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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Today's 12 hour deepsea fishing trip by the partyboat Capt John was again run with Capt. Johnny Williams in the captain's seat.

For today, the fishing was done in the area about 50 miles to the south of The Island over a number of rocks. The catch by the 83 fishermen, which included a group of 67 from The IMS Co. (Houston) headed up by Rick Novac consisted of the following:

166 red snapper, a boat limit to 18#.
20 Atlantic sharpnose sharks
16 vermilion snapper
4 lane snapper
5 kingfish to 41#

Sal Coronado had first place among the 67 in the IMS (International Mailing Systems) group, a nice 18# red snapper, the boat's heaviest today.
Rob Richardson (Lone Oak), with a red snapper limit to 10#, a kingfish and 3 Atlantic sharpnose sharks.
Douglas Tigtig & Gerry Deguzman (Both from Houston) with red snapper limits and kingfish limits topped off by Douglas's 41# smoker.

Starting your group, company or individual reservations process aboard the Capt John is quick and convenient. Give the office at Galveston's Pier 19 a ring at either 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853.

Friday, June 19, 2009

The partyboat Capt John's 12 hour offshore fishing trip today was headed up by Capt. Johnny Williams. He had the 63 fishermen working their baits over several rock formations about 60 miles to the SE of The Island. Their sardine or squid baits had this catch biting from near the surface to the bottom:

70 red snapper to 12#
53 vermilion snapper
3 lane snapper
20 Atlantic sharpnose sharks
1 bonito
1 blue runner
5 kingfish to 40#

Douglas Tigtig (Houston) had a red snapper limit to 10# and a kingfish limit that included the day's heaviest, a nice 40# smoker.
Gerry Deguzman (Houston) with a red snapper limit to 8# and a kingfish limit to 31#.

The red snapper portion of the catch was down when compared to recent catches. Those fun to catch and great to eat Atlantic sharpnose sharks plus the sizeable kingfish did their part in adding some excitement. Make your reservations on the Capt John by either coming to the office at Galveston's Pier 19 or by calling 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

This multi-species, 36 hour tuna safari by the partyboat Capt John out of Galveston's Pier 19 was headed up by captains Johnny Williams & Mark Yamaguchi. The trip began Wednesday with 41 fishermen aboard. Once we entered the Gulf, a run began offshore in a generally SSE direction. The first part of our trip was a bit on the bumpy side, but settled down by the time of our first stop that afternoon. That bottom fishing stop, about 70 miles out in 150 ft. of water, was a red snapper homestead. Well over half of the trip's allowable double limit was decked and iced down. Most were 8 lbs. plus many of 8-15#, 10 of 16-27#, then it slacked off. The next step was at a production platform about 5 miles away. Two drifts were made there, more sizeable red snapper, a couple of amberjack, a ling and a shark joined us on deck during the hour spent there. Our next target on the trip map was the Gunnison Spar platform, located about 125 miles to the SSE of The Island in 3,150 ft. of water. Tuna fishing during the overnight period was the task at hand. At around 8:45, the first of numerous down current, down wind drifts was begun. Bottom line is that the blackfin and yellowfin tuna fishing was a little on the slow side. As usual, several of each species were lost for various reasons, what did end up iced down in the fish boxes was 60 blackfin tuna that went to 28#, most 14-18#. As far as the yellowfin tuna went, well, they didn't go very far, only one was decked during the overnight fishing - a 35 pounder that hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine. The blackfin hit diamond jigs, topwater lures, butterfly type jigs, freelined blackfin or bonito chunks.

Leaving the Gunnison Spar just after sunrise, the inshore fishing run home started. A run of about 3 hours and we were at the first stop back, a bottom spot in 220 ft. of water. The snapper were there from about 120 ft. down to the bottom. After a re-anchoring due to shifting wind and current directions and a total area stay of about two hours, the rest of the allowable double red snapper limit allowed on these extended length trips was in the fish boxes, many red snapper of 8 to 12 lbs. and over were included in that group. The next stops were two drifts at a nearby production platform in 180 ft. of water. Into the fish boxes went a kingfish, 2 amberjack and a lone blackfin tuna, a 30 pounder that hit a Carolina rigged sardine - it was the heaviest blackfin tuna. A 25# sow red snapper from the mid-depths was also vented and released. Our final destination on this 36 hour trip was Galveston's Pier 19. We were there a little after 7 pm - then the real work started for us 41 fishermen, unloading our tackle, etc., a nice job to have after another great overnight trip, far offshore. The success totals were:

61 blackfin tuna to 30#
1 yellowfin tuna of 35#
4 amberjack to 30#
1 kingfish
1 barracuda of 12#
11 blue runner
1 bonito(little tunny)
1 Atlantic sharpnose shark
1 ling of 25#
3 porgy
4 lane snapper
27 vermilion snapper
164 red snapper, the allowable double limit, with many going 8-15#, and 10 that went from 16 to 27#.

