Have a 22’ Seafox Commander and don’t know what is the optimal ocean/wind conditions. What should I be looking for in the forecasts regarding the farthest buoy from the jetties that gives weather conditions. Furthermore, how much farther is that buoy to the ledge/mahi fishing grounds. I have heard mornings are usually calmer than afternoons.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Go ahead and prepare for responses you’re not looking for. Depending your experience offshore, 20+ miles, should constitute what you’re doing. Start close and overtime move farther out. I usually check the weather @ the 41004 Buoy and the forecast out 20nm. I personally don’t find the conditions (on the days I go) to be any different @ 20 miles versus 50. Generally speaking I choose days under 10mph winds not blowing from the E or NE and forecasted seas @ 3’ or less and a swell. I also like to use reefcast but if their is wind that’s not going to seem like an accurate forecast. A 3’ by 12 second swell with 15mph winds is going to be rough due to surface chop. Anyways, if these are your first ventures captaining a vessel offshore, stick with your Charleston 60 and closer reefs for quite a while before venturing further. The 41004 buoy isn’t far distance wise from the ledge. (Distance from jetties to 41004 vs distance Jetties to ledge)
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Mike Martinez
2016 Sea Hunt 25 Gamefish twin Yamaha 150’s “Wet Dream”
1994 Ken Craft 175CC 1998 Yamaha 115 “Dream Machine”
How does your boat handle waves of different heights? Will 2-3 beat you up? If you can go in 2-3 without having to plow along at 10 mph you could do it!
Don’t be in too much of a hurry to learn the hard way. With a boat that size, I wouldn’t go out deep in anything more than 3 foot seas at 7+ seconds with less than 10 mph wind. Avoid NE or E winds altogether.
I would stick within about 10 miles of safety. When you get better at weather watching you should try farther. There are no reasons that your boat can’t do it, but don’t be afraid to turn back if you have to. If you work 5 days a week like most of us, you will probably only get 10 or so trips a year without burning sick days.
Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should. Be careful not to bust up that nice new boat you got!
with a boat that size I use the rule of 3- the seconds have to be 3x the height- 2 ft 6 seconds or 3 ft 9 seconds and NO NORTHEAST WIND
This was my first year as a captain fishing off shore. My previous off shore experience was limited to sailing and some fishing on other peoples boats. Believe me it was a learning experience.
The advice to stay near shore for a few trips to get used to sea conditions and your boat is a great suggestion. Finding a friend to fish with who has experience could also be a good way to expand your trips.
And of course the group here will can be very helpful.
Good luck and tight lines.
Follys Best
World Cat 266SC
Scout 15.5
quote:
Originally posted by FLORIDA_BOY2Go ahead and prepare for responses you’re not looking for.
Nothing but GOOD stuff so far! No mention of Tidal Rails.
Jnmoor00, Welcome to the site! What Floridaboy2 is saying… Have some thick skin around here and ignore some of the smart arse comments some will make.
“If Bruce Jenner can keep his wiener and be called a woman, I can keep my firearms and be considered disarmed.”
Bring knowledgeable people with you. I was dead in the water 40 miles off when both engines failed (brand new) and wouldn’t take gas. All it was was a vapor lock. If it weren’t for 40inchreds saying he opens his gas cap on lawn mowers sometimes we would’ve been calling sea tow cuz we were at a loss for fixes.
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Mike Martinez
2016 Sea Hunt 25 Gamefish twin Yamaha 150’s “Wet Dream”
1994 Ken Craft 175CC 1998 Yamaha 115 “Dream Machine”
FYI, in general, you are going to encounter bigger seas over the next 3 months (winter). There will be some good days (but most of them will be Mondays, ha!).
Agree with everyone else about avoiding NE winds and staying inshore/nearshore if the wind forecast is over 10mph. Please don’t go offshore without an Epirb or PLB and a good VHF.
