RyAxion

All this for just $175!

Went offshore off NJ earlier this week and boated my first yellowfins: 50 and 65 lbs.!

Went down the Potomac last weekend and caught two Northern Snakeheads, the top one being my new PB at 4 lbs. 2 oz.!

Look what I snagged for just $100?!

Caught two new PBs at Limestone Hatchery in PA: 30", 10 lb. 6 oz. Rainbow 5 lb. 7 oz. Brown (my first fish of '23!) Both caught on 3.5" Daiwa Dr. Minnow! Jerkbaits do catch BIG trouts!

The Alberto has survived some carps, so it's a win for me! 7 wraps back and forth are enough.

Alternatively, I use 3/0, 1/4 oz. VMC Rugby Jig.

Found a Whopper Plopper 75 while bluegill fishing at my neighborhood pond! Caught on another lost lure: Booyah Quad Shad!

I've had better success without trailers.

I wish. I already spent good money on tuna gear right after this trip.

My first (and NOT my last) bluefin tuna off Cape Cod! Best fight of my life!

-Cloudy early September evening, low and clear water below a spillway where I caught my 4 lb. 10 oz. Smallmouth on a Deps Buzzjet Jr. and 10 lb. Berkley Trilene XT.

Finally landed my first snakehead!

I've seen saltwater topwaters being used for peacock bass.

For reference, the yellow frog on my photo is a 2 5/8" Live Target Frog. I hope the size is still enough for them.

Will full braid still be safe? I see a lot of snakehead guys not using wire leader. I tied "Park's Snakehead" knot from this YouTube video:

More than a yearly tuition at my local community college.

My 3 Best: 1. Square bills: perfect search bait in my book, and responsible for turning off the skunk. 2. Poppers: self-explanatory, especially in early fall. 3. Spinnerbaits: Caught my second biggest smallmouth (4 lb. 2 oz.) and another effective search bait with more flash (and creativity with skirts and blades) My 3 worst: 1. Frogs: I got too excited with the blowups to wait for the perfect time to set the hook. 2. Jigs: Caught some monsters, but a bit too slow for my liking. 3. Deep cranks: my waters aren't deep enough to warrant them. No final reason to give up on worst lures/techniques though; we're still learning.

Also, drag-wise for frogs, should I lock it down or set 75% to set the hook (and fight)? I'm afraid of braid digging into the spool during hookset. My 40 lb. J-Braid Grand has a diameter of .013" for reference.

I fish hollow bodies, but also think of trying 3/8 oz. spinners and chatterbaits. Where I fished, I casted parallel to the grasses. Since snakeheads have smaller mouths than bass, does a 2.5-inch hollow-body still fit?