well my personal best is 55 to 60 lbs caught it at beach but it was a miror carp . but i use 7.5 foot rods with 6600 abu gacia baitcasters . and i use 17 lb line nothin else and 2 hooks number 4 size . and 3 inch leaders . with 3/4 ounce barrel sinkers. and dough bait pack bait whatever you want to call the junk lol we went to the beach this year and i caught a 45 out of the same lake i caught my 55 out of . but it dont matter if they 5 lbs or 50 lbs they all put up a great fight