By Manuel Z

Tips -n- Tricks
By: Manuel Z
Created August, 13 2001

Most of my graphics are self explanatory, but I'll give a little info concerning each of the items pictured.

Camp Layout is pretty simple, just make sure you set your Rod holders at least 15-20 yards/paces apart. The tarp has poles at each corner and they are staked into the sand, with nylon ropes. leave the end towards the water just a bit loose, The wind coming in will keep it lifted up. This is just my artistic drawing of a typical camp site, of course, your camp should not be this close to the water. I drew the camp that close to the water just to get the rod holders in the picture.

PVC (Plastic) Rod holder You can get a 10' long 1 "-2" OSD/PVC pipe from your local hardware store for under 5 dollars, make two 5' rod holders or three 3' holders. Just remember to cut at an angle, (STEEP ANGLE) so they can be easily driven into the sand. (OSD means OUTSIDE DIAMETER)

3 Ft. GAFF is simply enough to gaff large catches, You can catch Sharks weighing 200 Lbs. and larger from the beach (YES) from the beach. DO NOT...under estimate Sharks that have been laying on the beach for a while, A Shark can hit you with his teeth even if you are holding his tail.

Signs of a Hit are easy to see if you know what to look for, There are 3 signs to watch for and they are all in your Rod Tip! 

I'll assume you are fishing with at least a 10 to 12 foot long rod and using about a 4 ounce Spider Weight. with your rod sitting in a sand spike and your drag just tight enough where if you pull up on the line from the reel line comes out and your rod doesn't pull out of the spike. (You may give it 1/4 turn tighter)

FIRST: If you have set it up correctly, your rod tip will have a slight bend towards the surf. this means your Spider Weight is grabbing the bottom and holding correctly. (Figure 1)

If it stays this way, leave it alone till it changes.

SECOND: If your rod stands up and your line goes slack then something may have took your bait or has your bait in its mouth.

If this has happened, Pick up your rod and reel your line tight slowly and "FEEL FOR MOVEMENT" in your line. If it moves set the hook like you're pulling teeth and reel in your catch. (Figure 2)

If you are going to reel your line in to check the bait anyway, Set the hook like I said above. (Just in case)

THIRD: Watch for your Rod bending and pointing at the surf...THIS IS OBVIOUS!!! (Figure 3)

Bait preparation is easy,
MULLET (if you have a big one 10" long or so) Scale it and cut it into 2" chunks.
SHRIMP (used for catching live bait) use peeled small pieces on tiny perch hooks.
SQUID, (MUST be kept on ICE) Used whole on larger rods or cut into strips and used like a jig in the surf.
BAITFISH 4 - 6 in. long, hooked through the nose and placed on larger rods live.
EEL is a great bait for Gafftop "Sail" Catfish. Gafftop is good table fare. (A Gafftop's Dorsal fin has a long spine like a roosters tail) Be forewarned...EEL catches a l-o-t of hardheads (The Hardhead Looks like a normal catfish). EEL is so tough you can catch 10 or more fish with one piece of bait.
TIP: Don't loose your temper with a Hardhead and start to slam it, kick it, Stab it or anything of the sort, This is how people wind up with a bacteria ridden fin embedded in their skin, resulting in a painful trip to the Hospital. (SEE INFO on "BELLY RUBS" in More Tips and Tricks article.) Treat a Hardhead like a normal catfish and just let it go, chances are you wont catch the same one twice.

KNOTS