Tackle Trade World - December 2022

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IN OVER 

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EVERY MONTH 

DECEMBER 2022

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FLY GATHERING 

The first details on 

AFFTA’s 2023 fly fishing 

event. PAGE 10 

CRAFTY PROFITS 

Part two of our in-depth 

watercraft sector guide. 

PAGE 27 

www.tackletradeworld.com 

AUSTRALIAN ANGLERS OUT IN 

FORCE OVER BAN PLAN 

Anglers have signed 

the largest petition 

in Australian fishing 

history in a bid to stop a 

dramatic shortening of the 

fishing season in Western 

Australia. 

If the proposal – for a ninemonth 

ban on recreational 

fishing for key demersal species 

– goes ahead next summer, it 

could hit not just anglers but 

manufacturers, retailers and 

charter boat skippers, among 

others. 

The petition, which has 

amassed around 18,000 

signatures, is now (at the time of 

writing) sitting on the desks of 

Western Australia government 

officials although it is likely a 

decision will have been taken by 

the time you read this. 

It was handed over by the 

Hon Bob Baldwin, chair of 

the Australian Fishing Trade 

Association to Hon Colin 

Stephen de Grussa, Deputy 

Leader of the Opposition in the 

Legislative Council and Shadow 

Minister for Fisheries. The move 

made headline news on Channel 

7 (WA) TV. 

Demersal species favoured by 

anglers include dhufish and pink 

snapper. 

Mr Baldwin explained: “You 

can’t have blanket closures; you 

need seasonal closures that are 

effective and seasonal closures 

where everyone is contributing; 

that’s how you develop 

sustainability. 

“[We want to] get the 

government to understand we 

all want the same thing, that a 

sustainable industry is critical. 

However, we believe the early 

approach unfairly targets 

recreational fishers.” 

Colin de Grussa added: “I’m 

hearing stories from tackle 

shop owners up and down the 

west coast who are very worried 

about their businesses. They are 

unsure about what stock they 

should order and whether their 

businesses will be viable into the 

future.” 

A meeting between AFTA 

and Fisheries Minister Don 

Punch to explain the “bottom 

line” effects of pursuing the 

ban for recreation anglers while 

allowing commercial fishing to 

continue, has already meant the 

consultation process had been 

extended. 

Andrew Rowland from 

Recfishwest said his group had 

suggested alternative methods 

for the recreational and charter 

catch to be reduced to its 

allocated 135 tonnes. 

He added: “West Australians 

spend $1.8 billion every year on 

their fishing activities and this is 

a major important fishery as part 

of that expenditure. 

“And so the flow-on impacts 

through the community, jobs 

and businesses, wellbeing and 

fishing clubs that are closing 

down will be massive.” 

Mr Baldwin and his WA team 

including Tim Farnell from 

Red Mullet Distributors, Brian 

Marshall from Compleat Angler 

Nedlands and Ash Ram from 

Tackleworld Miami had worked 

tirelessly to achieve the record 

e-petition signatures. 

S E N T T O M O R E T H A N 1 8 , 5 0 0 T A C K L E I N D U S T R Y 

PROFESSIONALS IN OVER 120 COUNTRIES EVERY MONTH

DECEMBER 

2022 

04 

TackleTrade 


EDITORIAL 

Editor: 

John Hunter 

+44 7990 542958 

john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

A journalist all his life and with 20-plus years 

of international business magazine experience, 

John was the founding editor of TTW and has 

now returned to the helm. He has helped 

many brands launch and grow over the years 

through B2B publications and via his own 

consultancy business. 

Co-Editor: 

David Haynes 

+44 7766 263908 

david.haynes@dhpub.co.uk 

A lifelong angler, David has tried his hand 

at most types of fishing and is a great 

accumulator of tackle and now focuses on 

competition fishing. Having worked at DHP for 

the last 16 years on every title in the company’s 

portfolio, he brings a wealth of knowledge and 

experience to the editorial team. 

ADVERTISING 

North America: 

Bart Manganiello 

+1 914 722 7601 

bartalm@optonline.net 

For over 35 years, Bart has been working with 

trade magazines, 31 in the tackle industry. 

Since 2001, he has been TTW’s North 

American Director, providing provide the 

best communication programs to companies, 

helping them connect with current and 

prospective trade partners around the world. 

Rest Of The World: 

Guido Knegt 

+39 3475036436 

guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

A born and bred Dutchman, he spent five 

years travelling the world as a scuba-diving 

instructor and English teacher before settling 

down in Sardinia. Guido previously worked for 

TTW between 2014 and 2017. 

China: Robert Li 

Li Ziwei 

+86 13451914155 

robert.li365@gmail.com 

Li Ziwei (Robert) has been working as news 

editor for over 20 years. He founded the most 

influential Chinese fishing forum in the Straits 

and successfully organised many industry 

events. His love for culture and tourism has led 

him to devote his entire life to the exchanges 

between China and southeast Asia. 

Magazine Manager 

Justin Fox 

+44 7813 327966 

justin.fox@dhpub.co.uk 

A hugely experienced communicator with 

more than 20 years at parent company DHP, 

Justin knows what it takes to grow brands 

and businesses across the tackle sector. 

Art Editor: Paul Evans 

Editorial Design: Brad Sharp 

DHP LTD 

Editorial, administration, subscriptions and 

accounts to: DHP Ltd, 1st Floor, Nene House, 

Sopwith Way, Daventry, NN11 8EA, UK 


TAKING IT TO 

THE HEART OF 

GOVERNMENT 

It seems that governments – whether 

local or national – come up with ideas 

to ban or curtail angling with alarming 

regularity. 

Sometimes this is in the name of 

conservation such as looking after 

habitat or allowing fish stocks to recover, 

sometimes it’s about business – think 

Pebble Mine in Alaska – and occasionally 

it’s about safeguarding the health of all of 

us, lead being a classic example. 

The latest region to face proposed 

fishing restrictions is Western Australia 

over concerns about dwindling stocks of 

demersal species. 

The suggestion by those in the corridors 

of power is that, by restricting recreational 

fishing for these important species like 

pink snapper or dhufish, to just a handful 

of weeks a year, they will be able to recover 

in time. 

Now that’s all well and good – and many 

countries and regions have fishing ‘seasons’ 

to allow fish to breed undisturbed or to 

limit the effects on them during extremes 

of temperature – but it seems in the WA 

case the rationale is open to question. 

Indeed, there is already a closed season 

in place for some of the key demersal 

species – between October and December 

– but this has not been enough and there 

is concern that a shortage of older fish will 

impact on breeding success for generations 

to come. 

The solution? Reduce fishery catches 

by half – something both recreational and 

commercial anglers already agreed on. 

But the government wants to achieve 

this by closing the fishery for up to 

3,511 

6,466 

nine months – but, strangely, only to 

recreational fishing, leaving commercials 

to continue year round, albeit under much 

stricter controls on line hours to reduce 

catches. 

It’s this that has angered groups such 

as lobbyists Recfishwest and, crucially, the 

Australian Fishing Trade Association, the 

latter of which has mobilised anglers in 

such force that it has delivered a petition 

to the WA government signed by an 

unprecedented 18,000 fishermen and 

women. 

The American Sportfishing Association 

and other groups did something similar at 

Pebble Mine, garnering so much support 

against the plans that they seemed to have 

disappeared (although there has been 

momentum back towards the mining 

operation in recent months). 

Meanwhile, the European Fishing 

Tackle Trade Association continues to 

work behind the scenes in Brussels, to get 

recreational fishing taken more seriously 

by Euro lawmakers and ensure it has a 

seat at the table in future conservation and 

sustainability discussions 

Time will tell whether these 

interventions will succeed on behalf of our 

sport and those whose livelihoods depend 

on it – but it is heartening to see the 

industry bodies really working hard and 

taking the fight right to the heart of those 

who, sometimes, have no idea what our 

sport really entails. 

John Hunter 

Editor

Let’s get back together! 

EFTTEX 2023 has been started! Check the latest news on 

www.efttex.com and find out more about the Exhibition. 

BE PART OF 2023’S GREATEST EUROPEAN FISHING TACKLE TRADE SHOW IN BUDAPEST! 

After 4 years we invite you to meet all your industry partners under one roof! Not only will EFTTEX 2023 allow us all to meet 

again in person but it will be the biggest trade show in Europe! It’s definitely not something you want to miss! 

In 2022 the Best New Product Showcase rowed into new waters by being digital for the first time. 

However, in 2023 we are coming back with a live competition! 

MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER FOR EFTTEX 2023 NOW: 

• 2022 exhibitors who redeemed their stands can participate at 2020 prices. 

• Everyone who entered the EFTTEX 2022 Digital Best New Product Showcase will have their entire 

entry fee credited from the EFTTEX 2023 booth fee! 

• Floorplan and booth reservation in order of arrival, according to your 2022 exhibitor booking. 

• Stand selection in order of registration, register before 31st December. 

If you have any further questionS, please write to us at info@efttex.com

DECEMBER 

2022 

40 

20 

16 

Contents 

28 

50 

8 NEWS 

How the US tackle industry is supporting 

Florida businesses hit by Hurricane Ian, 

key changes at Fairpoint Outdoors, the 

unveiling of a new fly fishing trade event 

and the expansion of a much-loved UK 

brand. 

16 GETTING A GRASP ON HEAVY LURE 

RODS 

St Croix’s Tournament Legend Bass rods 

have been joined by its Musky series – 

both featuring the brand’s GRASP real seat 

design. 

18 PANTHER MARTIN IN LINE FOR 

SWIVELS 

Renowned for its inline spinners, Panther 

Martin has added its InLine Swivel to the 

product for even greater effectiveness. 

20 SPOTLIGHT ON… SMALL BOATS 

For fishing on lakes, rivers or inshore 

waters a small boat can be a game changer, 

but what is out there? 

22 SHOP WINDOW 

A selection of just some of the small boat 

options available for anglers to buy right 

now. 

26 GET BACK TOGETHER AT EFTTEX 2023 

Registration is now open for companies 

wanting to exhibit at the EFTTEX 2023 

show in Budapest. Find out how to stake 

your claim. 

06 www.tackletradeworld.com 

27 WATERCRAFT AND ACCESSORIES 

Read the second of our two special 

supplements on this lucrative and growing 

market sector. 

28 INTRODUCTION TO WATERCRAFT 

We take a look at all the various craft 

currently available. How do you fit them 

into your store? We have some ideas. 

30 GEARED UP FOR BOAT FISHING 

Now your customer has selected their craft, 

it’s time to talk extras – there are so many 

opportunities to upsell. 

31 CHOOSING THE RIGHT CRAFT 

How do you help customers decide what 

boat is right for them? With so many 

options understanding this is crucial. 

32 CALL IN THE CHINOOK FOR YOUR PFD 

NEEDS 

NRS believes lifejackets or personal 

flotation devices can be functional, 

practical and comfortable too, hence its 

Chinook PFD. 

34 AQUAGLIDE INFLATABLES – IDEAL 

FOR ALL FISHING 

Inflatable kayaks are great for fishing – 

in all its forms. Spear fisherman Marko 

Lubonic talks us through his Chelan 155. 

36 BRIDGING THE GAP 

An in-depth look at Sea Eagle’s new, 

improved PaddleSki 437ps, which builds on 

the success of its popular predecessor. 

38 SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THE DARK 

The iBite float from Energofish allows 

anglers to fish long into the night, when 

predators are at work. 

40 DOING BUSINESS WITH… CENTRAL 

AMERICA 

Extending for 1,140 miles yet with no 

location more than 125 miles from the sea 

there is plenty of scope for fishing and 

tackle trade in Central America. 

46 MAKING CONTACT 

More products from global suppliers 

that you could consider adding to your 

inventory for the coming months. 

50 BOXING CLEVER WITH PLANO 

Storage doesn’t come much better than 

Plano’s EDGE and EDGE Flex boxes, while 

its FROST cooler is a bestseller for a very 

good reason… 

56 HOW TO RETAIN YOUR CUSTOMERS 

It’s far easier to retain existing buyers 

than spend time and resource on finding 

new ones. But just how does customer 

retention work? We have some answers. 

58 LAST CAST 

UK Angling Trades Association chairman 

Andrew Race explains how the 

organisation has grown in strength in the 

last couple of years.

Super 

Heat Dissipation 

 

 

 

Super 

Low-Friction 

Super 

Hardness 

Super 

Lightness

TACKLE COMPANIES OFFER AID 

FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS 

Tackle firms have been 

coming up with innovative 

ways to help fellow companies 

and retailers devastated by 

Hurricane Ian across Florida 

and the southeast USA. 

Costa, which is based in 

Florida, set up the #OneCoast 

concept five years ago in the 

wake of other hurricanes, to 

work on rebuilding the areas 

worst hit by such tragedies. 

Among the current 

schemes are the Captains for 

Clean Water relief fund. The 

organisation lost its office and 

many members’ homes but 

the team has been navigating 

waters for rescue missions and 

delivering supplies. 

The Worldwide Anglers 

Relief Fund, set up by the 

International Game Fish 

Association (IGFA) and Costa 

back in 2017, helps charter 

captains, guides and outfitters 

in the wake of natural 

disasters. 

There is also an auction of 

fishing flies under the hashtag 

#FliesforIan, with josh Mills 

raising some $50,000 in the 

first five days. 

Costa is also selling 

#OneCoast apparel with all 

proceeds going directly to 

relief efforts. 

A Costa spokesman said: “As 

#OneCoast, we will rebuild 

and restore these areas that 

have been drastically impacted 

by Hurricane Ian. We’re proud 

to be a part of an industry 

where we’ve seen countless 

brands, organisations and 

individuals step up to provide 

as much help as possible.” 

Meanwhile, fishing and 

marine apparel manufacturer 

Hook & Tackle has donated 

$35,000 in clothing to the 

Miami Dolphins Foundation 

to be distributed to the victims 

in need from the hurricane. 

