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I'm trying to figure out a way to make my Four Winns Vista 298 express cruiser fishable. The boat is essentially a floating couch, but I'd like to fish for some snapper and troll for some dolphin without making any serious modifications. Adding a few rod holders seems obvious. Removing the cockpit lay-in carpet before heading out and maybe the aft seating on the transom might help as well. The bimini framing leaves no room for fighting the fish from the cockpit. Would you land the fish on the swim platform and keep the transom door open?
I'm a complete newbie regarding south FL fishing, but my boat is docked in Islamorada year long and I'd be a fool if I didn't head out with my son and pull out a few fish every now and then! Looking forward to learning along the way. Any tips/suggestions for fishing my boat besides plunking down cash on a center console?
Make a deal with a friend/neighbor....he can use your boat for cruising, if you can use his for fishing. I can imagine how tough it would be to be in Islamorada without a fishing boat, but I think it'll be very tough to make your cruiser an adequate fishing platform. (IMHO)
I cannot offer much from experience other than I know guys troll for dolphin from tug boats, small freighters, sailboats, PWC's, etc. Basically anything that floats. Isn't there even a sailfish tournament from innertubes?
So what you want to do is feasible if you understand the limits. Know you may only be able to troll one or two lines at most. Probably tend towards heavier tackle to cut down on the fight and increase your odds. Fight the fish off the side if you can and even think about catch and release. Much better than getting that boat all bloody.
I cannot offer much from experience other than I know guys troll for dolphin from tug boats, small freighters, sailboats, PWC's, etc. Basically anything that floats. Isn't there even a sailfish tournament from innertubes?
So what you want to do is feasible if you understand the limits. Know you may only be able to troll one or two lines at most. Probably tend towards heavier tackle to cut down on the fight and increase your odds. Fight the fish off the side if you can and even think about catch and release. Much better than getting that boat all bloody.
Thanks for the input. Thats my train of thought and I understand my boat will have many limits. I crossed over to Bimini in June with my brother in law and we DIDN'T FISH. Every other express cruiser and sailboat I saw over there was rigged for fishing in some way or another. Here I am in Bimini and I'm not fishing and my brother in law doesn't drink LOL. That got me thinking.
We spend most of our time cruising, snorkeling, or diving, but it would be nice to reel in a fish or two. I don't expect to come back dragging my knuckles with a limit of fish. I just want to get out there and have some fun fishing with my family while working around my boat's limitations. So trolling with most likely no more than 2 lines out. Heavy tackle. And a 50 foot gaff...
I had a 3260 Regal Commodore that I fished in the Keys. Had 2 rod holders in each gunnel. One neat thing that I did was buy 2 - 45 degree angle rod holders that mounted on the grab rails you have on your radar arch. I ran rods out of them while trolling for mahi and tuna. That seemed to work well.
No, the boat wasn't ideal for fishing and I later got rid of it for a real fishing boat. But you can rig yours good enough to have a lot of fishing fun.
A four line trolling spread is feasible out of that boat if you have a few guys on board. Just configure your rod holders so that on each side you have one straight back and one angled out. Run the straight back line shorter than the outside line(you could even throw in a couple teasers tied to the cleats when you get more comfortable with your spread) I would have at least a 6-8ft gaff. Get a couple brackets to mount a Large cooler on the swim platform so Dolphin dont have to come inside the boat(150+qt, Slammer dolphin still may not fit)...careful not to let them flop out. Or, if you dont feel comfortable gaffing from the swim platform, just clean up the blood in the cockpit before it dries. I would also fold the bimini top forward or remove it when fishing. You will not land every fish, and you may get in some tough spots, but it will work.
A four line trolling spread is feasible out of that boat if you have a few guys on board. Just configure your rod holders so that on each side you have one straight back and one angled out. Run the straight back line shorter than the outside line(you could even throw in a couple teasers tied to the cleats when you get more comfortable with your spread) I would have at least a 6-8ft gaff. Get a couple brackets to mount a Large cooler on the swim platform so Dolphin dont have to come inside the boat(150+qt, Slammer dolphin still may not fit)...careful not to let them flop out. Or, if you dont feel comfortable gaffing from the swim platform, just clean up the blood in the cockpit before it dries. I would also fold the bimini top forward or remove it when fishing. You will not land every fish, and you may get in some tough spots, but it will work.
Man, I appreciate the advise. Sounds like a good game plan. I'm going to pick up some 45 degree rod holders as ljk suggests and maybe run two more off the transom if needed. A bigass cooler is a great idea and it will help keep the deck clean and make use of the swim platform space. I'll only be out in fair weather so gaffing from the swim platform shouldn't "usually" be a problem.
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This is exactly the reason we need to tell our wives that ONE boat just isnt enough!!
I used to fish from a Donzi 275 express cruiser, mu bimini didn't come as far back as yours...I had 4 flush myd rod holders, I made a 5 rod rocket launcher that I mounted on the arch...put one rail mount rod holder on the rear hand rail in the middle, I trolled 3 and had two rods ready to cast if a school of dolphin showed up...I drifte for kingfiah and caught lots of snapper at anchor...I cleared all rear seating, put a 120 qt igloo on the platform (lashed down) and landed the bigger fish (as you said) from the platform right into the cooler...it works...good luck
When I was running a tug I fished ALL the time. Just had to be careful throttling back to land one that the barge did not run over me but it still worked fine.
Now I fish from my SeaDoo which is WAY fun. A nice redfish or shark is big fun to fight from my ski.
So, you can fish from anything that floats and have a great time. It may not be a Bertram but it will work.
Fishing from an express cruiser? 
That got me thinking.
