Travel Fishing Gear
My Minimal fishing setup for full-time travel the best fishing gear for travel across Australia
The Best Fishing Gear For Travel
My Van Life Fishing Setup
Travel fishing gear needs to be simple, lightweight, and reliable — especially when you’re living full-time on the road. Over the years, I’ve refined my setup to a small, versatile kit that lets me fish anywhere, from remote beaches and rocky headlands to quiet jetties at sunrise.
This is the exact fishing gear I travel with full-time in my van. Everything here has earned its place through real-world use — gear I trust to handle everything from whiting and flathead to snapper and larger reef species, without overcomplicating things.
If you’re building your own travel fishing setup, this page will give you a practical, no-fluff breakdown of what actually works on the road.
Want to see this gear in action? I use this exact setup in my fishing and van life videos over on my YouTube.
On This Page:
Jump to a section below to explore each part of my fishing gear.
Travel Fishing Rods & Reels
When it comes to travel fishing rods and reels, versatility matters more than anything. Living full-time in a van means I don’t have the space to carry a full tackle shop — so I’ve built a small, reliable setup that covers almost every situation I come across on the road.
From light jetty sessions and beach fishing to heavier rock and reef setups, this kit is designed to handle a wide range of conditions without overcomplicating things. It’s a balance of strength, weight, and practicality — gear that’s easy to travel with but still capable when it counts.
Everything below is what I actually carry and use full-time. It’s been refined through real-world use across Australia, and each rod and reel has earned its place in my setup.
My Travel Fishing Rods & Reels:
Tiny Fishing Rod: Ugly Stik Gold 4’6″ 1pc 4-8kg Spin Rod
Tiny Reel: Shimano 24 Vanford FA 2500HG
Lightweight Rod: Daiwa 23 TD Black Shake’N’Bake II 7′ 2pc 5-10kg
Lightweight Reel: Shimano 24 Vanford FA C3000HG
Medium Travel Rod: Jabbers Game Changer 735
Medium Fishing Reel: Penn Authority 4500HS Spin Reel
Heavy Rod: Daiwa 26 Saltist Hyper Spin Rod
Heavy Fishing Reel: Penn Authority 6500
Extra Heavy Fishing Reel: Penn Authority 8500
Soft Plastics & Fishing Lures for Travel
Soft plastics and fishing lures are where I keep my setup the most simple — but also the most versatile. Instead of carrying a huge range of tackle, I focus on a small selection that consistently works across different species and conditions.
This approach keeps my travel fishing gear lightweight and practical, while still giving me the flexibility to fish beaches, jetties, rocky headlands, and estuaries. A few proven soft plastics, matched with the right jigheads and a handful of reliable hard-body lures, can cover almost everything I need on the road.
Everything below is what I consistently carry and use full-time. These are the lures I trust when chasing species like whiting, flathead, snapper, and whatever else shows up.
My Go-To Soft Plastics & Fishing Lures:
4″ Soft Plastics: ZMan 4″ Scented Jerk ShadZ
5″ Soft Plastics: ZMan Scented Jerk ShadZ 5”
5″ Soft Plastics: ZMan DieZel MinnowZ 5′
7″ Soft Plastics: ZMan Scented Jerk ShadZ 7”
Yellowfin Whiting Lures: Infeet Slippery Dog 65F
Whiting Hooks: Tackle Tactics Y-Ting Jighead 1/8oz
Whiting Soft Plastics: ZMan Finesse Wormz 4″
Prawns: ZMan EZ ShrimpZ Rigged 3.5”
Crawfish: ZMan Turbo CrawZ 4”
Fishing Storage & Organisation for Travel
Keeping fishing gear organised is just as important as the gear itself — especially when you’re living out of a van or travelling full-time. Space is limited, so everything needs to be compact, easy to access, and well organised.
My fishing storage setup is built around simplicity and efficiency. I use a small number of tackle boxes and storage solutions that keep everything sorted without taking up unnecessary space. It means I can grab what I need quickly, stay organised on the road, and spend more time fishing instead of digging through gear.
This is the travel-friendly storage system I use to manage my rods, lures, and accessories — a simple setup that keeps everything protected, accessible, and ready to go wherever I end up fishing.
My Fishing Storage & Organisation Setup:
Backpack + Storage: Black Magic Tackle Backpack
Lure Storage #1: Double Sided Lure/Squid Jig Box
Clear Storage #2: 9 Pcs Fishing Tool Storage Kit
Waterproof Organiser: Whistytwig Fishing Tackle Box
Fishing Line Storage: Fishing Line Storage Box
Fishing Rod Holder: Berkley Twist Lock Utility 4 Rod Rack
Reel Holder: Fishing Reel Wall Holders
Essential Fishing Accessories for Travel
When it comes to fishing accessories, I keep things simple — if it doesn’t make my life easier on the road, it doesn’t stay in the kit. Small items can make a huge difference, but only if they’re used regularly. My setup focuses on a handful of essential fishing accessories that improve efficiency, organisation, and overall ease while fishing.
Things like pliers, line cutters, leaders, and small tools might not seem like much, but they’re the gear you reach for constantly. This is the collection of accessories I carry full-time — practical, reliable items that make fishing smoother without adding unnecessary bulk to my setup.
My Essential Fishing Accessories:
Braid: Tasline Elite x8 Braid
Leader: Daiwa J-Thread Fluorocarbon Leader
Filleting Knife: Victorinox Swibo Filleting Knife Set 3pc
Measuring: Daiwa Fish Measure Mat Large Black Large
Dive Boots: Cressi Isla Boots
Dive Gloves: Cressi Unisex High-Stretch Neoprene
Dive Mask: Cressi Mask and Snorkel Calibro & Corsica
Dive Fins: Cressi Agua Black Diving Swim Fin
See My Gear in Action
Want to see how I actually use this gear? Explore my latest videos, journal posts, shop, and portfolio below.
Explore My Full Travel Gear Setup
My Entire Travel Setup
This is the full travel setup I use while living and working on the road. Each section breaks down a specific part of my gear — from photography and filming to hiking, camping, and fishing — all built around lightweight, practical equipment that actually works in real-world conditions. If you’re building your own setup, this will give you a clear starting point.
Travel Photography Gear
The lightweight photography, filmmaking, and vlogging gear I actually use while travelling full-time around Australia.
Hiking & Camping Gear
A ultralight hiking and camping setup built for long hikes, remote trips, and full-time travel.
Campervan Gear Australia
The real-world campervan gear, accessories, and systems I use for full-time travel across Australia.
Let’s Stay Connected
Get honest stories from the road, practical lessons I’ve learnt living on the road, new videos, behind-the-scenes adventures, and things I don’t always share publicly.