The SOUTHPAW is a custom 43′ Torres sportfisherman. Constructed in 2002 by renowned Key West boat builder Claude Torres, she incorporates specific design features requested by Capt. Brad which render her an ideal Key West fishing boat platform.
Clients notice right away the open uncluttered layout. Our cockpit (pictured above left) where actual fishing takes place measures an amazing 12’x15′ and is the largest in the fleet, ensuring plenty of room, even for groups of 6. Forward of the cockpit, inside the cabin, clients find comfortable seating around a dinette (pictured above middle), and on a large cushioned bench with plenty of room to lie down. Along the port side of the cabin is a large built in drink box and wet bar. Forward of the cabin, a companionway leads below deck to a full-sized private bathroom (pictured above right).
Power aboard the fishing boat SOUTHPAW is provided by a 700 horsepower Lugger diesel. This power plant is renowned for its dependability and provides a cruising speed of 19 knots which is among the fastest in the fleet. We take the safety of our clients seriously. Our engine room and bilge areas are kept meticulously clean with all bilge pumps and high-water alarms in good working order. The most recent marine survey conducted aboard the SOUTHPAW on May 16, 2012 concluded: ‘The MV SOUTHPAW was found to be in very good to excellent condition overall with signs of continued professional maintenance, upgrades and obvious pride of ownership throughout.’
The SOUTHPAW features a superb electronics package including multiple VHF radios, and multiple fish finding depth sounders, GPS /chart plotting, and radar by Northstar and Simrad.
Our two-tiered livewell system (pictured at left) located in the cockpit is state of the art and allows us to keep huge quantities of live bait healthy all day. During the winter months; the type, quality and quantity of live bait is often the key to a successful day. As a client aboard the SOUTHPAW you will enjoy the benefits of our superior live bait system.
The SOUTHPAW is also equipped with a ‘Tuna Tower’ (pictured at right) which is the aluminum super structure above the bridge deck. With full controls and electronics in the ‘tower’ Capt. Brad can operate the SOUTHPAW while perched thirty feet above the water surface. The purpose of a Tuna Tower is to allow the operator to see down into the water as well as to scan the surrounding area from a better vantage point. We cannot over emphasize how valuable a tower is to successful Key West Fishing. Whether we are chasing Sailfish as they ‘shower’ bait during the late fall and early winter, looking for ‘tailing’ Cobia on a color change in the spring, or finding floating debris and the associated Dolphin out in the deep sea during the summer, we use the tower all year long as a vital tool to help our clients catch more fish. And yet, most of our competitors DO NOT have towers because of the cost of installation and height restrictions in the marina out of which they operate. As much as anything else that sets our boat apart, the fact that we offer a Tuna Tower and our competitors do not, makes us a better choice for your charter fishing experience. We encourage you to compare our Key West fishing boat and its features to any other you might be considering for your fishing charter; we are confident that the more informed you are, the clearer your choice becomes.
