realistic distance in a bay boat

[slayer]

was wanting some input from some of the more experienced "nearshore" fisherman...I have recently hung up all my Bass fishing stuff to concentrate on saltwater...I grew up fishing Stienn/Keaton/spring warrior/econfina.....but was always inshore, rarely getting out of 6 or 7 feet of water....I recently sold my bass boat, and purchased a 2006 2200 Nautic star bay boat, which I will mainly use for inshore but I wanted to be able to add NEARSHORE to my fishing...it's a great boat 25" transom, power by a 2006 200ho ETEC & she has a 60 gallon fuel tank...have been adding all the required wants and needs, GPS/fishfinder/trolling motor/VHF/required safty equipment/ fishhing equipment.....

again, I will mostly be fishing for reds and trout, but on a good day I want to go out for grouper and AJ's, but I really need to know what would be cosidered a good safe distance for a bay boat...please understand, for the last 4 years I have refused to even go out to the steinhattchie reef because all I had was a 20' bass boat, and there were days that it was like glass but I just didn't feel it was the place for a low sided bass boat,,,,I have owned my own boat since I was 15(45 now), and my last boat was capable of running almost 70 mph, and I've had it in some rough chop on the flats and also out of St. Marys Ga. fishing the jetties,,,,I can handle my new boat as well....I just want some input on running a bay boat nearshore/offshore, taking into account that I am smart enough to pick and choose the good days vs. the bad days....boat handles ruff water real well and stays pretty much dry except for the fine spray you might get from a cross wind, and I plan on subsribing to seatow prior to my first trip offshore...I also know that there will be days that I have to run around afternoon showers, and then there will be days that when a storm starts brewing that its best to head in....boat is capable of running about 53 or 54 , but I mostly run it around 40 mph, I have it equipped with a good "break away" anchor and plenty of anchor rope

how far have some of yall been out in your bay boats??? any problems when being smart?? can you list some "don't do's"...feel free to add anything yall might think of....


any input would be appreciated..

[Jumptrout51]

On decent weather days you are plenty safe 15-18 miles out.

[Tom Keels]

We've been to O tower in our 17 foot key west. We regularly run 15 plus miles out of St. Marks but normally between October and May when the chance of thunderstorms are near zero.

I'd have no problem running 20 + miles in that boat on nice days. You should just be careful and watch the weather and you shouldn't have a problem.

[Reel Cowboy]

What Tom said.
Be careful and watch the weather. Most importantly, no fish is worth putting your safety in question.

[captkeyser]

I have taken my 20ft flats boat to O tower. As Tom said, you should be fine with that kind of speed. While stocking up on equipment, you may want to look into an EPIRB.

[What a mess]

I know folks that fish 20+ off in a 2380 Carolina Skiff like mine. I also know folks that have got the crap scared out of them in a large sea worthy offshore boat. I have been 25 off in a 19' Key West a couple of times. I will tell you if you do it often enough you will get caught. When it turns and it will, put on the jackets its better to let people know your concerned and be safe than to be "Tough" and try to get it together while in a bad situation. I have a good friend that was in a 24' Ranger Bay and uncertain if they would get back in from 5' of water last sumer. He had the kids take the rods down and sit on the floor of the boat and they were scared shitless sitting in chest deep water. It took over thiry minutes after the storm subsided for the pumps to get the water out of the boat. File a float plan, file a float plan, file a float plan! Stick to it! Two boat it buddy boats add safety.

[wevans]

I take my 17.5 G3 bass boat out 12 to 20 miles regularly you can take a jon boat out there if you watch the weather, check the forecast, check the bouys and use some common sense I always take both inshore and offshore equipment with me and if offshore is the plan, and it just don't look or feel right, I go inshore fishin instead if you only take the equipment for offshore you WILL be tempted to take a risk, THIS IS A FACT

[Redfin]

We take the 22 Sea Pro 20-25 miles out if weather is good.
We also take an EPIRB. Worth every cent.

[Frank Bradfield]

Don't be overconfident ! As everyone has said, weather is the key. First sign of bad weather or high seas i'd put on a life jacket. I've seen some rogue waves which could cause you problems if you were caught in the wrong positon. Carry a ditch bag with everything you need to go over the side. An epirb would be worth 100 x as much if you need it. If it got dark or was rough it would be hard to find you without one. Be safe , have fun !

[carramar]

Never run more than 30 minutes offshore in a bay boat! I own a 22 pathfinder with a F250 Yamaha and would never run longer than 30 minutes out and then only when its slick. At the first ripple on the water I head in. This time of year I head in by noon as the sea breeze almost always picks up in the afternoon! Great advice to always take inshore tackle even if you plan to go offshore! Don't ask me how I know.

[Dubble Trubble]

20 miles with a good EPIRB or DSC radio. And like everyone said, Watch the weather. Also carry inshore gear in case it is not what NOAA says it will be. (We all know NOAA is right on )

BEFORE you go, read articles on the internet about those who survived and those who did not and see what the right things to do are. Learn how to handle your boat in rough seas. You would be surprised what a small boat is capable of if handled correctly. It is also amazing how quick a bigger boat will sink if not at the hands of a good captain (Take the recent football player incident. Anchoring the stern in rough seas was a BAD idea)

Did I mention Watch the weather?

PS: I want to add one thing. Be sure you have a GOOD compass on your boat and learn how to use it. Just for the heck of it one day, when you are out, try turning off your GPS and see if you can navigate back home with only the compass. Electronics do fail!

Dubble

[Afterburner]

I have taken my 20ft flats boat to O tower. As Tom said, you should be fine with that kind of speed. While stocking up on equipment, you may want to look into an EPIRB.

Ditto on the EPIRB idea. I have a 22 with real high freeboard... my closest waypoint that I fish is about 20 nm out. The boat isn't getting any younger, but I keep everything in great condition. Due to its age, and the distance, I got an ACR Globalfix 406 EPIRB. I think I found it on the net for about $ 800. It gives me peace of mind.... you can't put a price on your life. I like an EPIRB instead of handheld personal locator because the EPIRB will transmit automatically when it hits the water, and keep transmitting while it floats.

[Redfin]

PS: I want to add one thing. Be sure you have a GOOD compass on your boat and learn how to use it. Just for the heck of it one day, when you are out, try turning off your GPS and see if you can navigate back home with only the compass. Electronics do fail!

Dubble

Good advice,.. I also carry a back up handheld GPS. And SeaTow is good no matter where you go.

[Dubble Trubble]

PS: I want to add one thing. Be sure you have a GOOD compass on your boat and learn how to use it. Just for the heck of it one day, when you are out, try turning off your GPS and see if you can navigate back home with only the compass. Electronics do fail!

Dubble

Good advice,.. I also carry a back up handheld GPS. And SeaTow is good no matter where you go.

I quite frankly worry more about GPS sat failures or a hacking event leading me in the wrong direction. I always check my compass against my gps. Let me ask this question. What would you do if your GPS said you were headed due east, and your compass said you were headed south?

Ponder that thought.....


Dubble

[Natureboy]

PS: I want to add one thing. Be sure you have a GOOD compass on your boat and learn how to use it. Just for the heck of it one day, when you are out, try turning off your GPS and see if you can navigate back home with only the compass. Electronics do fail!

Dubble

Good advice,.. I also carry a back up handheld GPS. And SeaTow is good no matter where you go.

I quite frankly worry more about GPS sat failures or a hacking event leading me in the wrong direction. I always check my compass against my gps. Let me ask this question. What would you do if your GPS said you were headed due east, and your compass said you were headed south?

Ponder that thought.....


Dubble

The real sailors of the past didn't have either. They used the sun moon and stars. Guess it wouldnt have hurt to pay atention in Astronomy in college!