[Priceless]

Hey guys here is one for you. We are currently running a 24' Topaz and we consistently fish up to 45 miles offshore only during good weather (large 2 day window). A typical trip consists of 4 hours running @ 21 knots and a 6 hour troll, we burn about 20 gallons of diesel. We are considering extending our trips to the edge (Dip and Hudson Canyon). I know many of you have smaller boats 28' and less. I was wondering how far from shore you are willing to go in a small boat in order to catch some Tuna. We have plenty of fuel and our boat is very seaworthy for a 24 footer. My crew is experienced and the boat has EPIRB and the necessary electronics. What do you think?

Chris

 

[MakoMatt]

Priceless, I think you would be really pushing the envelope in a 24'. You didn't mention anything about having a raft, I would suggest you get one even for the trips you are making now, 45 miles off the beach.

Just my $.02

 

[Priceless]

Matt,

You are fishing a 26' Grover right? How far out do you fish? That grover is a good boat and so is mine. I have heard of people running 25' Parkers,Seacraft and Grady Whites out to the edge. My boat is every bit as good as the above mentioned boats if not better as far as being seaworthy. Like I mentioned in my prior post, I only fish good conditions. I would only fish the edge if I had incredible conditions like 10-15 mph winds 2-3 ft seas with no indication of a frontal system. 2 day window minimum.

 

[624911]

Priceless

I used to have a 24' Topaz with a Volvo Tamd41. I made about a 1/2 dozen trips to the Hudson in it. They were always day trips. We got lucky and caught fish pretty quickly once we got there and then turned around. I loved the boat and everything went well every time. Does this mean that I recommend the trip in that boat. Absolutely not!!! I too had all of the safety equipment and top of the line electronics. But when I look back at the trips I now realize I was crazy. I sold the boat about five years ago and someone I know recently purchased it from the guy I sold it to. The new owner asked me to come show him the ins and outs of the boat. When I met him at the boat I realized how small it was and couldn't beleive that I made those trips on it. Don't get me wrong its a great boat but its not made for that kind of range. Besides being dangerous those trips were never really comfortable due to limited space and the amount of gear you bring with you.I put alot of Makos in the boat and also did quite a bit of bottom fishing with it. Its a great boat good luck with it.

 

[MakoMatt]

Priceless, the 24' Topaz is a nice boat, I did not mean to imply that it wasn't, just pointing out that I think at 24' you are pushing the envelope, and without a raft along with other safty equipment, you have no business being out there. That's MY opinion, you asked for it.

There come a time when most if not all would agree that a certain size vessel is too small for a certain task, my feeling is 24' is too small to be 80 miles off the beach. If you don't think it's 24', what size do you think? 23'? 22'? 21'? Face it, at 24' it's VERY debatabe in most people's mind I would think, including yours, otherwise, why ask the question you did.

Also, you can't compare a 24' Topaz to the Grover, apples and oranges.

MakoMatt

 

[624911]

Priceless Makomatt is right. Comparing the Topaz to the Grover is apples to oranges. The Topaz is a much better boat.

(dont get excited I'm Just kidding Matt)

BB

 

[MakoMatt]

fishndude, LOL, that's what I meant, the Topaz is a much more seaworthy boat.

tight lines,
MakoMatt

 

[624911]

Makomatt,
I don't know if you've been on one but the 24' Topaz really is a nice Hull. There just not alot of room.

BB

 

[Priceless]

Matt,

I am not offended in anyway shape or form. I posted the question to get answers and opinions. I too am a little on the safe side and that extra 15-20 miles for us is a lot. I was not trying to compare boats either. I was just trying to say that people do run that far in similar size and quality boats. I appreciate your $.02. Thank you.

Chris

 

[MakoMatt]

fishndude, I have not been on the 24', but I do know the boat, and IMHO, it's a good boat. I just think you need to draw a line somewhere that's all. I have gotten myself into situations with my boat that had I used better judgement from the get-go, I would not have found myself in, but that's life, live and learn, well,.... hopefully live through it anyway.

MakoMatt

 

[reelfun]

28 min

I wouldn't do it. I think a top quality 28 is the absolute minimum to go that far. The weather forcast's are not that dependable. The equipment list is long and heavy. I have a 32 and in my opinion she is a small canyon boat.

Capt Larry H

 

[Capt.XXX]

But MakoMatt

You never addressed the question of how far have you sailed your grover offshore.

