Abu Garcia says it built the Revo Beast baitcaster for throwing big lures and wrestling heavy fish. Everything — from its 22 pounds of max drag to its deeper spool for extra line capacity and oversize ergonomic handles — speaks to power. Abu even coated the Beast's side plates with titanium. The Beast features an alloy body, 7.1-to-1 gear ratio and Carbon Matrix drag system. The reel weighs 9.35 ounces and holds 180 yards of 30-pound braid or 12-pound monofilament. It costs $349.95.
Sounder Shorts
Pelagic's 4TEK Fish Finder Boardshorts feature a high-definition sonar graphic, complete with bottom structure, baitballs and game-fish marks. The four-way stretch, ultralightweight, quickdrying fabric is antimicrobial; the shorts come with side and back zipper pockets and a lined utility/pliers pocket. Available in even sizes from 30 to 40, Fish Finder shorts cost $64.
Deep Diver
Simrad Yachting's new BSM-3 Broadband Sounder Module features CHIRP technology that allows it to reach depths of 10,000 feet with heightened target separation, clarity and resolution. The module is optimized for Simrad's NS Series, including the new NSS evo2 and NSO evo2 systems, and is compatible with a range of Airmar transducers (including wide-angle CHIRP). Features include bottom-color tracking, easy split zoom, and a variety of scroll speeds and power settings. The BSM-3 module costs $1,999.
Sun Style
Bollé has announced 13 styles for its polarized Marine Collection, featuring two lens tints: Inland Glow for low-light conditions and Offshore Blue for open water. The lenses also feature anti-reflective treatment to reduce glare and a hydrophobic coating to repel water. Thermogrip temple tips and nose pads keep the frame fit comfortable and secure. All frames are made from b-88 nylon. (Pictured are the Kicker, for offshore, and the King, inshore). Most sunglasses in the Bollé Marine Collection cost $129.99.
Road Rods
Okuma's new three-piece Nomad Xpress travel rods include seven 7-foot models: Four are boat rods with pound-test line ratings of 20 to 40 and 30 to 60; three are inshore rods with line ratings from 8 to 17 pounds and 12 to 25 pounds. Blanks are made from 24-ton carbon; Okuma uses a European spigot ferrule connection for a one-piece rod feel. The rods come with double-foot guide frames and aluminum-oxide inserts. Boat rods feature EVA grips; inshore rods feature cork handles and a split-grip design. The rods cost $99 each.
The A-List
Raymarine has added the a9 (9-inch) and a12 (12-inch) multitouch multifunction displays to its a-Series lineup. The units allow pinch-to-zoom and come with a 10 Hz, 50-channel internal GPS; they're also powered by the company's latest Lighthouse II user interface (and include U.S. vector and raster charts). Designed for speed, the a9 and a12 employ a dual-core processor and a dedicated graphics processor, and can be controlled via Wi-Fi networking and Raymarine mobile apps. Anglers can also sync with Navionics mobile apps to immediately upload waypoints, routes and even charts. Available in three configurations — chart plotter only, plotter/sonar, and plotter/sonar with CHIRP/CHIRP DownVision — the units cost $1,899.99 to $2,999.99.
Breeze Catcher
Sailors aren't the only ones who benefit from wind information. Knowing accurate wind speeds can help anglers log and plan their fishing trips. Vaavud has introduced a wind meter that plugs directly into your smartphone, and operates using a free (iOS or Android) app. As the two-cup anemometer spins, it calculates wind speeds from 4 to 45 mph with plus-or-minus 4 percent accuracy, and provides current, average, and maximum readings. The app interface also gives users access to wind measurements made by other Vaavud users globally. Available in red, green or white, the meter costs $49.95.
