[Tadpole]

5/26-27
We ended our season with a bang.
I ran back to the same area as Monday’s trip for bottom fishing and we had similar results. Our catch mostly consisted of jumbo Beeliners with a few Scamps and an AJ.
Our night started at the same floater as the previous trip as well. The first drift was good but that was about it so we ran to the next one. It was pretty crowded there, three work boats were on stand by and two were completely in the way of where we needed to drift. We caught some fish there but it was still pretty slow. We arrived at our third floater around 2 am and it was wide open from there on out for the rest of the night. We landed 50 or so more YFT in the last few hours before sunrise. Halcos, Chunks, and Frenzy’s all produced. That was the most fish I have seen at a floater in a very long time, the show we got at sunrise was spectacular. You could look in any direction and yellowfin were jumping as far as you could see.
Trip totals....
66 YFT
200 BFT
1 AJ
5 AlmacoJack
1 LongTail Sea Bass
9 Scamp
442 Beeliners View attachment 123401 View attachment 123402 View attachment 123403 View attachment 123404 View attachment 123405

Thats a nice Wrap Matt!

 

[reezrollindiner]

This, to me, is the best part of the trip update. I've seen entirely too many instances where the captain is left high and dry and given no shore side support either before or after leaving the dock. It made me exceedingly happy to see that the office called you to warn of weather, and that you cut the trip short. No fish is worth someone's life. I know it is a tough call, especially dealing with pissed off customers (the minority I hope) who had their trip cut short.

From someone who has been in the maritime industry for over 20 years, my hat is off to you @Capt.matt and company for putting safety first and bringing the boat, crew and passengers home safely.

Being on the boat I didn’t see not a one person complain about leaving. I think we were all relieved that Capt said reel ‘em up, we were still on the bite but someone that being Matt had to be the adult, lol had to put the kids to sleep and we slept well with smiles.

 

[reezrollindiner]

Nice commentary Reez!

Thanks

 

[Haly00]

Definitely should do that, the GOM is a fantastic fishery with some outstanding boat Captains that take great pride in what they do. You come over this way once, you'll be back again, pretty much bet on that.

Will definitely figure out a GOM trip one of these days. This thread has been the biggest motivation to date

 

[esgeo]

Hit me up Hal! I got a newborn keeping me landlocked for a bit, but I try to go at least once a winter. It’s a whole different world, to say the least…
Cheers,
Eric

Will definitely figure out a GOM trip one of these days. This thread has been the biggest motivation to date

 

[Haly00]

Hit me up Hal! I got a newborn keeping me landlocked for a bit, but I try to go at least once a winter. It’s a whole different world, to say the least…
Cheers,
Eric

I definitely will Eric! Hope the newborn is happy and healthy. Will definitely be giving you a shout when it comes time to figuring out some trips.

 

[matawest]

I definitely will Eric! Hope the newborn is happy and healthy. Will definitely be giving you a shout when it comes time to figuring out some trips.

Just be ready to commit the day the schedule comes out... they fill up fast 😂

Really excited to get out and do some summer time tuna fishing, the last few summers seemed slow hopefully this is a good sign.

 

[scubaarchery]

For my first tuna trip, I was like I don’t really care for catching a bunch of tuna! Give me the bottom bite that’s what I want. Standing on the Bow catching BL next to the frigging Capt of the vessel encouraging everyone, told me with the size of those you are catching who need Red Snapper, hmm not me I didn’t do as well but I caught some monsters! Well my mind on catching tuna changed after the first BFT hit, what a rush and after many more rushes I came to and said I want a YFT, out came the Halco and on came the YFT bite up and down the deck hollering hot rod hot rod, never knew you could get horsed have fun and catch tuna at the same time! Also was my first time catching processing, and plating tuna I caught less than 24 hour old! Now I have cooked, plated and served tuna hundred of times just not my own. Thanks Captain Matt and the crew especially Nacho, for being the pros that make Matt shine. View attachment 123407
View attachment 123408
View attachment 123406

I used to do the snapper trips then decided to check out a tuna trip and haven't looked back! Not only that but you were on the best trip of the season so congratulations to you and all on board! Sounds like the kind of trip we all hope for! You now have lots of swimming ribeye to enjoy!

 

[Palomarknot]

I used to do the snapper trips then decided to check out a tuna trip and haven't looked back! Not only that but you were on the best trip of the season so congratulations to you and all on board! Sounds like the kind of trip we all hope for! You now have lots of swimming ribeye to enjoy!

I used to do private charters with a 12 hour party boat trip here and there, both east coast and west coast and of course Galveston.
After getting involved with these 36 hour Tuna Safari trips this year, myself will never look back. This is by far the best bang for your buck. I want my money back from the private charters, lol. Should have been doing this all along. I'll never pay for another private charter again, I can get 4 or 5 or more of these 36 hour trips for the price of 1 private charter. You get to meet folks from all over the country, tie your own knots, fish your own tackle and go about it how you want to.

