WetsuitWearhouse.com is offering up a 20% coupon until November 30, 2009.  Now is the time to get that new wetsuit that you have been drooling over all summer, and extend your surfing or kayaking season through the winter.

One of the things that I was initially resistant to when I began kayak fishing was using wetsuit booties when the water was cold.  My toes suffered for it. I finally picked up a pair of booties, and cold water fishing has never been better.

To take advantage of this coupon you need to use the code   rashy when checking out.  So get out there, and lets play in the ocean all year round.

Visit The Largest Wetsuit Specialty Shop Online – WetsuitWearhouse.com

“Ocean Kayak, a renowned leader in paddlesports industry for years, is pleased to introduce the new Torque fishing kayak.  Crafted around the successful Prowler Trident Angler kayak platform, the new Torque seamlessly blends all the features anglers need on the water and includes a Minn Kota Maximizer trolling motor with infinite variable speed control and reverse.”

Calling this is a kayak is somewhat stretching it, as kayaks in the traditional sense should be human powered.  The $1999.00 price tag is incredibly steep, but it is the most nicely designed motor powered kayak I have seen.  The Trident series of kayaks, the kayak that the hull Torque is based on, paddle very well,  and are great fishing platforms.  I believe that Ocean Kayak will do well with this electric powered incarnation . I do encourage anyone thinking that they need an electric assist, to paddle a kayak for a while to realize some of the most attractive aspects of the sport.  There is nothing more satisfying that to come ashore after a day of paddling, muscles feeling the effort, knowing that your own mind and body were all the motor you needed.  The reality is paddling in its most basic form does not require the strength and stamina of an Olympic athlete, and most every able bodied person can reap the benefits of paddling.

A video Introduction of the Torque courtesy of Ocean Kayak:

Get Your Ocean Kayak at REI

A group called Ecotrust has been commissioned to map out the best fishing areas in Southern California to use as a tool to redraw and expand the boundaries of the Marine reserves.   Eco trust is accomplishing this by enlisting the aid of fisherman to create a proprietary map of Southern California’s premier fishing spots to use as a tool to avoid decimating the sport.  What makes this unique is the fisherman themselves are volunteering this information, and are trusting an organization with roots in the environmental movement to represent their best interests.   This works because of the straight forward consistency Ecotrust has shown in the past.  Ecotrust says it best in the FAQ on their website when they answer the question: Why Tell the Truth?

“Fishermen have every incentive to tell the truth. This project presents a unique opportunity to bring fishermen’s knowledge directly to bear on MPA planning in California. Any reporting that misrepresents the actual fishing grounds has the potential to do more harm than good, recreating the “garbage in, garbage out” problem. We have designed our methods to minimize this problem, and will work closely with fishermen and a group of regional stakeholders to validate and verify the information collected.”

It is heartening to see this process move in this direction.  It initially seemed as the MLPA moved south the elements in each community that were spewing hate and lies where going to be the those that were heard in the general public.  Most people without a stake in our oceans can and will be sympathetic to all involved as long as there is a reason involved.  Lets keep it this way so that one day we can have healthy oceans which our children will enjoy abundant fishing.

Ecotrust

Sign on San Diego Article on the MLPA

The San Diego Union Tribune featured a story about a free clinic each Sunday, sponsored and taught by the members of the San Diego Fly Fishers.   This free class for beginners looks as like the perfect opportunity to get a taste,  and a head start on the skills needed before dropping a bunch of cash on gear.  They provide loaner rigs and instruction.  Look for me soon on the shores of Lake Murray.

On a related note,  check out Tom Chandler’s  great blog on flyfishing called The Trout Underground.