[KOS]

ESPN gives another plug for jetski fishing. Question for you Barners. With the economy the way it is, high gas prices, and the overall cost of a boat, do you think there is a market for jetski fishing in the near future?
(I am talking fishermen fishing off of jetskis not jetskiers fishing)

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/columns/story?columnist=gatley_chris&id=4940977

 

[Get it wet]

ESPN gives another plug for jetski fishing. Question for you Barners. With the economy the way it is, high gas prices, and the overall cost of a boat, do you think there is a market for jetski fishing in the near future?
(I am talking fishermen fishing off of jetskis not jetskiers fishing)

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/columns/story?columnist=gatley_chris&id=4940977

I do! I am thinking about buying one when I sell my boat.

 

[yaker4life]

I read a lot of information from Jetski Brian and had a chance to talk to him. Decided to take the plunge and bought a used Yamaha jetski last year to see if I liked it. Rebuilt the motor this winter and have really warmed up to the idea of fishing off a jetski. I like the fact that you can take one on almost any body of water in the salt or freshwater and it tows easier than most boats I have owned. I can store it in a garage and it doesn't take up a lot of room and saves me winter storage cost.

It took me awhile to learn how to fish from a kayak. But what I always loved about a kayak is it is so portable. I sold my BW Outrage last summer because I was not using it as much and became used for tubing with my kids. Between fuel, slip fee, maintenance, etc it was no longer practical. Fishing from a jetski is not the same as fishing from a boat because it is a solo activity like a kayak is. It will take me awhile to get used to like the kayak did, but I know because of its portability, ease of storage, and towability, it will get me on the water more than my boat did.

Jetski fishing is not going to appeal to eveyone because lots of guys are going to fish from a boat with their buddies. I see this market exploding soon just as kayak fishing did because guys that fish from a kayak do it because it is cheap, portable, gets them on fish, and you do not need a big tow vehicle. Even if you buy a new jetski, your looking at no more than 15K, and can go the same place that boats that cost triple that do. Or buy a used one and it is a cheap fishing vessel.

 

[DRIFTER1]

I personally would much rather have a small boat. My 175 Scout/90hp Yamaha 4stroke probibly burns the same amount of fuel as a jet ski. Plus I can bring 2 others along and stay dry.

 

[brown bob]

I personally would much rather have a small boat. My 175 Scout/90hp Yamaha 4stroke probibly burns the same amount of fuel as a jet ski. Plus I can bring 2 others along and stay dry.

i agree with you drifter, a smaller aluminum boat even will get you alot of places cheap and safe. but props to jetski brian as he has taken it to an extreme level and is very impressive. bb

 

[Jet Ski Brian]

I have been jet ski fishing now for about 9 years. I already had a boat and a smaller polaris pwc. It started by me using my pwc to run out and catch croaker and spot to use for the next days cobia trip on my boat. I gradually started going further and further and fishing from it in the same places as I would my boat. It was nice to be able to run at 45-55mph and get to the places I like to fish fast at a fraction of the cost.
About three years ago I decided to rig a PWC just for fishing. After a lot of on line research a decided on the Yamaha SUV 1200, primarily because of its size and storage. It is the largest and only 4 person PWC made by yamaha from 1998-2004, with over 115 gallons of storage of items up to 6 feet long. Size equals stability and a better ride in rough seas. I wish yamaha would bring something like it back, except with a 2 stroke of course. With a few modifications I have turned my PWC into a jet ski fishing machine.
As I get older I have less time to do the things I want. My jet ski saves me time getting out and back.It is easy to clean up and maintain and can be kept on my dock or in my garage.
I think jet ski fishing is different not just because it on a pwc but also because it is a fun. I love being 30 or 40 miles offshore and feeling each wave below me and being focused on what I am doing and where I am going.
I do not think it is for everyone, just like kayak fishing is not for everyone, nor is surf fishing. But it can take you to that near or distant spot and enable you to drift or troll like a kayaker or anchor or beach it and surf fish a remote favorite area.
There are pros and cons to any mode of transportation, I think it jet ski fishing just adds another option that I think a lot of people are learning to appreciate.
Here are a couple of before and after shots of my Yamaha.

