Went to Newport to fish from a dock

Ok this was my first time back to the saltwater scense I was a kid over 25 years, With all this talk of float tubing in the saltwater I figured I would try my luck there before I got out in my tube. Yes I am going to do, well first thing is i don't know what to use, so I started with some currly tail grubs I found in the shop. They were watermeloen color about 3" with a I think 3/4 led heads.
I throw them for about 3 hours I didn't have much luck, then there it was bam one hell of a hit. I set the hook and off the fish ran pulling line faster than I could gain. after about a 5 minute fight snap it was gone. The guy that was there with me said I just lost a mud marline, is there such a thing.
All I know is damn that was cool not sure if I want to be in a tube and hook that. It was a nice day out there i saw some spottied bass caught, nice fish, sorry no pictures not much for taking pictures of the water I want fish porn to post.
Well there is always next time or so they say.

dude see you are going to be pulled out into open waters and then we will never see you again. Didn't you see JAWS you look like that girl floating in the water only rounder
At least you got out there right, let me know next time you go out off the dock I would like to tag along K