Brand owner Stan Rudman, 

who is also a co-chairman 

of the Miami Dolphins 

Foundation Fins Weekend, 

said: “We decided to partner 

up with the Miami Dolphins 

Foundation as they have been 

a force in our community. For 

nearly 25 years, I have been 

proud to work closely with the 

foundation. 

“Hurricane Ian really hit 

Photo Credit: Mariah Bakke (IG_ @vivabymariah) 

home, especially with many of 

our retailers of over 30-plus 

years losing their businesses 

all together. It is devastating! 

Anything we can do to help; 

we will be there. There is 

nothing like coming together 

to do good for others when the 

need is there, especially in our 

backyard.” 

US trade body provides Florida relief 

The American Sportfishing Association, 

the US tackle trade organisation, has been 

supporting relief efforts following the 

devastation across Florida in the wake of 

Hurricane Ian recently. 

It has made donations to several key 

groups that have been specifically helping 

the sportfishing community to recover 

from the disaster, which swept through the 

southwest of the state in particular. 

The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of 

Florida has been raising money through 

its employee assistance fund to provide 

emergency housing, food, water and other 

necessities to staff affected. 

The Worldwide Anglers 

Relief Fund was set up 

in 2017 by Costa and the 

International Game Fish 

Association to provide 

financial aid to local 

charter captains, guides 

and outfitters in the wake 

of natural disasters and has 

distributed $225,000 to date. 

Meanwhile, Captains for 

Clean Water had boots on 

the ground from the start and, despite the 

loss of its office and many members’ homes, 

the captains and guides worked round the 

Photo Credit: John Landry (IG_ @sportfisha) 

clock on rescue missions and supply help 

and has set up its own hurricane relief fund, 

which ASA has donated to. 

08 www.tackletradeworld.com

KEY CHANGES AT 

FAIRPOINT OUTDOORS 

THE BEST 

FLY-TYING 

S T U F F 

FOR OVER 

75 YEARS 

EXPERIENCE 

OUR MANAGEMENT STAFF HAS 

HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF FLY 

FISHING, FLY-TYING AND WAPSI 

EXPERIENCE. 

Robert Peetz, Thomas Sanotra and Robert Valkeneer 

Fairpoint Outdoors A/S, 

which owns the Westin and 

Kinetic fishing brands, has 

added no fewer than three 

key industry experts to its 

management team group. 

Thomas Sanotra, previously 

with Svendsen Sport, has been 

appointed as COO, Robert 

Peetz becomes purchase 

manager while Robert 

Valkeneer has been named as 

senior product manager. 

All three boast a long and 

impressive track record in 

the tackle industry, which 

Fairpoint says will benefit the 

company in its future growth. 

CEO Jens Buhl Jorgensen 

explained: “It has been a 

strategy of ours to acquire 

skilled personal in these key 

fields. 

“When a business grows at 

a rate, such as Fairpoint has 

done the past few years, it is 

important that employees and 

their skillsets grow along with 

the company. 

“The trio are all renowned 

profiles in the industry, 

which will strengthen our 

already solid team. With 

more than half a century of 

combined experience in the 

tackle industry, it is no secret 

I expect the guys to hit the 

ground running.” 

The COO role for Thomas, 

who spent more than a decade 

at Fairpoint earlier in his 

career, will include overall 

responsibility for purchase, 

product development and 

marketing. 

Thomas Eldor Petersen, 

CSO Westin, added: “In 

fact, Thomas was one of 

the architects behind the 

rebranding of Westin back 

in the early 2000s, so it is no 

coincidence we chose him for 

this central role.” 

Thomas said: “I’m extremely 

happy to be back with 

Fairpoint and help with its 

ambitious goals for Westin 

and Kinetic, in and outside 

Scandinavia. 

“The team has done a great 

job the past three years I have 

been away, which will make 

it easier to hit the ground 

running. Fairpoint’s employees 

are extremely dedicated and 

loyal. Most of them have been 

with the company for many 

years, thus giving them a keen 

mutual understanding for 

the overall vision and goals 

and how to achieve them. I’m 

very much looking forward to 

being a part of that journey 

with this fantastic company.” 

Robert Peetz, who will take 

on the lead in the purchase 

department, has a 25-year 

track record within the tackle 

industry covering everything 

from product development to 

planning and sourcing. 

He revealed: “I am superexcited 

to join the skilled 

team. I’m planning to put 

my experience to good use, 

accelerating the continuous 

growth of our brands Westin 

and Kinetic.” 

Meanwhile, Robert 

Valkeneer brings years of 

experience from numerous 

brands to the table and is seen 

as a welcome addition to the 

developing team. 

He commented: “Fairpoint 

Outdoors is a very ambitious 

company. Being able to be part 

of this fills me with a lot of 

enthusiasm. A great company 

with a lot of ambitions and a 

fantastic team to work with 

will make this a fantastic new 

adventure for me.” 

www.fairpoint.dk 

QUALITY 

WE PIONEERED THE DYEING AND 

PROCESSING OF FURS, FEATHERS 

AND SYNTHETIC FLY TYING 

MATERIALS 

INNOVATION 

WAPSI HAS INTRODUCED 

DOZENS OF UNIQUE FLY 

TYING MATERIALS. 

27 CR 458 

Mountain Home, 

Arkansas 72653 

Phone: 001 (870) 425-9500 

Fax: 001 (870) 425-9599 

E-Mail: wapsi@wapsifly.com 

Website: www.wapsifly.com

CONFLUENCE MEET-UP SET FOR US 

FLY TRADE 

Dates have been set and initial plans 

announced for the US fly tackle trade’s 

key event in 2023 – which has been named 

The Confluence. 

The event, which takes over from the old 

International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) 

Show, will take place from 26th to 28th 

September 2023 and will bring together 

a host of elements including seminars, 

trade gatherings, a show floor and even an 

outdoor, water-based demo initiative. 

It is being organised by the American 

Fly Fishing Trade Association and follows 

lengthy discussions at its Industry Summit 

in North Carolina at the end of October. 

AFFTA’s Confluence, like the 2022 

IFTD show, will be staged at the Salt 

Palace Convention Centre but this time 

the organiser will also be utilising a nearby 

park and pond for some ‘live‘ product 

demos, offering more hands-on experience 

than was available before on the traditional 

casting pond. 

The plan at present will see the first 

two days featuring seminars and talks 

before the show floor, awards showcase and 

outdoor product demos will be held. 

AFFTA’s Kenneth Andres told TTW: 

“The Confluence will be a meaningful 

solution for the fly fishing industry. It 

has received the backing of all the major 

manufacturers and retailers present at 

our recent Industry Summit. We listened 

to what everyone wanted and have acted 

accordingly. 

“We will have peer-to-peer seminars 

where members of the organisation and 

industry at large can gather and talk 

about the business of fly fishing in a great 

environment. 

“Then we will move to the show floor 

and enjoy both indoor interaction and 

outdoor applications with plenty of 

branding-building and product launch 

opportunities. 

“In addition, there will be a major focus 

on conservation, which is something that is 

a big part of AFFTA and a crucial part of 

the industry as a whole.” 

www.affta.org 

Semperfli lands at new home as it expands 

UK fly tying materials 

manufacturer Semperfli has 

moved to great new premises 

to help accommodate its fastgrowing 

business. 

Demand for Semperfli 

materials is so high globally 

that the Yorkshire-based 

company had no choice but to 

seriously expand its premises 

and was fortunate to be able to 

find the ideal place locally. 

The team spent a great 

deal of time and investment 

remodelling it to be perfect for 

its operation, with specialist 

departments created for the 

dye laboratories, stores, factory, 

final assembly, warehouse and, 

of course, offices for the sales 

team, directors and admin 

team. 

Semperfli director Ann 

Kitchener said: “This is one 

fantastic space, specifically 

created and dedicated to 

making the very best tying 

materials, without question. 

“Anything that Semperfli 

does always has a very strong 

infrastructure beneath it, so rest 

assured that the IT systems, 

security and facilities in the 

building are second to none. 

“The most up-to-date 

equipment, gigabit networks, 

fibre optic internet connections 

and technologies throughout 

the operation have been 

installed and it is something to 

behold. The latest technologies 

have been used throughout so 

information is available at the 

touch of a button. 

“The same goes for 

the R&D department, 

product development and 

manufacturing and partner 

resources – there is always 

vast technical supporting 

The Semperfli brand is growing 

all the time. 

everything.” 

It is fair to say that the 

Semperfli team are loving the 

new space and it is already 

making a massive difference. 

The increased space means they 

can service their worldwide 

clients even better and faster. 

Semperfli is very proud to fly 

two flags outside the building 

– the instantly recognisable 

Proudly flying the flags for the 

company. 

Semperfli flag and the Queen’s 

Award flag for its recent 

prestigious award. 

Ann concluded: “It’s no 

surprise that a company that 

provides such high quality 

tying materials would have a 

quality operation to make that 

happen!” 

www.semperfli.net 


YELLOW DOG GETS TEETH 

INTO RETAIL OUTLET 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing 

Adventures, a travel company 

specialising in flyfishing 

vacation packages and 

worldwide travel, has acquired a 

nearby fly shop as it moves into 

retail for the first time. 

The purchase of Fins & 

Feathers is understood to have 

been driven by the Bozeman, 

Montana-based outfit’s desire 

to better serve and prepare its 

travelling clients. 

Founded in 2000, Yellow Dog 

is a speciality booking company 

focused on providing the best 

flyfishing and travel experiences 

in the world and offering 

both freshwater and saltwater 

destinations, with more than 

240 lodges in 36 countries. 

Company CEO Jim Klug 

explained: “Yellow Dog has 

always put our customers first. 

The one gap in our service 

Registration open for 

spectacular Sea Angling Classic 

Following the huge success of the UK-based 

Sea Angling Classic this year, it is set to 

return even bigger and better in 2023 and 

registration is now open for the first wave of 

competitors. 

Those planning to take part in the 

recreational boat category can now apply for 

places, with the event itself schedule from 

June 14th to 18th in Portsmouth. 

Beginning with a spectacular opening 

parade in the historic naval city, the 

competition arena itself will remain the same 

(subject to weather) as there were over 3,000 

fish caught this year. The target species will 

be smoothhound, tope, sea bass, bream and 

skate during the catch, photograph and release 

event, using Angling Spirit’s live leaderboard 

app. 

Organiser and founder Ross Honey 

said: “Thanks to the great support of our 

sponsors and event partners we have a 

phenomenal prize table, with a top prize 

of an Extreme 745 Game King with trailer, 

complete with a 300hp V6 Yamaha engine 

and Helm Master EX system with joystick 

control. 

offerings has been the ability 

to ensure customers have the 

proper flies, equipment and 

apparel for every destination we 

offer – be it close to home or 

halfway around the world. 

“By acquiring Fins & 

Feathers, we can now pair 

specific gear and equipment 

with the most relevant 

information for our entire lineup 

of locations. We believe this 

acquisition will complete the 

circle for the overall Yellow Dog 

customer experience.” 

Toby Swank, owner and 

founder of Fins & Feathers 

of Bozeman, added: “We are 

excited to be joining the team at 

Yellow Dog and helping them 

with continuing to evolve as 

one of the premier brands in 

fly fishing. Our businesses have 

worked closely over the years 

to engage the local flyfishing 

community while finding 

creative ways to add value to 

our shared customer’s flyfishing 

experiences. 

“This is the next step in that 

process and we are thrilled to 

be a part of the Yellow Dog 

family. This is the perfect fit, 

and one which will benefit our 

customers, employees and the 

fly fishing industry as a whole.” 

The fly shop will be 

re-branded as Yellow Dog 

Outfitters and will focus solely 

on providing retail solutions 

and information. All staff will 

remain as will the bricksand-mortar 

location at Four 

Corners. By combining the 

two businesses, Yellow Dog 

will employ between 40 to 

50 people across the Four 

Corners retail location and the 

downtown Bozeman travel 

office. 

“Lowrance will be providing the ultimate 

fishing system, ensuring the prize boat has the 

very best and latest in equipment to keep you 

safe while out on the water and to catch fish. 

“The captain of the boat also wins a trip to 

New Zealand to see the amazing build quality 

of the boat. Prizes go from 1st to 20th place 

with categories for biggest of each of the five 

species, best placed lady angler, best placed 

junior and best placed boat of 6.7m and under. 

“There will be a fantastic atmosphere 

both on and off the water with great 

social occasions for everybody to 

enjoy throughout the event. 

“The event will culminate with a great 

celebration party on Saturday night ( June 

17th) in Portsmouth at Gunwharf Quays, 

followed by the full prize giving on the 

Sunday.” 

In line with Angling Spirit’s best practice 

angling and respect for the environment, all 

competitors – prior to the event commencing 

– will need to again complete a shoreline 

clean-up as part of their condition of entry. 

www.seaanglingclassic.com 

Over 1,000 New Line 

items added to the 

2022-23 New Catalog 

Hareline Ceramic 

Zirconia Dubbing Rake 

The 

Bone Comb 

Hareline UV Flexi 

Squishenille

NEWS IN BRIEF 

Sebile gathers 

investment 

Lure designer Patrick Sebile’s 

A Band of Anglers brand is set 

for another cash injection after 

inviting more bids for investment. 

to help it grow over the next 

few years in both the US and 

international markets. 

More than 250 anglers 

and retailers have signed on 

as investors since the initial 

campaign was launched, raising 

over $300,000 in the process. 

Garmin leads the 

way 

Garmin International has been 

named Manufacturer of the 

Year in the large manufacturer 

category for the eighth 

consecutive year by members of 

the National Marine Electronics 

Association (NMEA) at its annual 

conference. 

The coveted title is awarded in 

the marine electronics industry for 

excellence in product service and 

support in the field. 

