Consumable Products

The next time you’re in a grocery store, look at the ingredients list on consumable products like BBQ sauces, spices, and BBQ sauces. If you can pronounce 80% of the ingredients you’re doing better than most. What these labels are saying is these products are all additives, preservatives, and flavor enhancers.

Look at our consumable products and right away you can see the difference between our products and theirs. It is our goal to allow the natural flavors in foods forward as opposed to tastes created in a laboratory. We make healthy products for a reason and that reason is so you know exactly what you’re consuming.

aloha baby BBQ sauce

Aloha Baby Summer Sauce

admin July 10, 2025 0

One thing I always look forward to is the freshness of summertime fruit. Crisp, fresh, & sweet are a few adjectives that come to mind. We use these summer fruits to make our Aloha Baby summer sauce. Fresh fruit is the base for making this sauce, and because we use no additives or preservatives, you can taste the difference.

Summer is a fantastic time for a wide variety of fruits. Some popular choices include berries like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries; stone fruits such as peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and cherries; and other favorites like watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mangoes, grapes, and pineapples. Several fruits are particularly healthy during the summer, including berries like strawberries and blueberries, stone fruits like peaches and cherries, and watermelon. These fruits are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, offering benefits like improved heart health, reduced inflammation, and boosted immune function.

Aloha Baby summer sauce is our answer for a sauce that complements, is flavorful, and good for your system. Our two favorite uses for Aloha Baby BBQ sauce are smoking pork shoulder for pulled pork sandwiches and ribs. Wrapping the meat or not, the fruit in this sauce adds pizzazz to the meat, and you can taste. Pork is traditionally served at Luau’s, and that was the impetus for this sauce. If you’re smoking a whole pig, this sauce is the only choice. Pork is the best use for this sauce, but it has also been used on seafood or poultry tacos. Aloha Baby is extremely versatile, and we would love to hear back regarding how you use it.

Aloha Baby Summer Sauce Ingredients:

Peaches, Mangoes, Pineapple, Red Onions, Sliced Garlic, Tomato Sauce, Brown Sugar, Cider Vinegar, Chili Powder, Parsley & Basil.

Let us not forget to mention this sauce, like all our others, is additive, preservative, and flavor enhancer free. The next time you're in stores looking at BBQ sauce, just take a look at the ingredients list. These engineered ingredients are what make it so easy to sell their products cheaply. We want you to taste the flavor of the food, not what someone concocted in a laboratory somewhere.

*** Refrigeration required before and after opening ***

“Life’s Good When You’re Cookin Wit’ Gus”

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We Love Grilling Baskets

We Love Grilling Baskets

admin June 18, 2025 0

Most of us have grilled fish, shellfish, or burgers over an open flame. If so, you have undoubtedly experienced the frustration of losing part of your dish. Turning delicate food items often results in something falling through the grates. Here is where grilling baskets show their value and why we love grilling baskets.

Today, grilling baskets come in many shapes and sizes. One thing they all do is allow you to season, baste, and cook foods over an open flame. The only risk we foresee is burning food. This happens when it's been left on too long or over a flame that's too high. They're also available with non-stick surfaces. If you cook foods that tend to stick to the grates or smaller items, a grill basket is for you.

Brussels sprouts, asparagus, chickpeas, and small potatoes would all benefit from being cooked in a grill basket. Seafood (any and all!) is also a great candidate for cooking in a grill basket. The baskets protect them from having to touch the grill grates, giving you an added layer of insurance. To prevent grilled food from clinging to the basket, be sure to oil it. You can also coat it with nonstick cooking spray before cooking.) Forget running back and forth from your kitchen to your grill. Grill baskets allow you to cook both mains and sides in the great outdoors.

We Love Grilling Baskets But......

It's a common misconception that olive oil's smoke point is too low to grill with. High-quality extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of over 410°F. While you don't want to have oil dripping into the flames. A light brushing will do wonders in keeping your food from sticking. To prevent fish from sticking to a grill basket, properly prepare the fish and the basket, ensuring a non-stick surface. This can be achieved by oiling the basket, using a non-stick spray, or even brushing the fish with mayonnaise. We love grilling baskets but remember proper heat management and seasoning can contribute to a successful grilling experience.

A grill mat is a great way to prevent unnecessary loss of food and keep your grill looking clean. Mats, usually made of Teflon, are placed on top of the grill. The effect is minimizing food lost into the grill and preventing contact with the grill as well. This also means that your food will be cooked more evenly. Grill mats can be a worthwhile addition to your grilling setup, especially for certain situations, but they also have drawbacks. They offer benefits like easier cleanup and preventing food from falling through grates, but they can also hinder the authentic grilling experience, like grill marks and smoky flavor.

