That is how, in the late 1950's I learned the basics of fishing. Though we only lived near the ocean for a few years those basics have served me well in years of fresh water fishing. Your channel inspires and educates, keep up the good work.
I've used 9' medium action Ugly Stiks for years...both lures and baits up to 3 oz sinkers and 2 oz spoons. Those and a 7'2" Toadfish medium handles all the different types of fishing I do. As long as you're just a bit careful casting 3 ounces of lead, the Uglies stand up to anything.
Matthew...been throwing an 8'6" custom St. Croix 3/8 - 3/4 rod with 1/4 - 3/8 ounce jig heads and soft plastic in the surf for over twenty years. I do it because the extra height keeps my line out of the near-shore breakers that will drag my jig head into the beach. Four years ago St. Croix discontinued their best (and most expensive) salmon rods. I got one and it is unbelievably light, fish all day with a Shimano Sustain 2500 and 10# braid. The titanium Torzite guides are unbelievable. Not sure why St. Croix stopped making decent Salmon/Steelhead rods. Guess my fifteen year warranty is worthless!
Awesome information on your rigs and techniques. Matt you are truly a great fisherman and an awesome human being. I just love your content and your sweet family. Be safe out there and keep it coming.
Great video Matthew! Been a subscriber for a long time. I love it when you get “back to the basics” of the style of fishing that put BAMA BEACH BUM on the map in the first place. Keep ‘em coming!!!
Fun video as always! Summers here in NJ are all about the whiting, or as we call them, northern kingfish. When I guide on the beach they are my go to species to keep the kids entertained. Fillet a few and toss the heads out and I get the parents onto big sharks and rays. Keeps everyone happy. Keep the great content coming!
Matt, I have to say that your content has furthered me being hooked on surf fishing. A friend turned me on during Covid and and random trip to hatteras sealed the deal. Needless to say I had a blast with a standard heaver. Researched UA-cam to further some insight and ran into your page. You talked about Ninja tackle so gave them a try. Got the 12’ and was very pleased but wanted a lighter tackle and decided to get the 8’6 and man that’s the ticket. Almost went steelhead from watching your mastery course but went brand specific and learning from you and saltstrong I can’t imagine a better hobby after my girlfriend told me to find one. Now she wants me to slow down. Go figure. Anywho just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration and the knowledge. 🍻
There's a spot in the U.P. of Michigan that you can surf fish for steelhead and cohos very similarly to the way you are already doing it in Alabama and the pan handle of Florida. That fishery starts in September and goes thru October..
Wright-McGill.. 9 ft steelhead.. probably my favorite rod ever.. can't find em anymore but i bought plenty of spares when i could.. Use them for everything from crappies to redfish. They keep fishing fun when it looks like some fellas are darn near using a baseball bat with rod guides.. super video by the way.. not just the same old footage of a reel handle turning from the viewpoint of a go-pro on somebodies chest… those are sheer boredom. Don’t learn anything from that.. if you can beach that stingray, you can catch darn near anything that matters to most fishermen.. 👏👏👏
Good to see you back on the beach great video and some nice hot action great job Landing the stingray on light tackle so much fun hope you had a great Thanksgiving👍
You do realize steelhead often reach 10lbs or more and although we are not fishing the ocean with limitless running room, here in Michigan we are in fast running rivers, so the current aids the fish. Steelhead rods are very durable, I have used mine for 30 years, it is a Fenwick. I often have caught KIng Salmon 20lbs+ with it. 10lb line mostly, we do loose a lot of fish to line breakage, but that is part of the challange.
That's why I appreciate your channel I've been watching all you guys for like the last two years but you showed up the shallow also on the other side of the bar like don't hold your egg in one basket fish multiple directions I've learned a lot from this
this is awesome buddy I live in ne ohio I use walleye trolling rods for my heavier baits but it's funny you mentioned steelhead rods I started using those last year b4 I even saw ur video and I had great results caught a few citation red drum on my steelhead rods fishing Ocracoke nc great video!
