>>571081If it were a strictly bottom fishing reel, I would recomend a freshwater baitcaster with a flipping switch, spooled with 15-20llb braid. However since youll want to be fishing for blues, and casting, you'll probably want a spinning reel.
I love my penn fierce, and would recommend any penn reel that you are able to afford. even their cheaper "pursuit II" is really nice, and the penn battle is even nicer.
For fluke I like using light tackle so I went with a size 3000, but I could see going larger for bluefish. Although ive had no problem casting into schools of smaller blues with the 3000.
Ideally, id bring two rods. One with a baitcaster, one with a spinning reel.
I use an okuma stratus v baitcaster spooled with 20lb power pro on my shimano trevala mediim light jigging rod. My backup is a cheap okuma 7ft medium rod rated for 1-1/2oz with a penn fierce 3000 spooles with 20lb braid.
I rig one with my bucktail/bottom rig and the spinning rod gets a diamond jig, bucktail, plug w/e. So when I see the blues or stripers blowing up the surface I can just grab it and be ready.
I live on the sound so, holla if you have any other questions.