The mat provides a continuous non-stick surface that eliminates all of the issues above. The mat picks up the temperature from the grill mat, and I get the same grill marks as if the food were directly on the grill grate and not on a mat.

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Flaming Fiend Carolina BBQ Sauce

Carolina BBQ Sauce

admin April 19, 2025 0

Growing up, I was never a fan of Mustard. I only ate it at my parents' insistence. What did happen is I tried a Carolina BBQ sauce on a pulled pork slider. It was like I had discovered fire or the wheel. The sauce was tangy because of the vinegar, and a bit spicy. That experience was enough to make me dig deeper. After researching the history and recipes for this Carolina BBQ sauce, I created Flaming Fiend.

Much to my surprise, many of my friends like me had never tried a mustard-based sauce. They like it now, and it's always a hit among family and friends. What makes it unique is its heavy reliance on vinegar, particularly apple cider vinegar, which gives it a tangy and acidic flavor. It's super-tangy and acidic with the natural spiciness of yellow mustard as well as added spices and flavors. This blend complements slow-cooked pork especially.

This sauce is not traditional, being mustard-based but it depends where you are from. We have added a few twists and turns that differentiate ours from others. One of the significant differences is the absence of additives, preservatives, or flavor enhancers. Using natural ingredients is also one of our claims to fame. If you read labels on store-bought sauces, what you see are ingredients, many of which you can't pronounce. Our research says that these ingredients are easy to make, extend the shelf life, and make products cheaper.

Our Carolina BBQ Sauce Ingredients

  • Mustard

  • Brown Sugar

  • White Sugar

  • Cider Vinegar

  • Chili Powder

  • Black Pepper

  • Water

  • White Pepper

  • Cayenne Pepper (30)

  • Soy Sauce

  • Real Butter

  • Rich Hickory Flavoring

  • Packed in 16oz Bottles

Most people can enjoy Flaming Fiend, despite its slight heat.. If I do say so myself, this sauce is good. Care was taken to ensure seasonings in this sauce do not overpower the meat you're using it on. This is a problem with many sauces you find in the market. The sauces are blended to taste a certain way, rather than complementing the food.

I like this sauce best on pork. Ribs and pulled pork are where I use this sauce the most. That's not to say you can't use it on other meats, we have, but it's like a cold drink on a hot day. Click the button below and see the sauces we have created. They are additive and preservative-free, and cost comparable to what you find in stores. Refrigeration is recommended after opening.

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"Life's Good When You're Cookin Wit' Gus"

Bent Sombrero

Bent Sombrero for Awesome Mexican Dishes

admin April 14, 2025 0

Mexican cuisine encompasses the cooking traditions and styles of the modern country of Mexico. Its earliest roots lie in Mesoamerican cuisine. Mexican cuisine's ingredients and methods originated with the first agricultural communities, such as the Olmec and Maya, who domesticated maize, developed the standard nixtamalization process, and established their foodways. Mexican food has a reputation for being very spicy, but it has a wide range of flavors, and while many spices are used for cooking, not all are spicy. Many dishes also have subtle flavors. Many dishes also have subtle flavors. To encompass the spices used to prepare Mexican dishes, we have blended "Bent Sombrero".

Chile en nogada, maize, tamales, pozole, mezcal, pan de muerto, and cóctel de camarón Mole sauce, which has dozens of varieties across the Republic, is seen as a symbol of Mexicanidad and is considered Mexico's national dish. Having grown up in Southern California, I've had the opportunity to enjoy all the traditional Mexican dishes above. Bent Sombrero can be used to make them all and then some. Traditional and non-traditional dishes will be served in the upcoming Cinco De Mayo holiday. Adding Bent Sombrero to your spice rack is just a point-and-click away.

This spice blend is made to be spicy, so our recommendation is to use it sparingly until you understand the heat index. Use too much and you'll know it. It's an awesome seasoning containing the appropriate amounts of seasonings you'll find in top shelf Mexican dishes.

Bent Sombrero Ingredients:

  • Chipotle Chili Powder

  • Hungarian Paprika

  • Sea Salt

  • Black Pepper

  • White Pepper

  • Cayenne Pepper (90 SHU)

  • Garlic Powder

  • Onion Powder

  • Dried Serrano Peppers

  • Dried Green Peppers

  • Dried Red Pepper

  • Coriander Powder

  • Chili Powder

  • Cumin

  • Mekrur Lime Powder

One of our favorite uses for Bent Sombrero Mexican Seasoning is when making chicken tacos. We mostly use thigh meat, and the end result is nothing left over. We use this sparingly because it does not require a lot of this seasoning, so we recommend the medium bottle unless you’re a food service establishment. Most of our commercial customers are food trucks, so you may have had our seasoning without knowing it.

