Gear

Gear Up for the Water

Top gear picks for boaters who fish.

By Doug Olander and Alex Suescun

Updated: December 17, 2019

You don’t need it until you need it, the old saying goes. Granted, some of these products might occupy that gray area between what you need and what you want, but all will serve in various ways boaters who fish.

The Grundéns Buoy X Gore-Tex jacket is designed for functionality and comfort, and made to withstand the rigors of extreme weather. Utilizing Gore-Tex three-layer laminate, the 150-denier face fabric is treated with C6 DWR for maximum water beading, and prevents wet-out caused by oil, blood or fish-slime contamination. The Buoy X jacket includes neoprene-shingled cuffs, dual-zippered storage pockets, kill-switch anchor, and more. Available in three colors and in sizes small to 3XL. $479.99–$499.99; grundens.com Courtesy Grundéns

Xtratuf women’s 15-inch Legacy boot now comes in black, with Groovy Grayling pattern by FisheWear, an Alaska-based maker of fish-inspired apparel and gear for women. Also available in brown with seven other cuff accents from sizes 6 to 11, the Legacy boot incorporates slip-resistant, nonmarking outsoles for superb traction on deck and wet surfaces; triple-dipped shells for durability and watertight protection; and hand-layered construction, adding flex and strength to critical stress points. $135; xtratuf.com Courtesy Xtratuf

Few anglers are foolish enough to venture offshore without a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Costa’s new Sampans offer both style and function for any boater. They’re available with 580G (lightwave glass) or 580P (polycarbonate) lenses in seven colors, with the blue mirror particularly popular among offshore enthusiasts for the lenses’ performance in open, reflective water. Starting at $269; costadelmar.com Courtesy Costa

Penn Reels’ Torque lever-drag two-speeds

From jigging and live-baiting to high-speed trolling for big-game pelagics, Penn Reels’ new Torque lever-drag two-speeds have it covered. The TRQ15LD2S holds more than 400 yards of 30-pound braid for live-baiting and medium jigging duties. It offers 20 pounds of max drag, and gear ratios of 2.8-to-1 and 6-to-1. For billfish and wahoo, the TRQ60LD2S holds nearly 400 yards of 50-pound mono or 860 yards of 80-pound braid. Max drag is 40 pounds, and its gear ratios are 2.5-to-1 and 5.1-to-1. $549.95-$599.95; pennfishing.com Courtesy Penn Reels

With its HydroShield technology, featuring a strip of ultrastrong magnets along the top, Yeti’s Hopper M30 is a handy accessory for use anywhere on any boat. It can hold 28 pounds of ice or twenty 12-ounce beverage cans, or some combination thereof. The Hopper’s Coldcell closed-cell-foam insulation keeps beer cold all day. Its Dryhide shell is made to stand up to a ridiculous level of abuse. $299.99; yeti.com Courtesy Yeti

A fighting belt is one of those things you might not need—until you need it. Keep a good belt on board without spending a fortune: Check out the Calcutta 15-inch fighting belt. It’s constructed of a specially formulated impact-resistant polymer shell. Foam-padded backing keeps it from slipping. The belt features an adjustable heavy-duty mesh belt with quick-release buckle and a stainless-steel cross (gimbal) pin. $49.99; calcuttaoutdoors.com Courtesy Calcutta

The range of offshore and reef-loving gamefish that Yo-Zuri’s 3D Magnum sinking deep-diving lures appeals to makes having them in one’s arsenal almost requisite. Think wahoo on both coasts, as well as tunas, kingfish, groupers, amberjack and yellowtail, and more. The heavy-duty through-wired Magnums with 3x trebles come in 5½- and 7-inch sizes, and eight color patterns (with Yo-Zuri’s Color Change technology), and can dive to more than 20 feet. $16.99 (5½-inch) and $18.99 (7-inch); yo-zuri.com Courtesy Yo-Zuri

The Perko locking battery-selector switch prevents a thief from stealing your boat; the switch prevents him from starting the motor. Leave your boat with the switch in the “off” position, and remove the key. With this system in place, even a hot-wire job won’t allow for ignition. The Perko locking battery-selector switch retails for $49.44; perko.com Courtesy Perko

Keep essential fishing tools secured and handy with the Two Knife, Plier and Boga Grip holder from Boat Outfitters. Compact, constructed of durable King Starboard, and designed to hold a pair of fillet knives, fishing pliers, and a Boga Grip release tool, the holder is available in white, arctic white, and seafoam, in both permanent-mounting and removable (with suction cups) versions. $32.84; boatoutfitters.com Courtesy Boat Outfitters

