VanStaalSteve

Try Orvis Mirage fluorocarbon leader material. Never had a problem with it when I use it. It knots the best of any fluoro I’ve used.

Great job on these Jamie!!!!

Like RR Bridge fisher said, its a good idea to test your plugs in the water in daylight before actually fishing them. You would be surprised what you can learn about a plug(s) by doing this. You can also "tune" many plugs including metal lips if its not doing what its supposed to do.

They work both ways. If you are fishing in deeper water say in an inlet I would use the lead head and shallow boulder field type situations I would suggest a hook or two and maybe some insert weights to get you some more distance.

Loaded Red fins work well as do metal lips swimmers. Also, bring along a Super Strike darter or two if you are fishing any kind of current. A few white bucktails with Fat cow or Otter strips and soft plastics on a jig head would be a good idea too. Lastly, 7 and 9' Slug-gos rigged up will catch after dark as will Mag darters in 5 and 7" size.

The cheap stuff have consistency problems. I bought five of the Tsunami metal lips once and only one swam decent. Spend a little more $ and you’ll get quality plugs like BM, CCW, Big fish etc which are reasonable in the long run and you get what you expect from plug makers who turn out these excellent wooden plugs plus they catch fish.

Withdrawn

Steve, that's were I got the idea from, Tim Coleman and Pat Abate. Both were my earliest mentors way back when. Both were some of the most innovative surf fishermen I've ever met.

I agree but if I have to go fishing on a night looks like it’s going to be bright I will go before dusk and fish until it get too bright.

In 40 plus years of surf fishing I've yet to find a spot or spots that are consistently good producers on a bright full moon night especially after a cold front moves through. I stay home on these nights too.

Jon, I think you are right in saying everybody has their own preference. I believe that a VS 100/150 might be on the lighter side though for many 9 foot surf rods and situations encountered while fishing the surf. I have used quite a few 9 footers over the years and have used everything on them from Penn 704 and 706s, Crack 300s and Luxors as well as VS 100s to the VS 300 ( when the VS first came out, the 300 was only model). I have since become very comfortable with a VS 200 and a 9 or 9 1/2 foot rod from Lamiglas ( custom cut down GSB120 1L). I find that this reel and rods gives me a good balance of a light/medium outfit ( in weight and action) plus allows me to fish just about all of the areas I fish with confidence. I would love to be able to fish with a VS150 or even a 100 and a 8 foot rod (or light 9 foot rod) all the time but I feel these reels and rods are a little under gunned for larger bass and the many the rocky, reefy and inlet spots that I do fish.

I’d take my chances at dusk or dawn.

Black beauties

I know a RI commercial rod and reeler ( striped bass) that keeps a 34” wooden board in his boat. When he catches he just measures up fish next to board. Same size or longer than board it’s legal. Easy as that.