Can I Fish Off A Pontoon?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Pontoons are extremely stable. That not only enhances comfort, but also means they’re great for fishing with kids. Although many pontoon boats don’t come with fishing accouterments,

they can be added (or on a new boat, ordered from the factory) with little effort

.

Can pontoons go offshore?

Big Water, No Problem

Pontoons are great for the intercoastal, bays, rivers, and so on.

They are not made to go 30-40 miles offshore

. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can always see the shore and boat in waves no larger than 3-4′. Anything higher and you could run into issues.

Do pontoons scare fish?

The large deck helps balance the boat, allowing you to walk around (with minimal bouncing) and

not scare the fish

. Most pontoons offer smooth rides in mildly choppy waters, which is a plus since youâ€TMre bound to encounter some choppy water (and wakes) at some point.

Do pontoons have live wells?

Livewells are a biggie, and

can be found on plenty of pontoon boats

. They do tend to be smaller than those found on center consoles, bass boats, and some other dedicated fishing boats, however, plenty of models offer dual livewells and in many cases, additional livewells can be added as options.

How do you fish off a pontoon boat?

How do you rig a pontoon boat for fishing?

Do Motors scare fish?

Engine Noise


Engines scare fish

. But all engines are not equally noisy. The biggest offenders are two-stroke outboards.

Are pontoon boats good for Lake fishing?

Beyond accouterments, anglers will find that

a pontoon’s lay-out is excellent for fishing

. Broad decks with plenty of pedestal seating options mean that foot-for-foot, more peoples can fish from a pontoon than from a V-hull boat.

Do boats attract fish?


Anecdotal evidence suggests that a boat in and of itself — whether moving or stationary — will attract fish

. In addition, a big blue marlin showed about the same time. He estimated the fish in the 1,000-pound range. “All of these big fish seemed to be attracted to the boat and didn’t want to swim away” Rizzuto said.

Can I take a pontoon boat in the ocean?

Pontoon boats are ideal for inland lakes and rivers, but that doesn’t mean they’re not fit for ocean waters. In fact,

they’re often used on the ocean, though generally close to shore and in inter-coastal areas such as bays and inlets

.

Can a pontoon boat flip over?

Pontoon boats

very rarely tip over or flip over

, with recorded cases being very uncommon. With a solid flat deck, and the pontoon tube design, they are a very buoyant vessell designed to be used on calm inland waters.

Are pontoon boats OK in saltwater?

Bottom line:

feel free to use your pontoon on salt water if conditions are good

. A protected saltwater bay, inlet, or mangrove swamp is often a more suitable pontoon boating environment than the open ocean.

Is a pontoon boat fun?


The versatility, comfort, and safety of pontoon boats make it easy to have fun on the water

. Whether you’re looking for the occasional excursion or a floating cottage to use every weekend, you can’t go wrong with a pontoon boat.

How do you make a livewell for a pontoon boat?

Are pontoons durable?

It’s

very durable

and repairs are usually easy and relatively inexpensive. Aluminum pontoon boats may be more expensive than other pontoon boats but low maintenance, and knowing that it will last for many years, makes aluminum pontoon boats a top choice for buyers.

Are pontoon boats easy to maintain?

Easy Cleanup and Maintenance


The entire boat is easy to care for

, whether you’re cleaning the boat or tuning up the engine, it’s not incredibly labor-intensive. Keeping up with routine service and regularly cleaning the boat will ensure that your pontoon will last a very long time.

Are pontoon boats good for shallow water?

If you are looking for a reliable shallow water boat that comes in all sizes,

pontoon boats stand out as an excellent choice

. With their shallow draft these watercraft can navigate bodies of waters that don’t have enough depth for many other boat types.

How big of a trolling motor do I need for a pontoon?

In real-world terms, if your 24-foot pontoon weighs around 3,500 when fully loaded, then the trolling motor size you need would be

70 pounds of thrust

. But, I want to up that estimate to account for any possibilities, which is why I recommend an 80 size with a 24-volt motor – with the Minn Kota Terrova being perfect.

Do aluminum boats scare fish?


They won’t get spooked or scared

. However, sound that occurs underwater is loud and travels fast. So jumping up and down in a boat, especially an aluminum boat, is loud and can spook the fish. Even dropping pliers in the bottom of the boat can scare fish.

Do anchors scare fish?


Anchoring doesn’t completely eliminate hooking weeds, but it does minimize it

. You’ll be more productive dropping anchor and picking fish off the weed edges or out of weed pockets than you will be drifting or trolling through the vegetation, which, again, would cause you to spook fish rather catch them.

Does trolling scare fish?

They are about as obnoxious sounding as it gets. Once trolling motor is on, it’s part of its environment.

Fish get used to the sound, therefore NOT spooked

. It’s the turning on and Off switch that will spook fish.

Are pontoon boats popular?


Pontoon boats are in the middle of an amazing growth in popularity

. The National Marine Manufacturers Association says that “sales of pontoon boats were up nearly 48 percent for the year, and this is an ongoing trend”. That would be the biggest segment growth in the entire US boating market.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.