Blackjack Bay Boats Reviews
Most of my trip have been between 20 and 50 out. The boat well exceeds expectations and performs extremely well offshore. You have to keep in mind it's still a bay boat so you have to be more aware than you would in a larger higher freeboard boat, but I'm confident in my abilities as well as the boats within reason. With the demand for tournament bay boats rebounding, we took a look at five top boats in this competitive market. More Boat Reviews. The Blackjack is a great boat but does not have nearly the options that shearwater, and yellowfin can offer. I was fishing in a Blackjack on a day where the weather got bad in Trinity Bay. I can tell you there are few boats that I would have had confidence in getting us home that day and the Blackjack passed the test with flying colors.
- If you enjoy the video give us a LIKE, a Share, and Subscribe to our channel! We would love to have you on board! And remember keep on casting! On this episode.
- On our second trip to Calusa Island Marina in Marco Island the Best Boat crew tested three 22’ Bay Boats that included the Blackjack, Sportsman and Blue Wave. Host, Dave East was joined.
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LSU Fan
Greater Geismar
Member since Nov 2007
22710 posts
Central Florida Fan
Member since Jan 2006
3682 posts
quote:
And the guys bashing shearwaters do y'all have one or fish out of one on a regular basis.
Don't listen to the haters...
quote:
They are light weight and fast. That is not a flaw of the boat. I fish shallow water marsh in winter mostly and that's what I bought it for.
A great example of why you should buy a boat to fit your needs. A particular boat isn't going to fit every application as well as some other boats.
quote:Shearwaters are sexy, but there are more functional bay boats out there. They are much more sensitive to trim tabs than similar boats IMO, and tabs help a lot. Overall, I like shearwaters for where I fish (big lake), but I would prefer other boats if I was running to the islands, etc..
There are ways to adjust the ride to get through chop.
Central Florida Fan
Member since Jan 2006
3682 posts
quote:
I would prefer other boats if I was running to the islands, etc..
What would you recommend?
Edit: or pathfinder 2300 hps
LSU Fan
Gonzales
Member since Sep 2006
8580 posts
quote:
I've been wondering when you were gonna show up.
Have been busy last few days and just lurking around from time to time. Always miss the good threads. Anyway how are you doing with things?
And stewie and yeti yall are correct. There are better boats for going out to rigs or outside islands on choppy days. But as far as bay boats designed to run in skinny water and get you there in a hurry and being nimble as a cat, few are better than the shearwaters. I went as far as the fort Lauderdale boat show looking and riding in boats before I bought mine. And actually drove to factory in south central Florida to check them out and purchase from dealer while I was down there. It just wasn't because I thought they were nice eye candy to look at.
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since May 2010
2581 posts
Chicago Cubs Fan
Coastal Bar
Member since May 2006
95109 posts
quote:
And the guys bashing shearwaters do y'all have one or fish out of one on a regular basis.
Best friend had one for 6 years, probably made 75 trips on it
LSU Fan
Red Stick
Member since Oct 2010
62466 posts
New Orleans Pelicans Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
32258 posts
quote:
Not too many bay boats are designed to run through 2-3ft chop running low 60's
60MPH in a bay boat? Did North Louisiana just discover saltwater.
New Orleans Pelicans Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
32258 posts
quote:
But as far as bay boats designed to run in skinny water and get you there in a hurry and being nimble as a cat, few are better than the shearwaters.
Then call it a flats boat. If it can't handle chop, it has no business calling itself a 'bay' boat. Bays are choppy. Putting a center console on a bass boat does not a bay boat make.
US Space Force Fan
Here
Member since Jan 2011
56430 posts
LSU Fan
Red Stick
Member since Oct 2010
62466 posts
quote:
My buddy's pathfinder with 225 HPDI runs well into the 60s.
Like my dad always said....'I have never caught a fish going that fast'
New Orleans Pelicans Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
32258 posts
quote:
My buddy's pathfinder with 225 HPDI runs well into the 60s.
GPS or pitot tube?
Pathfinder is another one of those light flats-centric 'bay boats' that don't do very well in rough seas.
LSU Fan
Red Stick
Member since Oct 2010
62466 posts
quote:
light flats-centric 'bay boats' that don't do very well in rough seas.
light means bad to me
For fishing inside it might be good but I like to run offshore during the summer.
New Orleans Pelicans Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
32258 posts
quote:
light means bad to me
For fishing inside it might be good but I like to run offshore during the summer.
Hell, you'd get beat to death running to Timbalier Island some days. Yeah, light will mean faster, shallower, and less fuel, but it will also mean getting beat to death in a chop. Adding a shallow V for flats/marsh also leads to more beating. Hell, if I wanna go shallower and faster, I'm going aluminum.
LSU Fan
Lake Charles
Member since Oct 2007
4967 posts
quote:
Yeah, light will mean faster, shallower, and less fuel, but it will also mean getting beat to death in a chop.
You guys obviously missed the link to the video that I posted @ the top of page 3 in this thread. 70 mph in some choppy stuff.
