They are heading back to defend the title!!!  The WET DREAM FISHING TEAM will return to CABO SAN LUCAS in 2012....

From a customer stationed in Japan:
“Bob,
Thanks for all the assistance in getting this rod shipped out to me. There are a lot of companies that would not have taken that extra step and would have just said they could not ship it. If your customer service is an indication of the quality of the rod then I will be back to buy more.
One of my best friends was a combat engineer (Heavy Equipment Operator) and just retired last year as a 1stSgt. So how did you ever get into the fishing industry? I know it's a lot of hard work. They have a huge fishing show here in Japan in Yokohama every year that I go to see all of the new products; guess it is like the ICAST in the states. Again thanks for the assistance that you gave in getting the rod shipped.
Thanks and Semper-Fi Marine”.
Bruce Bordeau

We are launching a new website starting next week - THANKSGIVING WEEK 2011; Keep your eyes out and open!!!!

Here is the link to the WPRI CHANNEL 12 LOCAL HOOKER MOVES TO RI...  CLICK HERE TO SEE!

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - A fishing rod manufacturer has relocated from Massachusetts to West Warwick.

The owner of Local Hooker Rods, Bob Jenkins, was working inside the World Trade Center on September 11th.

He formed this company right after the terrorist attacks, after he decided to follow his passion and change careers.

Recently, he heard that the RI Economic Development Corporation was offering loan incentives to companies that relocated to Rhode Island.

"The board unanimously approved the loan, so we got the money and since we've moved into here, we've done improvements to this building, we've grown. We expect to continue to grow, we've hired 4 people right off the bat and we're hoping that within the next 12-18 months that will be hiring and employing about 10 people out of this facility," says Jenkins.

CAUGHT ON A LOCAL HOOKER ROD IN THE CANYONS 120 MILES SOUTH OF NANTUCKET:  READ THIS LINK

Okay update on that last 36hrs of my world. Wake up 4AM on Thursday Morn. Hook up with Lou for and offshore Shark Charter with Customers Bill Dimaio his Daughter Lauren and some of their close friends. Take them out to Coxes Ledge and pound the Mahi Mahi. After a couple hours of that we set up a chum slick and almost immediately get hammered by a MASSIVE thresher shark. Bill takes hold of the shark and hangs on for dear life while the Beast dances across the surface of the water. Unfortunately the sharks charges he boat then quickly zings to the Stern getting his body parallel with the line. There was nothing we could do but watch in horror as the Sharks tail bypasses the 9ft custom wire leader and frays through the 130lb mono, cutting him free. Both impressed by getting a Thresher right out of the gate and disgusted for losing it, we quickly rerigged some baits and got back to it. After one or two nice Blue Sharks, it was Laurens turn to fight and did she ever, after setting the hook on her bait a nice Mako came rocketing out of the water for a quick aerial show. After a short battle she had the fish whipped and secured some nice steaks for her and her family to take home. We stuck it out a little while longer until everyone had a few sharks each and then around 4 we headed back in.

So now its 5 and Lou and I are back at the dock refueling for the next trip...which started only 2hours away....this time it’s with Lou's Customers and Friends Christian and his son Mark for 24hrs of canyon fishing. (That’s right we just fished from 4am to 5pm and now we are heading out for a 24hr canyon trip "Iron Man")

So we load up with the new gas, ice and crew and do a quick check on Ocean Temp and head out for the long 4hr ride to Hydrographers Canyon 140 miles to our numbers. After 4 hours of steaming in to the bright full moon light night we found a nice temp break in some decent water. Lou commented on liking the bait he saw in the light of his hydro glow light. So the plan was set up a couple of bait rigs for swords and tuna, drop a few jigs or as we like to call it deploying the probes, and then catch some shut eye for a long day of tuna fishing on the edge. So Lou and I set up some nice rigs including a cool new light lure from Carlson lures and set them up for the evening. Exhausted from leading all of the sharks from our first trip I lean up against the console and began to doze off.

