Great, thanks for the tips, I'll have a read up and look at some rods.
If anybody is North East based and wants to show me the ropes, give me a shout!
I've always wanted to go out on a boat too if anyone ever needs a body to make up numbers.
See - boat fishing .. adds more complications
It depends if it's near shore (ie fishing the same areas of water but from a boat) or if it's deeper. Add complexity if drifting vs anchored.
Your rod needs to cope with the lead required for the water tidal currents and as deeper boat fishing isn't casting but more controlling and positioning the lead on the bottom. This is why I have a few boat rods and multis. The multi allows the lead to be controlled in lowering to the floor (rather than bail arm open). If it's charter then often they suggest a rod rated 20-30lb initially so there's no problems with larger leads however that's big Tope material so instead you'll see lighter 12-20lb rating used. What is used when depends on tidal current, depth, species you're after and the skill level of the angler. If anyone suggests 50lb rods.. they're specialist (I have one and it's happy lifting the wreck) 30-50lb class is big ray/skate and shark rod material for the UK.
Uglystik would be a good boat rod starting point, even second hand. 20-30lb rating for ling, conger, big blonde rays (bait fishing, or with 16oz+ of lead), 12-20lb rating for everything else (upto about 8-10oz of lead). 6-12lb rating is a blast in summer.
I use the same 20-50g spinning rod on the boats for bass or feathers but a recent 12-20 purchase seems to make the features more attractive (perhaps a snappier movement). 20-50g for wrecking (gilling with plastic lures) is possibly asking for trouble but fun - although charters prefer a heavier more in control setup.
Note the difference in rating systems between casting rods and downside rods. I haven't mentioned an untidier yet.. casting 5-10oz in shallow (sub 20m) water up tide of the boat to get away from the noise of the boat itself (uses hooked leads to grip the seafloor).
(and for context.. my old 50lb boat rod was happy pulling up 60oz, 3.75lb, of lead at point point
).
Feathers on a boat - great.. but as the tide moves them, to prevent tangles you'll be needing to keep 5-10oz on the bottom depending on tide strength. That will be too much for a <50g casting spinning rod but a kayak Uglystik may work well.
Also check the ringing. Spinning rods are normally fixed spool, boat rods are normally multiplier. A FS boat rod works - although dropping a large lead with the bail arm open is not as controlled.
https://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/threads/big-bass.40537291/
