SirSnookalot

Right..........just go fishing and learn on the water, I don't there is a better teacher than that.

Been working the beach the last few weeks and it's been spotty. Nothing big has really shown up yet so I go out yesterday morning with a small spinning reel and medium rod 7'. West wind , smooth sea, with exposed reefs, low water on an outgoing tide so a topwater lure is my best bet. 30 minutes or so I only manage a small jack and one nice size runner. Then I make a parallel cast into the swash and BAMMMMMM, get nailed by tarpon no more than 20' feet away. Spools out what seems like about 20yds, then jumps, this guy looked to be in the 80# range, runs another 20 or so,and jumps again. Well you know the rest if ever you have ever tarpon fished, as they say" 1 on and 1 off" haha, but that's tarpon fishing. My bet is I would not have landed it anyway on that light tackle, but ya just never know. My thrill of the week..........be at the same spot again today.

There is a "other fish species" area. I know that and generally that is where I post. I believe the objective to have all the outings in one place, not the reports and there is a difference between the two. I have seen most every type of fish outing and report posted in about every place, as for me I'll just go with the program that is asked for. I do get inquires via PM regarding " other species", reports as well as equipment, leads me to believe there is much interest out there.

IE is dreadfully slow, google chrome is fast..no problems at all.

other species as well?

I'm old enough to remember them as a championship team, but I still call them the Pontiac Pussys & when they were at Briggs Stadium not Tiger Stadium. Their destiny is to lose and they always find a way, anyone remember Tom Dempsey? " I WAS BORN, RAISED & CONFUSED IN DETRROIT "......CHARLEY MANOS any one see the new time magazine ?

Quite true, however the stress level is much higher and most people are not cut out for it. I can give many reasons to work for some one rather than yourself. I took a path other than my educational background, owned my own business successfully over 30 years. I'm totally out of the loop as to what a good salary is today.

I like it a lot, especially the railing not being too high.

I have the perfect rod for you, I own 6 of them. You probably will 3 or 4000 suggestions, lol, this one is a great buy on a great rod. Hurricane redbone 7' 10/20 line class, come in a 7'6 also I have both. Difference between 2 the 7'6 has more spine and a longer butt, but it's heavier. Regular price $89.95. Watch the papers for a store discount at Sports Authority spend a $100 get $25.00 off or spend $50 and get $25. off. I've seen the rod at Dick's as well. As far as bottom fishing, I'd look for something else, the redbone is strictly for casting, maxium lure weight 1 oz. If you want to go on the cheap for a rod to use with bait( just put your boca on a bait rod. I bought on a whim a shimano soujourn 10/25 1/2 -3 oz lure weight 7'. I use this rod for casting heavier lures, trolling and bait for barracuda and bontia , it's 29.95 and works great. I have a,light 4000 abu on it and can cast it all day long, I'm going for big jacks today think I'll take it. Can I give you a fishing tip? Keep it simple !! DOA terror eyes, cal jerk shads on a 1/4 oz jig head, Storm wild eyed, xrap, top lure, and most important a silver spoon.......without doubt the best producer. If working the beach, never stay in one spot, 100' can make all the difference, from a school of small fish to a school of larger fish. Not unusual for me to walk a mile then back on beach just casting the trough parallel to the shore line, 20' or less out. PM me if I can help you further.

Any time I've bought line and just happen to have my reel with me the stores spool it up at no charge. Usually I spool myself and I want to just get the line on the reel, then I always troll it out, then it's perfect.

This past week cut bait or sand fleas is the only way to go, the beaches have a lot of incoming seaweed making artis real tough. I do know for a fact that there are permit out there now. I have been doing nothing but beach fishing the last 2 weeks.

I see no new symbol.

No preference to lure......my favorite would be the last one I had.

My personal opinion the Boca is a good choice, but I can't give a complete review until I've owned mine for at least 6 months, so far so good. I've owned the spheros over 3 years and it's a darn good reel too. The Boca 40 has plenty of line capacity, 24lb drag if that's accurate but it weighs over 14 oz., I prefer the Boca 30 with 20# braid. If you set your drag to recommended level your at 5-7lb, you don't want to stop them dead in their tracks, tighten that drag too far and a good size snook will snap your line or leader. Leaving the drag as is or adjusting it while your playing the fish has been discussed before, I'm in the adjusting camp(keep a tight line and it's quite easy). At 7lb of drag a good size snook can spool you, I tighten it down a little at a time, too much at once a good bye fish & lure. As my Boca 30 is new I've not caught anything real large on it, but fish in the 10# range have been handled quite nicely. I swear by corrosion block for my bearings, best stuff I have ever used, but I no longer tear my reels a part, I take them in for a general cleaning & lube when needed. Rinse that reel after each use and rinse from the top of the spool down to wash sand away and not into the reel.

A woman is sexy, a reel is only a tool. New stradic is pretty but is it really better and worth more money than the fi? I'm waiting for the c-14 to be last years model and available in the 4000 size, if that ever happens. I want to see the reviews after this new lady has some wear and tear over the next 6-8 months. Almost all new reels are great out of the box.

