Gotta have the new curado-e rigged to a castaway period!
Sure there are many more nice combos but for performance and bragging rights this is the setup.Spool it with p-line mono 12-14 lb. test.

no need to look any further than shimano reels for baitcast or spinning, they rule the market.

I would get a shimano curado 100 for the reel.

8-12 pound mono line.

6'-6" - 7'-0" medium light action rod.

I use shimano, falcon, all star, and castaway rods.

for the money it's hard to beat castaway or all star.

Shimano and Falcon. Contact Mark Matthews at Superior Bait and Tackle and he can set you up with good rig you'll be happy with.

Agree w/ everyone else about the Shimano Curado 100D or 200E model but on a Falcon inshore rod. Or if you want to save some money, look at the Shimano Citica for about 60 bucks less. I think the only difference from the curado is a few less bearings. Nothing else feels like falcon or G Loomis rods. 20-30 lb power pro or stren braid is a good line to try, but we wont get into that discussion. Jeremy you should cut him a deal on one of them curados

Well you won't get a Curado and a Falcon rod for under $250.00. I'd say go with a Shimano Citica and an All Star or Cast Away rod. The Citica is not a far cry from the Curado in terms of performance. It's the most bang for your buck for sure. A fifty dollar All Star or Cast Away graphite medium/heavy action rod compliments it real well. It's a great sensible combo that fishes just as well as the high priced stuff. What's in a name any way? I've fished with St. Croix rods before and actually prefer the feel of my All Star IM6 rods.

i use shimano curado 200 w/ 7ft medium falcon cara. and penn spinning reel i think its a penn slammer its alittle heavy though but its graet for big reds with a 7 ft mediunheavy shimano Teramar inshore series pole it has a very strong backbone with a pretty fast tip

i have tried all brands and finally decided shimano is the way to go,i use all medium all star or castaway 6'6"(thats all a matter of feel) all my reels are citica 200 d's .during winter u will want 5/1 ratio.i have 6 citicas and 1 curado, and i can say i can feel the difference in the curado, but the citica is best buy for price, and it is designed as is the curado for saltwater.academy usually runs a sdale bout 1X a month for citica/all star combo for 139 bucks

I use shimano spinning reels for fresh water but been wanting a nice rig for inshore fishing. I was looking at shimano curado, revo, and the coastal. Well its pretty clear shimano is one of the top by choice here and a toss up between falcon or castaway rod. If I have to go over $250 thats ok, I just couldn't see spending $400. Jeremy I got your email, I'll keep it in mind.

Cabalea's has a 20 dollar refund on orders over 100 dollars so the reel would be 159.00. They also have some other refudnds for 10 and 25 so you could get it for less than 150. I like the Browning rod for the money it is so light

You need to email Capt. Dumas abou tthe new line of castaway rods they are using.Nothing like it on the market.

Shimano is the way to go. However, I like the Sahara 2500 spinning reel with the cimitar rod. It is light and your arm is not falling off at the end of the day. And it fits well under the money mark. I use a 10# flourocarbon in fall and move up to a 12# in summer. I had it for two summers and this is my third fall season. Outstanding. I have three. Rigged different ways that I might fish that trip. And yes it handles the reds as well with no problem.

Good luck and good fishing.

Country

For 250 dollars I would get the Falcon coastal series rod matched with a citica 100 series reel. Load it up with 40-50 pound power pro and your're good to go. Only combo you will need for working plastics or popping cork.

Just received an email from Bass Pro that they to will give you 20 dollars off on orders over 100 dollars. By next week the reel may be hundred dollars. Le Fleur's rest. at tht Walker exit off 1 12 is a good place to stop on your way to Bass Pro. They have the best catfish in the area and price is about the same as all the fast food places.

Let the wife purchase the rod and you will get 40 dollars off this compo. This should bring you in the 250 range you wanted.

I don't fish with anything but 30 pound braid. Once you try it you won't go back to mono. As far as a rod and reel Academy sells a 7 foot AllStar and a Castaway rod for around 49.00 and I think they work great. I found you just cant beat a Shimano reel. The ones in the 100-150 price range are all you need.

Be careful with those $49 rods at Academy... while Allstar and Castaway are among my favorite rods.. those "discounted" rods do not have stainless steel eyes and break after fishing saltwater for a while..
Also it is a good idea to buy from academy because they generally take any broken rod back and exchange it for a new one...

castaway skeleton

OCR custom 7'6" ML poppin' rod with Diawa Coastal and 20# power pro. SWEEEEEEEEEEET !!!

castaway skeleton and shimano reel wirh 30# spider wire stelth braid. See Ray or Sammy at Chag's for personal service. this rig is just what you need for the price.

mono with fluoro leader any day over braid, you couldn't pay me to fish with braid.

Ahh cmon angler,it ain't that bad.I prefer mono to braid but it has it's place sometines.

I have used Shimano reels and Castaway rods for as long as I have been buying my own equipment.

I recently purchased an Okuma Inspira 30 spinning reel on a 7' Med-light Guide Select Rod. Both of them together cost a total of $151.00. The rod is just as good as the castaway's I use and the reel is very smooth. It is able to handle everything I've hooked up with, I fish for reds and trout.
Being happy with the spinning reel I also purchased the V-200 bait casting reel for $74.99 and put it on a Guide Select rod also. I just purchased another Okuma set up, the V-30 spinning reel which has 15bb and is the smoothest reel I’ve ever used on yes another Guide Select rod. This all took place over 21 days, needless to say I think I'm good for a while!

