SirSnookalot

The only thing in common between raising sheep and cattle is they both eat grass. That said my advice would be get your information from a saltwater board specifically for the area you are going to fish. I fish saltwater nearly 365 days a year, that does not make me an expert on your target species and the places you will be fishing, my knowledge centers around South Florida fishing. One of the only reel specs that is important to me is line capacity, max drag is not that import, you're not going crank it down anyway, and I really don't favor one reel over another because it's a few ounces lighter. BR is a pro Shimano board, where I fish Shimanos are far from the most popular, Penns are and some of the real "experts" here love Quantum cabos. I do like my stradic 4000 fi's, but like I my Penn conquer, Abu Soron's and my Quantum cabo equally as well, my Pflueger medalist is the smoothest reel I own. If the intent is a double duty with reel the 3000 size probably the best bet, full time use it would be a 4000 size. Even though freshwater and inshore techniques are quite similar, it's all moot if you don't know how to land them, it is different.

Me either..........don't understand what the hoopla is all about. Not saying I would never buy a rod with micro guides, but I probably would not venture out with the sole purpose of owning one. What advantages are to be gained?

Personally I wouldn't pick either reel, but for the once in a while saltwater trip it's the 2500 stradic. Light saltwater, IMO, does not always mean fishing from the beach or fishing in areas that are very low to the water, which is my preference. Fishing from a pier or jettie I'd use a 4000 size minimum, most here in my part of Florida use even bigger, you just never know what's swimming by on any given day. Fishermen here than use bait casters use bait, live or cut, for lures spinning is almost exclusive, a low profile b/c is a rare sight. Depending on the time of year 15-20+ mph wind is the rule not the exception.

@ Guest..........I agree with everything you said, especially about trash fish. IMO "elitists" think that if a fish isn't a recognized as gamefish it's trash. Let's look at this way, I catch and release bass as I do with other species that are not considered game or sport fish. Do I think bass are fun to catch, I sure do, but pound for pound they are far from the most formidable fish I target and seldom do I get skunked. Trash or treasure is in the eyes of the beholder. BTW, I'm sure not related but a redfish is a saltwater red drum, there are black drums too.

I use whatever lures I want on any rod, staying within the parameters of the rated lure weight. There is a lot of propaganda out there saying you need this rod for that lure but another rod for this kind of lure. Well maybe some do, glad to say I'm not one of them, I can fish on any of them. The rod (I take but 1 with me) I'm using is based on the kind of water I'm fishing, the lure weights, and target species, doesn't make any difference to me if I'm treble fishing or jig fishing.

The first thing I would consider is repair or even a cleaning worth spending the money, if it's a "disposable" I'd just replace it with new one and be done with it. For me it's spinning gear for all freshwater and 99% of my saltwater fishing. I only get something fixed if it's broken or needs an adjustment I can't do on my own. My freshwater reels have never been serviced, a drop of oil and they still operate like new, I really give these reels no attention. Saltwater reels are different story, the elements can play havoc on your gear, not to mention the power some of the fish have, things can break or not function properly. In those case the reels get repaired either local or by the mfg. If my reels are operating just fine I will not have them cleaned just for the heck of it, previous attempts have led me to not take that tact anymore. In the past I have sent some in for a cleaning, whether it be the mfg or local repair shop and some of the reels came back poorer than I sent them in.

I wouldn't be concerned about the guides. Noise does occur with some combos of mine, now that I understand it I hardly notice it.

June 14 is Flag Day..............that's why the fireworks.

Look like you guys did great ! Not that anyone is interested, but I've fished all kinds of place between Hobe Sound and Jap Rock, one week total 3 snook and 1 cuda about 40" off the beach on topwater, and didn't see a sole catching anything on bait either. Went offshore and entire day without 1 bite, pretty dead I'd say. On a side not a bait soaker off the LW pier caught a big cuda, big big snook and kingfish, just a place I don't care to fish, piers are too high for my taste.

I've caught many of the larger fish, now at 66 I really do not want to fight one for hours, takes too much out of me. Weighing in at a mere 135# I've had that tarpon bigger than me, they grow much bigger than that. I would choose fishing the backcountry in Florida, or many other exotic locations poling for juvie tarpon, bonefish, permit.......never turn down the opportunity for redfish, on spinning or fly rod.

I've checked out the c-14 a few times, the handle was an instant turn off, I'm not questioning the performance of the reel. Most of my spinning reels are 4000 size and up and not used for bass fishing, One day I was fiddling around with my Abu Sorons and I discovered the handle from the Soron 4000 fit perfectly on my Soron 2000. That was love at first sight, I ordered a 4000 handle for my 2000 and this reel went from a good reel to a great one, maybe my favorite of all them. I mostly use the reel for light saltwater but every now and then I'll use it for bass, I give it very high accolades.

