Personal Watercrafts and Fishing
Spending time on the water during the summer is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Whether it’s with your family, with some friends, or by yourself, quality time spent lounging on the shore or in a boat is time well spent. This is particularly true if you love to fish. If the thrill of landing a trophy winning catch is your jam, but you don’t have the time or the money to invest in a full-fledged fishing boat, you may want to consider fishing from a jet-ski or personal watercraft (PWC).
While a PWC probably isn't the first thing you think of when talking about fishing, PWCs actually make great fishing platforms – they’re less expensive to buy and maintain, they’re easier to store and trailer, use substantially less fuel, and are frequently more maneuverable in shallow water than boats. Any jet ski can be converted to go fishing thanks to numerous aftermarket parts, but there are two specific machines that we think make ideal platforms:
The Fish Pro is the first fishing specific PWC to hit the market. It uses Sea-doo’s ROTAX 1503 naturally aspirated engine, can carry up to three riders, is equipped with electronics like a Garmin ECHOMAP Plus Fish Finder that works as a navigation, charting, and fish finder.
Other key features include a fishing cooler, four rod holders, a rear platform that allows you to move around at the back of the craft, a low-speed trolling mode for the engine, and numerous boxes and storage areas for all your gear.
The price of entry for this sweet machine? Starting at $13,500.
Kawasaki Ultra LXWhile not technically a fishing PWC, the Kawasaki Ultra LX does have several features that make it a great option for those looking to do a little modification to an already great platform. The LX has a ton of storage space (56 gallons), a massive fuel tank (20.6 gallons) so you can stay out on the water for ages, and a great starting price of $11,199. It seats three riders, rocks a powerful fuel injected four-cylinder engine, and uses Kawasaki’s Smart Steering system for maximum agility.
Aftermarket fishing gear
From the factory, jet skis don’t typically come set up for fishing – speed, power, and having fun are more the focus. However, there are several aftermarket products you can install which don’t require much prep work that turn your jet ski into a capable fisher.
The very first thing you’ll want to install is a quality fishing rod rack. These metal rigs attach to the back of the jet ski and are built to hold several fishing poles securely whether you’re underway or working with multiple lines.
Other upgrades to consider are racks specifically designed to hold coolers and additional gas cans for those long days on the water. Companies like Kool PWC Stuff offer numerous made-in-the-USA racks you can install yourself.
Speaking of coolers, Polaris makes super high quality coolers that can double as cold storage for both for your lunch and gear, or as a place to keep your prize catches fresh until you get to shore. Call your local RideNow for more details on these!
One other upgrade you’ll definitely want to go for that’ll make your PWC a fishing weapon on the water are electronics. Companies like Garmin offer several different models of fish finders that have built in GPS, and Humminbird also some seriously powerful dedicated fish finders too. These devices will not only help you find the perfect fish, but let you know exactly where you are on the lake too.
If you’ve never considered fishing from a PWC before – now’s the perfect time to. We’ll see you on the water!