Lessons Learned

[BEETLE]

I did not have problems with ripped lips that I noticed, my problem was with one particular fish that bent a hook sideways on a 3 oz. bucktail jig and got off.
The question that will always be unanswered is, did I have a "very good" fish on, or just a "good" fish that was able to hook around a rock and turn enough to bend the hook or get sideways in current ect, ??

[FishermanTim]

One thing I've learned over the years is that if there is one weak spot in your gear, be it nicked leader, frayed braid, weak knots, the fish will find it. It never ceases to amaze me at the tenacity of these fish, and sometimes how easy they can be lost even when you think you've covered all the bases.
Never underestimate the big 'uns.
They hit light and fight hard.

[zimmy]

I asked a related question on an other site that ditch jigger answered. He also suggested fireline or cortland for abrasion resistance. I had 80lb whiplash cut off ... I am making the switch. Curious... what kind of hook in the jig? Could be a weak hook or the way it was in the fishes mouth. A painfull lesson I keep learning is that sometimes you think you are doing everything right and they still get away.

[FishermanTim]

If the fish is running hard, and I mean HARD, then the chances of losing the fish do increase.
That's one reason to make sure you have your drag set before you start fighting those cows.

[eelskimmer]

I must disagree with anyone using or advocating use of line with
a breaking test over 30 lbs. Beetle, your 30 lbs power pro was
more than enough and yes you probably did not check the
abrasion caused by a previous catch. If it was a particularly long
fight around rocks then the time taken to pull off 10 yards of line
and run it slowly through your fingers as you reel in is worth every
minute. For years I used 15 lb Ande mono with no problems on
fish up to 50 lbs. Use of 50 or 80lb test line is for commercial
guys--meat haulers. Might as well include an electric reel~!!!

Keep at it my friend, beach fishing is the only way.