What’s in Pete Utschig’s Plug Bag for Striper Season

Pete Utschig, experienced surf angler and Saltwater Edge contributor, recently gave us a detailed look inside his plug bag during the May full moon bite — a time when sand eels are thick and big stripers are on the move. In this blog post, we break down what Pete carries in his surfcasting bag, why he carries it, and how he chooses lures based on the conditions. Shop all Pete's Picks here.

Conditions: Sand Beaches and Light Wind

Pete was fishing mostly sand beaches under calm to light wind conditions. With water temps and bait activity changing rapidly during the moon phase, his selection had to be versatile and reliable across a range of scenarios.

🧰 The Essentials in Pete's Plug Bag

1. Super Strike Bottle Plug

• Purpose: Always in the bag — used to find current and trigger strikes.

• Versatility: Works across all conditions, day or night.

2. Super Strike Popper

• Used mainly for casting distance, not for popping.

• Pete lets it swim on the surface, especially when targeting cuts and rips.

3. Zig Zag Darter

• Pete uses two types of darters:

  • Wooden darters for deeper water or light current.

  • Plastic darters (like Super Strike) for shallower spots and fast-moving water.

4. SP Minnow (Back Hook Removed)

• Great for twitchy retrieves and shallow presentations.

• Removing the back hook gives it a more erratic action and keeps things safer when handling small fish.

5. Slump Buster Plug - Yo-Zuri Mag Darter

• Pete’s “night saver” — when the bite’s tough, this gets something in the bag.

• Small, compact, and effective for all sizes of fish.

🧠 Tactics and Modifications

• All plugs are upgraded with PKK Viper 41 hooks, Lone Diablo singles, and strong split rings to prevent gear failure during big fish encounters.

• The Voorhees Needle Glide and Slim Metal Lip offer distance casting and subtle action — ideal for pressured or picky fish.

🧵 Soft Plastics and Rigging Tips

Pete keeps a separate pouch for soft plastics, which include:

• 8" NLBN for distance and bottom presentation.

• 12" tandem-rigged Sluggos for big fish in shallow water. These are hand-rigged with PKK Lone Diablos and reinforced with zip ties for durability.

He notes that soft plastics often get bites when plugs don’t — especially when fish are sluggish or pressured.

🎣 When to Use What

Pete emphasizes that while the contents of his bag rarely change during the season, the timing and application of each plug is everything. Each lure has a moment when it shines:

• Bottle plugs: Finding current and fishing deeper cuts.

• Darters: Matching depth and current strength.

• Needles: Subtle movement for calm nights.

• Soft plastics: Big fish in shallow water or finicky eaters.

Final Thoughts

Pete’s plug bag isn’t loaded with gimmicks — just proven, reliable lures chosen for their specific actions, conditions, and strike-triggering ability. Whether you’re building your first surf bag or fine-tuning a seasoned one, his setup is a masterclass in simplicity, purpose, and effectiveness.

👉 Shop All Pete's Plug Bag Essentials Here