Boats

20 Great Fishing Boats at the 2019 Miami International Boat Show

Take a look at this sampling of some of the top-notch boats on display at this year’s big show in Miami

By Doug Olander

Updated: February 19, 2019

While a gallery of all the capable outboard fishing boats at the monster 2019 Miami International Boat Show would be a bit overwhelming, check out this sampling of 20 boats, many of them new or very recent — and all worthy of some serious boat lust.

Blackfin’s all-new 332 CC is rated for up to 900 hp for the 33-foot 2-inch (LOA) hull, with a 23-degree transom deadrise. The manufacturer claims “the smoothest ride in its class.” Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The generous cockpit includes a wide tackle-rigging station with pull-out Yeti coolers and a baitwell (in addition to another large lighted, insulated baitwell in the transom). Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The helm station (matching hull-side color) includes digital-monitoring system and a bench seat with flip-up bolsters and armrests. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A generous lockable head features a pantographic sliding door, window and vertical rod storage. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Boston Whaler 210 Montauk

This 21-footer is the flagship of Whaler‘s venerable Montauk line. It features a stable 8 ½-foot beam and a 16-degree transom deadrise. Rated for 200 horsepower, the 210 hit 40 mph with a single 150 in manufacturer tests. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A buyer can choose various options including a bow backrest, a deluxe leaning-post with a 30-gallon livewell and raw-water washdown, and a fishing package with a 94-quart cooler seat, rod holders and tackle drawers. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Also an option is the fiberglass hardtop shown here. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Cabo 41

Production of Cabo Yachts was suspended in 2014, and that struck a sad chord with many boating anglers. But the 2019 Miami International Boat Show brought reason to rejoice with the debut of the Cabo 41, signaling a re-introduction of the vaunted brand by Cabo/Hatteras Yachts, based in New Bern, North Carolina. With an LOA of 42 feet, 10 inches, and a beam of 15 feet, 9 inches, the 41 carries a transom deadrise of 15 degrees. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

The new Cabo 41 features an express layout and comes standard with twin 626 hp Volvo Penta D11 diesel engines, with upgrades available to 670 and 725 hp twins, as well as Cummins QSM11 propulsion. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

The Cabo 41 offers an expansive helm with room for a trio of 22-inch multifunction displays. I found an open helm deck and mezzanine seating in the cockpit. The interior offers a private queen-berth stateroom, full galley, head and salon with a wrap-around settee/dining area that converts to a second berth. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

Available options for the new Cabo 41 include a full custom tower, as well as a Seakeeper 6 gyro-stabilization system. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

Cobia 240 Dual Console

Complementing Cobia’s 240CC is the new 240DC. With an LOA of 25 feet and a deadrise of 21.5 degrees at the transom, the 240 is made to tame a chop. It’s rated for up to 300 horsepower. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The 240 DC can seat up to nine in comfort, though anglers aren’t forgotten, with standard features that include dual 24-gallon in-floor fish boxes, livewell, bait-prep area with sink and more. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Rear seating with a backrest folds out just forward of the transom. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Contender 44 ST

Contender Boats debuted its largest boat yet, the 44ST at the Miami show. With an LOA of 43 feet, 10 inches, the new center console carries a maximum horsepower rating of 2,000 ponies to push a sharp-entry, 24½-degree-transom-deadrise hull. The Homestead, Florida-based boat builder had two of the 44ST models in the water at the show, one with triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards and another with quad 425 XTOs. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

With a beam of more than 12 feet, the Contender 44ST features a double-step hull designed to maximize performance, speed and fuel efficiency. It also features an in-stem anchor chute/roller. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

Contender’s new 44ST comes with second-row seating for three in addition to traditional helm seating for three. Abaft the seating is a full-featured tackle station and slide-out Frigid Rigid cooler. The port-side tuna door eases boarding and landing big fish. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

Luxurious bow seating available for the new Contender 44ST also adds stowage lockers underneath. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

Grady-White’s most recent flagship center console — the Canyon 456 — might garner the most attention from boat showgoers and media, but the company’s previous flagship CC, the Canyon 376, has certainly kept its luxurious luster. The 36-foot-7-inch SeaV2 V-hull features a 13-foot-two-inch beam that provides stability and loads of space above and belowdecks. Its 41-gallon livewell and optional additional 41-gallon well, cockpit side door, multiple insulated fish boxes and well-appointed rigging station satisfy the punch list for anglers. Chris Woodward / Sport Fishing

