If you’re the type of angler that makes the most out of each trip and hence carry a lot of equipment, it may be time to invest in a fishing cart. Fishing carts are a great way to both secure and transport your valuable fishing gear over sandy or rocky terrain, allowing you to spend less time worrying and more time angling!
Best Fishing Carts Reviewed In This Guide
You may like to read: The Best Fishing Kayak Accessories
Fishing Cart Buyer’s Guide
There are a few things to consider before buying a fishing cart.
Weight capacity
First and foremost should be the cart’s weight capacity. The heavier your fishing gear, the greater the weight capacity of your fishing cart needs to be. However, this can also negatively impact the cart’s weight and maneuverability.
You don’t want something with a weight limit that’s dangerously close to yours, nor do you want a cart with a weight limit far beyond what your gear weighs as that’ll just end up costing you more. A cart’s weight will also factor into how easy it is to store and transport the cart itself, so get something that you can easily load and unload from your car.
Terrain
The second thing to consider is the type of terrain you’re going to use the fishing cart on. In this regard, there are two general types of fishing carts, namely pier fishing carts, and beach fishing carts. Pier carts are built to carry heavy loads over more even terrain and are typically treated to prevent degradation from moisture and salt. Beach carts, on the other hand, are made to traverse difficult terrains, such as sandy beaches or gravelly dirt. This leads them to have stronger wheels with more grip.
Construction Materials
The third consideration should be the cart’s material. The most common materials for fishing carts are plastic and aluminum. Plastic carts are light and more affordable but are definitely a lot less sturdy than aluminum fishing carts. Aluminum, on the other hand, is treated to be resistant to corrosion and is a better choice for rougher terrain, though this also comes at a higher cost.
Features
The fourth and last thing you need to consider is the cart’s extra features, which can be solved by asking yourself “what exactly do I want to get out of my fishing cart?” Does the cart come with fishing rod holders? Do you need specialized compartments? How many people are going to use it? Only you can answer these questions, and the more specific the questions you ask yourself, the better the fishing cart you’ll end up with.
Now that you have an idea of the cart you want, here are some of my recommendations for the best fishing carts available online today.
Fishing Cart Reviews
Strolee Fishing Cart
Special Features
- Oversized wheels provide greater stability
- Aluminum, rust-resistant design
- Lightweight construction
Pros: Affordable, compact and convenient, multiple holder accessories for cups and rods
Cons: Doesn’t work well on sandy ground
The Strolee Fishing Cart is one of the best fishing carts you can buy online. Light, sturdy, affordable – what’s not to love?
This aluminum fish cart boasts oversized wheels coupled with a lightweight aluminum construction that not only makes the cart light and easy to use, but also vastly improves its stability. This leads to a fishing wagon that can both carry a lot of weight without being too heavy or bulky to move around. Don’t be misled by the metal parts, either, as the Strolee Fishing Cart has been specially treated to resist rust.
While the Strolee Fishing Cart is undoubtedly one of the best fishing carts you can get, its performance is greatly hampered on beaches and sandy ground. If you’re going to fish near the beach, you should go for a dedicated beach cart.
Bottomline: Dependable and affordable are the best words to describe the Strolee Fishing Cart. If you’re going river fishing or moving stuff on to a boat, this is an excellent choice.
Juggernaut Fishing Cart
Special Features
- Aluminum and stainless steel design for a perfect blend of mobility and durability
- Large, low-pressure balloon tires for sandy terrain
- 220lbs weight capacity
Pros: Super tough yet maneuverable, balloon tires are perfect for beach fishing, great weight capacity
Cons: Some customers reported problems with welding, may need add-ons or manual adjustment
The Juggernaut Fishing Cart is beast of a cart. Built super tough, with a hybrid aluminum and stainless steel design, it can carry up to 220 pounds of cargo even on rough, sandy terrain.
The Juggernaut Fishing Wagon’s hybrid construction makes it both incredibly tough yet maneuverable enough for all your transporting needs. Large, low-pressure balloon (2 – 4 psi) tires allow the Juggernaut to traverse rough and sandy terrain with ease.
While the Juggernaut Fishing Stroller is incredibly reliable, it can also be quite rigid. Customers have reported that they’ve resorted to manual adjustments, such as drilling more holes, to get this fishing cart to perform exactly the way they want it to.
