Pacific Ocean Producers

Advertising Feature

The leader in monofilament longline system technology

PACIFIC Ocean

Producers, a Honolulu based fishing supply store since 1983, has played a major role in developing fisheries in the South Pacific islands.

It all started in 1983 when Jim Cook and Sean Martin began selling gear to the Hawaii longline fleet, which consisted of approximately 45 vessels based almost exclusively out of Honolulu.

By 1985, Pacific Ocean Producers was the exclusive distributor in the South Pacific islands for Lindgren- Pitman Inc., the maker of the world’s best monofilament longline systems.

Pacific Ocean Producers success fully introduced these new systems to the Hawaii longline fleet, which had grown to 105 vessels.

By 1988, 80 per cent of these ves sels had been successfully converted to monofilament longline systems.

By 1990, there had been significant relo cation of East Coast and Florida fishing businesses to the South Pacific region.

As a result, the Hawaii fleet grew from 105 vessels in 1988 to 160 vessels in 1990.

Over the past five years, the growth of the Hawaii fleet has stabilised to between 110 and 125 vessels.

It is the largest, most

advanced longline

fleet of the South Pacific region. Today, the number of permits allowed for longline fishing has been limit ed to 167, and the overall length of ves sels has been restrict ed to 100 feet.

However, many fisher men still show interest

in joining the Hawaii fleet as there is readily available access to worldwide markets with relatively low cost of operations.

In the early 19905, many south Pacific islands realised the success of monofilament longline systems, and the Hawaii fleet became a model for fisheries development for many of these islands.

Jim Cook and Sean Martin trav elled extensively in the South Pacific region assisting fishermen with the development of their fisheries.

Pacific Ocean Producers outfitted over 300 monofilament longline sys tems in Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, Marshall Islands, Saipan, New Caledonia, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Guam, New Zealand and Australia.

The Lindgren-Pitman monofila ment longline systems have proven over the years to be reliable and effi

cient fishing tools for many South Pacific islands. Pacific Ocean Producers now carries the latest monofilament longline system - the Super Spool 11.

Sean Martin believes this new reel to be more efficient and easier to haul than previous systems.

The Super Spool II has been suc cessfully tested for three years before it was finally marketed in October 1998.

This new system drew a lot of attention during the Fish Expo Seattle 98. As a result of this show, several Super Spool II have been sold and installed onto vessels from different parts of the world.

Three operators from the Hawaii fleet chose to outfit their vessels with the Super Spool 11. F/V Icy Point originally a San Francisco-based ves sel fishing for Albacore, is no fishing around the Hawaiian Islands.

In November 1998, the owner of F/V Icy Point bought a Super Spool II as he wanted to get the best and latest in longline gear. Jim Cook, Sean Martin and their staff installed the new reel onto the vessel in less than three days!

Jon Johnson, the captain of the vessel was very pleased with the cus tomer service that Pacific Ocean Producers provided. Jim Cook and Sean Martin also provided operation training to the captain and crew of F/V,lcy Point as they had no previous

experience with longline fishing.

On January 8, 1999, the F/V Icy Point left Honolulu for a ten-day fishing trip around the Hawaiian Islands.

It came back with 15,000 pounds of high quality tuna and swordfish.

Jim Cook and Sean Martin were pleased to hear that this vessel had a successful trip considering the lack of experience.

On February 2, 1999 the F/V Icy Point returned from its second ten day fishing trip and unloaded 22,000 pounds of high quality tuna and swordfish.

On February 17, 1999, the F/V Icy Point came back from a thirteen-day fishing trip with 25,000 pounds of tuna and swordfish. The captain

hopes to keep on making successful

trips. Jon gives credit to the owners and staff and Pacific Ocean Producers as they did an excellent job installing the Super Spool II and pro viding operation training, which con tributed to the successful fishing trips of F/V Icy Point.

The increased hauling speed and improved performances as well as increased catches can be accredited to the Super Spool 11.

Jim and Sean are expecting to sell many more Super Spool II to the Hawaii fleet as well as vessels from the South Pacific islands.

Pacific Ocean Producers has received numerous orders for the new Super Spool 11.

Tahiti, being the second largest fleet in the South Pacific, followed by Fiji, keeps on growing at a very fast pace.

A large order of 12 reels has been placed and will be delivered to Tahiti sometime this year.

The Fijian fleet is also rapidly expanding as six new vessels will be

outfitted with four Twin reels and two Super Spool 11. Pacific Ocean Producers expected to have these reels delivered by the end of this month.

Jim Cook and Sean Martin have always adopted a “hands-on” approach to their business, which explains the high quality of customer service.

Operating out of a 40,000 square foot warehouse in Honolulu, Pacific Ocean Producers has been able to efficiently respond to its customers’ needs for many years.

It would be a costly mistake to venture yourself into a longline pro ject or fishery development without first consulting with the experienced staff at Pacific Ocean Producers.

Pacific Ocean Producers is consid ered a leader in monofilament long line systems.

One should take advantage of the combined experience and dedication that the owners of Pacific Ocean Producers have gained over the years! ■