weekend report = Paradise Outfitters

[captscott]

Finally a break in the weather and we took advantage of it this weekend..been in Venice all week waiting on the weather along with the Wednesday and Thursday groups that rode down from distant area codes hoping it would break as well..all this after replacing a transmission tuesday so I would be ready if it did...eventually I was able to make my first trip back since April with the Cornell gang who booked an overnight tuna and bottom fishing trip a year ago..trip started off great..trolled ballyhoo baits in scattered grass about 30 miles out of south pass in along a blue green water color change picking up 3 "ceviche wahoo" and two 10-15# dolphin in the first 30 minutes..couldnt get the baits set and it would seem that a marlin bite was impending..never did happen but we would add 2 more heavy wahoo later on - the largest 80 pounds and taller than the angler Randy Cornell..

The tuna fishing however was terrible..slowest night I have ever seen..we tried Nakikka and Quest and both were dead..totally dead..Consider other places..never really saw any surace action aside from whitecaps in a 15 knot wind and after 4 hours in the empty washing machine we bailed with a dozen blackfin and one small yellowfin to show for a 75 mile one way ride..made an easy ride north with everyne getting a decent sleep just in time to meet the sun and take in some dynamite bottom fishing....we had a 4 man snapper limit in 2 hours with a size averaging 17 pounds..this according to the fish cleaner who later said it was the best limit he's seen since the season opened..and I would have to agree as it was in my top 2 catches for red snapper in venice..we went through a few jacks which were released for seed but never saw the first grouper..we had wanted to catch a few cobia to top it all off but we couldnt find any to cooperate in 4 stops..did find one suicide mangrove though..

Sonny, Lance and Scott all had bottom trips on thier respective vessels and slammed the fish as well..Sonny had a slob limit along with a handful fo grouper and jack limit, both Friday and Saturday - this he attributed to slack current on the west side..

Sonny is out tomorrow and my two day trip for marlin was postponed..it will all work out in the end as I need to address a slight vibration..cant seem to win lately and I am tired of it..I am decided on selling the 30 Albemalre and trading up..want to net $80K if anyone wants to take a look..hull is 8 years old with new transmissions this year and a one year old engine..8500$ in rewiring, strataglass and cosmetic work done at Seabrook 3 weeks ago - would offer a year of tech support as I have built up my share in the last 6 years..PARADISE OUTFITTERS - 1-888-347-4987 or 985-845-8006 local