Fishing has been put on
hold for most folks on the East Coast and for us the West Coast,
it's moving towards fall fishing patterns. In many years
our best local tuna fishing occurs in late September and
October. But, this year who knows. The bluefin are still holding
off San Clemente, meaning anglers have the potential to catch
tune of 200-300 lbs...or perhaps more. From those same
grounds a couple nice swordfish have been taken by lucky anglers
who were targeting bluefin. That's one more thing to get
very excited about. The normally cooperative yellowfin
tuna bite of schoolie sized fish off our CA coast really hasn't
been anything to write home about. While there were some dinks
taken off the Coronados and further south, it's really hard to
count those fish - too small. I'm hopeful of a change for
the better, but we'll need a good warm water push to make that
happen. From Cedros north, the offshore scene has been spotty at
best, but there are signs of hope and Guadalupe Island may
become the best option for those trips which don't have the
range to reach the Ridge (which has been looking much better).
Long range season is coming and that opens up some more
interesting options.
Our Weekly Specials
reflects what's working and needed, and a few other essentials,
too.
As always, thank you for visiting our
Weekly Specials!
Sincerely, Mark Smith (The Weekly
Specials are updated Weekly! Usually Sunday Morning, but things can change with little or no warning as a result of local
fishing conditions, or wife's directive.)
Billing: Please note, we do
things a bit differently than other on-line businesses, in part
due to my own concerns over on-line privacy and fraud
protection. When you submit your order with us, you will not
be asked for your CVC number during check out. You are
immediately sent an order confirmation. We will then contact you
by phone or email to confirm your order, make sure rigging, if
needed, is clearly understood, stock availability confirmed and
then we will ask for the CVC and process your order. We do NO
billing online. Best practices for on-line credit card
transactions is to never store CVC numbers - for YOUR
PROTECTION. Once we process your order and bill your card, that
information is shredded. You will need to re-enter that data
each time you order on-line. We do this to protect your private
information. I was on the bad end of a fraud situation
some years back, twice, $40K each time, over 80K! One was an ACH
transfer, the other bogus credit card billing. I'm still on the
hook for over 20K, from what I considered a trusted supplier....
You can not count on your bank's help, but you can limit your
exposure. Think about that next time you order from an on-line
retailer who holds your credit card information. We don't
do business that way. We treat our clients like we'd like to be treated,
thus the added security. We apologize for any
inconvenience, but let me say that's minor compared to having
your card used fraudulently.
FREE Fed Ex GROUND SHIPPING* *Free Shipping for orders over $150 (one package, MOST rods
will carry a surcharge of $20) shipped within USA
FedX or USPS -
AK and HI via USPS included so long as your
order can fit in a standard size flat rate box -
otherwise there will be a charge). Oversize items, like lobster nets, rods and
International orders will carry a shipping
charge which we will quote you prior to billing.
Please note,
FedEx and UPS no longer want the long rod business. They have
increased their shipping rates for boxes 96 inches or greater,
increased to over $100! We have a work around for most of
CA, but have not found an alternate arrangement for the long
rods. Working on it... Reason for the increase,
increased handling costs - labor vs. conveyer and machine, it
takes a human to move the long boxes without risk of damage...
This is another "amazon" effect which negatively effects
consumers. Perhaps a consequence of the rates offered "A" or due
to an increase in volume, the net result is that shippers have
made it harder if not impossible for folks to have long rods
shipped.
*Standard Size and Weight Orders over $150 are shipped
FREE! Orders less than $150 are billed for shipping. Rods & Blanks, given their extra length,
will have an added cost of up to $20 - this is a change for 2015 due to
increased shipping charges from FedEx and UPS, packaging costs also
increased this year for longer boxes. Upon placing your order you'll receive an
immediate confirmation via email. You are not billed at that time, the
confirming email may not reflect oversize or
overweight charges or other issues requiring
direct contact. We process
orders manually, preferring to have a human
actually check things over and contact you
should there be questions. Within 24
hours of placing your order you will receive a
follow-up email confirmation and final invoice (pdf doc) reflecting your total charges
(Monday-Friday). You are not billed until we actually send you your final invoice.
Orders shipped to CA addresses will have California Sales Taxes applied, out
of state orders are tax free. During the
ordering process you can select expedited
shipping if required. The Free Shipping offer
applies to ONE standard size/weight box going to ONE address. Orders
requiring more than one box will have additional shipping fees for the
second box. *(One standard sized and weight
box, within USA. If the order requires multiple shipping cartons then there
will be increased shipping costs.
Within the USA
we usually ship via Federal Express ground. International,
and oversize/weight items will be billed for
shipping and you will be sent an emailed invoice reflecting total charges
prior to actual billing. We will not ship
without you having had a chance to review the
invoice). Hawaii and Alaska shipping will be
accomplished using USPS Priority service, and
our standard shipping cost policy will apply
unless the item ordered does not fit in their
standard size boxes. If additional shipping fees
are required we will contact you).
* We like to
include some videos and flash animated images on our site.
Chrome's browser now wants everything to be "secure" with an
https prefix to our webpages. Going that route prevents the vids
to be viewed. If you drop the "s" from the http, you'll be
able to see everything AND your security will not be adversely
affected. When you order an item the site automatically goes
secure.