Thank you everyone for your help. I’m now shopping outriggers for my t-top. Hopefully if any of you head out Mahi fishing in April we can link up. I’d feel better about heading out knowing another boater was on the grounds.
2015 226 Seafox Commander 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke.
quote:
Originally posted by Jnmoor00Thank you everyone for your help. I’m now shopping outriggers for my t-top. Hopefully if any of you head out Mahi fishing in April we can link up. I’d feel better about heading out knowing another boater was on the grounds.
2015 226 Seafox Commander 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke.
If you can get out in a 22 seafox in April, you will have plenty of company.
Olde Man Charters
843-478-1538
Oldemancharters@gmail.com
286 Seafox/Twin 300’s
Well, I’ll be checking back in April…right now I’m deployed and won’t get back till second week of April. I am hoping to make a few friends on here while deployed so I’ll know the guys/gals I’m out there fishing with. Been looking on you tube at everything Mahi and Wahoo fishing related. Also, been trying to decipher the blue water super map and considering paying the monthly fee for inthespread.com videos. Last year I went only to capers and chs 60 reefs. I purchased a Garmin radio and had it linked to the GPS and had it all registered for emergencies. I have also built and still building tackle equipment up and hoping the gear is sound for Wahoo and Mahi.
quote:
Originally posted by sulcatamanquote:
Originally posted by Jnmoor00Thank you everyone for your help. I’m now shopping outriggers for my t-top. Hopefully if any of you head out Mahi fishing in April we can link up. I’d feel better about heading out knowing another boater was on the grounds.
2015 226 Seafox Commander 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke.
If you can get out in a 22 seafox in April, you will have plenty of company.
Olde Man Charters
843-478-1538
Oldemancharters@gmail.com
286 Seafox/Twin 300’s
2015 226 Seafox Commander 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke.
I have a boat thats slightly larger than yours. 2-3’ at 8 seconds is my max tolerable. If the forecast says anything about 4’, i usually dont go, although there occasional rare forecasts where that would be okay (4’ at 11 or 12 seconds or so).
Also, many other people on here dont do this, but i do and it rarely fails me: look at the US southestern seaboard wind chart on the magicseaweed app. If there is a beaufort force of 4 or greater in the area i’m fishing, i dont go. Anything less than four with otherwise generably tolerable conditions and its good to go.
Also, if you choose to use reefcast (which i usually do), be sure to use the drop down box and also look at the reefcast with extra wave data. This will show forecasted secondary swell which is difficult to predict, but at least they try to predict it. Some forecasts dont show secondary swell (NOAA for instance) and just basically expect you to guesstimate it based on wind direction/speed. You will find that many times people are surprised by rough conditions offshore, that it is the secondary swell, not the primary swell (what the bouy measures) that makes the day unpleasant. For this reason, i put very little stock in the bouy data. It happens all the time… bouy said 3’ at 9 seconds, should be great right? Well too bad the bouy cant measure the 2’ at 4 second slop that is overlying the primary swell.
I usually base my decision off factors in this order: wind beaufort force (usually I like force 3 or less which is essentially less that 11 or so knots sustained), wind direction (NE is worst although i have fished NE at 5 knots and it was fine), period (i like 7-8 secs or better if the swell height is greater than or equal to 2’) , and swell height (preferably 2 but 3 is sometimes workable given the right period).
Also, i noticed your first trip may be in april, wise decision. Lots of people will be out there at that time if something should go wrong and the cold water is unforgiving this time of year and now wouldnt be a great time to do you
Just did this myself last year. My boat is about the same size as yours & my wife and I were following a larger boat out of Edisto to the Edisto Banks. We were waiting at the south inlet and they blew past us in the dark then called us on the cell cause they were following another boat as well. Anyway, we stayed with them until we lost them in the sun. By then we were at the Edisto 60. We slowed, programmed the GPS and headed to the Offshore Reef. Realized we were 2/3rd of the way to the EB so kept heading that way. It felt fairly deserted as we didn’t see many boats until we got there and counted 17 on the horizon. Obviously it was a good day to be out. Epirb, vhs, plb–all in a ditch bag and common sense on weather will keep you out of most trouble. Millacd’s advice on the Reefcast extra wave data is priceless. I just hope there are more good days to go out this spring.
