How do I even tell this story? Of all the tuna fishing expeditions we’ve made the last few years, this might have been the pinnacle of our journeys to the Gulf of Mexico. The secret is out – sportfishermen around the world have heard tales of giant yellowfin tunas blasting baits in the shadows of deep water oil rigs and back breaking fights which cripple men who are unprepared for the strain of titan class tunas.

Venice, LA sits at the shores of a bountiful and largely untamed bluewater eden – the culmination of tuna angling in the United States. For us, giant yellowfin tuna fishing in The Gulf is an odyssey into a sport fishing legacy which has been carried by the crew of Paradise Outfitters in Venice, LA for more than a decade.

Our previous expeditions with Capt. Hunter Caballero and Capt. Scott Leger put us on the line with 145lb tunas crashing cull behind shrimp boats and chunking for 60-80lb tunas at the midnight lump.  They are stories best told with pictures than words -adventures that have evolved into enduring memories which compel us to return, over and over again, to the deep water rigs – in search of that perfect moment, where in a fit of fury, impeccable bluewater predators humble us with their strength. There is no greater battle, no greater reward, than fighting these fish in their element with some of the finest gear on the planet.

Our pilgrimage to Louisiana landed us in the heart of New Orleans late in the afternoon, two days before St. Patricks day.  Tourists from all over the country, adorned in green shirts, fo-gold chains, and purple beaded necklaces, clogged the entrance to one of our favorite culinary sanctuaries upon arrival – the Harbor Seafood and Oyster House. Despite the agonizing 35 minute wait for a dose of NOLA fried goodness, patience delivered us to a fitting meal of swamp platters before our commute to the lower delta.

The trip to Venice, LA is a tour through the country side – long stretches of low country road unimpeded by the droves of cars which pour into and out of New Orleans every day.  Our late afternoon arrival and swap platter feast put us into Cypress Cove Marina shortly after 7:30, which meant darkness, mosquitos, and a fitting hike out to the new luxury house boat which shelters the crew of Paradise Outfitters.

An oasis of a private sport fishing lodge, the house boat is unlike any I have previously encountered. Once inside, you’d never know you weren’t in a downtown condo in anywhere USA. Adorned in a few reminders of trophy fish, scattered foul weather gear, and coolers -the boat itself sported three bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining area and lounge. What was perhaps most striking about the operation is that the entire Paradise Outfitters fleet was docked immediately on, well, the front porch. This is the design and incarnation of charter fishing fantasy – to have your boat, loaded and ready, just ten steps from your front door. That would be torture in almost any other lifestyle.

Day 1 – The New Boat and Top Water Tunas

Dawn on the Mississippi is entrancing. Icy river water meets piercing sun, which casts an eerily timeless fog across the harbor.  The ominous roar of tankers making their way up and down the tumultuous currents of the Mississippi reverberated through the dock-house as the crew made ready for departure.

0700 is an on-time start for the PO crew, whose customers wait with tremendous anticipation to begin their journey.  As a fitting start to our expedition, we had the privilege of joining Capt. Hunter aboard his brand new 41′ Fin Cat.

The boat is massive, commanding, and resembles a vehicle more fit for amphibious assault by Seal Team Two than a fishing vessel – but it’s performance is undeniable. It’s hard to appreciate just how enormous and perfectly designed this boat is until you experience it in person.

This is the successor to Hunter’s original Fin Cat – boasting a slightly larger control console and a few performance “enhancements” following lessons learned running the original blue boat more than four seasons.

We charged down the Mississippi through a frigid wash of mud stained water, chopped lilly pads, and logs – carried down river from the voluminous thaw of northern snow.  40 degree water temperature at 715 in the morning was a chilling reminder of the harsh winter that crushed most of the U.S the past few months. We passed a variety of tankers just arriving from an enduring ocean journey as we made our way to the pass – many of them casting a brilliant silhouette in the fresh dawn.

As the sun rose and gave way to warmth, we arrived to the mouth of the river and passed, unobstructed into moderately calm seas.

Our last several expeditions with the Paradise crew put us into steep chop which made navigation challenging on the 40 mile run to the floating deep water rigs. Thrilled at the concept of finally fishing in agreeable weather – our plan was simple.  Find giant tunas, and catch them on top water plugs.

One of Hunter’s shining accolades is his infallible ability to find fish when the odds are stacked against him. Day after day, after day, after day – Hunter finds the bite for his clients. You would be hard pressed to find another Captain as seasoned and well versed in the techniques of catching trophy fish in the seemingly bottomless Gulf of Mexico.  What’s most amazing about fishing in The Gulf is the staggering absurdity of the landscape.  40 miles out of the pass, towering in the distance are, for all intensive purposes, what look like space stations on the horizon. The presence of these super structures is visually overwhelming – a solemn reminder of the machines which power the world with petroleum. The contrast of bluewater against these titanic hulks of steel, aluminum, iron, and cable is unnerving as much as it is surreal. The bounty of life which thrives in the shadows and coils which descend from the rigs is nothing short of confounding.

We arrived to the rig under sunny skies, pleased to find bait swimming on the surface and tunas lurking below.  Marking yellowfins upon arrival to a rig, as clearly as Hunter’s Simrad’s do, instigates a cascade of emotions which can best be described as one part anxiety, one part pain, and one part melt your face off excitement. To know our quarry is just a few hundred feet below, actively prowling for food – well, that’s something which you need to feel to understand.

We began a broad side drift, slowly chunking our way across the North side of the rig with blackfin tuna for bait. As if on queue during our first drift of the expedition, the line snapped out of my hand, went tight for a split second, then slack.  I had missed it. The first bite of the trip, and I had missed it.  Defeat. A sensation which is familiar when tuna chunking.  A swift decisive transition from free spool to strike on the drag lever is mandatory in order to drive the circle hook home. It’s a technique which takes some practice – and after you miss the bite of what could be a legendary tuna – you repeat the process to yourself over, and over, and over again – until it becomes instinctive.  On the second set, we welcomed the first fish to the boat – a smaller specimen which earned a trip to the ice box after a quick, albeit stubborn fight, to the surface.

In quick succession, the bite begin to pick up – and a few more small tunas came to the boat. Scott landed our first keeper of the day, boating a nice 30lb fish fit for the dinner table. Into the ice with the fish and then, in one of those fleeting moments where time goes “slow mo” I saw what would ultimately become our destiny that day – an enormous bust. Disbelief, followed by mlld panic, as another bust gave way to a hulking fish hurling itself through the air.  My mind didn’t exactly process what I was seeing as a shower of ballyhoo exploded about 150 yards away, followed by an eruption of hundred pound tunas in hot pursuit.  Explosion, after explosion, after explosion.

Giant tunas began rocketing out of the water in an orchestrated blitz against panicked baitfish. All lines in, and we began our charge towards the school.  The busts were all around us – taunting us in a tantalizing display of aerial fury.

I heaved the plug off the bow and began ripping it across the surface.  Nothing.  More busts.  I heaved the plug again, digging deep into the surf casting roots of my Atlantic beach soul to maximize distance – the plug set down next to an eruption.  One more chug – and – boom!  Another fleeting moment that will remain forged in my mind as one of the single greatest tuna moments of my life – a hundred plus pound tuna exploded on the plug – knocking it high into the sky. The fish soared through air with it’s mouth open waiting for the plug to fall – but it didn’t.  Zero gravity. The force. I don’t know.  The yo-zuri just kept soaring through the air as the tuna crashed back into the water.  The plug plopped down a few seconds later. I was quivering with frustration, but still overjoyed.  A conundrum which is indescribable.  I heard the rattle of the plug as the tuna blasted it, but the razor sharp treble hooks did not find a home. The image of that fish exploding into the sky, it’s mouth agape in anticipation of a meal – my plug just out of reach – was painful, but truly and thoroughly sensational. The school leapt off into the distance. We pursued.

Apparently the real trick, when tunas are jumping in a synchronized assault on bait around an oil rig is to “match the hatch” and drag a rigged ballyhoo while waiting with a popper ready to throw. The school continued to bound in the distance – going away from us, then coming back.  A second shot was in store.  The tunas, now leaping 5 to 10 feet in the air, pounded their way back towards the boat as Hunter made a slow steady turn towards them – to head them off on their trajectory.  The busts grew closer, and closer – the stern rod got nailed and started screaming!  Scott hooked up – another bust – another – close enough to cast.  I heaved the plug viciously and landed it just 30 yards off the bow.  A slow steady draw on the plug gave way to another furious explosion – as if i was tied to a truck – the rod bent over sharp in my hands, then slack, then sharp, then slack, then…it sounded.  I’ve fought many, many powerful fish on jigging tackle, but this was an explosion of weight and fury unlike anything I have ever held in my hands. The plug was fixed in that tunas mouth and I have never felt a spinning reel rip that hard in my life.  The run would just not end and the braid poured off the Penn Clash with the power of a dozen amberjacks. Incredible.  What was likely a four minute run felt like a 1/2 hour by the time the fish quit diving and I was able to make headway.  Fighting a 60+lb yellowfin on a jig rod is no joke – it took all of my arms and most of my lower back to pull that fish to submission.  It was a fight which just would not end – give and take went on for about 25 minutes while Scott fought another impressive yellowfin at the stern. It was glorious to see that first top water tuna show color at the boat.  Rising up from the deep with his brilliant amber sides and razor defined sickles dragging in the current. The thud of the gaff in that fish wasn’t nearly as satisfying as the scream of the drag, but I suppose that’s because I knew the fight was over.  Not that I could have handled much more.  Despite weeks of physical training in preparation for the trip, my lower back was burning!

