So, I did make a decsion on the rod setups. Over the weekend I was able to go out to the shore with Jie and manage to swing him into making some purchases.

Anyhow, I did pick up a rod and some PE-8 Line.

I decided on the Tuna Sniper.

HOORAY, it's a 8'6" beast. 2-piece (at handle - Jp style). Rated at 40-60 lb line and up to 200g or 7 ounces to throw.
I was able to make the decision when I actually saw the piece and feel the strength of the rod.

The line that I picked up was 350 yards of PE-8 Daiwa Saltiga Boat braid. Fitted by a machine at the store. The chap was nice enough to do a good job.

Ocean City to Barnaget Light. We plugged RM Smith and Tattoo's for about 2 hours without a bite.

TOO SOON, but the bass and weakys will be there soon...

I am also considering the Shimano Tiralejo 80MHF-LC for the surf. I got to bend that one in the shop in OC and its magnificent!

Decisions decisions...

So I found out that If I was going to invest in a few good rods I wouldn't have made that purchase for the Fenwick Techna AV. I mean I would have purchased it but probably needed to rid myself of the avid beforehand.
I did some contemplating and as I understand my two rods that will be used for back bay, the Avid is the better of the two for jigging and the AV is the better of the two for plugging.

Sounds like I am justifying right? We'll there isnt a need for re-sale here. I'm pretty happy because the two rods are actually significantly different.

The avid is super fast tip and has a forgiving light tip, the midsection really takes on a solid backbone for a blank of this type. I think this blank is more dynamic when it comes to new technology to control jigs. The flexibility is that it is strong mid-blank and will be able to set the hook correctly with light jigs up to 3/4 oz.

Without experiance on the AV rod, I can still make a sincere analysis. As the blank goes, it isn't extra fast action. It's listed as fast however I would catagorize it into the medium range. It bends quite universal and there isnt the tip, mid-blank, and butt diferences. It's more like a blank that would fight fish with the entire rod. I can see myself really putting a good bend into this one when fighting a 15lb+ striped bass. This rod will see only plugs and pencils, and poppers because of the slower action. I can see myself using lower rated # test braid with this one.

So the two characteristics are drastic in difference as well as probable performance. Avid for jigs and plastics, AV for plugs and topwater. Done!

Equipment Update.

I picked up a few new things this year for 2009 in regards to equipment.

Yes, I set a budget and made a purpose to justify for the items that I may need and may not have to compromise.

but here is a list of the goodies and what I'm going for this year...

Species

Largemouth Bass
1. Greenlane

• Fenwick Grizzley SC622 & Abu Ambassadeur 4000D
• Lew's Speed Stick & Abu Ambassadeur 5000D
• Heddon Controlled Flex Action & Custom Abu Ambassadeur 4000D
• Custom Al Bigot "Germany" & Abu Ambassadeur 2500C
• Heddon Deluxe Pal Spook & Abu Ambassadeur 2000

2. Trenton Lakes

• Heddon Controlled Flex Action & Vintage Abu Ambassadeur 4000D
• Lamiglas XMG50 & Abu Pro Max

Flathead Catfish
1. Skuke Winching

• St. Croix Premier Muskie PM76MHF & Abu Ambassadeur 12

Surf Striped Bass
1. BackBay

• St. Croix Avid 7'MXF & Shimano Symetre 2500
• Fenwick Techna AV 7'MF & Shimano Sustain 5000

2. Surf

• St. Croix Tidemaster 8' MHF & Abu Garcia Cardinal 807i

3. Jetty

• Shimano Tiralejo 9' Surf & Abu Garcia Cardinal 807i

4. Porch

• Shimano Crucial 7'11" MHF & Custom Abu Ambassadeur 4000D

Tautog
1. Cape May Jetty

• St. Croix Premier Muskie PM76PMHF & Abu Ambassadeur 12

2. Barnagat Jetty

• St. Croix Premier Muskie PM76PMHF & Abu Ambassadeur 12

3. Boat

• St. Croix Premier Muskie PM76PMHF & Abu Ambassadeur 7000

Fluke
1. Back Bay

• Fenwick Techna AV 7' MHF & Shimano Sustian 5000

Black Drum
1. Boat

• St. Croix Premier Muskie PM76PMHF & Abu Ambassadeur 7000
• Shimano Tiralejo 8' Surf & Shimano Stella 20000FA

Weakfish
1. Back Bay

• St. Croix Avid 7' MXF & Shimano Symetre 2500

Blue Fin Tuna, Yellow Fin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish
1. Screamin' Mimi

• Hopper Custom 5'8" & Shimano Stella 20000FA

So, you are thinking 4 items right? I hope so....

I can price redux for my inventory and rid the Heddon / Abu Ambassadeur set up and that will save me approx. $300.00

Without that set up I can probably do well with a exchanging the Hopper to say a Jigging Master Power Spell (rod pictured in top title banner). That jigging rod retails shipped for about $450.00

But then again the Hopper will do the job as well. On a second note the Tiralejo may do double duty for Mahi Mahi popping style.

If I can forego the Tiralejo and the Heddon setup, the I could do just the Power Spell jigging rod.

My 2009 Line up