Paddle Board Fishing Kits and Accessories: Rod Holders, Crates, Coolers and Anchors

Quick answer: A practical SUP fishing set-up is a crate strapped behind your standing position with rod holders attached, a soft cooler on the front bungees, an anchor system (a stake-out pole for shallow water, a small folding grapnel or a drift sock elsewhere), leashes or lanyards on anything you would hate to lose, and a seat if you plan to sit. Mount it all using the board’s existing D-rings, bungees, tracks or accessory points, keep heavy items central and keep your standing area clear.

You do not need a dedicated fishing board to fish from a SUP, but the right accessories make it far more comfortable and safer. Many of them are borrowed straight from kayak fishing. This guide groups the options, explains how each one mounts, and names real products with maker or retailer links as examples, not as rankings.

Start with your mounting points

How you attach gear depends on your board. REI notes that most SUPs have a small bungee area strung through four D-rings, that some boards have dedicated attachment points or mounts for rod holders, seats and cameras, and that these accessories are usually sold separately. Common options:

D-rings and bungees: on almost every board. Good for crates, coolers and dry bags.
Accessory tracks or receivers: on fishing-focused boards. The BOTE Rackham Aero, for example, has slide-in accessory receivers, magnetic attachment points and cooler tie-down points.
Add-on mounts: RAILBLAZA describes rigging a SUP with its StarPort HD TracMount on boards with tracks, and RIBPort mounts to attach StarPort bases on epoxy boards without tracks.

Never drill or cut an inflatable board. If there is no suitable mount, use a crate on the D-rings instead.

Rod holders

Glide’s SUP fishing rigging guide describes three main types:

Type	How it mounts	Pros	Watch out for
Rail-mounted	Onto a rail or track on the board	Very secure and adjustable	Needs a board with suitable rails or tracks
Crate-mounted	Bolted or clipped to a crate behind you	Simple and inexpensive	Crate must be strapped down firmly
Deck-mounted	Onto a mount on the deck	Good for trolling	Can get in the way of casting

Glide says crate-mounted holders behind the standing area work best because they stay accessible without interfering with casting. RAILBLAZA’s SUP example uses its Rod Holder II for fly rods, attached through its StarPort mount system.

Crates and storage

Glide describes a milk crate behind the paddler as the central storage hub for tackle boxes, tools and supplies, attached to the rear D-rings and bungees. RAILBLAZA’s set-up adds a StowPod for tackle and a G-Hold 50mm to hold fish grips. REI adds that some fishing boards have a dugout deck to store tackle and your catch.

Keep the crate low and strap it down at several points.
Put heavier items near the middle of the board, as Glide recommends, and shift gear until the board sits level.
Keep the standing area clear for balance.

Coolers

Glide suggests a soft cooler on the front cargo bungees to balance the weight of a rear crate, holding drinks, ice, bait and your catch. Hard coolers can also be used: RAILBLAZA notes its StarPort mounts can be fitted directly to a cooler box so you can add rod holders and accessories without modifying the board. The BOTE Rackham Aero has dedicated front and rear cooler tie-down points.

Anchor systems

Holding position is the biggest difference between fishing and just paddling. Glide lists three options:

Folding grapnel anchor: compact and affordable, for deeper water.
Stake-out pole: silent and ideal for shallow flats. YakAttack’s ParkNPole is one example, listed in 6 ft and 7 ft 8 in lengths plus a two-piece Link version, at $77 to $133 (shown as sold out when we checked on 29 September 2026). The BOTE Rackham Aero includes a sheath to carry a stake-out pole.
Drift sock: slows your drift in wind rather than stopping you.

Anchoring safety

Kayak Fishing Guide warns never to anchor in fast-flowing water, because the current can spin you around the anchor and tip you off, and never to anchor from the side; anchor from the bow or stern. Keep anchor lines tidy and away from your feet and leash. On flowing or tidal water, Go Paddling recommends a quick-release waist leash.

Seats

REI describes inflatable seats that strap to tie-down points in the middle of the deck, giving you a seated option in choppy conditions or while fishing. Sitting lowers your centre of gravity, which helps when landing a fish or unhooking.

Leashes and lanyards for gear

Glide recommends gear tethers or retractable lanyards for tools so nothing goes overboard. Rods, pliers and your paddle are all worth tethering, but keep lines short so they cannot wrap around you if you fall in.

Paddle holders

You need somewhere to put the paddle while you fish. Some boards have a paddle sheath or holder; the BOTE Rackham Aero includes one. Otherwise, tuck it under a deck bungee.

Electronics and cameras

RAILBLAZA’s SUP example includes a camera boom and a mobile device holder on its mounts. REI notes some boards have accessory mounts for items like a phone stand. Keep your emergency phone on your body in a waterproof pouch, as the RNLI advises, not only in a deck mount.

Sample set-ups

Minimal (any board)

Crate on rear D-rings with two crate-mounted rod holders
Soft cooler on front bungees
Stake-out pole or small grapnel anchor
Tethers on rod and tools

Full (fishing board with mounts)

Track or receiver-mounted rod holders
Tackle storage and fish-grip holder
Hard cooler on tie-downs, plus a strap-on seat
Anchor plus drift sock
Paddle holder and phone mount

Before you buy

Check your board’s weight capacity covers you, all accessories, water and your catch.
Check which mounting system your board has and buy compatible parts.
Rig it at home, then test balance in shallow, calm water.
Read our SUP fishing guide for licences and safety.