Added on Thursday, November 15, 2012  Gary Hurley

Holiday Gift Guide

Abu Garcia 6500LE Ambassadeur Lighthouse Edition
Long a favorite of surf casters, Abu Garcia’s Ambassadeur 6500 series is the perfect combination of size, weight castability, and line capacity for anglers targeting fish from pompano to citation red drum. In recognition of the reels’ popularity along the NC Coast, Abu has released the new Lighthouse Edition, a Swedish-built, limited edition Ambassadeur 6500 with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse etched into the side plate. The reel is meant to be fished instead of being a collector’s item, and to that end Abu has paid close attention to detail. First off, it lacks a level-wind, a feature serious surf casters eschew as it robs distance from casts and is prone to jamming with sand. Carbon fiber drag washers in the 6500LE allow for a maximum drag of 15 lbs. and smooth out the drag function throughout its range. A line out clicker sounds the alarm when a big fish grabs the bait and takes off, so anglers planning on fishing the reel from a sand spike needn’t worry about it swimming away. A trio of ball bearings and machined aluminum sideplates round out the beach-ready 6500 LE’s list of features. The reel retails for $199.95. Check out your local Abu Garcia dealer for more information.

Kershaw Knives
There’s little more useful than a folding lock-blade knife to a sportsman, and Kershaw offers a range of blades to fit nearly any gift-giving budget. Kershaw prides itself on using advanced technology, innovative designs, and top-quality materials to create knives sportsmen are proud to own and carry. One of the many advanced features present in many of Kershaw’s blades is the SpeedSafe assisted-opening system, which utilizes a torsion bar to snap the blades open smoothly and securely with a push on a blade’s thumb stud or a frame-mounted flipper. The company proudly refers to its knives’ edges as Kershaw-sharp, and all of them come out of the box with a razor edge.  With straight and straight/serrated combo blades available in a wide variety of shapes, handle styles, and colors, Kershaw has a knife for just about anyone. Tex’s Tackle in Wilmington maintains a large selection of the company’s knives with prices starting at $31.99. Check them out at the store this holiday season or visit www.kershaw.kaiusaltd.com to view their extensive catalog.

Rapala BX Swimmer/BX Minnow
Ideal stocking stuffers, Rapala’s new BX Swimmer and BX Minnow are equally effective in fresh and saltwaters. The lures combine a balsa core with a rugged copolymer shell to create the action of a balsa plug with the toughness that saltwater anglers demand. The outer shell also allows more lifelike finishes than can be applied to a wooden plug. Designed to be cast or trolled, the BX Swimmer has a double-jointed, articulated body for maximum action. The lure is a slow sinking bait, so casters can count it down into the strike zone before beginning their retrieve, and a methodical swimming action lures in the predators once the bait starts moving. The BX Minnow is similar but lacks the jointed body and is a floating bait that will run down to depths of 3-5’ on the retrieve. Flat sides create an incredible flash as the bait rolls when twitched or retrieved, drawing gamefish in from a distance. Both lures feature lifelike finishes, #3 Black Nickel VMC hooks, 3D Holographic eyes, and are hand-tuned and tank-tested for true-running action. Check out the Rapala BX series at local tackle dealers or visit www.rapala.com for more information.

Eastern Metal Works Flounder Lights
Flounder giggers’ light setups are varied and often complex engineering marvels, but Thomas Meyers, of Wilmington’s Eastern Metal Works, has a much simpler solution. His Flounder Lights, available in styles suitable for both boat and wade giggers, put a bright light in a compact and convenient package. Instead of relying on generators or heavy car or equipment batteries for power, Eastern Metal Works Flounder Lights utilize easily available AA batteries to light up the night sea. Housed along with the LED lamps in a light and compact PVC housing, the lights eliminate the need for wade giggers to carry a heavy battery in a backpack or tug it behind them in an inner tube. A set of 8 AA’s gives 6-8 hours of use, plenty for a night of gigging, with lithium ion batteries producing even more run time. Users also report excellent results with rechargeable AA’s. The pair of LED’s in the Flounder Light’s head feature wide-angle refractive optics to cast their glow on as wide a swath of bottom as possible. Like all Eastern Metal Works products, the Flounder Lights are made right in Wilmington. The lights retail starting at $159 and are available at a host of local tackle shops. More information on the flounder lights and other items including gigs, gaffs, clam rakes, and more are available at www.easternmarinetools.com.

