Fished friday, 2/21. I caught and released 10 BSPs with five at 6-7 inches and the other 5 at 10-13 inches (they were fatties). I caught them all on the new Big Hammer 1 3/4 inch perch grubs in moto/red and clear/red flake on a carolina rig. I used some of the Pro-Cure Sand Shrimp bait sauce--it's orange colored and seemed to work well as I was hit hard after first applying it. Water is still pretty cold, was tolerable in shorts and sandals once sun was higher.

I tried a new hooking method. Instead of threading the grub on a #6 baitholder hook, I nose-hooked it on a #4 Hayabusa Octopus hook (like an Owner or Gamakatsu SSW style). It's the way guys nose hook dropshot baits for freshwater bass, but I still fished the carolina rig. I hooked it 2 ribs back (about a 1/4 inch) from the front. I found it to have a little more action since the grub can swing back and forth on the hook. I got bit at least as good as with the old hooking method. Now the big benefit: NO LEADER TWIST! I'm not sure why, but I didn't get a single twisted, curled or kinked leader today. I think the offset bend that baitholder hooks come with may cause the grub to twist on the retrieve. Not so with nose hooking on a short shank like the octopus-style. Also, the grub can't be pulled down or slip down over the bend and barb anymore like with the baitholder.

Big Hammer Swimbaits-Hammerhead Jigheads
www.swimbait.com
Pro-Cure Scents
www.pro-cure.com

Bearcat,

Can't post a pic but its pretty simple. Hook up... Curly tail grub tail down. Go about two ribs back on the grub and insert the hook up. Its that simple.

I smeared Shrimp Smelly Jelly on the grubs and hung on for dear life! LOL. I too like others here was concerned that rigged that way, the grubs would be pulled off. Like Fongter said... didn't happen.

When I do micro grubs for Perch, I usually start the retrieve right after the sink but in this case I casted ...let it sink... and then let it flurry free spool for about 20 seconds with a little bit of twitch on the tip of the rod.

On about 5 occations grubo was picked up and Bardie was hall@asse with drag singing a sweet tune! Got busted off twice using 2# p-line . Looking in my fly vest realized I had forgotten to bring my other spool loaded wit 4#. x(

At any rate, good day and encouraging results. One of the highlights was when I was standing in about 18" of water getting ready to cast when right next to me about two feet away and heading seaward was a Shovelnose Shark about 4 feet long cruized by to say hello.

Ah the surf! I'm falling in love with it to the point where I can't angle anywhere else!

Tight Lines!!

Aztecwin

I don't have a digicam, so I'll draw a pic and post it.

Here it is below (see attachment). I am stoked that it is working for folks. I started openhook dropshotting for freshy bass recently and then the thought of rigging the perch grubs just popped into my head. I can only credit God for the idea because it came out of nowhere. Good fishing, all.


Big Hammer Swimbaits-Hammerhead Jigheads
www.swimbait.com
Pro-Cure Scents
www.pro-cure.com

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)

I second that motion! :) I too went and tried the new fong method and was very impressed!I cant belive we have fished it any other way..Hit Newport for a couple hours Sunday for 11 bardis!As fongster reported it didnt effect the hook up ratio,and it didnt get ripped off and would slide up the line like with a split/drop shot rig. very cool! I used some little mini circle hooks so all fish came hooked in the lip.(very easy release)IT eliminated the grub sliding down the hook when casting or fish pulling on it! All around great new grub hookin techneic! THANKS FONG!! Your posts are always infomative and have great insight on strait catching fish!! Espeaically surfishing! maybe Ill catch up with ya sometime down in Laguna and you can show me how to hunt down some of those Toad calicos or Butts from the sand!!You the Man! Thanks again for the tip and Ill stop and say what up at the HALL Show!!
KEEP EM BENT!!!!!!!!!!

PHISHuntR

Hey Fongster,
Try using the same octopus hook or better yet a circle hook (straight not offset) on a drop shot rig for LMB. Works great for me.

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AMP2564

There's a picture posted of the new hammer per grubs at pierfishing.com


http://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/pfmb.mv?forum=&module=view&viewid=105604&mode=all&row=0

-fishin420

Cool. There are a few more colors not shown, not sure what all of them are though, sorry.

Big Hammer Swimbaits-Hammerhead Jigheads
www.swimbait.com
Pro-Cure Scents
www.pro-cure.com

I believe there are 10 colors total, including the ones posted above, plus, white and chartruse with flake and a couple others in motor oil and rootbeer with different color flakes.

Bowlboy

Thanks for posting the pix. Boy, I can't believe that's how you hook 'em. Does it come off easy or get off position?

Didn't have any torn off the other day. It just rides in the bend of the hook on a retrieve. No more slipping down the shank like old style when bit (i.e. covering the hook). I did have one get the tail bit off but that happened with the old hooking style. Shows how well the head portion holds up I guess.


Big Hammer Swimbaits-Hammerhead Jigheads
www.swimbait.com
Pro-Cure Scents
www.pro-cure.com

hay fongster sounds like you got a nice bunch of fish,I was just wondering how long have big hammer grub been out becouse I had seen them at the fred hall show last year. I bought a package of all most all of big hammer grub colors that they had at the booth. dont you have a picture of the big hammer grub on your web sit?,also I think you have a picture on your big hammer web site of how to rig the grub the new way, I have seen the big hammer grubs in most tackel stores. you have new colors wear can you see them on a web site? but you are right it is nice way to hook grubs. well see ya happy fishing