rod/reel recommendations

Can anyone recommend a rod/reel  set up for the Gulf of Mexico?

Will be targeting everything from -bass-trout-redfish-tarpon-bone fish-dorado.

I'm hoping to take as few rods/reels as possible. Looking at 2 at the most. Maybe one fly one spin/cast.

Thanks for any advice!

Jason

How much you want to spend?

Tell us about the trip!!!

-Allen

Can't say much yet other than I will be fishing from Padre TX to the FL Keys next winter.

Cost is not so much of a concern, so as much as I need to without being gaudy!

Jason

and they need to be salt & abuse friendly.

Will you be in a kayak and will storage be an issue ... i.e. would a 3 piece travel rod be desireable?

-Allen

Yes, we'll be kayak fishing. Kayak compatability is nice but not a deal breaker. I can deal with long two piece rods ok.
 
J

Check out the Tsunami travel rods.

-Allen

Will do. Thanks for the info. Any recommendations on a fly rod/reel weight/size that could handle all those species?

I'm thinking a 9 or 10 weight could handle 99% of everything. Too big for some but that's ok, the little fish will just fly out of the water!

J

Check out the Tsunami travel rods.

-Allen

Was there ever enough interest to do a wholesale order ?http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=4591.0

I travel a lot for work and decided I need to try fishing more when I'm traveling. I could use a reliable travel rod. 

Check out the Tsunami travel rods.

-Allen

Was there ever enough interest to do a wholesale order ?http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=4591.0

I travel a lot for work and decided I need to try fishing more when I'm traveling. I could use a reliable travel rod.

There was enough interest but the place was out of stock at the time.  D'oh!

-Allen

I use a med heavy 7ft ugly stick intercoastal with an Abu Garcia Cardinal reel with 15lb power pro braid for my spinning set up. A 7 1/2ft Berkley lightning with an Abu Garcia Ambassador and 15lb power pro braid for my caster. They are a little light for bigger tarpon and bull dolphin, but perfect for all the other species named. Sounds heavy for bass, but Fl bass are a good bit beefier than most states. You'll really appreciate the extra beef when you pulling 4-6 LMB out of the weeds and trees all day.

Also I highly, highly recommended this lure too

http://www.stormlures.com/products/luresdetail.cfm?modelName=saltwater_rattlin_chug_bug&freshorsalt=Salt&type=hard_lures

It will catch all the saltwater you mentioned except the bone fish. I used both sizes, and typically the silver sides, white belly, with black back. Red and white was the best snook color.

Thanks Rav. That sounds pretty ideal, and I could bring along a heavy fly rod too and that would cover me for bone fish. I'll use the hand line for bottom fish. That would cover everything. 3 rods and a hand line isn't so bad.

Any ideas of where you can get into peacock bass in Fl? Always wanted to catch one of them.

They're in most fresh water from Ft Lauderdale south, and a few can be found in and around Orlando. I've never targeted them, but I would imagine you could find some good info doing a google search. We don't typically get the 20lb giants that come out of South America. Most of the ones I saw pics and heard tales of were in the 1-3lb range.