About 2 Hours goes by its now 2AM and I'm violently woken up to screaming drag and clicker BRRRRRRRRRRRRR "I'm on guys, Get ready this fish is a Stross" Lou says (Stross being a term Lou uses to describe fish that are huge or Monstrosities)

I spring to my feet and begin to clear lines and the deck for the impending battle. Doing so it became very apparent that Lou had gotten into the red bull as even after fishing for sharks all day and heading to the canyon at midnight, he managed to empty and entire bag of chum baits set up another bait rig dead stick a ronz lure, jig for yellowfin and hook up with this Freak Fish. The crew we had helped clear the deck and I hopped behind the wheel and Started up the engines for some serious shake and bake. While we were doing this the new Finnor 80w was getting completely dumped to the backing, and the Local Hooker rod was seriously "Getting Bent." Lou looked back at me with a concerned face and said he’s taking everything and the drag is at 40lbs!!!! We had to make a move quickly so I spun the boat towards the fish and Lou began a nightmare battle of 6inchs in 20 yards out. Whenever we could get the fish near the surface it would mock charge the boat, spin towards the engines props sound and then run towards the surface. I was getting the workout of a life time just handling the boat let what Lou was going through on the Rod and Reel. At one point Lou looked over at me and said I’m so tired right now it’s this really happening. (Both Lou and I have battled numerous Giant Tuna and Marlin and had never been given the business the way this Fish did. Before we know it 3 hours goes by, the sun was beginning to rise, and the fish was finally showing signs of fatigue. The powerful circles that was using to cut our line, became wider and wider and closer to the surface. Finally the fish came up to the surface in a circle and gave us a glimpse of his massive shape; we knew that there was no way this fish was getting gaffed first. Christian readied the harpoon and basket and brought it over to Lou. The Fish Came up to the surface and made a move towards the stern, I cut the Wheel hard into the direction of the fishes spin giving Lou a wide open shot with the harpoon. He took the Harpoon in one hand with the rod still in the other and nailed the fishing on the money. The fishes head dropped down towards the bottom so I quick secured his tail with a Gaff and it was officially lights out.

So now there we were with a fish of a lifetime but we had a new problem. How do we get this thing into the boat? After an hour of different attempts, we ultimately where able to drag the fish, bill first through the Tuna Door on the stern. Home free right. Not exactly we heaved the fish up to the bow of the vessel to put it into the massive "Coffin Box" for storing fish. This box is big enough to put 4 grown men into or two huge tuna. We slid the fish into the box and to our despair the fishes head bill and tail stuck way out of box while the body stayed inside. So we had to make a tuff call, fish all day for tuna and risk ruining this amazing meat, or dump all of the ice we have on the fish and race home 4hrs and 140miles away. And that we did. So into a 15knot Head sea and 4 foot seas we raced back to Point Judith. The head sea made us earn every inch, as it pounded on the boat so hard that it actually snapped the shackle on the bow anchor sending flying into the water. (Add another 250 to the cost of this run for us)

Finally we make into the harbor refuge, we began to text every one we know about the fish and invited as many people as we could to come see this catch of a lifetime. After texting so much that I killed my phone battery we make way for Snug Harbor Marina to weigh in the fish. At the dock a crowd had already began to gather and watch as we pulled up to the crane and scale. The lowered the chain and we attached the tail rope around the tree trunk this fish had for a caudal fin. Bets and heckling about the fish’s actual weight were being shouted out. The scale was barely able to get the entire fish off the ground. When it finally did the monster fish tipped the scales at a whopping 434lbs. We filled out a weigh in slip took a ton of pics for the guy help us out with the great gear that we use, shook some hands and with the help of our friend Steve from Lady K and the helpful guys on the dock at snug, began to process the fish. It turned out to be one of the rare pumpkin swords, which have a rich orange to pink meat based on their specialized diets. Added Bonus!

Needless to say it’s been an interesting 48 hours, and a lot of fun doing what we love for work! I look forward to tomorrow’s shark trip who knows what’s instore?

