There are two ways to measure fish: weight and length. There are several lip grippers on the market that also have calibrated scales to weigh fish. If you are planning to release a fish, then vertically weighing the fish is not the optimal way to measure the fish. Suspending a fish vertically by its lip puts stress on the fish’s internal organs. The bigger the fish, the greater the stress and the less likely the fish will recover and survive. A less stressful way to measure a fish is by length. You can use length charts to estimate the weight of the fish or you can measure the length and girth of the fish and compute it’s weight using the IGFA Fish Weight Formula: ((Girth x Girth) x Length) / 800) lbs.

In recent years, a retractable vinyl tape measure has gained popularity. I must say that this product is innovative. But, its internal retracting mechanism is fragile and does not last a full season. It also has a limited length. I target BIG fish! 😉

I now use a simple wide vinyl yard ruler, which is commonly used by tailors. No moving parts. Nothing to rust or break. Easy to read. It measures perfectly each and every time. 🙂

In Engineering, the best solution is typically the simplest one. Roberts Rangers simple plug design makes them durable, castable, and fishable.

Roberts Rangers are made with 304 stainless steel through wire and Acrylonitrile- Butadiene- Styrene (ABS) plastic, which has a high impact resistance. In theory, these high quality materials and a propriety molding process gives Roberts Rangers durability. In practice, Roberts Rangers survive the strong jaws and teeth of bluefish. They bounce off of the rocks on Montauk, Cuttyhunk, and the Cape Cod Canal. I do not know of any other plug on the market that can take this abuse and still be fished.

The areodynamic design and internal weighing of the Roberts Rangers gives the plug awesome castablity. When the fish are far out, I cast a Roberts Ranger. When there is a strong onshore wind, I cast a Roberts Ranger.

The top water action of Roberts Rangers has made them the top bluefish plug since 1970. But! They also catch striped bass, false albacore, bonito, weakfish, Spanish mackerel, peacock bass, European sea bass, giant trevally (a.k.a. GT), bluefin travellay, barracuda, leerfish (a.k.a. queenfish), yellow fin tuna, bluefin tuna, blackfin tuna, barramundi, jack crevalle, tarpon, ladyfish, marlin, and roster fish. Hence, I always carry at least three Roberts Rangers in my plug bag in different colors and sizes. Day or night. From the first day of spring to the last day of fall. I fish them on every trip.

The only modification that I make to my Roberts Rangers is to replace the rear hook with a custom tail. I tie my own tails in matching colors using a multi-layered threading and epoxy process on VMC siwash hooks. This small modification enhances the action and extends the color profile of the plug.

If you fish for inshore species from shore, boat, or kayak, then you best carry Roberts Rangers with you. They are available in sizes from 1 3/4 oz to 4 oz in solid colors like yellow and chrome and two tone colors like red/white and blue/white. You can order them from Roberts Rangers or buy them at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show at 50% off for blems. The fish do not notice blemishes! Trust me!! Stock up!!! 😉

Targeting predatory fish requires strong and well tied rigs. I make all of my rigs. I never use the same rig for more than one trip. When I land a big figh, I re-rig. When I land a toothy fish, I re-rig. When I drift jigs or chunks across the bottom of an inlet like the Cape Cod Canal, I check my rig before each cast and re-rig if the line has any sign of damage. Time is fish. So I use a simple and strong method to re-rig that I learned from Paul Melnk, the founder of skishing.

This simple method has two steps. First, tie a Tactical Anglers power clip to your main line via palomor knot (for braid) or improved clinch knot (for monofilament). Second, exchange your rig by sliding the rig’s swivel in or out of the Tactical Anglers power clip, like you would a plug.

I have been using this method for several seasons now. I use it for plug rigs, plug and teaser rigs, and all of my custom chunking rigs. This method works so well that I no longer use the loop-to-loop method—- unless I am fly fishing. 😉

Chunking is an effective method to hook and land fish. Chunking is also messy and smelly. If your hands do not get dirty, you are not chunking. Thankfully, Tackle Buddy Soap solves this problem!

When Rochelle Chavier told me about Tackle Buddy Soap at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show this past February, I was skeptical. Lather in saltwater? Really? My skepticism sprouted from my Liberal Arts, Scientific, and Technical education. Well! I am happy to write that the soap does not only lather in saltwater, it also cleaned my messy hands and left them fish smell free!

In addition to it’s cleaning performance, Tackle Buddy Soap is also ecologically friendly. In fact, it’s 100% all natural. I have been using baby wipes for years now. They clean messy hands as well as they clean baby bottoms. But, now with Tackle Buddy Soap, I carry less and I have a zero percent footprint in our overgrowing landfills. Now that’s a win-win! 😉

Tackle Buddy Soap is hand made in Lakeville, Massachusetts. You can order your bars directly from TackleBuddySoap.com or you can stock up at the up coming New England Saltwater Fishing Show and save on $hipping! 😉

I keep my Tackle Buddy Soap in a small water proof Plano box inside my chucking cooler. Like Rochelle’s husband, who is a commercial fisherman, I never go chunking without my Tackle Buddy Soap!

A pencil popper is the most versatile top water plug. A pencil popper can be fished in the surf, in inlets, in clam conditions, in rough conditions, during the day, and at night. I fish Guppy pencil poppers because they are well built, field tested, and optimized for casting distance and action.

Wayne Hess, the owner of Guppy Lures, makes five different pencil poppers that range from 1 1/4 oz to 3 1/2 oz. Each Guppy pencil popper is hand built with through-wire construction. A 1/16″ diameter stainless steel wire is passed through the center of the plug. The belly hook is a VMC 4X treble hook (1/0 to 4/0) that is secured to a Krok stainless steel barrel swivel (220 lb to 500 lbs) via Wolverine split ring. The tail hook is also a VMC 4X treble hook (1/0 to 4/0) that is secured to through-wire via Wolverine split ring. Each plug is painted in one of 19 different color patterns using a complex process that incorporates a sealer to eliminate water intrusion, primer, and a clear coat.

I have caught fish in inlets with a round bottom pencil popper. I have caught fish in the surf with a flat bottom pencil popper. Both styles catch fish in the surf and in inlets. But! If I have room for only one pencil popper in my plug bag, it’s going to a Guppy flat bottom (a.k.a. “Canal Special”) pencil popper. Why? Because they casts farther. Their flat bottoms allow the plug to rise to the surf quickly after they sink into the water at the end of the cast.

Some pencil poppers on the market require some modifications before use. For example, replacing weak split rings and fragile hooks. The only modification that I make to my Guppy pencil poppers is to replace the rear treble hook with a custom tied VMC siwash hook. I tie my own tails in matching colors using a multi-layered threading and epoxy process. This small modification enhances the action and extends the color profile of the plug.

Do you own a Guppy pencil popper? If you do not, buy one! If you do, but another one!! Fish them in inlets. Fish them in the surf. Be sure to hold onto your rod….the strikes are explosive!!!

Fishing during dark hours is one of the most productive times to fish.  But, fishing at night from a kayak increases risk. Safety is first on my list.  That is why I use the Scotty Kayak Sea Light Pole when fishing at night.

The Scotty Kayak Sea Light Pole has an overall height of 42″. It can be removed from the base and can be adjusted to any angle across a 180 degree range. The highly visible light is water proof and can run for 8 hours on two AA batteries. The bright orange flag provides additional visibility.

If you fish or are planning to fish at night in saltwater or freshwater, then pick up a Scotty Kayak Sea light. Why? To see and be seen by seen by other boats! 😉