Month: May 2016

In our last article, we wrote about great international destinations for people who love boating and fishing. These areas offer a unique way to experience new cultures, lifestyles, and fishing.

But what if you want to vacation a little closer to home? What if you want something within a day’s drive; a place you can visit for a weekend or even a singe day? Fortunately, the U.S. is a great country for boating! There are cities that offer shopping, dining, and entertainment that can all be accessed by boat. There are remote lakes that give you a glimpse of untouched natural beauty. And there are waters in every region that give you non-stop fishing action. No matter where you live in the US, there are great destinations for boaters nearby. These, however, are a just few of our favorites…

KNOXVILLE, TN:

If you want one of the most unique boating experiences of your life, take your Scout to Knoxville on a weekend when the Tennessee Volunteers are playing a home game. Even without football, Knoxville’s downtown, which is split by the Tennessee River, is built for boaters who want to dine, shop, and have a great time on and off the water.

THE FLORIDA KEYS:

Everyone knows the Florida Keys is America’s premier saltwater boating and fishing destination, but you need to see it to truly appreciate it. From the fishing culture to the outstanding weather, the Keys are a boater’s dream come true.

HUNGRY HORSE RESERVOIR, MT:

Montana might bring to mind majestic mountains, thundering herds of wild horses, and shallow trout streams, but the state has some breath-taking lakes as well, including Hungry Horse Reservoir in the Flathead National Forest. It’s not the most easy-to-reach lake in the country, but when you arrive, you’ll be left speechless by the proud wooded mountains that surround the pristine lake.

SEATTLE, WA:

Seattle’s NFL team is the “Seahawks.” Their Major League Baseball club is the “Mariners.” Notice a pattern? Whether you are strolling Puget Sound, cruising through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, or making your way to the Pacific Ocean, Seattle is a one of the top American cities for life on the water. From world-class fishing to dock-side dining to the famous fish markets, Seattle is a town custom-built for boaters and anglers.

FINGER LAKES REGION, NY:

Consisting of 11 narrow lakes that slash across the landscape, the Finger Lakes in central New York is a popular tourist destination. While you could go during the tourist-filled summer, an even better choice is to visit during the fall, when there is less traffic (on the lakes and the roads), vibrant autumn scenery, and excellent fishing.

CHIPPEWA FLOWAGE, WI:

If you enjoy freshwater fishing, the Chippewa Flowage in northern Wisconsin needs to be on your bucket-list. When the Chippewa River was dammed in the 1920’s, it created the “Big Chip,” a 15,300-acre impoundment that is a maze of islands, wooded shoreline, and (above all) excellent fishing. Muskellunge fishing is practically a religion in the area, but the numerous resorts and shoreside bars make the Chippewa a great place for a family vacation or a weekend getaway.

THE RIGHT BOAT FOR ALL OF LIFE’S ADVENTURES

No matter where your roaming spirit takes you, make sure you have a boat that can handle all of your adventures. Use the Build Your Scout feature to create the perfect vessel for any trip!

Are you tired of fishing your same fishing spot over and over? Would you like to try your luck in new waters while experiencing vibrant and interesting cultures? Then travel to one of these amazing international fishing destinations…

SPAIN

With miles and miles of shoreline and plenty of bountiful rivers, Spain is a great place for an angler like yourself to vacation. Freshwater fish include a variety of species, like trout, pike, black bass, sturgeon, and more. Salmon are found in many of the streams and rivers throughout the country, while the coastal waters are loaded with fish that offer tremendous sport and table fare.

You can head to Spain to catch tuna, mullet, bonito, and swordfish. With access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Spain is one of the most enjoyable countries for any angler. Add in a vibrant, energetic culture and you have one of the best vacations you’ll ever take!

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

If your goal is to land a massive black marlin, you need to book a trip to Cairns, Australia, a stunning city that has easy access to the Great Barrier Reef. The black marlin is one of the most prized sport fish on the planet, and this area gives you the best chance at bringing in one of these gorgeous behemoths.

When you are in Cairns, you’ll also be able to fish numerous species that near the Great Barrier Reef, including sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin, dolphinfish, and much, much more.

KOLA PENINSULA, RUSSIA

If you desire more of a rugged, get-away atmosphere from your fishing trips, the Kola Peninsula, located in far northwest Russia, is one of your best options. This fascinating and remote area will give you absolutely stunning views while allowing you to have the fishing adventure of your dreams.

