I just brought some property in POC and have access to a great flats boat but would like someting I could get to some deeper water. Being from cali originally I am not used to the distances needed to get to some deep water. I would love to go fishing for some grouper and jacks and anything else that will pull. I am looking at a 1999 Pro Sports 1850CC for sale in Lewisville area. Th url is

http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/marine_classifieds/adv-search.cgi?id=66957

Are these good for what I am looking for

Thanks

Dave

I have a deep v 21 ft c/c built for off shore. I would not consider anythig shorter than this.A 21 ft can seem real small real quick on the Gulf.

Dave,
An 18 would be strickly a very near shore rig here. Our waves are very choppy, not the rollers of the west coast.

Snagged, what do you consider very near shore, 10 miles? The reason I ask is I've got a bug to head out for some bigger fish in my 19.5 and I've been trying to collect information for the last couple months while I save up for my safety gear.

Race505,
This boat would not be good for more than 5 mi offshore in gulf. You could hit the first rigs along the coast in good seas. Go a little bigger if you want to go deep.

what could I expect to catch out at the first rigs?

Hello. Everyone has pretty much summed it up about what you need to go offshore in the POC area. On the other hand, I have been out in a 20 foot Carolina skiff on a great day; no clouds, no wind, no storms have been in the area for awhile. We always stayed within 20 miles or so just in case, but being out in the gulf in a small boat when a storm is brewing is no fun. Make sure you have a marine radio on board. I don't know how often you are planning on going offshore, but I think a 20 foot boat would be okay under perfect conditions. It just depends on the weather and what the seas are doing.

You can catch red snapper, huge reds, shark, and ling among others at the first rigs most of the time. I believe the distance to the rigs is about 8 miles or so right out of the POC jetties. We usually hit up the city service rigs and go farther, but that is in a 48 foot Bertram. No problems there.

Good luck on finding a boat.

Could someone possibly look at a boat for me in the Dickinson area. I found a Bayliner that I think would be good for the the first rigs out of POC.

What do toy think of this?

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/3/8/1481638.htm

The continental shelf at that area is perhaps more than 100 miles offshore. Around the first rigs, with clean water, you might get some small snapper and some reds and such, but you need to go out further to find dolphin and wahoo and such. That 18.5 looks like a decent jetty boat, but even the jetties at POC can be a rough ride across the bay if the wind is up. If I was going to have a house in POC, I would sooner invest in a flats boat than a deep water boat. It's quite likely that you could find someone who has a deep water boat who will trade trips with you, if you take them wade fishing around Bill Day's reef or over to the Army hole.

GPS. Youd be crazy to try and go offshore in a new area with out it.

I have a freind who takes a 19 foot mako out about 20 - 25 miles from port mansville.

With a smaller boat you have to pick your days very well, make sure it is pretty calm and the forcast is clear.

You can do it but be carefull.

consider a 20' - 26' boat with gps and vhf. texassurfdude said it best(gps). you will need at least 80 - 120 gallons of fuel to fish 20 - 50 miles offshore. hope you enjoy the texascoast fishin'.

i was thinking just 8 to 10 miles out, nothing further at this time, and I would never venture out without a good radio and gps. I already have a Garmin 232 GPS/Plotter

That Bayliner is fine for that distance.
Pick your days carefully, be smart and have fun.