Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo with Strike Zone Charters
Capt. Gary Bonanno
July 28, 2009
Venice - Saltwater Fishing Report
Well - the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is over and my crew and guests had a GREAT TIME! Thanks to Brother Butch at Sand Dollar Marina on the Island for putting up with our groups and taking good care of us...It was a great tournament and the party was out of sight. I got to see a lot of my friends, customers and some of my Ex-captains.
On the fishing side the Strike Zone TOO anglers won four trophy's and had seven large ice chests filled with Tuna, Dolphin and Snapper fillets.
We arrived in Grand Isle on Wednesday afternoon on the Strike Zone TOO and the Stress Management. At 6:00am on Thursday both groups were on the boats and ready for our long journey 125 miles southwest. On the Strike Zone we ran 4 1/2 hours an stopped at our first platform to started trolling...After a short time we had our first 60 lb Yellowfin munching on one of our Islanders. We worked the rig for about an hour and picked up 4 more 60 to 70 Yellowfin....We then put our autopilot on 180 and ran for 25 miles until we got to our home for the night. We began trolling and it started off slow with a few Blackfin and Bonitos. We did get a Marlin to put one of our Bonitos in his mouth - make three jumps and almost hit the drill ship. He gave us a thrill but he never got hooked....After dark the bite was slow until 2:30 am. At that time we started catching some Blackfin along with some 60 to 70 lb Yellowfin until the sun came up...On Friday we picked up two Dolphin and on the way in we stopped and caught a limit of nice Red Snapper....By the time we got to Sand Dollar we had three large carts full of our catch on the Strike Zone.
The Stress Management had a good trip also but things were so crazy I still don't know what they caught. I do know that my crew and anglers had a GOOD TIME..... They had some boat problems but they did have a good time....at one point on Saturday night they had 50 people on the boat....that's when I had to go to sleep.
On Sunday after finding everyone and getting the groups off the boats we had to go back to Venice and get ready for another 24 hr trip. I hate to say it but both my crews looked a little green or should i say a lot GREEN. By the time we got back to Venice and filled the boat up with diesel our new group was at the dock and ready to go fishing. Capt. Kevin Aderhold, Seth Holl and Capt. David Frelich were back on the water again....heading Southwest on another 125 mile run. They got back at 6:00 pm and had another great trip....this time the Marlin didn't get off the hook and they tagged a 250 to 300 lb Blue. Off course the ice chest were full with Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna....15 Yellowfin and lots of Blackfin. The weather was good but they did have a few bad storms blow through the night...This is when you want to be on a 55' sportfishing vessel.
Capt. Kevin is out on a 24hr trip on the 55' Strike Zone Too today and Capt. Josh is on a day trip on the 39' Stress Management....Pictures and reports will follow tomorrow.
We are now booking for September and October when the Blue water moves in closer and the big Yellowfin start chasing the Mullets. It is also starts the BEST season in Guatemala for the Sailfish RUN....Make plan for one of our exciting fishing trips out of Venice or Guatemala.....you will never forget the fun and the catch you will have'''''''
STRIKE ZONE CHARTERS LOUISIANA & GUATEMALA
225~279~3800 or 985~966~2666
www.strikezonecharters.net
Target Species:
Marlin, Yellowfin & Blackfin Tuna
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