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Top 13 Luxury Sport Fishing Yachts You Need to See

• By Yachting Staff
• Updated: August 8, 2024

It is possible to fish from any type of boat, but a sportfishing yacht is purpose-built for angling aficionados to chase fish of all sizes and species, whether it’s fun fishing for sailfish and mahi-mahi off the beach in Palm Beach or campaigning a professional-level billfish crew on the high-profile (and big-money) tournament circuit from the Bahamas to Bermuda and back. The best sport-fishing yachts combine rugged, blue-water construction with performance, range, agile handling and the comforts of luxury-yacht living. On the outside, sportfish yachts are notable for their dance-floor size cockpits for fish fighting; livewells to keep baits kicking; in-deck fish boxes to keep the catch chilled; and an armada of rod holders for drift fishing, kite fishing or trolling. They also are known for big diesel horsepower and speed, often north of 40 knots. Sportfish yachts are also notable for luxurious interiors with supple leathers, granite countertops, high-end galley appliances and spacious staterooms. These are highly self-sufficient angling platforms geared for life beyond the horizon where the water is deep and the fish are big.

Top Luxury Fishing Boats

The following 13 sportfish yachts are all vessels we’ve reviewed. They are listed in no particular order.

• Viking 82 Convertible : A new breed of sportfishermen emerges from this iconic New Jersey boatbuilder.
• Royal Huisman 171 : This superyacht sportfish is touted as the biggest sportfish yacht ever built.
• Rybovich 94 : A 41-knot, super-sized sport-fisherman from a legendary name in the boatbuilding game.
• Release Boatworks 43 Gameboat : An owner-operator-size, custom-built competitor with classic lines and modern performance. 
• Viking 38 Billfish : One of the top inboard-powered sport-fishermen under 40 feet available today.
• Jarrett Bay Boatworks 64 : Rebelette is a 43-knot fish chaser from the custom North Carolina boatbuilder.
• F&S Boatworks 82 : Special Situation is special indeed: 82 feet of custom sportfisherman, with a top speed of more than 40 knots.
• Bayliss Boatworks 60 : The first walkaround model for this noted boatbuilder, Sequentis is designed to fish the competitive South Florida tournament sailfish circuit .
• Viking 90 Convertible : The flagship of the Viking fleet, the 90C leads a new breed of mega-yacht sport-fishing boats. 
• Merritt 88 Sky Bridge : The renowned custom boatbuilder introduces an 88-foot sky-bridge model designed for global sportfishing adventures.
• Duffie 70 : This 70-footer from Maryland’s Duffie Boatworks blends craftsmanship, performance and fishability.
• Albemarle 53 Spencer Edition : Blending production efficiency with custom-boat design was a dream several years in the making, and the result is well worth the effort.
• Winter 46 : The boatbuilders at Winter Custom Yachts have optimized the walkaround concept with this MAN-diesel-powered 46-footer.

Viking Yachts 82 Convertible

Viking Yacht Company recently debuted its newest sport-fisherman: the 82 Convertible . Hull No. 1 is serving as the factory demo for the busy summer tournament season in Bermuda and along the East Coast. Thanks to many factors, including the use of computational fluid dynamics, performance is exceptional: twin MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines provide a reported 42-knot top hop and a 36-knot cruise speed. This 82-footer also leverages several proven systems for ease of use and efficiency, such as digital switching from Octoplex as well as the Optimus electronic power steering system. The Viking 82 is engineered for many systems that were previously custom installations and are now on the options sheet, including omnidirectional sonar, multiple water makers and crushed ice machines, tuna tube bait systems as well as the extensive use of refrigerated storage boxes. The Viking 82 is available in three models: open bridge, enclosed bridge and sky bridge.

Quick Specifications

Royal Huisman 171

A 171-foot sportfisherman? Yes. That’s exactly what the six-deck Special One is, from Dutch builder Royal Huisman. The interior and exterior design is from noted Dutch yacht-design firm Vripack, which calls the vessel “a sport-fisher on steroids.” The hull and superstructure of the supersize sportfish is Alustar aluminum, a material known for its strength and relatively light weight. Even with six decks, Vripack has managed to create sleek lines. It starts with a high freeboard forward that seemingly dares the ocean to approach. Transitioning from the bow, the sheerline slopes downwards in a steady cadence. The flowing sheerline resolves seamlessly at the cockpit. The vessel’s raked house and stacked deck are juxtaposed against the long profile, creating a sinewy aesthetic, which is no simple feat in this 171-footer. Add in all of the expected angling accouterments and 30-knot speed, and you have a sportfish yacht ready to chase fish around the world.

Rybovich 94

Size, speed and agility is a unique trifecta in a sportfish boat, but the 94-foot, 41-knot III Amigos from Michael Rybovich and Sons checks all those boxes as well as a few more too. The sportfish boat, designed by Patrick Knowles with naval architecture from Dusty Rybovich, is built in cold-molded mahogany. Prop pockets help keep the boat’s half-load draft down to a Bahamas-friendly 5 feet. The Rybovich 94’s impressive speed is helped by a pair of beefy 2,600 hp MTU diesels.

The owner of III Amigos also owns a 196-foot Feadship superyacht and, while he wanted the sportfish to be all business on the outside, he wanted luxury-yacht finishes on the inside. Subtle but telling touches are the solid doors to the staterooms; each mimics the owner’s Feadship with ¾-inch thickness. The doors close flush (each has hidden hinges), and the sound is of a Rolls-Royce door closing.

