Link to the robalo on craigslist
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/2813889923.html

Yellowfin.

Look at the Key West. They are one of the top sellers in Florida. I had one for 10 years annd they are a great boats. Power with a Yamaha(s).

Amen to the comment on high actual cost of keeping and running offshore boats -- especially in Texas. I've resisted the urge to do it in Texas, but kept a boat in the Northeast as a place to stay and fish. Here are some observations.

At the risk of making a tax comment on a fishing/boating thread, under the current (and long standing tax rules) if you purchase a boat that meets the second home test (berth, head, galley) and you get a loan for it, the interest payments are deductible, just like home mortgage interest.

One thing that has amazed me since I moved to Austin is how long and how tough runs to offshore fishing are from the Texas coast -- and I've been running 50 to 80 foot sportfishermen since 1969.

For now, I've left my boat in the Northeast, where I have a 30 to 60 minute run from the dock in Block Island to bluefin and 15 minutes to stripers, bluefish, and false albacore. Other posters' comments about multi-engine necessity are 100% correct. Here, running 30-70 miles offshore in a boat with fewer than two well-maintained engines is not a wise thing to do. Strange things often happen.

Hatt nailed it. Many folks that have never fished the Texas coast will underestimate it. I seldom fish inside 40 miles. Add 3-4 ft short period wind waves to that ride and you and your boat are in for a beating.

I've decided to hold off on buying another offshore boat until I retire in the next few years and relocate to the coast. I can charter or go with friends and pay the expenses to use their boats much cheaper than hauling and using my own.

If you're going 40 mile+ one way, twins is the way to go.
150hp are good motors. Not overpowered, and fuel efficent.
4 strokes are really good, but I wouldn't discount the newer two strokes either.

I like Parker boats. They are not a popular in TX as they are on the mid-atlantic side and up in the northeast. These boats are built very well, very strong hull. The lay-out tends to be spartan, showing its commercial fishing roots. It's like a blank canvas and you add what you want to add. Another boat maker form the same area (NC) is Albermarle. Also very well built.

However given the economy, you may find real bargains on great boats like Pursuit, Contender, etc..

My boat posted earlier in this thread is up for sale again. Had it winterized so took it off the market. Cranked it up this week and dayum it sounded good. May take it to PK and stretch its legs a bit this weekend

Yellowfin- check Florida for awesome steals

This one looks pretty good!
Ebay Link

grady white...done

Contender, Regulator, Yellowfin, Capehorn, Bluewater, Competition, Kencraft 230, etc... anything with a 24-degree hull is what I would look for. A cat would be a good bet too I'm sure, they just are not my interest.

Anything with much less than 24-degrees deadrise is a compromise and you'll regret it on the rough days I promise you.

I had two 23 foot boats, 1 st was a well craft walk around with 200 yamaha. This one had zero room to fish if there were more then two people and if the waves ever picked up then it had a hard time keeping rpm up. Other then that the well craft was built well and was a solid boat. The second boat i had was a 23 foot sea fox twin 115 johnsons. This boat was a total piece of you no what. Would not recommend sea fox to anyone. I feel like an igloo cooler has stronger fiberglass sides. I also feel thatbthe 23 size is not really what you want to go out 40 miles on. I believe it's worth the money to go with one of the top boat makers when fishing offshore. The boat goes through a lot off stress out there, you want it tonbring you home and last.

I just sold my boat as well. Trailering it from Dallas to the coast and maintenance is a money pit. I found that flying down to Miami and renting a boat in the keys only costs me few hundred bucks more then pulling my boat to galveston and then going out 60 miles. You can rent a 28 ft Grady white with 200s for $250 a day. You can't beat that, and only need to go out 6 miles instead of 60. The other positive no insurance, no boat payments, no storage fees. Now of course if you live on the coast and you go once a week buy one.

Nice looking boat. Sort of hard to believe it only has 1 engine though.

My idea of an offshore boat. Due to unemployment I've gotta sell her though.
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/7701563#Post7701563

Joe