* PFD - preferably worn. Cannot be stored where you cannot access it easily.
* A white light that's visible for one mile on a dark, clear night if you're going to be on the water before legal sunrise or after legal sunset. A LED flashlight is sufficient for legal requirements. Suggest water proof. Water resistant is usually okay for a year or three. Headlamps with white and red options are popular.
Those are your two legal required pieces of equipment in La.
Strongly suggest you add a whistle to your PFD.
As to rigging…
I always did most of my rigging on my milk crate. Stop at 3-5 stores and ask if you can have a milk crate. Someone will give you one. Add to it: A PVC rod holder that holds three rods. You can zip-tie it to the crate. I cast right handed so I like my spare rods angled back and off the port side so as to reduce the chance of snagging one on a back-cast. You can make your own PVC rod holders if you so desire. (I don't like the built in rod holders when fishing salt water. Eventually a wave or wake will wash over your reel(s). Use PVC to make rod holder extensions. Keep your reels high and dry.
Some folks use an ice chest instead of a milk crate. If you do, move the hinges so it opens sideways. You can mount a triple rod holder on the side of an ice chest too. Use all stainless hardware including fender washers. Add Marine GOOP to each screw or bolt before inserting them into or through the ice chest.
You can add another piece of PVC to hold:
* lip gripper
* hook remover / pliers
* safety flag (orange bandana on a piece of bamboo)
My landing net (w/ float attached) lives in my starboard side built in rod holder. No extension needed since I hope to get it wet many times each day.
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