Who Fishes for Snapper out of a Bay Boat?

[latravcha]

It is all about knowing your boat, what it can handle and when to throw in the towel before $hit hits the fan and head north. I have been in Caillou bay between bird island and the pass and had squalls come up and seen it go from flat calm to four foot seas in less than tem minutes and that is not technically the gulf. I have run 12 miles out in a 22 foot boat but like said many times pick your days carefully. I find that running out at night gives you more opportunities to make it out if you are comfortable with that.

[Top Dawg]

Originally Posted by latravcha

It is all about knowing your boat, what it can handle and when to throw in the towel before $hit hits the fan and head north. I have been in Caillou bay between bird island and the pass and had squalls come up and seen it go from flat calm to four foot seas in less than tem minutes and that is not technically the gulf. I have run 12 miles out in a 22 foot boat but like said many times pick your days carefully. I find that running out at night gives you more opportunities to make it out if you are comfortable with that.

In my experience the gulf tends to kick up at night. And I NEVER run at night out there. You wouldn't believe the stuff they have floating out there and un manned unlighted well heads. Some people do but I won't. If I have to navigate at night out there I'll throw some rods out and troll around. Nothing faster than trolling speed(6) mph.

[simplepeddler]

Yes, people, including me do it all the time.

Yes, people drown out there all the time.

If you even have to ask on a forum, then you should second guess yourself.
Not taking a cheap shot at you man, but dead is permanate.

AND, if those that go with you see YOU as the guy, so you need to be sure.
No sure, no go

[jpeff31787]

I agree with the guys on here, if you do go make sure you know your boat and have a buddy boat. I try to never go offshore unless I have a buddy boat out with me. I've been as far out as 30 miles out at night in our 19ft nautic star if that help answer any questions. Its always possible, just know your boats capabilities.

Good luck if you do go and make sure to post a report. I wouldn't go any time this week btw. Looks like there will be scattered thunderstorms all week

[TheLongRun]

I see this often, and would never consider doing it myself. On a perfect day we have taken the 24' bay boat to the 8 mile rigs, which is still what I consider "coastal", but I wouldn't even do that run in anything smaller. 99% of the time nothing will go wrong. That 1% is what you have to worry about and prepare for. Ive been out enough times in bigger boats and had summer squalls pop up and get beat up, I would never want to do that in a small boat. Also, if you are going in a bay boat with a single motor, I would strongly consider adding a kicker. You know that feeling when your heart just sinks when you try to crank it and something goes wrong on the water? Or you are running and something craps out? Imagine that miles from shore. That VHF on channel 16 might save your life, but a kicker definitely makes things seem less life or death.

[jchief]

I will go out in my 21' frontier, but I pic my days and I have been out quite a bit in my younger days. Any doubt, don't go.

[Reel Aquaholic]

If you want to be able to snapper fish just get an offshore boat and use it for inshore fishing too.... Problem solved