Boat & Fishing International - Issue 01

SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS

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SPINNING

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SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS

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EDITORIAL

MEDITERRANEAN UNITES US

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fter 18 years as editor and editor in chief in marine magazines, 7 as a publisher of Boat & Fishing in Greece and 6 as the organizer of the Boat & Fishing Show in Athens, Boat & Fishing International is the natural consequence in a world that is communicating without borders, and with love for the sea.

First of all i would like to introduce myself.

I grew up in Karystos, located in the southern part of Evia, and in one of the most troubled areas of the Aegean, Cavo Doro. There I have learned from a young age to respect the sea but also to love it. My fishing tackle, fishing and boating became an obsession that led me to deal professionally with the sea industry.

2019 is the year when our most ambitious dream will come true. For six months we have been preparing a magazine for all friends of the sea. Indeed, this magazine will unite all the Mediterranean countries sharing the same sea, fish species and techniques, similar boat’s requirements and same concerns. Eighteen countries bordering the Mediterranean will acquire their own sea magazine. Egypt, Albania, Algeria, France, Greece, Spain, Israel, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Montenero, Portugal, Syria, Turkey and Tunisia

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accounting for a total population of 500.000.000 people! Boat & Fishing International will be released as a bimonthly publication at first, having already gathered contributors from different part of the Mediterranean which will give advices and share their valuable secrets.

Boats and engines’ presentations, boating shows, events and news will be one part of the Boat & Fishing International magazine.

As far as fishing is concerned, we intend to place particular emphasis on innovative fishing techniques both from shore and boat.

At the same time, we support the recreational fishermen’s rights to enjoy their hobbies condemning overfishing and illegal fishing pratcices.

I am grateful to the contributors of this issue who trusted us in this new and ambitious project, from the first moment they embraced and supported this admittedly difficult effort. I thank them for their patience until we get to this result!

Do not forget to subscribe to our newsletter, on our website (boatfishinginternational.com) so you can get the issue straight to your email!

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Calm seas, George Polychroniou ISSUE 1

EDITORIAL

MAGAZINE INFORMATION

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uring a time of profound crisis in publishing and especially in printed periodicals, opening a magazine, even online, is very likely to be considered an insanity, but strong of the old saying “Fortune favors the bold”, of our skills and our passion we decided to make this big step.

Thus was born the magazine “Boat & Fishing International”, a magazine resembling the paper format ones but on ISSUU format (online). This will be a totally different magazine, indeed its “breath” is international and it will embrace mainly the Mediterranean regions focusing on different types of shore and boat fishing techniques, spearfishing, boats and boating instruments.

This project was born from the willing of creating a unique magazine that could gather contributors coming from different parts of the Mediterranean Sea writing about techniques they are masters of. Indeed, all the countries exposed to what Ancient Romans used to call “Mare Nostrum” (Latin for “Our Sea”) share the same fish species and same techniques for catching them, so experiences coming from anglers of one region can enrich anglers of another one giving them hints and ideas to improve their techniques and so catching their dream fish. In Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco recreational fishing and boating are very felt and diffused activities but with “barriers” between regions and regions created by speaking different languages. This problem will finally be solved since the only language of the magazine will be the English one.

Apart from detailed news of what’s going on in the world of fishing and boating, articles written by the most influential authors or champions of the sector, events, test and reviews on boats and boating instruments, a section of the magazine will be dedicated to fish biology, fishery and environmental problems. Indeed most of the time these arguments are not so considered whereas being very interesting and mostly fundamental for the angler’s culture and education. Hope you will enjoy the product we created for you and that this will help you catching your dream catch or selecting your next boat!

Tight lines, Giovanni Bianchini

Boat & Fishing International is a bimonthly publication.

The opinions expressed on this magazine are not always of the magazine or its owners.

The magazine is not responsible for the content of the advertisements.

Contents, photographs, texts and layouts are integrally property of the publishing company Pelagic Media.

It is illegal to copy or reproduce this magazine or its part without written permission.

BUSSINESS OFFICE:

PELAGIC MEDIA GEORGE POLYCHRONIOU & SIA Ε.E. L. Vouliagmenis 249 Α, 17237 Athens, T: +30 210 9700 855 E: BoatFishingMag@gmail.com

ADVERTISING: Copy and materials should be sent direct to: boatfishingint@gmail.com MANAGING DIRECTOR/ PUBLISHER: GEORGE POLYCHRONIOU EDITOR IN CHIEF: GIOVANNI BIANCHINI CONTRIBUTORS: ROBERTO ACCARDI FREDERIC CALIENDO EMILIANO GABRIELLI CRISTIANO LAGOSTENA ANTONINO ODDAMO MAURIZIO PASTACALDI ANTONIO PRADILLO CARNASCO CRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ ZDRAVKO SAVOR RINO SCALZO GEORGE VASILEIOU ADVERTISING: GEORGE POLYCHRONIOU

Cover: Our contributor Rino Scalzo, with a large Gilthead seabream, caught by bottom fishing technique

GRAPHICS & LAYOUT: PELAGIC MEDIA CREATIVE TEAM ACCOUNTANT & ADVERTISING: MARIANNA PETTA

INDEX

7 News 14 Spearfishing Events / CMAS XXXII Euroafrican Spearfishing Championship 16 Fisheries / Bluefin tuna, Stock recovery: truth or fiction?

by Giovanni Bianchini

20 Interview / Interview to Alban Choinier

by Giovanni Bianchini

24 Surfcasting / Seabass with live baits

by Roberto Accardi

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Spinning /

How to catch Seabass in the Adriatic Sea

by Zdravko Savor

34 Spinning / Seabass spinning, on winter season - Tips for fishing in cold waters

by Cristian Rodriguez

40 Spinning / Darting Action, a revolutionary way of fishing

by Antonio Pradillo Carrasco

46 Eging / Antonino Oddamo’s tips for starting Eging Game

by Antonino Oddamo

52 Biology / Biology, growth and age detection of the Pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus)

by Giovanni Bianchini

60 B ottom Fishing / Bottom fishing for Large Gilthead Seabreams!

by Rino Scalzo

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68 Live Bait Trolling / Big Amberjacks on winter time!

by Frederic Caliendo

72 Live Bait Trolling / Sparids in the deep

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by Maurizio Pastacaldi

78 Light Drifting / Early Spring Atlantic Bonitos

by Cristiano Lagostena

84 Inchiku / Heavy Inchiku, Looking for the big hit!

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by Emiliano Gabrielli

94 Spearfishing /

7 tips for Pelagic Fishes

by George Vasileiou 98 Spearfishing / XXXI CMAS World Spearfishing Championship 2018

by George Polychroniou

110 Report / Mercury Marine European Premiere 2018

by George Polychroniou

122 Report /

New SUZUKI DF150A / DF175A outboard engines

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by George Polychroniou

131 Report / New WaveRunner 2019, Press Event Nazare Portugal

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by George Polychroniou

138 Boating / WELLCRAFT

Fisherman series

by Giovanni Bianchini 145 Products

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NEWS USA: DEEP-SET BUOY GEAR FOR SWORDFISH FISHERY

The Pacific Fisheries Management Council has indicated Deep-set Buoy Gears as a viable alternative to gillnet gears used so far for Swordfish fishery off southern California. In these waters (off the Southern California Bight, south-east of Point Conception), fishing for pelagic species

will be a limited entry to approximately 300 commercial vessels. Once the fishery opens 50 permits will be issued immediately, with 25 more permits following each year. This type of fixed line, having a hook depth ranging between 240 and 365 m, is equipped with an anchor buoy, a signaling pole with a flag / light / reflecting surfaces / satellite emitter and a bite indicator. At the moment it represents the best fishing system for selecting target species and avoiding by-catches of other ones. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council believes that the specifics on who qualifies and how these permits will be distributed and determined by summer 2019. Let’s hope that soon a similar solution, if not the same, will also be applied to the waters of the Mediterranean.

Source: Billfish Association

KAYAK FISHING: 170-POUND DOGTOOTH TUNA BY SLOW PITCH JIGGING!

Raf Vargas, 45, is a Hobie Fishing Team Member whom set out alone from a beach on the west side of Guam Island in the farPacific and pedaled to fish off the westernmost point, about 5 miles away. “I knew my time was limited,” with an east ISSUE 1

wind already growing brisk. After some time, as Vargas fished a 500 gram slowpitch jig near the bottom in 700+ feet of water, he hooked something way too big for the approximately 30-pound line he was fishing with. It took about 1 hour 50 minutes to get the fish to his Hobie Pro Angler 14 plus and another 15 minutes to figure out how to get it onboard. Just for the record, Mr. Vargas fought with this fish alone and without any assistance.

The Dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor) is well known to be one of the toughest of all tunas and so of all game fish. The monster is pending as a new IGFA line-class record.

You can see the full video on Raf Vargas’ You Tube Channel.

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NEWS FACTS: EFTTA HITS OUT AT ONE-SEA BASS BAG LIMIT

EFTTA has strongly reacted to the one-bass bag limit agreed recently by the European Council of Ministers and the European Council, accusing them of facilitating commercial fishing.

Indeed, EFTTA and the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) had requested a three-bass bag limit during the seven “open” months of 2019. In a statement, EFTTA said that it suspects that no Member State at the meeting made any real effort to push for its increase and all the focus seemed to be exclusively oriented to the commercial sector.

Commercial fishing will get access to more bass in 2019; indeed, The Commission had proposed to increase catches for the commercial hooks and line fishery from 5 to 7 tons.

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“redistribute” some of the proposed increase to other fishing methods, including trawling, seines and fixed gillnets, leaving hook and line with an increase of just 5.5 tons.

It seems that the main opposition to requests for recreation came from the new French Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume. Moreover, EFTTA said that anything was mentioned about increasing the minimum landing size of Southern bass from 38cm to 42cm, thus assuming that there is no change on this matter and that is unfortunate. Indeed, anglers fish a 42cm limit in the south, so why commercial fisherman should not following the same rule?

Source: Angling International, EFFTEX

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NEWS FACTS: PURE FISHING SOLD TO SYCAMORE PARTNERS

The world’s largest fishing tackle manufacturer, “Pure fishing” has officially got a new owner.

Mike Polk, Newell Brands CEO, has announced that Pure Fishing, which boasts some of the world’s top brands (Penn, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Shakespeare, Mitchell, Stren, Hardy and others), has become a member of the private equity group, Sycamore ISSUE 1

Partners by reaching an agreement worth $ 1.3 billion. “We are pleased to announce another step forward in our accelerated transformation plan, with the signing of the Transaction of Pure Fishing and Jostens transactions.

We have every confidence that these companies will continue to thrive under the new ownership, as they exploit their strong and consolidated positions on the market” Newell

Brands CEO said. The new buyer is the New York based company called Sycamore Partners founded in 2011 by Stefan Kaluzny. This company can count on a capital of $ 10 billion of assets under management and it is what, in essence, we can define a “holding company” which provides flexible capital for “recognized” companies thus allowing revenues to the partner shareholders.

A financial speculation is evident here since Sycamore Partners has no connection with sport fishing and that cannot even count on outdoors companies and brands in its portfolio.

A good and also beneficial financial operation for Newell Brands, given that all the analysts and financial specialists had evaluated the global value of Pure Fishing, according to the average of revenues and sales of all past years, ranging between $ 500 million and $ 1 billion.

Source: Angling International

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NEWS JAPAN: BLUEFIN TUNA WORTH $3 MILLION AT TOKYO MARKET

A 612-pound (278-kilogram) bluefin tuna, caught in the northern Japanese prefecture of Aomori, was sold for a record amount of 333.6 million yen ($3 million) at a new Tokyo wholesale food market’s first auction of the New Year. This after Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji market was moved to a new site on the city’s waterfront.

The winning bid for the prized but threatened species at the first auction of 2019, was more than double the 2013 annual New Year one.

Sushi tycoon Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Japanese sushi chain Sushi-Zanmai, was the winning bidder at the auction, which 10

kicked off at 5am local time.

Kimura’s Kiyomura Corp has often won the annual auction in the past. Kiyoshi Kimura said that he was surprised by the high price of tuna this year: “I expected it would be between 30 million and 50 million yen, or 60 million yen at the highest, but it ended up five times more”, but he added, “The quality of the tuna I bought is the best.” Indeed, auction prices are way above usual for bluefin tuna.

The fish normally sells for up to $40 a pound ($88 a kilogram), but the price rises to over $200 a pound near the year’s end, especially for prized catches from Oma in northern Japan.

“The celebration surrounding the annual Pacific bluefin auction hides how deeply in trouble this species really is,” said Jamie Gibbon, associate manager for global tuna conservation at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Japanese are the biggest consumers of the torpedo-shaped bluefin tuna, and surging consumption here and overseas has led to overfishing of the species.

Experts warn it faces possible extinction, with stocks of Pacific bluefin depleted by 96 percent from their pre-industrial levels.

However, there are signs of progress toward protecting the bluefin tunas; in fact Japan and other governments have backed plans to rebuild Pacific bluefin tuna stocks, with a target of 20 percent of historic levels by 2034.

Sources: “The New York Times”, “The Guardian”

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NEWS MUTTON SNAPPER: POTENTIAL NEW MEN’S 20-POUND CLASS RECORD Angler Yvon Chouinard caught this beautiful 14-pound Mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) while fly fishing the flats of Walker’s Cay, Bahamas. Yvon needed only five minutes to land the fish after it ate the fly he was casting.

If approved, the catch will become the new men’s 20-pound tippet class record, which currently stands at 11 pounds.

Source: IGFA

RED DRUM: POTENTIAL NEW WOMEN’S 8-POUND CLASS RECORD Angler Meredith Jane McCord caught and released this 40-pound, 14-ounce Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) to potentially set the new women’s 8-pound tippet class world record. McCord was fishing with Camp Walker in the shallow waters of Louisiana and needed approximately 15 minutes to land the potential record redfish.

Source: IGFA

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER: POTENTIAL NEW MEN’S 2-POUND CLASS RECORD Angler Chip Costantini potentially set the new 2-pound line class world record for yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) with this 4-pound, 12-ounce fish that he caught while fishing off Key Colony Beach, Florida. Costantini skillfully played the snapper for nearly 20 minutes on his ultra-light tackle before landing the fish. If approved, the catch will replace the current record of 2 pounds, 4 ounces.

Source: IGFA

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NEWS

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: BOTTOM TRAWLING BANNED Recently, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago joined Australia, Brazil, Canada and similarly conservation-minded countries, in banning bottom trawling in their waters.

This industrial fishing method, which practice is that of dragging large nets to dredge water and sea bed by resulting in very high levels of unwanted bycatch and habitat destruction, has long been identified as one of the most destructive industrial fishing practices.

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has applauded Senator Devant Maharaj of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Ministry of Food Production for working to bring trawling to a halt and support a healthier future for the region’s marine resources.

“We are seeing an increasing number of 12

countries realize how vital and valuable it is to better protect their fisheries,” IGFA President Rob Kramer said. “We have been working in the United States to help transition to more sustainable commercial fishing gear such as greenstick and buoy gear, and recent socioeconomic reports are showing that recreational fisheries are contributing millions of dollars to the GDP of countries like Australia, Costa Rica, and Mexico thanks to recreational anglers. It just makes good environmental and economic sense to manage these resources well.” Next step will be that of bringing similar measures to local longlining practices by continue working with the IGFA. Let’s hope that soon a similar initiative will also be applied to the waters of the Mediterranean.

Source: IGFA

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NEWS 5th INTERNATIONAL SURFCASTING TROPHY “RESPECT THE SEA” GREECE 4&5 OCTOBER 2019

The 5th International Surfcasting Trophy “RESPECT THE SEA” organized annnually by our club ACADEMY OF FISHING ACTIVITIES GREECE, will be held on 4th & 5th October 2019 through two rounds, in the perfecture of Pieria (beaches of Platamon and Skotina).

As every year we are expecting famous fishermen from 18 foreign countries from Europe and North and South Africa as well.

We are pleased to announce that for the 5th consecutive year SUNSET supports the INTERNATIONAL TROPHY “RESPECT THE SEA” as Official Sponsor !!!

Supporters of the trophy are the club SEAKO, the Cultural club VAREA, the hotel Peseidon Palace in Leptokarya and the Company Sim Engeneering .

It is our great pleasure and honor to have as Media sponsor the biggest Greek magazine BOAT & FISHING IN GREECE! For inscriptions please contact ISSUE 1

Alexandros Sapounakis to the email: renanoies@yahoo.gr Follow us in FB https:// www.facebook.com groups/111013719400584/ We all, in the club ACADEMY OF FISHING ACTIVITIES, are working very hard to achieve the best organization ever!

Everybody is weLcome to join us and enjoy the sport fishing!

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SPEARFISHING EVENTS

CMAS XXXII EURO-AFRICAN SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP CMAS Euro-African Spearfishing Cup - Denmark, 2019

Europe.

Spearfishing in modern times is increasingly popular and yearly championships have been held since 1967.

The Nordic culture for spearfishing is strong and it is rooted in its history.

Indeed, 7500 years ago Danes were already busy collecting oysters, and catching fish with handspears in the shallow waters of bays and lagoons.

Great attention is given to the environment and the aim is that of setting great examples on how to harvest ocean’s resources in a sustainable way.

This historic event will take place at Christiansminde Hotel in Svendborg (Funen) and the competition areas will be set in Sprogoe, Nyborg, and Langeland.

Sprogø is a unique spearfishing hot-

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2019, more than 80 athletes will travel from both the European and the African continent to The Little Mermaid’s native island of Fyn (Funen) competing in the largest Spearfishing competition ever held in Northern

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anish Sportdivers Federation is proud to announce the organization of the XXXII Euro-African Spearfishing Championship as well as the First Spearfishing Euro-African Cup for women. In September

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SPEARFISHING EVENTS I EURO-AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP spot in Denmark with opportunities of catching most of the Danish fish species.

The spearfishing action takes place under bridges, at the bottom of wind turbines, in caves and in deep water; under rocks or wrecks that may be down to 30 meters depth.

Sprogø is always exposed to a very challenging and powerful current.

Langeland represents a spearfishing hot-spot as well, with opportunities of encountering cods, which can be found in large shoals or in caves under large rocks, and flatfish. This location is indeed home of very large turbots.

Nyborg will be Women’s competition area.

Especially the part under the bridge is a good spot to look for cods.

The current under the bridge is very strong and makes the fishing action challenging.

Both competitions will be different from earlier CMAS spearfishing championships because the athletes will have to power themselves at all times. No boats will be available to transport them and they will have ISSUE 1

to swim from the shore and fight the current and waves for 5 hours each day. As the great Danish storyteller and poet Hans Christian Andersen said: First you go through great suffering - then you may become famous.

May the best athletes win.

Contacts and general information Mr. William Siefert (Chairman of the Danish spearfishing Committee) Email: williamsiefert@sol.dk Invitation, rules and areas will be published at the end of February 2019 on the website: www.spearo.dk BF

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FISHERIES

BLUEFIN TUNA

Stock recovery: truth or fiction?

by Giovanni Bianchini CURRENT SITUATION Good management and sacrifices acted by operators in the fishing industry have borne fruit and have led to a gradual reconstitution of the Bluefin tuna stocks in the Mediterranean Sea. Reiterating the EU’s commitment to the implementation of control measures for Bluefin tuna fisheries, in cooperation with the sector, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, said: “The bluefin tuna’s stock, a species considered to be near to extinction, is reconstituting its population and for the first time in almost a decade our fishermen will benefit from an increase in the total allowable quota of catches”. On the same note spoke the President of Europêche Javier Garat who declared: “A decade ago, environmental groups were warning that the Atlantic bluefin tuna was in danger of extinction unless a total ban on commercial fishing 16

had been put in place - this was far from true since it was an excessive fishing effort.

In fact, today, only 10 years later, due to the combined efforts of fishermen, scientists and governments, it is estimated that the abundance of stocks is at least double compared to 1950, which was already considered a historical record. In this context, there was still room for a higher TAC. Our fishermen have suffered heavy cuts in recent years in their share that have led to a positive recovery of the stock “. In recent decades, the quantities of Bluefin tuna caught in the Mediterranean Sea have become increasingly important. This significant increase was heavily influenced by the great development of tuna farms, especially as a result of the sharp increase in Japanese demand, fueled by the spread of sushi-sashimi, a raw fish dish consumed in restaurants. In this regard, it has been estimated that, over the period 1997-2002, imports of Japan from the Mediterranean

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FISHERIES I BLUEFIN TUNA have gone from zero to 70% of the total ones. This percentage grew further in the following years, so much so that, already in 2005, almost all of the Bluefin tuna marketed by this country came from the Med fattening tuna farms. However, with the introduction of a Total Allowable Catches (TACs) by the International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), world production began to decline, from about 40.000 tons declared in 1998 to 32.000 tons set in 1999 as total eligible. ICCAT has adopted and still adopts a multi-year management and conservation plan for Bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Particularly, at the meeting held in Dubrovnik in 2006, ICCAT presented a multi-year recovery plan for the period 2007-2010, based on proposals made by countries facing the Mediterranean Sea and the EU. Specifically, compared to 28,500 tons in 2008, the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for 2009 was cut down to 22,000 tons and 19,950 tons in 2010, with a 30% reduction in two years. In 2015 there was a 20% increase in the quota compared to the previous year, meaning 9,372 tons of EU eligible’s catches. In 2017 there was a further 20% increase in the quota set for 13,451.4 tons for the EU. In the three-year period 2018-2019-2020 instead the overall quota will pass from the current 23,500 tons up to a maximum of 36,000 tons in 2020, with an increase of 12,500 tons, equivalent to 54%.

PROFESSIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING Regarding single countries, among the major Bluefin tuna world producers there are Spain (2,446 t), France (2,419 t) and Italy (1,946 t), which, from 1950 to 2014, have touched, in different moments, maximum figures around 12.000 tons for France and Spain and 10.000 tons for Italy.

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Tuna fishing operates on an industrial scale and tunas are first caught using purse seines and then transferred to cages in tuna farms for fattening purposes, before being sold. The final destination market for Bluefin tuna is essentially Japan. Industrial purse seine fishing in the Mediterranean, which developed mainly in the 1990s, now accounts for more than 60% of EU annual catches.

WWF has, for the first time, carried out an effective estimate of the purse tuna fleet’s catching capacity. Although dating back to 2008, the study contributes to understanding the Mediterranean tuna fleets’ fishing potential and the concrete risk faced by this fish species. Specifically, the document denounces the presence of a hyper technological fleet dedicated to the exclusive fishing of Bluefin tuna, with a capturing capacity of 55,000 t, twice higher than quotas set by the ICCAT and three and a half times higher than those recommended by the scientific community to avoid the disappearance of the species. These fleets of vessels are capable of fishing tuna quantities even larger than those currently available in the Mediterranean Sea. Starting from this information, in order to maintain the fishing capacity within the legal limits established by the ICCAT, it would be necessary to dispose of 229 boats, equal to one third of the current 617. Instead, to comply with

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FISHERIES I BLUEFIN TUNA the limits set by the Scientific Committee, it would even take 284 boats to be divested.

Furthermore, the Mediterranean fleets should fish at least 42.000 tons of tuna only to cover their expenses. The tuna seiner fleet is mainly located in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Malta. On the other hand, problems highlighted by the recreational sector still remain unheard every year: from the quota scarceness to the daily catch and the inevitable closure of the fishing season well in advance (few weeks after the opening) to end with the insufficiency of controls. These problems should be solved quickly considering that the income coming from the recreational fishing sector is rather large and cannot be neglected.

STOCK RECOVERY: TRUTH O FICTION? WWF is deeply disappointed with ICCAT’s decision to drastically increase catch quotas for Bluefin tuna when the recovery of the stock is not confirmed yet. Indeed, ICCAT has approved an increase in bluefin catch quotas up to 36,000 tonnes by 2020 which is the highest total allowable catch ever set for this species. Scientists warn that bluefin tuna stock is not recovered yet and is expected to decrease with such adopted catch quotas. Alessandro Buzzi, WWF Fisheries project manager, declared: “WWF is angered that ICCAT has chosen short-term economic profit when we had hoped for a long-term conservation victory. We have been fighting for the last 10 years to save Bluefin tuna, we are so near recovery that it is a scandal to see ICCAT going back to business as usual; this could jeopardize all the progress we’ve made”. As confirmation of this, numerous studies have shown, over the last decades, an overfishing of Bluefin tuna, with consequent difficulties related to: reduced recruitment due to few specimens 18

reaching the reproductive age; increase in the recruitment failure’s probability due to environmental problems and shorter generation cycles; decrease of genetic diversity in the species due to undesirable characteristics in the population (decrease in the average size of reproduction due to the systematic fishing of larger individuals); decrease in total abundance and in average size; instability of fish communities and alterations related to the selective removal of predators; faster selection linked to the shorter life of a generation, to the disadvantage of favorable characteristics.

The ICCAT protection policy has not always been sufficient over the years to safeguard Bluefin tuna stocks. In fact, this body has partially ignored for years scientific research

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FISHERIES I BLUEFIN TUNA

on Bluefin tuna population presented as recommendations from the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (Scrs). More recently, the limit set by ICCAT (22,700 t) in 2017 continues to be higher than that recommended by the Scrs in recent years (15.000 t), to avoid the collapse of the species. Among the Commission’s recommendations there is also to severely respect the minimum size, in order to protect young specimens (socalled juveniles) to ensure the reproductive activity of the species. So far, the minimum size set is equal to 30 kg of weight or 115 cm fork length, but still appears rather small for a species that can exceed 500 kg in adulthood, so that reproduction of the species would continue to be at risk.

Moreover, in 2014 the Scrs estimated that the Atlantic bluefin tuna stock was equal to just 9% of its original biomass and well below the minimum level able to guarantee the sustainability of the species.

However, starting from 2011, a certain improvement in the stock consistency was detected, also as a consequence of the ISSUE 1

more restrictive limits imposed by the TAC for each country, so that a reconstruction of 70% of the target biomass level expected by 2035 appeared possible. But, the decision taken by ICCAT appears to be rather drastic because, although the total population of Bluefin tuna has increased considerably compared to recent years, it is also true that stocks have not yet fully recovered. It is predictable that Mediterranean stocks will be hit hard by this new adopted measure.

Before increasing the quota, nevertheless bringing it to a record level, it would have been more appropriate to strengthen controls on illegal fishing, which still represents a very heavy “voice” on the Bluefin tuna stocks in the Mediterranean. Just think about the scandal happened few weeks ago.

Four countries, seventy-nine people involved and 80 thousand kilograms of bluefin tuna sequestered for an illegal trade worth 12 million euro profit per year. These were the numbers of the “Red Tuna Connection” - as defined by the WWF - discovered by the Spanish Coast Guard thanks to the “Tarantelo” Operation coordinated by Europol, which also saw the participation of law enforcement officers from Italy, Malta and France. According to the authorities, what was dismantled is “a network that marketed tuna in Spain that had been illegally fished in other countries”. Just let’s hope this new measure will not nullify all the efforts and sacrifices that have been made up till now.

Time will tell. BF

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INTERVIEW

Interview to

ALBAN CHOINIER

42 years old, French, Alban Choinier works as brand manager and brand & product coordinator at Rapala VMC corporation. In this interview he will illustrate us Rapala new products, innovations and technologies that still make these lures one of the best worldwide so far.

G.B.: Tell me a bit about you A.C.: I’m 42 years old and I have been working full time in the fishing industry since 18 years. I’m engineer in hydrobiology but as soon as I finished my study I moved to Africa and worked there as fishing guide in several countries.

Then I worked in the fishing industry as a retailer, distributor, export manager and 20

now since 4 years I’m brand manager. I’m now more focused on creating products and working for Normark group (Rapala, Storm, Willamson, Blue Fox, Sufix, VMC etc…).

G.B.: Which is your favorite technique?

A.C.: I don’t have a favorite one. I simply love fishing and I can be one week fishing

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INTERVIEW I ALBAN CHOINIER for marlin in Panama and as soon as I’ll be back home, I can go rock fishing with friends with the same kind of pleasure.

There’s something interesting in all type of fishing and you can learn every day a detail that can be transposable from a type of fishing to another and finally improve all your fishing experience. But if you give me tomorrow a holiday week and some money, I will probably go jigging for dogtooth tuna or fly fishing for bonefish…or popping for GT or casting soft baits for sea bass…in fact I can’t chose!

G.B.: Rapala represents one of the biggest brands in the lure fishing panorama, what still makes Rapala lures one of the best on the market so far?

A.C.: Rapala is the oldest hard baits brand in the industry that makes a

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huge experience serving sportfishing.

Rapala engineers create lures since long time that they cumulated a huge knowledge’s luggage and this, added to the technological capacity of a big company, allow them to create anything that anglers need. At fishing or while carving a lure, nothing can beat the experience. Rapala is the most popular brand around the planet for one reason: it catches fish. Efficiency is the most important factor. When we want to create something new, we work as a Team with Rapala people from Asia, Japan, USA, Europe and Australia. Then we all bring our knowledge and specificity of our region and build a project. Then our engineers create what we were thinking about. We test prototype all around the world and when it’s perfect, we launch a production and at the end you’ll find them in our retailer.

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INTERVIEW I ALBAN CHOINIER

Something else that’s really important: all Rapala lures are handmade in Europe, specifically in our Finland and Estonia’s factories. This is the best way to keep a good quality product.

G.B.: Illustrate, to the readers of “Boat & Fishing international”, Rapala’s new products and which is the best use for each one A.C.: There are several new products this year. The Rapala Magnum Xplode Popper 17cm is an ultra-strong long casting, very noisy, popper dedicated to GT fishing or to other big predators. Easy to use and ready for battling with its 6X VMC hooks and heavy split ring, you just have to cast it, pop it and hold on!

The Shadow Rap Jack Deep 5cm is a deep diving minnow that was initially created for fishing Australian sea breams (kind of carnivorous sea bream). It’s a 22

small bait diving to 3m that is totally full wire and pretty much indestructible.

It’s a very interesting bait for trolling for sea bass or even bonito or small tuna (switching treble to single VMC hook) when they are hunting on small baits.

The XRap Magnum Xtreme 16cm is a new member of the famous Magnum family. It’s called Xtreme because it can be trolled up to 15 knots. It’s the perfect diving bait to be used in combination under some topwater feather bait or trolling baits that need to be trolled between 8 to 10 knots to be efficient. Or you can troll it at high speed to move from a spot to another.

G.B.: Which innovations are you bringing to new lures?

A.C.: We bring many innovations every year but one of the latest is the “high def” technology. We invested in our factories

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INTERVIEW I ALBAN CHOINIER in some high definition very specific printers able to work “3D”. With this technology, we can now mimic perfectly a real fish. If you look at our new HD colors as HD Anchovy, HD Mangrove Minnow, HD Squid or HD Bonito, you’ll be amazed by the result. Best proof of it? All fishes just eat them! We are also working on some other projects but it’s a secret!

G.B.: Which other products should we expect in the future apart from lures?

A.C.: We are adding every season some new tools as pliers, hook remover, scales, scissors etc…You can also find some luggage, clothing and knife (made by the famous Finish brand Marttiini). We make our best in order to offer the best accessories quality we can.

It’s important that our accessories’ quality match our lures’ one.

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G.B.: How do you see the future of fishing in the European Union?

A.C.: Well, I would like to be optimistic but I still very concerned about our future. There’s a huge fishing pressure on all species of fishes in Mediterranean, Atlantic, English channel and North Sea and the global stock of fish is shrinking every year.

There’s no simple solution to protect resources and solutions should be taken on a governmental and European level.

As recreative anglers, we need also to protect our resources and kill only fish that are adult in reasonable quantities.

Fish stocks are not endless. But we can see that since a few years, bluefin tuna population has grown because of several strong measures. So this success must give us some hope. BF

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SURFCASTING

Seabass

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with live baits

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SURFCASTING I SEABASS WITH LIVE BAITS Winter is certainly the best period to fish one of the most fascinating predators of the Mediterranean Sea: the Seabass. This fish is a cunning and suspicious predator, but when sea is very rough it lowers his defenses because his killer instincts prevail: this is why with right conditions chances of fishing it become higher, especially if we adopt some important tricks.

Text & photos: Roberto Accardi

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n this article I will take in exam these aspects, some of them are so simple that often the fisherman does not realize that he is ignoring them. After having mentioned the best period and the best sea conditions for fishing this predator, we can talk about the most important aspect of fishing in general: the balance between bait, hook, and rig choice.

BAITS AND RIGS Sea bass, and sea in general, are so unpredictable that strike can occur on any bait. But if we talk about technique, we cannot consider the skill “luck�, but we must evaluate all those aspects that can increase the possibilities of catch. Live baits are undoubtedly the best:

MULLET From my personal experience I realized that the best bait is also the most difficult to find and manage: the mullet. For catching live mullets you need to know someone who uses nets and keeps them alive in large containers with the oxygenator. Fortunately, in the beautiful island where I live (Sardinia) this

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SURFCASTING I SEABASS WITH LIVE BAITS 1.

A great precaution when mullets come from fresh or brackish water, is to store them in sea water mixed with fresh water, so that in the meantime they start to get used to the change in salinity degree. Switching rapidly from fresh to salt water would be a very dangerous jump for them. The Mullet needs a bucket full of water with an oxygenator without which it would die within a short time.

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The Eel rigged by the tail could give some doubts about its catching power, but do not forget that the predator usually makes ambushes and therefore always attacks from behind its prey.

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type of bait is quite easily foun (pic 1). Once this bait has been obtained, the greatest attention will be paid to the hook’s positioning on the mullet: trying not to damage the fish during the rigging phase is essential so that it remains vital in water and with its movements will attract the predator’s attention. I usually adopt a special needle that has a tip on one side and a ring on the other (see drawing “mullet rig”) and I pass it under the mullet’s skin from the center of the fish towards the head. At this point I put the armrest inside the needle’s eyelet and I pass it under the skin and I get it out of the head side. Then you can release the live mullet in the water and in the meantime you can knot on the hook, which will be pulled towards the head so that the stem will remain under the skin and only the curve and the tip will remain outwards. This system damages the fish the least, and it guarantees an effective bait presentation for cheating the seabass (pic 1).

Another valid rigging system consists in the use of the pin (see

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SURFCASTING I SEABASS WITH LIVE BAITS photo), certainly much faster, but you have to be careful to place it on the mullet by taking more skin as possible, otherwise during the cast it could position badly and this might cause a “false” bite. It is used exactly as if it were a safety pin.

EEL I put the eel almost at the same level of the mullet, certainly easier to find alive in fish shops, and more vital. Personally it is the bait I prefer because a small container is enough to keep a dozen, you do not need the oxygenator, and therefore the equipment becomes lighter. It is also much easier and faster to rig. I, for example, rig it by pinning the hook a few centimeters from the tail (see drawing eel rig), right in the middle, so that during the cast it does not get damaged or come off, but there are also anglers who rig it in the traditional way under the skin near the head (pic 2).

The best condition for seabass fishing is taken by rough sea, but if we have live baits like eels or mullets, we can also fishing it in calm sea conditions.

RIGS ACCORDING TO SEA CONDITIONS When I do this type of fishing I usually use two types of rigs: one when sea is very rough and another when sea is calm or not very rough. Let’s see them both:

ROUGH SEA RIG I use a rig about 2 meters long, with a joint near the lead (which I use in other situations), and one near the buttonhole that hooks with the shock leader. The armrest does not necessarily have to be fluorocarbon, since very rough sea makes the water unclear; the important thing is that the chosen nylon is particularly rigid, to avoid any tangles, and with a diameter of 0.35 or 0.40 depending on how the sea really is moved or dirty. If we imagine ISSUE 1

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HOOK CHOICE

a very deep beach with a very high shoreline step, in case of very rough sea it is advisable to go for a 0.40. In any case, with a mullet or an eel rigged the armrest of about 1,80 long can work well even with very rough sea (lead anchoring permitting). In these conditions I never recommend using the joint close to the lead, because the currents could create tangles such as to make the bait not presentable and therefore not luring; especially if we use “anchoring” leads like pyramids or spikes (see rig drawing).

Even this detail must be chosen carefully.

For example, for rigging mullet under skin I always prefer to use a hook like Aberdeen or O’ shaughnessy type, as well as for the eel, if rigged near the head. Rigging the eel for the tail, instead, will require the use of Beak type hooks.

Given the great mouth of the Seabass you might think that would be better to use large hook sizes, but do not forget that the hook should not be too heavy because otherwise eel’s mobility in water would be affected.

OTHER RIGS In this article I have intentionally excluded the classic sardine or mullet’s slice rigs, both because I consider them less catching in this case, and because they could be part of another article dedicated to other predators, for which these rigs have much more chances of catch.

The appointment is therefore for the next issue! BF

CALM SEA RIG Here the speech changes a lot.

Current is low or absent, water is clean, two factors that make some changes necessary compared to the first rig. First of all you can use the joint close to the lead or even a comfortable mini beam, even those ones in steel that are on the market, and provide it with an armrest also in this case of about 2 m long, but this time of lower diameter, such as a 0.30 fluorocarbon (in this case with clear water it is better not to expose to the seabass’ diffidence).

(See mini trace drawing).

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How to catch Seabass in the Adriatic Sea The Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is known to be as very cunning fish, sometimes hard to catch with artificial lures especially at Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. Text & photos: Zdravko Savor

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lthough, if you know good spots and if you guess the right feeding time, spinning technique carried out with different types of plastic or soft silicone lures can be successful. Of course you need a good dose of luck for full success.

EVENTS THAT CHANGED OUR LIFE

More than ten years ago an event changed our view on seabass spinning topic.

Time after midnight, night was dark as a rogue. Two guys with head lights and fishing rods went through the prickly brushwood in the

Zadar’s hinterland. A couple hundred yards away, the bay looked like a shallow swamp with a bunch of water grass.

Even the smallest rumour could have scared schools of small fish at the surface.

My friend Zac explained that we were in the spot where several seabass were caught by our friends a week ago.

He steadily casted silicon fish lure with integrated lead head to the bay and pulled it lightly near the bank, along with the belt of grass. After maybe five minutes he had a fish. Nice one, around 2 kg.

Same night he had another one. Next night the same story had been repeated, and

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SPINNING I SEABASS IN THE ADRIATIC SEA that was enough for both of us to infect with seabass spinning. Till that night we used to catch some smaller fish, but we were also using smaller lures (mostly Yo Zuri Pins Minnow). In the following years we both developed our techniques and experience in seabass spinning and as a result we had some nice catches.

ALWAYS NEAR THE COAST

Along the Croatian coast Adriatic Sea’s water is really clear with some areas where it is really hard to catch anything with artificial lures during calm weather. There are always some moments, for example early in the morning or when weather is changing.

Change of visibility raises your chances, but generally there are some areas that are more suitable for successful spinning.

Mouths of rivers for example like Neretva and Cetina in Dalmatia, or Raša and Mirna in Istria give you better chance. Seabass can swim upstream to the rivers for several miles far from the sea. It is always easier to cheat it on rough sea conditions than on calm sea ones. Shallow bays with some streams are good also. Seabass’ main diet is composed by small fish, that are hiding in the shallow sea at the depths of 0,5 till few meters. This is where you can search it with artificial lures, only rarely deeper. When you are “reading” the water, keep in mind that seabass is always near to its preys. Of course you can try also the traditional trolling with lures technique, that might be successful too if you have a boat or a kayak.

FISHING EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES

For smaller specimens you can fish with the ultra light and light spinning 30

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SPINNING I SEABASS IN THE ADRIATIC SEA me the most success. Every minnow model of silicone lure with a small tail producing fine vibrations will be good. Keitech baits for example. Lunker City Slug Go is a killer in some situation, when lure has to move fast. For that purpose I usually mount it on some heavy bullet jig head, thus giving me the possibility to make the lure sinking really fast. When I stop, the lure will fall through the water column unpredictably. The most of seabass I have caught near the bottom where caught while the lure was falling down. rods equipped with suitable light reels and tiny fishing braids. Somehow the more appropriate are rods having a casting weight of 7-40g.

Recently floods of seabass fishing rod models have appeared on the market, mostly produced by Japanese brands, because in Japan this is a particularly popular game fish. It is always good to use fluorocarbon leader at the end of the braid.

SILICONE LURES

There are let’s say 3 categories of lures that will work for seabass. Silicone lures, unweighed or mounted on jig hooks, should be in a minnow looking shape. In addition you can read about some models I like to use.

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Near the bottom you do not have to work a lot your silicone lure. Just let the lure goes down to the bottom, then rise it with your rod, then make pause and it will fall down again. Then repeat it. Pause is the moment when you get most of the strikes. Of course you can try your own way, and due to your experience you will have progress in fishing.

MINNOW HARD PLASTIC LURES The second category is represented by hard plastic (or wooden) minnow lures from 7-14 cm or even longer. Lure selection depend on the fish sizes and

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SPINNING I SEABASS IN THE ADRIATIC SEA

fishing area conditions, and also on the season part. Late autumn and winter are the seasons when you could raise your lures’ size. Mainly you will have to retrieve it slow, with some twitching action if you are fishing with floating or slow sinking models. With fast sinking lures, like Duo Spearhead Ryuki, you can reach the bottom and then start retrieving it fast with unpredictable moves but by feeling the vibrations produced by this really good lure. Again, make some pauses during which the lure will start falling down. Play with your own way of retrieving until you gain confidence in your lure and what you are doing.

Seaspin Pro Q, Savagear Top Prey, Sakura Naja, Duo Bay Ruf or any other lure having similar shape and action.

These lures are the most productive in shallow areas or at beaches. The best period of the day for using them is represented by early morning or near evening.

COLOURS Colours need to be chosen according to the conditions, but I prefer 3 different decors. Natural fish decor is always usable in good visibility conditions in clear water. For clear water transparent lures

TOP WATER LURES THE SURFACE GAME The third category is taken by top water lures. Sometimes is easier to get a strike on the surface than below. There are many good models starting with the original Xorus Patchinko 100, different types of “Zara” walking the dog lures, 32

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SPINNING I SEABASS IN THE ADRIATIC SEA are even a better choice. Transparent “no color” is highly effective on Duo Bay Ruf top water lure model. You should try it, because it has been proven that fish could not resist to the transparent lure at the surface. On the contrary seabass can give up from attacking a surface lure if this one is shining or have some bright colours. Third colour I will always have with me is white, no matter if it

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is about silicone or hard lures. White can work well in all conditions, from sunny days, clear or murky water, till night.

Sakura Slit Shad Sexy Shad colour is probably my favourite colour when I fish with silicone lures.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT Try to fish from kayaks. Why? Of course you can fish from shore, but with kayak you will have the superpower of reaching wanted positions and to be quiet when you are trying to get close to the spot. You can use it for trolling if you equip it with an electrical trolling motor.

Kayak is easy for transportation; it can just be positioned on the roof of your car and can be manipulated by one person, thing that would be hard to do with any other boat. If you have some additional money while buying it, choose a stable kayak from which you can stand and buy a good seat. Seat should be adjustable to several positions so you can seat low when you want more stability or high if you want more comfort at fishing. Feelfree Lure 11.5 is the model I’m using from several years. I was using Ocean Kayak Caper model before.