Decathlon in 

reverse 

French sports retailer Decathlon 

has staged an unusual stunt to 

encourage “reverse shopping” 

in Belgium, where people in the 

country can sell their sporting 

goods to the company. 

In some cities it has changed its 

name to ‘Nolhtaced’, which is the 

company’s name spelt backwards, 

to promote the initiative. 

More stores for 

Sportsman’s 

US retailer Sportsman’s 

Warehouse has opened three new 

stores with plans for two more in 

the offing. 

The expansion sees it open 

outlets in Seminole, Florida, 

Eastgate, Ohio and Santee, 

California, with others planned 

soon in Montrose, Colorado, and 

Jacksonville, Florida. 

It brings the number of stores 

under the Sportsman’s Warehouse 

name to 131 in 30 US states. 

US boat sales still 

buoyant 

The US boat market is still in good shape, 

despite rising fuel and product prices, 

according to a key survey. 

Boat Trader, the US’ largest online 

boating marketplace, says that 39 per cent of 

respondents said the reason for selling their 

boat was to upgrade, with just three per cent 

saying they could no longer afford to keep 

theirs. 

The survey was carried out on its For Sale 

By Owners platform, where boat owners 

were asked to give their reasons for sale. 

Meanwhile, 18 per cent also said that 

they expected to sell their boat for a good 

price – bucking the current global trends 

of concerns over the cost of living and the 

overall economy. 

Some of this may be due, in part, to the 

fact that boat owners generally appear 

to have higher incomes or more settled 

lifestyles and are therefore less concerned 

about a possible recession. 

Just four per cent said they were selling 

their boat due to economic uncertainty. 

Boat Trader’s vice-president of marketing, 

Courtney Chalmers, said: “As we look 

towards the future and overall health of the 

boating industry, the number of boat owners 

AFFTA welcomes six 

board members 

The American Fly Fishing 

Trade Association (AFFTA) 

has announced six members 

of its board as it continues 

to strengthen its support for 

the industry at large. 

Among those joining 

or being re-appointed, 

following the recent 

Industry Summit, are 

RepYourWater’s Corinne 

Doctor, Tim Volk from 

Waterworks-Lamson, 

Patrick Berry from Fly 

Fishers International, 

Temple Fork Outfitters’ 

Nick Conklin, Pure 

Fishing’s Jim Murphy and 

Joe Wolthius from Scientific 

Anglers. 

Joe said: “Growing up in 

northern Michigan, I never 

imagined the places that my 

love of the outdoors would 

take me in my close-to-25 

years of being in the industry. 

“As a board member I 

want to be a voice for the 

industry with the wide range 

of experiences I’ve had from 

guiding Bristol Bay in my 

younger years, fly fishing 

category management for 

big box retail, and now 

as marketing manager at 

Scientific Anglers. 

“Seeing all the changes in 

the past few years has made 

it even more important for 

us as an industry to have 

expressing their desire to upgrade is a sign 

that we are successfully retaining boaters 

after the 2020 surge. 

“Private sellers are very much aware of 

the current boat market conditions and 

it’s exciting to see their commitment to a 

lifestyle on the water has sustained.” 

Indeed boat values are understood to 

have actually hit a record high during the 

Covid-19 pandemic – up an average of 

almost 30 per cent compared with prepandemic 

levels. 

Courtney added: “The pandemic-driven 

rush to boating pushed the industry to 

focus on retention. Based on our survey 

findings and marketplace data, high prices 

and inventory shortage haven’t deterred boat 

buyers. 

“We’re heading in the right direction, 

which is a positive sign for the long-term 

health of the boating industry.” 

a strong voice and wellrounded 

team of retailers, 

manufactures, and outdoor 

professionals representing 

the interests of the fly fishing 

community.” 

Jim Murphy added: 

“[I want to] assist the 

association to face the very 

unique challenges of the 

current period. Challenges 

in the market include new 

channels of distribution, 

direct to consumer sales and 

pricing integrity. We are 

presented new opportunities 

that AFFTA can address and 

help guide our industry to a 

positive strategy for future 

growth.” 


CHota’S CloaK HaS 

WaDING CoVERED 

Chota Outdoor Gear continues 

to provide a new generation of 

products to the industry with 

the launch of The Cloak, a shoe 

cover designed to transform 

any shoe, sandal, or boot into a 

felt-soled wading shoe. 

This fresh, innovative 

product features highquality 

marine-grade hook 

and loop materials providing 

superior attachment of the 

felt-sole, Kevlar reinforced 

toe, heels and side panels and 

heavy-duty anti-slip YKK 

plastic zippers. 

Lightweight and compact, 

The Cloak enables a seamless 

transition between activities 

such as hiking, paddling, drift 

boating, hunting, and fishing. 

It is also suitable for adults and 

children alike, as it provides 

a convenient, cost-effective 

option for children whose feet 

are still growing. 

To ensure the quality and 

durability of this innovative 

product, Chota enlisted a group 

of product testers across the 

USA, with one, H W Leslie, 

an avid hiker and fly fisher, 

clocking up over 100 hours in 

remote locations. 

He said: “The Chota Cloaks 

have been a game changer for 

backwoods fly fishing. When 

I needed to turn my standard 

hiking boot into a functional 

wading boot, the Chota Cloaks 

exceeded my expectations. If 

you’re looking for a lightweight, 

durable alternative – I’d go with 

the Cloak.” 

www.chotaoutdoorgear.com 

Mud Hole is accessible 

to all in the trade 

In early 2021, Mud Hole Custom Tackle re-energised an already 

robust wholesale business with the launch of its Wholesale & 

B2B Program. The introduction of tiered pricing serves businesses 

at all levels. From single-owner to OEM distributors, every 

Mud Hole B2B customer – regardless of tier – has access to the 

industry’s largest available inventory and best-in-class customer 

service. 

The company provides blanks, components, supplies and tools 

to more than 2,500 wholesale and B2B partners throughout 

the US and across the globe. As part of its continued focus on 

business customers, Mud Hole has committed to in-person 

meetings and visits throughout the country. 

With a wealth of online resources, businesses and their 

customers can feel disconnected. Mud Hole is committed to 

bring back the good, old fashioned customer visits and be there 

to learn more about its customers’ needs while solidifying new 

and old relationships. In October, Mud Hole visited shops 

throughout southern California including Fisherman’s Landing, 

C&M Custom Tackle, Island Fishing Tackle, The Longfin, 

Squidco and Pacific Coast Bait & Tackle. 

Stuart Crawford, director of B2B sales, said: “Learning what 

we can do to better serve a particular market or customer is 

invaluable for the long-term.” 

Mud Hole’s Wholesale & B2B Program is available to all wellqualified 

rod building businesses and also provides private label 

and OEM blank, component and rod production with resources 

and partnerships worldwide. 

To become a part of the most complete wholesale program in 

rod building, visit www.mudhole.com 

The Mud Hole team has been on 

the road meeting many of its trade 

customers recently.

PRADCO GETS WHISKER IN DEAL 

Outdoor brand supplier 

PRADCO has moved into 

the catfish market for the first 

time with the acquisition of 

Whisker Seeker Tackle in the 

USA. 

Whisker Seeker is a 

premium brand of catfish 

tackle located in Grimes, Iowa 

and founder Matt Davis has 

committed to continuing to 

grow it and will now lead it 

as vice-president and general 

manager. 

Whisker Seeker Tackle 

(WST) will continue 

operating from Iowa. 

Besides getting into a new 

species segment, WST will 

help PRADCO Fishing get 

into a business that is built on 

a direct-to-consumer model. 

It doesn’t sell to Walmart 

or big boxes and focuses on 

direct selling relationships 

with consumers. 

PRADCO Fishing vicepresident 

and general manager 

Bruce Stanton said: “Matt 

brings a tremendous amount 

of energy and creativity to 

the catfish category. He has 

built a business that has made 

quite an impact on the catfish 

market over the past several 

years. 

“With PRADCO’s 

investment, we feel we can 

double or triple the size of 

the company and expand the 

product set into numerous 

new categories. As Matt 

likes to say, we are going to 

‘dominate’ catfishing!” 

Several other WST fulltime 

team members will join 

the PRADCO family and 

remain based in Iowa. 

These include graphic artist 

and marketing expert Josh 

Burhite, Andrew Lewellen 

in customer service, shipping 

manager Eric Allen, Shipping 

and product development 

and testing manager Chad 

Ferguson. 

Brett Basik, PRADCO’s 

director of mergers and 

acquisitions, spearheaded the 

due diligence progress. 

www.whiskerseeker.com 

www.pradcooutdoorbrands.com 

Greys looks to conservation generation 

An initiative to help young anglers across 

the USA learn the joys of fly fishing and 

the great outdoors has been launched by 

tackle brand Greys and the International 

Game Fish Association. 

The free program was started by Hardy 

ambassador and IGFA trustee Andy Mill 

as a way to connect with young anglers 

from across the country and help them 

experience the outdoors through fly fishing. 

Young anglers meet every other week 

during the summer to hone their angling 

skills while working on ethical fishing 

practices with rods and reels that have been 

donated by Greys. 

Launched in June, in Jackson, Wyoming, 

the scheme looks set to expand to new 

locations over the coming years. 

Andy Mill explained: “Interest in 

fly fishing is at an all-time high so it is 

important to seize on this interest and 

grow our sport with this new generation of 

anglers. 

“All of us at the IGFA have worked 

hard in preserving our sport’s resources, 

and it’s important for young people to not 

only have fun with fishing but develop an 

awareness of conservation. This is a winwin 

relationship and, with Greys’ new fly 

reels and rods, we’ll be able to put rods in 

the hands of young people that will enjoy 

a sport that has filled our hearts with great 

joy.” 

The IGFA is a non-profit organisation 

committed to the conservation of game 

fish and it stresses the importance 

of ethical fishing practices through 

“science, education, rule making, record 

keeping and recognition of outstanding 

accomplishments in the field of angling.” 


FEATURE 

St Croix 

ST CROIX GETS GRASP 

ON LARGE-LURE 

PERFORMANCE 

The award-winning St Croix Tournament Legend Bass rods have been joined by its Musky 

series – both featuring the brand’s GRASP real seat design, making fishing with heavy lures 

much easier on the angler. 

Having won Best Freshwater 

Rod in the ICAST 2022 

New Product Showcase 

Awards, St Croix’s Legend 

Tournament Bass swimbait models have 

been winning plaudits from anglers too 

for the presentation of swimbaits and 

Alabama rigs. 

Alongside the 27 distinct, techniquespecific 

high-performance models 

for bass, the firm has now added a 

re-engineered series of 21 Legend 

Tournament Musky rods. 

All have one thing in common – the 

GRASP real seat. 

GRASP effectively combats the hand 

and wrist fatigue that commonly sets in 

when casting and retrieving heavy lures 

and doing battle with large, powerful fish. 

“The angler-requested GRASP reel 

seat helps give anglers the upper hand 

by delivering superior ergonomic control 

while casting and retrieving heavy lures, 

as well as throughout the fight,” explained 

brand manager Ryan Teach. 

GRASP accomplishes this by always 

keeping the wrist properly aligned while 

affording the most comfortable and 

efficient grip on the rod and casting 

reel – straight and in line with the rod 

in the ultimate palming position, not 

canted back or forward, which commonly 

happens with traditional casting-rod 

grips. The result is total control over rod 


and fish, with less fatigue so anglers 

can fish longer, harder and earn 

more success. 

THE RIGHT FEEL 

St Croix engineering supervisor, 

Gavin Falk continued the story: 

“We designed all-new hybrid SCIV+ 

carbon blanks for these rods that are 

lighter, stronger and more balanced 

than our previous SCIV blanks. 

“It would have been easy to 

stop there but we knew we had an 

opportunity to improve ergonomics as 

well, which are important in any style 

of fishing, because if an angler’s rod can 

help them fish longer with less effort, less 

fatigue and less chance of chronic injury, 

they’re going to enjoy their outings more 

and increase their chances for success. 

“And the scale of the tackle employed 

made ergonomics an especially critical 

consideration for these new big-fish bigbait 

rods.” 

A TOUCH OF CLASS 

In addition to GRASP’s ergonomic 

design, its angler interface is sweetened 

with an extremely durable and tactile 

SoftTouch coating. 

Ryan added: “The selection of the 

proper coating took years of discovery, 

trial and error and it’s a big part of 

what makes GRASP distinct in the 

marketplace. 

“The SoftTouch coating we landed 

on is just as important as the refined 

geometries that make GRASP a complete 

and unique design. It is incredibly 

resilient yet remains slightly tacky when 

wet.” 

GRASP itself is a fully integrated 

reel seat that blends seamlessly into 

one of 11 distinct handle designs in the 

Legend Tournament Musky Series and 

two distinct handle designs available 

on Legend Tournament Bass swimbait 

models. 

Each is purpose-engineered to enhance 

balance and overall performance in their 

intended techniques and each is finished 

with a machined aluminium locking nut. 

ST CROIX 

dealersupport@stcroixrods.com

FEATURE 

Panther Martin 

PANTHER MARTIN 

GETS IN LINE FOR SWIVELS 

Panther Martin is known as one of the world’s best spinning lures – the original 

inline spinner. And the unique design of the Convex/Concave blade with the shaft 

going directly through the blade was first introduced in America by the brand. 

Now it has added a swivel to the design… 

For 2023, Panther Martin has 

made a simple addition to what 

has been a tried and true spinner 

for going on 65 years – an 

addition that will make a huge difference 

on your next fishing trip. 

Panther Martin is known for its 

convex/concave blades with shafts that go 

directly through the blades. Now, it has 

built a swivel directly on to the spinner, 

making it easier and quicker to cast and 

reel in your line. 

The new InLine SWIVEL series is 

unlike spinning lures, where standard 

double eyelet swivels are attached to the 

front eyelet loop. 

The InLine SWIVEL is mounted 

directly on to the wire shaft and this 

small, innovative design change enhances 

the effectiveness of the lure tremendously 

as it eliminates line twist while keeping 

the same Panther Martin profile anglers 

have loved since 1958. 

