What I know is:
- I should be a lot better than I am for time spent on the water - some guys with a lot less time are better than I am. I'm just a slow learner.
- I don't spend anywhere enough time on the water
- See item (1).
As far as tactics go, depends on what you goal is. Is your goal to catch lots and lots of monster fish? Then your tactic is not to spend every night chunking Queen Cocahoes at Conimicut Light. Is your goal to catch big fish on plugs you've made? Slay large on eels while wetsuitng from rocks? Catching bright little fish on plastics?
Your goal may not be the same goal as Joe Angler. You tactics will be different.
Do what makes you happy and where you will extract your enjoyment and disregard the rest.
Lots of people will say they have the Must Get Widget. Some will work, some will work for others, some are just blowing smoke.