Posts Tagged ‘sports and recreation’

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Lets Have Tea For Tuna In Cabo

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

The Baja Peninsula stretches southward from the border of California for approximately 800 miles before terminating at Cabo San Lucas and is separated from the rest of Mexico by the Sea of Cortez. Despite its reputation as a parched, barren desert, it is actually a very rich expanse with several different ecosystems ranging from Mediterranean to moderate woodlands in the mountain ranges.

It is also adjacent to several of the most amazing saltwater fishing on the Pacific coast. The kind of fishing obtainable from one of the peninsula’s Mexico beach rental facilities is virtually as varied as the terrain. To be sure, there are lots of deep sea charter trips with experienced guides who will be happy to take you out into the Pacific or the Gulf in search of marlin, mahi-mahi or dolphin, but it’s just as feasible to take a more passive line of attack. Many fishermen who camp out along one of Baja’s unspoiled beaches find it just as fruitfull to set up a fishing pole, a line and some bait and let the fish come to them.

When it comes to low tech fishing, the natives can often teach visitors a thing or two. Using nothing more than glass bottle as a float, a lead weight and most any kind of inexpensive hook, local fisherman are able to cast a line a considerable distance into the water from the beach and wind up with some amazing catches.

If you wind up camping beside the Sea of Cortez, you might do this kind of fishing out of necessity given that markets are far apart and travelling over the region’s rustic roads can be a bone jarring experience to say the least. A beach rental accommodations with a sizeable refrigerator and kitchen is enormously convenient so you can store up and not have to make too many trips into town for groceries.

There is a different side to Baja fishing and that is the competitive deep sea fishing tournaments that are repeatedly held out of San Cabo. There are three of these held each year, one of which is near the end of July and the others which take place just about the middle of October. These are earnest contests with equally significant prizes. In the 2010 East Cape Tournament, fifty six teams walked away with a sum of over $304,000 in prize money, with one top prize of $64,515 going to a fisherman who snagged a nearly 600 pound marlin.

Baja is more than fishing. With some of the most gorgeous, unspoiled beaches on North America’s Pacific Coast, surfing is a popular pastime with visitors and the waves compare quite favorably with those off the coast of Hawaii. Baja ecotourism also include whale watching excursions during the migration season as the California gray whales make their way to and from Alaska. The tour boats get close enough to these huge, but friendly denizens of the deep for people to actually touch them. Baja Ecotours also offers scuba diving tours and photo excursions as well as eco friendly romantic travel inns that are solar and wind powered.

Wesley Mathews is part of the travel team at FindVacationRentals.com and FindBedandBreakfast.com. These directories provide detailed information on romantic travel accommodations and things to do.

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A Guide To Fishing Hooks And Treble Hooks

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Fishing is a sport and fun pass time for many people around the world. Many people use fishing as a means of making a living as well. There are a number of different tools that are needed for fishing.

In this article we will learn about hooks and their types, characteristics and functions.

The hook is shaped just like a ‘hook’, hence the name. A hook is divided into various parts, such as:

- The eye. This is the point where the hook is attached to the line.

- The Shank. This section is the straight part of the hook that separates the eye from the ‘hook’ section.

- Bend. This is what makes the hook.

- Point. This is the sharp part that stabs the fish.

- The barb. This is found on some hooks and works with the point to grab the fish.

Fish hooks have been used since thousands and thousands of years. Its been proven that hooks have been around sense 7000BC. And through time, the materials and elements in the developments of hooks have changed. Wood, stone, bones, shells, bronze, iron and other sorts of materials were used in the production of hooks; and it is a fact that people still use non metallic hooks in some parts of the globe today. Hooks which were made by using steel first appeared and then significantly grew popular for professional use after the sixteenth century.

The Treble Hook

There are three different types of hooks. The single hook, the double hook and the treble hook.

