BEST Budget Shark Fishing Build Reel and Rod Review

Hey guys, Brigand Outdoors is back again. This week we are changing it up a little and doing a review on the Best Budget Build for Shark Fishing. This video will walk you step by step on all the components you will need to get into shark fishing, especially if you are working within a budget.
As always if you enjoyed the video please like, subscribe, and comment. You support helps us to keep creating more and better content for you guys.
If you want to see more from Brigand Outdoors you can find us at:
KZbin: / @brigandoutdoors3876
Instagram: @BrigandOutdoors

[@Waytt_]

Good choice on the theme song!, go to war is by far my favorite nothing more song. Not sure why, but hey that's how music works

[@richardalfaro8824]

Thank you for sharing your obvious knowledge and experience know it's appreciated. God bless

[@markstubbs8598]

Love the senator reel

[@jacobbogdan8158]

Hell yeah dude this shit helped me turn my shark game around

[@rvotbeats]

This appeared on my feed and had to listen in and sub especially with my new senator 6/0 114HLW thanks

[@werquantum]

Excellent vid, guys. Thanks.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Thanks much Dave, and welcome to the channel. Season is kicking off here again, so more to come soon.

[@miele3824]

Dude I lost a monster last night on my senator 6/0, second i got back on the beach and pulled up the kayak my rod was screaming, gonna upgrade to a 10/0

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

This is totally budget dependent, but if you can afford an avet or tiagra in the 50,80,130 or size I would do that. Senators are great starter reels, but the truth is their stopping power isn't the greatest. There are mods that can be done, but at that point you might as well invest the mod money into a newer tech reel. Not to mention 2 speeds are a game changer. Just my 2cents.

[@tripplebeards3427]

Yep...Penn sucks. The drags and gear ratios are horrible.

[@tbobmann229]

Excellent!

[@mahimahi3991]

Seriously great and in depth video. really appreciate the info on the Senator. Just got an Avet 30/2 and it literally cost me a friggin fortune! I was going to get a Senator but i saw some mixed reviews on them. After seeing this i might have gone with the Penn. Keep up the good work.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Thanks for the feedback MahiMahi! Our whole team started out with senators and had a lot of success. There has obviously been much improvement over the years, but for guys just getting into the sport or low on funds you can't go wrong with a senator. We have been a little slow getting content out in this last month with my move, but we have a bunch of stuff on deck that will be coming out soon. We are doing one very similar to this video about casting setups.

[@eso1666]

I have the penn slammer 8500 holding 680 yards of 80 pounds braid paired with Tica dolphin XH 12’ rod. I’m literally new to the game. This is for casting from the beach. What’s your comment on this set up? I appreciate your feedback.

[@LiveLinerFishing]

How did u get 700 yds of 80lb test on that reel?

[@843Landbased]

@@LiveLinerFishing he lied lol you literally can’t my spin fisher 10500 only holds 600 he has about 3-4 hundred yards of 80lb braid on it

[@sk8rman919]

Nothing more, nice

[@ledgenparker7740]

2018 Fin nor offshore spinning reel 9500 has 60lbs of drag and 600 yards of line capacity with 20lb mono. 80lb"ish" Braid is equal to 20lb mono. That's what I'm rocking for a cheap shark set up for surf fishing. Have yet to hook a double didget shark on it though.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

What rod do you have it paired with?

[@iamatt]

Nice video I had that same bass pro rod actually fished it this weekend. Have a 12/0 on it. Had a 9/0 dumped and seen super 6 trashed out before. I don't put anything less than 80 wides these days. I would get a starter setup like you show to see if people like LBSF, if so go sell some organs or something and go straight to the 2 speed 80 styles from avet , Penn international okuma etc. Barrett,jawbone ,gator blanks etc

[@knotenoughfishing3612]

Which rod Is it?

[@dominickrotella9796]

I have a Penn international 50 on a aftco rod but and the fl what the rod is.