I use a Tica Steelhead rod here in Hawaii. 12’ love it. It’s one of the most popular rods to “whip” with here. Whipping here basically is a Carolina rig with a egg lead or bubble float. Nice video take care!!
I caught a whiting in the bay once that was so big I thought it was a red at first. lol. It was only 13 inches but I'm not used to seeing them that big.
Hello Matt. I think I've seen you leave the shell on fresh dead shrimp when rigging. Is this the case? Do you find they stay on better when casting with the shell on? Inquiring minds want to know. lol.
I picked up a 9' 6" steelhead rod last season after watching you. Haven't bait fished with it but I love whipping artificials with it! It handles fish well too, it's alot of fun!
GREAT video Matt! I've been following your channel since the early days and it has just gotten better and better, Watching and studying what I learn from your videos, plus a few others here on YT, plus a few guided trips down there on the Gulf I have gotten a good bit of knowledge and experience. I have picked up a few surf fishing rods along the way, but now I want to get a light steelhead rod like you use here and enjoy more light tackle fishing. God bless.
Man, i been tryin to find some steelhead rods since the first time i went fishin with you. Now that I'm in Memphis I'll really need to make an effort to find some since I'll be fishin down there more often!
Commenting on Fishing not Catching: couldn’t find a way to comment on your podcast - would appreciate knowing how. So, Top 10 fishing UA-camrs: my friends and I huge; fishaholic fans. You guys mentioned but glossed over Rich’s NE content, he rocks it everywhere! He figures out how to catch fish better than anyone. Darcizzle: vastly under-rated. Most fishing shows are loathe to tell you where they are fishing. Not so Darcy and Puddin; they will give you their exact coordinates. Seeing as followers indirectly pay all the providers salaries it’s nice to get tossed a location bone once in a while.
Thanks for the fishing lesson and trip, needed a day out with you. We live in Indiana right now and are looking forward to Florida fishing next year. 😀 Have a wonderful day
It seems like Wright & McGill is no longer making rods, or the rods they used to make are now branded as Eagle Claw. My attempts to Google Wright & McGill keeps pointing to Eagle Claw.
I always learn something new about beach fishing, when I watch Matt's channel. Even though I am a well seasoned angler (fresh and saltwater). I am new to beach fishing and I am always eager to learn more about my favorite sport. So, I want to pick up one of those DVD's (I guess?) From "Salt Strong", on your Mastery Beach Fishing course! I hope you and your family have had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Saw you and Brad out there during thanksgiving week. You obviously had more luck with diversity than I did. We killed the whiting but didn’t hook up to anything else. Love getting to fish that stretch thanks for helping me learn how to navigate the surf and what works best.
in the NC surf, I have always used the lightest equipment that I can get by with. Normally a 7 foot med. action rod that is rated for less than 1 OZ. But, normally use a 1 OZ pyramid with it. Have also used 3 OZ. Ove the years, I have only shattered one older 7 foot rod when casting 2 to 3 oz lead. I do move up to 8 footers when conditions are rough or I want to get some more distance. And, recently got brave and spooled up some 20 pound BRAID for the first time on a 4500 Spinfisher!!! lol Used it to sling 1.5 oz Gotcha jigfish's at blue fish that were out along ways. Also, on that last trip in October, I tried out the Tactical Anglers Power Clips (50 pound). I tied one on the braid and slung it all weekend using 3 oz bottom rigs and the 1.5 oz jigfish. Never retied and held up great. Kind of a torture test. I also used to clips this past summer on jigs and caught redfish and flounder in the back waters. Sold now on these for quick changes in the windy surf. BTW, I bought the jigfish's after watching one of your vids, took them to OKI in July and we all caught Spanish in the surf with them!!!
Did you know that beared Brad's house burned down 4 years ago? I was thinking about that because we should all be thankful for each other. Happy late thanksgiving!
