With hurricane Humberto churning the Gulf and coming ashore a bit up the coast from The Island early Thursday and a cool front passing through the area overnight Friday, bumpy seas were a possibility. Well, "Bumpy and Breezy" were back, about 3-4 ft. that was to build as the day went on and 15 out of the NE that was to build also. The plan was to start fishing at the farthest point and work inshore into calmer water as the day progressed and "windy" became inflated...standard procedure.

Leaving Galveston's Pier 19 with 65 of us fishermen aboard the partyboat Capt. John and turning the end of the South Jetty, Capt. Tony Langston began the offshore run. With the relatively small swell off our port stern corner, the twin hulls of the Capt. John knifed their way about fifty miles offshore to our first fishing spot.

That wreck, in around 90 ft. of water, produced over two thirds of our red snapper limit, along with some lane snapper and blue runner. A run inshore and a stop at a gas well about 35 miles offshore was our next fishing opportunity. Here, more red snapper and a few Atlantic spadefish along with some blue runner were taken.

Our next, and final fishing stop for the day was at the "Upside down pirate rigs", a couple of old production platforms that were converted into artificial reefs a few years back. This stop, in 70 ft. of water about 30 miles south of The Island, finished off our red snapper limit along with a few mangrove snapper, Atlantic spadefish, a kingfish and blue runner. There was also a pair of ling estimated to be 40-45 lbs around the boat for about fifteen minutes that didn't hit and are still out there somewhere.

The plan to fish calmer water inshore when the seas had probably built to nasty at 50 miles by the time the trip back to Pier 19 began would have started was a good one. While it was a bit lumpy, it was also a pleasant day of offshore fishing with a nice catch thrown in, which was the object of being out there.

Baits used today included whole and pieces of cut squid, blue runner cut baits, Spanish sardines, diamond jigs, Snapper Slappers, a circle hook Snapper Slapper jig prototype with a circle hook stinger, and other artificials. This assortment of bait presentations, worked throughout the water column at each stop helped produce this catch:
?Ģ 130 red snapper to 10 lbs.
?Ģ 4 mangrove snapper to 11 lbs.
?Ģ 19 lane snapper
?Ģ 56 Atlantic spadefish
?Ģ 12 blue runner
?Ģ 1 kingfish

One of the highlights of the day was that at 5:50 PM, 8 year old Aaron Hardin turned 9 years old. Being the great young fisherman he is, it looks like he was in the perfect spot for his birthday, the partyboat Capt. John. His catch included a red snapper limit to 4 lb., lane snapper and a remora(released) that hit his 3 oz. chrome diamond jig...the world needs more Aarons.

Rob and Ricky Richardson, both from Lone Oak, had red snapper limits to 6 and 9 lbs...Rob's on a 3 oz. blue/white Snapper Slapper that was sardine tipped, while Ricky's was on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines. A group of four who came down with the Richardsons was Allen & Shannon Rusk, both from Emory, Kelly Cupp, Wolf City, and Bobby Jennings from East Tawakoni, all had red snapper limits to 5 lbs.

Ronnie Vaughn from Allen - his red snapper limit went to 10 lbs.(the trip's heaviest), and the trip's only kingfish, all on Carolina rigged Spanish sardines.

Patrick Lemire ??? my red snapper limit to 6 lbs. was taken on a 2 oz., pink/chartreuse, circle hook Snapper Slapper jig prototype that was sardine tipped. Topping off my catch was a really nice 11 lb. mangrove snapper that was the day's heaviest. It hit a Carolina rigged Spanish sardine with an 8/0 "J" hook that was pink/chartreuse hair dressed, through its nose.

All considered, this was a good day offshore, with a nice catch thrown in, along with meeting new fellow fishermen - the group of four who came with the Richardsons, the frustration those two ling generated, and of course Aaron's birthday offshore. Partyboat fishing with a touch of that "Cheers" atmosphere.

Make your reservations to be a part of the Capt. John fishing experience by calling the Pier 19 office at 409-762-8808 or 713-223-4853. You will be glad you did. That's virtually guaranteed on the Capt. John.