First Look: 2025 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler

Ultra-based Angler offers fishing-ready package

Barely a month into 2024, Kawasaki has already tipped at least part of its hand for the 2025 model year – the Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler. Based on the successful Ultra 160 LX-S platform that borrowed much of the looks and high-tech features of the flagship 310 series, the Angler promises to offer a sizable, stable platform for both inshore and offshore fishing, with the features to satisfy even the most serious PWC fishing enthusiast.

Core Fishing Amenities…And Unique Stability Feature

Like the Sea-Doo Fish Pro series and RecDeck/JetFish-equipped Yamahas that preceded it, the Angler offers a familiar but welcome combo. The compact footprint of a PWC that is easy to tow, launch, store as well as allows anglers to get into shallow, secluded areas that many conventional fish boats fear to tread and an impressive list of tools that even serious, hardcore anglers can use and appreciate.

Start with a 7” Garmin EchoMap chart plotter located next to what will also be an upgraded 7” full-color TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity. In addition to navigation, the Garmin’s fish-finding capabilities promise to eliminate the guesswork and get users on the fish by showing graphic representation of what’s happening below. Both size and brand are the same as used on many larger vessels. The Angler also gets a sizable, 14.5-gallon ORCA-brand cooler. Mounted to a multi-purpose rack on the Ultra’s sizable aft platform, it’s ready to stow bait and/or that eventual catch, as well as ups the amount of food and drinks that can be brought aboard for family outings. In addition to securing the cooler, the rack also ads unique, multi-purpose storage packs. Incorporating four rodholders as well as smaller pockets for various gear, the packs are easily removable and feature a molded-in handle for easy transport on and off the boat at dock or beach. Packs can also be linked together.

Forward, there’s also a single, front-mounted rod holder designed to be used when the craft is stopped. Kawasaki notes it to be a good spot to temporarily stow your rod while focusing on other tasks.

Designers have wisely given the Angler a two-piece bench seat to make it easier for lowercase anglers to move about the boat, whether that’s with a fish on the hook or accessing the cooler. The seat also allows up to two anglers to sit sideways. Worried things might get tippy? In a departure from other manufacturers, Kawasaki includes removable side floats that not only dramatically up the hull’s stability at rest, but also serve as footrests when sitting sideways with a line in the water. Also enhancing the Ultra’s low-speed stability underway, Kawasaki promises the floats won’t negatively affect the hull’s trademark handling.

What Lies Beneath

As to the 160LX-S that lies below the fish-friendly trappings, it has all the goodies we now expect, including a deep-V hull, splash deflectors and electric trim that are all welcome at any time but especially when venturing into larger waters. The Angler also features Kawasaki’s Smart Reverse with Deceleration (KSRD), an electronic reverse system activated by convenient thumb control adjacent to the throttle that simplifies low-speed handling as well as provides rapid slowing from speed should you encounter an obstacle. Other features include the Ultra’s unique, easy-access storage doors to each side of the console, daytime running lights for increased visibility and both electronic cruise control and one-touch 5 MPH no-wake mode activation.

Yes, availability of the Angler is still likely many months away. Kawasaki currently gives only a “late 2024” timeframe. With this introduction, however, it’s clear that PWC fishing is no passing fad. All three manufacturers currently, or will soon offer models or packages that elevate an already fun, feature-packed model into not just a PWC with a few token nods to fishing, but a legitimate fishing boat-alternative ready for even offshore use.

Evidently customers are biting.