Best Fishing SUPs

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There’s nothing more relaxing than being out on the lake on a SUP, waiting for a fish to bite. Until the fish bites – then it’s all go!

There are several advantages to fishing on a SUP as opposed to a sit-down boat or kayak. First off, you get much better views of the fish. AND you’re in a better position – able to cast much further than you normally would.

But for an enjoyable fishing trip, you want to ensure you’re not going to fall off the SUP, and neither will you lose any of your fishing gear to the water.

This means you will need the best possible SUP for your fishing trip. And the good news is that you’ve come to the right place!

We’ve been checking out some of the best fishing SUPs that are out on the market today, and after much deliberation, we were able to come up with our top 5 favorites which we can’t wait to show you!

That’s coming up very shortly, and after that, we also have a buying guide for you that walks you through everything you might want to think about before you buy.

Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.

So without further ado…

OUR TOP PICK

South Bay Board Co. - 11’6 Hippocamp Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board - Premium ISUP All-In-One Package Includes All The Best Extras - Military Grade PVC Frame, Heat Bonded Rails - Carbon Fiber Option

South Bay Board Co Complete Kit

EDITORS CHOICE

BOTE Rackham Aero Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board

BEST VALUE

DAMA Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board 10’6’’x32”x6’’ SUP w/Accessories | Pump, Fishing Surfing Yoga Touring Board,Lightweight Paddle, Fin & Backpack Travel Bag,Floating Paddle, All Round Board

DAMA Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board

OUR TOP PICK

Table of Contents

South Bay Board Co Complete Kit

South Bay Board Co. - 11’6 Hippocamp Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board - Premium ISUP All-In-One Package Includes All The Best Extras - Military Grade PVC Frame, Heat Bonded Rails - Carbon Fiber Option

What we love about this is that it’s not just a board and a paddle – it’s an entire fishing SUP kit!

The accessories do of course include a paddle and a pump, but there’s also a seat, a big travel bag, a leash, a cooler, and a fin system!

It’s also very long, very wide, and very thick, at 11.7 inches by 32, by 6, so you get plenty of volume for that all-important stability as you fish.

Moreover,  it has a very high weight capacity, so it can easily take two of you if you want to bring a fishing buddy.

Or you can just bring extra gear if you like to fish alone. And speaking of extra gear, there’s elastic cording on both the front and back end of the SUP to hold your things in place.

It was built with fisher needs in mind, with fishing rod holders so you can rest your arms between casts.

We also love the textured soft-top foam on the deck, great for getting a good grip and ensuring you don’t slip.

We also like the pulled in nose and rounded tail, it’s great for beginners and makes for an efficient paddle glide.

It has a top-quality construction too, with a double-layered military-grade PVC custom outer shell, top and bottom Deck Stringer for extra rigidity, and dual-axis drop-stitch technology to ensure a stiff and rigid core when inflated.

Please be careful to get to the Amazon page via our link, because if you type the name of the SUP into Amazon it will bring up the same kit but for about $100 more.

It’s a lot of money to pay in one go though, so you might like to think about paying in installments. Which you can do upon approval for the Amazon Rewards Visa Card.

Pros:

  • Includes rod holders
  • Especially long and wide
  • High total weight capacity
  • Great for beginners
  • Textured foam on deck

Cons:

  • Yes, it does sound a little expensive, but you also have to consider that it includes a great many accessories that you would otherwise have to pay extra for

EDITORS CHOICE

BOTE Rackham Aero Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board

Now, this is THE ultimate fishing SUP. The only reason we didn’t make it our number one pick is because of the accompanying high price tag.

It was built with hunting and fishing in mind, really stealthy. And you can secure your tackle Racor your bucket Rac, thanks to the Rac receivers. Plus there are bungee straps on both the front and the rear.

It has thick rails, a flat bottom, and a two-chamber design. You get incomparable stability that isn’t merely down to the SUP’s dimensions.

Though the dimensions are amazingly good, with a length of 12 feet 4 inches, a width of 38 inches, and a depth of 7 inches.

And being so big and sturdy, it also has a very good weight capacity, able to take up to 400 pounds in weight. And you clearly don’t have to worry about whether you can fit all your fishing gear on there.

Its stability is further enhanced by the removable inflatable center fin and the side bite fins.

It’s built to be incredibly tough and durable, made with military-grade PVC skin, it’s both abrasion resistant, and puncture-resistant.