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 225 w/Yam. 200
2008 Carolina Skiff 17DLX w/2015 Yam. 70
I know its crazy how large the ocean is and everybody fishes so close and I’m talking trolling not reef fishing. 60 miles out and you can see 30 boats in that 10 mile radius during tournaments or Mahi season.
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Originally posted by Jnmoor00Thank you everyone for your help. I’m now shopping outriggers for my t-top. Hopefully if any of you head out Mahi fishing in April we can link up. I’d feel better about heading out knowing another boater was on the grounds.
2015 226 Seafox Commander 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke.
Talk to Wes at Marsh Tacky for your outriggers. Local built, local maintained, local support, superior product.
https://www.marshtackycarbon.com/product-category/cf-riggers/
Thank you for all the advise if you head out in April lets try to link up…always nice to know someone on the water. I’m shooting for the third week for a weather break and then…its game on.
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Originally posted by millacdI have a boat thats slightly larger than yours. 2-3’ at 8 seconds is my max tolerable. If the forecast says anything about 4’, i usually dont go, although there occasional rare forecasts where that would be okay (4’ at 11 or 12 seconds or so).
Also, many other people on here dont do this, but i do and it rarely fails me: look at the US southestern seaboard wind chart on the magicseaweed app. If there is a beaufort force of 4 or greater in the area i’m fishing, i dont go. Anything less than four with otherwise generably tolerable conditions and its good to go.
Also, if you choose to use reefcast (which i usually do), be sure to use the drop down box and also look at the reefcast with extra wave data. This will show forecasted secondary swell which is difficult to predict, but at least they try to predict it. Some forecasts dont show secondary swell (NOAA for instance) and just basically expect you to guesstimate it based on wind direction/speed. You will find that many times people are surprised by rough conditions offshore, that it is the secondary swell, not the primary swell (what the bouy measures) that makes the day unpleasant. For this reason, i put very little stock in the bouy data. It happens all the time… bouy said 3’ at 9 seconds, should be great right? Well too bad the bouy cant measure the 2’ at 4 second slop that is overlying the primary swell.
I usually base my decision off factors in this order: wind beaufort force (usually I like force 3 or less which is essentially less that 11 or so knots sustained), wind direction (NE is worst although i have fished NE at 5 knots and it was fine), period (i like 7-8 secs or better if t
Yes I made contact with him and will reengage 30 days to arriving back to CHS.
quote:
Originally posted by 23Sailfishquote:
Originally posted by Jnmoor00Thank you everyone for your help. I’m now shopping outriggers for my t-top. Hopefully if any of you head out Mahi fishing in April we can link up. I’d feel better about heading out knowing another boater was on the grounds.
2015 226 Seafox Commander 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke.
Talk to Wes at Marsh Tacky for your outriggers. Local built, local maintained, local support, superior product.
https://www.marshtackycarbon.com/product-category/cf-riggers/
2015 226 Seafox Commander 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke.
I have a 211 Sportsman powered by a single 200 Yamaha and have gone out to Y-73 (27NM) and Commanche (22 NM) without incident a few times. It’s a blast out there. I always just look for days with low wind under 10 Knots and seas 3 ft or less, no NE wind. I have an EPIRB and a VHF that can hail coastguard from that range. I have never not felt safe out there but always very cautious. I plan to possibly try to push it a little further this spring/summer when the gulf stream moves in a little bit. The good thing about a 20-22 ft boat is there is always in shore fishing! If you get out and it’s too rough just play it safe, drop the minn-kota and catch some trout. 
Tight Lines!
The water tempature around Capers and Chs 60 is in the low 50’s. Y-73 and further out is in the high 60’s. If my boat was to sink I would rather be further out this time of year. Just saying.