I am in full-blown boat fever mode.
The main reason I moved here was to be near the ocean where I could fish and just be on the water.
I bass fished when I lived in Austin and had a nice bass boat but since I fished so much with so many people there I knew what to look for. I am a little overwhelmed with the saltwater boats. I'm not even sure what to look for.
So, I went to a boat show 2 weeks ago and sort of just picked the brains of the dealers there. I found some I liked but I was still unsure what I really want.
After that show, I did some more homework and I think I know what sort of things I want. One of the big things for me is livewell access. It's surprising how many of the boats make it difficult to get to the livewell and how many only had one. Obviously, other things like storage, etc. And comfort and ease of getting around.
I went to another show today and was able to zero in some more. I really liked the Skeeters. Skeeter is an extremely popular bass boat and everyone I know that has one loves it. So I felt comfortable with the brand. They were laid out pretty well but they are definitely more expensive than other brands. You pay for the name.
But the one I really liked was a brand named Epic. It had everything I wanted. It had trolling motor wiring already (many didn't) and seat posts in front and back like a bass boat. Livewells were well designed. Seemed comfortable.
I couldn't find a good pic of the model I looked at (23ft.) but here's a good pic of a 25ft. to give you an idea of what sort of boat I'm in the market for.