Staff Report
If you’ve tried your luck daytime swordfishing, then you know exactly what it is about this crazy fishery that intrigues the imagination when pursuing a genuine sea monster more than 1,500 feet below the surface. In efforts to increase our bite to catch ratio, daytime tactics across the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean have evolved tremendously to suit the specific conditions encountered offshore. [Read more…]
The moment we live for
By Nick Smith
It occurred to me that this billfishing-with-lures thing we do is a lot like what I’ve done most of my life in the automobile business. It’s about attracting customers and eventually closing the deal. The oldest marketing adage in the book is AIDA. It was coined by some marketing genius way back in the late 1800s. It stands for: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.
Isn’t that exactly what we’re trying to do with our spread of teasers or lures? These hunks of plastic and rubber have to accomplish AIDA and do it consistently for us to have success with the billfish that we pursue so fervently.
By Kevin Deerman
Most of the tournaments in the Gulf of Mexico are won catching one big fish. Boats set up to handle a dozen or more live tuna with high-velocity pumps often head straight offshore. However, dredge fishing for release numbers dominated our tournaments in Texas this summer as the inshore bite remained strong throughout the season.
By Steve Dougherty
Excited for the dawn of each day, as fishermen we’re always innovating and adapting rigging techniques to beat fish with the greatest efficiency and consistency. Whether we are catching bait or blue marlin, advancements in tackle and technology continue to offer an unfair advantage. Yet considering the many variables we have no control over, tying reliable knots and creating fortified connections rests at our very own fingertips.
By ITB Editor
The masterful abilities of the Japanese in manufacturing excellence is undoubtedly correct. With great attention to detail built into their culture, the prosperous island country in East Asia breeds pride in engineering through a well-educated, industrious workforce and there are enormous efforts made in achieving a state of perfection. In similar fashion to Shimano and their high-performance bicycle groupsets turned fishing reel expertise through high-efficiency gearing with precise cold-forging of 3D metal shapes, Ken Matsuura’s high-end Japanese conventional reels bring about decades of experience engineering precision engine components for numerous motorcycle and race car factory teams.
It’s been two years since the last ICAST brought industry professionals together to get a firsthand look at the advancements in the sportfishing world. From July 20 to July 23, companies and brands showcased the latest and greatest products for both fresh and saltwater anglers. We’ve highlighted some new, innovative and just plain interesting products that were on display at this year’s event.
COLUMBIA, S.C., July 17, 2021—Few things get an angler’s heart beating like the feeling of a hook set and the drag peeling—especially when fishing in big-fish waters. When anglers target saltwater species, they demand a reel that stands up to saltwater conditions and delivers absolute performance.
By Capt. Danny Forde
Here is a proven big game offshore knot used by some of the best crews on the circuit. It’s simple and easy to tie and provides 100-percent strength. All you’ll need is a snap swivel and fishing line, that’s it.
Though we’re back from Los Sueños Costa Rica we made sure to catch up with the Jaruco team on their 90′ Jarrett Bay to see what gear is getting used offshore. Edward Barr gives us the 411 on rods, reels and everything between.