Whatever
they are called, Seigler, Truth or Release, these
reels are unique, showing the innovative
spirit of their designers and their attention
to quality. Their first and smallest reel is
the SG. This little powerhouse packs a punch
turning 30 pounds of drag! It's certainly made
for fishing the new super braided lines,
holding 300+ yards of 50# or 400 yds of 40#
braid. Many will load up 300 yds of 30-40#
and top off with mono. Their drag element is made from carbon fiber, "wet" drag for smoothness of
operation. The reels feature BOCA BEARINGS,
ceramic bearings with rubber seals on the
spool and stainless bearings with stainless
steel shields for the rest of the 7 bearings
used on these fine reels. Oh, I should note
that these are high quality bearings ABEC 5
class, not your basic cheap Chinese bearings
that are prone to failure. The reels are light
in weight, coming in at 13.5 ounces (12 oz w/o
arm), and they feature quick but powerful 6:1
gearing.
SG/SGN
SG/LGN
At ICAST in July 2013 Seigler (Release
in those days)
previewed their LG (large game) reel. Similar overall
design, gear ratio, and features. The primary difference is
line capacity, with the larger reel holding 500 yds of 80#
Braid and turning up to 40 lbs of drag.
There are some unique
characteristics present on these reels well
worth drawing your attention to before
purchase, so you'll understand their approach.
First off, if you are a spool spinner you will
note that the reels spool does not demonstrate
super long freespool when you first break it out of
the box. That's not a function of crappy
bearings or design, that's a function of the lubrication within the bearings. Within a VERY
short time you'll note that these things spin
like tops, and keep on spinning. They must be
broken in, some of the lubrication will spread
and ease out, allowing better freespool. I'm
sure Alan Tani will offer an immediate fix for
this should it be something someone would
want, or you can simply clean the bearing of
some of the
lubrication. For my taste, I'll just fish the
reel and allow nature to take it's course.
With the bearings supplied, trust that the
reel will spin very well and cast
exceptionally.
On production after 2015, the
spools spin far more freely fresh out of the
box. Not sure what they did, but now they
spin well right from the start.
There are some nice machining
features you'll note, the frame for instance
is "bowed" meaning there's more clearance
should you not level your line properly in the
excitement of reeling in a good fish. The reel foot
is uniquely wonderful in my opinion, it's very
much knurled/contoured - not a flat piece of
aluminum - so it provides a much better fit on
most rods as it contours around the reel seat
smoothly. You'll
also note that the reel does not appear to be
ported for water drainage. Well, that's not
quite so, actually the entire gear case
provides drainage without vacuum with adequate
clearance running it's entire length at the
base. Uniquely the preset has
click stops, detents throughout its range. For
2016 (current) production, all reels now
feature a strike position on the lever -
nice! The
gears are made from Stainless Steel, and they
too will wear and become even smoother over
time. ***For 2015 Release updated the LG
series reels to include a strike button!
That's good news for many of us. The SG also incorporates the
feature
- all reels under the Truth name have this
feature now.
Seigler
reels carry a LIFETIME WARRANTY, that's
another unique feature in the fishing
industry. They will handle any fishing related
product failure for a $20 bill - to cover
return shipping and insurance. Product failure
is not an option.
The SG - Small Game reel is now everything
we'd hoped for. Many upgrades from the
first production, much more refined,
nicer machining...all the things you'd
expect from a company committed to
bringing fishermen excellent tools for
better fishing.
The LGN above, a great reel for both private
boat trolling, jigging and casting. The
LGN could well be one of the best reels
made for use on a jig stick tossing iron
long distances.
Model
Braid Capacity
Drag Max
Gear Ratio
Weight
Retrieve Rate
Price
SG's pictured above
NEW LGN (narrow) pictured above.
SGN
~300/50#
25#
6:1
13.2
oz
38"/TURN
$250
SG
~300/50#
25#
6:1
13.2
oz
38"/TURN
$275
LGN
~500/60#
35#
6:1
17
42"
$325
LG
~500/80#
35#
6:1
20.2
42"
$400
*L - lefty version
available (right hand retrieve)
Reels are available in gunmetal with red
or gunmetal with blue. They are also
manufactured in gunmetal with silver.
The
Tesoro is a 2018 model reel, first shown at ICAST July 2017. The new
star drag reels got a lot of attention from anglers, with the
improvement in casting of leverdrags it seems there's a
preponderance of lever's and less star drag reel options for serious
anglers who are looking for a high quality star. There really
are applications where both types of reel offer advantages. 20 years
ago, if you wanted a good casting reel it pretty much had to be a
star drag. These days, in no small part thanks to Cal Sheets, Larry
Cofe, and of course Avet, lever drag reels improved. But, still you
can do some things with a star drag reel you just can't duplicate on
a leverdrag. So, there's a market among anglers for the
benefits a good star drag can offer. As of this date (11/17)
Daiwa's Saltiga has been the class act in this regard. Along comes
the Tesoro, and I have to say it's similarly refined, but a very
different reel. The metal-work is very good, as expected, but
you'll also note that these are trimmer than what we're used to
handling, excess weight has been taken off areas of the reel where
it's not needed. Freespool is simply excellent, and the drag is very
capable, you can button 'em down and not effect casting performance.
Could very well become the wahoo reels of choice for a lot of guys.
Compact, light, modern technology and application of best practices
in design...and a 3 year warranty.
