New to offshore need advice.

[Bunker]

Greetings fellow fisherman. I have been fishing all my life mostly freshwater and bay fishing. This past year I purchased a 23'-0 Legacy cc used with a 200 jhonson. I would like some input as to if this is a safe size vessel to start fishing offshore. 113 gal fuel cap. I would like to target tuna and sharks. Im not sure if I can make it to the canyons off Ocean city md. Does anyone in thier rite mind do this with a single engine, or should I keep my self in the bay.

[gottaflylee]

Bunker, first let me welcome you to the board. You will find a lot of great info. here.
As to your question,and what you have asid in your post I would say NO. I do not deel that you have the fuel for it and do not know you boat that well. The canyons in a small boat is not somewhere you need to be if you are just getting into offshore fishing. I'm sure that you cand find a couple of people on here that youcan ride with till you gain some offshore knowledge and see what is is like. IMHO Not trying to put you down or off in any way... Good luck out there...

[joeksr]

Nope, nobody in there right mind. But who says fisherman are in there right mind? I had my 22' single engine out to the dog. Pick a good day and watch the weather. Start out slow (1st-3rd lump maybe). till you get the feel of the ocean. It's different than the bay. Learn how the new boat handles.
Be carefull and remember, in the ocean you dont always do what you want,
sometime you have to do what you can. It's not nice to fight with mother nature.

My rule #1 offshore in a small boat for crew--- Hold On.
The driver can see the waves coming and instictively brace for them.
Crew not so much. Just because your comfortable does not mean the crew is having a good ride. Take your time.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy



Joe.

[Seaker]

Captain Lee summed it up very well.
I will restate it's not one of us saying no but rather you may wish to get some off shore time under your belt as part of an open boat charter perhaps. You may find that itch of yours turning into a full blown rash and that's not bad but we have warned you about the dreaded cobalt disease

I would not suggest venturing outside of your comfort zone especially alone. Buddy boats are a good thing.

But in my best and most honest opeinon your heading into a great sport but alas one that is very demading of all equipment. I don't know where home is for you but again I would highly recommend any open boat or make up trips listed on the board. This will give you time to assses your goals and aspirations on a per diem basis before you go out and buy the farm.

Check out the sponsors on this site and check their trip reports or captains logs I'm certain you'l find someone really great to get you started.

Remember you have been warned LOL

Now chatemup

[austin ensor]

we fish a 2320 parker offshore. let me first say it sucks in the ocean. its a ruff ride out!!!! but we have had it out 67 miles in washington. shark fishing you only need to go about 15 miles to get good sharks. tuna your going to have to make a run. but its worth it as soon as that rod goes off!!! it is possiable and we do but USE THIS INFO AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!


-AUSTIN

[Bunker]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I will be sticking with the stipers and trout in the bay. I have been on four tuna trips out of Hatteres Nc. and Ocean City Md. Hatteres seems it would be doable, but md. waters you have quit a ride to get to the fish. I was thinking that the hot dog would be realistic if I launched from northern va. in good weather.

[BuffaloHunter]

On a nice day, amidst a stable weather pattern I'd say go for it. And the canyons may not even be necessary, bluefins are consistently caught between 20-50 fathoms around the hot dog, hambone, and sausages.

As for the single motor, more stock has been put into the importance of twins then what may be true anyway. Chances are, a failure is going to occur with the regulatory computer and electrical systems that operate both motors anyway. As for gas, 113 gallons is plenty get out there, just make sure you have enough to get back! Get a feel for your boats fuel economy before making the run. Invest in some safety equiptment like an EPIRB and things like that. I fish from a 25' and its plenty of boat in any sea condition under 4-6'. People often fail to realize it seems that the ocean is essentially the same at 2 miles as it is at 80miles. Your boat is not going to suddenly sink once land is no longer visable, nor are you going to fall of the edge of the Earth as once thought. Its just the margin for error decreases the farther you are from shore. With smart planning there's no reason why a capable skipper can't get out there in a 23 foot boat.

[gradyfish265]

Welcome to the board. I agree with some above, going offshore in any single outboard boat is not the best thing to do, but can be done with careful planning. First, always run with a buddy boat, if something goes wrong you will want to know someone out there. also, watch weather and be flexible to change plans. I would recommend a Epirb at the least if you run offshore. This season I fished out of OC, MD on a friends 43Ocean, we ran in in flat calm, but foggy conditions. We had a 19'CC follow us half the way back from the canyon...these guys were nuts. No radar and they ran offshore ina tiny 19'CC and did an overnighter. Not sure how they had lighting, but that is another story. Also saw a 23' Grady White Gulfstream with a single at the Hudson Canyon this season, roughly a 70+mile run.
If you plan to do some offshore fishing, start fishing the midshore lumps. There is some great fishing out of OC that his not as far as the canyon where you can catch some nice sized bluefins, as well as dolphin and wahoo. Once you learn what your boat can handle and what your range is, then you can begin to push off further. Not sure how that boat will do on gas or what your tank size is so I cannot estimate range. If you do plan to run the canyon after a few trips, I would highly advise that your boat has a radar and a gps/chartplotter. You want to know where you are at all times, as well as what the bottom contour is, and a radar is good incase fog rolls in, as well as for avoid thunderstorms. You can track them and try to work around them if one does pop up.

[giantfan]

Fuel is a big one.

I had a 25' cc with a single outboard that I ran to the glory hole quite often for sharks. Aprox. 70 miles from my dock at the time. Keep in mind that if the weather gets snotty (and it will) you will be burning much more fuel. One trip it took me 30 gallons to get out there and 100 to get home. Not to mention the 2.5 hour trip that it toook to get out there was a 13 hour trip on the way home. The weathermen do the best they can but mother nature doesn't always listen. (I wish I had a job that I could be wrong 50% of the time)LOL

Get a bit of experience with someone that knows the ropes or invite someone with you on your boat that know what they are doing.

Good luck and don't be afraid, BE CAREFUL AND SMART!!!!!!

[Bert Rodgers]

1st you need to find out what you rate of consumption is. Do this in the bay.
Then you need to learn the rule of 3s, 1/3 for running 1/3 trolling 1/3 backup.
In other words at the end of the day if you have only a 1/4 tank left you were pushing your luck.

Know before you leave the dock. There is no excuse for running out of fuel.

Bert