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Started By
Message
re: Bass vs Bay boat advice
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:57 am to ctiger69
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:57 am to ctiger69
quote:
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.
I've thought about it. I actually wouldn't mind just getting a Jon boat and really tricking it out and also using it for duck hunting.
1
Posted on 10/6/23 at 12:00 pm to VolSquatch
Bay boat all the way. Fished with a buddy in his 21 foot bass boat last week and if you put one ice chest in there, all room is gone A 21 ft bay boat would easily ride 4 people, all their gear, and ice chest room
Add a Jon boat and you are set
Add a Jon boat and you are set
Posted on 10/6/23 at 12:05 pm to LanierSpots
Going after em with artificial or live bait?
Posted on 10/6/23 at 12:17 pm to Elblancodiablo
quote:
Going after em with artificial or live bait?
Both. Ive had my best luck with large white bait (live bait). I just cant keep up with them and I am not much with just sitting around floating things waiting for them to show up.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 12:43 pm to LanierSpots
Got any big snook?
Posted on 10/6/23 at 1:59 pm to ctiger69
quote:
Why not have both?
Seems like a big headache with maintenance depending on age and condition of both boats. I think one boat would work fine with both unless you're a tournament bass angler or trying to fish offshore. 18-22ft bay boat should be able to take care of it all.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 5:15 pm to VolSquatch
Just get one of these custom rigs and be done with it. Big, fast, runs shallow, and plenty of space.
LINK
Eh, might want to get a hat with a chin strap.
LINK
Eh, might want to get a hat with a chin strap.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 6:27 pm to ctiger69
Don't need both. Get a bay boat. You don't give up a single thing other than speed and storage, and you don't even have give up that on a big bay boat with two decks and rod boxes. They certainly are not slow either. You might not be able to go 80, but 50 is easily doable with any bigger boat and a 300+hp engine.
You gain far better fishing flexibility and a better family boat.
You gain far better fishing flexibility and a better family boat.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 6:44 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
If I had a family, I'd get a 24'or 26' cc boat, something like a Blazer 2440. But 50% of the time I'm by myself, 40% with the wife and 10% I'll have a 3rd.
If I had a bigger boat, I'd feel obligated to take my wife's friends and family and others, all Googans. I'd be more busy guiding than I would be fishing. I do have 2 jet skis, so the rec people can run those things like scalded apes. One is 230 hp and will easily pull a wake boarder.
If I had a bigger boat, I'd feel obligated to take my wife's friends and family and others, all Googans. I'd be more busy guiding than I would be fishing. I do have 2 jet skis, so the rec people can run those things like scalded apes. One is 230 hp and will easily pull a wake boarder.
This post was edited on 10/6/23 at 6:46 pm
Posted on 10/6/23 at 7:41 pm to VolSquatch
There are bass boats and bay boats sharing the same hulls, just get what you like. I prefer a bay boat but I can see the appeal of a bass boat in certain situations. Usually the bay boat on the same hull is much cheaper than the bass boat, get a much bigger boat for the same money.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:00 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Don't need both. Get a bay boat. You don't give up a single thing other than speed and storage,
I agree bay boats are more versatile but bass fishing from a bay boat sucks but will work in a pinch. If you are fishing in a tournament you are at a disadvantage otherwise you would be seeing bay boats in amateur and pro bass tournaments.
Bass boats have padded decks. After fishing 8 hours on a padded deck your joints and back appreciate it. The livewells - Bay boats have more storage for live bait. Bass boats have more storage for live fish. Easier to use electronics as bass boats are designed for 2-3 depth finders for the bow to use with your forward scan. Bay boat sits higher out of the water will catch more wind and you will find it harder to position your boat for bass fishing. You will be using your trolling motor more often to compensate. If you are someone who like to fish close to the bank or boat docks you will have to adjust your style with a bay boat. If you are fishing a lake with low bridges or trees you may find your bay boat will not go under bridges and branches you are used to getting under with a bass boat. Etc…
Flat boats vs bass boats is a better comparison.
Posted on 10/6/23 at 11:51 pm to ctiger69
Oh boy, where to start.
I understand what you are saying and a little of it is true but I disagree with just about everything you posted.
Plenty people running bay boats with padded decks.
Bay boats come in quite a bit of variations and quite a bit of them have far more capacity in both live wells and bait wells than any bass boat on the market.
I don’t know why you think one type of boat would have any bearing on ease of use for electronics. Both can be equipped with equal amounts of electronics on the bow and a bay boat has far bigger helm stations to allow for more electronics than a bass boat.
Most standard bay boats do sit higher in the water than a bass boat, I’ll give you that. However there are plenty of bay boats that are built for speed with less freeboard and run super skinny. Such builds would have similar characteristics as a bass boat when finesse fishing.
I don’t think a flats boat is comparable to a bass boat in the slightest. Have you ever been on one? They are super light and super weight sensitive. The only reason I could see someone would say it’s more like a bay boat is that most are center consoles like a bay and are usually fished in saltwater.
I understand what you are saying and a little of it is true but I disagree with just about everything you posted.
quote:
Bass boats have padded decks.
