Best Entry-Level Saltwater Fishing Boats & Skiffs 

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I have been a boat owner for a little over a year now. Ive already had 3 boats. I started with a Whaler 13, then a 15, and now a 17 Montauk. I was surprised how shallow i could get it with a 90 yamaha on the back. I actually got my montauk for $900 on marketplace. It was left out in the sun for years and the gelcoat is cracked like crazy, but hull is in great shape. 10/10 recommend Boston Whalers

Thanks Guys. I’m looking at buying another boat and found this video very helpful. I would love you to do another one like this.

Great content fellas! Thanks for the info.

This is a very important fishing topic/discussion that people are just not talking about enough. I really hope you guys can expand on this topic. As for me, I recently purchased my first boat, a 1968 Boston Whaler 13 (13' 4" length 6" draft ~350 lbs), which I'm currently restoring over the Winter.

As a guy who’s looking for a boat, you guys brought up some great points for me to consider before buying. Thank you all for this video!

Have to say really appreciated your video. We don't call it inshore or flats fishing up here in Wisconsin but we do understand that there are times of the year in every state where fish hang out in shallow water. Two years ago I gave/sold my old 14' jonboat to a family friend (10hp 4stroke tiller) because decided to stick with the old '92 tracker (25hp and a steering console). Have done nothing but regret that sale ever since. Some love deep water fishing in deep v's and bigger boats but with age that water just tends to beat us up. Have figured out my favorite fishing is calm, quiet and productive. Flat bottomed (flats, jon, shallow draft) boats aren't just great starter boats. They are great boats for a lifetime. Will be going back to a flat bottom as soon as can find a good deal. Keep up the great vids Kimster

Great video! I am about to take the plunge within the next year. Gave me a lot to think about.

I fish a 16 ft Stumpknocker wide bottom high sides small hp drafts about 4 inches with two people. very low to maintain . The style of boat has been used in f/w and s/w for years. Can get up and walk around . I love this style of boat . its flat bottom. people don't talk about these boats much . Been used for commercial boat rentals for a lot of years they are a very safe boat.

just found you guys , thanks for the content. I fish out of a 16' alumacraft with center console . adding a casting platform this week, in south Texas we love to sight cast in the flats. would love to hear more about trolling setups , i just use a small drift sock

I'm 59 yrs old, in the last 33 yrs I went from a 31 footer to 25 to 21, 20 and now I have a 16' Alweld Marsh with Float Pods and I love it. With cost of fuel and limits for offshore fish this boat is really top notch. 25HP with trim, 55lb thrust Minn-Kota and Garmin with a top speed of "Let'z Go" its just what I need for fishing for Reds in Galveston County, Tx waters. Great subject men. 🤙 Tight Lines and Full Limits To Y'all in 2022. 🎣

Perfect timing, I’m boat shopping right now for my first boat!

Very informative discussion. Thank you for sharing honest, practical information!

Awesome. Love the video

My first boat was a Jon boat. Fished lakes and the st Johns for a while then started looking for a skiff. Prices are very high and for me even 5k for a boat was too much. I ended up putting in the work and learning how to build a boat. Took about 7 months start to finish but man was it worth it! So much fun and everyone is very surprised as how well it works. Boat builder Central is where I got plans and materials if anyone is interested.

I have a 1980 Sears 12 foot row boat with a 1969 Evinrude 9.5 motor. It does everything that I need.

I had an old 16’ center console for 20 years I picked up a Carolina skiff 198 dlv. Loved my 16’ but the Carolina skiff is better especially for bringing friends

Super helpful!

Great Video, thanks, I’m in NE Fl. I wanted a Gheenew and still do for the right conditions. However transitioning along the ICW to the creeks is sometimes problematic as the wakes from bigger boats can swamp that Gheenew in a heartbeat. I ended up with a 16’ siesta skiff, which I really enjoy. However it is not a skinny boat. It’s got a narrow beam and it’s heavy for it’s size. That being said with the tri hull it is stabile in chop. It is easily manageable for one person. Fishes 2 with gear but that’s about it. It has a center console which for that size boat is an inefficient use of space. A side console would have been better. Even with its small shortcomings I. CAnt say enough good things about the owners of Sarasota Boat Works.. when the time is right I’d definitely go back and pick up the next size up….

