The whole idea of a Carolina Rig is that the fish can take the bait without feeling tension. I not only don’t take up slack, I leave the line free to run. When a big fish takes the bait and moves out, it won’t let go because the line runs free. When I think it’s swallowed the bait, I remove the slack by locking the reel and watching the line. When all the slack is gone, I set the hook hard.
Seldom loose a fish with this technique.

I prefer a bow mount mainly for steering. A stern mount takes a little getting use to . The bow mount turns the boat immediately with lots more control.

You can google octopus recipes on line. You can also sell them to restaurants.
Restaurants sell them as Scallops. If you order Scallops from a restaurant and when you get them they’re all the same size, they are really Octopus that they use a small “punch” to cut them out of the octopus.

A lot of these answers especially those referring to knee surgery are referring to epidurals that block pain for doing procedures below the waist.
Mid lumbar anesthesia is used primarily as a diagnostic tool and is very temporary.

I have had the procedure. It is used in diagnostics to determine the exact site of back pain. Once that is determined, other procedures (nerve oblation or steroid injections are usually done).
The procedure usually requires you to lay face down and local anesthesia is injected over the spinal site. The injection stings a little.
When the area is numb, a needle with another local anesthetic is injected near the spine at the site where the nerves leave the spinal vertebrae.
My doctor uses a digital x-Ray to guide him to the exact area.
I’m actually scheduled for this procedure tomorrow.
I’ve had them before. The tiny amount of discomfort is worth the results. I’ve had both procedures. The one with steroid injections gives me a four month relief period and an oblation in which the nerves are cauterized with a lazear last 18 mo.
Don’t be afraid of it. It’s a breeze.

Fish Rules is a free APP. It shows pictures of most fish. It also lets you know if they’re in season, min - max lengths, how to measure (from tip to tip or tip of nose to fork in tail), number you are allowed individually or in the boat.
It’s a great APP for new and “seasoned” fishermen.

Amen to that Eastern.
I get batteries from WalMart. I have two deep cycle for my 24v trolling motor. A 12 V starting battery that charges while the engine is running and a separate 12 v for my electronics (GPS, Aerator toilet and sink). I like having one battery designated to just crank the engine.
I have a 22’ pontoon and go out in the ocean 12 - 15 miles so I probably have “overkill”.
But use a separate battery to crank your engine. Trolling motors can really drain a battery.

It’s a Yellow Jack

There is a 10 mile wide shelf that runs the entire length of Florida’s Gulf Coast. It may still only be 7’ deep when you’re 10 miles out. I usually go out of Anclote Ramp in Tarpon Springs ( a little South of you). I have to go out 12 miles for 20’ deep water snd 15 miles fir 30’ deep water.
Lately fishing has been very poor no mater where I fish.
Hopefully the fishing will pick up as the temperatures cool.

We catch sharks that look like that in Florida. We call them Black Tip Sharks.
Look at the tips on the tail and caudal fins.

We catch sharks that look like that in Florida. We call them “Black Tip” Sharks.
Look at the tips on the tail and caudal fins.
I don’t know if you have them in NJ.

You’re not alone. I fish off Anclote Keys (midway down the West Coast of the Florida peninsula) I have to go out 12-15 miles to get off the ledge that runs the full length of Florida’s West Coast. I like to fish 22-30 ft. deep and until the last 2 months, caught lots of fish. Mostly grunts, Jacks, Porgies and every now and then a Mackerel or a Trout.
The last two months, I haven’t even caught any little fish.
I fish Tarpon Springs for my fresh water fishing but I haven’t been able to find fish there.
I was told that even low levels of Red Tide deplete the oxygen supply in Salt Water and the fish leave.
I’ve only lived in Florida 2 years and I’m still trying to figure things out.

I live on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I fish near Anclote islands. For the past two years, I would catch 30-40 fish ( 14 to 16 worth keeping). For the past 3 weeks I’ve caught little to nothing.
I’ve fished the shallows snd gone out to 30 feet deep. Red tide measures are very low in this area.
Is it me or is everyone having trouble.

All of these answers and no one mentioned the vaccine. We no longer have Small Pocks or Polio because we all took the vaccine. Our kids get all kinds of vaccines before they can go to public schools. Our soldiers are vaccinated every time they are deployed.
This vaccine appears to have the highest degree of protection than any previous vaccine. We have made this political and the virus doesn’t care what your political convictions are.
Variants come about when the virus passes from one person to another and mutations occur during passage.
Vaccines will go a long way in eliminating variants.

But this is a fishing format. So guys stay safe and tight lines to everyone.

I bought an AquVu camera when they first came out. The advertising videos were great so I had to have one.
There advertisement videos must have been taken in a swimming pool. In real lake conditions I couldn’t see a fish unless it bumped into the lens.
I was really disappointed.