I was happy to see the Daiwa BG in there. That would be my pick. I run 3 of the 2500 size and a BG MQ 4000 for kayak fishing. I have a BG 4000 for my 9’ surf rod as well. I have not personally used Kastking. A lot of folks like them for the price, but I’ve been fishing long enough to know to stick to trusted brands. Penn, Shimano, and Daiwa are all I buy. Penn, in my opinion, is currently junk UNLESS you get some of their higher end stuff. Stay away from the Battle line. I’ve had a Battle II, a Conflict, and a Fierce. They all gave me problems. A Penn Spinfisher and Slammer I have are great. Generally I prefer Shimano to Daiwa, but Daiwa gets you more line capacity for reels of the same caliber. My BGs have been workhorses, but every reel a) requires a freshwater rinse after each trip b) will require a periodic teardown to clean/lube (1 year for me and I fish a bit) and c) will break on you. Usually it’s the instant anti reverse (clutch) bearing that goes in my experience. A trusted, name brand reel will have parts readily available. I have gone through so many Shimano clutch bearings that I now order them in multiples.

The kind of fishing you’re looking at will dictate the size. I like a 9-10’ spinning rod with a 4000 reel. It van handle most everything. A very big drum or a shark would smoke it.

As far as bait feeder option, I am unfamiliar unless that’s like the old Shimano Baitrunner reels and are designed for live bait fishing with live fish as the bait. I just put the ones I’m not holding in a spike and loosen the drag so that a fish can run a bit while I get to the rod… remember to tighten the drag before you go to set the hook!

I was happy to see the Daiwa BG in there. That would be my pick. I run 3 of the 2500 size and a BG MQ 4000 for kayak fishing. I have a BG 4000 for my 9’ surf rod as well. I have not personally used Kastking. A lot of folks like them for the price, but I’ve been fishing long enough to know to stick to trusted brands. Penn, Shimano, and Daiwa are all I buy. Penn, in my opinion, is currently junk UNLESS you get some of their higher end stuff. Stay away from the Battle line. I’ve had a Battle II, a Conflict, and a Fierce. They all gave me problems. A Penn Spinfisher and Slammer I have are great. Generally I prefer Shimano to Daiwa, but Daiwa gets you more line capacity for reels of the same caliber. My BGs have been workhorses, but every reel a) requires a freshwater rinse after each trip b) will require a periodic teardown to clean/lube (1 year for me and I fish a bit) and c) will break on you. Usually it’s the instant anti reverse (clutch) bearing that goes in my experience. A trusted, name brand reel will have parts readily available. I have gone through so many Shimano clutch bearings that I now order them in multiples.

The kind of fishing you’re looking at will dictate the size. I like a 9-10’ spinning rod with a 4000 reel. It van handle most everything. A very big drum or a shark would smoke it.

As far as bait feeder option, I am unfamiliar unless that’s like the old Shimano Baitrunner reels and are designed for live bait fishing with live fish as the bait. I just put the ones I’m not holding in a spike and loosen the drag so that a fish can run a bit while I get to the rod… remember to tighten the drag before you go to set the hook!

On that BF model you can flip a switch and it will let the drag out that will make an audible cycling sound when the fish runs with it. You can flip it up and go back to whatever drag setting you have and set the hook....at least that's my understanding.

The Diawa is the highest rated . Can't seem to find many who have anything bad to say about it. It does lack some of features of the Kast King but do I need em? I guess it's a quality vs versatility thing, although many say the Kast King is a strong underdog performer.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

I use a spike to fish two rods. I always have my heaver out and in the spike. That’s my wishful thinking rod that has a big chuck of meat on it and usually catches a 12” blue, a dogfish, or a skate... nothing of any value! It’s a Daiwa Saltist 30H and has a clicker. I hold my spinning rod that I fish a double dropper loop rig on

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

I use a spike to fish two rods. I always have my heaver out and in the spike. That’s my wishful thinking rod that has a big chuck of meat on it and usually catches a 12” blue, a dogfish, or a skate... nothing of any value! It’s a Daiwa Saltist 30H and has a clicker. I hold my spinning rod that I fish a double dropper loop rig on

Yeah, the double dropper loop-d-looper......That's what I was gonna say....

I wish I knew what that was.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

That's a long time ago though.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

I use a spike to fish two rods. I always have my heaver out and in the spike. That’s my wishful thinking rod that has a big chuck of meat on it and usually catches a 12” blue, a dogfish, or a skate... nothing of any value! It’s a Daiwa Saltist 30H and has a clicker. I hold my spinning rod that I fish a double dropper loop rig on

Yeah, the double dropper loop-d-looper......That's what I was gonna say....

I wish I knew what that was.

Fancy way of saying a hand tied bottom rig. I use 20lb fluorocarbon leader or line and tie my own. It’s not only cheaper than buying premade rigs, but has almost no hardware except for the hooks, swivel, and sinker. Plus you can use good hooks like Gamakatsu. There are videos on YouTube. Very easy to tie.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

That's a long time ago though.

!00% agree......I see it all the time - the guys roll out of the truck and start pounding fishing rod holders up and down the beach, usually 3-4 each person, to establish their territory. Then they cast their lines, set them in the rod holders and wait near the beer cooler......I refer to them as "lazy trot line fishermen".....