Treble hooks are most often used with fly fishing. Treble hooks are covered in colored feathers, stimulating lures and baits. The treble hooks grip on a fishes mouth is one of the most noticeable functions. Treble hooks are used on lures, as they capture a fish easily.

Lures are available in numerous types such as bobbed – These give the illusion of swimming upside and downwards, whereas some sorts of lures are designed to go all the way down to the floor and collide with the sand in order to give the fish the illusion of activity. However, irrespective of what sort of lure you use, it is best advised to use a treble hook in order to ensure that the fish does not escape you.

The down side of a treble hook is that it can damage a fish if it is not snagged correctly. If you are fishing for fun, and plan on releasing the fish then a treble hook is not advised. The struggling fish will have significant damage to its mouth. But if you’re out to catch and eat, by all means, use a treble hook!

Ashley Davids buys treble hooks from online carp fishing gear retailers, HairRigs.com

categories: carp hooks,fishing hooks,carp tackle,fishing tackle,carp,fishing,outdoors,sports and recreation

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Carp Rigs – Info For Novices

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

The carp rig is designed to position the hook away from the bait to improve the chances of hooking the fish. Instead of the bait being on the hook itself, it is placed above it, so that the carp takes the bait first and the hook follows. This allows the bait to pass through the throat of the carp before the carp knows that there is a hard hook attached. The carp rig is becoming increasingly popular all through the Untied States.

Carp rigs are a new concept to many fisherman, but with the proven results the rigs are popular and rightly so. The concept is a simple one, the carp moves the bait through their mouth and the rig allows them the chance to feed on the bait before hooking them. Before the invention of carp rigs, the fish would taste the bait but would also feel the hard hook and spit the whole thing out quickly.

Carp fishing methods have grown over the years and will continue to do so. The methods of catching carp has grown rapidly in recent years and will continue to grow. New insights into the way carp fishing works has revitalized the fishing gear industry and new hook arrangements pop up at a fast rate. You will find yourself catching more carp the more you learn about the different rigs and the different uses and applications associated with tem. To put it simply, if the fish can’t see your rig, the easier it will be to catch them. Hiding your rig as much as you can is the object here. Fish are actually quite smart and can sense things in their environment better then we believe.

Just because you caught a great size carp in one place using a certain rig does not mean that the same rig will work in a different area. More often than not, it won’t work. Adapt your rig to the fishing location and changes in feeding. To state the obvious, make sure that the color of your rig is the color of the lake bed so that it blends in much better.

Tricking the carp is the main focus when fishing- it’s almost a mind game, so being alert is a must. You will find many times that at the end of the day without a catch, more than likely, you have been out-witted by the fish. Whether you are a beginner angler or have been doing this for years, there are always new rigs and methods to try.

Want to find out more about carp gear, then visit this site that Ashley Davids’ recommends to choose the best carp rigs for every application.

categories: carp rigs,carp tackle,carp,fishing tackle,fishing,outdoors,sports and recreation,sports,recreation

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Tips For Getting The Most From Your Electronic Fish Locator

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Congratulations! Now that you’ve purchased an electronic fish locator you’ll never have to waste time trolling for fish again. Fish finders are very easy to install and use and will be the most important fishing tool aboard your boat, other than your rod and reel of course. In this article, we’ll look at how to maximize the performance of your fish locator.

The secret to the effectiveness of a fish locator is the transducer. This is what sends out the sonar signal in a cone shape and transmits the information back to the screen on which you can view it. By bouncing a sonar signal, you will be able to see not only fish, but underwater structures and weeds. Many fish locators use a dual beam sonar. One beam is emitted at 60 degrees to find the fish and the other is at 20 degrees to accurately display the bottom of the body of water and its structure.

Some of the more compact models have transducers attached to a suction cup that can stick to any surface. These versions are compact enough and lightweight enough to be utilized in small vessels like speedboats, canoes, and even inflatable boats.

