Captain Elliott's Party Boats, Inc

[Minnow]

133 ft x 26 ft - Perfect for multi-day tuna trips. Maximum capacity is 106 people for 12-hour trips and 40 people for multi-day trips. Other Highlights of the new boat include the following:

* 40 Bunks for overnight trips
* Large Live Bait Wells
* 3 42" Plasma TV's
* Satellite TV and DVD's
* Freshwater Showers
* 4 Microwave Ovens for Customer Use
* Food Preparation Area with 2 Sinks
* State-of-the Art Fish Finding and Navigational Equipment
* Theater Room with 18 Reclining Seats and Plasma TV
* Large Seating Area with Tables
* Upper Deck with Additional Seating (Some Seats Under Canopy)

The Big E. was built by Gulfcraft, Inc. in Patterson, LA. Click here to go to their website's Big E. page.


Call today at 979-233-1811 or 713-225-3497

[atunatado]

Yes, this was a three day trip. I was originally on this trip, but I took a new job in May, unable to take time off from new job, I rescheduled for an October trip at that time.
My buddy kept his spot for this trip and drove down from Seminole, TX on Sunday. He spoke with them last week, no mention of lack of anglers. They called him yesterday to tell him the trip was a no-go due to not enough anglers. Said they only had 29 and needed more to go. If this is so, doesnt make much sense, because I have not seen any effort on their part to try to get more anglers aboard as I had seen in the past, postings on 2cool and other places.
As you can imagine, he was beyond upset, this is probably the third or fourth time he has had a cancelled Big E trip. He cancelled his October reservation out of disgust and Im considering the same just because I dont feel right about giving my money to them based on their lame "not enough paying customers for us to meet our maximum profit per trip point." I thought they liked to fish and would be glad to take a trip as long as the weather permitted and they had enough to meet the break even point, not the maximum profit point. makes me wonder why they dont just cancel the rest of the trips for this year and send that boat to the new buyer already. Interest pays!!
It is remarkable that they told you (Johssm) that they would go with at least 20, I believe they had 29 for this trip they decided to cancel.
I dont see any motivation on their part to run trips that are at less than their maximum capacity, asidefrom your post Johssm. Do you know if they have gone on any other 3day trips or is yours the only 1 this year?

I guess if we didnt love to fish so much, it wouldnt really matter, but we love to fish so this kind of situation is very difficult to assimilate.
I really feel for my buddy, he got a beach house for the week, brought some family with him to make it a family trip and then he got this news yesterday. He called me fuming. I have been trying to get him hooked up with an alternate fishing trip, not too much success yet.

[ksong]

Originally Posted by atunatado

The Big E's tuna trip scheduled for today was cancelled due to not enough fishermen (29). Does anybody know how many times they have actually gone out for these tuna trips this year?

I was thinking about going on the Big E before the boat is sold, but I gave up as I read your report. There is no excuse not sailing with 29 guys and I don't want to waste my time by flying to Freeport knowing that the boat is not sailing due to lack of people and slight chance of wind.

[SkeeterRonnie]

3 months and the boat may be gone anyways... what do they care? Captains are employees of the company- I am sure they were p'od too!!! the deckies and captains didnt make "possible" money- thats sad to see.

[feeder]

This is the second trip in a row they cancelled - July 4th and July 18th. I was scheduled on both unfortunately. I called yesterday and they told me they only had 20 people paid up fully out of the 29. The next trip on August 18th supposedly has 32 people paid in full so barring weather hopefully it should be going. I booked that one. Third time is a charm otherwise it's refund time

In the past I think it was 25 was the cutoff but with fuel prices going up I think the new number is 30. They've gone out this year with a little less from what I remember. Last year they had no problem filling spaces. I'm not sure what the deal is this year.

atunatado - I think a fair number of the trips have made it so far. I know of 2 that I was on that went out. April 22nd and Memorial day (kinda rough weather).