The Tesoro reels make use of (buzzword)
alumilite frame construction which provides more precise tolerances
for precise gear alignment, maximum castability, and durability. The
mechanical stabilizing system keeps the reels in precise alignment
for strong, stable and smooth long term performance. Okuma also has
a patent pending enhancement which stabilizes the spool at three key
points to maintain optimum performance and minimize spool shaft flex
when under pressure.
- High Speed 6.2:1 gear ratio - 6061-T6 machined aluminum frame, sideplate and spool - 17-4 grade stainless steel helical cut gearing - Multi-disc Carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease - CRC: Corrosion-Resistant Coating Process - Swept aluminum star for increased ergonomics - Anodized aluminum swept handle reduces wobble while cranking - 4BB+1RB corrosion resistant bearings, spool bearing with TSI oil - Ergo grip handle knob with anodized aluminum handle arm - Dual anti-reverse (mechanical and roller bearing) - XL Gearing: Drop down gear box - Quick-Set ant-reverse bearing allows for zero back play in handle - MSS: Mechanical Stabilizing System for increased durability - Self-lubricating gear system, all models
That
type of stuff is all good, no, lets make that excellent and just one
step from incredible. But, I'm a
bit more into feel, touch, subjective
evaluation. All the buzzwords and specs don't mean as much as
how a reel actually feels doing what it's supposed to do. Okuma has
another winner in my estimation. The Tesoro feels like a
quality reels should, better since it's pretty darn light. You could
call it a star drag Makaira, and in some respects that might be
fair, but it's a much different reel and one that needed to be made.
There's no slop in the handle, everything feels reassuringly solid
and tight, smooth upon cranking the handle. Nice feel.
Excellent freespool, really these are excellent casting reels. Great
for distance casting, and hard pulling drag capability.
I very much appreciate all that the Okuma
engineers are doing to try to minimize the effects of saltwater. The
treatment to the metal parts, and (one of my peeve points on almost
all other manufacturers) the Tesoro has proper porting, so you can
actually clean a reel after a hard days fishing. Take a look at the
pics below to see what I mean, four ports, no vac lock, easy drain
while fishing or when you're back home cleaning, good airflow for
drying...makes a difference long term in my book.
It's
often the little things that make big differences in how well
certain reels perform over time.
Did
the manufacturer shortchange on the bearings, or make use of a cheap
stamped clamp or reel foot. How are they putting their parts
together? That's what makes working on a reel simple or overly
complicated, so darn hard to work on that a reel becomes more fit
for the garbage basket than repair bench. Well, the Tesoro is really
pretty straight ahead in how she's put together. In a lot of ways,
you could say this relatively light reel is overbuilt. Note
the way the reel foot is put together, four points secured to reel
frame - not two, reel clamp allows plenty of thread on the bolts to
be secured. One could call it overbuilt for it's intended line
class by some standards, but I'd suggest it's just built to best
practices standards.
The images above show off
the first two models in the line, however as of June 2018
Okuma began supplying the third model in the Tesoro series, the
model 5S. The 5 is just a bit smaller, smaller diameter
sideplate, about 8 or so ounces less in weight, but the same
overall construction as the two larger models.
First
time I saw this reel, felt it, I was
thinking $200-300. I was very wrong, Okuma
is aggressive in building their share of the
sportfishing reel business. These new reels
are a bargain, but I'll hold off on the
particulars for a bit as we go over what's
so darn trick about these new reels.
Cosmetically, the new
Coronado follows the design theme of Okuma's
best - their Makaira spinning reels. They
are indeed nice looking reels but the beauty
is more than skin deep. These are bait-feeder design reels,
allowing you to easily freespool a bait. The Azores from Okuma offers
a non-baitfeeding
type operation with some similar benefits as
the Coronado. If
you want the bait operation benefit of a bait-feeder,
are looking for a capable but relatively
inexpensive saltwater capable reel, this is
very likely the piece for you.
Quick-set
anti-reverse bearing - zero back
play in handle
CRC
corrosion-resistant coating process
Machined aluminum
screw in handle system
Slow
oscillation system for improved line
lay
Corrosion
resistant graphite body and rotor
CFR - cyclonic
flow rotor technology
Hydro Block
water tight drag seal
Machined
aluminum 2 tone anodized spool with
LCS lip
Heavy duty
solid aluminum bait wire
RESII -
computer balanced rotor equalizing
system
1 year
warranty
Okuma's baitfeeding syhstem allows anglers
to disengage their spinning reel spool and
allow bait to run freely. The baitfeeding
system incorporates a secondary
micro-adjustable drag system at the rear of
the reel to allow for precise adjustment of
the spool for bait control. In order to
disengage this system, simply turn the
handle. The on/off lever on the rear of the
reel will automatically disengage the
baitfeeding system so you can fight your
fish with the main drag system. Pretty
clever I'd say. The drag adjustment is also
located at the rear of the reel. Check the
3D image to see those details.
Operation of the reel is direct, simple,
ergonomic and very functionally laid out for
intuitive use at a high performance level.
No doubt these are very nice reels to own,
and no doubt they are not Makairas which
cost many multiples of the price of the
Coronado CDX. But, make no mistake, these
are very capable reels with performance well
above what other manufacturers offer
anywhere near their price.
