What's the OB opinion on the best outdoor skiff for chasing reds on the Texas coast with the fly rod. I'd really like to have at least a 90 hp or so on the boat to travel some distance. Probably an 18 foot boat.

https://chittumskiffs.com/laguna-madre-edition/

If money is no object.

You sound like me. I've got an 18' skiff with a 90, and while it hauls it's better suited for LA and it can be a pain to push on windy days. Always happy to talk skiffs if you're interested (I'm headed to Cocodrie tomorrow to fish so will be out of pocket a few days).

Tons of good options out there though, Chittum, East Cape, Hells Bay, Cayo, Beavertail, Sabine, etc. All different kinds and can be tailored to what type you do. Not one boat does it all, get the one that fits 80% of your needs.

bmfvet said:

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https://chittumskiffs.com/laguna-madre-edition/

If money is no object.

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I'm definitely going to look at that one. Quality is more important than budget to me.

Thanks! I've got some internet surfing to do tonight!

A 27 foot contender with twin 300 yammies should do the trick

Since you didn't blink at the Chittum budget, look at the Hells Bay Professional/guide as well. Beavertail Vengence is an awesome skiff if you want to chase reds but also make a run to the jetties or chase tarpon off the beach. I don't think the BT drafts quite as skinny as the Chittum or HB. But they are awesome boats, I fish on one quite a bit. I'll throw Maverick in there as well, their current line is either HPX-s or -v depending on what you want to fish. If shallow flats sightcasting is 90% of your game you probably want an -S.

Check out this thread I bumped a few weeks ago:

https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/3232503

Have you owned a skiff before? If not, what brands have you been in?
Are you sticking to a budget or have an open checkbook?
Which brands have dealers close to where you'll fish or store the boat?
Where on the Texas Coast? There's a heck of a lot of variance and what someone may recommend for the LLM may not be great for Galveston

Skiffs are going to be a lot more personal to the individual. I'd get in as many as you can and decide what you like. If this is your first rodeo, I'd consider used and run one for a while before you go all-in on a custom boat.

Gonna be mid coast and south. I've never owned a skiff but grew up fishing on the coast. I currently have two boats so this would be a third boat although I might get rid on my jet boat with another purchase as I don't use it enough anyways. This is more of a I've caught a zillion fish on conventional tackle and it's time to do something different. I do have quite a bit of fly rod experience chasing trout in Colorado so the fly casting I'm not worried about.

Two totally different styles of fly fishing IMO

AgFlyGuy said:

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Two totally different styles of fly fishing IMO

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They are. I've caught reds and trout on the fly as well.

I own a BT Osprey (HB Waterman splashed hull) and live on a canal on North Padre Island. It's pushed by a 60 Suzuki. Wide open it runs at 35 mph and I really wouldn't want to go faster on a 18' skiff.

But from your comment around selling your jet boat since it doesn't get much use, I would recommend searching the used market and if you love poling a skiff then place an order for a new one of your choice. But a Chittum is a pricey investment if you're not 100% sure you're going to be using the skiff all of the time.

What it feels like when I blow by a Skiff on my SaberCat

The jet boat comment is a little misleading. I fish a ton but I use my bass boat 95% of the time. The jet boat is being used mainly in the summer on the lower Colorado. It's a nice getaway from the crowds in the summer as not many people have boats that can access that river. I'll probably buy a new skiff but I haven't even priced anything yet. I can't imagine it would be any more than my Ranger Z520 but I don't know.

Sabine Skiffs is the only one made by a Texan for Texas waters. I just sold my versatile to make room for their new model - Sabine Carbon. The Sabine folks are truly a pleasure to work with and it seems they make quick friends with everyone in the community.

I fish very regularly and fish hard and can say I haven't had a single issue with my skiff due to workmanship, fit, finish, etc. Only issues were when I screwed up and still no big deal as Sabine and all their vendors are right here.

The only other builder that contends for performance as to what you need in Texas is Chittum. I've heard too many poor experiences with customers of theirs dropping $80k to $120k on a skiff just for the console to rattle out of being bonded to the floor, thinks falling apart, etc. Just personal opinion they are a stick up bunch too.

We have had our Chittum for five years and have a totally different opinion.

Anybody want to buy a 2015 El Pescador 24.5 tunnel hull w 250 Yamaha SHO 260 hrs or so ? Think I want to sell it and buy my buddies new SCB, he had something come up and he needs to sell his boat .. 15 hours on his motor

PalomaPachanga said:

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The only other builder that contends for performance as to what you need in Texas is Chittum.

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Um…

Gotta be Hell's Bay, if you can wait 18 months and have lots of $'s!

I've posted my thoughts on skiffs in detail on this forum. But the general idea is that floating skinny (and running skinny if you are further south) is the name of the game. I keep my boat in a dry stack so something faster would be nice, but if you trailer your boat that's much less relevant. The bigger the motor the more draft so it's a balancing act. I know a bunch of guys that started with big fast skiffs and sold for something smaller and skinnier a few years later but it's totally personal preference.

