SirSnookalot

No logs, I have a pretty good memory on the memorable fish I catch. We have 2 seasons in South Florida, saltwater and freshwater. In saltwater the conditions are different everyday, tides are different day to day and hour to hour, beach structure is constantly changing, you fish it enough you just know. Freshwater season my places I fish are the same just about every day and I use a small handful of lures, not a lot I have to remember. Whether it's fresh or salt the more time my lure is in the water the better chance I have of catching a nice fish, jotting notes or taking photos of unmemorable fish just reduces the amount of time my lure is in the water. I don't intend on taking photos anymore unless it's good fish for species and someone can snap it for me.

I'm going fishing every morning. I always do my homework before I leave the house, the moonphase is not part of that homework. Making saltwater my first venue of the day I check tides, wind direction, surf height and direction and the weather forecast. Based on that information I select my target species, location I want to fish, clothing, and rods and reels, the lures are pretty constant and I probably don't use more than 4 or 5 different ones. I don't log anything, the conditions today are never exactly what they were 365 days ago, but I have a pretty good mental log on when certain fish should be arriving. All said, probably have done better on the new moon and not the full. No bearing on what I'm doing but both the new and full moon creates faster water current and the low tide is lower and high tide is higher, this is most noticeable in November.

Dogs love to jump in the water and retrieve a top lure.

The only cheating is stopping off at the market and telling your wife you caught it.

Good set up.

Two issues to address, first of all casting distance. There are days when I'm on the jettie, could be 30 40 people, sometimes only 3 or 4. I see people casting with rods of all lengths and sizes, different sized reels and spools, different lines and both spinning and convention. Excluding the surf or 10-12' rods both conventional and spinning as they launch lures into orbit, I don't see more than a slight difference is casting distance. The stradic issue, at least for my use I'd go with 3000. The problem and this is well documented if an internet search is done, is the line roller bearing seizing up, part # rd 13269, Shimano seems to seldom have this part in bearing in stock. A recent trip to Boca Bearing and Larry told me people are coming in often to buy that bearing, as I did. That identical Shimano bearing is in the fi's and fjs and my spheros too. For some reason I've seen the problem only in stradics, 2 times on 1 reel and now it's happening on a second reel. I have done my homework on this issue and this is my theory, the bearing doesn't get wet in any way, I think salt air and humidity are the culprits, but this only my theory. I do like the stradic a lot, I think it's good enough in every category for me to say it's one of the better reels, and nothing IMO has a better line management. I don't believe too many problems will arise for freshwater use and as a light inshore reel it's pretty darn good, but somewhere down the line I expect a problem or 2, most are fairly minor. I do have a boat mate with a stradic 6000 for offshore, for that application it's not fairing too well, the sargosa I believe is better built for that use.

I do pretty much the same thing. Having my palm the spool serves 3 functions for me, gives me some control on my casts, applying pressure with my palm with increases without having to make a manual adjustment. Lastly is an isolated incident only happens on 1 reel brand and it's happened on each of 3 sizes I own. Using braid in windy weather if I'm not careful the braid can get blown underneath the spool and wrap around the spindle, it's happened quite a few times. Letting the line feed out thru my fingers as I'm casting has eliminated the problem.

I don't use mono backing, I go with straight braid. I do however add line when needed and the braid that's already on the spool is my backing so to speak. But that's only a ploy I use for freshwater and some inshore species. When I'm targeting fish that I know have a good possibilty of 40-50# and more it's a complete respool with fresh line, no adding line, no backing, no joining knots. I see nothing wrong with backing I just prefer not to use it, that said if the backing remains in the reel spool, casting distance isn't affected.

I gave an opinion in another thread, I'll expand a bit more. Stripers on average are probably 6-8# ,not that you couldn't handle them on your gear, but there is the potential of much larger fish, IMO you really need heavier saltwater gear. I would probably use 7'6 or 8' mh or heavy inshore rod with a 4000-6000 or 8000 reel for 20-40# fish, I favor spinning over b/c. I have caught not only stripers but many other species in that weight range on the gear I mentioned. Just take your time, don't panic, and stay calm.

Main difference between casting and trolling, you cast to a specific spot and you troll to cover more water. As kid at our cottage I trolled a lure behind the boat as I was rowing, not only did I catch a lot of fish it was a nice workout too. I only troll offshore now and I love it. Either I'm trolling with the engine looking for wahoo, tuna or sails, having one on the line is anything but boring. As we are drifting with live or cut bait I'll have a second rod with a sling jig on as well, slow drift about 2.5 mph it really produces some nice fish.

Yep.............but I'd be looking elsewhere too. Stradics have the reputation in saltwater use for the bearings going bad, I know from personal experience and have read it many times on the internet from other users. The fj uses the identical bearings as the fi and have read reports for the same issues. It's a great reel, but something always seems to go wrong with them, they just are not that durable and Shimano seems to be out of stock alot on many of their parts. If Shimano is your choice take a look at spheros 3000 which I own as well. Built very durable, 22 max drag compared to 15 and works just as well, in fairness the stradic is smoother. Please do not get confused with a saltwater approved reel and real saltwater reel, there is a difference. At least in my part of Florida you don't see to many stradics, you see spheros, Penn battles or spinfishers. I recently bought a Quantum cabo 40 and just love it. I have quite a few 4000 size reels, I do prefer that size. Not saying don't buy the reel, but look at other options, Fin Nor has been getting some write ups, as well as the Daiwa lexa.