Model
Gear Ratio
Bearings
Weight
in ounces
Line
Retrieve
per crank
Max Drag
Mono
Capacity
Braid
Capacity
Price
CDX-55
4.4:1
4HPB*1RB
19.4
32.5"
28 lbs
325yds/12#
350/30*
$99.99
CDX-60
4.4:1
4HPB-1RB
19.8
34.1"
26.9
385/12
290/50*
$99.99
CDX-65
4.9:1
4HPB-1RB
29.0
41.7"
33.7
320/20
315/60-65
$119.99
CDX-80
4.9:1
4HPB-1RB
30.1
45.4"
37.5
300+/30
390/60-65
$119.99
* should be close on
the numbers for the 55/60, have not
received or spooled up the two smaller
sizes yet...the 65/80 are here first.
Qty:
FREE Mono Spooling, Braid Optional at Reduced
Cost
Select your spooling requirements: Super Braid and mono
using drop-down menus. Select the length option below and
rigging style. Questions? give us a call or zap over an
email.
Braid MFG/Type
Braid Test
Mono Manufacturer
for Standard Spooling or Topshot
Mono Test for
Standard Spooling or Topshot
Rigging Style
Casting - mono on top, Bottom fishing Braid top,
select hollow rigging here if required.
300 yards Toro Tamer Solid BRAID supplied
as option
-
SELECT
above, we will bill for only the additional amount you select
below (Price is per 100 yards, for
200
additional yards, select 2 in the quantity box, for 1000 additional yards select 10)
Optional
In-Line Knotless Rigging must also select Hollow
Core Spectra above
ACURATE Valiant
-Micro Reel
with Mega POWER!
And, for 2018 some larger versions too!
Accurate has a couple of new things to mention. The
little 300 size is now available with clicker for $10
more than the standard model. Valiants will now
also be available in silver with blue trim (or with red
as is pictured). Further, Accurate is offering the
reels in black at no increase in cost at the present
time. This had been only available with an upcharge of
$100.
Accurate's
newest fishing reel is the Valiant, a very interesting micro
small model with mega power. Overseas Micro-Jigging has
become a popular method for catching fish. Small jigs,
fished vertically on rods with VERY light action can produce
a catch when other methods won't do squat. In areas that
have been "fished out" folks are catching fish they'd have
missed without this method employed. Whether or not that's a
positive step in overfished waters is not the point, the
method is important and useful even in abundant waters, and
the innovations in fishing technology used can be applied to
different applications. In Mico-Jigging the fisherman works
very small jigs, similar to how one should fish knife jigs
(and similar iron) on parabolic rods matched to the jig
weight for best action. Then, once hooked up the angler
points the rod directly at the fish and uses the reel's
power to crank in the fish. There's a certain amount of
finesse and a certain measure of raw power employed in
fishing this method. All the stress of the fight is handled
by the reel, not the rod. Here, rather than Asia,
micro-jigging may not become the rage, however the concept
of taking larger fish on smaller gear is something we have
all learned to love, and no doubt Accurate wrote the book on
that pursuit. Taking that style of fishing, dropping
down to much lighter jigs and rods is what folks are doing
in this new method of catching fish. Having a reel small
enough to balance out on the rod and yet powerful enough to
fight the fish is the key. Power is critical, and the new
Valiant from Accurate combines superior power to
exceptionally light weight -
9.9 ounces!
For 2016/17 Accurate
further develops the Valiant project with more sizes, the
400 in single and two speed versions, and 500 in standard
and narrow widths - and again in both single and two speed
form. Accurate showed off the 600 sizes at ICAST 2017,
and hinted at two additional models, 800 & 1000.
Specifications:
Patented Twin Drag Desigh
6061 T6 Aluminum construction
Anodized for increased corrosion
resistance
Smooth, easy find cam stop strike
position
Lever drag recessed ergonomic thumb
plate
6:1 gear ratio
32 inch line retrieve per crank
Precision cut stainless steel gears
New design handle arm for increased
torque and power
2 Anti-Reverse bearings with SEALED
washers to prevent corrosion
Sleeved Spool for improved freespool
performance
Manufacturer's stated drag measured at
strike 20 lbs.
The
standard 300 size does not have a reel clamp nor a clicker
(but you can opt for a clicker for +$10),
the 400 size being wider does come with a clamp and a strong
and loud clicker, as do the rest of the Accurate Valiant
series reels. The 800N and up sizes also offer lugs.
Accurate reels are now available in several colors. See
drop-down menu in the ordering section for options. Some
colors may delay delivery by two to three weeks.
Valiant 300 & 400 2 speed
Single Speed
and Two Speed Valiant 400
500 Size
Accurate is very much committed to these new
innovative reels, the most unique product series
Accurate has designed. This is their future,
smaller, lighter, taking full advantage of super
braid lines in all their forms. High drag, low
mass, fishing comfort, from a smooth performer.
Note, Accurate also offers a full two year
warranty with included factory service!
500N II
500 II
500N II 360 degree with magnification
(Requires Flash)
500 Single Speed with
magnification
(Requires Flash)
The 500 sized Valiant's
work well with 50# braid, offering 350+ yards on
the narrow and 450+ on the standard width reels.
Depending upon the braid used, hollow verses
solid, 8 or more strands verses 4, it's possible
to gain capacity. The upgrade lines (we include
those options at no additional charge)
move the reels into the 400 and 500 yard mark
(100% braid 12 or 16 strand hollow-core or 8
strand solid).
For most casting applications, it's best to work
with a leader of 50 yards or greater (certainly
cover your casting distance).
Accurate
further developed the Valiant project with more sizes, the
400 in single and two speed versions, and 500 in standard
and narrow widths - and again in both single and two speed
form. At the 2017 ICAST show Accurate showed off their
600 size which is now available (three sizes, 600NN,
600N and 600). And, for 2018 we have already received the
800, 800N and soon the 1000 sized reels.
