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
   
   

6. Gaff and tag pole: It’s the angler’s choice to catch or release a fish, so suitable fixed and flying gaffs, tag poles, and tags should be readily accessible.

7. Tools: Gloves, fishing pliers, wire and line cutters, crimping pliers, hook removers. You will need rigging needles, Dacron/wax thread, and rubber bands for bait preparation.

8. Rod and reel selection: Game fishing outfits come in both thread line and overhead/trolling reel options. GFAA recognised line classes are 1kg, 2kg, 3kg, 4kg, 6kg, 8kg, 10kg, 15kg, 24 kg, 37kg and 60kg. Game fishing gear is subject to enormous stress for elongated fights under less than ideal conditions; hence, we recommend you choose only premium equipment. Game fishing outfits are expensive, so I always have a safety lanyard attached to every rig.

9. Tackle, lures and bait presentation: Lures, traces, hooks, and teasers exist for multiple species, styles, and methods. Ensure you have a suitable array and storage to keep it all safe, near, untangled, and accessible on the boat. Plumbed tuna tubes are an excellent addition to have baits fresh and ready to deploy when a fish has been lured to the back of the boat, or for dropping into a bait ball.

10. Tow points: Many good fish have been fought and won, but they are eventually lost because the tow points/bollards on the craft are not suitably strong enough to hold the weight of a large, often thrashing fish.

11. Autopilot: Autopilot is terrific for game fishing boats. You can set a trolling pattern, leave the helm for rest and refreshment breaks, and even have the boat self-steer whilst there’s action on deck.

12. Other accessories: There are a million fittings, methods, and accessories you can utilise for setting up for game fishing if you have the budget. For instance, a good mate of mine has automated self-retracting teaser reels for switch baiting.

Electronics and Navigation

1. GPS/chart plotter: While I started my game fishing life with only a compass for navigation, GPS/plotters have become an almost essential part of any offshore vessel. They allow accurate navigation and route planning even at night and under extreme conditions such as heavy seas and fog.

2. Fish finder/depth sounder: High-resolution displays allow identification of depth, underwater structure, and fish detection. They are particularly useful for the detection of bait schools.

3. Radar: While not essential, radar is a handy tool for tracking weather systems and obstacles, bird motion (bait), and even tracking other boats.

4. VHF radio and antenna: Reliable communication.

5. Web pages and Apps: The web and Apps provide a constant source of information for everything including weather forecasting, tide movements, ocean temperature and currents, and even up to the minute fishing reports and information.

6. AIS (Automatic Identification System): For vessel safety and identification, plus its useful for tracking nearby craft.

Comfort and Amenities

Long days at sea require extra thought to personal amenities. While there’s a trend away from cluttered decks, game boats must have seating for passengers and crew for respite on long days at sea—often rough days at that!

Cabin boats are terrific for enclosed storage and quiet resting between the action. If a head is installed, it also provides privacy. A good quantity of freshwater (minimum 2 litres per person) should be available on board. The extreme environments experienced offshore, plus sometimes prolonged strenuous activity causes dehydration quickly. Shade, sun, and wind protection are also vital in this exposed offshore environment.

Additional Considerations

Your boat is not only the vessel that gets you out to the action, it's also your life support machine to get you home safely. Boats require high maintenance levels, especially in this hard-hitting and highly corrosive offshore environment. Before setting to sea, I regularly inspect and maintain the hull, engine, electrical, and plumbing systems - plus the fishing gear. A checklist is a great idea!

While it isn't essential, insurance is a terrific idea. You just never know when stuff happens! It's worth noting that you are also responsible for your crew and others around you, so check your policy for third-party clauses.

Local regulations change from location to location, especially marine park restrictions, safety and towing requirements. I try to avoid drama and fines by familiarising myself with laws, permits, and safety requirements before I leave home.

Please ensure your crew members are experienced, briefed, and trained in game fishing operations. You must be able to depend on your crew's ability to target large fish, often in small boats and big seas a long way from home. It's amazing how small even the largest game boats feel small when confronted with big seas!

Game fishing is a wonderful challenge but can also include many risky elements. Nowadays, it is not a sport confined to the rich and famous; in fact, anyone can do it - even kids! Please, always prioritise safety and remember to check the weather and local regulations. I hope you enjoy your offshore adventures as I do - tight lines!

Buying a Boat for Game Fishing

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