Setting Up Your Boat for Game Fishing

Trailer boats come with some great fishing features these days, but there's usually some tweaking to do before you head out. You might need to add a few more rod holders, set up a rocket launcher, or even install some outriggers to really get it fishing-ready. Setting up your boat for game fishing isn't just about gear either. It's about transforming your vessel into a floating HQ for fun, strategy, and some serious fish stories.

As a kid, game fishing was my life’s ultimate dream. In the bath, I progressed from a plastic tugboat with a squeezy whistle to a clockwork motorised flybridge game boat, enhancing my dreams of endless offshore sojourns in search of some of the world's largest pelagic species. Images of marlin, mahi mahi, tuna, kingfish, and sharks fueled my obsession with what seemed the holy grail of the offshore fishing world!

Years later, I joined a Game Fishing Club where those with “all the gear and sometimes no idea” often looked for deckies in this mostly team sport. I did my time, paid my dues, and put in an enormous effort to ensure the boat was always clean, the gear was in top-notch condition, the rigs tied expertly, and the skipper's instructions were followed to the nth degree.

That was forty years ago when some offshore rigs were as small as 4.5 metres! There were, and still are, some incredible tales of big fish in small boats. Nowadays, there are some awe-inspiring tales of big fish action in small tinnies and even PWC’s (jet skis) and ocean-going kayaks.

I've used all these years of experience to put together this guide to setting up your boat for game fishing. We'll cover fishing gear and equipment, boat layout, safety features, electronics and other essentials you won't want to miss!

Ideal Boat Design and Construction

So, how big should a boat be for game fishing? Traditionally, we considered the minimum length for offshore capable craft to be around five metres. However, the evolution of safe small boats and PWCs, plus developments in forecasting, information, communications, and safety equipment, has opened up a new level of craft capable of challenging our oceans and their denizens.

Yet the overwhelming majority of trailer boats remain in the 5 metre plus category due to their ability to get their crew out and back safely and facilitate the extensive array of crew and equipment required for targeting large game fish. Most game fishing requires a minimum team of two persons: a skipper and an angler. The skipper often doubles up to tag, release, or gaff the fish at the boat side. However, there are also plenty of fish caught by solo adventurers.

Deep-V monohull boats are the most popular, as are multihull designs, but they are mostly all planing hulls. Displacement hulls have all but been superseded since the days of timber cruisers. Good solid fibreglass and plate aluminium constructions make up the majority, with the prerequisite being strength with a soft ride and reasonable stability. (If you're still shopping for boats at this stage, do yourself a favour and take the time look at both fibreglass boats for sale and aluminium boats for sale!) Safety features like foam-filled hulls and those with positive upright buoyancy are preferred.

A good amount of deck room is almost vital, as is some protection from cuddy or half cabin designs, hard tops, or good solid canopies. Sitting down in a runabout is often hard, so a raised dashboard or even centre consoles are preferred. Strong rocket launchers (overhead rod storage) in either stainless steel or aluminium make a terrific base for the canopy structure but ensure they are strong enough for heavy game rods and as a grip while travelling at sea.

Boats intended for offshore adventure need strong horsepower to carry heavy weights in big sea conditions and large fuel tanks for long sojourns. It’s not unusual for many game boats to travel up to 200km per day seeking fish.

Safety Features for Game Fishing Boats

Safety features vital to any offshore boat include:

• 406 MHz EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) – registered

• VHF or 27MHz radio (preferably VHF)

• Inshore flare kit

• Life jackets – suitable for everyone on board

• Fire extinguisher – size dependent on fuel capacity

• Anchor, rope, and chain

• Bailing bucket with lanyard

• Bilge pump

• Chart and compass

• Drinking water – 2 litres per person

• Safety label – state dependent

• Emergency sound device

• V-sheet

• Waterproof torch – required in NSW regulation waters over 2nm from the coast

Additionally, it is highly recommended to carry:

• First Aid Kit

• Kill switch lanyard

• Tool kit

• Two means of communication (e.g., mobile phone in a waterproof bag)

Don't forget to check your own state regulations for specific requirements.

If operating at night, you must display appropriate navigation lights. A GPS/Plotter/sounder or combination is especially useful for fixing your position accurately and showing your way home if an extended fight with a big fish takes you into the night. Larger boats also often carry a life raft, satellite telephone, or cellular signal booster.

Radar, anemometers (wind detectors), and barometers can also be handy. I personally always carry parachute flares in offshore scenarios.

Even in a single-engine boat, I always recommend installing a twin battery system to ensure suitable power storage and generation, primarily for the engine start but also for the array of electronics, lights, pumps, and associated equipment. I always ensure at least one start battery per engine plus separate “house” batteries for other vital equipment in twin or multiple-engine rigs.

Hydraulic or power-assisted steering provides smooth control for all forward-steering game fishing boats. It allows the helm to steer straight while unattended, allowing the skipper to gaff/tag a fish if shorthanded.

Game Fishing Gear and Equipment

To make sure you're ready to catch fish and deal with them once they're on board, you'll need:

1. Rod holders: You will need to install sturdy, fixed or adjustable rod holders for various rod angles and trolling patterns. Keep in mind that the rod holders need to be very strong to withstand heavy game fishing gear and the immense load and drag.

2. Live bait tanks: A good live bait tank should be large enough to keep between 10-20 slimy (jack) mackerel or similar alive and in good condition. The tank must have a high flow rate for oxygen circulation. Plumbed tuna tubes are another excellent means of keeping rigged rods with live bait at the ready.

3. Bait board/rigging bench/wash down hose: This is an absolute must-have for rigging, cutting, cleaning and burleying. The wash-down hose is especially handy to clean up, especially with slimy and bleeding fish.

4. Outriggers: While not essential, glass composite poles/ outriggers allow a broader trolling pattern for lure fishing or separation of baits

5. Harness: Whether fighting a large fish from a game chair, or stand-up, a suitable gimble for the rod butt and harness is essential

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