Release Boatworks 43 Gameboat

Reminiscent of arguably one of the most classic sport-fishing boats of all time—the 43-foot Merritt—the 43 Gameboat from Release Boatworks takes that design to a new level of sophistication and performance. These include a hull built using blister-resistant modified epoxy resin, which is vacuum-infused using Airex foam cores with E-glass hybrid fiberglass laminates to maximize strength while minimizing weight. The stringers are built with fiberglass encapsulated foam, and the bulkheads are vacuum-infused with composite cores. The extensive use of composite materials throughout the boat creates a strong finished product and saves a great deal of weight, providing admirable performance. With standard twin 550 hp Cummins QSB6.7 diesels, the 43 Gameboat cruises at 30 knots and tops out at 35 knots. Notable options include 600 hp Cummins QSCs or Volvo Penta D-8s, omni sonar, gyrostabilization and various tower options. The Release 43 Gameboat is also available in walkaround, flybridge walkaround or express layouts.

Viking Yachts 38 Billfish

The Viking Yachts 38 Billfish offers a special place in the hearts of bluewater sport-fishing enthusiasts around the world, with its combination of versatility, comfort and performance. The reasons are numerous. As an owner-operator vessel, the 38 Billfish offers simplicity and ease of maintenance, serving as a ready-to-go fishing machine that is equally adept at inshore and offshore excursions as well as for extended cruising with family and friends, thanks to its reliable inboard diesel power. It has a large cockpit as well as the speed and range to fish well offshore alongside much larger vessels, while also providing a fast, safe and comfortable ride in a variety of sea conditions.

Jarrett Bay Boatworks 64

North Carolina’s Jarrett Bay Boatworks latest build is the 64-foot beauty known as Rebelette . From its spacious tackle center to a one-of-a-kind walnut interior Hull No. 65 is a tailored fit, and it also has the latest in propulsion tech in the form of twin 2,025 hp Caterpillar C23B diesels. Taking full advantage of the Cat power, Rebelette cruises ­comfortably at 1,750 rpm while making an easy 31 knots. With 1,650 gallons of fuel, it has range to spare at this speed. Push this vessel up to 1,950 rpm to reach a fast cruising speed of 37 knots, which is impressive in any book. Wide-open throttle is 43 knots, fully loaded and ready to fish.

F&S Boatworks 82

F&S Boatworks’ stellar reputation stands tall in the world of custom sportfish builders so it’s no surprise that its latest creation, the 82-foot Special Situation , continues the tradition. One of the hallmarks of any F&S is the performance and Special Situation certainly doesn’t disappoint in that department. Powered by a pair of  2,600 hp MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines, at 2,000 rpm and 80 percent engine load, cruising speed is 36 knots, burning just south of 200 gallons per hour. Backing off to 1,650 rpm, it’s using 122 gph at 28 knots. At the other end of the spectrum, the top hop is more than 42 knots at 2,450 rpm.

Bayliss Boatworks 60

The 60-foot Sequentis was recently delivered to its new owners by the team at Bayliss Boatworks and it represents the first walkaround design for the storied North Carolina custom boatbuilder. Designed for live-bait tournament sailfishing in South Florida, Sequentis has 360-degree fishability as well as multiple livewells and pitch-bait tubes. And in a sport where having the ability to quickly relocate to a hot bite can mean the difference between finishing in first place or dead last, Sequentis is also fast. Powered by two MTU 12V2000 M96X diesel engines, it reportedly hit speeds of well over 42 knots during the initial sea trials in July 2024.

Viking Yachts 90

The flagship of the Viking fleet, the 90 Convertible , has improved elements including the builder’s latest lifting-strake design, a refined driveline and prop pockets, and advanced propulsion systems. Performance was optimized through the use of computational fluid dynamics software, allowing the Viking design team to analyze pressure distribution, study trim angle and trim tab effectiveness, and modify the strakes and chines to increase running efficiency.

Merritt 88 Sky Bridge

Merritt’s Boat & Engine Works introduces its latest, an 88-foot sky bridge designed for global sportfishing. Featuring luxurious interiors, advanced electronics and twin 2,600 hp MTU engines, this sport-fisherman offers yacht-level comfort, high performance and functionality for long-range angling adventures. The Merritt 88’s performance is greatly enhanced due to the extensive use of carbon fiber, Corecell and advanced epoxy in its construction, making this boat not only stronger, but also lighter weight and faster than its predecessors.

The new 70-footer from Duffie Boatworks , Dem Boys exemplifies exceptional craftsmanship, with notable features such as a luxurious four-stateroom layout and high-tech systems, including a proprietary closed-loop freshwater cooling system to virtually eliminate fouling. At 2,000 rpm, the Duffie 70 has a fast cruise of 36.5 knots, enough to make those long runs to the distant offshore canyons considerably quicker, while consuming less than 200 gph. At top hop, Dem Boys hit 43.5 knots.

Albemarle 53 Spencer Edition

Albemarle Boats and Spencer Yachts formed a partnership to design and build a semicustom Carolina boat, with the goal of bringing in the characteristic design elements, styling and performance from the custom world but to do it in a production setting, allowing for faster build times on the order of months rather than years. It was a dream several years in the making, and the result is the Albemarle 53 Spencer Edition .

Winter Custom Yachts

Tim Winters and his team of boatbuilders at Winter Custom Yachts in North Carolina have truly optimized the walkaround concept, taking full advantage of its inherent versatility. Anglers are no longer confined to the limited space in the cockpit and have the freedom to fight fish all the way around the boat from bow to stern. Even just taking the family on a shorthanded picnic cruise is safer and easier since everyone has full access to the bow without having to navigate a slippery deck. Its latest 46-footer , Thumper , is one of the most versatile boats in this size range on the water today.

