That happened to me about 2 months ago. Fishing a drainage canal here, where the canal split into 2 narrow creeks when I hooked a medium sized Bowfin, as I was reeling it in, I heard a splash to my left side. Looked over and saw a 5-6 foot gator making a beeline for the fish. Now this creek was only 20 foot wide so he was on it quick, well I backed up the bank without reeling and of course I pull the fish along with me! When I got to top of bank and turned to look, the gator came right out of the water and grabbed the fish and my backpack strap with all my lures, leaders, digital scale, etc inside and turned and swam away, snapping my line. I just stood there looking as my freshwater pack with probably $150.00 of stuff inside disappeared. This canal has some nice bass in it too, caught my PB bass there, both over 8 lbs. Haven't been back because have to buy all new stuff! Didn't think I could still move as fast as I did. Took a few hours for the old ticker to slow back down to normal.

X2, I lose more worms to them then bass!

I have an old pair of running shoes. They are light weight and when tied on they don't slip off so easy when I get out and walk the bank in mud. Also dry out pretty fast too.

And most times the hook is right in the corner of mouth!

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I second that. You could also use a 1oz. white bucktail with a minnow/squid on it when drifting. Bluefish like most type cut bait, a bloody piece of frozen bumker is good. Good idea to use a wire leader too. I have had alot of luck with fresh clam or plugs for striper but not while drifting. You may get lucky catching a striper but they usually like the water a little cooler like in spring and fall. P.S. I lived in Jersey for 55 years, brother still lives in Cape May.

Good comeback! LOL Best you have?

didn't have necessary safety equipment on boat and no registration
on the way home hitch came off the ball boat in ditch

Enough said !!!!!!!

Don't think it is rude or disrespectful when safety is involved.

WOW!!!!! You sure like to take chances don't you? There is a reason for safety requirements on boats, they are there to protect you. What if when your boat came off the hitch it went into traffic and hurt/killed someone? Were your safety chains on the trailer or did you forget them too? That pontoon boat must be a real piece of work!

Redfish, whiting, sheepshead, flounder. If I am not mistaken snook season is closed until September. Pompano like water temps to be in the 70's* so that temp has long gone, probably in the low to mid 80's* right now down there. There are still plenty of fish you could catch and eat though. Get some live shrimp from the local bait shop and ask the person there whats running. He will even tell you what the best rig and bait to use in surf. Don't forget the back water also. They should have fish and game magazines there with all the fish size limits and number limits too. (they are free) You could mark the fish that he says are the best to keep and eat. Good luck. I am sure you will catch something to eat.

I watched a Roland Martin where he suggested to bend the hooks on a frog up and out just a little bit, but not far enough to make not be weedless. D Tong is right if you can, give a 2-3 second delay before setting hook. I am still trying my best to do that! LOL Sometimes it is so hard to resist setting the hook right away.

I usually have 2 rods with me while kayak fishing, When moving from 1 spot to another I leave 1 rod out trolling, you never know when something will bite. The other rod I always secure the hook to the hook keeper. Better to be safe then end your day early with a hook in you somewhere.

Buy a comfortable life jacket, they do get awkward if you get a bulky one. Try it on before you buy it. Don't forget a whistle too for safety. I have a sit on top kayak and I bought a couple skupper plugs for the holes under my seat pad. My kayak doesn't have raised seat, this keeps my butt dry.

I use a double uni knot to tie my braid to the mono that I use as backing on my reel. When I tie my braid to flourocarbon I use a FG knot, it seems to slip through the rod guides easier then a double uni knot, easy to tie also!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPTzkep9xlI

I will keep my faith in Him, where it belongs, and pass on the shot, too.[/quote]

Well, good luck with that but my money is on science for now.