Updated 12/29/2023
We’ve all been there. What gift do you buy the fisherman that seemingly has everything? They have more rods, reels, and fishing gear than you could have imagined existed. Fortunately, I’m here to help. Even if an angler has a huge collection gear, there are great fishing gift options that are sure to be well received by the dad or husband that seems to already own all things fishing.
Great fishing gift giving considers budget, angler fishing preferences, and angler skill level. Whether the gift receiver is a true beginner or an advanced fisherman or fisherwoman, there are great gift options at all price points. This article is tailored towards gifts for anglers that are well into their fishing journey and already have a solid selection of fishing gear.
Check out our recommendations for the best unique fishing gifts for the fisherman who seemingly has everything!
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
27 Best Fishing Gifts for the Fisherman Who Has Everything
We’ve tailored a list of the best fishing gifts at a variety of price points. Make sure to check out our guide on picking the right items towards the end of the article.
1. Huk Icon X Fishing Shirt
Our top fishing gift for the fisherman who has everything is a high-end fishing shirt like the Huk Icon X. The Huk Icon X is a lightweight, breathable fishing shirt with built in sun protection that is a delight to fish in all day. It also comes in a huge array of colors and patterns that are sure to please the recipient.
I love quality fishing shirts like the Huk Icon X as gifts because they are ALWAYS immediately useful to anglers of all skill levels. Fishing clothing wears out over time from sunscreen, fish slime, dirty, sand, and exposure to the elements. A crisp, fresh fishing shirt is always appreciated.
We don’t guarantee fancy fishing clothes will help you catch fish but at least your loved one will be fishing in style!
Check out our article on the best fishing gifts under $50 for other great quality gifts in a similar price range as the Huk Icon X.
2. Boga Grip
Boga Grip fish grips are one of the most popular fish grips for good reason. They are nearly indestructible, have smooth action, rotate freely to protect held fish, and have a built-in scale. They do everything you want a fish grip to do.
I picked these as a top gift item for the fisherman who has everything because many anglers don’t purchase the highest end equipment for themselves and the Boga Grips are the best fish grips money can buy. Cheaper grips may be less than $20 but will be missing key features like the built-in scale, and freely rotating gripper head. Boga Grips are the best fish grips available to safely handle fish with minimal chance of harming the animal.
Check out our article on the best luxury fishing gifts for other incredible high-end gift options like the Boga Grip.
3. KastKing Cutthroat 7 inch Fishing Pliers
The KastKing Cutthroat 7 inch fishing pliers are a great choice for a fishing gift under $50. All anglers need a pair of great pliers to help with removing hooks from fish plus these pliers come packed with other features like a lanyard and line cutter.
We like a pair of quality fishing pliers as a gift for an angler that has everything because fresh pliers are always well received. Old pliers rust, dull, or get lost. Even if the current pliers are in good shape, having redundant equipment around is a nice quality of life improvement.
Have you ever been on a boat fighting over one pair of pliers? The answer? More sets of pliers!
Check out our article on the best fishing pliers for other great pliers!
4. Bubba Pro Series Battery Powered Electric Fillet Knife
Electric fillet knives are a step change improvement for most anglers because the reciprocating blades make quick work of the messy filleting process. The Bubba Pro Series Battery Powered Electric Fillet Knife adds the luxury factor by being battery powered so you have access to electric filleting anywhere and everywhere without requiring a wall socket. A spare, portable, electric fillet knife is a gift that even a angler that has everything would appreciate. Electric fish filleting is our preferred filleting method.
Electric fillet knives are incredible for filleting most fish species. They’re great for almost every freshwater fish like walleye and crappie. For saltwater fish with sturdy scales or oblong bodies, like redfish and sheepshead, manual knives can be a more effective option.
Check out our article on the best fillet knives for additional information!
5. Huk Neck Gaiter
Huk neck gaiters are a great fishing gifts for anglers that have everything for the same reasons as fishing clothes. Fresh, clean clothing that offers comfortable, breathable sun and bug protection for the ears, neck, and head is appreciate by any angler. Save on your sunscreen bill with a lightweight neck gaiter. They also come in a bunch of cool colors and patterns so don’t be afraid to show off a bit!
