if you watch the weather and dont take any chances you,ll be fine. i fished the western basin many times in an old 16 ft glass boat. then i found an old cherokee aluminum 18 fter and it was an awesome boat for the western basin. i would have even used it on the central basin but had already upgraded to a 20 ft sea ray by the time i started fishing the central basin. i now have a 21 fter now and i still watch the weather. the boat can take rougher water than i like to fish anyway.

the last month the western basin has been hot and still is. so you can go any time you want. just check the fishing reports for good places to fish. good luck, have fun, and be safe.
sherman