A fishing chair mounts directly in the sandy bottom of a relatively shallow surf. A vacuum pump pulls a base pole down into the sand to form a sturdy foundation, even in rough surf conditions. A seat assembly is mounted at the upper end of the base pole. The chair mount may be fabricated from composite materials or plastic, such as PVC, to prevent corrosion. The chair mount is also provided with a foot rest or step that is braced against the base pole. The surf fishing chair is positioned above the waves under normal surf conditions, but also withstands larger wave impacts while safely supporting a fisherman in the seat structure. Other features include adjustable fishing pole holders, a tackle box, a bait box, a bait cutting surface, a fish net holder, and a fish stringer and basket.