[@Watermeloncat73719]

I have a Penn Senator 12/0 and wanted to change the spool to plastic. Is that possible? Mine are aluminum, But think the plastic is better, what do u think? I also have 2- 9/0 with the plastic spools. Wounder why some are plastic and others are aluminum?

[@michaelshaw7912]

Nice video

[@bawizakhia6664]

what kind of rod was used on the 9/0 and the 12/0

[@unbuilttesterfn2123]

I got the same rod for shark will it hold up against a big shark 400 lb rang

[@tokay999]

what brand braid did you use on this reel?

[@mxstee]

do you recommend that rod if not what rod do you recommend?

[@keandsouza314]

Hey so I was in between a 9/0 and a PENN squall 50vsw for beach shark fishing and I was leaning towards the 9/0 because line is cheaper and I can’t find braid that is 100-130 lb and that’s around 800 yards a spool it’s 1000 or 1500 while I only need 500 for the 9/0 so I was wondering what u recommend and which reel u think is better and how u would spool them

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Sure thing, I can definitely help you here. So lets talk cost first. Chances are you will be able to find a 9/0 cheaper, but not by a whole lot. And that is where the advantages of a senator end. The Penn 50vsw is a superior reel is just about every way, the line capacities are similar, and you get more drag on the 50. Plus the biggest additional feature(s) is the two speed gearing and lever drag. So my advice is to go with the 50vsw. However, if you can afford an 80w or 130w, those will give you the ability to target any sized shark. Now for the spooling. One quick caveat, the amount of mono top shot you use is really dependent on the specific location you are fishing. However, my rule of thumb is 2/3 (spool capacity) braid and 1/3 mono. For this size reel you could absolutely get away with 100lb braid to 100lb mono and still reliably get 9 footers in, IF you have a properly built trace. So if you went with 100lb, then you would be looking at roughly 1000 yds braid to 150-200 yds mono. Which is plenty, but you could mess with those ratios to get more capacity (more braid) or more mono top shot for abrasion resistance.

[@victorotero9098]

Hey there! I live here in San Diego and I was wondering if there would be any alterations for this setup when fishing from piers like the one in Oceanside and places like Sunset Cliffs or La Jolla. Also, would the use of a two-piece rod compromise any of the structural integrity? I don’t really have the proper storage for a solid one-piece and it’s sort of my only option. Hope to hear from you soon, and thank you so much for putting out such quality videos for us beginners :)

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Hey Victor, thanks for the question. In general, you don't need to change much between east coast vs west coast and surf vs pier fishing. So that is the good news. However, I will give you a few things to consider. First, the big senator and rod featured in that video is typically used from a boat or from the beach. The reason being is because you can't really cast it. So if you dropped straight down off the pier you run the risk of getting wrapped in pylons. Surf fisherman get around this by using kayaks or drones to take baits out. From the piers or cliffs, most people use casting set ups. These set ups vary, but in general 12-15 foot rods (two piece) and big 10500 spin fishers are common on the east coast, while conventional reels like the Avet Raptor HX or Shimano Talica are common on the west coast. The actual shark leader you will want to use for a casting setup is slightly different, which I will link the guide to that here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJSsZHibnryCgcU. There is definitely more detail we can get into, but hopefully this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[@victorotero9098]

Brigand Outdoors Would it be at all possible to cast using a smaller Senator? The Avet and Shimano are out of my budget right now and I don’t really have a kayak or drone. I understand that this complicates things a bit, but I’d really like to go out and start LBSF as soon as possible and just start saving towards the upgrades as I go along.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

@@victorotero9098 It is possible, but there are better options. Take this advice based on what your budget will allow. Smaller senators are cast-able, we did a short video on this, linked here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnixaauQhad0i7s. But especially if you are a beginner, I recommend a beefy 8000-10500 penn spinfisher 5 or 6. These reels offer 30-40 pounds of drag, and with 400-600yds of capacity with 65-80lb braids. You can find them under 150 bucks especially if used, and they are basically bomb proof. Senators will always be one of my favorite reels, and are still used because they were ahead of their time. If you can get one for super cheap, then go for it. But there is better gear out there in terms of ease of use, drag, capacity, and durability. And you want something that can reliably catch 5-8ft sharks in the surf.

