I take a lot of pride in trip preparation. To get the best experience from a trip, one really needs to go in-depth with planning and preparation to avoid leaving any crucial items behind. I can’t remember how many anglers in my guiding days brought along broken rods they forget to fix in the first place. Trips are expensive, so packing right is the least you could do.
Saltwater Fishing Trip Essentials
1. Sunglasses
This is by far one of the most important in my opinion. Without a solid pair of sunglasses, the glare will put a lot of strain on your eyes. Saltwater fishing covers a wide variety of different scenarios; from the flats to deep-sea to even fishing from the beach, no matter the situation I can’t picture myself getting it done without a quality pair of sunglasses. On any trip I go on, I will take three pairs of Sunglasses. The first I pack is a low-light pair and then the other two pairs are suited for the destination and incase another angler forgets or loses a pair. Not only does it offer protection from the sun, but more importantly to see flies easier. Often associated with Saltwater you will have wind, this combination makes it a very high possibility to get a fly in the eye, which will be an instant conclusion to your trip…
2. Boots
The majority of my saltwater fishing is done on foot while wading flats. There are countless risks involved in doing this unless you have the right boots. There are many reasons to wear boots, but for me, it’s pretty simple… It protects my ankles from the unstable surface and the potential of twisting an ankle. If paired with good gravel guards, it keeps your feet free from sand and fine coral. The right boots will offer you quite a bit more grip when walking over reefs and boulders etc. As with anything, technology is so advanced that now they are made super light so they should not take up unnecessary weight when traveling.
3. Waterproof Backpack
Keeping moisture out when fishing the salt can definitely be a struggle when wading the flats. I put a lot of trust in my Yeti Panga backpack by always loading it with some expensive camera gear and items that I use frequently. When out on the flats, I’ve had to use it as floatation too. This is something worth spending some money on because, in the long run, this backpack will become one of your most valuable items when traveling to remote areas. I also use this as my carry-on with laptops, etc.
Grab your submersible backpack, here!
4. Rain Jacket
With either warm or cold conditions it doesn’t matter, I never go anywhere without a rain jacket in my backpack. I have countless memories of days when the weather forecast didn’t predict the weather we had. Again, most of my saltwater fishing is done in tropical climates, so having a lightweight waterproof outer layer becomes one of those items I don’t travel without. Not only is it waterproof, but it can also act as a wind stopper. I have used the same lightweight rain jacket in colder climate areas while just adding a couple of layers underneath.
5. Pliers
The Ocean is full of a wide variety of species and a lot of them often have some nasty teeth. To avoid getting a serious wound that could potentially end a trip a good set of pliers has many different functions. I personally love carrying the Gerber plier/multi-tool which has saved me a serious dentist bill by not having to chew through 40lb + leader material. The multi-tool has also helped me a bunch in fixing engines in remote places. I always like to try and remind myself of where I am, often it’s 20+ hours from the closest hospital. It is therefore that a multi-tool has become one of my first items to go in my backpack because, in any potential survival situation, it’s going to potentially save a life.
Check out this bulletproof option from Gerber Knives!
6. First Aid Kit
It’s the reality that you are faced with many dangerous scenarios that could potentially get bad really fast. At the end of the day, the goal is not to save a life with my first aid kit, but to be able to give someone a really good fighting chance. Another special item that has come in super handy in my guiding career is having Salt & Pepper or Soy Sauce Sachets in my kit. It’s an absolute game-changer that does not weigh anything really but it can turn a plain fish into something you look forward to eating. I would have to also mention as part of my first aid kit I like to carry a charged satellite phone wherever I go. It’s simply just making use of technology to keep the people close to me at ease when I do off-the-grid trips. A simple phone call can change everything.
Check out this Water Proof First Aid Kit!
7. Camera Gear
One of the most difficult things for me to do is try and tell people about certain trips that I have done without any images. It’s a pretty damn cool lifestyle I get to live, and the least I could do is take pictures to share my experiences with the less fortunate who only dream about these places. Yes, my backpack often weighs over 30 lbs, but it’s worth every back spasm and rusted lens. Good-quality pictures will capture a moment for a really long time. Nowadays, some smartphones are almost capable to replace a camera to some extent, but it is still very different having a variety of lenses, drones, etc.…
I could easily keep going as far as important items I do not travel without. The above seven will go in the bag first, the rest is secondary.
There you have it the “Top 7 Things You Need on Saltwater Trip.†To follow along with Christiaan, you can find him on Instagram or shoot him an email at christiaanflyfisher@gmail.com.Â
This piece is presented by Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods. In this article, Christiaan Pretorius, narrows down 7 essentials for every saltwater fly fishing trip other than the normal fishing gear.
https://theflylords.com/2019/02/04/f3t-behind-the-lens-glorious-bastards/
https://theflylords.com/2018/12/19/top-5-species-to-target-in-the-seychelles/
https://theflylords.com/2018/07/05/10-tips-for-catching-golden-dorado/
