Subscribe to Marlin magazine and get a year of highly collectible, keepsake editions – plus access to the digital edition and archives. Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter.
When it comes to recreation and lifestyle, there is perhaps no pastime in the world better than offshore sport fishing. Sure, the fish and the places have quite a bit to do with it. But those boats… Nothing in the world—not golf, not tennis, not bass fishing—compares to the modern offshore sport-fisher.
High-performance fishing machines equipped with more technology than the first-generation space station. Luxury, range, fishability—all with propulsion systems that make 40-knot cruise commonplace. Production, custom, inboard, outboard—the modern boating landscape is full of options.
What follows are the boats of 2026. It represents the work of a composite of builders from around the world. These boats are in the yard now; next year, they’ll splash to be released upon the world’s great bluewater fisheries. Read about their builds now—you’ll likely read of their exploits later.
Viking 50 Billfish
The 50 is the largest offering in Viking’s Billfish Series. Prioritizing function and versatility, the Billfish line caters to owner-operators who need fishing performance and ease of maintenance. Tournament-ready and luxurious, the 50 Billfish builds on the success of the 37-, 38- and 46-foot models. Equipped with a large cockpit and a two-stateroom layout, the 50 offers a range of configuration options. The result is a package that comes ready for the tournament series—or most anything you throw its way. Hull No. 1 is set to splash at Viking’s VIP Boat Show in late January 2026.
- LOA: 51’8”
- BOA: 17’1”
- Draft: 4’10”
- Displacement: 64,306 lb.
- Standard fuel: 1,055 gal.
- Optional fuel: 1,200 gal.
- Water: 180 gal.
- Holding: 52 gal.
- power: Twin MAN 1,200 hp
Release 55 Gameboat
The Release 55 Gameboat is conceived as the ultimate iteration of its namesake, the gameboat. Designed to be lean, fast and deadly efficient, it carries a wide-open 150-square-foot cockpit featuring mezzanine seating, refrigeration and storage. Inside, you’ll find the essentials done right, with space to cook, sleep and reset. With power packages up to 1,622 hp and tournament tech like omni sonar and thermal imaging, it’s built with intention and purpose. This boat is made for serious fishability, and it delivers on Release Boatworks’ promise to build a boat that fishes harder, rides smoother, and stands up to the test of time.
- LOA: 55’
- BOA: 17’
- Draft: 4’10”
- Fuel: 1,090 gal.
- Water: 225 gal.
- Power: Twin MAN
- V-8 1,200 hp (base)
- Cruise/top speed:
- 30/38 knots
- Stabilization: Seakeeper 10.5 or AGM (optional)
Duffie 67: American Beauty
Under the leadership of renowned captain and boatbuilder Jon Duffie, there are some exciting new developments underway at Duffie Boatworks. The 67-foot American Beauty is the latest in Duffie’s line of “building better boats.” Retaining the feel of the custom Carolina boats, Duffie Boatworks’ offerings incorporate modern looks and functionality, but at their heart, these are hardcore sport-fishing machines built to fish whenever and wherever you need to go. American Beauty, true to its pedigree, incorporates performance, dependability, safety, and the meticulous craftsmanship that defines every Duffie Boatworks creation.
- LOA: 67’
- BOA: 19’6”
- Draft: 5’6”
- Fuel: 2,550 gal.
- Water: 350 gal.
- Power: Twin 12V MTU M96X 2,000 hp
- Generator:
- Twin CAT 27 kW
- Stabilization:
- Seakeeper 18
Northcape 49: Snafu
The NorthCape Custom 49 Snafu is under construction at Bluefix Boatworks in New Zealand. Destined for delivery to Kona, Hawaii, in late 2026, this custom boat is purpose-built to chase big fish. Composed of an epoxy foam core and featuring extensive use of carbon fiber, the intentional combination of strength and weight savings delivers a unique blend of seakeeping, maneuverability, speed and reverse performance. This platform, alongside innovative design features, produces a boat that allows crews to battle big fish effectively, stack up releases quickly, and get to the action in a hurry.
- LOA: 49’
- BOA: 16.5’
- Draft: 3.6’
- Displacement: 51,800 lb. (full load)
- Fuel: 1,058 gal.
- Water: 264 gal.
- Power: Twin MAN 850 hp
Michael Rybovich & Sons: Hull No. 11
Hull No. 11 from Michael Rybovich & Sons is a notable offering from the oldest custom builder in sport fishing. Known for combining performance and meticulous craftsmanship, this renowned builder has been synonymous with boatbuilding luxury since 1919. At 75 feet and powered by twin 2,600 hp MTUs, Hull No. 11 is expected to be the fastest Rybovich build yet. Featuring a four-stateroom, three-and-a-half-bath arrangement—with a king master, queen VIP and dedicated tackle room—it exudes pride of craftsmanship. The boat is set to be fished heavily in Florida, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.
