Ken Matsuura

[cbiegel]

I’ll be putting up a trip report with pictures soon but I thought you guys might be interested to see some of the equipment we used to land another 150 lb bluefin this year.

This is a new custom reel from Japan made by Ken Matsuura. He sent it to Gary, the Capt. of the Tunahunter for testing. Apparently it costs $5,000 with another $1,500 (at least) for the rod. Unfortunately we didn’t hook up with any fish on it on our trip but Gary assured us it was the smoothest reel he’s used and he’s used a lot!

http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1173.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view&current=IMG_1173.jpg)

http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1175.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view&current=IMG_1175.jpg)

http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1174.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view&current=IMG_1174.jpg)

Here is all the gear we used. We generally had 2-3 live mackerel off the back (two under balloon floats and one on the kite) and were jigging with two more under the boat…but more on that in the report.

Mostly Penn Internationals four 50’s and one 80. The Matsuura is also an 80.

http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1200.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view&current=IMG_1200.jpg)

The beer is just to show the scale of the big Penn 80. Look at those clamps!!!

http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1199.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view&current=IMG_1199.jpg)

[jwm]

Beautiful. I'd love to hear it scream as the blue fin runs!

[Woody]

Noises you can only dream of!