Check out our article on the best fishing gifts under $25 for other great gift options in a similar price range as the Huk Neck Gaiter!
6. Anglers Fish-N-Mate Beach Fishing Cart
Every surf angler needs a great beach cart! The Anglers Fish-N-Mate fishing cart is an excellent quality of life improvement fishing gift idea because of its all-terrain tires, rod storage, and large capacity. We love the oversized tires for rough terrain. Other carts with smaller, cheap tires will struggle to get where you need to go.
Check out our article on the best surf fishing rods to have the right rods to tote around in your new beach fishing cart!
7. Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag
While it may not be strictly fishing gear, the Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag is a top choice for fisherman that have everything. One can never have too many dry bags! A high-quality dry bag is an excellent fishing gift because it gives anglers peace of mind that spare clothes, phones, or keys will stay dry. No more fear if the skipper gets a bit wild in the waves and accidentally launches the bag of spare clothes overboard!
8. Piscifun Speed X Fishing Line Spooler
While all anglers use fishing line, many don’t have a line spooling machine to help change out their fishing line. The Piscifun Speed X Fishing Line Spooler makes changing fishing line a breeze. While not strictly needed, a spooling machine like this makes changing line a much more pleasant experience and any angler would appreciate this gift. Just make sure that angler that has everything doesn’t already have a line spooler!
9. Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler
Every outdoorsperson enjoys a high-end, wheeled cooler. The Yeti Tundra Haul is an excellent luxury fishing gift because anglers always need to keep beverages, food, or fresh fish on ice! The wheeled option is super convenient to get to and from fishing locations. Many anglers have a great selection of regular coolers, but a high quality cooler with wheels could save someone from blowing out their back picking up a heavy cooler headed to their next fishing location.
10. Rapala Electric Fillet Knife
Electric fillet knives are a blessing to the fishing world. Most anglers love to eat fresh caught fish but dread the filleting process. The Rapala Electric Fillet Knife is a perfect gift for anglers looking to streamline filleting their catch of the day. If your loved one doesn’t have an electric fillet knife in their arsenal, do them a favor and gift them the gift of convenient filleting.
At the under $50 price point you can only afford a corded electric knife. If looking to splurge, check out our article on the best fillet knives for battery powered fillet knife options as our top pick!
11. Coddies Fish Flip Flops
The Coddies Fish Flip Flops are perfect for a laugh at a holiday white elephant gift exchange. While maybe not for everyday wear, these fish shaped flip flops definitely won’t be a flop on your next fishing trip. We like the Coddies Fish Flip Flops as a gift for the fisherman that has everything because you can get a fishing related gift at a low price point and get them something else a little higher end that doesn’t have to be as fishing focused.
12. Engel Aerated Live Bait Cooler Box
Our next fishing gift to think about for the fisherman that has everything is an Engel Aerated Live Bait Cooler Box. Many anglers use a 5-gallon bucket and bubbler to keep their bait alive. The Engel bait box is a luxury improvement that they may not have on their radar.
This bait box has everything you want to keep bait alive, cool, and well aerated! The box is insulated, comes with a convenient aerator, a built-in net for easy bait access, and is a luxurious step up from the normal 5-gallon bucket bait setup. Keeping bait fresh and alive longer means extended and more effective fishing trips.
13. Huk Fingerless Fishing Gloves
Fishing gloves are a great gift option for a bit of warmth, hand protection, and sun protection. We like the Huk Fingerless Fishing Gloves because anglers retain full dexterity with their fingertips to tie finnicky fishing knots.
14. FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine
Vacuum sealers are by far the best way to store and preserve fish fillets. Vacuum packed, frozen fish fillets stay fresh WAY longer than any other storage method. I love a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer as a fishing gift because it allows for convenient, long-term storage of fish fillets.
I pack our fillets in meal-sized portions and find most fish species maintain freshness for 6 months or more. A vacuum sealer is an essential tool for any angler to have both at home and in their cherished fishing cabin, making it an excellent gift for the husband or father who seems to have it all.
We talk about the benefits of vacuum sealers for preserving fish fillets in our article on how to fillet almost any fish!