- LOA: 75’
- BOA: 20’
- Draft: 5’5”
- Displacement:
- 110,000 lb. (full load)
- Fuel: 3,000 gal.
- Water: 425 gal.
- Power: Twin MTU 16V2000 M96L 2,600 hp
- Generator:
- Twin Kohler 32 kW
Daniels 55
The newest splash from Daniels Boatworks is something remarkable. A fully composite 55-footer featuring a three-stateroom, two-head layout with a black walnut interior, the boat is powered by twin 1,900 hp MAN engines. With a projected top-end speed of 52 knots, Kurt Daniels anticipates it will be one of the fastest sport-fishers to come out of Wanchese. Daniels’ boats feature a Florida-style sheerline with Carolina flare. The result, as Kurt Daniels describes it, is distinct and recognizable. The new 55, slated to splash in late spring, will hold 1,200 gallons of fuel and is outfitted with Simrad sonar and a full Garmin package.
- LOA: 55’
- BOA: 16’10”
- Draft: 4’6”
- Displacement: 52,000 lb.
- Fuel: 1,200 gal.
- Water: 200 gal.
Bayliss 76: Mama Seata
Fit, finish and exacting attention to detail are baked into everything that Bayliss Boatworks delivers. Mama Seata, the 76-footer scheduled to splash in fall 2026, is no exception. It features a personalized layout of four staterooms, three heads, a day head and a pantry. Speaking with John Bayliss, the renowned builder states, “Every build begins with a discussion between the owner, crew, and our team to establish the unique design elements that will define their project. Mama Seata is being built for the Atlantic/Pacific billfish tournament circuit, so her principal design driver has been ‘fishing performance first’.”
- LOA: 76’
- Beam: 20’10”
- Fuel: 2,700 gal.
- Water: 400 gal.
- Power:
- Twin MTU 16V2000 M96L
- Generator:
- Twin Kohler 40 kW
- Stabilization:
- Twin Seakeeper 18
Henriques 35 Express Hardtop
The 35 Express Hardtop is the latest offering from the New Jersey-based builder. Over 40-plus years, Henriques has earned a reputation for seaworthiness, performance and quality. Built on the same hull as the proven 35 Standard Express, this model features a hardtop glass enclosure for enhanced visibility and protection from the elements, with a removable back canvas. The 35 Express Hardtop offers a semi-custom design with flexible layout options, including a forward stateroom, a private head and a well-appointed galley. And with 100 square feet of cockpit space, it’s ready for serious offshore applications.
- LOA: 38’3”
- BOA: 12’
- Draft: 3’5”
- Fuel: 365 gal.
- Water: 65 gal.
- Displacement:
- 21,000 lb. (dry)
- Power: Twin Cummins
- QSB 6.7 425 hp
- Generator: Westerbeke 7.6 kW (Diesel)
Scarborough 75: Skin Deep
Skin Deep is purpose-built to fish the Gulf Coast tournament scene. True to form, the boat is well-equipped for live-baiting. The aft transom fish-box area houses 20 built-in tuna tubes, with an additional livewell water supply beside the fighting chair/rocket launcher. The cockpit features a traditional mezzanine layout with ample freezer and refrigeration space. The layout includes four staterooms, three heads and a spacious salon. The forward cabin houses a walk-in rod room to starboard, and laundry, drawer storage and an electric-panel room to port. Power is by twin 2,400 hp MTU engines utilizing CJR flow-aligned running gear and props.
- LOA: 75’
- BOA: 20’6”
- Fuel: 3,000 gal.
- Water: 400 gal.
- Power: Twin MTU 2,400 hp
- Generator: Twin Kohler 32 kW genset
- Stabilization: Seakeeper 40
Jarrett Bay 78
From cold-molded fir and Okoume bones to a proprietary fiberglass skin matrix, the 78-foot Jarrett Bay stays true to its custom Carolina heritage while incorporating modern performance. Equipped with prop tunnels and a draft of less than 6 feet, the 78’s reduced shaft angle yields increased speed and efficiency, opening access to shallow-water island destinations. The 250-square-foot cockpit features essential freezer, cooler, ice, storage, fish-box and livewell amenities among numerous other customizations. The interior arrangement includes a four-stateroom, four-head layout with a full laundry and tackle room.
- LOA: 78’8”
- BOA: 21’6”
- Draft: 5’3”
- Gross weight: 147,000 lb.
- Fuel: 3,000 gal.
- Water: 450 gal.
- Power: Twin MTU 16V2000 2,600 hp or Twin C32B 2,433 hp
