Hybrid and bay boats, What are the best quality brands?

[JimIsland]

I have a Hell's Bay Estero. There is no better build quality. It is designed for fishing but it comfortably takes the family to the sandbar.

I have no doubt the Hells Bay is a quality boat. However, no better build quality is a bit subjective.

 

[Fowl Play]

I’d learn the fishery a bit before dropping 250k on a boat. Speed that up by booking a half day with a respected inshore captain in that area, and ask a bunch of questions. You’ll learn what boat you need in a morning, and whether a true “flats” boat is what you want.

You cannot target redfish in 6” of water and comfortably take your family to the sandbar and offshore in the same boat. You’re going to have to compromise on the truly skinny water if you want the other two.

Allot of the great inshore fishing in Florida is not true “flats” fishing. A 25ft boat that can motor in 2ft of water is great. The term “flats” normally garners images of such shallow water the fins of the fish you are chasing stick out of the water. Guys push pole on flats in super skinny boats. You will be very hard pressed to find a true “flats” boat that can go offshore more than once in a blue moon. Bay boats with offshore capabilities are the Florida Swiss Army knife.

I target redfish and speckled trout in less than 2ft of water on my bay boats, then head 20 miles offshore for these guys.

 

[willtim]

I have no doubt the Hells Bay is a quality boat. However, no better build quality is a bit subjective.

Design, materials used, build process, and fit/finish are not "subjective".

 

[bozeman]

I’d learn the fishery a bit before dropping 250k on a boat. Speed that up by booking a half day with a respected inshore captain in that area, and ask a bunch of questions. You’ll learn what boat you need in a morning, and whether a true “flats” boat is what you want.

You cannot target redfish in 6” of water and comfortably take your family to the sandbar and offshore in the same boat. You’re going to have to compromise on the truly skinny water if you want the other two.

Allot of the great inshore fishing in Florida is not true “flats” fishing. A 25ft boat that can motor in 2ft of water is great. The term “flats” normally garners images of such shallow water the fins of the fish you are chasing stick out of the water. Guys push pole on flats in super skinny boats. You will be very hard pressed to find a true “flats” boat that can go offshore more than once in a blue moon. Bay boats with offshore capabilities are the Florida Swiss Army knife.

I target redfish and speckled trout in less than 2ft of water on my bay boats, then head 20 miles offshore for these guys.

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X100. I have my first trip with a inshore/nearshore charter on the 21st on a 25ft 'bay' boat for this very reason. Want to ensure this is what I will need on the MS gulf coast before I drop the $$. Solid advice here and I was given similar by many on THT.

Nice snapper! Some great fish tacos in the future there.

 

[Gman12]

I was in a similar situation as you and did a lot of looking. Wanted a boat mainly for inshore and shallow water that also could go in the ocean on pretty days. I wanted a tower for sight fishing for cobia in NC/VA. I quickly realized that a hybrid center console/bay boat would fit my needs perfectly. I ended up buying a semi-custom boat made in NC and it is an awesome rig with a casting deck in the front and a full transom in the rear. It has a sharp entry with the Carolina flare and rides like a much bigger boat and is dry. It is 22 feet and rides better than many 25 ft boats. There are lots of options especially in Florida.

 

[Choupique]

Blackjack 256 coastal with a porta potty gets my vote. Excellent for doing double duty as a fish killer and a day cruiser. Big enough to go 20 miles out when the weather is good, shallow enough draft for inshore fishing, light, fast, cheaper than the boutique brands.

 

[Zigggy]

Scout 175 Sportfish with a T Top and 90 Yamaha. Use it for inshore salmon fishing on Puget Sound. Awesome boat, easy to trailer, and looks great too. My non-fishing wife really likes being out on it on a sunny day as well

The Scout comes in longer versions for more offshore use.

 

[TxLite]

We have a 22’ Boston Whaler that we use for everything but flounder gigging. It won’t run crazy shallow but it’s way more enjoyable on rough days than some of the more skiff style boats.