What a privilege to be one of the first people in the world to catch a top water yellowfin tuna on the Penn Clash!

As the excitement drew down aboard Hunter’s boat, the day still had much, much in store for us. The tunas continued to leap and bound their way across the surface – their distance shifting with every minute.  The constant eruption of fleeing ballyhoo and flying fish kept our adrenaline flowing as tunas continued to demonstrate their aerial capability. One after another, after another.  The surface blitz continued.  We went back to chunking, this time a bit farther out from the rig with a drift to intercept the tunas as they wandered to and from the shadow of the URSA. Now fervent in their dedication to follow suit in my top water spoils, Scott and Todd took turns throwing the popper as far as they could.  Each cast of that popper kept everyone fixated on the lure as we methodically drew out our lines to keep the chunks going.  Boom!  Again, another yellow exploded on the popper and began absolutely ripping straight down.

 This time Scott was on the rod and began drawing the fish up slowly.  Give and take went on for about 20 minutes before the fish reluctantly made its way to the surface.  Another incredible top water tuna!

The satisfaction is just unparalleled. The adrenaline soaked experience of witnessing the ferocity of a yellowfin tuna pound a top water popper is surpassed only by that first blistering run. Nothing can touch it.  Nothing.

We went on that day to boat three fish on top water plugs, the highlight being a group of 50 to 70lb tunas fighting each other for the popper as Scott ripped it across the surface. In a profound moment of absurdity, when the infallible Captain Hunter glanced up just in time to see a tuna leap out of the water just a few feet off the bow to engulf Scott’s popper – in mid air – he quipped a quick “oh s***!”.  That about summed it up.  It’s rare you get to hear a seasoned Captain get just as excited as us – this was truly a special occasion, when top water blitzing giant yellowfin tunas decided to cooperate – and our tackle held up.

Day 2 – Exploring New Ground and a Deep Water Surprise

I was thrilled at the opportunity to spend a day exploring new territory with Capt. Hunter on the second day of our expedition. As a full-time charter Captain, it’s rare to find an opportunity when you can break away from the routine and test out new techniques, new numbers, and new equipment.  Particularly in Venice, LA, when customers pay big dollars to go out for tuna, it’s a rare opportunity to go fun fishing.  Having a day on the water with Hunter to catch up and test out some deep dropping territory was a refreshing change of pace for all of us.

The ride out in the morning put us in extremely heavy fog, which cast an opaque steam drenched glow across the marshes as we pushed through the west pass.

We started our second day working some of the pumping stations for wahoo in the morning, but only managed one specimen.

For us, it was an awesome occasion, as any wahoo would be considered a day maker in Miami, Fl!  In Venice, LA – not so much. Venice, LA is home to some of the best wahoo fishing in the world – producing fish up to 80lbs on a regular basis.  As Hunter explained, wahoo trolling can be very hit or miss, as the fish will often stack up on the rigs and slam baits as they come by.  They’re either there and feeding – or they’re not. What’s amazing to me is that wahoo’s here on the south east Florida cost rarely touch giant trolling rapalas, but in The Gulf – they slam the hec out of them. The other major consideration for catching wahoo down here in Miami, FL is water clarity – it’s a rare occasion to find a wahoo in anything other than bluewater.  In The Gulf, however, the muddy river water layers on top of blue water- creating a divide in water clarity with muck on top and clear water just below.  These conditions are typically ideal for wahoo trolling around the pumping stations, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us.  We made a variety of passes from different angles, changed out lures, tried different speeds, but we just couldn’t get a bite.   Feeling lucky, Hunter took us to the rig where the state record wahoo had been caught just a few years earlier – the structure was brilliantly commanding in the blue water and certainly looked like prime ground for wahoo.

We made a few passes and marked absolutely nothing.  Not even bait! Without a wahoo to be seen anywhere in the area, we made or way our to the deep dropping grounds to began our search for tile fish, yellow edge grouper, and who knows what else.  There are a few boats in Venice, LA which excel at bottom fishing, and Hunter had an itching suspicion he knew where those spots might be.  Deep dropping on “the west side” can be very difficult, as there’s such a tremendous volume of area where fish could reside. Our search began on bathyometric charts for territory which resembled some of the better deep dropping ground we cover here in the Atlantic.  We found a few areas which looked prime – resembling walls and bottom that’s been productive for us in the Caribbean.  We made a few drops using the new Hooker Electric and pulled a few nice bites, but didn’t manage any deep water specimens to the boat. The territory we fished looked legit, but again, it just wasn’t in the cards for us to be deep drop hero’s.  Before we wrapped it up for day two of the expedition, we made our way to an area which looked very close to some of the ridges we’ve fished for swordfish throughout the Florida Keys.

Deep, sharp ridges on “the west side” looked ideal for swordfish – so we rigged up with a Stanczyk swordfish wind-on, prepared a strip bait, and began working the bottom.  With daylight burning fast, we worked a drop off which looked to be the steepest structure in the area.  Slowly bounding down the wall, we saw a slight bend in the rod, but nothing which suggested a true swordfish “whack”.  We waited to see if the fish would come back – and sure enough, the rod dipped just slightly again.  Suspicious, we came tight and there was a bit of weight!  I was thinking small sword or some other random bottom fish, but we hauled up regardless.  By the time we hit the leader, there was definitely a consistent wiggle and drag on the line – and wouldn’t you know it – there was a fish!  Not a swordfish, but a truly odd deep water specimen – an Escolar!

This giant nasty creature had literally engulfed our bait in one bite and was deep hooked. After a few pics, we packed it up and headed in to enjoy a wahoo dinner and a few cautious bites of the oceans “most palatable” deep water fish.

Day 3 – Legacy tuna fishing with Capt. Scott Leger

The story of Paradise Outfitters actually begins in the late 90’s when Scott Avanzino started the operation in the emerging town of Venice, LA.  Largely unknown to the global sport fishing community, a few pioneers began experimenting with, and succeeding at catching giant yellowfin tunas, marlin, wahoo, mako sharks, red snappers, groupers, triple tails…well, pretty much everything that swims. Oil rig fishing in the gulf of mexico, almost two decades ago, was something few anglers had ever experienced.  Today, the small muddy town of Venice, LA is now legendary – hailed as the port of choice for big game anglers who desire to test their might against the toughest predators the ocean has to offer.

In the early days, Scott Avanzino was the most successful of the pioneer fishermen out of Venice. You may have read about him in the countless magazines and news paper articles that were published at the time.  You may also have encountered a photo which featured him or one of his customers with legendary catches. But, as with most impressively bold endeavors, Avanzino was by no means alone in this venture to solidify Paradise Outfitters as the leading crew of Venice, Louisiana sport fishermen.  Avanzino was in some ways inadvertently, and in some ways purposefully, training the next generation of elite sport fishermen – two of those truly time tested and incredible crew members – were Scott Leger and Hunter Caballero.

I’d met Scott Leger previously during our expeditions to Venice, but never had the privilege of fishing with him. I regret that!  I’ve fished with many anglers, captains, and mates around the world, but few of them are as humble and genuinely amiable as Leger.  A Louisiana native and salt-of-the-earth hard working individual, Leger has been on the Paradise Outfitters crew since the beginning. As a mate, he has boated countless trophy tunas, wahoos, makos, and the like.  As a Captain, he has guided thousands of customers to catches which are legendary.  As an angler, he holds the Gulf of Mexico and State of Louisiana record for Big Eye tuna – a staggering 240lb 3 oz specimen he boated with none other than Hunter Caballero. Leger’s tuna fishing experience is second to none.  He is also one of the most loyal, honest, and dedicated sportfishermen you will ever meet.

By the third day of our expedition, the rumor was that most of the larger tunas at the rigs were only feeding on live pogies and that chunk baits just weren’t cutting it. Chasing bait on the delta is a difficult endeavor, and as Leger put it, keeping a secret in Venice is impossible. Word spread quick of a small area on the west side that held bait, making it a mad dash first thing in the morning to find the coveted baitfish before anyone else. That third morning we departed the dock into some of the heaviest fog i’ve experienced on the water.  Without radar, the trip out of the west pass would have been impossible.  We encountered several eerie scenes of shrimp boats nestled in the grass and blind turns which barely held the beam of the original 41′ Fin Cat that Leger operates for Paradise Outfitters. We were rigged for anything, from tuna to wahoo.

Clearing the west pass put us out into the muddy shores of the gulf in search of pelicans, which we stalked for almost two hours before finding a few that seemed to share where the pogies were hiding.

Taking turns heaving heavy cast nets, we must have thrown a dozen times in order to round up a few dozen pogies.  The bait was there, and thick, but just seemed to scatter before our nets made their way to them.  With daylight burning, we charged back out to the rig where the tunas had been leaping out of the water the day before. The run from the Mouth of the Mississippi to the floating rigs is not a short one, which afforded me the perfect opportunity to learn more about the legacy of sport fishing in Venice, LA as well as Leger’s personal experience with how the industry changed over time. What I found most intriguing during our conversation was how he described the change in tactics.  The techniques they used to catch tunas a decade ago would hardly find a place in today’s environment.  Did the fish get smarter? Are they responding to pressure? Have the feeding habits changed?  It sounds that way.  Leger painted a picture of an untamed wilderness, specifically recalling how fishing the midnight lump once relied on the use of a heavy mono leader, giant circle hook, and dead pogie spiraling in the current.  While chunking is still effective today, fluorocarbon and small 6/0 3X strong circle hooks are the mainstay of the fleet. A spiraling dead pogie with a huge hook engorged in its head is laughable by modern standards, but worked flawlessly back then. Kite’s, for example, rarely find their way to the sky as the need to float rubber flying fish out on a line just isn’t there. The changes in tactics that Leger described echoed some of the changes i’ve experienced here in Miami, FL.  For one, the bait has become increasingly more difficult to acquire.  Secondly, most of the wrecks and reefs we fish today are covered up in boats, whereas a decade ago, I hardly recall seeing another vessel in sight of me when fishing down south.  I suppose that’s how it goes and change is the only constant we can depend on in this rebounded and moderately shell shocked economy, but I found it striking that even in one of the most up and coming sport fishing destinations in the world – a veteran noticed their way of life changing around him.  Leger asserts that the fishing in Venice, LA is actually better than he ever remembers – citing the shear volume of giant tunas he’s caught, and seen caught, in the last two years. I’m inclined to agree with him, but then again, i’m just a guest in their daily routine of catching oversized tunas that fight like freight trains.

