What is a Fishing Boat?

A fishing boat is a vessel specifically designed and used for catching fish in various bodies of water, including fresh water and salt water. These fishing boats are crafted with specific needs of fishing in mind, such as ease of fishing, maintaining and preserving captured fish, and storing all fishing materials including poles, bait, nets, and the actual live fish themselves.

Fishing boats are constructed from a variety of durable materials, aluminum being one of the most common. Each vessel ranges in size, depth, shape, and other various on-board features. Many contemporary fishing boats have innovative features that are designed to keep both fish and bait alive and healthy. Livewells, similar to baitwells, are tanks that vary in size that can be found in many a fishing boat. These tanks, not unlike aquariums, house captured fish and bait in an oxygenated environment. They feature pumps, which allow for fresh or salt water to be re-circulated to keep the atmosphere fresh and the fish in an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. This feature is particularly useful in "catch and release" fishing tournaments, where there are strict penalties for bringing back dead fish. These wells can hold many, many gallons of water, depending on the boat type. In some cases, smaller fishing boats may be equipped with battery-powered baitwells, which are portable and allow for ease of use in a boat with limited space.

Other fishing boat features include fishing rod, or pole, holders. These are mounts that can hold a pole when a fisherman has stepped away from his or her pole. In a recreational fishing boat, these fishing pole mounts can be removable in the event that a boat is being used for non-fishing excursions.

Generally, a fishing boat falls into two types of categories: commercial or recreational vessels. Commercial vessels, which are used to catch a substantial number of aquatic animals for the purpose of resale, are usually taken on deep-sea fishing excursions. They can be quite large boats and are equipped with professional fishing supplies. In contrast, recreational fishing boats are smaller in size and typically less equipped than their commercial counterparts. A recreational fishing boat may also be used for the purposes of joyriding, and aren't always used strictly for fishing. Another type of boat is known as a sport fishing vessel, and can be utilized for fishing tournaments and competitions.

The sport of angling, or fishing, is a multi-million dollar a year business. There are many types of fishing boats for sale or rent to fit your individual needs, whether you are the occasional angler, or expert commercial fisherman.