[alanw]

Check the recent fish reports for the trip you're going on and plan for that. I usually take 2-3 rods, light, med/light, med. Take weights 4oz-12oz and match what everyone else is using if you want to avoid most tangles. Straight braid for bottom fishing on cattleboats is a tangle waiting to happen because your line will drag sideways at a different rate than most everyone else with mono and it's harder to untangle the mess. The deckhands will set you up, have fun.