Best Pontoon Boats for Fishing Big Water and Small

From a wide swath of different types of fishing boats as well as pontoon boats, fishing pontoon boats are a top pick for many types of angling. Pontoons are comfortable, stable, and come in different sizes and cost levels. Plus, pontoons are great for other activities like towing tubes or picnicking at the beach when the fish aren’t biting. But some pontoons are more suitable for angling than others. Which are the best pontoon boat brands for fishing? These top picks are ideal.

Best Fishing Pontoon Boats for Large Freshwater Lakes

When it comes to fishing on large lakes, you’ll need to search for some capabilities beyond just having rod holders and livewells if you want to find the best fishing pontoon boat. First and foremost is performance. If your pontoon is a slowpoke and the hotspots are miles apart, you’ll spend more time cruising than fishing. You’ll also want enough size to handle the relatively large waves that can form on bigger bodies of water, and some form of sun protection like a bimini top for full-day adventures.

Avalon

Avalon builds high-end pontoons designed for comfort and performance, but they also have the GEOfish line for anglers. And unlike most fishing pontoon boats (which are more or less like other models with a few angling-friendly tweaks and additions), these are designed for fishing from the ground up. Available in 23-, 25-, and 27-foot models, these boats have center consoles and T-tops with rocket launchers, integrated tackle stations with multiple tackle boxes, and rod holders galore. If you take your angling seriously, the GEOfish lineup will be hard to resist. Avalon boats for sale

Avalon Geofish. Avalon photo

Bennington

Bennington is a premier pontoon builder which is known for crafting luxury on the water, and the brand has several lines which can be outfitted for fishing. The L series will be of particular interest to anglers on big lakes, as these are available all the way up to 25 feet with 32-inch elliptical tubes and 400 hp on the motor pod. Angling-dedicated layouts can include up to four pedestal fishing seats, a fishing station with rod racks and a livewell aft and/or a forward livewell, and options for a factory-installed fishfinder, rod lockers, and a trolling motor harness. Bennington boats for sale

Bennington L Series. Benningnton photo

Starcraft

Starcraft Marine’s CX Fish and EX Fish lines consist of models designed to combine fishing with pontoon comfort, thanks to fishing seats and a fishing station with a livewell aft, plus couches amidships and in the bow. You can up the angling ante by swapping out the bow couches for swivel seats in some models, and can add on fishing goodies like a Minn Kota Talon shallow water pole anchor, a Humminbird Helix 5 or Simrad Go7 fishfinder, and underwater lighting. Note that Starcraft was the top pick for pontoons in our article The Best Fishing Boat Brands. Starcraft boats for sale

CX Fish 23 FD. Starcraft Marine photo

Best Fishing Pontoon Boats for Ponds and Small Freshwater Lakes

The best thing about buying a pontoon boat for fishing in ponds and small lakes is that you can go with a small model and save big. You don’t need to spend a ton of cash on a powerful outboard since you don’t need to go fast and cover long distances, and you don’t need cost-adding options like fancy navigational electronics. But you can still find a comfortable, fishable small pontoon that will make days on the water a pleasure.

Godfrey

The Mighty G Fishing is Godfrey’s take on a fishing pontoon boat for placid waters. At 15 feet and 7 inches, it’s certainly compact, but it features full-size sides, bow fishing seats and a stern bench seat with a rod locker underneath, as well as corner fishing modules with rod holders and tackle stowage. It can also be purchased with either gas or electric power, can carry up to 50 horses, and has a surprisingly high passenger capacity rating of seven people. Godfrey boats for sale

Mighty G Series. Godfrey photo

Pond King

If you’re looking for a one- or two-person mini-pontoon that’s ideal for small, contained waterways, the Pond King lines may well do the trick. These are very simple, straightforward fishing pontoon boats which can be powered with an electric trolling motor and have just the bare necessities: seats, a motor mount, a deck, and rails. As you might suspect, they’re among the least expensive pontoon boats available, and you can bring cost down even more by buying them in DIY kit form. 

Pod King Patriot Mini. Pod King photo.

