TomW1 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:56 pm
Why an FS18 on Cape Cod. Where are you goining to be fishing and what are you be fishing for. Where are you launching from. To me the FS18 does not make sense for Cape Cod unless you can explain your reason for it. The bay is fairly deep and the canal is also. No islands to fish around in the bay. Well let me know.
Tom
I have never and will never take any boat through the canal. Not necessary for the type of fishing I do. Only boats that travel through the canal are tuna or bass guys who need to get bait from one end, and then go through the canal and go fish the opposite bay....that isnt me. I plan on launching in buzzards bay, vineyard sound, Cape Cod Bay (Barnstable harbor) and chatham (stage harbor) Ive used all these launches with my SK14 without issue so far. My home launch is Waquiot Bay, because I live 5 minutes from it and can get to 75% of my fishing grounds from there. I fished literally 5-6 days all summer long launching at 530 am
I will use the FS18 to fish the back bays in the spring for bass and blues, the vineyard sound rips in the spring, the brewster and barnstable flats for sight fishing to bass, as well as Monomoy island flats to sight fish for bass as well. Buzzards Bay I dont fish that much, mainly cause my cape cod side of it doesn't fish that great for bass anymore. I don't really bottom fish, just sight fishing or flyfishing for bass, blues, and albies, and maybe a real deal tuna. my fall fishing is mainly in vineyard sound chasing albies.
No islands to fish around? If you are ever up here and the wind aint bad I'll take you fishing around the Elizabeth Islands, or we can cruise over to the vineyard and fish that shoreline. Yes I'll need to pick my days, but these are all places I've already taken my SK14. My favorite spot in the Elizabeths to fish is only 12 miles from my launch. the vineyard is 4.5 miles from my launch.
I dont fish much out open in cape cod bay. This fall I chased some blitzes around sandy neck into CCB, but didnt go far.
On good days I plan to head 9-15 miles offshore off chatham to chase tuna. Yet again pick your days, watch your weather, and go out with a bigger buddy boat
I need a boat that is:
number one thing. Good with a push pole and have room for a real poling platform. 90% of my fishing happens in 2-8' of calm water sight fishing.
Light enough to tow with my subaru forester, and light enough to tow around the East Coast easily. I have family in Pine Island in Florida and Charleston SC, so I'll bring the boat down there for some sight fishing with my wife and dog. We brought the SK14 to pine island last spring and LOVED IT.
Light enough to push back into the water after the tide on the flats drops 6 ft and 3" of water is 200 ft away. I regularly fish at night and anchor the boat on the flats and get out and wade fish. 2-3 hrs later I'll come back to the boat and have to push it quite a distance to the water.
Large enough to fish two people, or my wife and our dog on vacations pushing around the flats. She only likes fishing when its sight fishing so that aint a bad problem to have
Small enough engine to service / maintain myself. Small enough engine to take into my house every winter, easily take off the boat etc etc.
Built in aluminum tank, Electric start, Mech steering. All will make it easier for my wife to dock and launch / start the boat solo, and also drive while we are on vacation.
rods under the gunnels, and some basic storage for some family camping...
those are my needs. FS18 is gonna be great for me. SK14 is just a little too tiny to fish with my wife and dog
