Editor's Note: Deep Thoughts
April marks
Boating World’s annual saltwater fishing issue, and as always, it’s stacked with all the
fishing info you need to enhance your angling experience as you head into deeper waters. You’ll
find the latest in gear, gadgets and technologies — and this year, many manufacturers who’ve been
focusing on research and development have delivered impressive results.
Fishing coverage begins in our “Currents” section, where Associate Editor Sarah Pelot details
a recent record-breaking catch by novice angler Louis Friend. Friend caught an 80-pound striped
bass off the Florida coast, nearly doubling the previously held record. And he did it with a $25
rod-and-reel combo. “I used some beef jerky as bait, and just as I was starting to doze off, I was
nearly pulled out of the boat,” says Friend. “I couldn’t believe my good fortune.”
OK, so luck is nice, but a better option is to hop aboard one of the 20 new fishing boats
showcased in “The Deep End.” You’ll see a lot of familiar manufacturers here — from Boston Whaler
to Grady-White to Pursuit — but also some new names, most notably Sea Highness, a company whose 350
FishHunter model makes a big splash with an industry-best 200-gallon livewell that doubles as a
jacuzzi, as well as a specially designed reel setup that mimics an ice-fishing house and allows
anglers to kick back while they wait for the next catch. Impressive stuff.
With Olaf Pirlos' new device, those wily fish won't be playing you for a fool anytime
soon.
Of course, if your tackle box hasn’t been updated since 1988, you might want to start a
little smaller and check out Alan Jones’ “Wild West Shootout,” in which he puts a variety of rods,
reels and lures to the ultimate test. The winner? A combination graphite/iron sulfide rod, which
the crackerjack
BW test team finds sturdy even when battling the hardiest of fishes.
Leaping into his role of gonzo journalist, Jones makes a mind-bending run through the MAATS
and ICAST shows in “Gear And Clothing In Las Vegas,” and discovers a bumper-crop of innovative new
products, including a revolutionary fish-catching system that’s proven to be far more effective and
reliable than any to date. Using the iPhone as a jumping-off point, Russian designer Olaf Pirlos
created a fishfinder/GPS/ radar combo device that collects a variety of statistics (tide patterns,
sonar readings, weather reports), cross-references it with a database of fishing patterns in the
area, calculates in real time what locations will yield your best chance of catching a fish, and
even tells you which lure to use. Jones was initially skeptical of field reports that touted
stunning success, but getting an up-close look converted him to the ranks of believer. “It makes
other outfits obsolete,” says Jones. “I’d expect to see it banned from fishing tournaments before
long.”
So, whether your level of angling expertise could best be described as “wide-eyed beginner”
or “longtime fool for fishing,” there’s something in this issue for you. And don’t forget to stay
tuned for our watersports issue next month, which will feature an exclusive sneak peek at the
Xboard, a gnarly new wakeboard that boasts self-correcting technology and special aerodynamics to
eliminate face-plants and increase hang time by up to 10 seconds.