SirSnookalot

Very cool but scary........I've yet to see a croc and I fish some areas that seem ideal for them.

IMO the twitch can put slack in the line and as reeling in the hooks catch the slacked line, I pay little attention to it, just untangle and make my next cast. Closing your bail a split second before it hits the water( if using spinning) helps too. I use a 18# homemade lures with multiple 3/0 trebles that are prone to foul hooking, closing the bail greatly reduces this.

The more I see that Fireline pic, the less I want to buy it. I use PP on spinning 100% of the time, I fish daily with 10# fresh, 15# saltwater, it does everything I need it to do with no issues and I can buy it anywhere. For the last year or 2 I seldom do a full respool, I just add fresh line when needed. My target fish usually run 24-28", many way bigger especially in the summer. My standard set up is 4000 spinner, 7'6 med rod, 15#PP and I cut my own 30# leaders from Ande mono.

I fish every day year round. On average about 5 hours saltwater and 2 or 3 freshwater, schedule varies with seasons.

That's the great thing about freshwater, the fish may be hiding or unwilling to hit, but they are there. It's difficult to get skunked.

I use PP myself 15# mostly and always with leader 100% of the time. My leader will catch the hooks on occasion but not the split ring, leader is too thick, the PP is much thinner and can catch the ring. I never make a mechanical retrieve, I'm always twitching ,pausing and seldom with a fast retrieve. I've yet to experience getting a strike on topwater in the middle of the night and not know it, most of my fishing is done in the dark.

I won't buy any rod online period! The money saved is not always worth the aggravation one may go thru compared to buying from a brick and mortar dealer. Several weeks ago I bought a custom rod from a local rod builder, hated it after 1 outing, returned it for a full refund. I won't knock the product but it just was not what I wanted. I would buy from this store again without reservation, the owner has proved that he has integrity. Never have had a rod break on me that wasn't my fault in the first place, exception was a rod mfg. defect from a popular rod company, BPS gave me an option exchange or full refund.

Poon..........short for tarpon.

As far as packaged ice cream goes.........I won't eat Blue Bell, it isn't good at all. Hagen Daz for me.

I had a couple of " guest " reels with chrome paint, Penn captiva & Abu cardinal 177, both reels peeled just like the posters. The reels performed well but as with any " disposable " reel they found their way into the trash. Penn makes some terrific reels, the captiva is entry level.

Snook are not an aggressive fish, kind of lazy and more opportunist, when they are on they it's non stop and off, well nothing will catch them. I've only caught and used bait 2 times this year, both outings produced quality fish. As of late I've been using storm swim shads in various sizes with excellent success, but mostly in current and not from beach or pier, I did mange one about 40" last week. The beach bite has been terrible down here in Boynton, but doing well in the inlet, not enough bait down here yet.

Beauty........ I was on my way to Juno to fish the beach this morning, I made a sidestep and went to another location. Have yet to see a FWC officer........Shore or pier fisherman now need a saltwater license.

Just takes practice. I was using my fingernail or a penknife until I found a pair of split ring pliers on the ground. I don't think fumbling with it is so unusual, but after time it's second nature.

The freshwater grand slam.....LMB, peacocks, snook and tarpon. I've yet to hit the slam but have done 2 or 3 out 4 few times. Try the Griffin Rd canal, work west from 441.

No difference..........I use spinning and braid on all bodies of water. The difference in a short spool compared to filling to the recommended 1/8" from the lip is huge. For the past year or 2 I no longer do a total respool, I just add 50-75 yds as needed, does not affect casting distance and knot failure is non existent, on occasion I will turn the line over and use the "fresh side". Retrieval speed is of no concern to me, speed will vary depending on the type of lure I'm using and I always vary the speed of the retrieval from cast to cast and also within the same cast(get a lot of hits on the pause or the drop from a jigging spoon).

One we have down here are more spotted. They've been catching quite a few the last couple of weeks.........people tell me they are very good to eat.

I wish you well, relax a bit, clear your head then go for it. I too was in the real estate biz from 69-73 and did well at it, but ran into some bad luck......best thing that ever happened to me. No long winded story but I met a man while in real estate (today they call it networking) who offered me a job in an entirely different field, shortly after I started my own company. Could possibly be a blessing in disguise, don't wait for luck, luck is created by hard work.

IMO RW gave a good suggestion, I happen to own a BPS tourney and I originally bought it for an inexpensive kingfish rod ( 8/17 mh), it has wonderful backbone and will handle just about anything you will catch, the sedona reel will compliment that rod well. I put a supreme on that rod recently for froggin and it's working fine. I'd look at almost any spinner4000, 50 -80 bucks would be fine on that ugly stick , be a nice catfish rod for bait use. Personally I would purchase a "better" rod for a stradic, it's a fine reel and deserves a good rod, I use a hurricane redbone 20 lb class rod for my stradic. I've had rods twice the price that do not perform half as well.

Tarpon and snook. Anything will hit them but I don't like them for a toothy critter, 1 bite and they're toast. Both tarpon and snook are " inhalers ", no teeth. Snook season opened at 12:01 this morning so I'll be looking for quiet spot, give it 3-4 days or the furor quiets down.

You're my kinda guy......but I need only 2. 1. silver spoon 2. feather Will catch nearly all gamefish of any size on any body of water.

My point .....why wait and do it yourself when you can have it done professionally and almost immediately, only takes a phone call or a stop by, cost less than 10 bucks and if you're a steady customer probably have it done gratis.

The product is not in question it's how one goes about to remedy the situation. I do not like down time of any nature, luckily I can go into some of the better tackle shops around here and it's almost a sure bet they have the exact tip in stock. Why wait if you can have your equipment back in action in short order professionally installed? I'd drive 40 mile to have it done........I don't like waiting.

For a pittance any tackle store will install a new tip on the spot.

If you're coming this is the time of year. The fall mullet run has started north of us and seeing some signs down here now. The lady fish (poor man's tarpon) are staring to turn on, snook and tarpon still very active and soon the bluefish & spanish mackerel will be in. The offshore storms are producing muttons and yellowtails now. Just this morning I caught 5 decent snook, hooked a small tarpon and caught couple of jack crevelles, I'd be happy doing that any day.

A good relationship doesn't come easy and you always have to work on it. In a partnership it's not all about you, it's also about her as well and meeting her half way is a must. If you are not prepared to give her as much time and interest as you take, stay single, you aren't ready for a relationship. I'd take the relationship over fishing anytime.