• More: Albemarle Yachts , Bayliss Boatworks , Duffie Boatworks , F&S Boatworks , Jarrett Bay , Merritt , Release Boatworks , Royal Huisman , Rybovich , Sportfish Yachts , Sportfishing Boats , Viking , Winter Custom Yachts , Yachts
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Sport fishing yachts for sale.

Combining performance and practicality, sportfisher yachts are built with game-fish in mind. Whether you're a serious fisherman or just enjoy weekends with the family while trying to catch dinner, sportfishing yachts can give you speed, comfort, stability, and reliability.

Because the reefs and depths that these waters present more opportunity, the realm of offshore sportfishing is one that you will enjoy once you have some experience. But that's not to say you require experience to enjoy your sportfishing adventure, in fact it's easier than ever for beginners to start.

There's a bevy of equipment that can maximize your yield on any sport fishing yacht, from outriggers to towers and livewells, there are many modifications you can make for your sport fishing yacht. Fishing towers can give you an eagle eye view to spot large schools of fish, or where your next huge catch is waiting.

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When casting a line or reeling in the big one, it’s important to be fully equipped on the water. Sportfish yachts are ideally outfitted for the sole purpose of angling. Northrop & Johnson’s wide-ranging inventory of sportfish yachts for sale allows you to find the sportfish yacht you’ve been searching for. Our dedicated sportfish yacht expert brokers will walk you through the process of finding the perfect sportfish yacht for you, considering your fishing needs and wants. Check out our complete inventory of sportfish yachts for sale and when you’ve got one on the line, contact a Northrop & Johnson broker to begin the ownership process.

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Why Choose a Sportsfish Yacht?

Avid fishermen, anglers and fishing enthusiasts should consider a sportsfish yacht if that is the sole purpose of the vessel. Whether it will be used for recreational fishing activities with your family and friends or world-class fishing tournaments for big prizes and bigger accolades, if you plan to be on the water exclusively to drop a line, a sportsfish yacht is the way to go.

Sportsfish yachts are outfitted with all the amenities needed for fishing, from outriggers and towers to live wells and fighting chairs, fish lockers and freezers and, of course, copious rod holders. But these yachts aren’t all fishing and no-frills. Depending on the size, many sportsfish yachts also feature main salons, galleys, staterooms and all of the amenities found on a motor yacht, with the added bonus of the fishing kit.

Sportsfish yachts are sometimes owned in tandem with larger motor yachts or superyachts as an added amenity, with the sole purpose of casting a line and reeling in the big one.

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Sport Fishing yachts are the ultimate vessels for serious anglers who demand both high performance and luxury on the water. These yachts are engineered with powerful engines, often ranging from 1,500 to over 3,000 horsepower, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 40 knots, making them perfect for quickly reaching prime fishing grounds. With beams typically between 5 to 6 meters, these yachts offer expansive decks designed to accommodate multiple anglers, complete with advanced fishing gear such as outriggers, live wells, and fish boxes. The interiors are equally impressive, featuring state-of-the-art navigation and sonar systems, luxurious salons, and fully-equipped galleys. Accommodations often include multiple staterooms and en-suite bathrooms, ensuring comfort for extended fishing trips. The hull design is optimized for stability and efficiency, even in rough seas, ensuring a smooth ride and excellent handling. For those who demand the best in both fishing capabilities and onboard amenities, Sport Fishing yachts represent the pinnacle of ocean-going adventure.

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Boat of the Week: This 171-Foot Super-Luxe Sportfishing Yacht Is the Largest in the World

The epic vessel is a super fast "battlewagon" designed to chase marlin, swordfish and sailfish. it's also decidedly lavish., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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To hook the world’s biggest fighting fish, in the words of Chief Brody in the classic 1975 movie Jaws , “You’re going to need a bigger boat.”

Privately owned fishing boats won’t come any bigger than this astonishing 171-foot super-luxury sportfisherman, set to claim the title of “World’s Largest Sportfish Superyacht.”

Designed by Dutch naval architects Vripack , and soon to start construction at the Royal Huisman yard in the Netherlands, Project 406 as it’s currently codenamed, will be a fast “battlewagon,” designed to chase marlin, swordfish and sailfish to the ends of the earth. “Project 406 is a sportfishing machine on steroids,” Vripack co-creative director Bart M. Bouwhuis told Robb Report . “It has the proportions of a typical American sportfishing yacht, with a long, flaring bow and open foredeck, and raked-back superstructure. It’s just bigger in every way.”

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Like every sportfishing boat, the focus is the cockpit, with a fighting chair in the center and multiple rocket launchers. The decks above are for ringside views of the action.  Courtesy Vripack

Bouwhuis is quick to point out “this is a sportfisher first, and superyacht second. While she will have the luxury of a true superyacht, she’ll set a new benchmark in the world of big-game fishing boats.”

Renderings from Vripack show a towering, six-deck fishing machine with the sleek proportions of smaller battlewagons from American builders like Viking, Hatteras and Jarrett Bay.

To shave weight, the hull and superstructure will be made of Alustar aluminum, a super-strong, high-tensile alloy. Bouwhuis won’t reveal the yacht’s power, though the word “huge” comes out in the conversation. “You can’t fool nature if you want a 171-foot boat to go this fast,” he says. “It will have significant horsepower.”

Designer Vripack kept the proportions similar to traditional American sportfishing designs, though those smaller battlewagons don’t have six decks.  Courtesy Vripack

The yacht has been commissioned by an experienced owner who is passionate about big-game fishing. “There are yachts out there that label themselves ‘sportfishermen,’ but they tend to be big motoryachts with a small fishing cockpit on back. Project 406 stays true to the traditional proportions.”

