SirSnookalot

My explanation will cover LMB as well it works and I've done it, but as in all fishing nothing works all the time. We get this situation frequently this time of year in the ICW, bait so thick you could literally walk on their backs to get to other side, usually fish will busting all over the place inhaling the bait. As mentioned it's a matter of luck that fish happens to get your piece of plastic when there is so much live action that's easy prey. A few ploys that may be helpful, 1. wait until the bait starts to thin out( not that you won't be casting but it will pretty much be futile) 2. cast the edges of the bait pods, I've caught many that just happen to be lingering. 3. this isn't for me but people do it and that's live bait. The question would be " how do they pick my live bait?", the answer is easy. Francho hit on it ( he was referencing artificial, but the tact is similiar ) clip one of the fins on the bait, it will swim eradic and most likely at the bottom of the pod, now your bait stands out. Just this morning this happened to me, bait and fish everywhere, and 45 minutes of casting NOTHING. Bait thins to almost nothing and I nail a 20 pounder on an xrap, this exact scenario has happened to me 4-5 times in the last month or so.

I could get up for some of that tarpon action...........great fish.

The more you do it the less soreness you're going to have. I fish a good 6 hours a day and a real good portion of the time I'm walking the dog or jigging bucktails, pretty good workout on the wrist and forearm. I've been doing this for so many years my body is used to it, I never get sore or tired. Don't ever try butterfly jigging, that isn't soreness that's out right pain, I'll never do that again.............lol All kidding aside, having your muscles conditioned is a big help. A golfer who hasn't played over the winter in 4 months or more is usually a little sore the first couple of outings, but it goes away, this really isn't any different.

An update: I'm still jack hunting for some bruisers and tried a different spot today, they didn't show up. All wasn't wasted as 1 caught 1 overslot snook guessing to be a healthy 20#.

That is the standard "chicken rig", but using a ewg hook. As kid my dad used that setup using bait hook and and live minnows thru the upper lip, in saltwater chunk bait but I bet a plastic fluke or shrimp would be a killer.

For freshwater I never use weight and I always use leader and swivel, I have played with BB swivels and I don't see any advantage. I don't line twist for 3 reasons, 1. I use braid(braid does twist in certain applications). 2. I make sure the hook point is perfectly centered, I really take my time on this one. 3. I don't twitch, decided to try my beach snook technique and it works very good for bass, I pull the bait with my rod keeping my bait fairly straight, it does not roll over, so no twist. IMO I get more strikes by not over working a fluke, bass like hitting an easier target.

There is no need for glue. I use an improved clinch knot double wrapped, does not pull thru and the tag end can be cut very short. I actually picked up that tip watching a saltwater tv show fishing on the flats, it works great and I use that knot all the time in every fishing venue. Another way to avoid any kind of fraying on your tag end is to singe the braid after it's cut, puts a little nib on the end, they do make battery operated tools, but I use a bic. In all honesty I don't think fraying on a short tag end is going to reduce the amount of strikes.

Google ?

I remember him on televison, news and a host

Without reading his explanation, I wouldn't speculate on what Reason means. What I will say is that any good fisherman can catch any kind fish, with a little time invested. I have a neighbor( snowbird), he's a charter captain for stripers in Cape May N.J. He never fished for bass in his life, I showed him a few tips in our pond and canal, he catches bass like he's been doing it his entire life.

I use nothing but 15# braid, just raise and lower your rod tip to change running depth. I used a crankbait for the first time in a couple of years yesterday, bass were all over it at all depths. I don't have brand preference.

I had hopes of heading north this morning for some nice bluefish off the beach at sunrise. Checked the forecast as I always do and it was lousy, so I headed to my home base instead. The wind was howling and the rain was coming sideways, but I gutted it out and fished anyway. The wind was so strong I could barely reach the water, surf actually was only about 3'. I manage to catch a couple of under slot snook, always a decent battle from the beach. Weather was not improving so I headed to the ICW and caught a couple of these little bruisers, may have caught more if I hadn't stop to take a pic, jacks are in and out in a matter of seconds. I don't weigh or measure but these guys had a little weight to them and some mighty hefty shoulders. Mirrorlure, surface twitchbait.

