REVIEW: Battlestar 115 Jerkbait

Battlestar 115 in Sardine

The Lucky Craft Flash Minnow 110 (LC) has truly become the most popular hardbait for California surf anglers over the years. And, for good reason … they catch fish! Everything from Surf Perch, to Halibut, to White Seabass, to Calico Bass, and more. Personally, I’ve tried other jerkbaits with varying degrees of success. None of which seemed to match or exceed the performance of the LC – until now!

Right out of the box, the Battlestar 115 Jerkbait (BS) shows off it’s ultra-clear mini-bill, perfectly blended realistic ultra-tough epoxy paint job and scale pattern, and a trio of ultra-sharp saltwater treble hooks.

Large Jack Smelt caught on the Battlestar 115 in the Sardine pattern

The BS features many similar qualities to the LC, but goes even beyond in features and performance. As it’s name suggests, the BS is a bit longer at 115 millimeters and weighs in slightly heavier at 3/4 oz. compared to the 5/8 oz. LC. The added weight really helps in getting the bait out farther, particularly when fighting an onshore wind that sand slingers often face.

But, it’s in the water where this lure really shines. On the retrieve, the wobble perfectly imitates a swimming baitfish. However, what truly sets the BS apart is the fact that it is a slow-rising jerkbait, rather than a traditional suspending model. This allows you to fish over rocks, weeds, and other structure that would normally snag other hardbaits. It also gives you the option to work the lure as fast or as slow as the fish are wanting it at the moment. I found that a very slow retrieve with occasional pauses and pops will often entice a crushing reaction bite … though, there have been times that I needed to just burn it as fast as possible when the fish were actively chasing bait.

Yellowfin Croaker

The bottom line is, does this bait catch fish? The answer is a resounding YES! As you can see from the attached pics, the Battlestar 115 will catch a wide variety of surf fish in So Cal. I have also had a Halibut and a White Seabass on the line with this bait. Unfortunately, both came off in the skinny. But, it clearly is something most species want to eat.

Barred Surf Perch

The original BS comes in two patterns: Sardine and Glow Chovy. Though, they are about to release an updated version with six different color patterns. Be sure to check their website for the upcoming debut of their new offerings.

(L to R) Glow Chovy and Sardine

The Battlestar 115 has quickly become my favorite hardbait in the surf. I’ve caught fish at high tide, low tide, and in between. It’s so versatile that it can be fished pretty much anywhere, anytime. Plus it’s priced right … about 1/3 less than the LC. While there is no magic bait that will work every time, the BS has proven it does what it was designed to do – catch a wide variety of fish in the surf on a regular basis. Which is why we are giving it our highest rating.

Cave Club Rating: 5 Clubs

Cave Club Scale
5 Clubs = The Missing Link
4 Clubs = Rock Solid
3 Clubs = Better Than Sharp Stick
2 Clubs = Not Fully Evolved
1 Club = Should Be Extinct

REVIEW: Fenwick Eagle Salmon/Steelhead Spinning Rod

Needed a Salmon/Steelhead spinning rod for throwing Carolina-rigs in the So Cal surf. That’s right, SST rods make excellent light tackle surf rods! This one (model EAG86M-MFS-2) has exceeded all my wildest expectations!

While many anglers will opt for these rods in excess of 10′ in length, I chose this 8’6″ 2-piece so that it would fit into the custom rod travel tube I made (The post on this fun DIY project is coming soon). The specs on this rod are as follows:

However, the numbers only tell the beginning of the story. I’ve put this rod through it’s paces for the past 7 months and it has passed with flying colors. Built from 24-Ton graphite and adorned with upgraded stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts, the Fenwick Eagle SST can cast a 1/2 to 1 ounce C-rig a country mile. Paired with an ergonomic minimal reel seat that secures your reel without having to constantly retighten, the rod is extremely sensitive. The soft tip really allows fish to take the bait without feeling resistance, yet the rod displays the backbone for solid hook-sets and can still handle big fish flawlessly. Premium cork grips, perfect balance (I paired it with a Cadence Stout 3000 reel loaded with 10# Yo-Zuri Hybrid line), and it’s light weight (5 3/8 ounces) make for a very comfortable fishing experience. There’s a handy hook holder, too. It truly is a lot of rod for the money.

If you are looking for a SST spinning rod that fully covers all the bases, doesn’t break the bank, and can take a beating from a neanderthal like me, the Fenwick Eagle is exactly what you seek. I highly recommend it!

