DIY Sand Spike

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Chunking the surf for large predatory fish is the oldest and most widely exploited method by surfcasters. A sand spike, if used properly, is an effective tool. To use a sand spike properly, you need a proper sand spike. The fancy PVC sand spikes in your local bait and tackle shops with a flanged top and aluminum stud at mid-spike are for tourists!

Fish360 DIY Sand Spike

All you need to make your own custom sand spikes is a saw and a 10 foot length of 1 1/4″ PVC pipe. Cut the PVC pipe in half at 45 degree angle. You now have two sand spikes.  Really!

Fish360 DIY Sand Spike

What about the aluminum stud at mid-spike? You do not need one! The reason why the commercial sand spikes have the stud is because your rod but would hit the sand otherwise. The commercial stand spike also have much thinner walls and crack if you drive them into the sand with a piece of drift wood.  Using a rubber mallet, drive your sand spike into the sand 12 – 18 inches and insert your rod into it. Your reel will stop the rod from sliding all the way down.

A 5 foot long sand spike has two advantages.  The first is better leverage: the entire rod but pushes against the sand spike.  The second is height: your line is kept above the breaking waves during high surf conditions.

Fish360 DIY Sand Spike

The only other function my rod holders perform is measuring fish. I use a rule sticker works great.  Marking your sand spike at 1′ intervals with a sharpie also works well. I am not a fan of adding cup holders to my sand spikes.

When you are chunking the surf via sand spike, reel in your bait every 15 minutes. Why? Scavengers! Skates, crabs, lobsters, and other bottom crawlers will eat your bait and politely leave your hook bare. Bare hooks do not catch fish!

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Hooking fish

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A friend of mine invited me to go kayak fishing to a secrete spot. I am a firm believer that there are no secrete spots; only secrete systems. But. I was not going to decline an opportunity to go fishing! After nearly countless turns through a small country pumpkin town, we finally arrived at his secrete spot. There was no launch ramp. No ramp! We had to hoist our kayaks overs a metal guard rail and drag them down and up a 12 foot long 45 degree slope to access the river.

Fish360 Hooking Fish

The secrete spot was a fallen tree just down current from a feeder trout stream. I fished this entire structure with nearly everything in my Plano boxes. Nothing! I drifted and fished other structures down river. Nothing!! After the sun had set, I paddled back up river to fallen tree. I put on a white 5″ Gary Yamamoto swim bait rigged on an Owner Beast hook. I made a long cast to the down river side of the fallen tree. Fish on! My 7 foot heavy-action rod was bent over. The fish jumped out of the water. When the fish landed on the water, the erupting sound echoed up and down the river. And then…without warning…my line went slack. 🙁 I know my gear. Trust me, I know my gear! The fish was huge. HUGE!!!

Fish360 Hooking Fish

During the drive home, the adrenaline was pumping through me. My mind was thinking so clearly, I felt like I was half my age. I have landed fish, big and small on this presentation. This was the first failed hook up on this presentation. What went wrong? When I got to my work shop, I compared the swim bait to my other Gary Yamamoto swim baits. Eureka! The hook was one size smaller than I normally use on a 5″ swim bait. Mea culpa. I now use the largest Owner Beast hook on my swim baits that will not impede the paddle tail’s seductive side-to-side action.

In fishing there are no guarantees. Sometimes you win. Sometimes the fish wins. When I lose, I learn. The more I learn, the more I win. I am well educated. 😉

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Truth SM Reel

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When chunking the surf, my first reel choice is conventional. Conventional reels can store lots of line; they have formidable cranking power; and they can cast large loads: 8+ oz of lead and bait. Casting 8-plus-bait via spinning reel is very challenging and can cut through your index finger’s protection. My go-to chunking reel is the Truth SM reel.

Fish360 Truth SM Reeel

I got my Truth SM reel during the New England Saltwater Fishing Show. While I was in the Truth booth, Wes Seigler, Founder and President of Truth Fishing Reels, disassembled my reel for a final inspection. I was speechless as I stared in amazement at the simplicity of the reel’s mechanical design. In addition to SM’s amazing machinery, the reel has some serious performance and features:

  • Line Capacity: 450 yards of 50 lb braid
  • Gear ratio: 6:1
  • Weight: 16.8 oz
  • Drag: 34 lbs
  • Line Retrieve: 38″

My first cast was during an incoming tide just before sunset on a Cape Cod beach. The line peeled off the spool smoothly. I thought I was going to hit Martha’s Vineyard! Thank you ceramic ABEC-7 bearings!! When my presentation hit the water, I felt the change is spool speed instantly and applied my thumb to stop the spool. No “bird’s nest”!!! Guiding the line onto spool under the new moon was effortless, complements of the counter balanced handle and Truth’s signature bridge-less design. Bottom line, the reel felt great!