 

[Mangochas]

5/26-27
We ended our season with a bang.
I ran back to the same area as Monday’s trip for bottom fishing and we had similar results. Our catch mostly consisted of jumbo Beeliners with a few Scamps and an AJ.
Our night started at the same floater as the previous trip as well. The first drift was good but that was about it so we ran to the next one. It was pretty crowded there, three work boats were on stand by and two were completely in the way of where we needed to drift. We caught some fish there but it was still pretty slow. We arrived at our third floater around 2 am and it was wide open from there on out for the rest of the night. We landed 50 or so more YFT in the last few hours before sunrise. Halcos, Chunks, and Frenzy’s all produced. That was the most fish I have seen at a floater in a very long time, the show we got at sunrise was spectacular. You could look in any direction and yellowfin were jumping as far as you could see.
Trip totals....
66 YFT
200 BFT
1 AJ
5 AlmacoJack
1 LongTail Sea Bass
9 Scamp
442 Beeliners View attachment 123401 View attachment 123402 View attachment 123403 View attachment 123404 View attachment 123405

5/26-27
We ended our season with a bang.
I ran back to the same area as Monday’s trip for bottom fishing and we had similar results. Our catch mostly consisted of jumbo Beeliners with a few Scamps and an AJ.
Our night started at the same floater as the previous trip as well. The first drift was good but that was about it so we ran to the next one. It was pretty crowded there, three work boats were on stand by and two were completely in the way of where we needed to drift. We caught some fish there but it was still pretty slow. We arrived at our third floater around 2 am and it was wide open from there on out for the rest of the night. We landed 50 or so more YFT in the last few hours before sunrise. Halcos, Chunks, and Frenzy’s all produced. That was the most fish I have seen at a floater in a very long time, the show we got at sunrise was spectacular. You could look in any direction and yellowfin were jumping as far as you could see.
Trip totals....
66 YFT
200 BFT
1 AJ
5 AlmacoJack
1 LongTail Sea Bass
9 Scamp
442 Beeliners View attachment 123401 View attachment 123402 View attachment 123403 View attachment 123404 View attachment 123405

What is the odd yellow pink looking beeliner? Never seen one over here. I notice you guys were in 318ft in one pic looking at the bottom machine. Our party boats never fish that deep on our coast. I could just see all the tangles as anytime we are over 240ft the current screams over here. Our best beeliner fishing is way to the northwest about 48 miles south of the panhandle in 130ft where they avg 2lbs or more. Another area southwest of Clearwater FL in 240ft sometimes has beeliners to 5lbs.

 

[reezrollindiner]

I used to do the snapper trips then decided to check out a tuna trip and haven't looked back! Not only that but you were on the best trip of the season so congratulations to you and all on board! Sounds like the kind of trip we all hope for! You now have lots of swimming ribeye to enjoy!

May have to do a striped bass trip with you soon

 

[scubaarchery]

They are loads of fun! To me they are the “fresh water tuna”!

 

[Capt.matt]

What is the odd yellow pink looking beeliner? Never seen one over here. I notice you guys were in 318ft in one pic looking at the bottom machine. Our party boats never fish that deep on our coast. I could just see all the tangles as anytime we are over 240ft the current screams over here. Our best beeliner fishing is way to the northwest about 48 miles south of the panhandle in 130ft where they avg 2lbs or more. Another area southwest of Clearwater FL in 240ft sometimes has beeliners to 5lbs.

Long Tail Sea Bass
We caught it in about 650 ft.

 

[Mangochas]

Long Tail Sea Bass
We caught it in about 650 ft.

Looks like it is good to eat. I think i have seen some on Pulley ridge that is 120 miles northwest of Keywest in around 400 to 1200ft. We just never fish that deep over here since it would be over a 120 mile run to the west.

 

[day0ne]

Looks like it is good to eat. I think i have seen some on Pulley ridge that is 120 miles northwest of Keywest in around 400 to 1200ft. We just never fish that deep over here since it would be over a 120 mile run to the west.

The closest floater is well over 100mi from Galveston. In fact, the shelf is about 100mi.

 

[Mangochas]

I wished they would start drilling 60 miles offshore from the west coast of FL. I know there are test heads that have been drilled over the years in areas 40 to 80 miles offshore from us. We just don't get the top water action over here unless you run about 120 miles west.

 

[Capt.matt]

I wished they would start drilling 60 miles offshore from the west coast of FL. I know there are test heads that have been drilled over the years in areas 40 to 80 miles offshore from us. We just don't get the top water action over here unless you run about 120 miles west.

120 miles is how far it is to our closest floater, the furthest we fish is Perdido and it is 195 miles.

 

[reezrollindiner]

120 miles is how far it is to our closest floater, the furthest we fish is Perdido and it is 195 miles.

Hey Capt any chance Perdido is in the radar for this fall or winter?

 

[CDB]

Being on the boat I didn’t see not a one person complain about leaving. I think we were all relieved that Capt said reel ‘em up, we were still on the bite but someone that being Matt had to be the adult, lol had to put the kids to sleep and we slept well with smiles.

Glad to hear everyone took it well. I figured as much, but there is sometimes that one guy/group that gripes. I've seen it before, but I've learned if the Captain makes the call for safety you don't question it. I've had trips cut short for mechanical and medical issues. It happens. Glad everyone had a safe and fun trip. Can't wait to get back out there this fall.

 

[Mangochas]

120 miles is how far it is to our closest floater, the furthest we fish is Perdido and it is 195 miles.

Our party boats just fish 10 to 25 miles offshore on 8 hour trips. The 34 hour trips most trips fish in the middle grounds that is 65 to 90 miles northwest of Clearwater FL. This area has some very high peaks from 30 to 70 ft high off the bottom. Bad on anchors and sinkers. This are was loaded with gags and mangrove snapper back in the 70's and 1980's. Red snapper were very rare for around 25 years. Then BOOM, the last 12 years they just exploded on most bottom 40 to 80 miles offshore. Our gag fishing is dead and has been very slow for years and now they may close them down for a few years. We still have some good red grouper fishing if you know how to fish for them. But most of our fishing is stressed. Not many target beeliners on the long trips and i always get a bunch but i am trying to get red porgies. Not sure if you guys get many gags or red grouper where you guys fish. So red snapper fishing or our only shining star at this time. On the 12 hour trips it is easy to get the 2 fish limit, but they have taken over so many places it is hard to get other fish as red snapper just push other fish out of the way.