Advertisement
The editors of BoatUS Magazine scoured a football-sized tent at the 2017 Miami International Boat Show to find the year’s most interesting new fishing gear.
Sublime Sea Lime
The Sea Lime is one of the most unusual and unique lures we've seen introduced in years — in fact, it may be the first lure ever designed to allow the water to pass through it, instead of over or around it. What does that get you? An enticing wiggling swimming motion. The plastic head, open at both ends, has wings and a keel weight that keep it swimming upright. Meanwhile, the Mylar body gets whipped back and forth by the water passing through the head. Net result? It swims like an actual fish. The head felt sturdy in our hands, and we'd expect it to hold up for a long time. The Mylar body is a different story, and toothy fish are likely to shred it. Good thing Sea Lime sells refills. The initial cost is $32 for a head and three bodies, and refill six-packs go for $25.
Fish Peddler
Fishing from a kayak can be great fun but one of the drawbacks is that you have to place your rod in a holder in order to use your paddle — you can fish or paddle, but not both at the same time. But it seems that now you can, with the Predator PDL kayak from Old Town. PDL stands for peddle, and offering a 3:1 gear ratio, Old Town claims that the kayak can hit 4 mph with relative ease. In addition to the drive system, Predator has everything that you need for a day on the water: bow hatch, scuppers, fishfinder hole, large comfy seat, and a flat area behind the angler for fishing tackle box. Expect to pay around $2,800, depending on specification.
On the Edge
Most fishing boats have a variety of knives on board, but here's one that's designed with safety in mind — your safety. The Cuda 1-1/2 inch safety knife is designed to cut things like mono in a hurry. Shaped like a small anchor, Cuda has no sharp edge on the external parts of the hook so you're unlikely to cut yourself accidentally. The knife is housed in a handy silicone sheath, which clips handily to a belt or life jacket so it's close to hand in an emergency.
Pretty Ugly
Want to go fishing with the kids but don't have a ton of money? The Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Combo from Shakespeare could be the answer. OK, this is not top-of-the-line tackle here, but for less than a hundred bucks you can buy two rod-and-reel combos and be out fishing in no time. You'll need to spool on some decent line, attach some bait, and you're set. The rod is made of fiberglass and graphite, and at 6-feet 6-inches long overall, this one-piece rod offers a great introduction in to the world of bait casting.
BoatUS Members save at Boat Shows
Make sure to mark your calendars for two exciting events! BoatUS Members save 25% with code BOAT24US.