SirSnookalot

If I were fishing a beach I could go with 15# braid and a little lighter set up, 7'6" rod med 8/17 rod and 4000 spinning reel. If a sea wall or jettie I'd jump up to 20# braid and mh 10/20 rod, 4000 reel, 20# braid. I no longer use F/C line or leader, have never seen any advantage to it, my catch and land rate is identical. My rule of thumb is double the line, 15#line = 30# leader and 20# line = 40# leader, I cut mine from Ande or Big Game, I keep them about 2'. I make a long flowing movement rather than a snap cast, I do get more distance with less effort by letting the rod load up. I am not an expert regarding your local species, but in general work the trough. The trough (aka the swash) is the first few sets of waves off the shoreline.

Fishing off the beach there isn't much water column to worry about. In my area it's probably a 100yds until you hit 8-10 ft of water. I have no qualms about using a top lure in 2-3' surf as long as I can control it with the wind, the fish will come and get it.

If the old shakeperes were red I had 2 of them way back in the day, had the mitchell too. Weren't they called mitchel garcia then?

I don't even look at rods and reels unless I'm in the market. I take my wife to Ft Laud airport 3 times a year, BPS is a couple of miles away. That's 6 chances to stop in and I probably go no more than 2, if I don't need something I don't bother with it.

I went into DSG yesterday to look for 1 item, sale or not. They didn't have it, so I left and looked at nothing else, I don't get side tracked, probably why I don't spend much on stuff I don't need or want.

I do my best to make hook removal as clean as possible, but it isn't always possible. As said it's a blood sport, I don't dwell a badly hooked fish for very long.

Scared, never...........surprised many times. Only time I was a bit nervous was catching a bleeder like a bonita, within seconds a group of 6-8 bull sharks circling the boat. That's a good time not to grab the fishes tail to pull it in.......lol.

I have to chime in on this one. I use swivels for everything, I only tie line to leader when fishing for spanish mackerel, if you ever caught one you would know why. The most import thing about a swivel is making sure it isn't too small to go thru the top eye on your rod. For years I was using crane swivels #7 and #5 (a barrel swivel is different), I now use BB swivels #2 and #4. The jury is out but I've recently gone to the Chinese BB swivels, very cheap and with some very high tests, but not enough time and fish caught to recommend them. Their numbers run different, I just bought 100 #3, test about 90lb, I'll use those for snook ,tarpon and bass, I have #2 @ 130lb test for rods with a bigger top eye, I'm using those offshore. The actual knot is not the important issue, tying correctly what ever knot you choose is critical, a properly tied knot will hold. All I use is an improved clinch for braid and an ordinary clinch for leader attachment, lures get a double wrap loop knot. My lines as far as braid goes, are 10# for bass, 15 or 20# for snook and tarpon and 30# offshore, I have 100% confidence in these set ups. If you are not comfortable with these knots, try the palomar, it's ok too. Just to clarify I don't fish for big tarpon, only juveniles and they run 10-50#. I match the swivel to the rod, not the fish.

You didn't catch much simply because in our part of Florida there isn't much happening yet. As far as an east wind goes, that's when fishing is at it's best, flat water and west wind are the least desirable conditions. Distance is not always an important issue from the surf in South Florida, most fish are caught in the trough, casting parallel to the shoreline in the first and second trough is a good place to find fish. There are times when fish may be busting a ways out, for those times I throw a thin profile lure like a diamond jig, you would be surprised by the distance into the wind you get. Everything other than spoon and a bucktail is pure window dressing, I just use them for a change of pace. All is needed are those 2 lures, that doesn't mean a 25Lb jack busting a top lure isn't fun......lol. I do use DOA jerk shads on a 1/4 oz jig head as an important part of my arsenal for snook and tarpon (have no teeth and inhale a bait similar to a bass), but anything else just rips them to shreds. Let me give you a tip on spanish mackerel, always use a piece of piano wire and no swivel on your leader, gotchas and spoons are good but the best bait is a crappie jig (10 at Walmart for $1.50) with a split shot.

If using a popper or a spook, no......buzzbait yes. I wouldn't use a 7' heavy rod unless my lure weight required it, for me it would not be a consideration for freshwater.

I sight cast a lot, pay no attention to colors, except to be color coordinated in case an 18 year old in a bikini is walking by, I'd rather catch her.

I agree with Fishes in trees that a shorter rod, especially with a short rear butt is easier to work a top water lure, my 6'6 rods work exceedingly well for me. In defense of a longer rod, it's just a matter of getting used to it, I love working a 7'6 rod with a topwater bait in the surf, just one of my most favorite things to do, all my rods (I only use spinning) would be considered all purpose.

