This guide addresses medium heavy to heavy spinning fishing gear a fisherman might use for freshwater catfish, muskies, or pike or for saltwater fishing for cunner and tautog, pier fishing for pollack and flounder, estuary-fishing for Pacific salmon, and boat-fishing for some species of rockfish and greenling.

A seven, eight, or nine foot rod by Stafford, Eagle Claw (such as the Starfire Steelhead line), Zebco (such as the Pro Staff or Rhino series), Silstar/ Pinnacle, Shakespeare's Ugly Stick offerings, Berkley's Cherrywood Glass line, Tica's Streamaster line, or rods by Daiwa intended for surf-fishing or salmon are all great selections for pursuing larger quarry. These manufacturers' rods are all common offerings on Ebay. When matched with appropriate line, be it monofilament, braided, or fluorocarbon, one of these models should certainly fare well against any of the above-mentioned predators.

I personally prefer to use monofilament ranging from 10 to 20 pound test, while some fisherman prefer to use heavier. I sometimes feel impeded by the stiffness of heavier lines, and if you don't plan on horsing in your catch, then no heavier line should be necessary--granted you aren't facing extensive sources of abrasion, such as barnacles, pier or bridge pilings,  or rock surfaces.

Good reels for this purpose are built by manufacturers such as Pelagic (available on Ebay, usually from Australian sellers--I prefer the Pelagic Z-6500), Tica, DAM Quick, Shimano (I have used a large Shimano AX for almost twenty years), Ryobi, and Mitchell (such as their Orca line). Penn seems to almost target their spinning reel offerings to fishermen who target larger predatory species, and Daiwa also has an extensive line of surf-fishing and bank or pier fishing. All are competant when you find yourself chasing these hard-fighting fish.

If you opt to use a braided line, it is helpful to carry a tube of Krazy Glue with you to apply to your knots. Braids are infamous for being weak at the knots (well, weaker), and the glue adds strength to this juncture. It might just give you an edge in landing your catch. I'll say this just once: when it comes to purchasing new fishing line (always purchase it new in a sealed box), purchase it from a dealer who has a high turnover of merchandise. Last year's line just isn't desirable. Lines fatigue as they age, even on their original spool. Never purchase old line in hopes of fishing with your bargain. You'll regret it, as it loses its strength. Old line is a recipe for lost fish and endless snarls.

Whether you are pitching large lures, like Pixie Spoons for Chinook salmon or large jigging plastics for black and China rockfish or live bait, such as hefty-sized shiners for muskies, pike, or flathead and blue catfish or cut-bait for pollack or flounder, these combinations should serve you well in your pursuits. I have used all of the above-mentioned equipment for the species detailed--with a great deal of success.

For catfish, I prefer to use large shiners, chubs, or suckers (live or dead) rigged with heavy weight and fish them close to or on the bottom. Adding scent is helpful. These baits work well when used with a large bobber for muskies and pike.

Large Rapala, Jittersticks, Grandma's Lures, Yo Zuri Minnows or flex-Minnows, bucktail jigs, and spinner baits are all excellent for muskies and pike. These lures are all commonly available on Ebay. I've used Storm's Wildeye (jig/ swimbait) immitations for these species (in goby, perch, sunfish and crappie, pike, goldfish, and the two offered trout patterns). I have even used two patterns intended for saltwater species, with a degree of success on members of the pike family ( mackeral and sardine).

Baits for salmon inclued Blue Fox's Pixie Spoons, Krocodile Spoons, Acme Cleos, and salmon egg sacks. Ebay is also a good place to look for these spoons. A vinyl squid used as a skirt over the spoon's treble hook is a fish-catching addition. I've even nabbed flounder on a Krokodile with a squid skirt, where the two sepcies' habitats overlapped.

Rockfish and greenling are fond of larger soft plastics, such as twist-tail grubs and shrimp immitations in white, yellow, and chartreuse. Sea-Sky lures, available from several sellers, produce some minnow/ shad immitations in colors that should work quite well. Also, several varieties of Storm's "Wild Eye" line should work well in this application. These are likewise offered by several sellers. DOA lures "Tough Guy" and  other swimbait/ jig offerings also work well.

Pollack will bite on bucktail jigs, as will flounder--provided they are tipped with either scallop-rings, clams, or herring.

I hope this guide has been helpful to the Ebay-shopping fisherman. Many sellers offer the products mentioned, and I have found them to be either excellent producers or to hold up well in the rigorous pursuit of these tough species.