Food to Bring on a Fishing Trip [Snacks, Lunches and Sandwiches]

Fishing trips are great, but only if you pack everything you need! Whether is it only an afternoon fishing on a local lake, or a multi-day expedition in the wilderness, it requires a little bit of planning ahead.

Everyone packs the bait carefully, but what about your own food? What to bring on a fishing trip so that you don’t feel hungry?

Food for fishing trip depends on a location and transportation. If you are going on a nearby lake that is accessible by car you can take absolutely anything, even the whole barbecue! But, if you are hiking to a wild river, take something that is highly nutritious, has high calorie value, it is light to carry, and easy to prepare.

Snacks and sandwiches are always a good option, but be careful with sandwiches if you are going on a multi-day trip. I will later tell you why!

Also, make sure that you always have enough food because fishing when you are hungry is not a good idea.

Here are a few ideas that are simple and will do the job well!

What to Bring on a Fishing Trip? [Essentials]

Essentials for a fishing trip can be vary a lot, depending on where you are going and when. Basic items are of yours fishing gear like rods, reels, baits, lures, and everything else you can fit into your tackle box.

Chairs to sit on, especially in winter, are good to have. You always need some water and food, at least some snacks, even if fishing for only a few hours.

Multi-day trips may require tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, lights, batteries, navigation devices, and everything that will make your trip safe and comfortable. Portable coolers are also great.

Spare clothes are always good to have, especially in winter or in rainy days.

Other things that are great to have are sunglasses, bug spray, sun protection, maps of the area including land and water, first aid, good pair of boots is always a plus, multi-tool, any kind of medications you need.

This list also depends on a location. If you will be fishing from a large boat or shore location that is accessible by a vehicle, you can take anything. But, if you have to carry it yourself, pack lightly, and take only the essentials.

And never forget your fishing license!

What Food Should You Bring on a Fishing Trip? [One Day, Three Days, etc.]

Food for fishing trip can be various, and there is something for everyone’s taste. Here is a fishing trip food checklist for various trip durations:

ONE DAY TRIP:

Snacks are a good option, and I don’t mean chips and chocolate. You can take various nuts like peanuts which are tasty. If dry roasted, then they are healthy too and have a high calorie value.

Another option is very popular in the US and that is beef jerky. In addition to that, you can take any kind of sandwiches for fishing trip, which can be bought or prepared at home. Sandwiches are a great option because you don’t have to spend any time for food preparation, and you can focus on fishing.

Fruits like apples or bananas are also great. I personally like “heaver” food in winter, but something fresh and light during very hot summer days.

You can also take pretzels, crackers, cheese, and similar food that will get you through the day.

TWO/THREE DAY WEEKEND TRIP

Food for multi-day trips depends on your accommodation. If you are in a vacation home or hotel, you can eat breakfast and dinner in your accommodation, while you need only lunch through the day. And some snacks between meals. If that is the case, you can do the same as you would on one day trip.

But, if you are camping or have limited cooking options, plan carefully. Make sure that you have enough for 3 meals per day, and snacks in between.

Forget sandwiches, at least those with meat and dairy products as those can easily spoil in high temperatures.

Protein bars and nut mix snacks are great in between meals. They are easy to carry and will give you energy.

Dried fruits are another excellent option here. And for the main course?

Pasta is a good option, especially those that come packed together with the “sauce” and you can just throw them in boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. It is not the healthiest option, but it is easy to prepare even on camping stoves.

Bread is also an option, but some of those darker versions, with seeds and nuts. They last much longer than regular white bread. Eat it with peanut butter which can be kept in any temperature.

Canned food is great, like beans, which you can heat up on a camping stoved. Canned tuna is a good breakfast option.

Cans are a bit heavier to carry but they will not spoil in hot or humid weather conditions.

Pre-packed pastries are a good option, because they can last for days without spoiling.

And of course, the best lunch you can have is a fish you just caught!

Besides all of this, don’t forget to bring water if drinking water is not available on a location. If you are not sure, never drink water from creeks and similar sources. If you absolutely must, use water purification tablets and boil the water. You need to drink at least 2 liter per day, even more if you are moving a lot or sweating in hot weather.

How Do You Prepare Food While Fishing? [Easy Lunches]

Easy lunches for fishing can be prepared in minutes, so that you spend more time fishing and less time cooking!