Salmon is the major prize in this area, and you’ll have the chance to pull big fat salmon out of some of the most remote and pristine rivers you could ever imagine. You could also get the chance to fish in the Barents Sea or the White Sea, which are rich with arctic fish species. Just schedule your trip for summer, as the Kola Peninsula lies almost entirely above the Arctic Circle.

MOZAMBIQUE

If you want to warm things up a little bit, head to Mozambique, an eastern African country that holds excellent fishing, thanks in large part to the Indian Ocean. The waters of the Indian Ocean are teeming with life, and many of the top sport fish in the world can be caught in the waters between Mozambique and Madagascar.

If you head to this international fishing destination, you’ll be able to pursue blue and black marlin, kingfish, dorado, sailfish, and more. One of the most popular species in this area is the giant trevally, a heavy, hard-fighting gamefish.

BELIZE

Work your way back to the Western Hemisphere and you’ll have plenty of options for international fishing. One of the best is Belize, a small country located just south of Mexico’s Yucatan region. This nation has access to the Caribbean Sea, and the waters are full of excellent sport all year long.

Fishing the warm waters off of Belize, you’ll find bonefish, permit, tarpon, and more. You’ll have an excellent chance at catching a trophy in Belize, as the fish are often more aggressive towards lures, especially the bonefish, which have a reputation for their skittish behavior.

THE BEST BOAT FOR ANY FISHING DESTINATION

You can have a wonderful boat that is great for luxury fishing and family trips. When you want the highest level of design and comfort, make sure you are driving a Scout. With our Build Your Scout feature, you can create the perfect boat to meet your specific needs.

At Scout Boats, we are proud to make some of the finest vessels you can spot on the water. We put years of engineering, design, and a passion for boating into each and every product we build. Our full selection includes multiple lines of boats like the Dorado and LXF models. Another line is our Bay boats, which provide versatility and convenience to your boating experience…

WHAT IS A “BAY BOAT?”

As the name implies, a bay boat is made for bays and nearshore areas. They are not designed for long offshore fishing, but they can handle a larger amount of waves and chop than traditional flats boats or bass boats. They usually are marked by higher side walls and a deeper hull, which will mean the boat needs a few more inches of water depth than other boats. Most bay boats, (including two of ours) are around 25 to 20 feet in length and can handle reasonable offshore travel on calm days.

251 XS

This is the industry’s first inshore/offshore fishing boat. Offering a unique combination of comfort and utility, this 25-foot boat is perfect for people who want a vessel that can handle long cruises or fun little fishing adventures. It has enough room for 10 people, allowing you to take a larger group without sacrificing performance. The boat comes standards with convenience features like a self-bailing cockpit, lighted bait well, hydraulic steering, and flush mount rod holders. Altogether, the 251 XS is one of the best boats of you could ever own.

231 XS

The second model in our bay boat line is the 231 XS, which is the middle-sized boat of the three. It is just slightly above 23 feet in length, so while it still has plenty of space, it can maneuver in tighter areas and handle shallow fishing in flats and other areas when a light boat is needed. It has the sleek design and sophisticated engineering that highlights all Scout boats, and when loaded with a 300 HP engine, the vessel can reach 60 mph or higher. With luxurious comfort and outstanding fishing features, the 231 XS is great for people who love having a versatile, high-quality boat.

177 WINYAH

The 177 Winyah is the smallest vessel in our line of bay boats. It is under 18 feet long and has a maximum occupancy of 5 people, making it the perfect boat for small fishing trips to shallow flats and hard-to-reach areas, including rivers and smaller lakes. It may be small, but it comes with all the top-quality features you expect from Scout, including a live well, pull-up cleats, push pole holders (perfect for flats fishing!), and a trolling motor plug. As a light, nimble boat, the 177 Winyah can be used for cruising, shallow fishing, and more!

GET THE FINEST DESIGNS AND ENGINEERING ON THE WATER

If you want a boat that will deliver high-quality luxury and world-class engineering, order your Scout today! You’ll have a boat that will make you happy for years when you are driving a Scout.

Boating is one of the true pleasures in life. It’s a great chance to gather with friends and family, enjoy some fresh air, and unwind from the everyday stresses of work. At Scout Boats, we really can’t image life without boating.

But any boater can tell you, if you’re going to go out on the water, you need to be aware of proper sun protection. The sun can cause painful burns, premature aging, and serious medical problems, so make sure everyone on your boat is using the right skin protection techniques…

Choose the Right Sunscreen: Everyone knows that you need to use sunscreen, but do you know which sunscreen to choose? The American Academy of Dermatology recommends sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays. They also recommend SPF rating of at least 30, and (of course) boaters are going to need water-resistant sun lotion.

