If a new twin outboard center console isn’t in the cards this year, or if the angler in your life isn’t being as cooperative with suggestions as you’d like, here are 10 gift suggestions from regional anglers that not only won’t bust your budget, but will also work. For more gifts for boaters, check out the PropTalk Gift Guide at proptalk.com/gifts-for-boaters.
Ready to Jig Kits: $49.99 Jim Bieler, owner of Marty’s Bait & Tackle, Edgewater, MD. This kit is guaranteed to help any angler looking to get into light tackle jigging (LTJ if you’re among the hip). Jim and his crew pack a Plano tackle box chock full of “40 of our best soft plastics in white, chartreuse, opening night, and chartreuse glitter (BKDs & Bust Em Baits); Three each of 3/4 and 1 oz. Candy Corn jig heads; One each of 2 oz. silver and gold Stingsilvers, and; one bottle of Spike It red garlic dip dye. Great for the beginner LTJ angler.”
Lipper Fish Grip Tool/Scale: $49.95 Bud Hein, owner of Fishbones Bait & Tackle, Pasadena, MD. Similar to more expensive fish-lipping tools, Lipper’s gripping scale effectively controls fish without harming them, making release much quicker and easier. The Lipper’s cock and lock mechanism and has a release button to instantly secure the jaws.
Calcutta’s Locking/Cutting Forceps: $12.50 Matt Abell, owner of Sea Hawk Sports Center, Pocomoke City, MD. When he’s not in his shop, you’ll often find Matt fishing Maryland’s lower Shore. So he knows the importance of tools that work and standup to the elements. He says these cutting/locking forceps do the job well, whether you’re dehooking the smallest speckled trout or cutting braided line. Made from stainless steel, the chrome-plated mirror polish finish offers superb corrosion resistance. The carbide cutters easily handle mono or braid, and the bright yellow handles make them easy to find on your console. Includes a sheath and lanyard.
Thermacell’s Scout Camp Lantern: $39.99 Chris Snook, owner of Chris’ Bait & Tackle, Cape Charles, VA. Hunters, fishermen, and campers may not agree on everything, but one thing is certain: no one likes mosquitoes, green-head and black flies, and other biting insects. So Chris suggests buying Thermacell’s Scout Camp Lantern, which on the highest of four settings keeps them back by creating a 15 by 15-foot bug-free comfort zone. The 220-lumen light runs for 10 hours on its highest setting. (Requires four AA-batteries; not included.)
Yeti’s Rambler Tumblers 36 oz.: $49.95 Staff at Ocean’s East, Virginia Beach, VA. The good folks at Ocean’s East know fishing, and they also know many of us cannot start a long day on the water without a strong cup of Joe. A Yeti Rambler Tumbler is perfect for that. And now Yeti offers that same legendary insulating power in a bottle. The 36-ounce Rambler Bottle is constructed from durable 18/8 stainless steel, BPA-free, and features a “no sweat” design that keeps condensation down. Whether in the duck blind or on the boat, your hot or cold beverages will stay that way for hours.
Dexter 8-Inch Fillet Knife with Sheath: $35.99 Staff at Princess Anne Distributing, Virginia Beach, VA. These folks have been selling top-quality fishing tackle and equipment since 1958. And Dexter knives are renowned for their quality, and this eight-inch fillet knife is no different. Made from proprietary high-carbon DEXSTEEL, individually ground and honed, the knife also has a slip-resistant, polypropylene handle to make short work of the day’s catch, so you reduce waste. An impervious blade-to-handle seal meets commercial use standards, affording years of depending use. Made in the USA.
Daiwa D-Wave Surf Rod/Reel Combo: $45 Staff at Lewes Harbour Marina Bait and Tackle, Lewes, DE. Looking to get into surf fishing but don’t want to break the bank? Try Daiwa’s D-Wave saltwater spinning combo. The nine-foot surf outfit is ideal for casting to stripers, bluefish, and other gamefish that cruise the Delmarva beaches. The D-Wave rod features full graphite blank construction for strength and sensitivity, along with aluminum oxide guides and stainless steel hooded reel seats to protect against saltwater corrosion. The D-Wave 3Bi spinning reels feature a tough graphite body as well as an ABS (Advanced Ballistic System) aluminum spool, and the Twist Buster II line roller and Gyro Spin rotor make for easy casts and smooth performance.
Quarrow 24 LED Submersible Fishing Light: $34.99 Joe Capp, manager of Shore Tackle and Custom Rods, Grasonville, MD. Joe suggests this lighting system for any fisherman who likes to chase gamefish at night. The Quarrow 24 is made up of four green LEDs that shine 150 lumens into the ocean or Bay, attracting microscopic plankton that bring in schools of baitfish to feed. And where there are baitfish, larger sport fish are soon to follow. It is impact-resistant and waterproof, needs only three AAA batteries (included) to operate for a full 24 hours, and only weighs in at just over a pound. The 15-foot cable and 16-foot, 110-pound drop-cord come standard.
Plano 3500 SoftSider: $24.99 Jamie Mann, owner of TackleCove.com. For panfish trips when you don’t want to lug around your full-size tackle bag or when your buddy tells you to pack light, a good solution is Plano’s SoftSider 3500 Tackle Bag. It’s about the size of a six-pack and includes two 3500 Series ProLatch StowAway boxes, four internal pockets, and four external pockets. The buckles are corrosion resistant, and there are no zippers, which makes accessing your gear painless. There’s a key-clip holder inside as well as an elastic band organizer to keep small tools secure and organized.
Release Ruler’s “Striped Bass Ruler”: $24.95 PropTalk’s fishing editor. Here’s another effective tool to help more tournaments anglers, and fishermen in general, better practice on-the-water conservation. The Release Ruler effectively measures the fish’s length and estimates an average fish’s weight. Hand-made and highly durable, the rulers feature brightly colored graphics that show up very well in both still photography and video, which is also ideal for accurately documenting your catch. Rulers are available for white and blue marlin, tunas, and sharks as well as other gamefish species including largemouth bass.
For more gifts for boaters, check out the PropTalk Gift Guide at proptalk.com/gifts-for-boaters.