MARCO SPORTFISHING CLUB

      
 
 

WHAT'S IN YOUR TACKLE BOX?

Some of the club's top anglers have created the lists below to help you get started filling your tackle box.  There's one list for Backwater and another for Gulf fishing.  Scroll down to view the lists.  See below for printer friendly lists that you can take with you to the store.
(be sure to bring a suitcase full of money!)
Printer friendly lists:  Backwater List  Gulf List
Last updated on Sunday, May 30, 2010

 Backwater Tackle & Equipment

RODS:  6',6'1/2' or 7' medium action for casting ผ oz thru 5/8 oz baits or lures.

REELS: 2500 thru 4000 spinning reels recommended.

LINE:    Braid – 10# thru 30# Power Pro,Suffix,or other quality braid.Color optional.

             Monofiliment- 14# thru 20# original clear Stren or equivalent.

LEADER:

               Florocarbon- 20# thru 40# for Redfish,Snook,Trout etc.

               Wire - # 3 thru # 6 single strand for Spanish & King Mackeral,Sharks & Baracuda.

HOOKS:

               Type-Live Bait,O,Shanghuessy,Octopus,& Circle.

                Size-1/0 thru 4/0 – Redfish,Snook,Trout,etc.

                         6/0 thru 11/0 Tarpon & Shark.

PLUGS & BAITS:

                Jigs – Naked,Bucktail,& Mylar.

                Color – White,Red,Yellow,Chartrese,& Root Beer.

                 Size - ผ oz thru ฝ oz.

                Soft Plastics – DOA,CAL,Gulp,Zoom,& Power Bait.

                 Color – same as jigs.

                  Size – 3” to 4” for jigs.

                              7” thru 10” for rigging weedless.

MID DEPTH BAITS {2' to 5'}:

                 Spoons - ผ oz to ฝ oz.

                   Type – Clarkspoon,Johnson Sprite,Krocidile.

                    Color – Gold,Copper,orSilver.

                    Crankbaits – Bill Lewis – Rattletrap 1/2oz. Bill Norman Little-N ,
                     Bandit C-200 series

                     Rebel – Wee-R , Rebel – 5 1/2” Minnow , Mirrolure – 52 M 12 & 52 M 18.

TOP WATER:

                   RAPALA: Skitter Walk & Skitter Pop.

                    HEDDON: Zara Spook , Pop'n Image , & Lucky 13.

                    REBEL: Pop R , & Jumpin Minnow.

                     STORM: Rattlin Clug Bug.

STAPLES:

                   Marker Floats,Landing Net,Small Gaff w/wrist strap,Dehooker,Long Nose Pliers,

                   Clippers,Cooler,Fillet Knife,Bait Knife,Hook and Knife Sharpener,Depth Finder,

                    G.P.S.,V.H.F. Radio,Bait Bucket w/aerator,or Boat Live Well,8' to 10' Cast Net,

                   Sabiki Rigs,Sun Glasses,Camera,Fisherman's Gloves,and a Boga Grip.

SURVIVAL:

                    Bug Spray,Suntan Lotion,Plenty of Water,[ PLENTY OF BEER ],Large Brim Hat,

                    Complete First Aid Kit including Aspirin,Life Jackets,Flares,Distress Flag,Whistle,

                    Flash Light,Waterproof Matches,Signal Mirror or C.D.Disc Reflector,and EPIRP.

 

 

Gulf Tackle Box

Leaders

            20# Fluorocarbon

            40# Fluorocarbon

            #2 Wire - coffee colored 27lb test

            #5 Wire – coffee colored 44lb test

Swivels

            #1 - Black 150lb test

            2/0 - Black 225lb test

Sinkers

            Split Shot – size 2

            1 oz. Bass Casting sinkers

            Egg Sinkers, sizes ฝ, 1, 2, 4 and 6 oz

            Large Beads (8mm)

            3” Styrofoam floats or balloons

Hooks

            #6 Snelled Hooks – for pinfish, sand perch

            4 hook Sabiki Rigs – size 8

            Inline Circle Hooks, sizes #2, 1/0, 3/0, 5/0, 7/0

            Live Bait Hooks, sizes #2, 1/0, 3/0, 5/0, 7/0

            Kingfish Rig (store bought w/ wire and 2 treble hooks)

            Shark Rig (homemade 9/0 live bait hook on 135# - 8’ braided wire, double crimp)

Jigs

            Undressed พ and 1 oz jig heads - both red and white

            Gulp 4” swimming mullet – both root beer and white

Lures

            Bucktails พ oz, 1 oz, 1 ฝ oz mostly white

            1 oz gold casting jig w/ treble (Spanish Macks)

            3” Spoon – gold or silver

            5” swimming plug – Rapala, Yozuri etc

Gear

            Fishing Pliers

            Wire Cutters – strong enough to cut hooks

            Bait Knife

            Ruler or Lawstick

            Current Fishing Regulations

            Reel Lube and Tools

            Venting tool and Dehooking device (per FWC requirements)

Rods and Reels

 Spinning – 6 ฝ to 7 ft medium action w/ matched reel 20lb test mono line.

Conventional – 6 ฝ to 7 ft Medium action 15-30 lb test class, 30lb test mono line

                        Reels – Ambassaduer 7000, Shimano TLD 15, Penn Squidder etc.

Conventional – 7 ft Medium/Heavy action 15-40 lb test class, 40lb test mono line

                        Reels – Penn 320, Shimano TLD 20 or similar

Boat Fishing Gear

Marker Bouys

Cutting Board

Bait Knife

Bait Scissors

Live Well Dip Net

Needle Nose Pliers

Wire Cutters – strong enough to cut hooks (7”)

Fish Rag or Glove

Venting Tool (FWC Approved)

Hook Remover (FWC Approved)

Landing Net

Gaff

5 Gallon Bucket

Small Bait Bucket

Chum Cage w/ 5lb weight and 30 ft line – extra 50 ft line

Mesh Chum Bag

Filleting Knife

 

Optional Heavier Fishing Gear

Fighting Belt

Billy Club (AKA Priest, Italian Diplomat)

Tail Rope or Fish Tailer (AFTCO)

#12 Harpoon with 100’ Line and Barrel floats (ORCA)

A Bigger Boat

 

See Coast Guard Regulations for Required Vessel Safety Gear

Coast Guard or Power Squadron Vessel Safety Checks are Highly Recommended

When you are a guest on someone else’s boat, or even as supplemental gear on your own boat, a handheld VHF radio, handheld GPS and a small first aid kit can save the day in an emergency.