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For most anglers, the best beach cart for surf fishing is either the Fish N Mate Sr. or the Jr. with the orange colored poly tires. There are other good options, but many of them are a bit small, lacking in features, or they’re too expensive. With that said, if you fish a beach that has hard packed sand, then the large orange balloon tires may not be necessary, and thus you’ll have additional cheaper options.
From my experience, the powdery white sands along the Alabama Coast and the Florida Panhandle call for a cart with balloon style wheels. If money was no object I would upgrade to the Wheeleez beach tires over the orange poly tires. However, it’s hard to beat the value and function of the orange tires when money is a factor. The orange tires are actually very nice and are in fact used by many surf fishing guides.
Best Features Of A Fish-N-Mate Beach Cart
In my opinion, based on what you get for the money, the Fish N Mate branded carts are the best value on the market. They’ve also been around a while and seem to be the most popular option for a solid aluminum beach cart.
A buddie of mine purchased one of these surf carts years back and he’s been pretty rough on his equipment. After some first hand experience of using his cart, I decided to buy the same one – the Fish N Mate Sr. The welding is solid and the aluminum tubing used in the construction is a good balance between strength and weight. Below are some of the other nice features of these carts.
1. Included Cutting Board And Bait Basket
Both sizes of the Fish-N-Mate come with an included cutting board/bait station that slides into one of the rod holders. There is a groove in the bottom of the post that locks the bait station in 1 of 2 positions so that it doesn’t swivel around when in motion.
Cutting Board Is Great For Processing Cut Baits
I really like this bait station accessory as it gives you a nice work space out of the sand. For me, gone are the days when I would slice up cut bait on top of my cooler.
It’s Also A Nice Storage Space Out Of The Sand
As can be seen above, there are holes and slots in the cutting board surface for holding things like a bait knife, lures and your pliers.
The removeable basket also comes in handy for storing things such as extra bait while you’re fishing. I mostly use the basket to hold sand fleas and other random things. When pompano fishing, I’ll catch enough sand fleas to get me by for a few minutes. Rather than sliding them into my pants pockets, I sometimes drop them into the bait basket.
2. Rod Holders Positioned Around The Cart
Both carts have a good number of rod holders ideally placed around the outside of the cart basket. The Sr. has 8 and the Jr. has 5. Each rod holder has a protective black rubber coating on top to prevent damage to your fishing rods.
Besides holding fishing rods, these holders also come in handy for transporting other items such as a sandflea rake, a gaff, and a beach umbrella, among other things.
Make Sure You Have Enough Rod Holders
Keep in mind that the included cutting board takes up one of the rod slots. If you use very many rods, this could be an issue for you with the Fish-N-Mate Jr. You could always add another rod holder if you decided that you didn’t have enough. The increased number of rod holders is actually one of the reasons I chose to go with the larger “senior” version, as it has 3 additional holders.
Rod Holders Are Plenty Big And Very Solid
The rod holders are around 1.5″ in diameter which will handle most all surf fishing rods except for a few outliers with massive butts. I have a 9 foot Ugly Stick which has a sizeable rod butt and it fits with room to spare. Each rod holder is firmly affixed around the basket of the cart with high quality clean welds.
3. Cart Assembly Is Extremely Easy
Although the instructions could be improved upon a bit, I had no issues quickly assembling the cart in my bedroom. The most important thing to consider is to not over tighten the u-bolts as you will be compressing them against the aluminum frame of the cart. As you know, aluminum is prone to bend.
4. Disassembly And Cart Storage
Once you have the cart assembled, the first thing you’ll notice is that it is quite large. This is part of what makes it so great, but also a pain to store in tight spaces. To alleviate this problem, the wheels and handle can be quickly and easily removed by taking out the quick release pins. Then you can place these items inside the cart basket for a more compact package. You can store the disassembled cart in a closet or garage between beach trips if you so desire.
Because of its all aluminum construction and lightweight wheels, most any sizeable adult will be able to pick up and move the disassembled cart around with relative ease.
5. Adjustable Stands
These carts come with an adjustable stand on the front which holds the cart up when you stop pulling it. For this model the stand is used in place of a front wheel. There really isn’t much of a need for the wheel if you will only be pulling this cart in the sand. There is also a 2nd stand that you can slip under the back of the cart. This one is used in case you will be sitting on the rear of the cart. Without that back stand the cart could flip up. I don’t personally think I will be using that back stand.
6. Multiple Wheel Options
You can purchase the Fish-N-Mate in several different wheel configurations depending on your needs. All options seem to be of high quality. It will just depend on your needs as to which option you will choose. This is discussed further below.
Fish N Mate Sr. Vs Fish N Mate Jr.
