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Tuesday, September 04, 2007

This 36 hour offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was run with 32 fishermen aboard. The two captains (required on these extended time trips) were Capt. Johnny Williams and Capt. Rhonda Cummins.

After leaving Galveston's Pier 19 and later entering the calm Gulf waters, the run began in a southerly direction. Three stops were made over coral structure about 75 miles out in 150 ft. of water. These stops produced a few red snapper, the fishing was on the slow side. After leaving this area and running further offshore, a drift was made at the anchored shrimpboat "Charlotte Mayer". With a water depth of around 155 ft., the hoped-for residents of tuna, dorado, ling, kingfish, etc., weren't there...about 85 miles offshore in clear blue water, fishing is seldom "for sure". A run of about three miles and we were at our next bottom stop in 160 ft.; more coral. When we left, a couple of kingfish to 38 lbs., also vermilion and red snapper, triggerfish and a 26 lb. amberjack left with us. The next bottom stop was a short distance away; again, when we left, more red snapper, lane snapper, kingfish, blue runner, triggerfish and a 5 lb. female dorado were in the fish boxes - next step - the BoomVang Spar Platform.

We arrived at BoomVang, which is about 125 miles to the south of The Island in 3,450 ft. of water. Just before sundown Tuesday, fishing for blackfin and yellowfin tuna began. Diamond jigs, Top Water Poppers, Butterfly type and sardines were the primary lures and baits used at this stop. During the overnight period, the blackfin tuna would come and go, also three yellowfin tuna were hooked and decked. Unfortunately, two of them were about 2" undersized; the other one was definitely a keeper at 61 lbs. It hit a Carolina rigged 7/0 circle hooked Spanish sardine that was being reeled in for more weight to be added for increased depth...surprises are good at times. When the bite slowed down for a time, Capt. Williams made the decision to make a move to the Nancen Spar platform for the anticipated pre-sunrise bite. Nancen is about 8 miles to the east of BoomVang in about 3,675 ft. of water. There was a mini bite at Nancen with three blackfin being caught. The catch total for these two deep water platforms was 96 blackfin tuna to 25 lbs. and the 61 lb. yellowfin tuna.

The run inshore started at about 7 AM Wednesday. Five stops were made in 175 ft. to 130 ft. of water over a variety of rocks and wrecks. These bottom stops produced more red snapper, vermilion snapper and triggerfish. Shortly after 3 PM the final run back to Pier 19 began. We arrived there about 7:25 with a catch made up of:

* 125 red snapper to 14 lb., minus 3 of an allowed double limit,
* 128 vermilion snapper to 4-1/2 lb.
* 1 mangrove snapper
* 4 lane snapper
* 1 dorado of 5 lb.
* 79 triggerfish
* 8 kingfish to 38 lb.
* 10 blue runner
* 4 amberjack to 26#
* 5 barracuda
* 4 Atlantic sharpnose shark
* 2 whitebone porgy
* 96 blackfin tuna to 25 lb.
* 1 yellowfin tuna of 61 lb.

Andy Mayes, Dallas - 12 blackfin tuna to 23 lb., 4 on top water popping lures, the rest on diamond jigs and butterfly type jigs, along with 2 triggerfish, double red snapper limit to 14 lbs and a double vermilion snapper limit of 20.

Steve Frazier, Woodstock, Georgia - 13 blackfin tuna, 4 on Strike Pro America's "Tuna Hunter" top waters, rest on butterfly type deep jigs, along with double red snapper and vermilion snapper limits.

Rod Chumley, Woodstock, Georgia - 7 blackfin tuna to 23 lbs., 3 of which were hooked on Tuna Hunters, a double red snapper and vermilion snapper limit.
Col. John McCracken, San Leon, 4 blackfin tuna on chrome diamond jigs, double red snapper limit and 6 vermilion snapper.
Lee Bull, Conroe - 4 blackfin tuna - 2 on Top waters, 2 on deep jigs, 1 kingfish of 38 lbs, red snapper and vermilion snapper double limits.

Barry Axelrod, Houston - 5 blackfin tuna, 4 red snapper, 2 kingfish and 8 vermilion snappers.
Nick Brown, Galveston - 2 kingfish, double red snapper and vermilion snapper limits, 6 blackfin tuna - 3 on top waters, 3 on diamond jigs.
Rita Baumann, Texas City - Rita had the 5 lb. dorado - on freelined sardine, a double red snapper limit to 7 lbs., 14 vermilion snapper, 4 blackfin tuna on chrome diamond jigs.
Dave Oakes, Houston- 2 blackfin tuna - chrome diamond jigs, 4 red snapper, 1 Atlantic sharpnose shark.
Patrick Lemire, Texas City - my catch was made up of the 26 lb. amberjack that hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine fished deep at around 150 ft in 160 ft. of water; a double red snapper limit to 6 lbs., 2 on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines, 2 on a prototype pink/chartreuse, 2 ounce Snapper Slapper with a circle hook stinger, sardine tipped. The future expansion of mandated circle hook use is coming, get ready. Three triggerfish on that circle hook jig, 3 blackfin tuna to 16 lbs on a Bethnos 7 ounce black/silver deep speed jig, and that nice 61 lb. yellowfin tuna that hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine, described earlier. The use of the Carolina rigged sardine was because I was getting tired from deep jigging - it was a good move, whatever the reason.

