JCAA Welcomes Berkley and Penn as Port Prize Sponsors for the 16th Annual Fluke Tournament

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association March 2010 Newsletter)

The challenge of fluke with spinning tackle

Early season fluke fishing find these aggressive flat fish in the shallower waters as they depart the depths of the Continental Shelf and move inshore. Slow moving tides keep the food continuously fresh. Much like a bluefish, flukes will chase baits and strike with authority. Tackle and angler talents are tested and choosing the right reel is essential to winning the never-ending battles. A popular choice is the spinning reel as anglers enjoy the challenge more so than with conventional heavier baitcast tackle. Only the most rugged and high performance spinning reel should be used, like the new Penn Conquer. This durable workhorse is perfect for bringing the hardest charging fluke to the boat.

Fluke enjoy a good chase for their food as much as the next fish. And anglers have a wide range of presentations and baits to choose from. A favorite is drifting with the tides with live bait or soft artificials such as Berkley Gulp!. The Penn Conquer gives the angler complete control of the drifting baits allowing for detection of even a sensitive light strike. Yet the backbone and muscle of this durable spinning reel provides a strong hookset leading to the fight.

Other techniques involve cast and retrieve methods including the use of a one-ounce jig head and a bright soft trailer such as a green chartreuse Berkley PowerBait 3-inch Grub originally designed for freshwater use. Attack back-bay areas and work the bait erratically in the murky water.

Other applications include slip-float fishing on the flats, a Carolina rig and even trolling when the tide is not moving.

The Penn Conquer paired with a seven-foot rod is ideal when anglers are fishing from the beach, piers, jetties or boats. Spinning tackle is easy to use and with the new Easy Access System cleaning is now easier than ever.

The Conquer™ spinning reel from Penn® is built with all the quality and workmanship the brand has delivered for over 75 years. Designed for inshore and ideal for fluke fishing, this reel is built for any saltwater angling.

The Conquer introduces proprietary design elements that ensure the angler with the best operating spinning reel in the price range. Exclusive to the Conquer reel is the EAS™ (Easy Access System). A single screw secures a rear hatch that when open provides full access to the gearbox for lubricating gears and bearings without worry of any parts falling out.

Also found only on this reel is the spool lip design with Eternal Alloy™ construction, incorporating strength and hardness twice that of titanium alloy. The spool lip is protected from dents, nicks and scratches, which are a major cause of decreased casting distances and line damage.

Four sizes of the Conquer are available. The 9.9-ounce CQR2000 has a retrieve ratio of 5.1:1 The CQR4000 weighs 11.1 ounces with a gear ratio of 5.8:1. The 14.6-ounce CQR5000 and 18.1-ounce 7000 each have a gear ratio of 4.8:1.

Other features of this new reel with patented one-piece machined aluminum gear box include a Superline Spool™ eliminating the need for backing, 10+1 shielded stainless steel bearings, HT-100™ drag washers for smooth drag under heavy loads, Techno-Balanced™ rotor and Leveline® oscillation.

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