This design also reduces water 

resistance and weed snags, which makes 

the lures better and easier to cast and 

retrieve or troll, while eliminating the 


chance that the swivel may impede 

the effectiveness of your casts or cause 

unneeded turbulence when retrieved or 

trolled. 

In addition, it also saves anglers time, 

money and space, since there is no need 

to purchase, store or add a separate swivel 

to the spinner. 

UPGRADING THE BEST 

Panther Martin has chosen 10 of its best 

colour combinations and three of its 

most popular sizes for the new InLine 

SWIVEL series, which all feature heavy 

weighted teardrop bodies and super-sharp 

treble hooks. 

These new spinners are available in 

Regular Gold and Regular Silver – two 

of the original lures that feature genuine 

gold- and silver-plated blades. 

The Spotted InLine SWIVEL choices 

are Black Spotted with black bodies and 

blades with bold yellow spots, and Yellow 

Spotted with bright yellow bodies and 

bold red spots. 

The Regular Fly options both have 

genuine gold-plated blades; the Gold/ 

Black has a black body with yellow dots 

and the hook is dressed in black and red. 

The Gold/Brown variety has a yellow 

body with red spots and a brown and red 

dressed hook. 

Finally, the Holographic selections 

include four bold colour combinations: 

Fire Tiger, a brightly coloured lure with 

green, yellow and red shadings with black 

spots on the blade, Rainbow Trout with 

green, pink and silver hues and black 

dots on the blade. The Silver Blue option 

pairs silver and blue on both the body and 

blade, which also has black dots. 

And, finally, the Tiger Green boasts 

deep shades of green, yellow and red and 

has black tiger stripes on the blade. 

All of the InLine SWIVEL spinners 

will be available in sizes 2–¹∕16oz, 4–⅛oz 

and 6–¼oz sizes. 

Keep an eye out for a six pack of 

InLine SWIVEL lures, too. They are 

perfect for trout, bass, crappie and more! 

PANTHER MARTIN 

Mauricio@PantherMartin.com

SPOTLIGHT ON... 

SMALL 

BOATS 

SPOTLIGHT ON 

SMALL BOATS 

For fishing on lakes, rivers or inshore waters a small boat can be a game changer. You don’t 

need a high-speed long-range cruiser to fish more effectively, but what is out there? 

Jumping into a small boat to target 

previously inaccessible fishing spots is 

an attractive proposition and no longer 

do you need deep pockets in order to 

buy and maintain a ‘full-on’ boat. The variety 

of water craft has increased rapidly, and now 

from motor and drift boats of varying sizes 

to inflatables and kayaks rigged out with rod 

holders and bait wells, there is something for 

everyone. 

Choosing the best fishing boat depends 

on several factors including budget, where 

you’ll use it, where you’ll store it and how 

long you’ll use it per outing. There are many 

boats that can function as fishing boats but 

Small is beautiful. 

for anglers it helps to get a boat designed 

with fishing in mind. Small fishing boats 

are generally up to about 20 feet long, often 

much smaller, with no cabin or pilothouse 

and these boats include several different 

types, either solid or inflatable and available 

in several lengths. 

Some rowboats are explicitly designed for 

fishing, such as the drift boat. It’s perfect 

for river fishing over either shallow or deep 

water. Modern rowboats range from simple 

inflatable rubber flat-bottomed boats to 

fibreglass V-shaped hulls. 

The kayak is quickly moving up the 

ranks as a go-to fishing platform. Fishing 

kayaks are generally between 9ft to 13ft. 

A decent fishing kayak will also provide a 

spot to install a trolling motor, which takes 

away the issue of having to paddle and fish 

simultaneously. Kayaks are great for rivers, 

lakes, ponds, and oceans, typically built for 

calmer waters, both shallow and deep. 

Rigid hull inflatable 

boats, or RHIBs, are 

quickly growing in 

popularity, and make 

great fishing boats. 

The skiff is typically 

made from either 

wood or fibreglass or a 

combination of both, 

with either a V shape, 

modified V, or a flat hull 

design. 

Jon boats are among 

the most popular fishing 

boats for three reasons: 

price, ease of use, and 

transportability. These 

simple boats are typically 

made of aluminium, 

have a flat or almost flat bottom, and weigh 

next to nothing. Some models are fibreglass 

or polyethylene, seating is typically two 

benches, and maintenance is almost nonexistent. 

Jon boats are great for lakes, ponds, 

and bigger rivers. 

At the top end of our market, bass boats 

Any sort of baot 

can help you reach 

the fish more 

easily. 

are created specifically for fishing. They are 

perfect for ponds, lakes, larger rivers and 

bays. Some models can go offshore as well. 

The slight V shape to the hull allows them 

to gain speed and get you out to the fish fast, 

while the flat design gets you into ultrashallow 

water. 

Inflatables offer portability, they take up 

a reasonably small amount of space when 

deflated and not in use and don’t require a 

trailer – the smaller models will fit into a 

backpack and are easily and quickly inflated 

with a small pump at the water’s edge. 

Inflatable fishing boats are generally much 

cheaper than a wooden, metal or plastic 

boat, so if you’re an angler on a budget, 

buying an inflatable is a good option. 

The challenge for the retailer is to work 

out where to display – and stock – such 

items in their shop. Of course, you’ll also 

need some knowledge about the options 

available. 

There are also plenty of accessories you 

can add to your inventory – from fish finders 

and motors to buoyancy aids, shallow water 

anchors, live bait wells, boat bags and boxes 

and even rod holders. 

Take a look at a few of the options 

available on the next couple of pages and see 

if they float your boat! 


lineaeffe.it 

happIness 

is a FIshing day! 

ANGLER: Daniele “Maio” Maioriello 

@maio_nomura_angler_official 

FIND OUT WHAT’S NEW IN 

2023 ON WWW.LINEAEFFE.IT 

FISH IN PEACE! 

Lineaeffe S.p.a - Via Massumatico, 3689 - 40018 S. Pietro in Casale (BO) - ITALY - info@lineaeffe.it


SMALL 

BOATS 

NRS 

KUDA INFLATABLE SIT-ON-TOP KAYAK 

Kuda gives adventure anglers the stability, 

manoeuvrability and deck space to land the 

big ones in the wildest streams and lakes. 

Designed with a high-pressure 6in dropstitch 

deck that inflates to 8PSI with 9in side 

tubes to create a super-stable platform to sit, 

stand or move around as you cast. 

Out-of-the-box rigging includes daisy 

chain attachment points, bungee rigging 

and five YakAttack accessory mounts. 

A comfortable seat elevates anglers for 

optimal visibility and easier standing. Plus, 

there’s a fish measuring board integrated 

into the deck. 

Choose from two sizes – the 106 for 

lightweight, manoeuvrable performance or 

the 126 for hauling a little more gear without 

sacrificing function. 

www.nrs.com 

SEA EAGLE 

FASTTRACK ANGLER 385FTA 

It’s the inflatable fishing kayak for one or two that is packed with features anglers will love. 

Built-in fish rulers and rod holders, cut-outs on the front and rear spray skirts for lures or tools, 

double-layered side walls, and an EVA foam footbed are just the start. This 12ft 6in x 36in 

kayak is lightweight and can take up to a 34lb thrust electric motor. As an inflatable, it packs 

down small enough to fit in any car trunk so you can take your adventure on the road. 

www.seaeagle.com 

HOBIE 

MIRAGE ITREK 11 

One of the lightest and most manoeuvrable inflatable 

pedal kayaks on the market, this is built to traverse choppy 

rivers, open ocean and any other conditions one might 

find out on the water. Powered by the MirageDrive GT 

with Kick-Up Fins and integrated rudder for dual steering, 

the iTrek 11 is fun, nimble, and lightning fast. Holding up to 

400lb, the ultra-stable iTrek is ruggedly built to endure the 

harshest of conditions while retaining Hobie’s sleek design 

and utilitarian engineering that is more portable than ever 

thanks to the iTrek’s inflatable design. 

www.hobie.com 

HOBIE 

MIRAGE PASSPORT 

One of Hobie’s newest models, the Mirage Passport 10.5 R improves upon previous models 

with a new rotomolded build powered by MirageDrive with Glide Technology and Kick-Up 

Fins. The Mirage Passport 10.5 R navigates rocky and shallow waterways with ease thanks to 

the automatic retraction of Kick-Up Fins on impact and subsequent re-deployment once clear 

of the obstacle. With the rotomolded hull construction, available in Seagrass Green and Slate 

Blue, the new Mirage Passport 10.5 R fuses a new sleek aesthetic with excellent performance 

and stability without sacrificing speed. For anglers seeking a slightly larger boat, the same build 

and featured are available on the Mirage Passport 12.0 R. 

www.hobie.com 

OUTCAST 

STRIKER 

Designed to facilitate easy, quick water 

access for two anglers the Striker is 

small and compact and eliminates the 

need for a trailer, since it can fit in the 

back of a pickup truck. The minimal 

frame and inflatable lean bar simplify 

set-up so you spend less time tinkering 

with the boat and more time fishing. 

At just 102lb., two people can 

comfortably carry the Striker to the 

water. Its small raft design and selfbailing 

floor are great for manoeuvring 

in rivers. A motor can be added to the 

OSG Striker for fishing in lakes and 

reservoirs. 

www.outcastboats.com 


TACKLE ORGANISER 

COMPACT RUCKSACK 

BAIT CADDY 

LEAD POUCH 

CANNISTER SLEEVE 

Introducing Wychwood Carp’s new hard wearing and easily 

transportable luggage range for all your essential tackle. 

www.wychwoodcarp.co.uk 

GO MOBILE GO AN YW HERE GO TACT ICAL GO MOBILE GO AN YW HERE GO TACT ICAL GO MOBILE GO AN YW HERE GO TACT ICAL GO TACT ICAL GO MOBILE GO AN YW HERE GO TACT ICAL


SMALL 

BOATS 

AQUAGLIDE 

BACKWOODS ANGLER 75 

The Angler 75 is a solo ultralight angling kayak that offers 

more space and features. At 7ft 7in long, this boat has the 

length, width, and additional buoyancy ideal for larger 

paddlers or extra gear. Integrated MOLLE plates provide 

customisable gear organisation options. Weighing under 

10lb, the Angler 75 is the perfect boat for ultralight minimalist 

fishing expeditions. 

www.aquaglide.com 

SAVAGE GEAR 

HIGH RIDER KAYAK 

in this super-stable kayak the angler sits high and comfortable, well above 

the waterline in the air chamber custom seat with rod holders. The kayak is 

very easy to manoeuvre with very little water resistance. Designed by anglers 

for anglers! 

www.savage-gear.com 

SAVAGE GEAR 

E-RIDER KAYAK 

This super-stable kayak is perfectly suited for fishing! You sit high and 

stable well above the waterline. The kayak is very easy to manoeuvre 

with very little water resistance, is equipped with a strong, yet 

lightweight three-section fold-down 260cm double paddle, and an 

engine mount stern for up to 7HK. 

The front aluminium cross seat bar is perfect for mounting rod 

holders, the double rear cross seat bar for add on cushion. The kayak 

has a strong rope lining on each side, for attaching fixed or drift anchor. 

www.savage-gear.com 

AQUAGLIDE 

BLACKFOOT ANGLER 130 KAYAK 

Named after the legendary Blackfoot River in Montana, the Blackfoot 130 is an ideal solo 

angling kayak with plenty of space for gear or an extra seat if needed. Loaded with features and 

optimised to impress the most sophisticated anglers, the 130 features Duratex construction and 

high-pressure drop-stitch floor for durability and performance in a package that can go almost 

anywhere. If you spend every waking hour chasing fish, the possibilities are endless with the 

Blackfoot Angler 130. 

www.aquaglide.com 

JRC 

EXTREME CARP FISHING BOATS 

For perfect bait placement and hard to reach 

spots, more and more carp anglers are using 

small fishing boats. Giving you a distinct edge, 

a quality carp fishing boat provides extra 

distance and accuracy when baiting up or 

feature finding and can be indispensable when 

fishing larger venues such as gravel pits or big 

rivers. Tough, stable and reliable, JRC provides 

ideal inflatable fishing boats for use with or 

without a motor. 

Complete with light but strong oars, carry 

bag and pump, these are a fantastic addition 

for any big water carper’s arsenal. With heavy 

duty materials, a marine grade plywood seat 

and easy to grab handles, these sport fishing 

boats are tough, practical and easy to use. In 

two sizes and capable of housing a motor 

and anchor, this is a great system to take your 

fishing up a level this season! 

www.jrc-fishing.co.uk 

PROLOGIC 

ELEMENT WAVE RIDER 240 

Ideal for transporting a whole lot of carp tackle to your spot or using to row 

out your bait, this super-stable and extra-wide inflatable PVC boat could be 

the game changer in your carp fishing. It features a double transom to make 

this 240cm-long boat extra spacious and really easy to climb in and out of. 

The boat is finished in a stylish, carpy olive green colour. 

www.prologicfishing.com 


WORLD 

CLASS 

FISHING 

TACKLE 

DESIGN - INNOVATION - EXCELLENCE 

Atomic tackle is a 100% Australian 

owned tackle company making rods, 

lures and line for a wide variety of 

fish species all over the world. With a 

guaranteed swimming action, and a 

huge choice, you can rely on Atomic 

when you absolutely have to catch fish. 

WWW.ATOMICTACKLE.COM.AU

FEATURE 

EFTTEX 

LET’S GET BACK TOGETHER 

AT EFTTEX 2023 

The European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition (EFTTEX) is set to return next year and 

registration is now open for brands and companies to claim their stand. 

Zoltán Kékkoi István Pál Péter Dobszai Tamara Szárnyas 

By the time EFTTEX 2023 

opens its doors in beautiful 

Budapest next June, it will have 

been four long years since the 

European tackle trade last gathered for 

the popular trade show. 