MSRP – Fenwick Eagle Salmon/Steelhead Spinning Rod (2020) Model EAG86M-MFS-2 $89.99 (Seen as low as $69.99)

Cave Club Rating: 5 Clubs

Cave Club Scale
5 Clubs = The Missing Link
4 Clubs = Rock Solid
3 Clubs = Better Than Sharp Stick
2 Clubs = Not Fully Evolved
1 Club = Should Be Extinct

Net Disadvantage

It was a very weird evening, last night. Found myself free to hit the waters of Lake Sherwood for a few hours just after sunset. But, it didn’t take long for anticipation to give way to aggravation.

Tried some topwater for no love. Then, first cast with a Rattlin Vibe, I tied into a complete monster. Her first run nearly pulled me in. Then, she tried wrapping me on two different boat props and a dock post. I finally got her to the net, and she wouldn’t fit. My net is 18″×19″, and pretty deep. But, I couldn’t get that tank into the net. Then, I finally had her head-in about halfway, but she flipped herself out. I got her going in a second time, but she got the second treble hook caught in the net and flipped herself free of the net and the hooks, and was gone. I let out a scream that was probably heard as far away as Lake Okeechobee. From the looks of her, she would have definitely been my best of 2020, and likely my PB … by far! My arms were so tired, I had to take a 10 minute break … yeah, she was that big and strong.

4.5 pounder on a Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow

I later had a 5-6 pounder shake free just as I grabbed the net. Then, I hooked a fish-eating bird (safely released). To boot, I must have whiffed on a dozen hooksets. Despite being “one of those days”, I still ended up with 7 fish, including this 4.5 pounder. It was all about rattles, Pins Minnows, and Senkos.
Most of all, I need to get back out there and find that fish, again!

Busting Bubbas

Been WAY too long since my last post here. Unfortunately, coaching high school softball, and just life in general, has kept me from my usual time on the water and from keeping this cyber-rag up to date. Hopefully, this will be the start of more Caveman communication! That said …

The other day, Fireman Sean somehow convinced me to wake up before farm animals. Boy, am I glad he did! We got to Westlake about 5:45am and were quickly on our way. The conditions seemed very good for some topwater action as there were plenty of clouds, glassy water, not too cold air temps, and water temps around 69°. Plus, the fish had been on the post-spawn chew, according to my fishing partner.

6 Pounder on Yo-Zuri Sashimi Popper

As we made our way to the other side of our launch dock, I casted a legacy Yo-Zuri Sashimi Popper in a Baby Bass pattern. It only took one little pop before my bait was slurped up by a big ol’ bubba. But, shortly after, as she made her first jump, the bait came flying out of her mouth. Although the disappointment of losing a huge fish didn’t fade very quickly, we were encouraged that we were on the right track.

We worked our way down the bank a bit and got a couple more blow ups, but nothing would stick. As we approached the lone bridge at the lake, Sean suggested that we move to the other side of the inlet we were on. Just as I was commenting that I never get bit near the bridge, I casted to a small point on the bank, let the popper sit, then gave it a few twitches when it suddenly was enveloped in a huge explosion. When the line went taught, I set the hook and the battle was on with this aggressive six pounder.

5.5 Pounder on an Ima Finesse Popper

It wasn’t long before Fireman Sean casted an Ima Finesse Popper in Real Ghost Shad next to a private 1-boat dock. The bait hadn’t even settled into the water for more than a second when suddenly it was delicately sucked under the water. The bite was so subtle, Sean momentarily didn’t even realize that the bait was gone from the water’s surface. But, when he reeled down, and felt the line go a bit tight, he set the hook and went to work on this 5.5 pound beast.

6.5 Pounder on a Yo-Zuri Sashimi Popper

As we continued down the same side of the inlet I noticed that, on the other side of the boat toward the middle of the inlet, there were some baitfish coming up to the surface. There weren’t any blow-ups. But, it was clear that the fish were getting chased up by something. As the old adage says, never ignore the other side of the boat! So, I casted the popper into where I saw some activity. I worked it slow with one or two pops and some decent pauses in between, as had been working for us so far. But, nothing seemed interested. Suddenly there was a big rush of baitfish near my popper, so I gave it three quick aggressive pops. That did the trick … BOOM! Another huge explosion engulfed my bait and the battle was on. After several jumps, and two heart-stopping, line-peeling runs under the boat, Sean was able to deftly slide the net under this 6.5 pound brute … my personal best, so far, for 2019!