15. Rat-L-Trap Lipless Crankbaits
A great choice for an angler that has everything is selection of quality baits like a few different color Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps are a solid quality brand of lipless crankbaits which are a casted lure effective for bass, walleye, and pike in freshwater and redfish and speckled trout inshore fishing.
Focus on natural colors that look like baitfish or crawfish for best results! I like a selection of high-end lures as a gift for a fisherman that has everything because it allows the gift giver to provide a personalized gift that the recipient will think about every time they use the lure.
Check out our article on how to fish lipless crankbaits to understand how, what, where, and why to fish lipless crankbaits!
16. SNIP Fishing Line Cutters
All anglers have had that moment of “where the heck did I put my scissors?” The fish are biting and they’re wasting time looking for a cutting tool.
We like the SNIP Fishing Line Cutters as one of the best fishing gifts under the $50 price point because almost every angler appreciates having backup line cutters.
We picked these cutters because the lanyard means they can be semi-permanently attached somewhere for easy access and they’re rated for cutting braided fishing line unlike many of the fingernail clipper style line cutters.
Have one at the front of the boat, one at the back of the boat, and one on the tackle box so you never have to lose any prime fishing time again.
17. Huk Next Level Quick-Drying Fishing Pants
Another great fishing gift is high quality fishing pants like the Huk Next Level Quick-Drying Fishing Pants. As we’ve mentioned earlier, quality fishing clothes make for a incredible fishing gifts for anglers that seemingly have everything! These pants are lightweight, breathable, and great for sun and bug protection. These are my go-to fishing pants.
18. Lazy One Funny Fishing Boxers
Everyone needs a good pair of funny fishing undies! If your loved one isn’t always catching fish they can at least catch a laugh with these hilarious fishing boxers.
19. Hook-N-Line Fishing Map
Hook-N-Line makes a great series of fishing maps for popular fishing areas in California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. These maps are waterproof and have an excellent level of detail on primo fishing spots. They make a great gift to help anglers increase their odds at a successful catch. I like these fishing maps as gifts for anglers that have everything because it is really the gift of information. Even one tip about a great new fishing spot makes this map well worth its price.
20. Shimano Curado DC Baitcasting Reel
The Shimano Curado DC Baitcasting Reel is a premium baitcasting reel with a built-in microcomputer that applies the perfect amount of brake to minimize backlash and maximize casting distance. This is one of the best baitcasting reels money can buy and would be a treat for almost any angler that enjoys using a baitcasting reel to target bass, walleye, pike, redfish, speckled trout, stripers, and many other fish species!
Top end gear is always appreciated by anglers that have a good selection of equipment.
Check out our article on the best baitcasting reels for bass for a deeper dive on the Curado DC reel!
21. SwellPRO Fisherman Drone
Most anglers don’t have a fishing drone! The SwellPRO Fisherman Drone is an excellent luxury gift idea because it enables new and exciting fishing experiences. Between shooting 1080p video, getting a birdseye view of fishing structure, and carrying up to a 2kg payload of bait out long distances, any angler would be excited to receive a fishing drone.
22. Fishing Hitch Mounted Rod & Cooler Rack
Our next gift is the Plattinum Hitch Mounted Rod and Cooler Rack. This mounts directly on a standard 2″ receiver hitch on the back of a vehicle, holds up to 8 rods, and fits most 48-54 quart coolers. Super convenient for locations you can back up directly to the fishing location! Up your loved one’s logistics situation with this trailer hitch rod and cooler rack.
23. SAMSFX Fishing Hook Sharpener Tool
Hook sharpening tools are a unique fishing gift that many anglers may not think about. Right out of the box, most hooks are razor sharp. Catch a bunch of fish or run your hook across rocks or other debris and they will slowly dull. Dull hooks may have poor hooksets and result in lost fish! Not fun!
Having a hook sharpening tool is super convenient because it can mean a quick 10 seconds of hook sharpening vs retying a whole rig. Sharp hooks are especially important for fish with hard mouths like walleye, bowfin, gar, flounder, and sheepshead because dull hooks stand no chance of penetrating tough bony fish mouths.
24. Berkley Digital Fish Scale
Another great fishing gift option under $25 is a quality fish scale like the Berkley Digital Fish Scale. Take the guesswork out of measuring your catch! Make sure you can prove to your friends that the lunker bass your loved one caught was actually 10 pounds.
