What Should You Bring to the Beach?
When I go to the beach, I usually plan on being there for at least two days. Yes, I sleep on the beach. No, I don't stay in a hotel. I normally sleep in the front seat of Jeep and it is SUPER comfortable. I wake up feeling energized and ready to get to work and my baits out soaking. Some places where I fish are hours away from the closest store (and restroom) so I need to plan accordingly. I never leave my packing and planning up to my memory. My kids will tell you that I use lists because I am old and I am a Virgo. I think it is because I don't want to get six hours away from home (3hrs from a store) and realize I forgot to bring bottled water or even worse toilet paper. Here is the list that I use to pack for my fishing weekends. I don't always bring everything on the list.
- Fishing Log - This is a 3-ring binder. I keep a log of sharks I catch in here. I also have Shark ID pamphlets and other miscellaneous paperwork
- Pencils - To write in the binder
- Money - This is to remind me to bring cash for bait shops that don’t accept credit cards
- Fishing License
- Check Tide Chart
- Check Weather
- Baby Powder - This magically takes off all sand. Put it all over your body before you go to bed and you'll sleep great
- Peroxide - If you get tail slapped by a shark, step on a hardhead, get stung by a jelly fish, etc.
- Hygiene Kit
- Baby Wipes
- Tums - heartburn will ruin a day of fishing
- Asprin - A headache will ruin a day of fishing
- Energy Drink
- Immodium AD - You may not need it but you will be glad you have it when you do
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- Sun glasses
- First Aid Kit
- Tent stakes
- Toilet paper
- Portable toilet
- Poop Tent - I think the real name for this is Utility Tent but it's a small tent to poop in.
- Chairs
- Torch - Used to light fires. You can delete this if you bring Match-light charcoal or lighter fluid
- Firewood
- Grille & Cooking Utensils
- Trash Bags
- Lantern w/extra mantles
- Propane
- Lighters
- Food
- Forks and Spoons
- Water & Drinks
- Ice
- Coolers
- Shovel
- Flashlights & Headlamps
- Extra Batteries
- Extra Clothes
- Waders and Boots
- Hats
- Blanket and Pillow
- Rags
- Tool Kit
- Koozie
- Bait
- Fishing Rods
- Rod Holders
- Extra Fishing Line - Hopefully needed if you get spooled
- Fishing Weights
- Fishing Leaders
- Zip Ties - Used for everything including securing hook properly to bait, attaching glow sticks to rods, etc, etc
- Glow Sticks - Attached to rod tips at night
- Tackle Boxes
- Wire Cutters
- Needle nose pliers
- Bait Knife
- Fillet Knife
- Electrical Tape - used to wrap rods when the eyelits break
- Shark Bag - Inside bag - Utility Knife, tape measure, tail rope, tag stick, shark tags, fin clip vials, game scissors, hook removal pliers
- Hammer - To bang in rod holders
- Cast net
- Yard Stick - required for Texas Shark Rodeo pictures
- Kayak, Kayak seat, kayak paddle
- Fighting belt
- 5 gallon bucket
- 4-way lug nut wrench
- Portable air compressor
- Fish Scale - to see if that monster you just caught compares to state record
- Pencils - To write in the binder
- Money - This is to remind me to bring cash for bait shops that don’t accept credit cards
- Fishing License
- Check Tide Chart
- Check Weather
- Baby Powder - This magically takes off all sand. Put it all over your body before you go to bed and you'll sleep great
- Peroxide - If you get tail slapped by a shark, step on a hardhead, get stung by a jelly fish, etc.
- Hygiene Kit
- Baby Wipes
- Tums - heartburn will ruin a day of fishing
- Asprin - A headache will ruin a day of fishing
- Energy Drink
- Immodium AD - You may not need it but you will be glad you have it when you do
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- Sun glasses
- First Aid Kit
- Tent stakes
- Toilet paper
- Portable toilet
- Poop Tent - I think the real name for this is Utility Tent but it's a small tent to poop in.
- Chairs
- Torch - Used to light fires. You can delete this if you bring Match-light charcoal or lighter fluid
- Firewood
- Grille & Cooking Utensils
- Trash Bags
- Lantern w/extra mantles
- Propane
- Lighters
- Food
- Forks and Spoons
- Water & Drinks
- Ice
- Coolers
- Shovel
- Flashlights & Headlamps
- Extra Batteries
- Extra Clothes
- Waders and Boots
- Hats
- Blanket and Pillow
- Rags
- Tool Kit
- Koozie
- Bait
- Fishing Rods
- Rod Holders
- Extra Fishing Line - Hopefully needed if you get spooled
- Fishing Weights
- Fishing Leaders
- Zip Ties - Used for everything including securing hook properly to bait, attaching glow sticks to rods, etc, etc
- Glow Sticks - Attached to rod tips at night
- Tackle Boxes
- Wire Cutters
- Needle nose pliers
- Bait Knife
- Fillet Knife
- Electrical Tape - used to wrap rods when the eyelits break
- Shark Bag - Inside bag - Utility Knife, tape measure, tail rope, tag stick, shark tags, fin clip vials, game scissors, hook removal pliers
- Hammer - To bang in rod holders
- Cast net
- Yard Stick - required for Texas Shark Rodeo pictures
- Kayak, Kayak seat, kayak paddle
- Fighting belt
- 5 gallon bucket
- 4-way lug nut wrench
- Portable air compressor
- Fish Scale - to see if that monster you just caught compares to state record