West Coast-worthy saltwater tackle and gear uncovered at ICAST

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BY MIKE STEVENS

ORLANDO, Fla. – There was loads of new gear unveiled on the ICAST (Worldwide Conference of Allied Sportfishing Trades) Present that saltwater anglers on the West Coast ought to maintain a watch out for, a few of which took prime honors within the occasion’s New Product Showcase. ICAST is the middle of the sportfishing universe for 3 days at a world degree, so the quantity of latest stuff to take a look at is overhwhelming to say the least, however Western Out of doors Information was readily available to cherry-pick a number of the deal with that ought to be of specific curiosity to WON readers.

Penn Fathom Electrical reels

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Penn was certainly one of a pair producers on the ICAST flooring that unveiled an electrical reel on the 2024 ICAST Present, and never solely did they win the Saltwater Reel class within the New Product Showcase, however they took prime total honors with a Greatest In Present win. The Penn Fathom Electrical is available in three sizes (30, 50 and 80), and it stands as the one reel with an built-in battery, and it’s one it’s one that gives unimaginable torque and energy. That battery might be simply swapped out – even on the fly with a fish on – and it additionally sports activities an easy-to-use LED display screen with a crazy-accurate line counter, auto-stop performance and angler-friendly customizable settings. You heard it right here, there’s going to be a buzz surrounding these reels come SoCal present season in early 2025.

Costa 580G Gold Mirrored Lens in Grand Catalina

Costa not often will get by an ICAST Present with out Greatest Eyewear {hardware} for the trophy case, and so they added to that assortment with Grand Catalina frames (an iconic Costa body that has been remastered)  that includes a gold mirror lens. With a 580G glass lens in that coloration, Costa was trying to create “one lens for all waters” that carry out below shiny or overcast skies and a variety of water circumstances. Western Out of doors Information has been discipline testing Costa’s gold mirror lenses all summer season, and so they proved themselves worthy on all fronts.

AFTCO Coastal Layer Hood

            AFTCO has a knack for delivering high-performance attire for on-the-water purposes that and with the identical product, consolation and elegance off the water. They nailed it once more with the Coastal Layer Hood which gained greatest Life-style Attire (males) within the New Product Showcase. What jumps out proper off the bait is the softness of the light-weight, moisture-wicking, stain-resistant materials which units it aside from different hoodies. It’s gentle sufficient to be layered or by itself when it’s simply chilly sufficient to wish lengthy sleeves and plenty of a hood, each of which provide UPF 50 solar safety in a breathable bundle. AFTCO additionally gained for Chilly Climate Technical Attire (ladies) with the AFTCO Armorloft Zip Hood, so these are additionally price trying out.

Fujinon Techno-Stabi X binoculars

Fujifilm is a sleeping large within the binocular sport, and people within the know are making the most of very excessive efficiency at a value level properly under that of different manufacturers of “gyros”  with Fujinon binos. Based on the Fujifilm reps at ICAST, the 1440 (14 x 40) mannequin has been their candy spot and it’s the preferred mannequin with anglers. WON has been checking these out on the water right here within the coronary heart of the saltwater season, and the efficiency has been spectacular to say the least. Examine them out on-line or at Baker Marine in San Diego, and search for them on the 2024 PCS Present.

Penn Battle IV spinning combo

Penn additionally picked up a win within the Rod and Reel combo division with its new Battle IV rod and reel combo. The Battle IV reel has been upgraded and is now even tgougher with Penn’s Hydro Armor sealing system that protects vital elements. The reel has a full-metal physique, Penn’s confirmed HT-100 drag system and CNC Gear Expertise, and it’s paired with a graphite rod outfitted with Penn Dura Guides. This outfit bucks the pattern of saltwater rod-and-reel combos being low high quality, and it’ll present years of reliable service from half-day journeys on up.

Daiwa Seaborg G1800M-RJ       

            Daiwa additionally got here out of the electrical gates swinging with the Seaborg power-assist reel which can rapidly discover a dwelling with swordfish hunters however it additionally doubles as a masterful kite fishing reel, too, taming large surface-blasting fish like marlin, bluefin tuna, wahoo and sailfish. The centerpiece know-how within the new SEABORG is its new MAGMAX-G MOTOR which is 170% extra highly effective than Daiwa’S present Seaborg 1200, and the drag was elevated by 150%.  The reel additionally has a novel Bluetooth distant that works like controlling a trolling motor with a distant. Wth the brand new SEABORG, the angler can handle key features with the included distant which is useful in the event you’re working a number of traces and on the identical time attempting to maintain the boat in good place.

Daiwa additionally unveiled new Proteus Inshore and Outrage rods that can rapidly settle in on the West Coast, and Daiwa additionally introduced a partnership with Japan’s X-Braid which can carry some the world’s greatest fishing traces to the North American market.

Berkley Gulp Dragon Tail

Through the years, Berkley has put out baits for one sort of angler that one other group adopts and runs with. The Berkley PowerBait Jerk Shad involves thoughts, supposed for freshwater however it rapidly grew to become a West Coast staple for calico bass anglers. The Berkley Gulp! Dragon Tail is ready to be the following providing that takes off out right here in comparable style. Whereas WON was trying out the three.7-inch slug-type bait at ICAST, former WON BASS U.S. Open champ Josh Bertrand noticed it, stopped in his tracks, picked it up and talked about a number of methods he might put it in play on the freshwater bass tour. On the identical time, WON staffers have been drooling over the considered firing it off a half-day boat or personal vessel and piling up massive numbers of calicos. They’re just a little on the small facet, so that they’re prone to emerge as precisely that: a numbers killer on the inshore bass scene. The Berkley Gulp! Dragon Tail has an estimated availability date of October 1.

Rapala Sarda

The overbuilt Rapala Sarda is a high-speed trolling lure with a stainless-steel inner one-piece building that – spanning two years of testing – hammered bluefin tuna, wahoo and yellowfin from Europe to the Florida Keys and sure, Southern California. Together with the indestructible building, the Sarda options two solid VMC TechSet single hooks with welded rings, and it may be trolled as much as 14 knots. This one has SoCal offshore written throughout it.

Hobie floating sun shades

Shades that don’t hit backside when dropped within the drink usually are not new to Hobie, and because of their reputation, Hobie is taking increasingly of its most-popular frames and launching floating variations of them. Hobie (established in 1982) is well-known for producing overperforming polarized eyewear at a really accessible value level and the floating fashions stay in that candy spot. Prescription choices can be found together with a number of lens colours, and WON began on-the-water testing of the Hank Cherry Bluefin mannequin instantly following the ICAST present, and so they’ve notched excessive marks throughout the board.

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