800N
and 800 sizes
I must admit to
some personal skepticism over the larger 800
and 1000 sized Valiants. Those large
sized reels made me a bit insecure, thinking
folks would take advantage of the size and
attempt to do things that really are best
done on ATD 50's. I was concerned about
fishing 80-100 lb lines at appropriate drag
settings, heavy loading. The large Valiants
have the line capacity to fish heavier
tests. Well, I may need to
revise my thinking... The folks at
Accurate are boasting of a 424 lb yellowfin tuna taken off Loreto
Mexico on a Val 800 2 speed!
The fellow who landed the fish, fishing
aboard a private charter boat, is no slouch
angler. He's a ringer, no doubt, and he knew
what he was doing - not a random catch, it
was targeted aboard a boat that could
maneuver and chase the fish. He was
not overloading the reel, since he was
running 50# line, he had very good line
capacity to work with. So, this is a
far different situation than fishing aboard
a Long Range sportfishing that's dead in the
water with 28 guys at the rail.
Nonetheless, a yellowfin over 400 lbs is a
super catch on any gear, and to think it was
done on such a light reel is nothing short
of amazing! I'll put aside my skepticism,
that's an incredible accomplishment by a
very experienced angler. This is a pending
IGFA world record for 50# line. Congratulations to
the angler and to Accurate!
- Mark
Spooling - I hope we're not intimidating you with all the options, but
folks tend to rig up Accurate reels in several ways and we try
to accommodate all applications. We include up to 300 yards of Braid/Spectra
at no additional charge along with your mono topshot (if required) -
that's the standard configuration. You can also select "solid" or
hollow core Braid/Spectra and increase your line as desired by 100
yard increments by making use of the Optional
sections below.
Offer includes FREE BRAID RIGGING - Spliceable
Hollow-core or "solid" 4 and 8 strand lines.
While
at ICAST in 2018 I came across something new to
me, which really is the only reason I attend the
show - searching out interesting new items from
folks I've never come across. Well, I'm
sure glad I found this one. I was memorized
looking at the way the squid undulated in the
water and those wings...my gosh I'd jump on this
calamari in a heartbeat.
Okay, back to the lures, these things are
dandy and well priced with lots of rigging
options you can plan. They are a solid bodied
lure with great big 3D squid eyes, contracting
fluttering tentacles, squid scented and with
color patterns that will grab attention from any
non-vegetarian gamefish. You have to see
the way these things swim and drop, simply
amazing action. You can rig these on a
standard ball style leadhead, mojo head, even go
weedless with a larger Eagle Claw underweight
swimbait head. The lures are available in 5.9
inch length, three bodies per pack at a very
economical $11.99 per pack.
In the videos below you can get an idea of
just how attractive these lures are in action.
Many ways to rig them. In the image below
we show three ways you may try, but don't let us
limit you. In my hand you can see an Eagle Claw
Trokar Swimbait 1/4 oz hook rigged weedless,
there's one with a 3/4 oz Strikemaster mojo
leadhead and one on a 7/0 long shanked Aki hook
from Owner. All three can be effective ways to
present the lures. With the Aki hook I'd
go Carolina rig with an egg sinker up the line a
couple feet. You've got to see 'em to
understand why they are so darn appealing.
Please
note, I'm pulling some video from
YouTube, that will likely nock out the https
(security) for this page only. However
when you select items and then go to
your shopping cart the SSL will be back
up. It's a new security provision
for Google, which might normally get me
to delete the videos below, but really
they need to be seen in order to
appreciate these new lures.
There's another very useful video posted by
an Australian, John Costello via MyLureBox.
Very
worthwhile link with rigging ideas:
PLEASE NOTE, these lures have a bit of a
feeding frenzy going on. The first
guys who got 'em are reporting great
success. One client came into our shop
and grabbed one of each pattern. He had so
much success he came back a week later and
bought all we had on our racks at the shop!
Last week a couple guys dropped in from
NorCal on their way down to San Diego to
take a long range trip. They'd been on a
charter the week before with another fellow
who had purchased some of these squids from
us. That angler used a dropper loop rig with
two of the squirts and was the hot fisherman
for various rockfish on the charter fishing
the Morro Bay area. So, our visitors again
cleaned us out of lures based upon their
success. We've reloaded our inventory
and have all patterns in stock at the
present time. Try 'em, you'll like 'em.
Here's a very
effective lure, well proven in 2016.
Schoolie tuna, both bluefin and
yellowfin
will gobble these up. The Fall Flats
are a metal jig that has a slower action on
the drop, fluttering like a baitfish that's
in shock from being hit by a predator. These
are relatively slow drop jigs. We're
focusing on their heavier weights at the
present time. If you want lighter weights we
can certainly get 'em, but really also have
that base well covered with a similar jig
from Savage Gear (their Squish jigs). The
finish of these is quite good, will reflect
light well. There are some similar lures out
there, so why do we like these? The
weights and finish are consistent to what we
were looking for, and the rigging was done
right. No cheezy making bait type assist
hooks. The hooks used for these jigs are of
heavier gauge steel, and a bit larger than
what you'd likely see on some other similar
products in the marketplace. Pricing is also
fair for what's offered. So, we're glad to
offer our clients a lure which should be
helpful, both for the smaller schoolies and
capable of taking much larger tuna under the
schoolies with the higher 200 and 250 gm
weights.
