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Saturday, September 15, 2007

With hurricane Humberto churning the Gulf and coming ashore a bit up the coast from The Island early Thursday and a cool front passing through the area overnight Friday, bumpy seas were a possibility. Well, "Bumpy and Breezy" were back, about 3-4 ft. that was to build as the day went on and 15 out of the NE that was to build also. The plan was to start fishing at the farthest point and work inshore into calmer water as the day progressed and "windy" became inflated...standard procedure.

Leaving Galveston's Pier 19 with 65 of us fishermen aboard the partyboat Capt. John and turning the end of the South Jetty, Capt. Tony Langston began the offshore run. With the relatively small swell off our port stern corner, the twin hulls of the Capt. John knifed their way about fifty miles offshore to our first fishing spot.

That wreck, in around 90 ft. of water, produced over two thirds of our red snapper limit, along with some lane snapper and blue runner. A run inshore and a stop at a gas well about 35 miles offshore was our next fishing opportunity. Here, more red snapper and a few Atlantic spadefish along with some blue runner were taken.

Our next, and final fishing stop for the day was at the "Upside down pirate rigs", a couple of old production platforms that were converted into artificial reefs a few years back. This stop, in 70 ft. of water about 30 miles south of The Island, finished off our red snapper limit along with a few mangrove snapper, Atlantic spadefish, a kingfish and blue runner. There was also a pair of ling estimated to be 40-45 lbs around the boat for about fifteen minutes that didn't hit and are still out there somewhere.

The plan to fish calmer water inshore when the seas had probably built to nasty at 50 miles by the time the trip back to Pier 19 began would have started was a good one. While it was a bit lumpy, it was also a pleasant day of offshore fishing with a nice catch thrown in, which was the object of being out there.

Baits used today included whole and pieces of cut squid, blue runner cut baits, Spanish sardines, diamond jigs, Snapper Slappers, a circle hook Snapper Slapper jig prototype with a circle hook stinger, and other artificials. This assortment of bait presentations, worked throughout the water column at each stop helped produce this catch:

* 130 red snapper to 10 lbs.
* 4 mangrove snapper to 11 lbs.
* 19 lane snapper
* 56 Atlantic spadefish
* 12 blue runner
* 1 kingfish

One of the highlights of the day was that at 5:50 PM, 8 year old Aaron Hardin turned 9 years old. Being the great young fisherman he is, it looks like he was in the perfect spot for his birthday, the partyboat Capt. John. His catch included a red snapper limit to 4 lb., lane snapper and a remora(released) that hit his 3 oz. chrome diamond jig...the world needs more Aarons.

Rob and Ricky Richardson, both from Lone Oak, had red snapper limits to 6 and 9 lbs...Rob's on a 3 oz. blue/white Snapper Slapper that was sardine tipped, while Ricky's was on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines. A group of four who came down with the Richardsons was Allen & Shannon Rusk, both from Emory, Kelly Cupp, Wolf City, and Bobby Jennings from East Tawakoni, all had red snapper limits to 5 lbs.

Ronnie Vaughn from Allen - his red snapper limit went to 10 lbs.(the trip's heaviest), and the trip's only kingfish, all on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines.

Patrick Lemire – my red snapper limit to 6 lbs. was taken on a 2 oz., pink/chartreuse, circle hook Snapper Slapper jig prototype that was sardine tipped. Topping off my catch was a really nice 11 lb. mangrove snapper that was the day's heaviest. It hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine with an 8/0 "J" hook that was pink/chartreuse hair dressed, through its nose.

All considered, this was a good day offshore, with a nice catch thrown in, along with meeting new fellow fishermen - the group of four who came with the Richardsons, the frustration those two ling generated, and of course Aaron's birthday offshore. Partyboat fishing with a touch of that "Cheers" atmosphere.

Make your reservations to be a part of the Capt. John fishing experience by calling the Pier 19 office at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. You will be glad you did. That's virtually guaranteed on the Capt. John.

