The wetsuit is the accessory that symbolizes today’s scuba diving, along with fins and a tank. They have come a long way since their earlier days of suit pioneers like the O’Neill brothers and their Santa Cruz surf suits to being made from a combination of neoprene rubber and synthetic fabrics. Wet suits today contain a combination of a wide variety of fabric weaves, designs, colors, and different types of material densities. There are loads of brands to choose from, each offering their own unique properties on one of the most important parts of the scuba diver’s outfit, especially if diving in temperate or moderately deep waters is planned.

History

Rubber skins were what the first wetsuits were made of. These were worn to keep in heat and protect the skin. They soon gave way to more advanced suits made of neoprene, whose cellular construction allowed air and water to be trapped allowing heating that was better than rubber. However, the early editions of neoprene had its downside. It became easy to tear and quite a struggle to put on. Often dressing required applying talcum powder to the inside of the suit. After several generations, breakthrough lines such as Sharkskin and Turtle skin brands added a layer of nylon sheeting to the inner suit and textured surface to increase strength and durability. Read more »

Posted: April 2nd, 2009 under fishing, fishing equipment, fishing reviews, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico is in the Mexican state of Yucatan. You can’t comprehend it till you’ve visited. Out of thirty-one states Playa Del Carmen is almost the smallest. Not sizable, but not dimunitive, what you get in Playa Del Carmen is well proportioned. It’s not too warm and certainly not too cool. It’s away from the hustle and bustle but it still has every amenity we could want. In short, it’s been a wonderful place to live while the rest of Mexico sells out for tourists. The whole tourist scene is so much smaller than in Cancun or other parts of the region.

The average temperature is 70 degrees for this state. It gets similar weather to Hawaii due to it being on the same latitude. Many agree it has the most appealing climate on the coast, cooler than Cancun, and less sticky than Puerto Vallarta. You are going to fall in love with the party scene in Playa Del Carmen, the people are so welcoming, plenty of uncrowded beaches to please the most jaded vacationer, and the nightlife is one-of-a-kind, if you go for that. Read more »

Posted: April 2nd, 2009 under fishing, fishing equipment, fishing reviews, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

As the saying goes, a poor craftsman blames his tools. Conversely, the Kayak sport fishing enthusiast praises his tackle if he enjoys a huge catch. Nevertheless, specific guidelines should be adhered to, to ensure that you are successfully able to tackle your tackle.

Setting The Drag Is Not A Drag

Like a truck or a pair of boots, proper maintenance of your fishing gear can lengthen its life. Before enjoying Kayak sport fishing, set the drag of your fishing rod. The reading on the scale should range from one-fourth and one-third of the unknotted line strength when the drag begins to slide. When setting the drag on light tackle equipment, when the tip of the rod points towards the scale the reading should be roughly 15% of the unknotted line strength.  However, while the rod is in “fighting position,” friction will augment the drag.

The Line On Fishing Lines

Before, during, and after enjoying Kayak sport fishing, the maintaining of your fishing line is vital. While the durability of monofilament fishing line is outstanding, it must still be safeguarded from particular elements. This will ultimately increase your size of your catch.

Many tackle shop will spool your fishing reel before you enjoy Kayak sport fishing. Considering that they may own and operate a line winding machine, it may be wiser to allow them to handle the task. Read more »

Posted: December 13th, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

How to Repair a Fishing Reel

A fishing reel is like a small pulley that is attached to the rod in order to retract the fishing line. Like any other things, the fishing reel of a fishing rod wears out in time. You have to maintain it to last long. You always have to check the reel before fishing because you do not want to be in a situation where you are already fishing then suddenly your rod does not work. You cannot ignore the fact that in time, some of its parts will get broken or corroded. Below are steps on how to maintain your fishing reel and do a fishing reel repair. Read more »

Posted: December 13th, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

Often people watching television programs about kayak fishing think that beginner kayak fishing looks easy. However, what you are seeing on television is definitely not kayak fishing, what you are generally seeing is fishing being executed by professionals who have had many years of experience perfecting the techniques.

Remember this is television and the chances on everything going to plan on the first take are pretty low. Television programs have a way of making things look easy which is appealing to anyone watching the program, and this is why individuals get the idea that beginner kayak fishing is easy. For sure kayak fishing is definitely not easy, so here are some tips you will probably need for you to get started

Kayak Fishing Gear:

The equipment you need is a reel, rod, and fishing line plus a kayak of course. Many individuals make their canoe fishing first mistake by getting the wrong line. You’ll notice two things about fishing line, it’s both thicker and heavier than standard fishing line. Firstly, sinkers and bait are not used in lure fishing, therefore, there’s nothing to weigh the line down. Therefore the line itself needs to be heavy so you can cast it properly. It is also thicker because you need to cast with accuracy and that is hard to do with lighter line. So make sure that for your beginner kayak fishing expedition you get the proper supplies and tools to get the job done. Read more »

Posted: November 26th, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

Retired couples often start a tackle shop as a means for not only staying busy, but also for keeping a small supplemental income coming in. If you are in an area that is near some sort of body of water and fishing is popular there, then you might be able to profit from opening a bait and tackle store. Small towns are famous for having one place where the local fishermen meet at to socialize. Your new tackle store may have the potential to become that place, which could prove to be very profitable for you.

photo credit: Martina Rathgens

If a fishing tackle shop is the type of business that you choose to open, then in addition to the obvious fishing tackle and bait that you will need to stock, you should also consider installing a kitchen and acquiring a liquor license. For those fishermen who wish to meet up before heading out to the lake in the morning, you could profit greatly by providing them a place to grab some breakfast and coffee and socialise before setting out. The liquor license would come in handy in two ways. Number one, many fishermen feel that there is nothing better than grabbing a case of beer and heading for the lake for some fishing and fun. Number two, when the fishermen come back in the evening, you could profit by giving them a place to stop in, show off their catches for the day and grab a cool pint before heading home for the night. Read more »

Posted: November 15th, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

If you want to learn to become a successful kayak fisherman, then you will need to be educated on several useful techniques and methods used by people experienced in the sport. One of the best beginner’s tips is to avoid buying a kayak until you have actually learned how to fish and have decided that you want to make fishing a serious part of your life. Many people who are beginning in this sport find it resourceful to rent a kayak whenever one is needed.

