Welcome Rich Troxler

your fishing gear for the yak is basically what I fish with on both kayak and boat. If a reel is going to fail, or a guide fall apart, I will usually know it before I get to the bay anyway. why spend more ?

I've beat the crap out of those rigs, and I'm ashamed to say that I don't take good care of them, but they still work. Problem is my local Walmart is not carrying that reel anymore. They have the next level up, of which I own one but am already having problems with. Planned obsolecense I guess lol. That video was from 2 summers ago. This summer there weren't as many puppy drum around, but the ones that were, were all over-slot slobs, around 32-33", which was fun from the kayak on that gear. That's the size they typically leave the bay and join their bigger brothers and sisters in the ocean biomass. That's why they call a 36" fish caught in the ocean, "a yearling". It's the first year in the ocean. They are strong fish, more muscular than Striped Bass. I've had the 33" fish swim up tide and drag me all the way around at anchor against the current in my kayak. They're my new obsession lol.

what do you use for drum bait-wise?

what do you use for drum bait-wise?

Sorry for the late reply. You can fish for drum pretty much the same way you fish for stripers. For artificials, I will use a lead head with a Gulp shad body for the smaller slot fish, but mostly fresh mullet that I cast net myself. For the bull drum in the ocean, I use fresh Spot, preferrably the heads. Spot are very numerous down here in the fall, so catching fresh bait is not that difficult. There are also a few commercial dragger outlets where I can load up on spot if I don't have the chance to catch them myself. I would use fresh bunker if I could find it, but it's not readily available down here. Though Spot is my favorite bait, they'll eat anything, like chunks of eel and any other local fish, as well as shrimp and crab.

Nice. I see all the OG crew here.

Nice. I see all the OG crew here.

Your presence is very much appreciated!

Thanks guys. Haven't been on that much lately. Had to deal with something with my wife and then the last couple days I had a massive vertigo attack. Couldn't move off my stomach or the world would spin off it's axis. I've had a few of these before but this was a particularly nasty one. The spinning has finally stopped but I'm still pretty shaky and weak.

Whoa ! Feel better.

Sending positive thoughts your way. Feel better.

Feel better., cellfish...

Thanks guys. Seeing the doctor today. Spinning stopped but my balance is shot. Makes it's uncomfortable to be up 20 feet on a ladder lol.

Hey you surf anglers, you've been treated to have a moderator that is a true sharpie. His knowledge is vast and he can catch big fish!

Welcome aboard Rich and thank you for joining the team!

George

Rich, I need your help reading a beach. xk@revdrxk.com