GOM 2007 Report.

**bulllred** · #1 10-17-2007, 07:40 PM

This is a late report for the GOM 2007 trip out of Fourchon, Louisiana, but none the less this is my report. This trip was long awaited and I was looking forward to meet and fish with some great fishermen. I pack my bags and rods hopefully I got everything and boarded a flight out of Miami to Houston (my home town) on Friday October 5. Got to Houston and found out that the trip was delay because of the weather so I have a Saturday October 6 to kill. The delay was great since it will give me an opportunity to fish for bullreds out of Galveston. I grew up catching bullreds and it was over 7 years since I have caught one. Saturday October 6, I got the family together and headed to Galveston, but first I need to get some fishing tackles and a one day fishing licence with a redfish tag at Academy. After Academy we headed toward Galveston and it was a beautiful day for fishing.

We ended up at my old fishing spot the Flagship Hotel pier.

I was pleasantly surprise to see the same people that is running the pier are still there. The only change was instead of a $5.00 fishing fee now is $8.00. I got my uncle set up and it was a trip since I don’t have my light tackles for inshore and so all I have was the heavy stuffs for offshore. Here he is fishing for bait (sand trouts) using a Genesis Long Range Special with the Daiwa Saltiga 6000z fill with 65lbs JB (just a little over kill).

It was also a treat to have my mother and my nephew alone enjoying the weather.

There were some nice pier rods out and it was custom made by Tex and his wife which I met while on the pier. He can cast a mile with those rods.

I did the best with what I have since my pier rods are in Miami so I was using my 7ft Calstar 700h spinning rod and my 16000 Shimano Thunnus loaded with 65lb JB. It did the job quite well; I was able to cast a #3 sinker and a nice size chunk of mullet out with reasonable distance.

This was one which Tex and his buddy just pull in.

After about 4 hrs. and seeing about 3 bullreds pull in I was fortunate to use my red fish tag on this beauty!!

**bulllred** · #2 10-17-2007, 07:50 PM

Early Sunday October 7 Chris (aka ‘newman’ owner of http://www.grandadsfishingtackle.com) came by and pick me up and we off to Fourchon Louisiana, but first we need to stop by Chad’s house (MC Saltwater Tackle of www.mcsaltwatertackle.com in Dickenson) to pick up some leaders. I have to say Chad’s leaders are top notch. He uses extra heavy duty swivels, Owners hooks, and high test mono and wire leaders. Thanks Chad I could not have made better leaders. Chad and Chris at MC Saltwater Tackle.

Me and Chad.

We are now heading to Fourchon.

Then the weather got bad fast.

**bulllred** · #3 10-17-2007, 07:59 PM

Once we got there, we met up with every body and Capt. Tomeny. The excitement was high and so was the wind. It was blowing pretty hard and the trip got delays another day. No worries since we still have to wait for Lee Bull since he was just coming back from a 3 days Big E trip (wow). We had spaghetti and salad that night and we got to check out each others rigs.

At about 2 a.m. Lee Bull drove in. Wow I am impress, the guy just got off a Big E 52 hrs. trip and drove home to drop off his catch (3 YFTs at around 80lbs each) and headed straight to Fourchon!!!! Man, I could only wish to have one tenth of his desire and passion for offshore fishing when I get to be his age!!! Not only that, he is getting by with one good shoulder. This is his last offshore trip for him in a while since he will be getting shoulder surgery on the other one.

Monday October 8, we had nothing to do so we ended up catching pinfish for bait. John on a nice pinfish.

We ended the day with a nice steak dinner with fresh shrimp kabobs. Thanks to Bert (aka ‘bighead’) and Chris.

Early Tuesday October 9 we load up and headed out.

**bulllred** · #4 10-17-2007, 08:06 PM

GEM 07’ crew from left to right: Chad, Lee, Chris, An, Bruce, Bob, Jim, John, Bert, Mike and Paul in front.

First few stops we loaded up on a limit of red snappers for everyone.

Paul and John.

One of Lee’s red snapper on Shinamo Butterfly jig!

**bulllred** · #5 10-17-2007, 08:14 PM

Then we headed out for deeper water and set up on this rig for some grouper and a.j.

I was jigging with a Stella 20000, Hot’s Wei World 48xxh and using a 16oz Cripple Herring and fortunate to land this nice Warsaw grouper.

Moments later, John landed an even bigger Warsaw grouper on a live pinfish.

David is a huge guy 6’3-6’4 with John’s grouper.

**bulllred** · #6 10-17-2007, 08:20 PM

Paul’s a.j.

Bruce hook up to something big.

After the excitement, we headed for the floaters. Mike enjoying the sunset.

Mike and Bruce with poppers ready for action.

**bulllred** · #7 10-17-2007, 08:24 PM

After we got to the floater and set a drift, there were plenty of flying fish but the tuna action was slow. The first yft was hook up by Bob. He fought the fish for a while and as the leader came up and we could see the fish, the leader pop. The leader must have rub against the bottom of the boat. As the excitement was over since our first yft was lost but it was not lost for long. Nick (deck hand for this trip and the captain of Tomeny’s other boat “Southerner”) yelled look at that!!! I we look over the side and I can’t believe my eyes. This once hooked yft was still making death circle right next to the boat. It swam around and around about one foot from the top of the water. Nick and David (the other deck hand) each quickly got out the gaffs. As the yft makes its last circle neat the boat, they both sank the gaffs in it and pull it over. Wow!!!! The excitement on the boat can be seen on Bob’s face with the first yft on board.

Chris with his nice yft on Granddad’s swim bait.

After that, the fishing was getting real bad and so was I. I took my sea sick medicine but because of the larger seas and not getting enough sleep a few nights before, I gave in and had to chum on the side and call it a night and get some sleep. I woke up later the next morning and found that we had move to another floater near by during the night and the action was heating up. I felt refresh and had some energy in me. I manage to pick up a nice flying fish and pin it on an Eagle Claw 2004 6/0 hook on 80lbs mono leader. I made one good cast over exploding water and landed my first yft.

**bulllred** · #8 10-17-2007, 08:30 PM

The following day we head in for some more action. One of the rigs we park under.

Nick was quite a fisherman. He was hammering the ajs at every rig. This one was on a purple 7oz Fishing Comfort “Sure Bites” stick jig I gave him. He landed many ajs on this jig using a Shimano Butterfly rod and a Daiwa Saltilist with 65lb Power Pro line. Nick and David with a nice aj.

Then some more fish was pulled into the boat.

Paul’s nice aj.

Me and Paul’s aj. Did I mention in a year Paul puts more time on the water fishing than anyone of us put together.

Bert’s nice king fish using a king rig made by MC Saltwater Tackle.

Bert with a nice aj using an aj rig from MC Saltwater Tackle.

**bulllred** · #9 10-17-2007, 08:36 PM

Later during the day we headed to the floater Shell Brutus. Wow what a name!!! The floater was an awesome floater; the name fits its massive size. Before the yellow fin carnage, we were trolling some of Granddad’s Fishing Tackle trolling lures around Brutus. Here is Lee, Bert, and Chad on the trolling reels.

Chris trolling at Brutus.

Bert on a fish.

**Derekhie** · #10 10-17-2007, 08:36 PM

Great report. Congrats on your catch.