We concluded our 45 mile run with an arrival to one of the most odd ships i’ve personally encountered.  While drilling ships may be common in the Gulf of Mexico, i’d never seen one up close and personal.  The “Noble Bully”, as it read across it’s stearn, is massive and has been in place for quite some time.  Drilling ships provide the same structure and protection for baitfish as the floating rigs, which makes them prime targets for tuna fishermen.  Arriving to the ship as helicopters circled about, taking tandem turns landing and leaving, we deployed our spread – two live pogies hooked through the bottom lip – essentially freelined.  We marked fish deep around the ship, but they just wouldn’t come up to bite the slimy wiggling pogies, free drifting in 5000 feet of water.  We hauled up and made the run to another drill ship which was just to the North of the URSA, where we had witnessed the giant tuna jumping bonanza on the first day of our expedition. We lined up at the front of the ship and deployed our first round of chunks to no avail.  We circled around again and made a second drift. Sometimes, chunking can get monotonous.  You want that bite so bad, and every pull could be the one, but your mind begins to play tricks on you. You wait, and each gentle drag of the current sends your heart racing.  It’s a game of managing anxiety while staying perfectly prepared for that single instance when you must swiftly thrust the drag lever to strike, or risk losing what could be a trophy tuna.  There’s just no way to know what might grab your chunk.

By our fourth bite-less drift, i’ll admit I felt worried.  Not that we were doing anything wrong, but i’m used to fish shutting down on us.  It happens in Miami, FL all the time.  Whether it’s the current, the bait, the moon, the water temperature, or any other myriad of factors – fish can just “turn off” and there’s nothing you can do about it.  The rumors of the bite shutting down were fluttering in my mind, but in an instant, it all changed – the line ripped out of my hands and instinctually (hey, I was impressed it actually happened like that), my right hand nudged the drag lever to strike and the fish began ripping. Hooked up! I moved the rod to the belt and was pleased to find an angry tuna jockeying against me.  Just a few minutes into the fight – Todd comes tight too!  Adjacent to me on the gunnel, his fish is acting a bit funny.  He wasn’t sure whether it was a small fish, or if he was tangled in my line. We frantically began to “unwrap” the line crossing before it cost us what felt like a decent fish.  As I worked the fish up from the depths, without much relief from heavy pressure, it became apparent that this fish had made the terrible mistake of ingesting two baits with hooks!  This tuna was double hooked between myself and Todd – after a few more minutes, the fish was in the boat – with two circle hooks vested in the corner of its mouth.  A fitting end to a gluttonous tuna!

After working hard to get the bite at the drilling ship, and with time winding down on the third day of our expedition, we made the run South to the URSA – leaving the drilling ship behind for other Captains to work. We arrived and began immediately marking fish – chunks out but no bites.  One of the amazing skill sets of the Paradise Outfitters crew is to understand where to position the boat in order to draw a strike.  After our first drift not producing any fish, Leger moved us closer to the rig on the north side, drifting with the current, slowly to the south.  As if on queue during the next drift – my rod loads up and the drag on the 50W tiagra starts screaming.  It’s a BIG fish. Ripping drag on the 50 for 30 seconds – I call for the harness and strap in.  The fight is on and the fish is HEAVY.

When you’re tired, as you should be after several days of tuna fishing in Venice, LA, big fish feel even bigger – but there was no doubt in my mind.  This was a serious tuna.  Each gain led to another pull.  I would bring in 10 yards, the fish would take 15.

This tug of war went on for about 25 minutes before the fish finally showed some color – big sickles, a mean head, and a furious head beat which signified it was getting tired.  Watching the fish go broad side to me, just 100 feet down, burned the image of that tuna into my mind.  I began to recall the moment I first saw the 145lbr I caught with Hunter the previous Fall – a furious tuna pulling with all of its primordial strength to return home – to the depths.  My legs were straining from sitting down on the fish in the harness, but my arms and back were fine.  Being careful not to apply too much drag, I lifted the fish and was able to put prime pressure just as he went weak. Up pops the beast and Leger is there with a swift gaff shot to the head.  Done. Up and THUD on the deck he goes.  A prime ~ 70lb yellowfin.

We were ecstatic – not because we had the fish in the boat, but because we knew there were more coming.

We iced down the fish and circled right back around to the corner.  Chunks out – this time – Scott gets nailed and the fight is on!  Another bruiser fish ripping line into the deep.  Leger had them dialed, and we knew it was about to get epic.

Scott Virgin has caught many incredible fish through the years and i’ve been fortunate to be with him for many of those occasions.  Never in my life had I seen him as ecstatic as he was on this occasion.  The tuna would rip line, and Scott would smile like he just won the lottery.  The tuna would dog him, and Scott would laugh. It’s a humbling feeling to watch an angler who is so lost in the moment that everything else fades away and nothing else matters.  That’s what big game fishing is all about, particularly tuna fishing on the Oil rigs.  Leger gets it.  Caballero gets it.  It’s a feeling of freedom.  A fleeting feeling that your heart and mind remember, but your body forgets, until you feel the weight of the fish and hear the scream of the drag. Unstoppable.

Scott’s fish was a beauty – a magnificent specimen which captured the conclusion of our expedition in full glory. Giant yellowfin tuna fishing in Venice, LA is not for the mentally or physically unprepared.  It is a privilege.  An experience which slowly evolves into an addiction.  The crew of Paradise Outfitters is addicted – they do this not because they have to, but because they want to.  Because every morning, they still love it.  They still give everything they have to give to share the remarkable experience of big game fishing with those who seek the ultimate sport fishing thrill. There are few places in the world you can travel where the contrast between humanity and nature is as profound as the super structures towering above the endless ocean – harboring both predators, and prey.

How do I even tell this story? In many respects, I can’t.  No matter what i’ve written here – my memory is so overwhelmed with the details of the expedition that to capture all of it is just impossible. The experience of fishing with the Paradise Outfitters crew is indescribably amazing.  If you sit back and imagine the perfect fishing charter operation – it would be difficult to imagine anything other than this. But it’s not just about the business, or the fishing.  It’s not just about the enchanting moments of flying through the fog in the baddest boats on the planet, the chill of the marsh air against your face as you charge towards the most unbelievable fishing in the gulf of mexico.  It’s about something greater.  That feeling of holding a rod while a monster yellowfin grabs your popper off the surface just yards from the boat.  That feeling of watching your friends catch their fish of a lifetime.  That feeling of knowing that it’s not over – that even if this expedition comes to an end – that’ we’ll get to come back. This journey into the heart of the Gulf of Mexico is just one episode – one taste of the life Paradise Outfitters lives every day.  We are privileged to have joined them, again – Hunter, Scott, and the rest of the crew – to experience their way of life, their legacy.

No one wants to admit it, but the truth is that September and October are transition months for fishing down here in Miami, FL. Some days, it feels like there’s just no fish in the ocean.While the fishing in Miami, FL is great year round compared to almost everywhere else in the U.S, September and October are typically the slowest months for offshore fishing due to a myriad of environmental factors beyond our control. In order to keep the rods bent this fall while you wait in anticipation of the upcoming sailfish season, try these four fall fishing tips!

Push Farther Offshore
 While the fall is not considered the hottest time of the year for targeting mahi-mahi, there are still good numbers of schoolies offshore. These keeper “schoolie” sized mahi’s make for excellent table fare and if you put in the time to locate them, you can still catch upwards of 20 in a day. The trick is to make your way farther offshore than you would during the spring and early summer months. As the weather heats up, these fish tend to move out deeper and search for bait under grass lines. It’s also common this time of year to see large flocks of frigates and birds chasing schools of jacks; typically mahi-mahi will follow the schools in tandem with skipjack and blackfins.The best bet is to cruise offshore slowly – not trolling – looking for birds or debris. We typically ride out to 1200 ft and stop along the way if we find birds or grass – then begin trolling to locate fish. Some of the most common places to find fish in the fall months includes the “double zeros” and anywhere between the 55 and 57 line. Those numbers refer to coordinates on your GPS – put in a bit of research and you’ll get the hang of the locations most charter boats start their hunt for schoolies. It’s rare that you would need to push out deeper than 2000ft while looking for mahi in the fall months – concentrate your efforts between 1000ft and 1600ft and you’ll likely find a few fish. It’s crucial to find grass, birds, or floatsam – trolling aimlessly in deep water may produce a bite occasionally, but you’ll enjoy catching more fish if you have a gameplan.