[DeepBlueGulf]

I'll throw something in here, not only does Elliott's stand to not break even if they don't have enough people for a trip, but even the crew suffers! You have to take a minimum number of crew, and if you have a low number of anglers, the tips don't add up to anything. The best tips are on the private charters with the best anglers, tourists on the other hand are notorious for putting a dollar in the tip jar.

As for the crews not making any "possible money", well, I guarantee you their sister company that is operating crew boats is looking for every deckhand and crewman they can find, every day of the week! The crew that didn't work the Big E, probably made a better days wage on the crew and supply boats, and I'll guarantee that the owners made more money with the crew on the crewboat, than on the Big E.

One of the reasons I like private charters like the TBB 06, is that unless the weather is really bad, you know you're going. Whether it is the Pelican, Dolphin, the Big E, or some boat we haven't found yet, private charters are the best way to go.

Tom - DeepBlueGulf

[ksong]

We have a 70 hour tuna and tilefish trip on 140' Viking fleet out of Montauk, NY in late Aug. The trip is limited to 20 guys and it cost only $600 per person. I know the Big E burns more gas as it run fast, but the Viking runs 120-150 miles offshore for tuna at night and come back to edge of canyon each day for bottom fishing. If the Viking doesn't think they can make money on the trip, they wouldn't sail.

140' Viking Starship

[Grescobia]

I am fortunate to make a middle of the week trip every once in a while,however most working people cant afford to miss too many working days. I feel the lack of fishingmen & women was due to that very reason . Had the trips been scheduled for fri,sat,sun both trips would not have been cancelled. By the way ,the big E is one great fishing platform.

[feeder]

Originally Posted by ksong

We have a 70 hour tuna and tilefish trip on 140' Viking fleet out of Montauk, NY in late Aug. The trip is limited to 20 guys and it cost only $600 per person. I know the Big E burns more gas as it run fast, but the Viking runs 120-150 miles offshore for tuna at night and come back to edge of canyon each day for bottom fishing. If the Viking doesn't think they can make money on the trip, they wouldn't sail.

Hey ksong, can you PM some more info on that trip? After the Big E sells I want to start looking into fishing some other destinations and that seems like a pretty good deal.

[ksong]

Originally Posted by feeder

Hey ksong, can you PM some more info on that trip? After the Big E sells I want to start looking into fishing some other destinations and that seems like a pretty good deal.

Here is the link for the trip I go on.

Saltwater Fishing Discussion Board Including Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Saltwater Fly Fishing and Kayak Fishing

The Viking also has similar open boat trips.

VikingFleet.com

[Bellyups]

But Tom, the Big E is in the fishing business and not the crew boat business. They should of called earlier as the paying customers surely lost more money collectively than the Big E would of if they ran the trip. Captain Elliots is in the service business and they should have a well established cancellation policy.

Before finishing my post, I must make some additional positive comments on the Big E. The Big E and Captain Frank have put me on incredible fish and it is a great privelege to have Captain Frank take me fishing. The Big E is a great boat and has always been in great working order on the trips I have taken. I will miss her. The Big E will be leaving me much sooner than I would ever think of leaving her.

Originally Posted by DeepBlueGulf

I'll throw something in here, not only does Elliott's stand to not break even if they don't have enough people for a trip, but even the crew suffers! You have to take a minimum number of crew, and if you have a low number of anglers, the tips don't add up to anything. The best tips are on the private charters with the best anglers, tourists on the other hand are notorious for putting a dollar in the tip jar.

As for the crews not making any "possible money", well, I guarantee you their sister company that is operating crew boats is looking for every deckhand and crewman they can find, every day of the week! The crew that didn't work the Big E, probably made a better days wage on the crew and supply boats, and I'll guarantee that the owners made more money with the crew on the crewboat, than on the Big E.

One of the reasons I like private charters like the TBB 06, is that unless the weather is really bad, you know you're going. Whether it is the Pelican, Dolphin, the Big E, or some boat we haven't found yet, private charters are the best way to go.

Tom - DeepBlueGulf