Bluefin Tuna Fishing Rod Guides

Bluefin Tuna Fishing Rod Guides - Roller or Boat Guides?

Tuna fishing rods typically were always built with roller guides. Roller guides were heavy duty and reduced line friction significantly over boat or conventional rod guides....until now.

Conventional or Boat rod guides are now heavy duty SS 316L stainless steel construction with ceramic ring inserts of either SiC or SiN, Silicon Carbide or Silicon Nitride. These 2 advanced ceramics are diamond polished smooth and very tough. Fishing line friction is significantly reduced and very close to roller guides. The ceramics also dissipate heat very well and are pretty much maintenance free but it's always a good idea to rinse the rod in fresh water after a fishing trip.

Boat rod guides like Fuji's HB series, Alps XN and Sea-Guides XRG series are some examples of these advanced rod guides with ceramic ring inserts. You do not sacrifice much using boat rod guides today. These guides are much less expensive than roller guides.

Roller guides have a slight edge in the friction arena but only when they are well maintained. If a roller guide seizes from corrosion or dirt, the line will likely break. Roller guides must be maintained.

Roller guide tip tops are more beneficial though. There is a lot of tension and friction on the rod tip top where the line changes direction. This causes rod flexation and stress and heat. Roller tip tops are "King" here. I always build Tuna Rods and Shark Rods with roller tip tops.

There are lots of stand up tuna rods with Fuji Boat Rod Guides on them from custom rod builders. They work really well and last a long time. It's hard to beat a really good boat rod guide.