SirSnookalot

I'd put my money on the oriental with ladle.

Off the top of my head I can think of 1 spoon that always goes 360 degrees and that's a drone spoon, I don't see it being used too much anymore. I don't find a loopknot to be weak at all, it's the predominate lure knot with saltwater anglers, at least in my part of the world. It's knot I use every single day, with the exception of jigs and jig heads, even my spoons get a loopknots here. The only negative to a loopknot is a front treble can get hung up in the loop once in a while. Snaps are not as popular in saltwater (some people do use them) as they are in fresh, we generally do not change lures as often, tying a fresh knot for a lure change isn't a big deal.

Marine weather and tide chart, but I do my due diligence before heading out. I do have an app in case I catch a species I'm not familiar with. I don't like taking the time for my lure to be out of the water.

BPS has about as wide a selection as anyplace I have been, but I find it more convenient to buy on line (doesn't have to be BPS) and not have to drive an hour each way. I wear long sleeve t shirts a lot, I'm particular on the ones I prefer both for fit and quality and not the logo, for me it's Penn. I only wear cotton, even the newest wicking materials are too hot for me. http://purefishinggear.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=6

I personally do not use F/C leaders anymore, but many people do. With the tackle you are bringing snook, bonefish, redfish, triple tail, trout and juvenile tarpon are good fish to target, some shark too. I don't think there is enough rod and reel for a 100+ tarpon, be fun to hook one but the chances of getting it boatside IMO are slim. With a tarpon you need that hook buried, their jaw is rock hard, most tarpon are lost within a few jumps. I've had tarpon on that I believe may have been about 75# with a 4000 spinner, the fish wins almost everytime.

Quite often it is a random catch, especially when using cut bait. We do "target" offshore, live bait with kite or balloon is popular among sailfishers and trolling at speed (8-14 knots) is a good method for wahoo, kingfish and billfish, they are extremely fast swimming fish. I spend a large portion of my time fishing inshore, I'm always trying to target a certain species. There are some basic factors to use as a rule of thumb, tide and wind direction, surf height, water clarity and so on. For the most part fish here are not ambush predators like a LMB, even snook move around to some extent. Many of our species just swim around looking for bait, covering large areas of water, becomes a matter of what mother nature is bringing in. One day it can be jacks, another day mackerel, and in the winter like now it can be no fish.

Actually picked it up from saltwater guides. Also pulling a knot tight with a pliers or hook attached to an immovable object, never saw anyone concerned with stretch aka "burn".

I would be willing to bet most people when they pick up a freshwater reel the first thing they do is turn the handle to check smoothness. I'd almost be willing to bet that smoothness is the major determining factor. IMO Quantums are not the smoothest, I think they need to be broken in. I do believe they make a rock solid reel and I feel the drags are outstanding. I have many brands of spinning reels, I like what I consider the right reel for job at hand. I have 2 Cabos, just love them, they are not as smooth as others I own. For some other types of fishing I will use a reel I feel is smoother and better suited. I do feel there is more to a reel than just smoothness. I'm not a one brand fits all kind of guy.

Rinse my saltwater rods with water.

I don't know what you have in the way of spinning I would suggest a reel with line capacity, I'm also not a kayker but I have caught every fish that you mentioned. In my area I'd suggest going bass fishing, there isn't much going on here, but in the keys you should do ok. I'd use live shrimp or crabs for bonefish and permit, braided line mono or f/c leader, alberto knot with a circle hook. Long casts are important, they are very skittish fish, and can strip a mile of line out. For snook, trout and tarpon, fluke on a jig head, bucktail jigs, hard lures and spoons, of all the tarpon I've caught I never got one on a spoon, don't know why. Top waters can be fun too, I don't think you need much else. I would be aware of this taken off the FWC site People will be allowed to temporarily possess a tarpon for photography, measurement of length and girth and scientific sampling, with the stipulation that tarpon more than 40 inches must remain in the water.

Me no. My former business partner and still my very close friend was a tournament martial arts combatant, I have seen his trophies and plaques. Now we are 68 yo old, but back in in his prime he stood 6'4, 210# big boned and a large frame. After Viet Nam (which he never discusses) he did some instruction for the Detroit Police dept. I have never seen him lose his temper. As things would have it I had a surprise visit from him a few weeks ago, he was doing some kicks, it was lighting fast and I was really impressed considering his age. He still works out hard, weight is only 230#, I wouldn't want to be the guy that ticks him off.

