Check out the video to see why Pelagic’s Vaportek is the lightest and most breathable fishing shirt. The Vaportek Fishing Shirt features full-length fine-mesh vented panels that allow for optimal airflow to pass through the lightweight fabric. Built for beating the heat and humidity, this long sleeve is our go-to in any warm weather conditions. Available in hooded and non-hooded.
Planer fishing is an effective way to target wahoo. Traditional systems utilize a planer that is permanently fixed to the line. In this case, the angler reels the swivel to the rod tip before handlining the wahoo and 75’ of leader to the boat. This tip makes the planer removable, allowing the angler to reel the planer to the rod tip, easily remove it and reel the fish and leader to the boat—no more handlining.
InTheBite was on hand for the 2022 ICAST Tackle Show held July 19-22, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Here are a few of the new products some of you may want to upgrade for the upcoming season.
New for 2023 Miya Epoch Teaser reels include a variable speed dial and white in color. Pricing available soon.
Miya Epoch US-9 Teaser Reels
New for 2023 from Miya Epoch is the upgraded US-9 teaser reel. The traditional green case color has been replaced with white color and a new easy to access speed dial lets you moderate the retrieval speed. They will be available later this year.
The new line of PENN Authority reels just won Best of Category “Saltwater Reel” during the 2022 ICAST fishing tackle show
New PENN Authority Reels
The new line of PENN Authority reels just won Best of Category “Saltwater Reel” during the 2022 ICAST fishing tackle show.
The PENN Authority boasts an impressive IPX8-rated sealed body and spool that allows the reel to be submerged 1-meter for 30 minutes, and stands up to the most extreme saltwater exposure, spray and wash without suffering water intrusion. Using the best materials on the market, the CNC Gear technology features a stainless-steel gear train and pinion gear and is designed to be better supported overall to allow for long-term durability. It is machined out of a solid piece of metal, ensuring exact alignment, smooth long-term performance, and maximizing torque when trying to get that last wind on a hard-fighting fish. The full metal body, side-plate, and rotor keep gears protected and eliminate flex in the reel’s frame, ensuring rigidity under the heaviest loads.
The Authority reel super spinner far surpasses the durability and performance required and comes into the market with sizes ranging from 2500–10500 making it the most durable best-in-class reel on the market. Four high-speed models are also available (2500-4500-6500-8500).
Available: September 2022
Price: $499.95 – 599.95
The new Shimano Saragosa SW BFC Spinning Reel is purpose built for billfishing.
New for 2023 Shimano Saragosa SW BFC
Purpose-built to serve the dedicated billfish angler, the Shimano Saragosa SW BFC Spinning Reel is the only spinning reel to reach for when big checks and trophy billfish are on the line. The Saragosa SW BFC is the spinning reel counterpart to the legendary Talica 20BFC in Shimano’s Billfish Concept lineup. The Saragosa BFC is built specifically for things like tossing live baits at billfish tailing down sea or cutting through bait balls on the surface. Featuring a lower and more gradual drag curve than the battle-tested Saragosa SW A, the Saragosa BFC is optimized for fighting sailfish, white marlin, and other billfish varieties on lighter, and more often monofilament line. By combining the 6.2:1 gear ratio with an enlarged spool, the Saragosa BFC achieves a blazing fast 56in of line retrieved per handle turn, which is exactly what billfish anglers need to stay tight when trying to keep up with some of the fastest swimming fish on earth. To ensure smooth and consistent drag performance during long battles, Shimano’s Rigid Support Drag enhances spool support by reducing play and deflection
of the spool. Shimano technologies that anglers have come to depend to protect their reels from the elements such as X-Shield and X-Protect keep water away from key internal components to preserve smoothness and operational proficiency for many seasons out on the water. With the Saragosa SW BFC, anglers can target billfish with confidence in their spinning gear knowing they have the right tool that was expertly designed for the job.
MSRP $339.99
For more information check out the video from Shimano here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeWF3hOni9M
FishRazr Dredge Baits
These dredge baits from FIshRazr caught our eye. The detail of a baitfish profile in both Bonito and Tinker Mackerel is sure to fool plenty of billfish. Check out their website for plenty of bluewater tackle options. https://fishrazr.com/
Purpose made sunscreen for those who work in the sun.
High Performance Sunscreen
Here’s a new company who is specializing on protecting athletes and those of you who make a living in the sun.
Watermans High-Performance Sunscreens are purpose-built for athletes and adventurers. If you live life in wind, water and waves, Watermans is the protection you need to Outlast the Day. We haven’t used it but if you want to give it a try check out their website: https://gowatermans.com/
Battery powered with a 30′ hose and lasting up to 60′ minutes.
Blu3 Compact Battery Powered Dive System
This caught our eye as a small compact option for diving and as a good option for checking the bottom of your sportfish boat.
Nomad is a battery powered dive system that delivers you compressed air from the surface through a hose as you breathe underwater to a maximum depth of 30 feet. Extremely compact and user-friendly, Nomad provides 45-60+ minutes of dive time per battery, depending on diver usage.
MSRP: $2000-$3000
This is the 2022 Best In Show overall product and a great story on how this product came to be. You’ll want to watch this video on the PacBak website. Its not just a cooler. https://pacbak.com/
Photo courtesy Will Drost
By Ric Burnley
When I was young, my father gave me some great advice: “Let the tool do the work.” I was probably yanking on a hook with my pliers or trying to hack up bait with scissors when Dad gripped my wrist, looked in my eyes, and told me to stop fighting my tools. Since then, I’ve been a tool geek.
ITB Staff
Regardless of the target species or conditions influencing the choice of angling tactics for the day, easy access to appropriately positioned rod holders enhances our efficiency in attracting and catching fish. While most center consoles are delivered with just a few 30-degree rod holders near the stern, one can never have enough when attempting to present a large spread and prevent tangled lines.
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.
Visser Reels, July 17, 2021—Visser Reels is introducing the Model S series, a higher-level reel from its current number series. The reels will be available in 6 different sizes from the No. 3S to the No. 8S. The all-machined aluminum reels will be manufactured at our Seymour Connecticut location with about 60% valued content from outside the United States.
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.
As the year comes to a close and the season of gift-giving is right around the corner, we’ve compiled what we believe to be the ultimate package of gifts for people who enjoy boating and fishing. We’ve included some really useful and highly practical gifts that will come in hand on the boat, from some of the latest and greatest in onboard electronics and weather-ready clothing to trusty tools that help with the daily grind.