[@victorotero9098]

Brigand Outdoors Understood. Thanks again for all of your help, I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I start catching!

[@elijahbl5745]

Would a 9/0 work? I honestly don't wanna get something that's a 12/0 rn

[@peterbreuhan4228]

Hey guys. Great video. I have three shark set ups. And only been land based sharking the past 2yrs. When i got started i talked to alot of differebt people & i was shocked at how different people set up their rigs. I currently have 2 gomexus 50w & 1 80w. I use 80-130 class rods...with rollers...so the rods are about 6ft. I noticed when id hook up that the rods dont really show alot of bend. Which i get the concept with more pressure on the fish...but its also nice to get some bend & feel the fight more. Two questions... 1. Recommendations on a more flexible rod that will pair with an 80 w (if possible). & flexible rods that will work with 50w’s? I am planning on going w fuji circle guides. 2. Unrelated...my first shark rig buy was incorrect...i purchased a Penn Squall 60LD. And ended up realizing it wouldnt hold line capacity id need to do 300-600yrd kayak bait drops. ...do you know what that squall is considered??? 30wide???

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Hey Peter, thanks for the questions. As you have noticed already shark fisherman have a variety of ways of tackling this sport. That being said, I am happy to share my 2 cents. 1. There are a few ways to get the flex you want. However, I run the 80-130 class rods for my 80w and 130w. That really is the most appropriate size rod for that reel. Especially considering you don't always get to choose the size of shark that bites. My recommendation would be stick with that class rod, and utilize the clicker and an attached balloon or glow stick to alert you to hook ups. However, if you want flex, dropping down to a 50-80lb (appropriate for 50w) rod would do it. But just keep in mind 8-10 foot sharks will bow that rod a lot. You could could also go with an 8 foot rod with a faster tip. The problem with that, is now the shark can put much more leverage on you, but you will get a lot of bend. As far as rod brands, I prefer seeker rods if you are on the west coast. Amazing products. Or if you are into custom rods Barret Rod Co. makes absolutely amazing gear (ships anywhere US). 2. The Penn you have isn't really a LBSF reel and is slightly smaller than a traditional 30w, BUT do not fret it can be used. What many won't admit is 30lbs of drag pressure can still haul in sharks relatively safely in the 3-7 foot range (roughly). If I were you I would load it with 500-600yds of 65lb braid and then another 200yds of 50lb mono top shot and use it for smaller sharks (choose rigs and bait appropriately). I have personally caught sharks in the 5-7 foot range with 50lb line with no issue (as long as the bite leader is made right).

[@peterbreuhan4228]

Brigand Outdoors I appreciate the help! Yeah i fish in FL...& the fwc wont allow anything under 80lbs line.... i caught a nice 6.5ft barrely female sandbar back in October down in fort walton. So how would 80lb braid 450 yrds be with 150 topshot of 80lb mono work?? The problem i faced with that squall is the line capacity advertised by the reel companies always go way over what the actually capacity youll get is. I even had a bait shop spool it with a machine.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

@@peterbreuhan4228 I think that will be just fine for small to medium sharks, I have caught plenty within 100yds from shore (casting distance) so your capacity should be OK for short drops. The only thing to keep in mind is how your drag changes as your spool becomes depleted. I will spare you all the physics, but generally speaking if you have 30lbs of drag at full spool (this is what the rating is of your reel), then at an empty spool you will have 90lbs of drag (roughly 3x full spool). So just know at the bottom of your spool your drag may exceed your line rating so just back it off a bit.

