The gulf was much more cooperative, wave-wise, than the previous two days -- three foot, then down to less than a foot in the afternoon. With 83 fishermen and 3 riders aboard the partyboat Capt.John, a turn toward the Heald Bank area began shortly after leaving Galveston's Pier 19.

Two stops were made in 90 ft. of water over rock formations at Heald Bank. The next move was to make a run farther offshore to the SE where several stops were made at rocks and a wreck in 90 to 95 ft. of water. Along the way farther offshore, a stop was made at a bouy where three ling quickly came into view and disappeared into the depths almost as quickly. The largest of the group was estimated at 90# plus. Heart rates increased at the sighting, but no takers of the baits offered was forthcoming. Three stops were made in the area of 90 ft. rocks, about 45 miles SE of The Island.

On the way home, another stop was made at that bouy that held the ling earlier. This time, none were sighted. Two more stops were made in the Heald Bank area before starting the final run home.

Fishing was spotty at most of the stops today, even though numerous fish were marked at all of them, I guess that's why it's called "fishing", not "catching". The day's multi-species catch was taken on pieces of cut squid or whole Spanish sardines fished from the mid depths to the bottom and consisted of:

?Ģ 1 gag grouper
?Ģ 1 Warsaw grouper
?Ģ 12 Each, lane snapper, triggerfish and blue runner
?Ģ 2 Atlantic sharpnose sharks
?Ģ 91 red snapper to 12#, with the six heaviest running 8 to 12#

Give the office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 to make reservations on the Capt. John -get on board and see what part of the "catching", and of what species, will come your way - could it be a 70# ling like we saw today? Not likely, but you never know who's going to catch what on any offshore trip.