For those purchasing fish locators for larger boats, figuring out where to mount the components is important to ensure the best performance. Most fish finders come with a standard mounting bracket and transom mounting transducers. Ideally, it should be mounted somewhere convenient and accessible, like near the steering wheel. The transducer is mounted on the transom in a spot where it will be submerged both at low speeds and high speeds so that the sonar signal can do its depth finder job and scan the water even while you’re moving.

Operating a fish locator is as straightforward as pushing a button. After you turn on the unit, digital readings will show up on the screen. Based on which model you have, these will correspond to depth, water temperature and boat speed. The line running across the bottom of the display relates to the bottom of the body of water. The undulations on the screen indicate the terrain on the bottom. A thick, dark line represents a hard bottom, and a thin, light line points towards a soft bottom. Fish will appear as arches or icons.

Once you have installed the view screen and transducer, it’s time to program your unit. Most electronic fish locators come with default settings that you can modify to your needs. Start by selecting the “Normal” operation mode. This is suitable for most fishing situations. To adjust the settings, press the “View” button while in “Normal” mode to cycle through the different sonar modes. There will be several different options on this menu, from standard fish finder sonar all the way to side-looking sonar. You can save these settings so that you don’t have to reset the device every time you use it.

If you’re looking for the best GPS fish finder for your needs, it’s important to research your options carefully. Reading reviews is one of the best ways to do this; click here to read fish finder reviews on many of the most popular models of fish locators.

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Reviewing The Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

People got tired of carrying around huge, bulky cell phones so the industry answered back with smaller and smaller phones. The same thing is true of computers. The first computer took up an entire room yet new laptops are so small and thin you can slip them into a backpack. Fish finders are also being downsized. The best example of this is the Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder with RSS. It is absolutely the smallest fish finder on the market today. But before you rush out to buy one, you need to read a bit more.

The Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder with RSS is basically a watch that you wear along with a sonar buoy you cast out. The sonar buoy, which resembles a neon duck or a kid’s bath toy, sends back readings of the water bed and all the fish within range. The range is 75 feet with a depth of up to 125 feet. All you have to do then is look at the watch. Sounds pretty great right? Well it really is not that great.

The downside is, the SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder rates low in customer satisfaction. Every single reviewer who bought this product had the same type of complaint. It’s not sturdy, and it doesn’t last. One customer even had trouble switching it off and could only do so by taking out the battery. This is highly inconvenient, given that each time the battery is removed, the watch has to be reprogrammed.

Others reviewers complained that the device simply stopped working all of a sudden, often just past the six month warranty period. And if this happens to you, you can forget about getting a replacement.

The premise and idea behind the Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder with RSS is great. And the price is not bad either. You can pick one up for around $100, which makes it really affordable. But with so much negative feedback from people who have purchased this fish finder, it simply is not worth the money; period. You can find other fish finders that work better and are not that much more expensive. They may not have the “wow” factor but at least they will work.

Don’t know your Garmin Fishfinder 140 from your Furuno FCV? Read a fishfinder review to help you make the right choice.

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Tips For Using A Fish Finder

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Fishing can be an exercise in futility if you can’t find the sweet spot where a great catch is waiting for you. That’s why a fish finder can be the perfect tool to add to your fishing gear. A fish finder scans the area beneath your boat to help you locate the best spots to cast your line. In this article, we’ll look at how to go about using a fish finder, for those who have never done so before.

Fish finders are made from sturdy, long-wearing hard plastic which gives the best possible defense against the elements and any potential harm that may take place during use. Some instruments have a cover made of stretch neoprene to protect them from water damage. Some have protective cases designed to protect the mounting assembly as well. They are small enough to be used on canoes, speedboats and even inflatable vessels.

