New to West Marine’s exclusive line of Blacktip fishing gear, the Blacktip Baitcaster CVL-400 combo includes a Shimano
Corvalus CVL-400 reel with 5.2-to-1 gear ratio and a matched medium-action casting rod designed to win battles with tough saltwater fish. The reel readily handles both monofilament and braided line and benefits from the smoothness of three bearings plus one roller bearing. It features cast-aluminum frame and side plates to withstand exposure to the salt, 11 pounds of drag for serious stopping power, as well as Shimano’s anti-backlash Variable Brake System and Super Stopper and Assist Stopper to eliminate back play. $199.99Manufacturer
For the first time, the ice retention and large capacity of Pelican’s Elite Cooler line goes fully mobile in the Pelican ProGear 80QT Elite Cooler featuring 8-inch heavy-duty wheels and an extended pull handle. Pelican engineers each cooler to military standards, with polymer walls and a 2-inch polyurethane foam core for long-lasting insulation. Advanced features include secure press-and-pull latches, a freezer-grade O-ring seal and dual molded-in handles for easy transport and tie-off, along with the added convenience of a built-in bottle opener, lid-integrated fish ruler and anti-skid feet, all under a lifetime guarantee. $549.95Manufacturer
A classic favorite gets an update this season with Sperry’s Kingfisher 2 performance shoe. The lighter, sleeker styling reduces shock and vibration by 50 percent, a 25 percent improvement over previous models. Expect maximum traction and stability thanks to the Adaptive Wave-Siping feature and Hydro Grip rubber for a super sticky outsole that disperses water across wet and slippery surfaces. The Kingfisher 2 also increases cushioning and comfort from heel to toe with enhanced ASV Technology, which helps offset the effects of pounding waves and engine vibrations to protect back, knees and hips for daylong comfort. $140Manufacturer
SHADES RESTRAINTS: Protect your shades with Chums retainers, an effective and comfortable means to keep your eyewear out of the water. There’s a current style for every preference, including rope, cotton, neoprene and soft silicone. The Fish Tip Retainer made of durable perlon 3 mm rope features a molded fish-shaped tip that swallows frames for a secure and low-profile fit. Filled with closed-cell foam, the Floating Neo Retainer keeps sunglasses buoyant, incorporating an adjustable retainer and lock-stitch ends to accommodate most frames. The Original Cotton Retainer, introduced in 1983, is now available in a Small End model for thinner sport shades and wire frames. $6.99-$8.99; chums.comSWS Staff
SHADES RESTRAINTS: Protect your shades with Chums retainers, an effective and comfortable means to keep your eyewear out of the water. There’s a current style for every preference, including rope, cotton, neoprene and soft silicone. The Fish Tip Retainer made of durable perlon 3 mm rope features a molded fish-shaped tip that swallows frames for a secure and low-profile fit. Filled with closed-cell foam, the Floating Neo Retainer keeps sunglasses buoyant, incorporating an adjustable retainer and lock-stitch ends to accommodate most frames. The Original Cotton Retainer, introduced in 1983, is now available in a Small End model for thinner sport shades and wire frames. $6.99-$8.99; chums.comSWS Staff
SHADES RESTRAINTS: Protect your shades with Chums retainers, an effective and comfortable means to keep your eyewear out of the water. There’s a current style for every preference, including rope, cotton, neoprene and soft silicone. The Fish Tip Retainer made of durable perlon 3 mm rope features a molded fish-shaped tip that swallows frames for a secure and low-profile fit. Filled with closed-cell foam, the Floating Neo Retainer keeps sunglasses buoyant, incorporating an adjustable retainer and lock-stitch ends to accommodate most frames. The Original Cotton Retainer, introduced in 1983, is now available in a Small End model for thinner sport shades and wire frames. $6.99-$8.99; chums.comSWS Staff
POP ON THE TOP: Trigger more strikes both inshore and off with the Williamson Popper Pro, designed to replicate the sounds of an injured baitfish on the surface. Precisely weighted for maximum casting distance, the cupped face and pencil-style body carry heavy-duty in-line VMC hooks for optimum swimming action suited for popping on top, slash-and-stall or walk-the-dog retrieves. Built tough to defy aggressive pelagic game fish, the Popper Pro is available in seven color patterns and two sizes: a 5-inch version, weighing 1¼ ounces with through-wire construction, and a 7-inch version, weighing 33⁄8 ounces with stainless-steel pin-and-swivel rigging. $15.99-$19.49; williamsonlures.comSWS Staff
