The Boat Fanatic Thread

[troph 25,220]

He said Brennan is one of the best too but you know that. Taking some teens out for a teaser today bbl hopefully with some snapper... fishing next two days too.

 

 

[troph 25,220]

It’s 11pm and I’m lounging in the saloon of a 50 foot Hatteras drinking a very nice Bordeaux and eating nutter butters.  Don’t get much better.  
 

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

17 hours ago, troph said:

It’s 11pm and I’m lounging in the saloon of a 50 foot Hatteras drinking a very nice Bordeaux and eating nutter butters.  Don’t get much better.  
 

Nice!  How was the fishing?

[BearSchlong 8,240]

My daughter and 3 of her Mizzou Kappa sisters and a few girls from UT Austin rented a VRBO for memorial day weekend at Lake of the Ozarks.

For 3 days she kept snapchatting me pics from high end boats. (Don't even, you pervs).

Today she revealed her method. A few weeks in advance, they go on tinder and start finding the guys with the best boats and chat them up. Like "Wanna party with 5 girls way hotter than you could pull without that gorgeous boat?

I don't like it, but its effective.

[troph 25,220]

4 hours ago, Johnny Sack said:

Nice!  How was the fishing?

A lot of snapper and amberjack day 1 and 2 and the boys hooked a 200 lb blacktip shark and fought it for 90 mins. Got it to 15-20 feet so not close enough to claim a catch. Was unintentional and figured it out when the amberjack head was the catch. Best pic... 

 

[troph 25,220]

Boat pron.

viking and hatty MY. 
 

 

 

 

Edited June 2, 2021 by troph

[troph 25,220]

Guys working late for tuna rigs... big day tomorrow I hope. 
 

[utee94 16,080]

I love amberjack.  Just had to say that.

My sister used to live in Pensacola and every time we visited I'd insist on going somewhere to get the fresh catch.

 

 

 

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

I like catching AJs as they are so damn strong and can be a challenge to get to the boat before wrapping the line around the rig.  But honestly not one of my favorites to eat.

[utee94 16,080]

31 minutes ago, Johnny Sack said:

I like catching AJs as they are so damn strong and can be a challenge to get to the boat before wrapping the line around the rig.  But honestly not one of my favorites to eat.

I loathe fishing but am happy to eat amberjack, so feel free to send your extra my way.

 

[Pescado_Rojo 19,584]

AJs are awesome fresh, but don't freeze well, IMO. 

[Chewbacca 7,829]

14 minutes ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

AJs are awesome fresh, but don't freeze well, IMO. 

Pink salmon are the same.  The place I fish they don't even keep them, except for a couple for halibut bait (let them rot in a bucket for a couple days).  When I asked why, that's what they said.  They are good when eaten fresh but get mushy if you freeze them.

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

2 hours ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

AJs are awesome fresh, but don't freeze well, IMO. 

Every time we have kept some it was on a trip where we had stuff I would rather eat -- tuna, swordfish, wahoo, dorado, snapper, grouper, etc.  So I guess I have never had it fresh.  I do take out blood line, vacuum seal, and deep freeze.

[fattyflattie 4,640]

6 hours ago, Johnny Sack said:

I like catching AJs as they are so damn strong and can be a challenge to get to the boat before wrapping the line around the rig.  But honestly not one of my favorites to eat.

Same.  Reef donkeys. 

[Cajun 11,773]

On 5/22/2021 at 10:53 AM, Armybrat said:

I certainly hope these weren’t Surlies...

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/boat-explodes-on-lake-austin-everyone-out-of-the-water-atc-ems-says/

 

I keep looking at this and hearing this conversation in my head -

"Wouldn't think a boat would burn like that"

"Yessir.  We shoulda brought weenies"

"That look like about a 2016 MasterCraft to you Wendell?"

"It could be"

"I'd say it is, not a doubt in my mind"

[Cajun 11,773]

"Appears to have been a glitch or two..."

[Cajun 11,773]

7 hours ago, utee94 said:

I loathe fishing but am happy to eat amberjack

 

I'm the exact opposite.

