Boat for Saltwater and Bass Fishing

[wabash15]

I live in South Texas near two larger fresh water lakes and within 30 minutes of Baffin Bay. I primarily bass fish these lakes and beat the banks (no offshore bass fishing for me), but with the droughts we've been having I expect to do saltwater fishing more and more until the lake levels rise.

 

I've been looking for a boat that can do both freshwater and saltwater. I've been exploring aluminum center console boats like the Xpress H180b. I'd like a new boat under $35k and a fiberglass boat is pretty much out of my range.

My concern: The lakes and bays down here have pretty consistent winds. Average is around 15mph to 20mph most days, especially in the spring time. Would an aluminum boat be too much of a hassle in these winds? I've never rode in this type of boat before so I'm not sure what to expect.

[SC53]

I have the same thing here in central Florida, needing a boat that can do double duty. I have an 1820 Action Craft flats boat. I bass or crappie fish 90 % of the time now but used to do a lot of SW fishing out of it. I had no problem taking it out if port Canaveral and fish the beaches on a good day. It’ll take a pretty good chop. 

[WRB]

Navy ships are made with aluminum and only issue with salt water is the galvanic metals attached. How the boat is rigged is essential. Remember the flatter the bottom and lower the free board the less sea worthy the boat hull is. 

Trolling motor needs to be a salt water design. The trailer needs to be galvanized and salt water compatible. 

The ocean can be a wicked lady that is unforgiving, plan for the worst conditions.

Tom

[wabash15]

1 hour ago, SC53 said:

I have the same thing here in central Florida, needing a boat that can do double duty. I have an 1820 Action Craft flats boat. I bass or crappie fish 90 % of the time now but used to do a lot of SW fishing out of it. I had no problem taking it out if port Canaveral and fish the beaches on a good day. It’ll take a pretty good chop. 

My buddy has an action craft flats boat. That thing can handle some chop really well and is pretty quick too. I think that boat would handle windy days better than an aluminum boat.

[Catt]

Baffin Bay Texas is inlet of the larger Laguna Madre, as long as you stay away from the Gulf of Mexico side you'll be fine.

 

Xpress's H190B would be an excellent for that area, I live on the Louisiana Gulf Coast & Xpress Bay Boats are very popular.  

[wabash15]

4 minutes ago, Catt said:

Baffin Bay Texas is inlet of the larger Laguna Madre, as long as you stay away from the Gulf of Mexico side you'll be fine.

 

Xpress's H190B would be an excellent for that area, I live on the Louisiana Gulf Coast & Xpress Bay Boats are very popular.  

Thanks for the comment. I definitely plan on staying away from the Gulf and only plan on shallow water fishing. 

My main concern is wind. I get pretty dang frustrated with it and my current 17ft Javelin fiberglass boat gets pushed around fairly easily, but it sit fairly high out of the water. Would the Xpress style bay boats have an even harder time with the wind?

[Catt]

Sorry sciatic nerve pain killing me lately!

 

The H190B weighs in at 1,205 lbs, hardly a light weight, add to that fuel & a full load of tackle. 

 

I ain't gonna seat here & say you're not gonna get blown around because Baffin Bay is a huge body of water that has little on the shoreline to get behind. On huge bodies of water you're gonna deal with wind in any boat.

 

I think @J Francho had an H18 Xpress bass boat & many we can get his attention.

 

Me personally I'd roll with it ?

[J Francho]

I simultaneously owned an Xpress H18/115 and a Bullet 21XDC/2.5L.  For tournaments on Erie, where I had an hour drive, and really no clue of the conditions other than various weather reports (lol) and USGS data, I always took the Xpress.  Despite being almost 22' long, that Bullet was not at all made for anything more than moderate boat wakes.  The Xpress on the other hand... well let's just say it being totally out of the water wasn't fully unintentional and was without any consequence besides adrenaline.  It was the right formula of tough construction, hull design when not running flat out, and my driving abilities. I'm not the best driver by any shot, but growing up on Lake Ontario with all sorts of boats, you learn a few skills.  I've been in an X19 on Lake Ontario in some decently lump water, and that boat was even better than my Hyperlift.  I believe the hull was similar.  That boat had 100 more horsepower, and all the low end grunt that comes with it, so it was probably a bit easier to drive.  I would say be smart, go with the max HP.  Learn to drive the boat slowly.  As always, use your kill switch, and wear a PFD.  Have fun!