As Summery weather conditions become more and more tempting, one can only imagine the excuses coming up on a Friday for why we cannot make it into work today…if only the boss accepted ‘the weather was just perfect for fishing’ as a valid reason! 

It’s not just the weather tempting us at the moment though, all the tackle companies have been working hard all year to develop better products and new ideas for our favourite pastime. And even though it is still Spring-time, I have three top tackle items reviewed by Swan Boat Hire staffer, Tommy Harvey, which are bound to please this Summer!

The USA made Worden’s Fat fish range is a perfect hardy body lure for both salt and freshwater summer species such as trevally, mangrove jack, flathead, bass and yellowbelly. These lures a made from a solid mould, making it one tough lure.  They have combined a brilliant design with beefed up trebles and a snap hook swivel for ease of use.

These lures are made to last fish after fish. With the ability to dive up 15 feet to get down into the structures where your prey are hiding and while down there they will put out a large amount noise with a decent rattle to encourage the fish into striking. Priced at just $8 each, they’re going to run out the door!

Mustard hooks have been around since before I could walk, the legendary name and reputation of Mustard hooks is well known through the fishing industry!  This summer make sure you are cooking with gas, and get your hands on one of their new products or a die-hard classic.  New on the market is the KDV Grip-pin hook (38101NP-BN) for plastics, with a non-slip design which won’t tear your plastics and features like chemically sharpened opti-angle needle point, offset shank and extra wide bend.  This is the perfect product for the modern plastics fan. 

The Bloodworm range is a personal all-time favourite designed for whiting and other estuary species. These hooks are strong and with chemical sharpened barbs keeping them razor sharp to ensure that your hook sets and also stays in that elbow slapper’s mouth. With the big summer whiting starting to come on the chew, these hooks are a must have in everyone’s tackle box.  Priced at under $5.00 for a pack of 8, stay between the range of Size 1-4 and you can’t go wrong.

Red Eye gotcha is only fairly new on the market but ut has made a great impression while on trips both local and further away, such as the Cape!  This is a must have in the tackle box to fend off those pesky Mosquitoes and sand flies. With summer fast approaching, the days are getting longer and things are starting to heat up which sees a rise a manor of different pest such as March flies, mosquitoes, sand flies and midges. To keep them from carrying you away, good insect repellent is a must with Red Eye Gotcha being a proven brand on the market. The repellent offers a tropical strength spray which lasts up to six hours to prevent any nasty bites or possible diseases.  

Just talking about summer tackle box essentials has me thinking of a great excuse for a day off such as my pre-dawn dentist appointment, full-tide meeting at the bank and dusk child-minding commitment!

Tate Keys’ first mangrove jack of the season, a sure sign summer is coming!

Mustad Bloodworm and Grip-pin hooks are a summer tacklebox essential.

Worden's Fat Fish will hopefully bring in a few 'fat fish'!

Red-eye Gotcha will keep the pesky bugs at bay while you fish.