Fucking good shark bait though.  As good as it gets next to a squid or stingray.

Edited June 2, 2021 by Cajun

[troph 25,220]

Had an ok day, I remember why I haven’t chartered in the gulf in 5 years opting for Mexico instead, 80 miles at least for that real blue water.  1 tuna, 3 wahoo and 2 cudas.  Kids had a great time. Best time for me was the ride home. Took a nap and watched movies in the master stateroom for the three hour ride home with the door closed and away from the teens. Loved every minute of it. 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by troph

[troph 25,220]

 

Dp

Edited June 3, 2021 by troph

[fattyflattie 4,640]

54 minutes ago, troph said:

Had an ok day, I remember why I haven’t chartered in the gulf in 5 years opting for Mexico instead, 80 miles at least for that real blue water.  1 tuna, 3 wahoo and 2 cudas.  Kids had a great time. Best time for me was the ride home. Took a nap and watched movies in the master stateroom for the three hour ride home with the door closed and away from the teens. Loved every minute of it. 

 

 

Listen, just dock it at Venice and I’ll come out and split up some gas with y’all. I’ll even bring the Nutter Butters. Way shorter ride to get to blue water there.   Still sounds like y’all had a good meat haul and a couple of cudas. Then again, I do love Mexico. 
 

Ineedtobuyayacht.cat.gif

[Cajun 11,773]

Perpetual GOM search for ye olde color change.

Good times.

[troph 25,220]

Driving home and reflecting back on the week - this was a game changer charter for me. I loved being in the big SFY culture at the marina, coffee in the morning, chats with boat owners and crew while walking our pup, and similar friendly chats in the evening. To flip the gate latch that says “owners and guests only” and walk in the marina after dinner and head over to “my boat” was amazing. Sitting on the dock under the twilight and the marina and boat lights watching our crew finishing the tuna rigs and drinking wine swapping stories was sublime. We cooked on the boat, slept, we enjoyed it as it was meant to be enjoyed.  Simple pleasures like napping on the bed and watching movies on the long ride home from the rigs is exactly what I’ve always wanted to experience. The SFY charter world needs a shakeup, and having searched for two decades for that elusive experience of what it’s like to own a deep sea fishing yacht, I’m lucky to say I’ve finally found it. 

Edited June 3, 2021 by troph

[longhrnfan 61]

On 6/2/2021 at 6:40 PM, Cajun said:

I'm the exact opposite.

Fucking good shark bait though.  As good as it gets next to a squid or stingray.

Hard pass on AJ's too. They are fun to fight though. We used to catch them on the islamorada hump only to have 90% of them destroyed by sharks on the way up. 

There are too many great fish around for amberjack to be my pick. 

[longhrnfan 61]

On 5/27/2021 at 10:02 AM, BearSchlong said:

my God South Florida/Keys is boat porn heaven, and I was down there with my buddy who is looking to upgrade his big Contender CC.

An interesting one though - here's me driving the actual African Queen (in Key Largo) that was featured in the movie. Same tiller Bogart steered.  Boat was launched in 1912.

 

My parents just sold their house in that neighborhood (port largo). It will be greatly missed.  Sometimes the african queen uses actual steam power rather than that hidden outboard in the back.

That neighborhood has some interesting history - it was a HUGE drug port. The houses you see on the right used to be a runway. They used to also run flotillas out of there to try to go overthrow castro. 

[BearSchlong 8,240]

1 hour ago, longhrnfan said:

My parents just sold their house in that neighborhood (port largo). It will be greatly missed.  Sometimes the african queen uses actual steam power rather than that hidden outboard in the back.

That neighborhood has some interesting history - it was a HUGE drug port. The houses you see on the right used to be a runway. They used to also run flotillas out of there to try to go overthrow castro. 

I'll bet you'll miss that place, thanks for the history. Now I'm hungry for Mahi tacos at that place on the water right behind the holiday inn where they dock the Queen.

