Tackle Failure….Why Risk it.

I have a well-known friend that captained a billfish tournament boat for a private owner for more than 15 years. The boat won many high profile tournaments. While talking with Captain Bill Shuda, of Home Port Charts, about some of his adventures, we came to the topic of tackle. He commented that while anything can go wrong when fighting a big fish, the only reason the owner would not accept for losing one was tackle failure. The boat owner obviously had a grasp of what it took to own and operate a competitive tournament boat. The crew spent hours before an event checking all the equipment, and making sure it was ready for the test.

If there is a weak link in your fishing equipment, be assured, a big fish will find it.

Preventative maintenance and protection of equipment are the key elements in defeating tackle failure.

It doesn’t matter how high-tech the equipment, nothing is waterproof or corrosion resistant when in contact with saltwater for a long period of time. The most basic preventative maintenance starts washing fishing gear down with fresh water as soon as a fishing day is over. Reels should be washed thoroughly and greased or oiled as recommended by the manufacturer. Rigs or lures should be removed, and worn fishing line should be removed from the spool and replaced with fresh line. Check that all screws are tight and pressure is taken off the drag. Reels should be stored in a dry, dust free area where they are not likely to be damaged. Depending on the amount of use, it is recommended that reels be professionally serviced at least once a year.

Eyes or rollers on the rods should be inspected for cracks or damage that might fray fishing line on a future trip. The rod itself should be inspected for damage caused from a day of bouncing on the ocean. If the coating is chipped on the rod, it can be replaced by applying in a clear epoxy adhesive. Some anglers will wax their rods with a quality car wax a couple of times a year.

When preparing to depart for fishing, check your equipment again, and make sure equipment is protected properly when being transported. Store rods in rod holders where they receive the least abuse, rather than in the floor or rocket launchers where they may beat against something or each other. Don’t tie rigs onto the line before reaching the fishing site. Weights, hooks or wire can cause abrasions in the fishing line during travel. Make sure rigs and other tackle are stored in waterproof bags or compartments to prevent there contact with saltwater. Unused rigs will corrode over night if they get wet, affecting the sharpness of the hooks and integrity of the rig.

Preventative maintenance should go further than just rods, reels and tackle. Gaffs are sharp and rinsed with fresh water, and protect points so the will still be sharp when the need arises.

All electrical equipment should be covered from the elements before storage. All electronics should all be checked thoroughly before storage, making sure the equipment is running and all connections are in working order. On most open fishing boats this inspection should include running lights, bilge pumps, bait tank pumps, GPS/Loran unit and backup, radar, bottom machine, onboard lighting, tilt and trim, VHF radio and backup and emergency beacons. Make this check again before launching on the next trip. Most anglers check electronics before heading out, but finding problem too late leads to the temptation of heading out without needed equipment, spoiling a days fishing or both.

Protecting fishing equipment and preventative maintenance is crucial, and can only add to the experience of safely finding and catching large fish.