I was thinking on making this a pole question as well then I realized I have no idea what one would put in the pole!
So Other then Cod jigging I have never tried this activity. Main landers what would you expect?
So I would love to try marlin or sailfish. Tell us about your experience:
1) What did you catch?
2) What gear?
3) What Bait?
4) Method used?
I fish for saltwater Bass.
I have an 8 foot bass rod, a small casting multiplier reel filled with 20lb line.
I use 2/0 aberdeen hooks, a swivel and 10lb leader.
I also use a 2oz sinker.
As for bait; soft or peeler crab, ragworm or lugworm and occasionally strips of mackerel.
The bait is cast only 10 to 20 yards from the rocks and shingle beaches where I live. Athletes who can cast over 200 yards are disappointed to see the fish swim behind them as they wade out for their un-necessary feats.
Its not the size of the bass that determines the strength of reel line, its the roughness of the bottom. If you go any lighter you will lose your tackle in the weed every cast! Not every bass habitat is rough, but that's where the feed is, and the bigger fish.
The average bass ranges from the 2lb to 3lb school bass to the 10lb daddies. Any fish over 5lb is considered a good one today but they are half the size they used to be 30 years ago.
I can appreciate that a lake we used to fish a children you pulled in 3 lbs of weeds with every pound of fish. I never thought about that weed issue in the sea. To many pictures of clean beaches I guess.
I think fish size is down every where due to pollution and over fishing. Do they slot size on size requirements for ocean fish? Here many lake you can only keep between certain sizes to ensure every fish spawns at least two seasons and that the lunkers stay alive for keeping the stocks up. Works very well. Only issue is it started 20 years too late.