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SACCHETTI Marine Service

Sacchetti Marine Service is what keeps the Castafari in tip top running condition. Joe Sacchetti has been the principal mechanic for the Castafari operation since 2001. You can't find better marine engine service anywhere, and thats why we rely soley on these guys to do the job right. If there's a problem...it gets fixed, end of story. Whats also nice is the pricing is always very fair and super competitive. I strongly recommend this operation to anyone who takes their diesel engine maintenance seriously.

Release Marine Rocket Launcher

Were proud to say that team Castafari has partnered up with Release Marine for a product sponsorship. The folks at Release were generous enough to set us up with a brand new teak 6 holder rocker launcher which was installed in 2008. After using this launcher for an entire season I have to say that it is a world class piece of equipment and the best launcher I have ever used during my 25 years of offshore fishing. The fabrication is maticulously created to ensure the sleekest and eye friendly launcher on the market...by far! Not to mention the structural integrity is top notch. The rod holders are low profile, hiding all screws.

We were able to fish rods in both the short and long rigger positions right from the launcher, and experienced no problems whatsoever. Release Marine’s Rocket Launchers and Gimbal Launchers provide supreme functionality without sacrificing valuable cockpit space. All Release Marine launchers feature a revolutionary, patented, 2-piece "No-Bolt Rod Holders". They look great, are easy to clean and stronger than conventional rod holders. Wider spacing in between rod holders allows 80’s to be reeled in with ease. I am extremely satisfied with this product. It's a true asset to the Castafari cockpit.

Castafari Launcher amenities:

• Bait tray, which is shorter to allow more room to move around the cockpit
• 6 rod holders
• Hand-selected teak
• Tackle drawer

ALUTECNOS Reels

Castafari is proud to say that we are now using Alutecnos reels exclusively as of the Spring of 2008. We have set aside all of our Penn gear and have upgraded to a much better product. The Castafari is now using Alutecnos 12T reels right up to the Albacore 80 series. I will start by saying that up to this point, I am very happy with all of the Alutecnos products we are using. We had all season in 2008 to test them out, and they exceeded all of my expectations! These reels are without a doubt, the smoothest reels I have ever worked with. The drag systems are as smooth as silk. Winding in long baits is a lot easier for starters. All of my clients were amazed by how well these reels performed when fighting fish. Another impressive feature about these reels is the drag capacity which is impressive to say the least. The lever drag mechanism was a sinch to use and the reels held their drag settings better than any reel I have ever used. My bass reels have a drag pressure to 40 pounds!!!

The albacore Two Speed series reel has two buttons that make gear transactions quick, simple and user friendly, especially on the fly. The gear switch is like butter. I have not experienced any problems whatsoever. Equipped with five ball bearings protected in stainless steel, a free wheel, gear in stainless steel, and a tempered clutch of carbon composite, these reels have proved to be tougher than nails, and believe me when I say, all 16 of our Alutecnos reels used on the Castafari have endured long hours of combat and salty weather! After servicing our reels over the winter, my crew and I were overly impressed by how water tight these things really are. There was absolutely no corrosion. Please feel free to contact me if you want anymore info. Were excited to have Alutecnos in the line-up for 2009!

ALUTECNOS Big Game Stand-up Rods

Castafari is also proud to announce that we have added Alutecnos big game roller guide rods to our arsenal of tackle. I have these new rods matched with 4 of my Alutecnos 50 reels. After four months of lock and load action with tuna and marlin battles I have to say the rods did more than hold their own. They kicked ass!! The carbon-glass blanks are built like Fort Knox, and they don't bottom out on big fish. Our clients caught blue marlin to 600 pounds and bluefin tuna to 400 pounds on my Alutecnos stand-up rods matched with the Alutecnos 50 2-speed reel. Another benefit worth mentioning is the custom oversized roller guides on these sticks. For starters, these guides are unlike any I have ever seen. They have a removable roller ring, and are known for their ability to be instantly and easily removable if necessary for tip top maintenance. Firmly fixed to the blank by triple ligation and built with high grade carbon rings, they are built for tough adverse conditions. They held their own on the Castafari and proved to be a huge asset as we were able to reel knots and crimps right through them without any difficulty.

