I was in the boat recently with a couple of my friends, Jason Stemple and Jake Perry and we started talking about little things that make a big difference on fishing trips. So we each put our two-cents in on the things that are the cheapest and that might be the most important. If you could carry a couple of these items instead of just one, it would exponentially increase the enjoyment and productivity of the day. So here is our list of things that we think will make your fishing experience much better. Hook Remover: When fishing for kingfish or barracudas (or anything with teeth) you will need this. Roughly $12 to $14 dollars. You will want an extra one because they don’t float and you might lose it. I prefer the Hook Extractor from Bass Pro Shops. Wire Straightener: Probably the cheapest thing you will have on your boat, but this can be the most important for kingfish, barracuda, sharks or anything with teeth. If you have a leader straightener, $2 it can help you get back out there much faster. AFW Econo Wire Straightener $2.48. You will want an extra one of these for sure because it could easily blow off the boat. An Extra Hat: Just get a hat that is given away or an old hat. You will want an extra in case it flies off your head. Extra Glasses: It is great to have an extra pair for yourself or a friend. Just get some cheap pair for back up. You don’t need something that you would wear all the time, but just a pair to get you through the day. Extra Buff: I will usually vacuum seal my Buff so that it won’t get moldy and will always be ready to go if I need it. A Buff is one of the few things that I will turn the boat around to make sure that I have it ready. Sunscreen: This is something you probably have a lot lying around, so make sure that you have some extra just in case someone starts getting sunburned. Cutting Dikes: In case you get a hook through the thumb (as I did recently, see the video below) you can use this to get rid of the barb on the hook. For tools like this one and the buff (ones that you might need in case of emergency), you can vacuum seal them all together so that they are always fresh and perfect. Small First Aid Kit: In case you get a cut but don’t need stitches, you would want some alcohol and bandaids to just clean up the wound and stop the bleeding. Extra Pair Of Pliers: I always use needle-nose pliers that I can cut with and I can get hooks out with them. I always have an extra pair of those in my bag that goes with me everywhere. The Boat Plug: You would need a couple of extras. I keep an extra boat plug in my truck and a couple of extra ones in my bag and an extra one in the bilge right next to where it would go. At least have one extra if not more than that. This podcast is brought to you by Waypoint. Produced by Tom Rowland and Brock Rustand. Audio editing by Brock Rustand. If you have any questions, email podcast@saltwaterexperienece.com See you on the water,Tom Rowland