21 footer. Looked like one from my kayak. With my own eyes SIX FISHERMEN. Two were kids.

That was a tight group. I learned to backhand cast accurately fishing three dudes. Hated it. 😀

My bass boat can handle 3 because there's only 3 spots to sit when on plane. I only have an 18 foot aluminum version though.

6 is 3 too many IMO. And I prefer 2.

I’ve done 5 several times in my 18.5 ft 😂

I usually just run the troller in those situations

Coast guard sticker says 5 people or 605 lbs, that’s some small people

Mine is rated for 4 and that's 2 too many IMO. We do it fairly often when the whole family is in it, but it always feels like a hook in the back waiting to happen.

8 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

but it always feels like a hook in the back waiting to happen

That's actually happened to me. I took a crank bait to the back of the head about 7 years ago.

One treble lodged in past the barb. Went to urgent care to have it removed. An injection of lidocaine into the skull did not feel great to numb the area up. That wasn't the worst part though.

Worst part was when it actually happened. It felt like someone threw a golf ball sized rock at my head. I almost fainted.

I will never understand why some people choose to place 2 anglers on the front deck of a bass boat when the back deck is wide open. Maybe it takes an experience like that to realize that close physical proximity when casting lures is a bad idea.

7 minutes ago, gim said:

That's actually happened to me. I took a crank bait to the back of the head about 7 years ago.

One treble lodged in past the barb. Went to urgent care to have it removed. An injection of lidocaine into the skull did not feel great to numb the area up. That wasn't the worst part though.

Worst part was when it actually happened. It felt like someone threw a golf ball sized rock at my head. I almost fainted.

I will never understand why some people choose to place 2 anglers on the front deck of a bass boat when the back deck is wide open. Maybe it takes an experience like that to realize that close physical proximity when casting lures is a bad idea.

My dad got me, twice. Once was in a 2 man with a T-rigged tube. Smacked me right in the cheekbone with a bullet weight but thankfully no hook. It still was an instant headache.

Second time was in a 24' pontoon and we were the only 2 in it. No idea how he managed that one because I was running the trolling motor on the front of it, not moving around. He hit me with the deep diving crankbait he was throwing in the top of the head, 3 of the trebles dug into my scalp, and his cast ripped them about 8" across the top of my head before they tore free. It really was like getting a golf ball fired into my head and the burning from where the hooks ripped through was so intense. In the end though, I would have preferred them to rip through like that instead of burying and having to be pulled out.

As a guide my limit was 3 anglers and myself. That was for a few reasons, first the USCG capacity plate, second if I had to run any distance seating 4 was problematic for the extra 2 above the standard seats, third I pulled too many hooks out of my body. Funny story, I was fishing with a friend who was a retired Sheriff and as we were getting ready to launch a boat pulls up lakeside with 3 kids and a dad. the dad gets out holding his head. seems that one of the boys put a rattletrap in the back of dads head and he was headed of to the ER to get it removed. My buddy asked him if he wanted it removed right there. After a little explaining, well, a lot of explaining, my buddy telling him he could go to the ER and pay $600 to have it removed or he could do it right there. He reluctantly agreed and my buddy went into the bed of his truck and got a piece of braided line, side cutters and some antiseptic. He cut the lure free, and while he was explaining what he was going to do, he popped it free. While he was wiping it down with antiseptic, the guy said, “I’m ready, go ahead” and we all laughed.

I've seen 5 adults in a 12 foot aluminum boat all casting in different directions and drinking tequila. I don't know if they caught any bass but they sure were having fun.

I’ve seen six but max in my boat is 2.

2 hours ago, gim said:

I will never understand why some people choose to place 2 anglers on the front deck of a bass boat when the back deck is wide open. Maybe it takes an experience like that to realize that close physical proximity when casting lures is a bad idea.

My buddy & I fish shoulder to shoulder in the front of his boat all the time. No problems. I cast righty & he casts lefty. There is actually less chance of hooking each other because no one is behind you on the backcast. Just saying.

5 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

My buddy & I fish shoulder to shoulder in the front of his boat all the time. No problems. I cast righty & he casts lefty. There is actually less chance of hooking each other because no one is behind you on the backcast. Just saying.

No problems...until there is one. Like a treble hook in the head.

Just saying.

I've fished with 4 people in my tracker, but that was on an idle only lake where it was mostly pitching/flipping, so room wasn't a huge issue.

Under 18 foot two is enough most of the time, id imagine you could comfortably have three in a bigger boat.

six is just insane unless 2 or 3 of them are just there to tan.

Lots of Amish in my neck of the woods, so I'm gonna guess about 16. 😂🤦‍♂️ Ya gotta see it to believe it.

14 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Lots of Amish in my neck of the woods, so I'm gonna guess about 16. 😂🤦‍♂️ Ya gotta see it to believe it.

This reminds of Thailand and seeing five people on a moped AND five people wasn't rare.

my 17' tracker is rated for 4 and I have done 3 adults and 1 kid and it was about 1 kid too many. 3 can be delt with but I'm not all that happy as I would be with just 2.

I'm less worried about that and more worried about all the over crowded wake and pontoon boats I see once June/July hits.

I've seen 5-7 people in a 12 to 14' Jon boat numerous times on some of the lakes near the Mennonite communities around here. It's scary as hell because the gunnel is sitting about 3" inches above the water. You should see how fast a 9.9 can push a boat weighing that much 😂

I’ve had 4 on my 17.5 footer, 2 adults and 2 kids. Was pretty comfortable still lol

On 3/30/2026 at 3:27 PM, fishballer06 said:

I've seen 5-7 people in a 12 to 14' Jon boat numerous times on some of the lakes near the Mennonite communities around here.

Even though that's a little scary and a little funny, it's also cool that they have those family relationships and want to sally forth together. Contrast that with the modern American angler who too often fishes alone. Of course, many of us enjoy fishing alone, but I like a balance, fishing with Bob, the Kid, the Kid's dad, and others. I catch the most when I fish alone, but I help others catch bass when I fish with them, and both are great fun.

I enjoy the company of my 4 legged friend in the boat. The great part about this fishing partner is that they never complain, never ask to leave, and never wonder why the bite is slow.

The disadvantage is that she cannot net my fish without thumbs.

My dogs complain about nearly every bird they see while on the boat. And squirrel……. They even swam out to another fisherman’s boat while I was camping on an island once 🤣