whats the thought on leader material for the bay, not talking about tuna or anything crazy. florocarbon 20-30lbs ? mono 10-20lbs ? or how about using hybrids or braid ? i like the idea of smaller thinner diameter line just worried about problems with knots slipping. have been using 25lb florocarbon material for my flounder rigs, tied a bunch but didnt get to use them this summer. is 25 lb heavy enough? lets hear what you guys have to say.

I hear 50# is more appropriate than 25#. Rest assured, if I'm wrong we"ll know real soon. Fish on...

I have 30-50 pound braid on all my inshore reels. Lets you feel every little bounce. I then use 30# Flouro as my leader, tied to my braid with a uni-to-uni knot.

I use 30 to 50lb mono for my floundering and as far as striper 50 to 80lb mono. Flourocarbon might be better, I haven't tried it yet. The Bays clarity is generally alittle cloudy so mono seems to do fine. I've tied braid directly to jigs and that worked fine. In super clear water, flourocarbon (in theory) might work better. Next time you're out, try one of each side by side and see what works better.

DB

I have a roll of 80# mono that I keep in the boat and use for just about everything in the bay.

For most species you should start with what you think will work but have lighter stuff you can go to if your not getting bites.If your useing 30lb test Flouro for Flounder have some 20 incase you need to go lighter.We do the same thing with Tuna.If they only hit the dink rigs we get rid of the 130# stuff and go to 80# leader.It just depends from day to day.Water clarity,Sunlight,High temperatures, and Heavy boat pressure all make fish leader shy from my point of view.

I use 30 or 40 for flounder, 50 or 80 for rockfish (depends on the size of the fish), and 80 for cobia and big drum.

Casting:
reds: 20lb flouro or mono
specks: 12lb flouro
stripers at the CBBT: 20-30lb camo mono
stripers on the flats: 20lb camo or flouro
black drum: 60-80lb mono
spades: 40lb flouro

Trolling:
bay and ocean stripers: 80lb mono
mojo's and umbrella's: 100lb mono
river stripers: 60lb mono
spanish macs, specks: 20lb flouro

bottom:
Cobia and Red Drum: 80lb mono
Flounder: 40lb flouro

Specks: 17lb flouro
Bay and ocean stripers: 40 -60lb mono
Black drum: 60lb mono
Cobia and Red Drum: 60lb mono
Spades: 20lb flouro
Flounder: No structure 20lb flouro
Structure 30lb flouro
Bluefish (choppers): 45lb wire

I usually purchase the premade spot rigs but am thinking about making my own.how would you suggest I make a 2 hook bottom rig for spots?

Quickest way would be to tie 2 dropper loops in your leader then affix your snelled hooks to the loops. If the loops are long enough and the line thin enough, you could just thread the loops through the hook eyes.

Thanks for the info.Would you suggest a 3ft or 4 ft leader of 17 lb fluorocarbon?

For spot rigs, I've found the top hook to be almost useless... they feed right on the bottom. No need for floro. Try to tie the rig so that the hook is at sinker level.

thanks.Now if the weather will cooperate,Ill be out there

thanks people lots of usefull info as always.
god i love this site.