If you enjoy surf fishing, pier fishing, or any kind of fishing that requires a lot of equipment, then you know the struggle of getting all the gear from your car to your fishing location.
It can take three or even five trips to get everything to be where it should.
But with a fishing cart, you can cut your journeys down to a single trip.
… you can spend your time fishing instead of hauling luggage …
Fishing carts are designed to carry all your gear and some, so you can spend your time fishing instead of hauling luggage to and from the car.
The Best Surf Fishing Cart From The Review
Top Pick
Fish N Mate Fishing Cart
The cart is a favorite amongst anglers who enjoy surf fishing thanks to its lightweight design, large size, and it’s excellent maneuverability over sand
Fish N Mate Fishing Cart
The best fishing cart overall is the Fish N Mate Fishing Cart.
These carts are light, durable, corrosion-resistant, and are designed for fishing next to the surf.
There is ample room for all your equipment and a cooler, the wheels work well on sand, it’ll fit in the trunk of your car, and it has multiple holders for your poles.
Best Value
Berkley Sportsmans Fishing Cart
Made from heavy-duty steel for durability, this cart features an electrostatic finish that will block any corrosion. It’s perfect for anglers who fish light.
Berkley Sportsmans Fishing Cart
The best fishing cart if you want to save a few bucks on the price is the Berkley Sportsman’s fishing cart.
These carts have the lowest price of all of the carts in the review, are durable, work well on sand, and have enough space for most of your equipment.
Editor’s Choice
Elkton Outdoors Rolling Tackle Box
This cart/backpack combo is perfect if you’re the kind of person who likes their gear immaculately organized. It features a steel frame with a waterproof polyester bag around it.
Elkton Outdoors Rolling Tackle Box
The best fishing cart in my eyes is the Elkton Outdoors cart.
This cart is an OCD fisherman’s dream and features multiple pockets within a waterproof bag for the ultimate lure organization.
You also have the option to roll it around, carry it as a backpack, and it even has 4 holders for your fishing poles.
Our Best Fishing Carts
Top Pick
Fish N Mate Fishing Cart
The cart is a favorite amongst anglers who enjoy surf fishing thanks to its lightweight design, large size, and it’s excellent maneuverability over sand
Fish N Mate Fishing Cart
The Fish N Mate Fishing Cart is a favorite amongst anglers who enjoy surf fishing thanks to its lightweight design, large size, and it’s excellent maneuverability over sand.
Cart Material
The Fish N Mate surf fishing carts are made from durable and lightweight aluminum that is anodized for corrosion resistance.
Even if a wave hits this cart, no corrosion is going to settle in anywhere.
Wheels
The wheels on this Fish N Mate cart are oversized to provide good traction and make it easy to transport your gear when pulling it across the beach, no matter how overloaded it is.
Storage Space
From a space perspective, the Fish N Mate beach carts give you 48.5 x 20 inches to store all your equipment on.
There is enough room for a 50-quart cooler and it has raised sides to keep your gear from falling out.
With this beach cart, you’ll easily be able to take all the equipment you need in one trip without having to go back to the car.
Rod Holders
The beach cart also comes with eight rod holders so you can transport them rigged from fishing spot to fishing spot without any tangles.
Weight
At 25.5 lbs this cart is pretty light, and with the removable handle taken off, it’s small enough to fit in the trunk of your car so you can get it to the beach or pier with ease.
The only downside to this surf fishing cart is that it makes quite a lot of noise when in use, other than that it’s one of the best carts around in my opinion.
Specs
- Dimensions: 48.5 x 20 x 11 inches
- Weight: 25.5 lbs
- Rod Holders: 8
- Material: Aluminum
Pros
- Durable corrosion resistant beach fishing cart
- Good space for your fishing gear
- Multiple holders for your fishing rods
- Large wheels that handle the sand
- Easy to transport all your surf fishing tackle
- Enough space for a cooler
- Easily detachable handle for storage
- Lightweight and fits in the trunk of your car
Cons
- Quite noisy when moving
Best Value
Berkley Sportsmans Fishing Cart
Made from heavy-duty steel for durability, this cart features an electrostatic finish that will block any corrosion. It’s perfect for anglers who fish light.
