I’m planning on picking up a new reel for big fish like tarpon. My choices are Shimano Trinidad TN14 Shimano Calcutta 400TE or Avet MXL. Any suggestions?

The only one I have experience with is the Calcutta 40(1)TE. It is a sick reel although you're going to want to clean the hell out of it when you get it off the salt. I've had some problems with that.

As a comparison, I have a Daiwa Luna that probably doesn't have the cranking power of the Calcutta, but it is otherwise very similar. I'd definitely include that reel as a candidate.

Then again, I've never caught a Tarpon so I can't really attest to what happens to the drag when you hook a jumping freight train.

Come on Dave....man up....take one of your center pins on a stout rod loaded with 50 pound power pro...may the best one win!!

I recently saw a guy fish tarpon with a center pin. No thanks.

Irie:

What does the digital thingy do?

Irie:

Would you think the Calcutta 250 DC is heavy enough for Tarpon. I need 200 yds of 20 lb to feel comfortable.

Dave, e-mail Larry Dahlberg....He'll fix you up...

CTE400LJV, but it holds 160 yrd of 20lb.
Use a little more thumb!

why not use the MR3?

You might want to ask Sky Guy that. He has used it for tarpon.

DV, You running a mono 20 as a mainline ?

Anywho, take a look at these.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewabugarcia2009reelspre.html


I had my hands on a Toro 50 a few days ago, & its very nice. Think the 60 would be the one for your +sized herring exploits. Like to hear how the drag holds up after a pod of tarpon works it over. This one & the Calcutta would be the best for accurate casting.

c/22

Yep 20 it will be.

I don't think a 250's going to hold anymore than about 80 yards of 20#. I hooked a Tarpon on a Bantam 100 with 12#. I think they have 11#'s of drag if I remember right; Not nearly enough. I think the 250's have same drag power. The Tarpon completely owned me, right to the knot at the end of the spool. Like hooking a Greyhound bus at 80 mph on the freeway.

The Islander MR3 works great once the fish is hooked well. I really had a lot of fun with a fish of that size and power on a single action. Total blast, and I'd recommend it for anyone

Hooking the fish was difficult, mainly due to the fact that our guide in Nicaragua insisted that I keep my drag fairly loose. Looser that I would use for setting a hook on a Salmon.

Reluctantly I did, and lost a several fish early on when they bit, I hit them, and line came off the reel. Jump. Splash. Gone.

I started hooking fish once I tightened down against his advice and drilled them as hard as I could, then loosened up the drag once I was fairly sure I'd hooked the fish well.

A big downside the MR3's is you cant cast them far at all.
Ideally, you would want a big reel with a crank and handle like the Avet mxl I brought down...

..that could cast as well as a any high end baitcaster.
I had a Curado 300/60lb braid in the boat, set up to cast and I think that would have worked fine for most the fish we hooked, but, We didn't hook one on that setup.

Accurate B-270 Twin Drag. Not only would it be great for Tarpon but usefull in a number of inshore fisheries. Available in either 4:1 or 6:1 Gear Ratio. These are first class reels.

I'd go with a calcutta 400/401.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

DV, you might have to go with 2 set-ups......

Were talking about 2 different types of reels & fishing styles here.

The Shimano Calcutta 400TE & the Toro 60 I recommended are over-sized levelwind baitcasters. They would be the pick for tossing big lures into tight spots, but a bit on the small side for those really big tarpon. You could get yer arse handed to ya.


The Avet MXL, Shimano Trinidad TN14 or that Accurate B-270 are a step up & more of a true light big game trolling/inshore-reef fishing reel. I have fished a Avet some & don't think I'd want to do any pinpoint casting w/ it. Another + for the bigger reels is they also come w/ a reel clamp to keep them on your rod, with the smaller ones your just trusting the reel-seat to hold up.


c/22

brewer agrees with Rog, check out larry dahlberg. host of the VS. fishing show "the hunt for big fish"... larry is after tarpon all the time with bait casters. he seems to be a fan of the curado series reels. the other day i caught a episode of him using a curado for sailfish!!!! the rod gets ripped outa his hands!!! he does alot of the fishing DV is now getting into. if works for LD is good enough for DV.

brewers two cents is a abu 6500 series with smoothey drags washers put in.

For the money Avet reels are the best value on the market.

tell you what DV, Brewer will put the new smoothies and relube the abu 6500C3 free of charge.