Some foods don’t even have to be prepared, and you can unpack them and eat. That is one of the best and easiest options if you are spending time in nature with limited resources. You need water and a small pot. Small pots are light enough to carry in your backpack and don’t occupy a lot of space. To maximize the use of space, you fill the pot with items or food.

Canned food and pasta can be heated/cooked on camping stoves within minutes. If allowed in your location, you can even make a campfire and use it to thermally process food, like fish you just caught. If something like that can be done, you can cook anything if you have time to sit around it.

One of the good breakfast or dinner ideas is cooking oatmeal. Buy quick oats and mix ½ cup of them with one cup of water. Cook until done. To make it delicious, add some dried fruits when cooked.

Instant soups can be made by just adding them into hot water, without cooking. Instant noodles too.

These may not be the tastiest or the healthiest foods, but they are extremely easy to make, and eating a hot meal after all day on the water feels amazing, especially during colder months.

You have many other options too that require just a few minutes of cooking, like couscous. Use your imagination. All of the options stated here are great because they will not spoil no matter the weather conditions.

If you want, you can always take some meat and use it for lunch the first day, before it spoils, and make a great barbecue. Just make sure to check local rules about it.

What are Good Snacks for a Fishing Trip?

Fishing snacks should be tasty and give you a lot of energy. Maybe even be healthy if you prefer it like that. Personally, I like foods that can fit into my pocket so that I can occasionally eat a few bites.

Peanuts, cashew nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, dried banana chips, sunflower seeds, and similar foods are great. If you like sweets, you can take a candy bar or a chocolate bar. Even some granola bars. Chocolate may not be the best option for warm days as it will melt and be a mess to eat.

I do not like to carry snacks like potato chips because those packs occupy too much space.

Beef jerky is very popular in some parts of the world, and I think that it is a great option.

If you want your snacks to fill you up a bit more, because you don’t have time for cooking lunch, think about pre-packed donuts, cookies with any kind of filling, or bagels.

What will you take on a fishing trip depends on your taste. Just make sure to choose foods that will not spoil and give you food poisoning.

What are the Best Sandwiches for a Fishing Trip?

The best sandwiches for fishing are those you like the best! Seriously, you can make any kind of a sandwich for a one-day trip.

Some prefer large and “heavy” options like roasted beef sandwich. Others may like it with grilled chicken. If you are a vegetarian, you can put all kinds of vegetables in it, tofu, soy, or whatever you prefer.

Some anglers like simple options like two pieces of bread and some cheese and salami in between. Your options are unlimited.

I like grilled cheese sandwiches, although I prefer them warm, not cold.

But, as I said, for a day trip. If you do not have a cooler, you do not want to eat a piece of grilled chicken, eggs, or mayonnaise that was sitting in the sun for three days.

If you really want a sandwich that will last longer, buy one of those pre-packed sandwiches that contain preservatives, and take the one that doesn’t have meat, fish, or diary products in it. I know that you may not be a vegetarian, but vegetables and vegetarian ingredients won`t become dangerous to eat after a day or two.

Should You Eat the Fish You Catch? [Catch and Release]

We all know that fish is very healthy to eat. It is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which play a vital role in our bodies.

Omega 3 are healthy fats and can actually lower your cholesterol levels. Beside that, various fish species contain minerals that benefit us too.

But, does all of this means that you should eat what you catch? Well, it depends on local rules and regulations. If the waters you are fishing in are catch and release only, then you shouldn’t keep any fish.

But if keeping fish is allowed, why not! Although I like to practice catch and release, occasionally preparing a healthy lunch is great. You just have to keep in mind that you should not keep more than allowed daily limit. You should never keep more than you can eat either, even if that is allowed.

Catching your own fish for food is great because you can rest assured that it is fresh. You also know the quality of the water where the fish was caught. And in addition to that, it is more environmentally friendly than buying fish from large commercial fisheries.

Conclusion

What to bring on a fishing trip depends on a location and your needs. Make sure that you are always safe and protected. Spare clothes, food and water are items you should never go without.

When it comes to fish, don’t forget bait, lures, and other necessary equipment. A fishing net is also great, to help you land a big one!

On multi-day trips carry only the food that will not spoil, as stated above, because the last thing you need are digestion problems in the middle of nowhere!