Porgies are a saltwater fish, similar to the freshwater bluegill. Most of their varieties are aggressive and tasty, and because of this reason, they are a fun fish to find, hook, and catch. Porgies are also known as scup, and you will find them in the mid-Atlantic coast areas. During the seasons of spring and early summer would be the most suitable times for catching porgy.
But, knowing just where to find porgies are not enough. You will also need the right gear to catch them. The list includes a lightweight rod, high performing reel, lots of smelly chum, and an ample amount of bait. If you are an experienced fisherman, then you will easily figure out what’s the right amount of chum and bait that you need to catch porgy. But the real problem arises when it comes to choosing the best fishing rod and reel for porgy. Even the pro anglers often find it challenging to select the most suitable rod and reel to catch porgy.
But in this post, we have provided an in-depth guide that should provide a complete solution for you. Here, we will take you through our list of the 5 best rods and reels that you can choose to catch porgy. But before we start our list, check out porgy tackle guidelines first where we have discussed the consideration factors that you need to check while buying porgy fishing gears.
Porgy Tackle Recommendations – Buying Guide for Porgy Fishing
We recommend fishermen to opt for such a spinning rod and reel combo, which is suitable for at least 14 lbs. of fused line. It will be even better if you opt for such a combo that can hold up to 20 lbs. of fused line. But this is not the only factor that you need to consider while buying a porgy fishing gear. In addition, you also need to check plenty of other things while choosing the rod and reel, such as the weight of the rod, its length, braid rating of the reel, etc. In the section below, we will discuss all of them.
Spinning Reel
Your fishing reel is the most important aspect of your porgy fishing gears. A wrong selection of fishing reels can prevent you from becoming a pro porgy catcher. You need to consider several things while choosing a reel for catching porgy. Let’s start with the gear ratio of the reel. This is one of the most important things that you need to check while buying a reel for catching porgy. The gear ratio of a reel is responsible for improving your fishing efficiency. You need to opt for such a reel that has a gear ratio of at least 5:1.
Apart from just the gear ratio, you also need to check its drag strength and number of bearings. Here it is essential to understand that porgy, in general, is a small fish, and their weight ranges from 1/2 pound to 20 pounds. The average weight of market-sized porgy is around 3 pounds. So, while buying a spinning reel, you have to ensure that its drag capacity is more than 3 pounds. Well, we would recommend you to opt for such a reel that has higher drag capacity because it will allow you to catch other types of fish, including the large ones.
On the other hand, when it comes to bearings, you have to understand that they are made for making your fishing experience smoother. So, you should opt for such a reel that has higher numbers of bearings. If you opt for such a reel that has a higher number of bearings, then your fishing experience will be smoother.
While choosing a reel, you also have to check its line capacity. We always recommend individuals to select a reel that can hold enough line. Here it is essential to understand that porgies are bottom-feeders that eat clams, crabs, and other sea creatures. It means you need enough line to reach the floor of the water to catch scup.
This is the main reason for which we recommend anglers to opt for such a reel that can hold enough line, so that it can reach into the deep of the water and help you to catch porgy. Finally, you also have to check one more thing while choosing a reel, its braid. Fishermen are always recommended to opt for such a reel which is rated for 14-20lbs. braid
Fishing Rod – Length & Weight
If you are looking for the best fishing rod and reel for porgy, then you have to ensure that they are lightweight. If you look for rigid rod and heavyweight reel, then tackling them will become difficult for you. Let’s talk about the ideal length of the rod for fishing porgy. Well, it is recommended to opt for at least 6 ft. to 7 ft. long fishing rod, which is flexible as well. It will provide you enough give, so porgy won’t be able to tear its lips while struggling with the hook. At the same time, you will also experience light bites which will make fishing porgy an easy job.
Fused Fishing Line
If you want to know the fused line in detail, then, first of all, you have to understand what is a fishing line. Well, this is a cord comparable to a string. Some of the most important parameters of a fishing line are its length, weight, and material. Fused lines are a modern type of fishing line, which is also known as superliners. The diameter of this type of line is smaller and due to this reason they are less visible to all kinds of fish, and they also provide higher strength than nylon monofilament lines.
While choosing a fused line, you need to check its knot strength, breaking strength, limpness, UV resistance, abrasion resistance, stretch, and castability. In addition to that, you also need to ensure that the fused line is suitable for dragging 14 lbs. to 20 lbs. of fish. When it comes to catching scup, you also need to check the built material of the reel. It is always recommended to opt for such a fused line which is made from artificial substances such as fluorocarbon, polyethylene, or nylon.
Quick Checklist:
Points that we have mentioned above are the main things that you need to check while choosing the best fishing rod and reel for porgy. In addition to that you also need to check the following things for fishing porgy:
- 50lbs. barrel swivel
- 4oz. to 10 oz. of bank sinkers
- Beak bait hooks of 4/0
- Fluorocarbon leader of 30 lbs.