Mounting a fish finder can be easily done with a few hand tools. It’s best to do this with a friend so that you have an extra pair of hands available for holding the parts in place. Pre-drill the holes to prevent damage to the boat. Mount the unit in the desired location, using the hardware that came with it. Next, connect the electrical leads from the unit to the relay box of your boat, connecting the power to a hot wire and the ground to your ground plate. If you don’t have a relay box, then the leads can be connected directly to the battery. Match the negative to negative and the positive to positive. Finally, mount the transducer to the bottom of the boat. This is normally done at the rear of the boat. Put silicone around the transducer to prevent any water from penetrating where the holes were made. Route the cable from the transducer to the input of the view screen and screw it into the input jack. It’s quite a simple process but make sure to read the manual carefully.

After turning on the fish finder, examine the digital readings that show up on your display. Based on the model you have, these are usually depth, water temperature and boat speed readings. These readings are determined by the placement of the transducer that sends sonar signals from the water to the fish finder.

Once your fish finder is installed, you will need to program the settings. Generally, choosing the “Normal” operation mode uses factory set defaults that allow some control over the settings. This mode allows you to quickly use the unit’s sonar functions without making in-depth setting changes. For more options, you can cycle through the different sonar modes, which typically range from standard sonar all the way to side-looking sonar. Once you’re familiar with using a fish finder, you will wonder how you ever fished without it.

If you want to increase your odds of catching fish, you should consider investing in a fish finder. Fish finder reviews can help you figure out which make and model is best for you. Click here to read Lowrance fish finder reviews along with many other popular models.

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The Exceptional Technology Underlying GPS Fish Finders

Monday, April 5th, 2010

If you spend a lot of time fishing from your boat, then the features of GPS fish finders can make the experience more than you’d hope for. These units come pre-loaded with maps of the shoreline or inland waters, as well as satellite images that help with navigation. They will alert you to the nearest campground or marina. They can even offer real-time weather updates and radar images so you don’t get caught off guard by a sudden storm. And, you’ll never have to drift around aimlessly looking for fish again. In this article, we’ll look at how this GPS and fish finder combo can help you.

GPS fish locators send out a signal that communicates with a GPS satellite orbiting the earth. The satellite returns a signal to your equipment that produces a three dimensional likeness of the water beneath your boat. Utilizing this picture, the sonar will locate the fish and their images will be shown on the screen. While you pass over a body of water, the GPS / fish locator/ depth finder will constantly revise particulars and images of the water underneath you, which means you can satisfactorily determine if it is a spot you want to give a try.

GPS fish finder combos have all kinds of high tech bells and whistles that can make choosing just one a tough task. Some of the factors that you should consider include the size of your boat, how much time you’ll be spending on your fishing expeditions and what kind of waters will you be fishing in.

However, with so many options to choose from, how do you know what to buy and how much to spend? Before you begin to shop around, compile a list of features you would like to have on your device. Once you know exactly what you want, you’ll be better prepared to compare elements and prices.

One of the most important features to consider is the monitor. Your device should be waterproof and have glare protection on the display so you can view it in direct sunlight. The image on the screen should be easily visible. Small and inexpensive fish finders will not produce nearly the same quality of picture as a higher-end model with full-color VGA display. There are many kinds of GPS fish finders on the market, ranging in price from approximately $300 to well over $1,000, so shop carefully for the perfect device for you.

If you want to increase your odds of catching fish, you should consider investing in a fish finder. But how do you know if the Lowrance X96 fishfinder is superior to the Garmin 140, for example? You need to read some fishfinder reviews to help you decide on the perfect model for your needs.

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The State Of The Art Features Of A GPS Fish Finder

Friday, March 19th, 2010

The GPS fish finder is an amazing piece of technology that can enhance the experiences of sportsmen who love the water. A marine GPS combo system can function as both a portable fish finder and a chart plotter. You can sit back and relax knowing that you are safe and that there are fish in the area. In this article, we’ll look at how science has combined GPS with fish finder sonar technology to lend a hand to avid anglers.