Well,
the idea of only stocking the 200 & 250 gm
sized lures didn't last long... Got quite a
few guys stopping by the shop to tell us
that we really should be stocking the
smaller sizes, so that's what we did.
125/160/200 & 250 gram size Fall Flats are
now available, priced at a very reasonable
$8.99, 10.99, 11.99 & 13.99 respectively.
(The ToroTamer Slash jigs in 300
and 400 gm are typically what's recommended for
targeting the deep water tuna - fish
holding 300 feet and greater. The
original Fall
Flats, are a slower action jig and more
often than not used above that depth,
even within 25 feet of surface for good
effect. The new 400 & 500 gm model Fall
Flats are better suited for the
deeper water bluefin off CA's coast or
the Slash at 300/400gm. Nothing lighter
is really worth dropping over the side
of the boat, you'll have too much scope
and the slow drop will be to your
disadvantage.
ONE
KEY POINT - DO NOT ATTACH YOUR MAIN LINE
OR ASSIST HOOKS TO A SPLIT RING. DON'T
DO IT, THEY FAIL.
We have seen several rigging
options employed by anglers some better
than others. We've also seen some
rigging from other shops which was
totally worthless. Some anglers
change the rigging to another split ring at
the nose or even a J hook at the rear
connected by a split ring. Both have
their downside. Best option in our
opinion is to make use of assist hooks,
but have your mainline and hooks
attached directly to a solid ring NEVER
a split ring.
As is, the rigging is fine for most
fish, but if targeting the larger grade bluefin and yellowfin, those fish going
over 100 lbs, you will want to re-rig
your lures. Even then, given the relatively small
size of the lure and the likelyhood it
will get inhaled, line chafing from the
tuna's teeth..., successful anglers make use of a short
tether.
Feel free to give us a call regarding
rigging ideas based upon where and when
you're fishing.)
The
pictures above came from a client, we've
had more than one come in and tell us
the same tale. If it were not for the
way the guys here rigged up client's lures they'd have
lost the fish of a lifetime. In
this particular instance it was a nice 170 pounder
that took the bait, and the angler got
the fish. However, the jig was nowhere
to be seen. It had been pulled off the
split ring. Do not trust split rings as
the connecting point to your hooks or
main line, that's for solid rings only.
Same story with a 302 taken in August.
Rig 'em right...
There are folks that like to
use artificials and those that prefer bait.
No doubt bait can be more productive, and
it's equally true that artificials can cover
more water and be less hassle to source when
you get that idea on a whim that you want to
go fishing. Downside to fishing the
more productive natural baits is that you've
got to source it yourself. Live bait is both
difficult to find commercially and
uneconomical to buy. Of course it's always
better to "match the hatch" as our
flyfishing cousins say. So, surf anglers
often make use of what's nearby. Mussels,
clams, sand fleas or sand crabs, and the
very highly regarded ghost shrimp are the
bread and butter of successful surf angers
along the Pacific Coast.
Sand Crabs
We stock two primary
products for catching Sand Crabs. One
of the most convenient is the Crab "n" Go.
This is a light weight stainless steel
catcher. It's a very convenient 7 inch
by almost 5 inch "cup" with rugged handle,
made for years of good service. The
"cup" has 3/8" holes. Follow the surf as it
recedes, make a scoop and look for the tasty
morsels as the sand flows from the "cup."
Another product commonly
used is a Sand Rake. These are much
larger, can cover more ground and catch more
critters. We stock these in our shop and
they run under $50, however they are rather
expensive to ship.
Couple ways to go here. If you are in search of Corbs, ghost
shrimp can improve your catch rate by 90%, maybe more, compared
to anything else. Anything. But, you've got to make 'em.
We sell two basic types at our shop, Australian import
stainless steel pumps and cheaper PVC pumps from StrikeMaster.
The PVC models will ultimately lose their seal and need to be
serviced, by you, or more likely tossed for a new one. The stainless
steel Alvey models can last year upon year.
Alvey
Bait Pumps are constructed of marine grade stainless steel
with a brass plunger rod and rubber suction washers. The
stainless steel handles are covered with foam grips. Barrel
diameter 2 inches. Use to extract worms, crustaceans and
ghost shrimp (Yabbies) from wet sand and mud banks.
The 24″ model is popular for those who travel or need a
shorter length to pack in their gear bag. (special order).
The 30″ is very popular, allowing you to pump from a more
upright position. The 40″ is recommended for taller people
and situations where you pump from a boat in shallow water
or, from a position where you are standing higher than
the sand or mud flat below. (If you are close to 6' tall or
better, get the 40 incher and save your back).
There will be additional shipping charges for these items.
You will be notified of those charges for your approval
prior to billing and shipping.
Here's
a product we think you'll find quite
interesting. Hi Seas introduced a Fluorocarbon
leader at the 2009 ICAST show in Orlando. Since
that time I've been using it as my primary
leader material, and we've even included it in
some of our long range charter gift bags so that
other folks can become introduced to it's
benefits. It's a unique product, unlike
anything we've worked with before in
Fluorocarbon form. While there have been some
colored fluorocarbon leaders that gained some
following such as Yo-Zuri's pink leader, our
opinion was always that tinting an otherwise
invisible line didn't make sense - from an
intuitive logic standpoint, why color something
that should be invisible in the first place?
