Fishing Jet Ski

[Lures'n'Liberty]

I've been looking at some of the options out there (I got a lot of response on my homemade kayak thread saying don't do it) and after a recent flood in my area, I've found a few great deals on Jet Skis that need a little work or have cosmetic damage that I couldn't care less about. I've seen a few folks out there who saltwater fish from their 'ski and was wondering if anyone out there has on that they use for good instead of evil, as I have a chance to pick one up for less than the price of a decent kayak. I know very little about them but I'm confident that there's a way to add a live well, tackle and rod storage, and a trolling motor. As a side note, are Polaris Jet Ski and Snowmobile engines interchangable? If I pick up a mid 90's Polaris 750 jet ski, can I look for a mid 90's Polaris 750 snowmobile with a blown engine and swap the motors back and forth twice a year, because that would be pretty sweet. I am very mechanically inclined but have little snowmobile repair experience and have never lifted the seat on a jet ski.

[J Francho]

Gonna be pretty tough for a water cooled motor work in the ice and snow.

[12poundbass]

How stable are the older ones? That would be my biggest concern and available space for everything you're looking to put on it. I think adding some rod holders and maybe converting the front storage into a drywell would be feasible. Adding a TM and battery might be pushing it, especially with those smaller jet skis. Just some thoughts.

[Lures'n'Liberty]

8 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

How stable are the older ones? That would be my biggest concern and available space for everything you're looking to put on it. I think adding some rod holders and maybe converting the front storage into a drywell would be feasible. Adding a TM and battery might be pushing it, especially with those smaller jet skis. Just some thoughts.

I probably should have added, the one I can get a really smokin' deal on is a '94 Polaris SLT 750. I know nothing much about it other than it belongs to a friend of a friend, it runs, comes with a trailer, however it was on the trailer during the flood and the whole thing floated into the woods behind a neighbors house near the shore and "it started on a trailer but it's gonna be a b#$%^ to get up out of there." Google tells me the dry weight is 500 lbs, top speed is 48mph, and the motor is probably blue. It's a 2 seater and I weigh about 180, I'm assuming I can safely add roughly 200 lbs of accessories to it. My homemade cooler livewell weighs roughly 60 lbs full of water, not a clue as to how it would plane out with that much weight on the back as I've never ridden a sit down jet ski, just a stand up model one time 15 years ago.

 

[J Francho]

I've seen a couple people rig up their jet skis for fishing.  I'd rather have a small jon boat with a traditional O/B and trolling motor.

[12poundbass]

I'm not sure how good the deal is but you can get a john boat for dirt cheap a brand new trolling motor and battery for it for around $200 or less. 

[S Hovanec]

I have had 4 Polaris jet-skis: a '95 SLT750, '98 SLX (1050cc), '00 Virage TX (1165cc) and '00 SLX (1165cc).   While somewhat stable, Polaris skis are smaller than other manufacturers.  Their 2 seater is more line a 1 seater and their 3 seater is like a 2.  The ones I've seen converted to fishing skis have been the Yamaha SUV.  It is a GIANT 4 seater.

 

I used to fish off of the 750.  I'd toss some lures in the glove box and hold a rod across the handle bars when running to spots.

 

The SLT750 is actually a 3 seater.

[NHBull]

I see a couple on my lake and the guys do GREAT!

[jbh3]

Google "jetskibrian". He is a VERY avid and knowledgeable jet ski fishermen on he VA coast.

[Lures'n'Liberty]

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I'm not sure how good the deal is but you can get a john boat for dirt cheap a brand new trolling motor and battery for it for around $200 or less. 

It's that good of a deal, and just a trolling motor isn't going to cut it on the river, it took me 7 hours and 8 tanks of gas to go from my closest launch to lock 4, then to lock 3, then back to the launch in a 6hp Jon Boat. If I bribe my buddy into loaning me his tow truck with a case of beer, This 'ski will be about as dirt cheap as a jon boat with no trailer. 

 

2 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

I have had 4 Polaris jet-skis: a '95 SLT750, '98 SLX (1050cc), '00 Virage TX (1165cc) and '00 SLX (1165cc).   While somewhat stable, Polaris skis are smaller than other manufacturers.  Their 2 seater is more line a 1 seater and their 3 seater is like a 2.  The ones I've seen converted to fishing skis have been the Yamaha SUV.  It is a GIANT 4 seater.

 

I used to fish off of the 750.  I'd toss some lures in the glove box and hold a rod across the handle bars when running to spots.

 

The SLT750 is actually a 3 seater.

Did you fish the Mon with it??? You, my friend, know where I can and cannot go like the back of your hand. Should I jump at this opportunity in the morning or not? 

[S Hovanec]

37 minutes ago, Lures'n'Liberty said:

 

Did you fish the Mon with it??? You, my friend, know where I can and cannot go like the back of your hand. Should I jump at this opportunity in the morning or not? 

 

I fished the Yough with it.  Don't know if you should jump on it or not.  I can tell you this: that run you made with the 6hp jon, you'll be coming back on fumes with the 12 gallon tank in the SLT750.  Most likely, you'll have to flip the fuel switch to reserve.

 

The potential problems I see: getting the boat registered if you are salvaging it.  Without a title transfer, i believe you'll have to go through the paperwork and register it as homemade.

[Lures'n'Liberty]

On 8/4/2017 at 5:28 PM, S Hovanec said:

 

I fished the Yough with it.  Don't know if you should jump on it or not.  I can tell you this: that run you made with the 6hp jon, you'll be coming back on fumes with the 12 gallon tank in the SLT750.  Most likely, you'll have to flip the fuel switch to reserve.

 

The potential problems I see: getting the boat registered if you are salvaging it.  Without a title transfer, i believe you'll have to go through the paperwork and register it as homemade.

Someone else jumped on it, I slacked and the early bird got the worm. It was registered, friend of friend had all the proper paperwork, too. Coming back on fumes would have been OK, would have also gladly carried a gas can if needed be. 

[Choporoz]

@Lures'n'Liberty, I probably wouldn't ever consider fishing from a jet ski...nor from a homemade kayak....I think you're a bit nuts....but, I will say that I have a lot of admiration for your willingness to deviate into nuts-territory....and to adapt and make it work through you're own ingenuity.  Good luck.

[S Hovanec]

The Yamaha SUV that Jetski Brian runs on Chesapeake has had me considering getting a fishing ski!  Solo trips for smallies on Erie are what I have in mind.  Using it in conditions I wouldn't want to take my boat out in.  The biggunz bite when the lake is angry!

 

The problem with getting one is I would need two.  The wife would have to have a fishin' machine too!

[Lures'n'Liberty]

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

@Lures'n'Liberty, I probably wouldn't ever consider fishing from a jet ski...nor from a homemade kayak....I think you're a bit nuts....but, I will say that I have a lot of admiration for your willingness to deviate into nuts-territory....and to adapt and make it work through you're own ingenuity.  Good luck.

If you think I'm only a bit nuts, you don't know me very well