There are big bass to be caught from Cape Cod's beaches. Here's the setup I have been using to catch them.
Shimano Stradic 6000
I purchased the Shimano Stradic during the summer of 2013, specifically to fish Cape Cod's beaches, inlets and estuaries for big striped bass. I purchased the Stradic because I needed a reel that could land a 50 pounder, but was also light and ultra-smooth.
I can fit around 300 yards of 40 pound Power Pro onto this reel. So far I've landed bass up to 34 pounds using this reel from the surf, and I am very satisfied with how it's performed.
The drag is very easy to adjust while fighting a fish. I've spent a limited amount of time opening up the reel, but so far it seems simple and less complex than some Penn spinning reels I have used in the past.
So far I have no issues with this reel and I highly recommend it.
Ugly Stik Tiger One-Piece Heavy Action 7 foot rod
I'm yet to get a 50 pounder on this rod, but my charters have caught bass up to 46 pounds on it. I also landed a 150 pound bluefin tuna using this rod 5 years ago. In total I have been using this rod for exactly 10 years.
At $60 this rod has tremendous value. I've replaced the tip just twice over those 10 years, and somehow the rest of the rod is still in flawless condition.
I love this rod for beach, inlet and estuary fishing because it has serious backbone, which will help you to overpower big fish. For a 7 foot rod it casts well and is still sensitive. This rod is also perfect for fishing live eels from shore.
I often cover many miles during a single surf casting trip. The Stradic/Ugly Stik combo is light, which makes my walks very easy.
40 Pound Power Pro Braided Line
I have been fishing with braided line since I was a teenager. Since switching from mono to braid I have never gone back.
Braided line does not stretch like mono, which makes braid much more sensitive. The diameter of braid is much smaller than mono, which means you can fit a lot more higher pound test on your reel.
I recommend using braid over mono, for virtually all spin fishing situations.
Power Pro is by far my favorite type of braid. I've tried Spider Wire and other types of braid and I must say that Power Pro is the best. With Power Pro my knots are small, the braid sits tight on the spool and it casts so much smoother than other braided lines.
If you plan on fishing more than a few times, I would recommend investing in a large spool of braid (1500 yards) as opposed to buying the smaller 150 yard spools. The larger spool costs more up front, but continually purchasing the smaller spools will quickly add up.
I use 40 pound Power Pro for all my spin fishing situations for striped bass, whether from boat, shore or the Canal.
50 Pound Seagur Fluorocarbon Leader
Fluorocarbon leader material is better than monofilament because it is more abrasion resistant and less visible underwater. There's really no reason to skimp on your leader, especially when fishing a rocky area or the Cape Cod Canal.
I use 50 pound Seagur fluoro whenever there is a chance of hooking a large striped bass. During the spring, and sometimes when fish are finicky, I'll downsize to a smaller pound test.
Fluorocarbon can get pricey, especially if you purchase multiple 25 yard spools throughout the season. To save a little money over the long run, I would recommend buying a bulk spool of 100 or more yards.
