tieawhat

Hi All,

Am hoping to get some guidance for a beginner in the Houston area.

My experience consists of +/- 12 offshore trips out of Boston & San Francisco areas, always as a paid guest on charter boats. Never having anything to do with the running/piloting of the vessel.

I would like to begin learning the ropes so that in 1 or 2 years I would be at a place comfortable enough to get a used boat of my own. Problem is I have no idea where to start.

I am planning to go to the boat show next weekend but, based on previous shows I've been to, I am a bit concerned that I will find very little helpful information for someone like me and more "Who cares how much you know, just give me $70k and this beauty can be yours" type displays.

Can anyone offer any info? I think I need to find some basic seamanship & safety classes first and foremost. I would also love to find any local boat owners that would be willing to trade labor, gas and bait money for including me on some day trips on which I can start learning & begin my voyage.

Thanks in advance for any help/info you can offer!!

Dick_Formula233

The first place to start, is for you to decide what kind of activities you want to participate in, with your boat. Then look at boats other folks are using for those activities.For example, waterskiing, bonefishing, and Marlin fishing, each require a different kind of boat and rigging.

__________________

"Oh Kay"
1972 Thunderbird Formula F233

tieawhat

Thanks for quick reply Dick.

Not to second guess your advice but seems like maybe jumping the gun a bit? I would think I need to learn more (again, very little to no knowledge on the subject here) before I would be capable of making an edjucated decision. To be honest you've already exceeded my knowledge on the subject - mainly bonefishing.. I dont know what this is.

Can tell you that I am not interested in waterskiing, fishing only. Seems like Marlin fishing would be something more for the future? After garnering some experience?

I would think I would want a boat I could start with in Galveston Bay and later, as I have some hours under the belt and am more comfortable with my experience and knowledge, still be able to take out in the Gulf?

blah97

Let me preface this by saying I am no means an fishing expert. There are many who have more skill and experience fishing in the Galveston/Houston Area.

If you have been offshore about 12 times, you know enough to know if you like offshore fishing, but if you haven't been offshore around here, you should probably go a couple of times before you drop 70K on a new boat, especially considering the fishing here is much different than Boston or S.F.

There are probably a few guys on this site who would be willing to take you out offshore fishing. If not, PM me and I can recommend a couple of guides, depending on what you want to do.

That said, the galveston bay system is overall fairly deep. You can get your money's worth out of a good, big bay boat, giving you access to 80-90% of the inshore areas of Galveston bay, and some light offshore. However, you generally have to go out over 20 miles to even think about catching dolphin, snapper or ling(cobia). If you are thinking Marlin or Tuna, I think you gotta go 70 miles minimum.

Beware the boat salesman - they will tell you what they think you want to hear. You must investigate for yourself to separate the good from the mediocre, and to do that, you are going to have to know a thing or two about what you want to do, and what makes a good boat.

Hope this helps.

Blah

boatommy

I'd look for a Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary boating course in your area. I'd also go buy a copy of Chapman's Piloting and just start reading!
Good luck
thom

boatowner1122

If you like fishing the bay get a Parker 23' big bay. If you like fishing offshore consider getting a 27' Cat of some kind. Like the previous posts said you have to go quite a way to get to the snappers,dolphin,tuna, ect. With a large bay boat you could fish every bit of galveston with the Cat you could comfortably run offshore.

welder

get with a guide [ 6-pack ] talk a friend or 2 to go along to help with the cost , then don't be afeared to ask questions and PAY attention you will learn alot reel fast as to what you will need, boat,gear,kinds of bait,and take a boater saftey class or 2. THen have fun.

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Dick_Formula233

Hi tieawhat,

All I'm trying to illustrate is that you would look for one kind of boat if you intend to pursue bay fishing, and an entirely different kind of boat if you want to go for billfishing offshore.* Bonefishing is done in very shallow water, and is done from "flats boats" (or wading).* They have more or less flat bottoms and a very shallow draft.* This is not a desirable characteristic of a blue water fishing boat!*

There is really no such thing as one boat that will do it all.* If your plan is to get some bay experience first, then try the Gulf, my recommendation would be to buy a bay boat first.* When you're ready to move offshore, buy an offshore boat.

Offshore trips out of Boston & San Francisco areas are going to be very different from billfishing in the Gulf of Mexico.* You might consider taking a couple (or more)*charter trips locally, and see how the pros do both kinds of*fishing.*

__________________

"Oh Kay"
1972 Thunderbird Formula F233

tieawhat

Thanks to all for the helpful advice.

Sounds like the first (and most fun) step would be to just contact a charter and get out there!

AGULHAS

you will find a bunch of useful info and a place where local captains look for crew on 2coolfishing.com (bluewater board.)

fishdaze

I was going to post the same thing. There's guys always looking for crew mmeber to take out and help with the gas cost. Especially these days!!!