For me the star drag is a must. It allows me to adjust the drag incrementally without changing my hand positions on the rod. I also love the clicker. When a fish hits and runs with your bait, there is no mistaking that repetitive sound!

During my field test, I had a second rod with a large capacity spinning reel spooled with the same 80 lb Power Pro braid and with the same custom surf shark bait rig. With the wind and tidal current moving in apposing directions, the 5 oz pyramid sinker could not hold bottom! 🙁

During my seminars, I meet anglers who are intimidated by casting conventional reels. Ladies and gentleman, if you can learn to ride a bike, you can learn to cast conventional reels. It’s a simple mechanical skill that is totally learn-able. If you were to pick one reel for chunking all conditions and locations (surf, inlets, bridges, and back bays), then go with an Truth SM reel. Full stop. 😉

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Freshwater Surfcasting Seminar at Buzzards Bay Anglers Club

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I am presenting my Freshwater Surfcasting seminar at the Buzzards Bay Anglers Club on September 8 at the BB’s Bar & Grill.

Fish360 Freshwater Surfcasting

In this seminar I will cover the fresh water species that you can target from terra firma using surfcasting knowledge and techniques. I have expanded this seminar to include spots and additional species like carp and pike. When you are waiting for the tide to turn, why not fish the near by pond, lake, or river? The strikes by freshwater fish can be absolutely explosive!

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Fish small, hook big

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Today I had the opportunity to fish some new water in the Belgrade Lakes, Maine. I was on the road by 3:00 AM and on the water before sunrise (5:00 AM). When kayak fishing, I have two rods rigged for shallow water and two rods rigged for deep water. I troll to my spots. When I get to my spots, I cast to both sides of the 10 foot water mark. 100% fishing. 😉

Fish360 Fish small, hook big
My first bite was at the begging of trip. The fish hit a 4″ Gary Yamamoto senko in shallow water (less than 3 feet). This fish was the meanest bass in under the dock. A new personal best for the smallest large mouth bass.

Fish360 Fish small, hook big

I continued to work deep and shallow water as I paddled towards an island that got further away the more I paddled. Nothing! So I started to make my way back to my first spot. I worked the dock where I got my first fish. Nothing!! So continued working the water column as I drifted. Nothing!!! I was about the insert my rods into my rod holders when I noticed some PVC pipes coming down from a cabin into the water. I made a long cast towards the PVC pipes with a blue/white 1/4 oz spinner bait with small silver Colorado blades and a white Gary Yamamoto grub that I bought at the Merrimack Valley Rotary Club 4th Annual Fishing Flea Market this past April. Fish on!

Fish360 Fish small, hook big

OMG! This fish put a parabolic bend in my St. Croix mojo bass rod. I fought the fish to the starboard side of my kayak. I leaned over, lip gripped the fish with my left hand, and pulled it out of the water. This fish is my new personal best for the largest large mouth bass: 4 lbs.

This trip was epic. I achieved, not one, but two personal bests. I will continue to fish shallow and deep water. But, I will also fish big and small presentations. Fish outside the tackle box. 😉

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Scavengers!

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I recently took a friend surfcasting. He wanted to learn how to chunk. When we got to the water’s edge, I told him that when I go chunking, I break all the rules, except one: the 15 minute rule. He looked at me perplexed.  So I explained the rule to him.

scavangers_575_425

My chunking methodology is simple. I dress my bleeding sharp hooks with tasty chunks. I secure the chunks using an elastic. A blue elastic for Mackerel. A tan elastic for clam. I aim to the Azores and make a cast. I then wait for 15 minutes. If feel a bite, but do not hook a fish, then I real in my rig after 15 minutes. Why? Scavengers!

I made the first cast for my friend to show him how to properly load a rod and propel a chunking rig into deep water. 15 minutes latter, he reeled in a skate. For the rest of the tide, he checked his rig every 15 minutes!

Scavengers like skates, crabs, lobsters, scup, and other marine species will politely remove all the meat off your hook and leave you the elastic! Bare hooks do not catch fish!! Check your rig every 15 minutes!!!

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Suunto SK7 Wrist Compass

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Targeting large predatory fish under the blanket of night increases your success rate. But, it also introduces risks. One risk is getting disorientated when fog settles down. Hence, I always carry a compass! 😉

Fish360 Suunto SK7 Wrist Compass

When you are fishing at night on a remote rock, beach, or lake and the fog settles in around you, having a small compass in your pocket is better than no compass. But, I personally prefer the Suunto SK7 wrist compass.