Difference is huge in terms of stability and comfort.

Feelfree Lure 11.5 will give you ability to fish during the whole day without any problem. You can stand and fish with lot or stability and from higher position you can have better view.

Caper is faster and better for paddling, easier for one man handling and I prefer to use it on some short trips. That’s the reasons for having both. I really enjoy kayak fishing, but this could a theme for another article. BF

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Seabass spinning on winter season Tips for fishing in cold waters Spinning is usually practiced during the warmer months, wich mostly means from spring to autumn, when chances of catching seabass are higher due to the higher water temperature and the abundance of baitfish along the coastline. However, during winter months we can also cast lures to catch good seabass’ specimens, as long as we choose the right technique and adapt to circumstances.

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Text & photos: Cristian Rodriguez (Lure & Fly Fishing Experience)

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SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS

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owering of temperatures considerably decreases fish activity, thus requiring much more patience and insistence, in addition to a great knowledge of the environment and the species we intend to fish.

When cold begins, by excellence spinning technique is abandoned and most of fishermen opt for fishing for cephalopods or bottom fishing, based on the equivocal belief that fish stop attacking lures on winter time. This statement is partly true, indeed as water gets cool this slows down a lot the fish activity, and in the specific case of spinning it is much more difficult to get a strike on a floating lure, but this doesn’t mean that this situation cannot occur. Most likely we will not get many results if

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SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS we devote ourselves exclusively to surface lures fishing, but it’s not impossible to get the attack of a seabass on them. However, if we use other types of lures that cover lower water layers, the odds of getting hooked-up will increase more than we thought. Using softbaits, jigs, minnows and jerkbaits, lures of proven effectiveness can get the angler out of trouble, providing him the desired catch.

SEARCHING FOR SEABASS On Winter time seabass usually look for deeper water or they concentrate on specific places where food is located, and usually it’s not very frequent to see them

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SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS on the surface, but fish are still there, near us at short distance from shore. They are just not so visible or their presence is more discreet. If we know where seabass are, we will have more possibilities to catch them. Another important factor that will be decisive for seabass fishing on Winter is given by knowing how to choose the right type of lure and to perform the required action for providing effectiveness to the lure itself. If these considerations are taken into account and we adapt to fish’ needs, we could catch good size seabass, able to

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WHERE AND HOW Cold months represent the best time of the year for getting really big specimens. The seabass is a fish that in most cases hunt very close to shore, closer than we think. Indeed, it tends to hunt on the first drop formed on the shore, a few meters from us, where wave breaks and creates foam. Depending on the type of scenario it can be useful to wear waders thus allowing us to fish with confort without getting wet, always respecting the sea and being aware of our limitations because otherwise we could suffer some accident. Don’t play with the sea.

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SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS make us living many good times. When I talk about adapting to circumstances, among other variables, I talk about adapting both lure movement and retreive speed. If cold slows down or reduces fish activity, this implies that they will not move with the same agility they do in summertime, thus the fish will swim at a lower speed. Also, since food is quite scarce, energy saving is something that fish take much more into consideration in this period of the year.

Thus, based on the law of minimum effort, the predator is refrain to pursue a natural prey or a lure that swims at high speed. The seabass simply wait to attack a more accesible prey that doesn’t require the fish moving so far, so this way, the seabass makes sure that it doesn’t spend so much energy. Therefore, taking into account what was previously said, lure movements will be slow and sinuous with slower retreivings compared to summertime. I also consider quite important to stop the lure for a few

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seconds as many bites occur when it remains still at the wave’s or current’s mercy, or just when we move it again after the stop. This action is what we know as “stop and go”.

KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICE AND LOT OF PATIENCE Best way to get some results is to implement all our theoretical knowledge, testing different lures, varying the action of these and trying to put ourselves into the fish mind. That means, trying to imagine what the seabass will be eating, where they are feeding and how we can incite the attack on our lure. It is also advisable to try different sizes and colors and, above all, insisting a lot and having patience. It’s not the same to hook-up a seabass in warm or temperate water

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SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS conditions tan doing it in cold water ones.

Generally, for shallow areas with sandy or graveled bottoms, is more advisable to use swimming lures, like for example minnows, jerkbaits and softbaits. It’s also possible to try with stickbaits and poppers, but sea needs to be calm with not many waves. If we decide to use Surface lures it is most advisable to move them slowly, and in the specific case of poppers, popping them shortly and strongly to attract fish. Sometimes, these lures are quite effective by the noise they produce, capable of reactivating the most inactive fish. Softbaits can also be very effective, especially those ones resembling an eel in physiognomy. We can rig them on jig-heads or without weight, using a weightless rig on a Texas hook. Jigs are very effective lures in all kinds of situations, but I would reserve them for other deeper and rocky bottom

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scenarios. I encourage you to try seabass spinning during winter months, since results, despite being more irregular than during the warm season, can be surprising and perhaps during winter months will be the time by which we will beat our seabass’ personal record. It is only up to you to go out, bathe your lures and trust that somewhere there is a big seabass that will make you living intense emotions in a catch to remember. BF

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Darting Action

a revolutionary way of fishing By adding the jig heads’ weight to the erratic side to side action of soft jerkbaits, but without diminishing the lure action, you will get one of the most versatile and lethal weapons ever invented for recreational fishing. Please, welcome darting action to your life!

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Text: Antonio Pradillo Carrasco Photos: Noelia Peris, RaĂşl Gil & author

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ust came back home now. I´m writing this article but I haven´t realized yet the great fishing day we had today. Not even on the last day, before our recent fishing trip to Sahara coast, or even before the trip. A bad weather winter, with a sea apparently void of fish, at least for most fishermen, but that has been surprising us session after session with great catches of Atlantic Bonitos, Dentex and Amberjacks. A winter plenty of bad weather, windy, with very few chances for going fishing, but we had succes on every one of them by using the same key: darting

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action. Since August 2013 I´m fishing mainly with this technique, a way of retrieving soft lures that manages to excite and make biting even the most reluctant predators. This is not new for me, because I discovered it casually on a Sahara fishing trip in 2010, when I was fishing on some clever King Mackerel with a small Storm jig head of 15 gr and a Raglou on the hook and fish only bit when I hit the rod. Then I realized that the lure had a great side to side action due to a hit of the rod made aproximately every second, thus darting action entered to my life.

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SPINNING I DARTING ACTION When I came back to Spain I tried it in Mediterranean waters and I found it to be a easy way to catch amberjacks (before we were fishing them with small long jigs on a very fast and tiring retrieve).

But Storm jig head was not comfortable to use because of the frontal profile that offers too much resistance while being retrieved, adding problems on the use in shallow areas, because this jig head goes down easily. Luckily, Savagear made a jig head that works well with a “side to side” action having a conic profile.

Mads Grosell (creator of and design genius behind Savage Gear) designed a wonderful Sandeel Slug, a long soft lure with no tail that slides perfecty on the darting action, moving and seeming like a sandeel or needle fish, wanted preys for all predators around the world. So I discovered the utopia of the “perfect

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lure”, with so many possible uses, but mainly that works on an easy and no tiring side to side action hitting the rod mechanically at same time. We retrieve a turn of reel handle on a coordinated movement, like a perfect machine and… fish becomes crazy! On January I was fishing for Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda) with my wife and at each cast we had double strike. We filmed a part of the documentary “Vinilos en el mar” (“Soft Lures on the sea”) and finally we took the chance of testing different lures and retrieves in order to learn more. My wife continued fishing on the darting way, but I changed my sandeel jig head for a common round ball one and… no fish for me, in spite of preserve the same lure (a 14 cm sandeel slug). As you can imagine, my wife continued catching fish at each cast, so side to side action was the only difference. Fish were

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there, and I tried some other lures; I tried casting jigs on fast retrieve like we used to do years ago and no fish; I tried a small sinking stick bait and no bite. It was plenty of not active fish. I realized that the great catches we had were not casual, we were doing perfect!

JIG HEADS FORM Jig head’s form is crucial, because It is going to provide the winding movement we are speaking about. The jig head needs to be laterally compressed (at least in part), because this way it will make the wonderful “side to side” movement, unlike other forms like round ball or banana ones that work on up & down ISSUE 1

action. We can also find some triangular heads, but they not always work well on darting, especially because commonly more weight is concentrated on the back in order to avoid weeds or rocks and to lay the hook up over the bottom. Therefore we need symmetrical forms. Savagear brand has worked really well on this field, creating a great range of weights and hook sizes on the Sandeel Jig Head family, from 3 to 150 gr, from really light fishing to deep jigging. Anyway, there are lot of brands on the market, we only have to choose the correct jig head with a slug soft lure (correctly rigged) and try this technique in clear water to learn and correct errors. It´s really important to rig the lure completely

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straight; If It has some curve probably is going to show us the belly on the hit instead of slidding side to side.

LURES Best lures are soft jerks, slugs forms with no paddle or twisted tail that offers some resistance. Long soft lures like sandeel slug from Savage Gear, Slug Go from Lunker City or Picol´eau from Delalande

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seem to be born for this technique, even though jig head´s form and our training on the cordinate movement of both arms is more important. Indeed, I usually get a darting action even by using soft shrimps!

We use the 5 cm Manic Shrimp from Savage Gear (out of catalogue now), rigged on the 7 gr sandeel jig head, and we catch everything until 3 kg weight, includding all kinds of sea bream!

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SPINNING I DARTING ACTION Same jig head but with a 10 cm slug is deadly for dolphin fish, little tunny, mackerel, sea bass, small mediterranean jacks and one year old amberjack. When looking for big Atlantic bonitos with no surface activity we change 10 cm slug for 14 cm one, rigged on a 29 or even 42 gr sandeel jig head. This last pattern is also good for barracudas even though with this fish we can go for a 16 cm lure. Leerfish and amberjacks loves needlefish, so We can use a 20 cm one, rigged on a 42 or 65 gr sandeel jig head.

So We adapt lure and jig head sizes to targeted species and depht, but the technique is more or less the same.

FISHING ACTION Fishing action is quite easy if we choose the correct jig head and we rig a slug lure completely straight. We have to hit energically the rod approximately every second, because we need this time to allow the lure slidding; The “side to side” movement will be imposible to carry out if we will retrieve the lure too fast, so we don´t need tight line between each rod’s hit. In spite of It, depending on the species we want to catch, we will tigh the line; dolphin fish needs completely loose line between hits for a more wide side to side action, but sea bass likes a slowly “walking the dog” action with no drop, with some spin stops so we have to keep some tigh line. If we choose a fast action rod we will make the lure works better, because a small effort on the hit is going to move the lure, but we have to adapt the rod to the jig head’s weight, line strenght and targeted species. A short rod owning a long ISSUE 1

handle with some weight on the rear makes movements more easy. Braided line is needed, because monofilament loose the strenght of our hits and we have to hit more strong on a long and tiring fishing day. Anyway, you know, I´m trying to show you the basis of darting, but you must try and adapt this technique to your species and spots. BF

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Antonino Oddamo’s tips for starting Eging Game Eging, a word that for many years has been on the mouth of many fishermen and that every year sees more and more proselytes. But what exactly does this technique involve? Let’s go into more detail by analyzing a whole series of small tricks that are very important to make the difference.

Text & photos: Antonino Oddamo

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EGING I ANTONINO ODDAMO’S TIPS

BEST TIME AND PERIODS Like any fishing technique, Eging has ideal periods and times to be practiced. The best period runs from October to May, indeed with the drop in temperatures prey size, rather small in October, will gradually increase as the months pass till reaching the end of season when big squids and large cuttlefish will approach the coast to lay their eggs. Best times are those at night so the ideal is to go fishing at sunset or a few hours before dawn.

LIGHT EQUIPMENT

diameter, thus avoiding a direct contact between braid and bottom’s stones.

FISHING ACTION Fishing action for this technique can be compared to a spinning-like one, indeed, spinning for cephalopods. After casting our lure we will make it falling down to the bottom (I always recommend starting from the bottom with line in tension so to feel a possible squid’s attack, cephalopod that usually attacks on fall) after this we will begin with a recovery accompanied by some jerks upward so as to let our

Eging is a fishing technique based on lightness and sensitivity; therefore it requires specific equipment capable of making us managing egi in the best way.

Rods that I usually recommend are of a length ranging between 8 and 8.6 feet with a casting weight allowing you to manage egi from 2.0 up to a maximum of 3.0-3.5. Reels should instead be of size 2500-3000 with a perfect spooling in order to avoid annoying tangles with braided line. This must be very thin with a diameter ranging between a 0.8 and 0.10, thus for having more castability and sensitivity. Finally we are going to tie a 30-40 cm fluorocarbon leader of a 0.26 ISSUE 1

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EGING I ANTONINO ODDAMO’S TIPS artificial skip. Remember of never leaving the line loose, otherwise you will lose contact with your egi and then, in the event of an attack, you will not be able to feel it thus losing the opportunity to hook the prey on time.

Squids and cuttlefish, even if they are animals having many characteristics in common, usually swim in different water layers and it is just playing on this feature that we can target one species or the other. Cuttlefish love to stay close to the bottom, while squids love to move continuously, changing suddenly water layers, looking for preys. That said, if our target is represented by cuttlefish we will make a slower fishing action with our egi staying close to the bottom. If our target is represented by squids, we will make a more active fishing action with our egi “skipping” at different water layers.

This action will be accompanied by some short pauses.

STRIKE! A fundamental thing is to always strike our prey. I often see fishermen who strike slowly or even not doing it 48

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EGING I ANTONINO ODDAMO’S TIPS

at all for the fear of tearing tentacles, well I can assure you that the prey must be striked decisively! The possibility of tearing tentacles by fishing with an eging rod is very low because these rods own a very soft action that serves precisely for not unhooking the prey. Once felt the cephalopod’s attack we will wait a moment maybe accompanying the rod towards it for a few centimeters, so to make our lure being “embraced” well by the cephalopod and then we will make a decisive strike. Once our prey is hooked we will start the recovery that will have to be linear and rigorously with the rod pointing upward.

affected both by winds and currents.

Therefore, we will always try to go to sea with the absence of wind or in any case with light wind or behind us that will even help us to gain a few meters in the casting phase. As for the sea instead when it is calm is to be preferred, even a slight undertow is not bad, indeed

BEST CONDITIONS Assuming that weather conditions are important for all types of fishing the eging, being a light game, is particular ISSUE 1

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EGING I ANTONINO ODDAMO’S TIPS many times it stimulates big cephalopods to be more active. Whereas, obviously, sea which is too turbid or otherwise too rough is not very profitable also because it brings many problems during the fishing action making us lose lot of sensitivity.

LURE SELECTION The first doubt that all fishermen pose is always that, how do I choose the lure to use? Well obviously in our box we need to have a bit of everything, so egi of different sizes, colors and brands, after this the first thing that determines the choice is, in my opinion, the size.

SIZE SELECTION Size choice is based on many factors: weather, spot, period and activity of cephalopods.

For example, if we notice to have some wind or current or, better, turbid water it is better to fish with a 3.0 or even 3.5 size lure, thus having a more efficient castability and being more visible. Another occasion, where it could be decisive to use small lures of size 2.2 or 2.5 is where we do not feel any bite even by having all right conditions; many times fishing with smaller lures can solve the day.

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COLOR SELECTION Here is another important argument for our selection, color should be chosen according to the conditions. It is not necessary to use super gaudy shades or fluorescent types almost like a light bulb.

They can work as they can also disturb, let’s not forget that cephalopods are nocturnal predators, therefore they see very well! According to my experience, I can tell you that with full moon and the clear water dark colors like brown, red and black are good, whereas with new moon and turbid glow can be one step ahead. Obviously these are not rules and everything can be overturned, the best thing is to try and makes attempts.

Another important matter is that of using good-quality lures!

Rule “You get what you pay for” here’s gold. Cheap lures can obviously give some catches but they do not count since they are not balanced, they have a limited casting range and they do not move well ISSUE 1

in water, therefore they do not catch or catch less. Go fishing and always believe!

This is my motto, we know that going fishing is quite demanding in terms of sacrifices: getting up early, retiring late or even not sleeping as often happens to me, but I can assure you that satisfactions always come for those who can look for them and for those who believe in what they do, always doing it in the best way and never give up! BF

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BIOLOGY

Biology, growth and age detection of the

Pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus)

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BIOLOGY I PINK DENTEX This paper-review will provide the latest data on: biology, growth and age detection of the Pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus), using studies carried out in Croatia, Madeira Archipelago (Portugal) and Canary Islands (Spain) from 1994 to 2012.

Text: Giovanni Bianchini Photos: Archives of B&F International

T

he Pink dentex (Dentex gibbosus) is a benthopelagic sparid species living from 20 to 300 m, usually between 40 and 130 m occurring on rocky and rubble substrata, around wrecks, on steep dropoffs, as well as on rocks surrounded by sand. Juvenile specimens occur closer to shore, while adult individuals are found in deeper waters, up to the limit of the continental shelf (IUCN, 2018; FernandezPalacios et al., 1994). This species is distributed throughout the Mediterranean Sea except for the northwestern coast and the northern Adriatic Sea. It is also distributed in East Atlantic coasts, from the Strait of Gibraltar to Angola, including Madeira Archipelago and the Canary islands (IUCN, 2018; Fernandez-Palacios et al., 1994). The Dentex gibbosus can reach a maximum length of 1.2 m and weight up to 25 kg (Katavic et al., 2000).

The current IGFA all tackle world record for this species is reported to be of 94 cm per 16.2 kg. (IGFA, 2015). The maximum lifespan appears to be of 16-18 years (Grubisic et al., 2007; Pajuelo et al., 1995).

This species, ecologically speaking, belongs to the trophic level 4.1 and its diet is composed by bony fishes, crustaceans

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BIOLOGY I PINK DENTEX and cephalopods (Froese, R.and D. Pauly. 2018. Fishbase; IUCN, 2018). The Pink dentex is a hermaphrodite species although the type of hermaphroditism of this fish is still controversial, since there are several studies that show conflicting evidence about it. Grubisic et al. (2007) concluded that this species is a rudimentary hermaphrodite in the Adriatic Sea. According to Pajuelo et al.

(1995) this species displays protogynous

hermaphroditism in the Canary Islands, whereas Alves & Vasconcelos (2012) reported that Pink dentex in Madeira Archipelago appeared to display protandrous hermaphroditism. In Madeira Archipelago and in The Canary Islands the spawing season occurs from the beginning of May till September with a peak in June and July for both sexes.

Therefore, this species is considered to be a summer spawner. Spawning peaks

The first 2 rays are very short.

All teeth are conical (canines).

The 3rd and 4th rays of the dorsal fin, are very long in young specimens.

Head of a large male of D.gibbosus displaying the typical frontal bump slightly above the height of the eyes.

Above the lateral line and dorsally brown spots are present.

The two very long rays (the 3rd and the 4th) on the dorsal fin, exclusive of young specimens of D.gibbosus, are lost once adulthood is reached.

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BIOLOGY I PINK DENTEX D.gibbosus has conical canines, it’s a carnivore feeding on bony fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.

are reached when the sea temperature is approximately 21-22°C (Alves et al., 2011; Pajuelo et al., 1995). Differently, in the Adriatic Sea the Dentex gibbosus spawns from August till October with a sea temperature ranging from 17.5 °C to 21.5 °C (Grubisic et al., 2007). Regarding sexual maturity it has been recorded, in the Adriatic Sea, that the smallest mature males and females captured were 38.70 cm and 39.80 cm respectively and fifty per cent of the population were sexually mature at 41.50 cm, while 100% of the specimens were sexually mature at 57.00 cm (Grubisic et al., 2007). Pink dentex appeared to mature at a smaller size and a warmer temperature at the Canary Islands and in Madeira Archipelago than in the Adriatic Sea (Grubisic et al., 2007).

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Pagrus pagrus has a different denture able to crush the food.

all the specimens are mature by the fifth year (Pajuelo et al.,1995). In the Madeira Archipelago, 50% of females and males become mature at a smaller size with a total length of 30.9 cm and 32.6 cm respectively (Alves et al., 2010).

Population resilience of Dentex gibbosus is considered to be medium with a minimum population doubling time of 1.4-4.4 years; this species is highly vulnerable to exploitation (Froese, R.and D. Pauly. 2018. Fishbase). A maximum age of 18 years was reported in a study made by Grubisic et al. in 2007 year by using scales as age detector, whereas another study made by Alves et al. in 2012 showed that the maximum age obtained by using whole otoliths was of 11 years. It is possible to detect the age of Dentex gibbosus, although not in such a precise way as with otoliths and scales, by a length/age ratio developed through

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BIOLOGY I PINK DENTEX Adult and juvenile.

Although they belong to the same species (D.gibbosus), their differences are noticeable. These specimens were caught in the same spot.

a study made by Grubisic et al. in 2007. According to this study, specimens of Pink dentex would have 3 years at the length of 40 cm, 6 years at the length of 60 cm, 11 years at the length of 80 cm and 16-18 years at the length of 100 cm and more.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SPORTFISHING As it can be seen from this paper-review, published by the undersigned (which is both a marine biologist and a fisherman) information about this species, regarding the Mediterranean basin, are very few 56

and limited to the Adriatic Sea. Generally, it can be guessed that information provided by studies made in the Madeira Archipelago, compared to the Canary Islands’ ones, are the most reliable.