The original question was asking about spinning reels and opinions regarding certain brands. A 2500 is a small reel but very usable, especially using braid where line capacity is important, many 2 &4000 reels are the same reel except for spool size. Most inshore fish don't go all that big 1-10# making a 2-4000 reel perfect for a great battle. I tarpon and snook fish everyday using 2 or 4000 reels, certainly not heavy, in fact light enough to fish for hours with non stop, I only use artificial. A 4000 spinning reel is ideal for the poster and probably the most popular size. Not that there is anything wrong with winching them in with a b/c and 50# braid, but IMO it takes a bit more talent with spinning gear and light line. I probably see 1 b/c vs 19 spinning out of 20 fisherman doing inshore or beach. Exception would be bait fisherman using conventional like a senator 4/0.

Good luck !!!!!!!!!!!

To say that a serious bass fisherman would not use spinning insults the intellegence of any serious angler. I use spinning 99% of the time, the smallest fish I target are peacock and LMB. As long as saltwater species have been previously mentioned, my primary targets are snook and tarpon, my equipment is about the same as a bass fisherman would use. Shimano has on it's web site recommended spinning reels and rods for fish like sailfish (tls70ma rod/8000 spheros or stradic reel, which is my outfit). Many people on this site seem to feel Shimano is about serious fishing, are they wrong? Usually our conventional reels stay in the rod holders unless we are trolling. I'd like to see the person who doesn't think spinning is about serious fishing catch and land just a 40# tarpon, that's close to dink status in the tarpon world, on medium to mh spinning tackle 15# test and tell me it wasn't one of the greatest thrills they ever had. God bless ya if you don't like spinning but don't tell me I'm not serious about fishing for bass or anything else.

I know you must be talking about Juno, I've only been there twice and fished the beach only. I was there early this week and it was dead ( dead down here in Boynton as well), I did see all those tarpon jumping way out of casting range. I may go up there Mon or Tues, I get there about 5 am.

Unseen I try and make an effort not to look at a topwater lure, but it's difficult not to.

Some ground to cover here, in the first place saltwater inshore fishing is what I do every day and I own most of the reels mentioned, fish them hard. Shimano spheros, have a 4000 and 8000, as good a choice as there is, designed for hard saltwater use, this is the workhorse of the Shimano line up. I don't believe the saros is a step up. Shimano stradic fi 4000,excellent reel, smoother than spheros with a weaker drag(not enough to make a difference) I use it strictly for sea wall and pier use, for beach I'd take the spheros over it. Quantum Boca ( the Cabo is the top of the line), I bought the Boca on close out at S/A several weeks ago for $64.00, as good as my stradic, except it's a bit heavy, I have the 30, which is 4000 series reel. Almost every guide and top Florida fisherman I have met fish Quantum Cabo, some even own tackle shops and that's what they use. Retail the Boca is about $129 and the Cabo about $199. Supreme 35, I use it in saltwater no problems with mag frame but not the best idea, just rinse it real good and a drop of oil every month or 2, highly recommend corrosion block, great stuff. For the long haul I'd pass on this reel. Medalist, pure saltwater reel, I have the 5000 heavy at 18 oz but extremely durable, 2 years and oiled just a couple of times and it's like new out of the box, for under a $100 this would be a great pick. I really love this reel. I have several Abu cardinals 800 & sorons but I'm phasing them out, have caught a lot nice fish on them and they are good reels, just falling out of favor with me. Penns are very popular but I'm not a fan. This will vary with mfg, but some 3-4000 reels are the same except for line capacity,( braid on each one 15 or 20#) need to do your homework on that one. I make a point of not having a reel lie dormant, I use each one of them over a weeks time. As far as Quantum or Pflueger being disposable, I find that statement to be highly questionable. My pick for you would be the spheros. 3 or 4000, with braid there will be more than enough line capacity, at about 12.5 oz the weight is very comfortable, I'm used to the little heavier reels and weight is no longer a major concern for me. I've yet to see one in the field and have not handled reel but the Shimano sargossa at $189 sounds very nice, step up from the spheros.

For freshwater in the $150 price range............Stradic ! Top performer and cheap enough to buy a new one every couple of years for the latest technology. Pflueger's are reasonably priced and well worth $60-100, but still not a stradic. I'm phasing out my Abu cardinals. I own all of the above.

U of M vs OSU "Bo vs Woody" Nothing like being at the game and being a Michigan fan in Columbus, a life threatening experience. OSU fans smash Michigan car windows, overturn cars and riot! Go Blue

Local jargon.......this is what we call a goggle eye down here in FLA, not the goggle eye you folks are used to. Bait fish for sailfish, they get 10 bux a piece for them.

I unequivocally agree with Road Warrior, but I'm not surprised by the poll. Many of the negative responses have come from young people and the young much of the time feel they are immortal. For you literary folks " youth is wasted on the young".............GBS I remember some of the reaction to the swine flu on this very forum not long ago dismissed as hype from the government and media, it's real and it's serious business.