Ed.

Found another potential rod but as usual no one I know has them in stock😡 : Okuma Pressure Point Spin PP-S-792H

I replaced the strap on my 18.5 ft boat when I got it as the strap had perished, replaced it with a 8mm dyneema rope on it (6800kg) and it has been fine. Yep I know it is overkill, but at least I know that sucker isn't going to break even with a bit of sunlight deterioration.
Depends on how the boat has been positioned on the trailer, if the boat keel sits fairly level on the trailer then it shouldn't slide off, if however the boat is on a steep angle (to make it easier to roll off on the ramp) then there is a good chance that it will and that will depend on how it it setup. If the safety chain is on then it should only go as far as the chain  will allow it.
Leave the chain on and start to release the winch cable and it will either sit there or slide down to the length of the safety chain. If it doesn't move then give the boat a bit of a push and rock it to see if it budges, as it may be borderline. Once the safety chain slack is gone then it should be save to remove the winch strap.
I don't know what size boat you have or how it is tied down to your  trailer, on mine I also have two 2500kg straps holding it down to the trailer (front and back)  as well so they would stop my boat moving anyway.

I replaced the strap on my 18.5 ft boat when I got it as the strap had perished, replaced it with a 8mm dyneema rope on it (6800kg) and it has been fine. Yep I know it is overkill, but at least I know that sucker isn't going to break even with a bit of sunlight deterioration.
Depends on how the boat has been positioned on the trailer, if the boat keel sits fairly level on the trailer then it shouldn't slide off, if however the boat is on a steep angle (to make it easier to roll off on the ramp) then there is a good chance that it will and that will depend on how it it setup. If the safety chain is on then it should only go as far as the chain  will allow it.
Leave the chain on and start to release the winch cable and it will either sit there or slide down to the length of the safety chain. If it doesn't move then give the boat a bit of a push and rock it to see if it budges, as it may be borderline. Once the safety chain slack is gone then it should be save to remove the winch strap.
I don't know what size boat you have or how it is tied down to your  trailer, on mine I also have two 2500kg straps holding it down to the trailer (front and back)  as well so they would stop my boat moving anyway.

I replaced the strap on my 18.5 ft boat when I got it as the strap had perished, replaced it with a 8mm dyneema rope on it (6800kg) and it has been fine. Yep I know it is overkill, but at least I know that sucker isn't going to break even with a bit of sunlight deterioration.
Depends on how the boat has been positioned on the trailer, if the boat keel sits fairly level on the trailer then it shouldn't slide off, if however the boat is on a steep angle (to make it easier to roll off on the ramp) then there is a good chance that it will and that will depend on how it it setup. If the safety chain is on then it should only go as far as the chain  will allow it.
Leave the chain on and start to release the winch cable and it will either sit there or slide down to the length of the safety chain. If it doesn't move then give the boat a bit of a push and rock it to see if it budges, as it may be borderline. Once the safety chain slack is gone then it should be save to remove the winch strap.
I don't know what size boat you have or how it is tied down to your  trailer, on mine I also have two 2500kg straps holding it down to the trailer (front and back)  as well so they would stop my boat moving anyway.

Drop Bear: which model of Penn rod did you get and what reel did you put on it? I rang Pure Fishing to see if my 8500LL reel would fit it and they said they will get back to me, still waiting, might have to give them a call back. Apparently there is a V2 of the Venoms out and the price has increased to about the $400 range, so like you don't want to spend that sort of dollars for something that will only be used rarely.
I am hedging towards the Penn myself, heard there were some issues with the Terez's and I do not like the Shimano company as a whole, so I suppose my order of preferences would be as per the list.

Hi guys, I am looking for a heavy spinning popper rod approximately 7'9" to 8'2" in length in a 2 piece PE6 to PE8 spinning, the reel I will add to it is a Penn Spinfisher SSVI8500LL (X'Mas pressie from the Wifey)🥰, I have been looking around and very few stores have any to look at (and none that are local to me) so I have to buy one sight unseen. Looks like I will have to get one based on specs and other peoples opinions. Price range about $300 approx. Has anyone got any recommendations or used any of the following rods which I have shortlisted, any likes or dislikes on any of them. As these rods are fairly specialized I need first hand experience only.

I do have an 8ft popper spinning rod based on a Calstar graphfighter blank but it is more suited to my 6500 sized reel and not the 8500 sized reel, also it is one piece so traveling with it will be a pain hence the reason for wanting a 2 piece.

Penn Ocean Assassin OA-822xxh PE6-PE8
Daiwa Saltist Hyper rod ST82XH PE8
Daiwa Demon Blood 82XH PE8
Shimano Terez TZS80GT 50-80lb

Cheers
Ed.

