Family Holiday Essentials

Gareth holiday fishing setup on the rocks

Gareth’s Go-To Travel Fishing Setup

For many anglers, a family holiday isn’t complete without packing at least a bit of fishing gear. Whether it’s a few casts from the rocks or exploring a new stretch of coastline, there’s something special about wetting a line somewhere new.

Gareth Richards, an experienced angler from our Mail Order Department at Glasgow Angling Centre, knows this feeling well. Whenever he heads abroad, his fishing gear comes too. He explains:

“As anglers we almost all like to sneak in a bit of fishing whenever we can, and for me that means taking gear on holiday! There’s nothing better than sitting on a rock somewhere in the world in your shorts and T-shirt, trying to catch something new.”

Gareth’s travel setup is compact, light, and capable of catching a wide range of species. The rise of Light Rock Fishing (LRF) has made this kind of spontaneous holiday fishing easier than ever. With a small rod, reel, and a handful of lures, you’re ready to fish almost anywhere in the world.

Menorca holiday catch close-up — Painted Comber

Light rock fishing on holiday — Blue Runner

Travel-sized LRF tackle selection — Blue Runner

Gareth’s Holiday Setup

He prefers a multi-section rod like the HTO Tempest Rock Rover. It packs down neatly for travel and comes with two interchangeable tips, allowing you to switch between styles without carrying multiple rods.

Paired with a 1000-size reel such as the Shimano Catana FE, it’s a versatile combo that handles both fresh and saltwater species with ease. Gareth spools his reel with Sunline Small Game PE Braid in the 5–8lb range and finishes it with a short Westin W6 ST3 Fluorocarbon Leader.

At the business end, Gareth keeps it simple with soft lures like Gulp Sandworm, Gulp Angleworm, and Marukyu Large White Isome Worm along with a few small paddle tails. For extra versatility, he packs a few metal lures such as the HTO Tic Tac.

With just a small tackle box of jig heads, dropshot weights, and hooks, this setup is easy to travel with and capable of catching a wide variety of fish, perfect for any angler heading abroad.