High-Stakes Sportfish

With the money at stake in today’s premier offshore tournaments reaching to the hundreds of thousands–sometimes millions–of dollars, the “sport” in “sportfisherman” could be replaced by “sprint.” Beating the fleet to the prime fishing grounds is more essential than ever, as is the ability to go farther offshore in search of bigger fish and to maneuver with pinpoint precision once you hook up.

Sure, the skill of the guy at the wheel, the rod and the rest of the tackle are important, but finding the right boat is the best advantage a tournament angler can have in the battle for big game.

Of course, there are plenty of owners who fish strictly for pleasure or use their boats primarily for cruising (hence the term “convertible”). But most manufacturers of sportfishermen 45 feet and up build them as though they were going to leave the boatyard and go directly to the Bahamas Billfish Championship or Bisbee’s Black and Blue.

As the saying goes, form follows function, and in the case of big sportfishermen, that’s a good thing. In our humble opinion, the yachts in this category, with its uniquely American roots, are among the most beautiful in the world. Here’s a look at 16 top contenders debuting since our 2007 buyer’s guide. ....

TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE
SUBSCRIBE TO SOUTHERN BOATING BY CLICKING HERE