As well as the obvious equipment such as rods, reels and terminal tackle there is a seemingly infinite list of other things which anglers need to take with them when they go fishing. This includes boxes and bags to carry fishing equipment, compartment boxes to store hooks, swivels and other items of terminal tackle and a wide range of other fishing accessories. Read on to find out more about the equipment which is available to UK anglers, and click on the links to be taken to Amazon or Sea Angling Shop where many of the items are available (links open in a new window).
Sea Fishing Tackle Boxes: Fishing seat boxes are a popular way of transporting fishing equipment as they offer a decent amount of space and of course double up as a seat. They come in a variety of sizes and have a strap which allows them to be carried over the shoulder, although the smaller boxes come with conversions that allow them to be worn on the back like a backpack – very useful when walking to distant fishing marks. Despite being made out of plastic the boxes from the big manufacturers are sturdy and well made. Most boxes also come with trays which can be clipped to the sides of the box to keep bait in during a fishing session. Amazon offers a wide range of sea fishing tackle boxes from manufacturers such as the classic Shakespeare seat box comes with a wide range of features can be viewed here, while Tronix Pros popular seat box can be viewed and purchased on Amazon here.
Backpacks and Bags: Many anglers who are fishing light and moving from venue to venue do not bother with a big and heavy fishing box and instead use a backpack to store the gear they need. LRF (Light Rock Fishing) is one type of fishing where mobility is key and a backpack is essential. There is no need to buy one specifically designed for fishing as most backpacks designed for outdoor activities will suit anglers. Backpacks by manufacturers such as Deuter and Berghaus are very good for anglers due to the additional pockets they feature and the harder wearing material they are made out of (but they are expensive). However, backpacks made for outdoor use by other manufacturers are a lot more affordable and there is a wide range of them sold online, such as these which are available on Amazon by clicking here.
Other Boxes and Containers: Terminal tackle itself is best kept in the small compartment boxes which have a number of different sections and are available from tackle shops, online fishing tackle retailers and hardware stores. Lidded boxes designed specifically for fishing tackle (such as the one pictured to the right) are ideal for taking small quantities of hooks, crimps, beads and other items of terminal tackle on a fishing session. Strong lidded plastic Tupperware type boxes are ideal for storing things like spools of line and weights in, as well as bait, although containers specifically designed to store bait in are also available. View the full range of storage boxes and containers at Sea Angling Shop by clicking here.
Shelters: Beach fishing shelters are essentially small, open-sided tents, designed to protect anglers from wind and rain during a fishing session. All shelters are waterproof and use pegs to secure the shelter to the ground. More expensive models have a ground sheet and an additional section that can be added to create a closable door. Some also come with a carry case. Ideal for fishing in very bad conditions or cold weather, but the right ground type is needed to set the shelter up. Shelters designed specifically for fishing can retail for up to £100, but there are often cheaper alternatives available. A range of beach shelters can be viewed on Amazon by clicking here.
Gaffs and Landing Nets: Both gaffs and landing nets are used to help anglers successfully get fish out of the water and onto land. Landing nets are especially useful when decent-sized fish need to be supported when being pulled up onto a rock mark or other elevated position. Gaffs are essentially large hooks attached to the end of a stick and are used to spike in the gills of fish and pull them up. They are rarely used in shore fishing as fish caught with them will be injured and therefore cannot be returned to the sea, and fish which accidentally fall off the gaff will swim away seriously injured. Landing nets are large open nets on the end of a pole which are used to scoop fish up and again lift them into a boat or high fishing position. These are a much better choice for shore anglers as they do not damage the fish in the way gaffs do. While landing nets are popular in freshwater fishing they are not widely used in sea fishing, although they do appear to be slowly becoming more popular. View telescopic landing nets on Amazon by clicking here.
Drop Nets: Drop nets are much overlooked in sea fishing. They are used to support the weight of a fish when it is being reeled up from the sea up to an elevated fishing position such as a pier, jetty, breakwater or rock mark. Many anglers fishing from a raised mark make no allowance for the fact that a fishing rod cannot be used like a crane and a drop net is needed to land even modestly sized fish. Drop nets are not expensive and are an excellent investment for all anglers fishing from raised or elevated positions. Anglers should be careful to buy larger drop nets as many smaller drop nets are designed to catch prawns and crabs and will not be suitable to land fish. See drop nets on sale at Amazon and can be viewed clicking this link.
Scales: Whether fish are being retained to eat or returned to the sea all anglers want to know how much their catch weighs and find out if they have beat their personal best catches for particular species. Small pocket scales are ideal for this purpose and a wide variety are available on the market today. While some anglers prefer electronic or digital scales the traditional analogue scales are still very popular with anglers due to their durability and robustness. Simple pocket balances which can be used for sea fishing are available from Amazon by clicking here.