My brother retired from Taystee Bread Company as a bread truck driver in Detroit after 43 years, paying into the the Teamsters and, unfortunately, trying to “live” on the meager pension they provided. Thank goodness for the additional Social Security “benefit” or, as he so accurately described it, “Governmental double-taxation”, since he’d already paid income tax once on that “benefit” already!

Not to deviate too far from the subject of Bread trucks but, what do you guys feel about paying income taxes Twice on SS income? Especially since congress (note: small-“c”); 1.) Threatened for the last 50 years that payouts are about to run out. 2.) Constantly raised the amount we have to pay in. 3.) Constantly threatens to give “benefits” to illegals who never paid in?

Hi Larb, If you find yourself short on crew, I’m happily retired and free to go (that is: ready to get out of the wife’s hair 😉). Whenever the weather’s good and the waters’ calm - fishing’s 🎣 Always a Go 😊! Feel free to give me a shout…..jeretired (Venice)…..☘️

Spiny Rays include perch, bluegills, sunnies, crappies and even bass in some areas. Think about trout, and almost any other type fish that tastes Fantastic can be classified as a spiny ray! They’re fun to catch, a challenge to fillet, and a delicacy to eat…..☘️

Do you need a boat or can you catch a limit 🐟 off the shore? Not much luck off the Venice jetties and definitely not off Sharkey’s Pier 🤔, the last month. Florida’s tough after having boats 🚤 up north and out west for the last 50 years, and now living in “saltwater country” without one 😩…..☘️

I haven’t been out lately (nonstop company for the last 5 weeks 🥵), but the pompano are running And last of the company leaves tomorrow 🥳…..☘️

Hi Larb, I’m Jerry O’Connor (Jeretired - on Fishing Stage). I live in Venice and am always up for a trip to the shore/beach for a little fishing expedition 😉. I tie my own rigs (pompano, Fishfinder, loop, etc.,), and have a “Fish’n-Mate Jr cart” prepped and ready to go. I’m always looking for a fishing buddy (I’m a spry 78 but my wife frets when I head out alone)! If you ever find yourself in need of another fishing partner (charter or shore), don’t hesitate to give me a buzz at (360) 349-5724…..☘️

Friends in Vancouver, BC, Canada are paying $4 p/liter or approximately $10 p/gallon for gas right now. Sure wish Oprah and all her “friends” would’ve made the trek when they threatened to…..☘️

We recently left Washington state for Florida and the wife and I just rode out Hurricane Ian. We’d do it again…just to be away from that liberal nut-job Governor of Washington and what he’s done to the western side of that once beautiful state! We’ll never go back to that wasteland after seeing what’s happened to it over the last 15 years! We barely survived there between the godawful taxes, weather, homeless dregs, and did I mention, the Taxes?…☘️

Alaska, Driving from Fairbanks back to Anchorage about 11pm, 70mph. Saw a moose 🦌 out of my right eye, and cut the wheel just in time to have her take out the mirror, partial window and passenger door "gingerbread". Upon stopping, she had loped off but knew I had to report it: drove 30 miles to nearest phone booth and called state police.
First thing they asked was how many civilians killed upon impact 😱! Foreign compact made it back to Anchorage at 40mph and declared a "Total", slowed me down night-driving for several weeks and my last time driving in Alaska on business trips for at leasr 6 months 😫. I escaped physical injury but "shook" all the way back to Anchorage 😨!.....☘

Question for ya, Mike: We finally got back to Florida (from Colorado) on Sunday and went fishing Tuesday off a friend's dock onto the Intracoastal (Gulf of Mexico). Buddy and I caught one Pompano (undersized) and a dozen nice sized salt-water cats. They're probably as good eating as freshwater cats but certainly as hard to clean too.
That's my dilemma, we threw them back because we didn't know what to expect: how difficult are they to fillet? How do they taste? Are they worth keeping? Should we have kept them instead of throwing them back? A couple of them were Really Good Sized, I hated to throw them back, to tell you the truth.
Should have taken some pics but didn't consider it until I saw your "catch", Mike. All the comments you received from the guys on the Forum were raves about how great your catch was and how good the cats were gonna taste! That's what enticed me to reply to your note, you seem to be the "Catfish Expert" of the Forum!