I actually do have a scale, 2 in fact. I've yet to use them, don't like carrying one. If someone near me has a scale and I've caught a really nice fish, sure I'm curious.

I read about the 18 footer on Yahoo news, the article mentioned that 150,000 pythons are believed to be in the Glades.

I've been toying with the idea of getting a new inshore outfit. I'm having a very hard time justifying as all my equipment is working perfectly. One day I want something new, the next day I ask myself what the hell do I need it for.

I may tie my knots more than once to get them perfect, but once it's tied failure is something that seldom occurs. I use only 3 knots, for mono and copoly an ordinary clinch, braid gets a double wrap improved clinch and for my lures it's a loopknot. I always use a leader and I use the lure as comes out of the box, I either leave the split ring on I don't put one on if it came without. I used to add a swivel to my spoons, I've given that up.

I wasn't trying to be political nor do I intend on going in that direction. The facts are plain and simple, we have plenty of freedom here and I for one appreciate it. I love NY and NYC, bear in mind my background is urban, I like Broadway, I like food, I like fashion, I like museums and art. I like fishing too and New York offers some of the best, Montauk on Long Island is a wonderful saltwater fishery and they is plenty of excellent freshwater fishing in the state too.

The only noises that bother me are from outside sources like landscapers with their equipment. I do understand they are not there to bother me but to earn a living and they are just doing their job, usually gone in a few minutes and all is well again. I do not like the sound of cast nets, music and bait fishermen, I generally remove myself and go to another location. A confrontation isn't worth the hassle and where some of these people are inconsiderate, they aren't breaking any laws.

Free America? Last I checked I was free to move about as I wished without the need of "papers", free to live were I choose, free to have the opportunity to get educated, free to choose my career, free to do about anything I care to. I have freedoms that are the *** of the world, and people are no longer required give of themselves to defend those freedoms. Opportunities are limitless here, as Woody Allen put it 80% of life is just showing up. People from all over the world want to come here for opportunity and freedom that just don't exist everyplace. Personally I'm pretty happy I was born here and not a 3 rd world country or behind the iron curtain. If I thought my freedoms were lacking, I'd be looking elsewhere to live. Amazing that's one of our freedoms too, no one is forcing you to stay. The U.S.A...............great place to be.

wasn't a pop up screen

I figured a guy like you would be doing hand to hand combat with that snake.

Supreme 25.........light Redbone, bass Supreme 30.........M/L Clarus, bass Supreme 35.........Med Calico Jack, bass and snook Arbor 50...............MH Quantum Blue Runner, barracuda Pfluegers, the most bullet free reels I have ever owned, none of them have ever needed service. I'd be a buyer as long as they stay with a paddle knob, do not like the knobs on supreme xt and patriarch, they are out of consideration for the time being.

He can't afford a new computer? On a windows side note we had a strange screen appear on win 7 lap top yesterday. The screen went white with big letters saying CLOSE with a large X. I'm sorry I didn't a pic to submit to MSFT as I could find nothing online to indicate what went wrong. Luckily a system restore put the lap top back where it should be, ran virus scan and no threats were found.

IMO any of the major brands should perform at about the same level. If I were looking for a reel I'd be asking myself some questions to help me determine my purchase. 1. Do I like the way the reel looks 2. What weight am I looking for 3. How does it feel on my rod 4. Do I prefer a round knob or paddle 5. Is IPT and line capacity issues of concern. 6. Does aluminum, magnesium, composite or graphite matter. 7. Customer service, both manufacturer and vendor. 8. If possible see it in person. There is most likely a reel in your price range that will fit these criteria.

Don't really have a favorite but I do buy more PP than anything else. I use Fins every now and then, works as well as anything else.

My first car was a 54' Ford with holes in the floorboard, doors wired to keep them flying open on a turn, 3 on the column, bought in 1961 for $45.00, I over paid........lol. Lasted about 6 months, broken down on the Eway, tapped on the glass carbuerator float, it broke, took the plates off and hitched hike home, last I ever saw of it.