The Weather Gods still had something of a frown on their faces for this 36 hour tuna safari by the partyboat Capt. John out of Galveston's Pier 19. Having rain showers and a bit of a breeze to contend with at times, Capt. Johnny Williams, who also had Capt. Shane Steber aboard as the remaining second captain on this extended length trip, motored SE through the Gulf.

The first stop was Tuesday afternoon over rock structure about 70 miles offshore. Red snapper was the primary target for the 38 fishermen and the fishing was good. The bulk of the trip's red snapper catch to 12 lbs. was iced down in the fish boxes when they left this area. The next area fished was about 30 miles farther offshore in deeper water. Suspended vermilion snapper was the expected catch; they were home, and the fishing was good again, with many coming aboard. Upon leaving this area south of the Flower Garden, a run even farther offshore began, to a deep water rig for overnight tuna fishing. The production platform fished is in about 700 ft. of water around 120 miles SE of Galveston. Between showers, blackfin tuna were hitting an assortment of artificials, such as the ever effective chrome diamond jigs and various metal jigs such as those by Williamson, Shimano, Strike Pro, etc. When the move inshore for more fishing and the run home began after sunrise Wednesday, 33 blackfin tuna to 24 lbs had been decked, gutted and iced down.

The area fished on the way home was again about 70 miles to the SE of The Island. More red snapper, several dorado(mahi-mahi), plus more assorted bottom species and ling were decked. When the final leg of the run back to Pier 19 was started Wednesday afternoon, the fishermen's efforts in working various baits such as squid, sardines, assorted live baits and metal jigs had produced this catch:
?Ģ 1 sandbar shark - 90#
?Ģ 3 great barracuda to 23#
?Ģ 2 scamp grouper to 20#
?Ģ 6 greater amberjack to 25#
?Ģ 1 almaco jack
?Ģ 2 horseeye jack
?Ģ 1 jack Crevalle
?Ģ 6 kingfish to 20#
?Ģ 3 ocean triggerfish
?Ģ 69 gray triggerfish
?Ģ 1 rainbow runner
?Ģ 1 blue runner
?Ģ 2 Bermuda chub
?Ģ 3 ling to 30#
?Ģ 20 dorado(mahi-mahi) to 12#
?Ģ 3 bonito
?Ģ 33 blackfin tuna to 24#
?Ģ 6 lane snapper
?Ģ 498 vermilion snapper to 4#, almost 66% of the allowable limit for the 38 fishermen.
?Ģ 143 red snapper to 12#, over 94% of the allowable two day limit for the 38 fishermen.

An Vo, Miami, Florida - his catch was made up of vermilion snapper, red snapper and 10 blackfin tuna. His blackfin hit a Williamson "Bethnos" jig of 7 oz. in a blue/silver/white color pattern.

Colin "Tux" Tuxen, 16 year old son Cody & friend Jessie Purslo, all from Centerville, with red snapper, vermilion snapper, great barracuda and greater amberjack in their catch. Incidentally, the "great" and "greater" are actually part of the name of those species, not that one was better than the other.

Peter Letts, Dickinson, had 2 blackfin tuna, red snapper and vermilion snapper double limits.

Steve Saur, Beaumont - red snapper and vermilion snapper double limits and bonito & triggerfish.

Rita Baumann, Texas City, red snapper and vermilion snapper double limits.

Amos Wolf, Pflugerville - greater amberjack, dorado, blackfin tuna and vermilion snapper and red snapper double limits.

Mike Billiott and 12 year old son, Devin, Winnie - with dorado, vermilion snapper and red snapper limits.

Dan Jones and 16 year old son Jessie, Indianapolis, Indiana, had double vermilion snapper limit, horse eye jack, red snapper and triggerfish.

Ed Fegan, Middleburg Heights, Ohio - 3 blackfin tuna, red snapper, vermilion snapper, lane snapper and triggerfish.

Bryan "Mudskipper" Treadway, Houston, red snapper vermilion snapper double limits, 2 blackfin tuna to 20#.

Kyle "Billfish" Bradley, Houston - lane snapper, vermilion snapper double limit, a 20# scamp grouper, 1 greater amberjack and 3 blackfin tuna. The blackfin hit a 7 oz. Williamson "Bethnos" deep jig in a blue/silver/white color pattern.

This trip not only had another of those multi-species catches but a wide range of places the fishermen came from. While most were from somewhere in Texas, notice that fishermen from Florida, Indiana and Ohio were also in attendance.

Captains Williams and Steber did their part in placing the boat on the fish. The coaching, line untangling and gaffing by the deckhands Ben, John, Shane & Cory made the fishermen's efforts after their many hookups worthwhile, whileDavid in the snack bar kept them all watered and fed.

To get in on one of these successful team efforts, give the office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 and make your reservations. While no other 36 hour trips are on the schedule at this time, fishermen's interest could generate one. Otherwise, get on the Capt. John for one of the many 12 hour trips that are on the books. Call the Pier 19 office today!