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Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass #13655330 08/03/20 11:29 PM
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AustinWader Offline OP
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Hey y'all,
I'm getting a boat for Striper/White Bass fishing. What is a minimum top speed for a boat that will be well suited for this Striper/White fishing? I'm looking at one that tops out at 35mph and one that tops at 45mph. I really like the 35mph one, will it be sufficient? Thanks

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655390 08/04/20 12:37 AM
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Don’t know but my boat will run 45 or 50 but I rarely go over 35 for fuel economy. I recommend max HP on whatever you buy. You don’t get a secon chance at HP IMO. My 2cents


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Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655468 08/04/20 01:35 AM
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SafetyMike Offline
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I have a Tidewater Bay Max 2400 with a 300hp Suzuki engine. It runs top end with a quarter tank of fuel 52mph without starting to bounce 55 with the bounce. Plenty fast for a bay boat. My buddies run Falcons and Redfins and Blazer Bays that go 40 mph. IMO if you aren't running a bass tournament and needing to go 68 mph there is no need to go over 40mph. If you want to run fast max your engine size for the boat. Excuse the pun but your mileage may vary.

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655471 08/04/20 01:38 AM
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I’ve never caught a fish going faster than about 3 miles per hour. I’d go with the 35 mph that you like more.

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655496 08/04/20 01:55 AM
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AustinWader Offline OP
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Thanks for the responses. To reword my question, how important is boat speed when it comes to finding whitebass/Stripers?

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655517 08/04/20 02:11 AM
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I wouldn't let boat speed be a deciding factor on a purchase. I would be more concerned about the boat layout and engine condition than boat speed. Boat speed absolutely nothing to do with catching stripers /sand bass/ hybrids.

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655540 08/04/20 02:44 AM
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Originally Posted by AustinWader
Thanks for the responses. To reword my question, how important is boat speed when it comes to finding whitebass/Stripers?

Flying around the lake at mach 2 is a largemouth thing. Most of us that chase schooling fish just enjoy the ride between point A and point B.

I agree with 44 Diesel as well.

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655655 08/04/20 09:58 AM
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Paul and Diesel have hit it on the head. Get a boat you you like and will enjoy fishing out of.

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655680 08/04/20 10:55 AM
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Fuel economy and engine stress are a big thing for me. I personally don’t like a boat that’s under powered and always has to run at 4000+ just to get around the lake.

A larger engine will let u cruise at 28-32mph and sip fuel and not stress the motor...but also has your back when that last second pop-up thunder storm bears down on u...and u need the extra horses.


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Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13655832 08/04/20 01:37 PM
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Sand bass don't care how fast your boat is. I've caught a ton of them fishing out of a 14' Lone Star with a 7 1/2 HP motor on the back.


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Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: slim1] #13655908 08/04/20 03:04 PM
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But since you're running around the lake and only stopping when you mark fish, wouldn't it be more efficient to be able to run faster? You would be able to cover more water right? The boat I'm looking at is a Mako Pro skiff 19 with a 90 Mercury. Seller tells me it goes 45 but I think it probably goes around 35 max

Last edited by AustinWader; 08/04/20 03:11 PM.
Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13656004 08/04/20 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by AustinWader
But since you're running around the lake and only stopping when you mark fish, wouldn't it be more efficient to be able to run faster? You would be able to cover more water right? The boat I'm looking at is a Mako Pro skiff 19 with a 90 Mercury. Seller tells me it goes 45 but I think it probably goes around 35 max

Sellers have a habit of over estimating top end. I doubt that a 19' CC with a 90 is going to run 45. Ask if that is speedo or GPS. My speedo reads 2-4 high. That said the speedo on my Ranger was right on. I prefer max hp on a boat.


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Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13656008 08/04/20 04:29 PM
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Bring up Navionics free web app. Plot a few courses on the lake you think you will frequent. Check times from point a to point b at various speeds, 20,30,35 40? See how long it would really take you. 30mph is not really slow on the water. Or , if you are just really hung up on the whole testosterone speed thing get the faster boat. Be honest with yourself.

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: boocat] #13656024 08/04/20 04:41 PM
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I don't really care for speed but want the boat that would be most efficient for Striper/White bass fishing. The 19 Proskiff deal fell apart. Now looking at a key largo 186 bay with 90 hp or mako 18 lts with 115. Can someone answer my most important question: Will searching for Stripers/White Bass be more efficient if I can run over an area faster? Do fishfinders even work when at 30+ miles per hour? How fast do y'all run when attempting to mark fish? Thanks!

Re: Boat Speed for Striper/White Bass [Re: AustinWader] #13656090 08/04/20 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by AustinWader
I don't really care for speed but want the boat that would be most efficient for Striper/White bass fishing. The 19 Proskiff deal fell apart. Now looking at a key largo 186 bay with 90 hp or mako 18 lts with 115. Can someone answer my most important question: Will searching for Stripers/White Bass be more efficient if I can run over an area faster? Do fishfinders even work when at 30+ miles per hour? How fast do y'all run when attempting to mark fish? Thanks!


Not sure what unit/transducer you are using but I have a triple shot Lowrance and the Sidescan and down scan is typically best used at 3-5 mph. Maybe I'm missing something but my depth finder won't even register when I'm going 30-40 mph.

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