We have lit them up the past couple days, especially today. Went to an old spot for the first time in awhile today. Pretty much stayed there all day. Great fishing. First went down to the mud flats to the south and loaded up on mud minnows. They really liked them today. Off for the next couple weeks...

Fishing has been good. We’ve been catching a lot of slot fish just can’t seem to hit on any big ones. Fished a tournament last Saturday. Saw a lot of really nice fish brought in but not by us. We caught at least 25 slot fish but the biggest was only 24”. Been going at least twice a week and having n...

Made our first trip of the year after a long refit on polymer, decking, paint and wiring. We laid the smack down on them. Caught 30 slot fish, a few good trout, a handful of snook and one big nasty black drum. We did not catch any over slots but we did catch slots at almost every stop. Actually went...

I wouldn’t waste the money on a Ivo. That’s old technology. I had a stacked Ivo 15+ years ago. It worked ok but nothing great. Had to really spin it to get anything out of it.

Just did mine last week. Heavy saltwater boat. Nut and bolted it. 4th time I’ve done it on this hull. I’d tap a virgin hull but have always nut and bolted it after that. Did go to brass nylocks instead of stainless for ease of removal. Brass nylocks are pricey in my neck of the woods.

Appreciate it.

Where did you get your polymer from?

Snook in Wacassassa? Nice! My dang boat is upside down right now waiting on polymer. Supposed to come in the next day or two. Been waiting awhile.

Stroke it!

I don’t have the motor numbers you have but on my 16x7.5 GTO I put the 2.3 on it and it was night and day difference to the 2 to 1. If I knew what I know now back then I’d go with the 2.5 to 1

I’ve shot at deer from the post office parking in Townsend back in the day. One of my hunting buddies lived right there also. That was good times! We used to hunt from the interstate to the bombing range.

Reduction?

Man y’all’s talk brings back memories. Never ran an airboat there but hunted around Eulonia and Townsend for years in the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s.

If it had that much water in the motor for a long time I’d guess it’s shot. You didn’t say if you could turn it over by hand. Might want to scope the cylinders.

I’m probably the one that talked about the brass nylocks. I put them on my last poly change 3 years ago. No problem with corrosion to date. Almost exclusively salt water. Poly has taken a beating though. Like OEG I’ll be changing mine soon. I will restate than running where we fish, the recycled pol...

Laid to them yesterday. Same as before, caught fish at every stop. We did catch bigger slot fish and a few over slot. Trout bite as good also. Tried a few places I haven’t been to in awhile. Man the mangroves are growing like they’re being fertilized. Great time with the boys. It was cool all day bu...

I believe they grow. Some areas I used to fish are so bad now that I won’t go there. Used to be mud and sand with a few rocks. When it’s to bad for me you can bet it’s bad. There are plenty of other places and I’m finding new ones every time I go. That’s after thirty plus years of fishing in the sam...

I’m with ya. I’m off for two weeks starting a Friday. I plan to be on the coast quite a bit during that time.

They’re getting right! We went this morning just riding and checking spots. Trying to get a bead on what was happening. Caught fish at every stop but one. Left them biting most of the time. Only stayed about 15 minutes per stop. Caught around 40 reds, one gator trout and a lady fish. Not one catfish...

I think the 2.3 is where you’ll find a lot of gains. Hopefully you’ll be able to get it changed. I went from a 2 to 1 with two K blades. With the 2.3 to 1 now running three r’s. Night and day. Can’t say anything about the jw never ran them.

Knowing what I know now I’d go to the 2.5 belt drive. Back when I switched the 2.5 required changes to the motor stand. I believe that the newer 2.5 will bolt straight up to a ch-3 stand. Good luck!

Switch to a 2.3 on the belt drive. You’ll be able to pitch the prop more. When I switched it was night and day.

Better be sure it’s UHMW virgin polymer. Recycled is crap and if it comes in a roll it won’t last long on the coast. Just my $.02

[ Southern Blade and Bolt in Ocala Fl. Owner is a airboater.

Take it from me, Huntingwithahoyt knows what he’s talking about.