Don’t neglect the deep drop

This can be a day saver more often than not. Vermilion snapper, queen snapper, tilefish, and various deepwater species can be found off the coast of Miami, FL in depths from 300ft to 700 ft. The key is to find the right bottom where your target deep water species resides. Vermillion snappers typically live in depths of 250 to 500 ft, but seldom deeper. Tilefish typically live in depths of 500 to 700 ft, but usually on soft bottom. Learn as much as you can about each species before you target them – there’s plenty of general knowledge out there which will give you a head start in working the appropriate areas for each fish. While deep dropping may not be the most glorious kind of fishing we get to enjoy in Miami, FL – when the edge is not producing and the dolphin start to disappear offshore, deep water fish can provide steady action.

Mind the mid-waters

Flat lining and mid-water live baiting can produce a steady bite if current around the edge is consistent. A mix of bonitas, barracudas, and kingfish tend to dominate the water column between 100′ and 150′ during September and October – while not glorious fishing by any means, they can provide steady action. The trick is to fish the entire water column without tangling your live baits – this is typically best accomplished by drifting broad side while using a series of progressive weights (1.5oz, 2oz, 3oz) to suspend baits at various depths. We typically put out out a bottom rod, followed by baits at ~ 70ft, 50ft, and 30ft with a flat line on the surface. Once we start getting bites at a specific depth – we’ll adjust our baits to that range and work it thoroughly. This technique works particularly well when fishing in the vicinity of the country wrecks – anywhere from Key Biscayne north to the Boil.

Raid the Reefs
We tend to get caught up in offshore fishing because you never know what you might catch when fishing deep water. In the fall months, when the offshore bite really slows down, the reefs from Fowey Rocks south to Key Largo tend to be very productive. Fishing deep water reefs in the range of 80′ to 110′ can produce mutton snappers, yellowtails, gag or black groupers, and the the occasional amberjack. The key is to find good current and bottom structure with substantial relief. The more rocky and jagged the bottom, the better. Spend the time slow trolling over reef lines until you locate structure that is very pronounced – then anchor up into the current and start fishing. Move around regularly to try different areas unless you’ve found some terrain which really seems to hold alot of life. Keep a chum slick going at the surface while working the bottom with knocker rigs and finder rigs. Use a mix of live bait, cut bait, and even jigs to see what’s in the area. Between September and early November, the bite tends to get pretty good off the ragged keys all the way down to Ceasar’s creek – put in the time to find solid reef structure and you’ll reap the rewards.

It’s that time of year when the summer doldrums begin and the surface bite shuts down.  What better time to get serious about bottom fishing and start putting more big groupers in the boat! Grouper fishing in Miami is one of those satisfying endeavors which takes a bit of time to perfect, but once you’ve got these stubborn (and delicious) reef critters in check, you’ll enjoy constant success and plenty of fresh fish dinners. We’ve experimented with a variety of grouper fishing techniques all over the world but always find ourselves falling back to these five surefire grouper fishing techniques which are tried and true.  If you’re looking to step up your grouper fishing game, then this article is for you.

Find Habitat That Holds Fish

It’s no mystery that groupers love rocky structure in deep water.  Grouper are part of the Mycteroperca family, which means these bottom dwelling predators enjoy anatomical features which are perfectly suited for strength and endurance in a fight to the finish. Groupers make their home under coral ledges, within rock piles, and particularly wreckage fro sunken ships and debris.  They are ambush predators, which means they remain mostly concealed until they are ready to engulf their prey. Finding structure where grouper’s hide is somewhat straightforward, but it does require a specialized eye to identify areas that are fishable.  Drifting for groupers can be effective, but your best bet is to find an area with very rocky bottom, or anchor just off a ledge, then work the area meticulously. Groupers abound in jagged structure which holds baitfish – so if you’re marking fish on the bottom (i.e. lots of bait), it’s likely there will be some larger predators in the area.  Groupers rarely pass up pinfish, blue runners, goggle eyes, pilchards, and cigar minnows – but the trick is to make sure you can present the bait without getting fouled in the bottom structure.

When you’re looking for bottom structure that is suitable for grouper fishing, keep an eye out for sharp ledges or overhangs and rock piles.  Fishing shipwrecks can be very effective, but there’s more opportunity to lose the fish on rusty jagged steel. Rockpiles and coral ledges are ideal habitat and grounds of that nature are widely available in the Miami area. Most of the reef structure south of Fowey Rocks is excellent terrain to target fish.  Focus your grouper fishing efforts between 100 and 150 feet over rocky or coral laden bottom and you’ll stand a better chance at connecting with a decent Gag or Black grouper.  While keeper size groupers can be caught in the finger channels of Biscayne Bay, groupers are more abundant in deep water where there’s less pressure.

Gear up properly for Groupers

While i was diving on a wreck in 110′ the other day, I came across a big dead black grouper that was half buried in a hole.  He hadn’t been dead very long,as he still had color and none of the other reef critters had come to feast on him.  I was intrigued by the giant fish half poking out of the hole, stiff as a board, and pulled him out of the wreckage for a closer inspection.  Sure enough, he had a big circle hook in the corner of his mouth and a 2′ piece of approximately 50lb leader trailing off.  This was one fish that died in battle, but not before he could pull some under-gunned angler’s rig into the wreckage. It was yet another real world reminder that you have to gear up properly for grouper fishing in Miami, FL.

There are several rigs which work well for groupers – most commonly a finder, knocker, or tri-swivel based bottom rig will do the job.  It’s important to fish at least 60lb braid with nothing less than an 80lb leader.  While you can get away with 60lb flourocarbon, it’s better to be over-prepared than under prepared when it comes to hoisting groupers off the bottom before they can reach structure. Groupers instinctively make a dive for cover upon being hooked, which means you need to use gear that can effectively prevent the fish from running away while not breaking the line.  While this dictates the use of heavy main line, leader, and stout hooks that won’t straighten out under pressure (typically 3X strong circle hooks in 7/0 or bigger) – the reel and rod is what will give you the upper hand.  You need massive stopping power when it comes to catching big groupers – a drag which can prevent a fish from running into cover can save the day.  Make sure you invest in high quality conventional reels in order to maximize drag power.  As far as a rod is concerned, you need a blank which is stout and durable – designed specifically for 30 to 50lb class fishing if not heavier.  Don’t go overboard here and show up with a tuna stick, but make sure you select a rod which is built specifically to battle groupers and lift them clear of structure which can cut line in a split second.

Why pole when you can troll?

Grouper trolling has become exceptionally popular in Miami. It’s a relatively easy tactic to catch decent size Gag groupers on shallower patch reefs.  A standard 50lb trolling outfit will do the job.  Make sure you’re using a strong shock leader of approximately 25′ connected by crimps to 100lb ball bearing swivels (use the same outfit you would use when trolling for bull dolphin offshore). Some of the most popular lures for grouper trolling in Miami, FL include Mann’s stretch 20’s, Rapala Magnums, and Yo-Zuri’s in pretty much the largest size available.

It’s best to use one rod when trolling for grouper, unless you’re feeling somewhat adventerous and are confident you can keep the plugs far enough apart as to avoid snagging and wrapping up the lines.  We typically troll between 20′ and 30′ of water along the patch reefs, working the sand immediately next to the reefs/rocks which are widely scattered from Fowey Rocks south.  Many charter boats enjoy decent success trolling for grouper off Key Biscayne, and will often work their way from Government cut south to Fowey before doubling back.  The best practice here is to make sure your lure is just grazing the bottom – the lure should swim as close to the sand as possible, bumping the bottom occasionally but not getting thoroughly hung up.  If you snag the bottom occasionally, you’re doing it right.  If you’re tolling on the sand, there’s really nothing to snag – if you’re trolling too close to the rocks, it’s likely you’ll lose your lure. Grouper have excellent vision and are pretty quick to dart out and grab a plug – if you’re within 15 feet of the rocks, you’re in the right range.  Make sure to cover as much area as you can, typically trolling at 5 to 7 knots the entire time.  There’s no mistaking a grouper bite on the troll as they eat aggressively – keep the boat in gear to make sure the fish is clear of the structure then fight as you normally would.

Grouper trolling is an excellent alternative to bottom fishing for grouper if the current is slow and the reef bite just doesn’t seem to be happening.  While it’s a bit more expensive to leverage this tactic due to fuel costs, it can certainly help to catch multiple fish in a day by covering lots of ground.

Bait and Switch

Using live bait for grouper is a given.  While you can catch them on dead baits like ballyhoo or sardines, there’s just no substitute for a panicking injured baitfish.  If we’re targeting groupers specifically on a trip, we will bring a selection of baits to make sure we can offer a wide menu.  We find that pinfish, goggle eyes, and big pilchards work best for grouper in the summer months, but grunts and blue runners are a close second. Bridling bottom baits is a must as groupers tend to engulf their prey rather than bite it.  A bridled bait will set much more effectively in the mouth of a big fish and there’s less chance of the hook tearing out of the bait upon impact.

If you’re anchored up on an area and the grouper bite is consistent, you might consider tossing a few chunks into the water to get fish fired up while vertical jigging.  Cut baits settling to the bottom will bring groupers out of their hiding spots and can put them in proximity to your live baits. Chunking also brings all kinds of other species into the fold, which can be an added bonus. While chunking, we’ve been known to drop a vertical jig and work the bottom with great success. Vertical jigs are excellent for grouper if you’re anchored, as the appearance of the jig bouncing a few feet off the bottom then fluttering back down provides an excellent presentation.  Don’t hesitate to switch up the baits you’re using while fishing for grouper in a specific area (i.e. at anchor) – use frisky live baits as much as possible but switch it up to jigs tipped with dead bait every once in a while.  You might just be surprised at the results.

