Photo Contest Entry | Backwater to Bluewater | Entry #PC2976

Jeb W.

Masters 247OE Bay Boat

Islamorada, Fl

My time in the Florida Keys visiting my parents exceed all my expectations, fishing both offshore and inshore, aboard their Masters 247 OE. We started the week running out past the reef in the Atlantic looking for Tuna, Mahi, and Wahoo. Each day brought changing wind and sea conditions, and the boat handled it all. I was most impressed on the last day offshore when a combination steady wind and swells were easily producing 2-3 footers, and although rough we felt completely safe and most of all dry. Ultimately allowing us to stay out longer to find the big Mahi’s pictured above. Later in the week, we shifted gears and explored deep into the backwaters of the Everglades National Park in the Florida Bay. Navigating the area can be very challenging with shallow water basins, sandbars, large flats, and narrow channels often just a single boat wide that at times can hold less than a foot of water. Good electronics and a shallow drafting boat are critical in this area. The 247 OE allowed us to navigate to Flamingo and back on consecutive days. Along our exploration we were able to pick up some quality Snook and Trout also seen pictured above. However the redfish needed to complete the slam eluded us this time, but leaves something to chase next year. From backwater to bluewater, the 247 OE handled it all.

The versatility it provides as a Bay Boat. Being able to run through swallow water cut throughs back in the Everglades/Florida Bay chasing after inshore fish, to going out into the bluewater trolling for pelagics in 2-3 footers and staying dry.