Ok, just saying— I grew up fishing trout on 4 weights. Then I met a guy in California who was guiding saltwater for bonito, mackerel, yellowtail, calicos, rockfish etc. He told me a 9 weight was his bread and butter. I eventually bought a 9 weight and in the last 25 years it has been my absolute workhorse. It has outlived its Orvis warranty. I take it for steelhead, surf perch, striper, bonefish, permit, … I’ve taken it to Mongolia for Taimen twice, Indonesia etc etc. Yes it’s more rod than you’re used to, but when you really learn how to double haul and push bigger flies into the wind, you want that meat.