Don’t Discount the Drag

This is the one mistake that most grouper fishermen make.  Using heavy drag means more pressure on you, but it’s necessary to prevent fish from diving into the bottom structure.  Most of the serious groper fishermen I know fish heavy tackle with locked down drags – preventing fish from gaining even an inch.  Often they will drop baits to the bottom and keep the line completely slack so they can feel the bite, then wind tight and hold on with all their might. That first engagement in battle with a grouper is punishing, but you only have a few seconds to get them clear of the bottom structure or you will lose the fish.  If you’re fishing heavy gear, you don’t have to worry about breaking the line – only pulling the hook.  If you’re using circle hooks, it’s very unlikely the hook will pull.  Your best bet is to fish with a locked down or almost locked down drag – putting maximum pressure on the fish at all times.  If you can get a grouper clear of the bottom, your chance of landing the fish is much much stronger. Take a “no mercy” approach when it comes to applying drag pressure for groupers – just make sure your tackle can withstand the stress of the bite and fight.

I happened upon a quote yesterday which certainly put the last two weeks into perspective: “When you feel like quitting, remember why you started”.

May has always been, by far, the best month to fish in Miami waters.  Nearly every big game species is in a spawning or migration pattern, the bait is plentiful, and the weather is nothing short of divine. Despite the most amazing fishing conditions of the year, i’ll be honest that we’ve faced mechanical challenges which almost put us out of business. The reality of owning a charter boat is a battle of controlling costs – managing fuel spend, marina bills, and an endless onslaught of mechanical repairs. Our business has survived at the hands of a few dedicated and loyal people who support us tirelessly – who share the same vision.  These are the people who remind me why I do this.

Yesterday was one of those days when I remembered what it’s all about.

The weather was ominous to say the least – one of the last cold fronts of the season was bearing down with untempered ferocity. The buoy report showed a solid NW wind at 18knts, which began to feel a whole lot like 22knts once we came around the Cape Florida lighthouse.  There were no storms, but dark clouds hung low above the horizon.

Bait has been solid the past few weeks, although we’ve had a few days where clear water prevented us from catching pilchards in the net.  We recently acquired a 14ft custom made net which is one of the best investments we’ve made in a long time – having blacked out wells is the key to fishing in the month of May.  Yesterday was no exception – Stefano (aka Carlos) made short work of the pilchard schools with just two tosses.

We charged out towards the yellow sea can hoping to find current in shallow (as it was last Sunday when the sailfish bite was red hot). To our dismay, pea green water stretched as far as we could see after crossing into 130′.  We kept pushing, out to 150′, 170′, 190′, then 200′.  By the time we hit 220′, the water began to turn blue and the waves began to roll. The gulf stream was clearly farther out then we had anticipated, which meant the bite was going to be very good…or very bad.  We’ve had many hit or miss days when the blue-water starts out deep, although it does help to keep the bonitas at bay (this time of year, it’s common to get blitzed by bonitas which will consume every bait you have in the water).  We deployed the kites and set into our first drift, being a bit overzealous with the live chum.  The radio was quiet as we got pummeled by NW waves, which at times were reaching into the 3 to 4 ft category.  At 1.6knts of northerly drift, our ride towards the county wrecks was slow.  The first set only produced two bonitas.  We removed wire tips from our leaders and changed over to flourocarbon on our second set while crossing into 210′.  With a fresh spread of baits beneath the kites, we turned our attention to rigging the bottom gear.  Stefano worked the kites while Scott and I began prepping mid-waters and our bottom rod, when just out of the corner of my eye I see the left mid cork go flying – Stefano was quick on the rod and we’re tight with our first sail of the day.  The fish rocketed inshore then made a slow steady north turn and began making his way with the current.  The fish turned towards the deep as it worked its way off our bow, and then suddenly, about faced and began gray-hounding directly for us!  The run was unbelievable – a full on snake walk directly at us.  For a second we all braced as it appeared the fish was inbound to ram the boat!

The run ended in a half spiral out of the water which turned out to be a bit too aggressive – the fish wrapped himself up in the line and SNAP! Our first sail of the day is on his way back to the blue.  At least we had some idea where the bite may be.  A report crackled over the radio that someone released a sailfish in shallow – about 100′ – an entire water column away from our 210′ drift.  We made the call to stay put and re-deployed the spread now drifting in to 190′.

With six fresh pilchards soaking beneath the kites, a mid water rod deployed, and a light tackle trick up our sleeves – we felt confident going into the next set. The clouds were growing darker as the waves began to kick up into the 3 to 5 range.  Gusts of 25 knots were definitely starting to push through – our Lewis heavy wind kites strained  once and a while as the gusts hit their peak, then faded back to a steady 18 to 20knts. The left long gets hammered and we’re tight – Maritza, still tired and mildly seasick from her first sailfish battle, grabs the rod and goes to town on the fish. I can’t imagine where that extra bit of strength came from, but she  put the heat to that blackfin and brought it boatside in about 10 minutes.  We sink the gaff and put the first blackfin in the boat.

Not long after, the right middle gets plowed with a nice splash, but the fish didn’t make the long deep run characteristic of a tuna.  I fought the fish for a few minutes and up pops a 20lb blackfin – likely the laziest tuna i’ve fought to date.

No matter, the fish goes in the box.  With two blackfins in the hold, we’re now drifting into 140′ of water when the right long starts sneaking away into shallow water. The drag starts screaming, we lock up, and a sailfish goes dancing towards the Miami skyline. On our second sailfish of the day, Maritza begrudgingly agrees to another battle.  This fish is making a long run, and with most of our kite baits out of the water, we decide to bring the kite’s in a bit closer and chase the fish.  After following the sail int shallower water, it suddenly stops running and begins to hold position. We back down systematically, and manage to sneak up on the fish, but he’s wrapped in the leader and drifting sideways.  Todd makes the grab and quickly rights the fish before it starts to go black – exhausted, but still alive, we are careful to revive the fish before a healthy release.

We’ve now wandered into 110′ and it’s time to reset.

The run back to the southern edge of the county wrecks was a bit of a rollercoaster ride – the swells had built into the 4 to 6′ range.  We surfed our way south east through the waves, setting up at the southern most wrecks.  The blue water we enjoyed in 210′ was gone, so we drop the sea anchor in 185′ and deploy the spread.

Now, this is a good time to mention that Scott’s been on a light tackle kick recently.  Maybe it’s that we don’t get to use light tackle offshore all that often, or maybe it was the month of May which drives us all to reminisce about catching snook, redfish, and trout on the flats, Scott made the executive decision to bring his new 7′ spinning outfit onboard.  A new Quantum Cabo with 15lb braid paired with a Shimano Tallus.  We get the kite baits out, bobbing along in unison, and Scott pitches a pilchard on 30lb flouro off the bow.  We stay focused on the kite baits for a few minutes when Scott starts hollering.  He’s on!  Not more then 10 minutes into free lining a pilchard on his light tackle outfit, the cabo is sizzling! Line is ripping and a nice 15lb cow starts hopping along between the waves.  We’re all stoked, but keep our attention fixed on the kites. Todd, who was in the middle of deploying the right short kite bait, got a bit distracted by the commotion and left it hanging right by the boat. I turned my attention from Scott battling the cow dolphin on the bow to grabbing a pitch bait in case other fish were there when a HUGE bull comes swimming by the boat.  I could not believe my eyes!  This enormous neon blue Bull – all of 50lbs – comes cruising less than 6 ft from me.  Slightly stunned and paralyzed by the site, I manage a few grunts and shouts.  The fish makes a hard right turn at the back of the boat, going right behind the engines – and then ROCKETS forward to crush the kite bait that Todd left hanging in the water! It was controlled chaos – Todd grabs the short and the fish is on! The Bull goes bounding towards the skyline crossing directly under Scott, still hooked up on the cow! We are losing our minds as this giant dolphin goes leaping into the distance.  Scott has his fish closer to the boat now and begins working it towards the stern.  I go for the gaff and get ready – on 30lb flouro with 15lb braid there isn’t much room for error.  The fish comes right to the hook and WHAM!  I slam the gaff and drag the fish into the boat.  The cow starts flipping out on the deck when I hear Todd hollering from the bow: “Here he is! Here he is!”.  I don’t believe it – the bull swam right to the boat and was just paddling along.  In less than 10 minutes!  <*edit by capt. todd – it was less than TWO minutes… just felt like eternity…see the video.>

That’s what it’s all about.

With two nice blackfins, the cow, the bull, and a sailfish release after just three hours of fishing – we couldn’t give up quite yet.  We deployed the kite spread once again and Scott, looking for more pain, pitches another pilchard off the bow on his light tackle outfit.  Not five minutes later – he is tight – AGAIN.  This time the fish is sounding hard – it’s fighting like a nice blackfin.

We start pitching chummers and 10 t0 20lb blackfin start erupting around the boat. It was just, stupid. Our kite baits are dangling in the middle of the frenzy but not getting hit – we’re stunned.  Footballs leaping all around us – we pitch flat lines, jigs – nothing.  Scott remains locked in battle as the school of tunas goes bounding off into the distance. Dismayed, we turn our attention back to the kites and ANOTHER sailfish grabs the left middle. Todd is right on it – gets tight, and sets into the battle.  What a sight to behold – todd fighting a tail walking sailfish while Scott is putting the hurt on a tuna with 15lb braid on an inshore outfit.  After about ten minutes, Todd brings the sail to the boat for a quick release while Scott is STILL working the fish.  We’re thinking it’s a 30lb tuna at this point – slowly, steadily, Scott works the fish up from the depths.  And there it is.  27 minutes later.  A fat blackfin tuna, all of 25lbs.  I sink the hook and over the rail it comes.  We are overjoyed.

We call it quits at 6:40 and dash back to the dock.  Stunned from the absurdly amazing fishing which just unfolded.

