BY TOM SCHLICHTER
Somehow the holiday season is already upon us! It seems like only last week the stripers were still biting like crazy. Heck, black sh season is still in play. Well, all good things must come to an end and many anglers actually find it a bit refreshing to take a short break over the winter to recharge their piscatorial spirit. Of course, the key word here is âshort,â for within just a few weeks most die-hard fishermen will be chomping at the bit to get the 2017 fishing season underway.
With just this thought in mind, Coastal Angler has compiled a holiday wish list full of goodies that anglers can slip right into their arsenals and start using as soon as they kick off the new fishing season â some of these items can even be put to use immediately. From small ticket items that any angler will find useful, to mid-range gifts that are sure to bring a smile and a few that will make a great big splash, hereâs a line-up thatâs sure to please. Most of these gifts are available at your local tackle shop, although a few are more easily found on-line. Enjoy!
Fat Cow Trailers
The Uncle Josh Bait Company is no longer making their popular pork rind trailers for bucktails, jig & pigs, etc. Luckily, Fat Cow FishingTM has Fat Cow Trailer and a Bluefish
stepped up to fill the void with their new synthetic Jig StripsTM. Durable, flexible, scented and inexpensive, they turn the heads of lunkers, stand up to tough predators like stripers, bluefish and pike, and donât dry out. You can even leave them on the hook overnight and fish them the next day. They work from boat or surf, in freshwater and saltwater, and come in a variety of colors. Choose between 5-1/4-inch skinny tail or 5-inch split tail styles. In addition to Northeast predators, they are also perfect for southern species like red sh, snook and sea trout so you can test them out if heading to Florida this winter. Price: $10.99/jar; Contact: www.fatcowfishing.com.
Captain Segullâs Nautical Sportfishing Charts
Hereâs a good start toward catching more fish next year. These charts are a guide to the most productive fishing spots in any local area with GPS coordinates noted to the thousandths of a minute. Captain Segullâs has inshore, nearshore, offshore, species, small boat/kayak, and bathymetric charts and all are frequently updated. A Moriches Bay kayak chart was just released and includes the new inlet across from Belport. Available on Long Island at B & B Tackle, Dickâs Bait & Tackle, and J & J Sports Centre. Also available online. Contact: captainsegullcharts.com; Price: Starting at $11.95.
Kast King 24 Rod Rack
Got a bunch of fishing rods piled up in a corner of your basement or garage? The KastKingÂŽ 24 Rod Rack is the perfect solution for neat and complete fishing rod storage. It organizes up to 24 rods (or approximately 12 rod and reel combos) with minimal floor space. Made of lightweight non-corroding aluminum with cushioned holders that protect rod handles and blanks, it takes minutes to assemble with no tools required. An ICAST Best in Show ward winner, this is a gift any serious angler is sure to appreciate. Available
online only. Contact: amazon.com/kastking; Price: $69.98.
Boomerang Fishing Snip
Time was when a simple pocket knife was all you needed to cut some line. These days, with super-slick braids, fluorocarbon lines and tough mono filaments, many anglers carry along a scissors or a nail cutter. For ease of use, the Boomerang Tool Companyâs Original Fishing Snip is a great bargain. It will cut through just about anything with a little light pressure added to the side compression handles, it fits easily in a pocket and can be worn from a lanyard. Iâve used one all season and itâs passed my test for everyday use. ere are also fly-fishing, big game and LED models available. Contact: boomerangtool.com; Price: $12.99.
Panther Martin Deadly 6 Pack
In-line spinners have had quite a rebound in popularity over the past few years among local freshwater fans. Some of this is due to a robust trout stocking program and the fine-tuning of light-tackle that makes casting a breeze. Which spinner to use? Why not try a selection of the best. Panther Martinâs Deadly 6 Pack features a selection of bright, colorful options with plenty of flash and a sonic sound that calls to fish. Great for trout? You bet, but also a good choice or big bluegills, largemouth bass, perch and crappies. Contact: panthermartin.com; Price: $19.95
Hobie Soft Cooler/Fish Bag
When keeping fish to eat itâs important for kayak anglers to store their catch way from predators and out of the sun. Hobie has added two sizes of soft cooler/fish bags to do just that, all day long. Just add ice or a cold pack so fish, refreshments and food are kept cool. These Soft Cooler/Fish Bags are made of the highest quality materials on the market: half-inch closed cell foam that insulates, vinyl coated polyester for durability and YKK zippers or strength. Carry handles are included as well as D-rings on the sides for attaching to kayaks of any brand, make or model. Available at Hobie retailers nationwide. Contact: hobiecat.com; Price: $129
Sea Tow Gift Membership
Sea Tow members know the value of having a team of expert captains at the ready when something unexpected happens on the water. Now you can share that sense of boating security by giving the gi of a Sea Tow Gold Card Membership. is provides the full suite of on-water assistance privileges for every boat you own, rent, charter, lease or borrow, and is extended to anyone operating your boats. Itâs the perfect holiday gi for new boat owners and boating friends or someone who has just nished a boating safety course. You donât have to be a member to give the gift. Contact: seatow.com; Price:$179
Canât Beat A Good Book
Books, of course, always make great holiday gifts and there are a few real good ones to choose from at the moment. Just released and sure to be a big hit is Fishing For Summer Flounder by John Skinner. It covers in great detail every aspect of jigging for the popular flatfish from selecting tackle to presentation techniques for back bay, inlet and ocean waters with tips on catching from shore, kayak or boat, Skinner does a terrific job of breaking things down with clear and insightful instruction – and heâll be offering video support for many of his chapters at www.FlounderBook.com. You can order direct from this site or pick up the book at most Long Island tackle shops. You can also catch plenty of John Skinner shing videos on the John Skinner Fishing You Tube channel. Contact: www.FlounderBook.com. Price: $18.95
For a fun and introspective read, Looking Through Water by Bob Rich is a great choice. Rich, one of the worldâs most successful businessmen and the long-time Chairman of the Board of the renowned Cleveland Clinic, is a down-to-earth, highly skilled angler who knows how to tell a great story. Each of these traits come through loud and clear in this novel that explores the raw emotions that make up the intricate tapestry of family structure by pulling at the threads of truth, lies, and misunderstandings. Set against backdrops Rich has always loved: fishing, Adirondack lakes, Manhattan and the Florida Keys, the book is a quick read with a 5-star reader rating on Amazon.com. Itâs perfect for a little downtime and the proceeds bene t Project Healing Waters to help injured veterans and active duty military heal from physical and emotional wounds through fly fishing. Adults will certainly enjoy Richâs effort, but the book may have its greatest value as a gift to be shared with sullen teens. Contact: www.BobRichBooks.com; Price: $24.99
Aqua-Vu Micro Plus DVR-DT
The Aqua-VuÂŽ Micro AV Plus with Built-In DVR-DT Underwater Camera System combines live underwater imagery with the addition of a Digital Video Recorder allowing anglers to see, record, rewind, and replay their hot spots and big bites. The color camera with depth and temperature readings delivers the feed to a 3.5â, bright and clear color LCD. The system has a 3x digital zoom to get up close to your targets, and the DVR stores plenty of video on the included 8GB internal SD card. A USB port offers Video Out for playback on TVs, and the IR lighting system ensures better video capture. Contact: www.aquavu.com. Price: $499
BY TOM SCHLICHTER
