Tarpon: Fenwick Elite XH, Penn Authority 5500
“The Fenwick Elite 8-foot XH rod matched with the Penn Authority 5500 reel is an awesome tarpon setup. It’s an all-around workhorse that is perfect for throwing your favorite artificials or tossing a live crab. The Elite has some nice features such as lightweight titanium guides with super-hard inserts, a reel seat with double-lock ring system, and a rubber gimbal mount rod butt that works great whether you choose to use a fighting belt or not. I like to match the Authority 5500 with 50-pound SpiderWire UltraCast braid for most of my tarpon fishing applications.” — Capt. Danny Latham, Reel Fishing Charters, Boca Grande, Florida
Redfish: G. Loomis NRX+ Inshore Casting, Shimano Metanium MGL 150
“Big reds can really put some stress on your gear, but the Shimano Metanium MGL 150 baitcaster has the pure power needed to maneuver fish out of heavy cover. Pair it with the G. Loomis NRX+ Inshore casting rod for precision accuracy when backwater fishing with swimbaits, jigs, and topwaters. The rod has the perfect load to make pinpoint casts all day long. Triggering inshore fish can come down to speed, and the Metanium MGL can move a variety of baits very fast. Plus, it’s very easy to adjust on the fly. This setup can handle just about any presentation or inshore species I encounter daily.” — Capt. Jason Catchings, Shimano Pro Staffer
Snook: Daiwa SOL AGS Inshore, Daiwa Certate
“Yeah, it’s remarkably lightweight. That’s the first thing you notice when picking up Daiwa’s SOL AGS Inshore rod. Utilizing HVF graphite blank material, Braiding X carbon weave tech, and AGS guides, Daiwa went all in on quality components and weight reduction. Now, when fishing backwaters for snook or seatrout, sensitivity and fatigue won’t be a problem. Pair the 7-foot rod with Daiwa’s Certate SW spinner. The Certate has a single-piece body and G1 Duralumin drive gear, both stolen from the 20 Saltiga. Together, the setup will break the will of anything you’ll likely encounter in the marsh.” — Sam Hudson
