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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Offshore was a good place to be today, away from the numerous thunderstorms that dropped heavy rains on the Houston-Galveston area this afternoon. Fortunately, all that activity pretty much died out as they approached the coastline from the north--finally some rain and associated winds that didn't hamper the fishing offshore.

Offshore today, for the partyboat Capt. John, translates into being about 50 miles to the SE of Galveston, fishing over rocks and a wreck in 100 ft. of water. Capt. Tony Langston had the 68 fishermen working their whole or cut Spanish sardines and pieces of cut squid throughout the height of the water column. Their efforts resulted in this catch being in the Capt. John's fish boxes when it returned to Galveston's Pier 19:
110 red snapper to 10#
12 kingfish
10 vermilion snapper
4 Atlantic sharpnose sharks
4 lane snappers
8 triggerfish

Jim Marigliano, Dallas, had a kingfish and a red snapper limit to 8#. He useed Carolina rigged Spanish sardines, fished in the mid-depths for his catch.

To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John, give a call to the office at Galveston's Pier 19. The numbers where you will hear the informed and friendly voices of Dorothy & Vicky are 409-762-8808 and 713-223-4853. The red snapper fishery in Federal offshore waters is only open through August 4...not as far away as it might sound -- call today.

Monday, June 09, 2008

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was run with Capt. Tony Langston heading up the effort. After leaving Galveston's Pier 19 and shortly after entering the open Gulf and pointing the twin hulls southward, the run began of approximately 30 miles to the first stop. That stop, at the wrecks of the old Buccaneer rigs in 70 ft. of water produced red snapper, a ling, numerous Atlantic spadefish and triggerfish.

Leaving that area, the next stop was at the wreck pieces of the V.A. Fogg. These wreck pieces in 100 ft. of water held amberjack, Warsaw grouper, rainbow runner, lane snapper and another ling. Baits used throughout the water column were pieces of cut squid and whole Spanish sardines. Seas ran about 4 ft. ofshore.

The trip's catch was made up of:
1 greater amberjack
36 red snapper to 10#
5 lane snapper
1 rainbow runner
40 Atlantic spadefish (tiger snapper)
1 Warsaw grouper
10 triggerfish
2 ling of 50 & 75#

JIM MARIGLIANO, Dallas had a red snapper limit that went to 8 lbs. and was taken on Carolina rigged whole Spanish sardines fished in the mid-depths.

Don't forget that the shortened red snapper fishery in Federal waters' last day to fish is August 4th. If one of your interests when fishing offshore is red snapper, the August 5th closure will be here sooner than it may seem...give the office at Galveston's Pier 19 a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 and make your reservations aboard the Capt. John to become part of reeling in some of these multi-species catches.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Favorable sea conditions of 2-3 ft. were a welcomed sight as the partyboat Capt. John headed offshore after passing through the Galveston jetties. The area that Capt. Langston chose for the 75 fishermen aboard to try their baits of cut squid or whole Spanish sardines was at a series of production platforms about 40 miles offshore.

The fishermen's efforts managed to put this catch on the deck and into the fish boxes:

31 red snapper to 8#
1 mangrove snapper of 8#
1 kingfish
3 Atlantic sharpnose sharks
620 Atlantic spadefish

As was the case yesterday, those highly visible, eager biting, hard pulling and great eating Atlantic spadefish made up the bulk of the catch. For some reason,so far this season, red snapper have been reluctant biters. This could change at any time. On any offshore trip, the biters are targeted in an effort to get fish on the boat. Hopefully the red snapper will soon join the party in greater numbers. If not, these multi-species catches will continue as they have in the past. Recent catches have included red snapper, kingfish, several Warsaw grouper, dolphin, lane snapper, mangrove snapper, Atlantic sharpnose sharks, amberjack, ling and rainbow rinner, in addition to multitudes of Atlantic spadefish. This is truly multi-species fishing. The species taken on any trip depends on various factors such as current, water clarity, water depth, structure, sea conditions, and the fishing area itself. Last, but not least, the fish have well over 51% of the vote in whether or not they bite.

To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John, give the office at Galveston's Pier 19 a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Come aboard and see what multi-species catch you reel in.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Today's 12 hour offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was again run with Capt. Tony Langston in the driver's seat. After leaving Galveston's Pier 19 with 73 fishermen aboard, and later entering the open Gulf, the Capt. John's twin hulls were pointed in a southeasterly direction.

