[I’m not much of a fisherman. Let’s just say that the fish are in no danger when I’m around. Still I’m a big fan of the Navionics Fish N’ Chip, because I love the detailed bathymetric data they contain. With a boat that draws about one foot with the motor raised, this can be very handy for finding impromptu passages and anchorages not in the standard guide books. On with the press release! —Tim]

Wareham, Mass. – Navionics®, the leader in electronic charting and digital navigation data, is pleased to announce the highly anticipated release of the Fish N’ Chip with the first-of-its-kind Great Lakes coverage area supported by Gold and Platinum Plus compatible plotters.

The Fish N Chip Great Lakes was well received at the Northwest Sport show, a proving ground for many inland mapping products and passed with flying colors. Navionics National Sale Manager Jeff Brodeur came home all smiles with the overwhelming response and positive feedback received from Pro Staff who have been using the chip since the release. Containing US and Canada data coverage, the Great Lakes is the first of three coverage areas to be released between March and Mid May of 2010. The entire East Coast will be on one chip while the West and the Gulf coast will be on the other.

The New Navionics Fish N’ Chip includes:

• Incredibly accurate 1 Ft HD Fishing Bathymetry on inshore Estuaries and Bays
• Full US and Canada 1M contouring Great Lakes coverage
• High resolution Offshore and Canyon Fishing Bathymetry
• Offshore Navaids, Rocks, Wrecks, Tides and Currents.
• Shallow Water Vegetation and Marsh Areas

While the previous Fish N Chip’ offered high resolution Bathymetry for offshore fishing, the New version combines that offshore data set with many new HD inshore bathymetric charts. A similar technology that brought you Navionics High Definition Survey lakes found on the HotMaps Premium and Platinum products is now used to create 1 ft contouring for inshore estuaries and bays using the most current data sets available.

Anglers who hunt shallow water sloughs and channels for stealthy backwater fish now have a mapping solution that sheds new light on the bodies of water they once thought they knew. “In a recent on the water demo for the East chip, Navionics Product Manager for the US and Americas, Shaun Ruge concluded “I have never been able to run on a chart and run out of water before I ran out of data. This is truly like nothing else I have ever used and a level of accuracy I have never seen. It takes a lot to get me animated about new mapping and I am really excited to get this in the hands of people who can and will find new fish with it.”

“Using this technology will change the game for inshore fishing as we know it. Not only is this a must have to inshore fisherman but also for the shore bound wade angler as well. This data extends into 1ft of water” said decorated tournament angler and Navionics Sales Manager Paul Michele.

The word is definitely out on Facebook where Navionics and users have been talking about the Fish N’ Chip for a few days now and continues to be a great active source of information for all Navionics products. Contact us at sales@navionics.com, Facebook, or visit our website: www.navionics.com for more information.

[Navagear has made no secret of the fact that we’re impressed with the Torqeedo line; we’ve written about several Torqeedo products. So despite the fact that I know very, very little about fishing, I thought I would share this press release with our readers. —Tim]

When it comes to kayak fishing, every advantage counts. That’s why professionals such as Chad Hoover, pair their kayak with an outboard designed specifically for fishing. With a total weight of 15 lbs., including the battery, Torqeedo‘s Ultralight 402 can be easily mounted onto most rigid kayaks. It’s IP67-rated and can operate when temporarily submersed.

As a pro staff member and owner of www.kayakbassfishing.com, Hoover is an extensively experienced and enthusiastic angler. He also doesn’t recommend a product to anyone without trying it out firsthand.

"I’ve taken this motor over cypress knees, shale rock and dense vegetation, including lily pads," said Hoover. "I beat this motor up and it just keeps going. It even performs well in shallow water."

"I’d recommend this motor to other anglers," continued Hoover. "It frees my hands up to fish. The Ultralight is also quiet, fast, lightweight, efficient, smooth and easily adjusted. The speed and presentation can be dialed in to match your technique and not the other way around."

