New Boat, Tidewater 216 / New to West Bay

[hsalinasjr]

Excited to finally have my new boat! Heading out this afternoon with my six year old son, my buddy, and his daughter. Have to for my son’s b-ball to finish.
Any advice on the Westend is greatly appreciated! Not trying to potlick, but hazards and maybe safe areas to try while with the youngsters is what I’m looking for. My boat is not a shallow bottom!

Happy Fishing everyone! I’ll post afterwards. Hopefully it will be a good one!

H-man

[Curmudgeon]

My recommendation is that you hire a guide and get him to take your boat. That way you know exactly where you can draft and where you’ll get stuck, plus you can fish some great new spots! Lots of guides will be happy to show you the bay!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[FlyPelican]

Take a look at Google Earth (the app, not Google Maps). Use the time travel feature and choose 1/2017 as this was a really low tide day.

Or hire a guide like Curmudgeon suggested.

-FP

[hsalinasjr]

Great point! Thank you.

[Draggin Yak]

Nothing to add, but welcome and good luck

[TroutSupport]

Look at Google earth and find a clear water / low tide aerial... put in at Watermanns if you are trailering. I find that it's in the middle and allows you to primarily approach the bay from an 'inside out' sort of perspective as long as you don't hit the sandbar leaving from Watermanns on the right.. West Bay is like that. South shoreline has tons of shallow sand, east side of bay near ICW has tons of shallow reef and spoil. Stay in 3-4' when on plane and idle into areas that are marked as shallower and you'll be ok.

[hsalinasjr]

Thanks everyone... I'll report back while there during spring break. Hopefully the weather will hold up!

[hsalinasjr]

Thanks for the info! I welcome any West Bay Guide recommendations! Yes, I can google, but I prefer word of mouth recommendations...

[FlyPelican]

Capt. Greg Francis (aka, Aqua Pimp). 409-939-1684

[hsalinasjr]

Love the AKA!! haha! Thanks!

[TroutSupport]

You might also benefit from my new Oyster Reef Overlay - it's called Reef Recon. The reefs and danger waypoints overlay your basemap. I have several guys using it in west bay and they are saying things like "something dissastrous could happen without this" ect ect. Some say it's a game changer. https://troutsupport.com/reef-recon/

[GliderPilot]

As a relative newcomer to the west bay, I was in your situation last spring when I bought my new boat. I purchased Tobin's Oyster Reef Overlay and it helped a lot. I've only been out fishing with it a couple of times (I only got it late last summer), but am looking forward to learning more this season. However, I've made several trips from one end of the bay to the other and the confidence to know exactly where the shallow parts and obstructions are really makes me more relaxed. That alone is worth the cost (I'm sure I'll probably catch more fish, too, which is a bonus). Also, I added a jack plate to the boat, too, which also made a big difference in having confidence to go into some of the shallower areas. Best of luck getting to know the area.