Bass boat vs. bay boat

My father and I have fished out of a deck boat for years but with no one in the family interested in skiing/tubing anymore we're starting to look at getting a fishing-only rig. We target everything but predominately fish white bass/hybrids, meaning we're often on the main lake dealing with the chop of N. Texas reservoirs. If we were only doing that, we would go for a center console. But we also get after LMB when they're biting well, and want to get into local tournaments someday. All that being said, would the center console still be our best bet, or does the storage, fishability, and speed of a 20-21' bass boat really outweigh the versatility and big water handling of a bay boat if we wanted to fish 3-4 tournaments each year? We're pretty split.

The inshore CC models are just as capable as any bassboat alot more comfortable in rough water. The most important no carpet to try to keep clean. Now if speed is your thing get the bassboat as the CC will only run in the 50's. Edge Water Boats makes nice IS modles a 21 and a 24 they are priced the same as high end bassboats around 80,000 fully rigged lake or bay ready with T top with upper helm station. Nautic Star makes a nice one too both use infusion process to make the hulls one peice. Check them out.

If you tournament fish, get a bass boat, if not the CC will be much more multi species friendly. There's some great cross over type hulls out there, Transport XLR8, Haynie bigfoot, Majek extreme all are good running hulls, find a used Champ 22, or Bay Cat, they all maneuver well on the troll motor, have nice fishing decks, and can be dunked in the bay if the mood strikes you.

Id go with a center console just for the versatility, you see lots of center console bay boats on lakes all over. what dont you see on the coast...sparkly 2 seater bass boats. if youre wanting to keep up with bass guys in tourneys, look at the boats Goff mentioned with a bubble console. Some are scary fast and will still eat the chop, i have fished quite a bit out of a friends 22ft Majek Extreme and it is a 70+ mph boat

My 23' Stoner runs 65 all day and 70's in the right conditions. If you need over 75mph go with an SCB