Ok so I'm sure this thread has been made already but I guess I'll ask again.

I'm also specifically talking about lures or combos that were meant for freshwater, not companies that produce lures for saltwater.

 

So I hardly ever go saltwater fishing, but my dad was in town, and he's very much into saltwater fishing rather then freshwater. We stop by a baitshop, get some leaders, hooks, weights, bait, pretty much everything needed for a saltwater rig. We go by the bay down here in Miami beach and we get on a little pier and start preparing. The pole I brought with me (Carbonlite, Pro qualifier baitcaster combo) was rigged for freshwater. (12 pound line flurocarbon, $1 Walmart spinnerbait). While my dad is in the car looking for something, I decide to just mess around and throw a couple casts into the water with my spinnerbait. First couple casts, about 4 or 5, nothing. Throw it one more time and........

 

BAM! Biggest hit I've ever had. I've never caught a fish big enough to just comepletely take my line and run with it for 3 minutes. I'm not exaggerating here.For About 3 minutes straight that fish just ran my line. Long story short, I just had a 20 minute battle with the biggest fish I've ever caught, on a $1 spinnerbait from Walmart. I guess the downside to the story is that I was never able to get the fish on the pier, due to the 12 pound line I had and having no net. As soon as I lifted the line out of the water, the weight of the fish just snapped my line.

 

My dad said it was about 18-20 pounds, and it was either a Yellowtail Jack, or a yellowtail Tuna. I searched online for saltwater spinnerbaits, and most people have only caught redfish and flounder using spinnerbaits. BTW, the carbonlite and BP qualifier handled AMAZINGLY. And the P-line 12lb Flurocarbon also did an amazing job.

 

SO MY QUESTION IS: Has anyone had any luck with freshwater rigs, in saltwater?

I know saltwater fish don't discriminate against freshwater lures, but they must be labled differently for a reason.

Saltwater anglers on the Louisiana/Texas coast use "Bass" tackle for Specks & Reds.

Shimano's Citica is the #1 choice in reels

Zara Spooks produce Big Speckle Trout

Single spin spinner baits are killer on Reds

Swim baits are growing a hugh following

List goes on & on

we use freshwater stuff in the offseason for snook all the time

What you caught was a jack crevalle.  Any lure can be used in saltwater especially for a jack as they hit everything.  The main difference in a saltwater lure are the hooks, heavier duty and resist rust longer.  In S/E Florida you will see primarily spinning gear, something in the neighbor hood of 50-1 vs a low profile B/C.  A good percentage will be a Penn on an ugly stick.  You will see the occasional round reel like a calcutta. Larger conventional reels used mostly by bait fishermen, few of those will reels will a level wind.  Lure types run the gamut, bucktails and spoons are the most used by far.  Sling jigs and Shimano waxwings are gaining popularity.

I fish s/e Florida saltwater 7 days week.