How far is your average fishing trip from land

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GreatWhite23

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I have been talking to several different Grady owners and I noticed that many spend there days out 40 + miles. Many in boats under 26 ft. All say they feel perfectly comfortable. How far out do you take your boat?? Mine seems to be around forty, It is a effort to get away from the crowds.
 
It will depend on what I'm fishing for. Near shore halibut and rockfish, 2-5 miles; deep water halibut is 24-30 miles; salmon is 1-10 miles; and albacore tuna is 20-55 miles.
 
During the late spring and late fall we often fish within a few miles off the beach for striped bass. From late June until early October we regularly fish from eighteen to one hundred miles off the coast.
 
I run off the south shore of Long Island - grady white 257 advance with twin yamaha 150 4 strokes - I fish the back bays to the off-shore grounds such as the chicken canyon / Texas tower areas which are 60-70 nautical miles off shore - however I only go with a 3 day weather window (day before, day of and day after), I have dual fixed mount VHF radios with internal gps positioning with dual independent antennas, I have dual garmin 740S multi function navigation displays and HD radar, I carry an epirb with internal GPS antenna, a backup personal locator beacon to the epirb, dual fire extinguishers, a satellite phone in a waterproof pelican case, a fiorentino sea anchor with 300 feet of rode, a Viking 6 man rescu coastal life raft, 1,000+ feet of other rode that can be shackled to the fiorentino rode should I need to emergency anchor with my ground tackle in the deep, off shore 25mm pyro technics kit, handheld VHF, stay a float puddy for any busted thru hull fittings and I know my boats wiring inside and out, 3 group 27 batteries, a 900 amp jumper pack, and i am big on preventative maintenance (eg just replaced hosing to most thru hull fittings with double hose clamps, bilge pump, etc) also carry spare fuses, shrink connectors, spark plugs, water separator filters, , hose clamps, zip ties, and carry every tool I've ever used to repair the boat while on land - sounds like a lot right? I get 2.0 miles per gallon loaded down this way with 4 men (including myself) onboard doing 26-30 mph at 3,800 -4,300 rpms depending on seas - a lot of work? Yes. But feel extremely safe when I'm offshore and that's of the utmost importance to me for my sake and that of everyone on board

I do not mess with the weather - fishing can always wait for another day
 
I dont know about anyone else, but I am going fishing with JSea. I typically fish between 25 and 50 off of Florida's east central coast. I carry an EPIRB along with a handheld VHF waterproof radio in a ditch bag with other visual aids for rescue. I also have a handheld gps unit as well. I can do basic motor repair work like replace a prop as I have a spare and all the parts there. We can change a spark plug. I carry an extra 4 quarts of 4 stroke oil as well. I fish when the weather is kind in a 3 day window as well. With that said a storm can pop up and make it bumpy. I think my boat can handle more than I can or would want to push her. I tolerate 2-4 swells with winds under 15 knots. I have been in worse but it is not good fishing fun because the boat is rocking and rolling on the troll.
 
Similar to J-Sea, I tend to fish only good days, between the 40-70 mile range, if I can find a buddy we buddy boat to add the extra level of comfort we double up. I am loaded as well. 20 gal of water, ditch bag, two hand held gps vhf's, one mounted vhf, HDS 5, 7 and Elite 7 HDI, all networked, radar, Sirius weather. Sat Phone, Epirb, Don't not sink bag, with everything needed to plug a hole (stay afloat), tools, volt meter, wire, hose clamps, fuses, zip ties etc. I also crafted up hoses that slip over thru hulls that are plugged at one end if the original hose is compromised. Life Raft. sea-anchor. Extra fuel filters, plugs, prop and pins, alligator clamp portable bilge pump, you can throw down incase the first two systems fail or cant keep up. Extensive medical kit, jump pack, extra battery, two anchors tons of rope. Extra Oil, 5 gal tank for kicker...leave behind a float plan with common routes and gps #'s, big thing is preventive patience, I am way anal but its piece of mind and I know every system on the boat with my eyes closed. I also start every trip with a safety minute, the crew knows where everything is, the plan incase **** hits the fan, with each having a responsibility, and at least one other person knowing how to punch in the home route and how to captain incase something happens to me.

Two things I think people overlook, have the vhf gps # to port programmed incase the plotters act up, that may be your last means of getting home, and know how to use a paper chart and compass to navigate.
 
I'm probably on the extreme side. Fish out of Rhode Island and only canyon fish. Closest canyon is about 95 miles from dock. Have fished the Far East canyons like ocean and Gilbert a few times a summer. 185 miles each way

Boat is a 2006 33 express with 2013 f300s
Two garmin 7212. Open array radar chirp sounders. Two fixed icom 604 handheld vhf. Sat phone. Ais 600. And weather of course. Life raft and four survival suits. Extensive medical bag and lots of spares for whatever comes up

Also leave dock with 100 gallon fuel bladder

Regardless of the distance just be prepared. Knowledge of your boat and its capabilities is the most important thing IMO
 
Geez, I feel like a wimp! I'm setting up for sailfish about a mile out. Maybe 5-6 miles off for summertime dolphin. Occasionally we'll go 18 - 20 miles out for swordfish...

You guys must have some tremendous fuel bills!
 
I am like wahoo - total wimp factor here. I top out at about 5 miles off the coast, but I am in a 19 foot tournament. Also, I boat in shouthport, NC, which is at the mouth of the cape fear and right at Frying Pan Shoals. It can get nasty. If it is rough, I just fish the Intercoatal and enjoy not getting beat to crap. When the weather is good, I will hit the ARs off of Oak Island, but always stay within 5 miles, usually less than that.
 
Wahoo, you live in one of the best places to fish. I wish I had only to go 5 miles to catch dolphin (lol). All y ouu south Florida guys have it made. You can almost pee in the ocean from the beach and hit the gulf stream. Lol.
 
SmokyMtnGrady said:
Wahoo, you live in one of the best places to fish. I wish I had only to go 5 miles to catch dolphin (lol). All y ouu south Florida guys have it made. You can almost pee in the ocean from the beach and hit the gulf stream. Lol.
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No doubt. I grew up in Miami FL and that is one thing that I miss. Easy access to the stream. :D
 
Yup. Me and 10,000 of my closest friends out there on any given day. Fishin' ain't what it was 20 years ago 'round here. Geez, I'm sounding old!
 
SmokyMtnGrady said:
I dont know about anyone else, but I am going fishing with JSea. I typically fish between 25 and 50 off of Florida's east central coast. I carry an EPIRB along with a handheld VHF waterproof radio in a ditch bag with other visual aids for rescue. I also have a handheld gps unit as well. I can do basic motor repair work like replace a prop as I have a spare and all the parts there. We can change a spark plug. I carry an extra 4 quarts of 4 stroke oil as well. I fish when the weather is kind in a 3 day window as well. With that said a storm can pop up and make it bumpy. I think my boat can handle more than I can or would want to push her. I tolerate 2-4 swells with winds under 15 knots. I have been in worse but it is not good fishing fun because the boat is rocking and rolling on the troll.
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I would've written precisely the same except for a maximum distance of 40 miles from Florida's NW Panhandle. Most of our best fun is on a drop about 25 miles out where you never know WHAT will happen next.
 
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