Do I need a center console to fish SW FL or is my runabout doable? - The Hull Truth

chiguy79 · 12-16-2009, 08:14 PM

Just moved to Naples area and have gulf access and access to Estero Bay 10 minute boat ride from my dock. I moved down here with my '05 Rinker 232, it is a heavy deep-V boat so great for cruising the gulf but not so good for the bays around here. Draft on my current boat is 22" with the drive trimmed up 36" with the drive down...in a perfect world I would be looking to buy a Boston Whaler Dauntless 230 (or comparable boat) but selling my current boat is a PITA and the newer boat would require some extra $$$s.

My question is are there enough places to fish in the area in my bowrider that will keep me busy or am I just going to have to suck it up and spend $$s to get a boat with 10" less draft? I may just try to pickup a cheap skiff and see if I can dock it on a neighbors lift that isn't being used, that may be my best angle but I would appreciate the thoughts of any local anglers...

Pro251wa · 12-16-2009, 09:58 PM

I know that boat. It's a nice vessel. Pay attention to the tide and you'll be okay in Estero Bay. A good depthfinder with properly mounted transducer will help keep you off the bottom. You won't enjoy the freedom of a flats or bay boat, but you'll decide if the trade-off is worth it. If you're willing to come outside you can fish the wrecks, reefs, and bridges in that boat without concern.

You'll need to think about how to keep live bait alive, where to keep your catch, etc. There's plenty of aftermarket products for bait, and coolers for fish, although you're really eating up your available cockpit space with those things.

Let your experience be your guide. Give yourself some time to see if you can make the Rinker work. Either it will or it won't. The decision will be made for you.

lemaymiami · 12-17-2009, 10:01 AM

Remember as well, that there are some things that boat should be well suited for, such as anchoring and chumming or fishing local wrecks, reefs (surprising numbers within sight of the shoreline, artificial reefs, etc.), bridges and docks (these are good at night...). Even without a baitwell you can chum up small stuff, catch them and immediately put them back out on a heavier rod, etc. You can also work the entrances to ocean inlets or passes as they're called locally with lures any day.

I see folks every day trying to use a craft meant for one thing that it's pretty good at for something it's not well suited for. Little skiffs out on wrecks, big boats trying to work up into really shallow areas...

If you do decide you want to run the backcountry, and begin to learn it there's nothing like a simple 16' jon boat with a 40 horse, tiller steered motor. You won't have much money in it and you won't mind hitting the occasional oyster bar or scraping by mangroves in one. That's the kind of craft many of us learned in ....

Dry Rot · 12-17-2009, 12:34 PM

When I snow birded for several years I had a 19' Bayliner bowrider sterndrive lake boat. I got along fine but it looked as much out of place as my later Robalo CC did on a lake in Nebraska.
I would be in no hurry to upgrade until you decide if you want to fish the gulf or the flats.
If you decide to go out any distance, make sure you have a good radio and an EPIRB and only go when it is 3' or less.
Dry

chiguy79 · 12-19-2009, 07:37 PM

thanks for the advice guys, I am going to feel my way around a bit and I agree it is much cheaper to just buy a john boat than to take a huge hit on selling the bowrider quickly.

I have no problem heading out into the Gulf, all my previous boating was in Downtown Chicago where just the wakes generated by boat traffic and typical Lake Michigan chop have been significantly choppier than anything I have seen on the Gulf yet, so making some offshore runs are not out of the question...I will be getting a good GPS before I do that though. I am 20 minutes from my lift to the pass so fishing the pass and the nearby reefs/wrecks sounds like a good start. I also plan to head up to the Sanibel causeway area to give that a try also...I am looking for some rod holders the won't require me to drill into the boat or at least minimize the mounting requirements.

I think my plan will be to keep the bowrider on the market and start doing research on what would be ideal for me down here, right now I am thinking BW Dauntless or Sailfish 2360 if I can find a good deal on one, the $40k+ price tags on many of these used center consoles is a bit surprising...

I have a good aerated bait bucked and will need to get a fish cooler for the catch, there should be plenty of room for two people to fish even with our gear, just a bit tougher than a boat designed for boating, but life is about tradeoffs.

shipahoy · 12-21-2009, 10:32 AM

I would'nt be heading to far out in the Gulf without a self-bailing boat. A self bailing boat is a necessity for going any distance into the Gulf. When a storm picks up, AND IT WILL, if your bilge fails, you are in serious trouble...

If your serious about offshore fishing here, you need to hire a capt to show you the ropes or jump on with 1 of the members of the forum for a handful of trips. It's not something you learn overnight...