They say for every action there is a reaction….

Last few decades we spent exploring the upper range of surfcasting budgets. We bought reels that cost more than our mortgage and we didn’t just buy one. No one even bats an eye when seeing a $600 plus tag on a surf rod either and we are not talking custom sticks.

But to some extent I think we reached a saturation point in the top end of a market. Not necessarily in terms of sales ,but in terms of future growth. To you and me, this might mean very little ,but to those who live on inside of this vicious sales cycle, this means everything. Former editor of NE publication Gene Borque told me once, the name of the game is either grow or die.

So where do companies find growth when upper end has been satisfied? No one is reinventing the wheel, but a lot of companies are trying to come up with a product that will fit a segment they feel is underserved. Or to fill a hole in their lineup. Van Staal VR reel is a good example of that. It gives you an option of a high quality reel at a lower price with hopes you will upgrade to VSX when you are looking for “more” in the reel (not sure more than VR is ever necessary but that’s the truth). PENN is filling a slot in their line up with Slammer III , somewhere above Spinfishiner V and bellow Torque. Besides, companies like PENN need to constantly  upgrade and update their models unlike VS which flagship reel has not changed in a long time other than recent update to VSX model

So how is Bimini Bay Outfitters (you also know them as Tsunami products) changing the rules of the game? The same way they did with split rings, swivels, shads and even Salt Life Optics. By bringing in quality products at lower price.

But this new announced reel at recent ICAST event in Orlando is a head scratcher. A “sealed” reel under a $100????

Tsunami Shield Spinning Reel at ICAST 2016

I have not seen this reel in person but I got to know people behind Bimini Bay Outfitters pretty well over the years to doubt them. I still remember being shown a Airwave Elite prototype at Rivers End Tackle show few years ago and being shocked when told that the rod will be for sale under $200 finished with all comonents. You got to admit Elite is one hell of a stick.I still fish my Elites all the time, so I am not going to doubt what they are coming up with…….but I am curious to see it

Take a look at this video and you tell mw what you think. And please spare me with “its not a VS” emails. Its not supposed to be a VS!

Retail price :

3000-4000 – $99.99

5000-6000 – $109.99

Weight by size:

3000 – 9.5oz/ 4000 – 9.8oz/ 5000 – 16.2oz/ 6000 – 16.5

3000-4000 have 6 internal seals. 5000-6000 have 13 internal seals .

Neither should be cranked underwater (btw neither should your VS/ZB/Torque) but 5000/6000 should be submersible without leakage where the smaller models with less seals will obviously have more points of entry

I think its a wonderful time we live in with all the innovations and improvements. Now if we can only invent more striped bass…

Here is the video from Tackle Direct from this year’s ICAST in Orlando

If you find an overload of info regarding a Penn Slammer III reels feel free to tell me to stop. Unfortunately we don’t get to go to ICAST show and check our other stiuff that might be of interests to surfcasters from big manufacturers. I find that most manufacturers that cater to surf fishing do not go there anyway, for example Super Strike, Gibbs or Fiberstar rods but big boys do so it would be cool to go one year just  for chit and giggles

Here is a look at PENN Slammer III reel in the sand

I already acknowledged in the video that this test has very little real life meaning. I do also acknowledge that some if not most of us will have to either lay or will drop our reel on sand on occasion

Not necessarily on purpose

Lets’s have a giveaway as I know we have been slacking in that department since I been away.

Today we’ll  To me its of those “cant live without” items and I had mine for many, many ears in the truck console. You set them on the PSI you want your tires to deflate, you screw them on and they do all the work. No more standing in rain, with flashlight in your mother and gauge trying to check your time pressure

You can get more info abbot the product at http://trailheaddeflators.com/product.htm

enter giveaway Here by Entering your email address

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This weekend at Captree Bait And Tackle in Captree Island

Team ODM and Captree Fuel, Bait & Tackle in Long Island will be hosting a casting demo day on Sunday July 17th from 11 am to 3 pm. Please mark your calendar and join us on this fun event day. The team is there to assist and answer any questions about ODM RODS and come check out their new models.