DRY DUFFELS: Keep your gear dry with tough new bags from Mustad. Each of the three different styles is constructed from durable white waterproof PVC tarpaulin with reinforced blue nylon handles. Excellent for stowing utility boxes and tackle, the 24-inch Boat Bag features a fold-over top with dual zippers, semi-flexible hard box-style bottom and removable shoulder strap. The versatile and roomy 50-liter Dry Duffel Bag has a soft bottom, a heavy-duty waterproof zipper and a large mesh outer pocket. The large soft-sided 50-liter Dry Carryall Bag is the ideal all-weather duffel. It sports a roll top complete with hook and clip straps to secure belongings. $17.99-$29.99; mustad-americas.comSWS Staff
DRY DUFFELS: Keep your gear dry with tough new bags from Mustad. Each of the three different styles is constructed from durable white waterproof PVC tarpaulin with reinforced blue nylon handles. Excellent for stowing utility boxes and tackle, the 24-inch Boat Bag features a fold-over top with dual zippers, semi-flexible hard box-style bottom and removable shoulder strap. The versatile and roomy 50-liter Dry Duffel Bag has a soft bottom, a heavy-duty waterproof zipper and a large mesh outer pocket. The large soft-sided 50-liter Dry Carryall Bag is the ideal all-weather duffel. It sports a roll top complete with hook and clip straps to secure belongings. $17.99-$29.99; mustad-americas.comSWS Staff
DRY DUFFELS: Keep your gear dry with tough new bags from Mustad. Each of the three different styles is constructed from durable white waterproof PVC tarpaulin with reinforced blue nylon handles. Excellent for stowing utility boxes and tackle, the 24-inch Boat Bag features a fold-over top with dual zippers, semi-flexible hard box-style bottom and removable shoulder strap. The versatile and roomy 50-liter Dry Duffel Bag has a soft bottom, a heavy-duty waterproof zipper and a large mesh outer pocket. The large soft-sided 50-liter Dry Carryall Bag is the ideal all-weather duffel. It sports a roll top complete with hook and clip straps to secure belongings. $17.99-$29.99; mustad-americas.comSWS Staff
Camo on Demand
Columbia harnesses the power of the sun in its new Solar Camo long-sleeve shirt, available in January. Thanks to the sun-activated fabric technology, the shirt changes color when exposed to UV rays, turning darker or lighter to resemble clouds, which creates an advantageous camouflage for the angler, who then blends in with the sky while fishing. As late afternoon and evening approaches, the fabric continues to transform into a consistent dark gray that blends with the evening sky and is also more suitable for any post-fishing plans. $100 (knit); $140 (woven); columbia.com
Offshore Optics
Get the advantage of eagle vision with the new line of Navigator Pro Marine binoculars from Steiner. The optic technology reduces glare and keeps images sharply contoured from 20 yards to infinity with 7x -magnification and Sports-Auto Focus systems. The durable Makrolon housing, lightweight and tough enough to withstand on-the-water abuse, is water tight to 5 meters with Steiner’s patented N2 Injection system. New features include improved NBR rubber armoring, a comfortable neoprene neck strap and an internal light in compass models. $299.99-$599.99; ****steiner-optics.com
Almost Alive
Years of development pay off in the new line of soft-plastic baits from Almost Alive Lures based in North Carolina. Designed for a new level of super realism, the line covers an extensive list of inshore species for the coastal -fisherman, from shrimp in four sizes and nine colors, to eels, menhaden, killifish, glass minnow, sand lance, flounder, mullet, and bay anchovy. The offshore line also features a wide selection of soft-plastic trolling lures, including horse ballyhoo, dink ballyhoo, mullet, ribbonfish, bluefish, cigar minnow, Spanish mackerel, mahimahi and full-body squids. From $2.99; ****almostalivelures.com
RITE IN THE RAIN: They’ve been around for nearly a century, coming up on their 100th anniversary in 2016. Rite in the Rain began in the forests of the Great Northwest. Jerry Darling, recognized the logging industry’s need for a durable material that could be written on and survive in poor weather conditions. Jerry developed a special coating that created a unique moisture shield on the hand-dipped sheets of paper that he and his wife, Mary, processed at their home. The rest is history. Check out the All-Weather Pocket Journal and 1.1mm mechanical pencil — don’t worry about the crashing waves against the transom or storms up ahead. Your written words will be just fine with these in your pocket.
