2025 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler revealed

Due next year, and slated for an Australian arrival either late this year or early 2025, the new Angler is built on top of a three-seat Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S with an extended aft platform.

However, the jet ski is redesigned to make it much better as a fishing platform, such as a two-piece bench that replaces the three-seat version, and side floats that add stability to the ski while trolling or turning sideways.

Kawasaki has emphasised the ergonomics of the design tweaks, with the seat allowing the rider to move and sit sideways and access the aft icebox and rod rack, and the side floats topped with non-skid surfaces designed to make it comfortable as a step when sitting sideways.

Fishing gear? Mounted in front of the handlebars is a 7.0-inch Garmin EchoMAP chartplotter and fishfinder that is mounted close to the ski’s multifunction display but still easy to see when sitting sideways.

The transponder used for the Garmin unit is built into the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler’s hull so that there is no risk of damaging it when loading or offloading from a trailer, or when running through shallow water.

The rear rack, made from 22.2mm diameter steel tube, is mounted on the Ultra deck that extends as a platform off the rear of the jet ski. It is built to hold a 55-litre Orca icebox, and has slots on either side to hold modules for storing fishing rods, landing nets and gear such as filleting knives and fish grips.

The quick-fit modules can unclip from the sides of the frame and then clip together to make carrying them while off the ski much easier.

If you don’t want to go fishing for the day, the icebox can stay onshore while you fill the rack with extra fuel – the fuel tank remains at 80 litres – or everything needed for a getaway on a remote beach.

At the front of the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler is another rod holder that Kawasaki says is a good place to put a rod while stopped, although right-handers will have to reach across to the left side to place it.

Angler owners also gain an “ANGLER” decal on the seat to show it is the specialised fishing version, and a ski finished in Crystal White and Timberline Green that gives the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler an outdoorsy visual feel.

The standard version of the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S is fitted with a reversing camera that is linked to the multifunction screen in front of the rider, but the Angler drops this as it will not work with the icebox mounted on the rear platform.

Other standard features fitted to the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S will be included with the Angler version.

That runs to a deep 22.5-degree deadrise up front that’s good for cutting through rough water, a 160hp 1.6-litre normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, the Kawasaki Smart Rzeverse with Deceleration (KSRD) system that acts like a brake and can help turn the ski in its own length, electronic cruise control, launch control and a power mode selection to sort the beginners from the pros.

Kawasaki says the side floats are small enough that they do not alter the handling of the ski, meaning when you’re not fishing, there’s no impact on having a bit of fun.

There is no word on pricing.

The Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler is the second dedicated fishing jet ski, following in the wake of the Sea-Doo FishPro range that was released a couple of years ago and based on the Sea-Doo GTI. 

Yamaha sells an accessory pack for its its WaveRunner FX that fishers can add to the ski rather than building a dedicated fishing model. However, that is only available in Australia.