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Started By
Message
Bass vs Bay boat advice
Posted on 10/6/23 at 7:27 am
Posted on 10/6/23 at 7:27 am
I moved to NE Florida about 2 years ago, so I have access to the St. Johns River, ICW, the Atlantic, marshes, etc if I had a capable boat. I also have access to some amazing bass fishing lakes. I've always been a big bass fisherman and wanted a bass boat, but with so many saltwater opportunities I'm not sure I want to "lock myself out" of certain areas either. I have young kids, my wife probably won't go out on the boat much (gets very motion sick) but the kids would likely participate when they are older.
I know roughly what I want in terms of makes and models, I have a few bay boats in mind if I go that route (Skeeter, Key West, Crevalle, Grady White) and I'll get a Skeeter or Bass Cat if I go with a bass boat. I know this board has a lot of people from Louisiana so y'all can give solid advice: what type of boat would you get if you were me?
I'm not super worried about the money because I want to get something I'd hold on to that will last me.
I know roughly what I want in terms of makes and models, I have a few bay boats in mind if I go that route (Skeeter, Key West, Crevalle, Grady White) and I'll get a Skeeter or Bass Cat if I go with a bass boat. I know this board has a lot of people from Louisiana so y'all can give solid advice: what type of boat would you get if you were me?
I'm not super worried about the money because I want to get something I'd hold on to that will last me.
14
Posted on 10/6/23 at 8:11 am to VolSquatch
Hmm, I would probably do bay boat.
I have a microskiff made for Southern Florida and while it is great in the marsh, I really wish I could handle the bays a bit better than I can. I think the same would be true of a bass boat.
A bay boat would give you more flexibility in that way. It would limit you in the marshes to an extent - you would not be able to get where I can get, but honestly, most of the time I don't need to get where I get unless I'm sight fishing.
Also, taking friends and kids out - bay boat all day. Bass boat is a fishing boat, bay boats can be leisure boats for sure.
So yeah, I'd go bay boat.
I have a microskiff made for Southern Florida and while it is great in the marsh, I really wish I could handle the bays a bit better than I can. I think the same would be true of a bass boat.
A bay boat would give you more flexibility in that way. It would limit you in the marshes to an extent - you would not be able to get where I can get, but honestly, most of the time I don't need to get where I get unless I'm sight fishing.
Also, taking friends and kids out - bay boat all day. Bass boat is a fishing boat, bay boats can be leisure boats for sure.
So yeah, I'd go bay boat.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 8:20 am to VolSquatch
If it was just you I would get a bass boat model built for salt. A few models made them. Basically have no carpet.
If you plan on family fishing then get a bay boat.
I prefer freshwater and had a skeeter for a while but can't fit the family in or or salt water.
I got a bay boat now to bring family and salt water fish. But it's not as convenient bass fishing in it. I don't have any issues bass fishing it if it, but you will realize why a bass boat is made like it is.
If you plan on family fishing then get a bay boat.
I prefer freshwater and had a skeeter for a while but can't fit the family in or or salt water.
I got a bay boat now to bring family and salt water fish. But it's not as convenient bass fishing in it. I don't have any issues bass fishing it if it, but you will realize why a bass boat is made like it is.
This post was edited on 10/6/23 at 8:23 am
Posted on 10/6/23 at 8:28 am to bayouvette
Most bass boats will have more corrosion issues in saltwater.
Your option is buying a bass boat designed for the salt. A few companies used to make them, but most have stopped. Ranger made an Intracoastal model, used ones sell quick. Triton used to make one.
Contact Big O boats in Florida, they make custom bass boats, they can make one for the salt.
Your option is buying a bass boat designed for the salt. A few companies used to make them, but most have stopped. Ranger made an Intracoastal model, used ones sell quick. Triton used to make one.
Contact Big O boats in Florida, they make custom bass boats, they can make one for the salt.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 8:33 am to VolSquatch
Take a look at Kencraft; it is a quality boat made in NC. They make fiberglass skiffs and bay boats. I think the 22 ft. skiff would be a good choice for you. I went to look at one of these in Mississippi and was greatly impressed; I could not afford it.
LINK
LINK
This post was edited on 10/6/23 at 8:44 am
Posted on 10/6/23 at 8:34 am to VolSquatch
quote:
I have access to the St. Johns River, ICW, the Atlantic, marshes, etc if I had a capable boat. I also have access to some amazing bass fishing lakes.
I think it'd be easier to bass fish out of a bay boat then fish in the atlantic out of a bass boat. I see many people fishing in the marsh out of bass boats though. Bay boats have fairly low gunnels now, big front/back decks, rod lockers, etc... I fish saltwater 100% of the time so my opinion is obviously biased.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 8:41 am to VolSquatch
I was pretty much in the same boat as you Pun intended. I moved from north Georgia where I guided for bass for 25 years. I have lived in a bass boat most of my life. I moved to Bradenton/Sarasota area and wanted to do both salt and freshwater fishing. I am just a few miles from the gulf and I have some good bass waters around here.
