SD Islandia 18
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18ft & 80" across the deck. variable deadrise hull that measures 8* at the stern. ellipse shaped offset transom to hide trim tabs and make her easy to hold from the platform with an outgoing tide. 20" at the transom, 28" at the bow. large cathedral style spray rails stopping at rear bulkhead, she needs a little more volume midship (under the waterline) so to keep her sitting proud when off the beach. self draining cockpit. side console to keep you from doing skiff yoga when landing a big girl. carbon/innegra build and weighing sub 1000lbs with a f70. 25gal tank. 30gal pressurized livewell. 13-14" wide gunnels, a cockpit that is 15" at the rear and 12" at the front. 3 rodholders each side. oh, and rigged sitting on a trailer for sub $65k
I still like a light and balanced skiff for poling. I pole even oceanside tarpon fishing. Sometimes ill extend my anchor rope in rough conditions and it will allow me about a 100’ circle. In the keys moving a skiff just a few feet can sometimes change the angle of the shot enough to get bit.
18’
10-14 degree deadrise
Console with jumpseat cooler
F70
24+'pole
Poling platform, casting platform, removable cage. I know stools are all the rage right now, but i also know of plemry of fiah lost this season to lines around stools
Approx 70" beam
“Quiet” hull design
Integrated spray rails
Maybe trolling motor, i havent used mine in a couple years but i hear brushless ones are super quiet, plus i may be looking at another shoulder surgery.
For building a tarpon boat, I’m probably not building a technical poling skiff. Would probably build something similar to West Coast Florida tower boats that typically have a port-o-bracket and a 3 or 400 hp and are about 26 feet long.
Surprised that nobody has mentioned 4 stern mounted trolling motors..that’s an absolute must have..
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My old Maverick might come close… It was the first smaller Maverick they ever built (before the Master Angler series). They took the 18’ mold, shortened it at the transom 14" and set it up with no inner liner (you saved 100 to 150 doing without the inner liner) - but is every bit of 84" wide like the original 18. We fish it in rivers, along the coast, and everywhere in between. You can pole it, but will have to work at it unless you’re going downwind or down current.. With hard chines and a bit of freeboard it’s surprisingly versatile. That might be why I’m still in it - all these years since 1988…
Being the opposite of a purist it’s set up to fish tarpon (and everything else..) any way you choose from fly to live bait…
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Yup, was thinking I found the perfect solution for you, @Brandon - no, she’s not for sale - go find your own!
All teasing aside, she does get a little hull slap at times, so that might be a problem
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That’s a slick boat at a reasonable price
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If that ain’t the boat I don’t know what is.
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Tarpon boats are pretty non-fussy. I’ve fished migratory fish in my canoe, Jon boats, kayaks, paddle boards, Yellowfin, Dolphin, Sea Ox, Robin, Glide, Caimen, Vantage, 25 Hybrid and EVO 17.
That is the short list.
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Perfect!!!
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For tarpon…
18’ LOA, light infusion build, no buckets in hatches except for live well, zero hull slap for stealth poling.
12 to 14 degree deadrise for softer ride, with a pad (ski) on the keel for lift and speed.
68" beam chine to chine for better hull displacement below the waterline and less draft - with emphasis on waterline beam extending forward from the stern 60% of the LOA before tapering upward and inward (for stability) to a sharp forward “V” at the bow.
82" beam on the cap
All trailing edges (corners) of the hull should be sharper corners (not rounded off) for water release, less drag, more speed.
Reverse chines in rear half of the hull, under the waterline off-plane, for lift and tight turning ability , but not too wide (pounding in a chop). Reverse chines should soften and fade away going forward, for zero hull-slap. Lifting strakes, also on rear half of hull bottom, also designed for grip in turns - more triangular, less horizontal (not zero degree - flat). See picture of chine and strakes example.
Spray rails integrated with hull, high enough above the waterline so they don’t easily slap in sloppy conditions at rest. They should fade into the hull sides in the rear half of the hull, again - no slap when rolling.
No sponsons or transom “pocket”. If you need setback and/or higher motor height, get a jack plate.
For tarpon tournaments, skiff should be fast and smooth riding in choppy conditions to hopefully arrive at the prime fishing spots before the competition. Motor should be 115 HP minimum (Merc ProXS Command Thrust recommended) and run 53+ mph.
Must have Trim Tabs (on any boat above 15 hp)
I’m more old school on accessories for tarpon fishing. I still like the idea of two quiet trolling motors mounted on the stern to help you get ahead of a moving chain of fish, when poling - but not having the TM in the way or near the bow which could spook the fish. Proper weight distribution front-to-back with fuel and batteries, etc is important. A PowerPole is a nice tool to have, if it won’t be in the way when poling. The rest of the gear and rigging are personal preference (platforms, sissy bars, cages, strip buckets or spikes, console placement, etc.)
Just my $0.02
Edit: Also, as said above… No jump seat on front of center console. Rigging access door there instead with a movable cooler w/cushion to sit on.
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Holy smokes one of you guys read the whole post.
I think the cons outweigh the pros on the powerpole for most applications. Although If you got them flowing in the right spot where the pole would actually hold you it’d be sick to have. I would rock off the one on my little boat way too much and it was always in the way poling.
Agreed with the stern mount trolling motor/s. I think it’s a must on the deeper beaches and also on the nature coast. You end up spooking just as many fish on the pole up there because of the rocky bottom. And I can get the cooler. I think it’d be 6 on 1 half a dozen on the other there.
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Man thats a great post, thanks. I definitely learned some stuff.
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My boat is for sale and is perfect to chase Tarpon
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