25. Plusinno Fishing Rod Holder
The Plusinno Fishing Rod Holder is a perfect gift to reduce clutter and clean up a storage space. It holds 9 rods and reels and can really tidy up a hodge podge of rods! Give the gift of organization with these rod holders.
26. Hemostat Pliers
I am a firm believer that EVERY tackle box should contain a set of hemostat surgical pliers. Hemostat pliers offer the best precision for removing difficult hook sets. Their narrow jaws are ideal for reaching deep down a fish’s mouth to get at a tricky hook set. Every ethical angler should have hemostat pliers in their tackle box. What’s better? They cost next to nothing! Give the gift of ethical angling with a set of these pliers.
27. RoverTac Multitool
One of our favorite fishing gifts under $25 is a quality multitool like the RoverTac multitool. While the pliers themselves don’t make great fishing pliers, we like the versatility of having a multitool in any fishing kit to allow for maintenance on boats, engines, trucks, reels, etc. This multitool has pliers, cutting tools, and notably Philips and flathead screwdriver heads. This is a great gift for an angler to keep in their vehicle or tackle box on the off chance they need it!
Conclusion
Picking the best fishing gifts for the fisherman that has everything is an art. It takes knowledge of their target fish species and preferred fishing techniques. Fortunately, there are great options at multiple price points. We believe high end fishing clothes are the best gift for the angler with everything because fresh clothes are always well received.
That concludes our list of best fishing gifts for the angler that has everything!
Check out our other fishing gift giving guides:
Read on for help tailoring gift ideas to the fisherman or fisherwoman in your life.
How to Choose Fishing Gifts For The Fisherman Who Has Everything
When trying to pick fishing gifts for anglers that has nearly everything, it is important to consider the skill level of the angler, what actual gear he or she owns, and what type of fishing they are into. We strongly recommend tailoring fishing gifts to the personality, skill level, and gear situation of the gift receiver. A good gift for one person may be a bad gift for another based on circumstances.
What Makes a Good Fishing Gift?
Good gift giving is an art. Anyone can purchase the newest gadget on the market, but truly good gifts are meaningful to the person receiving the gift.
We recommend fishing gifts that accomplish one or more of the below categories:
- Items that enable new or exciting experiences
- Items that are the gift of time by making a process easier or more pleasant
- Consumable item of solid quality that will get used
- Useful item of higher quality than someone would buy for themselves
- Upgrade for an item they already have
Examples below:
- Angler made passing comment of wanting to try fly fishing but doesn’t have any fly fishing equipment. Get them a starter fly rod/reel and associated supplies
- Angler finds filleting fish tedious. Look into a high-end fillet knife or even better, an electric fillet knife to save them a bunch of time.
- Upgrade their $10 fish grip to a high-end $150 Boga Grip fish grip that’s a massive upgrade in quality and also has a built-in scale.
Angler Skill Level
Angler skill level is a great place to start when assessing fishing gifts. Is the gift receiver a beginner, intermediate, or advanced angler? Beginners can be easier to shop for because they need all kinds of equipment whereas an advanced angler may seemingly have every piece of fishing gear ever created.
Considerations for Beginner Angler Gifts
Beginner anglers are generally the easiest to shop for because they don’t have strong gear preferences and likely are missing important kit pieces. Additionally, beginner anglers are generally more comfortable with introductory quality equipment.
For the sake of this article, most fisherman that have nearly everything are NOT beginners. We still want to include the information but recommend shying away from basic, beginner type gear for fisherman that seemingly have everything.
For beginners, focus on the basics and think about the below options:
- Budget to intermediate quality rods and reels
- Assorted Tackle
- Lures
- Hooks
- Jigs
- General Fishing Accessories
- Pliers
- Fillet knife
- Rod socks
- Net
- Fishing Clothes
- Tackle box or bag
Avoid niche gimmicks and focus on useful items for beginners.
Don’t be afraid to purchase high quality items for beginner anglers. For example, a set of high-end fishing pliers would last them a long time and they’d think about you every time the remove the hook from a fish!
