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Friday, July 25, 2008

Goodbye, Dolly! All that was left of her, offshore of Galveston, was a gentle 4-5 ft. swell for today's trip by the partyboat Capt. John.

On this first trip since Monday, the first stop about 30 miles south of The Island turned into a "look" rather than a "stop". With the water being excessively sandy, Capt. Johnny Williams made the decision to run farther offshore. Fishing destination for the 81 fishermen ended up being several rock formations in about 120 ft. of water, 20 miles farther out.

The day's catch, taken on squid or sardine baits, was made up of this:

162 red snapper to 9 lbs., a boat limit.
25 vermilion snapper
8 lane snapper
2 bluerunner

With conditions offshore forecast to steadily improve, and the red snapper fishery in Federatl waters scheduled to close in 15 days, now's the time to get aboard - call the Capt. John's Pier 19 reservations office at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 to secure your spot.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Having tropical storm Dolly in the Gulf and it being expected to build into a hurricane will make today's offshore trip the last one for a few days. This weather system definitely makes a change in the virtually calm Gulf from that which has been the case for about a week.

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was headed up by Capt. Johnny Williams. He had the 58 fishermen working their cut squid and Spanish sardine baits over old coral outcroppings about 50 miles to the SE of The Island. Stops were also made in the Heald Bank area, fishing over several rock formations.

Today's catch:

116 red snapper, a boat limit.
1 lane snapper
2 vermilion snapper
6 mangrove snapper
5 kingfish
1 ling
161 Atlantic spadefish

The sooner we all can say "Goodbye, Dolly", the better. To get the opportunity for you to deck your daily limit of red snapper or some of the other multi-species fish out there, give a call to the Capt. John's office at Pier 19 - call 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. There are 14 days left for the red snapper fishery to be open in Federal waters...make your reservations today - the clock is running fast.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

This was a trip where the fishing was good and the weather was hot, hot, hot! Virtually no breeze made for a scene where you could look down deep, through the almost slicked-off surface and see hooked or free-swimming snapper, etc., down deep. It was like looking down into an aquarium - unfortunately, the air conditioner at this aquarium was set on "Heat" by Mother Nature.

We were in the area about 60 miles to the south of The Island, where Capt. Johnny Williams had the 83 of us fishermen working our baits. Fishing over rock formations in 110 ft. of water produced a multi-species catch that came from the bottom to the near surface area. Baits which accounted for the majority of the catch were whole or cut squid and whole Spanish sardines, either Carolina or single drop bottom rigged. Catch totals were:

166 red snapper to 14#; a boat limit.
15 vermilion snapper.
8 lane snapper
1 dorado
8 kingfish
1 scamp grouper

Ben Craig group of 4 from Hillsborough all had red snapper limits and a kingfish.
Ronnie Vaughn, Allen, had a red snapper limit that went to 8# plus a kingfish.
Rita Baumann, Texas City - her red snapper limit went to 6#, to go along with her kingfish limit.
Steve Cummings Family group of 4, Lone Oak - these friends of the Richardsons, whom you have seen in the fishing report many times, had a great day catching their red snapper limits.
Jim Marigliano, Dallas, another hard fishing individual from northeast Texas, had a kingfish limit to go along with his red snapper limit that went to 7#.
Patrick Lemire, Texas City - my red snapper limit went to 8# and was taken from the mid-depths with Carolina rigged Spanish sardines.

With today's fuel prices being what they are,higher than high, many fewer center console type boats in the 25-30' range are being seen offshore this summer. While that's a bad situation for small boat owners, this does bring out the economics of partyboat fishing. With prices on the partyboat Capt. John for adult fishermen being $70 on weekdays and $80 for weekends and holidays, with tackle and squid for bait included, an air conditioned cabin and snack bar, and with the possibility of catching a variety of blue water species thrown in, it's hard to beat. Offshore partyboat fishing is opportunity fishing at a sort of Walmart price.

To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John, give a call to the office at Galveston's Pier 19 to get the process started. The numbers are: 409-762-8808 and 713-223-4853.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

With "Ice Cream" seas of about 3-4"-that's correct, inches, Capt. Johnny Williams motored the partyboat Capt. John in a southerly direction after passing the end of the South Jetty. That slightly ruffled surface condition was because of a slight breeze that also kept it bearable outside for fishing on this bright, sunny day.

The 81 of us fishermen liked the conditions also for the run, about 50 miles offshore, and the results at that first and only stop in that area. Baits of cut or whole squid or whole Spanish sardines contributed greatly to the full boat red snapper limit that was taken. The majority came from the mid-depths to very near the bottom of the 110 ft. deep water and included about 30 in the 7 to 15 pound class...nice.

The area fished late in the trip was one of the wrecks of the old Buccaneer Field production platforms. Several mangrove snapper and numerous Atlantic spadefish were taken.

Catch totals for the day were made up of the following:

162 red snapper to 15#, a boat limit.
9 lane snapper
13 vermilion snapper
11 mangrove snapper to 6#
287 Atlantic spadefish

Ronnie Vaughn, Allen - his red snapper limit went to 8#.
Jim Marigliano, Dallas, with a red snapper limit also to 8#.
Douglas TigTig, Houston - red snapper limit to 10# and 14 Atlantic spadefish.
Gerry DeGuzman, Houston - his red snapper limit went to 10#, along with 11 Atlantic spadefish.
Patrick Lemire - my red snapper limit went to 9# and I also had 2 mangrove snapper.

How long these great conditions offshore will last is anyone's guess, but it's sure been nice the past few days. To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John and hopefully to get in on some of this red snapper action, make the call to the office at Galveston's Pier 19 or drop by. The numbers to call are 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Don't forget, the last day this year that the red snapper fishery is open in Federal waters is August 4...make that call!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John, under the direction of Capt. Johnny Williams, was in the general area of the old Buccaneer Field. Wrecks and production platforms in around 70 ft. of water were fished. Using the standard baits intended for snappers, kingfish, etc., Spanish sardines or pieces of cut squid, the 83 fishermen reeled in this catch:

166 red snapper to 14#, about 20 of which were in the 8 to 11 lb. range.
15 lane snapper
29 mangrove snapper to 10#
6 kingfish to 20#
239 Atlantic spadefish
1 sand trout
4 bluefish

Jim Marigliano, Dallas, with a kingfish limit, a red snapper limit to 10# and 4 mangrove snapper to 10#.
Ronnie Vaughn, Allen - his catch included a red snapper limit to 7# and a kingfish limit.
Rob Richardson, Lone Oak, with 2 mangrove snapper to 6#, a kingfish limit and a red snapper limit to 12#.
Mike Richardson, Corinth - his red snapper limit went to 12# also, along with a kingfish limit and 4 mangrove snapper to 7#.
Ricky Richardson & Madison, his granddaughter, both from Lone Oak, had red snapper limits, 2 kingfish, and Madison's 27 Atlantic spadefish.
Patrick Lemire, Texas City - my catch was made up of a red snapper limit to 10# and 2 mangrove snapper to 7#, all taken on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines, as was the case for the majority of individual catches listed.

Making your reservations on one or more of these offshore fishing trips by the Capt. John and getting in on one of these multi-species catches is easy. Give the Capt. John's reservations office a call at Galveston's Pier 19, 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. The office staff will assist you in locking in your spot or spots at the rail.