Friday, September 14, 2007

This trip by the partyboat Capt. John was the first since the passage of hurricane Humberto, with 57 fishermen aboard. Capt. Tony Langston made the southerly turn into the Gulf after passing the end of the South Jetty, heading for familiar fishing sites, after a run of about fifty miles they were there, over wrecks in 105 ft. of water.

The baits of cut squid and or Spanish sardines helped the group reel up this catch:

* 114 red snapper to 7#, a limit for the 57 fishermen
* 26 vermilion snapper
* 34 lane snapper
* 56 Atlantic spadefish, "tiger snapper"
* 2 African pompano
* 9 rockhind grouper
* 1 blue fish
* 19 blue runner

Calling 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 will put you in touch with the office staff at Galveston's Pier 19...the first step in making your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John. Get on board and experience partyboat fishing in its finest form, along with meeting some new friends.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

With Capt. Tony Langston in the driver's seat, the partyboat Capt. John headed to the south, after passing the end of Galveston's South Jetty. The 32 fishermen were in for a smooth ride once again, with seas running 2 ft. or less.

The fishing area, 50 miles offshore and its wrecks in 105 ft. of water was waiting for the fishermen's baits of Spanish sardines and pieces of cut squid. The combined efforts of the fishermen and their baits had this catch going into the fish boxes...

* 64 red snapper to 8 lb., a daily limit for the 32 fishermen.
* 21 mangrove snapper to 8 lb.
* 18 lane snapper
* 30 vermilion snapper
* 102 Atlantic spadefish, i.e. "Tiger Snapper"
* 3 rockhind grouper

Bob Earle, Galveston, with a red snapper limit to 8 lbs.

Sam Rosas, Sugarland, had 5 mangrove snapper to 8 lb. to go along with his red snapper limit to 8 lb.

Philip Morin, Pearland, and his 11 year old daughter Devan each had red snapper limits and a mangrove snapper. Philip had three lane snapper that he added to his red snapper catch.

An assortment of snapper types and grouper, a nice catch to go along with the conditions offshore today that everyone on the Capt. John had to work with. To make your reservations on the Capt. John, let the folks in the office at Galveston's Pier 19 hear from you - they are standing or sitting by at either 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 - waiting to hear from you.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Offshore sea conditions with wave heights of 2 ft. going to 1 ft. in the afternoon made for another of those "Ice cream conditions" days...smooth. The 76 fishermen, along with the crew of the partyboat Capt. John and Capt. Tony Langston, were all "Ice cream lovers" today. Their run through the Gulf after leaving Galveston's Pier 19 was made in a southeasterly direction and about 55 miles later, they were there.

Numerous rock structure residents in the 120 ft. deep water awaited their Spanish sardine or cut squid baits. Today's trip catch was made up of:

* 152 red snapper to 10 lb, a daily limit for all 76 fishermen.
* 10 vermilion snapper
* 10 lane snapper
* 2 kingfish
* 2 gag grouper
* 1 Warsaw grouper

This great weather and calm Gulf conditions won't last forever, which goes with another reminder about the red snapper fishery. Halloween is the last day this year that it's open in Federal waters. If red snapper are one of your interests, that Halloween scare should get you headed for the Capt. John. To have your reservation secured when you get to Pier 19, give the office a call at 409-762-8808. Don't let a scare turn into a reality – November 1 and the red snapper closure are fast approaching.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John, out of Galveston's Pier 19, was run with 38 fishermen aboard. Their fishing destination was some wrecks about 50 miles to the south of The Island in 110 ft. of water.

The fishermen's efforts along with their baits, Spanish sardines or cut pieces of squid, put this catch on the deck and into the fish boxes:

* 76 red snapper to 8#, a boat limit
* 19 lane snapper
* 20 vermilion snapper
* 1 kingfish, 22#
* 1 ling, 21#
* 31 blue runner
* 24 Atlantic spadefish
* 8 dorado (mahi-mahi) to 8#

With wave heights running just 2 to 3 feet, Capt. Tony Langston was able to give the fishermen a smooth ride and fishing conditions as well. To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John, call the Pier 19 office at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Don't forget that the red snapper fishery in Federal waters closes in around 7 weeks. The closure will be for six to eight months.