I use the 30# Power Pro Slick 8 braid for channels.

in my opinion that is overkill. The same with people who use huge surf rods and hooks the size of your hand.

In my opinion your wrong. Folks that use surf style rods are bank fishing. If you look at historical posts of people that catch big fish (30 Lbs and up) from the bank with a degree of regularity, you will see a pretty heavy reliance on surf rods.

Damfisherman- He does not post much these days, but prior to becoming a husband and father to twins, he routinely posted good fish . And he used fairly robust surf style rods.

BankfishinDave (Bankfisherman)- Routinely post good fish here and uses surf rods.

13ankinit - Don't see much post from him or those he fishes with lately, but had a nice run of posting big fish here. Judging from the pictures posted, they relied heavily on long robust rods.

PlanoJames - Uses 10ft medium heavy proanglers. Catches alot of good fish. Post here.

Shadman & Jester - Don't know if these guys post here, but they post on other North Texas forums, and often put good fish on the bank. Use robust rods.

Fish_Hunter - Catches good ones from the boat and the bank. Uses 10 ft proanglers on the bank. Routinely on good fish. Post here often.

What I don't see is folks using 7ft rods and routinely posting good fish. Coincidence? I don't think so.

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Hooks as large as hands- Not certain what you mean by that. 8/0 Gamakatsu circle, 9/0 Catmaxx circle, 10/0 Gamakatsu J hooks, and other hooks of this ilk are routinely used by folks on the bank when they are targeting large fish. A hook large enough for large baits, and have enough room for the fish lower jawbone, that will have good holding power are desirable. Occasionally, when trying to use xxxl size baits (carp head, buffalo head) the above sized hooks don't seem large enough.

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When some use braid they like heavy braid (I like 50) because it's easier to handle. Braid less than 50 Lbs can be hard for this bespectacled bifocaled 55 yr old fellow to tie due to the thinness and limpness. And 50 and up braid is much easier to untangle then sewing thread like light braid.

30# off shore angler main line, 80# off shore angler leaders. i have two poles with braid the rest are mono. after tonight i will only have one pole with braid. mono is more abrasion resistant than braid. i can anchor my toon some times drifting with 30# mono

Caught plenty of big fish, never used brand or a rod over 8ft. Not knocking the ones that do, but I have no need to cast 100yrds.

Well, when you grow up and become a Bigboy you will....