I have always had more success on a sandy bottom and this is probably due to the water being clearer there. But with that said I have gigged them on oyster beds also. I think the best way to find them is to go and choose your nights with little to no wind and not on a new moon phase tide a lot of water in and out makes for dirtier water. Hope this helps.
On here for sale at, what appears to be, a fair price.
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/classDetail.asp?id=14309
19’ Sea-Pro CC
“Swagger Wagon”
Yamaha 115 - 2 stroke
14’ CMF Skiff
25 Johnson - 2 stroke
14’ Heritage Redfish
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
Texas- Thanks very much for your post. Those sort of thoughts are exactly what I was hoping for. It seems you are looking at similar boats, so please keep me posted on what you find. I’m still a little ways out from shopping hard as I have a little duck boat that I need to figure out how much I should try to sell it for (might try a post on here as soon as I take some photos), then sell it, then see where I’m at. So I’m just trying to do a little homework, but if you want any info i find, feel free to message me anytime.
B- Thanks again for all the ■■■■■■■■. You definitely have me convinced that I want to look more at the DLX hull before any decision is made.
Geronimo- Again, your thoughts are very much appreciated, and I’m happy to receive your opinions whether you’ve owned a specific boat or not. As for the gigging, I have what I feel is an amazing setup on my little boat. I use underwater LEDs (powered by 24v with drivers for more light). I can see really well and I have pushed a good bit of bank with them and other 12v setups, but I’ve never been able to go with someone that uses the halogens and generator so I’m not sure how my rig sizes up. I’ll gladly tell you all I know about gigging, but it’s really not much… just PM me with an email or phone number; I’m happy to use either. I definitely haven’t figured it out yet; I’m still searching for how some folks achieve those big numbers. What I can tell you for sure is that gigging is a blast. Even on the many nights I have not stuck any fish, I usually see a bunch of life that is very entertaining (rays, sharks, bait, short fish, turtles, birds and coons just as an idea).
Everyone else reading- please keep the info coming. Part of the fun of fishing and boating for me is the research, so I wanna hear anything ya got. Thanks.
Tight lips are a good thing. 
hows the pole-ability on the 16-17’ carolina skiffs? versus the small mako or sundance? im ultimately looking to get one as a flats skiff, but for the right price of course. i hope to be in my own in about 2 summers( im 15) but early research never hurt anybody? i would for sure get a nice ipilot trolling motor and a poling platform on the boat, but i want something with a lot of bow and stern deck for the ability to walk all around the gunnels. My dream though is to get an older 16-17’ that i mentioned and rebuild it myself and do all custom built decks and livewells.
or just give cracker larry 20k and let him go at it on his boats haha
14’ Skiff-“Redfish Reaper”
quote:
Originally posted by GeronimoAll this talk about gigging boats.
Anyone want to offer any help on gigging? I am new to it and I am not sure of the best way to scout out potential spots. How do you go about looking for good clear water, and the type of bottom for visibility? Sandy, shelly, grass? Scout at low tide and wait for the right wind and tide to give clarity? Just looking for a few pointers to get headed in the right direction.
I will be targeting behind Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island if that makes a difference.
Just pm me, or if we are talking about trade secrets here I’ll
move along.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
go back there where you’re planning to go and cover water. You will do fine . if the water is cloudy, move
Had a 14’ keywest and traded for the CS 18 JVX. Both are cheap but the CS is more solid. Only upside to KW is their skiffs are self baling decks. Taken the JVX off the beaches but it is a flat bottom -don’t believe their marketing about limited offshore capabilities. Ordered a 218 DLV which isn’t here yet. Legitimately a (very low deadrise) a modified vee but. Spoke to a guide who’s taken same model to Commanche -but not with clients. I might try 4KI (which I wouldn’t in the JVX), but still alone without kids. More of the DLV’s bigger water capabilities over the JVX probably come from 26" gunnels instead of 18" -the JVX is wet. Not excited about that as it is nice to release a fish in water without stretching. But skiffs are skiffs and you can move up without adding draft. All the CS models within a line (the JVXs, DLVs, etc) draft the same regardless of length/weight. As for poling, I wouldn’t get excited about any of them. They might use the same term “skiff” as Mitzi, etc., but CS aren’t “poling skiffs” or flats boats, they’re bathtubs.
quote:
Originally posted by empty pocketsTight lips are a good thing.
I’m a little slow, so I’m not positive that I’m on the same page as you, but I removed what I believe you were talking about. My comment was genuinely meant to express my confusion towards the situation. If I’m right; then thanks for the heads up.
Hobohicket-
Does the issue with poling have to do with the weight or how the boat tracks? I’ve never poled any type of skiff so I really don’t have a comparison. In your opinion, would it be a waste to try to stick a platform on the “bathtub” skiffs? If my boat search was solely about me and my desires, I’d definitely be more interested in something like a Mitzi. But my wife likes the taller seating and weekend cruising appeal of something like the Carolina Skiff, which I can understand. So I’m trying to find the best compromise available. I can say that the biggest water I will try to fish with this boat would be the PR Sound for cobia, and still will need nice days. So the taller gunnels on the DLV is not the direction I’m leaning towards. I will gladly pitch in on friends’ boat costs for the bigger water until I size up some day in the future. Thank you for commenting; every bit of info I can get is helpful.