Lee Bull (Conroe) 4 blackfin tuna to 20#, double red snapper to 12#
Rita Baumann(Texas City) her red snapper double limit went to 12#.
Colby Bawter(Magnolia) double red snapper to 15#, 3 blackfin tuna, 2 vermilion snapper.
Travis Hanus(Magnolia) double red snapper to 15#, 1 amberjack of 25#. These two friends, Travis and Colby, 18 years old, were on their first 36 hour trip. They tried tried to go at age 16, but you must be 18 to go without an adult. They waited, and now will be hard to keep off the boat. Travis also had the misfortune of having a ling of 40-45# break off at boatside. They are two of the nice folks you expect to meet on any Capt John trip. Just think of the many great experiences yet to come for them out in the Gulf.
Alben "Tex" Lee(Vernon) had the trip's only yellowfin tuna that was decked and iced. A 35 pounder hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine. He also had 2 blackfin tuna and a double red snapper limit to 10#.
Greg Moliere(Houston) had 6 blackfin tuna, lost an estimated 50-60# yellowfin tuna at boatside, a double red snapper limit to 10# and Gred also had vermilion snapper and the 12# barracuda.
Eric Dulin(Pasadena) 1 blackfin tuna, vermilion snapper and a double red snapper limit to 8#.
Mike Welborn(Houston) 3 blackfin tuna, one that was the trip's heaviest, a 30 pounder, by a production platform Sunday morning. He also had the trip's only kingfish and a double red snapper limit to 14#.
Lisa Heck and her brother, Al(Redak) with 1 blackfin tuna and double red snapper limits to 8#.
Mr. Calloway(Katy), with a double red snapper limit to 8#.
Mark Sloan(Galveston), and Brad Murrill(Houston) These two friends had a blackfin tuna and double red snapper limits each, to 14#.
Patrick Lemire(Texas City) My double red snapper limit went from 15 to 24#, all taken at the bottom on a single drop bottom rig baited with blue runner chunks.

This 36 hour tuna safari by the partyboat Capt John started out a bit on the bumpy side Wednesday morning. The seas got better fand then the red snapper fishing was great. During the overnight deep water tuna fishing, it breezed up a bit, which didn't have much if any effect on the tuna fishing that was indeed slow. Thursday, the Gulf improved to calm and the red snapper, etc. fishing improved to near great. Really a sort of typical 36 hour trip as far as the changing conditions went. The fishing was just that, fishing with a lot of great catching included - there were 41 fishermen aboard who thought it was a pretty good trip, in fact, I'm sure most of us thought it was a great one.

To experience this fishing, meeting new friends and seeing old ones while being taken care of by a great crew and captains, get on the Capt John. As for me,Patrick Lemire, it's for all of those reasons tht I've been fishing on various Williams Partyboats for over forty-seven years. I'm getting old and still winding them in - it must be good for you. To make your reservations on any of the varied trips offered by the partyboat Capt John, give the Williams Partyboats office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853, speak to Dorothy, Vicky or Rita and set up a single trip or more.
Patrick

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The numerous fishing spots in the area about 50 miles to the SE of The Island had Capt. Johnny Williams heading the partyboat Capt John in that direction again today. As has been the case lately, the ride out was a bit bumpy and started improving during the early afternoon.

The 80 fishermen's baits of Spanish sardines or cut squid did the job again on the locals that swim the water column. These totals reflect a job well done:

160 red snapper, a boat limit for all 80 fishermen, with many red snapper reaching 10-20#.
14 lane snapper
1 Atlantic sharpnose shark
17 kingfish

Once again, sizeable red snapper made up a big part of the total catch. No one knows how long this big fish bite will last, but it's been really good lately. Other snapper, kingfish, shark, etc. have been rounding out the catch.

To make your reservations on the Capt John and hopefully get in on one of these great catches, call the office at Galveston's Pier 19, 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853.
Patrick

Monday, June 15, 2009

This 12 hour offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt John was a charter by a group of 9 from Mesquite. The charter was set up wanting the kids to have a vacation experience they wouldn't forget, especially Aaron Saldana, 8 years old, and David Saldana, 7 years old, who have played baseball together since T-ball years.

The group was made up of Carolyn Vivian Davidson, Michael, Dorlisa, Aaron, Adalia, 4 years old, David Saldana & Renato, Robert & Rafael Cardoso.

The fishing area chosen for them by Capt. Johnny Williams was a familiar one, 50 miles to the SE of The Island. The catch was definitely a homerun and memory maker for each of them, with a red snapper limit to 12#, 15 kingfish, a bonito and three Atlantic sharpnose sharks.

To make your family, company, group charter or to book an individual spot on the Capt John, call 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Hopefully your trip will match or exceed today's results. Make your reservations today - who knows what great fishing memory is waiting for you in the Gulf.
Patrick