Thread: Need help bull red surf fishing

I've been lurking and learning from you guys for a while now. Thanks for all the great advise so far. I'm heading to Fort Morgan last week in June and want to spend the week surf fishing at the Bar. I have a Abu Garcia 6500 I can catch small fish on but finally decided to spend money on Surf Combo.

I got a Penn Battle 6000 and Ugly Stick big water 11ft Heavy rod. My question is what size type of braid can I use and still be able to get 75-100 yd top shot of 20lb mono on it. I was thinking 30 lb braid 220 yds and 100 yds 20lb mono. Just don't wont to overload it and want enough to pull a big bullred in if I can hook up. Also was going use 100-200 lb 5 ft mono leader. Does this sound right? Any help appreciated. Thanks!

You should be able to put a whole 300 yard spool of 30# braid on and still get close to 150 yards of 20# mono on top.
Or if you want 'apples to apples' you could drop back to 300 yards of 20# braid and top it off with almost 200 yards of 20# mono. (that's what I would do ;-)

BTL6000

320/15 • 280/17 • 220/20

445/30 • 365/40 • 310/50

6+1

20 lbs

5.6:1

39(in)

21.8(oz)

3 ft to of 50 to 100#. Will do the trick most of the time.

Thanks for the fast answers. I knew there was a simple answer so 20 lb braid backing it is and then I will have room to fish the 20 lb mono.

That's more or less what I have for fishing the Ft for Reds, although when I have all my rods out a few of them have a much lighter setup and are completely adequate for catching bulls.

Also, you don't really need 100lb leader.

Or, use fluorocarbon leaders, which disappear under water. Btw, my sweet and lovely wife landed a 24# Red with 8# Stren, Penn 4500SS, 6'6 Ugly Stik at the end of Grant St. at Ft. Morgan last year. I tied the knots and set the drags, so I can claim a large part of the credit, IMHO.

Gonna have to deal with a lot of Atlantic Sharpnose sharks in late June. 80lb mono is standard leader material with circle hooks. My summertime leaders for the point are either 200# Ande mono or 275# 49-strand wire. I notice zero difference in pickup ratio between mono and cable on bull reds. I would have to actually say that I have beached more on the wire. Wouldn't waste my time on heavy fluoro for the surf when bait fishing for reds/blacks.

Sinkers from 3-8oz for the heavy tidal flow and tendency of heavy sargassum volumes this time of year.

Such heavy gear.

Unnecessary.

I wouldn't go over 16#-20# test line. Line capacity is better. Use a quality line.

As for leader, a good 40# mono leader line is sufficient. If sharks are out, convert or come prepared with a 20# to 31# single strand wire leader.

Use a circle hook. Thick with at least a 1 inch circle.

Using heavier gear is not always best. Reds are easy to catch, even on light gear and 5# line if fished properly.

When you come down, feel free to PM me. I'll gladly meet up and show you some very helpful tips in person.

Bingo on the light tackle. I caught five bull reds one afternoon this spring (Yeah, I'm braggin') while surf fishing for pompano with 10# line and 12# leaders---#4 kahle hooks. Of course there was nobody else around so I could let 'em run all they wanted and have all the fun I wanted. Also caught a big ugly, black drum that same day on that tackle (still bragging). The fishing gods obviously got confused and thought I was somewhere else, so this time I can say "I WAS there yesterday!" Did not lose a single fish that I hooked.

It killed the passing tourists that I was letting those big fish go after I landed them. "Aren't they good to eat?" ---And I have a reliable witness.

He fishes, therefore he lies... No pics, no proof.