Reviews Are Cast: Innovative New Fishing Line Truly the Limit

The new extra-strong braided synthetic fishing line coming onto the market this year will be a leading topic at the annual show of the American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers’ Assn. at Las Vegas next month. Several bass pros already using it rave about it.

Said Dee Thomas of Clear Lake, Calif.: “The best fishing line I’ve ever seen.�

Added Denny Braur of Missouri: “The line of the future.�

The line is being offered by several companies, including Fenwick and Izorline in Gardena. Russ Izor calls his version Spectra.

The process uses Kevlar and polyethylene braided like the old pre-synthetic lines before monofilament took over in the 1950s. Manufacturers say that 30-pound test is the size of 8- or 10-pound in mono, although less transparent.

The new line also increases feel by reducing stretch from 25-50% to 7.6%, which adds considerable strain on the gear. Rods have been snapping like kindling in testing.

Another problem is the expense--it’s four to six times as expensive as monofilament. Yet, said Mike Battistoni, tackle buyer for the 14 Turner’s Outdoorsman stores, Fenwick sold its first year’s supply in a month.

The value, Battistoni said, is that “it should last forever.�

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Another hot topic at the AFTMA show will be the Environmental Protection Agency’s pending proposal to ban lead fishing sinkers, which are toxic to some waterfowl that ingest them.

The EPA said last week it would publish such a proposed rule for public comment next January. The ban might also include lead substitutes such as zinc, copper and brass. The problem will be to find a substitute that is neither too large nor too expensive.

The only question is why it took so long. The same concern for birds dining on heavy metal led to the ban of lead shot by duck hunters a few years ago.

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Bluefin and yellowfin tuna off Baja California continue to flirt with the San Diego fleet just beyond the one-day range.

The number of catches hasn’t been terribly impressive, but Bob Fletcher, president of the Sportfishing Assn. of California, says that’s because of the good yellowtail fishing around the Coronado Islands, which costs about $60, as against $150 for an overnighter to the tuna grounds.

“We aren’t getting many boats down there, and the ones that are going have light loads,� Fletcher said.

Typical was the Tracer from Fisherman’s Landing on Monday. In five hours, nine anglers landed 10 bluefin up to 128 pounds, plus three yellowfin--that, despite using light tackle that caused them to lose nine of every 10 fish they hooked.

Briefly

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Big fish of the week were blue marlin weighing 650 and 300 pounds, caught and released from Palmilla Fleet boats at the Gordo Bank. Also, 21 of 26 striped marlin were released, and there were 24 yellowfin tuna to 63 pounds and 31 dorado to 59 pounds. East Cape: Tim Galli, Diamond Bar, and eight friends spent three days catching six striped marlin, 130-152 pounds; two sailfish and eight dorado. Wind was calm most days, temperature in the 90s. San Diego long-range: Capt. Tommy Rothery’s Polaris Supreme, 4 1/2 days to Guadalupe Island with a group from “Cry Help� organization for recovering drug addicts, kept 165 yellowtail averaging 22 pounds and released 138 averaging 12 pounds. The weather was rough, but the catch also included 30 calico bass and a 45-pound bluefin tuna. Capt. Dan Sansone’s American Angler, six days to Cedros and Benitos Islands with 19 anglers, took 160 yellowtail to 52 pounds, eight grouper and 200 bass. Dave Robinson, Chino Hills, caught a 41-pound pinto bass on 12-pound test line.

SALTWATER FISHING--The next grunion run is scheduled July 5-8, starting at 10:40 p.m., 11:20 p.m., 11:55 p.m. and 12:40 a.m. on successive nights. There is no limit, but hands only may be used and state fishing licenses are required for those 16 and older.

BOATING--The Fourth of July is the most deadly day of the year for boaters, according to BOAT/U.S. As many as 60 people will be killed, more than half in alcohol-related accidents--passengers more often than skippers. ON THE AIR--�Sportfishing With Dan Hernandez,� the half-hour show previously on Channel 13, will move to Channel 2 on July 18, at 5:30 a.m. with a feature on largemouth bass fishing at Castaic Lake.

NOTEWORTHY--Judy Pachner’s 1993-94 catalogue of Products to Assist the Disabled Sportsman is available by phoning (714) 363-9831, faxing (714) 363-9826 or writing to 13 Via di Nola, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 92677.

OVERSEAS--Bob Marriott, owner of the Fullerton fly-fishing store, will escort another group to Russia’s Zhupanova River on the Kamchatka Peninsula, departing July 18 from Anchorage. Details: (714) 525-1827.

WHALE WATCHING--The Condor has scheduled trips from Santa Barbara to observe non-migrating blue whales that have moved into the channel to feed. Details: (805) 963-3564.

HUNTING--Rabbit season opens in California on Thursday. The daily limit throughout Southern California is five. No rifles or pistols are not allowed in L.A. County.

ADVENTURE--Pam Flowers, 45, of Talkeetna, Alaska, has completed her 2,000-mile trek with eight sled dogs through most of the route of the Northwest Passage--the first solo journey by an American and a woman. All eight dogs survived “in great shape,� she said.