[Cajun 11,773]

On 6/1/2021 at 4:35 PM, BearSchlong said:

My daughter and 3 of her Mizzou Kappa sisters and a few girls from UT Austin rented a VRBO for memorial day weekend at Lake of the Ozarks.

For 3 days she kept snapchatting me pics from high end boats. (Don't even, you pervs).

Today she revealed her method. A few weeks in advance, they go on tinder and start finding the guys with the best boats and chat them up. Like "Wanna party with 5 girls way hotter than you could pull without that gorgeous boat?

I don't like it, but its effective.


 

In ATX they just had to put down towels at Common's Ford, wait just the exact right amount of time, get in the water like they want to cool off, swim over by my boat (anchored yards from the bulkhead), and while pretending to be as casual as possible say some variation of, "Hey, we love your music!"

Next comes a request or two, and w/i 30 min to an hour comes the, "Hey, you wouldn't take us out for a ride would you?"

BAM!

FISH ON!!!

Like clockwork.

[Cajun 11,773]

^^The nurses are the most fun.

[justhookit 4,206]

On 5/31/2021 at 9:26 AM, troph said:

How does it work?  How much cash in, how many people on board crew and guests and who ensures we win - find the holes and reel them in, I mean I’d love to be 23 on the Chicago bulls but that’s not possible so I’d rather settle for a pine rider with a ring than a starter on an also ran if you know what I’m saying.

Captain here says he might know you, or your dad for sure? Michael Walker out of port M and SPI? 
 

it’s taken me 20 fucking years to finally break into the scene but now I have two owners I know - you and owner of this one, and I know one captain this Walker fella who said he’d fish anywhere with us.  I swear it took longer than anything else I’ve done. 
 

I’ll tell ya - done with charters - totally done. I mean we are paying for this week as a client but his model is “the boat is yours for a week” and it’s fantastic. I’ll tell y’all more about it later but this guy is on to something.  
 

he’ll still take us out as friends for sure even offered last night but if we want it for a week fully stocked with food and bait and a crew at a location you want then obviously you gotta pay. But we showed up to an immaculate boat, fresh everything, groceries fully stocked and ready to go.  Never doing a day charter in the gulf at least ever again. 

Entry fee is fairly minimal. Usually a couple thousand. But to win the big money you have to buy the pots and that can run you anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 depending on the tournament. And then you have the boat expenses - charter fees and/or fuel, bait, etc. there are deals to be worked on that end if you are willing to pay all the money in exchange for the boat getting a bigger cut of the winnings. Crew depends on the boat. When I was fishing the tournaments here on my boat I had a captain, 2 mates, and myself and then usually 4 or 5 other people. Tourney rules vary. There are “jungle rules” tournaments where you use your best anglers to hook the fish and then you can hand it off to guests to reel it in and then there are tournaments where whoever hooks the fish has to fight it. This obviously makes a big difference as far as who you want on the boat.

[justhookit 4,206]

On 5/31/2021 at 11:37 AM, troph said:

This boat it’s $9000 plus food, gas and tips. Not much different than a BVI cat charter for a week.  I’m actually 5 nights his deal is $9000 for 4 nights I think.  But it includes two crew (we don’t have one on board bc we know him well and he knows we are boat savvy - but he would likely reserve a bunk for one crew member), do what you want - fish as much, chill as much, cruise around as much as you want.  It’s a game changer. Waking up at the marina you get to talk to others, see other boats, and live in a way that you just don’t get if you show up at 6am for a $2000 plus tip all day charter to only be told to leave when you roll back in at 4pm.  Sunsets, sunrise, coffee sleepy morning marina life, cocktails at sunset ... man, it’s amazing. Happy place for sure.

This is actually a good deal not just for you but also for the boat owner. And no way you are chartering a nice boat for 2000 a day unless they are only taking you 1 mile out. I was 3600 for an all day billfish trip.