I ended up getting a 25 foot bay boat but I got one with a nice casting deck. I go over to Ward Lake and bass fish all the time out of it. I have the Minn Kota trolling motor and just bought the foot control for when I go bass fishing instead of messing with the remote
I think it's the best compromise. But honestly, I rarely bass fish anymore. I have the salt bug and just cant shake it. I can go pretty shallow with my bay boat and have zero issues bass fishing out of it so far..
I ended up getting a 25 foot bay boat but I got one with a nice casting deck. I go over to Ward Lake and bass fish all the time out of it. I have the Minn Kota trolling motor and just bought the foot control for when I go bass fishing instead of messing with the remote
I think it's the best compromise. But honestly, I rarely bass fish anymore. I have the salt bug and just cant shake it. I can go pretty shallow with my bay boat and have zero issues bass fishing out of it so far..
Posted on 10/6/23 at 8:52 am to LanierSpots
quote:
rarely bass fish anymore. I have the salt bug and just cant shake it.
Snook or tarpon?
Posted on 10/6/23 at 9:02 am to LanierSpots
quote:
But honestly, I rarely bass fish anymore. I have the salt bug and just cant shake it.
Yeah I think this is a point that really gets me. If I get the bass boat I'll still want to go saltwater fishing, but If I start regularly saltwater fishing I probably won't even think about bass anymore.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 9:05 am to VolSquatch
I am a mostly fresh guy, but I bought a bay boat once to please the family. It wasn't as big of a deal for me as I thought it would be prior to getting it. While I am now firmly in a bass boat because the family stuff is over, I really only had a few complaints, and those were minor.
Storage, speed/handling, and towing were the main issues, but the console also caused some issues in swamps and on some lakes with low bridges.
Storage, speed/handling, and towing were the main issues, but the console also caused some issues in swamps and on some lakes with low bridges.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 9:47 am to Elblancodiablo
quote:
Snook or tarpon?
Yes.
I have enjoyed everything down here. Snook, Tarpon, reds, fishing the docks in the winter, bridges, even the bottom fishing has been fun.
Right now, these things are schooling all over the place and you can just follow them around all day till you are tired of catching them
Mash
This post was edited on 10/6/23 at 10:05 am
Posted on 10/6/23 at 9:49 am to AlxTgr
quote:
I am a mostly fresh guy, but I bought a bay boat once to please the family. It wasn't as big of a deal for me as I thought it would be prior to getting it. While I am now firmly in a bass boat because the family stuff is over, I really only had a few complaints, and those were minor.
Storage, speed/handling, and towing were the main issues, but the console also caused some issues in swamps and on some lakes with low bridges.
excellent points. I think if I were going to do more bass fishing, I would not have gotten the T Top. But now that I have had a boat with one, I dont think I will ever have one without a top. I stood in the direct sun for 25 years, 8 hours a day. Now that I have shade, I cant go without it.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 10:19 am to LanierSpots
quote:I totally get that.
But now that I have had a boat with one, I dont think I will ever have one without a top. I stood in the direct sun for 25 years, 8 hours a day. Now that I have shade, I cant go without it.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 10:41 am to VolSquatch
I'm a bay boat guy through and through. I can pull a tube, cruise the river with the family, bream fish, bass fish, spec fish, and snapper fish out of it. Bass boats are nice when you are bass fishing, but are far less versatile in my opinion. It's going to be a compromise no matter what.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 10:55 am to LanierSpots
I think I would start to miss the chase. That is the part I enjoy, the mental part.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:03 am to Elblancodiablo
quote:
I think I would start to miss the chase. That is the part I enjoy, the mental part.
Yea, man I did that for so long, I just think I finally had enough of it. I tournament fished from club level to Bassmaster Tour level. Won 5 boats in my time. I enjoyed it a ton but once I got my guide business going and was doing that and tournament fishing for a living, I think some of the enjoyment slipped away
Now, fishing is fun again and I dont have any agenda with it. Im working on my captains license and could do some trips in the future but for right now, I am just as happy bottom fishing for snapper, live bait fishing for snook or just chasing schooling fish. It is enjoyable again.
I started fishing in a club when I was 17 years old and that was a long arse time ago. I loved it but the break away from caring if I catch anything or not is kind of nice
If the chase of Bass is your thing, snook fishing is basically the same thing. Just bigger
This post was edited on 10/6/23 at 11:26 am
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:28 am to LanierSpots
quote:
If the chase of Bass is your thing, snook fishing is basically the same thing. Just bigger
That's why I asked if you switched to snook or tarpon.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:29 am to Elblancodiablo
quote:
That's why I asked if you switched to snook or tarpon.
I am doing better with the snook than I am the tarpon. I have not quite dialed them in around here. The snook have been a little easier to figure out
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:32 am to VolSquatch
Smaller bay boat so you can go outside in the Atlantic when it's nice, but still slip around in some of Florida's great bass fishing waters.
Something like a 19' Nautic Star
Something like a 19' Nautic Star
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:54 am to VolSquatch
Why not have both?
Spend the money on a good bay boat and buy a used bass tracker or fiber glass bass boat. Get your spot lock and forward scan installed and go fishing.
Spend the money on a good bay boat and buy a used bass tracker or fiber glass bass boat. Get your spot lock and forward scan installed and go fishing.
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