BigBendFishing.Net

As far as you can stand it.....

I would be interested on opinions as well, been out a few times in my new
16' carolina skiff, but only as far as stake lines, the more experienced
person with me says that's probably the safest as far as distance off the
shore, etc. (but he knows I am new at this as well)
Guess a lot depends on the direction and speed of the wind ?
That is where we initiated the boat yesterday with a few keeper trout on the incoming tide.
Thanks.

I wouldn't go far, I have a 22ft sundance semi v with a 115 and have taken it a long way out ( on good days ) 16 or 17 is real short, would be a very wet ride in 2 footers and real bad in 3's. If you do watch the wind, take what u need and be prepared. I personally wouldn't go out of sight of land at the very most and that might be stretching it. Frank

I've got a 15 ft Whaler with a 50 hp Honda 4S, and I've been about 7-8 miles out during nice winter weather. Usually stay within a mile or two of the stakeline during summer months.

Now, Wevans, that man waves to Fidel on his way home from groupa fishin in his bass boat, but that's his story to tell.

Different people have different views on this I take my 17.5 foot G3 Bass boat as much as 15 miles offshore on a fairly regular basis You MUST have a well maintained boat and motor, flares and flare gun, a good VHF antenna, and sufficient rope to anchor if it becomes necessary I not only check the forecast, but the weather buoys, satellite and radar and then use my knowledge of the area I fish to determine if it would be safe to go out and even then, I have been caught out there when I should not have been out there You must also take into account that 1 to 2's for my boat is what just a heavy chop would feel like in a Carolina Skiff

Thanks all, just don't want go swimming out there anytime soon, just yet anyway.

Take your boat out as far as you want. AS long as you don't run out of gas, and a storm dosen't pop up, you should be alright. Leave a float plan at the dock and keep your will up to date.

What Wevans said. I've been 15 miles out in my 17' Key West. But, I look closely at the weather, and pick my days. I've been caught out there in 4 to 6's, and it ain't no fun. You're gonna go slow, and everything you have will get wet, and beat to death. Your Carolina Skiff won't sink. But that doesn't mean it won't be miserable.