Both sizes of the cart are of a good size for fishing. To be honest I probably could have gotten by with the Jr. size for my surf fishing needs, but I knew I would also occasionally use it to lug the families beach equipment through the sand. After seeing how much gear my buddies’ Sr. cart could handle, I decided to go with what I felt was the safer option for myself. Go big or go home, right? Check out the comparisons below and decide for yourself.
Fish N Mate Junior
To keep cost to an absolute minimum while still obtaining a very high quality beach cart you could opt for the smaller Fish N Mate Junior. This cart is about 9″ shorter and 2″ narrower than the larger version and has fewer rod holders, but it is still a great option. There are several wheel setups discussed below that you could use with this cart depending on your needs and budget.
The two main reasons I chose the Sr. over the Jr. was the increased size and the extra rod holders. When I take to the beach I like to have 3 or 4 rods, a sandflea rake and sometimes a gaff. Considering that the cutting board takes up one of the rod slots, I preferred to have the full 8 rod holders over the 5 of the Jr.
Comparison Chart Of Senior vs. Junior
| Fish-N-Mate | Jr. (Model 303) | Sr. (Model 310) | Sr. (Model 143) | Sr. (Model 686 XL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basket Length | 34" | 41 5/8" | 41 5/8" | 41 5/8" |
| Basket Width | 14.5" | 17 5/16" | 17 5/16" | 17 5/16" |
| Basket Height | 8" | 7 11/16" | 7 11/16" | 7 11/16" |
| Rod Holders | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Cutting Board | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Compatible Coolers | YETI Roadie 15, 25 YETI Tundra 35, 45 Other 36-48 qt. cooler | YETI Roadie 15, 25 YETI Tundra 35, 45, 50, 65, 85, Other 72 qt. cooler | 48-72 qt. | 48-72 qt. cooler |
| Weight Capacity | 200 lbs. | 200 lbs. | 150 lbs. | 200 lbs. |
| Tires | 15" Orange Poly | 15" Orange Poly | 16" Black Pneumatic | 16.5" Gray Balloon |
| Front Wheel | No | No | No | No |
| Weight | 23 lb. | 24 lb. | 34 lb. | |
| Axle Length | 33" |
4 Wheel Options For Your Fish-N-Mate
These carts seem to be commonly available in three different wheel configurations, with a possible 4th upgrade option worth considering. You’ll need to choose the option below that best suits both your needs and budget.
| Black Rubber Tires | Orange Poly Tires | Gray Balloon Tires | Wheeleez | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Packed Sand | Good | Better | Best | Best |
| Soft Sand | Bad | Good | Best | Best |
| Durability | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Reputation | Good | Great | Unknown (generic) | Best |
Option 1 – Black Rubber Tires Are Cheapest
* Click image above to view prices on Amazon
If you’re going to be using your cart primarily as a pier cart, or if you will use it mainly on hard packed sand, then the black rubber tires are fine. This is the cheapest and most commonly available wheel configuration. I suspect this option is probably the most durable option as well.
Black Rubber Tires Are Poor Performers On Soft Sand
Because the beach sand where I fish is extremely soft, there is no way I would personally consider purchasing a cart with the black rubber tires. I have pulled my friends cart of that design and quite frankly it was terrible in comparison to the orange tires. Your own choice on the matter will depend on the softness of the sand where you fish. Perhaps the black rubber tires will perform just fine on your beach. They perform poorly on the sugar sand beaches of the Alabama coast and the Florida Panhandle.
Option 2 – Orange Poly Tires Are Better For Soft Sand
After much research I chose to purchase the Fish N Mate Sr. with orange poly tires. While I do think Wheeleez tires would be a solid upgrade to this cart it just wasn’t in the budget for me.
I have seen the orange poly tires in action quite a few times and they work quite well in the powdery sand where I frequent.
If you’re on a budget and you’ll mostly use your cart for fishing on the beach, you’ll probably want to seek out this model (310) with the orange poly tires. These ones seem to be the best available combination of great performance in soft sand and also low price.
* Click image above to view prices on Amazon
Orange Poly Tire Upgrade Kit
There is a commonly available upgrade kit to add orange poly tires to a cart. However, it’s cheaper to buy a cart with them on it in the first place. If you happen to already own a beach cart with black rubber tires, then you should consider this upgrade.
Two Models Come With Orange Tires
There are 2 models that come with the orange tires included. The Fish-N-Mate model 310 is the larger version that I purchased. The 303 is the smaller version of the same cart (i.e. the “Jr.” size). Beware that these models come with no front wheel, which you don’t need on the beach anyway. If you decide later that you would like the front wheel, it can be ordered separately and added on.
