So, I was at about 110 rod and reel combos.  Many of which were well usable, but more like loaner outfits or retired combos.  The one's that have made my "Hall of Fame" were placed in the shrine and the others were slowly sold off (or given away).  I didn't want to get rid of so many, but it was time.  I also wanted to get to a good core of combos that I can grab at the drop of a hat and know it's from my A-List and not having to check if my line or drag was good anymore on this rod or reel.

Amazingly, I dropped my count to 60 set ups.  Many reels were put in the "spare parts" bin which I didn't want to sell and many of the rods were basically given away that were unsellable.

I am really happy with my current quiver and ready to fish for about everything now.  LOL

Then "someone" came along and offered some deals that I couldn't pass up on gear I really wanted and needed.  So I am back to 80 set ups now and have a new issue.  I want to bring them all on every fishing trip so that means I'll be spending more time trying to figure out what rod combos I'll be bringing on board than actually getting the boat ready for the fishing trip!

Well, I finally had someone come over (Thanks for Jorge's number, Tim).

It looks like I have one viable option... and it will be a little pricey.  I need to have a mechanic unhook all of the steering, throttle, electrical and plumbing in the console.  Once I pay the mechanic, then Jorge will raise the center console to clean and prep the bottom of the console to get 5200'd back to the deck along with 10 small screws to pin it while the 5200 adheres.  Apparently, I have a plastic gas tank and that makes him really nervous drilling and screwing anywhere near that.

Then I pay him and then have to pay the mechanics to re-attach all of the steering, batteries, throttle and bait pump plumbing.   Bring On Another Thousand.... or more.

I'll bring my electric Daiwa if we go deep dropping.  LOL

I was so mad at losing so many bass on the whippy rod, I stopped at Turners to take advantage of their Father's Day sale... and now have another bay bass rod.  lol

I needed to get out and fish a bit since I didn't want another weekend slipping by without wetting a line.

I grabbed my bay gear and got down for the dropping tide.  First thing I noticed was my shoulder starting to hurt almost right away which means another PRP shot will be coming soon.

The hooksets sent a stinging pain up my arm and possibly the reason I farmed so many, but I also found most of the fish in the heaviest grass beds which posed its own special issue as that is the spotties forte on escape.

I managed 4 spotties, a sand bass, and dropped one trying to lift up the rocks.  On the other hand, I probably hooked 10 which all shook the hook.  Most of the bass were small, but I did have one legal spottie up to the rocks, but a roll and a tail slap knocked the weedless hook right out.  I also was using a whippy rod which made the hookset with a weedless set up much harder especially with my bum shoulder.

One of the cooler things that happened was I was talking to Dave on the phone and looked down at this sandy spot between the grass and saw an outline.  Damn, it was (probably) a legal halibut!  I got off the phone with Dave really quick and rolled that swimmy right in front of it's nose, but all it did was slowly swim off into the grass.  Damn!   50 more casts and I gave up on it.

Then I see a shark swimming along the fringes of the grass beds.  I didn't see any saddles and it was dark, so I am guess a big smooth hound.  Didn't get him either.

Oh well, still a fun time but my shoulder is still hurting this morning which isn't a good sign.

I'll put pics up later, but until then, have a great day everyone.

Catfish and kebabs! And whiskey!

Well if you need a deckhand to get eaten alongside...Steve should be free.

Throwing me to the squids?

I'm not reeling anything up from that deep.

Quote from: Latimeria on June 05, 2026, 06:43:00 AMGood looking gear Jeremy!  I finally have someone coming by to check out the console on my boat so hopefully I'll be out on the water again soon and get some reels a little salty!

Thornyheads, huh?  I was considering deep dropping for Giant squid.  I'm not sure if one has been caught recreationally or not yet.

Well if you need a deckhand to get eaten alongside...Steve should be free.

That would make a lot of cut bait. Now that you mention it, I've never heard or considered where they've been found, how deep, on super deep seamounts vs continental ledges verses coastal ledges. You would have to be the first if you did get one though.

Good looking gear Jeremy!  I finally have someone coming by to check out the console on my boat so hopefully I'll be out on the water again soon and get some reels a little salty!

Thornyheads, huh?  I was considering deep dropping for Giant squid.  I'm not sure if one has been caught recreationally or not yet.

Been quietly accumulating used stuff from work the last couple years. Most of my lighter gear has been used at least once from shore. The boat stuff has just been sitting pretty all this time though.

Left to right, Tekota 500HGA, Tekota 800PGA, TAC8, TAC16II, and TAC20II. TAC8 has been on a couple boat rides, farmed a small bluefin on it last year, Tekota got some rail time rockfishing last month. The others patiently wait their turn. Not pictured are a Tiagra 30w and 50w that live on rod butts in a more incognito location, because I´m already taking up too much living room space between this full rack and the rotating inshore rack. Hope they see deep dropping, big skirts, and madmacs eventually.

The 800 yearns to pull blackgill and thornyheads from 1300´.