5.75 Pounder on a Yo-Zuri Sashimi Popper

As I slid our third fish back into the water, we looked at each other and commented how the big bubbas had come out to play that morning, so far. They weren’t done, yet! We each boated a 4+ pounder before another delicate little slurp inhaled my bait at another small inlet point. Even though all the fights had been very aggressive to that point, this one took the cake. I truly thought that perhaps I had hooked into something in the 8+ range until this 5.75 pound fatty came completely out of the water and did an inverted 360° flip with a half-gainer. She dogged me for a couple of minutes, pulling drag on the 10-pound test Yo-Zuri Hybrid before we got her aboard for a short meet and greet.

6 Pounder on a Yamamoto Senko

After that, things seemed to slow down for a bit. We hit some reeds, and also an extended flat, that had both been producing as of late. However, neither of us could get any love. So, as we made our was around a dock with about a dozen boats moored on it, I picked up my Senko rod and began skipping the old faithful 297 pattern (Green Pumpkin with Black Flake) under the pontoon party boats. On my third attempt, as the lure began to flutter down, the line suddenly jumped. I knew a fish had sucked it in. So, I reeled down and leaned back into a hard hookset and we were, once again, off to the races. Only this fish knew how to fight! She immediately tried to wrap me around one of the dock’s anchor poles. Fortunately, I was able to turn her around before she could complete the wrap and moved her out to open water. As she cleared the water, Sean exclaimed, “Another Bubba!”. We got her in and onto the digi scale which settled in at 5.99. Sean said, “I’m calling that a 6!”.

4.5 Pounder on an Ima Finesse Popper

Sean boated another 4.5 pound bleeder that had to be released before we could get a pic, and I pulled in a 3 pound schoolie (our smallest of the day), both on Senkos, before my partner found another taker for his popper. This 4.5 pounder, which had no less than four water-clearing jumps in her, put us at the 10 fish mark for the day and gave us a 5-fish best totaling 29.75 pounds! We both wanted to continue with this incredible big bass action. Unfortunately, we had to leave the fish biting, as each of us had business to attend to. Though, as we drove home, I told my fireman friend that anytime he wants to wake me up before the sun is warm to go busting bubbas, I am in!

BBQ Cod Tacos

I’m always looking for a deal. So, I usually go nuts when something tasty goes on sale and buy way too much of it … this week it was fresh Alaskan Cod! Mmmmm MMMMMM!! 😉

INGREDIENTS

1 Pound Fresh Cod Fillets
1-2 TBSP Butter
1/4 Head of White Cabbage or Iceberg Lettuce, shredded
2 Tsp Herbal Red Seasoning
1/2 Fresh Lime
6 Corn Tortillas
1 Preparation of Rockin’ Guac

RECIPE

Rinse Cod fillets and pat dry. Place them onto large sheet of foil sprayed with cooking oil. Slice butter as thinly as possible into pats, and place on top of fish. Evenly squeeze the juice from half a lime over the fillets. Then evenly sprinkle the TSS Herbal Red seasoning over the fillets, and add a pinch of Kosher or sea salt if desired.

Heat grill until hood temp is around 325°. Reduce the middle burner to low or, if using charcoal, be sure to leave a gap in the middle of the grill for some indirect cooking. Place foil with fish onto center of the grill and cover for 3-5 minutes, until fish has lost most of it’s translucence.

With a large spatula, flip fillets and place directly onto the grill uncovered to give the fish a little grill-crusting on the outside. Just a minute or two does the trick. Take the melted butter that remains on the foil and evenly pour it over the fillets.
I like to give both sides some browning, so I do a re-flip for an additional minute before taking them off the grill.
NOTE 1: There are many ways to heat up your tortillas (a must do unless they are fresh off the griddle). One of my faves is to roll up three at a time in some foil and place ’em right on the grill … very Cavemanesque, don’t ya think?!? ;))

The fish should easily flake up into bite sized chunks. Place shredded cabbage or lettuce (the Cavekids have been on a binge of the latter, lately) onto tortillas, then add fish, and top with some Rockin’ Guac. You can also top with shredded cheese and/or your favorite salsa or hot sauce.

With any luck, you’ll get a response something akin to what the Cavekids gave these. They had each already wolfed one down before I could even get to the table and take my first bite!

Prep Time = 10 minutes
Cook Time = 7 Minutes
Serves 3-4

©2017 Caveman Catching ©2010 Caution: Caveman Cooking/UHearMe, Inc. All rights reserved. This recipe originally appeared on the Caution: Caveman Cooking blog at http://cavemancooking.net authored by Caveman. This recipe may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.