And the inner core meanwhile is tightly packed with composite fibers that serve to create the sort of rigidity you’d find in a solid SUP.

But despite its huge size when inflated, it packs down so compactly into its accompanying storage bag, you could even take it on airline travel. And you don’t have to bother getting a rack for your vehicle either.

The included pump is pretty impressive too, able to inflate the whole thing in mere minutes.

You also get an adjustable paddle, so you can paddle either standing up or sat down. Plus you also get an inflatable center fin, a sheath for the paddle, and in case of emergency, a repair kit.

It is an expensive SUP, and we’ll be the first to admit it. But if you buy through Amazon you can take advantage of the option to pay in installments on approval for the Amazon Rewards Visa Card.

Pros:

  • Large size and weight capacity
  • Incomparable board stability
  • Incredibly tough and durable
  • Deflates compactly for air travel
  • Inflates in mere minutes

Cons:

  • Premium product at a premium price
  • It’s a little heavy to carry around
  • No fishing rod holders in place
  • Not many peer reviews around due to it being such an expensive product

BEST VALUE

DAMA Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board

DAMA Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board 10’6’’x32”x6’’ SUP w/Accessories | Pump, Fishing Surfing Yoga Touring Board,Lightweight Paddle, Fin & Backpack Travel Bag,Floating Paddle, All Round Board

Here’s another great SUP for fishing. It’s available in 2 different sizes, and at the time of writing there’s only a $30 difference in price between the two, so it makes sense to go for the biggest one. And it’s at a fair price too.

So, this review is based on the largest of the two sizes. It’s 10 feet 6 inches in length, 32 inches wide, and 6 inches thick. This large volume means it’s a very stable board, which is the main thing you want to look out for in a fishing SUP.

It’s a top-quality construction, with military ultra-light PVC drop-stitch fabric. The inner of the SUP is super reinforced, and there’s special thermal sealing to protect against air leakage.

And it’s topped with a premium EVA anti-slip soft deck for an enhanced grip. And it will keep its smart appearance, thanks to its UV resistant coating.

The stand out feature of this SUP is the camera mount on the front of the deck – great for recording all your fish catches!

Also on the front of the deck, you’ve got a bungee cord, which is perfect for stashing your bag of fishing gear.

It comes with several accessories, including a paddle, a removable inflatable fin, a pump, a paddle, an ankle leash, a repair kit, and a waterproof backpack for storage and transport.

We’re quite impressed with the paddle. Not only is it adjustable so you can paddle standing up or sitting down, but it’s 45% more lightweight than a standard paddle, which makes paddling much easier and leads to much less fatigue. But better yet, it’s a floating paddle that will NEVER sink.

The board only takes 10 minutes to inflate, and 5 minutes to deflate.

It’s also worth noting at this point that this SUP is a bestseller with online retailers.

Pros:

  • Lightweight floating paddle
  • Large and stable size
  • Great value for money
  • Quick to inflate & deflate

Cons:

  • Only has enough weight capacity for one person

RUNNER UP

WOWSEA Cruise Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board

WOWSEA Trophy T1 Inflatable Paddle Board, Durable and Stable Exploring SUP Board, Touring & Blowup Paddleboard, 11' Long x 32' Wide x 6' Thick with iSUP Accessories (Blue)

When we saw the customer ratings for this SUP, we had to check it out. At the time this article was written, the Wowsea Cruise had earned an average Amazon customer rating of a full 5 stars out of 5!

And we see why it’s popular. First of all, it’s a nice size, measuring 11 feet long, 32 inches wide, and 6 inches thick. This helps make it a very stable board for fishing on.

And its stability and traction are helped further still by the removable center fin, together with side bite fins.

It has a good sturdy and tough construction, made with military-grade multi-layer PVC with the densest drop stitch pattern to ensure it’s perfectly rigid once inflated.

We love the EVA multi-textured deck pad because it provides plenty of cushion and has good anti-slip traction.

As for stashing your fishing gear, you get a free strong waterproof bag, which you can place under the bungee cord at the front of the deck.

It comes with a durable standard paddle that breaks down into three pieces when you need to pack it away.

But better than that is the pump that comes with it. It’s a triple action double chamber pump with an integrated pressure gauge, allowing you to pump it up to over 15 psi.

It also comes with a handy backpack and ankle leash.