Top 5 Best Fishing Rods for Porgy
In this section, we will take you through a list of the top five rods that are suitable for porgy fishing. But before we start our in-depth review, take a quick look at the key specs of our top 3 picks.
| Rods | Material | Type | Length | Corrosion Resistivity | Our Overall Rating | Price |
| Penn Squadron II | High modulus graphite and double legged aluminum oxide guides | Spinning rod | 7 ft. | 9.5/10 | 9.6/10 | CHECK AMAZON |
| Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod | Graphite and fiberglass construction | Spinning rod | 6 ft. 6 inch | 9.4/10 | 9.5/10 | CHECK AMAZON |
| SHIMANO Terez TZC70M Saltwater Casting Rod | Spiral X + Hi-Power X | Casting rod | 7 ft. | 9.2/10 | 9.3/10 | CHECK AMAZON |
1. Penn Squadron II
This is an excellent inshore fishing rod that you can also use for near-shore fishing. This Penn rod belongs to the Squadron series, which is ideally built to deliver the performance of rods that are double or even triple the price. This product is made of high modulus graphite that makes this rod durable. Due to this reason, the rod is also rated suitable for saltwater fishing.
So, one thing we can conclude from here – if you are looking for a premium fishing rod for catching scup, then Penn Squadron II can be your best pick. The product also features double legged aluminum oxide guides. Due to this reason, this fishing rod is also lightweight; hence it makes your fishing experience comfortable. In fact, if you conduct a whole day fishing session by using this rod even then, you won’t feel pain in your hand.
The length of this rod is 7 ft. which is ideal for fishing scup. This rod also features a stainless steel hooded reel seat that you can use to fix any powerful fishing reel. So finally, we would conclude that the price-performance ratio of Penn Squadron II is excellent. In fact, that’s the main reason for choosing Penn Squadron II at the top position.
2. Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod
This Amazon’s Choice spinning rod is known for its stylish design and solid construction. The fiberglass construction of this product makes this rod lighter. However, the manufacturer of this rod, Ugly Stik, has also used graphite in the construction of the GX2 spinning rod. Due to this reason, the rod isn’t just lightweight but also highly durable. Another reason behind its durability is its stainless steel guides.
Apart from just its durability, the product also comes with a 7-year warranty. So, in case the rod gets damaged even then, you can repair it for free and enjoy using it for a long period of time. The length of the rod is 6 ft. 6 inches. This is the main reason that makes this rod suitable for porgy fishing.
The one-piece construction of the rod makes this product sturdy. In addition, it is also essential to know that Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod is also renowned for its corrosion resistivity. These are the two main reasons that make this rod suitable for saltwater fishing. So finally, we would conclude that if you are looking for an excellent fishing rod for porgy at this price point, then it could be your best pick.
3. SHIMANO Terez TZC70M Saltwater Casting Rod
This premium fishing rod has been built with perfection. The amazing built quality of this product makes this rod suitable for saltwater fishing. In addition, it is also essential to understand that the rod also has the ability to stand the corrosiveness of a harsh environment. So, you can confidently use this rod for more than 5 years.
The rod is ideal for scup fishing because its length is 7 ft. The advanced Hi-Power X technology makes this rod powerful, as well as one of the lightest fishing rods at the same time. This rod comes with an EVA grip setting. Due to this reason, the rod will also be comfortable in your hand.
The reel seat of this rod is made of custom aluminum, and its guide type is Fuji alconite. So, overall it is fair to conclude that SHIMANO Terez TZC70M Saltwater Casting Rod is an excellent equipment that you can use for fishing porgy. The product is lightweight but still powerful. So, you can confidently use it for fishing any kind of saltwater fish, including scup.
4. TERAMAR 7′ NE MED Heavy Spinning Rod
This heavy spinning rod is known for its powerful performance. The length of the rod is 7 ft. and due to this reason, the rod is suitable for fishing scup. The rod is versatile enough to handle any type of seawater fish. So, one thing is fair to conclude here that by using this reel, you can address almost all of your saltwater fishing needs.
The product comes at a reasonable price; however, its price-performance ratio is excellent. In fact, that’s the main reason for which we always recommend anglers to opt for this rod for fishing scup.
5. SHIMANO TREVALA Spinning Rod
The final name in our list is SHIMANO TREVALA Spinning Rod, which is ideally built for saltwater fishing. This is an innovative Trevala Jigging rod that provides super speed. The manufacturer of this product SHIMANO, has engineered this rod with high carbon butt section along with a TC4 tip. The sensitivity, optimal response, and the recovery rate of the rod are excellent. These are the main reasons that make this rod suitable for saltwater fishing.
The length of the rod is 7 ft. So, overall it is fair to conclude that you can confidently use this product for catching porgies. The product is highly durable, and due to this reason, it can easily handle the harshness of the seawater. You can confidently use the rod for around 5 years without any hassle. So finally, we would conclude that this is another great fishing rod that you can choose to catch scup.
