HookedOnFishingBoats.com

The ultimate dilemma: you like fishing freshwater just as much as hitting the salt, but there’s only room for one trailer in the driveway. Ouch—there aren’t many boats that can do both jobs well. One I tested recently, however, the Triton 20X3, can handle both jobs with one hull. This rig combines a bassboat design and layout with salty-style nonskid decking, to create a cross-over fishing machine that’s perfect for pursuing everything from bass to bluefish.

Warning: Although this boat is meant to be fished in both salt and freshwater conditions, it still runs like a professional-grade bass boat—on our test drive we rocketed past 70-mph and the rev-limiter kicked in, because we were slightly under-propped. Tweak it out, and this should be a 75-mph-plus boat.

Whether you tilt more towards the bay or the bass, you need to note the bow design because it’ll help you catch more fish. Not only is the foot control for the 24-V Motorguide trolling motor recessed, so you can run the boat hours at a time without getting leg cramps, the bow also houses a pod with a trim switch for the main motor and a second depth finder screen. There’s also a pair of pedestal seat mounting plates, a 12-rig rodbox under the port foredeck, open stowage to starboard, a compartment sized to hold 9 big Plano tackle boxes, and a 12-pack cooler under the step. What else do you need to stow? Live shrimp destined for a hook, or big bass heading for the weigh-ins? No problem. The 20X3 has a live-release well which is air-injected, in the aft deck.

If you fish the bay often, you’re probably wondering if a bassboat design can run safely through open saltwater conditions? Luckily (sort of) we tested this boat as a strong front pushed through, and the weatherman told us there was a 20-knot wind with gusts to 30-knots. The lake was riled up into two-foot waves, but even at high speeds, the Triton took it like a champ. The fully-finished, RTM molded hatches dog down tightly (eliminating rattles and vibrations); the seats don’t bottom-out (so your butt never finds the fiberglass underneath the padding); and the console pod design lets you lock your legs in or stretch them out.

This boat will launch off of steep waves—no surprise, considering the speeds we’re talking about—but it also lands solid with no thumping or bumping. In fact, the 20X3 was every bit as comfortable as most boats of its size which were designed specifically for bay fishing. Whether you’re casting crankbaits for largemouth or on the hunt for redfish, this one’s a winner.

Company contact: www.tritonboats.com.