ThirstyBalboa

The only reason I see to keep it tight here is if fishing under bridges you need some control. Open water I loosen drag for fun!

I suggested live bait because of so many exotic species in the water. If you're just going for largies worms work awesome. I'd run lures for artificial, nothing like a pea slamming one. We run x raps for lures. Fun watching a pea chase down a live bait too. If you've never caught one then you need to, no fresh water fish I've caught fights like that! I agree with the bank fishing. I've caught tons of big fish from the bank. Nothing better than out fishing a guy on his 20k$ boat while standing on the bank lol sticking to just freshwater I love hooking on some peas! Also got sunshine bass, snakeheads, clown knife, tilapia, catfish. So many species! I do have a place in my heart for snook and tarpon tho.

Well no one says it's on a hook set. To be honest I dont think there is an actual hook set that happens. They usually hit fast and hard and hook themselves. My thing about the drag is i am not sure the hook bends on the strike. It could gradually bend during the retrieve where if drag was too tight this would cause a bend. At least in my brain it could haha

Thanks for the input guys! I just have a hard time believing a 3 pound fish bending hooks with a frequency so high that they replace hooks and rings before fishing the lure. Peacock bass do fight hard but I feel like with a proper drag setting the line would pull instead of the hook bending. I mean how do we even know it bends on the strike, it could bend during a period no drag is being pulled during the fight. Idk I guess maybe it's just a matter of opinion. Seems like an expensive fix for a lure that's ultimate fate is gonna be it smacking the side of a bridge and breaking lol

I have a few buddies who like to lure fish for peacock bass. (Sorry if it's a little off topic of largies) anyways they swear loosening drag wont solve their bent hook issues. I dont know the gear they use other than x rap lures. They always spend about as much as the lure on split rings and hooks. Just curious if anyone has any ideas other than changing hooks. I feel like loosening the drag will solve their issue. One of them thinks they hot so fast the drag doesnt respond fast enough. I kind of chuckled at the thought, but maybe possible?

I like penn conflicts. Use then in fresh and salt down in south florida

Thank you sir!

Man you dont need a boat in south Florida! I catch loads of fish from the shore. You really want some fun in south Florida I suggest not limiting yourself to largies. You have to catch a peacock bass. If you have Instagram check out thirsty feeshin. We have loads of pics there for you to see them all. I would suggest just hiring a charter. They have them in palm beach county, I see them cruising canals all the time. They do all the hard work and you will have a chance to catch most exotic species in the area.

Get yourself some shiners and hit a canal in south florida!

Hi everyone. New to the site and hope to find lots of useful tips and info here! Chiming in from sunny South Florida! Work too much and fish not enough!

So this may be a little off topic. In south Florida we have lots of species, one of which is the butterfly peacock bass. This is actually a cichlid not a bass but they fight like hell and are fun to catch. So that being said they hit fast and hard. A buddy of mine says he keeps bending xrap hooks. I keep telling him to loosen the drag and he swears it's not that. My mindset is if the drag gave the hook would not. I dont know what his setup consists of as far as line, rod, reel. I have 3 friends that swear they need top notch hooks and super heavy duty split rings. It became a debate lol anyways, ideas?