In addition, there will be few Penn Slammer pre-production reels available that you can check out during the demo . Slammer III is a winner of Best New Saltwater Reel category at this week 2016 ICAST in Orlando, FL

3500 E Ocean Pkwy  Bay Shore, NY     (631) 587-3430

That is one this…The other announcement is a new short film preview by Stephen Gallant

Many of you have seen Stephen’s short film Hard Days Night debut at this year Striper Day at Hofstra University

Stephen is tentatively scheduled to again present a new short feature at 2017 striper Day

Here is some new footage from Stephen and Brian O’Connor

Stephen is guide in MA and you can find more information by visiting http://www.pisurfguides.com

Speaking of Surf Fishing Guides…I was made aware that Tommy posted a giveaway while I was in Europe but the winner was never picked. So we will take care of that by drawing one winner whole will receive a free guided surf fishing trip with guide extraordinare, Bill Wetzel. The Trip is for 6 hour for one or two people. Winner should contact us via email at info@surfcastersjournal.com

and the winner is

AJ Burke

andrew.burke.96@gmail.com

Congrats AJ

You should all check out Bill set at www.surfratsball.com

The New issue of the Surfcaster’s Magazine is up for your reading pleasure

You will find a total of 7 new videos including 4 new Surf fishing 101 videos

These are the previews, to watch the whole version of any videos please log into your SJ account

This is going to be a video heavy  week or so as we have a lot of stuff planned for you along with a new issue of SJ Magazine. First on tap is a First Look at PENN Slammer III Reel

Yeah, we call it a ”review” but it would be more fitting if we did it a year from now as a month and a half is a short time to get to know your reel real well. I always thought that every reel should gets its ass kicked during a Norester in Montauk. Not because I am in love with a place but because those conditions are so difficult and demanding on your tackle.

In addition to this review, we also have a part 2 where we burry this reel in the sand and crank it underwater to see how much water leaked into the gear box. Does it really mean anything to do  these type of video/test? Probably not. A good wave on a sandbar with a sound getting pushed inside every crevice of a reel is probably a better test than burying a reel in sand. However, if the reel performs I guess it does gives people a peace of mind if they ever drop it in the sand.

In any event, on the end of the day, although there are thousands of people that watch these videos I make them for people on this blog and magazine subscribers. And when you guys tell me, no more, then I’ll walk away into sunset with my camera.

Enjoy, part 2 coming in few days

We got a new issue coming up next week. Can you believe its #38 already?

Fortunately I had few days to finish up bunch of videos. I am pretty psyched that we are going to have over  40 minutes of new video content in this issue.

Here is a preview of the videos in the new issue

Episode # 16 bottle Plugs myself, Don Musso & Bill Wentzel

Episode #17 Sebile Stick Shads Dave Anderson & Patrick Sebile

Episode #18 Rod for Montauk SJ Rod Guru Lou Caruso

Episode # 19  Picking the Right Reel full length myself and  Craig Cantelmo from Van Staal

Surfcaster’s Journal Online Magazine
Tip Of The Week # 4
SP Minnow modification with Dave Anderson

Good to be back on US soil after visiting my grandmother. Would you believe the women is 91 years old and digs potatoes so fast by hand that i can barely keep up? That alone was worth two flights, ferry and a donkey ride..and enjoying the ambiance in a place where people forgot that deodorant is for armpits…..lol. Yes, I am kidding about a donkey but I do wish we still had some in town. They are fun to bother until they kick you in the you know where

Hope you guys are catching…from what I hear its been one tough June for a lot of guys

Hope everyone is doing well. I have been in Europe for the last few weeks visiting family, hopefully I will get to sleep in my own bed this weekend , God willing.

Here are some thoughts on tying direct by NY Surf fishing guide Bill Wetzel

This video was featured on his channel sometime last year

Surf Fishing Tip Of The Week #3

Tying direct with Bill Wetzel

New for 2017 – PENN Slammer III Reel

Built  for heavy duty fishing from either boat or shore, and trusted by charter captains all over the world.

The Slammer III reels feature our new IPX6 Sealed System which keeps water out of the gear box and drag system in heavy spray and sea conditions. We’re also using our updated Slammer Drag System which now utilizes our proprietary Dura-Drag material. With the computer-controlled CNC gear technology system, the precision brass main, pinion and oscillation gears are individually machined for exact tolerances to provide the smoothest operation.

Eight models of the Slammer III will be available, ranging in size from 3500 to 10500 models. Gear ratios range from 6.2:1 with 37” of line retrieve on the smaller reels to 4.2:1 with 43” of line retrieve on the largest. Maximum drags start at 30lbs in the smaller models and run to 60lbs on the largest. The oversized reel handle grip gives the angler added control during the fight.

The 3500 Slammer III is the smallest of the family weighing 13.9oz while the 10500 weighs 43.1oz.

• CNC Gear technology.
• Full metal body, sideplate and rotor.
• IPX6 Sealed body and spool design.
• Sealed Slammer Drag System with Dura-Drag.
• 6+1 corrosion resistant stainless steel bearings keep the reel smooth.
• Superline Spool band eliminates the need for backing.
• Line Capacity Rings let the angler know just how much line is on the reel at any time.
MSRP for the Slammer III spinning reels is $249.95 to $349.95; starts shipping this October.