WARNING…This is not an offshore report from SC. Stop here if you don’t want to see the rest…
Departed Manning International airport Thursday afternoon with S4G, Bully, LnS, Haywood, and BrianH and had a nice 2.5 hour flight into New Orleans. Hopped in the rental cars and grabbed a quick bite downtown somewhere at a great restaurant and then made the 2 hour drive to Venice. Arrived late and got settled in for a few hours of sleep.
4:30 Friday morning came early as we had to meet Capt Kevin Beach of Mexican Gulf Fish Company on the dock at 5:15. We were racing a big time cold front and he wanted to be out there fishing early and get back in before lunch. We shove off on the 37 ft trip 300 Freeman and are running in the Mississippi River in no time. After a while, we hit the ocean, and the 15-20 mph winds were blowing the tops off the waves, but the capt pointed us towards the bait rig. Caught our bait and headed toward “the spot”
Arrived at the floating oil rig, and baits go out???immediately we get a double hookup, but pull one off. 15 minutes later, 60 ish yellowfin is in the box. This went on for the next two hours with singles, double, triples, and one quad hook up, until the capt. called for the last drift so we could get in before the front really started blowing. Boxed our 8th tuna and pointed the Freeman toward the hill and a nasty line of storms. The boat performed great and we made it back to dock just before lunch. Lots of folks cancelled that day, so we felt fortunate to get out there. I will say, the boat is almost freaky stable while fishing…my boat would have been rolling all over the place in the slop we fished in.
We ended up with 8 yellowfin, the largest one came in at 101, then a 94.
For those who have not been, I took a few shots of Venice to give you a feel for the area. It was my first time there and it is a very laid back atmosphere that is 100% focused on fishing.
You need to make time to go. It’s one of the best kept secrets in all of the U.S. that I know of.
They have world class inshore fishing. The sea trout grow to enormous sizes. Redfish are so thick that people get tired of catching them. They catch huge ass tarpon as well.
The offshore fishery is “World Class”
Yellowfin tuna are there year round. 25lb dolphin are a nuisance when you’re trying to catch tuna. Capt Travis Mayeaux caught a 51lb dolphin this past Sunday. They also catch big wahoo.
Last week, Capt Kevin Beach caught 3 for 6 on white marlin, a sailfish, a blue marlin and seven yellowfin tuna over 75lbs. This was all in one day.
Just curious, what does a trip like that cost in total?
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Just curious, what does a trip like that cost in total?
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Epic adventure for sure! This was my first October trip. The fishing lived up to the hype. Once the baits hit the water the tuna ERUPTED on them! Looked like mayflys over a brem bed except the brem weighed 80 plus pounds and melt in your mouth after a dash of soy sauce!
Hard to explain the power of these fish. MGFC boys use shimano Talicas, silky smooth, they hit another octave when the big ones eat! All about the ZZZZZZZZZZ!!!
I have a couple videos and I think Bully does too. Fishing was insane for sure but the ride home in the 37 was pretty (**() impressive as well. We had the ocean to ourselves. No one else was willing to run back through the 5x7s in the pending thunderstorm. Beach warned us that another pass on the fish could lead to a ride through the heart of it… But the TUNA are BITING!! Lets catch em up!
Glad Two Sons finally got to see what all the fuss was about. I think he may become a Venice regular.
Couple more pictures from the adventure!
Set the trap boys, we going to pass through them again!!
6 of us went for a week back in July. Fished with MGFco. for two days then went out on our own diving and Tuna fishing three days. Pull up Bugcatchers archives. Pulled a 33’ out of Ft. Myers and all the truck fuel, boat fuel, house boat rental(only way to go)food, we cooked our own, two days charter, tips and plenty of beer and other adult beverages, we spent $1400 each.The year before we just chartered for two days with same outfit, all costs included was $900ea,6 of us, a steal for sure. If you get a chance to go it is the trip of a life time. With Brianh and S4G down there all the time it sure opened up the deer hunting for Realfish01 and myself, greatly appreciated! Nice trip guys!
