How's a pontoon for fishing?

I'm a complete amateur when it comes to fishing and boating. But my 12 year old loves to fish. He has joined the fishing team at school and will be fishing with a friend and his son who are much more knowledgeable than I am. So I gotta atleast learn a little. If we end up buying a boat, my 17 year old will be going with me too..and possibly my wife...and even my dad at times. So I don't think the standard bass boat will work with 4 or more people.

Option 1. Buy a smaller used pontoon that is geared more toward fishing. I've seen some with seats on the front that I'm thinking would work well. I'm thinking a smaller boat would be easier to handle.. but I may be wrong.

Option 2. My wife's cousin has given us a pontoon. The thing is huge. I'm thinking 30 feet. It has the seats on the front deck. It has a top deck.The wood decking is still in real good shape. 120hp Johnson motor. But has been sitting for over 10 years. I know that the motor was properly stored when it was parked. It has sit under a cover, so it is in overall good shape. Vinyl seats are still good. But I figure the motor needs some work, and possibly the wiring. Her uncle used the pontoon to fish on Smith Lake and would fish for a day or two before coming home.

I'm guess my question is would the bigger pontoon be worth the effort?

Fix the pontoon you have and buy you a bass boat. .02

Agree. Pontoons, even smaller ones are greatly effected by the wind. I had a 20' with a 24 volt trolling motor on it and if the wind was enough to cause a ripple, you weren't holding it still. Also, it sound fun, but 4 people on a boat fishing, is a nightmare. Even on a 20' pontoon. Buy you a bass boat or aluminum boat and just be mean. Tell someone they're staying at home. Two or three people per trip.

But, just in case I didn't change your mind, I've got the boat for you. Complete with two livewells, trolling motor, and depth finder.

Pontoons are great for your fishing guests. You won't be able to fish, for fighting the boat.

Pontoons and fishing don’t work unless u have a 300 lb anchor

They’re great for 2 types of fishing....trolling and tying up under bridges. I’ve caught a ton of fish doing both out of pontoons over the years. If you want to run n’ gun bass fish then a pontoon boat isn’t a good choice.

I’d say no on the fishing pontoon. Absolutely frustrating to try to fish from, not to mention I hate towing them, loading and unloading. Once they are on the water they are great for a slow easy cruise.

Pontoons are not made for fishing.

Purchased a Bennington last year and couldn’t be happier with it as a fishing or pleasure boat. That being said, if your sole use is bass fishing, get a bass boat. The only negative with a pontoon is the wind, but they make and are awesome fishing boats.

The wind is why I said they were not made for fishing. A 10 mph wind renders my pontoon useless unless under power.

Pontoons are good for throwing a mullet net off of. That's about it as far as fishing goes.

I’ve been fishing out of one the last 15 years. The wind is the only complaint but the trolling motor can hold it’s on facing into into it up to 15 mph. I crappie fish mostly and really don’t have to run around looking for fish much. The comfort and safety far outweighs the few windy days on the water. I’m crippled up pretty good and dad is 76 so having rails around us is almost a must.we fish a lot in February between deer and turkey season and there’s some pretty cold mornings then, having a ready heater each gets a lot of envious looks from those fellers in them big bass boats.😁Pop likes to mention it to the traveling Yankees that troll by.

I knew a lady who lived at Paint creek on Lay Lake and she fished about 200 days a year from a pontoon boat. It didn't have a trolling motor or a depth finder. She just drifted with the wind and bumped the bottom for catfish and she caught plenty of them. I am good friends with her brother and they carried me with them on a trip a couple of summers ago. It was a comfortable way to fish. If the wind was really bad, she just didn't go that day.

She passed away last year and they had a fish fry with some of the fish she had caught. Must have been 100 people there to eat her catfish.

Thanks for the tips guys. As long as I'm with my family, any hassles to me will be worth it.

Hope my wife doesn't see this thread.

Gotta love aldeer. Guy comes here, asks for advice, 90% of replies say don't do it. He decides to do it anyway.
Merica!

Who said I'm going to do anything? Sound like more assumptions made from social media America.

Another option is a nice Deck Boat like the one in this link. You can find used ones fairly cheap. https://www.loweboats.com/sport-deck-boat/

I've got a 23 ft deck boat. It's just as hard to fish as a pontoon.
It goes faster and loads easier, but still a PITA to fish.

My dad had one when I was a kid.
It was a mutha to control in the wind and it only had a 40-hp motor, so it was slow.
But we had a lot of fun on that thing.
It had 2 fishing seats up front. A trolling motor between them. Huge livewell/seat right behind them.
Table, couch and a sun deck in the back.
We fished and duck hunted out of it. My bro killed 2 deer and brought them out on it.
It was good old days.
Dad kept it at Guntersville Boat Mart so no worries trailering.
I might get one set up like that again when I’m 70.

Have fished from one for 15 years.
Had a 22 ft pen put on a 24 ft pontoon.
Lots of room on front deck. I stand up
fishing. Live well, depth finder (have a 12V
and really need 24).
Wind is definitely a problem, but you learn
to cope with it.
I can fish out of it a lot longer than a bass boat.
Also, I feel a lot better the next day.. Almost
impossible to own 2 boats living in a condo.
I fish a lot of schooling areas away from
the bank so staying in the right position is not as
important except during a few months out of
the year.
A stable and large boat is a benefit for us
geriatric set.
BTW, it's also a good music, beer, float around
boat.

I've got a 48v trolling motor with depth lock and auto pilot on the deck boat. It still can't fight the current on a windy day.
I've finally talked the family into selling it. It was never anything but a money pit for me. Probably hang onto it until spring and then cut it loose.
I'd rather pond fish anyway.

I have a Weers Fishing center console pontoon with a 36 volt trolling motor and four chairs. It works great but my motor just bit the dust but plan to put a new Suzuki on her before next spring.

Cat fishing yes if you are gonna anchor. The wind like everyone has said, will overpower a trolling motor. I’ve also trolled out of one.