Fishin' partner?

[JB]

I live in North-central Texas and want to fish the gulf, offshore, for dolphin, tuna, or whatever (no experience in the gulf, but plenty in the Gulf Stream and blue water off east coast of FL)).<br /><br />I also want to fish Lake Michigan at Sturgeon Bay, WI for king salmon. (Been there, done that. Wanna do it again.)<br /><br />I have a Boston Whaler Montauk 17' and am a competent seaman, pilot, and navigator. I also have a superb tow vehicle, a M. Benz ML320.<br /><br />I am a retired senior and have more time than my favorite fishin' buddies (son and grandsons) who have to work or go to school.<br /><br />Though I preferred to fish alone in my youth I now prefer to have a companion. My children and grandchildren don't want me to fish alone.<br /><br />What retired lady or gentleman would like to share adventure and expenses with me?<br /><br />Standing by.<br />JB

 

[JB]

Re: Fishin' partner?

Oh. . Kayyy. How about someone who is not retired but has some time to go fishing??<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[Chum Slick]

Re: Fishin' partner?

J.B.,<br /> If you don't mind fishing the Chesapeake Bay and Off Shore Maryland and Virginia area I am always looking for another fishing partner. Depends on what you want to try for, Striper (they call them Rock fish here in Md), Bluefish, LargeMouth Bass, Tuna, Shark, or just anything that wants to bite that day, bring yourself on and we'll find someplace to wet a line. We don't even have all the snakes that you do in Tx.<br /><br />Keep the bait in the slick....

 

[Rex]

Re: Fishin' partner?

I WOULD LOVE TO BUT I'M IN IN.<br />THANK YOU <br />REX A. HUBBLE

 

[JB]

Re: Fishin' partner?

Thanks Slick and Rex. If I plan any trips near you I will surely raise your flags.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[grandx]

Re: Fishin' partner?

JB, I fish out of Port Aransas in a 25' cuddy w/ twin merc 150's. Tuna, Dorado, and Wahoo are my target fish. When I get my boat like I want it, I'll drop you a line. I have been out about 10 miles in a 16' in the past, but there's no tuna that close in. Have to plan on 30 miles out minimum to be serious about the tuna. Then you have to have fuel for trolling and the trip back.

 

[JB]

Re: Fishin' partner?

Ahoy, GrandX! My Boston Whaler Montauk is not as comfortable as a big cuddy, but offshore is what she was designed for. Power is a Suzi EFI 4 stroke 70. She cruises at 30-33mph (GPS) @5000 and carries 28 gallons plus a 6 gallon portable as a reserve, if I decide I might need it. I have VHF and GPS-MAP.<br /><br />If WOT is required, she can make 38mph @5800.<br /><br />My primary interest is dorado, but I got used to catching blackfin, little tunny, bonito and the occasional sailfish or wahoo while dorado fishing when I lived in Ft. Lauderdale. I even once brought a 250-300# blue marlin to boat in the 'stream on dorado tackle (Ambassaduer 7000, 20# mono). The little blackfin tuna got me hooked on sashimi.<br /><br />Would you consider going offshore in a Whaler 17?<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[grandx]

Re: Fishin' partner?

JB, I'd take the 17' Whaler over many other 20's, no doubt about it. I'm by far no expert on the subject, just picked this type of fishing as my hobby. We catch the same fish off the Texas coast as you mentioned, we just have to go out furher to find them. The further south you go down the coast, the less you have to travel to get to deep blue water. Freeport further than Port A further than Mansfield further than Isabel. It is nothin for me to burn 90 gallons of my 150 on a nice day out of Port A. 35 miles out troll 5-6 hrs, drift some, then come home. You will fare much better on the fuel than I, I just wonder how much better. In the last 4 weeks, I have been fortunate enough to go down 2 weekends, both times it was rougher than I was comfortable with. 5' seas close together. It's not too much for the boat, but after a few miles of flogging the Mercs out into mother ocean (doing 10kts tops), you realize you are looking at a 3hr trip before you wet a line, you begin to think "how about some kings in close". I probably would have continued, but the forcast was not getting any brighter. Let the shrimp boats do their thing and lets see how close they can drag the Tuna in come Sept, Oct. I plan to install a pair of downriggers this weekend, fish w/ some of my wives friends over the holiday weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.<br /><br />I also have an ambassador 7000, nice reel.

 

[krosemond]

Re: Fishin' partner?

JB<br /><br />Too bad I live so far away. I would love the chance to fish with you and philosphize between knockdowns!<br /><br />

 

[JB]

Re: Fishin' partner?

Hi, Krose. As I think I told you once, I grew up in Southern Pines/Pinehust. I have brothers living in Greenville and Sou. Pines and plan to visit there either this fall or in the Spring. I will raise your flag when I have plans finalized.<br /><br />GrandX, You have inspired me to get a better hold on exactly how much fuel my Suzi uses. My intuition is that she burns around 5 gal/hr at 30mph and about a quart an hour at troll. If I am right Sunshine III would use about 20 gallons on a fairly smooth day. I need to verify that before I set out to go offshore at Port Aransas. About how far is it to blue water from Port Isabel?<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[grandx]

Re: Fishin' partner?

JB, your estimate on fuel usage on your 4 stoke makes me wish I had a pair on the back of "EZ", but I'm afraid she'd sink stern first. She's already too heavy in the back for my taste. Who knows, after my pockets were emptied from buying two 4strokes I'd be light enough to stay dry??<br /><br /> Have only been out of Isabel once, we went a full 30+ miles, but would expect to find blue water as close as 15 miles from shore depending on currents and weather conditions etc. Find a map with depths of the gulf coast, "Hot Spots" for instance, can get them at academy, bass pro etc. Depth is a good indication of water color usually (and the further you get away from the muddy Mississippi). "Hot spots" also gives GPS coordinates of structure etc. helpfull in planning your trip (along with local reports). I like to troll skirted bally's, split tail mullet on the surface from 5-7.5 knts, maybe a bait or two deep and a 5" rapala just below the surface (if you can get them all to work together). Focus on the Shrimp boats, cleaning their catch if possible, and any weedlines you can find. Let me know when you plan on doing Isabel maybe, just maybe I could join you if you need a partner.<br /><br />dg

 

[JB]

Re: Fishin' partner?

Sounds like a plan to me, GrandX!<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB