I posted this in the Mercury area also but I'm very unfamiliar with fuel lines and the differences between boat and motor manufactures. Any help would be appreciated.

Yesterday I couldn't step on the foot pedal very far down because when I did the motor would bog down. If i started to left off a little I would start to get power again and slowly accelerate in speed. But when I stepped hard on the throttle it would hesitate again. Is this a bad fuel filter issue? I dont know much about outboards but I know I had this same thing happen to my suburban a few months ago and for $15 I got a new fuel filter put in and runs like new now. I just got a new filter put in the boat in March of this year with my tune up but could it go bad that quick? Or is it something else like fuel lines?? Its a 1993 xri (efi) motor/201 Champ