Hey everyone. I have a good question for you guys.What size boat and motor do you need to get to the jetties and a good distance fishing up and down them and back safe to the ramp.In process of getting a new Center Console and want to do alot of jetty fishing this year…
http://www.keywestboats.com/boats Key West, makes a nice 1720 CC, that might be just what you need:wink:
ive been out to charleston jetties a few times… seen everything from big cc to little metal sea arc’s its all about comfort and your level of experience.
Thats true. I had a 17ft CC before I took to charleston jettys a couple times and first trip out to jettys scared me to death.Next few times I braved it out.But was wondering what was the smallest size you think that would be safe.Also is a CC the only kind of boat you would take out to the jettys. .
Almost any boat will work if the weather is right. If you’re going for something to get you into the ocean a little bit, you may want to look at a 21’ seahunt or seafox. You can power with a 150-200 HP and take it out to the nearshore or Chas 60 on a calm day and still get back in if the weather picks up on you.
Seafox 246 w 300 Yamaha
To add to what you probably already know and what others are saying, it’s all about comfort and experience. I have a 21ft (20’ 7" actually) CC with a 150hp motor (as you can see below) and have about two years of boating experience (probably somewhere north of 100 hour and fewer than 150 hours behind the wheel). I’ve probably fished the Jetties a dozen times without being too worried, granted I’m not out fishing in gale winds or in stormy weather. (I do typically leave my motor running for at least a few minutes after I anchor up to make sure I’m not drifting/the anchor is pretty secure, although my xmas present to myself was a 112lb thrust trolling motor with an “anchor” feature which should make my life a lot easier at the Jetties/Nearshore reefs).
On calmer flat days I’ve seen people out in 15ft skiffs, but I’ve also been out there when it’s like you’re in a washing machine throwing 2ft+ chop (which is a bit uncomfortable)
207 CC SeaHunt
Yamaha 150
Fish the Jetties a few times and have seen many small crafts such a as 15’ or so boats. I wouldn’t hesitate taking my little 16’ flats boat out there on a nice day. I’d probably stay on the inside of the jetties though. The outside can get rough.
Anchoring is very important. It’s good idea to keep the motor running for a few mins after you anchor just in case you break free. If your anchor holds for the first 10 mins or so chances are you’re good to go.
I have seen all shapes and sizes out there. I always felt most comfortable in a 17’ or bigger. You really have to pay attention to wind and tide. The stretch between Fort Sumter and the jetties can be very nasty and dangerous if the wind and the tide are bucking each other. There is a lot of water that flows through that area.
pic your days*
Wisely…
20ft DeepV with 150hp is a good all around boat for the Charleston area.
Big enough to cut down on some of the pucker factor.
Handles running through the harbor which can have a worse sea state then the Jetties.
Capable of hitting the local reefs (something you may eventually want to do).
Draft around 15-18inches, you can still get into some shallow water/creeks.
One person can launch, fish, anchor, load.
Yeah friogatto I been wanting to go fish the reefs.hear alot about them.so yeah that’s another reason I need a good boat. .
17’ would be my cutoff point.
Self bailing deck, full transom and decent deadrise for the chop and snot.
I currently fish the area in a 19 Sea Pro CC, 21 Sea Hunt and 21 Sea Fox Viper. The viper is a bay boat - and we have taken waves over the bow on a calm day - from a big ship bucking the outgoing tide.
I was on youtube looking at videos of guys fishing at the jettys and I pulled up a video of a guy in a fishing kayak fishing the jettys.how in the world did he make it out there in that. .
19’ bay boat with a 115-150hp on it. Find a good, used 3yr old one without any problem. I was at the Carolina Composites plant (makers of Pioneer and Bulls Bay Boats) the other day. The 19’ Bulls Bay Bay boat would be a super boat for you.
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Originally posted by gonefishingThats true. I had a 17ft CC before I took to charleston jettys a couple times and first trip out to jettys scared me to death.Next few times I braved it out.But was wondering what was the smallest size you think that would be safe.Also is a CC the only kind of boat you would take out to the jettys. .
na none of the charleston fishing i have done was in a cc… as much as i wanted to drag my boat down i have a friend with a boat down that way… its a family boat but has put us on some nice fish.
best advice i can give is to be comfortable with general navigation and understanding of water ways… fishing is the easy part… take a boating course.
know the weather apps/programs… 1-2ft seas at 7-10 sec on a s/se wind and its like a lake… 1-2 at 2-4sec with a north east wind is a no go… not every day its going to hold that “good weather” i have run home in beginning of a small craft advisory when it was dead flat for half a day… unfortunately when stuff changes it usually happens quick.
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Originally posted by Easyhttp://www.keywestboats.com/boats Key West, makes a nice 1720 CC, that might be just what you need:wink:
second that - my grandfather had one of these with a 75 merc on the back of it. I took that thing everywhere! The boat was a great beginner boat the motor however left me stranded more times than I can remember.
Sabalo 21 150 Yamaha
Key West Stealth 150 V-max SOLD
Yeah I been on craigslist looking at some nice boats…Saw a few in charleston I might have to check out soon.
Went to florida this weekend and found me a 172 Scout…