I agree with what was said above.
What you have will handle most soupies and 7's fine.
My gear has really only been tested by big bats, juvie whites (which you will see in malibu) and one huge male sevengill.
You're wise to start with the Leo's and bats, mainly to get used to handling big game fish once you get them in the wash. But you really never know what's gonna bite so it's good to be prepared.
Get a tail rope. A lot of us joke about using them, but if you've never grabbed a pissed off sevengill by the tail, you'll be surprised by how agile and aggressive they can be trying to get a bite of you.
Like Eric said, save your money until you can get what you really want.
If you get the right rod, and need a low budget casting reel, give me a shout. I can put together a conventional reel for pretty cheap that will work well until you can afford the Fathom, Avet, or whatever you decide on. I like the lever drags like Jeremy too, but you need to know how to use them or you can do some damage to them. Star drags are bullet proof for the most part. I'm not saying the Lethal isn't a good reel, but there's better ones for this type of fishing.
Another thing to know (if you don't already) is that casting a conventional takes some practice. Use the spinners for fishing until you get comfortable with the conventional at the park or you'll spend a lot of fishing time picking out backlash.
Good luck and post up your reports. Even if you get skunked, we'll be able to help with tips and tricks to get you on them. I think it took me a year before I got my first 7, but it was worth it.