Plenty people running bay boats with padded decks.
quote:
The livewells - Bay boats have more storage for live bait. Bass boats have more storage for live fish.
Bay boats come in quite a bit of variations and quite a bit of them have far more capacity in both live wells and bait wells than any bass boat on the market.
quote:
Easier to use electronics as bass boats are designed for 2-3 depth finders for the bow to use with your forward scan.
I don’t know why you think one type of boat would have any bearing on ease of use for electronics. Both can be equipped with equal amounts of electronics on the bow and a bay boat has far bigger helm stations to allow for more electronics than a bass boat.
quote:
Bay boat sits higher out of the water will catch more wind and you will find it harder to position your boat for bass fishing. You will be using your trolling motor more often to compensate. If you are someone who like to fish close to the bank or boat docks you will have to adjust your style with a bay boat.
Most standard bay boats do sit higher in the water than a bass boat, I’ll give you that. However there are plenty of bay boats that are built for speed with less freeboard and run super skinny. Such builds would have similar characteristics as a bass boat when finesse fishing.
quote:
Flat boats vs bass boats is a better comparison.
I don’t think a flats boat is comparable to a bass boat in the slightest. Have you ever been on one? They are super light and super weight sensitive. The only reason I could see someone would say it’s more like a bay boat is that most are center consoles like a bay and are usually fished in saltwater.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 9:09 am to VolSquatch
A 21 or 22’ bay boat would be my recommendation. Everything is a compromise, but being that close to the saltwater, and having kids, I’d think there’s a better chance of them being able to join you in a bay boat.
In the summer time you can throw a bimini top on it, load the family up, and go anchor at the nearest sandbar. I have found that there is so much more to enjoy about owning a boat aside from fishing. Don’t get me wrong, I love to fish, but I also love just being out on the water on a nice day. A bay boat gives you the option to take the family for a cruise, go grab lunch on the water, pull tubes, etc.
In the summer time you can throw a bimini top on it, load the family up, and go anchor at the nearest sandbar. I have found that there is so much more to enjoy about owning a boat aside from fishing. Don’t get me wrong, I love to fish, but I also love just being out on the water on a nice day. A bay boat gives you the option to take the family for a cruise, go grab lunch on the water, pull tubes, etc.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 9:49 am to VolSquatch
IF you ever want to go saltwater fishing, then get a bay boat....IF not, then a bass boat.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 9:58 am to ctiger69
quote:
If you are fishing in a tournament you are at a disadvantage
Ok. I dont think OP is fishing bass master circuit
Glitter boats are better for going fast and have less air draft. A big center console can be set up however you want, and is better at literally everything else.
quote:
Flat boats vs bass boats is a better comparison.
Yea, both of them are one-trick ponies, and either one can do what the other one can just fine.
You're severely limiting yourself with a bass boat. Likewise with a flats boat. I can fish a foot of water in my boat, and I can fish 30 miles offshore even when it isn't an absolutely perfect day.
Flats boats are absolutely stupid IMO. You can limit out on reds in louisiana in literally any kind of boat that floats. You could do it in a 72 viking if you wanted to bad enough, and you can do it in a 14' tin can that goes as fast as you can paddle it. Why the hell would you get a purpose-built boat for that?
Posted on 10/7/23 at 1:18 pm to Mister Bigfish
quote:Never heard of this.
Plenty people running bay boats with padded decks.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 1:36 pm to AlxTgr
quote:
Never heard of this.
You never heard of EVA foam decking? Sea Dek, Hydro Turf??
Posted on 10/7/23 at 3:28 pm to AlxTgr
Seadeck/hydroturf is the new cool thing for bay boats.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 3:44 pm to AlxTgr
Lot of people fully covering their bay boats with foam decking nowadays like the one pictured below.
To the op if you plan using the boat for multiple roles to include freshwater, saltwater, and pleasure cruising. A bay boat wins this role by a mile. Of course a bass boat would be best if all you plan on doing is bass fishing or tournament bass fishing. If you want a bay boat that’s more suited for crossover fishing bass I would recommend looking at some of the custom boat builders in Texas. They are making some fine rigs.
For mass produced Blazer bay makes a few models that are very bass fishing friendly such as the Ultimate 675.
If you have a decent budget then check out Mamba custom boats and Simmons Custom boats.
To the op if you plan using the boat for multiple roles to include freshwater, saltwater, and pleasure cruising. A bay boat wins this role by a mile. Of course a bass boat would be best if all you plan on doing is bass fishing or tournament bass fishing. If you want a bay boat that’s more suited for crossover fishing bass I would recommend looking at some of the custom boat builders in Texas. They are making some fine rigs.
For mass produced Blazer bay makes a few models that are very bass fishing friendly such as the Ultimate 675.
If you have a decent budget then check out Mamba custom boats and Simmons Custom boats.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 6:36 pm to AlxTgr
quote:
Plenty people running bay boats with padded decks.
Never heard of this.
There is a difference in the two. Both are "padded" but the bass boat padded decks are much softer. Ive had both.
The "sea decking" style soft deck does help you some, mostly with my feet when Im barefooted, but its not the same thing as padded decks on a bass boat
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