By Butcher Jones
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With the fall run getting underway, there are some key things any surfcaster needs to do. Getting the surf bag is a crucial step. The hooks need to be sharpened or replaced. Everything needs to be organized. It’s time to figure out the hatch, as they say, and determine what you’ll need to increase your odds of scoring in the suds on LI. There are many different plugs and lures.
When I began fishing the beach, I made the mistake of bringing the big bag. In fact, I made that mistake for years. The past few years, though, I have gone to a smaller surf bag that is looped onto my belt. It holds the crucial 5 or 6 plugs, a couple of bucktails and some extra terminal tackle. Since lightening the load, things have gotten a little easier. That took some time, lost sleep and some beach miles.
There is still so much to learn. But some of the fundamentals have been addressed. Here is what I know.
Metal Lips: I love a metal lip swimmer. It’s cylindrical in shape and has a metal “lip” in the front that helps it dig into the water and create a wiggly, back-and-forth motion in the water. The faster you reel, the deeper it will go. It’s best to keep it near the surface, creating a V-wake. At this time of the year, you will find 1-ounce Danny metal lips in the bag.
Pencil Popper: This is a daytime lure, at least for me. I have never had a fish on a pencil popper at night. Retrieved correctly, it simulates a wounded, distressed fish. When a fish hits a pencil it is a memorable experience, like the perfect shot in golf.
Bucktails: The all-around, must-have plug in the bag no matter what time of the season it is. Tipped with a pork rind, it matches the bait profile of almost anything swimming within the nose of a hungry striper or bluefish. Most fishermen—and ladies—who have spent any time at this game would die of embarrassment if they did not carry a small assortment. If you don’t have bucktails in the bag, you need to fix that problem before your next trip.
Plastics: Over the past few years, plastic baits like Storm Wildeyes or Fin-S Fish have become surf bag staple. They look great in the water and if you match the colors to the present bait, you increase your chances of hook up. I have not found them to be productive with big fish, however. Of course, there have been many slobs that fell to plastics, but not for me. When the schoolies are around, you can catch them one after another if you have the right plastic.
Darter: A darter is a great after-dark plug. It is a swimmer and has great movement on the retrieve. Big fish fall to darters every year. Fished near jetties, rocks or other structure, a well-fished darter does a great job fooling big linesides and blues.
Next week: When to go fishing