Been slinging 2 or 3 ounce weight on 7 footers for 3 decades. Never ever have i broken a rod. Snapped lines because of the bail flipping midflight but never a rod
Freshwater to saltwater isn't really a big transformation,, all fish relate to structure. Yes the structure in saltwater is a little different. But the fundamentals are still the same. What do you look for in bass fishing? Drop-offs, channels, current flows, and oddities,,, right? So consider a slough, or trough, in the surf to be the equivalent of a channel. The backside (area closet to the shore) is your drop-off equivalent, a cut in between sandbars creates another channel where water comes in and out, (current),, both sides of the cut on both the inside and outside of the sandbars are good places, much like a stream coming into a pond or lake. Then of course you have docks, piers, reefs, shoals, etc. that are your oddities. So basically just think of the ocean as a big lake. But a common mistake made is that a lot of anglers have the mindset of "big water, big equipment",, not so! I bass fished for 17 years in Florida,, now I'm using those same rods for fishing surf, pier, and sound. Where many anglers will wade out to their knees or waist to make a cast way out,, I fish where they're standing to cast! Yes, there are a few places that very long casts are required,, but on the east coast there's only 4 or 5 of those places!
And to add to NCOutdoors: You can use a lot of freshwater tackle, fishing in saltwater. Just as long as you clean it very good after each trip. Saltwater is brutal on tackle, if not cleaned well. I have seen many "saltwater lures" start to rust, if not cleaned right!
Great video matt showing some of these Beach fishermen that they don't have to all go way out there to cast you are right there are great fish close in and every now and then you will catch that good red 👍
Fishing starts at 5:14.
That is how, in the late 1950's I learned the basics of fishing. Though we only lived near the ocean for a few years those basics have served me well in years of fresh water fishing. Your channel inspires and educates, keep up the good work.
I've used 9' medium action Ugly Stiks for years...both lures and baits up to 3 oz sinkers and 2 oz spoons. Those and a 7'2" Toadfish medium handles all the different types of fishing I do. As long as you're just a bit careful casting 3 ounces of lead, the Uglies stand up to anything.
You're the best Matthew. Its been years and i still enjoy watching the excitement and dedication to the craft. Keep it up my friend.
Matthew...been throwing an 8'6" custom St. Croix 3/8 - 3/4 rod with 1/4 - 3/8 ounce jig heads and soft plastic in the surf for over twenty years. I do it because the extra height keeps my line out of the near-shore breakers that will drag my jig head into the beach. Four years ago St. Croix discontinued their best (and most expensive) salmon rods. I got one and it is unbelievably light, fish all day with a Shimano Sustain 2500 and 10# braid. The titanium Torzite guides are unbelievable. Not sure why St. Croix stopped making decent Salmon/Steelhead rods. Guess my fifteen year warranty is worthless!
Awesome information on your rigs and techniques. Matt you are truly a great fisherman and an awesome human being. I just love your content and your sweet family. Be safe out there and keep it coming.
Great video Matthew! Been a subscriber for a long time. I love it when you get “back to the basics” of the style of fishing that put BAMA BEACH BUM on the map in the first place. Keep ‘em coming!!!
Beach Bum Is The Best!!!🐠🦈🐟
Thanks for helping us understanding the bite
Big Bull Whitting are so fun and delicious to catch. I think one of the best eating surf fish there is besides Pompano.
Fun video as always! Summers here in NJ are all about the whiting, or as we call them, northern kingfish. When I guide on the beach they are my go to species to keep the kids entertained. Fillet a few and toss the heads out and I get the parents onto big sharks and rays. Keeps everyone happy. Keep the great content coming!
I live in Mobile, my son wants to get into this.. so I like the info and how you present man. Keep up the good work!
