Good Day I am new to the area and I am currently looking for a used boat to go fishing in the shallow waters of the Laguna Madre. Any Recomendations

dk2mam

Proper flats hull will have a tunnel, hydraulic jack plate, compression plate, and flats cupped prop. There's a zillion made on the coast, it all depends on HOW shallow you want to run, and what you're willing to compromise to achieve it.

I run a jet, which is as far as you can go without being an airboat, but it has it's own compromises, which I'm willing to have to get the shallow water ability I've got, you might not push it that far.

Then what size, how many new friends do you have to drag around, there's thousands of questions that need answers, the more you ask, the happier you'll be with your final decision. Rookie bay guys are usually victims to a boat salesman, because they're ignorant of what works, and what they really want to do.

There in NO boat that "goes past the jetties in 4' waves and runs on the flats" You'll end up with something that will do neither very well.

Good Morning Mr. Goff,

I am so thankful for your answers to my questions. I am just trying to learn before I go and jump into a boat that is not going to do the job. The only boat that I know by name is a Carolina Skiff but I know there are more out there beside that boat. I am very sure that I am not made for the Ocean that is why I am trying to stay where the wave are not that high.

Again

Thank you so much for your information

Honest answers to these questions will bring happier days ahead.

Upper laguna (corpus) or lower (port Mansfield)? Big difference in needs.
How many new friends are you needing to accommodate?
Honest style of fishing..wading? drifting? anchored up slinging bait?
How much time are you expecting to keep it clean and maintained?
How much are you expecting to spend on this toy?

Good Morning Pat,

Lower Laguna madre since I currently live in Alamo Texas and looking around four of us going fishing, (wife, mistress, brother and I) I enjoy fishing for anything that gets on a hook since I am the type of person who catches and releases fish to the water. I have a budget for a boat around 5k to 7.5K

Thank you so much for your help

dk2mam

A box full of trout might soon have you learning to catch and release...to the peanut oil.

6 grand isn't going to get much, sorry to say. Look around a little and let us know what you see, there's some real to be avoided mutts out there.

Take your time and save up a little more than that. A decent shallow running boat that will accommodate 4 is going to be pushing about double what you want to spend. Not to say you won't find a freakishly awesome deal. Once you get the right boat that accommadates your needs you will be much happier than "settling" on a boat "right now". I'm not meaning to discourage you in all of this. Just don't make the mistake of so many "new" shallow water anglers by settling for less than you need for what you want to do. It could be the difference in you getting hooked on the sport, and getting frustrated with it to the point of giving it up...I've seen it way too many times.

If you've never really salt water fished but want a boat I'd take a guide the first 2 or more times. I'd recommend guides that fish a little differently and have different boats like someone that will target redfish shallow and someone that will drift for trout. You'll learn a lot and see several boats on the water. If you don't fish that often you'll actaully save money buy using a guide instead of buying a boat. I know when thinking about the money per trip it seems like a lot but think about it over time and how much you fish(maintenence, gas, tackle, knowing where the fish are). If you're not fishing more than once a month it's not worth it. Granted a guide pointed that out to me but I feel it's true.

for that price range you should look into a scooter or a skiff of some type.
q

gonna be hard to accommodate 4 people on a scooter or skiff...unless it's a BIG skiff

Yeah, I'm good for two people, three gets pretty crowded, and four will sink me. Which is ok, the older I get the more un-social I become.

bingo! True fishing is hard to do with more than 3 people even in a bit boat. If I had it my way I would only take 3 people tops but they always want to bring more even when I tell them it hurts fishing.

When the water comes over the side of my scooter, they freak completely out and abandon ship, I don't have to say a word.

It's completely foam filled, so it can't sink, like a surfboard, but they don't know that...

even better pick them up on your way back! haha

Good Day

Thanks for all your TIPS for the fishing. I am currently in Kabul Afghanistan and I am very sure that I am all most done with this job and all I want to do is go and fish. I will look for a guide for the next trip and see how it goes.

Again

Thank you

dk2mam