Product Review: Sabiki 500...Friendships Aside

[Deamon]

I had been eagerly awaiting the day to use my custom made Sabiki 500 manufactured by Park Enterprises, Inc. I'd heard about it for two years..."whoa...ha ha ha...man this thing works!". Roby, Greg, Jorge...they all had one and seemed to be killing it week after week after week. Even StinkyMatt's been successfully using a Sabiki 500 in Vermont for Perch. But not me...It's always..."Hey Jim, how are you doing on making bait, We're killing it over here!", blah, blah, blah.

The clouds parted...the sun appeared...and out of the blue I'm gifted my very own Sabiki 500! I felt very fortunate to have the originator (Tony Park) hand make a rig for me with custom packaging! I see there are several shrimp like creatures with very sharp hooks attached along with the required glow beads. Looking very fishy. So I waited two months for the perfect time to try it. When conditions and bait making were at their hardest.

I proceed to remove the pink shrimp rig from its custom packaging. Being very careful...BAM, felt like it was spring loaded...instant tangled mess. Just not as user friendly as a Hayabasu package, no biggie though. Strangely, I notice the hooks are tied in random spacing..., okay whatever...And the rig is very...I mean very long. Hmmm...this was created by a kayak guy? Okay, get over it.

On the first drop, I'm instant bendo...a double on the Spanish...NICE! I then make another, yes! Greenies, oh yeah!!! Snag some kelp, rip it out, cool, no problem. Immediately after, I begin to notice I'm whiffing on a few bites...Missed on a few more...hmmm...What the? Reel in my Sabiki 500 and I find two hooks are bent. Say what? Okay no problem, bend them back because this thing's MONEY!

On the next drop down...kelp...rip...BOINK. Huh? Oh no it didn't...oh yes it did. Rig down to two hooks.

Review Ratings:
Product Appearance: A
Product Effectiveness: A+
Packaging: D
Quality of Line: F
Quality of Hooks: D-
Durability: F
Price- N/A
Overall rating: D

In summary, I think this product could be a game changer. But the materials and manufacturing should move from its Korean origination. Proven engineers can suggest upgrades to the quality of materials while protecting the price point...I suggest everyone hold on purchasing this product until the Sabiki 500 is labeled...Made in Japan. Jim

[toby]

thanks for the report Jim

Toby

[Cadillyak]

I'm curious what size hooks did that rig come with? Also, what lb test was the main line and the lead line?

I've been hearing nothing but good things about these rigs!! Where can I buy these? My sabiki skills suck and I need all the help I can get. Thanks!

[jorluivil]

I've been using a Sabiki 250 for about a year now, I had a custom rig made with 3 hooks instead of the standard 5 hook rig. I didn't realize it until my credit card bill came in but it appears that I was charged the following:

1. $4.00 'custom rig' fee
2. $2.00 per hook removal. I'm assuming this was due to the fact that they had to take a Sabiki 500 and turn it into a Sabiki 250. I'm still trying to figure out why its called a 250 if it has 3 hooks.
3. $3.57 custom packaging fee. I'm assuming this also has to due with the fact that they only had baggies for the 500 in stock and had to order 'custom bags' for the 250. Why the f*ck couldn't they just stick it in a 500 baggie.

Anyway, a few days after I received my order I was invited to attend a Park Enterprises - How to Sabiki show which took place live on the waters of The Sewer. The performance of the 500 was second to none, the 250 was at best, good. After a side by side comparison of the 500 and 250 I noticed the following:

1. The eyeballs on one of the the shrimp were cross sided
2. Two of the three shrimp had 1 tail and the other had a half a tail but it was blue
3. All of the hooks appeared to be Knotless hooks
4. The beads weren't fishing beads, they had a foul smell and appeared to be......I'm sure you can figure that one out.


My Review Ratings:
Product Appearance: C-
Product Effectiveness: C+
Packaging: A
Quality of Line: F, I had to tie my own hooks, line was not included
Quality of Hooks: C
Durability: B
Price: D+
Overall rating: D++

[DanaPT]

I looked into this product but read that this company may be donating $ to the Monterey aquarium and I think mlpa research. I don't care how good they work I'm not a buyer of these pink commie sabikis.

[walrus]

Jim,

I think you got a cheap knock off. The packaging on the real deal has a warning label on the front saying "Improper use of this item is prohibited".