The top of the line GPS fish finder combos are absolutely loaded with dozens of options to help you on your fishing expeditions. These first class fish finders can have sensors for GPS speed, water temperature, barometric pressure sensors, wireless sonar links and Gimbal mounts. Many units can be set up for either freshwater or salt water environments to ensure the best performance possible. However, with so many options to choose from, how do you know what to buy and how much to spend? Before you begin to shop around, make a list of all the features that you require. Do you need a large screen? Perhaps you need an Ethernet connection. Or, will a less expensive unit with basic features satisfy your needs. Once you know exactly what you want, you’ll be better prepared to compare devices and prices.

The Eagle FishElite 500c GPS Fish Finder is another popular pick. It features a top quality LCD screen with 256 ultra bright colors. As well, it possesses a full size combination 200 kHz sonar and mapping GPS and WAAS, with 256-color, sunlight-viewable 320Vx240H pixel display. This high definition is great for minimizing glare and is a great bonus to those who may have bad eyesight. Most significantly to anglers, this model can find fish hidden in underwater color. Plus, it features an optional sensor and variable ping speed with automatic HyperScroll to indicate fish targets at higher boat speeds. This Eagle model is good, hard-wearing and straightforward to use. Its internal memory aids in storing GPS data and sonar settings.

The Humminbird 383c GPS Fish Finder combo includes a built-in nautical mile resolution UniMap of American inland lakes, rivers and coastal areas. In addition, it includes many important features, like an internal WAAS GPS receiver with 16 channels and omni-directional antenna for superior performance. This model supplies accurate water temperature readings and is made for both fresh and saltwater environments. One exceptional feature is the capability to freeze frame without delay. This gives the user more time to look at the information on a chart. This product is also a good size for smaller boats and can be installed easily. This product includes the DualBeam PLUS sonar, which offers wider depth finder coverage of the bottom. Additionally, it makes the task of looking for fish much less difficult with the built in adjustable zoom levels on the display.

There are a number of other GPS fish finders on the market, such as Lowrance GPS and Garmin GPS fish finders, and prices vary according to the level of the technology. Generally, you can expect to spend between $100 and $500 on a decent GPS fish finder. Extremely high tech commercial GPS fish finders cost significantly more, but the average sportsman should fare well with a basic version. It’s best to go to a store that specializes in this kind of equipment and compare a number of products, get information from the salespeople, and do some research on the Internet. If you do those things, you’ll better your chances of buying an appropriate device for your needs and snagging a trophy fish every time you hit the water.

Don’t know your Eagle Cuda 300 fishfinder from your Humminbird 997c? Read fish finder reviews to help you make the right choice.

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Guidelines For Getting A Great Portable Fish Finder

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Every fisher has been there; going from spot to spot looking for a bite only to go home empty handed. It’s a frustrating feeling to say the least. However, technology has become every fisherman’s best friend. A portable fish finder can help you find your next catch by being your eyes UNDER your boat. In this article, we’ll explain how this handy piece of fishing gear works and how to choose one suited to your needs and budget.

Portable fish finders are a fantastic piece of equipment that are able to actually enable you to locate fish when used properly. Prior to the invention of this piece of technology, fishermen utilized a depth finder that only showed the depth underneath the boat. There was no precise screen revealing the existence of schools of fish. As a result, depth finders were of little use to commercial fishermen. Then there were the sounders with printed graphs rolls that were extremely accurate if used correctly. However, the real leap forward was the advent of the LCD (liquid crystal display) sounder that showed both bottom contours and fish. Today you can find a wide range of these LCD fish finders.

Choosing the appropriate portable fish finder might be hard because the market pricing is very competitive and products are being updated at all times. Top of the line styles can cost more than the typical dinghy, however straightforward units can be completely affordable and cost as little as $300 from a discount fish finder store.

