gear question for salt water

[gscheel]

i recently traded some dive gear for a billy pate tarpon reel, 9 foot sage rod 11 weight and some other assorted gear. i only fish saltwater since thats were i live. the question is, is this too much gear for a newby to learn to fly fish with or should i get something different to start out with
thanxs

[gadabout]

A 11 weight outfit is pretty heavy. As a beginner you will most likely wear your arm out pretty quick since your casting won't be very efficient. A more reasonable outfit would be an 8 weight. Sounds like you've got some nice gear though, so hang on to it for later.

[lee s]

gscheel,
Good stuff. Keep it. You have the big critters covered.
If what you target are some smaller "trout" or specks like a friend did useing 1 1/2" clousers, you will be grossly over-gunned, removing much of the pleasure of FF'ing.
Depending on the targets you are after (I do not know what is available to you, you may want to concider a 6wt or 7wt to start with.......?
.....lee s.

[gscheel]

thanks for the advice. we have alot of tarpon on the flats as well as kingfish off the jetties and jack crevall but you are prob right i need to start alittle smaller
thanks

[J Castwell]

Find a teacher. You can learn to double haul that 11 in one easy lesson. You will need it for those fish!