The area fished was about 40 miles offshore where stops were made at rocks, a production platform, another rock, a wreck and two buoys. Water depth was in the 75 ft. range. Using pieces of cut squid, whole or cut Spanish sardines and an assortment of leadhead jigs, fished throughout the water column, the following catch joined the group on deck:

1 Warsaw grouper of 15#
2 kingfish
1 Atlantic sharpnose shark
15 Atlantic spadefish
8 triggerfish
1 mangrove snapper
8 lane snapper
2 ling of 34 and 45#
18 red snapper to 13#

Rob Richardson (Lone Oak) had a red snapper limit to 4# on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines.
Mike Richardson(Athens) with a red snapper limit to 13#, using the same rigging and bait method as his brother Rob.
Ronnie "Ling Ling" Vaughn(Allen) his red snapper limit went to 4# and was topped by his two ling of 34 and 45# that were taken on back to back casts at the production platform. His ling catch came on a 3 oz. pink/chartreuse Snapper Slapper that was sardine tipped. The red snapper hit Carolina rigged Spanish sardines in the mid-depths.

The red snapper catch on the first two days of the red snapper fishery in Federal waters has been a bit on the slow side for whatever reason...obviously it won't stay that way, just a slow start. Snappers are being marked on the bottom machine - getting them to eat the baits is the apparent problem.

To be there for the upswing, make your Capt. John reservations by calling 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. The staff at Galveston's Pier 19 office is waiting for your call

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Finally - red snapper fishing in our offshore Federal waters. This first 12 hour offshore trip by the partyboat Capt. John was headed up by Capt. Tony Langston. Departing Galveston's Pier 19 with 80 of us fishermen aboard, the run in a southeasterly direction began after entering the relatively calm Gulf .

First stops of the day were made at about 55 to 60 miles out, at rocks in 89 ft. or so of water. The water was sort of off color, slightly milky blue green. While fish were marked, they didn't seem to be in a feeding mood. The area's three stops produced a smattering of red snapper and kingfish, plus a couple of Atlantic sharpnose sharks.

The next four stops produced a few more red snapper - and then there were the kingfish. The second stop was a kingfish feeding frenzy; any bait entering the water was immediately eaten. Kingfish and fishermen running in all directions, with enthusiastic vocals from the fishermen, the gaffing and more vocals...Capt. John kingfishing when it's a hot bite! That one stop had over fifty kingfish to 25 lbs. ending up in the fish boxes in about a 25 minute period - we left'em biting to hopefully get some additional red snappers on the boat.

Moving closer inshore for the last stops of the day was a move that resulted in the majority of the red snapper catch being decked, with time running out, they were left biting. These spots were "motor fished" (not anchored) due to lack of current and to save time, as the day was running short. this tactic by Capt. Langston resulted in about fifty of the trip's total red snapper catch. Shortly before the ride home began, the trip's heaviest fish, a 42 lb. Warsaw grouper, was decked. A second one of an estimated 35 lbs. was vented and released. Only one Warsaw grouper is allowed to be kept per day.

This trip was one of those where the constant efforts of the captain to find the fish that were feeding paid off. While a boat red snapper limit wasn't caught, the total catch was a success - especially that hot kingfish action.The day's total catch was made up of the following:

73 red snapper to 8#
57 kingfish to 25#
1 Warsaw grouper of 42# ( a second of an estimated 35# was vented and released to grow and fight another day)
1 dolphin (mahi-mahi) of 4#
2 lane snapper
8 blue runner
2 Atlantic sharpnose sharks.

Here's some of the individual catches:

Sister Mary Brenda (Kenya, East Africa)While back in the U.S. for a month's leave and visiting her fellow Sisters in the area for a few days, she opted for a day's fishing on the Capt. John, before heading far North to bring her father some red snapper and kingfish filets. She did good - her catch did indeed include limits of red snapper to 6# and a kingfish of 16# .
Mike Richardson (Athens) his catch included a red snapper limit to 6# and a kingfish limit.
Rob Richardson (Lone Oak) came in with a red snapper limit to 8# and a kingfish limit.
Ronnie Vaughn (Allen), red snapper limit to 4#, a kingfish limit plus an Atlantic sharpnose shark.
Sam Rosas (Sugarland), red snapper limit to 4#, a kingfish limit and the day's heaviest catch, a nice 42# Warsaw grouper that hit a double Spanish sardine offering fished on the bottom at 80 ft., at the last stop of the trip.
Jennifer Jackson (Sugarland), red snapper limit to 3# and a kingfish limit.
Harold Portier (Nederland), red snapper limit to 3#, a kingfish limit and the trip's only dolphin (mahi-mahi).
Robert Cannon, red snapper limit to 5# plus a kingfish limit.
Patrick Lemire ( Texas City), my catch included a red snapper limit to 5#, a kingfish limit and a great visit, along with Rob, Mike and Ronnie with Sister Mary Brenda. This was a good first day of the red snapper fishery in Federal Waters.

With the shortened red snapper fishery in Federal waters to close the first week in August, now is the time to make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John. Those ticks of the clock are much faster and louder than they have ever been, don't hesitate to get in on your opportunity to reel up some of those delicious red snapper. While there is a variety of other hard fighting and tasty targets out there, if red snapper is your interest...Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock! Give the Capt. John's office at call at Galveston's Pier 19. The numbers are 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 to make those reservations.