With propulsive power equivalent to a 1 hp gas outboard, it can reach a max speed between 5.0-6.0 mph for about half an hour, depending on the type of kayak. At slow speed, it provides a range of 12-15 miles. An integrated board computer combines information from the motor, batteries and a built-in GPS, enabling kayakers to monitor battery charge, speed and remaining range at current speed.

"The Torqeedo kayak outboard is a great addition to any beginning, intermediate or advanced paddling angler’s arsenal," continued Hoover. "It helps increase your range and the amount of water you can cover, which can ultimately increase your ability to catch fish."

The Ultralight’s impressive efficiency is due to its drivetrain, which converts 50% of stored battery power into propulsive power, measured after all losses, including propeller losses. In comparison, the equivalent value for trolling motors amounts to some 20% while internal combustion outboards have even smaller overall efficiencies.

Enabling trolling, providing additional range and giving support against local currents, this electric outboard is also helpful when kayaking with friends and family, who may prefer the convenience of an outboard. "It ushers in people who may steer away from paddling to fish and requires no permanent installation to your kayak," said Hoover.

Torqeedo’s new Ultralight 402 has a suggested retail price of $1,799.

Combining lithium batteries with leading-edge motor technology and propeller design, Torqeedo’s high-tech outboards have won numerous awards. Environmentally-sound, they offer unrivalled strength and efficiency for superior range.

Chad Hoover’s book, Kayak Bass Fishing, is now available for pre-sale at www.helipress.com and will be officially released November 1.

OK, I’ll admit I haven’t been keeping up with this technology like Ben Ellison has, but this just looks cool. Being a certifiable geek, I’m interested in learning more about this.

In fact, this week I’ve been spending a lot of time at Deception Pass in Washington State, and I find myself really wishing I could view a virtual “contour map” of the seafloor here. I wonder if the new Lowrance sonar imaging system could generate the sort of thing I have in mind?

Let’s read the press release…

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics, announced today the premier of its next-generation sonar technology, the LSS-1 StructureScan™ sonar imaging module for Lowrance High Definition Systems (HDS), at ICAST 2009 in Orlando, Florida. Raising the bar in fish-finding technology, the sonar-imaging module is the world’s first to offer anglers a new dimension in underwater picture-like displays — side-to-side plus straight down, full panoramic viewing.

The innovative Lowrance StructureScan features a combination of SideScan and an exclusive new DownScan Imaging™ technology. SideScan provides full-screen left and right side-viewing with extra-crisp detail of up to 480 ft. (146 m) of underwater coverage that displays structure and fish targets, as well as their imaging-scan shadows. The new DownScan Imaging feature allows anglers, for the first time, to see submerged detail directly beneath their boats, providing a complete underwater picture in a screen format that is easy to interpret. With revolutionary on-screen display versatility, anglers can merge Lowrance side and down sonar scans in split-screen to view wide-area surveys and highly-defined detail. As a unique new tool, anglers can also compare DownScan Imaging with 2D sonar images in split-screen display to better distinguish fish from structure. Removing all of the guesswork common to existing fish-finding technology, the new LSS-1 delivers the highest underwater definition ever achieved with crystal-clear views in shallow and deep, freshwater or saltwater – even at speeds up to 30 mph.

“The new StructureScan sonar-imaging module is another revolutionary step forward in sportfishing marine electronics from Lowrance,” said Louis Chemi, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Navico Americas. “Offering never-before-seen underwater detail, the sonar module is the first and only wide-coverage sonar solution that also delivers a total underwater panoramic picture — so anglers won’t miss a thing. Combine this new structure- and fish-finding tool with additional cutting-edge features available with Lowrance’s HDS displays, such as built-in, award-winning 2D Broadband Sounder™, Insight mapping, Navionics^â compatibility with Turboview™, award-winning Broadband Radar™ and SIRIUS^â weather solutions, and the results are truly amazing.”

