Hey im new here and have also just bought my new eqipment.

I had a dillemma buying it cause i could only buy one rod.
My problem was that i fish all over, Mozambique, Vaal, Hartebeespoort, Durban etc. Its a mix of sea fishing and freshwater. So i needed something strong to handle the big fish but also to notice the little bites of smaller freshwaters.

this is what i decided on
Penn Pro Elite 8002GP 7.6ft, line class 5-8kg, 2 piece
Silstar Hypa HF-60 reel
Sufix 7.7kg line, .30mm
2 small shallow swimmer lures
1 large shallow swimmer lure
pack of softbaits
variety of hooks etc

i want get some opinions on what i got.


also i have a question. My line class is 5-8kg. if i put a heavier line on the rod will anything go wrong?

thanks for the help

Hi Fishing Freak

You equipment seems sound and matched. Spinning rods and reels can be used anywhere, so its a good choice. You can start by adding some terminal tackle (lures, plastics etc) for a bit more variety for fresh and saltwater. 7ft rods are obviously limited in the surf due to the casting distance, however there are quite a few species that are in reach from the shore including shad, wave garrick and various kingfish. You can use heavier line, however you can put extra pressure on your equipment by doing that and possibly end up with breakages.

how does the heavier line put extra pressure on the equipment.

Taking a shot here but is it if i catch a fish larger than 5-8kg its better for the line to break cause anything more than that the rod will break?

thanks for the reply

Yes, thats what I mean. Your line would have a higher breaking point that the rod, and potentially if you push the line to its limit you could exceed the rods limit. Bear in mind that good quality rods can take a lot of pressure and the line weight more often has to do with the ability of the tip to handle the line weight and terminal tackle.

I think the idea is to put on line that has a lower rating than the rod. If you have a 5-8kg rod, and you put say 10kg line on, the line will break only after the rod is damaged

My experience with line and rod breakage point has determined the skills of the angler. You dont really need heavy line but you cant use under-strength line in the ocean. Rock-fishing requires a minimum of a 20 lb breaking strain wheras other areas may permit one to use a lighter line.
Once the fish has been hooked, play and enjoy the moment but dont be too rough as this will put strain on the catch, the knots, the line, the rod and the reel.
Most fish are lost due to not seating the hook properly or making an error during the landing procedure.