Keep your phone, credit cards and other valuables handy but safe from the elements and drops with a Pelican Personal Utility Go case. Crushproof and watertight (submersible to 1 meter for 30 minutes), Pelican Go cases feature a divider tray with credit-card pockets, integrated latch, cushioned EVA liner, and easy-carry handle. Available in six colors and two sizes. $29.95-$39.95; pelican.com Courtesy Pelican

AFTCO 8-, 10- and 12-inch fishing fillet knives

AFTCO recently added some impressive blades to its tackle inventory. The 8-, 10- and 12-inch fishing fillet knives feature distinctive gold Böker 4115 German stainless-steel blades with full-tang construction and 56 to 58 Rockwell hardness to ensure that blades stay sharp and keep their edge. The textured polypropylene/TPR grip provides a firm grip even when slippery. $69.00-$89.00; aftco.com Courtesy AFTCO

When storm clouds loom in your path, having reliable foul-weather gear is paramount. Salt Life’s new Thunder jacket fits that bill with a zip front, hood, and waterproof polyester fabric construction. The jacket is fully lined with underarm vents for breathability, and features pouch pockets in front, plus pockets in the chest and sleeves. The single color is ebony, and sizes run from small to 2XL (men’s). $176; saltlife.com Courtesy Salt Life

Put an end to unreliable Wi-Fi with the Shakespeare Stream marine cellphone signal booster. Place a phone, tablet or mobile hotspot near the antenna, and your connection improves. The weatherproof exterior antenna is ideal for open boats. The plug-and-play Stream is compatible with most cellular devices and major service providers in the United States and Canada. $799; shakespeare-ce.com Courtesy Shakespeare

TackleWebs—weatherproof mesh pockets designed to provide storage in otherwise unusable spaces—attach via bungee cords to leaning posts, T-tops, casting platforms and other accessories, or with adhesive hook-and-loop strips or suction cups to coolers, bulkheads and other flat surfaces. Available in a range of sizes and configurations, with marine-grade hook-and-loop strips, bungee, and stainless grommets. $14.99-$49.99; tacklewebs.com Courtesy TackleWebs

A freshwater washdown system lets you keep the deck and tackle clean and the crew cool during long, hot days on the water, but it’s not always an option on flats and bay boats. Big Kahuna portable showers offer an affordable solution. They are durable, easy-to-carry, self-contained units that plug into any 12-volt outlet. A sprayer with a coiled hose that extends to 8 feet comes included. $134-$174; bigkahunashowers.com Courtesy Big Kahuna

SeaDek fish rulers make it easy to comply with gamefish size limits, offering an attractive, long-lasting alternative to decals and tape measures. Available in four colors, SeaDek fish rulers are 4 inches wide by 36 inches long, and come in a 3 mm thickness with a brushed texture, laser-etched numbers that won’t fade, and peel-and-stick adhesive for easy installation on any bulkhead, deck or gunwale. $25.95; seadek.com Courtesy SeaDek

Formulated to penetrate the toughest crud, Star brite’s Ultimate Xtreme Clean contains special agents that attack road grime, bug and bird deposits, grease and more, breaking their surface bond so they can be easily wiped away. Sold in 22- and 32-ounce spray bottles, this all-surface cleaner/degreaser doesn’t damage your finish. It is safe for use on fiberglass, plastic, rubber, leather, chrome and all metals. Starting at $12.99; starbrite.com Courtesy Star brite

Don’t let a dead battery leave you stranded. The portable, four-in-one Weego 66.1 jump-starts your boat or tow vehicle, and charges cellphones, tablets, laptops and other mobile devices via 5-volt, 19-volt and USB outputs; it also powers 12-volt accessories such as air compressors, and includes a built-in, 600-lumen dual LED flashlight, complete with SOS functions and emergency strobe. $159.90; myweego.com Courtesy Weego

MotorGuide Xi5 wireless saltwater series trolling motor

MotorGuide’s Xi5 wireless saltwater series trolling motors include handheld remote, composite shafts up to 72 inches, and up to 105 pounds of thrust. They feature Responsive Electric Steer for faster maneuvering and greater control, Digital Power Management for longer battery life, and navigation options such as Jog, Route Playback and GPS Anchor. $1,809.99-$2,169.99; motorguide.com Courtesy MotorGuide

