Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

[Viet Le Nguyen]

Hello everybody, I just bought a 2011 Tahoe Q5i back in the end of June to have fun on Lake Lanier in GA. I love to fish and I wonder if I can take my boat to saltwater to do some offshore fishing? If yes, then how far out can I go so that my family and I (4 persons total) can catch some fish and be safe at the same time.
We love to go down to Destin, FL and this year we'll take the boat with us. So, can we take the boat offshore into the Gulf and how far out can we go? And maybe to Savannah, GA, also and how far out? Some recommendations please...Thank you all very much!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

I wouldn't take that boat off shore; stay as close to shore as you do on a lake and watch the weather; go with other boats.

 

[oops!]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

hi ....welcome to iboats....

if the water is calm...you can take a 12 foot aluminum boat to china if you want.

if the water gets rough....your toast.

your boat wont know the difference till its out of the water....


but when you take it out of the salt.....flush the engine with fresh water immediately.

staying close to shore is a good idea. KNOW the weather.....if in doubt....dont go out. if you see a cloud or wind.....get in

 

[Part-time]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

I personaly think it has alot more to do with the captain than the boat.
It all depends on how experienced you are and what you're comfortable with.
I know guys that go salmon fishing on lake Huron with 14' tin boats.
Myself, I'd need something the size of a football field to be compfortable out there.
I like my river and small lakes.

 

[Philster]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

The answer to this type of question for me is always "If you are inexperienced enough that you have to ask, then the answer is no."

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Hello everybody, I just bought a 2011 Tahoe Q5i back in the end of June to have fun on Lake Lanier in GA. I love to fish and I wonder if I can take my boat to saltwater to do some offshore fishing? If yes, then how far out can I go so that my family and I (4 persons total) can catch some fish and be safe at the same time.
We love to go down to Destin, FL and this year we'll take the boat with us. So, can we take the boat offshore into the Gulf and how far out can we go? And maybe to Savannah, GA, also and how far out? Some recommendations please...Thank you all very much!

We will allow you to take the occasional trip into the ocean, but you have to stay within 1000 feet of the shore and only go out if the seas are less than 2 feet.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Once you put it in salt water it will never be the same again. BTDT

I even used to have two sets of tackle, one for fresh and another salt. I don't care how well I washed things up after a SW outing, salt would remain and corrosion would prevail.

Not familiar with your boat. From the replies it seems it's quite small. Small boats have no place on open water. However, I had a 13' Taylor Craft that I used to take out to the islands off the Mississippi coast, a distance of 10 miles....could just see island or land on the horizon depending which way you were looking.

Usually the wind would lay at night and mornings were slow rolls on the way out. Afternoons on the Gulf Coast are almost always windy with 2-3' waves common and the ride back was in fairly good sized waves, but by setting the speed of he boat right at the speed of he waves or slightly faster, it was a smooth, enjoyable and dry ride.

My boat had a closed forward deck, windshield, and a very large bow flare. The wind and waves were always either in my face or at my back which solved a lot of problems. Upon taking a wave, the flared bow shot the water to the side for the dry ride, and also kept the bow of the boat on top of the waves when you plowed into the next wave if you were going too fast for the conditions.

I got caught out at the islands once when a bad squall (insense, short lived, thunder storm with lots of rain and lightening) hit but I was in protected water and as it turned out, a guy with a larger boat with a top and side curtains was there and invited us over to ride it out under this canvas.

At the time I was an experienced boater and knew my equipment and it's capabilities.

Always an eye was on the weather.

HTH,

Mark

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Welcome to iboats!
Destin has a protected bay side that has small boats running everywhere in flat water-and some is very shallow.
The Gulf side can turn nasty quick- the last time I was 20miles of the coast there was 5 & 6ft choppy waves--a small runabout /pleasure boat would be a disaster.
Check with the locals in the area to get the best info. It is good to speak with people who have many years experiance in the area-and they can put you on the best spots to fish.
Good Luck and be SAFE!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Once you put it in salt water it will never be the same again.

This is total BS! Why would you tell someone this and ruin a possible great time boating and fishing?

I have been boating between salt and freshwater my entire life and have NEVER had any sort of mechanical, electrical, and/or structural problem related to saltwater. Simply flush your engine with freshwather after use and clean the boat/trailer to remove salt residue.

Boats are designed to go into saltwater environments...how else could you look at the coast of every single country that borders saltwater and see literally millions of boats floating? Proper preventative maintenance is the key. Use the search function on this site and you will see hundreds of posts on how to properly maintain your boat in a saltwater environment.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

I will only say, 1/3 fuel out, 1/3 fuel back, 1/3 fuel reserve.

