[striprman]

Ok, I will answer my own questions. The fireline seemed to stand up
to repeated casting (didnt get the frizzys) and I just used it straight to a barrel swivel, and a 3' piece of 50 pound test ande clear mono as a leader for the jig and popper. The firelineline worked fine without a mono "shock leader".
I tried casting with and without a finger guard . I didn't get cut but the fingerguard made it more comfortable to cast repeatedly (I just wrapped 3 or 4 wraps of duct tape around my right index finger).
Was a rather different experience using the fireline instead of mono. Didn't seem to cast as far (maybe it was me just getting used to no strech) but the way the rod felt after hooking up was certainly different than using mono (I caught a couple 26" blues and a 26" bass) 1 blue on a white and blue 3 ounce pencil popper and the other bass and blue on a 3 ounce bucktail with pork rind. Got a good workout, not too many fish around, a couple larger breaks way out in the middle about 6-6:30 A.M., no bites on bait (used 1 rod). So, I will be using this stuff now for jigging and casting poppers.
Think I'll go again Sunday and Monday. Oh, I used a palomar knot to attach the swivel and 2 improved clinch knots to attach the short piece of mono backing. I'm tired now, no sleep last night (I left at 3:30). Ya, jigging hurts my old back. I'm taking my kids next time, let them do all the work while I instruct them to cast the 12 foot rod.
Bluefish chowder for supper (I did keep 1). Kind of chilly, lots of fog between halfway gate and the Bourne bridge, actually was a pretty nice morning out there.