Pros:

  • Triple action pump
  • Free waterproof bag
  • Great customer ratings
  • Stable and rigid SUP

Cons:

  • No rod holders

RUNNER UP

MaxKare Stand-Up Paddle Board with Accessories

Here’s another great SUP for fishing.

It’s 10 feet long, 30 inches wide, and is a whopping 6 inches thick when fully inflated. And this sort of volume really helps with your stability in the water.

And to further aid stability, and to also aid tracking, there are 3 fins on the underside of the board. The center one is removable.

But if you’re really afraid of falling off, you can use the included leash and put it around your ankle.

It’s solid and stable enough to take 2 fishers if you were to consider taking someone with you on your fishing expedition.

It comes complete with the main accessories you will need, such as a paddleboard, a pump, a repair kit, and a backpack. The paddle is particularly good because it’s adjustable.

You can either have it fully extended to 82.7 inches for paddling standing up, or have it a little shorter at 67.3 inches for paddling while sitting or kneeling.

The pump is also particularly good, it’s a double-action pump that is twice as efficient as your usual pumps, and it will inflate the SUP in less than 10 minutes.

The SUP has a large EVA slip-proof area that takes up most of the board’s upper surface, so no matter how much you decide to move around hauling in your fish, you’re unlikely to slip into the water yourself.

There’s elastic drawstring on the front of the SUP, where you can stash a bag with any items you need to be kept dry, whether it’s fishing gear, or simply your smartphone or sunscreen.

It’s a best seller with online retailers and comes highly recommended.

Pros:

  • Solid and stable
  • Can take 2 fishers
  • Adjustable paddle
  • Quick to inflate

Cons:

  • Some people complained about the backpack that comes with the SUP

Best Fishing SUPs Buying Guide

As promised, here’s your buying guide!

Stability of the Board

The last thing you want is to topple over, so your board needs to be as stable as possible.

And the longer, wider, and more volume a SUP has, the more stable it is and the easier it will be to balance on it.

As a general rule, for optimum stability, your SUP should be long enough to comfortably lie down and to hold all your gear.

So, let’s look at dimensions more closely.

Dimensions

Shorter boards are more maneuverable than longer boards, but on the other hand, longer boards are noticeably faster.

And while wider boards are more stable than their narrower counterparts, wider boards can sometimes be slower and more difficult to paddle.

This means that different sizes and shapes of SUPs are each suited for different types of waters. So there’s a lot to think about there, and we’ll leave that to you.

For most fishers, however, stability usually trumps maneuverability. So, if stability is what you’re looking for you can’t do any better than our number 2 pick, the BOTE Rackham Aero.

But if that’s too expensive for you, any of the other SUPs in our top 5 picks should do the trick.

Fins

Fins also help with the board’s stability in water. But they also help to keep the board moving in a straight line.

We recommend going for boards that have at least one fin. Several of the SUPs in our top 5 picks feature a removable inflatable fin for better stability in the water.

Room for stashing your fishing gear

If you intend to spend the best part of a day fishing, you will likely have a lot of gear with you, not just your rod, and all your bait, but also anything else you want to bring, from fishfinders through to crankbaits.

And you will need somewhere to stash it all, ideally without the risk of stepping on it. Most SUPs feature elastic bungee cords at the front of the deck.

Some SUPs will also have this bungee cord at the rear of the deck as well. It’s great for storing backpacks or plastic bags.

But you can go one better than that, and opt for a SUP with Rac receivers, so you can stash your tackle Rac or bucket Rac. If this is of interest to you, then we recommend our number 2 pick, the BOTE Rackham Aero.

Or you might like the idea of having a rod holder. If this is of interest to you we can recommend our number 1 pick, the South Bay Board Co Fishing SUP

Slip-proof surface

You should look for a SUP with a slip-proof surface. And this goes whether you plan on sitting, standing, or kneeling.

Anything to prevent falling in the water and ruining your day. And the more of your SUP’s surface that’s covered in slip-proof finishing the better.

How quick and easy is it to inflate

How quick and easy the SUP is to inflate depends on the pump that comes with the SUP. If you use a double-action or a triple action pump with your SUP you could inflate in just 10 minutes.

Several of the SUPs in our top 5 picks come with a pump like this.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you fish on a paddleboard?

Here’s the link to a top YouTube video on fishing on a paddleboard:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob_EHLJtjyc

If you have any general questions about SUPs that are not related to fishing, we’ve probably answered them elsewhere on our website, have a little browse around.

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