What stands out to me the most from this trip – is that everything worked out perfectly.  No mechanical issues.  No pressure to catch fish for our customers.  No angling errors.  No failed rigs. No missed gaff shots.  Everything just unfolded in a seamless chain events. Those experiences are few and far between, but in the end, these are the times which keep me motivated – the times when I remember why I started.

And we still have two more weeks of this amazing fishing to enjoy.

That’s what it’s all about.

The video…

Bottom fishing can be a hit or miss game – a test of patience, ingenuity, and skill. While finding bottom fish requires knowledge of the area you’re fishing in addition to tactical drifting and/or anchoring, keeping fish on the line is a whole other story should you manage to get a bite. When you’re fishing deep water reefs, wrecks, or ledges for relentlessly strong bottom species, your tackle will be pushed to it’s limits. You can have the best rods and reels on the market, but if you’re not using a steadfast bottom rig – you’re wasting your time.

As basic as bottom fishing may appear, the quality of the rig you drop into the depths has everything to do with your success. Flawless knots, quality terminal tackle, and premium leader material maximize your chances of boating big bottom fish, while anything less will leave you headed home empty handed.

Buying bottom fishing rigging materials

If you’re fishing in South Florida waters, a full arsenal of bottom fishing equipment is a must. You need to equip yourself with enough rigging material to quickly produce up to a dozen rigs during the course of a full day offshore (sometimes more depending on the structure you’re fishing). The basic components of a bottom rig are hooks, leaders, swivels, and weights – but there’s a few other nuances you shouldn’t neglect like spacer beads, rigging bands, floss, crimps, and lights.

When you set out to purchase rigging materials for bottom fishing – focus on securing the best quality hooks, leaders, and swivels first. When it comes to hooks, wide gap 2X strong circle hooks are the way to go. I recommend you purchase a selection of 7/0 – 10/0 extra strong circle hooks (VMC, Owner, Mustad) as well as light wire Mustad demon circles in 5/0 and 6/0. When it comes to leader material, spare no expense and invest in high quality flourocarbon.  In addition to being more durable than monofilament, flourocarbon is also stiff – which translates to fewer tangles while dropping baits down. Pick up spools of Yo-Zuri pink in 40, 60, and 80lb test.  Definitely keep a few spools of monofilament leader in stock as well – 20lb, 40lb, 50lb, and 60lb.

When it comes to swivels – spare no expense.  Swivels are the heart of the rig and often the component which gives way under extreme pressure. Over the years, we’ve lost a regrettable quantity of fish to worn out or poor quality swivels, which is frustrating.  I tend to reiterate this point to all my customers who ask about rigging/terminal tackle: There are hundreds of things offshore you can’t control, the quality of your terminal tackle is not one of them.  Purchase high quality swivels – barrel, clasp, and three way in 60lb, 80lb and 130lb class.  Get the best quality you can afford, preferably SAMPO or Spro.

Buying lead “is what it is”.  The cost of lead isn’t going down anytime soon, so it’s best to bite the bullet and stock up on an assortment of bank sinkers, egg sinkers, and swivel weights. You should keep a stock of bank sinkers in the 12, 16, 20, and 24 oz variety.  Keep one or two 32 oz bank sinkers as well with maybe one or two stick leads as a backup. Buy a variety of egg sinkers – avoiding the smallest of the bunch and the absolute largest of the bunch (2, 3, 4, 8 oz varieties are typically enough).  Swivel weights also come in handy as they don’t spin the line while being dropped or retrieved.  If we can find these in heavy assortments, we use them up to 12 ounces on occasion.

Do not attempt to reinvent the wheel when it comes to bottom fishing rigs. The rigs presented here are tried and true – all of which can be adjusted to suit the species you’re targeting. It’s always better to be overprepared for a big fish fight, so don’t attempt to use lightweight bottom fishing rigs for big species.  The key to bottom fishing effectively is to utilize a rig that can get a bait to the bottom without tangling and survive the strain of an aggressive strike and fight to the surface.

The Classic Three Way Swivel Bottom Rig

This rig is a must if you’re dropping big live baits on wrecks or reefs. In order to make this rig effectively, you will need a strong three way swivel (80b to 130lb), about 15′ to 20′ of flourocarbon, a strong circle hook, a 12″ piece of 20lb monofilament, and a bank sinker of 16 oz to 24 oz. Tie a bimini in your main line (if you’re dropping on wrecks and reefs in deep water – you should be fishing 60 to 80b braid) and tie it with a uni knot to the top eye of the three way swivel.  On the mid-eye of the swivel, tie one end of the flourocarbon leader with a uni knot.  Tie a hook (also with a uni kot or tuna knot) to the other end of the flourocarbon. On the free end of the swivel, make a double ended loop knot with the 20lb mono and tie one end off, leaving one loop of about 8″ trailing (you can use this to quickly attach or remove weights by passing the loop through the eye and going around the entire body of the weight). It should look something like this by the time you’re done.

If you’re dropping a big bait, be sure to bridle it to the hook so it doesn’t wiggle off on the way down.  While you can drop this rig straight down with no resistance, it’s better to let this rig out slowly so the bait trails behind the entire rig and doesn’t spin.  If the bait is spinning on the way down, you’re either dropping too fast or your leader line wasn’t long enough.  Once you’ve found the bottom, pick up the entire rig a few cranks so it’s suspended off the bottom – you don’t want a big bank sinker sliding across the bottom stirring things up. When you get a bite, crank till you are tight with the fish and stay tight – the circle hook will set, but maintaining pressure is key – the dangling weight can occasionally get wrapped in the line and might act as a counter balance dehooker.  If you stay tight, you’ll win the fight.

Because flourocarbon is expensive, some captains will use a 10′ piece of 6olb mono and a 10′ piece of flourocarbon – joined by a double uni knot. While this is effective, an entire leader of flourocarbon seems to perform better during the drop. You can experiment with shortening or lengthing the line which connects the weight to the swivel, but don’t go overboard.  Too short and the rig won’ drop properly (the weight will spin and the leader line will wrap the main line), too long and the weight will snag the bottom regularly. Longer leader lines seem to perform better when the current is strong – as it keeps the bait away from the weight.  Some mutton snapper fishermen swear by longer leaders on the bottom – the theory being that a weight dragging/rolling on the bottom scares fish away.

The “knocker” Rig

This classic bottom rig is used the world over for all kinds of bottom species.  Lighter versions of the rig can be used for yellowtail, gray, and red snappers while  heavier variations are ideal for big groupers and muttons.  The rig is very basic, composed of a barrel swivel, 5′ to 10′ leader and a hook. The main line attaches to one end of the barrel swivel while the leader is tied to the other. A small bead is placed on the leader line followed by an egg sinker. The hook is then tied on to finish the rig.  By the time you’re done tying, the rig should look like this:

The advantage here is that leader can slide as the fish takes the bait, allowing for the circle hook to set more effectively.  When you feel the strike, you have to get tight quick in order to prevent the fish from diving into structure or dragging the weight into structure. The strike is very distinct when fishing a knocker rig, because you feel the bite and the fish swimming away. The key, as with most bottom fishing, is to get tight quick and keep constant pressure on the fish once its hooked. Knocker rigs can be fished effectively on spinning or conventional tackle, but whatever gear you’re using – make sure the reel has a fast retrieve ratio.  The faster you pick up the line, the more likely it is to keep the fish on the hook.

The Florida Rig – AKA The In-Line Rig or The Fish Finder Rig

Similar to the knocker rig – this setup keeps the weight a few feet from the hook at all times. The weight is added to the main line, followed by a small bead, before being tied to one end of the barrel swivel.  This allows the main line to pass through the egg sinker, so the fish can run once hooked. This is rig is effective for grouper fishing, but is ideal for snapper – as the fish can grab the bait and run without the resistance of the weight.  A circle hook matched to the size of the bait is perfect for this bottom rig.  A segment of 15′ to 25′ of leader material separates the hook from the swivel – allowing plenty of line for the bait to move with the current.  The trick with this rig is to let the bait feed out with the current – away from the weight which is rolling around on the bottom.  Once tied, the rig should look something like this:

It’s ok to let the fish grab the bait and run for just a bit before getting tight.  This rig allows you to feel the bite immediately, but it’s important to “go with the fish” for just a second before getting tight and picking  up the slack. It takes  bit of practice, but once you get used to fishing the in-line rig – it can be devastatingly effective on snappers who are wary of short leaders.

Deep Drop & Chicken Rigs

Deep dropping can be an absolute day saver when the current is weak (or slack) and the wind is dead.  If you’re able to score quality deep drop numbers or put in the time to find muddy bottom in 600′ to 700′ off Miami – catching tilefish, rose snapper, and the occasional snowy grouper is a solid bet.

Deep drop rigs come in many forms, but the most common variation is called “the chicken rig”.  This is a straight forward, no frills deep dropping rig – essentially a “top and bottom” rig on steroids. While you can purchase these pre-made, it’s simple to make them out of heavy mono leader, a few swivels, and some strategically placed crimps.  Circle hooks are a must for deep dropping, because setting a hook in hundreds of feet of water is easier said than done!  A basic deep drop chicken rig looks something like this:

There are quite a few outstanding resources on making your own deep drop rigs, one of my favorites can be found at fishingunited.com. One of the most important attributes of a successful deep drop rig is rigidity – a rig has to be sturdy enough to withstand the powerful strikes of bottom fish and then withstand the pressure of being retrieved hundreds of feet to the surface. Using glow beads or small glowsticks can also help improve the bites you get at depth – afterall, it’s dark down there!