Berkley Sportsmans Fishing Cart
The Berkley Sportsman’s Fishing Cart is made from heavy-duty steel for durability that features an electrostatic finish that will block any corrosion from getting inside the steel.
Portability
It’s the perfect type of item for anglers who fish light.
The smaller size of this heavy-duty cart makes it very portable and with a retractable handle, is easy to store in the trunk of your car.
Extra Features
The cart features a seat on top for you to relax on, an integrated cutting board, two holders for your fishing poles, and a storage box that is large enough for a large tackle bag or a small cooler.
Storage Space
The storage area comes with bars and straps to ensure your gear doesn’t fall out and is 24.9 x 14.8 inches large.
The size is enough to suit a lure fisherman, but if you go surf fishing with bait, then it might not be large enough for you.
Wheels
The cart has two large tires that make it easy to take down the beach or pier.
The tires are thick, durable, and won’t degrade due to heat or saltwater if you make sure you give them a rinse after being used.
Overall this is an excellent beach and pier fishing cart that will help you get your gear to your fishing spot quickly.
The only problem is that with a heavy rod and reel in the holders it can fall over, so be sure to secure it.
Specs
- Dimensions: 42.1 x 24.9 x 14.8 inches
- Weight: 25 lbs
- Rod Holders: 2
- Material: Steel
Pros
- Made from durable quality steel
- Steel is covered with a corrosion-resistant electrostatic finish
- Good space for all your tackle
- Carries two rods in the holders
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Has a comfortable seat to relax on
- Integrated cutting board for cutting bait
- Compact for storing and putting in your car
Cons
- Can fall over with heavy rods and reels
- Not enough space if need to take a lot of tackle
Mac Sports CAMO Mac Wagon
This surf fishing cart is good for the pier and compact, portable, and easy enough to fit into the trunk of your car. The storage space should also suit most of your needs.
Mac Sports CAMO Mac Wagon
The Mac Sports CAMO Mac Wagon is a different type of cart from the others featured and a wagon is quite an apt description.
Instead of having two wheels, this wagon has four wheels that give it stability and make it easier to haul a larger and heavier load.
Cart Material
The wagon is made from a collapsible steel frame that is coated for corrosion resistance along with a 600D polyester liner.
The cart collapses into a compact, portable package for easy transport and can easily fit into a car trunk.
Storage Space
Opening the cart is easy, just pull end to end, and once opened you’ll have a cart with a large 35 x 22 inch lined storage box for all your fishing equipment.
There is ample space for a cooler, and bait.
Honestly, you could fit pretty much anything you want in the cart quite easily.
Mobility
Having 4 wheels is an advantage when rolling your gear to the peer as it helps with weight distribution, but on the sand, the wheels don’t quite cut it as they are a little small.
Also, this pier cart does not have a great fishing design and you would probably want to consider adding some fishing rod holders to it.
Overall, this is a good surf fishing cart for the pier but it won’t help you much on the beach as the wheels will keep getting stuck and you’ll most likely end up dragging it along the sand.
Specs
- Dimensions: 35.49 x 20.18 x 22.5 inches
- Weight: 22.48 lbs
- Rod Holders: 0
- Material: 600D polyester & steel
Pros
- A great amount of storage space for tackle
- 4 wheels make it easy to pull around
- Lightweight and folds down for storage
- The handle is adjustable for comfort
- Cup holder for your drinks
Cons
- No holders for fishing rods
- The handle is a little loose
- Wheels are a bit small for a beach cart
Sea Striker BRSC-DLX Deluxe Surf Cart
This is a great option that meets most surf angler’s needs. It’ll help you transport all your fishing items from your car to the beach and save you valuable fishing time.
