Newbie

Welcome Merlin.

Sure wish we had more folks around Newport yakkin in up.  You Coosbanians seem to be breeding!  Maybe we need a get-together.

I was using an old pair of farmer johns I used when I taught SCUBA.  But it didn't give me the upper body protection I desired.  A few weeks ago I bought an 8th inch Billabong full body.  Easy to get into and out of, especially when you need some ventilation when the sun peeks out.

As for rods, I was using an old steelhead spinning rod but lost too many fish to the rocks.  I found an Ugly Stik, 6.5 Intercoastal at Wallyworld and will add an Ambasadour levelwind when they go on sale soon.  Cost B4 braid will be under $100.  For now I'm using an old Lamiglas deep sea rod and a large Shimano level wind.  Too expensive to loose ($400) and that's why I'm moving to the Ugly Stik.

If you make it up this way....

Greg