Great Gifts for Outdoors-Loving Florida Moms

Since an outdoors mom or grandmom would love a great gift to thank her for all that she does through the year for the family, both indoors and outdoors, here are some suggestions from the editors of Florida Sportsman.

Abel SDS Peacock Bass Finish Fly Reel

Peacock bass patrol the canal country of southeastern Florida, offering a surprisingly robust urban fishery for the exotic fish planted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission back in 1984 to help control illegally dumped exotic fish.

The brilliant colors of the Butterfly Peacock bass swimming near Miami gives a boost to the already noteworthy Abel SDS fly reel series made by the well-known Montrose, Colo. company. Named best new saltwater fly reel at the ICAST/IFTD show in Orlando several years ago, the Abel SDS (Sealed Drag Salt) is a powerhouse reel comparable to big large arbors aimed at stopping runaway tarpon while also offering the smoothness of smaller fly reels. 

Designed for saltwater, these made in the USA reels—which come in a variety of finish options, including several patterns in the Andrea Larko Edition collection—have a reel frame, spool, drag knob and reel foot made of 6061-T651 aerospace grade aluminum, an alternating stacked caron composite and stainless steel sealed drag system, a quick change spool, and user convertible retrieval direction. With three models (SDS 7/8, SDS 9/10, and SDS 11/12), you can pick the perfect fly reel for mom to chase everything from Everglades largemouth bass to Miami’s canal peacocks to inshore snook or tarpon in the Keys.

Costa Del Mar Bimini Sunglasses

Bimini is an iconic spot in the Bahamas, the nation island chain lying only 50 miles off of Florida's east coast. And whether mom is heading to the Bahamas to fly fish for big bonefish, to walk the streets and visit the shops, or watch the kids play on the sand and in the gentle surf, a pair of Costa Bimini sunglasses is sure to make her smile on Mother’s Day.

With frame patterns, lens colors, and textures inspired by a salty lifestyle spent around the ocean, these sunglasses come with Costa's 580G polarized glass lenses, come in either Shiny Vintage Tortoise (blue and green mirror lenses) or Shiny Abalone (gray lenses), are scratch resistant and durable, and are at home on the water and off as Mom enjoys the sand, the water, and the nightlife around town.

Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Backpack

Put simply, there's no shortage of ways for a Florida mom to use the waterproof Submersible Backpack from Fishpond.

I witnessed this bag in use last summer while patrolling the Sanibel Island surf and looking for fly rod snook. In that hot, windy, and wet environment, the bag was right at home thanks to its waterproof construction with 9000 TPU coated NewStream fabric that keeps fly boxes, soft drinks, and accessories bone dry.

Equally at home as a boat bag for a canoe trip into the Everglades or a flats fishing trip in the Keys, this bag weighs only 3.05 pounds. Also perfect as a beach bag for family days on the Emerald Coast in the Panhandle or the Atlantic coastline on the eastern side of the Florida peninsula, this bag's TRU Zip closure keeps sand out as you play in the surf and sand.

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And if mom has to travel for work this summer, the lightweight foam shoulder strap, hip belt, and molded back panel, along with 28 liters of laptop, accessory, and personal item storage helps make this an awesome Mother's Day gift idea.

Free Fly Women's Elevate Hoodie

The Free Fly Women's Elevate hoodie is a versatile clothing item for Florida's salty, sandy and sunny climate. 

Made from soft lyocell blend construction and drirelease tech fabric that wicks moisture away and dries quickly, this UPF 30+ sun protection hoodie is perfect for a Saturday afternoon of shopping at the local Farmer's Market, checking out an Orlando theme park, or hopping on a skiff to see if a permit is interested in biting.

With HeiQ Fresh odor control, a fitted hood, and thumbholes for extra hand coverage, the Elevate Hoodie is a summer season gift that Mom will use all year long!

G. Loomis IMX-PRO V2S Fly Rod

The fly rod makers at G. Loomis have aimed for nearly four decades to help anglers "…put the bug where your brain wants it every time."

That includes Florida's salt—or Everglades, St. Johns, Okeechobee, or Kissimmee bass country—where the G. Loomis IMX-PRO V2S fly rod helps mom in three important areas of improved tracking in the wind, the ability to lift generous lengths of line before a cast, and fish fighting control.

