FISHING TACKLE: Clever new SoftGaff AccuMat brag mat

We must fess up! Two of these very cool new SoftGaff AccuMat brag mats arrived in the mail, unsolicited, to test and trial. We’ve added them to our tackle box and will report back with our results.

But the first thing we gauged was just how compact and convenient these clever roll-up SoftGaff AccuMat brag mats are going to be.

Housed in a robust heavy-duty canister, the UV-stabilised non-wrinkle mat simply unfurls from its container like a sail on a track.

Retracting into the canister after each use, the design prevents the creasing and wrinkling inherent to many ‘brag mats’ (which can distort the measurement). This means a precise measurement, fish after fish, says SoftGaff.

With a flip-up nose plate for big fish, the SoftGaff AccuMat has been designed for quick measurement of fish up to 150cm/60in in length.

Measurements are available in both metric and imperial formats for universal markets.

Meantime, we are now eagerly awaiting the impending compatible SoftGaff AccuMat app, which SoftGaff says will automatically record details of your every catch.

FOCUS ON CATCH AND RELEASE
SoftGaff’s AccuMat is the brainchild of father and son team Ray and John Callingham, who have shared a lifelong love of fishing.

“After years of research, development and rigorous testing, we believe the accuracy and quality of the AccuMat is unmatched in the industry,” John said.

“With such a strong focus on catch-and-release fishing these days, we can’t wait to get it in the hands of anglers!”

For competitive fishing, AccuMat’s assured accuracy will be of great advantage to measurement-based fishing tournaments such, say, the Flathead Classic, Barra Nationals, BASS Australia Nation’s barra series, and so on.

“Our goal is not only to provide recreational and tournament anglers with a quality product, but to play our part in further encouraging sustainable recreational fishing practices,” John said.

“The AccuMat provides a viable alternative to the hundreds of ‘weigh-in’ fishing competitions held by local fishing clubs around the country every month.”

PERFECT FOR KIDS
With your Marine Editor's couple of little kids champing at the fishing bit and now catching plenty of bread-and-butter species like bream, trevally, whiting and flathead, our two test SoftGaff AccuMats supplied gratis are going to get a workout.

I will add, in the modern fishing era, it’s really great to see how quickly my kids have taken to the idea of measuring fish and releasing them (when not big enough to eat or we already have a feed).

Suddenly, the next biggest fish of each species becomes the benchmark and, with that, there’s real impetus to wet a line. Bravo for the brag mats!

SoftGaff’s AccuMat is available for purchase online at the Softgaff website. The SoftGaff’s AccuMat retails for $99. Wholesale deals for tournament organisers and fishing clubs available.