[troph 25,220]

6 minutes ago, justhookit said:

Entry fee is fairly minimal. Usually a couple thousand. But to win the big money you have to buy the pots and that can run you anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 depending on the tournament. And then you have the boat expenses - charter fees and/or fuel, bait, etc. there are deals to be worked on that end if you are willing to pay all the money in exchange for the boat getting a bigger cut of the winnings. Crew depends on the boat. When I was fishing the tournaments here on my boat I had a captain, 2 mates, and myself and then usually 4 or 5 other people. Tourney rules vary. There are “jungle rules” tournaments where you use your best anglers to hook the fish and then you can hand it off to guests to reel it in and then there are tournaments where whoever hooks the fish has to fight it. This obviously makes a big difference as far as who you want on the boat.

I'm thinking 2023 for me, next 12 months are likely a no go.  we already have too many travel plans and adding Key West (on a boat) to two other ocean/international trips this fall.  @Brew is interested, I'd be up for discussing.  I know you are now out of Costa Rica, so question would be GOM or CR...?  that would determine which boat/crew etc.

[troph 25,220]

7 minutes ago, justhookit said:

This is actually a good deal not just for you but also for the boat owner. And no way you are chartering a nice boat for 2000 a day unless they are only taking you 1 mile out. I was 3600 for an all day billfish trip.

with fuel, food, dock fees, tips and all of that, the boat cost ended up at $12,500 all inclusive.   It's a very pricey vacation but in the end very much worth it.  It felt more expensive because it was a trip for teenagers not me and my lady.  if it was just us two, or better yet two couples then it would be so choice.  He is going to change his pricing structure and not allow a full deduction for lodging, so my cost would have been $15,000 for 10 people (boat plus one hotel suite).  I think he's going to drop his price by $600 total though and he's mulling over a flat fee lodging reduction so he doesn't take a hit on high season weeks/weekends.  smart idea.  in any event, all inclusive is going to be $15,000-20,000 for 3/4 to a full week true ownership experience.

Owner wants to spend NYE in Key West, I've already said we will take 5 days (same deal) and piggy back off his trip if he will let us.  remains to be seen if we invite another couple we know or just us two. Walker has already said we are welcome anytime and he treated us like we owned the boat which was the directive from the actual owner. 

if you compare my cost to his cost and I get 98% of the ownership experience then I'm waaaaay out in front of the total cost of ownership.  if I can keep this deal, no reason to ever buy one.

and @G650 @Viking and @Sbbruin don't worry, this SFY charter solution is so I can buy my sea worthy sailing yacht in a few years!!   /whynotboth.gif

 

 

Edited June 5, 2021 by troph

[justhookit 4,206]

12 hours ago, troph said:

I'm thinking 2023 for me, next 12 months are likely a no go.  we already have too many travel plans and adding Key West (on a boat) to two other ocean/international trips this fall.  @Brew is interested, I'd be up for discussing.  I know you are now out of Costa Rica, so question would be GOM or CR...?  that would determine which boat/crew etc.

You’d need to start in the Gulf. I’m outclassed in Costa Rica because I can’t get enough quality anglers but I’ve been lucky enough to win tournaments there. Team was basically 2 Tico mates, me, and another guy that had fished a bunch. We got lucky and have a captain that just finds fish. You really need 6-7 people that are good to fish there because everybody else you are fishing against has that. It’s the best of the best and a lot of pro teams down there. That’s all they do. While you are trolling you hold the rod in your hand the whole time. It’s not for everyone.

Texas tournaments are much easier because while there might be 50 boats entered, only 15ish have a realistic chance to win. I fish with 2 of those boats and they would be willing to do a deal for certain tourneys.

honestly though unless you are just looking to gamble I doubt you’d enjoy tournament fishing especially catch and release. It’s a whole different ballgame. Kill tournaments like POCO were great fun but unfortunately it’s gone.

Basically you just need to bring my dog back to Port A and then we can discuss this. Or come stay with me and Cindy on the boat for a few days in CR next winter. Y’all get the bunk room. Or the couches which are much more comfortable.

