Tournament Boat Oraganization/must Haves

[BuckMaxx]

I recently bought my first bass boat to start fushing tournaments.( 92 Ranger w 150 merc) I was curious as what you guys do specifically to taylor make you boat to be the most efficient. I fish a lot of plastics so I am going with many Tupperware type boxes that are labeled. Also need to pick up a golden rule, some marking bouys stuff like that. Help me make a list of what's in your boat. thanks!!

[Fishing Rhino]

I don't tournament fish, but if I did, I'd clean out all the extraneous "stuff" that boats seem to collect.  I typically carry six pfds in my boat, three inflatables, three jacket style.  I'm covered for everyone except kids.  Were I to tournament fish, that would shrink down to two.  I've got four sweatshirts in my boat.  Three would go.  Towels three or four, down to one.

 

You need to streamline what is on your boat for everyday fishing to accommodate others when you take them.  To keep it short and sweet, get rid of the clutter, and put the gear you expect to use where it is readily accessible.  For you, don't bury your plastics under crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater, etc.

 

I've got four fenders stowed on my boat, just in case I want to raft up with others.  Two, maybe all four would be left on the beach for competitions.  Same with dock lines.  They'd go.  If you unexpectedly had to tie up, use your anchor line.  I've got two sets of foul weather gear.  One would go into the pile of other stuff that was removed.

 

Get down to the bare necessities.  Efficiency is key.  The less fumbling around looking for something, the more casts you can make.  The more casts you make, the more fish you will catch.

[J Francho]

I don't really do anything different.  The key to efficiency is really just time on the water.  You'll identify things you do that eat up time, and change your process from there.

[slonezp]

My boat:

A basic tool set. Couple screwdrivers, crescent wrenches, channel locks, sandpaper(for cleaning electrical terminals) wire stripper/crimper and terminals, spare fuses, a jump box, spare shear pins for the TM, some stainless nuts and bolts. You may want to keep a spare prop on board. I also have flare kit and first aid kit, 2 anchors, marker buoys, dock lines, bump board, pfd's and a throwable, fire extinguisher, spare drain plug, a net, and my gear. hard baits are in 3700 boxes and soft baits are in Ziploc bags.

 

There are companies that manufacture tackle storage systems that fit on the underside of the storage lids.

[BrettD]

A scale or a culling beam to cull fish is handy and a decent weigh in bag. Those are the two items I remember having to go out and buy after my first tournement.

[Wayne P.]

Don't forget colored fish markers and a note pad to keep up with which fish is the lightest. Saves culling time.

[South FLA]

Make sure you put the heavier stuff towards back compartments and lighter equipment up front, helps with hole shot and fuel efficiency.  I like see through shoe boxes for soft plastics and traditional Plano boxes for terminal tackle and lures.  

[tstone]

Are you fishing team tournaments or draw style?

[DJ Funk]

Don't forget raingear!

 

I'll see if I can come up with an ellaborate list for you, on what I do. It seems like I'm prepared for most things. I will leave out the obvious.

[ww2farmer]

Nothing but minor adjustments is different for me either. I usually get the cull tags out and within easy reach,  rotate the rods I plan to use that day to the top of the locker or out on the deck, move the tackle I need to get to quick to an easy location, and have the net in a handy spot. The night before I make sure I have anything I am running low on restocked from my bulk storage, and retie every leader and/or bait so in the morning all I have to do is go.

[DJ Funk]

I have a small plano box that I keep a small supply of jigs with jig trailers/ hooks, go to plastics and punching weights/hooks that I have velcro'ed to the front of the plastic under my windshield for easy access. I also have a bigger plano that I can swap out that has velcro in the same spots if I am fishing hard baits that day. This is just something I have to be back at it in seconds.

I have an older boat, so I'm not super worried about that part of the appearance btw.

As far as necessities...

Having a back up trolling motor prop, back up circuit breaker for the trolling motor battery is a must. Extra sheer pins too.

Also having jumper cables, oil for your outboard, backup aerator pump and bilge pumps are important as well. It costs alot to get back ups of certain things to be prepared, but far less costly that not having them.

[BuckMaxx]

Thanks for all the replies! keep them coming! I finished my boat yesterday now I am putting it together, with all new batteries I still need a good fish finder and figure out a way to mount my motor toter.( I have a roller trailer), I did look at those under lid systems. They look like they are worth the money.

[james 14]

I found some Plano 3700 boxes that are the deep version and they're perfect for keeping my bags of soft plastics since I don't like the ziploc bag idea. They make a version with the dividers (lengthwise only) which are good for separating different types in one box and they make a version that has no divider and is just a big deep box. If you use the one with the dividers the top portion of the bags will fold over the divider under the lid but the lid still shuts easily. I'll probably end up moving my crankbaits into them since they hold the deep divers better and will likely also turn one into a tool kit.