Good stuff thank you all!

My first boat was/is a 16ft poling skiff. I was kayak fishing before and wanted something that was more capable could cover a larger area and take more people. I underestimated all the people that wanted to come with me and all the areas I wanted to fish. I found myself wanted to fish bridges shipping channels and offshore more than I wanted inshore and I was pushing the skiff to its limits trying to do that. So I definitely think I went too small. We will be getting a larger 27ft hybrid style bay/offshore boat. So I’m hoping this one will be exactly what we are looking for. Going to sell the skiff and downsize to some l4 paddle boards with motors for inshore since I find I didn’t catch as much fish with the skiff in the same spots as my kayak. It just displaced too much water and spooked too many fish and poling was a lot more work than I originally imagined.

I started in a 13ft gheenoe and have had a lot of different boats since. I’m thankful to be blessed to own 2 boats for my fishing needs. I have a 21ft bay boat and still own a gheenoe classic which is a skinny water machine.

Great video, I'm in the market for a small center console for lake fishing and this was super helpful on what to look for and look out for.

Like Tony, all I fish out of is a Gheenoe Highsider or my Yak in the Louisiana marsh.

They speak truth. I’ve had 2 different 24 foot boats. Fun but a lot of work and money to run them. Got a 16 ft alumacraft in may and started fishing skinny water and haven’t looked back. Big boat sat in the yard almost all summer except a few cobia trips. Keeping both for now but thinking seriously about selling one or both to get that perfect do all boat now that I know exactly what I need in a boat.

Moving to the water and this is super helpful

Currently using a 1989 bass tracker panfish with freshwater trolling motor from 1994. Has been working for me for over 2 years now.

very nice job fellahs. I have had a 19ft Carolina skiff for about 10 years now but still learned quite a bit. I fish up in New England waters and don't get as shallow as you guys but I stay way, way inshore.

Great video love the insights you all have . 1st boat I'm in a 1990 15ft sea nymph aluminum Jon boat with a 25hp I take it all over South West Florida love it but when the big boys zoom past then its hold on

Nice. I definitely appreciate all the knowledge. Can you guys please do a top ten saltwater bait caster reels you recommend. Which ones have held up the best in saltwater! Great content sir’s 🙏🏻

Great video Guys, Its hard to beat a 15 to 18 foot flat bottom skiff with a 20 to 50 hp outboard for your first boat. In a perfect world we would have 3 boats, a flat bottom skiff, a 19 to 24 foot bay boat, then your 25 foot plus offshore rig. Bang for your buck a small skiff is unbeatable! I'm currently building a 29 ft hybrid bay class center console for our charter business, but a rig that size isn't for everyone. You guys touched on electronics for your boat, I've been really impressed by the Garmin 94 sv uhd units. They have great plotter and sonar capability.

Got a 17' Carolina Skiff CC in 1995 and never looked back. Tows great behind my 4 cylinder Tacoma, easy on, easy off, even with a bad back. Little tough in the wind and waves cause there's no bow but she gets up to 33mph with a 50 4 stroke Merc on the back.

I do a lot of surf fishing, little bit of kayak fishing. I been thinking about getting a small boat. I been looking at a Mako 17 proskiff. Great video/ podcast. 👏💯

I slay in my LT25 Gheenoe and didn’t break the Bank but I mostly fish the flats of SwFl

im up in New England, so the weather can change pretty darn quick, some nice days and some real shady ones lol....my friend runs a Whaler 150 which is great but I wanted something a little bigger, not a DEEP V because I dont go far out. so for me my Maycraft 1900 was a perfect compromise. can handle chop with ease (can be wet) but when fishing is super stable. the draft isnt bad at all as well and the price is PERFECT!!! great video

Great video and topic guys. I have lived on/ near the water all my life. It’s hard to get one boat that can do everything unfortunately. If you enjoy flats, inshore, offshore, and family bar hopping you need at least two boats in my opinion. I currently have a 15’ Goat Island Skiff, J16 30 HP/ 24V Minn Kota, 236 Robalo cuddy twin 90hp with tower, and my first new boat purchased last year…an R242 Robalo w/twin 150 hp. I enjoy the J16 most if I go solo because it’s so easy to clean and sips gas. Solo offshore on the big boats stresses the wife out and costs a lot more for fuel. The bigger boats drink fuel and take a ton of time to clean, not to mention the maintenance $. I have found that smaller boats are used more often. Conditions offshore, fuel prices, and your availability to use a larger vessel can reduce the time spent on the water.

