St. Croix makes some of the best rods for the money but you can’t go wrong with Sage, Hardy etc
You could look up Federation of Fly Fishers ??? FFF. Members are generally happy to help beginning and intermediate casters
Looks to me they caught it off a pier . In that case no venting is required. I would rather vent a fish than have it flop helplessly on the surface. Just my opinion.
And yes, I practice catch and release in the best way I know how
If using really light lures/flies you could try a casting bubble
Depending on the reel, it shouldn’t be too difficult to change retrieve. Could probably Google how
If you have the time take a boating course through power squadron, USCG etc
They are starting to move up now. Several caught in the Appalachicola River within the last couple of days
LOVE IT... good for you and your GS
Beautiful fish, glad he’s still out there growing