Ambitious goals, for sure, but the engineers at G. Loomis have gotten there with a proprietary blend of a Conduit Core and a GL7 resin system, a combination that helps provide fish fighting power and a minimization of tailing loops. Add in a custom aluminum reel seat, fighting butt, full wells premium grade cork grip, Fuji tangle-free K-frame stripper guides, and a rod tube and cloth rod bag, and this is the complete fly rod package. With models ranging from 6 to 12 weights, this fly rod gift idea performs well for all-day trips wherever Mom's Florida fishing adventures take her.

Grunden's SeaKnit Boat Shoe

Perfect for a day on the lake, or even a flat's fishing trip to the Florida Keys or the Caribbean, this SeaKnit Boat Shoe from Grunden's is a perfect addition to mom's packing list.

Anatomically engineered for the female angler, the SeaKnit Boat Shoe is Grunden's take on the classic summertime sneaker, except this one is made to excel on a boat deck and/or around water too. Starting with a non-marking natural gum rubber outsole pod, Grunden's uses razor-cut siping for increased traction, a shock-absorbing EVA midsole and all-day comfort footbed for many hours of sturdy and comfortable support, a welded PU overlay for low-profile and lightweight foot protection, and a 100% nylon engineered knit upper for seamless comfort with or without socks.

Best of all, this bombproof boat shoe is lightweight and quick drying, not to mention stylish, and is perfect for on the water and on the town after the sun goes down. More options from Grunden's.

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler

Stanley Tumblers seem to have taken the world by storm in recent months, and that viral trend might pop up again thanks to this specialty tumbler tailor made for Mom. 

Checking in at 30 ounces, the Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler features double-wall vacuum insulation that keeps drinks cold for hours, 18/8 recycled stainless steel construction, an advanced FlowState lid that rotates to three positions, a straw opening in the full-cover top, and a new set of spring colors including Sorbet Tropic complete with a great looking floral design. 

Perfect for summer vacation at the beach, a weekend trip to the lake, or watching the kids at an evening Little League game, and this Stanley tumbler comes with an ergonomic handle, is car cupholder compatible, and is dishwasher safe. As the good folks at Stanley like to say, here's to you Mom. More options from Stanley.

YETI Roadie 24 Hard Cooler

From Soccer Saturdays to a weekend evening of Little League Baseball games to a Sunday church picnic to warm, lazy family vacation days at the beach to heat escaping trips to the mountains, this last gift idea is a top-shelf selection for mom.

Made to be ready for the road, but also handy around home or the Back 40 cabin, the YETI Roadie 24 Hard Cooler is easy to handle and load into the back of an SUV or onto a boat, has both a HeftyHauler Handle and LipGrip Handles, a QuickLatch system to close it securely, BearFoot Non-Slip Feet to prevent sliding around, and anchor point tie-down slots for the boat, trailer or truck bed.

And, of course, it comes with YETI's PermaFrost Insulation, Interlock Lid System, and ColdLock Gasket, all designed to not only make the Austin, Texas company's cooler wildly stronger, but able to keep ice much longer than other cooler products on the market. And coming in a variety of colors including Power Pink, these coolers will hold 33 cans of your favorite liquid beverage and are wine bottle compatible, all of that helping make for a perfect family outing or a Mother's Day evening spent around the fire pit as the family celebrates a memorable day spent honoring a special mom. More options by Yeti.

Magellan Outdoors Women's Laguna Madre Long Sleeve Shirt

Looking to help mom stay cool, comfortable and dry no matter what the heat, humidity and afternoon Florida thunderstorms might bring? Look no further than the Magellan Outdoors Women's Laguna Madre Long Sleeve Shirt, a lightweight option that will get pulled from the closet again and again.

Made to ventilate and wick moisture away, this Laguna Madre long-sleeved shirt is made from 100 percent nylon taslon fabric, a 100 percent polyester mesh lining, features two chest pockets, has a relaxed fit, is UPF 30 rated, and features easy wash and dry care.

While this shirt from Magellan Outdoors and Academy is targeted for fishing enthusiasts, it's stylish good looks are not only at home on the water, but also for a weekend of grocery shopping, watching the kids at soccer and Little League games this summer, and an evening on the town with the hubs for a great summertime meal!

Magellan Outdoors Fishing Wagon

Aimed at fishing enthusiasts, this Magellan Outdoors Fishing Wagon certainly fits the bill for moms who like to go with the kids on an oceanside pier fishing adventure or with Dad for an early morning pompano surf fishing trip.