Because we use no additives, preservatives, or flavor enhancers, we recommend you add a mortar and pestle like the ones you find in our tools section. This allows you to grind the seasoning, should it clump. Bent Sombrero is available in three sizes. Click the button below and it will take you to where you can review this magnificent seasoning.

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"Life's Good When You're Cookin Wit' Gus"

Assist Hooks

Assist Hooks

admin April 5, 2025 0

Designers create Assist hooks, often used with jigs, to hang freely and to be lighter than the jig. This configuration increases the hook-up rate by getting into the fish's mouth before it even reaches the jig. These hooks are frequently used for vertical jigging with heavy jigs. The beauty of fishing with assist hooks is they can help reduce fish mortality. It also increases the chances of a safe release

With the Assist hook, no matter where the point penetrates, the hook is securely fastened to the jig. Finally, the assistant offers a smaller probability of pricking in the gills and thus injuring the fish. Compared to the single hook, the assist again has advantages. Of the two most common assist hooks, the single and the double are the most common.

As single ones, which means that every assist hook end up on its own solid ring. Or the double with a single solid ring that has two assist hooks hanging from it. You can use both types but two single assist hooks in one solid ring perform better. This is because of increased joint ability, meaning that they move more freely! Inline singles have the eye in the same plane as (in line with) the hook point. That way they'll hang perfectly in line with the lure, not at a right angle to it. Many experts contend that the ratio of fish landed to fish hooked is better with singles than trebles.

Rigging Assist Hooks

Assist Hooks are rigged with a line or chord that inherently has a strength that will absorb the hit. Common materials including Kevlar and Dyneema that are woven and are available in a variety of strengths and thicknesses to pair with hooks. Monofilament should NEVER be used to make assist hooks because they could be rubbed against structure and you just lost a beautiful jig.

The size hook on the Assist Hook in the Image is a 4/0 and it would not be difficult to imagine a 5/0 on it as well. The hooks I normally use are Live Bait Hook with an eye that is straight up and down with the shank and not inclined. Not to sound corny but fishing with assist hooks can be addictive because larger fish are more inclined to inhale the jig. Hookup rates are increased so you have a better shot at catching the largest fish of the day and winning the jackpot.

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Proberos stick bait, the ultimate fish killer

Jerk Baiting Surf Fish

admin March 22, 2025 0

Injured minnows or other sea creatures caught in the surf are easy prey for predators in the surf. Enter the surface or shallow running stick aka jerk bait. Designed to look like a minnow that's in a lot of trouble, these baits don't disappoint. They are easy targets for predators and are quick to fall victim to fish looking for an easy meal. Jerk Baiting Surf Fish is a blast and triggers explosive strikes in shallow water.

These baits are colorful and with their internal rattler, they alert predatory to their presence. When inhaled, the treble hooks lodge in the fish and don't let go. They are designed to obfuscate themselves using color and clear bodies. Fish looking for them only see a part of the body and attack what they can see and feel. The thumping made by the rattler is a time-worn trick and helps differentiate the bait from the crashing of the waves. The erratic fast action can often trigger fish in ways few other baits can. This is especially true in warmer waters. While jerk baits are great when fish are lethargic, they excite schooling fish out on the hunt.

Jerk Baiting Surf Fish Season

Remember jerk baits are one of the few baits that are truly effective the whole year through. Even during the cold water period, when the fish are more inactive and more vertical in their location, the jerk bait can be an effective tool. Ideally, a spinning reel with a gear ratio from 6:1 to 7:1 is the sweet spot. If you use a reel that's too fast, you run the risk of overpowering the action of your jerk bait by pulling in too much line. As a general rule, clear water calls for natural or transparent jerkbait colors. When fishing more stained water, solid colors and those with a little flash tend to do better.

Since you'll be using jerk baits in the surf, the water will usually be dirty because of the sand but try basing your decision on how clear the sky is. Throwing this bait around wind-blown points, banks or pockets are all great locations during these conditions. Forage is another important factor when throwing a jerk bait. Jerk baits imitate fish such as shad and bluegill, so it's important that bass feed on similar types of forage.

There's a lot more I can say about using jerk baits in the surf so the best advice I can give you is to get out there and try it out. If the fish aren't biting, just remember that is why it's called "fishing" and not "catching". You won't be disappointed.

