Gift Guide 2023

Looking for the perfect gift for the angler in your life? Check out these suggestions from the editors of Anglers Journal.

Anglers Journal Subscription

It can be tough to choose a tackle bag or lure for an angler. You never know if they already have it or if they will fish with it. So why not get the angler in your life a subscription to Anglers Journal magazine. Packed with award-winning stories and the best photography in the fishing space, Anglers Journal is always a hit. $25 / AnglersJournal.com.  

Boat Outfitters Custom Tackle Box

Keeping your gear organized is key to successful fishing. When the bite turns on you don’t want to get stuck rummaging for the perfect lure. Boat Outfitters makes all types of tackle boxes for your boat. If you want a special organizer for your console or leaning post, Boat Outfitters is the place to go. They specialize in storage solutions that include tackle trays, leader spool holders, drawers, and knife or plier holders. If there’s a spot on your boat that you’d like to use for a custom tackle center, take measurements and reach out to Boat Outfitters and they will help you create a customized tackle center. Prices vary / boatoutfitters.com.

Costa Sunglasses

Every angler needs a good pair of sunglasses to help him or her see fish and protect their peepers. Costa offers a wide selection of frames and lenses for anglers of all types so you can take the easy road and just pick up a gift card as a gift, or choose the latest style such as the Tailfin. This modernized Costa design is built for all watermen who require a clear view of their surroundings. The Tailfin has a refined look with chiseled edges and features that help you stay comfortable and sweat-free. They also come in two sizes to fit any head. $160 / costadelmar.com.

Danco Pliers

The price of fishing pliers ranges wildly depending on the type of material used. You can easily drop $400 on a pair of pliers made out of materials that came from the aerospace industry, and sure, we’d love to own those. But you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a decent pair of pliers. If you want an affordable gift for an angler, check out the Captains for Clean Water pliers from Danco. These pliers have a rubber finish over aluminum that was anodized for corrosion resistance. The stainless steel inserts help the pliers have better jaw strength, and the tungsten-carbide line cutters on the side of the pliers are replacable. Each pair comes with a wwiveling rubber sheath. The best part is, Danco donates 15% of proceeds from these pliers to Captains for Clean Water. $40 / dancopliers.com.

Dexter Fillet knife

Fillet knives are another tool that every angler needs, yet they are all over the place pricewise. You can easily spend a lot of money on a high-end blade and there’s nothing wrong with that. But the less expensive blades from a venerable company such as Dexter will hold up for the long time and if you end up losing it or busting it, it’s not the end of the world. The Dexter SG136FF 6-inch wide fillet knife has been popular for years. It’s sharp out of the package and can breakdown all types of fish. The SOFGRIP handle is easy to grip and control so you don’t slice a finger and the blade is made with Dextor’s high-carbon, high-alloy, stain free DEXSTEEL. This knife is NSF certified and is made in the US. The knife comes with an Edge Guard blade protector, which protects the edge when stored. $45 / dexteroutdoors.com.

Edson Power Knob

The classic Edson Stainless PowerKnob will make the steering wheel of any boat easier to turn and look better. Made of polished stainless, this accessory doesn’t just look good, it helps you make quick wheel adjustments with one hand. You can attach the PowerKnob to any wheel rim for a sharp, functional upgrade. $148 / edsonmarine.com.

Fenwick World Class Rod

Fenwick drew upon its 70-year history to create the World Class Series. These new rods are the most sensitive and lightest Fenwick rods ever made. We’ve been fishing the 7-foot inshore spinning reel for a few months and it’s truly amazing how sensitive they are. You can feel every single bump and bite. And because of their light graphite construction, you can cast them all day with little to no fatigue. Other notable features include the contoured rod butt, super light, titanium guide frames with zirconia inserts, and a new Fenwick-designed reel seat that cuts out unneeded material and feels incredibly comfortable in your hand. Fenwick offers the World Class in spinning and baitcasting rodss. Been fishing the medium-heavy 7-foot inshore spinning rod and love it. $475 / fenwickfishing.com.

Pelagic Pursuit Boot

No one likes to fish in wet, soggy feet. It’s dangerous and unfortable. The 6-inch Pursuit Boot will keep your feet dry when fishing on deck and keep you from slipping or wiping out on a wet or bloody deck. With its nonslip sole and reinforced toe these boots will help you fish harder in any conditions. The boots are offered in a range of colors and patterns. $99 / pelagicgear.com.

Salt Life Long Sleeve Shirt

You can never have too many fishing shirts. Well, your significant other may disagree, but a nice shirt is always appreciated at the holidays. Salt Life offers a massive line of apparel. The company makes a lot more than stickers and has been a big supporter of Anglers Journal for years. If you have never worn their gear, you’re missing out. The Tuna Helm Long sleeve tee is a great addition to any anglers wardrobe. Made with a super-soft material, these shirts are incredibly comfortable. The long sleeves are great to protect you from the sun or to layer under a hoodie or jacket on colder days. Wear it on the boat or cruising around town. $38 / saltlife.com.

Simms Fishing Gloves

An anglers hands are the most important tool on any fishing trip. From tying knots to running boats to casting and jigging, you really need your hands. Cold hands and sunburned hands, simply don’t work as well as healthy hands. Simms offers all sorts of fishing gloves to keep your digits protected and comfortable so you can fish longer and harder. SolarFlex are light yet keep your hands from getting torched by the sun or burnt by a fly line in tropical areas. Gore-Tex gloves keep you warm when pulling fish through the ice. Simms even makes an insulated hand muff to warm up on really chilly days. $35-$130 / simmsfishing.com.

Shimano Saragosa SW Spinning Reel

It wouldn’t be an anglers gift guide without a fishing reel. Choosing just one reel, however, is not easy. The amount of quality reels on the market is staggering, as is the various price points. We wanted to suggest a spinning reel for big fish that fit somewhere in the middle between entry-level reels and the over-engineered $1,000 marvels. The Shimano Saragosa SW Spinning Reel is a solid choice as it has all the power and smoothness of more-expensive reels and is built to stand up to saltwater. This reel is meant to take on big fish. The X-Tough Cross Carbon Drag runs smooth and doesn’t hang up when fighting tuna, sailfish or even marlin. It’s available in sizes from 5000 to 25000. $270-$410 / fish.shimano.com.

Yeti Cocktail Shaker

You can’t go wrong with a tumbler or cooler from Yeti, but why not turn it up a notch and get your special someone a Yeti Cocktail Shaker. This 20-ounce shaker is great for creating drinks by the fire or sipping a long nightcap. The easy-press lid fits into the tumbler and the twist on cap keeps the good stuff in the cup. $60 / yeti.com.

Z-Man Mulletron LT

Life ain’t easy for a mullet. Everything wants to eat you and the Mulletron LT from Z-Man is crazy lifelike the way it tail kicks and dances in the water. This bait also helps you stay connected because of a concealed line-through harness inside the swimbait. When you’re fighting a fish, the lure will slide up the line, out of the way, instead of swinging in the fish’s mouth where it often wrenches its way free. Available in 4.5 or 6 inches, the Mulletron LT is an ideal bait for redfish, seatrout, striped bass, snook, tarpon and even tuna. It was voted best saltwater soft lure at ICAST, an annual fishing tackle trade show. $10-$13 / zmanfishing.com.