If you want to ensure you come back ashore with a heap of fish, you’ll likely need a few more tools than a simple rod and some bait. Before heading out, ensure your vessel has the accessories that every fishing boat should have!

Fish-Finder

Finding the fish is the toughest part of fishing, but it doesn’t have to be! With an advanced fish-finder, finding the spot where the fish are congregating and biting is much easier. In fact, every fishing charter boat uses fish-finders for one simple reason—they work. A fish-finder will point you in the right direction, making the difference between an uneventful day and a cooler full of fish! You can get a small mounted fish-finder or install a more advanced system in your boat.

GPS

If the fish-finder you choose doesn’t come with a GPS or chartplotter, that’s another tool you should consider adding to your boat’s tool belt. A GPS system is useful for navigating the water. With a GPS, fishers can mark their favorite spots and locations where they found plenty of biting fish, so they can return later. A GPS enables you to have a list of hot spots at your fingertips while fishing!

Trolling Motor

Is it even a fishing boat if it doesn’t have a trolling motor? Not if you ask us! A trolling motor is one accessory every fishing boat should have, as it helps fishers control and maneuver their vessel without spooking the fish with the main motor.

Trolling motors come in many shapes and sizes, as the size of your vessel determines how large of a trolling motor you need. If your fishing boat is large and you regularly fish in rough waters, consider learning about a 36V trolling motor battery for peak performance.

Rod Racks & Holders

Some of the simplest but most convenient accessories you can add to your boat are a few rod holders or a rod rack. For one, these additions make the boat much cleaner and more organized without loose rods falling everywhere.

Secondly, rod holders give you a place to store your rods when you’re not using them, allowing you to bring more rods on a trip and put more lines in the water. Plus, racks and holders take up minimal space, and you can mount them quickly and cheaply.

Cooler

One of the first things on any fisher’s checklist, after rods and a tackle box, should be a cooler for the fish. Unless you’re only doing catch-and-release, you’ll need somewhere to store the day’s catches until it’s time to go ashore. A cheap cooler often works fine, but if you want to maximize your boat’s space, consider adding a cooler compartment, so it’s out of the way and convenient!