I'm with you Fred, I've bought tackle from Wish, Wal-Mart, Cabellas and Bass Pro. The bottom line is that everything I've brought home was made in China and priced everywhere from a couple bucks to nearly $20 depending which distributor/store it came from, BUT probably everything I bought was made in the same sweatshop by child labor!

All I'm saying is, if we (F-S Forum members) can go to Barlow's, Lure Parts, and/or Jann's because we were referred to them by other members who saved $$ by shopping with there, it's a win-win for Us! If those referrals save us $5 or $10 from what the same tackle would have cost at Bass Pro, Cabellas or Dicks, then belonging to Fishing Stage is a great advantage for all of us.

There's so many experts on this site with lots of time on their hands, it'd be a great service to identify and list the suppliers of fishing tackle who don't rip the "average" fisherman off.
I'm talking about helping the guy who's trying to make a living on $35/$40k a year with a family of 4 and a wife who's working a part-time job to keep the groceries on the table (not easy 20 years ago and much more difficult now, given today's economic turmoil)!
Who can afford to buy a combination rod and reel from Cabellas or Bass-Pro for a couple hundred bucks Plus lures and tackle that add up to another hundred bucks more for trout, bass, pike, crappie and every other specialty/season of the year? Wal-Mart isn't the answer anymore with the cheap junk they're shippng in from China. You can't find American made quality or even Japanese quality any more.
There's got to be web sites where we can find bargains on tackle, places similar to "Wish", where you can buy a decent Circle Hook and it doesn't cost $7 for three plus $5 S&H! Fishing Stage is the place for dedicated fishing enthusiasts to help each other and identify where the "Bargain Bins" are for those of us trying to get by in these tough times.

Sorry it took so long to get back to you; I'm just now following up on previous emails as I start packing up to head home to Florida from nearly a year in Colorado Springs. I spent 13 years combined active USAF and Air National Guard time before I resigned for a 5 - year stint in Germany as a DoD Civilian. There were many years as a Logistics Manager at the Tank - Automotive - Command (TACOM) in Warren, MI., and a final 5 years at Ft Lewis, WA., wrapping up a highly successful 32 year government career.

Thanks Jack, this is the kind of response that's invaluable to novice saltwater fishermen like me. Unfortunately, too many times guys get a little too "helpful (?)" and respond to requests for assistance with strange replies. Your answer is right on the money and worth a dozen blurbs like, "Sorry, I only fish fresh water at "lake-so-and-so" in middle-America, USA.😂🤣😃". When the request is for help for Salt Water line and leader. It makes a world of difference to be able to read an answer that responds directly to a specific question instead of reasons why the question(s) can't be answered (Or is it Just Me)?

Wow, I thought my story was unique but its actually so very similar to many of yours: my dad spent his life providing for our family of nine with no time for himself. I left Detroit at 17 to join the Air Force and ended up on a mountain top on Oregon's west coast. Luckily for me, a grizzled old Master Sergeant took me under his wing and taught me how to fish the local rivers and streams.
Over the last 50 years I've enjoyed numerous "freshwater" boats, (moved way too many times - compliments of Uncle Sam), and taught my kids, nephews, nieces and neighbor kids the basics of fishing from bluegill to trout to bass.
Now I'm prepping myself to tackle Florida's west-central coastline for surf fishing and all that entails. My wife decided now that I'm in my late 70s, I don't need to venture out into the Gulf in my own boat and I've reluctantly agreed.
Thanks to you "pro's" on the Stage, I've been studying all your suggestions and guidance provided about fishing saltwater anywhere and everywhere. Starting in January, my new adventure begins.....☘