MY BOATS

24' CAROLINA SKIFF with HIGH TOWER!

My new rig is a spacious boat with seating for 4 people.   The cockpit is contains built-in fishing chairs on the centerline of the boat allowing ample room to fish from either side.

The advantage of this skiff is the width and flat bottom.  I can go where others dare not with my Bob's Machine Shop low water pick-up and Porta bracket that raises to the highest position attainable.  

Forward is a custom deck I help design with Coarsey Fiberglass Unlimited.  Basically it is more user friendly than the factory one.  Plenty of room for fish in one locker, battery locker midships and the port locker provides plenty of dry storage for the clients.  The biggest advantage is the step down to the cockpit for old folks that can't jump around like they were 18.

Installed on the port side bow is a 24-Volt 75-pound thrust Motorguide.  It is a wireless version and I can control it from any where in the boat. 

Aft is more dry storage and a raised deck to support a 12 foot tuna tower.  The height advantage pays back dividends in locating the schools of reds and trout.  Also for inshore grouper fishing no rock will be missed from the high tower.

18' HELL'S BAY WHIPRAY MARQUESA

I bought the "best skiff on the planet" because I needed a boat that would be super strong and light as possible for ease of poling and stealth approaches. Because it is easy for me to pole into the wind many more upwind shots are possible. The same with downwind shots. Stopping or holding the boat stationary is easily done when the angler presents the bait, lure or fly to the fish.   Part of sweetness is the quiet approach in waves.

The sweetness is the 8" draft both running and while poling.  This enables me to fish on low tide for redfish or trout in waters not normally acessible by larger boats with deeper drafts.  See a redfish eat first hand after making a good shot with a shrimp or jerk bait is well, sweet!  My clients have fed fish just a few feet from the boat.  It is like its invisible to them.  The color has a lot to do with this as it blends well with the sky.

Another amazing quality is that the boat will come about very quickly and easily when necessary. All of this is "key" when it comes to getting the most shots or to keep up with a school of swimming tarpon.  I can literally pole the boat with one hand at with little effort.

The hull is made of a composite and is very light at 625 pounds. The boat is silent, with zero bow slap while being poled. The draft is only 7 inches--with motor and fuel--allowing us to get into shallow water flats where fish try to hide. The Marquesa has an exceedingly dry ride and is incredible even in horrible conditions. This is the "Cadillac" of flats skiffs--the very best to pursue shallow water game fish quietly and effortlessly.

The Marquesa is powered with a 60 H.P. 2006 Mercury Outboard, and during tarpon season (May and June), twin 82 pound thrust Motorguide Great White Trolling motors are added for pursuing giant tarpon on the extensive Homosassa flats. I use a featherweight 20-foot G-Loomis graphite push pole to sneak up on the fish when in casting range. A Lowrance LMS-240 Global Positioning System keeps me on track so as to waste no time getting to our destinations.

The 34-inch oval live-well holds 30 gallons of sea water and is plumbed with two quiet Rule pumps. This provides versatility for live bait anglers and keeps redfish alive in order to cull up or down, depending on the situation. I have learned that the live well can also serve as a fish box and holds ice all day long.

This boat accommodates one or two anglers.

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