Best Inflatable SUP for Fishing Tested and Reviewed | 2025

According to TakeMeFishing.org, about 1-in-5 Americans enjoy some form of angling – myself included. Ask any shore angler and they’ll tell you that if they could just get their cast a little further, or a little closer to that bit of cover, or if they were able to fish more shoreline (or miles of riverbank) then they’d absolutely catch more, bigger, fish. At least that’s what I tell myself! One of the best ways to improve those conditions is to leave the shore and get out on the water – and Stand Up Paddle Boarding offers the perfect way to do it.

While you can technically use any paddle board for fishing, those boards that are built for SUP fishing offer many more advantages to even the part-time SUP angler over a basic all-around board. Most can be converted for use as kayaks (and back to SUPs), and many of them even include built-in accessories to make fishing easier and more successful.

There is a lot to consider when picking a paddle board for fishing. First, you want something that is going to be stable enough to not only support you while paddling, but also while casting and landing fish. You’ll want to make sure that you not only have plenty of cargo room, but easy access to it as well. Let’s not also forget the ability to easily manage your fishing rods, tackle boxes, cooler, and other equipment. Last, but not least, you want a high-quality board that can take a bit of a beating as you work through those shallow sloughs, tidal estuaries, and flowing freestone rivers.

We’ve taken all of this (and more) into account when creating our list of Best Paddle Boards for Fishing.

Best Fishing SUPs Comparison Chart

section-hd		Best iSUPs under $500
	BOARD	DIMENSIONS	CAPACITY	WARRANTY	PRICE
Glide O2 Mako	Glide O2 Mako Save	12'16” x 35" x 6" 26 pounds	500 lbs	5 year, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Best Price
Bote Rackham Aero 12’4”	Bote Rackham Aero 12’4” Save	12'4” x 38" x 7" 45 pounds	400 lbs	2-years, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Best Price
Glide Angler Elite	Glide Angler Elite Save	11’0” x 36" x 6" 25 pounds	500 lbs	50 Years, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Price
Thurso Max Multipurpose	Thurso Max Multipurpose Save	11’6 x 34" x 6" 29 pounds	370 lbs	2-years, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Best Price
Honu Fairlight 11’6	Honu Fairlight 11’6 Save	11’6” x 34.5" x 5.5" 23 pounds	300 lbs	4-years, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Best Price
Nixy Monterey G5	Nixy Monterey G5 Save	11’6” x 34" x 6" 21 pounds	400 lbs	3-years, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Price
Bote HD Aero	Bote HD Aero Save	11'6" x 34" x 6" 30 pounds	315 lbs	2-years, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Price
Retrospec June Fishing	Retrospec June Fishing Save	11’6” x 36" x 6" 28 pounds	320 lbs	2-years, 50-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Best Price
Red Paddle Co Ride 11’6	Red Paddle Co Ride 11’6 Save	11'6" x 34" x 4.7" 24 pounds	400 lbs	5-years, 30-day return period	Read ReviewCheck Best Price

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Glide O2 Mako

10’10” x 38” x 6”
Availability: US, Canada
Read Our Full Review

Glide’s newest fishing SUP is the O2 Mako. This is a dedicated fishing iSUP for the anglers who want to explore the harder to reach fishing holes.

At 12’6” long and 35” wide, the O2 Mako has an incredible amount of volume for bringing along all of your fishing gear and all of your camping equipment for those expedition-style trips.

It’s also designed to work with the Glide Mako Pedal Drive – an optional pedal-powered propeller that lets you move the Mako hands-free while seated in the included Air Throne kayak seat. If you aren’t using the Pedal drive, the Mako also includes a handy basket insert to fill the pedal drive port in the board, and other fishing-specific accessories like rod holders and rack mounts.

Bottom Line: The Glide O2 Mako offers a ton of features, great durability, and a fantastic value for SUP anglers.

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Bote Rackham Aero 12’4”

12’4” x 38” x 7”
Availability: US
Read Full Review Here

The Bote Rackham Aero is first and foremost a fishing iSUP. It’s not an all-around that has good fishing capabilities – it’s built for anglers.

At 12’4” x 38” x 7” and 45 pounds, it’s also the largest board on our list in every aspect. The extra thickness comes in the form of an additional air chamber on top of the board to create higher sidewalls and a higher volume nose. The deck has several places to tie down and attach various fishing gear, including a wide array of accessories from Bote like the tackle rack seen in the photo above.

The size and stability of the Rackham Aero make it a great casting platform – even for fly fishing on a river – and the Rackham Aero also includes an inflatable kayak seat if you prefer to sit and fish. In the middle of the board is an oval hole (covered with a water-tight plastic port) that is ready to fit the Apex Pedal drive for those sit-down anglers wanting more speed.

