Jay
Started fishing the canal seriously about six years ago.
Based on my experience I offer the following which has worked for me:
1. Berkley Big Game 25lb. 25% stronger than 20lb and still offers great distance.
2. I do not use swivels or leaders - just direct tie - never had a problem with fish to 42".
3. Yellow Polaris in 2.5 or 3.5oz - Yellow is the color.
4. Get a Ranger paint it yellow with a little red on the head and tie on single bucktail hook.
5. I don't cast and retrieve. Find a place with some room/space from other fishpersons.
Cast slightly upstream and let your plug drift down the middle of the canal give the plug action
by pulsating the rod - retrieve at 10 or 2 o'clock depending on the current.
6. You may find it very difficult to impossible to cast Mambo Minnows and Rebel's with conventional gear.
What happens is that you overpower the cast to compensate for its light weight and get a nice backlash.
7. Largest canal fish are consistently caught chunking :-)
Have fun!