I’ve owned a lot of boats and been on even more. Yellowfin is unquestionably the finest rigged boat I have ever seen. The 16 foot skiff is rigged to the same standards as their 42. The rigging is easy to get to, organized and meticulously finished for problem free boating. So many boats are rigged with a tangled mess of wires that is a serious nightmare when trying to diagnose an electrical issue.
I rigged my 24 Yellowfin with three batteries in the console. I have a dedicated start battery and 2 house batteries. There are 3 more Group 31 trolling motor batteries in the front hatch and an onboard charger that will recharge and top off each of these overnight.
I hope that helps! Send us a picture of the big fish you catch!
-Tom Rowland
S15:E5 - “Blackfin In The Keys” (2020)
Captains Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor venture to the Atlantic oceanside of the Keys for Blackfin Tuna.
The Florida Everglades make up one of the most well-known and treasured American National Parks. They are also being “strangled” by water issues. Since the damming of the Kissimmee River, the Everglades’ primary source of freshwater, this beautiful fishery has seen “endangered wildlife populations, declining water quality, water mismanagement, [and] extensive urban and agricultural development,” according to Captains For Clean Water, a conservation organization dedicated to restoring the health and natural beauty of the Everglades. Read more on Waypoint…
S15:E4 - “Up From The Deep” (2020)
Captains Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor head out from their Middle Keys home base to deeper waters.
The Florida Everglades make up one of the most well-known and treasured American National Parks. They are also being “strangled” by water issues. Since the damming of the Kissimmee River, the Everglades’ primary source of freshwater, this beautiful fishery has seen “endangered wildlife populations, declining water quality, water mismanagement, [and] extensive urban and agricultural development,” according to Captains For Clean Water, a conservation organization dedicated to restoring the health and natural beauty of the Everglades. Read more on Waypoint…
S15:E3 - “Flamingo Returns” (2020)
Captains Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor enjoy a productive day in the Florida Bay area of the Everglades
S15:E2 - “Key West Birthday Slam” (2020)
Captains Tom Rowand and Rich Tudor are joined by Key West guide Nick LaBadie.
S15:E1 - “Triple Tail In The Everglades” (2020)
Captains Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor bounce around the Florida Bay Everglades and take advantage of some rare activity by the interesting and delicious Atlantic Triple Tail
When I discovered that guiding anglers was actually a way to make a living, I dove in head first. My career started in Jackson, WY at Bressler Outfitters. I was the everything guy who was the lowest on the totem pole and called “The Swamper”. I did everything from changing bearings on trailers to taking firewood to camp. I also got to do some guiding when everyone else was full and when they weren’t it was up to me to go teach fly casting at local guest ranches to try to recruit some trips.
I have been running a Yellowfin 24 Bay since 2008. In that time, Yellowfin has responded to technology by incorporating the carbon fiber technology to make the boats more rigid and much lighter. They have continued to refine design to make this boat an even better fishing machine.
Mercury is always raising the bar. For years we have been looking for the right motor to go on our flat skiffs. Mercury Marine came out with this Pro XS, it has the lightest wait, the most power for anything from a 18 footer down to a 16 footer.
Hurricane Irma passed over the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on September 10, 2018. Irma was the biggest storm to make landfall on the Florida Keys since Hurricane Wilma moved across the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida peninsula during the morning of Monday, October 24, 2005. Wilma was responsible for hurricane force winds and the highest storm surge observed in the Keys since Hurricane Betsy, on September 8, 1965.
We met Jeff with our film entourage at the marker outside of Safety Harbor. From there, Jeff took us to a place to catch bait and baby tarpon. Soon, we had caught both and were at the Long Key Bridge catching a few more Tarpon, Yellow Jacks and Giant Jack Crevalle. (See that episode by clicking here)
Renown Middle Keys fishing guide Jeff Malone (Tarpon Time Charters) took us out for baby tarpon and he did not disappoint. We have always heard great reports from anyone who has fished with Jeff, and it was not just dock talk. He knows his stuff he is a true guide on the water every single day.
Hurricane Irma was one of the most damaging storms to hit the Keys in a long time. Yet Florida came together, neighbor helping neighbor, and it was amazing to see. Despite the obvious destruction on land, the storm stirred up and reset the Ocean making the fishing as good as it has been in 30 years...
I started my guide career in a 16 foot skiff with a 90 hp motor. We fished the flats from The Marquesas to Key Largo and, at that point, I felt as though the skiff was the most versatile boat. However, Rich and I started to fish the IFA and ESPN...
I have fished out of just about all the bay boats on the market and I can say, with all confidence, that the 24 Yellowfin is the best one out there for what I do. I love the ride and can fish just about anywhere in the Keys with the boat on the right days...
We have gotten alot of emails and questions about my new boat that I described here. The boat is a 2015 Yellowfin 24 Bay with a Mercury 300 Verado...
The boats are pictured above. They are rigged about the same but there are some things that I did a little differently on mine. Both boats have 3 HDS 12 units as the information system and are equipped with MotorGuide Xi5 trolling motors...
We set up on the current seam and they starting throwing back a few freebie pilchards. Within seconds, there were fish busting the freebies and they started...
I just picked up my brand new 24 Yellowfin and I am so happy with this boat. After building several boats, I have made adjustments to the layout...
Yellowfin Yachts, Inc. is pleased to announce the all new Carbon Elite Series. Based on the popular...
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S15:E6 - “The Lower Keys Highway” (2020)
Captains Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor head to the Lower Keys for Tarpon and various types of Jacks.