This 36 hour offshore fishing trip by the partyboat Capt. John was run with 32 fishermen aboard. The two captains (required on these extended time trips) were Capt. Johnny Williams and Capt. Rhonda Cummins.

After leaving Galveston's Pier 19 and later entering the calm Gulf waters, the run began in a southerly direction. Three stops were made over coral structure about 75 miles out in 150 ft. of water. These stops produced a few red snapper, the fishing was on the slow side. After leaving this area and running further offshore, a drift was made at the anchored shrimpboat "Charlotte Mayer". With a water depth of around 155 ft., the hoped-for residents of tuna, dorado, ling, kingfish, etc., weren't there...about 85 miles offshore in clear blue water, fishing is seldom "for sure". A run of about three miles and we were at our next bottom stop in 160 ft.; more coral. When we left, a couple of kingfish to 38 lbs., also vermilion and red snapper, triggerfish and a 26 lb. amberjack left with us. The next bottom stop was a short distance away; again, when we left, more red snapper, lane snapper, kingfish, blue runner, triggerfish and a 5 lb. female dorado were in the fish boxes - next step - the BoomVang Spar Platform.

We arrived at BoomVang, which is about 125 miles to the south of The Island in 3,450 ft. of water. Just before sundown Tuesday, fishing for blackfin and yellowfin tuna began. Diamond jigs, Top Water Poppers, Butterfly type and sardines were the primary lures and baits used at this stop. During the overnight period, the blackfin tuna would come and go, also three yellowfin tuna were hooked and decked. Unfortunately, two of them were about 2" undersized; the other one was definitely a keeper at 61 lbs. It hit a Carolina rigged 7/0 circle hooked Spanish sardine that was being reeled in for more weight to be added for increased depth...surprises are good at times. When the bite slowed down for a time, Capt. Williams made the decision to make a move to the Nancen Spar platform for the anticipated pre-sunrise bite. Nancen is about 8 miles to the east of BoomVang in about 3,675 ft. of water. There was a mini bite at Nancen with three blackfin being caught. The catch total for these two deep water platforms was 96 blackfin tuna to 25 lbs. and the 61 lb. yellowfin tuna.

The run inshore started at about 7 AM Wednesday. Five stops were made in 175 ft. to 130 ft. of water over a variety of rocks and wrecks. These bottom stops produced more red snapper, vermilion snapper and triggerfish. Shortly after 3 PM the final run back to Pier 19 began. We arrived there about 7:25 with a catch made up of:
?Ģ 125 red snapper to 14 lb., minus 3 of an allowed double limit,
?Ģ 128 vermilion snapper to 4-1/2 lb.
?Ģ 1 mangrove snapper
?Ģ 4 lane snapper
?Ģ 1 dorado of 5 lb.
?Ģ 79 triggerfish
?Ģ 8 kingfish to 38 lb.
?Ģ 10 blue runner
?Ģ 4 amberjack to 26#
?Ģ 5 barracuda
?Ģ 4 Atlantic sharpnose shark
?Ģ 2 whitebone porgy
?Ģ 96 blackfin tuna to 25 lb.
?Ģ 1 yellowfin tuna of 61 lb.

Andy Mayes, Dallas - 12 blackfin tuna to 23 lb., 4 on top water popping lures, the rest on diamond jigs and butterfly type jigs, along with 2 triggerfish, double red snapper limit to 14 lbs and a double vermilion snapper limit of 20.

Steve Frazier, Woodstock, Georgia - 13 blackfin tuna, 4 on Strike Pro America's "Tuna Hunter" top waters, rest on butterfly type deep jigs, along with double red snapper and vermilion snapper limits.

Rod Chumley, Woodstock, Georgia - 7 blackfin tuna to 23 lbs., 3 of which were hooked on Tuna Hunters, a double red snapper and vermilion snapper limit.

Col. John McCracken, San Leon, 4 blackfin tuna on chrome diamond jigs, double red snapper limit and 6 vermilion snapper.

Lee Bull, Conroe - 4 blackfin tuna - 2 on Top waters, 2 on deep jigs, 1 kingfish of 38 lbs, red snapper and vermilion snapper double limits.

Barry Axelrod, Houston - 5 blackfin tuna, 4 red snapper, 2 kingfish and 8 vermilion snappers.

Nick Brown, Galveston - 2 kingfish, double red snapper and vermilion snapper limits, 6 blackfin tuna - 3 on top waters, 3 on diamond jigs.

Rita Baumann, Texas City - Rita had the 5 lb. dorado - on freelined sardine, a double red snapper limit to 7 lbs., 14 vermilion snapper, 4 blackfin tuna on chrome diamond jigs.

Dave Oakes, Houston- 2 blackfin tuna - chrome diamond jigs, 4 red snapper, 1 Atlantic sharpnose shark.

Patrick Lemire, Texas City - my catch was made up of the 26 lb. amberjack that hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine fished deep at around 150 ft in 160 ft. of water; a double red snapper limit to 6 lbs., 2 on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines, 2 on a prototype pink/chartreuse, 2 ounce Snapper Slapper with a circle hook stinger, sardine tipped. The future expansion of mandated circle hook use is coming, get ready. Three triggerfish on that circle hook jig, 3 blackfin tuna to 16 lbs on a Bethnos 7 ounce black/silver deep speed jig, and that nice 61 lb. yellowfin tuna that hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine, described earlier. The use of the Carolina rigged sardine was because I was getting tired from deep jigging - it was a good move, whatever the reason.

One of the keys to these fishing coming up and over the rail is the heads up efforts of the deck crew, headed up by Ben. He, along with Payton, Corey & John made the whole trip work smoothly. Victoria in the snack bar kept us all fed and watered so that all of us could stay in action more comfortable, all part of the team for your successful trip. There are a number of these 36 hour trips scheduled through January, '08. Give the Pier 19 office a call at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853 and make your reservations. If the thought of going on a multi-species, hard pulling multi-day fishing trip appeals to you, make that call today for your trip into the deep and blue Gulf.