Option 3 – Gray Poly Tires, AKA Knockoff Wheeleez
If you want Wheeleez tires but you don’t want to pay the Wheeleez price there seem to be some Chinese competitors for similar gray balloon tires.
While I believe 16″ and larger tires are ideal for the beach, I could not find these sizes readily available in all the knockoff versions of the Wheeleez. I’m sure they are out there, but most of the ones I saw were smaller. I do know that Bluewater Outriggers sells a version of the Fish-N-Mate cart with some non-Wheeleez gray balloon tires. While I can’t personally vouch for non-Wheeleeze balloon tires, I do think it’s worth checking out if it’s something you are interested in.
Option 4 – Buy The Black Tires Then Upgrade To Wheeleez
* Click image above to view prices on Amazon
Another option is to purchase the cheapest model of a Fish-N-Mate cart with the black tires and invest a boatload of money to upgrade it with gray Wheeleeze balloon tires. I personally think that the Wheeleeze tires are worth the money if you have the boatload of extra cash to spend on them. If you’re interested to know what Wheeleez thinks are the differences that justify the added cost I linked to that video below.
Best Place To Purchase A Fish N Mate Beach Cart
Lots of sporting goods retailers and bait shops near the beach carry these carts. So, ideally you could purchase one of these carts local so that you could lay eyes on it and perhaps compare it to other options in person before you commit. But, if you are like me and want to have one shipped to your door, there are many reputable online retailers that can accommodate you.
Bluewater Outriggers
After first verifying they were a reputable company, I purchased my surf cart online through the Bluewater Outriggers’ website and had it shipped to my door in 4 days for $290 total price. I ordered mine on a Saturday evening and had it on my front step the following Wednesday afternoon. It was dropped off by UPS with the original box in pretty good shape, as seen below.
Bluewater Outriggers sent me an email when I ordered, when it shipped, when it was out for delivery and then again once it was actually delivered. I had never ordered anything from Bluewater Outriggers before, so I was anxious, but then pleasantly surprised.
Academy Sports Or Amazon
At the time of my purchase Bluewater Outriggers happened to actually have the version pictured above in stock, and the price was pretty good, so I gave them a try. Otherwise, I might have ordered from elsewhere. Academy Sports is another good place to purchase this particular cart from if you can catch them in stock. I believe Amazon has also carried this model in the past as well, but they did not have the ones with orange tires when I purchased.
These 3 retailers seem to be the most affordable outlets I’m aware of. Many other retailers sell them online, but the prices will typically be higher than the 3 mentioned above.
Best Cooler For A Surf Cart
Just because both Fish N Mate’s can handle a fairly sizable cooler doesn’t necessarily mean that you should go as big as possible. When carting a payload over sand, you’ll usually want to minimize weight whenever possible. With that said, I might would consider a large cooler, but that doesn’t mean I would pack it full of ice and drinks.
I Opt To Go The Cheap And Lightweight Route
The heavier you go with your cooler, the harder any beach cart is going to be to pull, especially through soft sand. That’s why I prefer to use a cheap standard Igloo or Coleman cooler that you can pick up at your local Wal-Mart.
Yeti Coolers For Your Beach Cart
While my preference is to use a lighter and cheaper cooler, I do understand the desire to have a better quality cooler that keeps ice longer. If you do decide to go with one of the heavier roto molded coolers, review the comparison chart above to see which Yeti models will fit into your cart.
How About Taking Two Coolers
With a beach cart comes the option of carrying multiple coolers. Some surf fishermen actually take a primary cooler for fish and bait and a second smaller cooler for drinks and food. Just something to consider if you want to fully keep the fishy smell away from your food and drink items.
Worthwhile Upgrades To A Fish N Mate Cart
While the Fish N Mate is a great cart in it’s stock configuration, there are several worthwhile upgrades that could make it suit you even better.
- Cart Liners
- Poly Wheels
- Front Wheel
- Wheeleeze Balloon Tires
- Bucket Holder
- Handle Extension
1. Fish N Mate Cart Liner
Besides the wheels, a cart liner may be one of the best upgrades you can make. The blue Fish N Mate liner, linked below, is a good option that helps prevent loss of small items when on the beach.
* Click image above to view prices on Amazon
I have a friend that purchased the liner for his cart and really likes it. Having a solid catchment system like this allows you to toss small items such as a tube of sunscreen into your cart and not worry that it may fall out and get lost. I suspect I’ll eventually make this upgrade to my cart once I get past the pain of the initial cost of the cart itself. An alternative to the liner is to add some sort of floor to your cart. This is discussed further below.
