I don't have anything to "prove" regarding fish catching prowess. I'm sure you're quite talented at the sport based on the stories posted here. I enjoy reading about other's exploits/experience. Stopped fishing for money long ago. Fish only for the pleasure of being on the water and providing some fresh protein for the neighborhood. Angry old man? Perhaps that's a correct description of my personality at times. Probably more often than I would like. As to being a "badass", that ship has sailed. At 75 I'm fortunate that I can still throw a 12' net when necessary. I don't tell fish stories from "back in the day" as they would seem like just that - stories to those who weren't around back then. Bragging isn't my forte'. I've done a lot of things over my working lifetime in order to keep my kids fed and clothed. Now I like to sit around and read & watch the exploits of others, even though I still get out a couple of times a week to kill something. That's why I made the comment about more fish posts - in the fishing section. That wasn't directed at you personally. Hope that makes us feel better. Oh, by the way I fish for snapper almost exclusively and my posting the same types of pictures would to me be boring. That's why I post over there infrequently. Just seemed to me that there are a lot of anglers on this site and that all of us would find it interesting to see what's up elsewhere.
Nice post. I never came to this forum to brag, and I hope I don't come across that way. I won't address any other of your commrnts, other than the snapper comment.
As for fishing, I try and try to impart my thoughts here. I try to take off my Belize hat and put on my SW FL hat.
If I sound arrogant, and much like an asshole, then bingo, you get a gold star. Other than your comment above, you come here to comment politically . Period. Your politics.
So let's talk snapper, and now I'm going to preach, and brag.
SW coast of FL, mangroves are easy. Any hard bottom, any ledge, any wreck, published or not. Said it a few says ago, most people don't know about the yellowtail. In that area.
Those stories are definitely back in the day, as you put it. Funny thing, there is no pressure on the above fishery, I'm quite confident it will stay intact for the near future.
Back to snapper, back home, bring your friends and an extra boat. I will run 45kts, on the GPS until 160'. Roughly 60 miles. You guys better keep up. Limit of Red Snapper in the boat inside of 30 minutes.
Or, I could stop in 70', on a ledge, and chum. Limit of 10lb mangroves before it gets too hot. Basically on the surface. High in the water column. Not too many people on the planet can do that consistently, if ever.
Down here, I can abuse the inshore fish, snappers without even thinking. But..... the ultimate prize, that I feel like I've mastered, is the cubera's.
Gotta go early and catch bait, and a bunch of crabs.
Then you tell me what a 50lb cubera feels like on light tackle.
This ain't back in the day, as you said.... This is now
I'd rather talk fishing and help as much a I can.
I will propose a deal, you stop talking politics, and I will give a fishing lesson a day, from my experience.
I've caught a few Cuberas and know how hard they fight. Don't much care to pull on really big fish anymore as my back can't take it. My fishing is in the Keys and Tampa Bay and walking the beaches and inlets in St. Pete (where I only fish 6# braid). Mostly the Keys. I like fish that hit hard and give up in under 10 minutes. All on 12# spinning. I always enjoy learning new things, so please do post. As to politics, I don't think so. Too much fun. We can seperate the two.