[@nickapollonio8728]

Really needing help upgrading my drag system on my penn 9/0 don’t know what to buy or how to replace them.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

It has been quite a few years since I did the drag upgrade on a senator, but the forums on alantani.com is where I learned how to do it. Smoothdrag.com is where you can order the washers. Hope this helps brotha

[@shawnvega8232]

Nice video. What's the website to get the updated drag system? Thanks

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Shawn Vega Thanks man. The website is alantani.com. It’s more of a forum, takes a little digging to find it but I believe he’s still doing it. I will say this though, we’ve caught 2 x 10 foot tigers recently on stock drag. When we crank it down and test it we are getting 55-65lbs of drag.

[@kanenb.6265]

What was the website name so I can possibly order some drag washers?

[@davidcaneda1747]

Exeleente

[@peteranddorothybowles5428]

In the uk in big tide, We sometimes put an elastic band around the Gemini With bigger baits they don't break out so easy You prob know this but hey ho stay healthy all

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Hey Pete, yeah that is a great idea and good concept in general. It is such a bummer to have a big bait and rough surf pop a gemini and have to re-kayak or cast a bait out. Thanks for the tip!

[@eso1666]

Adding to my previous question: What size sharks that set up I mentioned can handle?

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Great overall set up, especially at that price point. Hard to beat the value of penn products. I really like Tica products, but just keep in mind they are almost all graphite rods, so be careful in storms. Personally I wouldn't try to target anything above 7-8 foot with that set up, a big 8 foot bull would be maxing out the capability of your slammer. That being said, it is a perfect tipper set up. How do even target certain size sharks? It really comes down to how you set up your leaders (hook size which equals bait size). That will end up being a feel/experience thing though, and varies with location.

[@ianspencer38]

How much braid do you use and what pound test was it

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

On that particular setup (if memory holds) it was about 500m of 130lb hollow core, spiced to 130lb mono. But most reel manufactures will tell you the capacity of the spool on the website

[@ledendofgames9372]

god rod

[@tokay999]

Dude I meet you at the pier today, oceanside pier

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Hey buddy! Lets do it again sometime soon!

[@tokay999]

Brigand Outdoors for some reason I can't message you on Instagram @ chrissnowison

[@SuperNintendoTeam]

Some bass fising

[@JamesNashII4u2c]

for a Penn senator 9/0 ---- Mono Capacity yds/lb - 1150/30 700/50 625/60Braid Capacity yds/lb - 1700/80 1450/100 1200/130for a Penn senator 12/0 -- 1800/50 1200/60 875/80 braid line is much higher

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

I have found that the older Penn reels usually underestimate that line capacity, whereas most modern reels over shoot. The numbers provided are a great guide, but when you use braid backing with mono top shot (common set up) those numbers are no longer accurate. When I'm spooling a reel I will sometimes film the spool with a mark so I can measure how many turns it goes through. Then with a little math I can get a pretty accurate measurement of my capacity for braid/mono combo I am using.

[@JamesNashII4u2c]

At 11:09 the start of talking about the diff. Penn Senator /0's, There is 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 6/0, 9/0, 10/0 That Penn dose not build any more, 12/0, 14/0, and 16/0. The 4/0 reel starts as the big game fishing reel to the massive 16/0 reel. I have not heard or seen anything above a 16/0 in Penn.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

James Nash, good catch man. We mentioned the older models as they are still circulating around and a good option for an angler looking for a relatively cheap big game reel. Officially there is nothing bigger than a 16/0, but if you poke around youtube you may be able to find a custom senator that is a "20/0." Basically a 10/0 with a custom spool that is twice the width hence the "20/0" name.

[@edgydoodlemonkey8105]

Where can you buy that reel

[@ianspencer38]

Look up 12 o penn senator you can get it from field and stream and bass pro I think

[@CannabisChronicles]

I have this set up, can't seem to catch a shark...They aren't biting. O have seen several people catching them and some of them have crappy setups, I'm using kingfish, red snapper, and Bonita as baits. Just can't get a bite for some reason. They keep stealing the bait, and yes their are big ones and small ones here, just saw a guy catch a 12ft sand shark off the pier.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Where are you fishing? How deep of water? Using full bonita or chunk?