That means an oversized stern cockpit that’s low to the water, with a classic varnished-wood fighting chair takes center stage. Each of the decks above it will face the stern to give guests a front-row view of the sportfishing action below. For thrill-seekers, the very top deck, high above the flybridge hardtop, will provide stunning 360-degree views of the water. Perfect for spotting leaping marlin.

When the fish aren’t biting, Project 406 will offer guests plenty of places to kick back and relax. On the bow is an expansive, sunken sun-lounging area with oversize pads and sofas. The yacht’s fourth-level sky lounge will serve as an extraordinary “theater” for watching big-game fish leap out of the water. At night, it will have the relaxed ambience and stunning views of a boutique hotel penthouse.

When not in sportfishing mode, the outer decks can be used for socializing, especially the open area in the bow.  Courtesy Vripack

“It has been a steep learning curve for the whole Vripack team, discovering what makes a great sportfishing boat and understanding what kind of features are needed—from the rods, to the baitwells, the icemakers and fish boxes,” says Bouwhuis. “But it has definitely been an exciting challenge.”

It’s hard to understand the unbridled passion for fishing, especially when discussing the world’s largest sportfishing boat.  But actor Lee Marvin summed up the feeling nicely: “I only make movies to finance my fishing.”

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$ 1,450,000

Cartersville, United States

82' Sea Force IX Enclosed Flybridge 2005

$ 1,950,000

Miami Beach, United States

82' Sea Force IX Enclosed Bridge 2004

$ 1,699,000

Coral Gables, United States

82' Viking 82 Convertible 2010

$ 4,295,000

Brigantine, United States

80' Viking 80 Convertible 2023

$ 8,995,000

Anna Maria, United States

80' Palmer Johnson 80 Sportfish M/Y 1997

$ 3,950,000

Key Largo, United States

80' Viking Sky Bridge 2017

$ 7,000,000

Stuart, United States

80' Viking 80 Sportfish Convertible 2023

$ 9,695,000

Orange Beach, United States

Description

The evolution of the sportfishing yacht has changed significantly over the past few decades, not just from the materials used in the hull, or the advancement in construction techniques, but from its true capabilities. Anglers move up from center-consoles to larger sportfishing yachts for several reasons, but the main one is that you can simply fish farther out and for longer periods of time. All sportfishing yachts were once entirely made of wood, and while some custom sport fishing boat manufacturers still build wooden boats, the vast majority of sportfishing yachts sold today use a high-quality composite that is resin-infused for maximum durability and performance. Hulls are larger, lighter, and stronger which means today's sport fishing boat can go faster and fit more on it. Many of the Viking Yachts or Hatteras Yachts today feature 3 to 4 staterooms, each with their own head along with oversized salons, enclosed bridges, flybridges, and more creature comforts to make your time on the water more enjoyable. The most popular style of sport fishing boat today has to be the Convertible Sportfish due to its versatility of having the open bridge, along with the amenities of a motor yacht .

There are thousands of yachts available on the United website through our MLS services, many of which are sportfishing boats. There are many different brands, styles, features, and capabilities of both custom and production sportfish sold today, and the team at United has years of experience both selling sportfish and working with the manufacturers on new builds. Our brokers will share with you what they think is the best sport fishing boat available on the market. Let the United team help you in your search to find the perfect sportfishing boat, call our main office today at (772) 463-3131. United is also a dealer for new Hatteras Yachts and Cabo Yachts .

SPEAK TO A SALES PROFESSIONAL

The improvements in construction and added space have paved the way for larger, more powerful engines to be used in sportfishing yachts. Whether tournament-fishing or just a weekend warrior, getting to the fishing grounds quickly is imperative. Today's sportfish boats can cruise anywhere from 20 to 30 knots and exceed speeds of 50 knots with big twin diesel engines. How fast a sportfishing boat can go depends on several factors include engine horsepower, hull shape, the construction of the vessel, and the weight of the entire boat.

It's the amenities on board though that generally appeal to the owner who likes to fish with his family. Comfortable, air-conditioned salons, full galley's with lots of storage for extended trips, hot showers in en suite bathrooms can make any extended fishing trip more enjoyable with kids on board especially.

Below are several prominent custom and production sportfishing boat brands :

• Bayliss Boatworks
• Bertram Yachts
• Buddy Davis Boats
• Egg Harbor Boats
• F&S Yachts
• Gamefisherman Boats
• Garlington Yachts
• G&S Yachts
• Henriques Yachts
• Jarrett Bay Yachts
• Jim Smith Boats
• Luhrs Yachts
• Merritt Yachts
• Ocean Yachts
• Paul Mann Boats
• Ritchie Howell Boats
• Riviera Yachts
• Rybovich Yachts
• Spencer Yachts
• Sunny Briggs Yachts
• Viking Yachts
• Weaver Yachts
• Whiticar Yachts
• Willis Yachts

Sportfishing yachts are typically boats 50ft and over that are purpose-designed and built for offshore fishing in tournaments such as the Atlantic Ocean White Marlin Open of Ocean City, MD—the world’s largest billfish tournament with a multi-million-dollar payout, or for the adventure of chasing pelagic gamefish in remote spots around the world. Kona-Hawaii (Pacific Blue Marlin), Isla Mujeres-Mexico (Sailfish), New Zealand (Striped Marlin), Great Barrier Reef-Australia (Giant Black Marlin), along with Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, are among the finest gamefish destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sportfishing Boats:

What type of yacht is best for fishing?

Although one can cast or drop a line from just about any boat, for the serious sport and tournament fisherman, a vessel designed from the ground up for the rigors of offshore fishing in many conditions and often customized to the owner’s wishes, are the best choice. There are many variations of the two basic types of sportfish boats—the Express Sportfish and the Flybridge/Convertible Sportfish. The Flybridge Sportfish boats (45ft and under) are not technically Convertibles, but distinctions are blurred as they are often marketed as such. Express Sportfish models have two decks, the main deck with helm and cockpit, accommodations below deck and tend to be smaller.

