re: Catching redfish on spoons

There is not much I can offer that others have not already, but just know that spoons have been around a long time and will be around after we are all gone because they work.

There is a time and a place for a spoon, and a gold spoon has won me money in tournaments, but I don't use them but maybe 25% of the time.

I primarily sight fish, so I get to see the fish’s reaction, and there are times when a red just doesn’t want a spoon, will only hit it when you drop it in front of his face, or only want it burnt by his face, it really does vary.
I'm thinking your buddies happen to be doing something slightly different than you during the retrieve than you're not noticing. Could be slower retrieve, some pausing, faster retrieve, etc… What works one day may not work the next, it’s fishing.

Where are you at? Superior sells inline spinners but they aren't spot removers. Work the same though

NOLA area. I'll check the locals, but most that I've seen have trebles

Wob'l right or bust

I use a 1/2 or 3/4 oz gold spoon as my go-to, rigged with a barrel swivel and a split ring (some come with it in the package already, some not). That said, some days I have the hot hand and smoke my buddies, other times I can't buy a hookup and they're loading up throwing right next to me. The best guy I know for boating reds on a spoon came from bass fishing, he's got a knack for putting it softly next to clumps and points, little drains, etc. Think bass fishing! Site fishing is hard to beat when water is clear enough, they'll slurp that spoon down all day long when pitched to them fairly softly