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Sorting out the business end of your gamefishing gear By Craig Stubbs
W
ITH no disrespect or prejudice intended, I have to wonder at the world of “marketing inf luencers” that has arrived on our local fishing shores in a big way.With the rise of social media, some anglers have become mainstream pundits of hooks, swivels, rods, reels and electronics, among other things. I have no real problem with any of this, but when one starts to feel that you cannot catch a ’cuda without that brand new “special treble hook” costing R200 for a small box, or can’t catch a Natal snoek off your paddleski without a
R10 000 lever drag reel, then it starts to concern me a little. Don’t get me wrong, there are guys out there who have built great reputations and careers in our local angling world and really have done some thorough product testing over the years, and when they speak, I listen. However, there are also loads of guys out there who have become supposed “experts” and who share their opinions far and wide without much credible testing, all for the sake of a few “free” bags of hooks or a little discount on their purchases. The point of this article is not to knock the people, products or brands that follow this trend, as it forms a critical marketing element for their businesses. Instead, I want to give some perspective on our “terminal tackle” and what we should be looking for – or avoiding. Given how expensive angling has become, how do we spend wisely and make sure our tackle boxes are filled with the right products rather than a bunch of wasted rands? Absolutely everything I need for a day’s gamefishing fits neatly into this 1 Plano Tackle Box. This is for a charter operation, so for the average recreational I cannot see the need to carry more tackle.
SKI-BOAT March/April 2024 • 37
