2 Cool Fishing Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Looking for a good TX inshore boat that can handle the chop.

Tags
boat buying flats boats saltwater fishing shallow water texas bay fishing
Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 41 Posts
#21 ·
No one gives the old Gulf Coast brand any love any more and I don't know why. I think we can all agree there's no unicorn boat out there that'll do it all and do it all well but I think a Gulf Coast gets closer than any other boat ... they float in 10", they run in 6-8" , the hull is a Boston Whaler knock off (and those are made for open water) , they are dryer riding than most similar , they can be had with a head in the CC , lots of room and deck space. I personally think they are one of the best compromises out there and seems like what the OP was looking for ... it doesn't do anything great, but does everything ... jmo
 
#22 ·
I run the Majek Texas Slam and I love it. Great boat. All boats handle differently. You just have to be smart. It will go shallow and handle good chop.
 
#23 ·
RLHnTX said:
I’m relatively new to inshore fishing. Been out with several guides, waded, and used kayaks. I primarily fish out of Matagorda, Rockport, and Aransas Pass. I’m interested in buying a boat to fish shallow, handle the chop in the bays, possibly go out to the near shore rigs on a calm day, and run down the land cut to fish further south. You know, it is that elusive “perfect boat.”

From my research (feel free to contradict me) it seems a catamaran hull design is what I’m looking for. If that’s true, I think I’ve narrowed it down to Shoalwater of Port O Connor, Haynie of Seadrift, or Desperado of Victoria. But I’m open to suggestions and recommendations.

Ideally, I’d like the boat and motor to be no more than 10 years old. My budget is around $50,000 or lower. Minimum length is 21’, and I’d like a draft of less than 10”.

What would you suggest?
Click to expand...
JH Outlaw
 
#25 ·
Have you looked at the Tran Sport Tran Cat? I have an older model, 210V it’s a 200 Suzuki. It’s a wide catamaran that runs very shallow. I run all over Estes flats and Aransas Bay without worrying about getting stuck or getting up in less than a foot. It definitely goes where other boats V hulls won’t dare. Good luck!
 
#26 ·
waves and chop= v hull , cats are awesome , but even mild days are bouncy as hell, as far as a haynie bigfoot, balance it with people and gear , coolers and batteries and it will get shallow enough to make me nervous, but can take a long run better from my experience, cant go wrong with haynie, majek , dargel or shallow sport,
 
#27 ·
livinadream said:
It really boils down to this. ^^^

Be honest with yourself and decide what you need the most. In my opinion a flats boat is way more uncomfortable in open water, than a V hull in shallow water. Ex: I would rather sacrifice 5"-6" of depth to be comfortable fishing most places, than to be able to float 5"-6" shallower and have my teeth beat out everywhere else. I fish both shallow and deep about 70/30, it was still more beneficial to me to get a boat that is comfortable in open water. My shallow water fishing is more realistically 18"ish than 10"ish.

Sent from my motorola one 5G UW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree more with you! I had a 21Shallowsport that would legit float in 10” loaded down and run in 5-6”, but what you sacrificed running open bays and anything blowing over 12mph sucked! And I realized that 90% or more of the fish we caught was not in those super skinny areas anyways. I am on Galveston Bay so I’m not trying to navigate the LLM, but you get the point. I think a good tunnel V would be a good compromise for the OP. Shallow Sport makes a real nice Mod V that fits the bill.
 
#28 ·
I'm gonna chime in here, not because I am an expert on this topic but because I've recently purchased a new bay boat and I've come to a few realizations over the last 3 years.
1. As it's been stated above in earlier posts, there's no perfect bay boat. You get real shallow ,or good in chop not super shallow. You have to pick.
2 Where are you in your fishing. I've read somewhere there are 5 stages to a fisherman...Just wanna catch fish, want to get a lot of fish, looking for a personal best / trophy, a challenge (My buddy recently started fly fishing), just happy to be on the water. I'm in stage three, and while my 185 JH Outlaw is an awesome shallow running boat it really limits me in the winter months. If I had it to do over I would have gone to a 23 or 25.
3. Who are you fishing with? I fish alone or with one of my kids. Room isn't ever an issue and if I do run too shallow I can usually get out and push it myself (except for that one time....lol). If you are planning to fish more than 2 people storage and stability also become an issue. Don't under estimate the value of good storage, especially rod storage, we probably all have a horror story at the expense of a good rod tip when fishing with a newbie (or a teenager) back casting room is hard to beat.

There are so many great threads on here that I read before I purchased. If you find a boat you like search the name on here and you'll get tons of the 'good the bad and the ugly'. There is a wealth of knowledge here.

Lastly, Another reason I went with JH was the customer service and their fabrication facility is about 13 miles from my house. Your boat will require maintenance and it's nice to be able to have your boat serviced by great people who know your boat inside and out.

This wasn't meant to be this long...
 
#29 ·
just got back from rockport. Took my Father in laws 21 sport out. I sold mine last year and its been a while since I've rode in it. The winds were about 10mph and crossing the bay really beat my teeth in. Id recommend either a cat or a v hull TBH. I have a 24ft recon now and the ride is night and day.
 
#32 ·
Every time I read one of these "best all around" kinda threads I look at my ugly, old, slow, paid for 23TV Explorer and love her a little more.

BTW, 20mph winds and open water ? Heck, youd get a little beat up in a 36' Yellowfin !
 
#35 ·
Haynie Bigfoot would be the closest thing to what youre describing. I own a Tran Cat 20SVT and it will run skinnier than I should ever be but it will rattle your teeth and kill your kidneys in anything more than than slight chop.
 
#36 ·
I have a Dargel kat 25 with a. 350 Suzuki on it. Can go
Out in deep water. The boat can do more than j can but never an issue. Even in a good chop it does better than other shallow boats. I can run in 10 inch water. But can not get up in it unless it's a soft
Bottom and my 78 gallon tank is low and not many people. It's a good boat for me and my kids. Now kids older. Looking into a shallow boat since I can't handle the blue water chop. The boat does just fine.
 
#37 ·
JH B225. I4 200 Yamaha. Love mine. Now.....I have not run Blackberry or Contee. I wont without someone that knows it. I have run across the bay when I could easily see the bottom though. I don't jack up too high.....I just come up until I see water pressure start to go down and stop. I won't win a race. 42-45 is WOT and trimmed. That is fast enough for me.
 
21 - 40 of 41 Posts
About this Discussion
40 Replies
33 Participants
Last post:
adamboertje
2 Cool Fishing Forum
posts
7.4M
members
121K
Since
2004
A forum community dedicated to anglers in the Texas area. Come join the discussion about fishing guides, bait, safety, gear, tackle, tips, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
TTMB General Fishing Discussion Hunting Board Bluewater Board (Recreational Fishing) Boating Forum