Need advice/critique on tuna reels - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

BigAppa · 02-19-2024, 09:09 AM

Complete newb to tuna fishing here. Wanted some feedback before pulling the trigger. After going back and forth for the last month, I finally decided to go with all fathoms (for the price and reputation for being solid low-end gear)

1) For my light reel, I'm thinking about going with a Penn Fathom ii 25N and spooling it with 40 lb braid. I feel fairly confident about this choice.

2) For my medium reel, I'm leaning towards a Penn Fathom (gen 1) 25N LD 2 speed and put 65 lb braid. Is a 2 speed even necessary for medium gear? I should get about 400 yards of 65 lb braid. Is this enough or should I go with the 30LD2 to get an extra hundred yards?

3) For my heavy, I'm thinking about gen 1 40N LD2 and spool it with 80 lb braid. I feel the least confident about this one. I've been hearing a lot of people say you should go with 100 lb braid. But that will give me only about 400 yards on the 40N. Should I go up to the 60 LD2?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

45user · 02-19-2024, 09:25 AM

So I use all fathoms for my tuna as well. They work fine and I like them for their bang for the buck and weight. Mine is all gen 1 except I just picked one more new gen silver 25n 2 speed.
Here?s my set up
20-25-30lbs - I use shimano Trinidad in various sizes (12a-14a-20a)
Fathom 15LD2 - 30lbs (50lbs braid to 30lb mono)
Fathom 25NLD2 - 40lbs (65lbs braid to 40lbs mono)
Fathom 30LD2 - 50lbs (65lbs braid to 50lbs mono)
Fathom 40NLD2 - 60-80lbs flyline and night time jigging (80lbs braid to 60/80lbs mono)
Penn int?l 16visx - 100lbs night time jigging (100lbs braid to 100lbs mono then 200/300lbs jig leader)
I had my fathom 40?s blue printed by cal sheets and have taken up to 150lbs bft with no problem.
I like fathom 40 for its lightness when jigging at night especially when fishing is slow and you have to spend lots of time on the rail. Here?s my wife?s first 100lber last season on fathom 40NLD2.
Good luck tuna hunting!
45

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BigAppa · 02-19-2024, 12:40 PM

Really good to know about the 40N handling bigger grade fish. It solidifies my decision a lot more. Thanks!

02-19-2024, 09:09 AM	#1
BigAppa Junior Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 27	Need advice/critique on tuna reels Complete newb to tuna fishing here. Wanted some feedback before pulling the trigger. After going back and forth for the last month, I finally decided to go with all fathoms (for the price and reputation for being solid low-end gear) 1) For my light reel, I'm thinking about going with a Penn Fathom ii 25N and spooling it with 40 lb braid. I feel fairly confident about this choice. 2) For my medium reel, I'm leaning towards a Penn Fathom (gen 1) 25N LD 2 speed and put 65 lb braid. Is a 2 speed even necessary for medium gear? I should get about 400 yards of 65 lb braid. Is this enough or should I go with the 30LD2 to get an extra hundred yards? 3) For my heavy, I'm thinking about gen 1 40N LD2 and spool it with 80 lb braid. I feel the least confident about this one. I've been hearing a lot of people say you should go with 100 lb braid. But that will give me only about 400 yards on the 40N. Should I go up to the 60 LD2? Any advice would be much appreciated!

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02-19-2024, 09:25 AM	#2
45user Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 576	So I use all fathoms for my tuna as well. They work fine and I like them for their bang for the buck and weight. Mine is all gen 1 except I just picked one more new gen silver 25n 2 speed. Here?s my set up 20-25-30lbs - I use shimano Trinidad in various sizes (12a-14a-20a) Fathom 15LD2 - 30lbs (50lbs braid to 30lb mono) Fathom 25NLD2 - 40lbs (65lbs braid to 40lbs mono) Fathom 30LD2 - 50lbs (65lbs braid to 50lbs mono) Fathom 40NLD2 - 60-80lbs flyline and night time jigging (80lbs braid to 60/80lbs mono) Penn int?l 16visx - 100lbs night time jigging (100lbs braid to 100lbs mono then 200/300lbs jig leader) I had my fathom 40?s blue printed by cal sheets and have taken up to 150lbs bft with no problem. I like fathom 40 for its lightness when jigging at night especially when fishing is slow and you have to spend lots of time on the rail. Here?s my wife?s first 100lber last season on fathom 40NLD2. Good luck tuna hunting! 45 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02-19-2024, 12:40 PM	#3
BigAppa Junior Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 27	Really good to know about the 40N handling bigger grade fish. It solidifies my decision a lot more. Thanks!