Pelican Coolers
Long a producer of rugged element-proof cases for fishermen and other outdoors enthusiasts, Pelican Products is stepping into the cooler market with its Elite Marine Coolers. A trio of sizes from 35-65 quarts makes up the new line, and Pelican has packed them with familiar features, meaning they’ll be as robust as the company’s cases, along with a lifetime warranty to back them up. A full 2” of polyurethane insulation gives the new coolers best in class ice retention (up to 7-10 days in independent tests), greatly reducing the need for buying more ice.  The coolers also boat a pair of handles, one molded in and one hinged, for carrying convenience and security. Their latches utilize a press and pull design that remains simple to use even with gloved hands. Non-skid, non-marking feet mean the coolers will stay in place on boat decks, and molded-in tie downs on the cooler sides accommodate anglers who wish to mount them more permanently. Corrosion-resistant stainless steel hardware, a sloping drain and tethered, threaded plug, and an integrated fish ruler on the lid are more features that show the company is taking anglers’ needs to heart with the new coolers. Anglers can find the new coolers at local Pelican dealers or learn more about the line at www.pelicanprogear.com.

Blacktip Gill Tee
Performance clothing for the marine enthusiast keeps evolving, and West Marine’s new Blacktip Sport Gill Tee is a new shirt tailored specifically for the offshore angler. As more information comes out about the damaging effects of UV radiation, anglers need to be protecting themselves from the sun’s harmful rays. Made of a polyester fabric with a UV protection rating of UPF 30+, the long-sleeve Sport Gill Tee offers complete upper-body sun protection. A long-sleeve shirt may not seem like the most comfortable item for summer wear, but the Gill Tee’s breathable, moisture-wicking fabric and underarm gussets mean the shirt keeps wearers even cooler than a cotton short-sleeve. Blacktip Gill Tees and other Blacktip apparel are available at all West Marine stores, and anglers can find them online at www.westmarine.com.

Yo-Zuri Powercarbon
Anglers pursuing game from speckled trout to bluefin tuna have taken to low-visibility fluorocarbon leaders in force, and Yo-Zuri’s Powercarbon represents the next generation of superior fluorocarbon leader material. Offered in 30 yard spools in strengths from 4-200 lb. test, the product boasts a host of improvements over previous fluorocarbon formulations that will help anglers from the tidal creeks to the Gulf Stream catch more fish. Most fluoro leaders retain their stealth until nicked and chafed, which causes the abraded area to light up with sunlight. Powercarbon’s formula eliminates the light transfer that creates this effect, meaning the leader material stays virtually invisible even after it’s roughed up. Its refractive index is also closer to water’s than most other fluorocarbons, making it even tougher to see to begin with. Powercarbon is a higher density than the competition, offering several benefits including a faster sink rate, higher overall strength, and greater sensitivity. The new material also features enhanced knot strength and suppleness, meaning it’s easier for anglers to tie those knots as well.  Yo-Zuri Powercarbon is available at local tackle shops, and anglers can learn more by visiting www.yo-zuri.com online.

Taco Neptune Leaning Post
One of the most functional additions to a fishing boat, a leaning post can save space, add storage, and provide greater security while running a vessel. Taco Metals Neptune Leaning Post is a modular system perfect for anglers looking to get rid of their cooler seat or captain’s chairs and featuring three different models for a wide range of budgets. The top-of-the-line edition is the Neptune Premium Leaning Post, boasting four rod holders, a whale tail grab rail, adjustable folding footrest, fiberglass under-seat storage compartment, and room underneath for a 72 qt. cooler.  The fiberglass under-seat box is replaced by a patented, compartmentalized soft pouch system on the Neptune II, a feature that lets anglers remove the package entirely and use it as a tackle tote. It also features four rod holders and an adjustable foot rail.  Taco’s patent-pending Accessory Ready spline technology allows the Neptune III to be whatever anglers want, and accessories from rod holders to grab rails to fillet tables can all be attached to the leaning post with nothing more than an Allen wrench. All the Neptune Leaning Posts share a 15×35” footprint (perfect for smaller vessels), superior aluminum construction and anodizing, and a 3-year warranty.  More information on Taco’s leaning posts and other products is available at www.tacometals.com.

