Hell’s Bay Biscayne
When chasing permit and tarpon, fly-anglers need every advantage they can get. With input from a handful of respected Florida Keys guides, Hell’s Bay Boatworks produced the Biscayne, a skiff designed to give fishermen an edge when pursuing these two great game fish. This boat provides a comfortable ride while crossing rough open water, poles easily and quietly on permit flats and can the handle ocean swells anglers encounter while sight-casting to migrating tarpon. Hell’s Bay says that this boat could very well be the most versatile flats skiff to ever leave its factory in Titusville, Florida.
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Design and Construction**
The Biscayne features a brand-new Kevlar hull designed to have a small footprint and the ability to handle bigger sea conditions. The key to the Biscayne’s big-water capabilities has to do with the sharpened entry of the skiff. This really allows the bow to cut through chop with ease. Also, spray rails were incorporated into the hull, ensuring a dry ride even in open water. And the boat has vacuum-bagged Core-Cell construction throughout, making it tough without adding too much weight. Just like other Hell’s Bay models, the Biscayne has plenty of storage space, with a large front hatch and, in the back of the boat, two smaller shotgun-style ones that open toward the rear. All of the hatches on the Biscayne have a slam-latch design, which means when you close a hatch, it’s locked down, ready for running or trailering.
Running and Fishing
While permit and tarpon may have been the inspiration behind the Biscayne, this skiff isn’t a one-trick pony by any stretch. It would be a great choice for those pursuing other inshore favorites, such as bonefish, redfish, snook or trout, just to name a few. The boat handles well while running, and once on the flats, it poles very easily in water as shallow as seven inches (with a 70 hp four-stroke Yamaha). The flat transom on the back allows the poler to spin the skiff quickly and sharply to give an angler the best possible angle for making a presentation to unsuspecting fish. It has space for seven fly rods, Stiffy push-pole holders and an anodized poling platform covered in SeaDek.
Specifications
LOA: 16’4″
BEAM: 70″
DRAFT: 7″
WEIGHT: 595 lbs.
FUEL: 23 gals.
MAX HP: 80
MSRP: $45,500
Hell’s Bay Boatworks / Titusville, Florida / 321-383-8223 / www.hellsbayboatworks.com