Most likely it will have a tower, but no flybridge. Examples are the Gamefisherman 50 Express, Huckins 45 Sportfisherman, Cabo Express SF. All feature large cockpits that are uncluttered and set up for fishing action and may include in-deck fish boxes, livewells, rod holders, ice machine, fighting chair, aft steering, transom “tuna” doors, tackle storage and more. Many have towers with their own steering stations, outriggers, rocket launcher rod holders, and other features. Convertible Sportfisherman are larger and most often completely custom world-class yachts for tournament and long-range fishing adventures. Examples are Michael Rybovich & Sons sportfishing yachts, Hatteras GT series, Viking Convertibles, Jim Smith, Merritt, F&S, Bertram, Custom Carolina, and many more.

Read: What Is The Best Size Sport Fishing Boat?

Below is a video of a 85' Jim Smith Custom Sportfish:

What is a Convertible Sportfishing boat?

Convertible Sportfish Yachts are typically 50ft or more with enclosed living area on the main deck and a flybridge with hard top or fully enclosed, in addition to accommodations below deck, and a large cockpit with a mezzanine deck with seating for guests to watch and enjoy the action. These yachts are often a custom build that combines the luxurious amenities of a motor yacht with the proven performance hull of a sportfisher, capable of converting to a cruising yacht, if desired. They will usually have a tower for spotting gamefish and utilize the latest technological advantages and fish-finding electronics, such as Furuno’s real-time 360-degree sonar systems, Seakeeper stabilizers, pod drives, powerful diesel engines and gensets, and much more. Convertible Sportfishers are evaluated on their seakeeping ability, stability and efficiency in speed and economy. Handling and performance underway or in fishing mode are vital, as they must be able to handle all types of conditions; many have redundant systems. The cockpit needs to be well arranged for anglers and crew to do battle with big trophy gamefish!

Example of a convertible sportfish:

How much does a Sportfishing Yacht cost?

How much are you willing to spend? There are too many variables with the vast array of manufacturers and builders of Sportfishing Yachts to put a single price out there. Currently the average cost to purchase a Sportfishing Yacht over 40ft in the Southeast Region of the United States is about $815,500. Sportfishing yachts tend to cost more than a cruising motor yacht of the same length because of the additional specialized equipment, electronics, and build features, especially for a custom sportfish. Convertible sportfishing yachts have both the luxury accommodations of a motor yacht and the specialized features of a high-end “fishing machine.” When considering the cost of ownership, as with any vessel, be sure to factor in dockage/storage, insurance, maintenance, fuel and other running costs, captain and crew salaries (if needed), taxes & fees, and more.

Learn more about pricing here:

• How Much Is A Sportfishing Yacht?
• How Much Does A Fishing Yacht Cost?
• Why Are Sportfishing Boats So Expensive?
• Guide To Buying A Sportfishing Yacht

What is the best Sportfish boat?

There are so many excellent makes and models of Sportfishing boats and yachts available today that the question becomes a personal matter: Which sportfishing boat is best for you? Do you intend to enter tournaments, fish recreationally with family and friends, or pursue trophy billfish and other gamefish around the world, or for extended stays in the Bahamas? Your budget will also narrow the field or allow you to have a boat built to your specifics and uniquely reflect your style and taste. Some well-known Sportfish builders are as follows: Albemarle, American Custom Yachts (acquired by Willis Marine Inc in July 2021), BB Boats (especially built for charter use), Bertram Yacht, Bayliss Boatworks, Briggs Boatworks (Sunny Briggs), Cabo Yachts, Davis Yachts, F&S Boatworks, Gamefisherman, Garlington Landeweer, Hatteras Yachts, Henriques Yachts, Jarrett Bay, Jim Smith Boats, Paul Mann Custom Boats (retired 2021), Maverick Yachts (designed by Erwin Gerard, EG Designs and built in Costa Rica), Merritt’s Boat and Engine Works, Ritchie Howell Custom Boats, Roscioli Donzi Intl., Michael Rybovich and Sons, Scarborough Boatworks, Spencer Yachts, Viking Yachts, Weaver Boat Works, Willis Marine (just acquired ACY in Stuart, FL), Winter Custom Yachts, and new custom builder in St Augustine, FL, Vilano Boatworks--introducing a 65ft sportfish designed by noted naval architect, Erwin Gerard.

How much does a 50ft fishing boat cost?

Currently a used 2005 Ocean Yachts 50ft Super Sport is listed at $395,000 in the Florida east coast market, which is about average in the current brokerage market. Current (Aug. 2021) range in the yachting industry’s MLS is $600,000 for a 2000 Viking 50 Convertible Sport Fisher in California to a 1991 Ocean Yachts 50ft Super Sport located in Italy at $199,420. Of course, a new production or custom-built fishing boat will be much more.

What is the largest fishing yacht?

According to The Robb Report and Yachts International, the new 171ft Royal Huisman Sportfish Superyacht will be the world’s largest true sportfish yacht when it is launched. Currently under construction, the yacht will be equipped for the global pursuit of trophy gamefish such as swordfish and marlin that roam the world’s oceans, and a range of sportfishing options. Sportfishing has attracted new owners for the larger boats in recent decades and yachts with tall towers and outriggers dominate the world’s fishing grounds in South and Central America, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Rim and New Zealand.

