to 1mm topshot. I've got 1150m of 100lb braid on my Tyrnos 50II and 100m of 1mm topshot and it works like a charm.

 

[ernoba]

Thanks for the reply Dave, what rod have you got it paired with?

 

[Dave Batista]

Shark extreme heavy.

 

[Enigma]

I have 2 Squall L50SW reels fitted with

Reel 1:

1000m 100lbs and 200m 1mm and it takes a 20m 2.5mm leader (Kite Only)

Reel 2: 1600m 100lbs, 100m 1mm and 10m 2mm leader (Primary swimbait reel and also kite)

Strike drag set to 19kg

This allows you to confidently drop a bait a 500m and hold on although I did see the drum before the last fish pulled off.

A harness is a must but then so is the safety aspect that comes with the harness. ie only harnessed with drag over 10kg when you are 20m from the waters edge when on the rocks, Knife tied to the harness and always available. When going 30kg+ in the harness have at least 1 person hold onto your harness from the back

Consider taping the harness shackles in the open position

 

[ernoba]

Thanks for the replies guys, question Enigma, there any reason for having more braid on the swimbait reel other than just extra line capacity? Why more mono on the kite reel? Also is there any reason for the different lengths in leader?

Next decision comes with the rod, I want to get a rod built specifically for this setup so i am thinking about a 350/8 rod with a rollerguide and gimble butt, unless you have anything else to suggest?

 

[Dave Batista]

Post from another thread: the following 2x greys were landed on 50 sized reels.

Well yet another trophy catch in the 250kg+ class landed at mazeppa on the same reel I caught my grey shark on back in june. This fish was fought for 4hrs and 15 minutes and was at one point over 1000m off the island. the sea was a little up that day and the fish used the currents to its advantage. If it wasn't for the huge line capacity and heavy tackle and low gear this fish would never have been landed.

Dusky(grey shark) 263cm PCL or 260kgs according to fishweights.

Tackle used:
1.) reel: Tyrnos 50II with 1150m of 100lbs braid and 100m of 1mm topshot
2.) Trace: a 9m 1.8mm wind-on and 6m section of 2mm stainless steel cable with 2x 12/0 mustad big game j-hooks, swivel used was a 3/0 jap power swivel.
3.) Rod: 400/7 supermanderil shortened.
4.) Bait used was a 2kg grey head sent out 250m off the island on the kite.

If you look carefully something else tried to bite this dusky between the anal and interdorsal fin. probably another dusky but this dusky merely left a bite mark.

 

[Dave Batista]

My grey I got at mazeppa in June. I am truly blessed to have caught such a decent sized catch and have helped land grants one above, and to top it off both greys were caught on grey as bait and both greys were caught on the same reel and on the 2nd day of our trips. to my knowledge there are the 2 biggest greys ever landed at mazeppa. But with everybody getting back into kite fishing and heavy tackle I think it wont be long before someone catches a true monster at mazeppa.

http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=99062&forum_id=1

 

[Ant86]

Dave Batista wrote:

My grey I got at mazeppa in June. I am truly blessed to have caught such a decent sized catch and have helped land grants one above, and to top it off both greys were caught on grey as bait and both greys were caught on the same reel and on the 2nd day of our trips. to my knowledge there are the 2 biggest greys ever landed at mazeppa. But with everybody getting back into kite fishing and heavy tackle I think it wont be long before someone catches a true monster at mazeppa.

http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=99062&forum_id=1

And to think that we used to take the piss out of you only a few years ago. You made a lot of us eat humble pie, Im sure there are lots of guys green with envy. I will never forget your posts about offering to guide okes onto big fish while you were still using 1/0 circles for kob and foul hooking Eskom pylons and SUVs- some real good laughs lol. Congrats you have done a full 180, respect (ni(ce(fish)(

Cheers Ant

 

[ernoba]

Big respect on both the catches, just seeing a fish like that coming out is already a privelage, landing one and helping a buddy land another is priceless.(ni(ce(fish)(

 

[STEALTH 225]

Hey enigma.
What is your opinion on the Penn Squal reels? aswell as the one speed compared to the 2 speed? there is about a R1000-1200 price difference between the two.

 

[Enigma]

I am very happy with my Squall 50VSW II's but if the SLX50 was available at the time I would have bought the SLX

 

[Dave Batista]

The one advantage of the squall is the huge line capacity. 1200m of 100lb HMP braid on mine and 150m of 1mm big game topshot then its 100% full and can't fit the leader onto the reel. But I have to agree with craig, the slx50 seems stronger and has more torque in the low gear due to the 1.3:1 vs the 1.5:1 on the VSW50. The slx is also a few hundred rand cheaper too. the handle design looks more ergonomic too, same design as the makaira 50's etc, and trust me you can really crank hard using the angled handle and the torque of the low gear.

 

[Dave Batista]

This is my Tyrnos 50 II a little under 4 hours into a big grey in big current's. Caught by my friend in Jan 2016 while on a trip at mazeppa bay. took another 20-30 minutes later until we had it tailed in the surf. 263cm PCL. What an epic fight.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Hi Gents, Have seen a gentlemen with 0/14 senator spooled with dagron. Spouse that will be a overkill?

 

[Dave Batista]

I wouldnt recomend a reel with just dacron or braid, you need a bit of mono to absorb the shock, the mono also puts added pressure on the fish. I personally wouldn't use any senator , 2 speed modern day lever drag have more drag and 2 gears and its the drag that stops a big fish not capacity.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Yes, new reels are a lot better.

 

[Enigma]

Dave Batista wrote:

I wouldnt recomend a reel with just dacron or braid, you need a bit of mono to absorb the shock, the mono also puts added pressure on the fish. I personally wouldn't use any senator , 2 speed modern day lever drag have more drag and 2 gears and its the DRAG that stops a big fish not capacity.

Fishing small reels for BIG Sharks is like shooting a Buffalo with a 223 instead of M70 or 700 Nitro

Right tool for the job..... is always the best tool

 

[Thunder]

I used a Penn Senator 12/0 with 1800m of 80lbs Dacron only. Have never had any problems landing sharks. Used it in the 90s and still perfect. Selling my complete kit now with 2 kidney harnesses and gimbel bucket. If somebody is interested then whatsapp me on 0721044110. Plenty extras. Stainless steel traces and hooks etc.