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Saturday, July 05, 2008

This day trip was run with Capt. Tony Langston in the driver's seat. Fishing various structure offshore from Galveston Island and using baits of cut squid or whole Spanish sardines, the 81 fishermen wound in this catch:

152 red snapper, 10 short of a boat limit
2 kingfish
8 triggerfish
Several vermilion snapper and mangrove snapper were also in the catch.

Friday, July 04, 2008

After a brief layup for maintenance, the partyboat Capt. John was again where it should be, headed into the open Gulf with its twin hulls splitting the waves. Heading up this wave splitting operation was Capt. Tony Langston.

The targeted fishing area for the 81 fishermen was about 50 miles SE of Galveston in 120 ft. of water, where the inhabitants of the rocks and wrecks responded to the baits of cut squid or Spanish sardines as shown:

120 red snapper to 12#, 2 short of a limit.
23 vermilion snapper
5 gray triggerfish
3 Atlantic sharpnose shark
1 Warsaw grouper

David Rodriguez from Alvin had a red snapper limit that went to 10#.

Today was one of those with squalls offshore that had to be avoided and seas were a bit on the choppy side, 3-4 feet -- no problem for a sleek catamaran, the Capt. John. You can now make your reservations using your Visa, Mastercard or Discover card. Give the Pier 19 office a ring at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Dorothy and Vicky are waiting for your call.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was headed up by Capt. Tony Langston. Leaving Galveston's Pier 19 with 66 fishermen the run offshore started after exiting the jetties and heading ESE through the Gulf.

Their fishing area, about 30-40 miles distant in around 70 ft. of water and its rocks and rigs gave up this catch:
12 red snapper
2 kingfish
325 Atlantic spadefish

Give the Capt. John's office at Pier 19 a call to make your reservations. The phones will ring if you call either 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Sea conditions in our part of the Gulf were running 3-5 ft. for the start of today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John. Conditions improved in the afternoon, dropping to 1-2 ft., then going to calm for the ride back to Galveston's Pier 19.

The area Capt. Tony Langston chose for the 59 fishermen to wet their baits was at several rocks and rigs in around 70 ft. of water, 30-40 miles offshore. Over the course of the day, the bait that worked most efficiently was small pieces of cut squid, along with Spanish sardines, to produce this catch:

2 red snapper to 13#
3 kingfish to 30#
521 Atlantic spadefish

You can make your reservations to fish on the Capt. John by calling the office at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Capt John - June 24-25 trip

This mid-week 36 hour tuna safari by the partyboat Capt. John, out of Galveston’s Pier 19, was headed up by Capt. Johnny Williams. Aboard as the required second captain on this extended length trip was Capt. Dan Bunday.

With calm Gulf waters and only scattered showers forecast, the ride for 36 fishermen was a smooth one. The first fishing stops were made Tuesday afternoon about 65-70 miles offshore over several rock formations in 150-160' of water. Fishing in the area was a bit on the slow side, but numerous species of reef fish and a couple of kingfish were decked.

Late Tuesday afternoon, a run began farther offshore for the overnight tuna fishing. Arriving at the Boom Vang Spar production platform around dusk was the start of numerous drifts being made. Boom Vang Spar is about 127 miles to the south of The Island in 3,450 feet of water. Besides the anticipated yellowfin and blackfin tuna, one adventurous fisherman, Lee Bull, was set up with whole squid baits to do some swordfishing at around 200 to 300 feet. During those multiple drifts, blackfin tuna was taken in numbers. Two yellowfin were decked, with several lost for an assortment of reasons, but a zero on the swordfish. As far as swordfish, or any species out there, you can’t catch’em if you don’t try. Lee’s efforts, deep with whole squid, did produce a blackfin of 31#, the trip’s heaviest tuna. Many blackfin were decked – most hit freelined blackfin chunks, the rest were taken on diamond jigs and butterfly type jigs. The heaviest amberjack of the trip hit a blue runner that had just been hooked and was intended for bait, and it worked when that 51# amberjack hit it near the surface! The Boom Vang highlight was Tom Gregory’s 124 pound yellowfin tuna that hit a freelined blackfin tuna chunk. Tom’s angling skills were put to the test on this one; his 40# test line made this fight last about two hours. “Coach” Bull also added his tuna fishing expertise to the battle. While casting topwaters for blackfin, tom hooked the trip’s only hardhead – unfortunately, the hookup was self-inflicted. Being a tough ex-Marine pilot, he had Capt. Williams remove the hook from his ear and then went back to tuna fishing. In fact, it was hours later when he hooked up with the trip’s heaviest yellowfin. He’ll probably try to avoid tangling with a sizeable yellowfin in the future when fishing with 40# line and absolutely try to avoid the self-inflicted hardhead hookup.