I replaced the strap on my 18.5 ft boat when I got it as the strap had perished, replaced it with a 8mm dyneema rope on it (6800kg) and it has been fine. Yep I know it is overkill, but at least I know that sucker isn't going to break even with a bit of sunlight deterioration.
Depends on how the boat has been positioned on the trailer, if the boat keel sits fairly level on the trailer then it shouldn't slide off, if however the boat is on a steep angle (to make it easier to roll off on the ramp) then there is a good chance that it will and that will depend on how it it setup. If the safety chain is on then it should only go as far as the chain  will allow it.
Leave the chain on and start to release the winch cable and it will either sit there or slide down to the length of the safety chain. If it doesn't move then give the boat a bit of a push and rock it to see if it budges, as it may be borderline. Once the safety chain slack is gone then it should be save to remove the winch strap.
I don't know what size boat you have or how it is tied down to your  trailer, on mine I also have two 2500kg straps holding it down to the trailer (front and back)  as well so they would stop my boat moving anyway.

Have fun up there.

Stuffed up in the posts above, hoping to put them into one post, but anyway not sure what the ranges are that these fish live in, I know the Barracudas are mainly warmer water fish and the Barracouta a more colder water species but they may overlap.
 

Here are 2 pics, the first one is a Barracuda and the second is a Barracouta

Well this afternoon the sky opened up and we had the biggest storm I have seen here since we have lived here in Ningi in over 20 years , we had hail up to 50mm and winds about 60knots, together with many lightning strikes and it flooded, had that much rain all the gutters were over flowing and the street flooded in 20 minutes, more came this evening but I think that it will start easing off now. I would have hated to be in the passage today.
Tomorrow I have to find a length of new poly carbonate roof sheeting as the hail put 20  holes in the existing sheet in the garage roof, which most likely had perished over the years with exposure to the UV and heat. Trouble is I need my trailer to pick up a sheet and it is sitting at the back of my property, so with the amount of rain we have had the ground will probably be soft as mush.
I didn't bother to fix or tarp up the shed roof as there is no way I am climbing up on a tin roof in the middle of the pouring rain, with the wind and also with the lightning striking all around us, the type that rattles your windows. So it was interesting to say the least, will go out tomorrow morning and check out the damage.
Anyone else have damage to their homes?

So I take it you will be chasing a youngish Zumba instructor who has her own 35ft boat, loves fishing and who will buy you all the reels and fishing gear you want, as well as take you out fishing when ever you want? 🤣

And it shows! but you know what they say about "blood is thicker than water", I'll be waiting to read the news about man being clubbed by sisters with rolling pin in the news feeds. 🤣

It's quite strenuous but all the women that I have spoken to really enjoy it hence the smiles on their faces, and if the missus  likes it then who am I to argue, she has been doing it for about 10-15 years, I would be lucky to survive  a minute at that pace, in fact I barely survive just going to the gym a few times a week.

Wifey keeps threatening to use the whipper snipper on me to give me a good session of deforestation to get rid of the overgrowth so to speak, speaking of the wifey, she just completed her Zumba instructors course so I can now officially say that I am married to a Zumba instructor!🤣

Stuffed up in the posts above, hoping to put them into one post, but anyway not sure what the ranges are that these fish live in, I know the Barracudas are mainly warmer water fish and the Barracouta a more colder water species but they may overlap.
 

The major visual difference is the long dorsal fin  which is absent in the Barracuda and the 'Couta has tail caudlets top and bottom.

Here are 2 pics, the first one is a Barracuda and the second is a Barracouta

Stuffed up in the posts above, hoping to put them into one post, but anyway not sure what the ranges are that these fish live in, I know the Barracudas are mainly warmer water fish and the Barracouta a more colder water species but they may overlap.
 

Here are 2 pics, the first one is a Barracuda and the second is a Barracouta

When I went to Fiji with the missus about 13 years ago, we had a few days at Oarsman Bay Lodge, at the front of the huts there is a truly beautiful bay there, so wifey and I went for a snorkel and this barracuda started swimming around us. I wasn't an overly big one (about a meter long) but Barracoudas just look really evil when you are in the water with them, so they are also in the tropical waters. I didn't like the way it was looking at us so we slowly back peddled back to shore whilst keeping a eye on it.

When I went to Fiji with the missus about 13 years ago, we had a few days at Oarsman Bay Lodge, at the front of the huts there is a truly beautiful bay there, so wifey and I went for a snorkel and this barracuda started swimming around us. I wasn't an overly big one (about a meter long) but Barracoudas just look really evil when you are in the water with them, so they are also in the tropical waters. I didn't like the way it was looking at us so we slowly back peddled back to shore whilst keeping a eye on it.

Nah, don't want it, it's the wrong colour! 🤣

When I went to Fiji with the missus about 13 years ago, we had a few days at Oarsman Bay Lodge, at the front of the huts there is a truly beautiful bay there, so wifey and I went for a snorkel and this barracuda started swimming around us. I wasn't an overly big one (about a meter long) but Barracoudas just look really evil when you are in the water with them, so they are also in the tropical waters. I didn't like the way it was looking at us so we slowly back peddled back to shore whilst keeping a eye on it.

So I take it you will be chasing a youngish Zumba instructor who has her own 35ft boat, loves fishing and who will buy you all the reels and fishing gear you want, as well as take you out fishing when ever you want? 🤣