Hi ya Hitch.

Could this gear you suggested handle a 20 pound snap? I just checked online and i have seen the reel for about  $270 - 300 and the rod was about $120ish. Im planning to go to Norcross or FCO next week do you think there would be  Shimano Baitrunner 4000 already in a combo?

prob more 20 pounder plus snaps been caught in nz with a 6500 baitrunner than any other reel i would bet ??  every one should have at least 1 in there quiver , we often have 3 or 4 straylined out the back of the berley trail and get the moochers on em . the penn 9500 and 8500 are just as good to and a bit cheaper have seen em for 160 ish lately , seen me mate wrestle and subdue a 30 kg king on one at ranfurly bank was absolutly screaming and took 35 mins and quite a bit of luck but held together to win the scrap .

there are plenty of nice Shimano gears on T/M as your link suggests, A 2nd hand baitrunner would suit you well, my only suggestion is you have it serviced and you are good to go, cosmetics etc dont mean anything to the fish but you dont want to buy one thats been dragged up the road, so if you go this way I may also suggest you get hold of Scuzzymoto on these boards, he is an importer and I am hearing some amazing things about his rods, yes it would be nice to buy all brand new but beggers cant be choosers and like I said the fish wont know.