Big Guns for Big Ones: From its friction-fighting AFTCO Roller Stripper and Tip Top to its Integrated Solid Tip that combines the power of a tubular glass body with the durability of solid glass in the tip, the new Penn International VS3080RS56 is a powerful stand-up fishing weapon (top). Offered in Slick Butt for easy removal from rod holders or EVA Foam for increased fighting comfort, the International V RS/RF models have machined reel seats and metal gimbals for reliability. Price: $160. Guide Bluewater rods like this 6-foot, 6-inch GS765XL (bottom) were designed with actions and tapers to satisfy the most versatile anglers, for those who count live baiting, throwing iron or jigging for tuna in their repertoire of angling acumen. Fuji guides and reel seats are standard, plus AFTCO Roller Guides where appropriate. Penn’s tough-as-nails composite blanks are used throughout the Guide Bluewater series, reinforced with K1 graphite cloth. Price: $150. Contact: Penn, (215) 229-9415; www.pennreels.com.
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For Stand-up Guys**: For stand-up fishermen who want to fight striped marlin and sailfish from the coaming, or cast a tasty anchovy well beyond the slick where the big tuna roam, G. Loomis designed the 7-foot PSR84-30C SU for a 25- to 40-pound line. The Pelagic series rods cover a wide range of line weights, 15 to 60 pounds, and are offered in lengths from 6 to 9 feet. Price: $235. Contact: (800) 456-6647; www.gloomis.com.
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The Best and the Brightest**: Big game lures for your favorite quarry-marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin, striped bass, shark, and more-come in all kinds of shapes and sizes from a variety of manufacturers, including: Ballyhood (shown), Black Bart, Braid, Iland, Joe Yee, Marlin Magic, Moldcraft, and more. They also come in a dazzling range of colors so that you’ll be more successful as the light changes. And they are shaped to turn quickly or dive like frantically pursued bait fish, make long streams of bubbles (smoke), create sound and generally entice a hungry fish up to your hook. You can buy them unrigged (shown) or rigged with terminal tackle, individually or in combo packs for better value. Buy them at tackle stores, bait shops or on the Web. Some typical contacts: www.finestkind.com; www.meltontackle.com; www.blueoceantackle.com.
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Troll Faster**: Weighted bullet head lures are specifically made for those days when you want or need to troll faster. Bait fish are rigged inside the protection of the multicolored skirts that mimic the dark-on-top, light-on-bottom pattern of open water fish. Some are equipped with channels to produce smoke trails. Ballyhood, Billy Baits, Iland and Mylure are several well-known manufacturers. Buy them at tackle stores, bait shops or on the Web. Some typical contacts: www.finestkind.com; www.meltontackle.com; www.blueoceantackle.com
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Go-Light Gear:** If you don’t carry at least one fly rod for light saltwater species, you miss out on some of the best moments afloat. To make this as convenient as possible, Scientific Anglers prepackages six Ultra Outfits, like this 8-Weight 4-Piece model with a Concept 2-58 compression disc drag reel, 9-foot high-modulus graphite rod, line, tapered leader, backing and a 32-inch cushioned case with crushproof rod tube. Price: $200. Contact: (800) 430-5000; www.scientificanglers.com.
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Utility Box:** For portability and secure storage, keeping all your fishing tools together makes great sense. Stanley’s Deluxe Travel Fish Set fits all the must-have gear-cutting board, cut-resistant glove, two fillet knives (8-inch and 61/8-inch) and a 53/8-inch serrated knife/scaler, tungsten knife sharpener, 8-inch utility scissors and much more-in a rugged plastic carrying case with sliding locks and molded component storage. Price: $50. Contact: Finest Kind, (888) 777-9789; www.finestkind.com.
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3-in-1 Backpack:** With a detachable bottom bag that includes three Shimano utility boxes for all your terminal tackle, the Blackmoon Deluxe Fishing Backpack is the angler’s complete hands-free storage solution that gets you to and from your boat with ease. The 2,780-cubic-inch bag is made from tough 1200 Denier poly fabric. Its drop-open main compartment has three dividers and two pockets for reels and larger items, along with multiple outside pockets to hold extra gear. Mesh rod holders are found on both sides, and a bungee cord across the back will keep your hat secure. The pack has a molded EVA back, plus sternum and waist straps, for security and comfortable fit. Price: $130. Contact: (800) 833-5540; www.shimano.com.
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Get a Grip:** Equipped with a tungsten carbide cutter to handle braided line, the XTools Floating Pliers have soft-grip handles and come with a safety lanyard to help prevent loss overboard. Three models are available-61/2-inch bullnose or bentnose ($16.50), and 9-inch bullnose (18.50)-and are carefully engineered and warranted to last a lifetime. A plastic sheath with rotating belt clip is also available ($9). XTools also makes other floating fishing tools, including two fillet knives, a gaff and a dehooker, to name a few. Contact: (877) 498-6657; www.xtools.us.
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Portable IGFA Scales:** The BogaGrip is a saltwater-tough tool every catch-and-release fisherman should have in his tackle box for landing, handling and weighing fish. With durable scales (that can be certified by the IGFA) built right into the nonslip sheathed handle, you’ll know right away if that catch you just boated is a potential world record. Available in 15-, 30- and 60-pound models. Price: $115 to $240. Contact: www.eastabogatackle.com.
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Fancy Faux Ballyhoo Baits**: Finding fresh ballyhoo (garfish) when you’re angling for yellowfin, sailfish, marlin, kingfish and mahimahi is vital. But on those occasions when your bait supply has run low, reach into your tackle box for Calcutta Baits’ Bully Hoo, an artificial that looks, feels and swims like the real thing. Rigged just like live bait, they are available in three sizes for different species, and seven colors for varying light conditions. Available from many fishing specialty stores. Price: $9 (rigged) to $6 (unrigged).
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High-Speed Cranker:** Combining high-speed line retrieval (22 feet per second) that’s best for king mackerel and wahoo and the cranking power needed to fight big saltwater fish, the new Trinidad series of reels from Shimano is offered in three sizes, all with 6.2:1 gear ratios. The gearbox is integrated with one side plate, illustrating Shimano’s expertise at cold forging, and the aluminum frame is machined from a single piece of metal. The TN-16 ($380) holds 460 yards of 16-pound test, the TN-20 ($400) holds 430 yards of 20-pound test, and the TN-30, above right, ($420) holds 350 yards of 30-pound test. Contact: (800) 833-5540; www.shimano.com.
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Live-Bait Bomber**: Live-bait casting gets a tough new tool in Penn’s 113HN Baja Special, their latest addition to the acclaimed Senator line. With a one-piece open-top aluminum frame, heat-treated stainless steel main gears, and five aircraft grade sealed stainless steel ball bearings, this high-strength reel is designed for casting large baits, trolling or bottom fishing. A 4.25:1 gear ratio gives anglers faster retrieval speeds, and the oversized soft-grip handle helps take some of the pressure off your winding hand. Holds 375 yards off 30-pound test. Price: $250.
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Big Fish Fighter: From the machined, gold-anodized one-piece frame, spool and contoured side plates to its distinctive lever drag, few reels are as instantly recognizable as the International V series. Legendary for their strength and performance, International V Deluxe Two Speed reels like the 30VSW have a powerful double-disc, 150-degree drag quadrant to help slow down the big fish, and four aircraft grade sealed stainless steel bearings to keep line retrieval smooth. The 30VSW holds 900 yards of 30-pound test. Price: $520. Contact: (215) 229-9415; www.pennreels.com.
