NewestGuyOnStripersOnline

The Spheros is amazing. I love mine. *

My rod currently is a 1-4 and it's been working fine. It's mostly used for the lures, but once in a while I'll lob some bait and a 4 oz sinker out there when I feel lazy. The bait requirement is not as important as the lure requirement - I don't mind if the rod isn't working at peak performance as long as it doesn't break.

I think I'm going to buy a Spheros SW-A 5000 after reading Alan Hawk's review. It looks like it's everything I want for a great price. I'm looking to pair it with a rod preferably under $200 that can fish lures from 1-3 oz and bait 3-5 oz with 30lb or so braided line for both. This will be about as general purpose as a rod can get. Fishing for everything the East Coast has to offer from the sand (minus sharks), both bay and ocean. Needs to be 2 piece, probably 9-10 foot. Right now, I mostly use some rando Okuma reel with a Tsunami rod, I have a few other setups but I like this one the most. I've used it way outside of its stated capabilities and it's still going strong, amazing really. Thinking about Tsunami for that reason alone. The Okuma reel is equally great, it's been abused for years with no issues until recently. So I guess my question is; what's the best value general purpose surf rod going at the moment?

Let me help you out. The first half of the sentence you quoted; I know Zeno hangs out here. I have access to a place on the water in DE, a room for him to stay, and a case of beer of his choice if he's interested in proving me wrong! I'd love to learn from the man himself!

He's great. I celebrate his entire catalog. The podcast, books, magazine, youtube... I've learned a lot from him. Plus he has a lovely accent. Unfortunately I live in an area where, after an endless amount of fishing with every type of lure imaginable, I've learned lures are nearly worthless. I have become a bait fisherman now. Sometimes though, halfway into a 6 hour soak, I'll listen to his podcast and even though it mostly doesn't apply to me it's still fun to listen to because of his conversational style and passion.

Don't forget to change out your cabin air filter. Get a new one with activated charcoal in it, then put a new one in once things let up. Leave your windows open on nice hot days.

Do some reading on fallout. After 48 hours its effects are pretty minimal. Stay in your house for 48 hours and you'll be fine.

And what if it's just short of that? Where will you be? It's tempting to think the above, because prepping requires money and a lot of work, but when it comes down to it, you're insulating your family from the effects of future disasters. Maybe it'll help, maybe it won't, but I've spent my money on a lot dumber stuff than that.

Fallout isn't the threat everyone thinks it is, the isotopes decay quickly. After a few days inside you're pretty much good. Even better if you have potassium iodide. The blast radius is usually HIGHLY exaggerated as well. If you survive the initial blast and weren't close enough to get a big ol' dose of radiation (within a few miles of the blast) you'll almost definitely survive. Might get cancer down the road, but you're probably going to get it eventually already. The larger threat is the loss of electrical power and the societal collapse. My priorities would be the following: 1 - A gun for protection 2 - Water - a 55 gal drum or two with some bleach in the basement is cheap insurance, water filter if you have a nearby source. 3 - Bulk grains and beans - You're already behind the power curve for buying stuff, all the long-term shelf stable stuff seems to be sold out. Go to Costco or a nearby Restaurant Depot and stock up on rice and beans, it's going to suck but you can live off it for a while. I can get a 50lb bag of rice at costco for $20. Buy canned stuff. It lasts indefinitely despite what the cans say, it'll lose nutritional value, but as long as it isn't bulging you're good to go. 4 - Prescription meds 5 - A source of heat - a mr buddy and a couple of 20gal tanks will hold you over in a small room 6 - a method of cooking - a cheap coleman camp stove for use with the above tanks and a cheap pressure cooker on amazon will make short work of any food and conserve fuel Lay low, blend in, and most importantly keep your mouth shut about what you have. The above could get you a month or two. The longer you want to live the more you're spending. Generators for a well, antibiotics, a balanced diet all adds up quickly. Some people think it's best to get the first few months out of the way and if things haven't improved by then just check out. Keep in mind this scenario isn't limited to a nuclear exchange, in my opinion that's the most unlikely situation. I'm more worried about long term power outages, fuel shortages, or banking disruptions. All of that could be done remotely with 'cyber weapons' that both sides have. Unless you live someplace where your nearest neighbors are miles away, you're fooling yourself if you think you'll be living off of the land. Especially by hunting or fishing - deer almost went extinct in North America during the great depression, and I can barely catch a fish now!

