Is this too specific?

[ronan]

fark man do you want to use it for offshore tuna as well

[Vekta]

fark man do you want to use it for offshore tuna as well

*throws hook with squid strip on it*

It's like asking a question...

Only the water can answer. Water, water past the seawall...what likes squid strips most of all?

[ronan]

odd bloke

[Kimtown]

odd bloke

Bit of uniqueness never hurt anyone. Reminds me of Bugatti

[Kenle]

I miss the bugs

[Sebb]

odd bloke

Bit of uniqueness never hurt anyone. Reminds me of Bugatti

I think you nailed it, you said what some people got in their head.
I wonder how he's doing.

[Sebb]

There isn't a lot of 8ft rod for what you want, maybe because there isn't enough demand for it, or it doesn't matter much because 9ft rods can do the job.

[Vekta]

odd bloke

Bit of uniqueness never hurt anyone. Reminds me of Bugatti

I think you nailed it, you said what some people got in their head.
I wonder how he's doing.

The point being (as light heartedly...and oddly... as I could put it) this setup would be made in such a way that I could adapt it to a very wide variety of things just by changing one or two components. I might decide to only take one of my still-new reels with me to AU. I already explored and noted the many options I would have if I took my Shimano 8000. That one was fairly easy. The 4000 I had a more specific purpose for. The 8 foot rod was key.

Based on what I have read and watched on the "bread and butter species" it shouldn't be too difficult. Granted, the lightest and heaviest ends of the spectrum won't be ideal. The 8 foot rod specification is a quality of life and min-maxing decision on my part. Short enough to not feel awkward in most freshwater situations but still long enough that I could do everything I reasonably want to in Salt with the correct leader and terminal tackle.

All that being said, I did receive very useful information from this thread. I have added it to my notes.