[justhookit 4,206]

12 hours ago, troph said:

with fuel, food, dock fees, tips and all of that, the boat cost ended up at $12,500 all inclusive.   It's a very pricey vacation but in the end very much worth it.  It felt more expensive because it was a trip for teenagers not me and my lady.  if it was just us two, or better yet two couples then it would be so choice.  He is going to change his pricing structure and not allow a full deduction for lodging, so my cost would have been $15,000 for 10 people (boat plus one hotel suite).  I think he's going to drop his price by $600 total though and he's mulling over a flat fee lodging reduction so he doesn't take a hit on high season weeks/weekends.  smart idea.  in any event, all inclusive is going to be $15,000-20,000 for 3/4 to a full week true ownership experience.

Owner wants to spend NYE in Key West, I've already said we will take 5 days (same deal) and piggy back off his trip if he will let us.  remains to be seen if we invite another couple we know or just us two. Walker has already said we are welcome anytime and he treated us like we owned the boat which was the directive from the actual owner. 

if you compare my cost to his cost and I get 98% of the ownership experience then I'm waaaaay out in front of the total cost of ownership.  if I can keep this deal, no reason to ever buy one.

and @G650 @Viking and @Sbbruin don't worry, this SFY charter solution is so I can buy my sea worthy sailing yacht in a few years!!   /whynotboth.gif

 

 

Wait, what? 15-20 grand PLUS fuel? You aren’t wrong you are still getting a good deal as opposed to owning but if there are people out there willing to pay that for a vacation I need to re-think what I’m doing. I’m not flagged in CR so I can’t do anything like you are talking about but hmmmmm......

edit- never mind I realize you are including fuel in that total.

Edited June 6, 2021 by justhookit

[troph 25,220]

4 minutes ago, justhookit said:

Wait, what? 15-20 grand PLUS fuel? You aren’t wrong you are still getting a good deal as opposed to owning but if there are people out there willing to pay that for a vacation I need to re-think what I’m doing. I’m not flagged in CR so I can’t do anything like you are talking about but hmmmmm......

edit- never mind I realize you are including fuel in that total.

No my cost was $12.5k all inclusive of fuel, tip, groceries for 10 people, bait, 2 crew, dock/marina fees, all of it. Fuel was over $2k.

Edited June 6, 2021 by troph

[justhookit 4,206]

10 minutes ago, troph said:

No my cost was $12.5k all inclusive of fuel, tip, groceries for 10 people, bait, 2 crew, dock/marina fees, all of it. Fuel was over $2k.

Gotcha. 2000 in fuel is basically one day of Gulf bill fishing on a day trip. On my sized boat. It goes up from there. One of the 2 day tournaments a few years back on Rebecca I think he spent 8000. On fuel. We did run all the way to Louisiana to fish but still. Also didn’t catch jackshit but broke off the fish that would have won about 200,000.

[troph 25,220]

1 minute ago, justhookit said:

Gotcha. 2000 in fuel is basically one day of Gulf bill fishing on a day trip. On my sized boat. It goes up from there. One of the 2 day tournaments a few years back on Rebecca I think he spent 8000. On fuel. We did run all the way to Louisiana to fish but still. Also didn’t catch jackshit but broke off the fish that would have won about 200,000.

We mighta pushed $3k I didn’t look close. I actually think it was $4k but he gave me a $1300 discount. 

[troph 25,220]

Excellent afternoon on lake Travis!  Dog got all the smells and we caught a few waves! 
 

 

[troph 25,220]

On 6/5/2021 at 11:47 PM, justhookit said:

Gotcha. 2000 in fuel is basically one day of Gulf bill fishing on a day trip. On my sized boat. It goes up from there. One of the 2 day tournaments a few years back on Rebecca I think he spent 8000. On fuel. We did run all the way to Louisiana to fish but still. Also didn’t catch jackshit but broke off the fish that would have won about 200,000.

That’s why Gulf fishing is a beat down if you ask me. 

[conVINCEd 21,477]

Sorry to disappoint this crowd, but boat shopping has been postponed.  Tested positive for COVID Saturday, so spent the first three days of the trip in isolation.  Something has to get cut, and boat shopping was the easy choice.  Y’all will have to wait a month or two to spend my money.

