[Fatback]

Needing a break from Matthew's aftermath I made some time and hit the beach this morning. I was wanting a shot at those southbound Pompano but except for several dinks I landed, that shot never hit the target. Bluefish and Whiting hit fresh shrimp readily but generally were smallish.

The cold front that came in Friday brought brisk north winds which turned the Redfish on. The first two Redfish that hit did so on the Pomp rods resulting in a snapped hooks. After getting some Whiting and Bluefish for bait I got the big rods deployed and had big fun beaching four Redfish 35" to 41". Lost two in the wash. Seemed like they prefered the chunked Bluefish over the Whiting, even landed two on the same Bluefish head.

A few pics of the big girls.......................................

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[MadDawgJ]

Nice, glad to see you make some time to fish the surf helps clear the mind and soothes the stress. North Beach?

 

[Fatback]

Yep' north beach, and your right, my stress level is much better. Amazing how a few hours on the beach can settle the mind and improve perspective.

Ohoops, after reviewing my report I pictured the same fish twice. Here is the one left out.

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[pmcdaniel]

Great report! My dad caught a 38 inch red today and saw a 41 incher landed just yards away up at MB. Heading back on Thursday to see if I can get me one.

 

[abass105]

Nice. Glad to see you got into them.

 

[Digger54]

Nice pics, thanks for sharing. Went with the wife to the salt creeks off PI yesterday. My glass was half empty that there would be much activity between all the trees in the water and it being the backside of a cold front. Tried popping an artificial shrimp under a cork but no bumps. Fishing live fiddlers on split shots was a different story as the Sheeps were pretty ravenous and were inhaling the bait if you pulled it in a slow retrieve. Some slot Reds even got in on the action too.

 

[bferg]

Nice job catching those drum and thanks for sharing the report.

If you don't me asking, what type of of rig were you using? I don't recognize that type of sinker/set up. Thanks in advance

 

[steelerfan]

I see that too. its kind of long and yellowish and dark. Was it some type of float? I tried a sinker and float in the surf to try and keep the bait just off the bottom and as an indicator of where my bait was. Caught fish both ways, didn't seem to make much difference in how many bites I got. But it was nice to know where my bait was in relation to how far out and if it was drifting. Thanks. Great fish by the way. Looks like you had the island to yourself.:fishing:

 

[MadDawgJ]

It's a Gemini sinker, newer style breakaway version of the old sputniks. The arms dig into the bottom and hold but "breakaway" (fold) when the fish hits or you yank hard to retrieve. He makes his own rigs, I've pretty well stollen the same design and love it.

 

[Fatback]

It's a Gemini sinker, newer style breakaway version of the old sputniks. The arms dig into the bottom and hold but "breakaway" (fold) when the fish hits or you yank hard to retrieve. He makes his own rigs, I've pretty well stollen the same design and love it.

Right on MadDawg.

I do get ask a lot about my rigs. So here is a show all picture of my October Bull Red Rig.........................

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My friend and neighbor Pete makes and sells the Gemini Breakaway Sinkers. They come 2 oz up to 8 oz. The one in the picture is 4 oz.

Here is his website, tell um' Fatback told you about them and hope he want charge you extra. He is good people and will ship anywhere on the planet if you pay him enough!

http://www.petessinkhers.com/Page_2.html#21._GEMINI_BREAKAWAY_SINKERS

The rig is my version of a fishfinder rig. Fancy sinker slide, pearl bead, crimped 90 lb coated seven strand wire, and a 8/0 thin wire circle hook.
Running line is 30 lb PP.

 

[pmcdaniel]

That's a hefty rig, but doesn't look like the reds mind at all. Looks like I need to find some Blues for bait.

 

[Fatback]

That's a hefty rig, but doesn't look like the reds mind at all. Looks like I need to find some Blues for bait.

Yep' it seems hefty but works great. I use the wire only to keep the toothy critters from cutting me off. Redfish are not leader shy at all, I bet your could attach a hook to a foot of 3/8 chain and still have plenty of hookups. The best thing about this rig is I can cast it a long ways with a big hunk of bait, it holds bottom in rough surf which Reds like and it keeps the sharks from cutting me off. And its kinda col looking.

 

[MadDawgJ]

I make all mine with the coated wire and doubled like you do your big rigs because of the toothies, I just drop down to the 8/0 hook and make them shorter.

 

[steelerfan]

Looks like a grappling hook. Lol. Obviously from the pictures and success you have, it must work pretty good. It will be my winter project to make something similar. Definitely will not roll in the waves or current like a pyramid sinker. Pretty damn cool. Thanks for the response.

 

[MadDawgJ]

They work great for the smaller stuff too, I use them on my hi-low rigs on the grocery rod as well. We have strong currents here and a pyramid will just try to get dragged off. The geminis work great for making the fish set the circle hook themselves.

 

[Fatback]

They work great for the smaller stuff too, I use them on my hi-low rigs on the grocery rod as well. We have strong currents here and a pyramid will just try to get dragged off. The geminis work great for making the fish set the circle hook themselves.

X2, When fishing the surf I use Gemini sinkers exclusively, 2-4 oz for the grocery rods and 4-8 oz for the glory rods.

 

[Anchorite]

Good tip. Not even my 8oz pyramid was holding on the point yesterday. Had to try some calmer water. Glad I have a few geminis on hand for a rainy day.

 

[MadDawgJ]

And for the locals when Pete is in town you can just set up a meeting with him to pick up your sinkers, when he's out of town he will ship them to you. If he happens to be out of town and you have one of those days where you lose all of the size you need and can't wait for shipping (been there) the Ace Hardware on Wilmington Island carries the long tails in 3-6oz sizes. That's only when they happen to have them in stock though, and they are proud of what they sell and charge accordingly, but it can save your day in the surf.