~Capt Jack Sprengel

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that this fish is the new Rhode Island State Record, Shattering the old one by as much as 120lbs! Hell Yeah!

This record fish was caught using a LOCAL HOOKER MS560F80130 rod.

Angler lands R.I.- record 434-pound swordfish / Photo

2:59 PM Fri, Aug 12, 2011 | Permalink
Tom Meade

Photo courtesy of Elisa Jackman, Snug Harbor Marina

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- Rhode Island angler Louis DeFusco landed a 434-pound broadbill swordfish at Snug Harbor Marina today. It set a new state record.

He caught the fish aboard the vessel, Hot Reels, Thursday night at Hydrographer Canyon, about 90 miles south of Nantucket, said Elisa Jackman, manager of the marina in South Kingstown.

The fish was 120 pounds heavier than the previous state record swordfish, caught by Web Goodwin in 1964 when swordfish were more abundant.

The world record swordfish weighed 1,182 pounds. It was caught off Iquique, Chile, in 1953 by Lou Marron of Brielle, N.J.

The Joe Cronin Jimmy Fund Tournament (raised over $100,000) for children's cancer research!!! If I got it all right, Diablo; Kevin Malone's boat (using all LOCAL HOOKER RODS) took; 2nd place men's bluefish, 3rd place men's bass, 2nd place women's bluefish, 3rd place women's bass and 1st place, MOST UNUSUAL catch! 5 awards!!!  This tournament is about helping those who are too young and can't help themselvs; kids!!

"No man ever stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child"  Abraham Lincioln

Boston Big Game Fishing Club Monster Shark Tournament

Team Local Hooker Rods are Back from Battle, tired as hell but unharmed. Final Results 5 Mako sharks between 100 and 150lbs and over 46 blue sharks up to 200lbs in two days. Seriously over 46 blueshark what the hell!!! Talk about wear and tear on your gear! and speaking of beating up gear. Co-Captains Jack and Lou and the rest of the team Robbie "The Hammer" Taylor, Shawn, Mike and Robbie 2. would like to thank Local hooker rods for sponsoring us and for making such bad ass rods. We strait tortured them all weekend and couldn't find one issue with them. Nice to see that someone knows how to make rod for guys making money on the water still! If your catching big fish you should seriously consider getting your hands on one! Here are just a few quick pics of the action, we have tons of videos and photos that we'll post as as video montoge on youtube later! Thanks again to everyone that wished us luck!

Capts Jack and Lou

Bob,

Bob:

Good morning. I finally got around to picking up a 7’ fast action Local Hooker Rod spinning rod from Taylor over at Sports Port.  I immediately threw on a Penn 5500SSg and took a drive down to the mouth of the Centerville River at Dowse’s Beach in Osterville.  It was a flood high tide with a 25-35 knot SW with white caps on the river.

The rod handled like my wife’s old 1990 Porsche 911.   The sense of control and the ability to load on a 1.5 to 2 oz Kastmaster and cast in those conditions made one outing with the Local Hooker rod worth the money.   Next weekend I am going to try at Penn 6500SS, a little heavier reel, perhaps out at Ballston in Truro or the Race.

Again, best of luck.

Wayne

Wayne A. Janelle

Assistant Vice President

Commercial Banking Group

Middlesex Savings Bank

Bob,

The feedback has been amazing to say the least!!  Here is a piece I'm running in THE LA FISHERMEN:

If you have heard about how GREAT and TOTALLY DIFFERENT Local Hooker Rods are, BELIEVE IT!  My customers are some of the most finicky and objective fishermen you will ever meet, but people value their opinions because they fish every day and are the best fishermen around!  When I told them I would start carrying a line of custom built rods out of the northeast that are tailored for the way we fish down south, they were skeptical to say the least.  But I have changed some of their old habits and swayed their opinions before, so they were curious. 

