Tackle Basics

What kind of tackle do I need to fish La Paz? Right behind “how much” and “what kind of beer we supply,” this is the question we’re asked most often when people book trips. While you could spend $20K and not have everything that could be used down here, many of our best fishermen travel light, keep it simple, and still catch world record fish. In this article it is my intention to outline the basic tackle requirements for fishing down here. We have tackle available, but somewhere in your development as a fisherman you will want to have your own. Trusted equipment that you are familiar with the operation and maintenance of is part of being prepared to catch the next fish — quite possibly the largest of your life.

Reels

Fishing reels have gone through rapid development in the last few years, with new technology and materials being used to make them lighter, stronger, and more expensive. I see reels every week that cost more than my first three cars put together, and while I am often envious, I also know that some of our biggest fish are caught on good ol’ standby equipment, well maintained and handled by people that have taken the time to learn to use them well. The strongest, most maintainable, and reliable reels around are, in my opinion, the Penn 113H and Penn 114H. The 113H, or 4/0 reel, is a real “go to” reel — simply loaded with 40lb line and clamped onto the right rod, they’re capable of catching 80% of the fish that we have here. For the other 20%, requiring a larger reel with more line capacity, the Penn 114H, or 6/0 reel, loaded with 60lb line will do the job for a fair price. These reels have been standards for years, and there are many used ones on eBay, at your local reel repair shop, or at garage sales. Keeping these maintained, clean, salt free, and properly lubricated is the key to having no worries for many years.

Rods

Matching these two reels with rods is pretty easy. You need a 7 ft long rod, live bait action, rated for 30-60lb line to couple with the 4/0, and a 5½-6 foot rod with roller guides at least in the first (stripper guide) and last (tiptop) positions for the 6/0. This heavier rod should be rated 50-100lb or so. Different makers’ ratings for line vary, but my experience down here has shown me that the line weight you’re using should be in the bottom third or so of the rod’s rating. The fish down here require a lot of lifting, and going too light on the rod will just make it harder on you. I’d opt for buying the rod new — the big catalog outlets have the best prices, while your local tackle store will allow you the opportunity to “try out” the rod, at least by trying to lift a salesman or two.

Terminal Tackle

Line — probably the area of tackle that’s moved the furthest, fastest, over the last few years. Rule number one: do not buy bargain line. I talk to guys every year who spend $2,000 on a trip and many times that on tackle, and then brag about finding 1,000 yards of bargain line for $3.49. Your line is about the most important part of your connection to the fish. There are many fine quality lines — buy some, and then change it frequently, depending on use, at least once a year.

This article runs longer in David’s original notes than what survived in the archive — if you have questions about gear, just get in touch.