📋 Gear Checklists

🎣 Freshwater Fishing

Lakes, rivers, and spring-fed creeks

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🎒 Essential Gear

• Fishing rod & reel (medium action)
• Tackle box (hooks, weights, swivels, extra line)
• Live bait or artificial lures
• Fishing license (on person)
• Pliers / hook remover
• Stringer or cooler for catch
• Landing net

🦺 Safety Equipment

• Life jacket / PFD (required on boats)
• First aid kit
• Whistle or signaling device
• Fully charged phone in waterproof case

🧴 Sun Protection

• Sunscreen SPF 50+ (reef-safe preferred)
• Polarized sunglasses (essential for sight fishing)
• Wide-brim hat or buff
• UV long-sleeve shirt
• Bug spray (DEET or Picaridin)

💧 Hydration & Food

• 1 gallon water minimum per person
• Snacks / lunch (in cooler with ice)
• Electrolyte packets

🐊 Florida Tips

• Rain poncho (afternoon thunderstorms year-round)
• Towel
• Dry bag for electronics
• Gator awareness — stay 15+ feet from water's edge at dusk/dawn

🌊 Saltwater Fishing

Inshore flats, reefs, and offshore

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🎒 Essential Gear

• Saltwater rod & reel (corrosion-resistant)
• Tackle box (circle hooks, jig heads, leader material)
• Live shrimp or cut bait
• Fishing license (saltwater endorsement)
• Dehooking tool
• Fish grips / lip gripper
• Cooler with ice for catch

🦺 Safety Equipment

• Life jacket / PFD (required on boats)
• First aid kit with stingray / jellyfish treatment
• Whistle or signaling device
• Fully charged phone in waterproof case
• VHF radio (if offshore)

🧴 Sun Protection

• Sunscreen SPF 50+ (reef-safe required near reefs)
• Polarized sunglasses
• Wide-brim hat or buff
• UV long-sleeve shirt
• Bug spray

💧 Hydration & Food

• 1.5 gallons water per person (salt air = more dehydration)
• Snacks / lunch
• Electrolyte packets

🐊 Florida Tips

• Rain gear (storms roll in fast on water)
• Towel and change of clothes
• Dry bag for electronics
• Wading boots or water shoes (oyster bars cut feet)
• Know the tides — check before you go

🛶 Kayaking

Rivers, springs, and coastal paddling

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🎒 Essential Gear

• Kayak or canoe (with paddle)
• PFD / Life jacket (REQUIRED by Florida law)
• Whistle (attached to PFD)
• Paddle leash
• Bilge pump or sponge
• Dry bags (at least 2)

🦺 Safety Equipment

• First aid kit in dry bag
• Fully charged phone in waterproof case
• Navigation (map or GPS — cell service unreliable)
• Headlamp or flashlight (if paddling near dusk)
• Float plan — tell someone where you're going

🧴 Sun Protection

• Sunscreen SPF 50+ (reef-safe)
• Polarized sunglasses with strap
• Wide-brim hat with chin strap
• UV long-sleeve rash guard
• Bug spray

💧 Hydration & Food

• 2+ gallons water for full-day paddle
• Snacks in waterproof containers
• Electrolyte mix

🐊 Florida Tips

• Rain jacket (quick afternoon storms)
• Dry change of clothes in waterproof bag
• Water shoes (springs have rocky bottoms)
• Gator & snake awareness — bang paddle on water before entering overgrown areas
• Check water levels and flow rates before spring runs

🏊 Swimming

Springs, lakes, and beaches

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🎒 Essential Gear

• Swimsuit
• Towel (2 recommended)
• Water shoes (rocky spring bottoms)
• Goggles or snorkel mask
• Change of dry clothes

🦺 Safety Equipment

• Life jacket for weak swimmers (springs have strong currents)
• First aid kit
• Phone in waterproof pouch
• Buddy system — never swim alone

🧴 Sun Protection

• Sunscreen SPF 50+ (reef-safe — protects springs too)
• Sunglasses
• Hat for before/after swimming
• UV rash guard (optional)
• Bug spray for surrounding trails

💧 Hydration & Food

• Plenty of water (1 gallon per person)
• Snacks / picnic lunch
• Cooler with ice (many springs have picnic areas)

🐊 Florida Tips

• Spring water is 68-72°F year-round — can feel cold!
• Arrive early — popular springs reach capacity by 10am on weekends
• Check for entrance fees and capacity limits online
• No feeding wildlife — it's illegal
• Rain poncho

🤿 Snorkeling

Springs and coastal reef areas

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🎒 Essential Gear

• Mask and snorkel (properly fitted)
• Fins
• Rash guard or wetsuit (springs are cold!)
• Defog solution
• Mesh gear bag

🦺 Safety Equipment

• Dive flag (REQUIRED by Florida law when snorkeling)
• PFD or snorkel vest
• Buddy — never snorkel alone
• First aid kit
• Phone in waterproof case

🧴 Sun Protection

• Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ (CRITICAL — protect the reef)
• UV rash guard (better than sunscreen for extended water time)
• Hat for surface intervals
• Sunglasses

💧 Hydration & Food

• Extra water (snorkeling is dehydrating)
• Snacks
• Electrolytes

🐊 Florida Tips

• Check for jellyfish and red tide advisories before going
• Shuffle feet when entering water (stingray shuffle!)
• Do NOT touch coral — it's alive and fragile
• Manatee zones: passive observation only, no touching
• Know the current — drift snorkeling requires pickup logistics

🚤 Boating

Power boating and pontoon cruising

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🎒 Essential Gear

• Boat keys and registration
• Fuel (full tank + reserve calculation)
• Anchor and line
• Dock lines and fenders
• Navigation charts or GPS
• Tool kit and spare parts

🦺 Safety Equipment

• PFDs for every person aboard (REQUIRED)
• Fire extinguisher (REQUIRED)
• Visual distress signals / flares (REQUIRED offshore)
• Sound-producing device / horn (REQUIRED)
• Throwable flotation device (REQUIRED on boats 16'+)
• First aid kit
• VHF marine radio
• Fully charged phone

🧴 Sun Protection

• Sunscreen SPF 50+
• Sunglasses (polarized)
• Hat
• Shade — bimini top or umbrella
• Bug spray

💧 Hydration & Food

• Water for everyone aboard (1 gal/person/day)
• Food and snacks in cooler
• NO alcohol while operating — Florida has strict BUI laws

🐊 Florida Tips

• Check weather and marine forecast before departure
• File a float plan with someone on shore
• Know no-wake zones and manatee slow zones
• Lightning protocol — get off the water when storms approach
• Idle speed in marked manatee zones — heavy fines for violations

⛺ Camping

Waterside and backcountry camping

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🎒 Essential Gear

• Tent with rain fly (thunderstorms are daily in summer)
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Sleeping pad
• Camp stove and fuel
• Cookware and utensils
• Fire starter / lighter
• Headlamp / lantern
• Trash bags (Leave No Trace)

🦺 Safety Equipment

• First aid kit
• Phone and charger / power bank
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Bear canister or food hang (black bears in North FL)
• Whistle

🧴 Sun Protection

• Sunscreen SPF 50+
• Bug spray and/or permethrin-treated clothes
• Mosquito net for tent (ESSENTIAL in summer)
• Hat and sunglasses

💧 Hydration & Food

• Water purification method (filter or tablets)
• Extra water containers
• Food for all meals plus emergency extra
• Cooler with plenty of ice

🐊 Florida Tips

• Mosquitoes are relentless May–October — plan accordingly
• Store food in bear canisters in North FL campgrounds
• Alligator safety: never camp right at water's edge
• Check for fire bans before planning campfires
• Afternoon thunderstorms are near-daily in summer
• Snake awareness — check inside shoes and around tent

🕐 Trip Duration Add-Ons

🌙 Overnight

• Tent or hammock
• Sleeping bag
• Camp stove
• Headlamp
• Extra set of clothes

📅 Multi-Day

• Multiple changes of clothes
• Extra fuel / supplies
• Water purification
• Camp stove + extra fuel canisters
• Emergency shelter / tarp
• Repair kit for gear

🌦 Seasonal Adjustments

☀️ Summer (May–Sep)

• Extra water (heat!)
• Cooling towel
• Extra bug spray
• Rain gear (daily afternoon storms)
• UV protection is CRITICAL

❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb)

• Layers (mornings can be 40s–50s°F)
• Warm hat and gloves (North FL)
• Wetsuit for water activities
• Thermos with hot drinks

🌸 Spring (Mar–Apr)

• Allergy medication
• Light layers (mornings cool, afternoons warm)
• Rain gear
• Love bug season — windshield cleaner for your car

🍂 Fall (Oct–Nov)

• Perfect weather — minimal additions needed
• Light jacket for mornings
• Hunting season awareness if in WMAs

🖨 Print ⊞ Expand All ⊟ Collapse All

Fishing Gear Guides

🎣 Rods & Reels

Spinning vs. baitcasting, power ratings, and Florida-specific recommendations.

🪝 Tackle & Rigging

Hooks, sinkers, swivels, leaders, and proven rig setups for Florida species.

🐟 Lures & Bait

Artificial lures, live bait options, and when to use each.

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