 

[BACK TO REELALITY]

better off with a small boat....
for one jet skis arent exactly cheap
a new one will run u at least 8k
if ur worried about milage let me tell u that their milage sucks!!!!!!
those things eat gas like there is no tommoro
u can only fish with one person on a jetski and to be honest it looks like it would get real uncomfortable
jetskis are good for wat they r built to do....pissing off other boaters

 

[KOS]

better off with a small boat....
for one jet skis arent exactly cheap
a new one will run u at least 8k
if ur worried about milage let me tell u that their milage sucks!!!!!!
those things eat gas like there is no tommoro
u can only fish with one person on a jetski and to be honest it looks like it would get real uncomfortable
jetskis are good for wat they r built to do....pissing off other boaters

What size small about are you talking about, and how much would a new small boat cost?
Do you actually know the milage the 4 stroke skis gets?
Fishing from a ski is extremely comfortable.
Dont believe skis were built to piss off boaters, I do agree some ski owners need to learn edicate.
I agree with the one person thing but when you have only a couple hrs on a tues morning and you are trailering. it is alot easy to run out in a ski then a 20' boat.

 

[Dipper]

What size small about are you talking about, and how much would a new small boat cost?
Do you actually know the milage the 4 stroke skis gets?
Fishing from a ski is extremely comfortable.
Dont believe skis were built to piss off boaters, I do agree some ski owners need to learn edicate.
I agree with the one person thing but when you have only a couple hrs on a tues morning and you are trailering. it is alot easy to run out in a ski then a 20' boat.

Yea most non boaters riding skis are wild and don't understand that you need room to go that fast in traffic. Then again last time I was fishing off my ski in a little cut no wider that 150 feet and 6 feet of water a 30 some foot CC with 250s blew right by be at 30 knots. I was on my second short bass of the morning. I just shook my head a left the area. That boat had rods too go figure.

Its not the machines its the people behind the wheel...

 

[BACK TO REELALITY]

What size small about are you talking about, and how much would a new small boat cost?
Do you actually know the milage the 4 stroke skis gets?
Fishing from a ski is extremely comfortable.
Dont believe skis were built to piss off boaters, I do agree some ski owners need to learn edicate.
I agree with the one person thing but when you have only a couple hrs on a tues morning and you are trailering. it is alot easy to run out in a ski then a 20' boat.

im not talking about a 20' ft boat.....obviously a new 20 footer is gunna run u more than a waverunner
as far as the milage i dont know numbers but i can tell u that mine eats gas and those 18ft bay boats with little four strokes sip it

and im not saying all jet skiers piss of boaters....im one of them sometimes and i try to get away from fishermen and the channel before screwing around with it however many ppl let the kids get on those things (teenage girls are the worst btw) and they have total disregard of everything around them


anyways all im saying is tht jetskis are great fun but for fishing purposes id much rather have a boat

 

[MYJ314]

I have been a member of the barn for only a few days and already my mind is going in everydirection. After selling my boat all I can think about is more ways to fish, trying to learn to surf fish, and now after these threads on Jet ski fishing I am really considering selling my Motorcycle and picking up a ski.

 

[Wingnutt]

Don't be so quick to label the new four stroke jet skis as gas hogs! My sis-in-law owns a couple of '08 Yamaha 3 person jet skis and we have taken them from Algonkian regional park (near Potomac Falls in northern VA) up the Potomac all the way to Point of Rocks Md (about 70 miles round trip) and back on 9 gallons of gas. We weren't wasting any time either averaging about 40mph!

Now I admit that around most popular boating and fishing areas, most guys on jet skis are overloaded on beer and testosterone and generally tend to irritate the heck out most people. However, having been on both sides, I tend to keep a sharp eye out for those fishing when I ride. It boils down how each individual acts, and unfortunately right now most jet ski riders tend to land on the jerk side. :nuts:

Now as far as jet ski fishing, as the price of boats continues to climb to crazy to insane, fuel costs continue to rise along with slip and operating costs; I can see the market exploding for jet ski fishing!

If you choose your ride carefully, a jet ski can be as stable as a small boat. I can stand on the rear corner of my sis-in-laws as the wife climbs on board and although the footwell will go under the water, there is no feeling that the ski is getting ready to flip over.

As stated earlier, fishing off a jet ski is more of a solatary event verses having a couple of friends onboard your boat. Personally, if I had already had a larger boat for the bay and a smaller boat for fishing the back bays and flats I would be thinking about setting up a jet ski for skinny water fishing. Another negitive for me is that there is no way to get out of the sun or weather on a jet ski. They can travel to fast for a Bimini top, and space is at a preimum. I think Brian has set the standard for rigging a jet ski for fishing but there are a lot of imagative people out there, so who knows what the future holds?

 

[BayRat]

Looks like tons of fun, and if I liked fishing alone I would do it! But I'd rather have company, and a small boat is a whole lot cheaper/safer/more reliable/fixable............