The liquid filled and water proof SK7 has a 2.25″ diameter face and a phosphorescent card, which makes it super easy to read under all conditions. Despite it’s size, the SK7 is surprisingly light. During my trips, I often forgot that it’s on my wrist.

I am an all species and all methods angler. The Suunto SK7 is my go-to compass for surfcasting, skishing, and kayaking. Whatever compass you choose, make sure it’s accurate, easy to read, and easily accessible.

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DIY Chunking Cooler

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Large predatory fish are not vegetarians. The best presentation to hook a trophy fish is a fresh chunk. To keep your chunks fresh, you need a cooler. An optimal chunking cooler is the Coleman 16 quart cooler. It’s hard shell can take abuse. It’s walls are stuffed with insulation to retain temperature. The non-removable flat top can be used as a cutting board. Hence, it’s a good chunking cooler. But, with a simple modification, it can become a great chunking cooler!

Fish360 DIY Chunking Cooler
Customizing a cooler for portable, hands-free chunking is easy. All you need is basic tools and inexpensive materials.

Materials

  • Coleman 16 Quart Cooler
  • Shoulder strap
  • 2 Carabiners
  • 4 1/4″ x 1.25″ Stainless Steel Washers
  • 2 1/4″ x 2 1/2″ Stainless Steel Eye Bolts
  • 2 1/4″ Stainless Steel Nuts

Tools

  • Power Drill
  • 1/4″ Drill Bit
  • Adjustable Wrench

First, make a 1/4″ hole on each side of the cooler using a drill bit and power drill. Be sure to make the holes at the same height from the bottom and centered on the sides.

Fish360 DIY Chunking Cooler

Second, insert a stainless steel washer on to the stainless steel eye bolts. Insert each eye bolt into the holes.

Fish360 DIY Chunking Cooler

Insert a second stainless steel washer onto the eyes bolts. Secure the stainless steel nuts on the eye bolts using an adjustable wrench.

Fish360 DIY Chunking Cooler

Third, clip a carabiner to each end of the shoulder strap. Clip each carabiner to an eye bolt. Adjust the shoulder strap until the cooler hangs at waist level.

You could use a soft cooler with a built in shoulder strap. But! They do not hold up the demands of chunking the surf on a regular basis. The zipper is typically the first thing to break; followed by a punched wall or worn out corner. I have had my Coleman chunking cooler for 15 years!

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Three Decades of the Derby

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My friend, Ned Bean introduced me to “Three Decades of the Derby” by Ron Domurat. I am grateful for the introduction. This book stands out on the striped bass book shelf because it recounts the adventures of great surfcasters: Don Mohr, Abe Williams, Bob ‘Hawkeye’ Jacobs, Ron McKee, Al Angelone, Marsh Bryan, Gordon Ditchfield, and Walter Lison. As you read the well written stories about these great surfcasters, you will also pick up information on where to target striped bass, blue fish, bonito, and false albacore along the shores of Martha’s Vineyard.

Three Decades of the Derby

Surfcasting is a great sport. There are thousands of surfcasters on the East and West coasts. But, there are few great surfcasters. To become a great surfcaster, you need to do more than catch a trophy striped bass, blue fish, false albacore, or bonito. Mastering all the skills like casting, reading the water, and fishing the water column is not enough. You must also add something new to the sport and community. To do so, you must first learn what has already been contributed by great surfcasters before you. Hence, “Three Decades of the Derby” is now required reading for surfcasters. 😉

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Fox Micron M+ Bite Alarm

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Hunting carp requires good gear, tasty bait, and perseverance. When a trophy fish engulfs your bait, you do not want to miss it! A bite alarm is an indispensable tool. An analog alarm is better than no alarm. But, I prefer to go high-tech. So I purchased two Fox Micron+ bite alarms.

Fish360 Fox Micron M+ Bite Alarm

The Micron M+ has high-end features at a low-end price. First, the unit operates on two standard AAA batteries, which are readily available. Second, the Piezo speaker and 5 mm red LED will sound and light when a fish is swimming away with your bait. I like to turn the indexed volume knob on the front all the way up. But, when stealth is required, I turn the volume down. Third, the robust rubber ear inlays prevent rod slippage. I target BIG fish. Rod slippage is not an option.

Fish360 Fox Micron M+ Bite Alarm

If you are targeting carp, you need a bite alarm. If you go digital, I strongly recommend the Fox Micron+ available from Wacker Baits.

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