fuel pump/ primer bulb/ fuel issue

[bmb]

2003 Yamaha vmax 150 carb motor
will run good at 4000 rpm any higher rpm and it cuts back.
Can pump bulb while running and it will pick back up and can go wot but have to pump pretty fast to keep up.
when you crank it up have to give a little gas to start and keep running and it smokes pretty bad.
Real sluggish out of hole. Can only give about half throttle and takes a while to get on plane.
Just all of a sudden happen while fishing a tournament on Saturday. Been running pretty good until this happened. Fuel line is ethanol resistant and not that old. No blockages in it and fuel filter is clean. Thanks for any help

[jethro1]

Classic text book case of a fuel pump problem. When you are pumping the primer ball you are doing what the fuel pumps are supposed to be doing. I would start there.

Unbolt the fuel pumps and then pump the primer ball. You may see gasoline leaking from the back. This may be reason for the hard start condition. Too much gasoline getting into the motor.