Over the past year or so, this board has delivered time and time again. I've used it extensively to troll for kokanee on reservoirs in CO, casting flies for late season rainbows in the PNW and throwing topwater plugs for bass in the Adirondacks. Most recently, it was my go-to for (slightly) off-shore fishing on the Sea of Cortez. I've landed everything from pargo and bonito to skipjacks and triggers from this board and it's been a blast every time! Prepare yourself for a bit of a sleigh ride when you hook onto a substantial fish!
Stand out features:
-The wide deck (3 feet) makes it extremely stable while casting.
-Scotty Mounts are well placed for mounting a couple of rod holders for either trolling or storage. And the one @ the nose of the board is great for either an anchor or gopro mount. (A voice-activated Gopro is clutch when you want to catch the action when you reel in a lunker!)
-The d-rings are very sturdy and allow for mounting of coolers, chairs, etc.
-The surface is grippy and comfortable - I always paddle barefoot and it's like standing on a yoga mat.
-The material is bomber! I've accidentally brushed up some sharp rocks on an offshore island, and had no issues. Though I would not recommend making a habit of this.
-I was a bit concerned about not being able to remove the fins as they are fixed, but they have proved to be very durable. So, not an issue at all.
-You are much more visible to boaters if you are in a higher-traffic area when standing...bonus of being on a SUP.
-It's a manageable size and weight. I typically kept it inflated during my entire 5 months in Mexico and was able to transport it atop my Tundra. It was not a problem loading and unloading from the roof rack on my own then carrying to the beach. (Except when the winds were really gusting...then you might need an extra set of hands)
-I really like that it as a shallow draft. When out fishing with buddies who were on kayaks, they often couldn't get through the shallows when the tide went out and had to portage for a bit. I was able to pick a line through the rocks and paddle on!
-The overall handling is great. While not as fast as a narrower board with longer fins, it tracks pretty well overall. She's not designed for speed after all, but it's super-stable which is much more important imo.
Be prepared to have a lot of conversations with people about your set-up. A lot of people out there have never seen people fishing from SUPS and it will blow their minds when you give them a walk through of the rig!
Overall, I have been more than happy about the quality and craftsmanship of this SUP. Honestly, if there was a way I could give this board more than five stars, I would. If you're in the market for a fishing SUP, look no further...you found it!