Gear Check: Shore Fishing Equipment You Need For Success
- By: Pat Ogletree
- on November 8, 2023
For instant success, here’s the shore fishing equipment you NEED!
Don’t have a boat? Don’t sweat it!
You can catch the fish of a lifetime right from the bank, beach, or side of the road.
Take a closer look at what you need to get started below!!
Shore Fishing Equipment [VIDEO]
Not a member? Then click here to join the Insider Club today so you can get access to Smart Fishing Spots, discounts on the tackle shown below, and much more.
1. Rods, Reels, & Line
The rods you need to successfully fish from shore are no different than if you were kayak or boat fishing.
The species of fish you target is the same so the equipment remains the same.
A 7-foot to 7-foot 6-inch Medium-Power Fast-Action fishing rod is the perfect fit for inshore saltwater fishing.
That paired with a 2500-3000 size reel is the best outfit for inshore fishing.
When it comes to line, go with 10-15lb braided line tipped with a 20-30lb leader.
You might have to bump that leader material up if you’re fishing tight to structure which will be the case more often than not when fishing from shore.
You want casting distance when fishing from shore so these specs will fit most inshore scenarios.
2. Sling Bag or Tackle Bag
When fishing from shore, you want to be as mobile as possible to cover ground.
Make use of a sling bag or tackle bag that can go over your shoulder or around your waist.
This is the best way to keep your gear easily accessible and out of the water.
You can use a backpack but it could get wet if you’re wading.
Another option is using the bag lures come in.
Throw some hooks in there and keep that in your pocket.
The key is to be as minimalist as possible and take exactly what you need and nothing more.
3. Soft Plastics
Always bring your confidence baits along with several different color and size options.
Use your confidence bait to find the fish and make changes depending on what gets the most action.
Also, you’ll want to bring additional rigging hooks and hard-body lures.
A small tackle box like the Plano 3400 will secure these items in the sling bag.
4. Leader Material
You must have spare leader material with you.
The last thing you want is to get cut off or damage your leader and have nothing to replace it with.
This is often overlooked and can quickly cut your trip short.
5. Pliers & Fish Handling Grips
Pliers are a very smart item to have with you.
They will help you get hooks out of fish and cut line when needed.
A dehooker will also do the job here when removing hooks from fish’s mouths.
Also, when it comes to handling fish, Fish Grips are very useful.
You can safely control the fish to remove the hook for release.
6. Scissors
Scissors are an absolute must wherever you are fishing.
When you need to cut line to retie these come in handy.
For live bait fishing, you’ll want to also have a bait knife or even a pair of bait shears.
Additional Shore Fishing Equipment
A useful but not required item is a good landing net.
If you’re fishing from an elevated position like a dock or a pier, you’ll want to have a net handy.
Something else to have in mind is if you’re keeping fish, the gear you need to do so.
Have either a stringer, bucket or cooler ready to go to harvest that fish.
FINDING THE FISH HELP
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. WEEKEND GAME PLANS (UPDATED WEEKLY)
These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.
2. SMART FISHING SPOTS PLATFORM (UPDATED EVERY 15 MINUTES)
This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.
3. COMMUNITY REPORTS (LIVE FEED)
The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Great video Pat, I fish boat, ocean, docks and beach. Always looking for something I left in the other bag. Ran into this issue the other while releasing a fish, it slipped from my hand and landed on a dock box. While putting it back the fin spikes got my fingers at the cuticle. Infection is always a concern so I forced the blood and sanitized as soon as I could. I would suggest to carry an alcohol based sanitizer.
I agree with Wayne on the reading glasses and a pair or polarized sun glasses helps. For those of us in Louisiana, the first thing we do is apply bug repellent before we leave our vehicle. Thanks for the Land-based fishing tips Pat.
That bug spray is good one! Thanks for sharing!
Great video!! I always take way too much with me. But at 60 yrs old one thing I always take is a dollar store pair of reading glasses in case I need to re-tie or change lures lol
I’m at that point too!! I need to come of my wallet and get some prescription sun glasses made so I can see!
Save your money ! Get some polarized flip-ups. High quality ones only cost $15 to $30. They are scratch proof and work great. The good ones eliminate glare and stay put when clipped on. And you won’t be buying another pair when your prescription changes in a couple of years.
Good job! Got to remember to bump up leader.
I learned that the hard way! Thanks for watching William!
Great video, Pat. Since I have to justify all my time and expenses for my fishing addiction, is there anything out there to SAFELY carry a cell phone, especially wade fishing. I have to prove to my friends and family with pictures (especially my wife) that I actually DO catch fish on occasions.
Most phones are waterproof now a days so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. You can put it in a floating pouch in case you drop it. A company called Phoozy makes some nice ones. We have a group discount code for them if you’re interested.
I would add a couple bucktails, 1/4 and 1/2 ounce, maybe a 3/4 oz depending on area and current. Maybe a couple spoons, or a spoon and a Kastmaster. Kastmaster is great when it’s windy.
Bucktails and spoons are time tested for sure!
Let’s go Pat!!! I love it brother! I think often times land based fisherman get overlooked. I feel this is a nice change of pace that should help out a lot of anglers! Great work man!
Thanks Matt!!
Any chance of telling us the brand and model of your sling bag? It looked nice with the 3 different compartments. Thank you, A. J. Friedman
It is a Magellan bag from Academy Sports. I believe they call it their wading sling bag.