Hey there anglers and welcome to my post where we will check out my three best fishing bait boats to get your line out there with this year. The popularity of fishing bait boats has soared over the years due to their ability to accurately place your bait and rig into places that are impossible to cast to – such as beneath overhanging trees and snags.
And as usual, there are a few decent options out there so for those of you looking to get yourself a good bait boat, I have had a look around and come up with some options below.
Let’s check them out.
My three recommended fishing bait boats
I will review these in more detail below however if you just want to get moving without all the carry-on, my recommended products are listed here for your convenience:
What are fishing bait boats?
Bait boats are small, remote-controlled boats that deliver bait, chum or lures to a specific location on the water. Their destination is usually a difficult to reach or very distant fishing spot when casting is difficult or impossible.
They are usually controlled by a handheld radio remote control, allowing you to send the loaded boat virtually anywhere in any given waterway within range.
What should you be looking for?
The following influences should be considered as you hunt around for a good bait boat for fishing.
- Payload
- Signal range
- Stability
- Runtime
- Additions
Payload
This factor describes how much of your bait can the bait boat carry. The payload of the boat depends on its size and you can find bait boats with a capacity of 1.5 kilograms up to 5 kilograms of bait.
Signal range
Another valuable feature to consider is the product’s signal range, which contributes to its accuracy. The signal range determines how far can your bait boat can go away from the remote control to drop your bait – usually measured in hundreds of meters here.
As you look to purchase, you will need to determine how far you need the boat to travel keeping in mind that if too far, you may lose control of it, or it can get damaged in choppier waters etc. If you need greater distance, then maybe consider a canon or drone instead.
Stability
The fishing bait boat should be able to handle the winds and waves of the body of water you are fishing from. If it capsizes or tips at any point, bait will be deposited in an inconvenient location.
To assist with this, many bait boats utilize a catamaran design in order to provide stability to their products. Such bait boats adopt a two-hull construction resulting in increased motion comfort, excellent stability, speed and excess buoyancy due to lack of ballast. In buying fishing bait boats, it would be wise to consider those with a catamaran outlook.
Runtime
This next factor defines how long will the bait boat run across the waters with the batteries supplied ultimately determining the runtime. The minimum runtime you can find would be 45 minutes, while others offer 5 to 6 hours.
The main difference here is the type of battery used. For the latter, a lithium polymer battery is applied which explains the extended operation of the bait boats. But the downside is the fact that such batteries can take up to 12 hours of charging.
Additions
Other potential additions include:
- GPS navigation: This technology lets you input hundreds of spots that the bait boat can go to for bait dropping.
- Lure light: This is helpful, especially during night fishing, in attracting fish towards your bait boat.
- Auto flip bait tray: The boat can flip the tray to drop your lures once it has reached its destination.
- Carry bags: For easy transportation of the fishing bait boat, carry bags become handy.
FAQ
What is a fishing bait boat
Bait boats are remote controlled boats used by fishers to take bait, lures or chum out into the water. Most are remotes controlled and include a load distributor that allows for the payload to be dropped into the water at a chosen point. Many also come with added functionality such as GPS and fish finders and can travel distances up to 1000 meters from its starting point.
What do you use a bait boat for
Bait boats are especially good for areas where it is difficult to cast to, or drop a chum bucket in such as under tree branches or in between logs or rocks. Bait boats are also a good option for getting your hookset out to places that are out of casting distance as well.
My three recommendations broken down
So based on the information above and my own experience, I recommend the following options:
1. Cresea Products RC Bait Boat
This first fishing bait boat option offers excellent functionality with a decent remote range and can hold more than 1.5 kilos of bait. It can travel up to 500 meters with a battery life of 2 – 3 hours. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Cresea Products
- Construction: High quality ABS material
- Range: 500 meters
- Battery: 5200mAh 18650 battery
- Run time: 2 hours
- Lure/bait capacity: 1.5 kilograms
Other inclusions:
- Full function remote control
- LED searchlight
- 5-speed settings
Why have I chosen it?
This bait boat has 5-speed settings, allowing you to get the bait out quickly on a large lake or step down to the first level to delicately navigate the vessel into position. There are two night lights at the front for anglers who want to replenish their bait spots late at night as well. And best of all, everything is managed from the one remote control.
2. AHWZ GPS Smart Fishing Boat
This second bait boat option offers GPS navigation for a better chance of luring your target fish with a range large enough for you to access hard-to-reach places of the fishing lake. The fishing bait boat can also reach its destination without a hassle, thanks to its three propellers and dual motor design. See its specifications below:
- Brand: AHWZ
- Construction: One piece waterproof plastic mold
- Range: 500 meters
- Battery: 7.4V 5200mAh
- Run time: 2 hours
- Lure/bait capacity: 2 kilograms
Other inclusions:
- Full function GPS controller with single button ‘return to home’
- GPS navigation technology
- Carry bag
- Low power return
Why have I chosen it?
My second product recommendation makes use of technology to help you in your angling adventures. Aside from the GPS navigation system, it has a low power return meaning that once the battery is about to be drained, the bait boat will return to the user automatically.
The GPS version remote control can set three arbitrary positioning points that can be moved back and forth at will. It even has a wind resistance range of 7 to 8, which provides enough stability for the bait boat to avoid capsizing. A great option for waters of all types.
3. JABO 2 in 1 Fish Finder GPS RC Bait Boat
This final product employs GPS navigation and lure light that you can use for fishing at night. It has a bait tray that automatically releases your bait while simultaneously protecting it from the birds. It has a massive range and battery life as well. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Cresea Products
- Construction: Heavy duty plastic
- Range: 1000 meters
- Battery: 7.4V 10,000mA Li-on rechareable battery
- Run time: 5 hours
- Lure/bait capacity: 2.5 kilograms
Other inclusions:
- Night light
- Lure light
- Auto GPS navigation with up to 16 plot points
- Auto flip bait tray
Why have I chosen it?
This fishing bait boat is of premium quality, can carry 2.5 kilos of your bait, which is beyond the standard payload. You can even depend on it at night because of its integrated lure light and multi point GPS with fish finder. If you are looking for a good investment, this final product is perfect for you.
Conclusion
There you have it. My three fishing bait boats to help you deal with hard-to-reach locations on your fishing trips. I would be pleased to know how this article helped you, and as usual, let me know of your experiences with them.
Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, corrections, or would like me to check anything else out for you.
Until next time.
Have fun
Paul