Well, there's one reason I didn't consider...
Your line acts as a transmission cable for
light. In strong sunlight the line will conduct
that energy and become visible. Hi Seas got
around that issue by adding some tint to diffuse
the light. But, they went a step further,
actually several steps further. This line
transitions into FOUR TINTS, breaking up the
light transmission and making the line even more
invisible to fish. It has a faster sink rate
than mono based upon a standard fluorocarbon
property relating to it's specific gravity. The
material is less visible, and with a
transitioning tint it will be less visible under
all light conditions. Interesting product, and
something we think you'll want to try. I've now
been using this leader for over a year, and I
have been impressed with it's performance. It's
produced tuna for me when other guys didn't get
bit. It's especially beneficial in strong
sunlight conditions. We've tested the product
both from a line test standpoint, diameter to
test, and from a "bite" perspective. By all
counts this is excellent stuff.
In
addition to the benefits mentioned above, the Hi
Seas Quattro price is far more attractive than
some of the better known products that are on
the market now. The price advantage is a
major consideration, or at least should be given
how much fluorocarbon we typically run these
days. I tend to run straight braid, then
connected to Fluorocarbon leader on many of my
own rigs. I'll use an entire spool of the FL
line on top of my braid. That's a great way to
put the odds in your favor in terms of getting
bit, especially when fishing bait. This is my
go-to line of choice, price is one
consideration, but if it didn't get bit then who
cares about price. Well, the stuff does indeed
get bit quite well indeed.
For 2019 ToroTamer will scale back
on both lures and rods and focus more on the line side of things.
They're focusing resources. Consequently, some very productive
products will go away for a year or two, possibly forever. The
Slash is a proven performer on both coasts. It will catch a wide
variety of fish both as a cast and retrieve lure and jigging lure.
Get some before they're gone.
Slash jigs can be fished a couple ways, for great
effect. For our long range fishermen, it's a
GREAT wahoo lure in the two smaller sizes of 100
and 150 gm. For deepwater enthusiasts it's
a deep water tuna jig with excellent action on
the drop and wind, with the 300 and 400 sizes
being the lure of choice for the larger grade
bluefin and yellowfin tuna which tend to hold
deeper than the schoolie fish. The lure's
casts great and they are rigged properly with a higher
quality single hook and a ball bearing swivel
(ours even points the right way...) attached
with welded rings. Colors and finish are top
quality. While it will bring in wahoo when they
are around, don't be afraid to jig it for tuna
and yellowtail. If your fishing trip heads to Alijos you've got a great wahoo lure, but if it
shifts gears and moves to Cedros fine, you've
got the right lure for yellowtail. If instead
you hit the banks for rockfish, you've still got
an effective lure on your hands. The two smaller
sized lures work great on the "slide" as an
enticement to other school fish following a
troll strike. One lure, fits
a few applications, and a few different styles
of fishing.
This versatile
lure can be fished several ways, cast and
retrieve, vertical yo-yo style
jigging,
and speed jigging. There is a very slight
curve to the lure, allowing a bit more
action on the drop and as the lure is
bounced up. This can be accentuated by the
angler easily, and it's not a bad call on
the two smaller sizes, though not
something I recommend on the two largest
sized slash lures. It's important to keep a good
contact on the lure if you're fishing
yo-yo style for a couple reasons. First,
you won't know you've been bitten unless
you've got contact with the lure, secondly
the lure can foul itself on the two larger
sized Slash lures - those with the
receiver for use with small lightsticks. if you don't
offer some control of its accent or
descent when not using a light stick the
lure's hook can enter the cavity. It's not
common, but it can be done if you do not
have some control of the lure's very fast
decent to depth.
Based upon client feedback, we've expanded
this series of lures back in 2012. We have two new
LARGE size jigs to add to the assortment.
The new 300 and 400 gram sizes are perfect
for dealing with better grade tuna when
they're holding deep. Of course they'll
also do a number on yellowtail and wahoo
if you need to go down to get 'em. Given
the deeper water application, we've added
our Illuminata feature, the new LARGE size
jigs have a recess for use of a 4.5mm
light stick. Go deep, get noticed and
get bit!
The 300 and 400 gm size
Slash lures turned out to be THE best
lure for larger grade bluefin in 2014.
There was no better lure, and as the
guys on the Red Rooster III told folks
heading out last summer, "Don't get on
the boat without some." They proved
their worth as the images below testify.
The two smaller weight versions of the
jig also performed very well as a cast
and retrieve lure, or fished on the
slide for schoolie tuna. It's been more
often fished as a casting lure for wahoo,
but the tuna take 'em too.
The
Slash became the top producing lure for
big bluefin during the 2014 bite, with the
300 and 400 gm sizes being preferred given
their fast drop, shape and action.
Our
Surf Explorer has been updated for 2013 with introduction of a
new heavier 30-50# class rod. This is in addition to the
updated 8-12#, 15-20# and 25-30# class for both spinning and
conventional reel use. These are very light and rather exotic travel rods
designed for surf
fishing enthusiasts. Certainly it has additional applications,
but it's made for walking the beach and opportunistic fishing.
