$100 to fill your saltwater tackle box

For about $100, you can fill a tackle box with the right stuff to catch any of southern New England's gamefish, according to five Rhode Island experts. Ken Ferrara, Elisa Jackman, Ron Mouchon, Thom Pelletier and Sam Toland all own or work in tackle shops. Mouchon is also a charter-boat captain, and Pelletier manufactures lures.

The following scenario was posed to them: "An angler wants to fish inshore waters from her boat. She has a rod and reel filled with 20-pound test line and an empty tackle box. She has about $100 to spend. With what would you fill her tackle box?"

All five experts agreed on several points:

1. Fluke rigs to catch summer flounder. Tipped with fresh or frozen spearing or squid strips, the rigs' spinner blades attract fish. Mario's and ThomCat rigs are made in southern New England.
2. Swimming plugs for striped bass and bluefish: Pelletier of Quaker Lane Outfitters in North Kingstown, recommended 7-inch Redfins or Bombers. Ferrara, of Ray's Bait & Tackle in Warwick, agreed with Toland of Sam's Bait & Tackle in Middletown that Rebels and Yo-Zuri swimmers are good bets.
3. Bucktail jigs for fluke and stripers. Buy a variety, starting at 3/8-ounce, said Pelletier. Jackman, of Snug Harbor Marina in South Kingstown, said 5-ounces is the heaviest you'll need.
4. Storm Wild-Eye Shad, inexpensive soft-plastic lures, were recommended by Mouchon of Beachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown, Toland and Pelletier.
5. Popping plugs, such as Atoms or Creek Chubs, for bass and bluefish.
6. Metal lures such as Kastmasters or Hopkins for bass and bluefish. Mouchon said chrome-and-blue Kastmasters are deadly. Also, buy some Deadly Dicks, Crippled Herring or Al-Jack jigs for bonito and little tunny, called "false albacore" hereabouts.
7. Wire leaders to keep your lure secure when bluefish are biting.
8. A variety of sinkers, from 1 to 5 ounces.
9. A knife for cutting bait and filleting the catch.
10. A pair of pliers (made for the marine environment)
    
11. An assortment of bait hooks for scup, sea bass and tautog. You can buy them already rigged on leaders, and the packages indicate which hooks are best for certain species of fish.
12. Toland and Jackman also recommended buying a Mann's Stretch 25, a deep-diving lure for trolling.
13. Mouchon also suggested a pair of fingernail clippers for cutting line, and a filleting glove so you won't cut your hand.
14. He uses 50-pound test leader material and swivels to prevent line twist. Pelletier said swivels should be between 40- and 90-pound-test strong.
15. Pelletier said he always has a hook-and-knife sharpener on his boat.
16. Spend another $100, and you can buy another inexpensive rod and reel with lead-core line for trolling a tube-and-worm rig for stripers, says Ferrara. If you have a rod and reel equipped for trolling, Jackman said you need a green-and white parachute jig, tipped with pork rind.

To buy the best and most effective tackle, visit an independent shop where the owner and employees fish locally. By TOM MEADE, Providence Journal.