Now, though, everything is being set 

up and put in place for that vital meeting 

place once again – this time at the 

HungExpo in Budapest, Hungary, from 

June 15th to 17th and it looks like being 

the biggest tackle trade show in Europe. 

It’s a great opportunity for everyone 

to get back together under one roof, do 

business with each other, launch new 

products and gain maximum exposure for 

their brands and their fishing tackle or 

apparel. 

The first steps on the road to EFTTEX 

2023 were taken in the last part of 2022, 

with the inaugural Digital Best New 

Product Showcase, where companies large 

and small showcased their latest gear, 

receiving strong media coverage and, for 

some, walking away with coveted awards, 

given by an independent judging panel. 

Registration for booths for the 2023 


event opened on November 1st but the 

best news is that 2022 exhibitors who lost 

out when this year’s show in September 

was unavoidably cancelled can participate 

at 2020 prices. 

Meanwhile, every company that entered 

the EFTTEX 2022 Digital Best New 

Product Showcase will have their entry 

fee credited towards the cost of a stand at 

the in-person event next June. 

REGISTER NOW 

EFTTEX 2023 organiser István Pál says 

there many compelling reasons to register 

now for your space at the show. 

“Budapest is a beautiful city and the 

HungExpo is a great venue. But, most 

importantly, EFTTEX 2023 is the first 

chance for many in the trade after some 

difficult Covid years to get back together 

in person to see new products, meet new 

suppliers, place or receive some orders 

and enjoy a fantastic atmosphere in a 

vibrant business atmosphere.” 

The EFTTEX team is eager to 

help everyone interested in exhibiting. 

Alongside István, the team consists 

of managing director Dr Zoltán 

Kékkoi who is responsible for event 

organisation, telesales expert Péter 

Dobszai who will handle incoming 

enquiries and communication manager 

Tamara Szárnyas, who looks after event 

organisation, background support and 

invoicing. 

On January 5th 2023, everyone will 

get their first sight of the floorplan for 

this important show but exhibitors need 

to sign up now to ensure they get the 

stand they want… or risk missing out, as 

allocation is on a ‘first come, first served’ 

basis. 

Early bird visitor tickets will be 

released on March 1st, with visitor badges 

being available from mid-May. 

In the meantime, another key date for 

your diary is March 31st 2023, when the 

program of events and detailed schedule 

for the show will be announced. 

To register, visit: www.efttex.com 

EFTTEX 

www.efttex.com

The recreational 

watercraft market is a key 

one for the global tackle 

trade. 

With Q4/Q1 boat shows 

and the 2022/2023 boat 

selling season approaching, 

this special Watercraft and 

Accessory supplement 

provides an efficient and 

effective platform to 

showcase your products 

to the global distribution 

system. 


27

UP CLOSE 

AND PERSONAL 

There’s no doubt about it – being able to get into the fish’s domain offers a greater chance 

of catching more as there will, quite simply, be more water to go at. Part two of our special 

supplement will give you more ideas on how to cater for this market. 

Last month we gave you a basic 

guide to some of the main types 

of watercraft out there, from 

boats to kayaks, paddle boards 

to float tubes. 

We especially focused on kayaks and 

SUPs (Stand-Up Paddleboards), so this 

issue, over the coming pages, we will look 

more closely at boat selection and some 

of the key accessories you should consider 

adding to your inventory to make the 

most of this growing sector of the sport. 

It’s clear that the Covid-19 pandemic 

produced a strong upsurge in both fishing 

and boating as, once restrictions began 

lifting, people hit the great outdoors, 

having been cooped up in many cases for 

months on end. 

Marrying the two sports was an 

obvious thing to do for a significant 

number of people, giving them more 

flexibility on how they handled their 

outdoor time and where it would take 

them. 

Of course, the problem for many 

retailers is not just knowing where to 

start in choosing and sourcing watercrafts 

but also how and where to display them. 

Let’s face it, these things are not small, 


especially if you want to show them off to 

their best advantage 

The bonus, though, is that you can use 

your craft as the perfect merchandiser for 

a whole range of accessories, from motors 

(outboard and trolling) to navigation 

electronics and fish finders, rod mounts, 

anchors, life vests and even specialist 

luggage. 

Boat purchases are a major investment 

so you need to think carefully about what 

kit you will offer alongside them. Most 

buyers looking at a boat will be expecting 

to spend big as they understand that 

is just the start of their on-the-water 

journey. 

In addition, we will once again focus 

on some of the key suppliers of these 

products, some of whom have extensive 

experience of manufacturing or supplying 

craft or add-ons in this lucrative sector. 

If you are just starting out in fishing 

watercraft – or even if you think you are a 

seasoned pro – it’s worth talking to these 

suppliers for some first-hand advice and 

guidance. 

Get it wrong and you will have a white 

elephant sat in the order of your store for 

years to come; get it right and it will be a 

valuable addition to your bottom line as 

it increases customer footfall and boosts 

sales. 

So, read on for the second of our special 

two-part Watercraft and Accessories 

supplement to push your business full steam 

ahead.

The Bridge Between A Kayak & A Motor Boat 

NEW Sea Eagle ® PaddleSki 437ps 

GETTING TO THE FISH 

HAS NEVER BEEN 

EASIER 

14’4” x 48” Inflated 

36” x 21” x 12” Deflated 

67 lbs. Hull Weight 

93 lbs. Hull, Transom & Seats 

2 Person/855 lbs. Weight Capacity 

Paddle And Motor 

Solo Or Tandem 

Fish or Paddle 

Standing Up Or Sitting 

With the new inflatable PaddleSki 473ps kayak you can go 17 mph with a 6 hp outboard and motor 70 miles on just a 3 gallon 

tank of gas. That means this unique catamaran kayak can get you to fishing spots that no other fishing kayak can get to! And when 

you get there, you can fish in ways no other fishing kayak can...you can stand up and cast with the sure knowledge that you are 

stable and safe. You can sit for hours fishing on the swivel seat and enjoy 360° views in total comfort. 

Dept. TT123B 

19 N. Columbia Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 

ph (631) 473-7308 • fax (631) 473-7398 

WholeSale@SeaEagle.com

GEARED UP WITH THE 

RIGHT ACCESSORIES 

Now your customer has selected their craft, it’s time to talk extras! Whether that‘s kit 

for the boat, board or kayak itself or useful items to have aboard, there are so many 

opportunities to upsell. Here are just a few ideas. 

LIFEJACKET / PFD 

We would be very remiss not to start with 

the most obvious safety feature of all. In 

some places – and in most competitions – 

wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation 

device (PFD) is mandatory so this is a 

no-brainer. 

Stock a budget plus a well-knownbrand 

option and ensure you have a range 

of colours to suit personal preference. 

GETTING NOTICED 

Depending on where your customer 

intends to take their craft, it’s probably 

worth them buying a whistle and maybe 

flares for attracting attention if they get 

into difficulties. A good headtorch is also 

recommended and perhaps a first aid kit 

too. 

ANCHOR 

Sure, some craft may come with one 

already but a good anchor or mud weight 


is a very useful tool. If their chosen craft 

doesn’t have one, a foldable model will 

help them stay in place and fish in a more 

stable manner. 

Bass boats and the like can look to 

shallow water pole anchors to do the job 

for them. 

ELECTRONICS 

Whether it’s a Fishfinder, a GPS 

system, a combination of the two 

or even perhaps a radio, electronics 

have become a key part of most 

boats and much on-the-water 

fishing. 

A Fishfinder does exactly what 

you would imagine, using SONAR 

(which stands for Sound Navigation 

and Ranging) to bounce off the 

bottom and the corresponding 

echoes will equate to features or fish. 

GPS (Global Positioning System) 

receives signals from a multitude of 

orbiting satellites to accurately pinpoint 

your location, vital if you are out at sea 

and plotting a course to your favourite 

fishing grounds or home at the end of 

the day. 

They’re not always cheap so some 

people are switching to apps but decent 

electronic kit is worth its weight, longterm. 

FOOD AND DRINK 

Staying hydrated and well fed is crucial 

when you’re on the water, to avoid any ill 

health and to keep up your concentration 

levels. 

If your watercraft has room, then a 

cooler bag or box is a sound investment 

and will keep you comfortable on your 

session. It’s also great for a celebratory 

beer at the end of the day and can even 

keep your bait cool. 

A Thermos flask or similar is equally 

useful for hot (or cold) drinks. Being out 

on the water can be cooler than you think. 

STAY PROTECTED 

Although these next ideas are appropriate 

for all anglers, it’s worth remembering 

that protecting your skin and your eyes 

is hugely important and no more so than 

when afloat. 

Water reflects sunlight so a good pair 

of sunglasses is a must. Polarised ones 

will help you cut through the surface 

glare to spot fish and features more easily. 

You’ll be exposed to all the elements 

while out and about so suitable clothing, 

a good sunscreen, a hat, a Buff or similar 

and even insect repellent are other useful 

items you should be talking to your 

customers about. 

And don’t forget gear for handling fish 

– suitable gloves, a folding or compact 

net and maybe a tether are all handy 

add-ons.

Accessories 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT 

CRAFT 

Boats may sound ideal for fishing – and indeed many are – but there is a bewildering 

choice. How do you help customers decide what’s right for them since any mistake can 

prove extremely costly? 

There are so many things to 

consider when looking to buy 

a boat. Planned usage, overall 

cost and the buyer’s experience 

will all come into play but there are 

plenty of other factors you’ll also need to 

be mindful of. 

In terms of usage, where will they 

be fishing? Are they headed for fresh 

or saltwater? Will it be heading off on 

long trips or short hops? Will they need 

storage and perhaps even somewhere to 

lay their head? Have they used that sort 

of boat before? 

Will they be fishing competitively 

or just for fun? Shallow or deep water? 

Do they need a live or bait well and, 

crucially, does it give them room to grow 

and expand their fishing activities in the 

future, with enough space and fittings for 

all those ‘extras’ you could sell them? 

That will help your customer 

understand their ‘must-haves’ and their 

‘nice-to-haves’ that will help inform any 

decision. 

Speaking to your suppliers will help 

you aid your customer’s research. They 

might have a preconceived notion of 

what they want but understanding what’s 

currently available will allow you to be a 

trusted advisor too. 

So what sort of boats could you choose 

from? Here are some options… 

CENTRE CONSOLE 

It ever there was a boat built with fishing 

to the fore, this is it. Ideal for all types 

of fishing, from freshwater and inshore 

to offshore, these offer a great blend of 

control and visibility from the centre 

of the boat while also freeing up plenty 

of space to walk all the way around, 

with plenty of areas to fish from and 

reasonable options for rod and other 

storage. 

SKIFFS 

Also sometimes called flatboats, as the 

name implies these have hardly any hull, 

making them ideal for shallow water. 

However these don’t tend to have loads of 

storage so are better suited to short trips. 

BAY BOATS 

Another great fishing options, these have 

loads of comfortable fishing platforms 

and are great in shallow water but can 

also handle deeper, choppier waters if 

required, although they’re not really 

designed to go too far offshore. You will, 

however, find plenty of storage aboard 

one of these. 

FISH-AND-SKI 

A great choice if you have family trips 

in mind as well as fishing. Versatile, with 

storage and speed, many are built for 

freshwater use with storage and space 

to move around. They come in many 

formats, from bowrider or deck boats to 

bass boats. One boat – loads of options. 

BASS BOAT 

Fast and comfortable, the archetypal bass 

boat offers a large and stable platform for 

fishing and casting from, with plenty of 

storage, live wells and more. 

Aimed at the pro, semi-pro or 

regular angler, these are typically on the 

expensive side but are often kitted out 

with the latest high-tech electronics to 

maximise each trip. 

PONTOON 

Acres of space and really stable, thanks 

to their twin-tube hull, they are just the 

job as fishing platforms for you and your 

mates. Perhaps the main issue is that they 

can be harder to manoeuvre than some 

others but are handy if your family wants 

a good day out too. 

INFLATABLE 

If you lack storage space for a boat at 

home or don’t fancy owning a trailer or 

hiring a marina berth, then an inflatable 

might be what you are after. They’re 

usually quick to set up and can be 

surprisingly stable but many can lack 

adequate space, especially if you like to 

take plenty of kit with you. Another big 

bonus is that they are a cost-effective 

option, especially for those on a budget. 

FIVE USEFUL FISHING BOAT FEATURES 

1. Good visibility while piloting, helping 

you spot those fish-holding areas. 

2. Lockers and internal storage space 

plus rod mount areas. 

3. A wide, open deck for easy casting. 

4. Good stability, enabling more secure 

casting. 

5. Undercover shelter for protection 

from wind, rain or sun. 


31

CALL IN THE CHINOOK 

FOR YOUR PFD NEEDS 

Some lifejackets and personal flotation devices (PFDs) can be seen as a ‘necessary evil’, 

which is understandable since safety on the water is paramount. But NRS believes they can 

be functional, practical and comfortable too, hence its Chinook PFD. 

With all the organisation 

and attachment points 

needed for your fishing 

accessories, the NRS 

Chinook Fishing PFD is the world’s 

best-selling life jacket for kayak anglers. 

Not only is it designed to make 

you more effective on the water, US 

manufacturer Northwest River Supplies, 

or NRS as it is better known, says the 

comfort of the Chinook is unrivalled. 

From a pure safety factor, the Chinook 

itself is a Type III, medium profile 

life jacket delivering 16lb of flotation 

and carries the US Coast Guard 

Certification through Underwriters 

Laboratories (UL). 

But it is the product’s PlushFit foam 

and a high-back design that combine to 

create an extremely comfortable 

vest for any type of raft or 

kayak seat. There’s also a mesh 

lower-back, which offers added 

ventilation on warm days. 

In addition, the zippered front 

entry and six adjustment points 

offer a fully customised fit. 

