What to look for when buying a jetski for fishing

Fishing from a personal watercraft, also known as “Jetski,” is nothing new. Fishermen from around the world have been doing it for years, especially popular in Hawaii and Australia. With a simple search on YouTube, there are hundreds of videos showing guys haul up marlins and other exotic pelagic game fish from their jetskis. Just how do they set up their craft, which was designed for cruising, to be a fishing platform? Here are a few tips to help you choose the best jetski suitable for fishing.

Distance
Ocean fishing is about knowing where and when to fish. Once the location and time are determined, the next obstacle is distance. When purchasing a jetski for sport fishing, think distance, not horsepower. Most modern jetskis have a range of about 70-90 miles per tank, varies between models and engines. Some jetskis, Yamaha VX 110 for example, have a range of about 100-120 miles. Supercharged engines are by far the worst option for going the distance. Avoid them at all costs!

Storage
Space is rather limited on a jetski. However, it can carry just about everything any fishermen would need. Among the different personal watercraft manufacturers, there are three basic storage areas: front hatch, middle glove box, and beneath the back seat. Opening and closing the front hatch is quite effortless on land. But it becomes very cumbersome on the water when things are not very stationary. The storage compartment beneath the seat is just about as cumbersome as the front hatch. Not only is it bulky, it is also heavy. Many fishermen either live with the limited space, or they look for other options. Jetlogic manufactures a saddle bag made for ATV vehicles but perfect fit on a jetski. It mounts over the back seat with one isolated bag on each side. It fits snuggly below the back seat, providing easy access to tackle or other accessories.




Fishing Equipment
The biggest obstacle in jetski sport fishing is where to store fishing equipment. Some anglers store rods in the back handle behind the seat. Others have tied them down by the foot wells. However, with a little creativity, anglers have built a custom rack that fits a bait tank and a few rod holders in the back of their jetskis. Make sure that the jetski you are planning to purchase has ample deck space behind the seat. Also, look for tow rings by the back panel next to the exhaust. It makes tying down the custom rack much easier.




Jetski buying checklist
• Horsepower – go fast or go far. High horsepower = low distance and vice versa.
• Deck space – 3 seaters for stability, back space for bait tank




- HawaiianShorts

What a sensible and unbiased article you wrote!
I really appreciate that you are not only sharing your passion, but that you offer people ideas and equipment guidelines you have tested out for yourself. I think the most noble part about your article is that you didn't bash any product or person.
I see so many people on forums who are biased about product and favoriting gear, when really you can adjust to anything and sometimes you have to due to circumstances or expenses.
I respect this article, and look forward to your next one!

thank you Shawn. I can really careless about the brand names, even if they pay me.. I only care about what the product can do.

I'm thinking about fixing a FF/GPS combo on my honda aquatrax f12x in the same place as the garmin 400c in the previous photo. How was it fixed, was it bolted/screwed on or epoxied to the surface? I'm keen not to drill any holes if possible.

The install for this one:


requires 2 holes to be drilled (one for the glove box, one for front hatch). It's not a big deal since these two compartments are relatively cheap, compared to the body work, to replace. On top of that, the holes are well clear of any water splashes.

The fishfinder sits firmly on top of the glove box, no screws or bolts, just marine goop around the edge on both sides. If you look closely at the ff unit, there's about a 1/4" of lip surrounding the unit. I cut the cover hole just big enough to fit the unit, up to the lip. I have had this unit for 30+ hours on the water and it shows no signs of tear or leak.

Good article!

thanks for the help, do you have any more pictures?
i'm looking for some ideas to rig my ski up my ski to take on the west coast of aus.

TheWest wrote:thanks for the help, do you have any more pictures?
i'm looking for some ideas to rig my ski up my ski to take on the west coast of aus.

look in the garage for some ideas and also the reports. you'll see many of us in action!

Good article . Gives me some great ideas!

thanks for the info