Sportfishing Boats

These boats are designed simply to make finding, hooking and landing fish easy for anglers

Sportfishing Boat Details

Average Length: 26 to 100 ft.  
Capacity: Varies  
Propulsion Type:Outboard ,Inboard ,Sterndrive Engines 
Trailerable: Yes  
Hull Type: Planing, Deep Vee, Various 

Sportfishing Boats

If you get a thrill out of stalking the giant monsters of the deep, these large boats exist just for you. The boat is designed simply to make finding, hooking and landing fish as easy as possible. Often equipped with sleeping berths, a galley for cooking and plumbing for convenience, they have the capacity to stay on the water for days.

Nothing is more primed for saltwater fishing than sportfishing boats. Often, they are also made for speed. They aren't the kind of boat for loudly speedboating around a marina. They have speed so they can get you to your location as quickly as possible. After all, you don't want your entire sportfishing trip spent just on getting there, do you?

Activities You Can Do With Your Family on a Sportfishing Boat

These boats are made for longevity. Every square foot of the sportfishing boat is designed for long fishing trips out to sea. The living areas below deck are contained and protected from the elements. The fishing areas above deck are open and made for moving about.

Advantages of Sportfishing Boats

With most sportfishing boats, the accessories are really what make the trip special. Most of them have high towers or flying bridges to spot the fish and watch all the action from a perfect perch. Since the idea is a long trip, there are usually fish lockers to store a great deal of catch. There are also bait freezers or livewells to keep live bait. Just as you would expect, the living quarters don't skimp on accessories either. The inside is climate-controlled, with a full bathroom, bedroom and kitchen area. Generally speaking, the interiors are as nice as you can afford.

Advice From Experts

This is really the tale of two boats. The cockpit and fishing areas are totally utilitarian: everything is designed to make fishing go more smoothly. The living spaces are totally aesthetic: they make the ride as enjoyable as possible. Experts suggest that you get the right boat for the job. If you're going to be spending days on board, it should be everything you need. There is enough variety in makes and models to be able to find exactly what you're looking for. Different boats are also built for different areas. For example, those built for gulf fishing might have different attributes than those built for deep sea fishing. Make sure the boat has appropriate outriggers to provide some stability, especially because there is a lot of windage up in the tower.

Why Buy This Boat

If you are looking at multi-day sportfishing trips and can afford these sport-fishing boats, they really do have everything you are looking for. They come in a variety of lengths you can choose from based on your budget and your needs, ranging from 38 to 100 feet. If you talk to enough owners, they will all have their favorites, but do your research to find the one that's right for you.

Don’t forget to register your boat, check your state boating rules and regulations before you leave the dock. Learn more about stern drive cruisers in our next section.