FEATURE-FILLED 

FLOTATION 

Often the form and functionality 

would end there with many other 

makes but NRS has been designing 

and making water-based gear 

and apparel for all forms of sports and 

pastimes since 1972, which is why it is 

trusted by retailers and outfitters around 

the world to supply the best equipment 


possible. 

So it is with the Chinook PFD, which 

has so many useful extras for the angler 

who chooses to do their fishing from a 

kayak. 

Much of this comes from the fact 

that its Moscow, Idaho headquarters 

houses around 100 employees who not 

only own the company between them 

but are also avid kayak anglers, fly 

fishermen, stand up paddlers and 

whitewater aficionados. 

For example, the Chinook boasts 

two large, zippered pockets, sized 

specifically for tackle boxes, with 

internal organisation, plus two 

smaller accessory pockets with hookand-loop 

closures. 

A fifth, tool holder pocket offers 

quick access to pliers, line cutters or 

other fishing gadgets and accessories. 

As if that’s not enough, the PFD 

also features a rod holder, strobe 

attachment point, reflective accents 

and even a knife lash tab. 

NRS 

www.nrs.com

For some of us, fishing isn’t just about how many or how 

big—and it’s not about nailing the photo. It’s about the 

landscape, the friendships, and those hard and hilarious 

moments that fuel a lifetime of tailgate tales. It’s about the 

adventure. NRS Fishing helps you catch it with rugged, 

functional equipment and apparel built for fishing the 

waters less traveled. 

nrs.com/fishing 

#nrsfishing

Aquaglide 

AQUAGLIDE INFLATABLES 

– IDEAL FOR ALL FORMS OF FISHING 

Inflatable kayaks are great for fishing – in all its forms. In a slight break from the norm, 

free diver and spear fisherman Marko Lubonic (aka @markspearo) explains why his 

Aquaglide Chelan 155 is the perfect craft. 

Unlike regular rod and reel 

fishing, spearfishing is not 

only a more challenging and 

“sportier” way of harvesting 

fish it is also a more selective way of 

harvesting marine life, allowing us to pick 

and choose legal size and mature fish 

while leaving the juveniles aside. 

Freediving and spearfishing in the 

Pacific Northwest, more specifically 

British Columbia, is nothing short of 

spectacular when all the conditions are 

right. 

However, accessing spots that hold 

greater concentrations of larger fish and 

marine life almost always means accessing 

reefs and offshore pinnacles that are more 

remote – so I need a boat or kayak to get 

me there. 

Since a boat, outboard motor and 

trailer come with a hefty price tag not to 

mention maintenance costs and the need 

to find launch sites, the clear choice was 

an inflatable and durable high pressure 

ocean-worthy kayak that I can transport 

in my compact SUV and store in my 

apartment. 

It is also a much sportier and more ecofriendly 

solution and kayaking is simply 

a more meditative and enjoyable form of 

covering a distance, going hand in hand 

with the meditative nature of freediving. 

KEY REQUIREMENTS 

For kayak spearfishing, it is important to 

have a stable enough kayak when exiting 

and entering, large enough to accompany 

two spearos since you never dive alone, 

plus all the dive and spearfishing gear. 


The Pacific Northwest has rugged 

coastlines so a thicker-skinned 

(durable) kayak that can take some 

accidental beating and occasional 

contact with barnacles is more than just 

a bonus, it is a requirement. 

I did extensive research before finally 

settling on Aquaglide’s Chelan 155 as 

it was the only ocean-worthy kayak 

that fulfilled all of the aforementioned 

criteria. 

It is extremely durable, constructed 

from 1000 Denier Duratex reinforced 

PVC that would require considerable 

force of a sharp object to puncture it. 

It is a true tandem kayak that can 

transport two full-grown men while still 

having additional space to accommodate 

the long freediving fins and other 

gear such as weight belts, masks and 

spearguns. 

A keel inserted at the bottom of the 

hull and some coordinated paddling made 

the Chelan track perfectly and it was 

effortless to paddle. 

It is a very streamlined high-pressure 

kayak with drop-stitch floor inflating to a 

pressure of 6psi, making it perform like a 

rigid kayak. 

During exit and entry it was impossible 

to flip it over, so that summarises its 

stability. We had some pretty strong 

currents at our dive spot so we anchored 

in about 20 feet of water using a 5lb 

anchor. 

Turning the Chelan 155 into a 

spearfishing kayak is easy: long freediving 

fins are best kept at the deck of the bow 

and suspended by deck bungee cords. 

At the stern deck, spearguns are held in 

place by bungee cords with tips pointing 

behind and away from the kayak bladders. 

An inflatable or rigid hydrodynamic/ 

low drag spearfishing buoy with a fish 

stringer is tied by a paracord line to the 

stern carrying handle. 

IN SUMMARY 

Simply put, Chelan 155 is a well thought 

out and extremely well-made kayak that 

proved to be the ultimate inflatable kayak 

for spearfishing and a true game changer; 

those remote offshore reefs abundant in 

fish and marine life are no longer distant 

desires or far-fetched spearo dreams, they 

are easily and confidently realised by the 

Chelan 155 and two enthusiastic spearos 

who are no paddle experts but who can 

synchronise while sharing a few funny 

stories en route to their destination… 

AQUAGLIDE 

www.aquaglide.com

Sea Eagle 

BRIDGING THE GAP 

BETWEEN KAYAK 

AND MOTOR BOAT 

The inflatable PaddleSki 435ps, first introduced over 20 years ago, was a big success for Sea 

Eagle, which knew it could be even better. So, in 2021, the new, improved PaddleSki 437ps was 

introduced, featuring a drop-stitch floor, longer tubes and five separate air chambers. 

An inflatable, drop-stitch floor 

provides incredible stability 

because it can be inflated to 

much higher pressures than 

your typical inflatable round tubes. 

In this case, the 437ps floor can inflate 

to 10psi, meaning you can stand up and 

cast all day long. 

Or stand up to paddle, take photos, 

move around, or just to get on and off 

easily and safely. 

This floor also sits four inches above 

the water line greatly reducing drag and 

making the PaddleSki faster to motor, 

paddle and sail. 

The five air chambers, which include 

the floor and two chambers per side tube, 

are separate and independent of each 

other. In the rare chance the PaddleSki is 

punctured, the other four chambers will 

remain fully inflated so you can get back 

to shore safely. 

COMPACT AND EFFECTIVE 

Another great feature of thePaddleSki 

437ps is the removable transom. The 

transom can be removed so the kayak can 

be folded as compactly as possible to fit 


into small spaces (think car trunks, SUVs, 

small planes, closets and the like). This 

can also make transport easier. 

Being detachable does not mean this 

transom is flimsy, though. It can hold 

up to a 6hp gas motor with a maximum 

weight of 75lb. With just 5hp, you can hit 

15mph. 

If you prefer a slower pace, the 

PaddleSki can also use a trolling motor 

and, of course, you can always paddle. Sea 

Eagle also offers a downwind sail that can 

be used with the PaddleSki. 

The PaddleSki 437ps measures 14ft 

4in x 48in inflated, 36in x 21in x 12in 

deflated, and weighs just 67lb (93l. with 

seats). It holds up to two people or 855lb 

of people and gear and it inflates in just 

10 minutes. 

This great hybrid can be used solo 

or tandem, paddled, motored, sailed, 

used with or without a canopy, used for 

fishing, photographing, camping trips, as 

a tender... practically anything you can 

think of, its versatility is endless. 

Packages start at just $1,499 USD and 

include everything you need to get out on 

the water. 

For more information, contact 

Wholesale@SeaEagle.com 

SEA EAGLE 

www.seaeagle.com

FEATURE 

Energofish 

Words: Peter Szebenyi Photos: Zoltan Molnar 

SOMETHING 

HAPPENS IN 

THE DARK… 

Most anglers know the feeling that night fishing brings… 

that unique experience… when everything goes quiet, the 

lights go out, only the light of the moon and the stars give 

us some chance to see anything. This time is the best for 

predator fishing! 

At this time of day, zander and 

catfish become more active 

and try to find some delicious 

food before the next daylight 

when they will rest in a safe place. 

By far the most popular method for 

these species nowadays is spinning, but 

don’t forget the old, well-proven fishing 

methods – and one of the most exciting 

and most interesting is using a float. 

This type of fishing is successful for 

zander as well as pike and catfish but it is 

a little bit different than targeting these 

other species. 

In this case the only effective period 

of the day is sunset and during the night. 

This, of course, is not the best for float 

techniques and an original light stick can 

strain the eyes when you try to focus to a 

small light spot on the water surface for 

hours. 

Thanks to the iBite float range from 


Energofish, this type of fishing becomes 

comfortable, because the unique feature 

of this equipment is its lighting antenna, 

which makes it more visible than others 

such as light sticks. 

EASE OF USE 

With one simple movement, the angler 

can loosen the antenna on the body of the 

float, remove the battery, rotate it by 180 

degrees, push it back into the antenna 

and fasten the antenna in the body. Now 

you’re ready to fish! 

As zander anglers know well, small live 

baits are most effective in the top water 

layers. I usually like the smaller bream as 

bait. 

For the end tackle, the typical hooks 

for zander are the best choices – for 

example the Excalibur Zander Worm 

hooks or Maruto 2267-BN. These types 

of hook have a longer shank than other 

versions and an extremely sharp point and 

barb. This shape is made specifically for 

live baits or dead baits. 

From the line point of view, as I learnt 

from my friend who is a zander specialist, 

we have to choose an invisible type or 

use invisible leader, such as fluorocarbon, 

which is perfect for rigs too, thanks to its 

high abrasion resistance. Because of this, 

zander can’t bite it off and we can enjoy 

many more bites than if we used a wire 

leader. 

If we find the best place for zander 

fishing, we are all set up and the light 

float is in the water, then the only thing 

which we have to do is wait excitedly for 

when a “dragon” finds our fish and “steals 

the light from the surface…” 

ENERGOFISH 

www.energofish.com

NEW PACBAY 

CHARONOSAURUS 

ROLLER GUIDES 

The world’s best-known saltwater anglers trust in PACBAY’s fishing tackle components and accessories for their 

reliable and faultless performance. With a view to preserving its valued reputation, PACBAY has maintained a strict 

program of quality control in the making of each and every product with the PACBAY name carved on it. 

In the same spirit as always, PACBAY has now launched its brand-new Charonosaurus roller guides. 

- Aluminum openwork construction reduces weight but doesn’t reduce strength - Deeply embedded roller design restricts line from cramming between 

roller and frame - Inbuilt Teflon tube bearing to diminish friction and heat - Tube bearing treated with TEFLON for performance and constant lubrication 

- Perfectly shaped guide feet to fit blanks with tip size - The structure of the arch-bridge design reduces weight as well as reducing the restrain between 

blank and guide - Structure designed to accommodate knots and connection of wind-on leader – line never gets stuck 

- PACBAY roller tip-tops (model # ERT,EMRT,EJRT) are an excellent match for these guides - All products patented. 

Build Great Fishing Rods 

info@fishpacbay.com 

www.fishpacbay.com 

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CENTRAL AMERICA 

D O I N G B U S I N E S S W I T H . . . 

CENTRAL 

AMERICA 

Extending for 1,140 miles yet with no location more than 125 miles 

from the sea there is plenty of scope for fishing in Central America, 

and where there are fish there’s a tackle trade… 

C 

entral America is the slender 

isthmus that connects North 

America to South America, 

separating the Pacific Ocean to 

the west from the Caribbean 

Sea to the east. The isthmus 

is made up of Belize, Costa 

Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, 

Honduras, Nicaragua and 

Panama. It has an area of 

202,200 square miles and 

extends for 1,140 miles from 

the northwest to the southeast. 

The region is only about 30 

miles wide at its narrowest 

points, and there is no location 

on the isthmus that is more 

than 125 miles away from the 

sea. Central America has a less 

populous Caribbean side and a 

congested Pacific side. 

Humid swamps and 

lowlands extend along both 

the west and east coasts, but 

four-fifths of Central America 

is either hilly or mountainous. 

There are 40 volcanoes, some 

of which erupt violently from 

time to time, and earthquakes 

frequently occur in the region. 

In 2018, the El Fuego volcano 

erupted in Guatemala affecting 

approximately 1.7 million 

people. 

The weathered volcanic 

lavas produce a fertile soil, 

however, and the highlands 

of the volcanic zones have 

consequently become highly 

productive agricultural regions 

and areas of dense population. 

The climates of Central 

America are essentially 

tropical, rainfall occurs 

primarily during the summer 

and is heaviest between 

May and November. January 

through March are the 

driest months. In general, 

the Caribbean side receives 

about twice as much rain as 


DBW... 


FACT FILE 

Capital CITIES: 

Belize – Belmopan 

Costa Rica – San José 

El Salvador – San Salvador 

Guatemala – Guatemala City 

Honduras – Tegucigalpa 

Nicaragua – Managua 

Panama – Panama City 

PopulationS: 

Belize – 405,272 

Costa Rica – 5.094 million 

El Salvador – 6.486 million 

Guatemala – 16.86 million 

Honduras – 9.905 million 

Nicaragua – 6.625 million 

Panama – 4.315 million 

Official languages: 

Belize – English 

Costa Rica – Spanish 

El Salvador – Spanish 

Guatemala – Spanish 

Honduras – Spanish 

Nicaragua – Spanish 

Panama – Spanish 

CurrencIES: 

Belize – Belize dollar 

Costa Rica – Colón 

El Salvador – US dollar 

Guatemala – Quetzal 

Honduras – Lempira 

Nicaragua – Córdoba 

Panama – Balboa/US dollar 

PresidentS: 

Belize – Prime Minister John Briceño 

Costa Rica – Rodrigo Chaves Robles 

El Salvador – Nayib Bukele 

Guatemala – Alejandro Giammattei 

Honduras – Xiomara Castro 

Nicaragua – Daniel Ortega 

Panama – Laurentino Cortizo 

ECONOMY FOCUS 

GDP (USD) 

Belize – 1.764 billion 

Costa Rica – 61.52 billion 

El Salvador – 24.64 

billion 

Guatemala – 77.6 billion 

Honduras – 23.83 billion 

Nicaragua – 12.62 billion 

Panama – 52.94 billion 

GDP Growth rate 

Belize – 9.8% 

Costa Rica – 7.6% 

El Salvador – 10.8% 

Guatemala – 7.5% 

Honduras – 12.5% 

Nicaragua – 10.3% 

Panama – 15.3% 

GDP per capita (USD) 

Belize – 4.435.62 

Costa Rica – 12,076.81 

El Salvador – 3,798.64 

Guatemala – 4,603.34 

Honduras – 2,405.73 

Nicaragua – 1,905.26 

Panama – 12,269.05 

Top export partners: 

- USA - EU - Central America 

Top import partners: 

- USA - Central America - China 

the Pacific region. There are 

hurricanes too, which can be 

potentially devastating – in 

the wake of Hurricane Nate 

in 2005, Costa Rica alone 

reported $562 million in 

damages, severely crippling its 

agricultural and transportation 

industries. 

