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Penn Mariner Rod: Bullet Proof
My fishing buddy Scotty is big, burly, and destructive. In fact, he breaks more stuff than anyone I know—so he made the perfect test-subject for Penn’s Mariner rods. I put one into his hands for several drum fishing trips, and waited to hear the “snap!”
The Mariner is made for guys like Scotty, with solid fiberglass construction, aluminum reel seats, aluminum-oxide guides, and foam grips. Are they the most sensitive rods in the world? Or, the lightest? Nah—these things aren’t scalpels, they’re blunt instruments. And when it comes to taking down big fish they’re the right tool for the job. I watched as Scotty tossed the Mariner into the V-berth, then cruised the boat full-tilt for 20 miles through a choppy sea. (Okay, so I encouraged his destructive behavior…we needed to give the rod a real-world test, right??) I watched as he swung it into the T-top, leaned it on the gunwale, and eventually, caught a 50-pound black drum. Through it all the Mariner took his abuse like a champ. I like that the Mariner has a gimbal butt, but I also like that it comes with a cap I can slip on (so that when guys like Scotty come aboard, I don’t have to worry about gimbal butts ripping up my boat cushions.) The rod we beat up was a 6’6” model rated for 20 to 50 pound test, but Penn makes Mariners in all shapes and sizes, from a 5’6” designed for 12 to 30 pound test, all the way up to a rod capable of handling 80-pound test.
Price: $75 - $100
The Highs: Nearly indestructible—even with Scotty aboard.
The Lows: Doesn’t have the sensitivity or grace of graphite.
Who Wants It: Guys who are tough on their gear.
Contact: www.pennreels.com
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