Knowing what to pack for a long range fishing trip can make the difference between a great trip and a miserable one. Once the boat is 100 miles offshore, there’s no running back to the tackle shop or the hotel for something you forgot. The best advice from Florida’s long range captains is simple: pack like you’re going on a weekend camping trip, then add your fishing gear. This checklist covers everything you need for an overnight or multi-day trip, plus the rules that boats like Hubbard’s Marina, Yankee Capts, American Patriot and American Hunter set for their passengers.
Quick Long Range Packing Checklist
- Sleeping: sleeping bag or blanket, pillow and a sheet
- Clothing: one change per day plus extras, pants and a warm layer for night, rain gear
- Footwear: short rubber fishing boots plus a pair of sneakers
- Toiletries: towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower sandals and medications
- Sun protection: waterproof sunscreen, a wide-brim hat and polarized sunglasses with a strap
- Health: seasickness remedy, cold medicine and a small first-aid kit
- Fishing tools: dehooker, venting tool, pliers, bait shears, line cutters and gloves
- Tackle: rods, reels and terminal tackle, or a rental package
- Coolers: a small bait cooler, a food and drink cooler if allowed, and a large catch cooler for the ride home
- Extras: duffel bag, phone charger, books or cards, and cash for the galley and the jackpot
Sleeping Gear
Long range boats give you a bunk, but most don’t supply bedding. Bring a sleeping bag or blanket and a pillow. Hubbard’s also suggests a sheet. Don’t underestimate the cold: American Patriot and American Hunter keep their air-conditioned bunk rooms at about 68 degrees, so a warm blanket and a pair of pants for sleeping will help you rest between fishing sessions.
Clothing
Plan on at least one full change of clothes per day, plus a spare set in case something gets soaked. Hubbard’s recommends three to four changes for its overnight trips, and the Marco Island boats suggest a change of shorts and one or two shirts per day. Pack:
- Shorts and quick-dry shirts, with long sleeves if you burn easily
- Pants and a sweatshirt or jacket for cool nights on deck
- A light rain suit or foul-weather gear
- Plenty of socks and underwear
- A soft duffel bag that stores easily under a bunk, with room for dirty laundry
Footwear
Decks get wet, bloody and slimy when the fish are biting, so good footwear matters. Short rubber fishing boots are the top choice on every boat. Hubbard’s requires closed-toe shoes and doesn’t allow sandals or flip-flops while fishing. Bring a pair of sneakers too, for the long run out and the drive home. If you plan to fish in sneakers, bring more than one pair so you always have a dry one.
Toiletries and Medications
Many long range boats have a shower on board, including Hubbard’s overnight boats. Bring a towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste and a pair of shower sandals. Pack a full supply of any prescription medications, a seasickness remedy (ask your doctor or pharmacist which one suits you, and start it before you leave the dock), cold medicine and a small first-aid kit.
Food, Drinks and Coolers
This is where boats differ the most, so check your boat’s policy before you shop.
- Hubbard’s Marina sells food and drinks in the galley and offers a meal package, so bring cash or a card. Coolers can be no larger than 48 quarts.
- Yankee Capts does not sell food, so you bring all your own meals and drinks. The boat suggests one 60 to 80-quart cooler for food and drinks and a second one for your catch.
- American Patriot and American Hunter serve three chef-prepared meals a day, plus snacks and drinks in the lounge. Personal coolers are limited to two small ones per person.
Whatever the boat, leave a large, empty cooler in your car for the drive home. On a good trip, you’ll need it for your fillets.
Alcohol Rules
Alcohol rules vary from boat to boat:
- Hubbard’s Marina: some boats allow beer or wine (no liquor, no glass), and others don’t allow outside alcohol at all.
- Yankee Capts: no hard liquor and no bottles. Each angler may bring up to three cans of beer per day, which can’t be opened until the boat is three miles offshore.
- American Patriot and American Hunter: adult beverages go in a small specialty cooler within the two-cooler limit.
Captains can stop anyone from drinking at any time, and too much alcohol can end a trip early, so drink in moderation.