The region’s rate of 

population increase is one 

of the highest in the world 

and Spanish is the dominant 

language of Central America, 

and the official language in six 

of the countries, with English 

the official language of Belize. 

Many Indian languages are also 

spoken throughout the region. 

Central America is a diverse 

geographical region housing 

almost 50 million people. With 

a wealth of natural resources, 

Central America has the 

potential for sustainable and 

rigorous economic growth as 

it seeks to mitigate political 

unrest and economic inequality. 

The backbone of Central 

America’s economy relies 

on agricultural exports, such 

as coffee, bananas, palm oil 

and pineapples. For example, 

agriculture comprises 24 per 

cent of Costa Rica’s total GDP 

and 17 per cent of Panama’s. 

In 2001, agriculture employed 

approximately 34 per cent of 

Hondurans. 

However, in 2020, the most 

exported product category was 

medical equipment, including 

instruments and devices for 

medicine, surgery, dentistry 

and veterinary. The Central 

American region exported a 

total of $US3.1 billion worth 

of these products. Bananas 

came in second with a total 

export value of $US2.7 billion 

dollars. As a whole, Central 

America’s main export 

destination is the United 

States. 

Belize and El Salvador 

contribute to Central America’s 

robust tourism industry. In 

Belize, tourism is the most 

important economic sector in 

the country next to agriculture. 


41

DBW... 


In 2017, El Salvador reported 

a 23.2 per cent annual growth 

rate from domestic tourism. 

El Salvador generated around 

$US75.5 million from its 

tourism industry in 2019. 

Angling tourism plays a part 

in the economy of Central 

America thanks to the 

incredible fishing on offer. 

Some of the most imported 

products include petroleum, 

medicines and mobile phones. 

In 2020, the main imported 

product category by six 

Central American countries 

was petroleum and other 

bituminous mineral oils, 

accounting for around $US5.3 

billion worth of imports. As 

a whole, the region mainly 

imports from countries such as 

the United States and China. 

The total value of Central 

American exports in 2019 

was US$31.87 billion and 

the region’s top three export 

partners were the USA, 

European Union, and Central 

America itself. The total value 

of Central American imports 

in 2019 was US$72.74 billion, 

and the region’s top three 

import partners were the USA, 

Central America, and China. 

Central America has 

positioned itself well for 

future economic prosperity 

and in some cases the future 

is technical – Costa Rica 

successfully created a robust 

medical-device manufacturing 

industry dating back to 1987. 

It now generates $4 billion 

in exports for the country. In 

2017, medical device exports 

surpassed agricultural products 

for the first time in the nation’s 

history. Costa Rica boasts 

quality human resources and 

manufacturing and houses 96 

operating firms in the medical 

device manufacturing sector. 


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DBW... 


FISHING 

The offshore fishing in Central America 

is considered some of the best in the 

world thanks to its calm waters, warm 

tropical weather, and unbelievable billfish 

numbers. Marlin and sailfish can be 

caught all year and the warm tropical 

waters also offer phenomenal fishing for 

yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo. 

When you combine that with the 

beautiful beaches, luxury hotels and 

marinas, and friendly local culture you 

have an incredible fishing location. Very 

few other destinations can offer the 

combination of trophy pelagic species, the 

sheer quantity of fish and the consistent 

year-round fishing that Central America 

can. 

The best sport fishing in Central 

America is along the Pacific Coast thanks 

to the meeting of the California Current 

from the north and the Humboldt 

Current from the south. These bring 

in cooler water and create a nutrientrich 

environment that starts the food 

chain and sustains an incredible amount 

of marine life from baitfish to pelagic 

gamefish. 

Costa Rica has been called “the 

billfish capital of the world” due to the 

combination of incredible billfish numbers 

and a 12-month fishery. As well as billfish 

there are yellow-fin tuna, trophy-sized 

dorado and wahoo to be caught. 

Offshore anglers flock to Western 

Panama to fish famous hot spots like the 

Hannibal Bank, Isla Montuosa, and Coiba 

Island. When the conditions are right it 

can offer some of the most productive 

marlin fishing in the world. Panama does 

not typically offer the copious amounts of 

sailfish like Costa Rica and Guatemala do, 

but most marlin caught in Panama are in 

the 400 to 600lb range. 

Panama also attracts offshore anglers 

looking to target yellow-fin tuna and 

a huge part of that appeal is that the 

majority of tuna fishing here is on 

topwater lures and light tackle spinning 

outfits. Offshore fishing in Panama also 

offers fantastic opportunities for dorado 

and wahoo as well as plenty of blue, black, 

and striped marlin. 

In Central America the freshwater 

fishing is often overlooked, but it’s a 

great change of pace from the saltwater, it 

allows you to see more of the country, and 

you can add new species to your catch list. 

In addition to hard fighting rainbow 

and peacock bass, the freshwater fishing 

can also throw up up some surprisingly 


big fish like snook, tarpon, and the 

exotic tropical gar. Of all the countries in 

Central America, the freshwater fishing 

in Costa Rica is the most robust and 

productive, with its pristine jungle rivers, 

lakes and lagoons where the main target is 

the famous rainbow bass. 

For anglers who prefer light tackle 

fishing for a variety of species, few places 

can compete with Central America’s 

nearly 100 different species of game fish 

in the warm coastal waters. The region 

features a Pacific Coast that measures 

roughly 1,200 miles long and a Caribbean 

Coast over 1,300 miles long. With over 

2,500 miles of warm tropical coastline to 

fish – including the world’s second longest 

barrier reef – the ability to fish two 

oceans makes Central America a dream 

destination for light tackle enthusiasts. 

Inshore fishing in Central America 

generally focuses on Costa Rica, Panama, 

and Belize. 

The inshore fishing along Costa Rica’s 

Pacific Coast is every bit as exciting as 

the billfishing, with several species of 

jacks, snappers, groupers, sierra mackerel, 

corvina, sharks, and huge Pacific snook. 

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast offers some 

of the world’s best and most consistent 

fishing for tarpon and snook. 

The inshore fishing in Panama is 

also just as popular as the big game 

offshore fishing. The Caribbean coast is 

picturesque with archipelagos, sandy cayes 

or keys, and mangroves. The target species 

here include snappers, jacks, kingfish, 

mackerel, tarpon and snook. 

Central America’s smallest country of 

Belize is also the most popular among 

saltwater fly anglers. The inshore fishing 

here is different because its only coastline 

is located in the warm, tropical Caribbean 

and protected by the Mesoamerican 

Reef, which offers two distinct light 

tackle opportunities – reef fishing and 

flats fishing. Home to miles of pristine 

saltwater flats, Belize is one of the best 

countries in the world to target the holy 

trinity of flats fishing – bonefish, permit, 

and tarpon. The calm, shallow waters 

inside of the reef offer miles of pristine 

saltwater flats, which are home to the 

Inshore Grand Slam, catching one of 

each of the three species in a single day. 

Bonefish and permit are found year round 

on these flats, but the tarpon numbers 

increase during the summer months. 

There are also barracuda and trigger fish 

to target. 

When it comes to fly fishing in Central 

America, this is hugely varied and can 

range from wading miles of pristine 

salt water flats in Belize for bonefish 

and permit, fly fishing for sailfish in 

Guatemala, tarpon and marlin in Costa 

Rica, yellow-fin tuna in Panama, and even 

freshwater float trips down jungle rivers 

or on the Panama Canal and Lake Arenal 

for tilapia, machacha and rainbow bass. 

From big game offshore fishing to the 

saltwater flats to light tackle freshwater 

species, fly fishing in Central America 

truly has something to offer everyone.

DBW... 


T A R G E T S P E C I E S 

YELLOWFIN TUNA 

JACK CREVALLE 

SNOOK 

BLACK MARLIN 

SAILFISH 

STRIPED MARLIN 

TARPON 

BONEFISH 

WAHOO 

RED SNAPPER 

PEACOCK BASS 

PERMIT 

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Contact John or David directly 

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product and a short description to 

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Made with all-day comfort in 

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these slip-on style boots are 

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Heel and toe reinforced grab 

loops make for easy on and off 

slip-on style. These lightweight 

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Using ElaZtech space-age soft 

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It boasts a unique straight-tail 

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Designed with big bass in mind, 

the SB-150 is now available in 

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Its distinctive design moves 

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New colours include Full Metal, 

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NEW 

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This year we are introducing NEW Panther 

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What makes the NEW Panther Martin® InLine 

Swivel lure so different and so unique is 

that the State-of-the-Art InLine Swivel is 

attached directly to the wire shaft of the lure. This 

eliminates line twist, the need for anglers to tie 

on a swivel and reduces weed snags. 

The NEW Panther Martin® InLine Swivel lure 

maintains the same great spinning action and 

lure profile that Panther Martins® are known for! 

We are also introducing two great NEW 6-packs: 

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ph (631) 473-7308 • fax (631) 473-7398 

/PantherMartin • /PantherMartinFishing

MAKING 

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DIRTY BUG YARN 

Do you need to turn an idea for 

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over 70 years and is the premier 

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products, it also has a full-time 

product design team specialising 

in making custom parts and 

tooling. 

From custom wire forms and 

imprints on spinner blades, to 

engineering and building new 

dies for your specific design, The 

Worth Company ensures all parts 

meet your requirements. 

www.worthco.com 

A practical three-section design 

makes this rod spot on for 

travelling, whether the destination 

is a Norwegian sea fishing camp or 

some tropical island. 

The Comfort Cross Gimbal is a 

great alternative to conventional 

‘stomach puncturing’ metal or 

hard plastic gimbals and fits 

perfectly into a fighting harness. 

Even without a harness, landing a 

monster is no problem. 

The LTS Low Rider guides are 

some of the toughest saltwater 

boat guides around and the 

Torayca blank offers superior 

strength and value for money. 

www.westin-fishing.com 

Designed for any saltwater 

situation, the Fierce IV reels/ 

combos combine value and 

performance. The reels feature 

a full metal body and side plate 

with graphite techno-balanced 

rotors for a smooth retrieve every 

cast. The four sealed stainlesssteel 

bearings are protected 

from saltwater corrosion and the 

HT-100 carbon fibre drag system 

is strong enough to handle big fish 

but smooth enough to play them 

around the boat. 

Available in five sizes from 2500 

to 6000, with graphite composite 

blanks with slower actions, the LE 

combos are equipped with onepiece 

stainless-steel dura-guides 

and custom PENN WINN ergo grips 

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and powerful fish-taming setup. 

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Specially designed with a mix of 

natural and synthetic materials 

Dirty Bug Yarn was the result of 

researching different dubbings 

when it was realised that many 

traditional dubbings were often 

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look at a fly or nymph it is usually 

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The yarn does trap air so can 

be used on flies where you need 

a neutral buoyancy. It will take 

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Dirty Bug Yarn can be used 

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FEATURE 

DON’T LET LIFE 

BOX YOU IN! 

Life can box you in, what with work, household chores and so much more but the 

best way to break free is with a box. And not just any box, but a Plano. 

The Plano brand has been 

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out of their routines for more 

than 70 years. 

From tackle boxes to storage trunks to 

coolers, these are all as smartly designed 

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world love selling them. 

So anglers can keep all their gear neatly 

stowed and ready to throw in the truck 

whenever adventure calls. Because being 

prepared means you can say “Hell, yeah” 

to that last-minute camping trip. Hit the 

road while the bite is hot… and be ready 

to make your getaway every chance you 

get. 


GIVING YOU THE EDGE 

Plano understands that angling passion 

can be an adventure, an escape and an 

outlet… but one thing it should never be is 

complicated. 

The US-based brand with a global name 

continues to develop innovative storage 

solutions that allow users to easily store 

and manage their gear. With ever-evolving 

ways to organise, transport and access tackle 

and other items, Plano will keep anglers 

equipped and ready, no matter the situation. 

Over two years in the making 

and countless hours of research and 

development have led to a tackle storage 

system that solves every major problem 

anglers encounter. 

Every feature on Plano’s EDGE series 

is part of a well thought out system 

to improve your fishing. With several 

configurations and sizes, EDGE boxes will 

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HELP AT HAND 

In its mission to solve every angler’s storage 

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Every EDGE experience is unique, based 

on fishing style. Time and experience bring 

new tips and tricks to get the most out of 

the EDGE system.

Plano 

FEATURE 

Some use an EDGE differently than ever 

intended, some make a small adjustment to 

fit a special need. Knowledge is power and 

Plano wants to share that with anglers and 

ensure dealers communicate this to their 

customers. 

The EDGE is a concentration of 

innovation and little touches that make a 

big difference. 

From the traditional fixed and removable 

boxes to specific boxes for spinners, jigs or 

jigheads, EDGE boxes will allow you to 

optimise your fishing trips by easily finding 

the lures and accessories you are looking for 

while extending their durability, since they 

will be perfectly protected from corrosion. 