One of the keys to these fishing coming up and over the rail is the heads up efforts of the deck crew, headed up by Ben. He, along with Payton, Corey & John made the whole trip work smoothly. Victoria in the snack bar kept us all fed and watered so that all of us could stay in action more comfortable, all part of the team for your successful trip. There are a number of these 36 hour trips scheduled through January, '08. Give the Pier 19 office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 and make your reservations. If the thought of going on a multi-species, hard pulling multi-day fishing trip appeals to you, make that call today for your trip into the deep and blue Gulf.

Monday, September 03, 2007

With calm seas, but having to dodge some squally weather, Capt. Tony Langston motored the Capt. John through the Gulf after turning the end of the South Jetty. The run ended about 60 miles offshore over several wrecks, in 120 ft. of water...then the fun began – the catching.

The 43 fishermen, with their Spanish sardine or cut squid baits helping them, reeled in this catch from the bottom to the near surface area:

* 86 red snapper of 5 to 10 lbs., a boat limit
* 12 vermilion snapper
* 10 lane snapper
* 1 mangrove snapper of 11 lbs.
* 2 amberjack of 25 lbs.
* 2 kingfish
* 12 triggerfish
* 3 barracuda
* 1 flounder of 18 in.
* 31 bermuda chub
* 6 Atlantic sharpnose shark
* 4 blue runner

While hoping not to wear out the term "multi-species catch", another one did end up in the Capt. John's fish boxes today. Not only were the usual suspects in the catch, but an 18" flounder also managed to join the group. To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt. John, call the office at Galveston's Pier 19, 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. That daily boat limit of 5 to 10 lb. red snapper alone is reason enough to book your place at the rail to see what you can come up with. Make that call to the Office today, don't forget -- there's only 58 days left this year for the red snapper fishery to be open in Federal waters.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John, led by Capt. Tony Langston, had another of those multi-species catches that these day trips are known for. The targeted fishing area with its rocks and production platforms was about 80 miles SE of Galveston.

The rocks and production platforms in 150 feet of water that Capt. Tony Langston had chosen rewarded the 82 fishermen and their hard working cut squid or sardine baits with this catch:

* 144 red snapper, the two heaviest at 19 lbs. each.
* 144 vermilion snapper
* 36 lane snapper
* 1 mangrove snapper - 8 lbs.
* 1 amberjack
* 5 almaco jack
* 3 kingfish
* 19 triggerfish
* 1 knobbed porgy
* 24 Bermuda chub
* 1 French angelfish
* 1 ling
* 1 barracuda
* 12 rock hind grouper to 4 lbs.(big)
* 1 Warsaw grouper of 10 lbs.

Aaron Hardin, Texas City - this hard fishing 8 year old had the day's only amberjack and a limit of 8# red snappers...way to go, Aaron!

If today's catch of 15 species doesn't deserve being called multi-species, I don't know what does. That French angelfish, although not rare, is unusual; not many are caught through the course of the summer. To make your reservations on the Capt. John, ensuring your opportunity to participate in trying to reel in one of these excellent multi-species catches, give the Pier 19 office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. While on the Capt. John, ask if Aaron is fishing that day - if so, look him up. He'll be nine years old shortly and you won't find a more dedicated young fisherman - don't miss Aaron!

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Having a dead calm to run through made for a smooth ride all day. The trip offshore by the partyboat Capt. John was made in a southerly direction after turning the end of the Galveston South Jetty. Targeted fishing area was a series of rocks about fifty miles offshore in around 100 ft. of water. On the return run home, drift fishing was done by a weedline. As usual, Capt. Tony Langston made the extra effort to improve the catch for the day.

All 82 fishermen's squid or sardine baits, worked from the Bottom to near the surface, did their part in bringing this catch over the rail:

* 164 red snapper to 20#, a boat limit
* 15 lane snapper
* 13 vermilion snapper
* 8 dorado to 10#, at the shrimpboat

Another reminder about the red snapper fishery in Federal waters being open only through the end of October. Don't let it slip away from you. The closure this time could be until June 2008, that's 7 months! While numerous other species are caught on a regular basis, if red snapper is your interest, time is running out. Call the Pier 19 office at 409-762-8808 to make your reservations. Get aboard and see what your multi-species catch will be...call today.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

After leaving Galveston's Pier 19 and later entering the calm Gulf, Capt. Tony Langston motored the partyboat Capt. John in a southerly direction.

After a drive of about fifty miles to the fishing area and its rocks and a wreck in 105 ft. of water, the 45 fishermen went to work. Using baits of cut squid pieces or whole Spanish sardines that were fished from near the surface to the bottom, they reeled in this catch:

* 90 red snapper to 10#, boat limit
* 40 lane snapper
* 25 vermilion snapper
* 26 Atlantic spadefish, tiger snapper
* 1 dorado of 12 lbs.
* 2 kingfish of 15 lb. each
* 1 ling
* 12 blue runner
* 1 gag grouper
* 8 rockhind grouper

To make your reservations on the Capt. John, give the Pier 19 office a ring at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. Call today - with the generally great weather that goes with this time of the year and the sometime reduced level of fishermen, now is a time to go. Also remember that the red snapper fishery in Federal waters last day of being open this year is October 31 and will be closed for six to eight months. Don't get caught napping, call today!