The name Jet Ski is synonymous with PWCs the way Kleenex is with tissues or Xerox with copy machines. Now, with the introduction of its Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler, Kawasaki is converting its personal-watercraft platform into a dynamic—yet affordable—fishing machine. This platform provides the anytime, anywhere versatility of a PWC while also creating a stable fishing boat with the tools an angler needs to chase fish.
There’s already a dedicated subculture of PWC anglers who live to fish from their watercraft, altering them with gear and electronics. Kawasaki is looking to tap into that group as well as expand the possibilities by making the Ultra 160LX-S ready to fish right out of the box. It comes standard with a Garmin Echomap UHD2 7cv chart plotter mounted on the dash to help plot your way to the fishing grounds and, once there, locate the school. The flat bench design allows you to bring a co-angler and sit side by side while fishing. Kawasaki also designed removable side floats to create a wider, more buoyant and stabler platform. A specially designed rack on the stern holds a removable 14.5-quart cooler and includes four rod holders. There’s an additional rod holder mounted on the bow. With a total stowage capacity of 44.5 gallons, there’s plenty of room for your tackle, docklines and any other gear you might need. An extended rear platform adds to the fishability.
When you combine all of these fishy features with the Ultra 160LX-S hull, you get a sweet-riding PWC with nimble handling and zippy acceleration. It’s based on the Jet Ski 310 series of performance hulls, with a sharper forefront and steeper deadrise that tapers to 22.5 degrees. The handlebars are adjustable to five different positions, so you can drive while seated or standing up. It’s powered with a 1498cc DOHC, 16-valve, parallel, 4-cylinder, fuel-injected engine fed by a 20.6-gallon fuel tank that helps extend its range for angling adventures. The beauty of operating a jet-propelled boat is that you are not inhibited by a lower unit, so you can venture into skinny waters without worrying about dinging the prop. With the capability to run outside the inlet and fish offshore, it provides incredible versatility in a fishing platform. Its nimble response time, maneuverability, and ease of stopping and starting makes it ideal for chasing fish that are busting on the surface, because there’s no lag time between when you see the fish and when you start the chase.
Read Next: Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX
Kawasaki is releasing the Ultra 160LX-S Angler in fall 2025, with an expected starting MSRP of $18,899. Meanwhile, we’ll be getting an extended sneak preview. Stay tuned for more updates as we run the Kawasaki Ultra 160LX-S angler offshore, inshore and everywhere in between.