Top 5 Best Fishing Reels for Porgy
In this section, we will talk about the top five fishing reels that are suitable for catching porgy. But before we jump to that, here’s a quick round-up of our top 3 picks.
| Reels | Material | Gear Ratio | Bearings | Corrosion Resistivity | Our Overall Rating | Price |
| Penn Spinfisher VI Saltwater Spinning Reel | Full metal body | 6.2:1 | 6 (5+1 sealed stainless steel ball-bearing system) | 9.6/10 | 9.7/10 | CHECK AMAZON |
| Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel | Aluminum housing | 5.6:1 | 7 (6BB + 1RB) | 9.5/10 | 9.4/10 | CHECK AMAZON |
| SHIMANO SARAGOSA SW | XGT-7 composite material | 5.7:1 | 6 (5BB + 1RB) | 9.1/10 | 9.2/10 | CHECK AMAZON |
1. Penn Spinfisher VI Saltwater Spinning Reel
This is an excellent saltwater fishing reel that is available in eleven different models. But we always recommend anglers to opt among SSVI2500, SSVI3500, SSVI4500, or SSVI4500BLS. All the models mentioned here come with a gear ratio of 6.2:1. Due to this reason, they will improve your fishing efficiency and allow you to catch saltwater fishes like scup.
The gear system of this reel is powered by CNC Gear™ technology, and due to this reason, the product is a high performing reel. It also comes with HT-100™ carbon fiber drag washers that result in higher efficiency while fishing. The reel has a total 6 sealed stainless steel ball-bearing system. So, overall it is fair to conclude that the reel will make your fishing experience smoother.
The full metal body of the reel makes this product highly durable and empower it to fight against the harshness of the coastal environment. Finally, we would conclude that this is an excellent saltwater fishing reel that you can consider choosing for fishing porgies. Its super line spool, line capacity rings, superior spool design, and IPX5 sealed body make this product asuitable choice for catching saltwater fish.
2. Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel
This is a fantastic saltwater spinning reel that is built with high-quality aluminum housing. Due to this reason, the reel doesn’t just lightweight but also highly durable. Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel doesn’t only perform excellently but it also looks impressive. The black anodized model of this product gives the reel a premium look.
The gear ratio of the reel is 5.6:1, which is excellent for fishing porgies. One thing we can assure you for sure, if you use Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel, then your efficiency will be guaranteed. The reel has a total of 7 ball bearings. 6 among them are BB, and 1 is RB. So, if you use this reel, then your fishing experience will also be smoother.
Finally, we will talk about the max drag of the reel, which is 4.4, and it can easily handle porgies of any size. So, overall it is fair to conclude that Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel is an excellent product that you can choose to fish scup.
3. SHIMANO SARAGOSA SW
This fishing reel is powered by X-Ship technology that doesn’t just improve the durability of the gear, but in addition, it also eliminates friction between the gear and the spool shaft. This is how it enhances casting performance and allows anglers to continue casting for a long period of time. The maximum dragging capacity of this reel is 22 lbs. So, overall it is fair to conclude that the reel can easily handle almost all types of inshore fish, including porgies.
The gear ratio of this reel is 5.7:1. So, it is fair to conclude that the reel can easily take your fishing experience to the next level and help you to catch scup. It has a total of 6 bearings. 5 among them are BB, and 1 is RB. Due to this reason, the reel will make your fishing experience comfortable. So finally, we would conclude that at this price range, this reel could be your best pick.
4. Sougayilang Spinning Fishing Reel
This is a fully adjustable saltwater fishing reel that comes with 11 ball bearings. So, it is fair to conclude that if you use this reel, then your comfort and satisfaction would be guaranteed. The gear ratio of the reel is 5.2:1, which is ideally designed to improve your fishing performance and efficiency. The sleek, well designed body and astonishing line lay oscillation system are the two more selling factors of this reel.
You can use this reel for fishing with ocean boat, ocean rock fishing, fishing in lake, ocean beach fishing, fishing in the river as well as in the reservoir pond stream. So, overall it is fair to conclude that Sougayilang Spinning is a high performing and versatile fishing reel that you can use for all types of fishing. Especially when it comes to fishing porgies, Sougayilang Spinning Fishing Reel performs stand out.
5. SHIMANO Spheros SW Inshore Spinning Reel
This reel is available in five different models ranging from SP5000SW to SP20000SW. Our recommendation is SP10000SW. There are plenty of reasons for which we recommend anglers to opt for this fantastic reel. But the main reason behind its selection is its gear ratio, which is 4.9:1, which is almost ideal for catching porgies.
The maximum drag capacity of this reel is 27 lbs. and it has a total of 5 bearings. 4 among them are general ball bearings, and 1 is roller bearing. So, if you want to catch a large fish even then, this reel will come handy. But especially when it comes to catching scup, finding a match of SHIMANO Spheros SW Inshore Spinning Reel is difficult. The line retrieve of SP10000SW is 40 inches. So, if you want to catch porgies, then SHIMANO Spheros SW Inshore Spinning Reel can be your best pick.
Conclusion
There is no better way to introduce an amateur angler to the seawater fishing than to familiarize them with porgy or scup fishing. However, you will also need the best fishing rod and reel for porgy fishing. But once you have the right combo, finding porgies will be the only part left for you to do. As always, the thrill of catching them will be fast and furious.
