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Saturday, July 18, 2009

The partyboat Capt John fished the area about 60 miles SSW of Galveston on today's 12 hour offshore trip. Capt. Shawn Clark headed up the efforts of the 83 fishermen that were aboard.

Working their baits of cut squid or whole Spanish sardines throughout the 130 ft. water column produced this catch:

52 red snapper to 20#
7 lane snapper
2 mangrove snapper
74 vermilion snapper
1 ling
1 almaco jack
1 African pompano, 15#
1 Warsaw grouper - 40#
13 blue runner
1 porgy
5 sharpnose shark

The Atmos Energy group of 19, from the Dallas area, was headed up by Rob Richardson (Lone Oak). Not only does Rob come down as an individual and with his family, he also brings a group from work...think he might like fishing on the Capt John? You bet! Their catch included red snapper, vermilion snapper and sharpnose shark. Rob also had the 15# African pompano and the 40# Warsaw grouper.
Rita Baumann (Texas City) with a red snapper limit and sharpnose shark.
Tony Morris (Houston) had a red snapper limit which included the trip's heaviest, a nice 20# sow.

With the current running a bit on the strong side, conditions weren't exactly perfect, yet another multi-species catch ended up in the fish boxes. The African pompano, sow red snapper and Warsaw grouper were the catch highlights that definitely got your attention, along with the red snapper total being helped by the various other snappers. Today was typical offshore fishing - you never know who's going to catch what at each stop..fishing.

To make your reservations on the partyboat Capt John, give 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853; Dorothy, Vicky or Rita will get the process in motion. That call to the Capt John office at Galveston's Pier 19 needs to be made soon if red snapper fishing and their delicious fillets are of interest. That's because the red snapper fishery in Federal waters only has 27 more days open for 2009; make the call, don't miss out!
Patrick

Friday, July 17, 2009

As you have probably noticed in this week's fishing reports, the name Richardson has appeared in each of them. The Richardsons are a family of families that have fished with Williams Party Boats since back in the early 1990's. Their family fishing tournament winner for 2009 is Rob Richardson. His winning 20# sow red snapper was caught on today's trip.

Capt. Johnny Williams headed up today's trip with 82 fishermen aboard. He had them fishing over assorted bottom structure in 110-115 ft. of water about 60 miles south of Galveston. The combination of a calm Gulf, clear blue water and the fishermen working their cut squid or Spanish sardine baits throughout the water column had these results:

149 red snapper to 22#
7 lane snapper
16 vermilion snapper
6 kingfish
3 dolphin (mahi-mahi)
22 sharpnose shark
1 Warsaw grouper, 15#

Mike Richardson (Corinth), with a red snapper limit to 16#, sharpnose shark and a dolphin.
Wes Richardson (Greenville) had a red snapper limit to 15#, sharpnose shark and a dolphin.
Colby Smith (Greenville), red snapper limit to 16# and a sharpnose shark.
Jim Marigliano (Dallas)red snapper limit to 15# and a sharpnose shark.
Ronnie Vaughn (Allen), had a red snapper limit to 14#, a kingfish, sharpnose shark and a 10# cow dolphin.
Rob Richardson (Athens), had a red snapper limit which included The Richardson Family Tournament Winner for 2009, a nice 20# sow.

The partyboat Capt John: Blue collar, probably blue water, offshore fishing in a relaxed family type atmosphere at a reasonable cost. If you are lucky, you might meet one of those East Texas Richardsons; their family fest is in July, but any of them could be on the boat at just about any time. The "Cheers" type atmosphere the fishermen, crew and captains generate is what keeps newcomers returning for more. As it's been written before: "It's not just a partyboat - it's the Capt. John!"

Give the office a call soon, the red snapper fishery in Federal waters is open for just 28 more days this year. The Pier 19 office in Galveston at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 will make your reservations on the Capt John a reality.
Patrick

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Capt. Johnny Williams took the 65 fishermen aboard the partyboat Capt John fishing in the same general area as yesterday. The production platform was the first stop and if that ling from yesterday that was estimated over 70# was around, it didn't show itself.

Working those standard offshore baits of Spanish sardines, cut or whole squid at the platform and several bottom spots, along with a shrimpboat drift produced another impressive catch. Thais multi-species catch included another red snapper limit the boat, today topping out at 19#. Things change from day to day at just about any location offshore, and while today didn't exactly match up with yesterday's catch, it was an excellent one. The catch brought up through the calm, clear blue water was:

130 red snapper to 19#, boat limit
5 mangrove snapper
4 vermilion snapper
15 lane snapper
1 jack crevalle
17 kingfish
1 rainbow runner
2 triggerfish
1 dolphin fish (mahi-mahi)
1 ling of 25#

Steve Saur (Beaumont) with a red snapper limit to 12#.
Mike Richardson (Corinth) his red snapper limit on a 3 oz. pink/chartreuse Snapper Slapper went to 15#.
Rob Richardson (Athens), had a kingfish to go along with his red snapper limit to 13#, on a 1 oz., black/purple Snapper Slapper.
Jim Marigliano (Dallas), with a kingfish limit of 2 and a red snapper limit which had 2 of 13# each.
Douglas Tigtig (Houston) had a kingfish limit, a red snapper limit and the day's only ling, a 25 pounder.