 

[nlain]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Tahoe Q5 is a bowrider, 19'5" long, 91" Beam, V6 220 hp Merc I/O, 16 degree deadrise, 18' draft, approx. weight w/engine 2363. I have been in the Gulf when it was as flat as could be from PCB to Destin, I also have been out there in a 23' cuddy that the water would occasionally splash over the bow. The trip in the 23' was from Crystal River, that was a nasty day. It was too rough to go to where the fish were at then. We turned around and came back toward shore, fished a little but no fish. The Tahoe is not a boat to put out in open water unless you really know what you are doing and have checked the weather real good to make sure it is going to be calm that day, Gulf or Atlantic, the Gulf can go from smooth to nasty in a heartbeat. If you are going to try to go out see if you can find an experienced boater to go with that knows when to go and when not to go, or, when to run for shore quick. I am in SE Ga, there are artificial reefs that are about 12 miles off shore, there are other places that are closer to shore but you still have to go quite a way from an inlet to protected water and you are even farther from a place to get out of the weather. The sounds can get a 3 to 4 foot washing machine chop, which you can handle in your boat, just not a good ride, it will be a wet ride if you are going into the wind, check my boat info in my signature, I know all to well how the water is in the sounds and rivers here. As to the saltwater use, the water will not make your boat disintergrate, you do however need to flush the engine out real good after use. I boat this water all the time, I flush about 20 min, and now use Saltaway as the finish of the flush, after an outing which could be a day or a weekend since I live on the water and have a dock. Wash the trailer real good and wash the boat real good after each use and you will be fine. There are also a lot of good fishing spots inshore as well without having to go outside and you can catch some nice fish, or find a nice beach to anchor and relax on.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

well you "could" cross the Pacific in a dugout, but that doesn't mean I would give it a try, especially with the wife and kids on board. That being said, folks younger and crazier than I am take their jon boats out to the oil rigs here in the gulf that are 20+ miles off shore.....and make it back in one piece (usually). I wouldn't do it, but it can be done, I suppose. You also see folks out here fishing the saltwater flats in Ranger bass boats and the like. Don't worry about the type of water though. I don't know where people get the idea of having a "fresh" vs. "saltwater" boat.?.? We routinely go from one to the other and back again where I live. In the end, a boat is a boat is a boat. As per the previous post, your boat doesn't know if you're in saltwater or fresh, if you're 10 ft. from shore, or 10 miles, or if you're in 2 ft. or 2000 ft. of water. The freshwater great lakes can be just as volatile as any saltwater ocean. The most important things are to know your equipment and your environment. I always err on the side of caution, especially if I have other folks on board with me. With the boat you have now, I would stick to calm, familiar waters with the wife and kids. Destin, and the gulf coast in general, has tons of beautiful days when the water is like glass and perfectly safe for the wife and kids, other days not so much. Just do your homework (there are tons of great weather/fishing apps for phones, etc...) be safe, perhaps stay in sight of land with the wife and kids, be safe and have fun. happy boxing day to one and all.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Mark's comments describe why the skill of the captain and the design (not the length) of the boat make all the difference. I assume the OP is not experienced outside lake boating from his post, and I looked at a picture of the boat and my opinion is that it is not designed to handle weather. Mark's bow flare is a crucial distinction.

I am a life-long salt water boater and have lived on one salt water system (estuary/bay); second place on a seaside island. I agree that the "never be the same" statement is absurd, but with one qualification. I understand there are some boats, like some of the bass boats, that are made with substandard fittings that cannot abide salt air (salt air is worse than salt water BTW). So while the occasional trip is no problem, some boats can't be kept there for 100% use. It's a shame but that happens. So we need to know if a Tahoe is such a boat--anyone keep one moored and stored in or over salt water?

As for fishing tackle, I have through the years accidentally bought tackle that could not handle salt air--even brand names like Ugly Stick turned green at the fittings. Fresh water lures don't last and I don't feel like sanding off my hooks every time I pull a lure out of the box. So like boats, get good quality and you are OK.

In my opinion they shouldn't make any boat/marine equipment that can't handle salt water, and most can, but there are exceptions to avoid.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Can't agree more about fittings, HC. The only difference with cheap/junk fittings is in freshwater it takes longer to turn, but the end result is the same.

I haven't seen any advice to the OP to take an approved Coast Guard or state safe boating course. Before I got my first boat I took a course and it helped and continues to help. I still pull out Chapman's and look through it.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

I understand there are some boats, like some of the bass boats, that are made with substandard fittings that cannot abide salt air (salt air is worse than salt water BTW). So while the occasional trip is no problem, some boats can't be kept there for 100% use.

