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Coming With my Boat

Cedar Key to Pensacola

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Coming With my Boat

Postby vinnyrons » Mon Mar 15, 2004 3:24 pm

I visited Destin about a year ago...I went on a 25 ft flats charter in the bay and a bottom fishing charter...Had a great time on both..This time I will be bringing my 19 ft bay boat with 135 hp Johnson...I want to fish the bay, and near shore. Is a 19 ft bay boat safe to take to any reef or bottom fishing spots...What is the best way to find the spots?(follow another angler?) What will be biting next week? Anything else I should know?...Any and all info will be greatly appreciated..I am new to owning/operating a boat in the ocean...thks
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Postby Outdoor-Links.Com » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:12 am

A 19' bay boat, on very calm days, could be used in the gulf near shore. I wouldn't venture out too far with it though, it could be a very dangerous move to make. You say you are new to owning/operating a boat in the salt water environment, well don't push the limits of the boat and you will be able to return to Destin again in the future.

As far as finding spots, as at the tackle stores, Half Hitch Tackle is a good place to start. They are very knowlegable about the current fishing climate and will share that info with you.

A good map is also marked with spots to fish, using a map, you can mark on it if you find something not on the map, like deeper pockets, humps or bottom structure.
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Postby pentel » Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:38 am

Vinny;

I run a 20' cat in the Gulf on a regular bassis. A 19' boat is no problem on a nice day. The most dangerous place is the pass itself. On an outgoing tide even a 2-3 ft. swell can jack up into something scary on a 30 footer. watch the weather and the tide. If possible try to come in and go out on the incoming tide if there is any swell. Also try to avoid a "crowd" coming and going as a bunch of wakes from 50 foot boats can be as hazardous as anything else.

The advice to go to half hitch is dead on. They sell books with lots of spots marked. Please do not follow some else, especially a charter boat. Bottom spots are carefully guarded "secrets" and it's easy to make enemies if you try to run up and steal a spot.

There is a good posibilility that the best spot around next week will be right at the pass and jetties. The spanish should start running about then and could very well be thick and easy to reach.
Capt. Larry Pentel
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Postby Outdoor-Links.Com » Wed Mar 17, 2004 11:24 am

I should have also said that when you go to Half Hitch Tackle for information, you should also "buy" something. We must help our independent shops as much as we can or else we'll need to deal with the "Jeez I dunno's" at the big box stores.

One more thing, the Captain has brought up another good point about following someone.... that's a no no even on our northern freshwater lakes.
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