All EDGE boxes are made from a 

special plastic, in collaboration with Armor 

Protective packaging, while the Rustrictor 

technology in the boxes delivers 360° of 

protection by infusing the entire box with a 

leading rust preventative. 

The specialist in anti-rust solutions will 

“Time and experience 

bring new tips and 

tricks to get the most 

out of the EDGE 

system.” 

protect your lures and accessories from 

corrosion as the plastic diffuses a highquality 

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the EDGE box. 

To take things a step further, the Plano 

EDGE Flex Boxes come with unique 

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the aforementioned Rustrictor technology 

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The EDGE Flex Series adds ultimate 

versatility. Available in two sizes, every 

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EDGE line 

KEEP YOUR COOL WITH FROST 

With 70 years of experience and 

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Plano has been perfecting injection 

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PLANO 

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51

2023 FISH TALES CUP 

THE LURE MASTER CHALLENGE 

Start registration, welcome to sponsor us 

Dates: 18-22 August 2023 

Location: Yunbing, Pahang, Malaysia 

VENUE:Kuala Rompin,Pahang,Malaysia 

consultation:robert.li365@gmail.com

Pahang: Malaysian Sea Fishing and Tourist 

Attractions 

AL-SULTAN Abdullah diiringi Tunku Azizah berkenan memotong kek ketika berangkat 

tiba sempena Pesta Kuantan 188. 

Pahang, located on the east coast of the Malaysian peninsula, is rich in sea 

fishing resources and has many scenic spots. Yunbing in Pahang is a famous 

sailfish fishing ground. Standing on the coastline of Yunbing, looking to the east, 

it is the endless South China Sea. . 

From July to October every year, with the change of ocean currents, 

thousands of large groups of sailfish migrate from the Pacific Ocean to the coast 

of Yunbing. The sailfish stay in this sea area and provide a rare opportunity for 

anglers. A great opportunity to get up close and personal with sailfish. At this 

time of year, fishermen from all over the world flock here, just for the dream of 

sailfish in their hearts. 

In July, the sailfish that first arrive at Yunbing will be larger, because they are 

migratory pioneers, with a general weight of 40-50 kilograms and a length of 

Dato’ Zulkifli Mohamad more than 3 meters; September to October is the peak period of intensive sailfish 

migration, and their weight is average. It is 20-40 kg, and the body length is 

more than 2 meters. It is no exaggeration to say that in August-September, when the density of sailfish is the highest, thousands of 

sailfish swim the sea surface, sometimes with broad dorsal fins breaking the waves in front of the fisherman's boat, the scene is very 

spectacular. 

Yunbing, a quiet small fish port, becomes lively and full of vitality due to the arrival of fishermen when the sailfish season comes. 

Every morning, the captain drives dozens of professional fishing boats with an average of 200 horsepower, heading eastward against 

the rising sun. After 1 hour of sea journey, you can reach the sea area full of sailfish, and the fishing day will officially start. 

In addition to fishing, there are also tourist benefits to go here, such as the Kuantan 188 Tower opened in the capital of Pahang 

in recent years. Kuantan 188 Tower CEO Dato' Zulkifli Mohamad said: 188 Tower is a new landmark in Kuantan, the tallest tower 

on the east coast and the second tallest tower in Malaysia. Currently, the first floor of the city with a height of 92 meters is open, and 

visitors can enjoy 360-degree views. View Kuantan City; the second floor of 98 meters is a restaurant, and the third floor is an open 

landscape, which will provide more outdoor games suitable for adventurers. 

On Kuantan 188 Tower, you can see mountains, seas and rivers, and many major scenic spots have a panoramic view, including 

Delondon Tower, Tanjung Nongpo Bridge, Kuantan River, Sepat Beach, etc. 

If you like fishing and traveling, you must come!

Malaysia issues tourism NFT, combined with 

fishing empowerment. 

On October 21, 2022, with the support of the Malaysian Tourism Association, the NFT+ Tourism Innovation Forum and 

CanisNFT Conference will be held on Twitter. In the afternoon of the Twitter SPACE, Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad, CEO of Kuantan 

Tower 188, Malaysia, Kenneth Chen, general manager of Yuxun, Haruka Takeuchi, head of Yamakoshi Japan, and Raphael Liew, 

general manager of Otley Management Co., Ltd. 

There are two agendas for this meeting. One is to discuss WEB3.0, the hottest technology development in the world today. The 

most down-to-earth application is NFT. As Malaysia with abundant marine resources and developed tourism resources, in this wave 

of WEB3 How to make a difference in the wave, what is the combination of ocean + tourism + NFT. Another agenda is to release 

Malaysia's first travel NFT, canisNFT, and to cooperate with related travel and fishing companies. 

Kenneth Chen said: Our project is a WEB3 innovation with Malaysia's tourism and ocean, combining reality and virtuality, built 

by a team of senior tourism experts in Malaysia, and connecting holders with ocean and tourism business opportunities through 

NFT, to build a Malaysia-based The global NFT project of tourism and ocean. NFT holders will be tourists as well as investors in 

our project and fans online. Both participants and initiators. You can invest and make money. 

As WEB3 and NFT, they are both virtual worlds, and they need to cooperate with the real economy and empower each other, 

so that they can make great achievements. Malaysia is rich in marine resources, and the tourism industry has a lot of potential to 

develop. After a period of communication in the early stage, combined with like-minded friends from Malaysia, Japan, the United 

Kingdom, and China, we plan to launch the NFT project CANIS.CC. The official website of the project is canis .cc, NFT is expected 

to be released on OPENSEA by the end of September, with a total of 10,000 issued. 

The prototype of this project is a real puppy, so it is called CANIS, which means dog in Latin; CC means that this NFT project 

will implement the CC0 copyright standard. 

CC0 is Creative Commons (CC) 0, where "0" stands for "copyright free" of the project's intellectual property. This is a type of 

copyright that allows creators to relinquish copyright to their work and put the work into the public domain with a copyright digital 

license. Owners can use NFTs for any purpose - marketing, secondary authoring, branding, and more. 

Dogs are loyal friends of human beings, using cute puppies as logos is to promote loyalty; using cc0 copyright standards is to 

share our open and inclusive values with all walks of life. 

Kenneth Chen said, I think the future direction of NFT is the combination with the industry. For Malaysia, it is the combination 

with the ocean and tourism. 

The guests also made wonderful speeches and wished the innovation road of tourism and fishing and NFT in Malaysia to be 

successful.

CRAA Fishing Tackle Merchants Branch holds 

fishing competitions 

The first Beijing Leisure Fishing Club Friendship Competition ended in Beijing on September 28. The 

competition was co sponsored by CRAA Fishing Tackle Merchants Branch, Beijing Fishing Path Unlimited 

Sports Development Center, Feichong Fishing Club, Langran Training Pool, Xincaoyuanjia Fishing Club, 

Wildlife Fishing Club, and Beijing HERA Fishing Technology Research Association 

Group champion Cool Fish Fishing CLUB, group runner up Beijing HERA Fishing Technology Research 

Association, and third place Feichong Fishing Club.

FEATURE 

Marketing 

RETAINING YOUR 

CUSTOMERS 

Keeping your customers makes perfect sense. After all, it’s far easier to retain existing buyers 

than spend time and resource on finding new ones. So how does customer retention work? 

Media expert John Hunter has some answers. 

There are two key reasons 

why customer retention is so 

important to your business. 

Firstly, it is far easier to reengage 

with people who already know about 

your business and your products than find 

new ones who you have to start explaining it 

to all over again. 

Secondly, you really want any engaged 

with you to have a great experience and 

make repeat orders. The last thing you want 

is to lose them. 

A high customer retention rate also means 

your buyers trust you and your products, 

meaning they will buy from you again. Not 

only that but research shows on average a 

customer spends two thirds more in the 

second or third year of their relationship 

with you than in the first six months! 

Loyal customers are also more willing to 

branch out and try other products you might 

be offering. Put simply, higher customer 

satisfaction increases your profits across the 

board. 

Even better, longstanding customers 

will also more likely become your brand 

ambassadors, telling their friends about you 

and even posting about their purchases from 

you or their experience on social media – 

now that’s not only fantastic marketing but, 

more importantly, it’s free! 

So how do you retain and inspire your 

existing customers? 


HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS: 

• Set up customer accounts. This will 

help speed up order times with 

pre-filled fields online and help with 

repeat purchases as customers can 

track what they have ordered in the 

past from you. 

• Boost customer support. 

Communicate regularly with 

customers. A live chat tool on your 

website or a dedicated email address 

for questions really can help. 

• Start a loyalty program. These are 

a really effective way to increase 

purchase frequency because they 

motivate customers to buy more 

often in order to earn valuable 

rewards, such as money off or special 

merchandise. 

• Keep in touch. Send regular e-shots 

after their first purchase. It might be 

a simple ‘thank you’ or it might be an 

extra incentive or offer for their next 

order. How about sending them a 

• John Hunter is the director of 

HunterMedia, a global PR, marketing and 

events consultancy with more than 25 years 

of tackle industry experience. 

discount code to entice them back? 

• Customer feedback. Encourage 

your buyers to tell you about their 

experience. It will improve what 

you do and will leave customers 

feeling more valued, increasing their 

relationship with you. 

• Referral program. Get your existing 

customers to refer new ones to check 

out your company. Again, a discount 

code or other incentive works well. 

• Get personal. Create personalised 

experiences like product 

recommendations, tips or advice. Do 

they know how to get the most from 

the new gear they have just bought? 

Be their friend and guide. 

• Delivery and returns. If you have 

an online store, ensure fast and 

well-priced delivery. Just as 

importantly, make sure it is easy to 

return anything. It ensures a terrific 

customer experience and keeps them 

coming back. 

Hunter Media 

john@hunter-media.co.uk 

wwwhuntermedia.co.uk

Advertise Here 

NORTH AMERICA BART MANGANIELLO T: +1 914 722 7601 E: bartalm@optonline.net 

REST of WORLD GUIDO KNEGT T: +39 347 503 6436 E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

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® 

COMING UP… 

FEBRUARY 2023 ISSUE 

Ad Copy: Dec 16th, 2022 

Mailed: Jan 5th, 2023 

Special issue: Bass Fishing 

Spotlight: Reels 

Doing Business With: China 

MARCH 2023 ISSUE 

Ad Copy: Jan 27th, 2023 

Mailed: Feb 15th, 2023 

Special issue: Fly Fishing 

Spotlight: Rods 

Doing Business With: California 

APRIL 2023 ISSUE 

Ad Copy: Feb 24th, 2023 

Mailed: March 15th, 2023 

Special issue: Saltwater Fishing 

Spotlight: Lures 

Doing Business With: Denmark 

To submit news or editorial for 

any of these issues, contact: 

To advertise or discuss a marketing campaign in any of these editions, 

contact our business development team: 

EDITOR 

JOHN HUNTER 

T: + 44 (0)7990 542958 

E: john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

NORTH AMERICA 

BART MANGANIELLO 

T: +1 914 722 7601 

E: bartalm@optonline.net 

REST of WORLD 

GUIDO KNEGT 

T: +39 347 503 6436 

E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk

FEATURE 

Last Cast 

real industry growth. 

We know from the work being done 

that brand budgets can be easily spent 

grabbing media headlines by encouraging 

people to try angling. Getting people to 

develop their angling journey, join clubs 

and continue to fish throughout their 

lives is much harder but it is this work 

that yields tackle sales. 

In the wider picture we have the 

European Fishing Tackle Trade 

Association (EFTTA) and the European 

debate – and the ATA must be active 

here at all costs in support of the wider 

lobbying effort for angling’s survival, 

actively tackling issues such as lead, 

plastics and predation. Leading the 

process for change – not reacting to it – 

is key to our future and our success. 

The ATA has now successfully 

Last CasT... 

This month we hear from UK Angling Trades 

Association chairman Andrew Race, who explains 

how he has mobilised the industry and made the 

organisation a force to be reckoned with. 

When I took on 

chairmanship of the 

UK Angling Trade 

Association in April 

2020, I had a list of goals that I wanted 

to achieve and, despite Covid and 

economic uncertainties, a much stronger 

ATA will celebrate its 50th anniversary 

in 2023. 

The markets of today are far removed 

from those of 1973. Very little of the 

last 47 years remains relevant and I have 

been careful to build ATA with future 

investment as the main focus. 

The UK’s angling industry needs 

continued trade investment to guarantee 

its future and the levels of fishing 

participation that we need. Recruitment 

needs to be bigger and access to fishing 

needs to be easier for new anglers 

and their families as well as for those 

returning to the sport. 

In all aspects of the industry, the 

ATA is now focused on gathering data 

to highlight where our investment is 

needed. We are accountable to our 

members and their investment in us has 

to show results both long and short term. 

Finances are limited and our research 

shows where investment is needed for 

“The markets of today 

are far removed from 

those of 1973. Very little 

of the last 47 years 

remains relevant and 

I have been careful to 

build ATA with future 

investment as the main 

focus.” 

established its primary recruitment 

interventions. National Fishing Month 

and Take a Friend Fishing are now 

relaunched with new platforms and 

working with the major UK stakeholders. 

Whilst this year’s UK licence figures 

have shown the negative effects of the 

economic climate, junior licences are on 

the increase as a direct result of the work 

being done by ATA. 

In 2023, ATA will launch two more 

major initiatives to strengthen the UK 

trade and bring much needed investment 

to the industry. The goal for the ATA 

is to have the breadth of structure to 

represent any businesses big or small 

involved in the industry, whether they are 

a multinational or a sole trader, as well as 

being a focal point for careers and career 

pathways into angling and the wider 

industry. 

Pulling together the skills of 

stakeholders within the industry is vital 

if we want to get angling into the top 10 

choices for potential pastimes. 


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Tackle Trade World - December 2022

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