July 2008 - Saltwater Sportsman New Gear Section, "Bait Bling" page 87
June 2008 - Onshore Offshore Magazine, Product Review, pages 10-11
May 4, 2008 – The Florida Times Union (Jacksonville), Outdoors Section
April 2008 - Coastal Angler Magazine, Tom’s Tackle Box
June/July 2008 – Southern States Fishin’ & Huntin’ Magazine, Team XtraLook
April/May 2008 – Southern States Fishin’ & Huntin’ Magazine

Onshore Offshore Magazine, June 2008, pages 10-11: (article re-printed with permission)

The XtraLook Xtreme Teaser System by Capt. Joe Verdino

By nature, people who fish wrecks and reefs never really think about using a teaser. We simply set out a chum slick and wait for the fish to come to us. When I first saw the Xtralook Xtreme Teaser System, I couldn’t help but wonder if it could really make a difference for me. Usually we are either at anchor or on a slow drift so traditional teaser systems won’t work because there isn’t enough movement to keep the baits swimming. Still in the mindset that you have to be moving to run a teaser, I chose the ballyhoo baits, and hoped to put them to the test trolling for kings.

Most of the time while wreck fishing we will deploy some live baits to the bottom in hopes that a grouper or snapper will come along while we wait for the chum to work. After the slick is moving at a steady rate, thoughts switch to fish like tuna, Mahi, or amberjack. Ever vigilant, all eyes are fixed on the water looking for a few tell tale signs of life like a silver flash or slow moving shadow. Once a target is spotted baits are sent out and hopes are that the fish will come close enough for a strike.

Recently while fishing a wreck I’ve fished numerous times I learned that my technique was good but not as good as it could be. On a trip to a wreck in 120 feet I went through my usual routine but this time something different happened. I had forgotten that I now had the Xtralook product applied to my hull, as they say out of sight out of mind. We saw a few shadows from some decent sized fish so we sent out a couple blue runners and waited for the magic to happen. The strike was hard and the fish peeled off a good amount of line on the initial run. We could tell by the way it was fighting that we had a good sized amberjack on the hook.

Since there were just two of us on the boat I decided to forego the fishing and work as the gaff man. My fishing partner was doing everything he could to keep pressure on the fish and after a 20 minute fight he raised a nice 50 pound AJ. This was a nice fish and this would be a good story if it ended right here, but it doesn’t. As I gaffed the fish I noticed a much larger shadow about 30 ft down and I would have bet it was a small shark. I quickly pulled our AJ in the boat to keep it from becoming a meal for something else in the water. As the fish was coming aboard it tail slapped the water and the shadow down deep turned and came to the surface. It turned out my shark was actually the big brother of the fish we just landed.

The size of the fish next to my boat gave me reason to pause because I didn’t know if I should secure our catch or go bait up another rod. Luckily my buddy was thinking quick and he pulled the gaff out of my hands as he yelled hurry up. I sprang into action baited up another rod and looked out over the water for my target. My heart sank as I saw absolutely nothing; my big fish had just become another big fish story. I dipped my bait down into the water so it could continue to breathe and that’s when I became a believer. The water exploded and I was instantly blinded, soaked, and holding on for dear life. My friend was laughing too hard to be shocked, and after a few more seconds of laughter I asked if he minded giving up his fighting belt.

I got myself strapped up in the fighting belt and settled in for what I knew was going to be a long battle. What I didn’t know is the fight was going to get really hard, my reel pulled free from the rod and flew up until it hit the first roller guide. Instinctively I let go of the rod and grabbed for the reel figuring I wasn’t about to let $600 go flying into the Gulf. Now I had a reel in my hands and I was looking at the rod sitting on the line as the fish continued to run. Luckily the reel was fully spooled so we waited for the fish to stop it’s first run. Then we tied a loop in the line and grabbed a second rod that had a reel with a half empty spool. We tied the two lines together leaving the first rod on the line and one man held the useless rod while the other reeled and fought the fish from the newly connected gear. We took turns for almost 45 minutes and then we got the better of the “terminator” monster fish. It turned out to be a 93 pound amberjack, my biggest ever, and the biggest we had ever seen at the location we were fishing.

I’ve been fishing for amberjack for quite a while and I thought I’d seen them do just about everything. I have had them swim up to the boat, eat baits boat side, and even jump like a tarpon. If this had been a barracuda I wouldn’t be impressed because they are notorious for sitting under the boat waiting for an easy meal. Until I applied the XtraLook decals to my hull I never had an amberjack sit under the boat and wait for the next bait to hit the water. I also never saw an AJ over about 40 pounds come to the surface, the big ones always stay deeper. The only thing different about that day was I had the teasers on my hull and they lived up to the name because that fish took an Xtralook. Amazingly a week later we got our kingfish also while anchored, with the price of fuel these days I may never troll again.

People always say the best inventions are usually the simplest ideas, but I’m still amazed that something as simple as decals could really make a difference. Since adding the XtraLook decals to my hull, we have landed some nice kings, cobia, cudas, and amberjack. Can I say, without a doubt, the graphics made the difference in our catch - obviously not. I will say I think they make the fish stay around the boat longer and they seem to come much closer. The few extra seconds or feet definitely make a difference when you are caught by surprise and have to bait up before making your cast. So I can say I’ll be sure that every boat I own from now on will have XtraLook graphics on the hull.

Questions or comments can be directed to Capt. Joe Verdino at Play’n Hooky Charters. Email captjoeverdino@earthlink.net or phone (941) 662-3474

Angler of the Week:

Capt. Joe Verdino (right) with a 93lb. Amberjack caught using Xtralook XTS-11 Ballyhoo.