[@CannabisChronicles]

Mexico beach, paddling the bait out about 500yards from the pier. Its About 80 feet deep. Using Half Bonita.

[@tidedownoutdoors5411]

A 12 foot sand shark would be about 5 feet longer than the world record. I am assuming you are talking about a "Sandbar shark" or maybe even the "Sand Tiger" as there is actually no such creature as a "Sand Shark". Just about any shark over 8 feet caught from land here in the US is going to be a Lemon, Bull, Hammerhead, or Tiger, with the occasional Dusky or Mako mixed in depending on location. As far as baits go, my favorite is a fresh large stingray wing or smaller whole ray or skate on the bottom or a jumbo live bait on a trolley rig if I'm on a pier. I'm fishing the Georgia coast and northeast Florida. Stingray is by far my preferred bait when I target the man in the brown suit!

[@tidedownoutdoors5411]

Different baits work well in different areas of course. This is just what I use in my backyard.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Mexico Beach, FL? 80 ft is a little deeper than I would go personally. Try the 150-300 yard range. 15-35ft water is what I usually target for bottom baits. I also like incoming (High) tide, especially if it coincides with sunset or sunrise. Additionally shark fishing requires a lot of waiting. It isnt uncommon to only get one bite in 24 hours.

[@kylewilliams5219]

Can you do a step by step review on how you got so jacked?

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Hell yeah willy, don't you remember? They issue muscles after ranger school bro.

[@kylewilliams5219]

Guess I just missed out. When are we gonna do some bass fishing?

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Whenever it stops snowing here haha

[@honda8770]

Miss me with that 45 second intro, please

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Hey Skylake, what would you like with the intro?

[@---bl6px]

I think the intro is kinda long but cool.

[@GmAn-vo8cf]

Your metal loop protectors aka thimbles are not only on backwards but not crimped shut

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

GmAn 6416 Gman, I know. Good eye, was an old rig that I grabbed and didn’t inspect before the video, doh!

[@JillLaSalle]

My Son liam Caught A 14' 1000 Pound Tiger Shark on a 9/0 penn senator

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

That’s quite a feat on a 9/0. Congrats to your son.

[@finnhanratty6302]

What lb line and tackle did he use on that 9/0 senator

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

@@finnhanratty6302 most likely 100 braid to 100 mono topshot on a 9/0. If it truly was a 14 footer then you are looking at a 20/0 to 24/0 hook.

[@raleighthomas3079]

Yes a 9/0 will work, it all depends on if the shark runs away from the beach, or runs back and forth parallel to the beach. You can also run more braid on your reel, and use a shorter topshot, say around 100 to 150 yds. of mono.

[@erickp9359]

You actually cast rhis thing?

[@tokay999]

lol no! c'mon you farmer

[@markstubbs8598]

1/0 to 16/0 senators

[@fu11ysweat36]

Can someone send me a link to get this reel

[@tokay999]

go on amazon, ebay, bass pro shops

[@TAILGATEFISHING]

Did you find the name because I want 1

[@meetURfate2012]

Have you ever tried shark fishing in Georgia? Or at St Simons Island ?

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Tons in GA, what do you want to know?

[@meetURfate2012]

Brigand Outdoors Have you fished at St Simons Island? I go on vacation there and just got back home. Really trying to get into shark fishing with proper poles/reels because that’s where I will be fishing from.

[@belacgnal7062]

Last week I used a shark leader that I used once before...a few months back...the saltwater compromised my barrel swivel and I lost a shark...just saying

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Simple fix - clean your gear after every trip. I have used the same rig multiple trips with no issue.