Concerning shearwater boats... If you wanted a shallow draft boat that was fast, why in the world would you not buy a sterling? They are made my the same company & are way faster & draft shallower than anything in the shearwater line.
All in all I absolutely love my majek. I have the 22' extreme & it's an awesome all around boat. For those who would want something a little bigger, the 25' extreme is what majek has to offer. I know 3 guys who ran from slidell to venice 3 days in a row for a tournament last year in some super rough conditions. One of my buddies split the hull open & sunk a 22' lake & bay during that same tournament trying to make that same run to venice. Majek builds a quality boat for sure.
It's really all about what you are looking for in a boat. I wanted a boat that was fast & had a shallow draft, so that's why I got a majek.
Houston Astros Fan
Member since Aug 2008
1451 posts
New Orleans Saints Fan
Broussard - terd supporter
Member since Jan 2008
22616 posts
quote:
Yes...there is a difference in quality/finish/ride/fishability between a high-end production boat and a mid-tier production boat. Is that extra $$$ worth the slightly higher quality...that decision is up to you.
That is key. If you have the money to afford a high-end boat, then great. But I certainly wouldn't try to overextend myself when the differences between a high-end boat and a mid-range are very minimal.
LSU Fan
Lake Charles
Member since Oct 2007
4967 posts
quote:
No love for Haynie Bay Boats on here? They are local here in the Houston area and from seeing them on the water, they look like a damn fine boat.
Haynie Bay Boats are built in Seadrift Texas. Chris Coulter is the owner & he also owns / operates chris's marine in Aransas Pass Texas. These are custom built to customer specs.
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LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, La
Member since Dec 2010
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Middle Coast
Member since Sep 2014
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New Orleans Saints Fan
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
4485 posts
I’ve spent a ton of time on a 224 and 256 Blackjack and if I buy another bay boat, it’ll be one of those. Lots of posts have talked about how “nice” they are, which is true in its own right, but they are incredibly seaworthy boats for their respective sizes. They also both float surprisingly shallow. The flare is awesome and both hills are very dry.
They’re expensive, but they’re incredible boats.
UNO Fan
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43023 posts
USA Fan
Parts Unknown
Member since Nov 2011
20893 posts
LSU Fan
College Station, Texas
Member since Jun 2018
126 posts
Then again. what the hell is value when it comes to recreational boating?
Let me know if you wanna ride some day.
LSU Fan
Below I-10
Member since Feb 2011
2110 posts
Texas A&M Fan
Middle Coast
Member since Sep 2014
2747 posts
quote:
I fish mostly Aransas and Copano
That's my backyard, our place is on St Charles and the In-laws have a place on Copano. You wouldn't be the first one that needed to be drug out to the water if you slid a little too far. My tower boat is a RFL with a TRP on it, you talk about sliding around the corners , get at least one friend down there with a airboat for rescue missions.
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2008
39358 posts
quote:
I've never been on any of those other ones. Out of what I've fished blackjack has been the nicest. Yellowfin is the only one you've listed that I recall seeing in person. Theres not much of that stuff running around here. I think I've seen a few majeks but they look like strictly shallow water boats from what I remember
THIS, and I've ridden Yellowfin and Majek. Majek is not even in the same class, at least the one I ran on. Of course it was a professional guide so it was function over form. The yellowfinn was a friend with wife and 2 kids so it needs the comforts. I'd take the YF all day, every day.
Auburn Fan
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
13509 posts
Generally the boats are made to do what works in their respective primary markets.
LSU Fan
College Station, Texas
Member since Jun 2018
126 posts
Blackjack Bay Boats Reviews
LSU Fan
Denham Springs
Member since Apr 2019
3741 posts
Blackjack Bay Boats Reviews Florida
Auburn Fan
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
13509 posts
quote:
I was strictly speaking of center console bay boats
There's still a difference though. Some of them don't even have a casting deck on the back so you can bottom fish better.
Just my opinion, but if I was going to spend $75k+ on a bay boat it would absolutely have a tower on it. Get a fold down if anything.
Do you plan to fish off shore much? I love a tower for being offshore. Fishing floatsam, spotting mahi, having a beer and watching everyone else catch etc.
quote:
Just my opinion, but if I was going to spend $75k+ on a bay boat it would absolutely have a tower on it. Get a fold down if anything.
If I lived in FL I'd probably say the same thing.
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2008
38162 posts
quote:
that's my next boat, ive been keeping an eye out on the used market of these. they are hard to find
man, a good friend of mine in BR just sold his 22' a couple weeks ago. black/white with white yamaha. wayyyy under the price you listed
New Orleans Saints Fan
Livingston
Member since Mar 2012
1823 posts
quote:
Let me know if you wanna ride some day.
grassy, I would take you up on that. I'm looking at getting one in a few years. I have the frontier now and want to upgrade eventually.
LSU Fan
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
956 posts
New Orleans Saints Fan
Livingston
Member since Mar 2012
1823 posts
Yea i want to upgrade to a 256 in a few years, when I’m ready. After that I’ll never buy another one!
LSU Fan
Lafayette, La
Member since Sep 2008
1024 posts
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