The technology has come some distance from the time when electronic fish finders first showed up on the market. Recent units are more slender, more lightweight and more menu-driven than their predecessors. The units have either black and white or color display screens and the screens come in a range of dimensions. The bigger displays are better suited to larger fishing vessels where they can be kept out of the sun and weather conditions. These are ideal for commercial fishing boats.

The key to the effectiveness of a fish finding sonar is its transducer housing. This is essentially the working part that scans the area beneath boat and transmits the information back to the screen where you can see it. By bouncing a sonar signal, you’ll be able to see fish, weeds and underwater structures. How quickly this echo signal process takes depends on the portable fish finder wattage, the transducer and the depth of the water. The higher the wattage, the more powerful and quicker the signal is processed from the transducer.

When looking around a fishing gear store, do not feel that bigger and more expensive equates to a better portable fish finder. Consider the size of your boat and realistically evaluate your needs. Even if you have the space, do you really need an expensive piece of equipment? Unless your livelihood depends on a great catch, you don’t need a top of the line model. Once you’ve made your choice, make sure that it is properly mounted. An improperly mounted fish locator will not perform correctly. Follow the instructions carefully or get some help. With the right model and proper installation, you’ll get such great catches you’ll think that the fish are finding you!

If you want to increase your odds of catching fish, you should consider investing in a fish finder. But how do you know if the Humminbird SmartCast RF 15 portable fishfinder is better than the Humminbird 997c, for example? You need to read some fishfinder reviews to help you decide on the right model for your needs.

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The Seiko SKX173

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Many customers will commonly agree that this SKX173 Seiko dive watch is fundamentally the best classic dive watch on the market now and every bit of its features as well as qualities mix to generate a sustained effect within the mind of the dive watch user. Suppose you actually owned one of these types of timepieces then you most probably are familiar with the standard look and sense of this dive watch. If not, you may certainly be in for a pleasant surprise with this Seiko dive SKX173 due to the fact that not only does this piece of equipment take on a superb display and bezel, additionally, it utilizes an interesting automatic mechanical power that is definitely perfect for all of these kinds of watches.

Superb Features

The case of the Seiko SKX173 is much like other the cases of other Seiko watches. It contains the Seiko Wave logo, the movement number, the case number, and the serial number. The dive watch is given a neat and tidy appearance with a case that has a brushed finish on the top. The professional and clean look of the jet black face of this dive watch is similar to that of other dive watches. With this watch you will get square markers, a black bezel and black dial that have course numbers and circle markings around the edge for keeping track of the time.

Look and Feel

The whole look and feel of the bezel and rotator of the Seiko SKX173 is what many people love about this watch. In fact, the rotator bezel gives you the option of a countdown feature; all you have to do is turn the 0 indicator to the minute or second hand to get this feature started.

Its Most Loved Feature

One awesome aspect of the Seiko SKX173 watch is how it operates; you don’t need batteries! The watch actually works with your own body movement- it is powered when your wrist moves. What does this mean for you? Well, you’ll never have to worry about changing the battery! This also avoids the hassle of trying to remove and replace any small mechanism in the watch if you had to open it to replace the batteries. Also, your watch will always be accurate for as long as you’re wearing it. Even if you remove the watch for a short period like fifteen or twenty minutes, it will still keep the time perfectly accurately.

An obvious characteristic of the Seiko SKX173 is that it is waterproof. The fact is any avid diver will find that this dive watch is one of the best watches available today. There are many users of this watch who will argue that it is indestructible. This Seiko watch attaches to your arm with a rubber strap and a stainless steel buckle, making it able to withstand all types of conditions.

It is quite clear that the dive watch is one of the best diver’s implements available today. You don’t have to be a pro to appreciate it, though! Any business professional who enjoys watches and wants to own a watch that can run without a battery will also love the Seiko SKX173.

Ed J Price has had a marked interest in the field of scuba diving for many years. For further information, notably on the Seiko Dive SKX173 watch and other brilliant Seiko dive watch models, visit his online resource site today.

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