While there may be numerous differences between an offshore fishing boat, bay boat, flats skiff, fishing pontoon and others, there are some common features that you’ll find on almost any fishing boat. 

Fishing Boat Features

Whether you’re offshore or inshore, fresh or salt, here are some of the most common features you’ll find on a fishing boat.

• Rod holders - Specialized tubes that allow an angler to rest their rod in an upright position waiting for a bite
• Livewell - A special compartment in the boat that siphons water from the ocean or lake and oxygenates it to keep your bait alive 
• Fish boxes - These compartments are meant to be filled with ice creating the perfect place to keep your catch-of-the-day fresh on the ride home
• Outboard power - Nearly all fishing boats are outboard powered. The ability to trim the motor up enables vessels to get into shallow water, yet still provide the power to go where you want 

Fishing Boat Accessories

While the above items are common to nearly all fishing boats, the listed accessories below are commonly found on these vessels as well. They can make your day of fishing better. 

• Bottom machine/GPS - Sonar and GPS units are an add-on that can be very helpful to an angler. These electronics can display information such as water temperature and depth, bottom topography, GPS location of your vessel and track, fish activity on the bottom and more
• Freshwater washdown - A clean boat is a happy boat, and when you’re fishing and dealing with fresh or frozen bait, things can sometimes get messy. A freshwater washdown system lets you clean your boat throughout the day.
• Trolling Motor - A trolling motor is a bow mounted (although in some cases they can be transom mounted) electric motor that lets anglers stealthily sneak up on fish as it is much quieter than an outboard. Some models also come with the ability to function as an electronic anchor, holding the vessel’s position via GPS at the push of a button

Saltwater vs Freshwater Fishing Boats

Both of these vessels will have similar features as mentioned above, they may even have some of the same accessories too. However, the main difference is performance. A saltwater fishing boat can perform well in a freshwater environment, however, the same cannot be said about a freshwater boat in saltwater. 

A boat that is specifically designed for freshwater use will face corrosion issues in the salt, saltwater is one of the harshest environments on the planet. Additionally, a saltwater boat which is designed for offshore and coastal environments typically is built to handle rougher conditions than a freshwater boat designed for days on a lake. 

Choosing a Fishing Boat

From center consoles to large, sleep aboard cabin cruisers, there are fishing boats for almost any level of angler. The operative question as you move forward with your angling pursuits is, “Where do I Want to Fish?”. If you have further questions, you can read our MarineMax fishing blog, or stop by your local MarineMax dealership and our staff would be happy to help. Tight lines!