I like to bass fish and have only had a 14' Jon boat. If I upgrade, I'd need something that could also allow my family (wife and two kids, 10 and 7) to enjoy the lake riding around, swimming, tubing, and fishing for them too.

Any recommendations on models that would adequately serve both needs? Things to look for or avoid?

Thanks!

Hundreds of choices, a few are correct.
Fish n ski's are the most useless craft on the water, they do neither well.
If you don't tournament fish, then most who really need to accommodate extra activities will be most happy with a 20+ center console.
They'll have way more room than a bass hull, ride better, and still have decks, troll motor and some agility on the water.

Whatever you choose:
Get the rated motor.
Be picky about the trailer.
Your prop is 90% of your performance, until it's right, nothing else will be.

I totally agree, avoid the fish-n-ski!!! You can't fish out of a ski boat, but you can ski beind a fishing boat! Look at a center console. A Nautic Star 1910. Wonderful boat!! Seats, real seats for 6 people to sit down on. front deck perfect for laying out on. Back deck for laying out on. plenty of room to walk around the console. Put a bimini top on it and there is plenty of shade. Kids want to swim, no problem, when they climb back in the boat, the wet deck will let them drip dry and all the water runs back into the lake and not in your bilge!!!!! Use a Y-yoke and pull a tube, pull a skier. Want to fish, no problem, it has 2 livewell, room for a trolling motor, built in rod holders (never to be found on a ski boat)!!! Front fishing chair. It is the perfect choice for family fun. I use boats, I do not work as a boat dealer, but every year I help people find the right family boat. 4 out of 5 times, it is a center console. Want to fish largemouth, NO PROBLEM the 1910 has a 12 inch draft and can be rigged with PowerPoles or a Talon. And, best of all - NO CARPET!!!!! There is a great dealer in Waco - Marineland Waco. Go talk to Ken Sorley and tell him I sent you.

+1on center console

XB 2003 T

Look at the aluminum center consoles like Seaark, Xpress, G3, Crestliner, etc. The price ranges are considerably lower than their counter-parts.

I considered the same thing once. Glad the dealer talked me out of it. We had every intention of skiing and such. In 4 years of owning this boat we have only fished out of it and my wife rarely goes.
If you really think you will dual purpose then consider a bay boat.

Bay or CC is the way I would go. I am about 3 years out and have been really eye balling Champions. I really wanted one in mid 80s but opted for storage and a more stable Ranger. Just looked at Nautics and noticed that HP is same on 19 & 21. Not sure why. I would never buy the 21 with a 150. Of course I may never be happy with a slower boat.

The NS 1910 and 2110 both do very well with a 150 on it. Many like the 1910 with a 115. The 1910 weighs 1350 and the 2110 weighs 1550, so both models are only 200 pounds apart on weight. On the 2200 Sport, your boat weight increases to 2100 pounds and your motor option increases to 200 hp.

You didn't say how big a boat you want, but if you're interested in a 17-foot center cockpit, all around boat, on the cheap, my neighbor has a Mako Pro 17 Skiff that really impressed me. Has a 60 HP Merc 4-stroke. Lots of room in the cockpit. I talked to another owner a week ago, and he had gone all over the area from Aransas Pass, to Port Aransas, north up Lydia Channel, and he said he burned less than half a tank of gas. (That's a 6 gallon tank!). The boats go for around $18 grand, plus toys.
I wish I had one.

IslandJim

If the kids and wife don't fish now they are not likely to fish often with a bigger boat. So do like everyone said and get a center console, fish for everything and play when you want, your main give up on that is speed over a bass boat. Some models you give up seating but not all. Not nearly as expensive as a bass rig either.

I second the CC boat. I have been very impressed with my Nautic Star.

Now, I bought mine at Marine Land in Waco, and hell will freeze over before I darken their door again. Their service department is a joke. If you get a boat from them, either take it elsewhere to get it rigged out, rig it out yourself, or simply don't buy one there.

I've fished just fine out of my Skeeter SL180 for 7 years. You see a lot of hate for fish and skis in here, but if they fit your needs they are great. My only regret is that I wish I had the 19 footer, but I got the 18 to fit in my garage when I lived in McKinney. Also, get the biggest motor available.

My Skeeter fish and ski is way better for bass fishing than a deep CC in my opinion. It depends on the kind of fishing you do I guess.

Hey NCSkeeter -

Deep, are you talking draft or interior deck height?

The Nautic Star models 1810, 1910, 2110, and 214 all draft at 11".

According to Skeeter the draft for the SL180 and SL190 is 13".

99% of fish n skis wish they'd chosen different. I sold them under caution and in spite of that they pulled the trigger. Then like clockwork they come back in a year trying to trade it in on a fishing boat that would actually get used.

If you really want a bass boat get a dual console and install snap on cushions on the front deck. Twice a year you can put them on. Rest of the time you aren't stomping them to death or snagging them with hooks.