This study investigates the effects of canopy fabric material and vent diameter on the deployment performance of sea anchors for fishing operations through field experiments. Three canopy configurations were tested: polyamide (PA), polyester (PES), and a PA – PES alternating combination. Vent diameters of 80 cm and 40 cm were applied to each fabric as controlled structural factors. Deployment performance was evaluated from entrance diameter computed using four evenly spaced water level loggers, and maximum towing tension was recorded with a load cell. Key findings were discovered as follows: PES and the PA – PES mix achieved deployment diameter/ratio and maximum tension comparable to the current PA standard, indicating practical substitutability. PES also exhibited superior stability, showing reduced variability even with the smaller vent (a change in standard deviation ΔSD-1.75 cm). The mixed canopy maintained performance similar to PA. As expected, vent diameter systematically affected geometry and load (80 cm: 187 – 198 kgf vs. 40 cm: 249 – 268 kgf), underscoring the need to pair material selection with appropriate vent sizing. In conclusion, PES and mixed fabrics are viable alternatives to PA, and co-optimization of fabric choice and vent diameter can enhance sea-anchor performance, durability, and operational reliability for fishing operations.