Bottom Line:The Bote Rackham Aero 12’4” is the inflatable fishing SUP for any serious angler.

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Glide Angler Elite

11’0” x 36” x 6”
Availability: US, International Shipping Available
Read Full Review Here

The Glide Angler Elite is not only purpose-built for fishing, but comes with several fishing-specific accessories right in the box! The Angler’s front quick-release mounting points work easily and quickly with the included fishing rod holders to keep your equipment within easy reach, but securely held, while paddling. The Scotty mounts at the rear of the board are also compatible with tackle racks or other fishing-specific accessories.

The Angler also comes with a kayak seat and second paddle blade for those anglers who prefer to sit while paddling or casting, but at 36” wide and a super-rigid construction, there’s no worries about tipping over on this board. The stability is excellent while still keeping things quick on the water.

Bottom Line:The Glide Angler Elite offers an out-of-the-box SUP fishing experience with great build quality and a 5-year warranty.

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Thurso Max Multipurpose iSUP

11’6” x 34” x 6”
Availability: US, Canada
Read Full Review Here

The Thurso Max’s more tapered shape and advanced construction offer a little more efficiency when paddling out to your favorite fishing hole.

While the Max does not have any mounts for a tackle rack, it does have five threaded accessory mounts and two velcro paddle/rod holders. The full-length deck pad also lets you confidently walk the entire length of the board, and it gives your favorite fishing partner (especially the four-legged variety) a comfortable place to sit as well. Built into the deck of the board is a 27” ruler to help you make sure your catch is legal and cast any doubts aside when bragging to your buddies later.

Bottom Line: The Thurso Max Multipurpose iSUP is a great option for fishing with a partner.

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Honu Fairlight 11’6

11’6 x 34” x 5.56”
Availability: US, CAN, AUS, UK, EU
Read Full Review Here

Riding the Honu Fairlight 11’6 iSUP feels like stepping onto a well-tuned watercraft: stable, smooth, and responsive. Its 5.5″ profile and 34” width keeps you close to the water, offering a connected, stable feel that anglers will appreciate when casting or reeling in. While not purpose-built for fishing, its stability and generous deck space make it easy to move around or strap down plenty of cargo, including multiple threaded mounts for fishing rod holders.

The Fairlight glides effortlessly on flat water and keeps its composure in light chop, offering confidence when you’re holding a rod instead of a paddle. Add a cooler seat or a small tackle bag, and the Fairlight transforms into a refined, minimalist fishing setup that blends efficiency with performance paddling enjoyment.

Bottom Line: The Honu Fairlight 11’6 is a stable board easily transformed for SUP anglers, but without sacrificing high paddling performance.

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Nixy Monterey G5

11’6” x 34” x 6”
Availability: US, CAN
Read Full Review Here

The Nixy Monterey G5 is the lightest paddleboard on our list at just 21.2 pounds, but it’s neither light on performance nor capability.

The Monterey G5 improved on the previous version with new materials and a wider tail shape that gives it a confident feeling on the water, but doesn’t feel like you are paddling a barge. While not specifically designed as a fishing SUP only, the Monterey has four threaded accessory mounts and plenty of D-rings for additional cargo, though we do with the front cargo bungees extended over a larger space on their own.

Bottom Line: The Nixy Monterey G5 is a highly capable iSUP for anglers on the go that want a lightweight and easy-to-store board with a great set of accessories.

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Bote HD Aero

11’6” x 34” x 6”
Availability: US
Read Full Review Here

The Bote HD Aero is ready for your fishing adventures. Significantly lighter and narrower (though still 34” wide) than the Rackham Aero, the HD Aero is faster and more nimble while still keeping most of the fishing-specific features.

There are mounting points for Bote’s paddle sheath (included) on the nose of the board and rack-foot receivers on the back of the board for either of Bote’s tackle rack options (not included). Additional D-rings are spaced to anchor a Bote Kula cooler (for your catch or your lunch… or both), and two spacious cargo areas can hold the rest of your equipment.

The HD is also incredibly stable and the wide tail and nose keep the board stable as you move around to cast at different angles, change equipment, or land a fish.

Bottom Line: The Bote HD Aero offers lots of fishing-specific accessories in a smaller and lighter kit than the Rackham Aero.

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Retrospec June Fishing SUP

11’6” x 36” x 6”
Availability: US, CAN
Read Full Review Here

Retrospec’s mission to make the outdoors accessible through quality, affordable products didn’t stop with their all-around iSUPs. The Retrospec June fishing SUP is purpose built for anglers and comes with a rather impressive set of accessories.

The board itself is extremely large and stable at 36” wide with a boxy, parallel shape. The deck is feature-packed with adjustable fishing rod holders, Scotty mounts, D-rings, and even a built-in ruler and GoPro mount to show off your catch of the day. Retrospec even includes an inflatable kayak seat and extra paddle blade to quickly convert the June into a sit-on-top fishing kayak.