Considerations for Intermediate Angler Gifts
Intermediate anglers are just catching their stride with their fishing gear. They may have a decent inventory but are still determining preferred fishing gear and techniques. Shopping for intermediate anglers is generally a balance of purchasing useful kit pieces and high quality items they may not buy for themselves.
For gifts for intermediate angler, focus on the below categories:
- Intermediate to high-end rods and reels
- High quality accessory upgrades like fillet knives, pliers, and fish scales
- High quality fishing clothes
- Consumable fishing items like high-end lures
- Fishing experiences like a chartered fishing trip or fishing vacation
Intermediate anglers likely have a reasonably well-stocked tackle box and don’t need the basics. They probably only have a few rods and reels so a new high-quality rod and reel setup in a new length, power, and action could be a great gift.
Considerations for Advanced Angler Gifts
Advanced anglers are the toughest to shop for. They generally own high quality equipment that they’ve hand-picked after years of fishing. But not all is lost! There are still plenty of great options for gifts for advanced anglers.
For gifts for advanced angler, focus on the below categories:
- High quality accessory upgrades like fillet knives, pliers, and fish scales
- High quality fishing clothes
- Consumable fishing items like high-end lures
- Fishing experiences like a chartered fishing trip or fishing vacation
Avoid low quality gear for advanced anglers, especially for primary gear like rods and reels. Advanced anglers probably have a decent equipment inventory that they’ve tailored over years of fishing. Rods and reels can still be great gifts for advanced anglers just make sure they are high enough quality that they’re actually desirable to the gift receiver.
Angler Gear Quality Preferences
Angler personality for gear quality preferences is an important consideration for gift giving. Some anglers only buy the best equipment money can buy. Others are more than happy using budget gear until it breaks then they purchase a replacement.
Budget Angler Considerations
Budget anglers are generally easier to shop for. They will appreciate intermediate quality gear which makes life much easier for the gift giver! Solid quality rods, reels, and fishing accessories are great options for budget anglers. Don’t be afraid to purchase high-end options as well!
Best Money Can Buy Angler Considerations
Many hobbyists whether they fish, hunt, woodwork, paint, or whatever they spend their time on prefer to only buy the best gear money can buy. If you are buying a gift for someone like this, take this quality preference into account!
For example, instead of buying this person a budget $25 fishing rod they won’t use, get them something more appropriate for the $25 price point.
Angler Preferred Fishing Styles
Fishing may sound simple enough but there are a multitude of fishing styles and techniques for numerous target fish species. Every angler has preferences to fishing techniques and the specific gear required to catch their preferred type of fish.
Common fishing styles to consider when tailoring a gift:
- What is their target fish species?
- Do they fish saltwater or freshwater?
- Boat, wading, or shore fishing?
- Lake, river, pond, inshore, or ocean fishing?
- Catch and release or trying to fill the freezer?
- Soaking live bait or actively casting?
Understanding an angler’s preferred fishing style can greatly help pick a solid fishing gift.
For example, a wade fisherman may really appreciate a waterproof dry bag whereas a beach angler doesn’t need a dry bag as much.
Gift Budget
Gift budget is important when picking the best fishing gifts. We generally recommend buying high-quality gear in the budget range available. For example, a $25 budget will NOT afford a high-end fishing rod but is plenty for great quality fishing pliers or fishing accessory.
Great quality gear is almost always a safe bet when purchasing fishing gifts. The only time we recommend budget fishing gear gifts is for true beginners where you enable them to start fishing in a specific way.
Why trust us for picking fishing gifts for the fisherman that has everything?
Our whole extended family fishes! I’ve been picking fishing gifts for all price points, skill levels, angler personalities for birthday gifts, father’s day presents, Christmas presents, white elephant gifts, and stocking stuffers for over twenty-five years. I’ve seen what went over well, and what did not. Not everything on this list works for every angler, but I guarantee there’s at least one item on here that will be a hit!
Written By: Andrew Juran
Andrew is a seasoned angler with over 25 years of experience fishing across the United States. He has caught hundreds of fish using various techniques and mentored many in the art of fishing. An advocate for sustainable fishing, Andrew is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, an organization committed to marine conservation.
For frequent fishing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and real-time catches, connect with Andrew on Instagram