End of May I spent a couple weeks in Florida with relatives. One day we went to a tidal creek. Had a salt water 3/4 oz. spoon tied to 40# Sufix Performance spooled on a Gen 1 STX-L using a Daiwa Jupiter 7' MHF rod. This combo made some pretty long casts across the wind, and way out there with the wind behind me. If I had a Moderate or Med-Fast action rod with me, the casts more than likely would have been even further. Assuming you were using Krocodile or flutter spoon the flat wider profile can get caught in the wind, a diamond jig, kastmaster or tsunami is going to cast further in the same conditions. The lure type has lot to do with distance and accuracy. When it's windy I have Tsunami on and when it's calm it's a Krocodile.

I only do spinning, most of my freshwater casting is 6'6 or 7' rod, much of it is 1 handed side arm, under arm flips and back hand, these combos are pretty light and easy to cast but not as accurate as I could be. My 7, 7'6 and 8' inshore rods, all 2 handed casts and I'm real accurate. I think the type of lure has a lot to do with it, a thinner profile with less air resistance IMO is more accurate and more distance.

Use what you have, but I probably would recommend something else. Haven't said whether the rod is spinning or casting, or if boat or shore fishing, bait, lures or trolling. IMO a med rod is totally out, mh is fine but I'd be using one with a max lure weight 1.5-2 oz rated at 20 or 25# line. Fishing up at Montauk from shore I saw most using 8-12' mh-hvy rods, 2-4 oz lures and they love Van Staals. My charter Capt buddy in Cape May, N.J. (Capt Norm Brook, Darlynmarlyn charters), 7' mh and heavy rods and Penn spinners, 4500-6500.

No monsters here in Delray yet, can only muster up a 2 pounder, no fear they shall be hitting soon enough. I have caught quite a few peacocks in Delray this past year but they are not easy to find, local knowledge is key. Give ya a little peacock tip, as well as bass, mayans, oscars, bluegils, moonfish, jacks, blue runners, spanish and cero mackerel, snook and the list doesn't end...........crappie jig. Without a doubt one of the most prolific baits out there and at .15 a piece what a bargain to catch 20 or more fish in a short outing. I up it a tad and use a bullet head pompano jig with a chrome head, either 1/4 or 1/2 oz, by Bomber. I've been catching about 15 runners each day using them, if you don't think a blue runner gives a fight I suggest you try one out, great fun.

I own that set up too, I prefer the 7 footer for bass fishing. Every inshore combo I own the rod lure max limit is constantly exceeded, nothing too unusual here. I could easily get by with 1 inshore outfit too, 7'6 mh 10/20 rod, 4000 reel and 20# braid, been throwing 1.5 oz spoons and jigs for the last 10 years on it, throw 1/4 oz just as easy.

With all the various rods already in service and just about every brand used, I think the test has been given on BR alone. Looks to be the overwhelming opinion that braid causes no groove problems, at least for rods aren't older ones.

I pretty much do that now and when I'm done I can take that same rod and reel and go snook fishing at the ocean. 7' med 8/17 spinning with a 35 supreme, it was my snook outfit before I started using it for freshwater.

By your own admission you have caught a lot fish, just not doing it now. Probably boils down to the way you are setting the hook. Would a different rod be more beneficial, absolutely ! That said you have already proved you can do it with your present gear, if you stay with what you are using it's a matter or refining your technique. I predict a 5 pounder for you in the next week.

Nice catch..........There is no such thing as the wrong fish if you are recreational fishing. Many off beat fish give us a better fight than our intended target, some are good table fare and others can be cut up for bait. I call just about all fish useful and very few if any are "trash", IMO rough fish is more appropriate term.

So far no problem in using lead in Florida. I only use lead for 2 applications. For bucktails I would not want to see the overall size reduced, if a tungsten jig or jig head was made with same dimensions and if I had to buy it I would with no qualms. The only other time I use lead is bait fishing primarily offshore, for that application the actual size of a weight isn't relevant. My local shop sells lead (other terminal tackle too) by the piece, not packaged, for example a 1 oz. egg weight is .25 or about $4.00 lb, considerably cheaper than packaged.

I only used the 10# slick for about an hour and caught 3 small bass on a top lure, can't give much of a report on that. I felt my improved clinch know was rock solid, casting distance was not any different than original PP, the line was smooth and quiet. Using it on spinning gear time will tell how line twist will effect it, from my own experience the easier I cast braid the less wind knots, I try not to snap cast and when I do I seem to pay the price. I bought the line @ DSG and they only had 150 yd spools, I prefer buying 300, even more so yesterday as I wanted to respool a small saltwater reel and test it today.

Without out a doubt, if any place is more problematic to equipment than a beach, I don't know what it is. Sand is everywhere, salt air, and seaweed almost always has sand or some grit in it. No problem with any kind of braid with any kind of guide insert.

I've many used different brands but original power pro is by far my most used. Never a grooving problem with any of them, from 10# to 30. I tried 10# pp silk today, seemed very decent, give it some time for an opinion.

If I were fishing with $60 lures I'd be using wire for sure. The lure's action will not be affected if you put a loop while crimping or looping piano wire. The tyable wires sound like a good idea, I have yet to try them, bit pricey but what's a few bucks to save a $60 lure. I would not use f/c leader, it's different than f/c mainline, the knots don't seem to hold as well and hasn't been proven to me that I get more strikes even fishing for species much more line shy than bass. I use 40# leaders every single day, toothy critters cut thru it likes it's butter, 60 or 80# for the objective of catching a bass sounds pretty absurd. IMO wire seems most sensible to protect a $60 bait. Earlier I said I don't use wire, well I do only in making my barracuda tubes, but when I'm casting lures for them I use mono leaders, and I do get cut off , the smaller ones have the sharper teeth and spaced closer together, more of chance of a cut off.