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Started By
Message
Difference in fishing from Skiff, Flats, and Bay
Posted on 8/25/22 at 10:01 am
Posted on 8/25/22 at 10:01 am
In my quest to find the perfect 40K boat for our family, I've got the new idea to get 2 boats instead, a 10K utilitarian boat and 30K family boat.
What I'd like to investigate is purchasing something like a skiff for the fishing. Would only need access to lakes and bays, no offshore.
My main question is - in my 19ft bay boat now, I can chase reds and bass with 3 people who know what they're doing comfortably...If I switch to a skiff, would I need the same 19ft to do so? Could I fish 3-4 comfortably from 17-18 ft due to the typically different design/layout.
What else would I need to consider if switching to a skiff from a bay boat for fishing?
What I'd like to investigate is purchasing something like a skiff for the fishing. Would only need access to lakes and bays, no offshore.
My main question is - in my 19ft bay boat now, I can chase reds and bass with 3 people who know what they're doing comfortably...If I switch to a skiff, would I need the same 19ft to do so? Could I fish 3-4 comfortably from 17-18 ft due to the typically different design/layout.
What else would I need to consider if switching to a skiff from a bay boat for fishing?
9
Posted on 8/25/22 at 10:04 am to AUjim
Are you saying you're selling your 19ft and getting an 18 ft and another boat? Why not keep the bay boat and add the other boat?
Posted on 8/25/22 at 10:18 am to AUjim
quote:
Could I fish 3-4 comfortably from 17-18 ft
Not happening if you are doing a lot of casting. Also not much room in that size range for rods and gear for 4 anglers. 3 would be doable. You would need to limit how many rods each person would carry and likely just have everyone fish out of one tackle box.
Unless you are looking to start fishing in less than a foot and utilizing a push pole then I don't see the benefit of a flats skiff over a 19ft bay boat.
quote:
family boat.
What's you're idea of a family boat? Just need ample seating? Looking for creature comforts? Some type of cabin?
This post was edited on 8/25/22 at 10:20 am
Posted on 8/25/22 at 10:57 am to Saskwatch
quote:
3-4 comfortably from 17-18 ft
Oof. Hard pass. Someone is catching a hook in the face.
quote:
I don't see the benefit of a flats skiff over a 19ft bay boat.
I sure was wishing I had a flats boat last week when I almost got my dumbass stuck 20miles from the launch on a Monday...
Posted on 8/25/22 at 11:10 am to Saskwatch
quote:
Not happening if you are doing a lot of casting. Also not much room in that size range for rods and gear for 4 anglers.
Thank you - In searching for postings, I can't swing a dead cat without coming across several 15-17 footers. Larger are harder to come by.
I am most definitely an active caster, not a lot of sit and wait bottom fishing or trolling -
As far as family boat....really not picky - would likely prefer something like what a smaller (20ft-ish) offshore boat would offer...mostly good seating and a center console.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 12:10 pm to speckledawg
My fishing boat is 19'. 3 people fishing are the max. If there are 4, I'm not fishing and just worrying about boat control, marking fish, etc.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 12:16 pm to AUjim
quote:
Difference in fishing from Skiff, Flats, and Bay
my rule of thumb is you need 4ft square room for each fisherman in the boat
so flatboat is for 2 people, 3 is just not comfortable and way too cramped
that said, for marsh fishing with just 2 people, there is nothing better then a flatboat, i think 17ft long x 52" wide is just the right size and for fishing lakes and bays you want a bay boat for those
This post was edited on 8/25/22 at 1:50 pm
Posted on 8/25/22 at 12:31 pm to El Segundo Guy
quote:
If there are 4, I'm not fishing and just worrying about boat control, marking fish, etc.
Exactly me. I had 5 dudes on last weekend, it wasn't a real 'serious' trip for me, just hanging with pals so not a big deal...but I didn't even try.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 1:23 pm to AUjim
I got two.
My nephew and I bought our tracker Grizzly’s with trailers new a few months before Covid-19. I think he may have paid $7,200 new and I paid $8,500 (boat, trailer, engine, reconditioned trollmotor).
My 1648 tracker Grizzly nothing in it with 40 hp tiller. It tight with two people but works.
Rigged it out with running lights, electronics, stereo, and 24 v trollmotor. Simple and easy to clean. Fish Pearl, chef pass, spillway, marshes South of Houma, Okissha, oxbow lakes, and False River.
Nephew has the Grizzly 1448 with 25 hp Mercury. Two people can fish it, but it is tight. He fished alone more. One person it is a pretty sweet boat for marshes and HP restricted areas like Lacassine. We rigged it out with bildge, lights, electronics, and interior night lights. We rigged it where it works well if two people fish out of it. We hauled some nice bass and reds in his boat. It simple and easy to clean. We been using it more as the 25 hp Mercury does not burn much gas. I think that 2019 Mercury after one trip around 35 miles running at Toledo Bend burnt 3 gallons of gas.
