What to Pack for Your Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Costa Rica Fishing Charters

What to Pack on your fishing charter

Table of Contents

You’ve booked your fishing charter and are ready to go. What do you need to take on the trip? Most of the items we recommend are for comfort and protection during your Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater inshore or deep-sea fishing charters.

Comfort

Be prepared for changing weather conditions during various times of the day. Layered clothing is an excellent choice, as mornings are cooler and late afternoons are hotter. Always be ready for the occasional rain shower that might roll in. The time of year will also have a bearing on your fishing attire. Your charter Captain will be able to give you the most recent weather conditions just prior to your trip. Don’t forget to ask!

Protection

Proper protection from the sun is essential for an enjoyable day on the water. Protective clothing and proper sun screening products make all the difference. The sun’s direct rays, and the sun’s reflection off the water, can be very dangerous for your skin, even when you are
under shade. Be smart, no sunburns please.

Essential Items to consider when packing for your inshore or deep-sea fishing charters:

  • Non-skid rubber sole shoes are highly recommended
  • Dress in light colored clothing as to not retain heat on hot days
  • Lightweight micro-fiber long sleeve shirts to protect arms from the sun are optimum
  • Take your favorite hat (wide brimmed is the most protection)
  • Short pants when warm, long when cool
  • Waterproof windbreaker for possible rain and cool mornings
  • Swimsuit, as you never know when you’ll get the urge for a refreshing dip
  • Polarized sun glasses to protect your eyes, cut the glare and to see fish better
  • Sunscreen and lip balm that protect from UVA and UVB rays
  • Seasickness medication if you’re prone to seasickness
  • Bug spray for inshore fishing by the mangroves
  • Hand sanitizer if you don’t want to smell like bait
  • Waterproof bag or back pack for your personal items
  • Camera or smartphone to record your trophy catch

If you have any other questions, always ask your Captain. Enjoy your Tampa Bay fishing chartersSt. Petersburg fishing charters, Clearwater fishing charters and Costa Rica fishing charters!

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About the Author...
Matt Douglas

Matt Douglas

Captain Matt Douglas is the founder of YACHTFISH and is a licensed United States Coast Guard 100 ton Master Captain. Captain Matt grew up on the waters of Tampa Bay and lived and worked in Costa Rica for over 11 years. He has extensive experience in Central America, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Florida. Captain Matt is a tournament-winning captain who has an intense passion for boating, fishing and creating life time memories for his Clients. These passions, combined with his experience, were the catalysts for YACHTFISH. Captain Matt is laser-focused on what he enjoys the most, and knows the best, in Tampa Bay and Costa Rica.
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My family and I went out with Yachtfish this past weekend with Capt. Nick, and I can honestly say the trip was perfect from start to finish. Great boat, equipment, and weather. We caught red drum, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, jacks, and a ton of snook. Capt. Nick was very... read more
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My son and I had a great time. Captain Matt and captain Scott are great. Took us out, put us on the bait and then right to the fish! Guy keeps his equipment up, nice boat, immaculately clean, everything went just as expected. Thanks guys for a great experience and... read more
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We had such a good time and we caught so many fish!! The captain was super cool and the mate was really helpful. 10/10 day!!
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Our family recently had a fantastic 6-hour inshore charter in St Petersburg with Captain Johnny and First Mate Cooper! They were very professional and knowledgeable of the area, and put on us fish almost the entire time. After a slow start in the mangroves we moved out to a number... read more
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Awesome experience! Experienced. Professional. Fun! Great for all ages! Captain and crew knowledge really made this enjoyable for our entire family. Took us to a variety of sites to help us catch what we were looking for.
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Awesome time Sam and Austin were great Will be back for more!!!!!!!!!!!
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Outstanding day on the high seas. Captain Matt and crew are total pros and know how to find fish -and lots of them! Go fishing with Captain Matt!
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Captain John & first mate Coop were great fishing guides. Our family of 6 had a great time and we caught a lot of fish. Thanks
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My son and I fished with Captain Scott and 1st Mate Austin on June 21, 2024, out of St. Petersburg. We truly enjoyed our time out fishing with these guys. I can't say enough about their integrity and work ethic. While we didn't catch a ton of fish, we caught... read more
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Had an awesome time! Highly recommend these guys, nick was the best captain we could have! He was on it from beginning to end, really made the Father’s Day special for us. Thank you guys
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