Sea Striker BRSC-DLX Deluxe Surf Cart
The Sea Striker Deluxe Surf Cart is a great option to consider that meets most surf angler’s needs. It’ll help you transport all your fishing items from your car to the beach and save you valuable fishing time not having to go back and forth.
Cart Material
The Sea Striker Deluxe Surf Cart is constructed from aluminum, a naturally corrosion-resistant metal that makes this cart as durable as they come.
This aluminum fishing cart will handle being splashed by saltwater all day long without you having to worry about any rust getting inside it.
Shape and Size
The fishing cart has a rectangular base that is big enough to fit all the equipment you want and needs for a day of fishing.
You can even add a 54-quart cooler to the cart and still have enough room for bait.
Functionality
The cart features 7 pole holders around the outside, so you can take as many fishing poles as you need and it makes it simple to transport them fully rigged when changing fishing spots.
When not in use the cart sits level so no equipment slides off and you can use it for chores like cutting bait.
Wheels
The tires on this fishing cart are designed for the sand.
The tires provide the best traction and are just the right height to keep you moving with ease, but they don’t do well on soft sand and would need to be a bit bigger to handle that nasty soft stuff.
Downsides
Unfortunately, there is more than one flaw with this otherwise great cart.
Firstly you have to use tools to break the cart down and set it up, adding extra admin time that eats into your fishing time.
Secondly, the handle is not removable, if it was, you would be able to load the cart into your trunk with ease, but instead, you’ll have to lose some fishing time taking it off.
Specs
- Dimensions: 36.8 x 17.7 x 6.6 inches
- Weight: 31.15 lbs
- Rod Holders: 7
- Material: Aluminum
Pros
- Lots of space for your cooler and tackle
- Large wheels for use on sand
- Comfortable and easy to tow
- Durable and long-lasting
- Easy to assemble with the tools provided
- Excellent quality for the price
Cons
- Requires tools to breakdown for storage
- Wheels could be bigger for use on sand
- The handle is not removable
Editor’s Choice
Elkton Outdoors Rolling Fishing Tackle Cart
This cart/backpack combo is perfect if you’re the kind of person who likes their gear immaculately organized. It features a steel frame with a waterproof polyester bag around it.
Elkton Outdoors Rolling Fishing Tackle Cart
The Elkton Outdoors Rolling Fishing Tackle Cart is one of the top fishing carts available if you’re the kind of person who likes their gear immaculately organized.
Dual-Purpose
This cart is as much a tackle backpack as it is a cart.
It features a steel frame with a waterproof polyester bag around it.
Storage Space
The bag has a width of 15.7 inches and fits five 3600 size 18 compartment tackle trays perfectly in the bottom compartment for top class lure organization.
The top of the bag features a padded pocket with dividers that would be perfect for any delicate gear like reels, and there are two waterproof zipper pockets on the openings for anything that you don’t want to get wet, like pliers or a cell phone.
Rod Holders
On the sides of the cart, you’ll find a pocket with two pole holders so you can carry 4 poles in total at once.
On the bottom of the cart are two plastic tires and there is an extendable handle so you can pull the cart around like you would a suitcase.
Wheels
These tires are fine on hard surfaces but one major issue is as soon as you hit the sand, they will stop rolling. Luckily, the great design manages this well.
The cart doubles up as a backpack so as soon as the terrain becomes too tough for the tires, you can strap on the cart and carry it to wherever you want.
Overall this cart is great and I would buy it in a second but there are one of two issues you need to know before you get too excited and purchase it.
Small Issues
If you’re a bait fisherman, this cart doesn’t have a space to carry a bait bucket or cooler, so you’ll most likely need to carry that as well.
The one other issue it has is the zippers, they’re a bit too tight making them hard to use and I wouldn’t want to see what happens to them if salt gets in them and is left unattended.