The LSS-1 StructureScan sonar imaging module allows anglers to cursor anywhere on the screen to receive information on distance from the boat and target depth for an exciting new-level in precision bait or lure presentation. In addition, a new synchronized TrackBack™ function featuring simultaneous scroll-back in the recorded history of sonar or mapping windows, allows anglers to find spots and set waypoints for easy returns to desired fishing locations. Ensuring the ultimate in functionality, StructureScan sonar imaging can combine one or more views in a window to display HDS built-in Lowrance Lake Insight™, Nautic Insight™ or Insight USA™ cartography with Fishing Hot Spots^® inland and coastal detail, as well as all Navionics Platinum, Platinum+ and other chart card offerings.

Based on Lowrance’s affordable, plug-and-play, onboard, high-speed Ethernet network, the LSS-1 StructureScan sonar imaging module is an optional add-on that easily networks with up to three onboard HDS displays to share SideScan, DownScan and 2D sonar imaging for boat-wide underwater surveillance, each with independent control. Enhancing safety and fun on the water, the LSS-1 can also network with the new BR24 Broadband Radar and LWX-1 SIRIUS satellite weather module via Ethernet. The fully-waterproof LSS-1 module comes with a rugged, low-profile, dual-frequency 455 kHz and 800 kHz panoramic imaging transducer that is easy to install, and offers multiple mounting locations, including a simple adapter option for a trolling-motor mount. The transducer also features a built-in temperature sensor and operates in tandem with any HDS 2D sonar transducer without cross-talk interference for display clarity. Like all Lowrance products, the LSS-1 StructureScan sonar imaging module is protected by a two-year limited warranty.

Price & Availability:
The new Lowrance LSS-1 StructureScan sonar imaging module, exclusive for HDS displays, has a suggested retail price of US $699.00, and will be available for purchase from authorized Lowrance dealers and distributors throughout the United States and Canada later this year. For more information on StructureScan, or to learn more about Lowrance and its entire product line, please visit www.lowrance.com.

[Hobie unveiled the new Mirage Pro Angler at the Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, LA last weekend. It's a new boat designed around the innovative Hobie Mirage Drive. There is a video to help introduce the boat, but I can't embed it here, so you'll have to click this link to see it.

Regular readers will recall that Navagear has long been fascinated by the Mirage drive system, and the boats designed for it. Perhaps you remember such classic Navagear posts as
And One Roto-Molded Kayak to Rule Them All and Hobie’s Inflatable Mirage-Drive Kayaks. The rest of the content below comes from Hobie. —Tim]

Oceanside, California – Long known for their expertise in building watercraft, Hobie Cat® introduces the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler fishing boat. Hobie has taken the defining feature used in their kayak line, the patented MirageDrive™ pedal system, and combined it with their proven boat-designing capabilities to build a first-in-class, no-gas required, 100-percent fishing machine… all at the affordable price of $2199, suggested retail. “The Pro Angler is small enough to let you access your favorite skinny water with unbelievable stability,” commented Hobie spokesperson and legendary bass fisherman, Hank Parker, “plus… it is large enough to provide plenty of room for multiple rods and tackle.”

The 13’ 8” Pro Angler is designed to facilitate the fishing experience for those who want the amenities of a large boat including stability and spacious storage combined with the user-friendly benefits of a smaller fishing boat such as light weight, maneuverability, and economic advantage. Anglers will be comfortable in all bodies of water, from narrow inland waterways to ocean coastlines. It also offers an affordable, human-powered, environmentally-friendly alternative to fishing from the shore. The Pro Angler boasts a weight capacity of over 600 pounds despite weighing in at only 138 pounds, fully rigged. The high quality, ergonomically-designed Cool Ride seat is wide, ventilated, and easily adjustable. The boat is both wide enough to allow ample freedom of movement and stable enough for anglers to stand up and cast, giving them the advantage of a better view of the water.