Matt, I have to say that your content has furthered me being hooked on surf fishing. A friend turned me on during Covid and and random trip to hatteras sealed the deal. Needless to say I had a blast with a standard heaver. Researched UA-cam to further some insight and ran into your page. You talked about Ninja tackle so gave them a try. Got the 12’ and was very pleased but wanted a lighter tackle and decided to get the 8’6 and man that’s the ticket. Almost went steelhead from watching your mastery course but went brand specific and learning from you and saltstrong I can’t imagine a better hobby after my girlfriend told me to find one. Now she wants me to slow down. Go figure. Anywho just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration and the knowledge. 🍻
There's a spot in the U.P. of Michigan that you can surf fish for steelhead and cohos very similarly to the way you are already doing it in Alabama and the pan handle of Florida. That fishery starts in September and goes thru October..
This is why I watch your channel. You are THE beach fisherman. So entertaining and informative. Thank you.
Wright-McGill.. 9 ft steelhead.. probably my favorite rod ever.. can't find em anymore but i bought plenty of spares when i could.. Use them for everything from crappies to redfish. They keep fishing fun when it looks like some fellas are darn near using a baseball bat with rod guides.. super video by the way.. not just the same old footage of a reel handle turning from the viewpoint of a go-pro on somebodies chest… those are sheer boredom. Don’t learn anything from that.. if you can beach that stingray, you can catch darn near anything that matters to most fishermen.. 👏👏👏
Good to see you back on the beach great video and some nice hot action great job Landing the stingray on light tackle so much fun hope you had a great Thanksgiving👍
Enjoyed this one. I like to see the light tackle fishing
Yep, light tackle is fun on the surf. Great video
You do realize steelhead often reach 10lbs or more and although we are not fishing the ocean with limitless running room, here in Michigan we are in fast running rivers, so the current aids the fish. Steelhead rods are very durable, I have used mine for 30 years, it is a Fenwick. I often have caught KIng Salmon 20lbs+ with it. 10lb line mostly, we do loose a lot of fish to line breakage, but that is part of the challange.
That's why I appreciate your channel I've been watching all you guys for like the last two years but you showed up the shallow also on the other side of the bar like don't hold your egg in one basket fish multiple directions I've learned a lot from this
Fun days of fishing.
Thanks I love fishing light tackle. it is the best. Grandpa Jack
I love light tackle on the beach.
I recently bought some 1 1/2 oz. and 1 oz. Clarkspoon jigs. Do you recommend changing the hooks? If so, what hooks do you recommend?
great info! thnx!
Nice discussion but where do you put the weight? Do you use egg sinkers or somehow attach a pyramid weight. Thanks again
Always loved fishing with light tackle down in the gulf!
this is awesome buddy I live in ne ohio I use walleye trolling rods for my heavier baits but it's funny you mentioned steelhead rods I started using those last year b4 I even saw ur video and I had great results caught a few citation red drum on my steelhead rods fishing Ocracoke nc great video!
I use a Tica Steelhead rod here in Hawaii. 12’ love it. It’s one of the most popular rods to “whip” with here. Whipping here basically is a Carolina rig with a egg lead or bubble float. Nice video take care!!
Great video! Going to have to get me some of those steelhead rods. Do you filet your whiting or cook whole?
Been fishing with a okuma celilo here on hhi for two seasons.
Caught nice 14-16 whiting in Naples last year. Wish I could of kept them but was staying in a hotel.
I caught a whiting in the bay once that was so big I thought it was a red at first. lol. It was only 13 inches but I'm not used to seeing them that big.
Always entertaining as well as very educational. Having fun and learning skills at the same time, why couldn't school be more like that
Please put the date of the trip somewhere on the screen. It would give us a better idea of heat your doing and when. Thanks
Always really like the videos when you’re on the beach! That 13” whiting was awesome! Thanks my friend!
Light gear can make fishing so much fun. Another great video BBB :)
Yay, beach vid!!!
A few years ago I was fishing for whiting with a penn squidder and caught a 42" redfish. It was a blast.
