When I told my colleagues that I was going to try fishing from my sailboat, I got the obvious reactions: "You can’t do that," and "Didn't fishing boats stop coming with sails a couple of centuries ago?" (Don’t mention that to the Chinese Dhow builders.)

sailboat fishing

Fishing off the port rail, we used the partially unfurled jib as our "trolling motor".



Cruisers can make great racing boats - why not turn one into a fishing boat, too? So this season I vowed to turn my sailboat into my own version of Deadliest Catch. Obviously this required several trips to my local fishing store, the Outdoor Emporium, in addition to my usual visits to West Marine. So I left my Henri Lloyd at home and donned my boots, Carhartts, and rubber gloves to bring home the big one.

fishing

All set up with pots and rods, we made slow but steady progress towards the fishing grounds.



Out among a mass of Trophys, Boston Whalers and Tracker boats, our lone mast looked like a skyscraper in the desert. We certainly got some strange looks and I’m sure a few chuckles. But pushing that aside, we had a great time catching crabs and trying to get some seasonal Chinooks. It felt good to have another reason to go out, and brought us pride in bringing back bounty for the kitchen table. And it can be so peaceful to fish, especially when under sail. It’s even better when combined with an existing activity in our cruising or racing schedule. I will definitely do this again.

Here’s what I learned from fishing on my sailboat, so far:

1. Do all the prep (rig your gear, cut bait etc.) before you leave. It is a real pain to do in the cockpit, it makes a mess, and then you can’t actually sit down.
2. The boom is always in the way of the rod. Always.
3.  Stow the rod by using a stern pulpit rod holder, or flag holder. If you’re using the flag holder, always tie the rod to the boat when underway, to avoid losing it overboard in the waves.
4. Pick your spot carefully – you obviously can’t shift your location quickly so we found it best to pick a single area. If it doesn't pan out, try another day.
5. Use the tide changes to drift along a shoreline, using the current to your advantage instead of fighting it.
6. Try sail trolling - leave some small amount of a jib unfurled (if on a roller) and use this as your free trolling motor. Using the diesel is OK, but it is not great for the motor to run at low revs for a long time (nor is it as peaceful). The autopilot is also very useful to keep a steady course.
7. It’s best to go with just two or three people, or it’s way too crowded in the cockpit.
8. Use jigging, mooching or trolling. Casting is a bad idea, as there are lots of places for your hooks to get caught up.
9. Buy a diver (planer). This is a great option for low speed trolling, and it’s much cheaper and easier to stow than trolling gear.
10. Bring along a separate small cooler for your fish – you could use the ice box but it’ll get smelly, and my wife doesn't like the herring smell infiltrating the fruit and vegetables.

sailboat fishing

The side decks can be a good place to stow crab pots on your sailboat, although when sailing we preferred to lash them to the stern rail.



If you were going to buy a sailboat to use for fishing, what should you choose? Looking around boats.com, BoatTrader, and YachtWorld there are several possibilities. Racer/cruisers might be the best option – especially those with a low transom, and wide side decks to walk around or stow crab pots. And they also have all the basic amenities: a cockpit with seating areas, a head, bunks for a nap, and a stove to keep up a constant supply of coffee—or to cook your catch. A C&C 33, Beneteau 34 or Salona would do the trick.

Going larger, the Beneteau Sense 55 also looks about perfect. Getting one with a stern rail seat is a good idea, too. But the more stays, running backstays, and rigging you have, the more lines there are to get fishing gear caught on. So stay away from the pure race boats or sportboat options. Fisher Motor Sailors also look like a good bet, with plenty of flat deck space up front and large stern cockpit.

An alternative for those in calm or protected coastal waters could be using a small rowing/sailing skiff such as a Norseboat or Cape Dory. Attach a Torqueedo motor and catch some mackerel and bluefish by trailing a line around the bay.

But the hands-down winner of the fisher/sailor category may be the McGregor 26. There’s no shortage of opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of the McGregor, but with the 50 HP outboard, lifting keel, large cockpit, and simple interior, this could be the perfect fishing sailboat to land your catch.


At the end of the day, sailboat fishing is what it is. It works – sort of. It’s great to have another excuse to use my boat, but it’s more of a side dish, not the main course. The milk, not the cookies. If I were serious about actually catching fish, then I’d get real fishing machine.

Hey, what a fantastic excuse to get another boat!