Angler standing on fishing surfboard in calm coastal bay at golden hour sunrise with rod and minimal gear setup for SUP fishing

Master
Surfboard
Fishing

Your Complete
Guide to Stand-Up
Paddleboard Fishing
Adventures

Not sure which board?Take our 60-second quiz for a personalized pick
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Why Surfboard Fishing?

Experience fishing from a unique perspective

Access Remote Spots

Reach fishing locations that boats and shore anglers cannot access

Full Body Workout

Combine your passion for fishing with an excellent fitness activity

Eco-Friendly

Silent approach and zero emissions for sustainable fishing

Highest Rated

Top Rated Boards

Our highest-scoring fishing SUPs — tested, reviewed, and trusted by the community

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BOTE Rackham Aero 12’4″ — rated 4.8/5 fishing SUP board
Editor’s Choice
4.8

BOTE

Rackham Aero 12’4″

The gold standard in inflatable fishing SUPs

12’4″
36″
32 lbs
Starting at

$1,599

Read Review
Crescent Kayaks CK1 Crew 12’3″ — rated 4.7/5 fishing SUP board
Best Hard SUP
4.7

Crescent Kayaks

CK1 Crew 12’3″

Hard SUP stability meets kayak-level fishability

12’3″
36″
55 lbs
Starting at

$1,299

Read Review
Pau Hana Big EZ Angler 11’ — rated 4.6/5 fishing SUP board
Premium Pick
4.6

Pau Hana

Big EZ Angler 11’

Premium hard SUP with innovative fishing features

11’
34″
42 lbs
Starting at

$1,749

Read Review
BOTE Flood Aero 11’ — rated 4.5/5 fishing SUP board
4.5

BOTE

Flood Aero 11’

Versatile all-rounder that doubles as a fishing platform

11’
33″
26 lbs
Starting at

$899

Read Review
ISLE Pioneer 2.0 11’6″ — rated 4.4/5 fishing SUP board
Best Value
4.4

ISLE

Pioneer 2.0 11’6″

Best value inflatable for fishing newcomers

11’6″
34″
23 lbs
Starting at

$599

Read Review
Sea Eagle FishSUP 126 12’6″ — rated 4.3/5 fishing SUP board
4.3

Sea Eagle

FishSUP 126 12’6″

Maximum capacity for gear-heavy fishing trips

12’6″
40″
35 lbs
Starting at

$1,099

Read Review

Popular Guides

Start your surfboard fishing journey

Beginner learning to fish from a stand up paddleboard on calm blue water with simple SUP fishing setup

Beginner's Guide

Everything you need to know to start surfboard fishing

Essential SUP fishing safety equipment including PFD life vest, whistle, and gear organized on beach

Safety Guide

Essential safety tips for paddleboard fishing

Fishing SUP rigged with rod holders, tackle storage, and organized gear for surfboard fishing

Rigging Guide

Learn how to properly rig your fishing SUP

Ideal calm ocean conditions for paddleboard fishing with gentle waves and clear sky

Conditions Guide

Understanding weather and water conditions

Saltwater fish species caught from a paddleboard including redfish and trout on display

Target Species

Best fish species to target from your SUP

Essential surfboard fishing gear including rods, tackle box, and equipment organized on beach

Gear Essentials

Must-have equipment for surfboard fishing

View All Guides
Seasonal Calendar

Best Months for Every Species

Plan your SUP fishing trips around peak seasons for the best catch rates

Current month — 4 species active, 0 at peak

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Striped BassAtlantic Coast
RedfishGulf & Southeast
FlounderAtlantic & Gulf
Spotted SeatroutGulf & Southeast
Calico BassSouthern California
SnookFlorida & Gulf
Peak Season
Active Season
Off Season

What's Biting Now

Slower season for peak activity

4 species still active — check the calendar above

View All Species Profiles
Community

Recent Fishing Reports

See what fellow SUP anglers are catching and share your own adventures

Yellowtail caught by Marcus Chen while SUP fishing at Mission Bay, San Diego, CA
Yellowtail
18.5 lbs
34 inches
6:15 AM
Mission Bay, San Diego, CA

January 12, 2025

Paddled out to the kelp beds just after sunrise. The yellowtail were schooling hard on bait balls about 200 yards offsho...

Live sardine on a dropper loopBOTE Rackham Aero
Marcus Chen, SUP fishing community member
Marcus Chen
Redfish caught by Sarah Mitchell while SUP fishing at Mosquito Lagoon, FL
Redfish
9.2 lbs
27 inches
7:30 AM
Mosquito Lagoon, FL

January 10, 2025

Spotted this beautiful slot red tailing on a shallow grass flat. Made a long cast with a gold spoon and it ate on the fi...

Gold spoon, sight-cast on flatISLE Pioneer
Sarah Mitchell, SUP fishing community member
Sarah Mitchell
Snook caught by Jake Rodriguez while SUP fishing at Tampa Bay, FL
Snook
14.8 lbs
32 inches
5:45 AM
Tampa Bay, FL

January 8, 2025

Pre-dawn session along the mangrove shoreline. This snook exploded on a white paddletail right next to the roots. She ma...

White paddletail swimbaitSea Eagle FS126
Jake Rodriguez, SUP fishing community member
Jake Rodriguez
Community Stories

What Anglers Are Saying

Real experiences from the surfboard fishing community

Marcus Chen, SUP fishing angler from San Diego, CA

Marcus Chen

San Diego, CA

"Switching to surfboard fishing changed everything for me. The portability is incredible—I can hit spots after work that would take hours to reach by kayak. Caught my first yellowtail from my SUP last month!"

Landed 15+ species in first year

Sarah Mitchell, SUP fishing angler from Outer Banks, NC

Sarah Mitchell

Outer Banks, NC

"As a beginner, I was nervous about stability. This site's safety guides gave me the confidence to start. Now I fish 3-4 times a week and love the workout combined with the thrill of the catch."

From beginner to regular in 6 months

Jake Rodriguez, SUP fishing angler from Gulf Coast, FL

Jake Rodriguez

Gulf Coast, FL

"The rigging guide was a game-changer. I went from a cluttered mess to a streamlined setup that actually works. Caught a 28-inch redfish last weekend—my personal best from a board!"

Personal record: 28" redfish

5,000+
Active Anglers
50+
Detailed Guides
10,000+
Fish Caught
4.9/5
Community Rating

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Fresh Content

Latest from the Blog

View All Articles
Summer Redfish Run: Gulf Coast SUP Fishing Report — July 2025 - SUP fishing blog article
Fishing Report

Summer Redfish Run: Gulf Coast SUP Fishing Report — July 2025

The slot reds are stacked up in the grass flats this week. Here is exactly where we found them, what worked, and how to position your SUP for the best drift angles in shallow water.

Captain Mike Torres, surfboard fishing writer
Captain Mike TorresJul 14
Master the Paddle-Drift Technique for Covering More Water on Your SUP - SUP fishing blog article
Technique

Master the Paddle-Drift Technique for Covering More Water on Your SUP

Stop anchoring and start drifting. This controlled drift method lets you cover 10x more productive water while keeping your hands free for casting and fighting fish.

Ryan Nakamura, surfboard fishing writer
Ryan NakamuraJul 11
BOTE Rover Aero Review: Is This the Best Inflatable Fishing SUP of 2025? - SUP fishing blog article
Gear Review

BOTE Rover Aero Review: Is This the Best Inflatable Fishing SUP of 2025?

We spent 60 days testing the BOTE Rover Aero in real fishing conditions. Here is our honest take on stability, gear capacity, durability, and whether it lives up to the hype.

Jake Rodriguez, surfboard fishing writer
Jake RodriguezJul 8
Silhouette of of SUP angler fishing at sunset on calm ocean with golden sky — start your surfboard fishing adventure

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Join thousands of anglers discovering the thrill of surfboard fishing

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Surfboard Fishing FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about SUP fishing, gear, safety, and getting started on the water

Surfboard fishing, also known as SUP fishing, involves standing on a stand-up paddleboard while casting and reeling in fish. Compared to kayak fishing, it offers a higher vantage point for spotting fish, a full-body workout from balancing and paddling, easier portability since most boards are lighter than kayaks, and access to shallow flats and tight spots that larger watercraft cannot reach.
While you can technically fish from any stable SUP, a dedicated fishing paddleboard makes the experience far better. Fishing SUPs are wider (34–36 inches) for extra stability, include built-in rod holders, gear mounts, and D-rings for attaching coolers and tackle. Our Board Recommendation Quiz can help you find the right board for your skill level and target species.
Yes, surfboard fishing is safe for beginners when proper precautions are taken. Always wear a Coast Guard–approved PFD, use a coiled leash, check weather and tide conditions before heading out, start in calm protected waters like bays or inlets, and tell someone your float plan. Our Safety Guide covers everything you need to stay safe on the water.
Essential gear includes a stable fishing SUP or wide all-around board, a quality paddle, a personal flotation device (PFD), a coiled ankle or calf leash, a medium-action spinning rod and reel, a small tackle box or bag, polarized sunglasses, and sun protection. Our Gear Essentials guide provides a complete checklist with recommended products for every budget.
SUP anglers regularly catch a wide variety of inshore and nearshore species including redfish, speckled trout, snook, flounder, striped bass, tarpon, bonefish, and even small sharks. The species you target depends on your location and season. Check our Target Species guide for detailed profiles and techniques for each fish.
Keeping balance during a fight comes down to stance and technique. Widen your feet to shoulder width, bend your knees slightly, keep your center of gravity low, and use the paddle as a brace if needed. For larger fish, you can drop to one knee for extra stability. Our Techniques Guide walks through fighting strategies step by step, including how to land fish safely from your board.

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