The last gaff you’ll ever need

We know a thing or two about this next product. It comes in three sizes: three feet, four feet, and six feet long, all featuring a four-inch hook. It seems the guys at Stick it Gaffs were fed up with gaff failures, because this thing is a beast. It’s as solid as they come.

Each gaff is handmade and features a one-inch round, solid aluminum handle, stainless steel 3/8-inch gaff hook, and a nitrile rubber, heavy-duty, latex-free foam tubing grip. The gaff handle will not give, bend or break under the weight of your heaviest fish. If your fish weighs enough to break this gaff, you have no business gaffing it in the first place. The stainless steel gaff hook is inserted two inches into the handle with two stainless steel roll pins giving it a shear strength of over 800 pounds. The gaff hook will not separate from the handle over the lifetime of the gaff. The comfortable grip encases a large portion of the handle allowing ample gripping area and providing protection for the side of your boat. There really isn’t much more you can say about it, other than the quality is unmatched and you know, with a doubt, it will get the job done!

If you are in the market for a new gaff, and never want to be again, check out Stick it Gaffs.  Go to their website http://shop.stickitgaffs.com/ and see for yourself.

A toolbox necessity, the ICON Irix II headlamp will come in handy more often than you might think. Whether it is maneuvering around a dark garage, exploring the great outdoors, or partaking on a camping adventure, this high-efficiency LED beam will light the way, while giving you a priceless gift: allowing you to go hands-free.

 The Irix II features an adjustable, comfortable headband and ergonomic dial to allow easy control. Sealed with O-rings, this gadget can withstand any weather, which is convenient while fishing or camping near a lake.

 Having the Irix II around while fishing, hiking, spelunking, or camping will prove to be extremely useful, and with 100 hours of use, you won’t have to go searching for more batteries (one AA alkaline battery is already included). Easily switch between its high and low setting (5/50 lumens) to maneuver around the great outdoors with ease.

 You can buy the ICON Irix II headlamp for $29.99 at http://www.myiconlight.com/.

With a name like GAFF it’s no surprise that more than our fair share of gaffs come across the desk. Most are effective, but few are different enough to be considered interesting or worth sharing. Lately, however, we’ve received a few that deserve your attention, and Titan Tackle’s bamboo gaff is one we love.

Handmade in Texas, this gaff utilizes a special species of bamboo used in construction that is solid – as opposed to having large air chambers – yet surprisingly light, and will not split. It is naturally tapered and floats on its side even with the weight of the hook. The business end is extra-strong, 316 stainless steel, double cut to a razor-sharp point and epoxied and pinned with a stainless steel compression pin.

The butt cord is available in several colors and applied over friction tape, so it won’t slip, and everything gets two coats of marine varnish with UV inhibitors to protect your investment.

The Titan Custom Bamboo Gaff is a beautiful addition to any boat and it proved deadly effective on our last photo shoot, easily outperforming the gaff our captain had been using for years.

Sizes range from 5 to 8 feet and hooks range from 2 to 5 inches.

Pricing starts at $109.00. To get yours, visit www.titantackle.com

Capt. Rusty Jenkins introduced me to the PISTOS Rod Caddie about a year ago. What an extremely functional and versatile angling accessory.

The Rod Caddie is a multifunctional system, offering a much-needed solution for anglers on the go—boat, bank, beach, or pier.  The design concept centers on a large canister with a pedestal-style insert, which latches into place and is capable of stowing four rods in an upright position for transport or storage. When the insert is lifted out and removed, the caddie can be used as a stripping bucket for fly fisherman (which is notched to hold your rod horizontally across its top should you need a rest) or a live bait-well for conventional tackle anglers. Once you’ve reached your destination, the removable storage pedestal stands independently, thus allowing your rods to remain in an upright and readied position while keeping those valuable rod tips up and out of harm’s way.  

The Rod Caddie is constructed of an extremely durable UV-resistant material and comes in two sizes: the Big Daddy and the Little Mama. Optional bases are available for each, creating a wider footprint for even more stability.

For more information about the PISTOS Rod Caddie, please visit: www.fishfulthinkingcharters.com

By Capt. Chuck Simpson

Most of us who have fished at night can appreciate the value of a lit dock or seawall. Lighted docks attract fish, fish of all sizes. Put a light in the water and it creates what we call the "food-chain effect." Small fish are attracted to the light and big fish are drawn to feed on the small fish.

So, if you are looking for a way to enhance your waterfront property's appeal--especially to the fish--or simply to give yourself better visibility after the sun sets, look no further. Deep Glow Technologies has the solution; a new line of submersible underwater lights available in green, blue, clear and red.

Deep Glow Lights are protected by rugged waterproof housings capable of withstanding the harsh marine environment. They are low maintenance, bulbs are easy to change and they are very easy to install. Up to six lights can operate on a standard 20 AMP circuit, so you don't need a professional to install them! All it takes is 15 minutes and you won't even have to get wet. Simply drop them into the water. They are all designed to fall to the bottom facing up.

Once you have the lights installed, just sit back and watch your own fishing show.

For more information about Deep Glow Technologies, the world's premier manufacturer of underwater dock lighting, visit: www.DeepGlow.com or call 888-871-3334.

Editor's Note: We recently sent Capt. Pete Rapps the Lasso Net to test how it worked in a real world environment. Here are his thoughts:

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The net arrived in a small tube mailer.  Pretty interesting already.... What net fits into a tube mailer I asked myself.

I opened it up and was intrigued by the construction of the net.  Quite ingenious!  I opened and closed the net 4 or 5 times and it appeared sturdy, and was easy to snap in and out with just one hand.

I have had opportunity to use it on my charters for a couple of weeks now.  The net stores in a rod holder, but you never have to worry about your hooks getting stuck in it while casting because the net folds completely into the tube handle.

Now that I have used the Bass Lasso to net many fish, I must say it is a very sturdy net that has earned it's place on my charter boat.  I enjoy using it and my clients are always amazed when I show it to them.  We catch some pretty big Snook and Reds down here in the Everglades National Park and I hope to see a larger size available in the future.

The photo includes myself and charter passenger Nicole Connolly giving the net a good test.

Find out more about the Lasso Net at www.thelassonet.com.


Captain Pete Rapps
Chokoloskee Island, FL