East Cape - Use it don't abuse it

East Cape - Use it don't abuse it
East Cape weather has been incredibly comfortable for February. It appears we are going to skip winter and only have 3 seasons this year. We have had some welcomed rain but little wind. Air and sea temperature is warmer than past years and I'm happy to say that my Ugg boots have not seen the light of day. It has been t-shirts, shorts and flip flops right through the season.

It is hard to give a fishing report because there is no traffic on the water. The few anglers that have ventured off shore have done well. Down south at the Iman bank there is a tuna bite. Closer to home yellowtail, dorado and striped marlin have provided action and inshore there are a few roosterfish.

Unlike on the water there has been a lot of traffic in Los Barriles. All of our local merchants are very busy and at Bancomer the line is almost out the door every afternoon. I spoke with the new bank manager who told me they have plans to enlarge the facility and also installing 2 more ATM machines.

Not having much of a report gives me the opportunity to share some of the things we do to maintain and extend the life of our fishing tackle. Tackle that is used and not abused will last for many years.

Okay, so what is abuse? Not thoroughly rinsing all gear that came in contact with salt water is death but just common sense.

Reels should be washed with drags set at high pressure. This stops water from intruding during the shower. The drags should to be backed off while the reel is dried and left with low or little pressure until the next fishing trip. We do this every day with our gear. Special care must be given to every guide and the seat on rods. Not properly cared for rod guides will start to corrode and it is like cancer.

This is an important rule that many anglers don't follow. While underway we remove all of our rods and reels from the rod holders on the gunnels and put them in a location where they will not be sprayed with sea water. This is a simple thing but many anglers overlook it. I have seen guys kind of in a daze looking out on the water while their gear is being pounded by water. I learned the hard way. A steady pounding of saltwater will intrude into even the highest quality reels and they will corrode inside.

At the beginning of each season while assembling gear we smear a liberal amount of Cals grease on the bottom of each reel foot before putting it on a rod. That is a location that always seems to collect salt and the grease will protect the components.

All fishing rods have a protective finish. A little chip in the finish lets the harsh salt environment attack the rod blank and in time will cause it to sun burn and also rot. A quick fix is a little bit of clear fingernail polish but that is no substitute for a proper rod finish material.

At the end of each season reels should be removed from the rods. The mono top shot should be removed so only the braid remains on the reel. This is for good reason and a good practice. The mono topshot holds in the moisture and in time the braid will rot. Braid is expensive and I don't want it to spoil. At the begining of the season the top shot should be changed anyhow so why leave it on the reel all winter? After the reels are completely dry before storing put a couple drops of Corrosion X oil on the handle, clicker and drag lever. If you are kind to your gear it will pay off when you hook the big one.

Next week we leave to exhibit at Fred Hall Long Beach. It is the largest vacation and tackle show in the US and loads of fun. If you are in the area please stop by and say hello. We will be located across the aisle from Accurate fishing products. We have teamed up with AFTCO and Accurate and will be offering some incredible show giveaways.

After Long Beach our Jen Wren boats go back in the water and it will be game on! Posted below are a few of my favorite photos we captured last season.














Fred Hall show Long Beach. Come join the party.


Mark Rayor
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