SoFlaBassAddict

Man, I was hoping so much more going by the title of this thread....

I don't throw a c-rig that often, so I'm no help there. I consider myself a very good t-rig person though. I think that, along with the help of several members here, has helped me greatly learn how to use a jig. What you're describing is unfortunately a very common thing. Sometimes the bite on a t-rig or a jig is very noticeable. You'll get that tap or thunk on your line. No problem, cross his eyes. When you get into the questionable bites is where problems can start. Lots of times the bite will just feel mushy, very similar to small clumps of grass on the bottom. I understand you don't want to set the hook on everything, but one of the only was to discern whats a bite and whats not is to just set the hook. If it's a fish, you hopefully remember what it felt like. Hooksets are free. I'm not sure what kind of line you're using, but braid, fluoro, or braid with a fluoro leader can help you detect strikes much easier. Also, switching to tungsten weights has helped me detect bites and bottom composition a lot as well.

Good god. Every single time you post about one of your trips I get jealous. Now after seeing that, I'm even more jealous. Ridiculous fish right there. I don't throw the rooster often right now, but previously when I have it has produced some really nice fish. I've been on a thumper kick lately. Cutting them down to about seven inches or so has been just fantastic for numbers.

My uncle has an iPad. I'm jealous. I want one. Toys these days are so cool.

Happy fourth! Make sure you guys stay safe, theres plenty of idiots and alcohol out this weekend.

I use the Tiny Torpedo a lot down here in my area. It's a fantastic lure for Peacocks. Doesn't hurt that Largemouth like it just as much. ;D

21st should be fine for me as well. I need to double check my schedule, but I don't think I'll have any issues.

Great line of lures. The craws and lobsters have been my best producers this year by far. T-rigged, flipped, pitched, they work in all conditions.

That storm that blew in was nasty. Didnt rain much where I was. I think I was JUST on the southern edge of it. Temp dropped a good 15 degree's in about 20 minutes and the wind was howling where I'm at. I bet it was "fun" out in the Alley.

/thread rofl. Classic picture.

Like Glades said, you should pick up a service manual. I can't count how many times over the years I've used mine to answer a question about my engine, fix something, etc etc. There is no better tool than a good book with some good diagrams.

You're really starting to make me jealous with some of the ridiculous fish you're catching lately. Way to go, another fantastic fish.

You can do just about anything with a lipless crank. Toss it out and burn it in, slow roll, yo-yo, rip them out of grass, etc etc. They're one of the most versatile lures out there.

Right now it's probably a Norman Little N or a Yo-Zuri Sashimi Shad. Both have brought up good numbers and good size recently.

Rofl. That was great.

I completely agree with this. I like the hook keeper design, but both of mine are already rusty after just a couple months. Anyone using the 6'9" trigger rod? I was considering getting one of these for pitching 3/8 oz jigs and stuff. I've got one. It's my primary worm and jig rod. Great stick.

x2

x2 Those shiner patterned lures look fantastic.

Happy birthday old man. BTW, what did Jesus look like before he grew his beard?

Loved the video. I've always liked Shaw. He really seems to be a generally nice guy. A real fishing enthusiast. I'd love to have the chance to sit back and just BS with him for a while.

Stories like these really make me love the fact that I fish small lakes that get little to no fishing pressure. Stuff like that would make my agent orange act up. I'd get incredibly PO'd at that.

I personally haven't....yet. I don't really have the gear I'd need. A very close friend of the family keeps begging my father and I to go out with him to do it. He's known me since the day I was born, etc etc. He's catching them during the day on the bottom in 800-1200 FOW. He's also catching these ultra deep water fish called they call Rosies on rigs similar to a Sabiki rig. Taste just incredible. They use electric reels and all, which I'm kind of hesitant to use. Mind you, I'm not really sure I want to crank 1200 foot of line off the bottom. I believe he heads out of Lauderdale somewhere. Yeah, it was a pretty good trip. The weather was just killer. I'm more worn out from dealing with the seas than actually catching fish. I was really hoping to tease some Sails and Marlin up. No go on that one though. Was perfect weather for Sails too. Choppy ugly weather, mild water, and full of bait. Next trip out, I'm planning on sitting on the reefs with a ton of chum and a livewell full of goggle eyes if I can catch them. I'm not paying the 30 to 60 bucks a dozen for them. Pilchards would work just as well. The kingfish are getting pretty thick from what I've heard lately.

