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Thursday, October 18, 2007

This offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was one of those of the 36 hour variety. Leaving Galveston's Pier 19 with 38 fishermen aboard and later entering the open Gulf, the offshore trek in a southerly direction began with Capt. Tony Langston at the wheel. Aboard as the second captain was Capt. Mark Yamaguchi.

The first stops made Thursday were at a production platform and rock formations in 300 ft. of water. This area produced snappers, grouper, barracuda, rainbow runner, etc. A move was then made in the direction of the platform where overnight fishing for yellowfin and blackfin tuna was to be done. This platform, the Boom Vang Spar is about 127 miles south of the island in 3,450 ft. of water. Numerous drifts were made overnight from near the platform to about a mile down current, and blackfin and yellowfin tuna were there. Jumpers were seen throughout the night and they were eating. Unfortunately, breakoffs, pulled hooks, tail wraps, etc. held the yellowfin catch to a nice number of seven. They ranged from 60 to 80 lb. Blackfin tuna taken went to 18 lb. and 184 of them ended up in the fish boxes. Most of the blackfin tuna hit chrome diamond jigs, Shimano Butterfly jigs, Tuna Hunters or Spanish sardines. The yellowfin were taken on Islander Tackle's Tuna Hunter Topwater (5), O.T. Topwater (1), diamond jigs (1). Obviously, most of the yellowfin action was directed at those topwater poppers; their imitation of an injured target, plus the sound of tuna feeding, attracted the strikes. The key to using these types of lures is tackle with the castability to reach just beyond the lights coverage on the water. That's really the easy part using the right tackle and technique, after a solid hookup the fight and fun begins.

Overnight, the seas began to "pick up", to say the least. This set up a long run inshore on Friday morning after sunrise. This nearly 100 mile run ended at wrecks of the old Buccaneer Field and its 75 ft. deep water. Taken there were lane snapper, red snapper, blue runner, Atlantic sharpnose sharks, etc.

Despite the somewhat bumpy conditions they all had to deal with, another of those multi-species catches ended up iced down in the various fish boxes. The yellowfin tuna fishing resulted in the highest number being decked on one of these 36 hour trips. Blackfin tuna also greatly contributed to the tuna catch. Overall, the catch was a good one and made up of the following:

* 7 yellowfin tuna 60 to 80#
* 184 blackfin tuna to 18#
* 77 red snapper to 14#
* 11 lane snapper
* 3 great barracuda to 21#
* 21 blue runner
* 1 rainbow runner
* 3 Atlantic sharpnose sharks
* 1 silver sea trout

Sam Rosas, Sugarland, had the trip's heaviest yellowfin tuna, a nice 80 pounder that hit a Tuna Hunter Topwater lure. He also had 5 blackfin tuna on a diamond jig and a double red snapper limit on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines.

Jennifer Jackson, Sugarland, with 3 blackfin tuna, red snapper, Atlantic sharpnose shark and rainbow runner.

Reuben Villareal, Houston - his three yellowfin tuna from 60 to 70# were the high mark for the trip. Two were taken on Tuna Hunter Topwaters and one hit an O. T. "Wombat" Topwater. He also had red snapper and 3 blackfin tuna.

Tom Au, Houston - he had one of the yellowfin tuna, a 65 pounder that also hit a Tuna Hunter Topwater. It went along nicely with his 20 blackfin tuna that hit Shimano Butterfly Jigs.

Brett Cornelius, Dallas, with 4 blackfin tuna on diamond jigs and a double red snapper limit.

John McCracken, Nederland - 4 blackfin tuna plus red snapper and vermilion snapper.

Gary Lee, Dallas, red snapper and 4 blackfin tuna.

Billy, Dallas, double red snapper limit to 14# and the 4# rockhind grouper.

Douglas TigTig, Houston, 5 blackfin tuna on chrome diamond jigs and a double red snapper limit.

Gerry Deguzman, Houston - a 60# yellowfin tuna on one of those Tuna Hunter Topwater lures, 6 blackfin tuna on diamond jigs and a double red snapper limit.

Alvin Calloway - 2 blackfin tuna, red snapper and silver sea trout.

Rita Baumann, Texas City, with 8 blackfin tuna on diamond jigs and Carolina rigged Spanish sardines fished deep. She also had a double red snapper limit to 14#.

As is usually the case, the catch is shared by a variety of fishermen, from the person on their first 36 hour tuna trip to the veteran. The fact on this trip, the tuna, etc., were there. Again, as usual, numerous hooked fish were lost for various reasons. An absence noted was in the grouper caught; only one was brought back, a nice four pound rockhind. These stops at 300' would normally give the fishermen a chance at Warsaw, gag, scamp grouper, etc...that's why it's called "fishing" and not "catching". All in all, the catch was a good one, especially the yellowfin total.