Specs
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 18.5 x 9.6 inches
- Weight: 13.1 lbs
- Rod Holders: 4
- Material: Steel & Polyester
Pros
- Long-lasting, rugged and durable design
- Waterproof tackle bag for all your equipment
- Holds 4 rods with ease
- Can be carried as a backpack on sand/rough terrain
- Excellent layout for organizing tackle and equipment
- A protective area for reels so they aren’t damaged
- Multiple pockets and tool holders for further organization
Cons
- Wheels are too small for sand
- The zipper is tight and hard to undo
- Not great for bait fishing
Why buy a fishing cart?
Fishing carts make getting your angling gear from your car to your spot quick and efficient.
Instead of multiple trips to and fro, you can take it all in one single trip saving you valuable fishing time.
They’re also the best place to store your gear when fishing, as they keep everything above the sand and act as a work surface too.
Things to consider when buying fishing carts
What size fishing carts should you go for?
The right size cart will be able to do two things; carry all your equipment and fit it in the trunk of your car.
Your best bet is to measure your trunk’s dimensions and layout your angling gear as if you were packing it on a cart and measure that too. Once you have these measurements you know what size you need.
I’d advise always going for the largest option that’ll fit in your car, as this way you’ll always have some extra space for more angling things you might need.
Material
Most anglers using carts will be taking them near to the sea where saltwater and corrosion are a factor that could damage the cart’s materials. Make sure it is constructed from either aluminum or coated/stainless steel, as both of these materials are long-lasting and corrosion-resistant.
TIP
Aluminum is your best choice overall, as it handles corrosion better than steel and it’s a lot lighter, but it does come at a higher price.
Weight: What’s Right?
You’re going to be rolling and lifting your own fishing cart and the lighter it is the better or your back may pay the price. But the more space you require, the heavier it will be.
Don’t sacrifice space for low weight, instead pick the lightest option that is the right size for your needs.
Wheels
Your cart’s wheels are essential; if they don’t do their job, your cart isn’t going anywhere.
Carts come with either two or four tires and often in different sizes. The tire’s material also comes in different types.
Most cart tires work well on the pier but if you’re looking to move your cart onto some sand you may have some issues. Beach tires help remedy this problem.
Trade-offs
More tires spread the load a bit better and make it easier to pull your cart, but when on the beach there are more wheels to get stuck.
When it comes to sand, the bigger the wheels, the better, as they’ll have more traction and not sink as easily.
How to fix fishing cart tires
Most carts come with either normal tires, like on a car, in which case you would repair them with a puncture repair kit.
Some carts come with balloon tires, and to fix these you just use a soldering iron and melt the material to seal the punctures together. The video below shows you how easy that process can be.
Rolling Out
Thanks for reading my article about the best fishing carts. I hope you found it useful and have found the new cart for your next fishing trip.
Have another look at the best choices for your fishing cart needs below:
If you’re still unsure about which of the fishing carts to go for, here are the ones I’d pick.
For The Lure Guys
If you’re a lure fisherman then the best option for you are the Elkton Outdoors carts. They’re tough, durable, and a lure fisherman’s paradise with special compartments for lure boxes, reels, poles, tools, and more.
All About That Bait
If you have a lot of angling equipment and fish with bait, the Fish N Mate carts are the best for you.
These carts are light, long-lasting, have a huge amount of space for a cool box, bait, plus holders for your poles and tires that work well on sand.
Feel Free To Share!
Thanks again for reading, I hope you enjoyed the article.
Please feel free to share it around with your buddies and you might like to check out some of my other articles.
I cover everything from surf fishing poles and reels to fish finders, so if you’re in the market for something new, check here first. If you’re looking for options to store your fishing gear, I have this best fishing backpack review that you might want to check out.
Until then, enjoy your new cart, and tight lines.
(1) Fishing Gear by Michael Coghlan licensed through Creative Commons 2.0