[fattyflattie 4,640]

49 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

Sorry to disappoint this crowd, but boat shopping has been postponed.  Tested positive for COVID Saturday, so spent the first three days of the trip in isolation.  Something has to get cut, and boat shopping was the easy choice.  Y’all will have to wait a month or two to spend my money.

This (and your and your hosts health) were what I was afraid of when I saw the other posts.  I assume your budget will increase with that extra few months of savings  

[conVINCEd 21,477]

2 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

This (and your and your hosts health) were what I was afraid of when I saw the other posts.  I assume your budget will increase with that extra few months of savings  

We’ll see.  Just had one more round of negative tests for everyone, and I’m feeling fine.  Gonna eat dinner outside tonight with the whole crew and the wife and I are just going to socially distance from everyone for the next day or two.

[troph 25,220]

Hang in there bud, boats are awesome but anticipation is all part of the fun. Get better.

[conVINCEd 21,477]

4 minutes ago, troph said:

Hang in there bud, boats are awesome but anticipation is all part of the fun. Get better.

Thanks.  I’m fine.  Felt somewhat shitty for 2 days.  I am very glad we waited to travel until we were fully vaccinated, because I am nearly certain that contributed to me getting over it as quickly as I did.  And while in isolation, I searched for boats, and the inventory is really fucking low right now.  So the current plan is to find a neighborhood we like on this trip, monitor listings, come back in a month or so and put something under contract, and do a little boat shopping then.

[troph 25,220]

Boat pron because why not… sexy times both ways…  very bi if you ask me. Just how y’all like it.

 

Edited June 9, 2021 by troph

[justhookit 4,206]

On 6/7/2021 at 8:01 AM, troph said:

That’s why Gulf fishing is a beat down if you ask me. 

Yup. I think there are 150 slips in Quepos,CR where I am. 13 or so are Port A boats and that’s why. Everrrrybody got tired of dealing with the weather and long runs in Texas and realized how much easier and better the fishing is down south. It’s also a lot easier on the boat because you aren’t breaking crap running in 3-4 foot seas all the time.

Edited June 10, 2021 by justhookit

[troph 25,220]

Im guessing fishing from key west will be much different. That’s the hopeful Jan 1 plan right now. 

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

5 hours ago, justhookit said:

Yup. I think there are 150 slips in Quepos,CR where I am. 13 or so are Port A boats and that’s why. Everrrrybody got tired of dealing with the weather and long runs in Texas and realized how much easier and better the fishing is down south. It’s also a lot easier on the boat because you aren’t breaking crap running in 3-4 foot seas all the time.

What's the sport fishing like out of southern california?  I assume you don't have to run far, but is the fishing any count?  I am going to be out there for work quite a bit the next two years and would like to get some fishing in.  I will be in Orange County.

I go offshore in the gulf pretty frequent, but not like you do.  I have friends with a 38 foot cat hull center console they keep in storage in Freeport.  We leave at night and slow steam out to save fuel while taking turns sleeping on the bean bags.  We usually run 120 or so miles out to the floaters or go to Flower Gardens.  We always catch a lot of fish as we only go when conditions are good.  But man it would be nice to not have to run far offshore.  First time I ever fished offshore not in the Gulf was Kona.  And I think we may have gone out 5 miles at most.

[BearSchlong 8,240]

2 hours ago, troph said:

Im guessing fishing from key west will be much different. That’s the hopeful Jan 1 plan right now. 

15 Miles to get to 700-800 feet of depth.

[Brew 3,049]

We have to run 60+ miles to get close to 100 feet of depth. I have pretty well given it up and only fish inshore. It’s easier to drive to Miami and charter out of there than make long runs.

[BearSchlong 8,240]

We have to run 60+ miles to get close to 100 feet of depth. I have pretty well given it up and only fish inshore. It’s easier to drive to Miami and charter out of there than make long runs.

Where are you again?