Bottom Line: The Retrospec June Fishing SUP is a great option for anglers on a budget looking for a turnkey package.

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Red Paddle Co Ride 11’6

11’6” x 34” x 4.7”
Availability: International
Read Our Full Review

The Ride 11’6 is Red Paddle Co’s newest addition to their venerated lineup of all-around iSUPs. The UK-based brand turned their industry-leading construction toward the current trend of larger, more casual-feeling boards, but did so with their own take on design ensuring the result of a high-performance board.

The Ride 11’6 is built for stability, capacity, and versatility. The 4.7” thickness is unique to this board size and along with the wide plan shape gives it a very stable feel, even in rough conditions. While there aren’t many fishing-specific features (just a single threaded accessory mount), the additional D-rings and seat-compatibility make it the most angler-ready board in Red’s lineup, all with the well known Red Paddle Co quality.

Bottom Line: The Red Paddle Co Ride 11’6 is an ultra-high quality iSUP perfectly capable of meeting the needs of SUP anglers worldwide.

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Fishing Stand Up Paddle Board FAQs

What is a Fishing SUP?

While you can technically fish from any SUP, a fishing-specific SUP is going to have higher-than-average stability, a high weight capacity, and features specifically designed with the SUP angler in mind. These features include (but are not limited to) multiple accessory mounting points, tackle rack mounting points, anchor/sand spear mounting points, extra d-rings, rod holders, and/or cooler mounting options. A fishing-specific SUP will make accessing and using your fishing equipment easier, though I can’t guarantee you’ll catch more fish – that’s between you and the fish!

What to look for when choosing an Fishing SUP?

First is the size and shape. If you fish lots of small rivers where maneuverability is important, a smaller board or one with more rocker may be a better option than a very large board. Either way, you’ll want a board with at least 33” of width (if not more) and a wide tail and nose for extra stability. The next thing to look for are fishing-specific features that you need or want. If you have lots of gadgets you like to have on hand (cameras, fish finders, etc.) then you are going to want a board with more accessory mounting points. If you want to carry multiple fishing rods, then it might be best to choose one that can accept a tackle rack with multiple rod holders. You’ll want to match the features with what equipment you have or what equipment you plan to have with you on the water.

All-Around vs Fishing SUP?

Fishing SUPs are larger than a typical all-around paddle board, so they can sometimes be more difficult to maneuver, or may be a bit slower – especially for smaller paddlers. I always recommend purchasing a paddle board (or really anything) to match the majority of your use. The wonderful thing about most of these fishing SUPs is that, while they do have features that make SUP fishing easier, they aren’t limited by those features either. You can certainly fish from an all-around SUP (here are some of our favorites) and you don’t have to fish from a fishing SUP. However, if fishing is something that you are interested in doing with your paddle board, having those extra features is very handy.

Recommended Gear for Fishing Stand-Up Paddle Boards

While all-around SUP kits will include everything the paddle board needs to get you out on the water, there are a few accessories that will give you a better and safer experience on your new SUP.

• PFD – A PFD (Personal Flotation Device), sometimes called a life jacket or buoyancy aid, is a critical piece of safety equipment while on your SUP and may be required by local law. There are thousands of options for PFDs, and it is important to choose one that not only fits you well, but is designed for paddling. A quality, well-fit PFD is not noticeable when being worn. See our Best SUP PFD reviews here.
• Tackle Rack – Keeping your equipment organized and accessible when fishing from a SUP can be a bit of a challenge. Tackle Racks are a great way to store rods, bags, nets, and other accessories within reach – and can offer extra stability while you’re reeling in “the big one.” Bote offers both a full-size Tackle Rack and a shorter Bucket Rack that fits all of their iSUPs equipped with rack receivers (like the HD and the Rackham).
• Coolers – whether you are keeping your drinks cold or your catch fresh, a great cooler can make the difference after hours out in the sun. Plus hard coolers make a great seat to take a break from standing! See our Best SUP Cooler reviews here.
• Electric Pumps – Using the hand pump that comes with your board is a great way to warm up for your day paddling. But every now and then it’s nice to relax while getting ready, too. Electric SUP pumps are easy to use and let you focus on other things while inflating your board. See our Best Electric SUP Pump reviews here.

Final Thoughts – Best Fishing SUPs

What is the best fishing SUP? While we like the paddle boards above for fishing, just like the best angler is the one who’s having the most fun, the best fishing SUP is the one you enjoy using the most. Whether it’s a simple, lightweight board with a milk crate tied to it, or a large fishing-specific SUP with all the bells and whistles, the important thing is that you are getting outside and fishing. Tight lines!