The Lake and Bay 20 Boca Grande is a roomy and fishable speed demon built to be poled across skinny flats.
The wind was blowing a steady 25 knots, stacking a 2′ to 3′ chop across the bay. What did we do? Throttled up and shot across the whitecaps at highway speed. While spinning circles, the boat banked clean and didn’t get squirrely. We found calm water and floored it. Top speed? 70.4 mph – more than enough to get you to the fish first. On the bow platform, I found pull-up cleats and lights as well as fully recessed hatch pulls. The grippy sand-type nonslip provided great traction.
Got a ton of tackle? Twin carpet-lined rodlockers provide more than 10′ of tip space running to the bow; however, the carpet invites mold. Hatches under the bow platform had plenty of space for lures and rigs, thick weather-stripping gaskets, tight latches, and catch drains piped to the deck. The livewell in the rear deck is huge, but without a second fiberglass hatch, the clear Plexi lid will let in the sun’s rays and could take a toll on your livies.
Who Will Fish It? Highly caffeinated tournament anglers who troll the mangroves for snook, prowl the flats for bonefish, and work the inlets for tarpon. Another Choice Seahunter’s 18 retails for $32,200 without power. The Numbers $60,858 for the complete rig, including a 225-hp outboard, trailer, batteries and charger, trolling motor, poling platform, jack plate, and folding casting seats. Contact: 800/826-1976, www.lakeandbayboats.com.