The rod is a four piece design, using the European Spigot
ferrule connections. It's 2.7 meters in length, almost 9 feet,
and now comes in a hard case for safe transport and storage. The rod can handle lure
weights of 20-100 grams. It's graphite and fiberglass constructed
for lightness, sensitivity and long term use. The guides are
lightweight, but capable of handling
Spectra lines. The handle
section is a bit long, in keeping with it's intended
application, and you can adjust the positioning of your reel to
optimize balance - easily moving the reel forward or back on the
rod on the spinning rods. The conventional rods feature a
trigger grip - these do not allow the adjustment feature. The Surf
Explorer rods have a
parabolic action allowing them to fish lighter and heavier and still
"feel" right, and now you have more choices for the
test being fished with the additional light and medium action
rods.
Lure weights and line
weights: The rods are made to load up best when used as
intended. They are light finesse type rods, not heavy surf rods.
Their bend is fairly parabolic, do just fine with braided lines
or mono. Each model is designed to fish their intended line test
- and this really should be specified in terms of drag load,
that's a more meaningful specification and predicts the bend of
the rod better. So, plan to set your drag at 25-30% of the line
test intended for the rod and you will enjoy the benefits of a
properly tuned rod/reel match. Lure weight varies by model, the
lightest rod matching up with lure weights of 1 ounce and under.
The 15-20 does very well up to 1.5 ounces, can push 2. The 25-30
is quite comfortable fishing 3/4 to 3 ounces, with 1-2 being a
very nice range. For the 30-50 1.5 to 4 ounces is a good range.
That model can do a bit higher but you should note how it's
loading up on your casts and adjust accordingly. These rods do
best with someone who has some experience and they travel very,
very well. They are not intended as boat rods, they are inshore
surf rods, and in that arena they represent some of the best
rods ever produced.
Any
questions? Please e-mail us,
click on the image-button link below or give us a call:
Internet
Sales & Service
Office Hours: 8AM-4PM
Monday-Friday
(office closed on major holidays and weekends)
Product Information,
Order Processing
& Shipping
Staff: Mark, Leeana, Nadiya, Ryan &
Tom
Phone Toll Free
1-877-424-2751 1-714-840-4500
Mailing Address: CharkBait Sportfishing
16561 Bolsa Chica St. #105
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
If
you are trying to reach us after 5pm weekdays or
weekends, our Huntington Beach shop staff can assist. *
1-800-823-4243*
Please note: We're closed major holidays,
both our offices and our shops.
New Years, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving & Christmas. We reserve the right to
take off early if there's a great local bite...
Huntington National
Shopping Center
16561 Bolsa Chica St. #105
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 1-714-846-6452
Staff:
Beta
Manager,
Blake, David
& Sergey
Store Map
Tour
our shop click link
above
----------------
San
Diego
CharkShop Hours
Monday
10AM-3PM
Tuesday thru Friday
10AM-6PM
Saturday
10AM-5PM
Closed
Sunday
Midway
Village
Shopping Center
3166 Midway Dr. #101
San
Diego, CA 92110
1-619-224-1112
Staff: Manager
Eric Prather Mgr.,
Jeff, Nathan
& Megan
Store Map
Tour our shop
click link above
Customer
Support
Ryan
Shipping & Tracking
(Shipping
Dept.)
Mon-Fri
Trout & Bass... knows nada
about saltwater fishing
...but we'll work
on that...
Customer
Support
Leeana Invoicing
& Billing Questions
Office Manager
Mon-Fri
Doesn't fish, nor play
Candy Crush or Angry Birds...and if you ask
if she's one of the models on our site you
stand a good chance of being double billed.
skype us
@ CharkBait-USA
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Skype мы. Пошлите
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Skype εμείς.
Στείλετε το
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Skype noi. Trasmetta il
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Orders over $150 are shipped FREE!* Orders
less than $150 are billed for shipping. Upon
placing your order you'll receive an immediate
confirmation via email. You are not billed at
that time, the confirming email may not reflect
oversize or overweight charges or other issues
requiring direct contact. We process orders
manually, preferring to have a human actually
check things over and contact you should there
be questions. Within 24 hours of placing your
order you will receive a follow-up email
confirmation and final invoice (pdf doc)
reflecting your total charges (Monday-Friday).
You are not billed until we actually send you
your final invoice. Orders shipped to CA
addresses will have California Sales Taxes
applied, out of state orders are tax free.
During the ordering process you can select
expedited shipping if required.
(Within the USA
we usually ship via Federal Express ground.
International, and oversize/weight items will be
billed for shipping and you will be sent an
emailed invoice reflecting total charges prior
to actual billing. We will not ship without you
having had a chance to review the invoice).
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WARNING: These products can expose you to
chemicals including lead, which is known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. For more
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As a means to
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Please don't bother adding them to your address
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We do apologize for any inconvenience
this policy creates. But, it's the only way we've found
to post an email address on-line and not receive so many
solicitations from some family member of a deceased
"Nigerian" leader trying to move great sums of $
out of the country...
CharkBait makes no guarantee on merchandise, product
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maintains a significant inventory of the products we represent, that
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All opinions expressed are those of the author, you can take 'em or
leave 'em. Shoes and shirts are not required for service. We
reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
I think that about covers it.
Couple ways to go here. If you are in search of Corbs, ghost
shrimp can improve your catch rate by 90%, maybe more, compared
to anything else. Anything. But, you've got to make 'em.
Alvey
Bait Pumps are constructed of marine grade stainless steel
with a brass plunger rod and rubber suction washers. The
stainless steel handles are covered with foam grips. Barrel
diameter 2 inches. Use to extract worms, crustaceans and
ghost shrimp (Yabbies) from wet sand and mud banks.