Unless one is fishing hard nearly everyday, imo one doesn't need to spend more than $100 on a spinning reel to be used for bass fishing, I'd be focusing more on the rod. I'm not arguing whether Shimano is good or bad, but this is a very pro Shimano forum, which is not the case everywhere. I own more than 20 spinning reels, 4 of them Shimanos, in each price range I have reels that perform on a par with their Shimano counterpart, there is no measurable difference in both performance and durabilty. I do like my Shimanos, but each one has been sent in for service, my Pfluegers, which are the only ones I use in freshwater, have had nothing but a drop of oil every now and then after years of service.

The last few days have been no different than usual, I had 2 back up lures in my pocket and a top water popper on the rod, pack of soft baits if I think I may be confronting some slop. Haven't taken off the popper off the rod in 4 days.

I didn't think all that much of the speech, the content was fine but the delivery was poor. I could have nodded off at the 3 minute mark, but gutted it out. If that speaker had been a vaudevillian he'd have gotten the hook.

I've been on those tour guide airboats, they hold maybe 20 people, not the small boats seen all the time. Part of the "show" is the guide slaps the side of the boat or water to summons the gator, when I saw it the gator was at least 50 yds away.

I know lots of places in Boca, unlimited number of places to catch LMB and peas. St. Andrews canal near Military Trail, behind Boca town center. A lot of ponds off Glades near that Copper Canyon bar and grill. This is the tip of a lifetime........El Rio canal, 1/2 mile north of glades off 4 th, can't remember the name of the apt complex, it's right across from FAU, a spillway. North side of the spillway holds bass and it's very walkable, south side is tidal, I've caught snook, ladyfish, jacks and have seen tarpon there too, I once caught 7# bass under the Glades bridge there. It is not walkable don't spend a lot of time, 30 minutes and fish it high outgoing tide, high tide tomorrow morning is right about sunrise, perfect time to be there, snook are spawning too. This will keep you busy for a while, I've got dozens of places.

I use the standard supreme not the xt, I have 3 of them. I used my 35 in saltwater for snook for nearly 2 years without a problem, If you are I'd return it.

For one set up you need to have rod that can handle heavy cover as well as open water fishing, this is not what I would call a technique specific set up. I would use a 7' rod 8/17 line weight ( in fact that is what I use), some companies call it med and others label mh. A 2000 size reel, some companies label it 2500, with 15-20# braided line or no more than 8# mono, I'd personally go with the braid and I would use a 15-20# leader, you will lose less lures than if using a lighter leader, learn to tie a loopknot to attach the lure. An outfit like that can easily be bought for $180. One combo keep it simple and use it as a starting point, in time you may decide on different lines and leaders. I don't recommend specific brands, it's really getting hard to buy bad equipment in your price range, most of it is more than adequate.

Most of my freshwater fishing is closer to the turnpike. I do know of a couple spots with next to no fishing pressure not far from East Boca. There is an out of business golf course, Hidden Lakes off Dixie and NW 76th, haven't been there in a while but I have had no trouble in being on private property. Another place that holds peacocks is an apt complex at Audubon and Lindell, it is not a lake but a large opening off the c 15 canal. Not being far from the spillway there is always a chance of a snook there. The maintenance man of the golf cart is a fishermen( saltwater), he doesn't care if you are there, he'll come up and BS with you.

As I mentioned before I don't know any bass fishermen. Almost without exception people are fishing to take their catch home with them in saltwater, I'm the exception, I even give dolphin away. Quite true there are those that fish for sand perch, spots, small jacks and whatever for a meal, many of those people fish with rods that have broken tips, they are not sportsmen. That being said legal fish are always taken home, whether they are inshore fishermen or offshore, people love to eat fish here, any fish caught in a sporting manner is "sportfishing", size and species is irrelevant. I see nothing wrong in taking home perch or walleye, they are great on the plate, and can be fun to catch.

Monster perch

Personally speaking I think some are making more of it than is needed, a LMB should pose no problem in netting. Trebles being caught in the net would probably be my main concern. I would only use a net fishing from an elevated position like a sea wall from shore. If you don't want to lip the fish for fear of being "hooked", using a boga type appartus, Cableas has a cheapie plastic one for about 10 bucks or so, it's more than adequate.

I would use mono spec as the standard for the line I'm using, if it's med 6/12 rod I would use 6# max mono, but the rod and reel IMO using 15 or even 20# braid is going to work absolutely fine. Having the drag set near recommended apx 1/3of mono test, reel damage should be of no concern. Using a lure slightly higher than the rating on the rod should pose no real problem either, slightly does not mean 1/2+ oz, I also would employ more of a long flowing cast as opposed to a snap cast.

Probably the biggest complaint about my smart phone (Casio Commando) it's hard to see in sunlight, indoors it's fine.

The tax code is complicated, I've always been an advocate of using a CPA. Even in retirement with a far simpler tax return I would never have my taxes prepared a CPA, they always pay for themselves.