We receive our Local Hooker Rods last week and got them in the right hands for trials.  The response after a few days of fishing was unlike any other product that we have introduced here.  I received  one phone call after another – They were stunned!  I have never heard these guys so excited about something that they do every day – it was the rods!  They couldn’t wait to tell someone about how great the Local Hooker Rods are.  I listened to story after story about the fish that were caught and the casts that were made.  It was like they had been out fishing for the first time!  One of the main things we have found that makes the Local Hooker Rods different is that the entire rod works for you – not just one third like other rods.  From tip to butt, the rod is working to cast farther, feel the bite, set the hook, and ultimately land the fish.

People on the Gulf Coast are in for a treat when they order one of these!

I received a call from a guy who’d heard about the rods and ordered one sight un-seen today.

I’M BENT!"

Terry Rodrigue

CATCHDAT.com

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Bob,

It’s been non-stop since we returned from the IGFA World Championship in Cabo.

After practicing and tournament fishing with the 12-20 and 20-40 lb Local Hooker rods the last few years on Atlantic sailfish, we knew the Local Hooker 20-40 lb acid wrap and spinning rods were all we needed to tackle the larger billfish found in Cabo San Lucas at the IGFA Offshore World Championships.  Winning the Islamorada Captain’s Tournament was a clear indication we had the right gear for the job.

They didn’t disappoint us, they worked flawlessly.  We punished the rods and we never had a single problem!  We were able to put the heat on the fish and get most of our 15 marlin and 2 sailfish to the boat within 5-7 minutes, in a tournament format where ‘time is of the essence’!  Thanks Local Hooker for building a bad ass rod, that helped us to victory and becoming world champs!!

GET BENT!
 Captain Sammy Worden

IFC Captain’s Cup Champs Win

IGFA Offshore World Championships

May 13, 2011 – Cabo San Lucas

A global fraternity of anglers competed over the last week in the world’s largest offshore tournament series finale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with Islamorada’s Wet Dream Fishing Team capturing the 12^th annual IGFA Offshore World Championship billfish tournament crown. Islamorada captains Kevin Clark, Sam Worden, Hunter Barron and Glen Miller hooked up with Frank Juliano to release 15 striped marlin and 2 sailfish over the four day event. They edged out the team representing the Harbourside Marine Bahamas Rotary Tuna Classic by one fish. The Bahamian team also finished second in the 2010 main event, which is considered the Olympics of sportfishing.

Worden and Barron finished 4^th and 5^th, respectively, for top angler honors among the 280 participants, each releasing 7 billfish. To get to Cabo the Wet Dream Fishing Team won the prestigious Islamorada Fishing Club’s Captain’s Cup sailfish tournament back in December. That tournament was one of 130 worldwide qualifying events, which sent 61 teams from 25 countries to the fertile fishing grounds found off the Baja California Sur, and flags from competing team’s countries hung from the balconies at the host Finisterra Hotel.

While some billfish tournaments have six figure payouts, this International Game Fish Association (IGFA) event offers no prize money. “The tournament is meant to test the angler’s skills on a level playing field. You compete for the pride of your country and bragging rights, not cash,” said Mike Myatt, COO of the IGFA. “All teams in the tournament have to use 30 pound Hi-Catch Momoi line. No other line is allowed, except for up to 30 feet of leader. Teams draw for random boats and fish on a different charter boat each day, with different captains and mates, and each team was given ten live baits daily,” noted Myatt. Dead baits and artificial lures were also allowed.

While there was not a cash purse for this event, the winners did receive championship rings by Vanmark Jewelry, Geoffrey Smith sculpture trophies, Guy Harvey artwork, championship apparel by Hook & Tackle, Costa Del Mar sunglasses, Fin-Nor rod and reel combos, Momoi line and a Reactor Championship Diamond watch. The team also won a lifetime invitation to fish in the IGFA Offshore World Championships.

