First of all I would like to say I am sorry to the moderators they stopped my last post I would like to stay on topic here I got this boat on tuesday because I want to go fishing for marlin, tuna, ling, octopus, moby dick, whatever.... Thanks to everyone in my last post for the encouragement, ZEEK THE GREEK, LITE LINER (troll), CHUCKWAGON, LAND PIRATE, PAT, MR FABULOUS, CRAPPIE MARK, yall gave me some good ideas on how to get out there. I now have something reliable and in a few weeks Im gonna put some pic on here that will have ya'll droolin at the mouth.
***BUT***
I still need to know, how far out can I go in this boat? I dont even know how much gas it holds, I am still in shock that it is sittin in my driveway. I want to go WAAAAYYYYYYY out there.

What's the length, motor size (hp), fuel capacity? Electronis? VHF radio, navigations, etc? More info needed. Doesn't look to be over 20 ft , maybe shorter like 18 ft. Doubt you will be safe to take it far enough out to chase tuna unless you get lucky catching some behind a shrimp boat closer in. Short rigs might be doable if seas are ess than 2'. Might also consider getting a kicker motor just in csse or make sure you have a companion boat. Marlin probably won't be happening either. But as mentioned, the short rigs can produce kings, smaller snapper usually and an array of other fun fish (and good eating). Can also fish the outside of the jetties and do really well too.

the boat is 18 and a half foot with a 200 hp motor. I got lowerance gps and garmin thru hull sonar I would like to ask also, is it safe to go out by the oil rigs at night? I would like to do some night fishing salt water style

Fishing at night is okay too but it just magnifies the chance of something bad happening if you aren't equipped properly. Best to have some sort of weather radar on board as you sure won't notice an approaching storm in the dark. I know guys who go 30-40 miles out and tie long ropes to rigs and fish downcurent from them. Still, changing winds can cause instant danger.

Oh, and 18 1/2 ft is really small for offshore. You will really have to pick you days to go to be safe. Calm to 1' would be best, 2' seas could get interesting. Even getting out of the jetties would get fun and passing a ship in the channel would bounce you around pretty bad.

It seems to me that you have limited offshore experience as a captain. The worse time to get experience is 40 miles out with an oncoming storm. 4' swells with a big period would be a piece of cake. If the wind picks up and changes direction then you have confused seas or a washing machine. THAT SUCKS!!! A big boat helps then but not as much as experience. You should seriously start off by hitting some rigs close in or just running around the jetties when the weather is a little bumpy. Read Chapman's book and find out when to throttle and when to back off and at which angle to hit a big wave and more important which angle to drop off the back side. Your boat may be unsinkable but do you know how to prevent pitch poling? Being upside down and backwards is a bad situation. With adequate gas on a good day with a competent captain that boat could fish way out in the gulf safely.

Joe

"Hooper drives the boat, chief"

sonar, gps, reliability ck's out?
STILL keep that boat within 20 nm
flat calm or not.
You aint goin long SAFELY off Texas in anything
shorter than 28' & 80g of fuel.
Keep it inside the jetties until you learn the boat, then "baby step" your way out further as you learn more about
your boat, the seas, the weather, your own capabilities, etc...

I'm seeing a jackplate, is it a tunnel or modified V. My blue wave modified V will jar your teeth in 2' water. I'd hate to run a tunnel anywhere past 15 miles if at all.

It's a deep-vee hull boat, slightly bigger than mine and surely every bit as capable as a 19' Boston Whaler.

But, you gotta get experience out there first. +1 on lite-liner - no more than 20nm

Congrats on the new boat,

Now you are only limited by your crusing range, your boat
handling skills , common sense and the size of your
cahones..

good luck

MO

You ain't getting into Marlin waters with that. No way, no how. You need to slow down and ease into the offshore scene. Start out by trolling for kings close to shore. As you get the hang of it and comfortable with your abilities and your boat's abilities, then push a little farther. Pay close attention to winds and seas forecasts. I wouldn't go if seas are predicted to be over 3 feet.

There are lots of fish to be caught inside 20 miles. Kings, ling, dorado, snapper, ling, big reds, trout, snapper, trigger fish. You've got a lot to learn yet. Enjoy the ride and have fun.

Just FYI, most of the yellow fin tuna, marlin, wahoo (pelagics) are going to be found close to the 100 fathom curve. That's 600 ft depth and beyond. Out of Port Aransas this line lies about 62 miles from shore. That's a long long way in a small boat. Conditions can frequently change quickly while offshore. Don't push your safety envelope. Remember, be smart. The main thing is having fun.

Also, if you want to start getting into targeting Marlin and Sailfish you're going to need a lot of specialized and expensive equipment. You also need specific knowledge on rigging and how to set a spread. Like I said, you've got a steep learning curve. Crawl before you walk and walk before you run.

Also, if you really want to get into trolling for pelagics you need to ditch the bimini top, add a t-top and outriggers.

One asprin at a time there skipper. You go to the end of the jetties and then think about what you really want to do from there.

Once again Land Pirate (and some of you other guys too)... your knowledge amazes me.