Give the Capt. John's office at Pier 19 a call to make your reservations on one of these exciting 36 hour tuna fishing trips. The great attraction of any offshore partyboat fishing trip is the question of who's going to catch what. You never know who's about to get their string pulled like never before. Make the call today to 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853, the friendly and informed office staff is waiting to assist you in making one of these great trips happen for you. Right now, there are seven more scheduled in the next three months. The tuna, etc., need your company out there.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

This offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was a 6 hour charter by a group of 18 from G. E. Capt. Johnny Williams had them fishing at a production platform about 30 miles to the south of The Island in the neighborhood of 60 ft. of water. Their cut squid and Spanish sardine baits, fished throughout the water column, produced this catch:

* 36 red snapper to 7#, a daily limit for the 18 fishermen.
* 39 Atlantic spadefish, "tiger snapper"
* 1 lane snapper
* 1 ling

This charter trip shows a great way to spend time with co-workers, family, organization members or friends. Mingling in a relaxed fishing atmosphere, at a reasonable price, aboard the Capt. John – give the Galveston office at Pier 19 a call for info on pricing and availability, 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Make your plans and call soon, charter trips are run up to 36 hours in length.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

"Breezy & Bumpy" made their presence known today during the Capt. John's offshore run. Unfortunately, their cousin "Nasty" joined them in the afternoon. This was definitely one of those days when the design technology used in building the hulls of the Capt. John made for a fishable day under less than perfect sea conditions. With this to contend with, Capt. Tony Langston had the 56 fishermen working their baits over rocks and wrecks. Those spots, about 50 miles south of The Island in 100 ft. of water gave up another of those multi-species catches these day trips are known for. The day's catch was made up of the following:

* 112 red snapper to 20#, a boat limit
* 50 vermilion snapper
* 9 mangrove snapper
* 28 lane snapper
* 20 Atlantic spadefish
* 2 bonnethead sharks
* 13 gray triggerfish

Aaron Hardin, Texas City - this 9 year old fisherman was at it again with a red snapper limit to 7# plus gray triggerfish and vermilion snapper.
Kenny Swanson, Galveston - his red snapper limit included a nice 17 pounder. He also had a vermilion snapper limit of 10.
Sam Rosas, Sugarland - had a red snapper limit to 8#
Reuben Villareal, Houston - a red snapper limit from 8 to 20#. His sow red snapper was the day's heaviest.

One thing this catch brings out is that the surface conditions didn't affect their feeding habits out there today. To make your reservations on the Capt. John and get in on these last days of the red snapper fishery for this year, give the office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. The clock is running and will strike twelve, so to speak, seemingly in a heartbeat...the six to eight month closure starts Nov. 1.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

With only three foot seas, today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was a relatively smooth one. Today's chosen fishing area was an old submerged wreck of a production platform about 30 miles south of The Island and a couple of nearby working platforms.

Capt. Tony Langston put the 80 of us fishermen working our baits of cut squid, whole Spanish sardines and various artificials in the 70 ft. deep, sort of sandy green water. The majority of the day's catch came from those platform remains, with most being taken from the mid-depths to very near the bottom. Catch totals were as follows:

* 160 red snapper to 10#, a daily limit for all 80 fishermen
* 23 lane snapper
* 13 mangrove snapper to 7#
* 49 Atlantic spadefish
* 3 rockhind grouper
* 12 blue runner
* 6 gray triggerfish
* 1 gaugauanche(member of barracuda family)
* 1 bluefish

Patrick Lemire, Texas City – my red snapper limit went from 8 to 9#. They hit Carolina rigged Spanish sardines that were head-hooked on pink & chartreuse, bucktail dressed 7/0 circle hooks. My targeted mangrove snapper didn't show any interest.

The reason mangrove snappers in particular were mentioned is that, for anyone interested in going after a World Record, the International Game Fish Association recently opened up some new Line Class records. As of October 1, line class records up to 30# were being accepted for mangrove snapper along with some others with little or no interest. While setting records are of little importance to most fishermen, if it's of interest to you, this is a new opportunity. Also, October 1 was the beginning of mangrove snapper Junior Records being opened. Watch out for often mentioned, 9 year old Aaron Hardin jumping on this one...get your youngsters involved, too, kids love records just like adults. See www.igfa.org for details.

To make your reservations on the Capt. John, call the Pier 19 office at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Also, don't forget that as of this date, there are only eighteen days left for the red snapper fishery this year in Federal waters, don't miss out on these last opportunities this year, make your reservations today!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was run with Capt. Johnny Williams in the driver's seat. The area he chose as today's destination for the 48 fishermen was the remains of old Buccaneer Field production platforms. These wreck pieces in 70 ft. of water are about 30 miles to the south of The Island, and produced an assortment of snappers and Atlantic spadefish. A move to other wrecks a bit farther offshore during the afternoon added to the day's catch, which was made up of the following:

* 96 red snapper to 17 lb., a limit for the 48 fishermen
* 15 mangrove snapper to 8 lb.
* 16 vermilion snapper
* 20 lane snapper
* 67 Atlantic spadefish
* 10 gray triggerfish
* 1 ling of 34 lb.

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