Going to "try" to catch some redfish when i come to palm Coast for vacation in a couple of weeks. I have a few spinning reels and a Citica casting reel. What lb test should I spool up with and what kind of line braided, mono or florocarbon? Also what kind of lures should I have with me?
Thanks

I like to fish with the lightest line I can get away with, hate braid and you can always go to Gulp

If you are rigged for freshwater bass fishing you've got it. If you are a mono person 8lb on the spinning tackle then tie in a 20lb fluorocarbon leader, check my fishing knot article at http://www.jeffstacklebox.com for the 4 turn surgeons knot that goes line to leader and then the canoeman's loop for leader to lure. For the casting mono is great and that Citica is a fine reel for redfish. I would load with 12 to 15lb mono based on your own preference. That rig can be used for topwater throwing Spook Jrs, Chug Bugs, or even suspending plugs like Mirrodines. So far as a leader 20lb mono is fine here since you want the line to float with the topwater. You can go without the leader if you like. The lures are best tied in with a canoeman's loop sans the split rings. If you care to try superlines we use lighter ones here 10 or 15lb Power Pro or my own preference 10lb Fireline. Either can be leadered using the mentioned knots, just double the superline first, and tie in what you want fluorocarbon for subsurface mono for topwater. By the way for soft plastic baits it's hard to beat a slowly fished DOA shrimp since they hold up very well to pinfish and other little guys stealing bait, Gulp is expensive and those fish cost money big time. Color wise on those DOA shrimp Wal-Mart sells a spare parts kit with nine bodies, three hooks and three weights for less than three shrimp already rigged. The three colors in those packs are normally the glow, clear with gold glitter, and rootbeer with glitter, all wondeful colors that catch fish. Good luck!


http://www.jeffstacklebox.com
http://www.wavewalk.com

Great info, thanks a lot.

Yeah, ditto on the DOA's they are deadly on reds and trout too. Also there is a youtube video I saw on rigging them weedless so they reel in backwards to mimic a retreating shrimp. I'll look for the link and post it.

here is the link:

www.blixtube.com/K9AyIxdJ2BY/How-to-Tex ... hrimp.html

When using the Doa. Do you normally prefer to use them without the popping rig that they are often sold with?
Does anyone use swivels and clips with their gear? I try not to but I find myself not switching lures etc that much becasue I have to tie everything again.

No need for swivels and clips.

See Jeff's post above. Learn a:
1. Line to Leader knot, and;
2. Canoeman's or another variation of the loop knot. The loop knot is easy to tie, and shouldn't take more than 15 seconds once you have it down.

BTW that guy in the DOA Shrimp video posted above has some nice hands!

LOL he does doesn't he? The only time I use swivels is when I'm fishing with a spoon that didn't come with one attached. I use one here so the spoon can do what it was meant to do, spin. As for clips, they are just too combersome for me. It's easier to pull out my pocket knife and cut-and-tie again. Hope this helps!

line to leader is the only way to go unless fishing with a spoon like krazo84 said. the only time i fish with clips/rigs is when bottom fishing offshore or beach fishing because you have to change rigs/weights so often. in my opinion when you have all the metal in your rigs it prevents you from working the bait the way it was intended. my favorite line to leader knot is the uni-knot
(i think) it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it and it's pretty small. here is a link to a video, hope this helps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANupDtPWxtQ