After months of preparation and researching the waters of the gulf we headed south west in hopes of the ever so illusive yellowfin tuna.
Day 1 - Dec 27
Left manning at 4am. GPS said 869 miles to our destination in Venice Louisiana. Morale was high as visions of screaming reels and bloody decks kept everyone awake for the ride. All was going well until just south of Montgomery Alabama on I65 we lost a wheel bearing… Luckily we were prepared with a new hub and bearings…. But they were the wrong size…. Spent 5 hours on a Sunday trying to find what we needed to duck tape it back together. Luckily we found a guy at a country road collard stand with a torch and some tools. Took 21 hours to get to the house boat.
Day 2 - Dec 28
Dumped the All Rise overboard and prepared for our first run to the rigs. Took the afternoon to redfish and look for some ducks. The Mississippi river was a cold 46 degrees but the reds were biting. Chunky and Hwilcox boated a few while the Judge and I supervised. Winds were NE 15 knots with gusts to 20. Tuesday was looking sporty.
Day 3 -Dec 29
Teamed up with Scott S, a local, that knows the waters and is honestly one of the nicest guys I have met fishing. Had a long debate on where to go and what t
This may take Sellsfish input, but does is one of those snappers a Silk snapper like the one Sells cut up? Appears to have the Yellow Iris. May not be a 20lb that would’ve broke world record but still appears to be good in size…close to the record…
quote:Originally posted by Plan C
my boat won’t even run without fried chicken and cold beer
Great report on a pretty nice trip. If the weather had been nicer, folks wouldn’t believe the pictures that you could’ve posted. I’m ready to go back whenever you are. I have some unfinished business there, also. Mine involves tuna AND some of those big ARS when season is open.
Great report on a pretty nice trip. If the weather had been nicer, folks wouldn’t believe the pictures that you could’ve posted. I’m ready to go back whenever you are. I have some unfinished business there, also. Mine involves tuna AND some of those big ARS when season is open.
Yes sir it was a very good time. We got to catch one of those yellowfin. We will do it before the end of the year!
I do have to share the hwilcox quote of the week: “A good fisherman can catch a fish, anytime he wants.” He always said this as he was reeling in a fish.
Reelman, we took hundreds of pictures between the 5 cameras last week. I looked at some of the other shots of that fish and I do think he is a red. Not sure if we could have kept him anyway. All those were thrown back since they are out of season in the gulf something I am afraid we will know all to well around here. Good catch though. I honestly did not even think about it when the fish came to the top.
If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.
Greg1, I agree 2 days was not bad I REALLY REALLY wanted to go after the tuna. Hind site being 20/20 we should have gone Thursday but knowing what I knew Wednesday night and Thursday morning I would have looked VERY stupid if we would have been caught 60 miles out with a 25 knot NE straight in the face. I made the best decision I could with the facts I had. Oh well. There will be a next time. BTW, one of my Dad’s favorite part of the trip was going to that store you told us about. He has been telling all of his buddies how great it was and the store was worth the trip. [:-)]
Shoe jr. the smaller one weighed 44 the bigger one 50 according to the Venice marina scales. Caught one on Tuesday in the same spot that was 35 to 40. Lots of cobia fillets! Shoot me a PM I will gladly give you a list of great contacts on from where to stay to which locals helped us the most. Interstates the whole way not a bad drive just long.
Dropnhook, not sure we let me go. His other eye was red. Must be some freak hybrid probably worth millions!!
If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.
great pics and one of the best reports Ive read in a long time…looks like you guys had a great time and still were able to work around the weather…man those cobias are HUGE!!!..bet you had some sore arms and backs after that! I like the pic of the pelican loking into the fish box…like “ok…wheres the dinner??”
Glad ya’ll had a great time and made it home safe…thanks for the pics and great report…can pm your pic to dnr and they’ll tell you what the fish was…very knowledgeable nice group down there for sure!
Happy New Year!!..looks like you are off to a great start!
great pics and one of the best reports Ive read in a long time…looks like you guys had a great time and still were able to work around the weather…man those cobias are HUGE!!!..bet you had some sore arms and backs after that!
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT
The cobia were caught in 230 feet of water. Yes, it was a good fight!
I will shoot the pics to DNR and see what they say. That is a good idea. Thanks!
If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.
23, the duck tape made it 1100 miles!! Good stuff, holds the world together! It will be replaced before SC fishing season but served its purpose well.
Phin, you are looking at that picture all wrong, we brought the little boat as a dingy in case the merc crapped out. We did have the mercury killer on board but the fishing gods gave us a break and it ran like a top.
Penfishn, this one was wanting to drive and even cornholed a few numbers off the GPS.
If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.