While today's catch didn't have as many heavy red snapper as yesterday's, this was another of those great multi-species catches that the partyboat Capt John is generally known for. Just about any dayof fishing offshore is a good one -- how good is variable. One thing that isn't variable - the clock is always ticking and the clock on the red snapper fishery's closing has only 29 days left. Now, it's tick-tock, tick-tock closer and faster than ever. Call the Capt John office at Galveston's Pier 19 to make your reservations, 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 does it. It's not just partyboat fishing, it's the Capt. John!
Patrick

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wow! That's about the best word to describe today's offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt John. Capt. Johnny Williams put the 48 of us in the right locations for producing an excellent red snapper catch. Fishing at five bottom spots and a production platform in around 110 ft. of clear blue, calm water did the trick. Baits used were whole Spanish sardines, cut or whole squid plus a variety of artificials including Snapper Slappers.

The bottom spots weren't "fast and furious" but rather steady here and there for the red snapper fishing. Those bottom structure spots and the production produced a red snapper limit for everyone, which included over forty in the 10 to 23# range. They hit from the mid-depths to the bottom o all of the bait types.

Fishing the production platform had its fast and furious moments. Some quick kingfish action along with an estimated 35# ling that was lost at boatside and estimated 70 pounder that teased us for about half an hour by not accepting numerous and various bait offerings. I even thought I saw it smile while it toyed with us...we eventually left - it might still be out there. The platform did give up red snapper in the 11-15# class, kingfish to 25#, lane snapper.

The return ride back to Galveston's Pier 19 was as smooth as the run out, but knowing that excellent catch which included a limit of sizeable red snapper was in the fish boxes somehow made it seem a lot smoother.

Today's multi-species catch:
96 red snapper to 23#, a boat limit with 40+ in the 10-23# class and many of three to five pounds.
76 lane snapper
10 kingfish to 26#
1 vermilion snapper
1 Warsaw grouper of 25# (a second one which was released came in at 22#)
1 ling, 24# (no smile on this one)
7 blue runner
1 triggerfish
1 almaco jack
1 stingray, est. 50#, released boatside

Jim Marigliano (Dallas), had a kingfish to go along with his limit of sow red snappers.
Rob Richardson(Athens), with red snappers to 16# and a kingfish limit.
Mike Richardson(Corinth), had sow snapper to 18#.
Colby Smith(Greenville), had sows to 16#.
Wes Richardson(Greenville) had sows to 16#.
Patrick Lemire(Texas City), my catch included the 50# stingray that, for a while, I thought was another sow red snapper and a red snapper limit topped with a 18# sow.

Today's red snapper catch was an impressive one. Something that's sort of depressing is that, after today, there's only thirty days left for the red snapper fishery to be open in Federal waters. The clock is running and the ticks are getting louder and closer together -- get on the Capt John and out there before the red snapper clock winds down. Give the Capt John's office at Galveston's Pier 19 a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 and get connected with the office staff. Tick-Tock...I hear it, do you?
Patrick

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

With Capt. Johnny Williams at the helm for today's 12 hour offshore fishing trip, the run to the first fishing spot began. That first stop at the wreck of the Buccaneer Platforms is about 27 miles SSW of the end of Galveston's South Jetty. Mangrove snapper were the primary target, they either weren't at home or were busy duing something besides eating, since only one was caught. A couple of keeper red snapper, bluefish and gaugauganche (members of the barracuda family), plus an undersixe kingfish were all that were interested in the baits presented.

Our next stops were at, and in, the area of the V.A.Fogg wreck pieces, about 18 miles farther offshore. Various species were taken from there, including a 20 and 22# each Warsaw grouper. The 22 lb. Warsaw grouper was the second caught and was released, and the limit is one per day on the boat. The day's heaviest red snapper, caught there, was an 18 pounder. The trip's totals were:

33 red snapper (32 went to 3#, plus the 18 pounder).
2 Warsaw grouper, the second one released.
2 kingfish
2 mangrove snapper
10 lane snapper
2 triggerfish
1 Atlantic spadefish
3 Atlantic sharpnose sharks
4 bluefish
1 dolphin fish(mahi-mahi)
2 gaugauganche

Rob Richardson(Athens), red snapper limit to 3# plus the released 22 lb. Warsaw grouper.
Ricky & Sara Richardson (Lone Oak) each with red snapper limits to 3#
Mike Richardson(Corinth), red snapper limit to 3#.
Kyle & Kevin McKinney(Greenville), red snapper limits to 3#
Madison Green(Santa Fe), her red snapper limit also went to 3# along with one kingfish.
Kevin Galdui(Bayard, Nebraska), with another red snapper limit to 3# and the day's heaviest "keeper", a 20# Warsaw grouper.
Jim Marigliano(Dallas), red snapper limit to 3#
Patrick Lemire (Texas City) my red snapper limit went to another massive 3#. This was "one of those" days which,of course, means something entirely different to Kevin Galdui.