2002 Contender 25 Bay

Step aboard and you’ll notice how the wide, open casting decks give you room to work a school from every angle without tripping over hatches or hardware. The 25 Bay’s multiple livewells and under-seat storage mean you can rig for live bait, artificials, and a backup plan without cluttering the cockpit. The helm layout leaves clean sightlines whether you’re idling a flat or running home in a late chop, and the leaning post gives you a secure stance when you drop the throttle. High gunwales aft add confidence with guests or kids on board, while the bow still feels low and connected to the water when you’re sight fishing.

Shallow backwaters, breezy open bays, and the occasional outside run all play to the strengths of the Contender 25 Bay. Its draft lets you slide onto skinny flats and along grass edges where bigger offshore hulls can’t follow, yet the length and deadrise soak up afternoon wind waves when the basin kicks up. The wide beam creates a stable platform for multiple anglers working live baits or lures off the bow and stern. With ample livewell capacity and smart rod storage, it’s equally at home chasing inshore species near the mangroves or running across exposed stretches to reach distant reefs and channels.