Over the past decade the sport of jet ski fishing has grown in leaps and bounds. In the early days, the jet ski fishermen were not taken seriously and most were perceived as amateurs when a jet ski with a few rods came whizzing past. That all changed when jet ski fishermen entered fishing competitions and came back not only with the largest fish, but also in the quickest time! More and more people realised the potential of these PWC (personal water craft) as worthy fishing vessels.

Some of the benefits of fishing from a WaveRunner are the following: 
1. Minimal turbulence and noise in the water while trawling because the propeller, which is in a housing (impeller) and the exhaust are only a foot below the waters surface, where as with an outboard motor the propeller and exhaust are about a metre below the waters surface.
2. A jet ski is very easy to manoeuvre in and out the surf which makes Garrick fishing a pleasure.
3. Once a game fish has been hooked, retrieval is made easy. Being light in the water the jet-ski is pulled around and while reeling in the fish and craft meet half way. When the fish is close to the WaveRunner, there is no need to worry about line getting caught on props or outboard motor "legs".
4. The most important advantage is this -  if you have an hour or two free in your day, you can go fishing as no crew is needed. With the 3 seater models, it is possible to comfortably fish with two people on the jet ski.
5. A WaveRunner takes about half the time it takes to clean a boat.
6. Your WaveRunner doesn't take up more space than a small luggage trailer, so minimal space is required to store your PWC.
7. When you're not fishing, just remove the fishing rig (attached by a few bolts) for great fun at the beach, on a dam or river with the whole family. The versatility of the Yamaha WaveRunner makes it an excellent family friendly water craft.
8. And for those committed fishermen, fishing trips can go ahead even when conditions are too bad for a boat, as the jet ski is designed to ride the swells with ease.

Yamaha's WaveRunners are setting the standard for reliability, value, ergonomic design and proven fuel economy - a great combination. Powered by compact, ultra-lightweight, liquid-cooled engines, Yamaha's WaveRunners deliver smooth, high power output with low fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions. Outfitted with an innovative visibility spout, the Yamaha WaveRunners are easy to see from a distance, and its extended platform is ideal for your fishing rig. When used for recreational fun, it lets you go for a swim and reboard with absolute ease. Other features include loads storage space, multi-function electronic information center, finger throttle lever and a progressive V-Hull with integrated bow spray guard.

The Yamaha WaveRunner should be your only choice when it comes to jet ski fishing. Jason Ribbink recently did a massive 2800km journey from the border of Mozambique to the Namibian border, along the coast of South Africa as part of a fundraising event. Jason says that he won't use any other PWC due to Yamaha's exceptional reliability and comfort and he added that no other jet ski would've managed this exceptional achievement.

When you become an owner of your favorite Yamaha WaveRunner, you'll want to get it rigged for fishing. Your WaveRunner is one of the most versatile crafts you'll ever own, so choose equipment that is not fixed permanently onto the PWC. Here is a basic list to get your started:

SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Use a standard safety equipment bottle (yellow with a red lid) placed in a stainless steel cage mounted to the back of the jetski, directly behind the seat. The brackets of the stainless steel cage are secured by the 4 bolts used to attach the grab handle to the body of the jetski, so no drilling is needed - NOT PERMANENT.

ROD HOLDERS
There are 2 types of rod holders that we would recommend - firstly a removable rod holder called a "Scotty", or secondly the conventional type of sunken rod holders fitted on fishing skis. These second option is a permanent fixtures but it won't get in the way for other activities.

FISH FINDER
If you're serious about jet ski fishing, a fish finder is a must. It will give you an insight into where you are fishing. You want your bait or lure to be over a reef, preferably pinnacles or ledges. Most fish finders also indicate water temparature, which comes in handy to find warmer patches of water as game fish generally feed in warmer water.

The basic fish finders range from about R1800. These will have limited features and a black and white screen. The colour fish finders and GPS combos start at about R5000, up to approximately R12000 for a unit that will still be suitable for use on your jetski. Ask your dealer to assist in mounting your fish finder.

DOWN RIGGER
A mini down rigger can also be mounted. This is not a necessity, but does work very well in assisting to get your bait to a desired depth if the fish are feeding deep. This is not a permanent fixture to the jetski - NOT PERMANENT.

FISH BAG
A fish bag is recommended to easily ensure your catch stays on your jetski as well as keeping your WaveRunner clean. It also protects your feet and legs from sharp teeth and fins. One bag per jetski is sufficient - NOT PERMANENT.

LIVE BAIT BUCKET
Your live bait bucket can be secured to the grab handle of the jetski. The waterflow hose of your jetski (a standard feature on Yamaha WaveRunners) can be used to allow fresh water for your live bait by attaching it to the bucket once holes are drilled around the bucket as an outlet to allow the water to circulate - NOT PERMANENT.

Exciting performance and nimble handling makes the VX Deluxe an outstanding package - an extended rear platform, low fuel consumption and handy remote transmitter  make your time on the water more enjoyable.

The FX Cruiser SHO is the WaveRunner flagship model. The Cruiser Concept can be counted as one of the most unique innovations in the PWC industry, providing maximum comfort and a highly stable riding position.