funny you should mention heavier gear. for the longest time, I was using 15 # flouro leaders on a 25-30# mainline mono. but I thought, why? The bay is so murky on a clear day. So that day, I was 30# mainlilne, with 30# flouro leaders. And it's a good thing, cuz he bounced off the gaff the first time in. It was the heavier line that let me land him. food for thought...
j