The last couple of trips to Guadalupe Island have opened my eyes to some new, effective techniques and the tackle that is used to compliment them. To say things or the way we fish is changing is an understatement, west coast anglers have always been at the forefront of tackle technology and innovation. I believe live bait has a major role in what pushes us to find smaller tackle, clearer monofilament and fluorocarbon, composite rods and a "mad scientist" outlook of trying different approaches to present the most lively sardine or anchovy as far away from the boat as fast as possible.

In past articles I have named names and this will be no different. There are products that I see that work and many that don't. Fishermen enjoy hearing specifics, although many times it doesn't matter what color of jig you use, we want to hear what color is the hottest, newest out there, that "magic bullet." I am here to put out some new things that I have seen work, on the water, day after day. Many times it will take years for a lot of us to come around to new techniques or materials, but you have to understand also that captains and crews don't like to endorse hot, new, magic bullets until they see for themselves that they works, under pressure.

Smaller, smaller, smaller reels; when is it going to stop? Not very soon, I hope. Accurate and Avet are leading the way to the small reel revolution. If you haven't picked up a small Accurate 870 or 665, two speed or Avet JX or LX, now is the time to do it. Hands down, these reels are awesome fishing killing tools. Ten years ago I was not too fond of Accurate reels, there were some problems. Today this opinion of mine has done a 180-degree flip, and I fully endorse these little powerful two speed reels. And no, I am not getting paid to say this, nor have I received compensation in any way, Jack Nilsen and sons have come a long way and they have always pushed the two speed envelope with their innovative products and I really can't say enough good things about their new reels today.

Why should you go out and spend your pretty pennies on small reels? Two words, bait presentation. Of course reels won't help you select that hottest sardine in the tray, but they do allow that sardine to pull the spectra off your spool with a minimum of inertia and continued free spool. This matters. How much drag that is created between the spool and line in the water will determine how many bites you get. What do we do? We decrease the size or diameter of our lines (spectra) and the size and diameter of the reels or spools.

The hard part of doing all of this is to do it without sacrificing line strength or pulling power. Secondly, it's a lot easier to tote around a smaller reel all day than it is a two speed 4/0, plain and simple. And yes, these diminutive monsters will do just that, take the place of much of your bigger older tackle. Third, the two-speed aspect of small reels was a big question mark when they came out. Why would you need a two speed for 40 or 50-pound line, much less for 30? Well, for one thing, not everyone and his uncle gets to fish off of Mag bay or Hurricane for a few weeks every winter. Us working Joes spend our time at places like said Guadalupe island and Alijos rocks, where the fishing can be less than wide open and we actually have to fish our baits away from the boat.

In situations like offshore bluefin fishing, you have to use smaller diameter lines like thirty and forty to get a bite. One thing in common with these locals is the size of the fish. Guadalupe especially this year, gives the five-day angler a serious chance at getting that Holy Grail of a 100-pound yellowfin tuna. Not that everyone is getting them, in fact only a very small percentage are over 100 pounds right now, but almost all of them are over 50! Now trying to get in a 70-pound yellowfin tuna with a single speed reel is a chore to say the least. Do yourself a favor, drop it in low and get that fish to the boat.

Next item of the day: short top-shots and Blackwater fluorocarbon. Here is a slightly different take on things. I am on the Blackwater pro-staff, but this is because I went to them and asked to work with their product, since it's so good. As in previous articles, I can say enough about the abrasion resistance of the Blackwater material, but today I want to mention the elongation factor or simply put how much it stretches. Yes, Blackwater fluorocarbon stretches, so put away your belief of pulled hooks because of short top-shots of fluorocarbon.

No more feeling like you are fishing with a piece of wire attached to your spectra, fluoro has come along way since its inception to be used for a fishing line. Again I would like to state on how clear the BW material is. Just hold up to the light of the tackle shop next to any other brand and you will be a believer. For me personally, clear lines help in getting bites, whether its due to the fish actually have trouble seeing the color or the line or its just because I have more confidence in clear line, the more clear the better.

Short top shots: here I make a stand. Many people will disagree. Short top shots kick butt. I love 'em. What it comes down to is that I am as much of a gear head as the next guy and you have to be if you want to do these things right. Seizing or crimping, when used in conjunction with cyanoacrylate glue (Zap-a-Gap, Mega-stick, and no, they are not all the same and there is room for improvement in this area), both work well. Hollow spectra for seamless connections that pass through your guides on the cast, has helped immensely.

These are a couple things that are happening out here this late summer. If you are not scheduled on a boat right now, you may want to find an opening. Guadalupe has been a lot of fun for the last two weeks, and the Rocks are just that, they're rockin' right now. Fishing is good, come out and enjoy it on any one of the fine long range boats that run out of San Diego.

Big Fish Happen,
Bruce A. Smith

Note: Bruce and Shelly have announced their upcoming marriage:
September 24, 2008.