5 must-haves for estuary and freshwater sportfishing boats

This significant sector of the Aussie boating market has witnessed a shift from basic tinnies and punts to upmarket sportfishing rigs; a transformation accelerated by a trickle-down of trends from the blossoming tournament scene.

The boats themselves have clearly evolved with far more sophisticated hull designs, often powered by bigger and predominantly four-stroke outboard engines, not to mention a dramatic increase in the proportion of fibreglass vessels now being used in these roles.

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However, it’s above the waterline where the most important and transformative advances have taken place.

As part of this evolutionary process, a handful of features have emerged as “must-have” items in any rig intended for these popular styles of fishing.

My pick of the five stand-outs amongst these features is listed here, in approximate order of their importance and desirability.

Twenty-five years ago, it was common for early adopters of this technology to be approached by strangers at the boat ramp or service station and peppered with questions about that weird contraption bolted onto the front of their boat.

Today, bow-mounted electrics don’t raise an eyebrow, and those who rely on them for their day-to-day fishing feel totally lost without one.

A bow-mounted electric motor provides stealth and superlative control for pinpoint lure and fly presentations, especially around structure.

GPS-linked spot-lock or “anchor” functions and an ability to store waypoints and repeat tracks also are invaluable add-ons.

The “electric carpet ride” thus provided has literally changed the way we go fishing today.

Generous casting decks (primarily at the bow, but also at the stern, if space allows) are a major boon to effective lure and fly fishing strategies, especially in the relatively calm waters of our estuaries, rivers, and inland lakes or dams.

More height above the waterline offers dramatically improved vision and an ability to cast more accurately at all manner of targets.

Non-slip surfaces on these decks in materials that also resist becoming hotplates capable of frying an egg under the tropic sun are also highly desirable.

Fishfinder technology has seen remarkable advances over the past two decades.

The current crop of “live” or “active imaging” units from leading makers offer a real-time picture of the underwater world few of us could have possibly imagined just a handful of years ago.

Even without the addition of such forward-facing and 360-degree scanning, the latest generation of side-scan and detailed 3D down-scan structure imaging provide an unparalleled picture of what lies below, often at surprisingly affordable prices, making such tools a “must-have” accessory for any halfway serious modern fisher.

The incorporation of GPS plotter functions into combo units is also incredibly handy, especially on unfamiliar waterways.

Any spare rod and reel standing in an upright holder will almost inevitably fall foul of an errant lure or fly in the course of a day’s intensive casting — often with catastrophic results.

The ability to securely and safely carry multiple outfits — rigged or unrigged — is seen as highly desirable in many forms of modern lure fishing, and almost mandatory in tournament scenarios.

Being able to easily stow these backup outfits safely below gunwale height — and ideally in some form of weather- and theft-proof locker — is a massive benefit for today’s estuary and freshwater angler.

While not exactly essential beyond the world of high-end tournament angling, a fully-plumbed, circulating live well with the capacity to hold at least 50 litres of water is certainly a bonus in any modern sportfishing vessel.

Besides affording the ability to keep captive fish healthy while setting up to take those obligatory “grip-and-grin” snapshots to share with mates, live wells are also useful for “culling” purposes; to keep fish intended for the table alive until dispatch at day’s end, and also for avoiding “spooking” schooled-up fish during a hot bite by immediately releasing a fresh catch back into their midst.

Finally, should you wish to mix a little bait soaking with your lure casting, these wells are also ideal for keeping baits alive.

The absence of any one or more of these five “must-haves” may not be enough in itself to stop a competent angler from catching a few fish on lures or flies in our estuaries and inland waters.

However, their presence certainly adds immeasurably to the overall enjoyment and effectiveness of these fishing styles… so much so that many of us have come to regard them as essentials rather than luxuries.

Keep this in front of mind whenever shopping for the optimum rig to use in these applications.

Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling is one of Australia’s best known and most respected fishing communicators.

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