 

[Capt.XXX]

reelfun

There are a lot of different 28 footers and a lot of different 30 footer out there. I wouldn't put a length limit on the hull as the deciding factor for a canyon foray. Maybe if you talked about LWL (Length of Water Line) you might be closer to what your thinking. I would also think about the amount of displacement the hull has too before I decided if a 28' is capable of canyon fishing. Heck, I've seen a 21' Robalo out there too!

Maybe there's a ratio here somewhere of (LWL X Beam)/Displacement -- who knows.

 

[thefishingfreak]

not sure?

i used to have a 22 foot walkaround that i took 60 miles offshore
if you have the confidence in yourself and the boat you can do it! you know the drill- watching the weather channel for three days strait {wife thinks you've lost it}getting up before the dunkin' donuts' guy .
the food -the fuel -the bait-the ice -the crew
lets face some 22-26 foot boats dont have the room for a raft or the budget for one. get the epirb. get type 1 offshore vests.{keep them handy} get solas flares {keep them handy}.make the float plan-have the best radio- be save and know what to expect " all day long"
also very important=know when to go back ,dont push the boat thru a tough ride out because you think it's going to lay down later on in the day, cause it wont!it will only get worse
i've had the **** rides back to port and there not fun but if you dont push the envelope a "little"not to much you will never learn!

 

[623780]

Talking about boats,

Do you think a baylines 21 ft trophy boat make it to the mudhole no problem and if so what other precautions measures we should take.


Breaks212

 

[613084]

How 'bout a 19' center console sea nymph tin boat....35 miles offshore fishing for haddock & cod.... I REALLY pick my days.. Have a lot of fun & there's always someone within earshot .

 

[Priceless]

One of the things that I always think about when this comes up is, when we are sharking are trolling for tuna within 50 miles we rarely see a large fleet of boats. every time that i have been offshore to the canyon in somebody else's boat there is a huge fleet of boats out there. God forbid something went wrong and i had to go in the water I would have a better chance out in the canyon of getting picked up by another vessel.
Capt XXX do you fish from a smaller vessel? Everybody thanks for your input

 

[Polodog]

IMHO

Priceless IMHO a 24 should not be in the canyon..... This, in no way is a reflection on your skills nor the quality of your boat.... There are just too many things which can go wrong.... I think 45 miles is pretty much the max for a 24 footer....and mako brings out a very important point.....even for that distance i hope you have a life raft...yes the debate can go on and on as to the min. for being 80 miles out....well its not the size of the boat but a lot of other factors.... just an example i have a pursuit 2670 and there so many other boats of the same size whose dry weight is half of my boat.....makes me think why.....did they save on material.....can that hull handle the stress as well...... both boats are sea worthy but....... so please do understand that there are many many other factors..... and you being the captain of your boat ...are responsible for the safty of your crew... ok i said enough .... be safe

 

[Fishing Friend]

First let me say that the Topaz is one of my favorite boats. With that said, a 24' of any size, any equipment/safety devices, and experienced crew, does not belong that far from shore. Because some of you guys have seen 21-23 foot center consoles out there that doesn't mean that it's o.k. to does something stupid and crazy as well. Many boats advertise that their boats are "canyon fishers". Even the ones that are too small. Don't be influenced. It's my opinion the canyons are too far for that size boat. On the other hand if you watch the weather and follow saftey proceedures such as you mentioned tuna fishing can be had much closer. The Mudhole area and east along the 20 fath. curve gets it's shots. If you can keep the boat out in Montauk; we used to have good fishing in the West Bank of the Butterfish Hole. Relatively speaking, it's not that far from view of the lighthouse.

 

[bassavant]

I couldn/t resist...
I had a 26' Grover and regularly fished it to the Hudson and the Dip. I carried 88 gallons and never burned more than 62 on an overnighter. I would try like heck to pick a weather window and most times did it. I also cancelled a LOT of trips. My wife understands that when the weather is good, I have a crew and I am off from work - I GO. Sooner or later you will be uncomfortable (that being a relative term - everybody's threshold is different) but you can have great fishing. I now have a 28' Grover - that's a different story. I seem to notice that all boats are small out there. I was on a "small" 900' containership in the Bering sea once...another different story though.
I'm also not recommending that you do as I do - I have crew that knows what they're getting into and I have confidence in the boats (Grovers, I mean). I also rarely pass up the chance to hop on with some friends with 35's.
You asked what we did - there's my answer. Oh, and the furthest I ever went was around 85 mi.