Boats And Equipment

Successful charter fishing requires safe, dependable and well laid out boats as well as high quality fishing equipment and tackle.

I currently utilize two boats for charter fishing:

  • a 19' East Cape VHP flats boat that can handle up to three anglers and is designed for bigger water bay and flats fishing
  • a 16' Hells Bay Eldora that handles up to two anglers and is designed for sight fishing in very shallow water

East Cape VHP

East Cape VHP is primary component of boats and equipment
I really like the balance this boat strikes for the type of fishing I do here on the Emerald Coast. It is big enough when the weather is nice to run down the beach looking for Tarpon or Redfish and can handle the bay when it gets a bit sporty.  The boat is small enough to quietly pole along and sight fish the shallows, but can also comfortably handle 3 adult anglers.  The 175 hp Mercury Pro XS is quiet and fuel efficient, and when the weather changes unexpectedly and it's time to hustle home, can top out at 50+ mph.

BOAT SPECIFICATIONS

  • Length   19' 2"
  • Beam      6'  7"
  • Draft       7 - 9"
  • Fuel Capacity   28 Gallons
  • Capacity   4 Persons
  • Mercury Pro XS 175 HP
  • Automatic Bilge Pump
  • 30 Gallon Livewell
  • Helm Seat Backrest
  • Hydraulic Jack Plate
  • Trim Tabs
  • Over The Console Grab Rail

ACCESSORIES

  • Power Pole
  • Power Pole Move Trolling Motor
  • Two Humminbird Helix 9 GPS / Sonar with Side Imaging
  • Elevated Casting Platform With Leaning Bar
  • Fishing Stool
  • Yeti Cooler

Hells Bay Eldora

Hells Bay Eldora is primary part of boats and equipment for sightfishing

The Hells Bay Eldora is an ultra lightweight technical "micro-skiff". The Eldora is a stripped down, open cockpit poling skiff and is designed to fish the skinniest of shallows and go into backwaters seldom fished. I love sightfishing with this boat as it poles effortlessly and moves across the flats like a ghost. The hull is made from carbon innegra and weighs only 350 pounds. Power is a 30hp 4 stroke Tohatsu tiller steer outboard.

BOAT SPECIFICATIONS

  • Length              16' 4"
  • Weight             350 pounds
  • Draft                  4"
  • Capacity           3 Persons
  • Beam                 69"
  • Fuel Capacity   11 Gallons
  • Automatic Bilge Pump
  • Trim Tabs

ACCESSORIES

  • Minn Kota 55 lb Thrust Co-Pilot Trolling Motor
  • Humminbird GPS/Sonar With Side Imaging
  • Elevated Casting Platform With Leaning Bar
  • Engel Cooler
  • Yeti Chair

Equipment

Reels

  • Shimano Stradic Spinning Reels
  • Shimano Spheros Spinning Reels
  • Penn Spinfisher VI Spinning Reels

Rods

  • Temple Fork Outfitters Professional Series Spinning Rods
  • Falcon Clear Water Spinning Rods
  • Falcon Coastal Series Spinning Rods
  • Falcon HD Series Spinning Rods
  • St. Croix Triumph Inshore Spinning Rods
  • Shimano Teramar Spinning Rods
  • Penn Carnage Spinning Rods