Some of the other sportfishing yachts that fall into the superyacht strata are Trinity Yachts 131.7 ft BAD COMPANY built in 1998 and MARY P built in the New Orleans shipyard in 2008; McMullen & Wing 119ft MEA CULPA built in 2003; Yachting Developments (New Zealand) 118.5ft 2018 LANAKAI and 99ft AL DUHAIL, world’s largest all-carbon sportfisher launched in 2020; 116ft CIELO MARE built by Townsend Bay Marine. Other noted builders are American Custom Yachts 90ft C’EST LA VIE, Bayliss Boatworks 2014 90ft Singularis, Bertram’s 80ft Sportfisher with enclosed flybridge, Hatteras 90ft built in 1995 one of a series built between 1992-1993; Jarrett Bay 84ft delivered in 2016; Jim Smith Boats 105ft delivered in 2013, one of the largest cold-molded sportfishers built; Merritt’s 86ft DESTINY built in 2011 with enclosed bridge; Roscioli’s 92ft Evolution, capable of scaling up to a 105ft model; Michael Rybovich & Sons custom 88ft currently under construction; Spencer Yachts custom 87ft built in 2012; Viking 92ft Convertible launched in 2014; and Weaver Boatworks 87ft completed in 2013 for fishing the Seychelles Islands.

Seen below: The Viking 92 Convertible.

Is Hatteras Yachts still building sportfishing models?

Recently (2021) acquired by White River Marine Group (Bass Pro Shops family of brands), the Next generation of the legendary Hatteras sportfish yachts will be the focus of White River Marine as they make Hatteras the “finest sportfishing boats ever made,” building on the traditions and innovations that began over 60 years ago in 1959 in North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras coast. The current production and semi-custom Hatteras Sportfish GT Series ranges from the GT45X Express Cruiser, GT45X Flybridge, GT45X Tower, GT45X Open to the GT54, GT59, GT65 Carolina, and GT70—all designed and built in New Bern, NC with the offshore angler in mind. These elegant, updated classic sportfish models are beautifully crafted with the features, rigging and signature Hatteras ride. Built strong (over engineered) to perform well in the fierce currents and swells off Cape Hatteras and anywhere else you like to fish.

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FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO WORLD-RENOWNED BRAND

Meet the fleet.

Jarrett Bay Boatworks, a premier builder of custom sportfishing boats, began in 1986 when Randy Ramsey led the construction of a single 52-foot charter boat, the Sensation , in an old tin shed. Since those humble beginnings, Jarrett Bay has constructed & delivered over 100 custom & semi-production sportfish boats and serviced tens of thousands of vessels. Our one-of-a-kind custom construction process allows us to finely balance our customers’ needs for fishing performance, fuel efficiency and luxury – all while never sacrificing the legendary Carolina ride.

World-Class Service

The award-winning Jarrett Bay service department can handle virtually any project on vessels up to 300 tons. Centrally located adjacent to the mid-Atlantic seaport of Beaufort, North Carolina, Jarrett Bay Boatworks boasts highly skilled craftsmen and technicians at the most competitive rates.

Jarrett Bay Insider takes you behind the scenes to inspect the incredible craftsmanship that goes into the construction of our world-class custom sportfish boats and yacht refits.

Furnishings

In the news, why jarrett bay.

We feel so strongly about our boats, we’ve identified 11 in-depth reasons to build a Jarrett Bay. If you are seriously considering a custom build, we’d love to teach you more about the value of our boats.

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Whether you’re curious about booking, weather, or preparation, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

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Which accessories do you really need?

I’ve often wondered what key features on a boat are most important to anglers.

For example, if you could only pick one, would you rather have shallow water anchors or a forward-facing sonar (FFS) system?

I ask that question because we (Phoenix Boats) just launched a promotion for our 721ZXL. It’s a package boat that comes with a 21-foot boat, a Mercury 250, two 12-inch Humminbird Helix graphs, a 36-volt Minn Kota Quest trolling motor and your choice of either two, 8-foot Power-Poles or a Garmin 1022 graph with LiveScope.

So basically, it’s a tournament ready rig for $76,000.

But do you choose Power-Poles or LiveScope? My hunch is that a couple of years ago the shallow water anchoring system would be the preference, but with the success pro anglers are having with FFS, the LiveScope would win out.

We will find out in the coming weeks after anglers begin making their choice at the dealership.

Of course, the wild card here is some anglers are adamantly opposed to the FFS technology and that’s one reason we offered the choice. Also, there are rumors floating around some tournament organizations may restrict or prohibit its usage.

That’s something to think about as well.

If you live in Florida and fish Lake Okeechobee or similar shallow bodies of water, you likely would choose the Power-Poles. Yet, if you fish big, open water like Lake Champlain or one of the Great Lakes, the FFS might suit you best.

As I noted in an earlier column , the boat itself hasn’t driven up prices nearly as much as it’s been all of the electronics and accessories anglers think they need that eventually creates sticker shock.

Multiple, big-screen electronics with FFS can cost you as much as $25,000, plus $5,000 in shallow water anchors and a $4,000 trolling motor – it adds up quickly.

And, like I said in a previous column, those are nice accessories to have, but you honestly don’t need that extravagant setup to have an enjoyable day on the water or to catch quality bass.

You can pare back some of those options by going with slightly smaller and fewer graphs, no FFS or shallow water anchors. You can get into a 21-foot boat with good power for less than $70,000 and still have a good rig with good electronics.

In addition, you can drop down to a 19- or 20-foot boat, less horsepower and still have good accessories and spend even less. Those slightly shorter boats still have big beams and abundant storage and can handle most big waters. Our new 819 ZXL retails for less than $60,000 with decent size electronics.

Honestly, it’s sad anglers think they have to have the biggest, baddest, trendiest equipment like the pros to be cool enough to catch fish.