Sun Tracker

Sun Tracker Bass Buggy pontoons are undoubtedly the king of countless ponds and small lakes across America. These uber-popular boats come in two models, the Bass Buggy 16 XL Select and the Bass Buggy 18 DLX. They can be outfitted with outboards all the way down to a mere 9.9 hp, cost less than most compact cars, and come with a 10-year bow-to-stern warranty plus a limited lifetime structural warranty. They also come equipped to fish, with livewells, pedestal fishing chairs, and fishing stations with tool and rod holders. Add the optional fishing package to also get a fishfinder and an electric trolling motor. Sun Tracker boats for sale

Bass Buggy 16 XL Select. Sun Tracker photo

Best Fishing Pontoon Boats for Coastal Bays

Coastal bays tend to be shallow and the waves only get so big even when it’s breezy, making them ideal waterways for pontoon boaters. They can cover vast areas, however, making performance an important part of the equation. In bays like these, the tritoon versus pontoon debate often rages, as many anglers want a boat that can run fast but smooth through a chop. Setting all the other variables aside, however, the most critical element of finding the best fishing pontoon boats for coastal bays is that the boat is built to withstand the rigors of saltwater use. 

Harris

Most of the Harris lineup is oriented more toward performance and watersports than fishing, but there are some angling options and these top-tier pontoons and tritoons need little more than an added anode to be saltwater capable. They’re also quite luxurious boats. Look in this direction if you want a pontoon for coastal cruising which can be used for watersports some of the time and fishing at other times. Harris boats for sale

Cruiser 210 Tritoon. Harris boats photo

Premier

Another top-tier builder, Premier has fishing versions in several models of its Sunsation line. These often go beyond the norm, with fishing seats fore and aft instead of one or the other; pontoon and tritoon options; electronics options; and fishing options, including electric trolling motors and integrated tackle stowage stations. These boats are built with high-quality components, so all they need to be suitable for saltwater service is the addition of anodes. They also offer a unique deck layout with an open aft area purely for fishing, while still having couches and comfort up front. Premier boats for sale

Premier 230 Sunsation. Premier photo

Suncatcher

Suncatcher makes a wide series of pontoon boats, many of which have fishing versions and can be built to saltwater specifications with the addition of an optional “saltwater series” package. The main structure of the boat is anodized aluminum and furniture is rotomolded, and many of the larger models come in both pontoon and tritoon forms. Fishing models have modules aft, forward, or both, with livewells, rod holders, and pedestal-mount swiveling fishing seats. Suncatcher boats for sale

Select 20 FC. Suncatcher photo

Best Fishing Pontoon Boats for Family Anglers

Many pontoon boat anglers are family anglers, and any of the pontoons we’ve discussed thus far would serve both the fishermen and the rest of the family well in a number of ways. That said, some people might opt for a deck boat versus a pontoon to get certain amenities, or they may prefer a different type of boat entirely. Yet there are plenty of angling-oriented pontoon boats out there—including the brands we’re about to take a look at—which will keep the entire family grinning from ear to ear.

Crest

Add the fishing package (with onboard tackle storage, a livewell, rod holders, and available fishfinders) to a Crest Classic and you’ll have a fishing pontoon boat that’s also primed for family fun. Available in 20- to 24-foot models with 25 to 250 hp, along with the angling accoutrements you also get USB phone chargers, loungers, a bimini top, and a Fusion audio system. Note that if the kids enjoy tow sports, you can also opt to have a TurboSwing ski tow bar. Crest boats for sale

Crest Classic LX. Crest photo

Lowe

The lineup of Lowe pontoon boats is quite vast, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that when it comes to fishing models, the brand offers far more than the average brand. In fact, they have seven different options in the line ranging from 20 '3 " to 24' 3” with walkthrough, rear fishing station, and all-around fishing layouts. These are all family-friendly boats, with plenty of comfy seating and amenities like bimini tops, swim platforms with four-step boarding ladders, stereo systems, and removable dinette tables. Lowe boats for sale

Lowe SF232. Lowe photo

Veranda

The Fish Series from Veranda is another model line that doesn’t play favorites between fishing and the family but instead caters to both. From the angling perspective, you get a rod box, livewell, swiveling pedestal-mount fishing seats, and a fishfinder. From the family perspective you’ll love the comfy L-shaped couch, bimini top, and a convertible “privacy room.” These boats are available in both pontoon and tritoon versions, with or without performance packages, and come in eight different layouts. 

Fish F2. Veranfa photo

If you love fishing, relaxing on the water, and pontoon boats, we’re guessing that several of these brands have caught your eye. There’s only one thing left to do: Make your final pick, grab some rods, and get ready for great days out on the water.