I’m moving to the Charleston area in the next couple weeks, and have permission from my better half to buy a boat. I’m curious what you guys think would be the most useful boat, in the 20-22’ range, for fishing the Charleston area.
Specifically I’m curious whether a bay boat or a CC would be more versatile. Is there a lot of back country that a CC wouldn’t be able to get to because of a greater draft? Are there more opportunities offshore than inshore?
I’m just looking for a general picture. I can’t wait to hit the brine!
For an all-around boat, it’s hard to beat a bay boat. It will get somewhat skinny, will handle a chop just fine, can accomodate several people, and can handle nearshore and maybe a little offshore on nice days. Use the 80% rule. Buy a boat that will accomodate what you want to do 80% of the time. If you are going to be fishing in creeks and flats, a bay boat may be better than a typical deep V CC. On the other hand, if you want to fish nearshore/offshore every weekend, the CC is probably a better option. If you want to get real skinny, a flats boat may be a good option.
Also go to the local shops and get on the boats, get them out on the water, talk to the dealers, etc. Those guys are a wealth of knowledge. When I started looking, I wanted a dual console 18’ boat and ended up with a 21’ Key West bay boat. I love it, and I’m thankful that the salesmen that I talked to steered me in the right direction. I would have regretted buying the dual console. Butler Marine and Hanckel Marine both have great guys that will spend plenty of time with you. Talk to David at Butler and Tony at Hanckel. Good luck.
If you don’t mind my asking, do you find yourself in less than 2’ of water very often? Does the local inshore fishing require running shallow?
I guess the problem is I just don’t know what my 80% will be. The last 6 or 7 years I’ve fished exclusively offshore in a 27’ (real) panga, simply because there’s no inshore fishing available here (Southern Oman). Prior to that I fished mostly inshore in the Jax, FL area in a 19’ tin tub.
I really love both, and wish I could afford a big battle wagon for offshore, and a couple smaller rigs for inshore, but unless I win the lottery I’ll be stuck with a single boat for awhile.
While I had my wife’s consent, I would spring for the more expensive offshore boat. You can always pick up a flats boat later! Take advantage of her good mood.
Fair point Brian; I should just buy as much boat as I can, and get to work on a 2nd boat proposal! Those Grady White Tourney DCs are pretty… I hear they’re great for towing skiers too
Now you’re talking!!! You can always fish everything but the real shallow water in the cc. Heck, you can save your lunch money for a flats boat. Notice I didn’t say BEER money!
If you fished exclusively offshore in Oman for 6+ years, you’ll probably kick yourself for buying an inshore bay boat. I have a 17’ CC with an 8" draft and get in 2’ water all the time. There is a lot of shallow water in Charleston… but there’s a lot of deep water too. Based on your comments, off-shore CC.
Really depends on your budget. If your budget is 25k then you could have both. If it is 15 then you have to be creative. I know where there are very capable offshore boats with twins for 15-20k.
A mistake I see people make a lot is they try to find a boat that they can do a little bit of everything…but that never works. You cant reallllly go shallow and you cant realllllllly go out when its rough, so you just end up being frustrated you cant do whatever you want. That 80% thing seems pretty smart.
I would try a few different styles of fishing and find what YOU like: flats, jetties, nearshore, offshore, etc…then buy a boat accordingly.
I personally think a 22-24 pathfinder with t-top, power pole, jack plate, and trolling motor is an awesome boat. You can fish deep, run shallow, work docks, nose up to grass flats.
If you don’t mind my asking, do you find yourself in less than 2’ of water very often? Does the local inshore fishing require running shallow?
I guess the problem is I just don’t know what my 80% will be. The last 6 or 7 years I’ve fished exclusively offshore in a 27’ (real) panga, simply because there’s no inshore fishing available here (Southern Oman). Prior to that I fished mostly inshore in the Jax, FL area in a 19’ tin tub.
I really love both, and wish I could afford a big battle wagon for offshore, and a couple smaller rigs for inshore, but unless I win the lottery I’ll be stuck with a single boat for awhile.
I fish in 2’ of water a fair amount. I have to go through areas that are even less to get to some spots. I sometimes wish I had a flats boat so I could get really shallow, but it’s not practical with the wife and kids.
Based upon your comments, sounds like the CC may be right for you. Will get you offshore and can still fish inshore in a lot of places.
Graham is right about the 22’ Pathfinder. Awesome boat that allows you to do a lot of different things. There is no boat that does everything.
I have a creek boat and a 22 center console. After having both for a few years I find I use the creek boat a lot more. But that is really just a personal preference. Fishing in charleston is very similar to jax, so it will depend on what you prefer. My opinion is that the bay boat or even a substantial flats boat like a hewes red fisher is the best choice. You need a trolling motor, the ability to fish in 1 to 2 feet of water, and the ability to cross the harbor and fish the jetties. The pathfinder recommended above is a great option.
I see that bay boats are very popular here. Do you guys with the BBs feel comfortable running offshore? Anyone ever wish for a deeper V or higher freeboard?
To fish in 18" and run offshore a ways will take a compromise.I have a '03 21ft Seapro bayboat and it can do both.I fish all the inshore spots I want to except up on the flats.I can also run offshore up to 25nm and feel safe on well thought out nice days with no weather coming in the following evening.I also take her shrimping using the one pole method alone.I have also shrimped many times using the conventional 2 man method with ease,even on a 20kt ne wind.That is versatile enough for me.As i get older,my tastes are running less toward inshore and shrimping and more to offshore/nearshore.I may trade up to a 22ft v hull in a year or so.Good luck to you whatever you decide.I learned to sw fish while living on Mill Cove in JVille btw.
“Modern day Robin Hoodism-Steal from the sucessful and give to the poorly motivated.”
Well, it’s difficult to do everything on any boat.
I finally sold my 22 cutty because of gas prices, upkeep, and it still just did not get used enough. My large/wide j-boat gets all my other jobs done, then I hitch a ride offshore w/ a buddy every once in a while and chip in for expenses. Costs you a lot less.
Any of the days it is too rough to go offshore, you’re stuck inshore anyway.
The 80% advice is spot on. Another way to look at this is do you want to go with a one or two boat plan. I was in the same “boat” as you a few years ago when I moved to Florida. I was all fired up to get an offshore boat and a flats boat. The initial cost wasn’t a problem, but the cost for boat storage, insurance, and gas quickly drove me to a one boat plan. I ended up getting a bay boat…a 24 Pathfinder.
If you’re not sure what to get go buy a used bay boat and go fishing, skiing, and bumming around with the family. After a couple years you’ll know exactly what you want and a bay boat will always sell in the CHS area. So in the end you get what you want without any expensive mistakes.
Of course, SaltHunter may have the best idea with OPB (Other Peoples Boats).
buy my Triton 22 LTS and you can have the remaining 7 months or so of my drystack at Magwoods. It’s not as trendy as the Pathfinder and is a little heavier but you’ll be thankful for that most afternoons in the Harbor.