That’s so untrue. If you look around at your local derbies, you will see guys who consistently catch fish with far less equipment than what you see on pro anglers’ boats.

Sometimes keeping it simple is the best path to success. The key is to spend time on the water, learn what fish do and add accessories as you can afford them — not because they make you cool.

Alternative drop-shot baits

Gear review: z-man shadtron lt, gear review: rapala 20-pound high vis digital scale, gear review: daiwa tatula sv 100.

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End of an era? Lahaina fire delivers big blow to already declining commercial fishing industry

For 45 years, the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor was like a second home for Donnell “Andy” Tate, who for decades served as its weighmaster. Over the years, he got to know all of the boats and captains, pioneered digital scales used in the harbor, and sold his own catch to restaurants like Pacific’o on the Beach. 

Tate also put readers “in the fishing chair, reeling in the marlin,” while documenting the biggest fish stories as a journalist and photographer for Hawaiʻi Fishing News and the Lahaina News.

He recalled the late 1970s, when fishermen on small boats were able to win $15,000 jackpots and Lahaina Harbor was like “one big party,” with the captains and crew grabbing beers and bragging about the size of their catches to the ladies.

But those good old days memories of the harbor for Tate, now 73, are clouded by the fire of Aug. 8, 2023, when he fled his Lahaina Shores home with only his camera gear and could only watch from a distance through a black wall of smoke as the town, the harbor, most of the boats and his life as he knew it went up in flames.

The commercial fisherman and sportfishing charter operations at the harbor had suffered during COVID-19, when Lahaina became a ghost town for more than six months, forcing some fishermen out of business or to move to bluer waters.

But the fire — which badly damaged the 99-slip harbor, destroyed all but 13 boats and left the nearshore waters a mess, filled with oil and debris — has been an even bigger, and perhaps more permanent blow.

The Lahaina fishing community is witnessing what feels like the end of an era, said Capt. Chimo Shipp.

The decline began, he said, when some commercial fishermen “were kicked out of the harbor a long time ago to make room for tour boats.” Adding to the demise has been the COVID-19 pandemic that led to many in the fishing business finding different kinds of work or retiring early, with no young replacements for the lost “old-timers.”

“And then the fires impacted what was left, which wasn’t a lot,” Shipp said. “Nobody’s fishing. It’s a hard job.”

A year ago, Shipp’s Maui Fresh Fish seafood market was the largest buyer and seller of locally caught fish on the island with his business selling more than 7,000 pounds of seafood per week caught by 54 Maui fishermen.

But since the fire, Shipp’s business has struggled with both supply and demand.

His supply of fish has gone down with the loss of the Lahaina Harbor-based trollers. Many have already left West Maui due to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ timeline of at least two-plus years for the estimated $30 million in damage to be repaired in order to reopen the harbor.

Shipp also lost many of his restaurant customers who buy the fish because their establishments along Front Street and other parts of the town are gone. And for those restaurants that are still in business, the need for fish is significantly down because of Maui’s steep tourism decline of more than 20%.

A decade before the fires, in 2013, Maui County fishermen landed 792,418 pounds of seafood. In 2023, that number was only 465,249 pounds, according to DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources .

Before the fires, there were 12 commercial fishing boats operating out of Lahaina Harbor and six out of Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor. Now there are half as many.

Three charter boats formerly docked in Lahaina Harbor are now docked at Māʻalaea, with the possibility of two more boats also doing so, according to DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

Some fishermen whose boats were docked at the Lahaina Harbor also lost their homes in the fire, and are struggling to find stable affordable housing. Others are struggling with trauma from the devastating experience and loss.

And there is no pipeline to replace them. Shipp says the local industry has not trained enough young fishermen or provided affordable opportunities to start a fishing business.

According to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ survey , only 9% of Hawaiʻi small boat fishermen are under 35 years old, while almost 64% are over 54.

On Monday morning, the day before the Aug. 8 fire, the harbor was closed due to winds that had picked up to unsafe levels as Hurricane Dora traveled in a westerly direction south of the Hawaiian Islands.

On Tuesday afternoon, the fire that would do the most damage to Lahaina town began and spread quickly in the high winds. At the harbor, winds knocked over fuel tanks and blew hot embers into the sea of diesel, catching fire to mooring lines and releasing boats into the oil spill.

Some people attempted to get their boats out of the north end, but failed and were force to jump into the water and swim back to the break wall. Only 13 boats of 95 docked there that day survived, including two commercial charter boats, the Jawhawk and the aptly named “Reel Luckey.”

In the ensuing months, Tate couldn’t stop reliving the last 60 seconds of looking down his driveway. The visits to his former Lahaina home turned his fingernails and toenails black, numbed his nerves and took his breath away, until he knew he “had to get the hell out of Dodge.” 

“My business burned up. I didn’t have a job anymore,” Tate said. “My PTSD was going off the wall. I knew I couldn’t stay there anymore.” 

Before the end of the year, he packed his belongings and moved to the Big Island with no plans to rebuild or return.

FROM LAHAINA TO KONA, MAYBE FOREVER

Kevin Campbell , a light-tackle bottom fisherman who used to sell ʻōpakapaka to Honu Oceanside on his boat named “Drifter,” originally wanted to stay in Lahaina after the fire. This was despite losing his home, boat and tourism-driven fishing job.

But he said he got pushed out due to the difficulty of finding an affordable place to live and the year it would take to rebuild the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor. 

In October, Campbell bought a private charter business in Kona, a place he had been allured by before the fires, and moved there with his wife Tasha and newborn son Kade. His transition to Kona has been met with aloha by the many fishermen at Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor, he said.

