your better off renting a rod if your going on a party boat because to do it right it's going to cost ya. first you need a heavy duty reel like the penn senator 113 ($100). if your jigging you need a heavy duty 7' rod. sometime you can get a combo for less at the better tackle shops. to feel the bottom better use braid or dacron line with a 80lb mono or florocarbon leader. braid is very expensive. jigs in the 10oz to 20oz sizes vary at $13-20 a piece and flys or teasers are $3-5 each. good luck and get ready for a good upper body workout.