There are also many kayak fishing clubs available that you can join which allow you to be able to fish using  someone else’s kayak and just share the expenses for the day.

Equipment

The first major step you should take in kayak fishing is to choose your equipment. One of the most important pieces of equipment you purchase will be your fishing rod. Fishing rods come in a large variety of different lengths, sizes and weights, but you don’t need to be intimidated by all this or the price tag when you go to purchase your first rod and reel. Read more »

Posted: November 15th, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

The tarpon is one of the world’s finest sporting fish. Stunningly beautiful and known as the Silver King, their aerobatic leaps make them a favourite of anglers worldwide. Each spring thousands of tarpon travel through the harbour in Key West on their way to their breeding areas and fishermen flock into town in order to pit their wits against them.

There are a number of different methods for targeting tarpon, the style changing depending on the type of water that you are fishing. Tarpon can be caught in shallow river inlets and also on sand and mangrove flats. In this case the favoured method is either fishing a lure or a fly (with a strong fly rod. At other venues for example Islamorada the favoured style is livebaiting with small fish such as pilchards or herring. The preferred fishing style in Key West is using a by-product from shrimp fishing. Let me explain what we mean by shrimp boat trash. Lots of shrimp fishing boats ply the waters in the Gulf of Mexico and besides netting shrimp they also net a lot of small fish called menhaden. These are sacked up and sold as bait to the tarpon fishing boats in Key West.

The method involves the skipper cutting these small fish into chunks and continually dropping them behind the anchored boat to attract the tarpon. The fishermen use a whole menhaden on the hook, and it is drifted back in the current towards the feeding tarpon. Read more »

Posted: November 14th, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, fishing reviews, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

Going To Work! CHEW ON THIS Saltwater Fishing Show

If you are gathering up saltwater fishing tackle, then you must be heading out to do some deep sea fishing. If this is your first time at sea, then you will need to know some important things about fishing in saltwater before you set out, as saltwater fishing is a real adventure. However, do you know what kind of equipment fishing tackle you will need to be successful on your trip? Here is a guide to that equipment.

The starting point is to gather as much information as you can on saltwater fishing and the tackle you will need, as well as other important factors, including the weather and sea conditions, location, the type and size big fish likely to be found at the site, and even the number of people who’ll be making the trip with you. Once you have the answers to these, you will be in a better position to select the kind of fishing rod, reel and tackle that will be ideal to meet your needs during your expedition. Selecting sea fishing tackle can be a pretty bewildering exercise, considering the hundreds of choices available to you. This shouldn’t be much of a problem, because you can consult any experienced, deep sea fishermen who will willingly give you some valuable advice. On the other hand, there are several online reviews and articles on fishing tackle, as well as printed literature and magazines that you could read to gain knowledge on the subject.

Deep sea fishing trips are only successful if you have the right saltwater fishing tackle. Examples of terminal tackle that you will need are hooks, swivels, flies, sinkers, lures and leaders. The swivel will be one of the most important purchases you will make at the tackle store. When you are deep sea fishing, a big fish that is very heavy may get on your line and the tugging and sheer weight will cause the line to twist. When this happens, the swivel will stop the line from breaking. Several different types of swivels are available, including the crane ball-bearing swivel, the snap swivel and the barrel swivel. Read more »

Posted: November 9th, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, fishing reviews, kayak fishing.
Comments: none

Fly Fishing Lessons - Part 1

Anyone who really enjoys getting out in the fresh air to do a little bit of fishing may end up developing a taste for fly fishing. This type is quite a popular, and can involve fishing for trout or even bass. It basically depends on what type of fish you wish to catch! The great news for anyone looking to getting into fishing with a fly rod for bass is that there are several places throughout the United States that are known as hot spots. With a little bit of research, you could even find a couple of wonderful fishing areas within a decent driving distance from your home.

Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass can be caught with a fly fishing rod. Some of them can be challenging, especially because they are a fairly aggressive fish that are large in size. As a matter of fact, many fishermen will tell you that their feisty nature is one of the main reasons why they like bass fishing in the first place. The thrill of the challenge and the reward that comes with the catch can make all of your preparations very worthwhile.

Fly fishing for bass will require a rod that is able to stand up to the entire process. The rod will generally end up going through a tremendous amount of pressure once a bass is hooked on the line. Not being able to hold the weight will result in breakage of your rod or even the loss of the entire rod altogether into the water. Additionally, it is also important that you do a little bit of research on rods before you actually buy one. You can always go to your local tackle store and get a feel for your fly rod before buying it. This will ensure that you will have a fly rod that is comfortable for you and easy to grasp. These considerations will be important once the bass is caught up on the hook. Read more »

Posted: November 1st, 2008 under fishing, fishing equipment, fishing reviews, kayak fishing.
Comments: none