Packing for any trip can be time-consuming, or even stressful. When you’re out kayak fishing, it’s not so easy to run back to the house to grab a pair of pliers when you’ve already caught the fish. It’s important to use a kayak fishing gear list to make sure you don’t forget anything. In this guide, we’ll outline everything you need to take kayak fishing, from fishing gear to personal items.
Here At The Adventure Junkies, we strive to make every trip a successful one. Not only do we enjoy researching the best techniques, gear and trips for each outdoor sport, we also enjoy sharing that knowledge with others. From kayaking to rock climbing, and hiking to snowboarding, we’ve got you covered.
HOW TO USE THIS PACKING LIST
Before we launch into the actual list, we want to take a quick second to go over the terms we’ll be using in to describe gear. Each term below is followed by a quick description. You’ll see these terms below each item on the packing list.
PURPOSE: What it’s used for and why you might need that piece of gear.
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Starting into a new sport can be expensive, and we understand you won’t want to purchase everything from the get-go. We’ve marked the most important items as essential to help you choose.
PRICE RANGE: How much an item will cost in relation to your budget.
LOOK FOR: We’ll detail the key features to look for when choosing a piece of gear.
LEARN MORE: An article on choosing that piece of gear.
BEST MODELS: An article on the best gear of the year.
1. BASICS
KAYAK
PURPOSE: Flotation, ability to move on water
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $400 – $2000
LOOK FOR: Fishing specific kayaks with rod holders, paddle holders, tackle storage, and cup holders
LEARN MORE: Choosing The Right Fishing Kayak
BEST MODELS: Best Fishing Kayaks >>
KAYAK PADDLE
PURPOSE: Paddling, movement on water
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $50 – $200
LOOK FOR: Adjustable feathering, carbon fiber or fiberglass blend
LEARN MORE: How To Choose A Kayak Paddle
BEST MODELS: Best paddles for kayak fishing >>
KAYAK CART
PURPOSE: Wheeling your kayak
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $30 – $200
LOOK FOR: A collapsible, folding cart or small cart that will fit in your kayak
LEARN MORE: How To Choose A Kayak Cart
BEST MODELS: Best Kayak Carts >>
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD)
PURPOSE: Provides flotation in water
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $300
LOOK FOR: Sufficient buoyancy, adjustable side and shoulder straps, fishing lure storage, D-rings
LEARN MORE: How To Pick A PFD
BEST MODELS: Best Kayak Fishing PFDs >>
FISHING ROD
PURPOSE: Catching fish
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $30 – $1000
LOOK FOR: Medium length, multi-use rod like an inshore rod; offshore fishing requires heavier gear
LEARN MORE: Choosing The Right Rod
BEST MODELS: Best Rods For Kayak Fishing >>
FISHING REEL
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
PURPOSE: Catching fish
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $30 – $1000
LOOK FOR: Spin reel or baitcasting reel
LEARN MORE: Selecting A Fishing Reel
BEST MODELS: Best Fishing Reels >>
STOCKED TACKLE BOX/BAG/WALLET
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Securing and organizing tackle
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $15 – $200
LOOK FOR: Clear plastic case with secure latch, preferably in a compact soft-sided bag
LEARN MORE: 5 Pros’ Tackle Systems
FISHING ROD HOLDER
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Securing your rod to the kayak in order to go hands-free
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $150
LOOK FOR: An adjustable clamp
LEARN MORE: How To Choose Fishing Rod Holders
BEST MODELS: Best Fishing Rod Holders >>
PADDLE LEASH
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Tethering your paddle to the kayak
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $5 – $30
LOOK FOR: At least 4.0 ft (1.2 m) in length, durable hardware
LEARN MORE: Selecting a Paddle Leash
PADDLE CLIP
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Securing your paddle to your kayak to go hands-free
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10 – $20
LOOK FOR: Durable material, universal size
LEARN MORE: Choosing a Kayak Paddle Clip
2. HOOKED
PLIERS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Removing a fish from a hook, tying lures
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10 – $65
