First Trip to Venice…won’t be the last

[nomolites]

Have been off the water for a minute, but had this trip booked with friends for fishing the 18th through the 20th; our first day was to be offshore with Mexican Gulf but with the cold front that came in we were blown out.  Luckily we were able rearrange and add another inshore day and move the offshore to Tuesday AND add an extra day of fishing to our trip.  That worked for me!

For those who have not been down to Venice, the fishery is incredible.  Pick what you want to catch, and go do it.  Yes, my outings were guided…I may someday pull a boat down, but if you don’t know those waters you are asking for trouble.  I plan to go back and do a similar itinerary because the catching here was awesome…my right shoulder and arm will need to recover first.  We fished inshore for redfish 2 days, sheepshead one day, and wahoo the last.  I had 16 reds between 32 and 42 inches, and those will just flat wear you out.  Many more overs…the challenge was to catch fish small enough to keep.

Our offshore trip started slow and as we lost a number of fish early, but Capt Matt hung with us and we put 6 wahoo up to 70# as well as 4 blackfin over the side in OT trolling crank baits around the rigs at 25 miles.  We lost a number of fish and a lot of tackle to sharks, they are just terrible out there right now.  Caught two black tips who managed to hook themselves and not cut us off.  Just an awesome experience that I hope to repeat.

 

 

[nomolites]

[Quillback]

I am going to do that one of these days.  Do you have the guide's website?

[nomolites]

[nomolites]

[nomolites]

13 minutes ago, Quillback said:

I am going to do that one of these days.  Do you have the guide's website?

Inshore we fished with Reel Tite(reeltite.com), and they were quite good.  Recommend Boola(owner), Rock, or Jarrod.

Offshore we fished with Mexican Gulf(mgfishing.com) and they are first rate.  Recommend Capt. Matt and the “Wild Bill”(we fished with) or Capt. Jordan on the “Kimmi“(he was on the big yellowfin and wahoo this week).  Both are 42 Freeman’s and comfortable rides.  They have a 12 boat fleet and communicate to work the tuna and wahoo quite effectively.

Mike

[Quillback]

Thanks, I am going to save those 2 sites.

[BilletHead]

@nomolites thanks so much for sharing. Pure awesomeness! 

[Johnsfolly]

@nomolitesThanks so much for sharing yiour trip report! What a great time. I love seeing those big reds and wahoo. What was the weight of that black drum? How about that giant wahoo? 

Did you make any meals with those sheepshead? If so, how did you like them? I have to say that wahoo are one of my favorite fish to eat. You guys have great meals ahead of you!

[netboy]

Looks like a fantastic trip. And those sheepshead are great eating... if you can get someone else to fillet them. We used to call them bay snapper, but really tough to fillet.