SirSnookalot

Don't think there is anything wrong Lite Ugly Sticks, far better than what I learned on 60 years ago. I had no trouble feeling a bite then and don't have one now, my rods of today are not what would be classified as sensitive. I do think a lighter rod may be more comfortable to fish with. To me sensitivity is over rated along with other high end equipment for bass fishing, don't throw stones but I find bass to be one of the easier fish to catch.

This has been an exceptionally hot and humid summer in South Florida. The insects take away any desire I have to freshwater fish now and the inshore bite could be a lot better. Am I looking forward to cooler weather with a days of a 10-15# fish on every cast, the answer is no. When it ends then we have the winter doldrums that I don't look forward too. Quite true the bass bite gets good, but bass or tarpon, snook and cuda and I know what I'm picking.

Even though many experts think the Tiger era is over, I'm starting to feel the same way, he remains the biggest story in golf. Just as TW needs to thank people like Palmer for paving the way for endorsements, the players of today need to than TW for tournament prize funds.

Where are all these law abiding citizens with highest of moral standards, ethics and common courtesy? They'e on the internet backslapping themselves, I don't see too many in real life. By nature people are purely interested in what self serves them.

TW did show up today, on course practicing now. Not a done deal if he will play but it looks like it.

Majors are great fun. Was lucky enough to live a few minutes from Oakland Hills, been at a U.S. Open, Senior Open and Ryder Cup. From what I've read Woods hasn't showed up on the property, I think it's doubful he will be playing.

I have seen mocs down here in Florida, they scare the crap out of me. One of the contributing factors to my limited amount of time spent freshwater fishing is snakes.

Roy Orbison, Patty Labelle,

I prefer braid for everything. The times I do fish mono it's just a matter of adapting, it really isn't a deal.

No brainer ! Too bad it isn't a PTS, I could go for that in a big way

With bass fishing the fish are usually in the area but they may not be aggressive or feeding. The opposite is true with inshore fishing, they follow baitfish, no bait no fish in the area, you could cast all day without a strike. When the fish are there and feeding the lure isn't that crucial most of the time. That being said the game breaker is too much bait, snook and tarpon gorge themselves on live bait and quite often won't touch artificial. I have casted dozens of times into busting fish for an hour straight without a strike. My most used lures are a jerk shad on jig head and bucktail jigs, anything else I use is strictly for my own variation. Never overlook a spoon, snook love them. From my observation the most prolific snook and tarpon catchers are fly fishermen, a bucktail is nothing more than a fly with weight, I'd say nothing beats them. The 2 best snook fishermen I know, these fellows are professionals, use nothing but bucktails. Rule of thumb is the outgoing tide with dirty water for snook and tarpon, but tide fishing is seasonal. This time of year we can catch them on the incoming, that doesn't happen in the winter too often. An important factor in tide fishing is the relationship to tide change and sunrise or sunset. My optimum time is probably tide change an hour or so after sunrise.

The more you read the more confused you will be, just buy something and go fishing. There is such a fine line between rods and reels given a certain price point, it doesn't make all that much difference.

My wife and I had our screening yesterday, both 100% fine.

Don't care for bass. As with most species of fish the smaller ones are the most tender and best tasting, just at legal size would be my choice. I seldom fry fish anymore, even an old sneaker tastes good with breading and oil, I grill them for their own natural flavor.

I don't ever see anyone breaking rods, at least not from sea walls. We, meaning everyone out here, flip fish up all the time, that said the right rod is a big asset. Once in a while we may catch smaller 3-5# snook, you can just lift them right up, but for the most part we spring them up. There is a limit, can't do it with a 10# fish, can't even get their heads out of the water, springing probably no more than 10' in height. I use a mh spinning rod when fishing those places, a friend was lifting 5 pounders with his 9 wt fly rod yesterday, but a highly experienced fisherman. Flipping from a boat is much harder, just can't get the same kind of spring action, I can see rods breaking then. Past 90 degrees may or may not be a problem. I have caught many 100# fish on a 25 lb rod nearly doubled over, the rod has been in service about 7 years, still going strong. A more expensive graphite rod probably may not have lasted as it's pushed passed it's limit. As of late I've been catching tarpon up to about 70# on a mh spinning rod, the key is the drag. Too tight a drag the line, knots or rod can snap, I don't suggest using anything heavier than 20# braid, plenty strong for fish in this weight class.

Tarpon looks almost identical to a pilchard, both members of the herring family. I caught another one yesterday morning, it's been a good week for them.

The specs for mono and braid for Shimano's larger offshore reels don't match up either, I don't think too many people would put backing on 10000+ reel. Going the opposite direction the specs don't match up for a 1000 reel and lot of people use no backing on small reel like that. I have no clue as why they list the numbers that way, makes no sense to me. I have had reels spooled with a line counter, those reels are spooled to about 1/8 from the lip, which doesn't relate to the print on the reel. I think the manufacturer lists full capacity not to where we spool them.

I'll second Outlet Bait. I look for their deals on certain items but you have to check them out often. For example I buy a lot of Luhr Jenson lures like Krocodile spoons, sometimes as cheap as $1.99, can be as much as $4.99. I have bought Atom swingin swipers for as cheap as $1.99, regular $11, right now they are 6.99, as I say need to really go thru their site

Sometimes the lateral line will clarify similar related species, different fins too.

Homeowners don't own the water, but I do believe common courtesy should trump the law in some cases. Rather than being an annoyance to some one I'd move on. Where I fish the law states a boat must be 500 feet from a pier, but I fish off a jettie and it's legal for boats to pull alongside. The boaters do get in the way of the jettie fishermen while they are throwing their cast nets, few show little courtesy. Legally there is nothing that can be done, no question that the boaters do look down upon the bank fishermen. When I go on my boat I make point of never being within casting range.

This is key.

I totally agree. Closing the bail manually is easier and smoother. I always raise my rod before reeling to prevent any looping. 40# braid is way too heavy even for many saltwater inshore species. Typically I use 10# braid in ponds and 15# braid in canals with heavier vegetation. Braid is about diameter and not strength as most major brands may break 30-50% over the labeled number, that said your drag is the savior. My tarpon set ups are 20# braid with a 30# leader, amply strong enough for 50 pound fish.

I'm not a bass fisherman, just a guy that catches a lot of them. My point of view is a bit different than some, I don't drop shot, seldom use bass jigs and trailers and plastic worms hardly ever. For me rod sensitivity doesn't enter into my thought process, my rods are about 75 bucks and they do me just fine. For a bass sized spinning reel used in freshwater 100 bucks is my limit.

Going in Monday for my annual screening. I generally wear shorts and a t-shirt, go to pants and long sleeves when the no seeums are bad.

The inlet is a prime area this time of year for both snook and tarpon, not that there isn't 100# + around but most run 10 to about 70 pounds. Many of the fish can be pulled up with a pier net, but once they get a certain size that is a tough task especially if you are alone. This is how we do it, picture 1 shows the jettie in the foreground that I was fishing, in the middle of the night the boaters can't see us, boat cut offs are not uncommon. Even if they see you, they don't give a darn, lol. Fish has a lot of open water, once you get it close to the jettie now it has to be landed. Boynton inlet is noted as being one of the most trecherous in South Florida, current runs on average 8-10 knots, fish hits that current and you a battle on your hands. Picture 2 may give some insight how far back I have to walk before I can jump over the railing.