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Souga Red Silver Bleeding

Surf Fishing With Poppers

admin March 22, 2025 0

Just imagine standing in the ocean with the surf rushing past your ankles. Waves crashing, foam everywhere, and the knowledge that fish are all around looking for something to eat. What I know is I'm surf fishing with poppers and the anticipation is about to get the best of me.

This is exactly where I like throwing poppers. Water crashing everywhere and a popper struggling to make its way someplace safe. And WHAM, something inhales your bait and takes off in any direction except towards you. Seeing a fish boil on your bait, exiting the water with their mouth wide open gets your blood pumping. When throwing poppers into the surf, throw the bait out as far as you can and let it tumble in the water. A few sharp jerks when the popper is in smooth water, let it coast in, and be pulled back out with the side should get you bit. Remember to vary the retrieve because what works one day may not work the next. One of my favorite techniques is to stand in knee-deep water

In my surf fishing experiences, you should expect that you have no idea what's going to inhale your bait. And that's part of the excitement. I wouldn't recommend line weight less than 12lb test for mono or 15lb test braid. The reason for this recommendation is halibut can be caught in the surf. They can get big and are mean and will take off for deeper water in an instant. Sharks and rays are also prevalent in the surf. Rays are flat and can hide in extremely shallow surf so prepare your drag accordingly. Sharks will destroy plastic baits so consider yourself lucky if you get it back if a shark inhales it.

Scouting Surf Fishing With Poppers Locations

When preparing to go surf fishing, visit a local shoreline or beach when the tide is low and look for the shallow areas and the deeper holes. These bottom features will be much easier to see at low tide when water levels have dropped with the tide. During low tide, the typical wave builds up and crashes onto the outer bar. During high tide, waves often build without breaking and roll over the outer bar. So it's always better to scout out prime fishing locations on a low tide when the breaking waves make cuts easier to spot. Fish are more active and closer to shore at night, especially predatory species like snook, tarpon, and striped bass. To surf fish safely and effectively: Use glow-in-the-dark lures or attach small lights to your line for better visibility.

When planning a surf fishing session, look for calm conditions with wave heights of 1 to 2 feet, ideally during the incoming tide from two hours before to one hour after high tide. Wear reflective gear for safety.

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Art of Scaling Fish

Art of Scaling Fish

admin March 15, 2025 0

As a long-time fisherman, the only thought and direction when scaling fish is to ensure you get them all. With that in mind, I went about the job of scaling fish with enthusiasm. Never did I stop to consider whether there was the art of scaling fish or not. The concern was that before the next gutting and cleaning phase, all scales had been removed.

At its core, the type of scales on the fish is the center of the art of scaling fish. Technically, there are 4 types of fish scales. They are placoid, cycloid, ctenoid (pronounced 'ten-oid'), and ganoid. Most bony fish have cycloid scales. Fish with cycloid scales have the same number of scales their entire lives - the scales enlarge to accommodate a fish's growth (scales that are lost to injury will be regrown). Fish scalers make scaling fish easier and contains most of the scales. They find it better than using a knife, fork, or spoon, making kitchen cleanup easier. The scales don't fly around as much, making cleanup even easier.

To process a whole fish, start by determining what you want to do with it. In this lesson, we are preparing a fish to be roasted whole. That means it should have the scales, guts, and gills removed. If you prefer, you can also remove the head. My preference is to remove the head so the fish are not looking at me.

Art of Scaling Fish Considerations

Almost never thought about (for me) are the four categories of fish body shapes. Those shapes are:

  • Fusiform (bullet, or torpedo shape)

  • Depressiform (broad shape and flat top to bottom)

  • Compressiform (tall, thin shape and flat side to side)

  • Vertically flattened shape that is somewhat depressiform (flat top to bottom)

The only true challenge I've confronted over the years of cleaning fish is being able to hold on. To effectively scale a fish, hold it firmly, use the blunt edge of a knife or fish scaler, and scrape away the scales. Moving from the tail towards the head, ensure you rinse off any remaining scales after each side. 

In most cases, the fish scales you are likely to encounter are technically safe to eat, as long as they have been properly cleaned and cooked. However, most people prefer not to eat them due to their unpleasant texture. The potential benefits of eating fish scales are minimal.

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Preserving Freshly Caught Fish

Preserving Freshly Caught Fish

admin March 13, 2025 0

Fish is an awesome source of healthy protein and is a part of healthy eating. Fishermen work hard to catch fish for the table. Most have their thoughts on the best way to process and preserving freshly caught fish. All post-catch processes involve chilling and/or freezing the catch. The focus here will be on preservation methods from the time the fish is caught until preserved.