SUFIX Braided Line

During the 2006 season, I tried out the new performance braid line manufactured by Sufix. I spooled all of my Penn 70's with 130 pound backing. I was able to pack roughly 700 yards of braid on the spools. One of the interesting properties of this particular line is it's shape. Unlike most braid lines, the Sufix braid is round. I was a bit skeptical at first as to whether the line would slip in a connecting knot situation. I learned that this is not a concern. I caught a 250 pound class yellowfin tuna in Panama that put this theory to the test. We continued employing the Sufix braid on the Castafari. A lot more big fish were caught, including an 800 plus blue marlin. The line is not only ultra thin, but it's built like Fort Knox. It comes in green or yellow from 6 to 130 pound test.

SEAVISION Underwater Lights

The Castafari is employing two Seavision underwater thru-hull mounted lights. They were installed during the Spring of 2008. All I can say is wow! What a difference these things make! They were a dream to fish with out at the canyons, not to mention when getting bait at the dock. I saw more squid in 2008 than Ive seen my whole life! The Sea Vision SV10 model, which is what we are using, offers the largest aperture of all the fiberglass models giving maximum light output from a 150 watt / 250 watt metal halide lamp. It can be installed in the transom or the hull and is suitable for boats with 110-230 volt AC power, including sportfish, yachts and cruisers. We desided to flush mount the units on the stern on either side of my stern zinc just above the rudders. They are very bright units, and what I like most about them is how little draw they have...just a couple of amps! I am very happy with how these lights have held up, and am very excited to turn them back on in 09! Seavision is on our links page with all of our other sponsors.

SUFIX Superior Monofiliament

I have been using Sufix Superior line on all of my reels on the Castafari for the passed two years. I have only positive results to show for it. This particular brand of Sufix line is made for big game applications. It has been put to the test repeatedly on the Castafari. The Sufix Superior gained one of the highest tensile strength ratings of any line ever made. It's incredibly strong, durable, and abrasion resistant. All of my Penn International reels are topshotted with Sufix Superior. There are five color options available. (Blue, clear, smoke, pink, and yellow) I prefer the blue. The line class options range from 6 to 130 pound test.

PELAGIC Performance Gloves

Check out the new kevlar reinforced gloves put out by Pelagic. There are two styles of gloves. The End Game glove series is a closed fingertip glove built with rugged construction, and made for wiring big fish. The Battle Glove series is an open finger tip glove designed for increased dexterity to assist anglers when battling big fish. Both gloves are velcro adjustable, and have superior gripping ability.

Offshore Innovations Two-Piece Harpoon

The Offshore Innovations two-piece harpoon is a product we use on a regular basis, especially when the tuna fishing is hot. Whether its giant bluefin tuna, big eye tuna, or swordfish, we rely on this device to secure contact with big fish at the boat that we intend to keep. This harpoons unique design incorporates a rigid lightweight shaft coupled with a high weight powerhead. The lightweight shaft allows for easy handling and aim while the heavy powerhead allows for pinpoint accuracy and penetration at any depth. The shaft is made from 1" hard coated aluminum. Although lightweight, the harpoon can withstand the rigorous pressure of large fish. Each component uses a universal thread and can be assembled in less than 1 minute. It comes with a storage bag, and takes up very little space when put away. We have been using the Offshore Innovations harpoon for over five years. Its the best harpoon in the business, hands down!

Kluch Clothing is the custom apparel company that handles all of our Castafari team merchandise. They are proficient at manufacturing anything from hats and t-shirts to mats and towels etc. The new Castafari t-shirt design was created by them. Their artists are very talented, to say the least, and their pricing is as reasonable as it gets. Their web site can be accessed from the Castafari links page. Check out the new castafari shirt design!