Fishing out on the open water is a time-honored tradition, pastime, and profession. Whatever your reason, it’s a great way to spend the day. But finding the right boat for your fishing trip can be difficult, especially if you plan on catching a lot or bringing a group along. Thank goodness for the pontoon! They’re a great size for groups and entertaining, and can be easily outfitted with everything a good angler needs.

New Jersey Outboards is your local Bayville, New Jersey, pontoon boat dealer. Read on for more reasons pontoons make great fishing boats, or just stop on by and see for yourself!

Stability

Pontoons have a lot of excellent qualities, but one of the most important is how stable they are. With twin aluminum tube hulls, pontoons have wide decks that balance easily on the water. So long as you’re sticking to calmer waters like those you’ll find inland, or even if there’s only a bit of chop, your pontoon will ride it out like a champion. 

If you’re hoping for even more stability, you can look for a tritoon which, you might have guessed, has three separate aluminum tubes beneath it. The additional tube assists with weight distribution and can even provide extra storage space for everyone’s gear! Tritoons also tend to have more horsepower and speed, though those aren’t vital for most fishing trips.

Extra Space

With the wide decks pontoons enjoy, they tend to be great for larger fishing parties. Your standard V-hulled boat might work fine for a solo trip, but the more people you’re bringing with you, the more you’ll need some extra space to avoid stepping on each others’ toes. With a pontoon, you can bring along the whole family or lots of friends without worrying about how to make them and your gear fit. Just be mindful of your pontoon’s weight capacity and try not to overload it!

Improved Comfort

In terms of comfortable boats for spending the day on, you can’t beat a pontoon. As an angler, you know that patience is a vital part of the fishing process, and it’s much easier to be patient when you can stretch out!

Pontoons offer a lot of amenities, and some even come with cabins that have fully-equipped bathrooms. Some have built-in refrigerators and coolers for storing drinks and snacks—another time-honored part of the fishing process and vital for any trip the kids come along for. There’s even space for an air mattress and blankets in case the kids—or you—need a nap. The plush seating around the perimeter of the pontoon gives everyone a cozy place to relax while you wait for the first catch of the day.

Easy Handling

Anyone who’s new to boating will be glad to hear that pontoon boats are easy to maneuver and control on calmer waters. They’re simple to launch and dock as well, so you won’t have to worry too much about trailers and boat ramps. What’s more, they tend to cruise at slower speeds than most boats, meaning they don’t scare as many fish away by disturbing the water or with sudden movements. Slower speeds also make it easier to anchor yourself in place once you find your ideal fishing spot. Still, there’s a lot of variation in pontoon speed capabilities, so make sure you check the specs before you buy to make sure you get the speeds you need.

Even with all that information, sometimes you just have to see your options for yourself. At New Jersey Outboards, our friendly and knowledgeable staff are ready and waiting to find you the perfect pontoon boat for sale to make your fishing experience the best it can be. New Jersey Outboards is proud to serve Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the states of New York and Connecticut—let us serve you today!