The defining feature of the Pro Angler is its patented MirageDrive™ that has pedals connected to two underwater flippers, much like penguin wings, that are instantly locked and unlocked from the boat with an easy Click and Go system. Finger tip steering is controlled via a small lever conveniently located adjacent to the seat. The combination of the rudder system and the hull design leaves the gunnels clean so that there is no issue with lines getting caught. Jackie Smith, NFL Hall of Fame member and avid fisherman, has been instrumental in the development of this new Hobie fishing boat. “Because of the MirageDrive, the quietness, comfort, and stealth qualities of the Pro Angler are unsurpassed,” stated Jackie. “Anglers will have the ability to quietly power the boat all day long with very minimum effort.” The MirageDrive™ is adjustable for any leg length, so it is easy to share the boat with family or friends.

There are other key benefits of the MirageDrive™ for anglers. Its rudder is positioned to provide a very tight turning radius resulting in easy maneuvering in and around obstacles and along shorelines, but will automatically retract under the hull when obstacles are unavoidable. The boat can be held in position while casting to a specific spot…the same advantage offered by an electric motor.

The Pro Angler has room for up to six horizontal and two vertical rods and the potential for 13 Plano® tackle boxes. A retractable Bungee® system is designed to hold rods and tackle boxes in place. There is ample capacity and accessory mounting boards on each rail to outfit the boat with a whole gamut of optional equipment including fish finders, GPS units, lights, downriggers, or additional rod holders. It is designed with a large forward hatch with liner, as well as a stern storage compartment for an optional livewell or cooler. The center hatch is equipped with a state-of-the-art work area/cutting board, drop-in tackle bucket, and a Hobie lure hanger.

Midship handles are shaped and positioned to work as braces getting in and out of the cockpit. Ergonomically designed bow and stern handles are well thought-out making it easy to move the boat. The Pro Angler can be transported on top of a car with the help of two built-in skids, in the back of a truck, in an SUV, or on a trailer. An optional Hobie Plug-in Cart can also be used to get the boat from a vehicle to the water.

More folding crab traps! As always, Navagear strives to be your #1 source of information on folding crab traps.

Jolly Good Trap Company is based in British Columbia, and though I haven’t written about them before, they aren’t new kids on this particular block. They’ve been around for years. The only reason I neglected them is that I’d never seen one of their traps in person, and the website looks like it might be a little bit out of date.

But the Jolly Good crab and prawn traps can be seen at the Seattle Boat Show, at the Popeye’s Marine display (Concourse 2101, upstairs). Jolly good offers a variety of sizes for both crab and shrimp, including very small traps for kayakers.

If you look at the crab traps in person, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the unconventional entry gate. In fact, there’s no gate at all. The crabs climb up onto the top of the trap, and then fall down through the red ring, and they can’t get out.

I know a lot of you curmudgeons out there are skeptical, but Ray Surette, owner of Jolly Good, assures me that it works, and that it may even be more reliable than the conventional swing-up gate, since there are no moving parts to get jammed in the “open” position. If you prefer, they also sell traps with a more familiar swinging gate.

This trap is by far the easiest to fold and unfold of any I’ve tried. It folds into a flat rectangle, and stays closed with a little clip, To deploy it, unclip the retainer and the bungee cord pulls it open and holds it there. It’s also the least expensive of the folding traps we’ve covered.

But how does it catch crabs? I don’t know, and as usual, I’m eager to hear anecdotes and fish stories from owners. Tell us your experiences with the Jolly Good traps!

In case you want to catch up, here are some earlier folding crab traps we’ve written about:

• Coil-Away Flexible Crab Ring Trap
• Flex Fold Crab Trap Stowage
• Folding Crab Trap Great for Small Boats
• Another Clever Folding Crab Trap
• Building a Better Crab Trap

While tied up in Reid Harbor on Stuart Island, we met a fellow named James Life; he works over at CSR Marine, one of the big boatyards in these parts. He spotted my AIS antenna right off the bat, which was noteworthy in and of itself.

