I have been down to the coast a few times fishing on the boats. I want to take my own but have never been out before by myself. What, if any are the regs and can a 20ft bass boat take what the coast has to offer? Or should this idea be scrapped? I'm not talking going out 20 miles, just out a little ways to hook a shark or something different than bass and cats. And do I need any sapecial license or permits?

I would be very hesitant to take a bass boat on the coast. I just think it sits a little too low in the water to be safe.

We were in galveston two years ago there was a guy there in his out by were we were fishing on one of the party boats. He looked like he was doing ok, but there were no waves or anything. This was out by the jetti. I don't think I would go past that, i just didn't know if there were any reg or permits, inspections, i had to get before setting out in the coast. Like I said, I know almost nothing about going into coastal waters, but want to very badly

Dad and I would fish the Intracostal canal in a 17' Astro Glass bass boat. You had plenty of a straight line to wind out the Merc Black Max 150. But we didn't have the guts to take it into the Galveston Bay. Way too rough even on a calm day.

Like I said, I don't, wouldn't go pastr the jetties. I just want to get out like where the fishing boats go. We were there and the water was real calm there, but past the jetties was really rough.

We made the end of the Sabine pass jetti in a 14' john boat when I was a kid, you're bassboat should be find if you're careful of the weather.

Not sure where you�re fishing, I spend the summer fishing offshore in Port Aransas. You will need a salt water stamp if you fish state waters, within 9 miles. Your best bet is to fish for kingfish with ribbonfish drifted near a rig. Use the heaviest tackle you own. If you have a rig that you use for large stripers with at least 20lb test, you should be ok unless you hook a smoker king. If you bottom fish around a rig use cut mullet or whiting or some of your left over ribbonfish for snapper, drum, or reds. Don�t use squid, you will trash your carpet and the near shore snapper equate squid with hooks. For sharks drift one line deep and one flat for sharp nose shark and blacktip. Monitor the weather on NOAA weather radio. If its more then 2-3 feet don�t go, you need it flat 1-2 feet.

Good Luck

You will need good weather. You can definitely fish the jetties on a good day out of a bass boat. I've seen 16' aluminum boats do it and I've seen pontoon boats do it. But, I've also been there when no 20' boat could have done it, my Triton center console included. I fish jettys alot. You don't need to go any further out to find fun fish.

Thanks guys sounds like it will be ok. It's a 21 bass boat, pretty heavy as it is a Sprint Bass Boat. I have some really heavy tacke that I chase bi cats with, spooled with 40lb line already. What is best bait for shark?

I've been taking my 18ft aluminum CC out bay fishing several times now. Just choose your battles careful. Pay attention to weather details. Several of the bays are shallow and protected from the winds.

Bonita or jackfish is best for shark. You can catch bonita using small feather jigs just off shore. Ribbon fish work as well. Invest in some frozen chum and mesh bag and let the fish come to you.