Tournament Fishing Essentials Gear List
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Tournament fishing continues to grow in popularity year after year. With more anglers entering the competitive side of fishing, huge improvements in tournament specific gear have hit the market. Being efficient on the water is key and we put this tournament essentials list together to help you do just that.
Top Fishing Tournament Gear
Culling System
A lot of tournaments require you to bring in 5 fish to be weighed together. A culling system like the Cal Coast Fishing Clip-N-Cull will help keep track of your five biggest fish as you catch more throughout the day. The added benefit is they are conservation friendly and simply clip onto the fish's mouth instead of puncturing a hole.
Weigh Beam
If two fish are close in weight and it’s hard to determine which is bigger, a culling beam like the Cal Coast Fishing Money Beam is the needed tool. Simply attach the cull clip with each fish on either side to determine which one is heavier.
Electronic Scale
Another popular approach to keeping track of fish is to weigh each fish as they are caught. The Rapala Touch Screen Scale is designed for tournament anglers where you can keep weights of multiple fish so you know exactly which are your biggest.
Rapala Touch Screen Scale
Tournament Edition
For more on scale options, see our roundup of Rapala scales
Measuring Board
Each state or lake has its own fishing regulations and you want to make sure you are following the length requirements at all times. Any fish that is close to the legal limit should be put on a measuring board like the Ketch Karbonate Board for verification.
Weigh-In Bag
Fish care is extremely important for tournaments and having a good weigh-in bag will help reduce stress while the fish are getting their final weight. The Gator Grip Mesh Bag is the best addition to any regular weigh-in bag because you only need to handle the fish once. The water will drain through the mesh for the fish to be weighed together. Pair that with a regular weigh-in bag that holds water like the Bass Mafia Body Bag and you have a system that takes care of fish and is comfortable to carry to and from the weigh-in stage.
Livewell Treatment
A proper working livewell is a must for bringing your fish to weigh-in. In the heat of the summer or on long boat rides in rough conditions, fish can be susceptible to stress. Adding a livewell treatment solution like T-H Marine G-Juice helps add important electrolytes into the water and can prevent fish harm throughout the day.
Magnetic Lure Holder
Changing baits during the day is something a lot of tournament anglers do to key in on exactly what the fish are biting and boats can easily become cluttered. The T-H Marine Magnetic Lure Management System is the perfect solution to storing your baits for the day until you get off the water. You can save a lot of time and clutter by simply getting your used baits off the ground and put away.
Screen Cleaner
There is no hiding the fact that electronics are playing a larger role in tournament success. With the increase in detail and clarity on the screens, you can’t afford to have a dirty screen to start the day. Having a simple bottle and rag like what’s included in the T-H Marine Wave Away Screen Cleaner is exactly what you need.
Take a Tour of Tournament Gear
For more on these items, Polish Pete offers a guided tour of all of gear you need.