Great area for sure. Can't catch anything from the bay beaches though. I can't imagine how much fishing I did there this summer, didn't catch anything but dogfish. I tried every lure and bait made. I need to get a boat.

I've caught more from the beach in FL than I ever have in NJ. Panama City area. Bigass Redfish, Pompano, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Sharks of all types, and even a Remora! I love FL surf fishing. Jealous. I'll probably be following in your footsteps soon. Really I wish we could just make DeSantis Prez and make freedom a 'thing' nationwide.

I'm with this guy. I'm in the minority that uses up to 50lb braid on my normal surfcasting rod. Some times the braid gets frayed and it's nice to have those extra few strands to keep things together. My personal best was caught on a line that I later discovered was severely compromised, and I watch it closely, so it must have happened a few casts prior at most. Although where I fish barely has any current so I can get away with this. I never bother with shock leader. I don't like anything but line passing through my guides. I also fill my reel with braid, I like to be able to cut it back when I feel like it's getting crappy. If it gets to the point I feel like I could use some backing; I'll remove the line completely, add the backing, then put the line on in reverse so that I'm working with almost entirely fresh line. After that I'll **** can it.

"Fishing Saltwater Baits" by Eric Burnley. Very good book, although some of it is about fishing from a boat. Baits, rigs, and lures is pretty good too.

Yeah that’s about what I’d expect. Our government is a disgrace.

I was just going to suggest drone footage. Grab some of that, splice in video of the dead/damaged fish on the beach, upload to YouTube and then spread far and wide. Concentrate on the Trader Joe’s crowd, not fishermen. Maybe it will get some attention. Although it probably won’t. I don’t think much will change in this area until the recreational fishing ‘lobby’ spends more on politicians than the commercial fishing lobby. Our government is hopelessly corrupt.

I hate to say this because she sucks at life and is a shameless propagandist; but getting Rachel Maddow on board would be extremely helpful. She knows politicians, has a soapbox, and loves fishing. Bombard her and her staff to contact a designated person on this board who is knowledgeable on the subject (the OP?) and see where things go from there. Send it here: https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/send-it-rachel-n946786 Maybe just start with a link to this thread. If her or her staff is interested they can contact someone on here via DM. Edit: Maybe tell her Trump likes ASMFC, and that it’s run by Russians. I heard Don Jr had a phone call with them or something.

I just wish they made the Saltiga in a 5k.

That’s just not the same. I want paper for my recreational reading!

Really want Zeno’s book, but I can’t find a paper copy! It’s not even on the SJ website.

I just use a spool of 50# braid for surf casting. I guess it might be overkill but I don’t see how that’s a problem... No need for a shock leader, extra thickness over low test braid offers abrasion resistance (reeled in my P.B. on a very thin remaining strand), one less failure point of FG knot, and I lose almost 0 lures - I just wrap the line around a stick and pull if it gets stuck. Usually it just straightens the hook. Downside is reduction in casting distance, and in current it’s pulled a little faster. I’m less than the same thickness as 20lb mono though so I don’t think I’m losing much for the above. I’m not that experienced though, but am I missing something?

Yeah that’s how I’d imagine it creates a problem. If you pass on quality time with your kids to go fishing on a regular basis, you need to reevaluate your priorities. I fish almost exclusively after the kids go to bed, or just ‘toss a chunk’ and make sand castles with the kids while listening for the drag to click.

Really I’d just settle for anywhere but China. I’m new to all this and thought Penn was made where the name implied. Should have known better. Good reel though, minus the knob. ...and the fact that I get birds nests on every cast.

Yeah I have a fathom II casting special, it’s pretty nice. You’ll have to buy the aftermarket low profile knob from Penn to replace the factory brake knob, it’s in such a poorly thought out location it’s hard to believe. It’s my first and only conventional, so I don’t have much to compare it to. They just came out with a squall casting special, not sure what the difference is. Both are made in Chyyyna though, so that’s a downside.

Awesome, thanks for the picture. So is it safe to say the 8k would be suitable on a general purpose surf rod, maybe like a 9.5’ 1-4oz?

Yeah, that’s what I’m wondering. I read the Alan Hawk review and I’m sold - I just think the 8000 might be a little large. Some are saying the 8000 is comparable to a standard 5000 or so? Can anyone confirm this?