We have finally had a couple of nice days here on the island and we have been able to get out to the Point for some fishing. I decided to talk about tackle bag tools this week because I saw several folks who could have used some of these tools. If you are new to fishing, these are things you need to keep in mind when outfitting your tackle bag. If you have been fishing for a while you probably have some other suggestions to add to the list so feel free to share them in the comments. Click here for tackle box necessities:

1. Needle Nose Pliers - these are great to help you remove hooks from your catch's mouth. These are also helpful when handling skates. I saw several people using their fishing rod, bare feet, buckets and sand spikes to try and push skates back into the ocean this week. If you catch a skate, flip it over on it's back using the fishing line, then use the pliers to remove the hook from its mouth. To return the skate to the water safely, you can grab its by its nose with your hand or use the pliers to grab it by the tail and carry it back to the water.
2. Fingernail Clippers - these are great for clipping your line. You can go with standard nail clippers or upgrade to a Boomerang Snip. The retractable Snip from Boomerang offers anglers an alternative to awkward, easily misplaced cutting tools like scissors and nail clippers. It is compact, lightweight and durable, it features precise, corrosion-resistant 420-grade stainless steel blades that slice through monofilament, fluorocarbon and even braid (50-lb. test) like butter. The Boomerang Snip comes on a 36" retractable leash making it convenient to use.
3. Bait knife - a good bait knife is very important when using cut bait. To keep in good shape, use the full knife and run it back and forth gently to keep from squishing the bait. You can also use the back side of the bait knife to scrape the scales off the bait prior to cutting it in chunks to make it easier to run the hook through. I tend to prefer bait knives that come in a sheath to protect the blade.
4. Cutting board - it is great to have a small cutting board so that you don't scratch your cooler lid when trying to cut your bait
5. Tape Measure - it is important to know the fishing regulations for the area you are fishing and to have a tape measure on hand to check and see if you just reeled in a keeper. Trust me, it is much less expensive to buy a tape measure than to get caught with a fish that is too small.

Below are some ideas to help outfit your tackle box.