I know the new and used boat market is insane right now. But stay persistent in your search and you can still find a great deal. Absolute best tip for buying a new boat, is look for a manufacturer demo boat. I just bought and 2022 model with 5 hours of test drives on it for under 30k. Msrp on this boat was $45000+.

Hi Gang, my boat is a 2015 Key largo 18' Bay boat. Has a Yahmaha 90 - 4 stroke, I pilote 24v trolling motor, 15' talon power pole, T-top, Leaning post, 4 batteries powered by solar roof on T-Top, Stero, Humminbird 9" screen, Bait well, and Sea Dek all around. Bad part is i have a 12" Draft and can't get shallow. So now looking into a Gehnoe.

I bought a used Key West Bay Reef 19.6 2001. It is a great boat, but it is a deep front that caps my shallow opportunities. I glad I got it, though because I can haul boat and it has a enough heft to pull skis and tubes on the lake pretty stable. I can take it out offshore, but if I had to do it again, I would probably have gotten a shallower running boat that is just as long or longer.

Mako 17' skiff with a 60 HP Merc gets the job done.. The inverted v hull cuts through waves but it only drafts 8".

Fellas this video is SUPER helpful! I have a Bass Raider 10e and the goal is to eventually graduate to a small skiff.

I live in Texas and I have been looking at Gheenoes. Is there a dealer in Texas or do I have to go to Florida or another state to look at one? Please get back to me. I plan to use it for shallow water fishing in both fresh water and in salt water. I found your comments very helpful.

It's a bit embarrassing but I would love to know your thoughts on kayak vs inflatable.I am thinking about buy one because it's going to be a lot of solo fishing for me and maybe I won't necessarily use a trailer.For us solo fisherman's weekend warriors it's a hard call to get a real deal boat,with all the maintenance and costs attached to it. Thanks guys love the channel (All the way here from East Timor)

very interesting podcast. I have been a kayak fisherman for years. Still have my kayaks but I bought a Carolina Skiff 178 DLV last year, 2009 model with a 4 stroke 90 HP Suzuki. I have had it out a few times, but there is definitely a lack of confidence thing - launching / recovering, etc. I will try to fish out of the boat more often this year. Maybe put a T-top on it... Would like to hear your opinion on that.

Thank you for a very informative discussion. I'm currently on the bubble for what boat to purchase. I'm primarily a freshwater fisherman (Crappie & Catfish) but want to fish salt water as well. I definitely don't want to purchase a boat too small or too big. It's mostly me on the boat. Any recommendations are welcome.

Good report guys,,,,

I love that Sundance DX22, that's my dream skiff.

Father in Law did the mistake of getting a boat that’s too big, 26ft pontoon, and he’s not comfortable launching it by himself. But we’re going to be moving back there soon so I’ll be getting him out there and help him get used to using it. It’s big, not ideal for fishing BUT it’ll be great to get family out and we can fish bridges and teach the kids the basics. Plus I’ll be getting something small once we’re there. Probably either a used Carolina skiff or a John boat. There’s about 5 billion of them used on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace

Good video

Great video. I’m currently restoring a 1975 Kennedy Craft that belonged to my dad. I’m worried that it is a little small for my 280lb big butt, but I’m hopeful that with the jackplate and trim tabs I’ve put on it and with a bit of weight distribution it will work out fine for fishing here in the FL panhandle.

KW1720… fantastic boat

Im looking at a mako 21 Lts. My goal is to fish in lake Okeechobee and the intercoastal waterway. Is this boat good for shallow water.

So I’m not new to fishing and used kayaks mostly, and have a boat for bass fishing but want to buy something for inshore fishing. I don’t see myself ever being offshore and strictly wanna stay inshore but would like the ability to carry a couple people at times. I would love for your input as to what to look at. I appreciate this video as it was broad with several different ideas. I like a skiff but know it’s not really setup for more than one person, I like a Carolina skiff but know that on rough days it will be rough and wet. Is there something in the middle ? Thanks for what y’all do and would love some personal recommendations… God bless and appreciate any advice you could offer.