Indeed, this region is the closest, in terms of latitude, to some locations of the Mediterranean Sea. Data coming from the Adriatic Sea need to be taken into consideration as well, since this location is set into the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, the reproductive period and sexual maturity data reported below are a result of cross data between the Madeira Archipelago and the Adriatic Sea. The

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BIOLOGY I PINK DENTEX minimum legal size, which can vary from one country to another, undoubtedly need to be respected but, most of the time, it is largely underestimated compared to Mother Nature’s laws. Specifically, for the Pink dentex the minimum biological size, that is the size at which the fish has had the chance to reproduce at least once, is of 45 cm. This measure must be respected in order to safeguard the future of this species. Another note concerns the reproductive period of this species which in the Mediterranean Sea should run from June to August. At this time of the year it is better to reduce catches to a single specimen per boat per day. Indeed, during this period females are loaded with eggs and males are extremely vulnerable because of their over aggressiveness due to the defence of their harem from any intruder.

Out of that period it would be a good rule to do not make more pickups by the same hot spot but to have more hot spots available so that they can be inspected by rotation. Moreover, I remind that every fisherman is allowed to fish up to a maximum of 5kg or one fish of higher weight per day. By respecting these 4 simple “rules” each of us, in its small, will help safeguarding the populations of this beautiful fish in the years to come.

profile. The head is massive, especially in adult males, where a more or less prominent frontal bump develops. The mouth is wide and it is fitted, in both jaws, with exclusively conical teeth, more or less large, including 4-5 larger and caniniformes, at the front of both jaws. The dorsal fin has the first part with twelve spiny rays with the first two very short whereas the third, the fourth and the fifth are very long and end with

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DENTEX GIBBOSUS AND PAGRUS PAGRUS Dentex gibbosus

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BIOLOGY I PINK DENTEX a filament in the young specimens. The second part has 10 soft rays ending in a pointed lobe. The anal fin (3 spiny and 8 soft rays) is opposite to the soft side of the dorsal, which it resembles but is less extensive. Pectoral fins (14 rays) are long and slightly falciform. Ventral fins have 1 spiny and 5 soft rays (of which the first one is prolonged in a filament in young specimen) are wide and long as the pectoral ones. The caudal fin is robust and strong, with pointed and separate lobes.

The body colour is pink, more intense in the dorsal region and on the top of the head, which tends to silver along the sides and to white in the lower parts, with

metallic iridescences on the head’s sides.

Above the lateral line and dorsally brown spots are present. Fins are yellowish or reddish marginalized or spotted in orange red. At the base of pectoral fins there is a red-brown spot.

Pagrus pagrus

Body is oval, compressed laterally, with a robust head having a sharply descending profile. Mouth is small and terminal. In the upper jaw there are several rows of small cardiform teeth, externally surrounded by more robust canines, with the four fronts stronger and more developed. On the sides and behind, two

Typical feature of P. pagrus is the presence of two spots at the extremities of the caudal fin.

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BIOLOGY I PINK DENTEX rows of molars are observed, of which the centrals are bigger. The dorsal fin has the first part with 12 spiny rays, the first two of which are developed (the second is slightly lower than the third), and the second part with 9-12 soft rays.

The anal fin has 3 spiny and 8-9 soft rays; it is well developed and is opposed to the soft part of the dorsal fin, but it ends slightly backwards.

Pectoral fins (15 rays) are sickle-shaped extending slightly beyond the anal opening. Ventral fins (1 developed spiny and 5 soft rays) are large, but smaller than pectoral ones. The caudal fin (23-27 rays) is large, strong with pointed lobes.

The color is purple red on the back, yellow gold ventrally and laterally.

Caudal fin’s extremities are white and the central rim of the hollow is black. BF

REFERENCES -Alves, A. & Vasconcelos J. 2012. Age and growth of the pink dentex Dentex gibbosus (Rafinesque, 1810) caught off the Madeira Archipelago. Arquipelago.

Life and Marine Sciences 30, 1-9.

-Alves, A., Faria, G., Reis, R., Pinto, A.R., Vieira, S. 2011. Aspects of Reproduction in pink dentex Dentex gibbosus (Rafinesque, 1810) from the Archipelago of Madeira in the northeast Atlantic.

Arquipelago. Life and Marine Sciences 28, 71-82.

-Alves, A. & Vasconcelos, J. 2010. Comparative analysis of the reproduction between two sparidae, Pagrus pagrus and Dentex gibbosus, caught of the Madeira Archipelago. Poster -Fernandez-Palacios, H., Montero, D., Socorro, J., Izquierdo, M.S., Vergara, J.M. 1994. First studies on spawning, embryonic and larval development of Dentex gibbosus (Rafkesque, 18 10) (Osteichthyes, Sparidae) under controlled conditions. Aquaculture, 122, 63-73 ISSUE 1

-Froese, R.and D. Pauly. 2018. Fishbase -Grubisic, L., Mrcelic, G.J., Skakelja, N., Katavic, I., Ticina, V., Sliskovic M. 2007. Reproductive biology of pink dentex Dentex gibbosus (Rafinesque) from the Adriatic Sea, Croatia. Aquaculture Research, 38, 991-1001 -IGFA. Database of IGFA angling records. IGFA, Fort Lauderdale, USA -IUCN 2018. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-1. http://www.iucnredlist.org.

-Katavic, I.,Grubisic, L., Skakelja, N. 2000. Growth performance of pink dentex as compared to four other sparids reared in marine cages in Croatia.

Aquaculture International, 8, 455-461 -Pajuelo, J.G. & Lorenzo, J.M.1995. Biological parameters reflecting the current state of the exploited pink dentex Dentex gibbosus (Pisces: Sparidae) population off the Canary islands. African Journal of Marine Science, 16, 311-319

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BOTTOM FISHING

Bottom fishing for

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Large Gilthead Seabreams!

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BOTTOM FISHING I LARGE GILTHEAD SEABREAMS Winter often exalts the dynamism of some of the most interesting species of our sea bottoms; among these we surely find the Gilthead seabream, a difficult and coveted prey that can even make the most expert anglers lose their heads. Degree thesis of a boat enthusiast, indeed catching an adult Gilthead sebream rarely disregards from a practically perfect fishing action, where to the inevitable technical aspect knowledge and sense of water are added.

Therefore, to make this consolidated axiom a reality, fundamental factors such as rigging, pasturing, equipment choice and positioning on the fishing spot are fundamental. Let’s see below how to conduct to the best a kind of fishing voted in search of one of the finest Sparids of the Mediterranean.

Text & photos: Rino Scalzo

RIGHT SPOTS Finding the spot and especially placing the boat on the fishing spot it is a critical, and it must be the primary operation of the day in order to obtain the desired results. The ideal substratum usually consists by a fairly articulated shoal, with prevalence of rocks or coralligenous together with posidonia meadows or small muddy glades.These spots, which are the ideal habitat for large Gilthead sebreams can be placed at depths never excessive, meaning in the order of 20\50 m and at distances from shore that sometimes may even appear minimal for a bottom fishing session. Once identified the right spot, you will have two precise options regarding the positioning of the boat. Indeed, by proceeding for a careful seabed’s scouting we will identify first the shoal’s top, then ridges until you reach the shoal’s extremities of softer

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BOTTOM FISHING I LARGE GILTHEAD SEABREAMS mud. Taken references of the case, the area to be approached will be selected by a careful scouting of what is reported by the fishfinder. Kept in mind the nature of nomad grazer and especially the action of recall carried out by our pasturing action, we will first assess the possible (and deleterious) presence of disturbing fish, which usually focuses on top of the spot.

In presence of evident activity of bogues, blotched picarels, horse mackerels and other hungry shoals of small pelagic fish, then, rather than acting on the shoal’s top we will shift our attention to the outer parts of the spot, just where the fishfinder will show an apparently sterile and smooth stretch. In addiction of what previously said, the roaming Gilthead seabreams will not disdain to follow the pasture’s aroma and tracing our baits even near areas apparently not very profitable as the one just described.

RODS AND REELS By chasing a naturally suspicious prey such as the Gilthead seabream, it will go without saying that fishing action will be “maximized” through the care of every particular part of the equipment.

Leaving aside, for a moment, leaders and hooks that will be discussed in the next paragraph, in this case to better express our fishing action and increase the chances of success will be necessary to calibrate the choice of rods and reels.

Starting from rods, for this technique we will only target tools whose length will never be less than 4 meters, thus allowing us to have in our hands a tool able to easily fight large fish and well managing long leaders. To be suitable, the rod must also have a blank with 62

specific characteristics that express, in unison, the lifting power so as to “hold” the fish on the place where it is hooked and, at the same time, that progressivity under effort to facilitate us while fighting large preys. Among the best traceable equipment on the market, our rods designed for anchored drifting will

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BOTTOM FISHING I LARGE GILTHEAD SEABREAMS preferably be chosen in the strong version.

In absence of these specific models, even the common bottom fishing (bolentino) rods capable of handling about 150 gr. of lead will serve to the scope. Concerning recoveries, notwithstanding the classic bottom fishing reel (large spool, low gear ratio, etc.) an essential factor for this kind of technique is taken by the choice of line to be rolled onto.

Excluding a priori any type of braided line, always too “hard” on prey’s head bumps, even in conditions of good current it will be better to use nylon or fluorocoated with a diameter ranging from 0.30 to 0.35, obviously to be proportioned with the leaders used and to the different weather and sea conditions.

HOOKS AND LEADERS It goes without saying that for targeting prey of such size the leaders’ packaging will strive for its technical perfection, by creating

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BOTTOM FISHING I LARGE GILTHEAD SEABREAMS sizes, in a more “all round” pattern we will opt for hooks of fairly small size, ranging between 1 and 1\0. Line choice is similarly univocal since, for armrests dedicated to these noble Sparids, we will opt exclusively for fluorocarbon, more resistant to abrasion than nylon.

Regarding diameters, by keeping in mind the suspiciousness of our preys but also the harsh environment where we are going to fish them, we can evaluate a half solution starting from a 0.30.

This diameter can be increased up to a maximum of 0.36-0.38 in case of fish on feeding frenzy or extra large specimens.

ONE..OR TWO

irreproachable lines especially regarding accessories. Starting from hooks and by knowing the terrible palate to which they will deal with, we will look for models surely robust, characterized by the classic slightly inwards beak tip, with a fairly thick body and a barb able to provide a bomb-proof grip. Regarding sizes, bearing in mind the rigs to be proposed, although adult Gilthead seabreams have a mouth worthy for the highest hook

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Once selected the appropriate accessories, for fishing the “queens” of the bottom we will use two classic line types. The simplest one will be constituted by a sliding long armrest (150-200 cm) that will work under the lead and in close contact with the bottom.

For its realization it will be sufficient to start from a reliable perfection loop connected to a double swivel of a divergent short boom (10 cm) through a piece of silicone and a consequent antitangle braid. Set up in the name of simplicity, this type of terminal will often

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BOTTOM FISHING I LARGE GILTHEAD SEABREAMS reveal to be the most captivating not only thanks to a better bait presentation but also because it will allow the fish to taste our bait without being affected by any lead-created traction. Whereas, for following a “harder” and more generic fishing we will use the classic “Genoese” scheme with two 100-120 cm long armrests to be applied through reliable interchangeable joints like Vertigo or Stonfo Beads. Apparently less effective than the aforementioned sliding frame, this type of line will reveal winning in precise environmental conditions, like rough sea and medium-strong current or when we are dealing with fish on food frenzy.

BAITS AND RIGS Substantially omnivorous, the Gilthead seabream can be tempted through a broad spectrum of baits. Ranging from the most classic sardine to the most difficult sea cucumber we can say that it can like almost everything especially during the spawning period, moment where fish are definitely less picky. Given this, for a fishing session dedicated to these sparids it will be good to have with us oily baits like sardine, soft ones like the mussel’s pulp along with more

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resistant ones such as the squid’s tentacles and head or the whole shelled hermit crab. If you want to propose even more leathery baits able to resist well to small fish’s bites, choice will fall instead on the classic “armored” baits like the crab or the whole mussel. In presence of such a varied “bait park”, especially if we use more than one rod at fishing, we will be able to speed up our cognitive action about fish’s daily predilections and adjust ourselves accordingly. Rigging ultra soft baits such as mussel’s pulp requires a certain manual skill and a good degree of application for the correct bait rigging. Notwithstanding that not

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all anglers have the patience to devote themselves to such delicate rigs, with a minimum of inventiveness and manual skill it is possible to effectively solve the problem. By recycling accessories that have nothing to do with bottom fishing technique such as old bombards or unused waggler floats, we can rapidly create “ad hoc� tools able to support us well in the operation. In this case, in fact, it will be sufficient to insert, integrally, one or two strong rigging needles inside the body of one of the aforementioned accessory and block everything with a few drops of cyanoacrylate glue. This way we will obtain a solid, ergonomic, easy to handle support that is simply perfect for the containment and subsequent handling of the slippery mussel pulp.

PASTURING The pasturing action is essential for Gilthead seabream fishing and will require the use of a quick-release feeder thanks to which, current permitting, will 66

create an attractive grazing area made of fragrant mussels and oily chunks of sardine both offered in equal measure.

For this purpose, the quick-release feeder will be well stuffed with roughly crushed mussels, some whole mussels together with pieces of sardine roughly cut. In this sense, the idea is not only to diversify the organoleptic recall but to offer to current flows lighter and fluctuating fragments of shell and pieces of mussel pulp so as to widen the action range and the interception area of the fish. When the fishing action has started, it will be clearly enriched at least with a release every half hour.

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BOTTOM FISHING I LARGE GILTHEAD SEABREAMS some whole ones. After having pastured the bottom area through a couple of copious “release” we will start the proper fishing action. Since it is essentially a waiting technique, we will use from two to four rods, differentiating them by rigs, leader’s diameters and possibly lead sizes. Once in fishing, bearing in mind that the Gilthead seabream almost never will make the drag “sing” with uncontrollable escapes “dentex style”, indeed we will have to be “always ahead of the game” carefully looking at our rod’s tips. Sign of its presence, in fact, will be given by delicate bites detectable on our rod’s tip usually followed by a slight tip’s curve or by a, less recurrent, very short “sing” of the drag rigorously set almost on free. In any case, once the bite has been identified, we will do anything different than taking the rod in our hands, indulging the bait’s taste until a continuous line pulling will advise us to make a slow strike. BF

FISHING ACTION Simpler than you think, by searching Gilthead seabreams on the bottom, the actual fishing action will not be so much different from what you have already done before with a normal bottom fishng (bolentino) fishing session. Considering that the fish research will be carried out in close contact with the seabed and that we will not have to act in anchored drifting, once the boat is positioned on the perpendicular of the selected area, we will begin the normal chunking operation. In this case the main tool will be the quick-release feeder stuffed with pieces of sardine coarsely cut mixed with ISSUE 1

FISHING & WEATHER Experience has taught us that Gilthead seabream’s feeding activity seems to increase exponentially in presence of some precise meteorological conditions.

Indeed, like almost all marine species, these Sparids are notoriously very sensitive to changes in tides, currents and even atmospheric pressure, variations that inevitably affect the general conditions of their habitat. South-East winds and medium-low intensity currents seem to be the best conditions, whereas cold and sterile North-East wind or calm sea conditions appears to be less favorable.

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LIVE BAIT TROLLING

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LIVE BAIT TROLLING I BIG AMBERJACKS The big Amberjack, dream target of all fishermen who are dedicated to Live bait trolling technique and not only. Below you will find a series of tips and tricks, resulting from my experience, to prevail on large specimens, the most cunning and difficult to convince biting our rigged live baits.

Text & photos: Frederic Caliendo (Saint Florent Charter Fishing)

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ased in Corsica and more precisely in the Gulf of Saint-Florent, today a natural park, stands the Saint-Florent Fishing Charter. In this small Eden enclosed between the rocky cliffs of Cape Corso and the white sandy beaches of Lodu, Saleccia and others it is still possible to catch all species of fish.

Among these, there is one in particular that torment my mind even before organizing a fishing trip or that makes me dreaming of it during the trip to the fishing spot, I’m talking about the big Amberjack. It is not uncommon to fish many individuals on the same day because, especially in Spring, they are in schools assembled by specimens having equal weight and size. In particular I want to talk about how to target the trophy specimen, the dream of all fishermen, those ranging in size between 30 and 40 kg and even more. To target these heavyweights only one technique seems valid: the Live bait trolling.

First of all it is necessary to find live

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baits; these will be constituted by big sized fish or cephalopods, preferring large Squids, Mackerels, Mullets and Atlantic bonitos. Once got our live baits it will be time to look for the most suitable fishing area generally consisting of rocky bottoms and relatively little frequented by the incessant nautical traffic. Personally, I prefer to make a “divided weighting” putting leads at equidistance from each other; I use a 10 meters long fluorcarbon leader of about 50 lbs connected, through a 90 lbs swivel, to a 20 m long nylon having the same diameter. Another swivel will be used to connect nylon with 2.0 PE braid. I prefer to use swivels rather than knots for a comfort matter, in case I need to change or the nylon (damaged by rubbing on the bottom’s rocks) or the leader (damaged by the bony plates present in the Amberjack’s mouth). Concerning hooks, I usually make a rig constituted by 2 hooks of 6/0 -7/0 size for rigging squids and mullets, whereas for rigging Atlantic bonitos I use a Catalina rig with a unique hook 70

of 7/0 size. Concerning leads’ weight and the distance at which they will be positioned, this will depend on the depth at which we will decide to fish as well as the trolling speed. Obviously the lead will not station at the same depth if trolled at 1 knot or 2 knots, in the same way if the current will be frontal it will shift the weighting upwards, on the contrary if the current will be posterior it will move it downwards. I strongly advise you to carry out tests on a sandy bottom to determine exactly the depth reached at fishing based on your lead’s weight and current’s direction. Generally, I use a first 150 gr lead placed at 30 meters from our live bait, then I will give another 20 meters and I place another lead, this time of 100 gr, successively I will release another 20 meters and I will place another 100 gr lead for finally releasing other 40 meters of line. I drive the boat so that the bait will

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swim between 25 and 30 meters deep, all in order to distance the line as much as possible from the boat engines’ noise, because these fish are very suspicious, especially larger ones. I always fish with the reel’s drag on “free” so as not to oppose any resistance at the biting time.

Big amberjacks in fact 8 times out of 10 tends to behave as follows: the first time they grab the bait in the mouth dragging it for a few meters, this to detect if there is any resistance, then they spit out the bait, the second time they will again grab the bait dragging it for a few more meters. If they do not feel any resistance even in this case they will reattach the bait swallowing it for then producing in ISSUE 1

furious escape. We will bring the drag lever on “strike” only when the fish will finish its first long escape and, only at that point, we will strike vigorously. If you have other rods in fishing do not hesitate to take them back quickly to be able to fight the fish in peace and safety. Fishing for big Amberjacks requires a lot of perseverance and self-denial but the day when all parameters and conditions will be combined; among with a small dose of luck then you will experience all the emotions that only a great amberjack is able to give. But above all you will have the desire to go again back to the sea searching for the big Amberjack. BF

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LIVE BAIT TROLLING I SPARIDS IN THE DEEP Live bait trolling during winter time is a difficult and complex technique; this due to meteorological factors and to difficulties encountered in carrying out the fishing action at great depth. One thing however is sure that, especially with Common dentex and Red porgies, we can have great satisfactions that can even make us forget the cold days typical of this period.

Text & photos: Maurizio Pastacaldi

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e are all aware that fish do not live in a single water layer; they swim, chase, station and hunt. This is due to external factors such as the presence of baitfish, water temperature, tide, weather patterns. Therefore, it will be up to the fisherman to find them and to somehow manage to make the baits work in those spots suggested by the fishfinder. During winter time climate’s harsh and it is not easy to go out to the sea, after so many days on the dock, finally the returns of high pressure conditions and in particular, the fishing desire. This forced abstinence

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made us engineering and devising tricks for being able to sink our baits through the timeless lead guardian and results are not slow in coming. We have set this fishing session on a single common denominator, the search of bottom fish, especially Sparids. Experience teaches us that when waters are cold, Mediterranean preys use stationing on shoals, wrecks and in drops that fall steady from less than 45 meters to more than 80 meters deep, always in the frantic search of food.

This tapered lead known as “guardian lead” is considered to be, without any

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doubt, the pioneer of sinking methods for live bait trolling.

The choice has fallen on the timeless “guardian” because in our case you will have to make the baits working in those deep places where you could hardly access with any other sinking systems

and in case of trouble, there is a minor damage risk not only for the fishing line but also for our wallet. Better not to think what could happen with downrigger’s lead and cable stranded on a ridge or, even worse, in a wreck’s hatch!

SPARIDS AND SURPRISES Sparids, when on a frenzy, like to gather on shoal’s eges setting ambushes for baitfish. Often, by passing with our bait nearby, our cephalopod becomes a real delicacy for everyone. Not only dentex and red porgies but also minor Sparids like Black seabream, Common pandoras and Blackspot seabreams; their ravenous greed sometimes leads them to polish off large baits dedicated to their “older brothers”. As proof of their greedy there are specimen’s dimensions and appearance that, at this time of the year, come to the surface: squat, potbellied and roundish; this article’s photos are certainly proof of this!

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LIVE BAIT TROLLING I SPARIDS IN THE DEEP bottom as fast as possible without releasing meters and meters of braided line in water. Established both speed and fishing area....time has come to get serious and put the bait in the water. By placing the lever drag on “free”, trhough the guardian lead’s weight, we will make it going down until we will feel the lead has arrived to the bottom. At this point, once the lever drag has been adjusted, we will retrieve bit of line with a few reel handle’s turns so to detach our bait from the bottom. At this time of year, fishing action should be set at very close contact with the seabed; ideal areas are those constituted by rocks, shoals and wrecks

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places where predators usually like to station in search of baitfish. When our prey is on food frenzy, it generally grabs the bait decisively and run for the first escape. Sometimes, however, some “experienced” specimens start playing with the vivid bite; this particular behavior can be noticed on board by small hits on the rod’s tip. In this case, in order not to the fail the strike, we will have to loosen the line by acting on the lever drag or by lowering the rod’s tip towards the surface of the sea in order to make the bait been ingested by our prey. Only then it will be time to strike!