Not fast but it works.
I also have a bigger crestliner aluminum boat I keep at my camp Toledo Bend. I use it more to fish with family or guest.
My nephew and I bought our tracker Grizzly’s with trailers new a few months before Covid-19. I think he may have paid $7,200 new and I paid $8,500 (boat, trailer, engine, reconditioned trollmotor).
My 1648 tracker Grizzly nothing in it with 40 hp tiller. It tight with two people but works.
Rigged it out with running lights, electronics, stereo, and 24 v trollmotor. Simple and easy to clean. Fish Pearl, chef pass, spillway, marshes South of Houma, Okissha, oxbow lakes, and False River.
Nephew has the Grizzly 1448 with 25 hp Mercury. Two people can fish it, but it is tight. He fished alone more. One person it is a pretty sweet boat for marshes and HP restricted areas like Lacassine. We rigged it out with bildge, lights, electronics, and interior night lights. We rigged it where it works well if two people fish out of it. We hauled some nice bass and reds in his boat. It simple and easy to clean. We been using it more as the 25 hp Mercury does not burn much gas. I think that 2019 Mercury after one trip around 35 miles running at Toledo Bend burnt 3 gallons of gas.
Not fast but it works.
I also have a bigger crestliner aluminum boat I keep at my camp Toledo Bend. I use it more to fish with family or guest.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 1:29 pm to AUjim
quote:
ould likely prefer something like what a smaller (20ft-ish) offshore boat would offer...mostly good seating and a center console.
For $40k you could find a 20sh foot bay boat with lean post, flip up seating behind lean post, and some seating forward of center console and even some seating built into front deck.
I think I'd rather have 1 $40k boat that has fishability and enough seating. There are many different hulls and layouts you can choose from depending on you're personal preference.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 1:52 pm to AUjim
Look at the hybrid bay boats, they may be above your budget but seem the best of both worlds.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 2:18 pm to Saskwatch
quote:
For $40k you could find a 20sh foot bay boat with lean post, flip up seating behind lean post, and some seating forward of center console and even some seating built into front deck.
Thats what I originally set out to find...and here's where my thought process landed...
I'm currently in a 19'6 bay boat w/ a 115 Merc (303 hours) 4 stroke. Paid 15,000 for it 3 years ago, owe almost nothing on it now.
The 2 boats I had decided I wanted are the Nauticstar 211 hybrid and the Robalo 226 Cayman S.
Both of those are OBSCENELY overpriced. The little brother versions of those (NauticStar 191 and Robalo 206) are just not enough of an upgrade in utility or comfort to justify spending that much on a change.
I had not really considered what an earlier poster said in just keeping this seapro as my fishing boat and buying another fam boat in a few months...but as of now, I think thats where I lean.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 2:32 pm to Redlos
quote:
Look at the hybrid bay boats, they may be above your budget but seem the best of both worlds.
Astronomical prices
Posted on 8/25/22 at 8:22 pm to AUjim
Rent a boat for the family to enjoy now and then. You’ll probably come out way ahead.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 8:56 pm to 257WBY
I hear ya…. but we’re in family boat mode waaaaay more than fishing mode
Posted on 8/25/22 at 8:59 pm to AUjim
quote:
keeping this seapro as my fishing boat and buying another fam boat in a few months
That's what I'd do. Boats designed to do both generally suck at both unless they are huge.
Posted on 8/25/22 at 9:06 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Boats designed to do both generally suck at both unless they are huge
Even a 23-25ft boat can only fish maybe 4 comfortably. I mean you can haul more but when you troll a bank or even put down the pole 4 people are going to try and cast into a 4x8 spot that all the fish are in. Tie up to a platform and let 8 people drop on snapper and watch the chaos.
Posted on 8/26/22 at 6:52 am to AUjim
We fished 5 in 18 foot ranger bass boat in grand isle for years. Sometimes 6. 2 dads and 3 to 4 boys/teens Nobody got hooked
This post was edited on 8/26/22 at 6:53 am
Posted on 8/26/22 at 7:08 am to AUjim
Have you looked into panga style boats? Long and skinny with lower horsepower. Can get skinny plus handle some bigger water. You can get into a new 26’ with engine for probably 30-40k. Would be utilitarian but have the size at least.
Posted on 8/26/22 at 9:49 am to AUjim
When I had my ranger banshee (16'8") we could fish 3 out of it if everyone was competent. It was a very wide and stable boat for its size though.
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