Miami-based company shows off newest innovative fishing clothing products
Miami-based Hook & Tackle was among the companies showing off the newest, most innovative fishing products at the annual ICAST Show last month in Orlando.
The show, officially known as the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, is put on by the American Sportfishing Association. The organization promotes recreational fishing and also provides input to Congress and federal agencies to manage fisheries sustainably, especially in Florida, where bureaucrats recently tried, and failed, to close vast areas to all fishing to protect a red snapper population that is thriving.
Hook & Tackle has been a pioneer in fishing clothing since the company began in 1989, offering UPF 50 sun protection in shirts, shorts, hats and pants made of lightweight, perspiration-wicking materials.
The newest item on display at the show was a long-sleeve hoodie that has pockets at the waist on each side of the shirt, something never available before. The side panels are made of mesh for breathability. Another new feature is a mesh face mask inside the hoodie.
“It’s UPF 50, it’s quick dry, water repellent, odor resistant and soft as you can imagine. All of it is one-piece,” said chief marketing officer Stan Rudman, who was wearing the new button-front short-sleeve mahi shirt that he said is a favorite of Coach Jimmy Johnson.
Rudman also highlighted the detailed marine artwork on some of the company’s new long-sleeve T-shirts. Visit hookandtackle.com to see the full line of men’s, women’s and youth products as well as retail locations.
Dylan Coates of Hobie Eyewear showed off the new Hull Float sunglasses whose frames are made from the plastic trimmings of Hobie kayaks. Like the kayaks, the lightweight polarized sunglasses float in the water.
Hobie Eyewear also had its revolutionary Duo Series on display. The company offers three frame shapes for prescription eyeglasses with your choice of six magnetic clip-on polarized sunglass lens colors, including gray, copper and cobalt blue.
“What’s great about them is they are your everyday glasses that you wear with your prescription in them,” Coates said. “If you’re someone who likes spending time outdoors and you don’t want to pay for an expensive polarized sunglass prescription, simply take our magnetic clips and put them on and you can’t even tell that they’re clip-ons. They look like a regular pair of sunglasses.”
The clip-ons have a hook and two magnetic points that securely stay on the frames. While on the water, you can change the color of the lenses depending on the light and water conditions. Coates said the eyeglass frame and one clip-on retails for $120 plus the cost of your prescription. Additional clip-ons are $40 to $50. Visit hobieeyewear.com/collections/duo-collection.
Martin Fly introduced the perfect outfit for South Florida anglers who are looking to get into fly fishing as well as experienced fly-rodders who are seeking an ideal setup for pursuing largemouth and peacock bass, as well as bluegills, Mayan cichlids and snakeheads in local lakes and canals.
The Kickin’TheirBass KTB56 Combo is an eye-catching 9-foot, 6-weight, four-piece carbon fiber fly rod. The rod has alignment dots to make it easy to connect the four pieces. The fly reel is spooled with a weight-forward floating line, 20-pound backing and a 4X tapered leader. The travel case includes a zippered pocket that holds a fly box with five bass flies. It won Best of Show in the Fly Fishing Rod & Reel Combos category at ICAST.
“It’s a little more aggressive looking, a little more noticeable on the water, but it’s just as serious as the traditional fly rods,” said Kelly Long of Martin Fly. “I’d be happy to teach a kid how to fish using one, but it’s durable and strong enough for an avid angler to use for many years.”
Michigan-based Whitewater Fishing ( whitewaterfish.com ) introduced the Spindrift Merino Fishing Hoodie. The garment is made of 82 percent lightweight merino wool, 16 percent nylon and 2 percent lycra. Soft, stretchy and with UPF 50 protection, the hoodie is right at home on the water or out for dinner in South Florida.
“It’s just a really comfortable, breathable, lovely hoodie,” said Jay Anglin. “Merino is such a great material to work with. The temperature regulation on it is phenomenal. Everybody has this idea that wool is too hot. That is not the case with this.”
TRAPSKI introduced its go anywhere raised fillet tables and cooler bucket boards.
Boyhood friends Chris Wells and Sal DePino started the Connecticut-based company to make racks that securely hold and organize snow skis and snowboards. Having winter covered, the skiers and fishermen expanded to fillet tables and cutting boards made from food-grade HDPE plastic. The boards have grooves in the bottom, along with non-marking, non-slip silicone-based rubber rings embedded into the plastic.
The tables/boards can be used on top of a cooler because they won’t slip, or on top of a 5-gallon bucket thanks to the grooves.