Weighing 35.67 pounds., this wagon has a steel frame construction, a powder-coat finish, PVC polyester fabric, a polyester mesh lining that allows water and sand to drain, a telescoping handle for ease of hauling, 10-inch heavy-duty rubber wheels that navigate the toughest beach terrain, a removable insulated 16-can cooler, fishing rod and tackle accessories, and a removable bed for easy cleaning.

That makes this not only the perfect fishing buggy, but also something that can pull double duty for Mom or Grandmom like a family beach day, gardening in the back yard, or even pulling the grandkids around thanks to this wagon’s 250-pound weight capacity.

Montana Fly Company Boat Box

If Mom is a fly angler, this is a unique gift that will make her the envy of everyone on the boat thanks to the spacious interior and waterproof design of the Montana Fly Company Boat Box.

A giant bug locker for all of your saltwater flies—tarpon, permit, bonefish, permit, snook, redfish and more—not to mention largemouth bass and panfish flies, this fly box can carry hundreds of fly patterns. 

Available in Large (with foam slots for smaller to medium sized hooks) and XL (with 7mm foam for hooks 2/0 and larger) models, these fly boxes are made from durable ABS plastic and feature four latches and a waterproof gasket system that keeps water and sand out, protecting flies from rust and all that Florida’s challenging environment can bring.

Orvis Women's PRO Sun Skiff Pants

Lightweight, comfortable, and almost instantaneous in its drying capabilities, the Orvis Women's PRO Sun Skiff Pants are perfect for a Mom who likes to fish and enjoy the Sunshine State’s outdoors lifestyle.

Soft, stretchy, and unable to really hold any moisture, these pants come with dual hand pockets and a zippered leg pocket. That means they'll work on the fishing skiff, as well as checking off the "To-Do" list around town. 

With waist-to-foot UPF 50+ sun protection and a tapered down design that eliminates annoying wind flap in the legs, these pants are tailor made for wet wading, skiff fishing, and walking around town with the family on a mid-summer’s evening.

Shimano Saragosa SW A 5000XG Spinning Reel

For the Mom that likes to fish in Florida's epic saltwater and freshwater fisheries, this Shimano Saragosa SW A 5000XG spinning reel is a perfect gift idea for Mother's Day.

Made to handle all that the Florida’s salt and freshwater can dish out, this spinning reel comes with a 6.2 gear ratio, up to 22 pounds of drag, plenty of monofilament or PowerPro line capacity, 41-inches of line retrieve per crank, and 5/1 ball bearings for a smooth angling experience. 

Checking in at only 15.9 ounces, this is a lightweight powerhouse spinning reel that Mom will love for chasing things like Florida Panhandle panfish, chain pickerel, or even snook in the surf down on Sanibel. And if Mom has bigger fish to catch this year, this Shimano spinning reel model has other bigger, more powerful options in the lineup, perfect for a Mother's Day gift that will work to catch any fish that swims in Florida’s waters!

Sight Line Provisions Tapered Tarpon Bracelet

Florida's tarpon are known as the Silver King, and this beautiful slim sterling silver band from Sight Line Provisions is perfect idea for the royal queen we all know as Mom. 

Measuring 1/4 inches wide at the front and 1/8" wide after tapering down to the back, these all sterling silver cuffs with tarpon artwork will be sized for wrists 6.5 to 7.75 inches (let Sight Line know if a smaller wrist size is needed) according to the Austin, Texas based company that specializes in unique fishing jewelry, including their well-known and stylish wide and thin leather bands complete with a variety of stainless steel fish badges.

If you're looking for a unique gift idea that will make Mom smile on Mother's Day, on the water this summer, and around town, this just might be it.

YETI 35 Camino Carryall Tote Bag

Made by the same Austin, Texas company that birthed the super hard cooler revolution earlier in the 21st Century, the folks at YETI have a great item for Mother's Day this year with the YETI 35 CAMINO CARRYALL Tote Bag in a variety of colors, including Power Pink.

Overengineered like all of YETI's products, this bag isn't too small, nor is it too big, and it's perfectly tough and stylish all at once thanks to its waterproof, ultra-durable fabric construction.

Add in two interior zippered pockets, deployable dividers, and a great handle design and this bag can serve as a Mother's Day gift bag, and then do double duty for shopping chores around town, a fishing trip offshore, or a trip to the beach to relax with Dad and the kids.