The spacious helm of Grady-White’s Canyon 376 center console offers loads of space for mounting electronics without compromising the expansive view. Courtesy Grady-White Boats

The designer cherry-and-holly-accented cabin, with electrically adjustable bolster for sitting or sleeping, will suit the most discriminating family members. Courtesy Grady-White Boats

Insetta Boatworks’ 45 tunnel-hull catamaran (47 to 49 feet LOA depending upon model) isn’t a new boat, but its unique design and vast open fishing area continue to turn heads. With twin Yanmar turbo diesels, the 45 tops out at 47 mph. (If you’re after speed more than efficiency, consider the outboard version: With quad 300s, the manufacturer claims more than 70 mph.) Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Rod storage and holders are not an issue on this 45. The Release deluxe fighting chair is an option. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Beneath a removable pad offering capacious and comfortable rear-facing seating abaft the helm seats are two compression-sealed 29-gallon livewells. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A forward sun lounge offers seating for two. Note bolster padding, which extends around the entire deck, and a considerable space for insulated storage beneath. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Intrepid 200 Flats

An updated version of the flats skiff Intrepid introduced 20 years ago, the 20 ½-foot 200 features a PVC foam-core-construction hull with non-woven quad and uni-directional fibers (infused and hand-laid) and a carbon-fiber woven hybrid. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The 200 Flats offers a stepped hull with a jack plate standard. It carries 75 gallons of fuel. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The poling platform includes forward-facing lighting and a tackle-drawer forward. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Invincible Boats has followed its successful entry into the multi-hull market with a second model, the 37 Cat, which was in the water at the 2019 Miami International Boat Show alongside the multi-hull flagship, the 40 Cat. This 37 was powered by quad Mercury 350 Verado outboards. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

The Invincible 37 Cat carries its 12-foot beam well forward, and that provides abundant and stable deck space in the bow. The boat features a level deck throughout. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

The wide stance and beamy deck of the Invincible 37 Cat allows for extra-wide walkways on both sides of the center console. That makes it easy to follow a speedy fish along the rail. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

The Invincible 37 Cat features a well-designed helm with a central wheel and plenty of room for a pair of large multifunction displays. The center console is integrated with the frame for the hardtop, and there’s helm seating for three. Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing

Jupiter 43 SF

The 43 SF, introduced at last year’s Miami boat show, carries a yachtlike appearance while delivering everything an offshore angler might want, including 360 degrees of fishability, port and starboard dive doors, a 90-gallon livewell, a bait freezer and insulated drink box, and twin 105-gallon fish boxes. Chris Woodward / Sport Fishing

An expansive helm face and three-abreast captain’s chairs make piloting the 43 SF a pleasure. The 43 SF is rated up to 1,700 horsepower and offers 602 gallons of fuel capacity. In Jupiter’s testing, the boat rocketed to 65 mph with four Yamaha 425 XTO outboards. Courtesy Jupiter Marine

The interior center-console space of the 43 SF features sophisticated luxury. Courtesy Jupiter Marine

Pursuit DC266

Pursuit’s brand-new 27-foot 4-inch (LOA) DC266 comes with a fiberglass hard top and tempered-glass windshield with a spacious walkthrough. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The dual console is rated for a maximum of 400 horsepower; in factory testing, that pushed the boat to just north of 51 mph, with top efficiency of nearly 2 ½ MPG at 27.7 mph. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Twin loungers port and starboard make the forward-seating area an appealing place for passengers to relax. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Regulator 26XO

In case the significance of “XO” eludes you, Regulator is marketing its newest hull as a center-console crossover, to take anglers from fairly shallow inshore waters to offshore in reasonable conditions. With an LOA of 26 feet, 9 inches, the 26XO weighs 5,900 pounds with a single 300-hp engine. The 17-degree-deadrise hull topped out at just over 45 mph with a Yamaha F300XCA. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The XO comes with a factory-installed Garmin 16 Fish Package. Beneath the generous console is a stand-up head. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

