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What size boat?
Posted: December 24th, 2025, 4:47 pm
by nrm07
What size boats do most people in the area have?
I’d imagine most St Marks and Panacea area fishing are inshore 20ish foot boats?
Carrabelle with bigger offshore boats?
Thanks
Re: What size boat?
Posted: December 24th, 2025, 9:57 pm
by doomtrpr_z71
I've had a 17, 19, 20, and I now have a 24. The 20 was probably the best compromise for running offshore and fishing inshore as it would float in 10in. The 24 is a lot more comfortable offshore and it drafts 13in and runs pretty skinny with the jack plate and trim tabs down but it ain't a creek boat.
Re: What size boat?
Posted: December 25th, 2025, 1:05 pm
by John21:6
Remember every boat is a compromise. It’s not just about length. If you want to fish offshore primarily, you will want a longer boat, with a deeper-V, and higher gunnels/sides. All these features will work against you if you want to fish in shallow water. A bay boat can fish in kinda shallow water and can go offshore when the conditions are calm. However, a bay boat won’t fish shallow as well as a flats boat or fish deep as well as a true offshore boat.
if you want to do everything, you’re gonna need a couple boats. You might go broke, but you will probably be happy.
And whatever boat you get, don’t anchor it in the middle of the St. Marks River unless you want everyone on this forum to make fun of you.
Re: What size boat?
Posted: December 26th, 2025, 6:17 pm
by doomtrpr_z71
John21:6 wrote: December 25th, 2025, 1:05 pm
Remember every boat is a compromise. It’s not just about length. If you want to fish offshore primarily, you will want a longer boat, with a deeper-V, and higher gunnels/sides. All these features will work against you if you want to fish in shallow water. A bay boat can fish in kinda shallow water and can go offshore when the conditions are calm. However, a bay boat won’t fish shallow as well as a flats boat or fish deep as well as a true offshore boat.
if you want to do everything, you’re gonna need a couple boats. You might go broke, but you will probably be happy.
And whatever boat you get, don’t anchor it in the middle of the St. Marks River unless you want everyone on this forum to make fun of you.
And everybody else that isn't anchored in the channel