New and Used Fishing Boats for Sale

There are many types of recreational and tournament-level fishing boats for sale today, from tiny skiffs to large offshore sport fishing models. Choosing a new or used fishing boat will depend on where you want to use it and what sort of fishing you plan to do. Refine your search by location, price point, and brand to find the perfect one. 

Main Characteristics of Fishing Boats

Fishing boats are designed for the very specific activity of angling, whether that’s inland waters, bays and coastal regions, or offshore. Everything about their layout and the features included will be focused on fishing and, depending on the size of the boat and what it’s used for, will include everything from rod-holders and livewells, to tackle stations, raised casting platforms, swivel chairs, and rigging stations.

Smaller fishing boats such as skiffs, Jon boats, pontoon boats, and bass boats designed for inland waters will have flat bottoms, smaller engines, trolling motors, and simpler equipment. Larger center consoles and sportfishing yachts designed for offshore, however, will have high-powered engines, a multitude of fishing accessories and features, deep-V hulls, and often covered indoor areas. 

Types of Fishing Boats

Jon Boats and Skiffs

Versatile, affordable, and fun, small fishing boats such as Jon boats and skiffs allow people to get out on the water easily. They can be trailered, or even put in the back of a pick-up truck. They tend to be between 12 and 21 feet long, have small motors, flat bottoms, basic seating, and a few fishing accessories. 

Center and Dual Console Fishing Boats

Center and dual console fishing boats, as well as walkarounds, make for ideal fishing boats and have versatile uses for families or those wanting to engage in overnight cruises. In fact, the center console fishing boat is the most popular style on the water today. They are capable and well-powered, with deep-V hulls to manage heavy seas, as well as being well-equipped with angling accessories. Each style has its own merits such as 360-degree deck space for casting and reeling. Large center consoles will have cabins, galleys, and a head. 

Bass Boats

These purpose-designed small fishing boats are for bass fishing and characterized by large fore and aft casting decks, electric trolling motors, high-powered engines, and shallow drafts. They are usually between 16 and 22 feet in length and are most commonly made of aluminum. 

Sport Fishing Boats

Large sport fishing boats (often referred to as yachts) are high-powered and extremely capable offshore vessels, allowing anglers to fish for large pelagic species thanks to their huge range of fishing equipment and large engines. There are several sport fishing boat styles including the express, flybridge, and convertible. They typically range in size from 35 or 40 feet all the way up to 90-feet. 

Fish-and-Ski Boats

Fish-and-ski hybrid boats put equal emphasis on fishing and watersports, making them more versatile and appealing to families than pure fishing vessels. They are often dual console, compact in size (around 16 to 22 feet in length), and have a range of fishing accessories as well as ski-tow pylons and ski lockers. 

Best Fishing Boat Brands

The choice of fishing boat brands is simply enormous, which keeps innovation and engineering developments surging forward. There are brands that have been building fishing boats for decades, with newcomers entering the market all the time bringing with them fresh ideas.

Some of the top brand names in the fishing boat sector are Boston Whaler, whose huge range of styles spans from 13 to 42 feet, Grady-White and their inshore and offshore ranges, and Lowe Boats and their selection of freshwater bass, multi-species, deck, and fish-and ski boats. Other brands offering broad ranges of styles include Ranger Boats, Crestliner, Lund, Scout, Edgewater, Robalo, and Pursuit to name a few.  

Offshore fishing boat brands include Contender and their tournament-level vessels and Florida-based Everglades Boats, which range from 28 to 45 feet, while smaller freshwater boat brands include Alumacraft, Starcraft, Tracker Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton, Lowe, and G3.

At the top end of the size scale, sport fishing yacht brands such as Bertram Yachts, Hatteras Yachts, Viking Yachts, Fountain, Invincible, Freeman, and HCB offer a huge range of high-end, high-powered offshore vessels. 

FAQs

Why Choose a Fishing Boat?

Fishing boats are geared towards anglers and are available in a wide range of styles, sizes, and prices. From the smallest skiffs to the largest sport fishing yachts and a huge range in between, they offer the opportunity to fish, whether that’s bass fishing, tournament-level fishing, offshore pelagic fishing, or a few quiet hours on the lake with friends.