Fishing Tools Every Angler Should Bring
- Dehooker: gets hooks out of fish quickly so you can release them safely
- Venting tool: helps release fish brought up from deep water
- Bait shears: Hubbard’s crew calls these the one thing not to forget, because you can cut bait right at the rail
- Line cutters and pliers: for braid, mono and crimps
- Rubber gloves: for handling spiny fish and your catch at the dock
- Small bait cooler: a 6 to 12-pack cooler for brining your bait on the ride out
- Rod belt or harness: optional, but helpful for big fish from deep water
Tackle: Rent or Bring Your Own?
First-timers should rent. Hubbard’s, American Patriot and American Hunter all offer rental rod and reel packages, and some boats sell terminal tackle on board. If you bring your own gear, you’re responsible for all of your tackle, including hooks, leaders, swivels and weights. Experienced long range anglers follow one rule: bring two of everything. If a rod breaks or a reel fails 100 miles from shore, a backup saves your trip.
Daytime Deep Dropping
Deep-drop trips to places like Pulley Ridge fish hundreds of feet down for snowy and yellowedge grouper, tilefish and queen snapper. Plan on:
- An electric reel such as a Daiwa Seaborg or Shimano Beastmaster, or a two-speed hand-crank reel
- 50-lb braided line, plus a fully charged 12-volt deep-cycle marine battery and a spare power cord if you use an electric reel
- Heavy sash weights of 2 to 4 pounds
- Circle hooks in the 7/0 to 9/0 range, rigged on two-hook rigs where allowed
Nighttime and Shallower Bottom Fishing
Night fishing up on the banks and trips to the Dry Tortugas use lighter gear:
- 7 to 8-ft conventional rods rated for 30 to 50-lb line
- Egg sinkers from 4 to 10 ounces
- 5/0 and 7/0 circle hooks
- Fluorocarbon leader from 50 to 100 lb
Jigging
Slow-pitch and vertical jigging have become hugely popular on Gulf long range trips. A light jigging rod with 30-lb braid and a fluorocarbon top shot covers a lot of situations, with jigs around 250 grams for general use and heavier jigs up to about 500 grams for very deep water. Bring a few shapes and colors, because what works changes with the depth and current.
Every boat has its own tackle requirements for each trip, and some limit braid strength or the number of hooks per rig, so always check your boat’s tackle list before you buy.
What Not to Bring
- Glass bottles
- Hard liquor, on most boats
- Firearms
- Oversized coolers or personal livewells
- GPS devices, on boats like Yankee Capts that protect their fishing spots (put your phone in airplane mode)
- Bananas, which many fishing boats ban as bad luck, including Hubbard’s
- Hard-sided luggage that won’t fit under a bunk
Bring Enough Cooler Space
What you can keep depends on the species, the fishing grounds and the time of year, so check the current rules before your trip and ask the crew if you’re unsure. Either way, have plenty of coolers and ice waiting at the dock so you can get your catch home in good shape.
Arrive Early
Long range boats board well before departure. Hubbard’s asks overnight anglers to arrive 90 to 120 minutes early, American Patriot two hours early and American Hunter one hour early. Give yourself time to check in, stow your bags, pick a spot and get your tackle rigged before the boat leaves the dock.
Ready to Book?
Compare boats, trip lengths and prices in our guide to long range fishing trips in Florida, or go straight to the listings for Hubbard’s Marina, Yankee Capts, American Patriot and American Hunter. You can also browse every Florida long range fishing charter in our directory.
Long Range Packing FAQ
Do I need to bring my own bedding on a long range fishing trip?
Usually, yes. Most boats provide a bunk and mattress, but you bring your own sleeping bag or blanket and pillow.
Do long range fishing boats provide food?
It depends on the boat. Some include all meals, some sell food in a galley, and some, like Yankee Capts, require you to bring all your own food and drinks.
How many coolers should I bring?
Most anglers bring a small bait cooler on board, a food and drink cooler if the boat allows it, and at least one large catch cooler left in the car for the ride home. Check your boat’s cooler size limits first.
Can I use my phone on a long range trip?
You can bring it, but expect no signal once you’re far offshore. Some boats ask you to keep phones in airplane mode to protect their fishing spots.
What shoes should I wear on a long range fishing boat?
Short rubber fishing boots are best. Closed-toe shoes are required on many boats, and sandals or flip-flops aren’t allowed while fishing.
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