Not going to lie, we are getting pretty excited for our Andros South season to start. It is no secret that we love saltwater fishing and are fortunate to have a lodge that offers some of the best Bonefishing in the world. As our guests get excited for their trip, the items they focus on packing are always fishing related such as their new fly rod or the flies they tied up to fool that fish of a lifetime. We agree that these items are obviously important, but here are 7 other items you want to make sure you have with you for any saltwater fishing trip.
- A Buff and Extra Sun Screen. Sun protection is no joke. You may think you are fine because you got through the trip with just a minor burn on the nose and a mean sunglass tan but most serious UV exposure related diseases from the sun take years (like up to 20 years!) to show up. Protection should start now!
- Raincoat. Kinda the opposite of point 1 but when you book your saltwater trip, you sure aren’t thinking about rainy weather. Unfortunately no one is going to tell Mother Nature how to act. Rain storms on the flats usually come and go pretty quick but having a light, packable rain jacket can make these storms that much less frustrating. A raincoat is also a great way to keep you dry for boat rides through rough water.
- Sun Glass Cleaner. Some sort of sun glass spray with at least 2 different microfiber cloths will help you continually get those clear lens so that you can spot fish. You still probably wont be able to see them as well as the guides but it will help! I definitely like having more than one microfiber cloth as they can get saturated with salt to the point where you are just smearing your lens instead of actually cleaning them.
- Waterproof Bag. This could be a hip pack, backpack, or boat bag, but something that is waterproof. You don’t even need to carry it with you when fishing, just something to leave on the boat with all your daily supplies. Don’t forget to spray down all zippers with some freshwater after your trip!
- Pliers. Fishing gear is obviously the first thing you will be packing. We rarely see guests forget their rods, reels, or flies, but often see them wishing they had some sort of pliers and/or nippers.
- Travelers Insurance. Whether a big storm comes up causing your flights to get canceled or the unthinkable happens, travelers insurance will cover your trip. We hate thinking about “worst case scenarios” but having travelers insurance is a good idea for any destination trip.
- Back Up Rods. Fly Rods break. We see it every year at all of our lodges. You will be able to warranty it when you get home but a backup rod is always prudent to bring along if you like fishing your own gear.
Honorable Mention: A second pair of footwear and a photo of your passport.
Or if you are fishing with us at Andros South, we will have extra of everything (minus the passport photos and travelers insurance) so you can feel free to pack nice and light!
More on Traveling:
Question, When traveling do you pack your pliers or can you put them in your carry on?