The offshore fishing and summertime pattern are really starting to come together. Everything is starting to fall into place and all the different species we get this time of the year are starting to show up in the numbers we are use to. Sunday was our first day out since last Wed. due to the persistent strong southeast winds. Capt. Josh took out the Dr. Silva crew from Slidell. They had a great day going 2 for 4 on Yellow Fin Tuna, 4 dolphin, 1 big A.j. and a limit of Snapper. Yesterday I took out the Dr. Zimmer gang from New Orleans. Weather was good, but still a little bumpy in the morning which slowed our day down some. First stop resulted in two dolphin. 1 nice cow and a smaller cow. Second stop, lines out, double on. 1 40lb. yellow fin and 1 shark. At this point we had tuna busting so I figured we were getting ready to wear the tuna out. But the dolphin showed up and we couldn't keep them off the lines. This is a good problem to have and we ended up catching a mix of nice bulls and cows. About mid-afternoon Dr. Zimmer casted out a plug and hooked up a nice 48lb. bull which was the largest of the day. We headed north, caught a limit of snapper which was fast and easy, and called it a day. The fish are here it will only get better as we go. We still have some open days in June and July. Back at it tomorrow.
Actually, none of these did fall off the gaff. The dolphin with the perfect circle bite was the victim of a cookie cutter shark. The rest of the dolphin just look like they are having a rough time with the bill fish. I have seen a lot of scarred up dolphin so far this summer and the marlin bite is really getting good. In the past two days between two of our boats we have jumped off three marlin. I am killing time right now waiting for the rain and lightning to let up so we can get offshore this morning. I will have a report tomorrow night from the past five days. Damon McKnight