Matt I love all your videos, but love your song “Alabama Pines” the most😊
Took your advice a couple years ago and bought those same steelhead rods. A lot of fun! What rod holders are you using?
Hello Matt. I think I've seen you leave the shell on fresh dead shrimp when rigging. Is this the case? Do you find they stay on better when casting with the shell on? Inquiring minds want to know. lol.
Wow nice❤
I picked up a 9' 6" steelhead rod last season after watching you. Haven't bait fished with it but I love whipping artificials with it! It handles fish well too, it's alot of fun!
Thanks for the information my dude! Enjoying the videos!
been using light tackle for years, been out catching others with heaver tackle.
Matthew,
Have been enjoying your videos for awhile; finally subscribed.
When is the best time to catch blues from the surf in your area?
Great vid. The bite was on today. That always makes a good time. Hope yall have a wonderful day and see you on the next vid
GREAT video Matt! I've been following your channel since the early days and it has just gotten better and better, Watching and studying what I learn from your videos, plus a few others here on YT, plus a few guided trips down there on the Gulf I have gotten a good bit of knowledge and experience. I have picked up a few surf fishing rods along the way, but now I want to get a light steelhead rod like you use here and enjoy more light tackle fishing. God bless.
good info an da are great eatin fresh,good info on gear also..stay safe..
Do you ever find yourself casting steel head rods beyond the sand bar or strictly short casting?
You can't beat a bit of fun fishing, well done.
Man, i been tryin to find some steelhead rods since the first time i went fishin with you. Now that I'm in Memphis I'll really need to make an effort to find some since I'll be fishin down there more often!
Love your stuff BBB! THANKS
Thanks for outlining the smaller gear! Can’t wait to see the fish you caught!
Hello. Can you give me some rod holders information??? Thank you.
Commenting on Fishing not Catching: couldn’t find a way to comment on your podcast - would appreciate knowing how. So, Top 10 fishing UA-camrs: my friends and I huge; fishaholic fans. You guys mentioned but glossed over Rich’s NE content, he rocks it everywhere! He figures out how to catch fish better than anyone. Darcizzle: vastly under-rated. Most fishing shows are loathe to tell you where they are fishing. Not so Darcy and Puddin; they will give you their exact coordinates. Seeing as followers indirectly pay all the providers salaries it’s nice to get tossed a location bone once in a while.
Great content, Matt! Thanks!
Thanks for the fishing lesson and trip, needed a day out with you. We live in Indiana right now and are looking forward to Florida fishing next year. 😀 Have a wonderful day
Seems like you have that rod already set up for steelhead fishing including the bead.
Another great video, Matt. Thank you
Great video can’t wait for the next catch and cook video.
Keep them coming Beach Bum!
It seems like Wright & McGill is no longer making rods, or the rods they used to make are now branded as Eagle Claw. My attempts to Google Wright & McGill keeps pointing to Eagle Claw.
Matt, are those rod holders homemade or store boutght? If commercial, what brand and where can they be bought? Great stuff, thanks.
I always learn something new about beach fishing, when I watch Matt's channel. Even though I am a well seasoned angler (fresh and saltwater). I am new to beach fishing and I am always eager to learn more about my favorite sport. So, I want to pick up one of those DVD's (I guess?) From "Salt Strong", on your Mastery Beach Fishing course!
I hope you and your family have had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Keep your videos coming I love watching them they are great
Damn dude that sounds so fun and looks so exciting going to try and put some of that into my catfishing
Bonus fish are the best 👍
As Arawak’s love the vids. Stay awesome!! I appreciate all the info on what your using! May God continue to bless ya!
Saw you and Brad out there during thanksgiving week. You obviously had more luck with diversity than I did. We killed the whiting but didn’t hook up to anything else. Love getting to fish that stretch thanks for helping me learn how to navigate the surf and what works best.
