Best fishing boats (in the small watercraft category) and boating accessories that have been rigorously tested throughout Alaska by the Fish Alaska team. These watercraft are designed to get you exactly where you want to fish, while the accessories ensure you make the most of your trip.
Best Watercrafts and Accessories
BOTE 11’6” Breeze Aero Native Floral Cuda Inflatable Paddle Board
The versatility of this board is great for those who fish with kids. It’s easy to pack, lightweight, easy to assemble, stable, and most importantly, it’s wicked fun. It’s an ideal set-up to help them get their own space, fish their own water, swim if they get bored with the fishing, explore the area, and then tie back up to the boat for a quick ride back to the dock. Weighing in under 25 pounds, the Breeze Aero board has a 315-pound capacity, so grown-up kids can have some fun too. BOTE also has a line of accessories to trick out your board to your personal preference, including rod holders, coolers, seats, and more.
Promar 30” Stainless Steel Crab Pot TR-830A
This is Promar’s most rugged and durable crab pot. It weighs 20 pounds so it can usually be fished without adding additional weight. It has a rubber-wrapped rebar frame and stainless-steel wire mesh, 2 entrances, and 2 escape rings. It also has a hinged door on top for baiting the trap and removing crabs. This is a crab pot that will last for years and is big enough to capture a lot of crabs. If you’re serious about Dungeness crabbing, this is a great choice.
Minn Kota MKR-28 Trolling Motor Plug and Receptacle
This thing is awesome! In addition to revamping nearly all their electric trolling motors, Minn Kota also improved many of the accessories. This is a really stout plug and receptacle, low-profile, and a considerable improvement over the plug and receptacles the motors came with in the past. If you have an older Minn Kota that still works great, you might consider upgrading your plug and receptacle to the MKR-28.
Minn Kota Riptide Terrova Quest 115/90
The new Riptide Terrova Quest allows for the use of either a 24V (90-pound thrust) or 36V (115-pound thrust) battery plant. The “Riptide” in the title indicates this is a saltwater-capable unit. Unlike the old Riptide Terrova, the new motors are brushless, with a reinforced motor and mount, more advanced GPS functionality than ever, and even have an Eco Mode to extend battery life. Indestructible composite shafts are available in lengths of 55”, 60”, 72”, 87”, and 100”. As such, there’s a Riptide Terrova even for bigger saltwater boats. We tested the 72” shaft on our 22’ Rogue Jet Boatworks Chinook, an open sled.
Often, we don’t use the entire 72”. Choking up a little actually provides a little better line of sight to the remote control when you have several anglers seated onboard. The Terrova Quest is an improvement in almost every way compared to the previous Riptide Terrova. It has better, more-responsive steering, a better shaft, more power, more-responsive throttle, more-efficient use of battery power, and of course it can be part of the One-Boat Network with Humminbird fish finders. There are only 2 things that might not be considered improvements: 1) The footprint is bigger 2) it costs quite a bit more. But the improvements are worth every penny.
Mustang Survival Atlas 190 DLX Hammar Life Jacket
The Atlas 190 DLX by Mustang Survival is a next-gen inflatable life vest designed for offshore fishing and boating. With a sleek, ergonomic fit and a low neckline for comfort, it offers 190N of buoyancy when inflated. Equipped with cutting-edge ADAPT Technology (Advanced Airway Protection & Turning), it features uniquely shaped lobes that turn the wearer face-up, baffle barriers to deflect incoming waves, and a wide head pillow for support. Its dogleg design enhances in-water stability and comfort, while the Hammar automatic inflator with hydrostatic technology ensures reliability. ISO-approved, the Atlas 190 DLX is the ideal choice for serious anglers seeking safety, comfort, and performance in Alaskan waters. Mustang Survival’s PFDs are recognized as the best in the industry. This particular PFD is an exemplary example.