What Carolina skiff do you have Luke?

Definitely talk about Bay boats!!! 😂

I will never forget experiencing my keywest 1720 cc floating across 8’’ of water and knowing i didn’t need to fear the skinny

I have a 18' Majek Illusion with a Yamaha 115 and love it for shallow waters we have in the middle and lower Texas coast.

Just upgraded less than 4 mos ago from a 14×3 jon boat with a 4hp motor to an 18' Carolina Skiff JLS 178. Specifically bought this boat because my wife and I absolutely love inshore fishing (she caught her personal best 31" the other day near an area I know Richard knows well). The JLS has a deeper Vhull to help cut the water and reduce slapping but still drafts a foot of water relatively easy.

I have a 2005 22’ Pathfinder with a Yamaha F-150. It’s probably bigger than I now need for the IRL, I hate to sell it and buy someone else’s junk skiff. Someday will downsize. My other craft is a L2 paddleboard. I enjoy fishing it just as much as the Pathfinder. I need the exercise and love having to buy no gas. I had a Gheenoe for 18 years and sold it. I probably should have kept it. But I sold it to a good friend and I get on it occasionally.

I got j14 and a nautic star 21. Havent used the 21ft in two years the j14 every weekent .

I watched a video here on RU-vid a day ago, of a guy using a 20' Xpress to get back up in a creek and fish in 10" of water. Proving if you know what you're doing, its possible to do what others think is impossible. Including myself since I guessed he'd get stuck at 18-20"s.

Hey guys I’m looking at mako 18 lts 2023 model with a 115 merc pro. Do you guys recommend this model I am looking to do some flat fishing in the keys and maybe some near offshore in flat calm days. I also want something I can take to the sandbar to have chill days. I don’t need more than 4 people on the boat at max and it is something in my price range. It fits on the side of my house and just would like to know as my first boat would you guys recommend this? My dad had a 25 footer cc in the past and were looking to get back into the ocean

My flats boat is an inflatable dinghy with a 15hp outboard!

I’ll say I got a 198 dvl Carolina skiff and I don’t think there is a better boat out there. 8 in draft, so I can fish super skinny. Holds 10 ppl so it’s great for the family too. Also at 19 ft it’s plent big but not so big that I can’t launch by myself

Great content and thanks for sharing. I still don't know what the one person motorized Kayak/Canoe is.

Does anyone have any opinions on the Mako pro skiff 17 and recommendations for either the mercury 60 or the mercury 75?

Flat bottom boats run shallow, but it’s a very rough ride on choppy water. Make sure you don’t have very far to run cause you will rattle your teeth lose. The shoal water or the shallow sport is better suited for coastal shallow waters.

I would love to hear the pros and cons of a 21ft Carolina skiff DLV.

GUYS I hear this while driving, can you add a list with all the picks you had?

i'm looking at getting a 26' panga for this coming summer.

sea tow or boat us has saved me a couple of times, mooring my boat to fish the beach broke loose and left high and dry when the tide went out, spun a prop, need to make sure the rubber hub is in good shape, both times needed a tow back. Its cheap insurance at about $130/yr, both tows would have been $600 each. Im the original owner 1990 18' seaswirl bayboat with 120 Johnson. Im going through that thought process of what i want to replace it, with, and what areas I will be fishing mainly, I havent been able to fish skinny water with this boat so im starting to see from this club what areas ive been missing out on.

Recommendation for a saltwater hybrid that go shallow and a few miles offshore and fits 4? Does it exist? Haha!

got lucky to get a brand new mako skiff from maine for 22k with the 60 hp can't find anything around and paying 15-20k for anything used that is completely beat up and 30 + years old is no go for me

Few of the guys said they use there phone for gps? Is there an app that show’s depth like chart plotter?

My nephew overbought his first boat 3 years ago. He has had it out a total of 6-7 times in total. Too big for him to trailer with his truck, cannot launch alone, and hit a rock with his brand new outboard on year 1. He wanted it because it has a cabin. He will not go more than a couple of miles offshore. I warned him and suggested a beater 15-16’ center console or tiller.

