Can't vouch for the current Tsunami rods but my older one was a great purchase.  Caught dozens of sharks and well over a hundred bull reds with it.  I do need to repair the tip though as I have it held on by A bread tie wrap right now ( lol, been like that for 5 years).   Always forget to getting around to repairing it properly when I only use the rod once or twice a year for beach trips these days....it has a great backbone but a fast tip and I can sling smaller presentations pretty far.  

I am seriously considering making a trip to my brothers place in Port St Lucie Florida for the blacktip migration in February. He isn't too far from some beaches and apparently the sharks are numerous and close to shore.  Been watching some of those videos and it looks pretty fun for sure. Plus they are good ones to serve up on a platter. 

If FL permits keeping black tips and you get any of keeper size, that was some of the finest tasting fish I've ever had.  
 
Cube it, put it in a pot of shrimp boil for a few minutes, and dip in melted butter.  Served it at a family gathering where there weren't too many fish eaters, and they devoured it.  

Came back from near VA Beach this past week. 

Early in the week was alright, nothing crazy, mostly putting family members on their first surf fish. Some reds, Sheep, and something that had small yellow vertical stripes on it. Probably some kind of snapper. We did get into something big, but it bent the hook on the Bluefish rig. I think it was a Bull red, saw a flash, looked like it. 

Last few days of the week had some "gnar chop" as the dudes at the local bar called it. Waves coming in from the north that were brutal. TV called for 6-10 ft, then 10-15. On Friday night you could hear them breaking on the shore and they sounded terrifying. I swear you could feel it in your chest from a few hundred yards away. The wind was so hard it made the sand like needles crushing you if you walked on the beach. 

Also, the bugs were INSANE all week. I had small red bumps on my legs and feet by the dozens. I read online, and talked to some locals who said sand fleas. I guess they are also called Chiggers or Jiggers? I'm not expert but man, they seriously ruined nearly every evening. There were mosquitos too sure, nothing crazy, your usual stuff, but these sand fleas were inhumane. I'm not sure how a person could live in these beach communities full time and keep their sanity. 

DeadGator401
 Some reds, Sheep, and something that had small yellow vertical stripes on it. Probably some kind of snapper. 

Sounds like Pinfish. 

DeadGator401
Also, the bugs were INSANE all week. I had small red bumps on my legs and feet by the dozens. I read online, and talked to some locals who said sand fleas. I guess they are also called Chiggers or Jiggers? I'm not expert but man, they seriously ruined nearly every evening. There were mosquitos too sure, nothing crazy, your usual stuff, but these sand fleas were inhumane. I'm not sure how a person could live in these beach communities full time and keep their sanity. 

That stinks.  Sounds like "no-sees" or "no-see-ums", since you rarely see them, just smack at your skin after they attack and usually relentless.  Not sure if that is a Florida or NC thing?  Imagine they are all over.  I've always referred to the mole crabs in the sand as sand fleas.  Great bait, won't bite you.  Although I think there are some things in the sand that will or pinch.
 
Sounds like at least a good half week of fishing then mother nature taking over.  Seems to be rather standard for beach vacations for me.  Wind will pick up, rain, seaweed or something self inflicted like sunburn, cut/injury, heat exhaustion, hangover... or whatever.  Then of course, opting to fish in front of the rental then read reports the pier or sound was on fire which I had planned for the next day and nothing...  Not often do I get a full week of excellent fishing, when I do I don't think that it was ever every day.  It seems like the last day or two, I finally have some things figured out.  Then go somewhere else the next 3-4 years and return thinking that I remembered what I figured out and nothing...  Got to pretty much live in the area and know the migrations and patterns.  Many of the locals that I talk to that crush it, only fish certain tides, certain water conditions for certain fish, times of year, etc.  Often have a network of friends that share reports.  We fish while we are there for whatever hours we can get out and basically get lucky if the conditions just happen to be good.  

This time of year on outer banks should be good, if weather allows.  Reds, stripers, trout, flounder, blues, whiting....all from the surf, first gut, if the weather allows.   Those no see ems were bad in July in Fl.  25% deet kept them off but it made the night time fishing slightly annoying.   Wind was up enough during the day that they didn't bother you but it was always calmer at night when we were shark fishing and those bastages were relentless.   

It would be so nice having OBX an hour or less away. From about now until early December the fishing reports look insane. Then again in spring. Unfortunately it is too hard to make that 10+ hour drive for anything less than a week. NJ/DE/MD follow similar patterns, more stripers and bluefish and much less reds and speckled trout. But can make it to there in 6-7 hours. Still far too long of a drive even for a long weekend. I guess fortunately these same time frames are when local fishing is usually pretty good, so makes those reports a little less “I need to be there”.

I’d personally want to be a few hours south of OBX. They seem to have much more of a winter bite. I hear the winds on the OBX during the winter are brutal and not much besides puffers and dogfish if you can handle getting sand blasted and needing 10 oz to stick on calmer days…. Some of the pier reports in southern NC and SC seem to be okay during the winter. Nothing like Florida though.

dpms

DeadGator401
 Some reds, Sheep, and something that had small yellow vertical stripes on it. Probably some kind of snapper. 

Sounds like Pinfish. 

Yep, this was it!

eyesandgillz
This time of year on outer banks should be good, if weather allows.  Reds, stripers, trout, flounder, blues, whiting....all from the surf, first gut, if the weather allows.   Those no see ems were bad in July in Fl.  25% deet kept them off but it made the night time fishing slightly annoying.   Wind was up enough during the day that they didn't bother you but it was always calmer at night when we were shark fishing and those bastages were relentless.   

I was running 98% deet on my ankles after the bites, but I think the damage was done.

Did you guys see that mako shark that was stranded on a beach in Pensacola? 12’ estimated. I thought those makos were out in the deeper water? I know some of the charter boats get them when tuna fishing.