There is really no such thing as sub-standard fitting. The two most frequently used fittings on boats are Stainless steel (saltwater boats) and chrome over die cast zinc (fresh water boats).

Most Stainless fittings are made/cast from 316 or 316L stainless steel. If the fitting is not passivated as part of the manufacturing process you will get some "rusting" when used in around SW. Stagnate water (fresh or salt) in contact with stainless will caused it to leech the carbon from the alloy which will "stain" as well.

On the other hand, chrome plated, zinc fittings have no place in a saltwater environment. The zinc will act as the sacrificial anode to the chrome and will start to be eaten away almost immediately when subjected to a saltwater environment.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

then I'd call chrome over zinc "sub-standard."

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

Man, take your boat out and enjoy it! Just use common sense! No, you don't want to take your boat 30 miles offshore but 10 miles out with good conditions and some experience under your belt will be just fine. If you don't feel comfortable when out there turn around and come home. Hook up with a local buddy boat if you can for the first couple times out. Make sure you have all the proper safety gear to go offshore and check the weather.

Most people who say nah to this type of thing have never run your particular boat and some have never been offshore to begin with. Different areas will call for different planing and you should have knowledge of the local waters before venturing out into it. Charts and a gps/chartplotter will be a good idea if your just learning the area.

Though your boat is not built for offshore heavy weather conditions, there is no reason with some experience that you can't take it out on nice days and enjoy. If you see the weather turning bad or feel the wind start to kick, head into shallower water. Also watch your tide changes and know the area via a chart before you go out! Have fun, be safe, and enjoy. And yes, if you haven't taken a Coast gaurd approved course yet, take it! You will be glad you did and learn many things.

 

[sasto]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

We took an older 18footer across the Atlantic to the Bahamas. That's one reason for my name, sasto (Some Are Sicker Than Others) :facepalm:

Heck....pick me up....I'll go along with no worries!

 

[oops!]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

That's one reason for my name, sasto (Some Are Sicker Than Others)

thank you for that.....

not to hijack.....

oops!.........i fell in love with an older boat

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: Saltwater Fishing with Freshwater Boat?

A lot has been said so I will forgo the obvious such as salt water use. Just clean well afterwards and you will be fine. As for going into the Gulf of Mexico, I see it two ways. First let me say that I have fished the Gulf for 15 years now in a 24ft Carolina skiff, a 24ft Champion bay boat, and now a 31ft fountain. I have taken the smaller boats out 50 miles in groups of 3-4 boats for safety. The issue is knowing the weather and the area you’re going to fish. As mentioned before, the weather can change in a heartbeat, so stay close! That said, do you have any navigation equipment? Leaving sight of shore without good navigation is just foolish. A compass works but most people can’t use them. It’s not the same as on land! Tide and current will throw you off and heavy seas will have the compass bouncing all over the place, especially in a small boat. Other than that, fishing the gulf in a small boat is acceptable with a good plan and probably a float plan, at least leave one with a friend or something like that.

My other issue is this, you probably won’t catch anything! Fishing in open water is somewhat of an art and most anyone will tell you that it took them several trips to catch consistently. So I say why risk it? There are plenty of game fish in the bay systems that will challenge your light tackle, which is fine for salt use in most cases. (I'll explain later) So, on your first couple of trips to the coast, fish in the bay and later when the fish stop biting, venture out to the jetty and learn to drive your boat in the bigger seas and decide if you really want to spend all the fuel and time to fish out there. Here in Texas the fishing slows a good bit in the winter months and long runs are required to catch good fish. In the summer there are all kinds of good fish from the jetty to only a few miles out!

My advice is to stay inland for a while. Take the winter and "play" a little in the waves to learn the boat and also see who is going to be sea sick.....because almost certainly someone will. Stay out in the waves for an hour or so and see who turns green! LOL! As for your tackle, a good cleaning will keep them going just fine. I have used everything from $20.00 cheap reels to top of the line Penn and Shimano. The salt will cause some corrosion even if you wash them, but not enough to significantly reduce the normal life expectancy of the equipment. If you buy a $20 reel it's probably only going to last one season anyway and the salt won't get it before it dies anyway. Just wash and clean them inside if they get dropped while wade fishing or something like that. I have reels today that I have been using for 5-6 years! They are middle grade reels and cost about $30-$60 each. So, don’t get too wrapped up about buying a bunch of special equipment. Save that money and spend it on gas and bait, and go have some fun with your family. Boating and fishing have some risks but they shouldn't keep you from spending quality time with your family.

Get back on here in the summer and get some of these guys to give you some tips on catching kingfish at the jetty. They're not the best eating fish in the sea but they are a ton of fun on your light tackle and will introduce you to the requirements for tackling large, powerful toothy game!