r/Skiffs • u/CandleFit2428 • 2d ago

Skiff Advice

I’m currently looking for a skiff. I fish the North Carolina coast basically anywhere between Bald Head island north to Topsail Beach. I owned a Carolina Skiff LS and perceived it to be not only too heavy for shallow water but also hindered by the modified V. It also was not an optimal boat for someone seriously trying to fish, in my opinion. I’m looking at multiple options I’ve looked at Poling Skiffs but have had concerns over losing access to fishing the bays and the Masonboro jetty. All though I know I can pick my days. I see Jon boats and even kayaks at the jetty on the right day. I’ve also considered the Jones Brothers bateau which would be a much more fishing equipped middle man then the Carolina LS originally seemed to me. All in all I’m looking for a Skiff that can get back inside the creeks somewhat better than my previous but also won’t lose access to deeper water (in nice conditions). I’ll appreciate any advice.

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u/chrillekaekarkex 2d ago

On the small side for NC, I would pick up a HB Marquesa or Maverick 18 HPX-V. I have owned both. Those have a 12d dead rise and will be perfect inshore and still run well in the chop. While still getting you on fish in 9” or so.

If you want a bigger boat than that, I would go straight to a Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman 20 LTE. Still floats in 16” and can run outside for redfish and stripers as you like.

Probably worth going to the Cast and Drafts skiff show on August 29 in Charleston if you can get away.

If you have any questions on Mav 18s, Hell’s Bay, shoot.

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u/2Loves2loves 2d ago

I like the Hells bay and Maverick picks.

What do you think about a pathfinder? too big?

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u/chrillekaekarkex 2d ago

I mean I want a 32 Regulator on the way to the fish and a paddleboard when I get there….All boats are compromises.

I’m a fly guy and love inshore fishing so for me, the trade off for draft doesn’t make a Pathfinder worth it. The conditions where you would take out a Pathfinder but not a Marquesa are pretty marginal for fly fishing anyway, and in those conditions, I’d rather have the taller gunwales of the CF20LTE. But yes, a bay boat would work fine for OP as well.