If your boat lacks a bait-prep station, the bait and fillet table by Ocean South is a great alternative, featuring an easy-to-clean, one-piece, molded polypropylene top, with a rigid and stable rib-core design. Available with rail mount, lock-fast mount or rod-holder mount that fits into any rod holder, and incorporates an adjustable knuckle to set the proper angle. $35.99-$39.99; oceansouth.us Courtesy Ocean South

XtraTuf’s 100-percent-waterproof leather ankle deck boot with breathable membrane is designed specifically for sport fishermen. It offers a molded EVA insole, and comes in half sizes, from 7 to 14 (men’s) and 5 to 11 (women’s). The single color for men’s boots is brown; for women, it’s olive. $125, xtratuf.com Courtesy XtraTuf

A landing net is an important tool, but many are cumbersome and hard to stash on board, so anglers often leave them behind. Frabill’s Power Stow nets are the answer. They are tough enough to subdue big, powerful fish, and collapsible to conveniently stow out of the way until needed. Available in five configurations with extendable handles to match the target species. $49.99-$179.99; frabill.com Courtesy Frabill

SeaDek and similar EVA foam floorings have gained immense popularity among boaters, however, cleaning them is not an easy task. That’s why SeaDek created Dek Magic, a cleaner specifically designed to keep your SeaDek and similar materials clean and looking like new. Safe for the environment, and great for fighting tough stains such as blood, grease, oil, wine and more, Dek Magic is sold only in 32-ounce spray bottles. $24.99; seadek.com Courtesy SeaDek

Available in six models with 4- to 14-inch setback, Atlas hydraulic jack plates raise the outboards (up to 625 pounds) vertically several inches for shallow-water navigation or improved performance and speed. Built by T-H Marine with USA-made hydraulic actuator, each Atlas features a transport-plate design, super-fast (eight seconds) lifting, pre-drilling for shallow-water anchor, and a safety cable. $1,473.67-$1,789.46; thmarinesupplies.com Courtesy Atlas

Sport Marine Technologies’ SE 300 Sport hydrofoil minimizes cavitation and prop blowout, improving hole shot and cutting planing time, which is particularly important in shallow water. It also stops porpoising, increases stability, and improves tracking. Installation is easy, and with the optional SE Sport clip, it does not require drilling into the outboard’s cavitation plate. $69.99; sesport.com Courtesy Sport Marine Technologies

Not enough storage for your lures and terminal gear? The best solution to date: Plano’s new Edge tackle boxes. Their Dri-Loc seal keeps salt water out and lures dry, and their proprietary Rustrictor coating further ensures that. An ingenious system of recessed, precision-molded dividers maintains gear separation, preserving the angler’s system of organization. $19.99-$49.99; planomolding.com Courtesy Plano

Anglers looking to upgrade their seating in large center-consoles will want to consider Nautical Design’s Premier helm unit, with high-end seating, tackle storage, rod and cup holders, and a host of other amenities. The unit includes bench-style seating, dual and triple flip-up bolster seats with outside folding arms, a tackle-storage system with drawers and hanging-lure racks, a drop-down rigging table, and more. $6,500; nauticaldesigninc.com Courtesy Nautical Design

Siren offers an easy-to-use app, global 3G connectivity, and the choice of wired and wireless sensors, allowing you to track your position via GPS and set geofences to know where your boat is at all times. The MTC also allows you to monitor bilge levels and engine functions, and control your lights, air conditioner and other systems from anywhere. $599.99, services starting at $17.97 monthly; sirenmarine.com Courtesy Siren Marine

Long metal jigs don’t always fit into standard tackle boxes. Keep yours organized with Mustad’s waterproof jig pouch. The large pouch holds 35 jigs—five slots for jigs up to 11 inches, 18 slots for jigs to 7½ inches, and 12 slots for jigs to 6 inches. The pouch also offers various pockets for assist hooks, leader material and more. The 500-denier waterproof material includes a carry handle and quick-lock strap closure. $61.99; mustad-fishing.com Courtesy Mustad

Keep your gear protected, organized and accessible with Yeti’s LoadOut GoBox 30. Available in charcoal, white and desert tan, it’s just the ticket. Waterproof and nearly indestructible, the LoadOut GoBox provides 30 quarts of storage, and is built to endure years of exposure to the sun, extreme temperatures, and the abuse of lugging it in and out of the boat. Accessories included: divider, caddy and pack attic. $249.99; yeti.com Courtesy Yeti

More: 2020 Boat Buyers Guide, 2020 Boat Buyers Guide: More Resources, Saltwater Fishing Gear

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