New to the salt (and the site!)

[Cajunchuck]

First post here, what a great forum! I've got a few questions maybe y'all can help me with. Just bought a new boat for the family. It's an 18 foot aluminum center console with a 60 inch bottom. 90 four stroke on the back. We have been fishing mostly freshwater but not having much luck lately. I'd love to try for specks/reds mostly in VB/ Big Lake. Is this practical based on my boat? Of course I know not to go out there if it's too rough but I'm not sure of my boat's limitations. I have been to BL before in a friend's similar boat and had fun. Ride back was a bit wet/rough though. Any advice is welcomed! Sorry bout the long post!

[wishin i was fishin]

Welcome to the site. I started fishing VBay out of an alweld 1648 with a 75 and never went back to freshwater. you can hit henderson and catch bream under a cork or hit the bay and get a 6 lb red under a cork. when your wife and kids hang on to something like that makes it all worth it.


if you launch out of the point or ICC there are plenty of places to get your fill of reds. Specs will not be in the bay until September.

Not sure of your boat or skills but i have seen alot smaller boats than yours in the pass. wind and atchafalaya discharge play a role in planning.

Big lake is smaller and has more specs. year round than Vbay.

good luck.

[Cajunchuck]

Thanks man! Any special equipment I might need like radios, etc?

[meaux fishing]

Welcome to the site....A vhf radio is always good to have on a boat. A dash mounted unit with an antenna will have better reach than a handheld, Im assuming you have a trolling motor and a gps, neither are necessary, but they will make your life a whole lot easier. Here is a list of the coast guard required safety equipment http://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF

[ratherbefishing186]

Welcome to the site. I fish BL in an 18' express center console. I do just fine and use common sense when the winds start picking up. I have had to make some slow, bumpy, wet rides across the lake, but never got in a scary spot yet.

[marty f]

Originally Posted by ratherbefishing186

Welcome to the site. I fish BL in an 18' express center console. I do just fine and use common sense when the winds start picking up. I have had to make some slow, bumpy, wet rides across the lake, but never got in a scary spot yet.

Its just when hes at home does he have to worry about the water!! hahahaha

Hope the flooding dosent get to bad for ya, pick up your sand bags yet?

[Goooh]

Originally Posted by Cajunchuck

First post here, what a great forum! I've got a few questions maybe y'all can help me with. Just bought a new boat for the family. It's an 18 foot aluminum center console with a 60 inch bottom. 90 four stroke on the back. We have been fishing mostly freshwater but not having much luck lately. I'd love to try for specks/reds mostly in VB/ Big Lake. Is this practical based on my boat? Of course I know not to go out there if it's too rough but I'm not sure of my boat's limitations. I have been to BL before in a friend's similar boat and had fun. Ride back was a bit wet/rough though. Any advice is welcomed! Sorry bout the long post!

If you go to big lake it may be best to launch on the west side somewhere until you get better at judging what the wind forecast means out on the water. On the west side you can run the ship channel and stay very protected.

[marty f]

Originally Posted by Goooh

If you go to big lake it may be best to launch on the west side somewhere until you get better at judging what the wind forecast means out on the water. On the west side you can run the ship channel and stay very protected.

If you launch at Spicers use the ramp where the boat storage is, if you use the one on the channel, it can be difficult reloading if the current is ripping threw

[mriguy]

Originally Posted by marty f

If you launch at Spicers use the ramp where the boat storage is, if you use the one on the channel, it can be difficult reloading if the current is ripping threw

Absolutely

[Cajunchuck]

Appreciate it folks! Now to just find some free time.

[TroutSupport.com]

Originally Posted by marty f

Hope the flooding dosent get to bad for ya, pick up your sand bags yet?

How much did you guys get over there?

[marty f]

ALOT!! flood stage is 30ft, it got to 37ft sooooo most everything around the river front was 7 ft under water

[ratherbefishing186]

Water finally went down at my house yesterday....really liked the carpet of Salvinia coating everything!

[marty f]

Originally Posted by ratherbefishing186

Water finally went down at my house yesterday....really liked the carpet of Salvinia coating everything!

You and your Salvinia need to stay put HAHAHA that crap has destroyed a once great fishing lake

[Goooh]

Originally Posted by marty f

If you launch at Spicers use the ramp where the boat storage is, if you use the one on the channel, it can be difficult reloading if the current is ripping threw

Missed this post, I learned this the hard way in the boat that belongs to the owner of the company I work for... He backed the trailer down for me to kid the boat and the wind/current was not cooperating. I smoked the pole on the right

[TroutSupport.com]

It happens. But yes, in current you gotta play that and start a little to the up current side. same with high winds.