This is what I call a fishing boat !

I have been building a commerical fishing boat for the past couple of weeks it is a monster. It is 32′ long and 8′ wide with 3′ sidewalls. I am building it for a guy who fishes pool 3 and pool 4 so you might see it out there in a week or so. He figures he can hold over 15,000 Lbs of fish in the boat. Thats alot of fish

another pic

another

Wow, thats one hunk of a boat. I wouldn’t mind one (thou I am sure they would cost a pretty penny), I’d for sure have enough room for all my stuff and wouldn’t have to pick and chose.

bottom

Vary cool. What type of motor is going on the back of that boat?

That is one helluva boat, what kind of trailer do you have for it.

believe it or not he is putting on a 200hp tiller motor he must have a hydrolic assist steering or I don’t think you could hold onto a motor that big.

The trailer I am going to build this next week triple axle with rollers and bunks

Every spring there are some big flat bottom boats like that in the parking lot at 494 on pool 2. Neat looking rigs. These boat look like a cross between the bat mobile and a jon boat. They have big wings on the side walls towards the transom. Think they had 200s and 250s on the back.

What kind of fish is this guy going to catch 15,000 lbs of? And who is going to eat it? Fish sticks anyone?

Any chance this is for a commercial fisherman.

yes it is for a commerical fishermen. They catch carp and buffalo and other rough fish.

now does a boat that size come with an optional front mount for the trolling motor?? what about cup holders and where exactly is the rod locker?? ha hah, looks like you did a great job, lets hope it don’t leak. thanks for sharing then photos.

shane

Tim,

A couple of questions….

Do you need to put any flotation in one of these ?

What does an boat and trailer like this go for $ ?

This was driving me nuts, so I did a little research and found out there are only about 50 commercial fishermen in MN. The guys that fish the Mississippi sell their fish to ethnic markets in the Twin cities and even send live fish out East to New York. I guess people eat them otherwise they wouldn’t be catching them. I never even thought about it. I just wonder how clean the fish really are. I really don’t know anyone who would eat a fish from Pool 2. Here’s an interesting DNR article.Fishing for a Living, MN DNR

It looks like a landing craft the military would use. It is some piece of equipment.

Mile. I got to watch one of the fisherman load up his pen of carp at 494 last year. They just had a large wodden pen full of fish. At the landing they would back a flat bed trailer in the water and then float the pen over it, then haul it out. He told me the fish where on the way to Nebraska either for cat food or fish sticks.
If you check the croix forum you should find some info about the fishing at the beach in Prescot. Think that is going on right now. Sounds like these guy load the fish up in tanker trucks and send them to Chicago alive and sell them as fresh northern MN fish. Last year someone posted photos of this.
Glad to see someone is using this resource.

Under coastguard regulations a commerical fishing boat like this doesn’t require any flotation. I did however make the front deck and the subfloor airtight to act as flotation.

I did not figure out a price on the trailer yet but the boat costs $14,000 which I think is cheap for a boat that size.

There must be some good profit in those carp. It sure is nice to know someone is taking them out of the system although it probably isn’t making a dent.

Anybody know what they get per pound of live carp?

I often wondered if the decline in commercial fishing has anything to do with the rapidly increasing sheepshead population.

If there are folks out there that still commercial fish, does anyone still use set lines. Years ago you could have four lines, each no longer then 300 feet and the hooks set 3 feet apart for 100 hooks per line. The lines, usually baited with live fish or cut bait, were used for catfish. I do remember the catfish brought much more then buffalo, carp or sheepshead.

You should thank those commercial guys the next time you see them. They do the sport fishery a big service by taking the rough fish out of the system.
2 Fishy, if they can’t get a good market for the sheeps, they won’t waste their time with them. Thus the increase in population.
As for making big money in that game, not very often. Sure, they’ll make some good seine hauls in the winter and you’ll see them working their tails off in the spring and fall, but the money days are few and far between. It all depends on the markets and today’s price or what they can contract for.
There are fewer netters out there now, and the equipment is more expensive, they have to live haul most of the catch to cities a long distance, very expensive. So everything they do now, they do big time.

Nice boat and very simular to the ones the comercial fishermen use around these parts ( S Wisconsin ). These guys are after Carp and Buffalo and easily surpass 100,000 pounds annualy just on the local river/lake system. I’ve been told many of the fish end up in New York and made into some sort of Kosher food. I have no clue what Kosher means other than it has somthing to do with the Jewish faith and being kosher = ok ( religious criteria ) to eat.
I could be way off base there so take it for what it’s worth.
Anyways ,
As far as what Carp/Buffalo are worth. In Wisconsin it is legal to use 8′ x 8′ dip nets to take rough fish like Carp and Buffalo. Most are just locals doing it to get primarily Buffalo then Carp for private use = mostly for smoking. Before the lawyers took over the world it was common to see guys build thier dip net rigs ( Booms ) for specific bridges that crossed local rivers with high Carp/Buffalo populations. Each bridge is slightly different but the Boom I built was suitable for a few different bridges localy as well as a couple break waters along Lake Michigan for Smelt dipping. All dipping is pretty much illegal from bridges now unless a guy gets real creative – long story but basicaly it’s not worth the hassle anymore.

Guys also used to build Dip boats. They were roughly the size of the average 12 to 14′ Jon boat except squared at both ends and made of wood. More a Punt boat really. No motors as these were stricktly oar powered.
Dipping Carp is a dying tradition in these parts. Used to be dozens of fellas out dipping this time of year 25+ years ago. Now save for one or two good old boys in thier 60s/70s you don’t see anyone dipping anymore. I still have my Boom/bowframe/net but they hav’nt seen the river in the better part of 20 years now.

I’m getting long winded here but 20 years ago when I was a faithful dipper nobody batted an eye paying 40 to 50 cents a pound for LIVE Buffalo and would usualy give a buck for a big ( 15 lb + ) live Carp. Market price at that time was usualy 70 to 85 cents a pound. Dipping is best in the spring as the water was cold = better meat fish wise. Once the water warms too much the flesh gets mushy and a little muddy tasting thus the demand went way down. Now is the perfect time for dipping quality Buffalo/Carp for smoking. If you’ve never tried smoked Carp or Buffalo try it. If done right it’s pretty awesome stuff. Next time out I’ll be keeping any snagged Buffalo/Carp I catch for the smoker.

Now , what the comercial guys get for their huge numbers of fish I can’t say but there must be money in it or they would’nt keep at it year after year.

End of saga !

I know several commercial fishermen, we still have dozens right in my area. There is a fish house about ten miles from me that buys all the fish the local guys catch. They clean, refrigerate and ship the fish to markets all over the country. Real big business, and must be profitable as the owner just finished a $400,000 home.
My neighbor told me last week he was getting 19 cents a pound for live buffalo, not sure what the carp goes for, but it is less than that. The fishermen work their tales off for a few thousand pounds of fish a week, and make a decent living winter and spring, then chase catfish in the warmer months. Very hard work, but lots of these guys just love it!