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THE RIG In order to reach relevant depths, we have chosen to spool, onto our reel, a braided line. For better feeling bites and having less friction in cutting water, the choice fell on 40 lbs. It is a key factor for deep fishing since it is more reactive both during the strike phase and the fight. For connecting our braid to the fluorocarbon leader we use the “Co Co” connection. It is a new junction method that, besides being super resistant, allows you to easily recover the line up to the apex without any impediment. A note; fishing around -50 meters deserves to use a leader of maximum 15 meters long in order to have an immediate contact with the prey, especially at the strike phase. A special attention goes to the lead. Weights of the “guardian”, in order to go in deep, will range between 750 grams and 1 kg. It is good use to tie to our lead 1,5 meter long monofilament 76

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LIVE BAIT TROLLING I SPARIDS IN THE DEEP of 0,40 diameter so, in case of a problem, line will break and we will lose only the guardian lead. A practical solution to attack the lead to the line is to adopt a swivel with a special open snap. For the rig we will use the classic 2-hook with the head one slide so you can adjust it and make it suitable for any bait. Bait; a single imperative, only Cephalopods! But this will be the argument of a future article.

Big Black seabreams and Common pandoras can remain attracted by a nice live squid.

THE RED PORGY The most coveted prey of this technique is surely the Red porgy. Let’s have a closer look to the salient features of this wonderful Sparid species. Body is oval, compressed with a massive head having a curved and descending profile with a marked mouth in the lower part. In the front part of the jaw there are rows of small cardiform teeth where, on sides, robust canine teeth are present. Palate is equipped with two or three rows of large molars. It has a unique dorsal fin consisting of 12 spiny rays, while the anal fin has only three spines. Back color is red pinkish and in some points tending to purple; ventral part is silver with gold stripes. Tail is stocky and robust and fins’ tips are silvery white edged with black.

It is a species not so widespread in the Mediterranean basin, but well sought after, especially by gourmets. It lives in coastal areas near the bottom, above all where algae and posidonia accumulate, in sandy bottoms mixed with rock and coral.

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away from the coast and settles on very high depths while during spring months it comes back for reproduction. They feed mainly on crustaceans and mollusks having their greatest feeding activity at sunset. BF

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LIGHT DRIFTING

Early Spring

Atlantic Bonitos At this time of the year is still possible to look for Atlantic Bonitos, generally of a good size, with the fishing technique of light drifting.

The possibility of meeting large specimens is a reason enough to organize fishing sessions expressly dedicated to the Sarda Sarda.

Text & photos: Cristiano Lagostena

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owadays, filling up with fuel a medium size boat, around eight meters, has become a real drain. Those who are lucky enough to make numerous fishing trips throughout the year take this, not insignificant, factor into consideration trying to optimize the fishing passion with this precious resource’s cost. As consequence of this it is normal to rediscover techniques, which in the summer are put a little in the background in favor of Big game ones, like Light drifting for Atlantic bonitos. Surely one of the best Hot Spots around the Tyrrhenian Sea is rapresented by the outer part of the Genoa’s port. This is a very ancient, centenary port with a considerable depth. Indeed, just a few meters off the port’s dam,

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LIGHT DRIFTING I ATLANTIC BONITOS

we already have bathymetric of over thirty meters. Not only that, there are numerous “current spins” that favor the suspension of microorganisms (such as Krill), making this small but important stretch of sea rich in fish. Obviously, with all this abundance of baitfish, the predator’s concentration as Atlantic bonitos will be high as well. The technique that without

any doubt gives more satisfaction, given the renowned combativeness of this fish, is the light drifting. Fishing technique that consists in placing the bait in the fish chum we made. It can also be done without anchoring, but this only in days with low current and wind. Chunking in those areas frequented by this predator will easily attract schools keeping and

TRICKS OF THE TRADE As we know Atlantic bonito is a very clever and suspicious fish. Fishing it in clear water is essential to use very thin fluorocarbon leaders, generally from a minimum of 0.18 to a maximum of 0.26 mm. This fish is also equipped with formidable and efficient teeth. Therefore, will build leaders “at Hoc”, with the final part (last 10 cm) increased in diameter (0,40 mm nylon or braided line), interposing between the two segments, a micro swivel. It is fundamental to hide this increased diameter within the rig. Just make some “turns of thread” on the end of our sardine slice, ending with a loop that prevents the extraction of the increased nylon, during the fishing action.

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From this particular rig also derives the fishing action we will have to set up. It is essential to set our reel’s drag as open as possible, practically on free. Thus, because the Atlantic bonito when feels the slightest abnormal resistance immediately renounces attacking our baits.

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LIGHT DRIFTING I ATLANTIC BONITOS The most important component for the success of the fishing action is the rod. This must have a length ranging between 4 and 5 meters, fast action with a good reserve of power on the blank thus helping us during the fights with the strong Atlantic bonitos.

maintaining them on the chum even for long stretches. Rods to use will have a length of around 4 meters, allowing us to make the necessary casts to distance the bait from the boat and making it descend softly to the desired depth. Best bait is sardine, the more its movements will turn out to be natural, the more attractive it will be for Atlantic bonitos, especially in those moments when fish are suspicious

and listless. Even pasture, which we will use as call will mainly consist of sardines, which we will be prepared by cutting them into pieces of different sizes.

Fine pasture composed by compressed sardines and then thickened with fishmeal or simple sand will be assisted, during the fishing action, with the release of small slices of sardine in current. This will attract on the surface needlefish and

1. Leaders: it is advisable to have a good stock of leaders, previously prepared, in order to optimize the fishing action by choosing the right one at the right time.

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2. From pictures you can perceive how close to the breakwater of Genoa’s port these magnificent predators can be fished.

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LIGHT DRIFTING I ATLANTIC BONITOS chub mackerels, in order for them do not bother our fishing action. In lower water layers, over ten meters, only pasture’s smell will come. Naturally, this will be not enough for the ravenous Atlantic bonitos, so a regular and constant throw of sardines in pieces, will make them enter on feeding frenzy. Crazy and excited by the thing, they will not hesitate to grab our baits fluctuating in current.

Great attention must be paid to the strike phase. Atlantic bonito, by nature, is a very smart and suspicious predator, when it attacks our bait, if it would feel even the smallest resistance, it will immediately let the bait go. So we must always remember, once placed the rod in the rod holder, to set the reel’s drag on free, going to strike only few seconds after the first rush of the fish. BF

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INCHIKU

Heavy Inchiku Looking for the big hit!

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INCHIKU I LOOKING FOR THE BIG HIT Starting from the fact that fishing, as it would be said in physics, is a dynamic and constantly evolving system, sometimes we face with situations and places where it is obligatory to abandon traditional schemes and canons if we want to prevail on preys of great value and size.

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here have been many techniques that, if properly modified and adapted to circumstances, have given excellent results revealing decisively different implications from the applications and the purposes for which they were conceived. In this case, I’m talking about inchiku, a technique of Japanese origin that is generally classified within the group of those disciplines defined as

“light jigging”. In reality this technique, if well adapted to our needs aiming for the biggest and most powerful preys we can look for in the Mediterranean, with the word “light” has nothing to do. But rather, must be well conceived for facing fights that are often carried, inevitably, till extreme limits. Just look at hooks and assist lines with which inchiku lures are distributed on the market, to understand that at the Large sized Pink dentex are one of the dream targets of those who practice this technique

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beginning these lures were designed for catching small and medium size preys, like some sparids from the predominant benthic habits. However, these lure which in shape resembles an ogive, but with different aspects typical of the single model taken in exam, in our sea and beyond have proven to be particularly luring for many preys among the most important and large. In many areas of the Mediterranean, inchiku lures are often deadly not only for small and medium-sized fish, but for groupers of all species and sizes, large pink dentex, red porgies, common dentex, up to great amberjacks and bluefin tunas. There was lot of talking about fish’s jig addiction that in many places of Our Sea has characterized the vertical jigging technique, although in recent years it is returning to give great results, in many areas and for long periods it has been unproductive.

Incredibly, same fate did not happen for the inchiku (or in any case it happened to a lesser extent compared to vertical jigging). Inchiku continues to be a highly effective technique often donating unforgettable fishing days to those who believe in it, even when vertical jigging

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1. This screenshot, made by using a Raymarine CP470 and B265LM probe, shows a very interesting situation for the Inchiku fishing; in fact, on the summit of a rocky shoal (located just under 30 m) we see interesting predators in activity.

We can also notice the -zoom- function (left side of the screen), always excellent to have more details of the area near the bottom. 2. Nice medley of inchiku lures

results, oriented to same preys, are very scarce.

Personally, I asked myself dozens of times why in many circumstances there is such a noticeable difference in performances between classic vertical jigging and inchiku techniques and, like probably many of you, I could not find a certain answer but, instead, only making some possible hypotheses. Perhaps a metal jig plays its effectiveness more on the surprise effect, provoking fish for territoriality, or turning on its predatory

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instincts with particular movements? This can work both when the predator is in feeding frenzy as when it is in stasis phases, but these characteristics lose effective as soon as the “game� is repeated many times. But then, why the same does not happen for some inchiku? I found a possible answer during a fishing day few months ago, in which occasion the inchiku was revealing to be very good and on many different species. I noticed, in fact, that four fish out of ten hooked, once on board,

have regurgitated several common and musky octopus (among these a large dusky grouper has regurgitated an over kilo one). From this event the question arose: could the octopus, so mobile and floating next to the metal part, be the real added value that makes the difference compared to metal jigs? Obviously, the metal part of the inchiku, its movement and how it is animated is also very important (it is not a coincidence that some models in the Mediterranean work much

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INCHIKU I LOOKING FOR THE BIG HIT A large Dusky grouper, fished with the heavy inchiku technique, once on board had regurgitated a large octopus.

better than others). But the octopus is a fundamental part of the lure itself that, in the whole, perhaps reminds of some cephalopods the fish feeds on. Therefore, in addition to all the valid metal jig’s characteristics, inchiku sometimes induces the predator attack because it reminds it of some of its typical preys.

FROM LIGHT TO SUPER STRONG We said that inchiku lures are deadly for big predators, but if these are our “target”, it goes without saying that it is imperative to customize our baits with sturdier accessories, unless we want to lose a large number of fish and lures. We often talk about light tackle and maximum sportiness, but let’s do not 88

forget that leaving a lure or a big hook to a fish, just because you wanted to “play”, using lines that are too thin, in my opinion is not sporty at all. If we want to target large preys successfully, the lines to choose must be adequate and the same is true even if we talk about inchiku.

Hooking a big amberjack, a big pink dentex running like a train to reach the bottom, or fighting a Dusky grouper, maybe over 20 kilos, pointing his den like a fury, it’s not easy.

While customizing our inchiku, choosing lines and equipment we must bear in mind that we will aim for these fish and, once hooked, we will have won only if the fish will come aboard! First thing to do, after choosing the baits we like, is to modify it.

Therefore, we will remove the small hooks born for other preys that would open with the first run of one of the preys we are looking for, and then on the same way we will replace the too thin assist line that ties them. Hooks used will be the vertical jigging ones, born for large preys and hard fights. We will repeat the original inchiku’s assembling with two hooks that will be very strong and in sizes ranging between 2/0 and 4/0. Certainly, hook sizes, depending on the brand, are not all the same and it is difficult to give standard indications. Using sturdy little hooks you try to have a lighter hooking system that hook large preys in deep, but this is not always easy. Personally, after having seen many hooks

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INCHIKU I LOOKING FOR THE BIG HIT opened or broken I prefer to choice, like for vertical jigging, larger hooks with a wide curve that often guaranteeing a firmer grip and characterized by a very hard and penetrating tip.

Hooks in this case will be chosen between a 4/0 and a 9/0 size (depending on the model) and, in order to not unbalancing the lure too much, it will often be sufficient to apply only one tied hook, as in the case of the two hooks assembling, on a robust assist lines ranging between 120 and 200 lb. Not infrequently, it is a good idea to replace original octopuses with some of larger sizes and perhaps with colors that seem to be more productive at that time or in that area. A good idea, to keep in mind if you want to increase vibrations emitted by lure in the water and if you want to increase the volume, it is a good idea to add to the hook a grub characterized by a very mobile and curved tail.

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complex speech is that related to bait colors even though there are some that are good all over the Mediterranean. Every fisherman has his own preferences, dictated by personal experiences, however, always good colors are those of inchiku (speaking in terms of metallic part and octopus

to be combined with) ranging from silver to pink, from orange to yellow, from glow colors to one of the best I know: gold color, perhaps combined with orange or pink.

RODS, REELS AND FISHING ACTION Â Japanese school suggested us for the

In some moments the inchiku can be deadly for Common dentex.

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INCHIKU I LOOKING FOR THE BIG HIT Fighting with a large predator require appropriate equipments

inchiku game rods with a sensitive tip, clearly correlated with the bait e are going to use, with a powerful bank for contrasting large preys.

Honestly I have tried many rods and many of them are very valid, owning an excellent progressive action and a great power compared to their lightness. However, on average, these are rods that, despite being able to withstand good stresses, are not born specifically for fishing big predators and, often, they are not advisable where there is that need of quickly detaching “heavyweights� from the bottom. For heavy inchiku fishing addressed to the major Mediterranean predators, 90

to be searched in both low medium, 30/50 m, but also at great depths reaching 130m, we need more robust tools. These will be able to handle effectively lures weighing on average 150/200 g, for reaching 300 g in case of high depth and strong currents. At the same time strong tools can help the angler in contrasting powerful leaks and also in forcing large preys, detaching them from the bottom. The inchiku, also depending on model and shape, is a lure that can be animated in many ways and at different speeds, with long and slow jerks, but in some cases also very fast, in short jerking, giving the lure a racy and animated swimming

action. For heavy inchiku, rods born for vertical jigging technique are suitable, therefore compatible with any type of recovery. Lengths will be ranging between 1.70 and 1.85 m, with a power action around 300 g, having good tip sensitivity, but at the same time with a powerful blank capable to return once subjected to strong stress. In japan style inchiku a slow recovery system is expected. It is often characterized by long and soft jerks, alternating with some pauses, sometimes even prolonged, followed by restarts that often result to be excellent. This succeeds in provoking those fish which, otherwise, could follow the bait without attacking.

In these circumstances it is precisely the sudden

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Nice Pink dentex cheated by a fluctuating 200 gr inchiku

restart, and therefore that feeling of possible and immediate prey escaping, which lead the fish to launch its violent attack.

Although the Japanese school indicates this type of recovery as the most suitable for animating these enticing lures, those who had to deal with large predators, both benthic and pelagic, have noticed that in some moments and in certain days, the inchiku can guarantee great results even if animated in a very lively, rapid and with short jerks, typical of vertical jigging, recoveries. According to my experiences, while searching for big predators such as pink dentex, groupers, common dentex, red porgies and ISSUE 1

amberjacks, the short jerking movements, whether they slow or fast, are more effective with those lures having the possibility of being united to the leader both in the upper part (slimmer) and in the lower part (thicker and heavier). If tied to the lower part, in fact, some of these lures are particularly enticing: in this way we will move the bait’s barycenter towards the top. This will make the lure suitable for being animated in short jerking. Clearly, it will be a good idea to alternate between recovery methods, between slower and faster ones. However, it will not be a surprise if you manage to get numerous strikes even if you retrieve your inchiku in

a fast way, similarly to how you could animate a short jerking metal jig. Said that, let’s not forget that fishing exactly on the vertical is the best method however, in many cases, by mounting

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the inchiku as described above, I have noticed that predators attack the lure even if recovered rather diagonally. I do not say that this should be a rule, but it is a fact that this works with many fish and different species. Therefore, is the type of solution I adopt when, being alone in the boat and in conditions of strong drift, it is not 92

easy to recover and at the same time frequently correct the alignment of the line with reversing strokes (which is quite simple when you have a crew member at the helm thus taking care of this).

During the recovery, the “bottom bump� phase is often deadly with many benthic predators, but it will be good practice to explore the upper water

layers till a few tens of meters higher. Concerning reels for this technique, it can be said that level drag ones born for jigging, often light and very powerful, have the advantage of being very manageable and allow lot of sensitivity during the recovery. Another feature is given by the, generally, remarkable max drag often useful for fighting large preys and to contain braided lines of a certain pounding.

In any case, if our choice falls on spinning reels, born for vertical jigging technique, owning particular strength and power this is more than good. If our targets will be constituted by big preys the braided lines used will be the same commonly used for vertical jigging in the Mediterranean, meaning braided lines ranging between 40 and 65 pounds.

It is important to have a certain amount of braid spooled (250/300 m) always taking into account that if we use an high quality 8-carriers one, perfectly round and smooth, we will have smaller diameter at the same breaking strength and, moreover, we will be able to plough water with great ease, fishing better on the vertical and, of course, fishing at great depthsusing lighter lures. BF

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SPEARFISHING

7 TIPS

FOR PELAGIC FISHES

Text & photos: George Vasileiou (2016 Spearfishing World Champion)

By “pelagic”, we usually refer to those fishes that need us to move off the shoreline to meet them, namely, in the deep sea. Big Amberjacks (Seriola dumerilii), Blue runners (Caranx crysos), Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and tuna-like species are the most frequent, but surprises are often behind the corner.

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trength, speed, endurance, size and hydrodynamic shape create a sense of challenge, and each battle with one of these “missiles” teaches us a lot.

Equipment, experience and knowledge are the means necessary for orienting the balance in favor of us, in a difficult encounter with them. Each species can be a separate chapter and object of systematic study. But all of them have some common features leading us to adopt some common behaviors, in order to approach them correctly and get them safely on our boat or on the shore.

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SPEARFISHING I 7 TIPS FOR PELAGIC FISHES

1. Pelagics fishes are active swimmers always in search of food. We find them more during the summer months when water temperature is high and the baitfish they usually feed on are abundant.

Offshore shoals, deep edges, wrecks, and shallow places where life is present, are

the main meeting points for encountering them. In recent years I have spotted pelagic fishes, such as Amberjacks, Blue runners, etc. all year round but generally, outside of the summer months, they swim alone or in small groups.

2. Personally, in many cases, I have taken fish without even having to dive, just while floating on the surface. Fish curiosity naturally bring them to see what is floating and the confidence of being big and powerful brings them so close to us that they are even in a position for shooting. What one should do in these circumstances is to keep relaxing and remain vigilant, ready to shoot.

3. Events that betray the presence of pelagic fish are around the area we are fishing in, indeed the nervousness and the fear that baitfish’s schools shows

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SPEARFISHING I 7 TIPS FOR PELAGIC FISHES is an indicator predators are nearby.

There we see that those dense balls that baitfishes form show “flaws” in presence of predators, thus resulting in school consistency’s loose. Faults are the weak point where big predators can be spotted, and we need to focus our attention on these spots.

4. How to catch them? There is no particular way, since techniques such as planning, ambush, aguanto (crawling on the bottom), are quite efficient. Weather, location, and fish arrival will lead us to choose the right technique to adopt.

5. In addition to our powerful weapon, which must always be ready to face every battle after the prey has been harpooned, what makes the difference, enabling us to make a good shot, is to have a clean mind, good psychology, but also spending many hours in the water and searching.

6. The equipment we will use and the point where we will shoot at the fish, play a crucial role. The combination of muscle mass, hydrodynamic shape and strength make them powerful being able to pulling lot of rope, breaking harpoon’s wings or even cutting the pole.

7. The fisherman must be relaxed, calm, and his movements in the water being harmonious, so that the fish do not feel threatened. By always fishing safely, with clear mind, and making mature decisions, we will be able to spend nice fishing sessions and collecting amazing memories. BF ISSUE 1

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SPEARFISHING

XXXI CMAS

World Spearfishing Championship 2018

September 2018 | Sagres, Portugal

by George Polychroniou

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The World Underwater Spearfishing Championship 2018 XXXI CMAS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SAGRES PORTUGAL 2018 was hosted in Portugal and organized by the Portuguese Federation of Underwater Activities (FPAS).

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 Portuguese Jody Lot took the 1st place in the 31th World Spearfishing Championship

It

is the third time that this event is hosted at the Iberian Peninsula, following the event of the World Championship: Sessimbra 1958 (2nd time and Sines 2006 – 25th time). Just for the record, the World Championships CMAS Spearfishing has been conducted every two years since 1975. We have therefore travelled to Portugal in order ISSUE 1

to fully support the two missions of Greece and Cyprus, a decision we made at the previous World Spearfishing Championship, held in Syros Island in 2016. For the record, Boat & Fishing was the only printed marine magazine that covered this year’s championship in Portugal; the event was also reported on the web by the Italian ApneaPassion.

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 Portuguese Andre Domingues in 2nd place

com and of course our internet website boatfishing.gr (greek version), where we have ongoing postings, same as on our facebook page.

Before we get into the detailed review of the 31st World Underwater Spearfishing Championship, let’s have a brief look at the results: The Portuguese Jody Lot, game’s favorite, has managed to win another world title! Spain had literally stolen the team winning title from Portugal at 100

530,43 points against 530,15!

Cyprus came fourth, with Giorgos Vassiliou making it to the top five amongst 72 athletes!

AFTER SYROS, SAGRES Following Syros in 2016, the “baton” of the World Underwater Spearfishing Championship was passed to Portugal.

