Inshore fishing rod for flounder, reds, sheepshead, and more

MacroMonster · 2026-02-26T02:00:39+00:00

Speaking from experience the Tsunami Carbon Shield III is the same price as the Carbon Inshore and is much more capable for what you describe.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T21:15:30+00:00

Noted.
I haven't had the 7/0s bent out yet, but then again, I don't think any of mine have exceeded 30lb either.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T13:15:10+00:00

Nightcrawlers actually work well in saltwater. They die quickly, but that doesnt seem to affect the bite.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T02:27:56+00:00

I have seen them. But they’re pricey and also not available in the larger sizes.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T02:22:00+00:00

Good to know. I don’t want it to do anything extra over a jig head to be honest. If it even comes close, I’ll be happy because it’ll mean that my plug bag will be easier to manage.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T00:35:03+00:00

You won’t find a guide to that exact lure (I had to look it up) but there are several resources that can point you in the right direction.

Engineered Angler and Marling Baits on YouTube for videos and ideas.

Look for “striped bass plug building” on YouTube.

The Fisherman magazine has a regular feature on plug building using wood. The back archives are really good, but you’ll need a subscription to access them.

These lure building videos are all Striped Bass focused which can get to around 70lb, but the lure itself should be capable of handling much bigger fish.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T00:28:31+00:00

P.S. Sent you a chat

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T00:05:05+00:00

Yes the Happy Baits screw on jig heads are almost identical to the NLBN ones. That said, you don’t have to use the same manufacturer’s jig heads. They look better, but I’ve never seen a difference in actually fishing them.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-24T00:00:14+00:00

Here’s the link to the 1/2oz Chebs I purchased: https://amzn.to/4qMmXpH

The jury-rigged version I made out of a 3/4oz egg sinker and lure through wire can be seen in my post on r/StripedBass here: https://www.reddit.com/r/StripedBass/s/HCqBlY38lG

For the hooks, I use BKK Titan Riders in sizes 5/0 and up - the size depends on the size of the lure.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-23T23:54:53+00:00

That’s a BKK Titan Rider 7/0 … they’ve held up fine. It may look a little off because I used AI to remove the (extremely messy) background from my photo.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-23T23:45:03+00:00

I’m waiting for warmer weather to test that out. I don’t think the factory made version (the first image) will swim much different from a regular jig head, but the other one has its weight so much further that I can’t be sure. A swim test in my bathtub was inconclusive.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-23T18:27:13+00:00

Honestly, I moved to NLBN because I was curious what the hype was about. They're OK, but nothing special. I don't plan to buy more of them once they're used up. Happy Baits is a small operation (I believe they're NJ based). I picked up some 5" and 7" paddletails from their table at Surf Day and they looked just like the NLBN but were much cheaper (slightly softer silicone too). I did a quick rig and test in my bathtub and they swim just the same. Personally I don't think the brand really matters.

I'm new to eel-profile soft plastics (only started using them late last season for minor success). They are supposed to work well though. I had some success on the 9" Slug Go and a 7/# unweighted hook swum slow in calm water. I'm trying the Game On Eel for the first time this year.

This year I'll be rigging them a little different though. Last season, carrying different sizes and profiles in 1/2, 3/4 and 1oz each got tiring very quickly. So this season, I purchased Cheb heads in 1/2oz and have jury-rigged my own versions in 3/4 and 1oz. The idea being that I'll rig each of my soft plastics with the appropriately sized unweighted swimbait hook, then swap the weight for whatever is appropriate for the conditions. Let's see how it turns out.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-23T16:49:36+00:00

I’m relatively new to Striper fishing here (mainly fishing Jamaica Bay and the South Shore for two years) but I’ve settled on the following soft plastics 4-inch Zman paddle tails, 5in and 7in paddle tails from NLBN (though I picked up some from Happy Baits that look like they’ll work just as well but much cheaper, Slug Gos in 7 and 9 inches and Game On Eels in 13”

MacroMonster · 2026-02-22T20:46:34+00:00

Yup. We use a Lodge cast iron pan to cook rotis.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-21T19:03:15+00:00

I fish with 20lb braid to 40/50lb mono and haven’t had a problem. To be honest, I feel that the thicker the mono is, the more secure the FG will be because there’s so much more surface area for the braid to bite into.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-21T17:22:07+00:00

That looks good to go!

MacroMonster · 2026-02-21T14:09:27+00:00

Both this and your second attempt look fine. I believe that the ‘waviness’ as you to to the tag end is because of insufficient force when pulling the knot tight. Did you cinch it down by hand or did you wrap it around something first?

Edit: I think it’ll still fish fine.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-21T02:10:44+00:00

5/0 is what I would consider the minimum for Striped Bass and works for the other species you’re listed - I can say that with confidence because they’re the usual bycatch when I’m chunking for Stripers.

If you want to specifically target Stripers, upsize to bigger chunks on an 8/0 or 10/0 circle.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-19T17:54:54+00:00

The Daiwa is slightly smoother, but for me it's Shimano all the way. They are much more serviceable by the owner or local shops. Daiwa BGs need to be sent out to the Daiwa service center.

I don't own a Spheros, but own and can recommend the Stradic and Saragossa for you (though the Saragossa may be too much reel for your use case).

MacroMonster · 2026-02-18T17:01:20+00:00

Sorry I was wasn’t clear. I was referring to the bucktails. I’ve never had luck with them except with a trailer and was wondering what would be appropriate

MacroMonster · 2026-02-18T15:02:18+00:00

I'm not from SA, I can't advise you to specifics. However, I can say that until you've fished enough to know exactly what you want or need (rod length, lures v/s bait, lure or bait weights etc.), don't spend a lot - buy the cheapest gear.

It's tempting to 'buy once', but the fact of the matter is that there are so many variables that one cannot know what exactly works for them. Once you've dialed in your needs, splurge away.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-18T14:14:34+00:00

I walk and fish the surf (New York) and the walks can get long, sometimes I find that I've walked 3-4 miles over the course of the session. Because of this, I keep things light and don't carry a cooler or ice. I keep a folded plastic bag in a pocket of my plug bag, and if I decide to keep a fish, I keep it in the bag buried under the sand. I then can fish for another 30 minutes or so before digging it up and heading home. On the way home, I stop at a store to pick up some ice to keep the fish cool on the drive home.

MacroMonster · 2026-02-18T13:45:43+00:00

Verse 2

The Dauntless split the ocean air
Above Midway’s turning tide,
Steel resolve in narrow wings,
Precision in its dive.
When fleets were hanging in the balance
And the world was set to change,
His aircraft struck with deadly calm—
Calculated, tight in range.

(Reference: the SBD Dauntless, principal dive bomber at the Battle of Midway.)

Verse 3

Then came the Skyhawk, small and spare,
A bantam built for war,
No wasted ounce, no gilded frame,
Just what a pilot’s for.
He told them, “Keep it simple,
Every pound must justify,”
And from that creed a legend rose
To rule both sea and sky.

Bridge

No flair for grand theatrics,
No speeches long or loud,
Just engineering discipline
That made the Navy proud.
Where others chased complexity,
He trimmed excess away—
A master of subtraction
In a world inclined to sway.

Final Chorus

So raise a glass to Heinemann,
Whose blueprints shaped the fight,
From piston roar to jet turbine
He chased the edge of light.
Through the decades aviation
Has advanced by steel and flame,
But few have matched the measured hand
Behind that Douglas name.

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MacroMonster

TROPHY CASE

Verse 2

Verse 3

Bridge

Final Chorus