Essential Bottom Fishing Rigs – Bonus Segment – Capt. Charlie’s Lessons Learned

Because you’re awesome, i’m going to share a few lessons i’ve learned, the hard way, through the years. My goal here is to save you money, time,and to help put more fish in the boat!  Remember – bottom fishing takes patience and dedication to perfect.  Invest in a high quality bottom sounder, GPS, and durable terminal tackle – you won’t regret it!

• Lesson Learned #1 – Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight
  • If you’re aiming to catch big fish, rig for it. While you may get more bites using lighter leader, smaller hooks, and lighter leads – stubborn deep water fish will rip you off time after time.  When it comes to bottom rigs, it’s better to rig a bit heavier under any circumstance (withing moderation)
• Lesson Learned #2 – Know your drift
  • If you’re fishing wrecks in deep water, plan accordingly for the current.  Deploying your rig before you hit the target position is critical so your bait is at depth as you pass by the structure. Plan accordingly for the rise of the wreck, so you don’t snag!
• Lesson Learned #3 – Don’t use cheap hooks or swivels
  • I’m perpetually mad at myself for not learning this lesson the first time I straightened hooks and broke swivels on big fish. Good quality hooks and swivels are expensive for a reason.  Don’t skimp when it comes to your terminal tackle, particularly your hooks and swivels.  While it may sting at the tackle store – it will sting a whole lot more when that cheap-o discount swivel breaks a few yards from the boat with a monster grouper on the end of the line.
• Lesson Learned #4 – Short leaders suck.
  • Using long leaders makes a world of difference.  While it requires a bit more skill and practice to fish a rig with a long leader between the weight and the hook – you will increase your hookup ratio dramatically with lengthy leaders.  There is a hazard of getting spun up while dropping or retrieving in heavy current, but it’s worth the risk.
• Lesson Learned #5 – Don’t underestimate Flourocarbon
  • I’ve always been a fan of Yo-Zuri pink flourocarbon, but many does it sting to buy several $40 spools of it on a bi-weekly basis.  If you fish in pressured areas, flourocarbon leaders is a must.  If you don’t want to burn lengthy amounts  of flourocarbon, you can successfully add a flourocarbon “tippet”  – a 2ft to 5ft piece – at the end of a monofilament segment.  This often achieves the same effect, but does add a knot into the equation.  A double uniknot is strong, but not as strong as a single piece of flourocarbon leader. If you can afford it – fish flourocarbon as much as possible.

Fishing in the fall off the coast of Miami, FL isn’t normally this good. We’ve been fortunate that our last few trips aboard the Marauder have been excellent – big mahi mahi, kingfish, and an early arrival of sailfish have kept our anglers busy the last few trips.

The cigar minnows have been THICK at the bug light and we’ve been catching eight to nine dozen on every trip with flourocarbon sabiki rigs and tournament master double ground fine chum.  Amidst the swarms of cigars and blue runners, we’ve even managed a few sardines which are always an excellent addition to the mix. With bait plentiful, we’re able to live bait effectively on the edges of reefs, current rips, and floating debris.

Fall is typically a slower time of year for fishing in Miami, which has forced us to push farther offshore in search of dolphin and farther North in search of current. The conditions during our last few trips haven’t been ideal – weak or non existent current and dirty water out to several hundred feet deep.  To keep the rods bent, we’ve been focusing on fishing the edge – covering the entire water column.  We’ve been flying Bob Lewis ultra light kites while flat lining and bottom fishing.  The bottom rod has produced some decent muttons, yellowtails, and the occasional red grouper, while the mid water rods have produced a steady kingfish bite, mixed with a few bonitas.

On Saturday the 12th, we had Dale and Zak join us for a full day trip in search of “the big one”.  Dale got in touch with us about a month ago with one request- to catch a fish so big he could hardly hold it up for a photo, preferably something edible so he could frustrate two friends who backed out on the trip. We knew going into the trip that our best bet at a big edible fish would be pushing offshore in search of a big school of Mahi. After the edge produced a few kingfish (one of which actually JUMPED in the boat while evading a larger king), we pushed offshore to 1050′ and started trolling with our all time favorite lures – the R&R mahi magnet. We trolled out to 1100′ then back to 1000′, slowly working our way south.  After 30 minutes of criss crossing decent current, our Penn 30 on the starboard gets CRUSHED and the line starts flying off the reel.  A BIG cow goes leaping into the distance, furious from the sting of the mahi magnet.  Zak was quick to pick up the rod and went to work subduing the fish.  After a 23 minute battle, we had the big 47″ cow in the boat.

Now that we had won the battle with “the big one” we trolled our way back inshore looking for a few gaffers and schoolies to add to the list. We found decent grass in 600ft but only this little dorado came out to play.

Needless to say, Dale and Zak went home happy. Turns out the fresh fish dinner was successful!

Our crew on Sunday were some of the most energetic anglers we’ve had in a while – genuine Australians who came to see what fishing in Miami, FL was all about. We started off the day right – catching  a few kingfish, bonitas, and snappers before headed offshore in search of mahi mahi.  Our friend’s from Australia had some tough luck fishing down there and had yet to catch a mahi mahi in any ocean!  We just couldn’t let that stand and had to make it happen.  In between kingfish cutoffs and triple bonita hookups, the radio squawked that a few charter boats found their way into some schoolies around 800′, so we made our way offshore looking for anything floating.  After an hour, we found a single grass line which held a small school of throwbacks, but it was enough to break the curse and put the Aussie boys on their first mahi mahi!

The bite on the kite was slow for the remainder of the afternoon, until a lonely sailfish plowed into the spread and began going ballistic behind the boat.  Having never caught an Atlantic Sailfish, our Aussie’s got all fired up  and the energy came roaring back after two hours of slow fishing.  The fight went smooth and we boated the fish for a quick “Huey” pic after a 27 minute battle.

Monday was one of those 1/2 day trips where everything came together just right.  I was joined by Ryan and Jessie from NYC who came down to Miami in hopes of catching their first sailfish. We made our way our to the bug light early and had the place entirely to ourselves.  We loaded up on FAT cigar minnows until the well was brimming with bait, then trotted out to the can.  We were greeted by a stiff 12 knot wind right out of the NE, perfect kite fishing conditions. I’d been touting how awesome the sailfishing can be in Miami when the weather cools off and the current is strong, doing my best to prepare Ryan and Jessie for what was to be an epic morning. Our first drift produced a double header sailfish hookup.  A third fish came up, but the pandemonium spooked him before he could reach the bait.

Ryan’s fish made a dash south while Jessie’s fish pushed offshore. With plenty of fresh 20lb suffix on our 12v internationals, we had enough leeway to catch the southbound fish first. The fish made a few dashes around the boat once we caught up with him, but we were able to grab the leader and snag a quick shot before reviving him for the first release of the day.

We pushed onwards to chase down Jessie’s fish which was a “classic” size Miami Sailfish.  The fish was frisky at the boat,  so we made a quick gentle landing for a photo op then turned him free for the second healthy release of the day.

After a quick water break, we set up again in 135′ directly off the yellow can and the short bait gets slammed by another sailfish.  This time it was a pee wee sized sailfish which Jessie fought for 13 minutes before bringing him boatside for  a quick release. The little sail tailwalked away from the boat after I pulled the 6/0 demon circle from his mouth. We pulled in the lines and reset on the same drift, hoping another sail would make an appearance.

We deployed a fresh spread and within 15 minutes a huge school of flying fish starts blowing up just off the starboard side. Not two minutes later a gaffer slams the long bait, then plows for the short.  Jessie and I went to work fighting the mahi with two hooks in its mouth, while another fish grabbed Ryan’s short bait and went bounding to the east.  After the frenzy, we gaffed the “double baiter” …followed shortly by Ryan’s fish.

Today we had one of our favorite  customers come down from NYC to get in on some Miami fishing before headed back up the road for Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach.  Greg fished with us a little over a year ago and caught some BIG blackfins.  He was stoked by the report of some early sailfish action and was amped up to land his first Miami sailfish. We got a late start from the dock, but fortunately I had saved all the extra bait from three previous days of fishing so we bypassed our normal bug light routine and went straight for the fishing grounds.  We set up just north of the yellow can but the current was dead.  With a 12knt wind from the NE, we just weren’t covering the area effectively.  The water was dirty green, which didn’t bode well for the early sailfish bite.  We pushed north in search of better current and found a few frigate birds circling like maniacs just off fisher island. We stopped and deployed our baits but couldn’t get a bite. Instead of waiting around for the frigates to guide us to what was likely a large school of skipjacks or bonitas, we set up just south of Government Cut with another fresh spread of fat cigar minnows. George was watching the starboard kite lines while I was deploying a mid water rod when just out of the corner of my eye I saw a bill slashing the surface!  A sail erupted on the long bait and made two nice jumps before spitting the hook.  That was just enough excitement to get our hearts racing and morale back on track. We set up again, this time in slightly deeper water, with a full spread of cigar minnows.  Patience paid off 25 minutes later when a sneaky sail ate the port side long bait and then erupted in a frenzy.  George was ecstatic and went to work on the fish. We pulled in the kites and chased the fish, just to increase our odds of catching George’s first Miami sail.  After a bit of maneuvering, we were able to get the fish boatside and up for a quick glory shot which will hang in George’s custom bike shop for years to come:

After releasing George’s fish, we set up again just off the cut. Next up it was Tom’s turn to test his strength against a Miami sailfish. On our second set of baits, another sneaky sailfish gulps the starboard short bait, but went deep.  It wasn’t until an entire minute later that Tom’s fish erupts in a tailwalking fury.  It was an awesome sight hearing the reel scream while a sailfish was leaping into the air with Miami Beach as the backdrop. Tom’s fish went into “shark mode” and circled the boat all the way to the leader.