The  team used Local Hooker rods for all of their catches – the same gear the team uses successfully in sailfish tournaments in the Keys. “The big difference is that the sails we catch here average 30-50 pounds, while the striped marlins we were catching in Cabo were 3- 4 times bigger,” said Clark. “Local Hooker makes a unique ‘acid wrap’ design that changes the angle of the eyes so that while the eyes start on top like most conventional rods, by the time they get to the tip they have rotated 180 degrees, resulting in superior handling and performance. We feel our equipment was the very best, and our mates Sam and Hunter made the transition from sailfishing to fishing for marlin fairly quickly. Our entire team caught more marlin in the four day world championships than the five of us had caught combined lifetime previously,” said Clark. “To me, that is truly amazing and a credit to the fishing talent being developed here in south Florida. Four of the last six world championship teams have come from Miami or the Upper Keys, and we were proud to represent the United States and the Islamorada Fishing Club in this incredible event.”

http://igfa11.catchstat.com/Default.aspx

By Capt. Peter B. Wright--Described by many as the “Olympics of Sportfishing,” the IGFA Offshore Championship tournament earned this lofty accolade by presenting a successful worldwide format. You can’t just show up, plop your money down and compete in the IGFA Offshore Championship; you have to win one of the more than 110 qualifying tournaments in 35 countries to get an invitation to this dance. No matter what you choose to call it, in just six short years the IGFA Championship tournament took on a life of its own, becoming one of the most prestigious blue-water fishing competitions in the world.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: FRIDAY MAY 13^TH, 2011

CONTACT: BOB JENKINS 508-348-1228 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            508-348-1228      end_of_the_skype_highlighting OR BOBJ@LOCALHOOKERRODS.COM

#1 - IGFA WORLD FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP

THE WET DREAM FISHING TEAM WON WITH A BOAT FULL OF LOCAL HOOKER RODS

 (a Cape Cod start-up company)

This is a true story of David and Goliath.  LOCAL HOOKER RODS of CHATHAM, MA (CAPE COD) built the rods the WET DREAM (aka: Islamorada Fish Club Captain's Cup Sailfish Tourn) used to win the 2011 IGFA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!  Although rods were supplied at the tournament, the team brought their own Local Hooker Rods and fished them exclusively to WIN this World tournament some refer to as the Olympics of Big-Game Fishing. http://igfa11.catchstat.com/Default.aspx

Kicking off May 8, the IGFA/International Game Fish Association’s 12th annual Offshore World Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, brought together the world’s most elite offshore fishing teams for a week’s worth of rod-to-rod competition on the high seas of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.  In 2010, 178 anglers on 38 teams from 19 countries patiently rode out slow fishing conditions with few billfish other than striped marlin caught and released.

This past week, 59 teams from 25 countries competed in this year’s event!

Just getting into the field of the IGFA Offshore World Championship is a feat in itself. In order to be invited, a fishing team must win one of the 130 qualifying events fished each year in nearly every corner of the seven seas.  But the glow of earning the right to be among the best of the best quickly fades with the shotgun start on the tournament’s first day. From that point on, it’s a week of fishing, fun and festivities in one of the world’s most famous fishing playgrounds!

In the IGFA Offshore World Championship, billfish releases will be the key to victory for these bluewater battlers. Black marlin, blue marlin and swordfish releases will earn teams 500 points. Striped marlin, spearfish and sailfish releases will earn 200 points. Catches of wahoo, bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna and dorado (known elsewhere as mahi mahi or dolphin) will earn weight points, too.

A look at the WET DREAM: http://www.wetdreamfishingteam.com/overview.html

Congratulations to the WET DREAM and its CREW!

Kevin Clark, Hunter Barron,

Sam Worden, Glen Miller,

Frank Juliano

"...Elsewhere, Bob with Local Hooker rods reports some good news for his crew. Down at the IGFA Offshore World Championships in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Local Hooker is represented by the Wet Dream Fishing Team. At press time they were in first place out of 59 boats with competition wrapping up tomorrow at what some call the Olympics of offshore fishing..."   ---->>>  http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110512/SPORTS/110519918/-1/SPORTS1110

The new Local Hooker apparel is hot off the press from the printer and availible to you now!!!  Check it out! under SHOP GEAR; APPAREL.