There are four major methods of fish preservation and storage, namely: canning, freezing, smoking, and pickling. It is paramount to preserve high-quality fresh fish. Among all types of fresh foods, fish are vulnerable to tissue decomposition, the onset of rancidity, and microbial spoilage. Where you stand to gain more is what happens once the fish is removed from the water until it's refrigerated.

Typically, harvested fish are simply removed from water and left to suffocate to death, unconsidered.  Because fish cannot breathe out of water, it will eventually die due to oxygen deprivation. However, death caused by passive suffocation stresses a fish. This stress coupled with inadequate temperature and holding protocols, robs the consumer of the full range of expression for an individual fish. Put simply, stress has a smell, and that smell stinks. Ice is the key to fresh-tasting fish.

Pack cleaned fish in a cooler of one pound of crushed ice for every two pounds of fish. Fish held at refrigeration temperatures of 40 degrees F or lower may have a shelf life of up to three days depending on refrigerator temperature and original fish quality.

Tested Preserving Freshly Caught Fish Technique

A traditional technique used by Japanese fishermen is called Ike Jime. This process is said to reduce the stress of a newly caught fish that is struggling to breathe out of the water. When this happens, fish trigger organs that inject substances that taint the meat.

This method involves severing nerves that trigger organs to do what they're supposed to do. Once severed, gutting and putting the fish on ice yields meat as fresh as when the fish was living. The tool used is called a "fish spike", "Brain Spike", or part of a "Ike Jime Kit". There are several iterations of these devices and they do address the issue of meat taint. Once home, store fish in the coldest part of the refrigerator, ideally at temperatures below 40°F (4°C). Ice: Place fish on a bed of ice in a shallow pan, allowing melted water to drain away. This keeps fish at a low temperature. Preparation: Clean and gut the fish before freezing.

Where this process is most widely practiced is in sushi, sashimi, and their derivatives preparation. Ike Jime is said to render the highest quality fish and may not fit the model of commercial or recreational fishermen. There are many species that require rapid gutting, bleeding, and chilling as fast as possible. Many sport boats have freezers that chill "prime" species to maintain freshness. In most cases, they drop the fish live into the freezer where it dies and is later removed and fileted. To reduce fish spoilage, prioritize immediate chilling (ideally with ice), and proper storage (refrigeration or freezing), and consider preservation techniques like salting, drying, smoking, or canning.

There are fish that do not necessarily taste good. Perhaps if they are processed differently before being tossed into the cooler they may make better table fare.

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Knife Jig Fishing

Knife Jig Fishing

admin February 24, 2025 0

When out on the Pacific Ocean, one of my favorite baits of choice and methods is knife jig fishing. When fishing deep spots at and around the islands, these jigs seem to buck the current. While heading through the water column knife jigs allow for yo-yo fishing. Rockfish hold in rocky areas, under outcroppings, and migratory species are looking for a quick meal. All are good possibilities when using knife jigs.

When fishing knife jigs, boats are just past or directly over rocky areas holding fish. When in the optimal position, the Captain tells fishermen to "let em go". At this point, you release the jig over the side in a free spool until the jig jigs something on the bottom. Ideally, you want to bounce the jig off the bottom or rocks where fish take notice and inhale the bait. A sharp jerk here and there also triggers bites especially when visibility is a problem. Visibility could be a problem down deep during night fishing or heavy overcast. At this point, the boat is drifting across the reef so a constant up and down motion will entice fish to strike. Fishermen catch multiple species using knife jigs during the same drift, showcasing the jigs' versatility.

Fishing Knife Jigs

When knife jig fishing my choice of line is 25-40 pound test monofilament. Fishermen drop knife jigs in or around 100 feet of water, and they must deal with line stretch as a reality. People often use a braided line, but it is harder to break off if your jig gets hung up in the rocks. My choice of mono has a lot to do with what happens if you break jigs off in the rocks. Braided line floats open up the possibility of fouling boat props or entangling marine animals. Any fisherman will tell you they hate losing tackle but accept the risk when fishing jigs.

It's also my preference to use single assist hooks fishing jigs less than 5 ounces. For any jig heavier than that, my recommendation is to use a double assist hook. Rear hooks are not an option because the jig will come in contact with something that may not be a fish. Hooks on the rear of the knife almost guarantee you will lose it.

Knife jigs come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. I do not have a recommendation on what the "best" knife jig or color is but what I do know is they catch fish. Click the button below and see what our tackle store offers.

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