SirSnookalot

Senko is only soft plastic, I could bite thru one, a pike's teeth are much sharper than mine.

I do have a modern b/c, an Avet mxj, no question it's way more refined than anything I had over 50 years ago. On occasion I will mount it on a 10' rod and do some surf or pier casting using a diamond jig and it's fun for a change of pace. It is different than a low profile b/c, no level wind and lever drag, but easy to master. I do dislike the rod torque with a larger fish on, and the operation is not near as comfortable as comparable spinning for me. I can break up my fishing into 2 basic categories, inshore saltwater (surf, jetties, flats from a boat) and freshwater (LMB, peacock bass and snakeheads, there are as many similarities as differences in the two. I just love spinning, doing it for over 60 years I'm proficient enough to put a lure where I choose it to be. I find heavy vegetation not to be an insurmountable obstacle that would require me to switch to 50 # line and a heavy rod with a b/c to use for bass fishing. Thanks all the same, but I'm sticking with spinning.

My fishing day always starts before sunrise, I can't see any kind of line in the dark. It's all feel then, but the size and type of fish remove any doubt whether you have had a strike or not, you'll know it. I don't think the fish care one way or the other about being spooked by the line, if one needs to see it by all means use hi viz, I use moss green all the time. IMO when fish are feeding it's pretty easy to catch them, when they aren't feeding the day can become very long, I really do not read much more into it than that. Whatever the species is, there are certain windows of opporunity when the chances are greatly increased, sunrise or sunset, bait appearing, water clarity and so on. When the conditions change I change my target species, I try not to stick with a dead bite.

Pretty much right on ! When we are fishing a sea wall or 8' jettie we can lift them from a sea wall or in the case of jettie we don't lift or swing, we "spring" them using a trampolene effect. I probably will not spring or lift with a fish over 8# or so. First of all the technique is important, secondly the rod being used, some of my less beefier rods have more of a spring effect and it makes the task easier, all my rods are graphite. This tatic is more difficult from a boat, you are too close to the water to get a good spring. Species like snook or redfish we just grab the tail and bring them into the boat, they are pretty much spent and are easy to handle. Some of the more robust fish are handled (providing it's C & R, we gaff keepers) by picking them by the leader, the swivel can act as sort of a handle to grab.

Peacocks are different than LMB in the way the chase a lure, most of the time they don't give up until they are hooked. I would compare them in that respect more to a jack crevalle, they fight similar too with constant headshaking, you always know when you have either species on the line. Whether I'm inshore fishing, bass or peacocks in freshwater I'm always looking for signs of bait, fish, and birds working, so for me sight casting plays a big part in my fishing. I catch more peas in the winter for the simple fact that's pretty much the only time I fish for them. I do not enjoy the humidity and insects in the summer, I keep my freshwater fishing to local spots and short outings. I keep busy fishing for other species that interest me.

No, caught it last November, today was blue runners.

Black xrap

No better, no worse.

In the early 50's I was beginner and that's what we learned on, it wasn't all that hard. Are modern day b/c more difficult ? If I can put my lure where I want it to be, handle fish of all sizes, species and locations with the comfort I like, I'm sticking with what I'm using.

Multiple waters mean different species as well, a bucktail jig catches any predatory fish in any body of water.

Never breaking a rod I've yet to use anyone's customer service, but I've used Pure Fishing for reels both warranty and non warranty. One word describes the experience.....Excellent. Quantum offers 48 hour turnaround time for warranty freshwater reels and 24 hour for saltwater.

An opinion. I was using a b/c back in the early 50's, long before the internet and youtube, and before I used spinning gear or a fly rod. Nothing overly complicated just a reel and rod.

I've been leery my local peacock bass spot seeing a few dead snakes there. 2 weeks a live moc was about 2' from me, never going to go there again.

I would agree about checking with the game and fish authority, in Florida I can check county or city parks on their web sites. Sometimes using the street view feature on google maps can indicate if there is shore access.

One difference in the stradic fj as compared to the fi is a sizing issue, which IMO has no bearing on the performance. The older fi 4000 and 5000 were 2 separate reels, the 5000 being heavier and more max drag. The 4000 and 5000 FJ is the same reel except for more line capacity, same drag and weight. I do like all my reels, the stradics I own are no exception, they perform well. I did buy something other than a stradic fj recently as I found something that fit my purpose a bit better. I bought a reel with an excellent 30# max drag on a 14 oz frame, the 6000 fj weighs in at 20 oz, I didn't want that kind of weight. For the future, and as much as I dislike Shimano service, it will probably be stradics for my inshore fishing and a sahara for my freshwater, I'm getting ready 2 replace a couple of inshore reels.

I use an improved clinch on my braid, for saltwater I give it a second wrap and it holds like weld. They do make singeing tools but a any disposable lighter puts the same bead on it, it's S.O P. for me, works well on mono lines too.

My family and I went to this wonderful Latin restaurant last night in downtown Delray. I noticed they had South American salmon on the menu, never realized those fish were down there. My wife ordered it, said it was outstanding, I had the churrasco. Cabana's in Delray will see me again.

I might try it before or after the fall mullet run.

Reading this nonsense makes even my hair hurt. There are so many people that are far from beginners that use nothing but spinning gear, some on this site and can put that lure wherever they want it to be. I don't think there is any need to repost some the pics of the 20, 30 or 100# fish that have been caught on spinning. Nearly every anti spinning comment can easily be debated and people that use nothing but spinning do not constantly have the problems described. One problem not encountered are backlashes and windknots are rare, if you know what you are doing. It could be said spinning is for the more advanced fishermen , we are not dragging in 5# fish with 65# braided line.

The jury seems to be out on canned tuna. Tuna steaks are high in mercury content and not recommended eating it too often, canned tuna has less mercury.

I'm guessing the fish are more like 5# not 15, so I'm not going, lol but this is the place. The canal behind Weston elementary school ( there are about 6 schools), the one with no fence for the parking lot. That's a long way to drive when I don't the exact school.

Being primarily a sw fisherman I know exactly what I'd be taking and what to use. Saltwater fishing is not the same every where, I have no credentials in that area of the gulf. I might suggest doing an internet search as what the " hot" bite is now, what area fishermen are using.

Mostly C & R, but if I catch a legal grouper or dolphin it's coming home with me. My wife does not like snook, she's salmon eater and we don't have them here. Around here one of the most popular eating fish are barracuda, they are terrific on the plate, being as slimy, stinky fish I can think of, I give them away, there is always a line up behind me begging for them.

You can always use treble covers, but removing the lures altogether will insure they don't hang up, plus it's a not a bad idea for a fresh new knot for your outing. I don't use the hook keeper on the rod, I just put the hook on the foot of the guide.

Of course I'll be fishing. We have had some nice conditions been catching 30-40" fish on med spinning rods, a really nice battle, hopefully the weather and water holds up, if not I'll get skunked for sure.