Bottomline: Due to its ease of use, great durability, and excellent tires, the Juggernaut Fishing Cart is one of my top recommendations for fishing carts for the beach.
Berkley Fishing Cart
Special Features
- Compact design with telescopic handle
- Corrosion-resistant aluminum frame
- Large wheels that resist soft surfaces like sand
Pros: Affordable, good weight capacity for its cost, comes with four detachable rod holders
Cons: Plastic wheel hubs, not good for carrying big items
The Berkley Fishing Cart stands out with its low cost yet high weight capacity, having been verified to carry a weight of up to 300 pounds.
This fishing wagon features a light aluminum frame that’s been treated to be resistant to corrosion wrought by wind and seawater. A large, telescopic handle makes for easier transportation and handling, and large wheels ensure that the stroller won’t sink in soft surfaces.
Bottomline: For those times when you’re moving just enough items to be a bother to carry, but to few to warrant a large cart, this fishing cart is the perfect solution.
Fish-N-Mate Junior Cart
Special Features
- Pneumatic front wheel tires for better handling
- Tackle station with removal bait bucket and cutting board
- Comes with five rod holders
Pros: Can be broken down for easy storage and transport, super lightweight
Cons: Low weight capacity for its price
It may look like a kid’s toy, but don’t be fooled – the Fish-N-Mate Junior Cart is a fantastic piece of kit that’s custom-made for fishermen.
This fishing wagon boasts an extremely lightweight design, allowing it to be broken down and reassembled on the go without compromising any of its durability. Its low frame and center of gravity is counterbalanced by pneumatic front tires which give this fishing cart great stability. This cart also comes with five rod holders (one of which is occupied by the bait bucket module) for even more storage space.
The Fish-N-Mate Junior Cart, while light and dependable, does suffer from a lower weight capacity due to its minimalist design. This surf fishing cart has been given a maximum weight capacity of just 150 pounds – go over this limit at your own risk.
Bottomline: If you’re in the market for something light, the Fish-N-Mate Junior Stroller might be exactly what you’re looking for.
MacSports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon
Special Features
- Tough 600D water-resistant fabric that’s easy to clean
- Light plastic design
- Can easily used in other outdoor events
Pros: Super affordable, adjustable handle makes transporting even easier
Cons: No rod holders, low weight capacity at just 150 pounds
The MacSports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon immediately stands out on this list due to its design. It doesn’t use a sturdy base to hold items directly. This fishing cart has a 600D cloth base that serves as a bin for all your items. This makes this fishing stroller an especially good choice for other events, such as concerts or hikes since (full disclosure) it’s not a dedicated fishing cart, but can serve as one very well.
Happy customers have vouched for the MacSports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon efficacy as a fishing cart. The thick and tough fabric is excellent at not transporting your items, but also keeping them safe from sea spray and brine. While the wheels aren’t especially made for traversing sand and surf, this cart boasts surprisingly good performance on those surfaces.
On the other hand, anglers looking for a more heavy-duty fishing cart may want something else, as the MacSports Utility Wagon has a low weight capacity of 150 pounds and has a plastic frame.
Bottomline: If you’re looking for a multi-role fishing cart, then the MacSports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon is a great choice.
FAQs About Fishing Carts
What is the best material for a fishing cart?
That depends on what you’re looking for, though I personally recommend going for aluminum or stainless steel.
What kind of wheels should I be looking for if I plan to move stuff on sand?
Sand is a tricky thing to traverse. For sand and surf fishing carts, look for bigger wheels – both inflated and wide – as these provide better grip and won’t sink in sand. As for the tire size, you’ll want something at least in the 6 inch wide.
Are all fishing carts waterproof?
Metal-based fishing carts are water-resistant and corrosion-resistant, not waterproof. While they can reasonably resist rust and other damage from water exposure, it’s still best to keep them away from water.
Are all fishing carts foldable?
No, they are not. You’ll need to specifically search out foldable fishing carts.
Can all fishing wagons be disassembled for easy transport?
No, this is a feature unique to certain carts.
Enjoy Your New Fishing Cart!
With your new fishing cart by your side (or at your back, as it were), you’ll have a much easier time moving your heavy fishing gear to and fro. And the easier it is to move your gear, the smoother your fishing experience!