Saturn 12 ft inflatible

The Carolina skiff is a safe and economical boat but if you fish somewhere with any fetch it’s like riding a jack hammer wile someone throws buckets of water at you. If I was going to have just one it would definitely be a 20-23 Carolina boat. Jones brothers, sea ox, pare marine , privateer , sea Hawk. My 20 sea ox drafts the same as my Carolina skiff did wile it can’t get up as quickly and takes a little more water to get up it will float in the same water as the 198 and is astronomical better in any kind of wind or swell. I live on the outer banks so wind is life and so is shallow water. Not many people know my neck of the woods but for perspective I drug it down to islamarada and fished the humps and caught bone fish in the same boat. I can put the tabs down and stay on plane at 14mph for running unfamiliar shallow water I can also jam the bow in to 2-3’ of chop and stay try outside of a quartering wind. With a 150 4stroke I do 41 alone and empty 25 with a fishing load 4 guys and the tabs down .

When you guys were talking about Mako boats... I went and checked out their website. Then now have a Pro Skiff 13cc. Is that too small for a guy who usually fishes alone... but occasionally brings two kids??? That thing is only $18k for a new one. lol I have been eying getting a used 15cc or 17cc for several years now honestly.

My first boat down here is a 25.5' catamaran. I bought it from a preacher in Tampa that said trust me, this boat is ready to go to the Bahamas if you want...I believed him...that was my first mistake and I've been paying for it ever since. Both motors would overheat if ran at low rpm so I contacted him and he said they'd done that since day one....another lie..I then went to work replacing poppet valves, impellors, thermostats, etc. and got them running smooth and cool. Then it seemed every bilge, wash down and livewell pump decided to fail in short order so I've replaced all of them.. Anyone want a good boat?Trust me, it's ready to go to the Bahamas....

Can I use a Skiff for Bass fishing?

You guys forgot about jon boats!!! Cheap, Durable and great flats boats.

I would like a Mako or a Grady White.

Simple solution.. if u a really fishing guy u need 2 boats .. inshore and offshore, I have a 16 hews at my garage, and 28 Everglades at the marina ..

just moved from the West coast to South Carolina, I am tall and big, need stable, fishing inshore.

Can y’all make a video about how important it is to wear a life jacket when running at speed to different fishing spots? Here in Carolina in the sounds and rivers you just never know what might be floating along. Hit something in a skiff or small boat and it could toss you out. Been there. Help keep everyone safe.

💪🏼👍👍 👍.

My buddy bought a CS 19 foot LS. We decided I needed a skinnier vessel. I landed a CS JVX18 and it is perfect. I am currently looking for a bay boat but only because of the comfort. The flats boat isn't going anywhere.

Every boat is a compromise. 90% of the time how many people and the running draft/ fishing draft. What is best for your area.

friend!How r u?~ yyou uploaded cool sharing~ catch you later,=))

One of the biggest issue I’ve seen is when someone buys a family boat, they have a hard time fishing on it because they bought it mostly just to take the family out

I have a dream, some day I win a lottery so I can buy big boat and able to go salt fishing everyday before getting old and older.😊

The reason for people getting the "wrong" size boat is 1: Got boat to brag to their "friends" and 2: Being mislead and not being educated in the boating needs they really will do have.

Can u guys PLEASE put timestamps on these vids

I’ll stick with my inflatable unicorn.

They are changing BOAT to BOAHT....Break Out A Hundred Thousand😁

dont understand what he said bay boats are to go shallow isnt that the whole idea of a bay boat

YOU have ot be highly skilled to bone fish in 6 " of water and you need a poling skiff that's a lot of line of sight fishing and the fish spoke easily do not buy a boat and think you're going to bill dance of 6 " of water fishing Your not get a boat that can go to sand bars go to flats go to the bay

Buying a boat is dumb. It's a huge waste of money and time. Buy a FRIEND with a boat instead. Preferably a gullible and needy one you can cajole/bully/hoodwink/blackmail into taking you where you want to go, when you want to go there.

Okay, full disclosure, I did not watch the video. I did, however, look at the images as you drag your mouse over the timeline, and nowhere in the entire video did I see a single image of a boat. This is a visual medium. I really don't care what 5 guys have to say about the boats, so much as I want to see the boats they recommend. Are they recommending boats I think might fit the bill? Then, maybe I'll listen to them pontificate. Not one image (that I saw.) But, please check out our store and our other videos. Nope. Next video please.

salt water just talk talk . no useful information.