Anyway, his family had some crab, which they were willing to share. Even better, they had enough Zyliss Seafood Crackers to go around.

This is a VERY handy tool for cracking crab, friendlier on the fingers than any other crab cracking tool I know.

Of course, a pair of rusty pliers from the tool box will do in a pinch, but the Zyliss Seafood Crackers are less than $7 each. Anybody who catches crab or lobster regularly should have at least a couple on hand.

By the way, James & family: Thanks for the crab!

We love clever folding crab traps. We’ve written in the past about the Flex Fold (here and here) and the Stow-B-Low (here). By the way, I saw the redesigned Stow-B-Low a few weeks ago, and I think it deserves another treatment here…stay tuned.

So anyway, here’s another folding crab trap…a simple ring-type trap that collapses to 1/3 the diameter of the large ring, using a flexible hoop material. It’s called the Coil-Away Flexible Crab Ring, by Crab King Inc.

And they’ve got a video proving that it can catch crab! The folding demonstration isn’t until the end.

Saturday was the big Seattle Yacht Club “Opening Day” celebration. It isn’t as if we don’t boat in the winter, but opening day marks a kind of boundary between cold winter boating and warm summer boating around here.

I was out on opening day. But it was a different kind of opening day…the first day of Puget Sound shrimp season! I bought my license online Friday evening, went out on the Sound, and came home with 60 shrimp! To be honest, I had a LOT of help catching them, from my friends Tom and Susan.

They supplied the gear and did all the work; I mostly took pictures and played with Rose Point Coastal Explorer 2.0 beta while my dad drove my boat around.

There were a lot of boats out, including plenty of C-Dories, of course. Seems like the C-Dories congregate anytime more than one is out on the water.

Does this happen with other makes? Do the owners of other distinctive boats with loyal followings—Boston Whalers, Grady Whites, Parkers, or Sea Sports—alter course to intercept when they spot a sister ship?

By the way, if it doesn’t look to much like “summertime boating” to you, it’s because it was cold and rainy all day! Sunday was beautiful, though; I worked in the garden at home.

Remember my too-clever downrigger mount for the Magma grill on my C-Dory? I’m pretty pleased with the solution I’ve got, but I can’t help but wonder if I might have done it all differently, had I known about Burnewiin’s robust and attractive line of universal gunnel mounts.I got to look at the Burnewiin hardware on a couple of boats today, an Ocean Sport at Islands Marine Center‘s display (West 41), and an Everglades sport fisher (East 1020). I tell you, these are some of the nicest fishing rod holders you’ve ever seen! Set phasers on stun…
But really, rod holders are only one of the components you can plug into these deck sockets. They’ve got fender cleats, sheaths for fishing knives, and sockets for battens you might use to support a cockpit cover.

Plus, if you contact them directly, you can buy the raw socket hardware all by itself and…

…wait for it…

Build your own mounts for things like downriggers and barbecue grills!

Seriously, if I were outfitting a boat and it didn’t already have lots of holes drilled in the gunnels, I would strongly consider putting a pair of these mounts on each side. Standardizing on a system like this could really maximize functional versatility while maintaining a streamlined, uncluttered look.

Plus, Burnewiin is located in Hood River, Oregon, just up the river from my ol’ stompin’ ground, so I gotta support ‘em!

Let me first admit that I know very very little about fishing. Really.

Still, my daughters wanted fishing gear for Christmas, so Santa did his best, and they got fishing gear. Here’s Arwen fishing down in Ballard. It was cold that day, can you tell?

We’re going to learn more about fishing, I promise. In case you’re wondering, we didn’t catch anything this day. Are there any fish in the ship canal? I assume so. Salmon swim through there regularly, I know that. Did I mention I don’t know anything about fishing?