2. Orange Poly Tires Upgrade Kit
As discussed above, if you already have a cart with black rubber tires, this should definitely be considered as a possible upgrade. The poly tires have a 6″ rim and are 15″ max diameter. These are low pressure tires that should not be overfilled beyond 2 lbs, so you’ll need a low pressure bike tire pump and a preferably a low pressure gauge to test the pressure. They have a 200 lb. weight capacity, so they are quite strong. These balloon style tires sort of glide over the sand rather than dig into it like the black rubber tires do. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade.
3. Front Wheel For Your Beach Cart
Some carts, including some versions of the Fish N Mate, come with a front wheel. In the case of the Fish N Mate, you can buy one as an add on accessory. While this is a very nice feature when using your cart on pier or sidewalk, it’s unnecessary when dragging your cart across the sand.
* Click image above to view prices on Amazon
My cart does not have a front wheel and I feel no need to upgrade it to have one. With that said, if you were to need to drag your cart down a concrete sidewalk, asphalt road, or a boardwalk for a long distance, then a front wheel is VERY nice to have. If you feel that you would like to have a front wheel on your surf cart you can pick one up for a fairly reasonable price. Click the image above for the latest prices.
4. Wheeleez Balloon Tires Are The Best Surf Cart Upgrade
As far as I know, Wheeleez tires are the absolute best performing tire in really soft sand such as is found in Pensacola, Florida. Wheeleez tires are also the most expensive option. If you do decide to go this route, I think you’ll want to get the bigger versions of the tire 16″ (42cm) or larger. I don’t think you can expect the smaller varieties to perform as well. I have a friend that upgraded his cart to have the 42cm Wheeleez and I’ll have to say, they are amazing!
When shopping for these gray balloon style tires you’ll notice a lot of cheaper priced knockoffs on the market. Whether those are of the same quality or not you’ll have to be the judge. I only have personal experience with the Wheeleez brand. Check out the Youtube video from Wheeleez above to see if you believe the differences justify the price.
5. Bucket Holder
This bucket holder slides into one of the rod holders of your FishNMate cart and holds a 5 gallon bucket or bait container. This item can come in handy if you commonly fill your cart up and still need a bit more space. The bucket holder can be used to hold your bait bucket over existing items sitting in the floor of your cart.
6. Cart Handle Extension
There is also an available handle extension for this cart that raises the handle enough so that taller anglers don’t have to stoop down to pull the cart. You can pick one of these up fairly cheaply on Amazon.
So Many Possible Beach Cart Mods
As you can see there are quite a few quality upgrades you can make to your surf cart to customize it to your preferences. If you want to take this customization one step further you could explore moving away from the Fish N Mate and checking out some custom surf cart options as discussed below.
Custom Carts
If you have the budget for a more custom option, the guys over at Beach Power Rentals seem to produce a very nice aluminum fishing cart worth having a look at. Obviously with a custom solution the price is going to be significantly higher than with a production cart. However, the quality will certainly increase with that price. Perhaps this is an option worth checking out if you have the budget to go big.
Will A Beach Cart Fit Through A Doorway?
I suspect a common concern is if you can fit one of these bulky surf carts through the doorways of your home or condo. The answer is both yes and no. It will not typically roll through a standard size doorway. However, since the cart is so lightweight it’s really no trouble at all to simply flip it onto its side and carry it through that way.
Adding A Floor To The Fish N Mate
One complaint that does occasionally arise about this cart is the lack of solid flooring. Smaller things are prone to fall through and get lost, and the spacing of the floor bars does make carrying some items sort of awkward. I own this cart and I do admit that this is sort of annoying.
There are ways to add a floor to the bottom of your cart. I have heard of people using everything from wire mesh, to plywood, to plexiglass as a solid floor. Zip ties can be used to affix your flooring to the inside of your cart basket if so desired. I intend on looking into adding a floor at some point. In the meantime a cooler in combination with a 5 gallon bucket is fine and should serve most people quite nicely.
Conclusion
If you’re in the market for a beach fishing cart, it’s hard to beat the quality and value combination of the Fish-N-Mate brand. Whether you choose the Jr. or the Sr. its hard to go wrong. If money is no object you should at least consider springing for a custom beach cart with the gray Wheeleez balloon tires.
If you’ve been surf fishing without the use of a beach cart, you will be amazed at the benefits you get from a cart. A quality cart with appropriate beach tires will drastically reduce the level of exertion it takes to haul a load of gear to the beach. You’ll have more energy left over for the things you enjoy most, like fishing!
Now that I have a fishing cart, there is no way I’m going back to lugging all that stuff to the beach with my bare hands and back. I think you’ll feel the same.
If you found this post helpful, please consider checking out some of my other surf fishing articles below.
How To Catch Pompano
How To Catch Whiting
Surf Fishing Equipment List