Just like that, on the 10th and 11th September, underwater fishing athletes from all over the world came to the

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018

Spanish Xavier Blanco in 3d place for the individual category MEN GROUP CATEGORY 1st DAY 8-SET

2nd DAY 9-SET

FINAL

PLACE

NAME

NATION

TOTAL POINTS

TOTAL POINTS

TOTAL POINTS

1

ESP

Spain

108568

177666

286234

2

POR

Portugal

105162

182525

287687

3

CHI

Chile

70580

101472

172052

4

CYP

Cyprus

65584

95836

161420

5

CRO

Croatia

53784

108230

162014

6

ITA

Italy

58258

92650

150908

7

PYF

Tahiti

65572

80018

145590

8

NZL

New Zealand

38384

116450

154834

9

GRE

Greece

42778

104100

146878

10

RSA

South Africa

66964

60906

127870

11

TUR

Turkey

39286

93452

132738

12

USA

United States

47846

67812

115658

13

BUL

Bulgaria

42560

73410

115970

14

TUN

Tunisia

44364

66088

110452

15

BRA

Brazil

42102

54110

96212

16

UKR

Ukraine

41314

53220

94534

17

SLO

Slovenia

30594

54610

85204

18

FIN

Finland

29978

45778

75756

19

RUS

Russia

30072

38170

68242

20

ARG

Argentina

22628

47668

70296

21

DEN

Denmark

26250

38690

64940

22

SMR

San Marino

20976

31722

52698

23

ECU

Ecuador

16948

20030

36978

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Iberian Peninsula, in the raw nature of Sagres (once called the end of the world), located 180 nautical miles away from Gibraltar, on the Atlantic Ocean coastline.

There have been a lot of participants again this year: 88 men and women athletes from 24 countries.

PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN The first piece of information concerning prevailing conditions at Sagres was brought to us

by Petros Vlachopoulos, who took off with Kostas

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 Makris for the standard recognition process. Those conditions were completely different than in Greece.

Zero visibility (hardly at 4 meters and often no further than the speargun’s tip), water temperature between 13-16 ℃ (they wore 8mm wet suits), and large waves reaching 4-5 meters. Competition zone was set at 30 meters depth, much swallower than in Syros. Anyway the visibility does not leave much room for fishing in the deep, “the murkiness blocks the light under certain meters so diving there means total darkness!”, Peter told

us. The game in Sagres is set in swallow waters, as fish were moving around the 15 meters, under the 22-24 meters you could only find Congers and Greater Forkbeards.

The 3-4 meters zone was the richest, with a great fish variety.

This means a lot of dips, fast swimming, strategic time and fish type management (the “closing” of a category with countable fish, like 12 Flathead Mullets or White Seabreams, meant earning 7.000 bonus points) were the factors making up the result, in contrary to Syros where deep fishing took place.

Cyprus 4th in the World!

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018

WOMEN INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY PLACE

Athletes

Team

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

TERESA DUARTE ROSIBEL PERURENA KELSEY ALBERT ELENA SARRI ROSA ANREUS ALEXANDRA PRAT JOHANA VERGARA CATARINA SANTOS SILVIA VILAROIG SAMANTHA MASE PHOEBE SKOTIDA CHRYSSOULA NTALAKA DELY EASTON ANA CHU HUNG MONSERRAT MOREIRA GABRIELA MILICEVIC

POR USA USA GRE ESP ESP CHI POR ESP USA GRE GRE CHI ECU CHI CRO

V. P. Fishes Fishes 17 0 12 0 13 0 8 0 8 0 8 0 7 0 3 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 3 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 1 0

Points

Bonification 14000 9500 8000 6500 6000 5500 4500 3500 3500 3000 3000 2500 2000 1000 1000 1000

18992 10282 9578 6616 6188 6048 3942 4000 3042 2762 2628 2132 1716 820 780 544

Final Points 32992 19782 17578 13116 12188 11548 8442 7500 6542 5762 5628 4632 2716 1820 1780 1544

P.P. 100 59,96 53,28 39,76 36,94 35 25,59 22,73 19,83 17,46 17,06 14,04 8,23 5,52 5,4 4,68

WOMEN GROUP CATEGORY Team

Location

V. Fishes

P. Fishes

Points

1 - USA 2 - POR 3 - ESP 4 - GRE 5 - CHI 6 - ECU

United States Portugal Spain Greece Chile Ecuador

29 20 20 15 10 1

0 0 0 0 2 0

22622 22992 15278 11376 6438 820

Bonification 20500 17500 15000 12000 7500 1000

Final Points 43122 40492 30278 23376 12938 1820

P.P. 130,7 122,73 91,77 70,86 39,22 5,52

OPENING CEREMONY & 1st DAY OF COMPETITION Friday started with the weather being an ally and the ocean much calmer than the previous days.

It was a resting day with the Opening Ceremony and the teams marching at the center of Sagres, then their presentation taking place in the specially allocated area for the hosting and weighing of the fish. Later we moved the celebration to a castle with a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Cabo de São lighthouse, where we relaxed with cocktails ISSUE 1

and live music. The following morning, the Sagres marina was crowded by inflatable boats, spearguns and athletes travelling from the USA, Argentina, Russia, Africa, New Zealand, Tahiti (home of Tahitian spears) and other countries, a total of 23, so that they would compete and claim the world title. At 16:00 on September 8th September, the first day of competition ended.

The athletes along with their fish reached the Sagres marina, and after showing them to people gathered there, closed them up and gave them to the Chief Clerk for weighing. The results came out after a “marathon” scaling that was completed at 12:00 midnight and were announced an hour later!

Thanks to weather and the competition zone that owned lot of fish, mainly white ones in large sizes (White Seabreams, Flathead Mullets etc), most of the teams came out with a pretty chubby haul.

It’s only natural that Portugal stood out, since the natives were very familiar with the area and hence the strategy they should follow. As a result, André and Pedro Domingues earned the 2nd and 3rd place correspondingly and Jody Lot the 5th, which made Portugal the main claimant of the World title.

The highest score of the day, however, went to Xavier Blanco, a Spanish athlete, who along

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 with Sergio Dejulian and Angel Lopez Cid (6th and 7th position respectively) kept Spain at the second place.

The Cypriot World Champion Giorgos Vassiliou has proved his potential yet another time by gathering 35 fish, points that took him to the 4th position! Together with the score of Stelios Yagkos and Elias Liassis, Cyprus climbed at the 8th place on the first day of competition.

Greek athletes managed to keep Greece at the 6th place on the first day of competition.

Tassis Peroulis with an exceptional haul brought himself at 12th position on the

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individual, Yannis Riggas at the 18th and Kostas Makris at the 26th!

The Women’s Championship came to end the first day with first place took by Teresa Duarte and 2nd and 3rd place took by the Americans Rosibel Perurena and Kesley Albert respectively.

THE SECOND DAY & FINAL CLASSIFICATION The next day was equally demanding and challenging, as the competition zone was set south of Sagres, close to the “civilization”, which meant fewer fish and strong currents. Right there Jody Lot had

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 an impressive day; he managed to score so many points, that he outpointed both his compatriots as well as the Spanish competitors, winning the World title.

Andre Domingues maintained a high score and the silver medal.

The Spanish Xavier Blanco came third, who along with Sergio Dejulian (4th) and Angel Lopez Cid (6th ) collected the essential points, and won the team contest by a very narrow margin from the Portuguese.zAmong them Giorgos Vassiliou, showed the same good performance of the previous day and the 5th final classification! Giorgos’s score, as

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well as the one of Elias Liassis and Stelios Yaggos (32nd and 45th correspondingly) ensured him the 4th position for Cyprus on the team classification.

The weighing process plus the calculation of the final classification went on until late.

With a great ceremony teams and athletes received their awards in a celebratory manner; the night ended with dinner and live music.

The whole weighing process has been broadcasted live through our hellenic facebook page (www.facebook.com/ boatfishing), carrying the mood of the competition.

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SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 MEN INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY 1st DAY 8-SET

2nd DAY 9-SET

FINAL

PLACE

NAME

NATION

TOTAL POINTS

TOTAL POINTS

TOTAL POINTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

POR3 / JODY LOT POR1 / ANDRÉ DOMINGUES ESP1 / XAVIER BLANCO ESP3 / SERGIO DEJULIAN CYP3 / GIORGUS VASILIOU ESP2 / ANGEL LOPEZ POR2 / PEDRO DOMINGUES ITA3 / ANGELO ASCIONE PYF2 / LAMARTINIERE DELL ITA1 / CRISTIAN CORRIAS CHI1 / JORGE ZEPEDA CHI2 / MIGUEL SOTO CRO1 / SLAVEN CUBRIC RSA2 / JACO BIGNAUT NZL1 / DWANE HERBERT UKR1 / ANDRII LAGUTIN GRE1 / ANASTASIOS PEROULIS CRO2 / RADOLAV JAKUPOVIC TUN3 / KHALED GHOMRASSI GRE2 / IOANNIS RINGAS USA1 / RYAN MYERS TUR3 / SELIM KONYA RSA3 / GUY LE MEME USA2 / JUSTIN LEE CHI3 / FERNANDO ALCAINO NZL2 / JACKSON SHIELDS NZL3 / ROWAN VIRBICKAS BUL1 / VALENTIN LYUTSKANOV TUR1 / AHMET TEKIN PYF3 / TETUANUI STEEVE CRO3 / PETAR PRKIC CYP1 / ILIAS LIASIS PYF1 / MONTAGNEN TEVA FIN1 / MATTI PYKKO BUL3 / MIROSLAV ILCHEV ARG3 / JORGE HOCKO TUN1 / SAMI SAAD BUL2 / ANASTAS BACHVAROV BRA1 / FERNANDO THONI BRA3 / PAULO SÁ JUNIOR UKR3 / OLEKSANDR MIRONCHUK GRE3 / KOSTAS MAKRIS RUS2 / SERGEY CHENTSOV BRA2 / ALEXANDRE YAMAGUCHI CYP2 / STELIOS YIANGOU SLO1 / TADEJ SPEH SLO3 / SASO MOSKON DEN2 / FRANS BOERIIS SLO2 / KRISTIJAN SUMBERAC RSA1 / CHARL MYBURGH ECU1 / ANGEL MEJILON FIN2 / JONAS LASSILA RUS1 / OLEG CHERKASSKIKH SMR2 / FRANCESCO CONTE TUR4 / SEMIH INCE TUN2 / HATEM ABDALLAH USA3 / PAUL YOUNG SMR1 / ALDO BABBONI TUR2 / FIRAT YAGCI ARG2 / MARTIN RODRIGUEZ RUS3 / VITALII SAMOTKANOV DEN1 / OLIVER SIEFERT ARG1 / JAVIER NUNEZ ITA2 / CONCETTO FELICE SMR3 / DOMENICO MACALUSO DEN4 / WILLIAM SIEFERT DEN3 / JACOB SCHOLFAN ECU2 / CESAR CHU HUNG FIN3 / TERO VAARA UKR2 / ANDRII PIATAKOV FIN4 / ANTTI OLIN ECU3 / ANA CHU HUNG

POR POR ESP ESP CYP ESP POR ITA PYF ITA CHI CHI CRO RSA NZL UKR GRE CRO TUN GRE USA TUR RSA USA CHI NZL NZL BUL TUR PYF CRO CYP PYF FIN BUL ARG TUN BUL BRA BRA UKR GRE RUS BRA CYP SLO SLO DEN SLO RSA ECU FIN RUS SMR TUR TUN USA SMR TUR ARG RUS DEN ARG ITA SMR DEN DEN ECU FIN UKR FIN ECU

59188 62779 63744 57758 59286 56164 60558 50978 30756 41672 37084 38576 38780 24550 43516 27640 39554 35006 26956 35756 29916 33350 17644 24620 25812 34242 38692 23020 39204 24896 34444 16310 24366 25232 29640 24626 23460 20750 12862 18584 22398 28790 15708 22664 20240 20804 17438 15164 16368 18712 14130 11048 14418 14820 0 15672 13276 8412 20898 11816 8044 11212 11226 0 8490 0 12314 5900 9498 3182 0 0

43132 37030 35226 38250 33442 35092 25000 24388 33336 22992 25920 24414 23634 33080 18614 28204 17840 20146 25544 18278 19782 16288 26546 21504 20246 11804 7966 18020 6834 16468 10004 21248 15768 14470 10864 13502 13788 13676 18304 14148 11002 6660 14502 9650 10894 9944 11422 12302 9228 7338 9994 11454 8700 7432 16164 5032 6560 8622 0 5624 6870 3918 3502 10878 4922 10030 0 3624 0 2108 4054 3330

102320 99809 98970 96008 92728 91256 85558 75366 64092 64664 63004 62990 62414 57630 62130 55844 57394 55152 52500 54034 49698 49638 44190 46124 46058 46046 46658 41040 46038 41364 44448 37558 40134 39702 40504 38128 37248 34426 31166 32732 33400 35450 30210 32314 31134 30748 28860 27466 25596 26050 24124 22502 23118 22252 16164 20704 19836 17034 20898 17440 14914 15130 14728 10878 13412 10030 12314 9524 9498 5290 4054 3330

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Elias Lissis with a big conger

The three winners

Italian Angelo Ascione in 8th place ISSUE 1

SPEARFISHING I XXXI CMAS WORLD SPEARFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 1st country Spain, 2nd Portugal, 3rd Chile

Jody and Teresa raised the gold in their own country

Antonio Cruz (left) chairman of the CMAS Underwater Fisheries Commission

Greek and Cypriot athletes.

The champion Teresa Duarte with the Americans Rosibel Perurena and Kesley Albert (2nd and 3rd place) ISSUE 1

Aris Moukas, David Birch, Valentina Prokic, Nikos Kambanis and Carlo Forni important personalities in the spearfishing panorama

Aris Moukas, coach of the Turkish team with the athlete Ahmet Tekin, holding the biggest fish of the match.

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SPEARFISHING

XXXII CMAS Spearfishing World Campionship 2020 17-21 September Ι Arbatax – Tortoli’, Sardinia (Italy)

A

fter the meeting of the Board of Directors of the World Underwater Federation (CMAS) held in Rome, Italy on January 26, 2019, the Italian Federation of Sport Fishing and Underwater Activities (FIPSAS) has been designated the organization of the 32nd World Spearfishing Championship.

The event will take place in Arbatax – Tortolì (Nuoro), in Sardinia, from September 17 to 21, 2020.

Source: CMAS/FIPSAS

More info coming soon...

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and SeaPro engines were launched. The invitation included a daily agenda: 19 boats (RIBS, fiberglass and aluminum boats) featuring a plethora of engine configurations, ready to be tested by experienced journalists and Mercury’s associates and thus “live the 360° experience”. Apart from new engines, they were also able to try on water all those new features, Mercury’s nautical “gadgets” that facilitate handling and yet deliver a thrilling experience to the user

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The One 360° Mercury Experience | Νew Verado, FourStroke, Pro XS and SeaPro V6 and V8 outboards ranging from 175 to 300 Hp.

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by George Polychroniou

ne of the biggest events of Mercury Marine in Europe took place in May, at the beautiful Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore). Scope of the event was highly significant presenting the many all-new next-generation outboards. This year was a turning point for the American brand, as it has undertaken the largest newproduct development program in its 79year history, expanding and augmenting its outboard lineup. Indeed, more than 10 all-new Verado, FourStroke, Pro XS

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

(Active Trim, Joystick Piloting, SmartCraft, DTS and VesselView Mobile).

The event’s opening took place at the conference room of the hotel, where Ferruccio Villa, vice president of Brunswick Marine for EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) welcomed 40 journalists from all over Europe. Mr Villa seemed very thrilled for the upcoming presentation of the new outboard lineup and for the great participation of more than 400 people from 31 countries; seemed like it would be a very successful conference! Mr Martin Bass, EMEA President also gave a warm welcoming speech and got really fast to the point, outlining the steady growth of Mercury Marine in a global level. According to Mr. Martin the demand for Mercury Marine engines is increasing for the whole lineup and to all countries with a Mercury Marine distribution network. The most preferred category however, is the large ISSUE 1

outboards. One of the reasons probably is the turn of the biggest American recreational boatbuilding companies from the conventional sterndrives to manufacturing boats with double, triple and quadruple engines, which, as a result, skyrocketed the demand.

MERCURY MARINE’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Powerful and reliable engines, exclusively designed for seawater use, equipped with hi-tech top-notch gear and functions. This is, according to Mr. Martin, the reason behind Mercury’s success, with the company’s cornerstone being the year 2012, when the F150 was launched with a whole new philosophy, in 2014 with the introduction of the 75 – 115 PRO XS series and in 2015 with the all-new Verado 400 Racing. Then, this year Mercury Marine steps up and expands the outboard lineup

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

with new models such as: the newly designed Verado 250 & 300 Hp with its large displacement (4.6 lt) naturally aspirated V6 & V8 powerhead; the brand new 250 & 300 Hp FourStroke series, the 225, 250 and 300 Hp SeaPro series for commercial use and the 175 Hp ProXs model with the V6 3.4 lt powerhead. The expansion of Mercury’s outboard lineup was the company’s second move after the official announcement of their new models 175, 200, 225 Hp FourStroke and the 200 Hp SeaPro with new V6 3.4 lt powerhead at the Miami International Boat Show in February, 2018.

Since 2012, the company has invested more than a billion $ and thousands of work hours in research, development and design to make this dream come true. The intention was to create compact engines with large displacement, light weight, low 112

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018 noise and excellent NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) quality, exceptional durability and reliability with easy maintenance and serviceability. Their engines are classified according to customers’ needs: VERADO: Refined Performance FOURSTROKE: Fuel efficiency and rigging versatility PRO XS: Tournament-winning performance and extra power SEA PRO: Commercial durability and reliability

THE ALL NEW MERCURY V6 3.4 L FOURSTROKE 175/200/225HP According to Jussi Sepponen, Marketing & Product Manager, Mercury invested 7-8 years of extensive research and development to finally complete the new engines and add them to the production line. The new Mercury Fourstroke V6 series “raises the bar” of the middle to high horsepower category, offering hightech models at 175, 200 and 225 HP. An engine with larger displacement and more cylinders produces accordingly

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more power and torque for crisp acceleration, faster hole shots and higher boat top speed following the old saying “there is no replacement for displacement”. Meanwhile, reliability is maximised, as the engine designer knows for sure that the bigger horsepower matched with more cylinders will handle the load effortlessly, eliminating high stress conditions to the engine’s components.

Even though new models have a larger displacement (3,4L) and many cylinders (V6), surprisingly are lighter than the competition, thanks to Mercury’s engine designers. The new V6 225 Hp is the lightest in its class, weighing 27 kg less than the closest competitive engine. Furthermore, the new Mercury V6 engines offer 12-16% better fuel economy, up to 18% better acceleration as well as a more refined torque curve than competition.

These newly designed engines are available with a plethora of intuitive and technologically advanced solutions,

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rigging and extended colour options. The potential buyer may choose between mechanical or digital controls, hydraulic or electro-hydraulic power steering or even Mercury Big Tiller on selected V6 models. For ultimate personalization, Mercury offers four colors of factory painted accent panels in kits.

In fact, the 200 & 225 hp V6 models are available in three shades of white (Cold, Warm and Pearl Fusion) and of course the traditional Mercury’s Phantom Black. Yet another innovation offered by Mercury, is an intuitive system called Idle Charge Battery Management, keeping batteries charged under any conditions. The engine’s ECU controls the above system by constantly checking the battery voltage.

When the ECU senses a lower than normal battery voltage, it will increase the idle rpm through an ISC (Idle Stability Control) system in order to boost alternator’s output and recharge batteries to the designated level. This is extremely useful in many cases, as boaters often use multiple electronic devices at once, even when trolling (low idle rpm 114

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018 = low ampers produced by the alternator) which consequently depletes the boat’s batteries.

The engine’s alternator is top of its class, producing more than 20 A at idle rpm and up to 85 A at W.O.T.

Vessel View display.

The new V8 engine design with quad overhead cams generates plenty of torque, especially at mid range r.p.m offering great performance. Mr. Sepponen added on the supercharge technology: we may see it again in the near future featured by one or more models.

THE NEW MERCURY V8 4.6 L FOURSTROKE & VERADO 250/300HP Yes, Mercury actually manufactured the biggest engine block ever! V8 engines are naturally aspirated (without a supercharger), not only the FourStroke 250 & 300 models but also the Verado 250 & 300 Hp models. The latter replaced the previous Verado L6 250 & 300 models. So you will be thinking, Verado has always been the name for supercharged engines, how is it possible now to have new naturally aspirated engines assigned to the Verado series?

Mr Sepponen explains this has come as a matter of course of the Verado heritage: the refined performance, the boater’s feel and most importantly, the next generation Advanced Mid Section (AMS) which isolates the powerhead and practically eliminates vibration through a unique mount system. As far as the exhaust sound is concerned, a new exclusive advanced sound control system allows user to select Sport (V8 “rumble” and sport-racing sound) or Stealth (quiet – normal) mode, and to alter the exhaust’s sound through a switch or the ISSUE 1

THE NEW MERCURY V6 3.4 L PRO XS 175 HP AND MERCURY V8 4.6 L PRO XS 200/225/250/300 HP The new Mercury Pro XS series with the freshly introduced V6 175 Hp and the V8 200, 225, 250 and -for the first time ever- also 300 hp models, comprise the next generation outboards with tournament-winning performance.

Equipped with the new lightweight engine cowl, they deliver amble amounts of torque and astounding acceleration thanks to the large displacement powerheads plus the quad cam design that provides better breathing of the engine. What is more, the technology “Transient Spark” enables the ECU to optimize spark timing and fueling to boost torque by as much as 7% resulting in improved whole shot & acceleration.

