2023 Father’s Day Gift Guide

(Above) Brian Mulderrig of Cold Spring Harbor, NY shared this photo during week eight of On The Water’s Striper Cup in 2022.

A common theme among many anglers is that our fathers introduced us to fishing in our youth. Whether your time with dad was spent with worms and bobbers at the local pond, chunking pogies from the beach, or bouncing jigs in the back bays, those memories stick with us forever. This Father’s Day, show dad how much you appreciate him with a gift that expresses gratitude for those memories, or a gift that will help you make new ones together.
 
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On The Water Striper Ribbon Belt
For those off-the-water outings, keep Dad looking sharp and flying his striped bass flag with the Striper Ribbon Belt.
$50; store.onthewater.com

Papa’s Pilar Sherry Finished Rum
After a great day of fishing with Dad, toast with this dark-rum blend, further aged in Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks, and its complex flavor profile of decadent hazelnut, toffee, layered spice, and toasted oak.
$51; shoppapapilarsrum.com

Bubba Pro Series Smart Fish Scale
This bluetooth-compatible digital scale touts a 60-pound weight limit and features Bubba’s non-slip grip handle for easy handling in wet conditions or after holding fish for photos. With an IPX7 waterproof rating and 3 different modes to track bag weight and live well management, this rechargeable scale is a must-have tool for Dad to add to his ever-growing arsenal of bass fishing gear.
$230; bubba.com

SIONYX Nightwave Camera
Nightwave is an ultra-low-light camera that allows mariners of all levels to easily spot obstacles and debris in moonless starlight without white light or expensive thermal cameras.  That means safe navigation by avoiding collisions and maximizing time on the water, keeping Dad safe on those zero-dark-thirty departures.
$1,595; sionyx.com

Daiwa Free Swimmer Spinning Reel
Whether Dad enjoys soaking clams for striped bass or chunking bluefish for sharks on the beach, Daiwa’s Free Swimmer is equipped with a manual and automatic clutch system that allows the angler to vary the resistance speed of the bait when the bail is closed and clutch is released. With Daiwa’s Digigear technology, the Free Swimmer boasts gears that 20- to 40-percent larger than standard to provide prolonged durability and extended gear life after years of battling powerful gamefish. Available in 8000 and 10000 sizes.
$200; daiwa.us

SeaGuar TactX Braid
This four-strand braided line was designed to combine precision long-casting abilities with supreme abrasion resistance without sacrificing sensitivity. The result is a low-visibility, no-stretch fishing line that excels in areas with dense vegetation or rugged, craggy structure, so Dad can fish with confidence wherever the next on-the-water adventure takes him. Includes a 5-yard Seaguar leader.
starting at $24; seaguar.com

AFTCO Ankle Deck Boots
These neoprene lined deck boots feature a hex grip non-marking outsole for safe use on wet or bloody boat decks so Dad can stop beating up his old sneakers while staying comfortable and prepared for any conditions at sea.
$99; aftco.com

Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
Help Dad keep his fillets as fresh as the day they were caught with this stainless-steel chamber vacuum sealer that features a tempered glass lid for full visibility and adjustable timing on vacuum and sealing functions for different fillet sizes and pouch styles.
$370; avidarmor.com

Costa Del Mar Mainsail Sunglasses
As a part of Costa’s hybrid category—frames that blend performance features with everyday style—the Mainsail frames are built with the same high-quality materials and features you want everywhere from the beach to the big blue sea. Micro side shields and hooding keep out excess light, and improved Hydrolite grips keep frames in place.
$242; costadelmar.com

Nick Mayer Art Phone Case
Whether Dad is Team Android or Team Apple, Nick Mayer has the smartphone case depicting his favorite fish species, from stripers and bluefin tuna to brook trout and bonefish.
starting at $43; nickmayerart.com

Shimano Saragosa SW Spinning Reel
For the father who’s a blue-water fanatic, this workhorse spinning reel features a waterproof drag and shielded A-RB bearings for a smooth, uninhibited-by-salt retrieve that is rounded off with a maximum drag capacity of 44 pounds to put the breaks on hard-hitting offshore species like tuna, wahoo, marlin and more.
starting at $270; fish.shimano.com

On The Water Striped Bass Socks 
Give a saltwater spin on the classic Father’s Day gift with the OTW Striper Socks.
$15; store.onthewater.com 

Mercer Sport 8-inch Tiger Edge Slicer Knife
This ice-hardened, high carbon German steel blade was designed for long-lasting durability and performance. It features a comfortable non-slip grip and a uniquely serrated “tiger edge” which makes light work of bony or tough-skinned fish to guarantee that Dad won’t mutilate tonight’s fresh-caught dinner on the fillet table.
$19; mercersport.com