Costa Del Mar Realtree AP Frames
Just in time for the holidays, Costa Del Mar has a new treat for fishermen, hunters, and other outdoorsmen—four of their most popular frame styles are now available in Realtree AP Camo. The new pattern is offered on the company’s Blackfin, Double Haul, Fantail, and Zane models. All four are part of Costa’s core sunglass collection, meaning they offer superior wrap shapes to block glare coming around the lenses and proprietary anti-fog venting in the frame fronts along with details like integral hinges and co-injected nylon construction that render them virtually indestructible. Costa’s patented 580 lens technology has set a new standard in visual acuity, and the 580 lenses are available in all the new Realtree frames. The 580 lenses block out yellow light, creating razor-sharp color enhancement. Anglers can choose between gray, amber, copper, blue mirror, green mirror, and silver mirror lens colors, as well as the new 580P sunrise lens, winner of the 2012 Best Eyewear award at ICAST.  The Realtree AP sunglasses start at $169. Check them out at local Costa Del Mar dealers or visit the company’s website at www.costadelmar.com to learn more.

Cliff Outdoors Bugger Beast Fly Box
Saltwater fly casters often face a dilemma as products intended for trout streams don’t meet the needs of anglers pursuing larger game or hold up in the marine environment. Not so for Cliff’s Bugger Beast, a huge, purpose-built fly box for anglers who like to cast big flies for big fish or organize their entire fly collection. Measuring 13.5x9x3”, the box is big enough for the largest blue water big game flies but equally accommodating to smaller patterns that anglers cast for speckled trout or redfish.  Making that versatility possible is Cliff’s time-tested slotted blue hook-gripping material. Instead of burying hooks in the dense foam, anglers simply back them into the slots, meaning the points never puncture foam and the material lasts forever.  The box also offers another important feature—it floats, meaning there’s no chance of losing a prized fly collection to the drink. The Bugger Beast is made in Wyoming by dedicated anglers and retails for $49 (with a slightly smaller version going for $39). It’s available locally at Great Outdoor Provision Company and anglers can learn more about the whole line of Cliff products at www.cliffoutdoors.com.

South Chatham Sand Spike 2012
Incorporating input from some of the East Coast’s top surf fishermen, South Chatham Tackle’s Sand Spike 2012 is the ultimate beach rod holder. Available in a standard 5’ and optional 6’ length, the Sand Spike 2012 has the height to lift anglers’ lines high above the crashing breakers and keep wading anglers’ reels above incoming waves and damaging salt spray. The spike is constructed of 1.5”x3/16” aluminum angle with the company’s Type III hard coat anodized finish, meaning it’s the last sand spike anglers need buy. A cup-and-corral system on the spike ensures a solid grip on the rod handle yet easy withdrawal under the pressure of a running fish. The upper corral is built of an indestructible plastic called UHMW that stays soft and flexible, so it’s easy on expensive surf sticks. The bottom cup is secured to the spike with a stainless eyebolt that can be set to one of eight positions, accommodating rods with butts of 14-32”+. The eyebolt also allows anglers to attach a towel, stringer, bait bucket, or other fishing accessory to their spike. Retailing for $59.95, anglers can find the South Chatham Sand Spike 2012 at local dealers or check out www.southchathamtackle.com for more information.

Saltwater Fishing School Tickets – Fisherman’s Post Newspaper
What better gift for an angler than something that will make them a better angler—tutelage from over a dozen of the area’s top captains on subjects ranging from flounder and trout to Gulf Stream and grouper fishing. With one-day sessions at Wilmington’s Coastline Convention Center (February 10), Morehead City’s Crystal Coast Convention Center (February 23), and Greenville’s Overton’s Sporting Goods (March 9), anglers can pick the school closest to their homes or most convenient to their winter schedules. Rated one of the top fishing schools in the nation by Sport Fishing Magazine, the schools also score stellar ratings on participant evaluations and boast big numbers of repeat students. Fisherman’s Post Saltwater Fishing School tickets are $90 in advance or $100 at the door, and they are available (1) in person at Tex’s Tackle, West Marine (Wilmington and Morehead locations), Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, and Overton’s Sporting Goods, (2) online at www.fishermanspost.com, (3) by calling (910) 452-6378, or (4) by visiting the Fisherman’s Post booth at the winter boat shows.