Fishing From A… Jet Ski?!

We anglers enjoy fishing from all sorts of craft – kayaks, jon boats, sportfishing yachts, and everything in-between – but fishing from a Jet Ski still raises eyebrows. This is a shame, because while Jet Skis certainly have plenty of downsides as fishing vehicles, using them for this purpose is just plain FUN! In fact, it’s popular enough that Sea Doo has their own line of angling-dedicated models on the market. Still, most of us fish-heads aren’t about to run out and drop a bundle of cash on a brand new Jet Ski just to go fishing on it. More commonly, people who already have one will modify it so that they can use it for blasting around as usual, but also casting around when the mood strikes. So, just what does this entail?

Truth be told, fairly little. The key element is adding a rack on the back which acts more or less as an all-things-fishing device. For starters, it needs to be large enough to secure a cooler if you plan on taking home any fish. It also needs to serve as the mounting point for rodholders. This will be the key factor in how many rigs you can haul and also if you can troll from the Jet Ski, so as a rule more is better and having an outward-angled pair is advantageous. Just about all your other accouterments can be soft-mounted to the rack using bungee chords. Things like nets and measuring sticks can be securely strapped down along the back or sides. Most Jet Skis have some sort of small glove box or stowage container up front, which can house a (minimal) tacklebox and basic tools like pliers and a knife.

The only other item you may decide you need is a fishfinder. Mounting these can be problematic due to space constraints and the fact that few Jet Skis have good flat surface mounting areas. On some you’ll be able to binacle-mount a unit, but on many others you’ll need to bolt on a RAM-style mount and attach the head unit there. In either case, you’ll have to accept having a compact unit with a small screen. Also note that it will be subjected to endless salt spray and likely won’t last many seasons, so getting a low-investment unit is often the right move.

Do we expect everyone to run right out and start Jet Ski fishing? Of course not. But if you have a Jet Ski that’s only used on occasion and you’re looking for a cool new way to fish, this could be it. Spend a few hundred bucks on a rack and an afternoon modifying your waterbike, and you’ll be in for a ton of fun.