Campbell doesn’t plan on moving back to Maui, despite missing Lahaina “so much it hurts.” Half of his friends and community that he misses also have moved to other islands or the mainland, an issue he chalks up to getting priced out for housing.

Also joining him in Kona was born-and-raised Lahaina fisherman Sean Hudson, who had operated Finest Kind Sportfishing Charters with one 35-footer named the “Reel Hooker.” He had captained boats that had been in his family and Lahaina Harbor for three generations, since 1972.

In the fire, Hudson lost his livelihood with the destruction of three of his four charter boats.

Before the fire, John Burke, a 59-year-old veteran of Lahaina Harbor who had worked for the charter company Start Me Up Sportfishing, had relocated to Kona due to losing his livelihood during the COVID-19 shutdown.

At the time, Burke says his decision to relocate was met with skepticism by some who believed that charters were cheaper in Kona, making it harder to turn a profit. But he found that the consistently larger catches more than made up for the lower fees, and now, “a lot of guys from Maui are calling looking for work” in Kona. 

Burke owns “Skillet,” a boat named after his late cousin. While he misses Lahaina and the community he grew up in, he says the fishing is better in Kona with better opportunities than in Lahaina.

“I wouldn’t move back to Lahaina to fish,” he said, explaining there was not a “single day in the last year” that he didn’t have a marlin bite.

As the world’s marlin capital, Kona is characteristically known for its steep drop-offs just offshore, providing access almost year-round to a variety of pelagic fish, blue marlin, yellowfin tuna (ʻahi), wahoo (ono) and mahi-mahi. The majority of the Big Island harbor boats are run by part-time and full-time commercial fishermen and commercial sportfishing charter boats who last year landed 640,000 pounds of fish compared to Maui County’s combined total of 465,000 pounds.

MAKING IT WORK WHILE WAITING ON THE HARBOR

Some fishermen are making do at other locations around the island while waiting for the repairs to the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor.

The DLNR began to address dredging plans for the harbor in March. Its project list and timeline continues to face delays as it awaits funding. Progress was made with the fuel dock being restored March 30, and reopening on Aug. 6. 

On Aug. 27, following a request for an update on the harbor work, officials from the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation said the harbor has been cleared of debris and pilings and was expected to be operational in two-plus years, but did not provide more details.

Some of the small-boat fishermen from Lahaina who are trying to stay afloat say they have shifted away from supplying restaurants and toward feeding the Maui community, where more than 30% of families do not have enough to eat. 

Maui Fresh Fish seafood market, which lost the bulk of its accounts on Front Street and Lahaina Harbor, has continued to buy local Maui landings, which are then prepared and donated to Maui fire survivors. This is done through Fresh Help Maui , a nonprofit initiative that Shipp started and of which he is the executive director. The organization had been running on private donations, but recently received a two-month Hawaiʻi Community Foundation grant through its Maui Strong Fund.

Among the three former Lahaina charter fishing boat operations that have moved to Māʻalaea is Terry Kellum, 69, who lost his boat in the fire but now is operating with a new iteration of his charter vessel, the “Hinatea III.”

In November, he moved to the new dock and has since donated some of his fish to Lahaina families. Consequently, he loses out on about a third of his earnings that came from selling to Front Street restaurants, he said.

Hawaiʻi is one of the few states in which charter boats can sell their catch. Sportfishing charters in Lahaina had the unique advantage of making a profit on excess fish, including fresh Maui fish caught just 25 miles or so offshore, that could be sold to a dense market of restaurants located just across the street.

As conveniently located Front Street’s restaurants closed in the pandemic and since the wildfire, some explored different outlets for sales.

A report by the NOAA Fisheries in 2023 showed that 10 years ago, restaurants and stores were the “most commonly used outlet for Maui’s small-boat fishermen,” but after the pandemic, more Maui fishermen were “selling their fish to friends, neighbors and coworkers” than to restaurants.

But the loss of Lahaina fishing boats hasn’t seemed to hurt the ability of major brokers to supply fresh fish on Maui.

According to chef Peter Merriman, who owns restaurants in Kapalua, Kāʻanapali, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi, the drop in West Maui’s local catches has not affected its stock or costs to acquire abundant fish from purveyors. 

In general, Maui restaurants have not been reliant on local fish supply, said Brooks Takenaka of the United Fishing Agency, which runs the Honolulu Fish Auction, the largest fish market in the state.

Takenaka said the quality may not be the same between the auction block at Pier 38 and certain locally caught options, like monchong, ʻōpakapaka and mahi, but Maui’s local supply has always had a hard time fulfilling the demand for fresh fish. 

“It’s really hard to find actual local fish in any stores anywhere, but even more recently you can’t even find the fish that was labeled local but wasn’t,” Shipp said. “It’s definitely harder to source fresh fish that’s not even caught on Maui, but caught in the state. … It was always a part of our culture, but that seems to be going away, too.”

In addition to losing out on fish sales, Kellum says it hasn’t been a smooth transition from Lahaina to Māʻalaea. To fit the slip requirement in Māʻalaea, the Hinatea III, a 34-foot Blackfin, is a downsize from its predecessor, a 42-foot Bertram Motor Yacht. And, the safety railing provided for his slip broke while two customers leaned against it and still hasn’t been fixed. His commute also is an hour longer.

He said he would “1,000 times rather be back in Lahaina.”

Another Māʻalaea Harbor transplant from Lahaina Harbor, deckhand Danny Wike, 23, says from Lahaina he could get to better fishing spots faster and with less fuel.

“I don’t love it,” Wike said. “But I’m happy to be working, to be fishing. A lot of people in Lahaina don’t have work, so I gotta count my blessings.”

*JD Pells is a writer for Maui Now, a partner of the Hawai’i Journalism Initiative.

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