Freshwater or saltwater, personal or charter fishing, you need a good Livewell system on your boat to keep your bait fish alive and happy. Some boats keep just one live well, while others maybe have several to keep more fresh bait onboard for large parties or extended expeditions, and to keep live catches fresh until they get back to shore. No matter how many livewells you have or where you do most of your bait fishing, you need a good livewell pump to keep fresh water flowing in so the fish can get fresh oxygen.
Larger fishing boats have one or several livewells complete with pumps, but when that factory pump goes bad (and it will), you need to replace it with the same model or upgrade to prevent future failures. How do you know which one is best? We’ve reviewed the best livewell pumps available for their features, functionality, and value versus cost so you don’t have to. We’ve also put together a buyer’s guide to help you choose what’s best for your needs and your boat. Check out what we have for you:
The Best Livewell Pumps
Image | Name | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Rule Marine Tournament Series Livewell Pump | 500 GPH | ||
Johnson Pumps 48903 Aerator/Livewell Pump | 1000 GPH | ||
Attwood Tsunami Aerator Pump | 500 GPH | ||
SHURFLO B00A8OVDJ0 PIRANHA™ Livewell Pump | 800 GPH | ||
SEAFLO 90 Degree Threaded Livewell Pump | 800 GPH |
Review of the Best Livewell Pumps
1. Rule Marine Tournament Series Livewell Pump
Our Rating:
These are among the most popular livewell pump models, and for good reason. Designed for both salt and freshwater livewell, the Rule Marine Tournament Series makes keeping your catches and your bait well supplied with fresh, oxygenated water for hours at a time. This particular model has a flow rate of up to 500 gallons per hour, and can be installed quickly in any livewell under 40 gallon capacity.
Not only does it include all necessary fixtures and attachments, but all threads and fittings are standardized for installation of important livewell accessories. Most boat owners will also install livewell water temperature monitors, flow and aeration alarms, and various other equipment that helps ensure their live bait and catches stay alive as they comb the waves in search of their next trophy.
Best of all though, Rule manufactures the motors for their pumps using an interchangeable cartridge system. When your motor goes bad or stops working, you can easily disconnect it from power, pop the dead motor out, and pop a fresh motor in its place. Keep a spare or two on board for your expeditions, and this pump should see you through many years of fresh and salt fishing adventures with nary a hiccup in operation.
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2. Johnson Pumps 48903 Livewell Pump
Our Rating:
For big boats with large or multiple livewells, Johnson makes the reliable Model 48903. With twin exhaust ports and a single intake for the livewell and raw water washdown pump, this pump can circulate an astonishing 1250 GPH despite its factory rating of only 1000 GPH. Naturally, it comes standard with a high pressure inlet seal for managing the heavier throughput that the 48903 delivers, and all fixtures and threads are standardized for easy integration with all the systems and accessories necessary to maintaining a livewell in good working order.
As with many popular livewell pumps, the Johnson 48903 also uses a cartridge motor system for easy exchange on the fly should your motor burnout while you are on the water. Unclip the 12V power, unscrew the top, pull the old motor, drop the new one in place, then close it and plug it all up. So long as you keep a spare or two on board, you can have your livewell back up and running in minutes without having to worry about losing your bait while out fishing. This is a solid performer popular among professionals and private fisherman alike.