LOOK FOR: Stainless steel or aluminum build, line cutters, side cutters, long nose, split-ring tool
LEARN MORE: How To Choose Fishing Pliers
FISH GRIP WITH SCALE
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Holding a fish and weighing it
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10 – $50
LOOK FOR: A secure lip clamp, easy-to-hold handle, scale
LEARN MORE: A Guide To Fish Grippers
HOOK REMOVER TOOL
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Removing a difficult hook lure from a fish’s mouth safely
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10 – $30
LOOK FOR: Single-hand operation, little/no harm to fish
LEARN MORE: Tool to Be Kind
FISH BAG
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keeping your catch cool
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $40 – $160
LOOK FOR: Lash-down straps, zipper flap
LEARN MORE: Choosing a Kayak Fish Bag
3. ELECTRONICS
GPS
PURPOSE: Tracking location
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $100 – $500
LOOK FOR: Color touch screen, global support
LEARN MORE: How To Choose A Kayak GPS
BEST MODELS: Best Kayak GPS >>
FISH FINDER
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Scanning for fish below radar
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $40 – $200
LOOK FOR: Portable build, colorful screen or smart phone-enabled
LEARN MORE: How To Choose A Fish Finder
BEST MODELS: Best Kayak Fish Finders >>
4. SUN PROTECTION
LONGSLEEVE SHIRT
PURPOSE: Protecting your torso from sunburn
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $20 – 150
LOOK FOR: Well-ventilated, UPF rated longsleeve shirt
LEARN MORE: How To Choose UPF Clothing
FISHING HAT
PURPOSE: Protecting your head and neck from sunburn
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $15 – $100
LOOK FOR: Neck cover, wide brim, UPF rating
HEADWEAR
PURPOSE: Shielding harsh light reflecting off water
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $50
LOOK FOR: UPF rating, a color you like
LEARN MORE: How To Wear Headwear
FISHING GLOVES
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Sun protection for your hands
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $70
LOOK FOR: Fingerless design, UPF rating
LEARN MORE: The Sun Is The Enemy – Protect Yourself
SUNSCREEN
PURPOSE: Sun protection
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $5 – $35
LOOK FOR: UPF 50+, Zinc Oxide, waterproof
LEARN MORE: Choosing Sunscreen For Fishing
5. SAFETY
COMPASS
PURPOSE: Navigation
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes for offshore, no for inshore or freshwater fishing
PRICE RANGE: $5 – $200
LOOK FOR: Magnetic hiking compass, luminescent markings for work in low light, portable build
LEARN MORE: How to Choose the Best Compass
BEST MODELS: Best Compasses >>
FIRST AID KIT
PURPOSE: Wound treatment
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $10 – $50
LOOK FOR: Travel size
LEARN MORE: Fishing First Aid
KAYAK LIGHT
PURPOSE: Illumination at night for working at visibility to other vessels
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes, if you will be night-fishing
PRICE RANGE: $10 – $100
LOOK FOR: Secure attachment or suction cup base, LED
LEARN MORE: Choosing a Kayak Light
WHISTLE
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Calling for help in an emergency
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $5 – $50
LOOK FOR: Moisture resistant, loud whistle (over 100 dB)
LEARN MORE: How to Choose The Best Emergency Whistle
6. PERSONAL
It’s important to remember to bring personal items, not only for comfort, but for communication and safety. Below is a list of general items that you probably already own. We recommend securing anything important in a sealed plastic bag or dry bag.
- Cell Phone
- SPF Lip Balm
- Polarized sunglasses
- Knife
7. FOOD AND WATER
Sustenance is another important thing to remember on any fishing trip. There’s a reason most airlines serve small bags of peanuts on even the shortest of flights – it’s because most of us can’t go a couple of hours without getting hangry. Forgetting food and water on a fishing trip can be deadly. Below is a list of items to bring on a day trip (approximately 8 hours). Pack a small cooler bag with an ice pack and store it out of the sun in one of your kayak’s storage areas.
- 2 sandwiches (meat and cheese, vegetable, peanut butter and jelly, etc.)
- 2 gallons of water
- Protein bar
- Mixed nuts
- Chips (potato or corn)
READ MORE
For more of our top kayak fishing gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides: