Orange Beach Fishing Reports » Tuna

Deep Water Delight

Action Charter Service — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:27:42 +0000

Once again we are riding the Emerald Spirit out for a day of fishing in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. We had 10 hours to get it done in the same fashion we usually have 12. The first stop was on the rocks offshore for some Vermillion Snapper and white Snapper with the chance of getting some other good bait fish with them. The first place I stopped was on fire. We caught real nice Mingos and whites one and two at a time. Before you knew it we had limited out for the Vermillion Snapper at 10 per person. After that we decided to go a little deeper and try some Amberjacks and maybe a Scamp or two. I traveled about 3 or 4 miles, just enough time to let everybody get something to drink and let the deck hands regroup for the jacks with heavier tackle. We arrived to the hole and prepared to drop four lines at a time. You are allowed to keep one fish per person so with seven anglers I figured it wouldn’t be long for each person to tag out and pass the rod off to the next guy. Boy do I love it when a plan comes together. We dropped four baits and immediately were on with four big Jacks. We tagged out with the rods to the next anglers as the fish came in and in no time we were done, limited out.

They brought up Yellow-edge Grouper, Snowy Grouper, Scamp and to my huge surprise some of the most Monster-size Mingos we’ve ever caught. No kidding. They were 5-6 pounds a piece.

So I told them to grab the two hook bottom rigs and drop them for some Scamp right there on the same spot. Sure enough we caught a few but it wasn’t what I knew we could do so we moved to our third hole of the day which was even deeper than the last, now we are in 290 – 310 feet of water. As I rode down to the next spot I was remembering the last time we fished there last season and it dawned on me that we caught some deep water Grouper there. I told the deck hands to get ready for some of those and we’ll try it. When we got there every one was baited up and ready to drop. You have to be ready to drop when I tell you, especially in the deeper water like this because it’s sort of like precision bombing, everybody has to go down at the same time to avoid tangles and to assure you hit the target. We dropped and it didn’t take long to see we hit the target good. Everyone got fish on and I knew we made the right decision. They brought up Yellow-edge Grouper, Snowy Grouper, Scamp and to my huge surprise some of the most Monster-size Mingos we’ve ever caught. No kidding. They were 5-6 pounds a piece. It was a good thing the deck hands used up some of the other b-liners we had for live bait earlier because I would have died to have to throw those back. That’s when I realized it was time to go home. Three stops and we put the mash down on them. It doesn’t get any better. I can’t wait till next week when we go on our first overnight Tuna trip. The reports are great offshore and there are plenty of nice fish, we’ll check it out.

Emerald Spirit Maiden Fishing Voyage

Action Charter Service — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:14:52 +0000

: Emerald Spirit Maiden Voyage

She was a lean mean “fishing machine” as we headed out on our overnight maiden fishing voyage aboard the new Emerald Spirit. The excitement had built as the month long anticipated trip had finally arrived. Some anglers came to the boat the night before as they pulled into town to find last minute preparations taking place. They went to purchase a Saltwater Series Tournament ticket and were off to get a good night’s rest for the 36 hour fishing marathon.

About twelve men gathered at daybreak to board the new vessel. She gleamed metallically as the sun rose awaiting her captain and crew to charter into unknown territory. The first stop brought us Mingos and a few Scamp. We caught Red Grouper, Gag Grouper as we fished out to the rigs where we got Amberjack. As the afternoon went on we got our evening Tuna as we grilled on the Big Green Egg. We shut down about 2 a.m. for a few hours rest and then were back up after the Tuna for the early morning catch. When the Tuna quit biting we moved on to more Amberjack and Grouper, Scamp and Mingos to arrive back at 6 p.m. with 1200 pounds of fish (see picture). It was a great first trip for an experienced captain and crew.

When we arrived at the dock we were so pumped up exclaiming how much fun had been had, how much food eaten and how it had been the best fishing trip ever. We weighed in for the tournament and ended up with three fish on the board, an 11 pound Trigger, which currently still holds 1^st place; a 55.6 pound Amberjack which was third and a 4.8 pound Mingo which is big for that species.

Come on down and catch fish with us – GUARANTEED FUN!

Emerald Spirit Maiden Voyage

Captain George Pfeiffer

Action Charter Service

888-558-3889

www.FishEmeraldSpirit.Com

Emerald Spirit Arrived at the Emerald Coast

Action Charter Service — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:08:25 +0000

The newest and most improved boat to the Gulf – “The Emerald Spirit” has arrived and is ready for fun in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama. The 65’ Bonner has been completely renovated inside and out with all new amenities, including, hot and cold showers, ice machine, cushions in the v-berths to sleep 12, mirrored ceilings, and a brand new large green egg grill. This girl has all new electronics, twin 600 hp Lugger Engines that cruise about 19 knots. The boat is certified for 49 passengers; has 70 brand new matching custom rods and reels and is geared up for all types of fishing, including tournaments, overnight tuna and marlin trips, day trip bottom fishing for Snapper, Trigger, Grouper and offshore for Amberjack and Wahoo. We also accommodate corporate outing trips for a different meeting experience. When we aren’t fishing private trips, we will have affordable walk-on party boat trips so it’s a very versatile vessel indeed. Captain George Pfeiffer who was born and raised locally fishing this area will own and operate the Emerald Spirit. With his reputation and knowledge of the sport, it is sure to be an unforgettable fishing extravaganza. Check out our website at www.FishEmeraldSpirit.Com.

Good Weather and Good Fishing

Action Charter Service — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:07:15 +0000

Once again we enter the fishing season with some good weather and the fishing has been great. We’ve reported to you on the start of the season and how it looked like it might be a sign of better things to come and so far it hasn’t let us down. The offshore action is picking up trolling out around the rigs like the Marlin, Beer Can, Patronius, and even the Ram Powell. Some 60lb.

Yellow Fin Tuna and small Black fin Tuna have been caught on each but are still moving around from rig to rig depending on the current and wind direction. Most are being caught trolling with small Ballyhoo and soft head lures wile there have been a few caught with live bait on a kite or chunk fishing. The other day one of my buddies told me that as he was trolling by one of the rigs early in the morning the Rainbow Runners suddenly showered out of the water toward the rig.

This could only mean one thing; the man in “Blue” was after them. He knew there was a Blue Marlin chasing the school for a morning snack. “They’re here”.

As for the bottom fishing, it hasn’t slowed down at all. If any thing it’s gotten even better due to the water temperature rising and the bait fish showing up more. The Red Snapper are bigger and more plentiful than ever before for as far back as I can remember and I’ve been here for 48 years in this Gulf Coast area. Thanks to the efforts of the National Marine Fisheries we now have so many fish that if they don’t let us have back our fish limits and Total Allowable Catch you can look forward to seeing swimmers being eaten alive like Piranha from the Red Snappers. Yet still they say that the Fish Stock hasn’t rebuilt itself from “Over Fishing”.

The Wahoo and King Mackerel are biting good trolling. We use a #2 Plainer with a 3-4 inch Drone spoon either plain silver, Hot Pink or Chartreuse. It depends on the clarity of the water that day and how much sun light there is. When we troll for Wahoo we use a pair of 9/0 Penn reels with wire line on a Bent Butt Deep Drop rod. Then we put a 16oz. to 48oz. trolling weight in front of a lure that is around 24oz.

Sometimes we change that up a little and use a soft head in front and over the top of a skirt with an 8oz. lead in the head for a different effect at a slower speed. Generally we troll between 13 and 18 knots. This is why we use all of the heavy line and weights, to get the lure down far enough for the fish to see it. Let me tell ya, “It Works!” We troll out to our fishing holes in the morning and then between spots and back home again every day.

The Scamp and Grouper bite is still going strong as is the Magnum B-Liners (Vermillion) or (Mingo). Some of the Scamp as big as 18lbs.and the Mingo’s as big as 5.5lbs. The Scamp are biting small Pinfish and Squid and the Mingo’s on Squid. The Trigger Fish are showing up as well in good numbers.

All in all you can’t ask for it to get any better that that. We are all looking forward to the Federal opening of Snapper Season on June 1st. That is when the “World Championship Red Snapper Tournament” starts. There will be a First Place Prize of $25,000.00 and it pays out thru 10 places, Tenth place being $1,000.00. I can’t wait. We’ve always placed in the top ten coming close to the big money, but not yet. Maybe next time. Call us and let us take you out for a chance to win.