 We ended the day with two first time sailfish catches and i’m sure we could’ve picked off another few if time had allowed.  It’s an awesome feeling to see people come from all over the U.S and abroad go head to head with the fastest fish in the sea. While it’s still way too early in the year for the sailfish to start showing up in large numbers, there’s definitely a decent push of fish moving through the area right now. As long as the NE winds continue to blow and the temperature keeps cooling, these fish should stick close to the edge and continue to feed throughout the day.  If the current picks back up, i’m sure an early sailfish season hot bite will take place.

If anything, the past few days were a reminder that Miami fishing is always spectacular.  Seeing sailfish leap and thrash in the spread – three days in a row – gets me fired up and even more anxious for the impending sailfish season.

I can’t wait.

There are few destinations in the U.S where the fishing is so unbelievably epic that it puts nearly every other coastal state to shame.  Fishing in Venice, LA is one of those experiences, where returning to reality afterwards is more painful than sore legs, arms, and backs. This was our second voyage with Paradise Outfitters – the absolute best fishing charter in Venice, LA. Our last yellowfin tuna trip with Capt. Hunter produced so many yellowfins that we lost count, but the goal of this expedition was not quantity – it was quality. This time of year in Venice, LA is a unique season, when 200lb class yellowfins begin to appear in droves to feed on the cull produced by the shrimp fleet.  Todd also highly recommends Capt. Josh for tuna Fishing in Venice, LA.

Arriving to New Orleans from Miami, FL is like stepping into another dimension. The heat, traffic, intensity, and hustle of Miami hardens you to the point where confrontation and hassle becomes routine.  One step into the big easy and everything slows down. Venice, LA is about 90 miles from MSY, which means lunch was in order before heading south. On a quick tip from Yelp, we stopped into Harbor Seafood and Oyster bar for a Swamp Platter.  That’s right, a swamp platter:

Fried crawfish, frog legs, alligator chunks, alligator sausage, crawfish etouffe, and turtle soup for $18.50!?  How can you go wrong.  They certainly did not disappoint as the waitress carried out two monster plates brimming with food. We caught a few stares from other restaurant patrons as we were definitely a bit too excited for a plate of fried goodness.

One of the critical things you need to do before heading to Venice, LA is to stock up on groceries.  While there are a few restaurants down there, your best bet is to hit the local Wal-Mart super store to load up on all the provisions you’ll need for a few days in the swamp lands. Besides, where else can you load up on the motherload of Zapps VooDoo chips?

The ride to Venice, LA is a tour through the countryside, a refreshing glimpse into the deep south.  Perhaps its my bitterness with Miami traffic, but it felt damn good to drive without another car in sight for an entire hour.

We bunked down at Paradise Lodge, the official accommodations for guests of Paradise Outfitters.  The lodge is adorned in trophy photos from over two decades of legendary fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Gashed wahoo lures, bill whacked skirts, and tuna munched rubber flying fish hang with pride amidst photos of Paradise Outfitters most prized catches.  The lodge is clean, comfortable, and fully equipped with laundry, kitchen, and first class grilling patio.

The plan for day 1 was to target a myriad of pelagics on the rigs, then push onwards to explore new areas for daytime swordfishing in Louisiana. On the way to the floating rig, we stopped over at a pumping station to load up on what the Louisiana fishermen call “hard tails” (blue runners here in Miami). The bait was so thick around the cavernous pipes that every drop on the sabiki produced stringer after stringer of healthy baits.  In about 20 minutes, we had loaded the well with hundreds of palm sized hard tails – enough bait to permit live chumming.

We arrived to the floating rig under clear skies, just in time for the early tuna bite.

The first two baits in the water got crushed, producing two blackfin – one of which popped off at the boat.  Hunter setup to the North of the rig and the port rigger gets crushed – thinking it was a small blackfin I was aggressive with the fish, hauling it to the boat only to discover it was a nice cow dolphin accompanied by a big slammer!  A bit of mild panic ensues as the cow snagged a bottom rod and the pressure sent the hook flying right back at me – the bull promptly took off after the commotion, but that was the wake up call we needed to know the bite was definitely picking up.  We reset once again, but this time we see a big fin roll on the starboard hardtail.  Todd grabs the rod and up comes mr Marlin snaking his way across the surface!  The bite was a bit too ferocious and the snake walk was too fast to catch up – he spit the hook but sent everyone’s heart racing.  Lines back in and the yellowfins begin to wreak havoc.  Todd’s up first and pulls a nice 30lbr in the boat.

Another big slam on the port side rigger and i’m locked in for a fight with a 40lbr which was an awesome fight on the new Penn’s.

The bite shut down soon after releasing a smaller yellowfin and we decided to make the run to test our luck with some daytime swordfishing.  There aren’t many crews with the capability or experience to target broad bills during the daytime out of Venice, LA, but Paradise Outfitters has had a fair bit of experience.  Capt. Woody has fished with Capt. Nick on several occasions and has scored one nice daytimer to his credit so far. We made a few drops over some decent ledges with weak current and marked a bit of bait deep on the bottom.  A strike came on the second drop but it wasn’t acting very swordy – we all took turns hand cranking 1600 ft of line back onto the reel and up pops one of the stranger deep sea critters i’ve encountered to date – a Big Eye Six Gill Shark. With bright green eyes and a chocolate colored slimy skin, this was certainly a nightmarish site.

Another drop, and yet again, another sixgill! Hard to believe but it appears they are in significant abundance down there!

We decided the Bigeye sixgill sharks were likely to keep chewing up the bottom baits before the swordies made an appearance so  we called it quits and headed for the dock with blackened tuna steaks on our mind.

Day 2 was a trophy mission. We decided to chase the shrimp boats first thing in the morning. When the shrimp boats begin trawling in the fall about 20 some miles south of the river’s mouth, large schools of tuna (all varieties) start showing up in tremendous numbers.  Enormous schools of bonitas and blackfins will blast the surface behind the boats while larger yellowfins lurk below.  It’s an incredible and unique fishery that keeps you waiting in anticipation for that one big fish (or wolf pack of huge tunas) to make an appearance.

Arriving to the shrimping grounds as the sun rises is awesome to behold – tunas and birds everywhere, erupting in the slick behind the trawlers feeding on whatever comes there way.

As soon as our chunks hit the water there were hundreds of bonitas and blackfins busting all around us. After an hour of boating 25lb & 30lb blackfins with only a few smaller yellowfins in sight, we decided to press south for another round of daytime swordfishing.  Along the way we ran into a friendly shrimp boat that gladly exchanged a basket of cull for a tasty blackfin tuna.

We made a few drops over ledges which looked PERFECT for swordfish.  Very similar to the structure off the coast of Islamorada in my opinion.  We fished hard and worked some good bottom, but time took its toll on our daytime swordfish efforts, which only produced ANOTHER big eye six gill shark.

With the mid-day bite approaching and a report of a “monster” yellowfin being caught while chasing the shrimp boats, we hauled up the daytime sword rig and made the dash back to the shrimping grounds. We arrived to find tunas busting all around (bonitas and blacks) and knew there had to be some monster yellowfins in the mix.  We ran up behind one of the boats which seemed to have the largest flury of birds and bonitas and launched chunks into the water. On the second run we hooked two bruisers.  When I saw the first fish eat, I honestly thought it was a shark from its shoulders.  The width of the fish was absurd and the weight with which it pulled was crippling.  I called for the harness and went to work on him for 30 minutes before we got a glimpse of it -for a fleeting moment, we saw huge sickles and the broadside silvery yellow flash of an epic yellowfin. After sighting the boat, the fish ripped down about 100ft and put it in park.

I did my best to keep my cool and remain calm, but my heart was literally on the verge of exploding with excitement. The drag was set to 27lbs, which Capt. Woody assured me wasn’t too much pressure for a fish this size.  We never fish that much pressure in South Florida, so part of the battle became a mental tug of war – talking myself out of backing down on the drag every 15 seconds. Sure enough, I slowly worked the fish up from the depths, adrenaline and anxiety boiling inside of me. This was the epic yellowfin I had chased for years and finally was just 100ft away.  Hunter prepped the harpoon while Woody moved the gaffs to the port side of the cat.

Our shot finally came and hunter sank the dart – I felt the pressure on the rod go light as Woody put the first gaff in the fish and held the beast to the boat. With the second gaff in place – one, two, three and over the side!

Once the adrenaline wore off and the excitement gave way to exhaustion, my wits came back about me and the realization of success set in. I couldn’t help but smile all the way back to Venice Marina. Experiences like this are few and far between for South Florida anglers – true tests of strength, stamina, and angling ability. This was one of the fish battles I will always remember, but for the crew at Paradise Outfitters – it marks the start of yet another shrimp boat tuna season with many more giants to come.  There are few charter operations which can consistently put their crew on trophy tunas like this with impeccable consistency – Capt. Hunter and Capt. Woody are undoubtedly one of the leading teams fishing The Gulf.

While anyone can buy top notch tackle and boats, few can operate first class charter operations, and even fewer still have the experience to find, hook, and land giant yellowfin tuna in nearly any condition.

Venice, LA Fishing with Paradise Outfitters is a truly world class experience. It’s rare to find unparalleled talent coupled with laid back attitude and perseverance.  Capt. Hunter is relentless in his pursuit of the biggest tunas in the gulf and there’s no doubt in my mind he will continue to be successful for years to come. If giant yellowfin tuna fishing is on your bucket list, do yourself a favor and make time for an expedition in Venice, LA.