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Tuesday, June 09, 2009

The onshore breeze slacked up a bit for today's 12 hour offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John. With just over half a passenger limit, Capt. Johnny Williams headed out through the Gulf in a southeasterly direction. About 50 miles after passing the end of Galveston's south jetty, they were at the fishing area for the day.

The 46 fishermen, as usual, worked their baits of cut squid or whole sardines from the near surface area to the bottom. The red snapper catch, in particular, was short of a boat limit but the good part was that most of the red snapper went from 15 to 23#. You don't need a boat limit to have a great red snapper hang when approaching the dock at Galveston's Pier 19. Catch totals were:

77 red snapper, 83% of a boat limit, most 15 to 23#.
9 lane snapper
1 ling
14 kingfish
14 Atlantic sharpnose sharks.

Don't forget that the red snapper fishery in Federal waters closes in just over 9 weeks. To make your reservations call the office at Galveston's Pier 19, 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853...tick-tock-tick, that's the red snapper clock running.
Patrick

Monday, June 08, 2009

The breeze and some wave action returned after about a ten day or so stretch of relatively calm conditions. Running in a southeasterly direction today with the twin hulls of the partyboat Capt. John slicing through the chop, Capt. Johnny Williams headed to an area 50 miles offshore.

The 39 fishermen's cut squid or sardine baits produced a catch made up of the following:
69 red snapper to 14#, which ws 88% of a boat limit.
1 ling of 30#
1 kingfish
4 atlantic sharpnose sharks
1 triggerfish
3 lane snapper
9 vermilion snapper

Jim Marigliano, Dallas - his red snapper limit went to 14#. This was Jim's 10th day in a row on the Capt. John - that's a marathon of some sort...try it sometime. You can get memories to last a lifetime on just one trip; imagine what he takes back to Dallas in fishing and fellowship memories after this 10 day run.

To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John - 10 day marathons not required - give a call to Dorothy or Vicky at the Galveston Pier 19 office of Williams Partyboats...409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 will get you there.
Patrick

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John had a 180° turnaround, catch wise, from the Saturday trip. The full boat of 83 fishermen had their baits of cut squid or whole sardines eaten with great regularity. The spots fished about 60 miles to the SE of The Island where Capt. Johnny Williams had them fishing produced a red snapper limit to 18# for the boat, along with mangrove snapper, vermilion snapper, lane snapper and rockhind grouper

To make your reservations on the Capt. John, give the office at Galveston's Pier 19 a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

With the Gulf virtually flat today, the run offshore by the partyboat Capt. John was a smooth one that also included "hot". Conditions being what they were had the 82 of us fishermen aboard anticipating a great day of red snapper fishing. The area Capt. Johnny Williams chose for the day was about 60 miles to the south and its bottom structure in around 140 ft. of water.

Using Spanish sardines, pieces of cut squid and a variety of artificial baits throughout the water column also produced a variety of results. Our first stop had a red snapper bite that startted out good, then tapered off. Following stops had the fishing, in general, on the slow side, with snappers, kingfish, etc. coming up in spurts, along with Atlantic sharpnose shark. It was one of those days, despite everyone's efforts, that shows up every once in a while and reminds us all why it's called "fishing" and not "catching". Kingfish were in the area but most of the fishermen were concentrating on those somewhat elusive red snapper.

The day's catch totals were:
94 red snapper to 11#, almost 60% of a boat limit, most to 3#, some 5-8#.
9 vermilion snapper
1 mangrove snapper-5#
1 porgy
7 kingfish to 14#
15 Atlantic sharpnose shark
1 rockhind grouper
1 warsaw grouper - 20#

The Leston Family Group of 5 from Denver,had red snapper limits to 7# and Atlantic sharpnose shark.
Rita Baumann, Texas City, her red snapper limit to 5# came on a 3 oz. blue/white Snapper Slapper, Atlantic sharpnose shark, 3 oz. black/purple Snapper Slapper, and one kingfish.
Tony Morris Houston, red snapper limit to 7# and 2 vermilion snapper.
Patrick Lemire Texas City, my red snapper limit went to 7#.

Fishing and catching, not always companions; today's fishing was sort of "steady in spurts". The end result was a good day fishing under ideal weather and Gulf conditions. As these reports always show an accurate view of how it was, and with the good weather forecast to continue, the prospects of good fishing are high. Today's trip had good fish being caught, just not in the numbers everyone wanted - once again, "fishing".

To make your reservations at the rail, call 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853; you will be quickly connected with the friendly and informed office staff who will fix you up with your confirmed spot or spots. Don't forget that the time for the red snapper fishery to be open is already 10% gone...time flies, don't hesitate. Also, remember that you must have your required Texas Saltwater fishing license - 1-800-TXLIC$U is quick and easy. Waiting until you get to the office is time consuming. Make the call, get on the Capt. John and prepare yourself to enjoy a great day fishing offshore.
Patrick

Friday, June 05, 2009

The partyboat Capt. John's offshore fishing trip today had Capt. Shawn Clark in the master seat. Today's fishing target was the area of a wreck about 63 miles SSE in 155 ft. of water.
With 76 fishermen aboard, the Capt. John departed Galveston's Pier 19 and into the Gulf after passing through the channel.

Fishing with baits of Spanish sardines or pieces of cut squid, from near the surface to virtually down into the wrecked structure produced another multi-species catch. While the catch was short of a red snapper limit, the quality and variety made for an excellent total catch:

105 red snapper, 69% of a limit for 76 fishermen, with many of 6-14# and 2 of 22 & 25#.
21 vermilion snapper
2 mangrove snapper to 8#
10 blue runner
5 porgy
3 kingfish
1 amberjack
3 rockhind grouper
1 warsaw grouper, 18#
2 ling, 20# ea.

Rob Richardson of Lone oak has a red snapper limit to 10# and the day's only amberjack.
Mike Richardson, from Corinth, also had a red snapper limit. His went to 14#.
Jim Marigliano, Dallas, his red snapper limit to 8# and the 8# mangrove snapper.
The Leston Reeves Group of Five, Denver, had a red snapper catch highlighted by Leston Sr.'s 25# sow red snapper and Leston, Jr.'s nice one of 22#.

Whatever the catch totals, fishing has been good on the partyboat Capt. John. Come aboard and get your share of whatever swims out there. One of the great attractions of offshore fishing is that you never know who's going to catch what on any stop. Before making your reservations, remember that you need a Texas Saltwater fishing license to legally bring your offshore catch into a Texas landing. Dialing 1-800-TXLIC4U is a quick and easy way to get it done, or, at the Capt. John's office at Galveston's Pier 19. The office route takes a bit longer, especially when you are getting on the boat and time can be short. Give the office a call at 409-762-8808, make your reservations and prepare to enjoy the Capt. John offshore fishing experience.
Patrick