True about maintenance for spinning gear, at least for me. My freshwater spinning reels get a drop oil every now and then, like once a year, saltwater reels a bit more often...............that's it. A good spinning reel is like a timex watch, takes a "lickin and keeps tickin".

Only If I can use an Alabama rig.

I agree with Hammer, I have 2 fi's both 4000 and used exclusively in saltwater, they do the job more than adequately and really do not need any improvement. The demands placed on a freshwater spinning reel do not compare to the demands needed for saltwater. I use 3 supremes for freshwater, have yet to oil them and they are going on 3 years, work like new and perform exceptionally well for freshwater, don't see the need to improve them either. I was using my supreme 35, which is not a saltwater reel, for snook for well over a year with no problem, I did switch this reel to freshwater and replaced it with my soron 20 for salt, I prefer this set up..

Miami is the first and only team to have an undefeated season, they can't be the first team to go 0-16, my Lions have already done that. The Giants totally out muscled them all the way, they are a very good team, I do think the Phins are better than the record. Lions played well, nuff said ! I'm anything but impressed with Tebow, IMO he isn't NFL material, needs to go to CFL for few years.

Been using chrome right from the start of their first introduction, so it's been quite awhile. Have tried other browsers but always come back to chrome.

Very few if any 3 rd world countries have programs to help their people in dire straits. Aiding people in distress defines who we are as a people and a nation, sadly I can think of only a small handful of civilized countries that adhere to the same belief as the majority of Americans. BTW,,,,,,,,Wahoo jigs are made in Haiti, been one of my favorite brands for years.

aavery2 is correct. I always vary the speed of my retrieve, many of my fish are caught on a drop or the pause, bait is barely moving. Jerkbaits and twitchbaits I kinda move with arm and just real in slack Not to confuse the retrieval anymore but in addition to retrieval speed I adjust the depth of the lure by lowering my tip to the water for a slighter deeper dive and raise it high to skim surface. I prefer not to be too "mechanical".

Opinions vary, I prefer the outgoing tide and right after sun rise when baits starts coming in. I think we have the outgoing all week.

I would try Juno beach near the pier and use frozen sardines ( you can cut them in chunks), shrimp fresh or frozen are good too. Using a rod holder that you can push into the sand is always a good idea, most guys make them out of pvc pipe. I'm not a bait expert but I think 2 oz egg weight placed above a swivel, then run a leader line down with about 4/0 circle hook. Take a lighter rod and do some spoon casting while your waiting to get bit on the bait rod. You can park anywhere for free at Juno. I-95 to Donald Ross, go east 5-6 miles to US 1, turn left about 1.5 miles, park will be on the right. Not quite as far is Ocean reef park on Singer Island, that can be pretty decent too. http://www.inshore.c...abeach.htm#PALM

overstock My link

The variety changes with the seasons, and weather. For example storms bring in the Muttons ( mutton snappers), great table fare and can give one heck of fight too, not easy but can be caught on artificial, they were hot last week.

IMO there are only a few times when long distances are required from the beach in our area of Florida, the majority of few will be caught within a 100' of the beach and snook almost on the beach. Times at low tide when the water is barely ankle deep and fishable water is a healthy distance away, coupled with the fall and winter strong winds............that's surf rod time. For the most part your standard bass equipment would be suffcient, providing it will withstand the rigors of saltwater. Now is the time for beach fishing, sad to say Southern Palm Beach County is known as the " Dead Zone", but Northern Palm Beach County is Hot !. With the conclusion of the fall mullet run fishing will get a bit tougher but the rewards are amplified, the bigger fish will come in. Last year after the run the average jack was 5-10#, during the mullet run they are 1-2#. Believe what I say, catching fish off the surf may be about the toughest fishing I do, even smaller fish seem to be cemented to the swash, catch 3 10# jacks, you won't want to fish anymore for the day, they will take everything out of you. Better than even chance hooking one around 30#, you won't land it. Pound for pound they blow tarpon away, too bad they don't jump.

I wouldn't worry about emails, if bothersome there should be a link to stop emails. I'd go the Kistler route, your chances are excellent to get the correct replacement. If not you can always get a slighty larger tip to fit, a thin layer of toilet tissue or gauze wrapped around the tip of the round, then slip the tip over should work.......don't forget the glue