More Space, More Fish: Exploring the 3-Rod Kite Fishing Holder
September 17, 2024 5 min read
The only thing Capt. Tommy Buskirk didn’t like about his last fillet/bait table was that it took up a valuable rod holder. The Beaufort, South Carolina, inshore and nearshore charter captain frequently takes groups of four to six anglers on his spacious 25-foot C-Hawk, so he likes to have a lot of baits in the water — and that requires a lot of rod holders.
“When we fish for bull reds, which is quite often in the summertime, I want to fish four rods on the bottom,” Buskirk says. “Or if we’re tarpon fishing, I want to fish four rods on the bottom and one on top. So losing a rod holder was a significant disadvantage.”
Why Use a Bait Table?
Even though losing a rod holder was inconvenient, the bait table was more valuable to Buskirk than the rod holder it occupied. “I’m fishing cut bait all the time,” he says, “especially cut mullet for redfish, and if you don’t use something like that, you’re just making a mess, getting blood and fish guts all over the boat. With a table, most of the mess goes overboard and if I get drips in the boat, I can spray them down immediately. I’m kind of a stickler for a clean boat, because I think clients appreciate it.”
Then, while fishing with Capt. Anthony Vargas on a vacation in the Florida Keys, Buskirk saw the solution he needed.
Vargas, also an inshore and nearshore guide, had a three-rod trident-style holder like those commonly used for kite fishing but with an integrated bait table and tackle tray storage.
Even though it was designed and marketed for kite fishing, it was also well-suited to conventional bait fishing, providing a perfectly positioned bait prep table without sacrificing a rod holder — and offering extra tackle storage at the same time.
Turning One Rod Holder Into Three
Vargas told Buskirk he had bought the part from Boat Outfitters, and soon after he got home to South Carolina, Buskirk ordered one for himself.
“Now you’re taking one rod holder and turning it into three rod holders,” he says.
“That’s a huge advantage for how we fish.” He uses the holder not just while fishing but also as a convenient spot for rods while rigging.
“I keep all my bottom fishing stuff in the tackle tray, and I put a spool of leader around one of the rod holders so I’ve got everything I need to re-rig right there.”
“I keep all my bottom fishing stuff in the tackle tray,” he says, “and I put a spool of leader around one of the rod holders so I’ve got everything I need to re-rig right there. If I break off I can stick a rod in one of the rod holders, open the bail, pull my tackle tray out, tie my rig, bait up right there, and I’m ready to go.”
More Time Fishing, Less Time Rigging
That obviously represents an upgrade over Buskirk’s old bait table, but is there really enough of a difference to justify the cost of the new setup?
That depends on how you look at it. For Buskirk, the answer is yes.
“Time on the water is really valuable,” he says, “both to us and to clients. So when you’re out there you want to make the most of it. Anytime you can re-rig quicker, be more organized — it might not seem like a big deal, but those are the little things that make you a better charter captain or better fisherman.”
Next up, says Buskirk, is a tackle station. “Right now, except for the tray under my bait table, all my tackle is kind of in the console. Even just that one little tray has helped a lot, so I want to add storage for more.”
"It might not seem like a big deal, but those are the little things that make you a better charter captain or better fisherman."
About Sea Island Adventures
More than a fishing charter operation, Beaufort-based Sea Island Adventures also offers scenic and wildlife cruises, instructional outings, family and corporate events, and more aboard two vessels — a beautifully restored Pathfinder 2200 Tournament bay boat and a new 25-foot C-Hawk center console. With a generous 9’6” beam, a shallow 12˚ deadrise, and a deep cockpit, the C-Hawk is an ideal platform for larger groups — especially families with small children, who will appreciate the higher sides and exceptional stability.
Fishing options include backwater inshore fishing for redfish, speckled trout, black drum, sheepshead, tarpon and more; nearshore fishing for cobia, mackerel, kingfish, and bull reds; offshore fishing, which adds amberjack, snapper, bonito, grouper to the nearshore target list; and shorter, action-packed trips specifically tailored to kids and families.
Captains Tommy Buskirk and Scott Willard are both Beaufort natives and have been fishing and boating the region’s sprawling saltmarshes, winding creeks and tidal rivers since they were old enough to walk.
“We love and appreciate our resource here, and we want to share that with others."
Both captains take pride in a unique approach to the charter business. “We really care about people having a good time on the water, whatever that means for them,” says Buskirk. “We love and appreciate our resource here, and we want to share that with others. We really put a lot of work into that. We’re not in it to make an easy buck on the water.”