Sport a Wide-Brimmed Hat: A wide brimmed hat can be one of the most reliable tools for protecting your skin from the sun. There are plenty of stylish options for men and women, so find a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, neck, and shoulders. If you don’t have a wide-brimmed hat, you can at least bring along one of our Scout Boats hats to protect your face.

Fish the Mornings and Evenings: If you are taking your luxury boat on a fishing adventure, your best bet is to fish in the mornings and evenings. This is not only a smart fishing practice (the mornings and evenings are pretty much gospel as the best fishing times), it will also have you outside at times when the sun is less powerful, resulting in fewer sunburns.

Always Pack Your Sunglasses: UV rays won’t just damage your skin, they can also harm your eyes and vision. Always bring your sunglasses with you to avoid overexposure that can cause cataracts, growths, or even cancer. As a bones, polar sunglasses can also help reduce reflection of the water, helping you have more success when sight fishing!

Drink Plenty of Water: You don’t have to be a dietitian to know that drinking plenty of water is good for your body, including your skin. Staying hydrated keeps your skin healthy and is widely believed to help reduce the harm of sunburns. This is because sunburnt skin is dried out, so drinking plenty of water will help restore and replenish your skin cells.

Choose a Scout Boat with Cockpit and Bow Cover: Many of our boats, especially the larger models, have available covers for the cockpits or the bows. When you’re in the middle of the water, miles from any shade, this can provide valuable protection that will not only help you stay comfortable, it will shield your body from overexposure and potential skin damage.

THE BOAT OF YOUR DREAMS IS WAITING

You deserve a fantastic fishing boat that is fun, reliable, and luxurious. With our Build Your Scout feature, you can create the ultimate vessel for your specific needs. At Scout Boats, we are dedicated to creating excellence, and we put all of our passion and knowledge into every boat we build!

Scout boats are made for anglers. Yes, they are great for cruising the water, relaxing on the deck, or visiting shoreline restaurants, but their true purpose is casting a line. These luxury fishing boats have all the modern conveniences of a top-end European car, but they also have everything an angler could need, including live-wells, rod-holders, and fish-locating electronics.

If you are heading into the coastal waters off the southeast, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Washington D.C. area, there are hundreds of potential fish that you could target, but we’d like to share some of our favorites…

Redfish: The redfish is a popular game fish that can be caught in shallow waters off the Atlantic coasts and Gulf of Mexico. It has become one of the most popular gamefish in the country, due in large part to its decent yet manageable size and strong fight.

Flounder: The flounder is popular for both game and table fare. Flounder eat voraciously, making them fairly easy targets for anglers when the feeding is on. This unique fish is often one to three pounds, but it can reach over 12 pounds on a regular basis.

Spotted Seatrout: Also called a “speck,” the spotted sea trout is a popular fish in the region. While they are quick to attack a lure, they may not offer as much fight as other fish. One advantage of fishing for spotted seatrout is freshwater anglers can use much of the same tackle they already have for bass fishing.

Sailfish: Quite possibly the most gorgeous fish in the sea, the sailfish has a magnificent dorsal fin that they use to corral baitfish pods into tight groups. This fish can make for excellent table fare, but many anglers simply enjoy a photo as their only trophy.

Tarpon: Tarpon are not known as a great fish for eating, but they are one of the best sportfish when it comes to an aggressive, acrobatic fight. The leaping tarpon is a common sight on fishing boats all over the southeast.

Cobia: This fish is far from picky, as it eats everything from crustaceans to baitfish to eels and even squid. They can be targeted with spinning reels, plugs, and more.

Bonefish: Elusive and wary, the bonefish is a challenging fish to catch but a wonderful trophy to enjoy. This shallow water fish, which is a favorite in the Keys and Bahamas, often feeds off the flats during high-tide. They are a great fish for your fly rod, allowing you to wade through shallow water for a wonderful catch.

Goliath Grouper: This is the behemoth of saltwater fishing. The goliath grouper can reach massive sizes, and although it is illegal to harvest this protected species, you can certainly fish and release accordingly.

Atlantic Blue Marlin: The pinnacle of saltwater trophy fishing, the blue marlin is the true prize of the southeastern waters. Big and beautiful, this fish is a part of our culture and a species that should be on every angler bucket list.

These are just a few of the amazing saltwater species you can catch from your Scout!

GET A GREAT BOAT FOR YOUR ADVENTURES

You can enjoy all of your fishing adventures with a wonderful boat from Scout. Use our Build Your Scout feature and you can create the perfect luxury fishing boat to meet your needs.