After many years as a Penn guy, I have switched in the last decade to Daiwa. BG, Ballistic and Saltist are my suggestions for Daiwa salt water spinning reels.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

I use a spike to fish two rods. I always have my heaver out and in the spike. That’s my wishful thinking rod that has a big chuck of meat on it and usually catches a 12” blue, a dogfish, or a skate... nothing of any value! It’s a Daiwa Saltist 30H and has a clicker. I hold my spinning rod that I fish a double dropper loop rig on

Yeah, the double dropper loop-d-looper......That's what I was gonna say....

I wish I knew what that was.

Fancy way of saying a hand tied bottom rig. I use 20lb fluorocarbon leader or line and tie my own. It’s not only cheaper than buying premade rigs, but has almost no hardware except for the hooks, swivel, and sinker. Plus you can use good hooks like Gamakatsu. There are videos on YouTube. Very easy to tie.

"double dropper loop-d-looper"..... I like that, it sounds like a what I call a pompano rig......hand tied fluorocarbon, no metal....I just use heavier line and larger hooks in the fall for puppy drum.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

I use a spike to fish two rods. I always have my heaver out and in the spike. That’s my wishful thinking rod that has a big chuck of meat on it and usually catches a 12” blue, a dogfish, or a skate... nothing of any value! It’s a Daiwa Saltist 30H and has a clicker. I hold my spinning rod that I fish a double dropper loop rig on

Yeah, the double dropper loop-d-looper......That's what I was gonna say....

I wish I knew what that was.

Fancy way of saying a hand tied bottom rig. I use 20lb fluorocarbon leader or line and tie my own. It’s not only cheaper than buying premade rigs, but has almost no hardware except for the hooks, swivel, and sinker. Plus you can use good hooks like Gamakatsu. There are videos on YouTube. Very easy to tie.

"double dropper loop-d-looper"..... I like that, it sounds like a what I call a pompano rig......hand tied fluorocarbon, no metal....I just use heavier line and larger hooks in the fall for puppy drum.

Basically the same except pompano rig will often have a colorful float on each loop at the hook. If you tie yours without floats then yeah, same thing.

Same here. When I am fishing, I am holding the rod. The sand spike is for rigging and baiting up. Circle hooks require the line to come tight to set correctly.

For many years I NEVER used a sand-spike. Nobody did. My Gandfather and all his pals stood in the surf wearing long work pants. lol

I use a spike to fish two rods. I always have my heaver out and in the spike. That’s my wishful thinking rod that has a big chuck of meat on it and usually catches a 12” blue, a dogfish, or a skate... nothing of any value! It’s a Daiwa Saltist 30H and has a clicker. I hold my spinning rod that I fish a double dropper loop rig on

Yeah, the double dropper loop-d-looper......That's what I was gonna say....

I wish I knew what that was.

Fancy way of saying a hand tied bottom rig. I use 20lb fluorocarbon leader or line and tie my own. It’s not only cheaper than buying premade rigs, but has almost no hardware except for the hooks, swivel, and sinker. Plus you can use good hooks like Gamakatsu. There are videos on YouTube. Very easy to tie.

"double dropper loop-d-looper"..... I like that, it sounds like a what I call a pompano rig......hand tied fluorocarbon, no metal....I just use heavier line and larger hooks in the fall for puppy drum.

Basically the same except pompano rig will often have a colorful float on each loop at the hook. If you tie yours without floats then yeah, same thing.

I was using pompano rigs set up like that with 5 ounce sinker and they kept getting swept down the beach. I feel like the little floats aren't great in mid-heavy surf

I have 3 KastKing Reels, have never had an issue with any of them. Can't go wrong with Penn which is probably the most popular for many people.

If you clean you equipment a few times a year you will not have a problem. My one KastKing reel is closing out its 4th season of Surf Fishing, thought I would retire it after this year, but I cleaned it up a few weeks ago and oiled some parts and I am not going to have to replace it.

I have 3 KastKing Reels, have never had an issue with any of them. Can't go wrong with Penn which is probably the most popular for many people.

If you clean you equipment a few times a year you will not have a problem. My one KastKing reel is closing out its 4th season of Surf Fishing, thought I would retire it after this year, but I cleaned it up a few weeks ago and oiled some parts and I am not going to have to replace it.

I'm wondering if it's like everything else where your just not paying the brand tax on the Kast King? Lots of people swear by the brand. I bought some KK tools and a knife and used them for two weeks straight in the surf with zero signs of rust so far. They seem very well made. I think they are 316 steel. Do you have one of the KK baitfeeder reels by any chance? I kinda had my eye on that one too. I have a Penn rod and spinning reel and it has held up well for two years. I rinse my stuff every time and take it apart and hit it with oil at the end of the season but it was used pretty hard by the whole family.

I see it all the time - the guys roll out of the truck and start pounding fishing rod holders up and down the beach, usually 3-4 each person, to establish their territory. Then they cast their lines, set them in the rod holders and wait near the beer cooler......I refer to them as "lazy trot line fishermen".....

My 4500 Bait Runner still works and it's a lot lighter than the later 6500. It's a little loose in places, but still catches fish. Note that this original Bait Runner from the mid-'80s does not say Baitrunner.