MERCURY RACING SERIES The new Racing 250 & 300 R engines were also recently added to the lineup, equipped with the conventional mid section – CMS (just like V6 – V8 which are not Verado). The Mercury Racing 400R is equipped with the second generation Advanced Mid Section (AMS). Just as new

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

are the SEA PRO engines, designed for commercial use, available in V6 3.4 L SeaPro 200 Hp and V8 4.6 L SeaPro 225/250/300 Hp.

AT BAVENO’S MARINA Following the avowedly outstanding presentation, succeeded the actual trials of the nineteen fiberglass and R.I.B boats. Mr Villa prompted us to use the boats equipped with the new advanced systems such as the Active trim where the boater doesn’t need to manually control the trim angle while cruising, as this is done automatically. The engine self-trims, trimming down the gearcase at close & fast turning and trimming up when accelerating. This auto-adjustment, not only offers the desired peace of mind to boaters, it is also beneficial to fuel consumption improving fuel economy up to 10-15%. The joystick, just the same, facilitates the docking at the pier and last but not least the Sport Mode gives the feeling of racing exhaust note with the exhaust emissions springing out the other way! All these automations and features “change the game”, providing smoother feel and far more exciting driving.

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

Axopar 37 SunTop

Twin installation Mercury V-8 300 hp The Axopar was by far the “most wanted” boat of the event, and rightly so. Further to its aesthetic design, Jan-Erik Viitala, one of the co-founders of the Axopar company was both our captain and instructor, in that he was thoroughly informed about the features of the new Mercury V8 Verado models. The Axopar 37 (length 11,2 meters) series has won both the “Motor Boat of the year 2017” award in the Sportboats & RIBs category and the same award for the Axopar 28 the previous year. The 37 series includes the following models: Axopar 37 T-Top, Axopar 37 ST, Axopar 37 C, Axopar 37 AC και Axopar 37 SC. AXOPAR boats have brought new and innovative features concerning hull and deck design, the stable and qualitative cruising and a value for money profile; that is mainly why a strong brand name was soon established worldwide. The 37ST model is designed according to the typical Axopar philosophy such as a low

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profile, long and narrow sport design and a hull more common to an R.I.B; there are merely some of the typical characteristics of an Axopar boat that the 37 ST models follow closely.

Their hull delivers such exceptional handling, which gives the impression of being in a much smaller and lighter boat, without any vibration. The low center of gravity and the deep V (20° deadrise) hull along with the accurate positioning of the twin steps provides boat stability and a smooth ride. Hopping onboard, the first impression is that of a high luxury boat, an effect triggered by the excellent aesthetics meld with a dynamic sport look, new manufacturing methods, top quality materials and a fresh aesthetic

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RPM 600 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6050

KNOTS 3,0 4,9 7,2 8,9 11,5 15,0 23,9 30,0 34,4 38,1 41,9 46,5 48,3

Fuel [l/h] 6,4 10,6 17,0 27,7 35,5 48,1 61,6 79,0 96,1 116,5 148,5 181,0 186,5

Fuel [l/nm] 2,15 2,14 2,36 3,11 3,10 3,21 2,58 2,63 2,80 3,06 3,54 3,89 3,86

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

approach for boat design. The deck is spacious and exceptionally functional including accommodation spaces (a forecabin for 2 persons and an optional aft cabin for other 2 persons) and plenty of space on the deck to enjoy the sun and the trip itself. The T Top is equipped with an easy-open canvas sunroof in case the shade is not our choice. The helm is also impressive, with three comfortable seats with the captain’s seat being in the middle. The cockpit has plenty of space for instruments and gadgets and its design offers very good visibility. The high windshield and the size of the cockpit protects both captain and passengers from wind and water, making the trip comfortable and without undesired air turbulence. Jan-Erik was always cool and helpful, showing us both the boat’s potential as well as the two advanced technology Verados V8 2

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x 300 Hp, installed on its transom. We liked a lot the first trial of the Sport Mode!

Engines had to become as noiseless as Verado, which is almost silent on idle, so as to evaluate the real rumbling sound of an outboard motor. Pretty odd, but all journalists were excited by the Sport mode sound, including me, as it gives a sportier note at the trip. Counting the top speed with 5 persons on board and Enertia Eco 16X19P propeller we reached 48,3 knots. Jan-Erik prompted us to watch the automatic trim adjustment while performing a rapid maneuver. Both engines were trimmed down instantly from a 30° position, stabilizing the boat in no time. We also noticed the same during boat’s deceleration. The strong acceleration with every opening of the throttle was intensely felt, despite the 4,5 tons of total boat’s weight. It took Axopar 12,5 secs to reach 40 knots. The large Verados demonstrated great response to every rapid opening of the throttle while the stable cruising that Axopar offered allowed us to move around the deck even at top speed. What found most impressive is that the specific boat offers direct contact with the sea environment, thanks to low height bulwarks and rails, deck’s design and shallow stern.

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

Nuova Jolly Prince 30

with twin installation Mercury Verado V8 300 hp The trial on the Nova Jolly Prince was exciting in many ways. Getting onboard from the marina, the driver performed a few maneuvers that would be hard to do even with bow thrusters. Yet nothing seems impossible for Mercury’s Joystick Piloting system for outboards, as even the sideways driving or spinning the boat on its own axis are easy tasks. Boat’s acceleration was astounding; in only 9,06 secs the GPS displayed 50 knots around

5500 rpm. Pushing harder the throttle to W.O.T we reached 56,7 knots around 6000 rpm with a 21’’ Enertia propeller.

The 2 x 300 Hp engines fitted like a glove to the specific R.I.B boat with a fuel consumption of only 1,67 lt/nm cruising at 32 knots. The Prince 30 stood out of the crowd for its exceptional top speed, overall behavior during cruising and remarkably low fuel consumption.

RPM 600 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 5,500 5,950

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speed Fuel (l/h) (kn) Consumption L/nm 3.5 5.5 1.57 5 10.6 2.12 8 18.8 2.35 11.4 27.5 2.41 15.1 34.2 2.26 23.9 46.7 1.95 32 53.5 1.67 37.6 74.4 1.98 40.5 90.5 2.23 46.5 129.1 2.78 50.6 160.3 3.17 56.7 189.0 3.33

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

XO 270 Cabin

twin installation Mercury V-6 225 hp The aluminum XO 270 boat with the twin V6 FourStroke 225 Hp, was as popular as the Axopar. Like all XO boats, it was designed in Finland (from the same team that designed the Axopar) and manufactured in Poland from military grade aluminum. The minimal design,

RPM

speed (kn)

1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 5,500

4.2 7.7 9.5 14.8 20.5 25.8 33 37 39.1 43.1

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Fuel (l/h) Consumption 3.8 18.8 27.,5 34.2 46.7 53.5 74.4 90.5 119.3 139.0

its cabin and sport aesthetics are so impressive, that is highly sought after

by North European boaters. With the above pair of FourStroke engines we reached a top speed up to 43,1 knots while in cruising speed the fuel consumption was 2lt/nm.

L/nm 0.90 2.44 2.89 2.31 2.28 2.07 2.25 2.45 3.05 3.23

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REPORT I MERCURY MARINE WORLD PREMIERE 2018

Quicksilver Active 675 open Mercury V6 200 hp

RPM 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5800

speed (kn) 6 8 12 17 22,6 26,3 30 34 39

Fuel (l/h) Consumption 6,1 10 12 15 21,2 29,9 41,5 63 66,5

L/nm 1,02 1,25 1,00 0,88 0,94 1,14 1,38 1,85 1,71

BOATS AVAILABLE FOR WATER TEST AT THE HOTEL Rigid Inflatable Boats Black Fin Elegance 9 – Twin installation Mercury V-6 200 hp CAB Dorado 10 – Twin installation Mercury Verado L6 350 hp Joker C35 – Twin installation Mercury Verado L6 400R Nuova Jolly 800 – Twin installation Mercury Verado V-8 250 hp Nuova Jolly Prince 30 – Twin installation Mercury V-6 200 SeaPro Valiant 630 Black Carbon – Mercury 150 Pro Xs Valiant 685 Classic – Mercury V-6 200 hp Valiant 750 Sport – Mercury V-8 250 hp Quicksilver Inflatable AluRib 380 – Mercury F15 EFI Zodiac Open 7 Neo – Mercury V-6 200 hp ISSUE 1

Fiberglass Boats Axopar 37 SunTop – Twin installation Mercury V-8 300 hp Bayliner Heyday WT-2 – Mercury Mercruiser 6.2L Benetteau Flyer 6 – Mercury V-6 175 hp FB Design Stab 38 Twin installation Mercury Diesel 6.7L Flipper 670 DC – Mercury V-8 300 hp Jeanneau Cap Camarat 9 – Twin installation Mercury V-6 225 hp Quicksilver Active 675 open Mercury V-6 200 hp SeaRay SPX 210 – Mercury Mercruiser 4.5L Xo 270 Cabin – Twin installation Mercury V-6 225 hp BF

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REPORT

1st Pan-European Presentation 58th Fiera di Genova 2018

NEW SUZUKI DF150A / DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES

by George Polychroniou

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NEW SUZUKI SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD OUTBOARD ENGINES ENGINES REPORT I NEW

Again this year Suzuki has chosen to present the new models in Genoa, namely the 2019 outboard models DF150A and DF175/A. “Sharing” both features and technology with the DF200A, such as the high compression ratio (10,2:1), they boast an advanced air induction system (Semi-Direct Air Intake System) and the well known from previous models Suzuki’s Lean Burn Control System.

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REPORT I NEW SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES

T

he previous year was highly significant for SUZUKI; mainly because the new “flagship” model of the Japanese multinational corporation was launched. The four stroke DF350A engine with Dual prop system not only won the impressions, but also the (NMMA) 2017 IBEX award.

This year Suzuki proudly presents the new four stroke 150 and 175 Hp models with a large displacement (2.867 cm3), 4 cylinder inline and dual cams (DOHC) powerhead.

These new engines, available in white color, will be standing out from the crowd thanks to their unique features such as: compact size, low weight, extraordinary power and high fuel economy.

The venue took place at the central

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building, at the specially designed booth of Suzuki Marine.

Apart from the two covered –ready to be revealed- new engine models, there was also a cockpit with new displays, throttle controls and gauges (which they will be furthermore analyzed in this article) and the smaller models such as the portable DF6A, DF9.9A, DF15A and DF20A which are now available also in Suzuki’s Cool White color.

Mr. Yasuharu Osawa, Managing Officer and Executive General Manager of Suzuki Motor Corporation, started off by praising the huge impact and the big success of DF350 on the market, and at the same time highlighting those “values” Suzuki follows when designing and manufacturing new engine models: low fuel consumption,

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REPORT I NEW SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES low exhaust emissions and easy to use. The presentation closed with the unveiling of the two new models and the new Multi-Function Displays in a celebratory mood. So let’s go see all the innovative features of the DF150A / DF175A new engines in detail.

ACCELERATION, TORQUE AND EFFICIENCY These new engines are performanceoriented thanks to the large 2,9 Lt displacement and the high compression ratio which provide great low-end torque and astounding acceleration. In order to improve volumetric efficiency, Suzuki’s engineers designed and placed an advanced air induction system (Semi-Direct Air Intake System).

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Adopting technology from the DF200 model for a cooler air flow, it is actually a double-multi stage air induction system. The cooler the air that the engine breathes, the better, as more oxygen molecules will be drawn inside the fixed volume of the engine’s cylinders. Matched with an O2 (lambda) sensor which refines the combustion process, they lead to better engine performance.

The 2.50 gear ratio allows the use of

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REPORT I NEW SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES

big diameter propellers and as a result faster hole-shots, quicker cruising speed and lower fuel consumption. The engine also utilizes a Counter Balancer System with counterweights, which effectively neutralizes secondary vibrations resulting in much smoother engine operation.

The DF175AP/DF150AP engines also incorporate an air intake resonator in order to reduce the air’s noise as it moves rapidly inside the intake manifold. The

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result is an exceptionally quiet engine during operation.

Pioneered by Suzuki, the exclusively designed Offset Drive Shaft (DF70 and up), is also utilized in both the above engines, positioning the crankshaft in front of the drive shaft thus moving the outboard’s center of gravity forward. As a result the engine is more compact in size, vibrations are reduced and balance between boat and engine is also improved, as the engine’s center of gravity moves closer to the boat’s center of gravity. According to Suzuki, the DF150A delivers over 3% more torque than the previous model (DF150) and the DF175A produces 2.7% more torque than the DF175.

EXCEPTIONAL FUEL EFFICIENCY WITH THE SUZUKI LEAN BURN CONTROL SYSTEM It is obvious that Suzuki’s engineers wouldn’t have left the new 150 and 175 Hp models without the Lean Burn Control

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REPORT I NEW SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES

System. The latter monitors in real time the engine’s performance and operating conditions through the engine’s ECU, improving fuel efficiency (especially in the cruising range) and refining the engine’s operation. Fuel economy is an important issue for all boaters. The new DF150A/ DF175A models both benefit from this advanced Lean Burn Control System, which is designed for improved fuel economy both at low speed and up into the cruising range.

The Lean Burn System predicts the engine’s fuel needs according to operating conditions, delivering a leaner, more precise air-fuel mixture across the outboard’s operating range. In the case of these two new models the result is a 14% improvement in fuel economy for the DF175A over the previous DF175 and a 7% improvement for the DF150A over the previous DF150 model.

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OPTIONAL EXTRAS FOR SUZUKI DF150A / DF175A In addition to the above, there is a selection of optional extras available, such as troll mode system, Suzuki Easy Start System and Suzuki’s marketleading Keyless Start System. The latter utilizes a wireless, coded key-fob which starts the engine with the simple press of a button, delivering simple, stress-free operation while reducing the risk of a lost key. The system makes for an excellent theft deterrent, as the outboard will not start without the proper access code.

Suzuki’s Selective rotation is another innovative feature that allows the engine to operate either in standard or counterrotation mode (ideal solution for multiple engine installation). Another interesting feature that appeared first time in the DF300, is the Suzuki Precision Control (Electronically controlled Throttle and

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REPORT I NEW SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES

Shift) System. This is a technologically advanced computer-based control system that replaces the mechanical control cables found in conventional control systems, improving considerably the feel of throttle and shift operation to the boater. Both outboards feature new 3D decals and are available in Suzuki’s exclusive Pearl Nebular Black or Cool White, allowing customers to pick the color that best suits their boat.

NEW SUZUKIMULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAYS SMD7, SMD9, SMD12, SMD16 During the press conference at the 58th Fiera di Genova Boat Show, Suzuki also announced the launch of a new groundbreaking and market-leading display screen called “Suzuki Multi-Function Display” (SMD), which will be available in a wide range of Suzuki’s outboard models, from the DF9.9B up to the DF350.

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Suzuki’s aim with this new premium accessory is to provide the ultimate connectivity in order to unite the boat driver with the surrounding environment. This is achieved through valuable features such as chart plotter, radar, fishfinder and weather information via an internet connection.

Additionally, this new screen gives drivers access to all Suzuki engine data, so they can easily and quickly see performances of the outboard/s in one clear view.

This new Suzuki multi-function display can be set up to display only engine data, or a combination of engine and environmental information. On top of that, there are various options available and limitless possibilities of controlling the boat’s electronic devices such as: navigation lights, trim tabs etc. This means that customers can build and customize their systems with sensors and technologies that suit their needs.

This new stylish display unit with the multi-

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REPORT I NEW SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES function touch screen boasts an elegant touch screen glass top design; at the touch of a finger gives you access to all your Suzuki engine information so you can easily and quickly see performances of your outboard/s (engine data, environmental info) in one clear view. It comes in a variety of sizes (7, 9, 12 and 16-inch screens) as well as a number of mounting options, to suit any boat and console configuration.

These displays can be combined with Furuno modules, as there is a strategic partnership between the two companies. The new display will be available to purchase as an upgrade option from spring 2019.

Yasuharu Osawa, Managing Officer, Executive General Manager, Marine Operations, Suzuki Motor Corporation, mentioned during the conference that, “This is a huge step forward for Suzuki. We understand that boaters are demanding more connectivity between our outboards and their electronic systems. The all new Suzuki MultiFunction Display is the perfect solution as it offers Suzuki customers access to all the information they need to be assured of a safe and ultimate boating experience.�

THE BOATS AND THE EVENT Immediately after the conference, the event went on outdoors, at the marina, where there were 12 boats with various engine models tied at the dock, ready for being tested.

What interested us more was the ZAR 590 SL with a single DF150A and the Nuova Jolly Prince with a DF175A. We managed to test successfully both engines, performing measurements which are indicative of the potential and the fuel consumption of these models.

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NUOVA JOLLY PRINCE 21 RPM

KNOTS

Lt/Hr

Ltr/N.M

650

2,5

1,6

0,4

1.500

5

4,5

0,9

2.000

7

6,5

0,92

2.500

9

10,1

1,12

3.000

14

13,2

0,94

3.500

20

17,6

0,88

4.000

24

23,1

0,96

4.500

28

27,4

0,97

5.000

32

39,5

1,23

5.500

36

48,5

1,35

w.o.t.

6.000

39

59,1

1,51

RPM

KNOTS

LTR/ Hr

ZAR 590 SL LTR/ NM

650

2

1,2

0,6

1.500

5

4,3

0,86

2.000

7

7,1

1,01

2.500

8

11,3

1,41

3.000

16

12,4

0,77

3.500

19

16,4

0,86

4.000

24

20,9

0,87

4.500

29

27,7

0,95

5.000

33

33,2

1,01

5.500

37

45,5

1,23

w.o.t.

5.850

39

53

1,36

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REPORT I NEW SUZUKI DF150A/DF175A OUTBOARD ENGINES

NUOVA JOLLY PRINCE 21 WITH A SINGLE SUZUKI DF175Α INSTALLATION The Nuova Jolly Company continues to manufacture R.I.B boats that stand out from the crowd for their finesse, cruising abilities and building quality.

The Prince 21 is one of Nuova Jolly’s most successful models. With 6,2 meters length it features a spacious and functional deck which includes a sundeck and plenty of storage space. The Prince 21 is equipped with one of the deepest hulls among recreational Italian boats of its class, offering good absorption and less vibrations for the boat’s crew. The Prince 21 may be combined preferably with high output engines such as the new DF175A, which we tested with a 20’’ propeller and 3 persons on board.

The DF175A had more than good fuel efficiency as our measurements showed 130

fuel consumption up to 1 Lt/nm at 28 knots. Top speed was 39 knots with maximum fuel consumption up to 1,51 Lt/nm (59,1 Lt/hr at 6000 rpm W.O.T)

ZAR 590 SL WITH A SINGLE SUZUKI DF150A INSTALLATION We also tested the impressive ZAR 590 SL, considered the Italian boatyard’s best seller of both its category. The boat has an overall length of 5,90m and retains the unique design with the cleverly made deck, typical of the Italian brand, along with its good cruising characteristics.

Zar’s top speed was 39 knots accompanied by a better than normal fuel consumption for a 6 meter long RIB boat.

Acceleration from low to mid rpm range was exemplary and the boat’s maximum fuel consumption was no more than 53 Lt/hr which is considered low,ensuring an extended trip range. BF

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REPORT

New WaveRunner 2019 Press Event Nazare Portugal

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he new EXR and the jazzed-up FX series (2019) are purely manufactured under the “recipe” of the Japanese titan, so that their owners can enjoy the top-notch pwc design, outstanding performance, technological superiority and reliability, for long, easygoing rides on the water. Last but not least, stands

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For yet another year, Portugal hosted the Paneuropean Yamaha Presentation for the new WaveRunner models.

Yamaha’s choice for year 2019 is fully powered; presenting also a brand new model, which will probably be soon an hot sales item, the all-new “pocket-rocket” EXR!

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by George Polychroniou

the “flag” of Yamaha. WaveRunner’s allround performance and reliability justify their lead position in the global market of personal watercrafts.

With the kind support of the company MOTODYNAMIKI Commercial S.A., official exclusive distributor of Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, we

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REPORT I NEW WAVERUNNER 2019

travelled in Western Europe. This year’s presentation has been moved from the freshwaters of the artificial lake Montargil (where it took place in 2016) to the area of Nazare, “Mecca” of surfers, where the Atlantic Ocean brings out the biggest waves among the European coasts.

At the town marina, people of Yamaha had planned every single detail, so that journalists would enjoy a remarkable experience, and tests would be much easier. More specifically, at the floating

docks there were: two EX Deluxe, Ex Sport, GP 1800, VX Cruiser HO and FX SVHO Cruiser.

Test time was prearranged, about 20 minutes per pwc, which was indeed enough for us to get thrilled with power, performance, gadgets and cruising of the upgraded WaveRunners. Just before heading towards the marina, the technical presentation preceded, where the Marketing Director for Europe Mr Remko Visser welcomed the journalists with a surprise, the famous surfer Garrett McNamara, who –in the past- has “tamed” waves up to 30 meters, breaking records. Garrett today is a Yamaha athlete and councilor of the Nazare municipality, responsible for the town’s promotion as a global destination for surfers and watersports.

THE PWC MARKET IS GROWING More and more Europeans discover the 132

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REPORT I NEW WAVERUNNER 2019 fun and pleasure of riding a personal watercraft. In 2018 sales hit record levels exceeding the 14.000 pieces, when in 2013 the corresponding sale numbers where around 4.500 jets.

This increase is so significant and promising that Yamaha’s designers were enkindled to update their variety offering a fully-featured product for each category.