IT'S SPRING AND TO HELP KICK-OFF THE SEASON, WE ARE OFFERING A 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL "JIGGIN 'N POPPIN RODS FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!!!

Because all rods are built to order, please expect 2-3 weeks for delivery!

I was surfing the web and found the Ultimate Fishing Directory:

http://www.ultimatefishingdirectory.com

Be sure to check it out!

June 17 & 18, 2011 - Charity Fishing Tournament out of New Bedford, MA, to benefit the Schwartz Center for Children! 

There are twelve boats already committed to participate in the Fishing for a Cause charity tournament, but we still have a few FREE boat slips left - register your boat today and don't miss out on this BIG savings!

More info check out: Charity Fishing Tournament @

https://www.facebook.com/FishingForACause

On the first day of the World's in Key West, I asked Sammy Worton, 1st mate on the WET DREAM FISHING TEAM how they did:  "Pretty tough day today, wind was 0, so slick calm. We caught one early then never saw another.  1st has 3 fish so its anyone's game.  Good Bob, not enough to win money but we stayed in the hunt, thanks to our Local Hookers.  Even the fifty bonitos we caught didn't stand a chance!!!  The heat that we can put on these fish whith the Local Hookers is absolutely amazing! Thanks for that!"  Sammy...

Local Hooker Rods get a mention in Sportsfishing Magazine.

Cape Cod Life profiles owner Bob Jenkins and his quality rods.

There comes a moment in every fish fight—no matter if it’s bluefish or giant tuna or striped marlin—when the fish stops taking the line and the fisherman reels it toward the boat. Anglers call this “turning the fish.” It’s a moment of truth for the rod in the fisherman’s hands: the bigger the fish, the more important the equipment. It’s the moment Local Hooker Rods were made for...

Greenwich Time features fish tale about friends who win two contests in one weekend

How do you go about winning two striped bass contests on the same weekend? You win by  design! Last weekend, Jeff Thompson and Thadd Kochan, both from greenwich, won two striped bass tournaments.

Marlin - The International Sportfishing Magazine, spotlights Local Hookers unique design.

With a lot of sport-fishing gear being farmed out to overseas manufacturers, it’s nice to see someone making a go of it here at home in the good ol’ USA.

Cape Cod's incurable plague is sweepping New England - who needs a cure?

Another season  has come and gone, and for the most part you fished the same places, used the same gear, and compared this season to last years...

On The Water tests and reviews a specific Local Hooker Rod.

On one of his recent visits to the On The Water offi ce, I asked Bob Jenkins, owner of Local Hooker Rods, what rod he would recommend for someone like me who wanted a heavy, fast-action spinning rod capable of handing 50-pound-test braided line and lures up to 3 ounces.

Review of Local Hooker Rods by On the Water magazine

I always like to seek out fishing products produced by local companies. Many of the mass-produced rods on the market are designed by national or international companies to cover a lot of different situations and fishing styles, and some of them miss the mark for what New England fishermen really need.

You have to see these hits to believe them!

It's early morning and you've made your way out of the harbor. Like any other autumn day, the contrasting termperatures of warm water and cool air have cast a blanket of fog ove the ocean's surface...

The Sound checks in with Bob Jenkins for some questions and answers.

The first time I ever heard of Local Hooker, I was at Sports Port in Hyannis. Amy was talking about a new rod company here on the Cape, and it seemed a brilliant idea to me. I’ve since seen their rods and logo almost everywhere you can imagine, from fishing the Narrows to on the backs of cocktail waitress’ and construction workers. No doubt about it, owner Bob Jenkins is on to something, and with the amount of passion he has for his company and fishing in general, I think it’s safe to say that he’s hooked on to a keeper. Pun intended...

On The Water magazine reviews a Local Hooker Rod.

When you first set eyes on one of these rods, you might jump to the conclusion that something went horribly wrong in the building process. But spiral-wrapped rods are nothing new – they just never really caught on in the Northeast...