I am a beginner so bear with me what weight was you using
cool cool
Great video, as always
Is this very public beach location secret? Would be nice to see some useful content on public access beaches in the area. Thanx, man! You’re the best!
in the NC surf, I have always used the lightest equipment that I can get by with. Normally a 7 foot med. action rod that is rated for less than 1 OZ. But, normally use a 1 OZ pyramid with it. Have also used 3 OZ. Ove the years, I have only shattered one older 7 foot rod when casting 2 to 3 oz lead. I do move up to 8 footers when conditions are rough or I want to get some more distance. And, recently got brave and spooled up some 20 pound BRAID for the first time on a 4500 Spinfisher!!! lol Used it to sling 1.5 oz Gotcha jigfish's at blue fish that were out along ways. Also, on that last trip in October, I tried out the Tactical Anglers Power Clips (50 pound). I tied one on the braid and slung it all weekend using 3 oz bottom rigs and the 1.5 oz jigfish. Never retied and held up great. Kind of a torture test. I also used to clips this past summer on jigs and caught redfish and flounder in the back waters. Sold now on these for quick changes in the windy surf. BTW, I bought the jigfish's after watching one of your vids, took them to OKI in July and we all caught Spanish in the surf with them!!!
Great video. Love these type of vids!
Did you know that beared Brad's house burned down 4 years ago? I was thinking about that because we should all be thankful for each other. Happy late thanksgiving!
Been slinging 2 or 3 ounce weight on 7 footers for 3 decades. Never ever have i broken a rod. Snapped lines because of the bail flipping midflight but never a rod
beach bumming like a boss !! as always great content !
Good stuff!
Great video. I hope you and your family had a wonderful. Thanksgiving.
My 9' TFR Xh can throw 25oz
Reminds me of G. Loomis and his steelhead rod story
Matthew I love to target the smaller fish to eat. The big ones are fun to catch just not as good to eat. If I can catch 2 pound fish I’m happy
Gotta admit when that rod twitches I’m jumping out of my chair🤣
Just moved here and getting into salt water fishing. Love your shows. Really helps us newbies transforming from freshwater bass fishing.
Freshwater to saltwater isn't really a big transformation,, all fish relate to structure. Yes the structure in saltwater is a little different. But the fundamentals are still the same. What do you look for in bass fishing? Drop-offs, channels, current flows, and oddities,,, right? So consider a slough, or trough, in the surf to be the equivalent of a channel. The backside (area closet to the shore) is your drop-off equivalent, a cut in between sandbars creates another channel where water comes in and out, (current),, both sides of the cut on both the inside and outside of the sandbars are good places, much like a stream coming into a pond or lake. Then of course you have docks, piers, reefs, shoals, etc. that are your oddities.
So basically just think of the ocean as a big lake.
But a common mistake made is that a lot of anglers have the mindset of "big water, big equipment",, not so! I bass fished for 17 years in Florida,, now I'm using those same rods for fishing surf, pier, and sound. Where many anglers will wade out to their knees or waist to make a cast way out,, I fish where they're standing to cast! Yes, there are a few places that very long casts are required,, but on the east coast there's only 4 or 5 of those places!
And to add to NCOutdoors: You can use a lot of freshwater tackle, fishing in saltwater. Just as long as you clean it very good after each trip. Saltwater is brutal on tackle, if not cleaned well. I have seen many "saltwater lures" start to rust, if not cleaned right!
Good video
Hi
Trophy Whiting!
One piece or 2 piece rods ?
Where can I get a Bummy Stick?
They will be back in stock sooner than later 🙂
Hi Matt, Ron Sr. here, have you been Sick, you use to post almost ever other day, I've missed you Brother,are you and family OK? God Bless,,, Ron Sr.
You should cut the stingray up for bait
Heck yeah . Gotta throw atleast one light rod out there for the whiting action.. haha
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Where is a good place to surf fish away from people in Florida gulf
Where was Fred?
🤘
Great video matt showing some of these Beach fishermen that they don't have to all go way out there to cast you are right there are great fish close in and every now and then you will catch that good red 👍