Simms Splash Cast Jacket
Designed for the foul-weather fishing dad, this jacket is constructed to seal out water with features like a roll away adjustable storm hood, a high drawcord collar and neoprene wrist cuffs and hem with hook and loop closure to eliminate moisture while retaining body heat.
$350; simmsfishing.com

Rapala X-Rap Long Cast
With its inline single hooks and deep-diving, long-casting abilities, it’s like Rapala designed this lure specifically for striped bass fishermen. Whether fishing from the surf or by boat, with the X-Rap Long Cast, Dad can bomb casts from a safe-distance to avoid spooking fish so he can catch and release more striped bass this season. Available in 2 sizes.
starting at $13; rapala.com

Limited Edition Columbia PFG Striper Cup Shirt
Sign up Dad for On The Water’s Striper Cup and he’ll get a special edition performance shirt from Columbia PFG along with a bundle of striper fishing gear including: a Striper Cup tape measure, a Rapala X-Rap Long Cast, free swag from our sponsors, and a free admission ticket to StriperFest 2023 where he could win a brand new Tidewater 210 CC Adventure!
$65; stripercup.com

Old Town Sportsman Discovery Solo 119 Canoe
At 56 pounds, the Old Town Sportsman Discovery Solo 119 canoe is the ideal grab-and-go watercraft for Dad on his quiet water outings. It offers the simplicity and utility of a solo canoe with the agility and sleek handling of a kayak and comes equipped with a myriad of features, including two flush-mount rod holders, recessed track on forward thwart for easy accessory mounting, and a comfort-flex kayak-style seat.
$1,250; oldtownwatercraft.johnsonoutdoors.com

Seasons of the Striper: Pursuing the Great American Gamefish
Bill Sisson puts readers in his own shoes as he delves into decades worth of striped bass fishing knowledge, covering the striper’s highs and lows in this hardcover account of  the Atlantic coast’s favorite fish.
$33; amazon.com

Shimano Trevala B Jigging Rods
When pops needs a do-it-all rod equipped for jigging, chunking, bottom fishing or throwing plugs, the Trevala B fits the bill. The powerful TC4 blanks are built for durability and comfort with contoured EVA grips, a Fuji reel seat, SeaGuide aluminum oxide guides, and a rubber gimbal butt end for easy attachment to the fighting belt on those days when the biggins come out to play. Available in spinning and casting models.
$190; fish.shimano.com

Z-Man Bait LockerZ
Built with 600 denier waterproof fabric, Z-Man’s Bait LockerZ is a specially designed “cooler” built to stow up to 50 packages of Z-Man ElaZtech baits so that when Dad inevitably leaves them in the truck this summer, they are safe from weather, water damage and melting against other soft plastics.
$70; zmanfishing.com

G. Loomis NRX Inshore Rod 
Get Dad his new favorite light-tackle striper and albie rod with the super light, sensitive, and strong, high-modulus inshore rod built with casting accuracy and fish-stopping power in mind.
Starting at $715; gloomis.com

GoPro Hero 11
The newest GoPro makes it easier than ever for Dad to document and share the day’s fishing, with highlight videos sent to his phone automatically. A new, larger image sensor captures more of the scene with higher image quality, letting Dad instantly share vertical shots to social media.
Starting at $400; gopro.com

HUK Waypoint Wading Pants
Designed to provide Dad with practical comfort, these bottoms are highlighted by HUK’s Water Block technology and UPF 50+ rating to keep him both dry and protected from the sun’s rays during long hours on the water. They even feature a pocket for his pliers so there’s no fumbling around when it comes time to dehook and/or release the catch.
$85; hukgear.com

Xuron 496 Split Ring Pliers
New split ring pliers from the Xuron Corp. of Saco, Maine feature a curved-catch tip, designed to make repairs and hook changes quick and simple by holding the ring open without the need for other tools. The high-carbon steel pliers feature non-slip rubber grips for comfortable positioning through repetitious hook swapping.
$22; xuron.com

Fin-Nor Popper Sunglasses with Lateral Line Lenses
The Popper is a large, full-coverage frame fitted with Fin-Nor’s new low-light, high-contrast lens to help Dad spot fish and structure during dawn and dusk outings.
$199; fin-nor.com

Yeti LoadOut GoBox 15
The versatile, waterproof, and impact-resistant GoBox is sure to be a big hit with Dad for keeping his gear organized and protected between garage, truck, and boat.
$125; yeti.com

Infinity X1 Hybrid Headlamp
With an IPX8 waterproof rating and 8 different beam modes that shine up to 750 lumens and last over 2 hours on high power mode, this powerful headlamp allows Dad to dunk his head in the surf or fish for hours in pouring rain without worry of losing light.
$69; infinityx1.com