The same lures you would use from a boat. The water doesn't change just because you're standing on a bank. Use whats appropriate for the conditions you're fishing.

It's hard to beat a decent ballyhoo on some steel for kings. Make sure you've got a good stinger hook though. Kings are notorious short strikers. If you're able get them and keep them in "good" shape, live pilchards or goggle eyes are almost the best thing you can find. Dorsal hook, nose hook, or run a bridle right if you know how to do it properly.

THE FISH ARE BITING!!! Headed out offshore today with my father in the hopes of getting into some fish earlier in the day. The forecasted 2' to 4' seas was just...wrong. Conditions were far worse at around 4' to 6' seas with a fairly steady 15 knot wind in the mornings. After gassing up the boat and making the drive down south to Homestead to pick up the boat we weren't going home because of a rougher ride. Once we blasted through Caesar's Creek around Adam's Key, things were looking rough outside of the channel. We were only able to do about 9 knots to the fishing grounds. Any more and it was just unbearable because of the surface chop. Finally we got out past Pacific Light and hit the fishing grounds. While we were making our way out to the Gulf Stream I tossed out a couple of high speed trolling lures hopefully to pick up something along the reefs. Nailed two quick Wahoo on a double header. Both of them were in the 20lb range. Decent fight, even on the larger trolling rods. After that, we picked up the lines and made the 10 mile run out to the stream to look for signs of life. Sat there and bounced around for a while looking through the bino's to find some birds or other surface activity. Finally we spotted any offshore anglers dream. A massive flock of Frigates that were just hammering the surface. I decided to try out something new today instead of the traditional skirted ballyhoo for dolphin. I put out a good spread of 6" paddletail Bass swimbaits, color pattern was very similar to that of a flying fish. As we made our way around the birds the action started. Instantly hooked up into several large Dolphin, all in the 30lb class. Chunked bait was heaved into the water as we started cranking them in and as they got near the boat, we realized how big of a school of fish this really was. Small Tuna, Dolphin, Bonita, it was heaven. After we pulled our limit of Dolphin, we played catch and release for a while with the other critters in the area. Shimano butterfly jigs once again proved how much they're worth the price. We spent the next two hours boating fish after fish before we realized we hadn't shot a single picture. My father grabs the camera, slips, and we watch my nice waterproof camera sail out into the Gulfsteam and into the depths. DOH!!! After getting worn out on the pelagics, we decided to head in and stop at a good wreck we've always had success on. We had a very strong outgoing tide, so the chum was spilling over the wreck and down the drop off next to it. Yellowtail were fast, and very easy to come by. Lots of shorts though, a few that will make for some very good table food. After getting tired of the tiny fish we rigged up a few big 6 oz jigs and dropped straight to the bottom. As much fun as the offshore fishing was, we realized how great the wreck was today. Picked up a pair of smaller kingfish, roughly 15 pounds each as the baits were falling. After the lures hit the bottom and were bounced a few times you were almost guaranteed to get hit. Several large Mutton Snapper and Grouper were quickly put into the coolers. If you're planning on making a trip down to South Florida on the Atlantic side, make sure you try to get out and do some fishing. Fantastic bites are everywhere right now. The Gulfstream is very close right now and easy to get to. If you're going out in rougher weather, please make sure you have a captain that knows what he's doing. My father and I were the only boat on the ocean today. If we ran into problems, it could have been a while until help arrived. Heres to hoping you locals in the area get a chance to get out and grab some of this fantastic early summer fishing we've got right now.