So let’s see the new models one by one, explaining why Yamaha is the leader in all categories from the entry level EX to the thrilling FC VR SVHO.

WAVERUNNER’S INNOVATIONS Yamaha’s Research and Development Department is working around the clock to deliver new technologies, construction methods and innovations, by constantly upgrading the WaveRunners. For instance the RiDE system revolutionized watercraft riding. Models equipped with the RiDE system feature accelerators in both the hand-grips, namely two levers, throttle on the right one and reverse or slow down on the left grip. Smooth maneuvering and high agility are now made possible. Hopping on the trailer with crosswind weather, docking at a certain point at the port are now easy tasks as at any time you may correct your position and try again. Yamaha is pretty well-known for its engines; especially in the area of pwc has won the prize Marine Engine - NMMA Innovation Award at Miami International Boat Show for the 3-cylinder engine TR-1 HO, 1049 cc, which is mounted on entry level models such as series EX and VX. Thus, offering strength and endurance while being compact and lightweight. TR-1 HO is highly praised ISSUE 1

by specialized global magazines often mentioned as “the engine of the future” for the WaveRunners, which substitutes the previous MR-1. In comparison to the MR-1, the TR-1 HO is about 30 kg lighter (weights 160 kg). Its design facilitates the periodical maintenance and service check, granting access at the important parts of the engine for oil changing etc.

Another innovation is the new method of hull construction, like in FX SVHO Cruiser and GP 1800. It is called NanoXcel®2 and is a whole new way of engineering the hull; the massive two-part compression moulds, offer greater endurance and sleeker finish. This is the second generation NanoXcel, lighter by 37% comparing to standard hulls, and 18% lighter than NanoXcel.

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REPORT I NEW WAVERUNNER 2019

WaveRunner EXR

ENGINE ENGINE TYPE

4-STROKE, 4-VALVES, 3-CYLINDER, DOHC, TR-1 HIGH OUTPUT

DISPLACEMENT

1,049 CC

CALIBER X STROKE

82.0 MM X 66.2 MM

COMPRESSION RATIO

11 :1

PUMP TYPE

144MM AXIAL FLOW

FUEL

UNLEADED REGULAR GASOLINE

FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM

ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION

OIL CAPACITY

3.5 L

The WaveRunner EXR is the new “pride” of Yamaha, not called the “pocketrocket” for nothing. This tough and yet lightweight pwc makes sport driving more “affordable”, thanks to its awardwinning 4-stroke, TR-1 High Output 3-cylinder 1.049cc engine, now in a more compact size and lightweight but as powerful and strong offering an excellent quality, performance and price ratio. Its modern and sleek design along with the equipment “bundle” places it at the top of its category. The NanoXcel2® technology has made the EX Deluxe lighter by 27 kg, reaching the total of 245 kg, while the TR-1 HO engine has increased horsepower by 10%. In addition the RiDE system, the large 50-L fuel capacity, Glove Box plus in-bow and under-seat storage, the smart prow design for easy boarding are only some of its features.

What every rider finds most remarkable though is the powerful acceleration and smooth cruising. Its power-to-weight ratio is so impressive, that can cause water takeoffs, deeming it the most playful amongst the ones we have ridden!

WaveRunner FX SVHO CRUISER 5th GENERATION FX Since 2002, Waverunner FX remains on top of Yamaha’s category “Full Size Luxury”. The new FX keeps on the tradition, featuring endurance and stable cruising thanks to its innovative hull and size. These are the big WaveRunners 134

that offer high speed cruising with no instability. They boast an elegant design with aerodynamic look, and a hull that delivers precise handling, protection from sprays and less vibration for the riders.

Stable, smooth and with an excellent performance, the FX SVHO Cruiser gains

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REPORT I NEW WAVERUNNER 2019 impressions! Under the lavish three seats stands the Super Vortex High Output 1812cc engine with the largest displacement in the pwc market.

SVHO has a highly effective cooling and air intake system, durable internal parts and electronic fuel injection (EFI). SVHO along with the lightweight Yamaha’s NanoXcel®2 hull deliver outstanding performance and fuel economy.

Drive it and you will feel the impressive power, the awesome top speed, the stable cruising even with wake and the real “compliant” operation manner.

The FX CR SVHO has it all: high top speed, full standard gear (RiDE system, cockpit panel with electronic compass/ fuel level/air and water temperature displays), and a marvelous design.

Moreover, all FX models offer a multi-mount accessory system on both sides of the levers, where you can securely mount for instance your action cam or Yamaha speakers, to listen to your favorite music while travelling.

The storage space was increased by 30% compared to the previous model, reaching the total of 166.7 liters!

WaveRunner FX SVHO

The new color 4.3 inch touch screen LCD Connext offers a huge range of information as well as the option of Drive control, selecting acceleration (normal or slow) and three choices of maximum speed limit (up to 90km/hr – up to 70 km/hr – up to 55 km/hr).

Length: 3.58 m Width: 1.27 m Height: 1.23 m Dry weight: 372 kg.

ENGINE ENGINE TYPE

4-CYLINDER, 4-STROKE, SUPER VORTEX HIGH OUTPUT, DOHC, 4-VALVE

SUPERCHARGER

YES (WITH INTERCOOLER)

DISPLACEMENT

1,812 CC

CALIBER X STROKE

86.0 MM X 78.0 mm

COMPRESSION RATIO

8.5 : 1

PUMP TYPE

160 MM HIGH-PRESSURE AXIAL FLOW

FUEL

UNLEADED PREMIUM GASOLINE

FUEL SYSTEM

EFI (ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION)

FUEL CAPACITY

70.0 Litres

OIL CAPACITY

5.3 Litres

FEATURES

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STORAGE CAPACITY

166.7 Litres

RIDER CAPACITY

1-3 PERSONS

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REPORT I NEW WAVERUNNER 2019

WaveRunner GP 1800R and reivised VXR

Yamaha presented with great success in 2016 at the High Performance category, the new model GP 1800 that has come first in international high speed races. The high performance supercharged SVHO engine 1.812 cc with a hull that turns so sharp and so precise, like it’s on rails!

Its hull is crafted in Yamaha’s unique materials, the NanoXcel2® technology, rigid and strong to better match the power of the engine and to be resistant to the hard use. The new GP1800R is available in blue and red colour along with a new high performance top-loader intake grate and race designed ride plate for better handling and grip. As a rider, with the first opening of the throttle, you realise that you are on a powerful vehicle with a low centre of gravity, that responds fast and precisely at any speed to the slightest move or correction. Although the GP 1800 is race-oriented, it does

not lack equipment or systems that make our life easier, also for touristic use, such as the RiDE system, Drive-by-Wire throttle control system, elegant instruments etc. The GP1800R is not only an excellent performing watercraft; it boasts also a unique sport design. VXR was mentioned as well, again in Mid Size Sport category, with dimensions 335 x 119 cm. The fundamental difference in comparison to the GP1800R is the 4cylinder engine HO 1.812 cc, delivering high performance and yet low fuel consumption.

Therefore, the VXR may not reach the speed of GP1800R, but has definitely got all those sport characteristics that we love and on top of that, greater fuel economy. It is the most affordable sport/race option of Yamaha, fully packed with exciting features normally found only on premium luxury models. For instance, the light and durable materials of the NanoXcel2® hull as well as the new generation electronic systems, the RiDE system, wide and long hull for even better stability, seat design inspired by speed races for better control and comfort, electronic screen and large dual mirrors, foldable stern step and tow hook.

WaveRunner GP 1800R

WaveRunner VXR

DIMENSIONS LENGTH

3.58 m

WIDTH

1.22 m

HEIGHT

1.19 m

DRY WEIGHT (kg)

349 kg

FEATURES

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STORAGE CAPACITY

93.2 Litres

RIDER CAPACITY

1-3 PERSONS

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REPORT I NEW WAVERUNNER 2019 WaveRunner EX SPORT & EX DELUXE The WaveRunner EX is Yamaha’s lead at the entry-level category, the most affordable, and usually choice of professionals in pwc rental. The saying “does not fall apart, does not break down” is a true story for the EX; their cleancut design does not mean any quality discounts at the mechanical or electronic components of the pwc as we have seen elsewhere. Besides the new EX do carry under their seat the award-winning TR-1 engine as mentioned above. The Sport version goes with the basic equipment, so it’s the most standard in its category, that is to say at the most competitive price as well.

The EX have clear, easy-to-read and informative instruments, dual mirrors, reboarding step and handle, tow hook and large storage space.

The Sport version has mechanical reverse, whereas the Deluxe comes with the RiDE system, deeming it more practical. On water the EX offer maximum fun thanks to their compact size, packing speeds up to 52 miles per hour. BF

ENGINE ENGINE TYPE SUPERCHARGER

3-CYLINDER, TR-1, 4-STROKE, DOHC, 4-VALVES -

DISPLACEMENT

1.049 CC

CALIBER X STROKE

82,0 MM X 66,2 mm

COMPRESSION RATIO

11,0 : 1

COOLING SYSTEM

LIQUID COOLED

PUMP TYPE

144 mm AXIAL FLOW

FUEL

UNLEADED REGULAR GASOLINE

FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM

ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION

FUEL CAPACITY

50,0 Liters

OIL CAPACITY

3,5 Liters

DIMENSIONS LENGTH

3,14 mm

WIDTH

1,13 m

HEIGHT

1,15 m

DRY WEIGHT (kg)

265 kg

FEATURES

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STORAGE CAPACITY

37,8 Liters

RIDER CAPACITY

1-3 PERSON

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BOATING

WELLCRAFT Fisherman series

by Giovanni Bianchini

Q

uality, reliable performance, Wellcraft has been there for fishing enthusiasts and their families for over 60 years.

Today’s Wellcraft Fisherman models are developed with the same desire for excellence.

They offer incomparable hulls, top-of-the-line equipment, unequalled finish and optimal

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comfort while cruising.

The Fisherman series dominated all aspects of offshore cruising and sports fishing. The new 182 Fisherman and 202 Fisherman soundly combine fishing features with dedicated family friendly characteristics by guaranteeing comfort and high-quality furnishings for all on board.

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BOATING I WELLCRAFT: FISHERMAN SERIES

These boats thrill lovers of speed and exhilarating performance.

The two most powerful boats of the series ( the 302 F and 352 F) are two extraordinary boats, with well thought out features, such as fishboxes with

ISSUE 1

macerator, console changing room and enclosed head, built-in bait/live welland self-bailing, cockpit grill and refrigerator.

The Fisherman offers different features and specifications within this line from the 182 Flength overall of 18’2�; max power

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BOATING I WELLCRAFT: FISHERMAN SERIES

at 150 hp to the 352 F: length overall of 35’6”; max power at 1275 hp.

All models are offered with a great variety of color options.

A strong devotion to fishing is given to all series and it’s why Wellcraft is a

trusted brand by tournament champions worldwide. From secure rod holders and storage, wide dive doors and deluxe T-tops to expansive live wells and prep stations, fish boxes, wash-downs, trolling motors, and jack plates the entire Wellcraft line truly takes the art of hardcore fishing seriously.

The multipurpose dive doors will make landing fish faster and boarding easier.

Fishing rods will be kept clean, safe, and out of the way with tiered gunnel rod storage. The angler can grab, prepare, and hook the attractions with bait stations keeping him right in the action.

This versatility makes the Fisherman a boat for unforgettable outings at sea with family and friends.

182 FISHERMAN

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

2200-2750 lbs

998-1247 kg

PERSONS CAPACITY

8

8

BRIDGE CLEARANCE W/T-TOP

7’ 3”

2.2 m

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

5’ 10”

1.8 m

BEAM

8’

2.4 m

2.6 m

15”

38 cm

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER

8’ 8”

APPROX. DRAFT UP APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

32”

81 cm

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER W/TOP

10’ 1”

3.1 m

DEADRISE

19°

19°

FUEL CAPACITY

56 gal

212 L

L.O.A

18’ 2”

5.5 m

MAX HP

150 HP

112 kW

MAXIMUM CAPACITY

2000 lbs

2000 lbs

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BOATING I WELLCRAFT: FISHERMAN SERIES 202 FISHERMAN

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

2650-3100 lbs

1202-1406 kg

MAXIMUM CAPACITY

2350 lbs

2350 lbs

BEAM

8’ 6”

2.54 m

PERSONS CAPACITY

8

8

BRIDGE CLEARANCE w/T-Top

7’ 4”

2.2 m

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER

8’ 8”

2.6 m

DEADRISE

19°

19°

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER w/Top

10’ 1”

3.1 m

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

33”

84 cm

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

5’ 8”

1.7 m

APPROX. DRAFT UP

17”

43 cm

FUEL CAPACITY

56 gal

212 L

L.O.A

20’ 4”

6.2 m

MAX HP

200 HP

149 kW

221 BAY

L.O.A

22’ 4”

6.8 m

PERSONS CAPACITY

8

8

BEAM

8’ 6”

2.54 m

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

3400-3600 lbs

1542-1633 kg

FUEL CAPACITY

52 gal

197 L

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER

8’ 11”

2.7 m

APPROX. DRAFT UP

14”

36 cm

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER w/Top

11’

3.4 m

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

27”

69 cm

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

6’

1.8 m

MAXIMUM CAPACITY

2500 lbs

2500 lbs

MAX HP

250 HP

186 kW

DEADRISE

15°

15°

BRIDGE CLEARANCE w/T-Top

7’ 11”

2.4 m

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BOATING I WELLCRAFT: FISHERMAN SERIES 241 BAY

L.O.A

24’ 4”

7.4 m

PERSONS CAPACITY

8

8

BEAM

8’ 6”

2.54 m

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT 4400-4900 lbs 1996-2223 kg

FUEL CAPACITY

87 gal

329 L

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER w/Top 11’

3.4 m

APPROX. DRAFT UP

14”

36 cm

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER

8’ 11”

2.7 m

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

31”

79 cm

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

6’

1.8 m

MAXIMUM CAPACITY

2500 lbs

2500 lbs

MAX HP

300 HP

224 kW

DEADRISE

15°

15°

BRIDGE CLEARANCE w/T-Top

7’ 10”

2.4 m

222 FISHERMAN

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

3400-3900 lbs 1542-1769 kg

MAX HP

250 HP

186 kW

BEAM

8’ 6”

2.54 m

BRIDGE CLEARANCE W/T-TOP

8’ 2”

2.5 m

DEADRISE

20°

20°

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER W/TOP 11’

3.4 m

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

34”

86 cm

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER

8’ 9”

2.7 m

FUEL CAPACITY

103 gal

390 L

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

6’ 3”

1.9 m

L.O.A

22’

6.7 m

PERSONS CAPACITY

8

8

MAXIMUM CAPACITY

2700 lbs

2700 lbs

APPROX. DRAFT UP

16”

41 cm

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BOATING I WELLCRAFT: FISHERMAN SERIES 242 FISHERMAN

PERSONS CAPACITY

10

10

DEADRISE

20°

20°

L.O.A

24’ 4”

7.4 m

BRIDGE CLEARANCE w/T-Top

8’ 6”

2.54 m

BEAM

8’ 6”

2.54 m

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER w/Top

11’ 4”

3.5 m

FUEL CAPACITY

158 gal

598 L

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER

9’ 6”

2.9 m

APPROX. DRAFT UP

16”

41 cm

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

6’ 7”

2m

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

34”

86 cm

MAXIMUM CAPACITY

3500 lbs

3500 lbs

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

4400-4900 lbs

1996-2223 kg

MAX HP

400 HP

298 kW

262 FISHERMAN

L.O.A

26’ 4”

8m

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER W/TOP

11’ 9”

3.6 m

BEAM

9’

2.7 m

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER

9’ 10”

3m

FUEL CAPACITY

158 gal

598 L

APPROX. DRAFT UP

20”

51 cm

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

29”

74 cm

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

6700-7375 lbs 3039-3345 kg

MAX HP

500 HP

373 kW

DEADRISE

21°

21°

BRIDGE CLEARANCE W/T-TOP

8’ 8”

2.6 m

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BOATING I WELLCRAFT: FISHERMAN SERIES 302 FISHERMAN

L.O.A

30’ 2”

9.2 m

WATER CAPACITY

13 gal

49 L

BEAM

9’ 8”

2.9 m

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

9000-9500 lbs 4082-4309 kg

FUEL CAPACITY

268 gal

1014 L

TOTAL HEIGHT ON TRAILER W/TOP

11’ 11”

APPROX. DRAFT UP

23”

58 cm

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

31”

79 cm

MAX HP

800 HP

597 kW

DEADRISE

22°

22°

BRIDGE CLEARANCE w/T-Top

8’ 2”

2.5 m

3.6 m

352 FISHERMAN

L.O.A

35’ 6”

10.8 m

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

BEAM

10’ 8”

3.3 m

w/Second Station

15’ 10”

4.8 m

FUEL CAPACITY

376 gal

1423 L

BRIDGE CLEARANCE

9’ 4”

2.8 m

APPROX. DRAFT UP

26”

66 cm

APPROX. DRAFT DOWN

40”

1m

APPROX. BOAT & ENGINE WEIGHT

11500-13510 lbs

5216-6128 kg

MAX HP

1275 HP

951 kW

DEADRISE

23°

23°

BRIDGE CLEARANCE w/T-Top

10’ 5”

3.2 m

WATER CAPACITY

12 gal

45 L

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ISSUE 1

PRODUCTS

NEW REVOLUTIONARY SQUID JIG

by FIIISH The “Powertail Squid” is here to surprise you!

It works both from the shore and from the boat!

Available in our store in 2 sizes: 12g and 25g in 3 wonderful colors! www.bestfishing.gr | +30 2810 823 210

HOOKS TRIANGLE HOOK CONCEPT by MUSTAD

IN SELECTED STORES mustad-fishing.com | info@mustad.no

New technology hooks that were awarded at the recent EFFTEX exhibition for their highly innovative construction including: • Triangular “wire” trunk, which offers 20% more strength and durability than a traditional one.

• New T-Steel coating, which reduces reflections and makes it less discernible, also providing it with an incomparable corrosion resistance.

• New, triangular spike, with excellent penetrating power and strength.

• Packaging in a “special” box, made of 100% recyclable materials.

• Available from spring 2019.

ROD LIMIT TAI RUBBER by PREGIO

Pregio enriches its Tai-rubber range with the new Limit Tai-Rubber model.

The “Limit Tai-Rubber” belongs to the “Limit” series by Pregio, which contains specific rods for many fishing techniques. “Limit Tai-Rubber” has parabolic action and is available in 120 and 150 gr jig weight, with a length of 2.01m in both sizes.

The Pregio Limit Tai-Rubber can handle tiny braided lines and nylons without any problems. One thing is sure: it will leave you speechless from the unique movement it will be able to give to your Tai-Rubber!

SMARO KALAITZI & ΣΙΑ ΟΕ www.skalaitzi.com | +30 2310 569 455 ISSUE 1

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PRODUCTS

ROD HEAVY CASTING PLUS by PREGIO

Pregio renews the “Heavy Casting” series with the new, reinforced “Heavy Casting Plus” rod, which has extra hard carbon and fast action to cope with the toughest situations.

Assembled with Fuji rings and featuring a removable base for the fishing reel. Reliable and ready to fight with any fish regardless of kilos!

SMARO KALAITZI & ΣΙΑ ΟΕ www.skalaitzi.com | +30 2310 569 455

7266 INLINE SINGLE HOOK by VMC

IN ALL STORES www.vmcpeche.com

Replacing classic lures’ tremble hooks with specific hooks for this use, has many times more profitable results. VMC presents the 7266 inline single hook, made exclusively for being assembled on lures.

The hooks of the series are made of Hi-Carbon steel and are characterized by having very sharp tip and powerful grip, besides being made for saltwater use. Still, their detailed design has greatly extended the distance between the shank and the barb, thus improving the catch rate. In addition, they own a large ring specially designed to allow the hook moving freely.

VMC 7266 Inline single hooks are available in 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 5/0, 6/0 and 7/0 sizes.

ROD STARNGE by PREGIO

New rod series by Pregio for spinning technique. The Strange is made of Japanese Toray Carbon 40t, having fast action and designed for very demanding fishermen. Rings, as well as the reel base, are Fuji. It is available in lengths of 2.60m and 2.70 m with a c.w. of 7-28gr and10-45gr respectively.

SMARO KALAITZI & ΣΙΑ ΟΕ www.skalaitzi.com | +30 2310 569 455

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PRODUCTS

SQUID JIG WHITE KILLER BUKVA by DTD This “piggy” Squid jig can be used afloat and also from mid-water to the bottom by using a lead.

It can be used in rigs with many branches at big depths searching squids from the bottom to the mid-water column, while with a sinking squid jig at the end of the troop and few WHITE KILLER BUKVA before it, we can enjoy full moon nights achieving multiple strikes in the first meters below the surface.

The extraordinary white cloth quality, the scales’ details on the back, the bulky three-dimensional eyes, the very natural imitation of the side line and the wings on the side of the head that mimic lateral fins, are the first line of impact, since, along with the natural cruise of the squid jig, they create a set that mimics perfectly injured fish and is meant to “defeat” the very aggressive cephalopods.

An added value is that given by the inner steel ball that makes noise and correctly balances the squid jig. Safe grip on squid’s tentacles is guaranteed by two rows of very sharp, stainless needles.

It can be used both from the boat and from the shore.

Available in five colors and 4 sizes: 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0!

IN SELECTED STORES www.dtd.hr | dtd2@st.t-com.hr, info@dtd.hr ISSUE 1

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SPINNING I TIPS FOR FISHING IN COLD WATERS

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