Tackle:

Rods - Graphite rods in the 7'-8' range with a rating from 6-15 pound line have proven best for me. I use both spinning and casting outfits and find they work equally well.

Reels - Whether spinning or bait casting, I look for quality reels. Constant casting and retrieving is not only nicer with smooth tackle, but the quality gear with proper care will hold up much longer than cheaper tackle. Also, quality reels generally have smoother drags than their less expensive counterparts. When a legal halibut decides to make a short, powerful surge on 6# line, not enough can be said about a smooth drag. One note on spinning reels; I generally purchase reels that are larger than most would use with 6# line. An example would be a 4000 size Shimano, or 2500 size Daiwa. The larger line capacity on these reels allows me to strip off line that may get frayed during the course of a fishing day and still have plenty of line to fish with. Larger line capacity is also nice when you hook that unexpected prize from the beach. These reels also throw larger loops preventing overrun, which is a major cause of the mysterious spinning reel "backlash".

Line - I like a low stretch quality line such as Maxima or P-line. 6# is my usual choice, but I will sometime use 8# on my casting outfits when fishing areas with scattered rocks and kelp. If you choose spinning tackle, I would recommend getting your reels spooled up at a tackle store as the line winding machine places line directly onto the spool, preventing twists.

Lures - Swimbaits in the 3" size are my first choice. A small number of manufacturers make quality swimbaits in this size, and I have found that Big Hammer™ is tops with regards to action and colors. During the summer months when the fish are often more aggressive, I may switch to 4" baits and up to 12# line. In general, however, I find that 3" baits work best for me under the broadest range of conditions. I tend to fish brighter baits in the Pepper Trout, Keylime, Clear Red and Green Sardine patterns in cleaner water, switching to darker browns and greens such as 'Chovy or Bleeding Olive Herring when the water is off-color or murky. 3" baits are rigged on 1/8, 3/16 or ¼ oz. Hammer Heads™ and the 4" baits on ¼ to 3/8 oz. Hammer Heads™. I really like comparatively lightweight heads for 3" and 4" swimbaits as it allows the lure to stay off the bottom during the retrieve. The result is a more natural presentation of the swimbait and I saw my catch improve dramatically when I scaled down on the weight of the jig heads.

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