[@1093lilsmoke]

I can’t ever find any ocean master rods.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Yeah unfortunately the new Ocean Masters are now using a different blank which is terrible. There is a rod called the Tica Dolphin that uses the old ocean master blank, and is almost identical in its action.

[@1093lilsmoke]

Brigand Outdoors that is disappointing and I’ll look into the Tica Dolphin rods. Thank you for the reference.

[@Tracetidwellusmc]

Sicarral Johnson Look on facebook marketplace for a good used 130# class rod, I got a great deal on a Murrary Bros pair of Ultra class rods with Fin Nor guides and a both have Penn International 80's on them, the set was $850. I also just picked up a 12/0 that was brand new mounted on a Connley 130# rod with Stuart rollers, I traded an Avet 5.8:1 on an Xgeneration surf rood for it.

[@1093lilsmoke]

Trace Tidwell I’ll check them out bro. Thank you for the advisement.

[@dsw956]

Thanks for all the information! But most of all for not using elevator music in your video!

[@thevernonposse]

Asbestos

[@jonathanhoward2457]

Not a classic 80s

[@---bl6px]

Can somebody break this down to someone who has never caught a shark?

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

I'd be happy too, what questions do you have?

[@---bl6px]

What kind of line do I use for the rest, like the main line that's on the reel, what lbs test? Also, can I order all this stuff online?

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

@@---bl6pxso your line size should be selected based on a few factors. One, what size fish are you targeting? What size reel do you have and what is its capacity? You want to balance these two things so you have the maximum amount of capacity while still having enough strength to land your targeted fish. For the set up we show here, I have about 400-500m of hollow core braid connected to 200-300m of 130lb mono. With this set up I would feel comfortable up 9-10 footers. Anything more than that I go to 200lb to 200lb on a bigger reel. For casting gear I usually run straight 80lb braid.

[@---bl6px]

@@brigandoutdoors3876 thank you so much, also what bait should I use for catching a blacktip from the beach?

[@---bl6px]

@@brigandoutdoors3876 blue runners maybe?

[@JelsmaOutdoors]

The penn reels are not known for thier reliability, they are popular for being cheap. Cheap parts easy to repair horrible on maintenance. no other reel for around $100 would hold the capacity that you need that is the real reason you see alot of them.

[@brigandoutdoors3876]

Thanks for the feedback Jelsma Outdoors. I think you have a valid point. However, in my experience using penn reels for 25 years the combination between price and reliability makes Penn have the best value on the market. Additionally, we were focusing on the Senator in this video and though it isn't the best LBSF reel it handles the sand better than any I have seen. Finally, remember the title was the best budget setup. In that regard I think we chose the most appropriate setup.

[@saltwaterrook4638]

You're completely ignorant. I've got three senators over 50 years old that have never been repaired. Only thing I've done is upgrade the felt drag washers to carbontex. I know offshore guys that have been punishing the same senators for 30+ years.

[@JelsmaOutdoors]

AFORWW Well i dont know what you call "punishment" but any reel that isnt sealed easily overheated and uses bushings..... there is a reason that you dont see them being used by professionals or even commercial, do yourself a favor and buy an avet.

[@saltwaterrook4638]

Jelsma Outdoors I am getting an Avet TRX 80 for the 10'+ sharks next month but my 9/0 still produces fish just with much more effort and will continue to do so past my life span. All for $150. Clearly, you don't know anything about Penn reels. The bushing reels were the first iteration of the senator in the 30's. Everything further are ball bearing. The bushing reels have the single piece chrome plated brass spool. The ball bearing models had either a single piece aluminum or a two piece aluminum spool which was garbage because it distorts under the pressure of the mono as it stacks up under drag. And by punished I mean punished. We're not talking snapper here obviously. We're talking big game. The only disadvantage they have is ratio and drag. And if you think professionals don't still use them you might want to check again. They are tanks proven by their long life.

[@JelsmaOutdoors]

AFORWW You just said they were garbage.