I haven't fished the salt in about 20 years. I also can't imagine an 83 pound cobia/ling.

About 30+ years ago, some friends and I decided to try kingfish with jointed rapalas and Ambassadeur reels with a standard bait casting rod. The boat captain thought we were nuts until it started working. He got on the radio talking to the rest of the boat captains and we had a crowd waiting at the dock. Later, it became quite popular on the Texas Gulf coast. We each took 3 reels in case the kings stripped all of out line off. That wasn't real unusual.

We sure didn't try that on the cobia around the drilling rigs.

BTW, last time I went salt water fishing was on my honeymoon. I knew I had married the right girl.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa