2019 Holiday Gift Guide – The Light Tackle Fisherman

A favorite for a generation of light-tackle anglers, the newly redesigned Shimano Stradic FL3000 has a smooth drag to conquer hard-running false albacore and is light enough to finesse a jig for backwater fluke and stripers.

Built with fluke, stripers, and weakfish in mind, the Daiwa Proteus Northeast Casting rod has the perfect action for bouncing small jigs and working topwaters in the back bays.

Much of the best light-tackle fishing happens under the sun, so it’s important to stay protected from harmful UV rays with a shirt like the quick-drying, TAK Waterman NJ Striper UPF 50 Solar Tech Hoody.

Eight-strand construction makes Seaguar Smackdown super smooth, which is ideal for casting small lures a long way on light tackle.

Bottom bouncing and light-tackle fishing intersect with compact and palm-able baitcasters like the Daiwa Coastal SV TW. This saltwater baitcaster is ideal for bucktailing fluke or casting to schoolie stripers.

As a near-perfect peanut bunker imitation, the LiveTarget Flutter Sardine has a wounded shimmy on the fall and an erratic action on a faster, snappy retrieve. ($10

Casting un-weighted soft plastics is one of the most exciting ways to catch striped bass on light tackle. The angular Game On! Big Occhi slices through the water for a deadly “walk-the-dog” presentation.

The skipping, kicking action of the Fish Snax Hard Snax makes it a great bait for albies, bonito, stripers and anything else that feeds on small baitfish.

The G. Loomis NRX Inshore rod is built with a nano-silica resin system that uses less material without losing strength and creates a rod that is very light, extremely sensitive, and has plenty of backbone.

The perfect balance of light weight and durability, the breathable, waterproof StormR Nano Series Jacket delivers protection from spring-through-summer squalls.