Fishing Trip Essentials Checklist: What to Actually Bring

Fishing Trip Essentials Checklist: What to Actually Bring

Fishing rods secured on a boat moving out toward open water for a day trip

Checklist Fishing

Most fishing trips that end early aren't ruined by a slow bite. They're ruined by something left in the truck.

Updated October 5, 20266 min readPacking checklist

A fishing trip checklist starts with five things: a valid state fishing license, a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for everyone aboard if you're on any boat, a forecast check, tackle matched to what you're targeting, and sealed storage for your phone, keys and wallet.

Organized by SKÖ

The fishing trip checklist, in four groups

Grouped by job, so you can pack one bin or pocket at a time.

02 · Tackle

Match the rod, reel and line to the species you're after, then keep the tackle box small enough to manage in a boat or on a bank.

  • Rod and reel, line weight matched to your target
  • Hooks, weights, leader and a few lures
  • Pliers or a hook remover
  • A sharp knife
  • Spares of anything small enough to lose overboard
  • Cooler or stringer, if you're keeping fish
A day-trip kit: small, organized, with spares of what's easy to drop.

03 · Sun and weather

You're exposed for hours, with glare coming off the water as well as from above.

  • Sunscreen and a hat
  • Polarized sunglasses
  • Plenty of drinking water and food
  • Rain layer
  • Weather app or NOAA Weather Radio
  • A warm layer for early starts

04 · Dry storage

Wet hands, bait, spray and getting in and out of a boat are a normal fishing day. A phone in a pocket eventually meets one of them.

  • Phone, sealed and reachable
  • Car keys and wallet, sealed
  • License, if you carry a paper copy
  • Backup battery
  • Marine radio, on bigger water
  • A dry bag for layers and food

The bag for the sealed items

For the small, can't-get-wet items, a sealed bag worn on your body stays with you on the bank, in the kayak or on deck. The SKÖ Waterproof Crossbody is one example sized for that job.

Capacity
~1.14 L
Size
7.5 × 4.7 × 2 in
Material
1680D TPU
Closure
Waterproof zipper

Where it fits

  • Phone, keys, wallet and license, worn while you cast
  • Designed to be waterproof and submersible when the zipper is properly closed and sealed

Where it doesn't

  • Tackle, layers or food: use a tackle box and dry bag
  • It isn't a life jacket or any kind of flotation

More on choosing it in the best waterproof bag for fishing, or see how waterproof crossbody bags compare. For keeping the rest of your gear dry and rust-free, see how to keep fishing gear dry.

Established rules and guidance

The rules behind the first group

  • Licenses are set by your state. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service notes that every state has slightly different rules, and that in most states you can buy a license online, by phone or at a retailer. License fees fund state fish and wildlife agencies. Check your state agency's site for who needs one and what it covers.
  • A life jacket for everyone aboard. A recreational vessel must carry a Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person, readily accessible.
  • Kids under 13 wear theirs. Federal rules require children under 13 to wear an approved life jacket while underway, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin. Where a state has its own child-wear rule, the state rule applies.
  • Throwables. Boats over 16 feet must also carry a Coast Guard-approved throwable device; canoes and kayaks don't need one, regardless of length.
  • Weather and float plan. The National Weather Service says to check the forecast at your local NWS coastal office before going out; NOAA Weather Radio sounds an alert when an advisory is issued. The Coast Guard encourages filing a float plan so someone knows where you're going and when you'll be back.

Sources: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; U.S. Coast Guard (uscgboating.org and Boating Safety FAQ); National Weather Service.

Adjust the list

What changes by where you fish

Where What to add or check
Bank or pierOn foot License rules still apply; check what yours covers USFWS. Keep your phone and keys sealed on you, since you'll be setting gear down on wet ground.
Kayak or canoePaddle craft A wearable life jacket per person USCG. No throwable required USCG. Everything loose needs a leash or a sealed bag. See choosing a kayak life jacket.
PowerboatOver 16 feet Wearable life jackets for everyone, plus a throwable USCG; kids under 13 wear theirs while underway USCG. File a float plan USCG. See the boating essentials checklist for the rest of the boat gear.

Organized by SKÖ. Federal rules shown; your state may add its own. Untagged advice is SKÖ's.

Final check

Before you leave the driveway

  • License valid and with you
  • A life jacket that fits for every person
  • Forecast checked; float plan left with someone
  • Tackle box restocked, spare pliers packed
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses, water, food
  • Phone charged and sealed; keys and wallet sealed

Questions

Fishing trip FAQ

Do I need a fishing license for bank or shore fishing?

Often, yes, but it depends on your state. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service notes every state's rules differ, so check your state fish and wildlife agency for who needs a license, any exemptions, and whether freshwater and saltwater are covered separately.

What size life jacket do I need?

The Coast Guard sizes life jackets by weight: infant (up to 33 lb), child (33–55 lb), youth (55–88 lb) and adult (over 88 lb). Worn correctly, a foam life jacket fits snugly and doesn't ride up above your chin or ears. Try it on and adjust the straps before you leave the dock.

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