An integrated wraparound windshield is part of the fiberglass T-top. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Robalo R272 Center Console

Robalo touts the ride on its new R272 CC as not only dry but thrilling. It’s Kevlar-reinforced hull sports a sharp 23-degree transom deadrise and allows up to 500 horsepower. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The bow’s U-shaped seating with a removable RTM fiberglass filler converts to a full casting platform. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A 30-gallon aft livewell in the port corner includes LED lighting. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Scout 530 LXF

Boat show attendees who did a double-take when walking past Scout’s new 530 LXF can be forgiven. With its transom packed with power, Scout’s biggest center console ever at 53 feet, sports a 14-foot, 8-inch beam, with a carbon-fiber/E-glass, epoxy-infused hull. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The 530 is rated for up to 2,700 horsepower, with 2,400 shown here. With “only” a quad of 425 Yamahas, the boat still topped out at 57 mph. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Visible here is what Scout calls its hydraulic beach platform (one on each side), which makes access from a dock or the water easy and, when raised flush with the deck, extends cockpit deck space and adds additional fishing space. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The generous cockpit offers space for a four-person forward-seating module. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Luxury appointments characterize the interior that includes a private master stateroom, convertible sofa and private aft berth. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The Sea Chaser 27 HFC is rated for up to 500 horsepower. Its beam is 9 ½ feet, with a transom deadrise of 20 degrees. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Dual foldaway bench seating forward of the transom is great underway, and completely out of the way when fishing. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Underneath wraparound bow seating hides 400 quarts of insulated storage. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Behind the helm leaning post is a 40-gallon baitwell and tackle trays. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

SeaVee 322Z

SeaVee’s newest can be configured as an open fisherman or a more family friendly LE (luxury edition) model. Rated to handle up to 1,000 horsepower, 800 horses pushed the boat to 68 mph per factory testing, but with only twin 300s, the boat still topped out north of 60. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A glance at the deep coffin box with plenty of space around it, the padded coaming around the entire boat and the endless rod holders all shout “fishing.” Second-station options are available. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Aft corner baitwells port and starboard offer a total of 80 gallons to ensure lively baits all day. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

In total, the 322Z offers rod storage for up to 34 rods. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Stamas 33T Aventura

Stamas’ 33T Aventura is a sleek center console with comfortable sleep-aboard capability. It’s based on Stamas’ popular Tarpon hull. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Aft of the helm seating, you’ll find a wide bait-prep center, large livewell and tackle-storage drawers. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Adjacent to the helm is step-down access to a cabin with a generous convertible berth and a galley. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A further peek at the efficiently appointed cabin. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

With a 23-degree transom deadrise, Wellcraft’s new 352 Fisherman, at 35½ feet long, is the flagship of the manufacturer’s center-console fleet. In a recent Sport Fishing review, the boat topped out at 57 mph with triple Merc 400Rs (just 75 hp less than the maximum-power rating). Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The black, glare-reducing helm panel accommodates two flush-mounted Garmin 22-inch MFDs. Toggle-switch panels are machined aluminum rather than plastic. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The 35-gallon livewell built into the covered prep station features a wraparound, tempered-safety-glass window. To the right of that is a slide-out refrigerator. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The bait-prep top is faux marble including cutting board. An electric grill is available as an upgrade. A hinged cover keeps it all clean and out of the way. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

World Cat 400 DC-X

With the launch of the 400 DC-X, World Cat has a new flagship model. It features big-water capability and three base versions each of which is “highly customizable.” The hull measures 39½ feet, boasts a 12½-foot beam; maximum power puts two Yamaha 425 outboards spaced wide on the transom. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

This is but one version of the very customizable interior. The entire deck is one level, without any step-ups. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The capacious 400 includes a portside stateroom cabin with a queen berth. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A molded-in extended swim platform integrates with the aft deck and features rails and extendable steps (not a vertical ladder). Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

The 34 remains a benchmark blue-water center console for many enthusiasts, its flared, twin-stepped hull known for its fast but soft, dry ride. In Sport Fishing tests, the 34 topped out at 72 mph with triple 400R Verados. Same great hull but what’s new is a more spacious layout enhancing comfort and, particularly, fishability. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing