I have been on the eight hour and twelve.  It was this time of year, we caught shark, king, snapper, and i caught one big jack cravelle

Bobby D

Hello, new here (kinda getting a late start looking for a father/son hunting lease).

Anyways, to your question I've fished every operator out of Port A one time or another.

A 40 hour on Dolphin Docks will put you on either the La Pesca or the Dolphin.  I prefer the Dolphin - there isn't a better crew in Port A and only one better Captain (IMO).

The only bad thing about their boats is that they are slow. I primarily target yellowfin tuna, the 40 hour trip is a too short for them to run out to the deep water floaters (it can take 15 hours each way for the Dolphin to reach Hoover/Diana).

Therefore what they will do on the 40 hour is get you 2 days worth of limits on snapper, amberjack, kings, and probably scads of blackfin tuna which are just as good to eat as yellowfin.

I was down visiting family week before last and did a 12 hour on the Pelican out of Deep Sea Headquarters.  We caught limits of snapper, amberjack, and quite a few blackfin.  The blackfin were very close in, we were still catching them only 1-1/2 hour out of Port A.

There is no limit on blackfin so be sure to keep only what you can eat - a good size blackfin will run 20-25lbs, they can get a bit bigger.  AJ's can get very big but you'll need something other than the boat tackle to get the big ones.  Snapper and grouper should be plentiful.  The Captain on the Dolphin knows some excellent snapper and grouper locations. 

Boat tackle will work - with the exception of large AJ's. 

If you want to pick up any tackle snapper slapper lures work well tipped with sardines for snapper, grouper, and aj's (though bigger AJ's will cause the hooks to fail).

4/0 to 7/0 Circle hooks direct tied to the line work great with sardines for blackfin and dolphin - the boat should have plenty of sardines.

For a little added spice, look for some iron jigs such as "knife" jigs to fish the botton for snapper, aj's, and grouper.  Also, at night the blackfin will absolutely tear up Yozuri poppers cast on the surface and worked like a bass popper.  Best models to get are the Yozuri Bull GT (really best for yellowfin but blackfin will hit it too) or especially the smaller Yozuri Hydro Poppers.

Good luck!

Earl

I almost forgot, on the freelined sardines for blackfin/dolphin/kings,ling, etc. - you might put on a small weight if you choose (I usually do not).

Also, on the bottom fishing for snapper/grouper.  Someone is going to catch bonita at some point.  Cut squares or that (or even slabs) and put that on a good sized circle hook - you'll catch bigger snapper and grouper this way. 

Lastly, instead of sardines if those aren't available (or even if they are as it works great too) if someone ends up cutting a small blackfin into "chunks" - drift one away from the boat with a slit cut into it and your hook inserted into the slit.  It will stay on.  Blackfin (yellowfin too) absolutely love chunk baits.  The crew will likely throw a handfull of these chungs (or sardines) into the water as chum to attrack the blackfin.

Allways be ready because even inside the 100 fathom curve it is possible for a yellowfin to show up amid the blackfin, then the fight will be on!

Earl

i am actually going on an 8 hour trip out of port aransas on the adventurer the same day you are leaving on the 40 hour trip. would love to go on a 40 hr. trip but time does not allow it. let us know how you do and i will do the same. anyone have any info on the adventurer out of port aransas? i have been on their web site. would like some personal comments if you have any.

GIG EM AGGIES

dan if your going to be down there we are going wade fishing sat. morning between 9-10 if you want to go my email is on my profile. i hear they are catching the heck out of them. i will post pictures sometime next week

GIG EM AGGIES

hey justin. thanks for the invite. i would love to go but the boat leaves the dock saturday morning at 7:00 am. i dont want it to leave without me. my wife would probably not like that. maybe some other time and i do appreciate it. and by the way "GIG EM AGGIES"!! i too will hopefully have pictures to post.

GIG EM AGGIES