Great lakes imperial fishing rods?

Is there a difference between lake fishing rods and deep sea fishing rods? If so, how do I pick a good one?

• I go deep fishing out in Newport Beach, CA 3-4 times every summer. I usually rent, but I figured if I go enough, it's worthwhile to invest in a hobby that I enjoy. Can someone tell me about the basics of deep sea fishing equipment? What is the bare minimum that I will need considering that I'm a 100lb, 5'1" Asian girl with very low wrist/arm strength? What kind of material should I look for? Price range? I personally would love to be able to catch barracudas, which I have caught, but it was too small to keep and too vicious to reel in. So let's be reasonable and say that I'm aiming for sea basses and sculpins.

• Answer:

  I'm a rod builder that enjoys fishing freshwater & saltwater. I fish several times a year in the OC, as well as San Diego and Long Beach, though I live in the NorCal.  I fish the SoCal shores, the piers, the cattle boats, long range, 6-pack, & my own boat(s). Fishing is like golf. You will never play the game with only one club. So with that, let me help you decide on a rod that (as you have discribed yourself) would increase your catch rate, as well as the techniques that you should consider in doing so. 1. Your targeted species are often caught with Calico Bass, Bonita, Sand Bass (Olive Drab), and the occasional White Sea Bass & Yellowtail.  Optionally, you could decide to drop deep for rockfish, opal eye, ling cod, halibut, blue perch, sheepshead, and a bunch of other species on the bottom (including the species that are targeted higher in the water column). In my opinion, for fishing on the piers & 1/2 to full day sportfishing boats, consider a 270 class rod. Many manufacturers build this West Coast Classic. If you wish to spend a little more for the same class of rod, consider a graphite rod like a Calstar 700M. The lightness of this blank will help with fatigue issues. 2. I'm happy to inform you, as a Quorian, you will need to learn something new! Based on your discription of how you fish, it seems that you are using a spinning reel. Since you also state that you are having issues landing barracuda, then you will be miserable trying to land a Yellowtail, White Sea Bass, or Bonita. Please, consider using a conventional or a large baitcasting reel. Yes, spinning reels are fine for all the species listed above. I, myself, love to use spinning reels against those species! But you have a different challenge as being only 5ft tall. Thus, you will need to learn how to cast this type of reel.... A LONG CAST. While on a sportfishing boat, you must contend with the boat rail. With a spinning reel, you have to keep your rod tip at (at least) a 90° Angle in order to not abrade your line against the rail. After an hour of holding you rod up, you will easily fatigue. That's just the plain fact. The conventional or baitcasting reel inherently allows you to drop the rod tip to a more "natural" level as the rod blank will always separate your line from the rail. 3. Leverage - with your build, a 270 rod and a conventional reel filled with 30-40# test monofilament is an ideal combination. Use the rail, your rod, and your low center of gravity ias a leaver system. I will guarantee you that your hook & catch ratio will climb exponentially! As soon as you cast, lay your rod onto the rail closest to the reel. Let your bait free swim or drop to your preferred distance, then begin your retrieve maintaining rod contact on the rail. Upon hook-up, DO NOT try & set the hook.  Reel until you feel positive pressure from the fish. Then use your body to provide downward pressure on the lower rod grip. Your rod tip will be forced into the upward motion, thus maintaining optimal pressure to keep the fish hooked. Optionally, tuck the lower rod grip into the pit of your arm while comfortably maintaining your rod blank against the rail. FOLLOW YOUR FISH! Yell at the anglers to move out of your way while you are hooked up. The more polite way to yell at your fellow angler is to say "HOT RAIL, COMING UP (or DOWN - depending on the direction the fish is swimming)!  Yelling that statement warns your fellow anglers of your hooked fish & notifies your deckhands that you will need their assistance.... Loud communication with the utmost etiquette! 4. Seriously consider using artificial lures instead of live bait. Move yourself to the bow of the boat and cast away! Less competition for real estate, 'Cuda's love them (so do White Sea Bass, Yellowtail, Bonita, and Calicos), and most importantly.... up in the bow, it's by-stander beware, as apposed to down in the stern, caster beware. You still have to be careful, but up in the bow, it is the casters domain. Also, deckhands really appreciate anglers throwing iron.  They will keep a vigil eye out for you. The fact that you are a female angler tossing iron.... Both deckhand & captains will be ready to assist you at a drop of a hat! As well, the boat staff will be more willing to teach you techniques & secrets as iron anglers are truly viewed as students of sportfishing.  Not that bait thrower are not.... It just that tossing iron makes the student more apparent than the weekend warrior tossing bait. As a iron angler, you are easily identified and placed into a different pecking order on the boat. 5. Best way to assemble the above package is to talk with the shops that specialize in it.  The big box stores might have all the right stuff, but chances are, they will not know why it's the right stuff, or even worse, how to tell the right stuff from the wrong stuff when it's the same stuff! Example: two identical lures... How to tell the difference between one that will swim correctly from the one that won't? You'll have to ask the right people for such questions. And it is unlikely that will not find those people working in a big box store. Follow this link to find some of the reputable shops in the OC area. Please note: I forgot to mention a major fishing shop in Huntington that deserves to be mention above post. Pacific Edge - owner Captain Mark Wisch is a master in the Newport/Huntington waters. For the local boats out of Long Beach & Newport, I would talk with the staff of from Charkbait (Mark Smith) & Pacific Edge to put a package together.  Just make sure you state your budget clearly to either Mark & they should do you well. Good luck & tight lines!