10 Inshore Fishing Boats for 2023
Maybe you’ve been an angler all your life or took a fishing charter recently and discovered how fun inshore fishing can be. Either way, if you’ve just decided to look for the best inshore fishing boats of 2023 we’re here to help.
Whether a big center console strikes your fancy or a shallow water fishing boat fits the bill for tackling the species you want to pursue, one of these 10 best inshore fishing boats should be of interest.
- Boston Whaler Vantage 280
- Cobia 240 CC
- Everglades 273cc
- Grady-White Adventure 218
- Lowe 22 Bay
- Pathfinder 2600 TRS
- Pursuit C238
- Robalo R222EX
- Scout 277 Dorado
- Sportsman Open 242
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1. Boston Whaler Vantage 280
The Vantage 280 is a dual-console model, which will be a top pick for families that fish together. The twin consoles and wraparound windshield deliver a higher level of protection from the wind and spray than a center console, plus the passenger’s side console houses a private head compartment.
And on top of that, Boston Whaler delivers the safety and confidence of an unsinkable boat. Fishing-wise, everything you need is available, including rod holders, rocket launchers, a 19-gallon livewell, and 25-gallon in-floor fishboxes with macerator pumps.
Though there’s a bit less fishing space on a DC as compared to center console boats, this one’s a winner, especially if you have small kids.
Visit Boston Whaler to learn more.
- MSRP: $316,533
2. Cobia 240 CC
The Cobia 240 CC is small enough to handle easily yet has plenty of beef for bays and just enough to head out through the inlet and fish oceanic inshore waters when the weather is right.
And since it can be rigged with either a single outboard (to 300 hp) or twins, you can opt for lower cost, better efficiency, or the confidence multiple powerplants provide. Fishing highlights include a 28-gallon livewell, twin 33-gallon fishboxes, and integrated tackle stowage.
Visit Cobia to learn more.
- MSRP: $116,850
3. Everglades 273cc
The largest Everglades hybrid bay boat, the 273cc, is a great pick for anglers who want to ply inshore waters regularly and head offshore occasionally when the weather is appropriate.
It’s a twin-engine rig for greater confidence when miles from the dock, and the Everglades construction method of molding high-density foam and sandwiching it between the hull and liner adds gobs of floatation to provide an added level of safety as well.
This model can adapt to various tactics thanks to elevated fore and aft casting decks, a cockpit slightly deeper than found on most bay boats, and additional features, including a 31-gallon livewell and an 82-gallon fish box. Not to mention six flush-mount rodholders plus four rocket launchers on the hard top!
Visit Everglades for more information.
- MSRP: $269,900.00
4. Grady-White Adventure 218
The Adventure 218 is Grady-White’s newest walkaround model, and it’s ideal for anglers who want a small cabin boat that can handle inshore waters yet can be trailed from hotspot to hotspot.
The cabin features a V-berth and a head and enough space for a couple to stay overnight. In the cockpit, there are two fishboxes (100- and 106-quarts), and one can be plumbed as an optional livewell.
And even though this is a small model, it still comes with high-end Grady-White features like the Captain Grady digital boat system and operation guide, the SeaV2 variable-degree deadrise hull, and a composite stringer system.
Visit Grady-White to learn more.
5. Lowe 22 Bay
Fans of aluminum rigs and their lightweight (which makes for easy trailering and launching, better fuel economy and lower initial cost) will want to check out the Lowe 22 Bay.
It comes rigged and ready to fish bays and inshore waters with a V55SW electric trolling motor on the bow, twin livewells (16 gallons in the console and 30 gallons in the aft deck), raised fore and aft casting decks, rod holders along the console, and rocket launchers on the leaning post.
Pro Tip: aluminum boats require less maintenance than fiberglass models.
Visit Lowe Boats to learn more.
- MSRP: $43,908
6. Pathfinder 2600 TRS
The Pathfinder 2600 TRS is a bay boat style fishing machine that can handle jaunts through the inlet and open bays but is still also appropriate for shallow water fishing. It’s a great pick for anglers who enjoy bringing a large crew, too, with enough seating for up to 10 people.
Large fore and aft casting decks, a 36-gallon livewell, and gobs of rod holders round out the fishability. This boat will also be a top choice for performance fans, as it’s a vacuum-infused model with twin steps in the hull.
Even rigged with the smallest available powerplant, 300 hp, it’s a 50-mph-plus boat. Get it with the available 450 horses, and you’ll be busting past 60.
- MSRP: $145,691
7. Pursuit C238
Anglers who appreciate a touch of luxury will gravitate towards boats like the Pursuit C238, a center console that has oodles of comfy seating with Dri-Fast foam and mesh backing, a flawless fit and finish, and a tempered glass three-sided enclosure at the helm.
Despite the emphasis on comfort, it’s still a fishing machine, though, with accouterments like a 23-gallon recirculating livewell, four flush-mounted gunwale rodholders (plus the option to add four more in the transom), four rocket launchers on the hard top, and under-gunwale rodracks.
Visit Pursuit to learn more.
8. Robalo R222EX
The R222EX is a relatively simple center console that doesn’t add a ton of bells and whistles and, as a result, carries an extremely reasonable price tag. Yet it’s still built like other Robalo Boats and boasts a high level of fit and finish.
Just as importantly, it also comes with a limited lifetime hull warranty. It has fishing must-haves like a 16-gallon livewell, a 30-gallon fishbox, and rocket launchers on the leaning post. Critically, it’s packaged on top of a tandem axel trailer with disc brakes and a folding tongue.
While it may be a bit smaller than most of the boats in this roundup (at 21’6” long and 8’6” wide), it will be a great starting point for inshore anglers who don’t want to break the bank.
Visit Robalo to learn more.
- MSRP: $76,195
9. Scout 277 Dorado
The Scout 277 Dorado is another dual-console option that will be popular with families that fish, and it comes with an added level of upscale comfort. It boasts a plush doublewide seat behind the passenger’s seat, which converts to face forward or aft, can turn into a dinette, or turn into a lounger.
Other pleasant perks include a side-entry door and a fully enclosed head compartment in the passenger’s console. Fishing armaments are a bit less weighty than on more dedicated fishing machines but include rodholders, a 17-gallon livewell, and a pair of 24 gallon in-deck fishboxes.
Visit Scout to learn more.
- MSRP: $292,164
10. Sportsman Open 242
Sportsman Boats is known for delivering a big bang for the buck, and this is never truer than in the 242 Open. Comparison shop it and you’ll find that the 242 Open is a deal that’s very tough to beat.
The list of standard features goes well beyond what one usually sees and includes big-ticket items like a 12” Garmin MFD, a VHF radio, underwater lights, an eight-speaker stereo system, a freshwater shower, and a removable bow table. Just about every other manufacturer considers features like these cost-adding options.
Meanwhile, fishing features are all present and accounted for: there’s a 25-gallon livewell, raw water washdown, four flush-mount rodholders, under-gunwale rodracks, and integrated fishboxes.
Visit Sportsman to learn more.
- MSRP: $132,995
Love our list of top 10 inshore fishing boats for 2023 and want more? There are hundreds of different models to choose from and there’s no doubt that your ideal inshore fishing boat is out there waiting for you somewhere— you’ll find it here.
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