When the move inshore started just after sunrise Wednesday morning, 2 yellowfin tuna of 41# and 124#, along with 99 blackfin tuna to 31# were in the fish boxes. Those inshore stops after leaving the area of Boom Vang Spar platform were made at several rock formations, a wreck and a sunken rig. These stops, in 175 to 60 ft. of water, ranged from 60 to 75 miles offshore. These stops produced the majority of the red snapper, kingfish, vermilion snapper and grouper. A 32# Warsaw grouper hit a red snapper that was being reeled in – while it’s illegal to use red snapper for bait, any fish that eats your red snapper is legal as long as you’re not intentionally using it for bait.

The overnight trip’s catch totals:

2 yellowfin of 41# and 124#
9 mahi-mahi (dolphin)
2 greater amberjack to 51#
1 Warsaw grouper of 32#
10 kingfish to 25#
1 rockhind grouper
1 gag grouper
2 gray triggerfish
1 Magnolia hardhead
99 blackfin tuna to 31#
1 mangrove snapper
102 red snapper to 10#

Tom Gregory, Magnolia, had 22 blackfin tuna on a topwater “Tuna Hunter”, a double red snapper limit to 8#, Magnolia hardhead, kingfish, mangrove snapper, vermilion snapper and the trip’s heaviest fish, the really nice 124# yellowfin tuna. Tom’s was without a doubt the best individual catch.
Brent Laurie, Flower Mound, (Tom’s brother in law), a double red snapper limit to 8#, 15 blackfin tuna and 2 mahi-mahi.
Putwatana Phanchay, Ft. Worth - double red snapper limit, several blackfin tuna and the trip’s other yellowfin tuna, a 41 pounder that hit a freelined blackfin chunk.
Lee Bull, Conroe, and Lee Bull, Jr.,Bender’s Landing, and Adam Johnston, Sugarland each had double red snapper limits to 8# and a combined blackfin tuna total of 18, topped by that 31 pounder that hit lee’s swordfish bait at around 300 ft. Adam also had the gag grouper of the trip.
Rita Baumann, Texas City - her catch included a double red snapper limit to 6# and 5 blackfin tuna.
J. D. Stotts, Ft. Worth - had a double red snapper limit to 7#, 6 vermilion snapper and a blackfin tuna.
Steve Saur, Beaumont - with 1 blackfin tuna, 4 vermilion snapper and a double red snapper limit to 7#.
Mike Flinn, Galveston - 6 vermilion snapper and a double red snapper limit to 5#.
Derek Smith, Wewoka, OK - kingfish, red snapper, 19 blackfin tuna and the trip’s heaviest amberjack, a 51 pounder.
Kelly Jones, Kirk Riley and Mark, Also from Wewoka - each with double red snapper limits.

At this time, there are two more of the 36 hour tuna safaris scheduled for the Capt. John, one in July and one in August. To make your reservations for one of these trips or on one of the Capt John’s many 12 hour offshore trips, give the office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. These 36 hour tuna safaris have multi-species catches that are hard to match, from bottom dwellers to near-surface bruisers. Get aboard and see what you come back with...call today.