Every year, a wave of new fishing products hits the market. Each new hoodie, plug, or spinning reel promises a fresh and exciting way to enhance our experience on the water while pursuing our desired species. Experimenting with new gear is part of what makes each season fun. That said, I’ve come to appreciate the tackle and gear I find myself restocking year after year: the pieces of gear that have earned their place through consistent, proven results.
As February gives way to March, I start bouncing from herring run to herring run, searching for the first elusive alewives of the season. For me, that moment marks the true beginning of the saltwater fishing season—and it’s usually when I begin gearing up for the months ahead.
Over time, I’ve realized that every season comes with a short list of “must-have” lures, tackle, and apparel that I return to time and time again. These staples change depending on the species I’m targeting, but together they form the foundation of my inshore fishing pursuits in Buzzards Bay.
– Adam Eldridge, Video Production Manager
» Check out the rest of the OTW Staff’s Field Test Favorites from the 2025 Fishing Season
XTRATUF Ankle Deck Boots
I got my first pair of XTRATUF’s Ankle Deck Boots back in 2016, when the On The Water Store had just opened. Since then, I’ve worn that same pair of boots for nearly 10 seasons of fishing and filming On The Water’s Angling Adventures. They were put through a lot of challenging scenarios (including being filled with tuna blood on an October shoot with Fish Chatham Charters), and they held up very well over the years. Sadly, last year they transitioned into general outdoor boots for yard work, as they finally cracked after countless trips spent hopping in and out of boats and being doused in salt and blood.
These days, most pieces of gear don’t hold up for nearly a decade, so when I needed a new deck boot for the 2025 fishing season, I had to stick with the XTRATUF Ankle Deck Boots, which I’m sure will last for years to come.
AFTCO Reaper Hooded Sweatshirt
The AFTCO Reaper Hoodie is one of the most versatile and heavily worn pieces of fishing attire in my wardrobe. This hoodie is thick, warm and stain resistant, but it is also breathable, which makes it an excellent choice for those chilly spring mornings that later turn into warm, sunny afternoons.
7′ Daiwa BG 4000/701MH Spinning Combo
In my home waters of Buzzards Bay, this combo is light enough to make every fight exciting but has enough backbone to handle all of the species in the bay, from angry gator blues and over-slot stripers to keeper tautog and fluke. At seven feet, it’s also a good length for both shore and boat and it’s a convenient size for transporting in any vehicle. I’ve used this combo for a few seasons now and really enjoy the versatility and consistency it provides.
Deadly Dick Long Casting & Jigging Spoon
Depending on the species, casting distance and color selection (in my opinion) are two really important things to consider when fishing. Deadly Dicks afford me plenty of distance, rarely lead to wind knots, and mimic slender baitfish profiles so well that everything seems to eat them. I’m a big fan of fishing metals, especially in upper Buzzards Bay, due to there being a good mix of bluefish in any striped bass blitz. The metal construction holds up to the teeth of the blues and the lure itself is long enough to grab and easily unhook an angry bluefish (the snappers can be especially angry). These lures are also highly productive when jigging for black sea bass in the spring. The green and silver colors in the 1.25- to 1.75-ounce range are my go-tos for casting into blitzing fish from shore or boat.
Luhr Jensen Crippled Herring Spoon
When late summer weather transitions to fall and the average size of baitfish decreases—peanut bunker and bay anchovies abound—this lure effectively matches the bait and fools aggressive fall run fish from stripers to bonito. I usually go with the 1/2- or 3/4-ounce sizes for the fall run, as matching the size and profile is crucial to tricking gamefish keyed in on tiny bait.
Acme Tackle Little Cleo Spoon
Most of my freshwater fishing is done between the end of the fall tautog season and beginning of the spring tautog season, so when fall the fall tog bite finally wanes, it’s time to put away the salt gear and break out the trout and bass rods. This red and gold Little Cleo spoon (around 2/5 oz.) is the right size, weight, and color to attract plenty of attention in the kettle ponds. In the spring of 2025, it got more bites than any other trout lure in my arsenal.
One of my favorite 2025 fishing adventures was the day the ospreys returned to Cape Cod. OTW’s Assistant Editor Matt Haeffner and I went on a lunch break trout outing and did incredibly well catching rainbow after rainbow on this lure. The bite was so good that I ended up buying about a dozen more Little Cleos when I got back to the office.
SPRO Prime Bucktail Jigs
Fluke is a species I’ve been increasingly excited to target over the last couple of years. They are delicious, challenging to hook, and incredibly fun to catch (although sometimes, landing them is not guaranteed). Every summer, I make a couple of dedicated attempts to fish for fluke from shore in hopes of catching a keeper or two for the dinner table.
These 1- to 2-ounce Prime Bucktail Jigs from SPRO, paired with a proper trailer, have been incredibly effective fluke presentations, especially the white or chartreuse jigs tipped with a white or green trailer.
Breakwater Supply Halocline Waterproof Shoe
Deck boots are great for boats, but I’ve found that they sometimes lack the grip needed for fishing from shore and I usually end up just swamping them.
If you’re looking for a comfortable pair of shoes that are waterproof and durable, check out the Halcoline shoes from Breakwater Supply. These come in handy when I’m covering ground and fishing in the shallows of local ponds targeting bass and trout, or wading for fluke in the summer. The adjustable strap and fit make them snug, warm, and dry so I don’t have to worry about rolling an ankle or stepping on sharp rocks and shells. The fit is exceptionally comfortable to the point where I’m wearing these more than my traditional sneakers these days.
READ MORE
