[Blue_Runner]

Good luck on the stripers ICEMAN 8) They do fight hard. I've never caught an AJ but I know those 6 - 10 lb stripers have amazing striking power! The big ones aint nothing to snub either. But I think you put a 30lb striper next to a 30lb AJ, I think the AJ would put him to shame. I say that having never caught an AJ of course ??? :-/

That 25lb king I caught last year I never touched the rod til it stopped screaming. I had about 100 ft of line left! My buddy was yelling, "He's going to spool you!" I didn't even flinch ;) I knew better than to pull the hook cause luckily I read up on it. Otherwise I'd have put the ol Bill Dance on him and never known what I had ::)

Matter of fact, what convinced me not to touch the rod was this article I read where this captain that does king charters will hit you in the head with an egg sinker if you even think about touching the rod too soon ;D 8)

I love the internet :)