Big Tuna I live in Beaufort and have a 16jvx if you would like we can meet sometime and we can take a ride this is truly the only way to make a decision. I don’t know what time frame you are looking to purchase but if you wait I am about to put a platform on my boat and would happily let you pole me around while I fish lol. Just let me know.
Hah. I hear that poling thing can give quite the workout, so I don’t know how much help I’d be. I sure would be willing to give it a try if you ever want, though. As for my when I’m purchasing, I need to try to sell my little duck boat. I had imagined I would jump into an older used (less expensive) skiff pretty soon, but after doing some research I feel I might be leaning towards the nicer options like the JVX and other newer models. If I do that, I will have to give it some more time to save up and for that extra expense.
I appreciate the ride offer, but I have fished the 16JVX and it is my basis of comparison. I know that I really liked that boat… just trying to find if there is a worthwhile compromise in a less expensive model or if something like the Key West is the better choice at the same price point. That being said, I would be glad to give the poling a try if you ever find yourself without someone to join you. Might seem odd to some people, but I can enjoy an entire day of fishing without ever grabbing a rod; just like being out there and learning. Thanks again for the offer, and I’ll keep an eye out for ya when you get that platform installed!
Check out the skiffs from four sons marine.
Their Facebook page has way more pictures than the web site.
quote:
Originally posted by BigTunaHobohicket-
Does the issue with poling have to do with the weight or how the boat tracks? I’ve never poled any type of skiff so I really don’t have a comparison. In your opinion, would it be a waste to try to stick a platform on the “bathtub” skiffs? If my boat search was solely about me and my desires, I’d definitely be more interested in something like a Mitzi. But my wife likes the taller seating and weekend cruising appeal of something like the Carolina Skiff, which I can understand. So I’m trying to find the best compromise available. I can say that the biggest water I will try to fish with this boat would be the PR Sound for cobia, and still will need nice days. So the taller gunnels on the DLV is not the direction I’m leaning towards. I will gladly pitch in on friends’ boat costs for the bigger water until I size up some day in the future. Thank you for commenting; every bit of info I can get is helpful.
Just because you have a poling platform on a boat, it doesn’t mean you have to pole it. I’ve built several platforms for guys with bay type boats. One in particular was a 24’ Tidewater. He stands on the platform and uses the remote control on his trolling motor to move him around. I don’t think he even owns a push pole.
Poling platforms give a great vantage point. It’s amazing how much more you can see standing just 3’ above the deck. You only add about 40-50 lbs. to the rear of the boat.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
I have a 19ft carolina skiff w/115hp yamaha 4 stroke. I like the boat and it is really great/safe for small kids because of its high gunwale/rail. My next boat will have a pointed bow. When it’s choppy ya gotta slow way down or get wet and bounced around
I have a 17 Carolina Skiff with a “V” hull and a 60hp Yamaha 4 stroke. I love this boat and use it at least 4 times a week. It is the perfect size for up to 3 guys, maybe 4 if 2 are kids. It is usually just me and one other person. Everything is simple - not much that CAN break and that is the way I like it. I use it to fish - everything from flats to deep creeks. I run all around the harbor but stay away from the jetties. It would be safe enough, but there is a limit to how much spray I can take in the face (more on that later). I also use it for flounder gigging and love the fact that it draws only about 8 inches or so of water. My son and I tried poling the first year and then I got a trolling motor. Once you go trolling motor - you NEVER GO BACK! I remember us fighting some combination of the wind / current every night. Do yourself a favor if you can and get a trolling motor if you are going to do much gigging.
The ONLY drawback to the Carolina Skiff - and mine is about 10 years old so things might have changed, is that if I so much as look at a chop in the water it is going to hit me in the face with some spray LOL. That is why I put the “V” in quotes above. This thing rides like a flat bottom, but does turn better to be honest. You just get used to it. However, late in shrimp baiting season there is nothing like a good face full of salt water to ‘wake you up’ as my son says. We both have gotten good at diving behind the little windshield to try and get some protection. However, this is like the single knot left undone in a perfect rug so you realize how nice it is. I wouldn’t trade my boat for anything.
Feel free to PM me and you are welcome to come by for a ride / go fishing. I agree with the poster above, that is the only way you can really make a decision.
floundergig- Thank you for the good comments on the CS as well as the offer for a ride. I have a couple of Beaufort folks that have offered me the same, otherwise I would be hitting you up right away. I do hope to have a trolling motor, and you’re the first to make it clear to me that the 17 is able to be used for gigging… which is something I definitely wanted to hear. I feel prepared to accept the spray factor on the skiff boats, so it’s not a big concern for me. I’m slowly catching up to all of the models… would yours be more similar to the DLX, DLV, or JV?
Mine is a DLV but from 2002. They have done a good job of updating the boat over the years. The center consoles use breakers instead of fuses and the front storage area has doors on it where mine are open, etc… My understanding is they added a chine (sp?) somewhere in there to reduce the spray.
You can absolutely gig in the 17’ with no issues at all.