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You will not feel overgunned with an 8 weight on saltwater fish, compared the 7 weight. I would estimate that an 8 weight is about the equivalent of a medium-light, 6-pound-test spinning outfit in terms of how powerful it feels when fighting fish. Even little redfish and more moderate trout put up ...

There are no fish in Purify Bay and you cannot launch your yak there.

Interesting thread. I'd never thought of trying a single-blade.

By no means are SOT's only for summer months. I wear breathable waders and can fish any day of the year, regardless of the temperature.

Indeed, it has all the qualities described above. I paddled one on the 'Goon two weeks ago. It is not the fastest boat, however; that is the tradeoff for being able to stand.

I've had a pair of breathables that I've used for two seasons now when fishing out of my kayak. Breathables are more expensive than neoprene (although you can usually get pairs from Bass Pro & Cabelas for less than $100) but they are more versatile. Neoprene waders are hot no matter what you wear ...

Strangely I've never run into a wahoo in Stoney Bayou.

For your second question, I have two Shimano baitcasters (Citica & Curado) spooled with 20 lb. PP. If your thumb is reasonably educated, you'll be fine. It has more of a tendency to backlash than mono, but in my estimation, when a backlash does occur, it is easier to pick out.

For a loop knot, I really like Lefty Kreh's non-slip loop. Easy to tie, and doesn't open or close.

E.g.,

http://www.flyfishlouisiana.com/nonslip_loop_knot.htm

The best advice for a person in the market for a yak is to try as many out as you can. What works for one person does not work for another. There are pros & cons to nearly every aspect of kayak design (sit-inside v. SOT; 12 ft. v. 16 ft.; so on). All of them will handle saltwater, and all of them ...

I don't know much about the terminology of batteries, but I assume more reserve capacity is better. I don't know how this figure is calculated--that is, what kind or amount of draw will deplet the battery at the stated rate--but the Odyssey battery has only 24 minutes of reserve capacity.

I also ...

I sometimes use circle hooks with soft-plastic jerk baits--it works great, provided there is not too much floating grass. I sometimes have trouble setting the hook with an unweighted jerk bait due to the slack I throw in the line when I twitch. Circle hooks take care of that--instead of worrying ...

I've got a similar story. Two summers ago, I was fishing by Lanark Reef out of my kayak. I was wading, catching pinners for shark bait, when I had an adolescent pelican approach me. I thought he wanted a handout, but he didn't--he chased me around my kayak 3 times, in thigh-deep water, no less. I'm ...

Maverick HPX-T, Pathfinder, & Hells Bay = Good. Savage Creek = Bad. I'm sure there are many more, but those are the first to pop in my mind.

A black drum--

http://indian-river.fl.us/fishing/fish/drumblac.jpg

A whiting--

http://www.theoutdoorlodge.com/images/fishing/species/northernkingfish.gif

Which one? I've caught a few black drum around the oyster bars at St. Marks, but I've never run into whiting around oyster bars--usually ...