The reels have a 5 year over the counter warranty and the rods have a lifetime over the counter warranty.

I still love and use my Shimano reels and Castaway rods also.

Just thought I would pass it on.

Got Kids??? Go easy on the pole you buy, they're gonna break anyway........Get Shimano open face symetrye reel......Green one.....100 bucks, throw it on a shimano schimitar rod for 40 bucks and your ready for anything from 7 lb trout to 40 lb red..........Use 15lb power pro and a black steel leader............hahahaha....for you angler..........That'll get ya goin..............Tim......ALSO.....for that price, I'd buy 2 different setups, that way you don't have to retie so much, just set them both up, then switch out during the day for the different fishing your doin................Tim

a bps johnny morris elite with 15# powere pro and a all star will get you done for that amount, and will cast a mile, huh dubya?

I use Shimano Citica 200 and 2 Okuma V200 bait cast reels with Castway and American Rods. Both reels run about $120 plus tax. You can get the rods for like $50-60 plus tax. You should be able to get a nice set-up for $200. Good luck. Like 7' Med and light action rods.

I use both the Okuma Nemesis and the Okuma VS series reels and I am very satisfied with both. I also use the Okuma Guide Select rods. If you have a problem with the reel, you just bring it to Academy Sports and they give you a brand new one. No questions asked. If the rod breaks, you can bring it in to a number of dealers to get a brand new one. I don't know if Academy carries the rods or if they would even swap it out for a new one, but I know Chag's on Veterans Blvd. next to Hooter's in Metairie will. Hope this helps.

Forgot to mention. I use Triplefish 12# test (camo). I do alot of redfishing and I can't remember the last time I lost a fish because of my line snapping. And I've caught some huge redfish. Can't find it at Wal-Mart or Academy. Your best bet would be to search it on the internet.

4-1/2 foot ugly stick with a zebco fished with a shad rig, the big yellow one.

All this info. I can see everyone has a preference. I went to rigolets about three weeks ago with my son and nephew. I'm still new to this type of fishing but we crossed lake catherine and fished a canal back there. About the middle of the day we were catching reds in the 18 to 24 range. I was using my bass rod with 12lb. test, these reds were making it scream, lol (reel was to small). Well I hooked onto something (I was fishing bottom) thought I was snagged but I started getting it close to the boat and everytime it was close it would run and pop my line. I adjusted drag and all that and this happened two times. I had another medium rod with me phantom(spelling) with ambass(spelling)baitcast reel spooled with 20lb braid spiderwire. Well I figured this would bring it in. I was wrong!! When it got close to the boat I saw it wasn't a red, I don't know what it was but took off again. I fought for about 3 min. this time the braid held but the rod didn't busted my rod in half. Needless to say it was fun fighting it. We finished the day out with 6 reds,threw back 4 that were just over 16 and 2 nice flounder 16 and 17 inches long.

Acedemy has an Okuma Stinson open face with 7 bearings for $32. Use 10# or 14# Fireline and Acedemy also sells a green Anglers Choice Rod 6'6" is perfect it's $5.99 and for under $40. you'll have a rig that does a great job and catches big fish and you can fish comfortably all day. I'm a guide and have used these rigs for 2 years and never had a problem. Check out www.fishingtom.net

I like to fish Quantum spinning reels,with ten to twenty pound Power Pro.Right now I have two Ugly Stick rods and they get abused.They are tough.I have never lost a fish due to reel or rod failure.My reel is a Boca PTS inshore spinning reel and I am very,very happy with Quantum reels.Try the thirty or forty.As for braid and baitcast,I think its more of what you prefer.I only fish braid and will not use anything else.I defenitely get more fishing time than my fishing buddies using baitcast,I dont get backlashed.Just my two pennies.

Sounds like you hooked a halibut out there.Or maybe a carp,LOL.
Nah probably a big black drum or stingray.

Ive surf fished for years.Its rough on a reel. I live on Grand Isle now and have gone through many reels. I find the penn 5500 spincast with 14lb test works good.The bail closes easy. If you cast hard the bail will close so you have to cast smooth. Ive had this reel for 8 years and its always smooth reeling. I like the ugly stick 6ft medium action. Ive caught lemon fish offshore on this rod and reel combo.

Abu garcia 6000 series on a 4 1/2' uglystik . Use 15-20lb Spiderwire. Spiderwire takes some getting use to. abu's are easy to work on and academy sells spare parts. Alot of real seasoned shallow water anglers are anti braid , but to each his own I guess. Try mono and braid , but give the braid its chance to prove itself.
I use booyah spinners or DOA under popping cork.

reel- Shimano Sedona $60... thats what i use and they last very well. I have three of them one is about 5-6 years old the other about 3 and i just bought another one thats a little different its silver and with a gold spool and a bigger handle, the reel speed is faster and i love it. But my other two or the gold ones, if you go look at them you'll be able to tell the difference.

rod- 7'0" castaway ($50) for a popping cork and and i forget the name of the new rod i bought but its something made by american rodsmiths its like an apex or something the handle is a little different than normal rods which caught my attention. But what i like about it is the flimberness of the rod tip, its awesome for tightlining gives the bait wonderful twitches.

line- $20lb braid by pline. no stretch, lasts forever, and extremely sensitive and cast good with those spinning reels