I don't pit one reel against another, I do own 6 Pflueger reels that have been perfect for several years, a drop of oil and that's it. I have one Daiwa tierra, very nice but it's been in service for a line stacking problem, needed a part. Of the 4 Shimanos I own, that's 2 stradic and 2 spheros, stradic had a line roller bearing problem with a 4 month back ordered part and a spheros had a broken bail arm. No recommendation, but that's the history, in fairness both Daiwa and Shimano fixed the out of warranty reels at no charge. As far as performance goes, all about the same.

I like it............

Compared to other types of fishing it looks harder than it really is. The lack of a power handle made it a bit more uncomfortable getting a good grip to crank. Having plenty of line (14#lb mono in this case) and using your drag to let the fish run without panic is really the key. I never add line to a saltwater reel and never use backing with braid, I do a complete respool when needed, I want no joining knots. Doug, You know where Southern Comfort docks, Palm Beach Yacht club on Federal between Gateway and Hypoluxo. Never been on the S.C., but I go on it's sister boat, the "Living on Island Time", which is walk up and no reservation. Somedays they may go out with 6 people, other days it can be 30. As far as party boats go, they are the best ones in our area, IMO. Never been but I hear the Black Dog in Jupiter is hands down the best. The offshore fishing has not been good, last few times out we had less than 10 fish between 2 guys with 6 lines out. Some bonita, blue runners, a king now and then. I do hear of some yellowtail and muttons being caught.

If I totaled all my plastic baits that I've bought in my life it wouldn't come close to everything in that bag...........nice haul.

But this one doesn't do it justice. 45" Kingfish caught on a mh spin outfit. Edit: I caught this on my new Pflueger arbor reel, can't give a proper review until I've caught a few hundred pounds of fish and it's weathered the elements for a while. Only negative is no power handle, however the drag was flawless and the reels is as smooth as silk. The reel was only used as my 2 other heavier offshore reels are being cleaned.

I personally don't see the need to spend even $300 on a freshwater spinning set-up, if it's not for a 7 day a week fisherman. Just to go out and have some fun there are many rods and reels both under $100. Not to get into a brand war, just about any popular mfg is going to have something very do able.

This year isn't much different than any other year, I do very little bass fishing in the summertime. Between the uncomfortable humidity, the pesky gnats, slow bite and smallish fish, drains my enthusiasm. 20-30 minutes in my backyard pond is enough for me, I don't get aggressive for bass until late November. Florida, and I'm sure other coastal regions as well, offers excellent opportunities year round. When the bass turn off the ocean turns on and when the ocean turns off the bass turn on, ain't mother nature wonderful.

Not me.......I fish the same stuff in the same places and catch fish, providing they are in the mood. All that I have bought is replacement flukes, they don't last. I've been using the same banged up hard lures for years, if they catch fish I don't have the need to buy, I hate going into to tackle stores, lol.

IMO Glenn gave an excellent response. Some of my fishing is "target fishing" and by that I mean putting the lure where I want it to be. I really don't tape my casts, imagine my normal cast may be around 30 yds, that's at water's level with little or no breeze. Under those conditions a further cast can be obtained by using a more aero dynamic lure and with a weight that allows the rod to load up. Since long casts were brought up, yes 100 yds is not unusual at all, it's quite common. Fishing from an elevated position like I do quite often from a 10' jettie this with a 10-15 mph wind at your back I've casted out half of my 200 yds of braid, quite often, different lure weights and shapes affects the distance. Probably my same weighted jerk bait as as a spoon goes considerable less distance. Then I have a guy next to me casting twice as far, he's using a 12' rod and surf reel with a 4 oz thin profile diamond jig. Those same set ups cast 100yd+ from shore into a wind, distance is all about the equipment and technique. A long flowing cast allowing the rod to load up will go further than a snap cast. On topic using typical bass gear, 30 yds sounds about right for a cast.

A bait runner is not a bait casting reel. A baitrunner is a spinning reel with a secondary drag that can be set so a fish can pull line out, then you deactivate the secondary drag and activate the main drag which is already set, by hitting a bar on the reel. Sounds confusing , but nothing could be easier to operate, these reels are very popular, about everyone I know has one. Baitrunner is actually Shimano's name for the reel, other mfgs that sell reels with the same format call them similar names.

11-3=8

I've noticed that on the outgoing tide the bite seems to be best when the tide change is around dawn, each following day the bite lessens. What ever the tide is doing I'm going anyway, if I wait for ideal conditions I may never get out, lol.

$80 for the combo the combo might be kinda of tough. Can't go wrong with an ugly stick for that kind of fishing, 30# rod would be my choice. My partner has a Daiwa regal bri, incredible drag for a 60-$70 reel, max drag of 33 pounds (not that you would set it that tight), same drag thru out the line up, difference is only line capacity and weight, for your needs I'd pick the 3500 or 4000 size, weighs about 14 oz. I have used this reel, it's smooth, and handles kingfish, cobia, snook, some over 40#. One of the best bangs for your buck out there in a heavier spinning reel, and it's a bait runner too. Can't address the BPS reel, never seen one.