zac

 

The Shimano Kaibatsu rods are very good for a step above entry level and you might be able to pick one up for $400 or so second hand.

 

Use braid - 80 lb plus. I'm using 150 lb varivas, which might overkill but when you are putting a precious lure on the end and you have been casting for three days for one hook up on a decent fish (that was my land based season last year), you don't want to be busted off.

 

I use the same top water set on the rocks as the boat - I just take extra care, and I've accepted that the gear is going to get some scratching (but really this has been minimal so far).

 

Edit: I've just seen your budget of $300, which I assume is for rod and reel. I'd focus on the reel first since a robust 24 kg spinning rod such as a backbone elite will probably get you by initially.

IMHO=
 

If it was me,id get the spare spool and then get them both Top shot at the same time

Then comes the join knot for your leader= Either the FG knot or a short Pr knot...you will have some fun learning one of those

NT swivel size 1/0 with 8 or 9mm owner split rings to attach to your popper will make changing lures easier...pair of berkley split ring pliers to change them(reasonable price and work well) and your another stickbait/popper addict with a healthy bank balance needed to get your fix!

cool...The 15 kg mono would be good for poppers..Havent tried with stickbaits but i dont see why not...just braid is good for hook sets but suffix is low stretch(braid like quality) ....is the 15 kg thin? Suffix synergy is very good(low stretch)...could use 40 pound.....I used that for years......a swivel and trace about metre and a half(as long, as you can cast it ok)...say 60 to 80 pound trace........put a small bead ahead of the swivel...so you dont rip into your top guide when you retrieve.....I used this set up for years at great barrier and caught kings on cotton cordell poppers(cheap with rattles)....You wont need to learn the joining knot and you are in the game....true the trace is not very long but if you use 40 pound suffix.....you will get good capacity on the spool...have some stretch which is more forgiving on you than braid.Uni knots for joining....learn to tie ,so you can tie blindfolded!! ...easy and one of the best,

You could even use a metre and a half of flouro for the above as it wont go through the guides(due to swivel) and the extra abrasion resistance of flouro is very very good. 60 or 80 pound flouro good.

                  A much cheaper way to go and many amongst us prefer mono off the rocks anyway.

The suffix 40 pound would give you good abrasion resistance ....probably better than the braid.

Good luck