There are a lot of makers out there and a bunch of nice boats. I love my Sabine Versatile and wouldn't change anything about it. There were things I liked/disliked about every other boat mentioned here that ultimately drove me to Sabine, but again it's totally personal preference. They are all nice boats. Go to microskiff.com and start perusing the posts there. Lots of info.

Well said and agree. (I'm one of the guys with a bigger skiff and now building something skinnier)

That's awesome. I would love to build a skiff...maybe that's my next move for something just a tad skinnier as well.

AgFly - if you don't mind me asking what size skiff were you fishing and what size are you moving to? One of my projects is to build a flats skiff and I'm debating between an FS18 and a LM18 from Bateau.

I don't think I can go wrong with either, but I'm leaning towards the slightly wider LM18 for space and casting area. Either one will be significantly smaller and more maneuverable than my 21' deep V, so I'm wondering if there are some pros/cons that I'm not thinking of.

PalomaPachanga said:

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Sabine Skiffs is the only one made by a Texan for Texas waters. I just sold my versatile to make room for their new model - Sabine Carbon. The Sabine folks are truly a pleasure to work with and it seems they make quick friends with everyone in the community.

I fish very regularly and fish hard and can say I haven't had a single issue with my skiff due to workmanship, fit, finish, etc. Only issues were when I screwed up and still no big deal as Sabine and all their vendors are right here.

The only other builder that contends for performance as to what you need in Texas is Chittum. I've heard too many poor experiences with customers of theirs dropping $80k to $120k on a skiff just for the console to rattle out of being bonded to the floor, thinks falling apart, etc. Just personal opinion they are a stick up bunch too.

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Speaking of Sabine- how many transducers have you ripped off your hull by running skinny? Brian told me it's at least two.

Personally, I have a Versatile in large part due to the amount of oysters where I fish and I'd rather scrape over them in aluminum than gel coat over glass or carbon.

I don't think a 90 is necessary and the speed reward is reduced by the greater draft. I'm not 100% that a tunnel is necessary (but I have one) and I think JT Van Zandt runs a tunnel-hull Chittum Laguna Madre. I have a 60hp and can run 35 but usually only get there when I'm in the ICW or crossing the deeper parts of the bay, I typically stay upper-teens to low-20's when I'm in the back lakes and marsh.

Anyone on here running the Beavertail mosquito. That looks like a nice boat and can go up to 70 hp with a 5 1/2 inch draft at 18 feet in length.

I've ripped off 1 transducer and it was not due to me running skinny but rather me just being a dingbat around the skiff

I've got an East Cape Fury with a 90 and building a Chris Morejohn Glades 18 (similar to the HB Glades Skiff). I'll put a 25hp on it. There is no perfect skiff, so I'm going to have 2.

I know someone that runs it, they like it. Complaints he's said is that it's a little heavy and doesn't track as well as lighter skiffs. But the fit and finish is great.

PalomaPachanga said:

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I've ripped off 1 transducer and it was not due to me running skinny but rather me just being a dingbat around the skiff

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Could've sworn he said you did it a couple times running skinny.

Was seriously considering buying the one that was for sale in Houston earlier this year. It's still on microskiff. I'm a BT fan, fish on a Vengeance quite a bit. Turns out the Cayo 173 runs skinnier and I already fish on one of those so I didn't pursue it any further.

They are solid skiffs (BT mosquito). Essentially a 2 man boat. Can fish 3 but depends on size and it's tight quarters. Don't think you could make a jetties run in one unless it was calm. Crossing any big water w chop could get sporty.

I'm not sure I'd gain enough from the versatile to make it worth downsizing later on anyway but one day I may have to do something like this after a while. Always thought about a panga and a super skinny tiller skiff to cover my bases.

Would the vengeance be a better boat? Probably handle the chop better?

Depends on what you want to do. Like others have written already all skiffs are compromises, when you gain one feature you give up another. The vengeance is so sweet. My buddies has a 110 Yamaha and it runs like a corvette. Faster than we need to run it. Frankly it's probably over-motored. But it's designed to handle chop and waves better than the micro, to chase tarpon 4-8 miles off shore on good days, make a jetty run if you're not dealing w 3-4 foot waves and catch bull reds, but also still be able to poll the flats. It can definitely handle chop better, not sure of that fits your needs.

But compared to a skinny micro/mosquito skiff she's a heavy beast. It polls very well for its size, but it is work polling it in the wind and it's not quite as agile when trying to spin the boat for a shot. We have poled it through 7-8 inches no problem w 2 guys on the boat. It will run skinnier on plane but the real number you gotta know / figure out for your individual boat/motor/anglers is how shallow will it poll and how skinny can you go and still get the boat up when it's time to leave a flat. You figure that out by getting stuck a lot at first. Get some good flats boots!

Negatory, but I do regret putting it on in the first place because the one time it broke it was a pain the the ass to replace. Never really used it the right way enough to justify needing it

PalomaPachanga said:

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Negatory, but I do regret putting it on in the first place because the one time it broke it was a pain the the ass to replace. Never really used it the right way enough to justify needing it

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Well Brian telling me you tore yours off was a big reason why I don't have one and just use the GPS & NMEA display and not as a depth finder.