5 must-have products for boat fishers

A major highlight of the annual Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) Tackle Show, staged on the Gold Coast at the beginning of August 2023, was the announcement of this year’s ‘Best of Show’ products in more than a dozen categories.

Here, and in no particular order, is my personal selection of the five category-topping items with the greatest relevance for keen boat and kayak fishers…

This company has long been a market leader in terms of innovation in the electric trolling motor field, and its latest release is a definite show-stopper. Featuring 24V and 36V Quest Series brushless motors, an advanced GPS Trolling System, plus self-deploy and stow functions, the Instinct is a big, robust unit that’s clearly aimed at very serious users. That includes savvy offshore fishers, who are increasingly choosing to spot lock over their fishing grounds with a bow-mounted electric motor, rather than anchoring. With this demanding end use in mind, the Instinct comes in shaft lengths right up to a whopping 2.54 metres (100 inches), specifically intended for larger offshore vessels and rougher sea conditions. This one’s a game-changer!

The use of electric-powered overhead reels matched to purpose-built rods has revolutionised ‘deep drop’ fishing for tasty and keenly sought-after denizens of the abyss, such as blue-eye cod (trevalla), gemfish, hapuka, ling and bass groper. No longer do anglers need to wear themselves out cranking rigs or hooked fish hundreds of metres to the surface. Instead, it can all be done with the push of a button or the flick of a switch! Queensland-based Wilson Tackle deservedly took out the Best Combo category at this year’s AFTA Show with its unique and competitively priced electric deep-dropping rod-and-reel combo.

‘Popping’, or casting big, splashy surface lures to tempt high-powered saltwater species such as giant trevally (GTs), Spanish mackerel, queenfish, cobia, yellowtail kingfish and the like, is an immensely popular pursuit, and competition among lure makers catering to the growing army of popping fans is very keen indeed. For that reason, not too many observers were surprised when this year’s winner of the Best Game Fishing Lure category at the AFTA Tackle Show went not to a more traditional skirted head or blue water minnow, but instead to a brilliant chugger, or popper, from the impressive Ocean’s Legacy stable.

The SpeedMaster Game series of rods from Shimano feature the market leader’s extra-strong but lightweight TC4 blank technology, matched up with top quality Fuji SiC guides and AFTCO Roller Tips, to deliver tournament-level game, sport and deep-drop fishing performance in a very eye-catching package. All that justifiably earnt Shimano the Best Game Fishing Rod gong in a competitive field at this year’s AFTA Tackle Show.

Taking out the Best Dive/Watersport Product Category this year was the Huk (pronounced ‘hook’) Rogue Wave Boot. Constructed of tough neoprene and EVA, and with a unique Grip-X Slice tread pattern for maximum traction on all surfaces (wet or dry), the Rogue Wave Boot is designed to take on the harshest conditions. Just as importantly, it won’t mark decks or docks, and the breathable mesh liner helps keep boaties’ feet warm and dry in any weather.

You can expect to see all five of these outstanding category-winning products turning up in good numbers at boat ramps and marinas around the nation this coming spring and summer. If you’d like to check out the winners of all the other Best in Show Awards at this year’s Tackle Show, be sure to check out the Australian Fishing Trade Association’s Facebook page.

Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling is one of Australia’s best known and most respected fishing communicators.