First Strike: Ocean Master Stand-Up Rod OSMU3B
Getting into the offshore game is anything but cheap, and when buying a set of rods and reels for bluewater use, you could spend enough cash to buy a new car. So, what’s someone just getting into the offshore game to do? Find a rod that gets the job done, without breaking the bank. That’s what the Ocean Master OSMU3B is all about.
This model is rated for 30 to 50 pound test, and has rollers at the tip and foot, with ring guides in between. It’s 6’0” long, which makes it a decent go-between for trolling and stand-up fights. At a hair over a foot the butts a bit long for strapping in the stand up harness, but this also means you can drop it into a chair gimbal, in a pinch—fair trade.
The action is fast and the rod’s equally stout throughout, without much give (or sensitivity) even in the tip. Not a huge surprise, since this is a composite E-glass blank meant to take on seriously heavy fish for a seriously low investment. On our test rod the wraps securing the guides were weak, though, and two guides broke free when the rod rubbed against the side of the boat with minimal pressure. Also, some parts of the reel seat are graphite, and they really should be stainless-steel on a rod designed for heavy-duty offshore use. We did take a small bigeye and a couple of yellowfin on the OSMU3B and it held up just fine, but we wouldn’t expect to get a lifetime of use out of this one.
Wait a sec—with all these beefs, why didn’t we kill this review? After all, don’t we state that we don’t write up gear that don’t deserve a spotlight? You bet, but this rod has one huge redeeming factor: remember, it’s inexpensive. Very inexpensive. In fact, most decent offshore rods that can handle the same job cost twice as much as the Ocean Master. For that reason alone, the Ocean Master OSMU3B deserves reviewing. There are guys out there who might have trouble getting together enough cash to pay for an offshore run’s fuel and bait costs, and this rod makes it possible for them to get offshore-capable gear at a fraction of the usual cost. Is it ideal? Heck no. But it can put you into the game. So if you need to save your funds but you still want to jump into offshore fishing, the Ocean Master is worth checking out.
Price: $140, but we’ve seen it for a whole lot less when Bass Pro has a sale.
The Highs: Get into the offshore league at inshore prices. Butt and rod lengths make it capable of multiple uses.
The Lows: Guide wraps aren’t strong enough. Sensitivity is low. Graphite parts should be stainless-steel. Butt and rod lengths are in-between ideal for different uses.
Who Wants It: Entry-level anglers gearing up for offshore in an inexpensive way.
Contact: www.basspro.com.
