Corpus Christi Texas 56hr Trip

The trip that was planned a month ago finally happened!
Four fishing hungry blokes from New York (Jose, Sami, Tom and myself) made our way to Corpus Christi and met up with Chris from Hot’s equally hungry for some Tuna action.
Loaded up our rental truck with food and off to Port Aransas. We were warmly welcomed by the Texan hospitality and met up with some friends whom we have not seen for ages.
It was good to be in Texas, the weather was beautiful and warm and for the next 56 hour, we will be fishing onboard the Scat Cat some 150 nautical miles offshore.
The 15-hour boat ride to Perdido rig was long and rough but the seas started to calm down as soon as we reached the floating rig a very very big RIG.
They were not wrong when they say everything is big in Texas.
Daylight was still a couple of hours away so we started casting in the dark with big lures and poppers trying to get the YFTs to come up.
For the next 16 hours we were loading up the boat with YFTs ranging from 40lbs – 120lbs (guesstimate) and for some of us lucky few, limited out before sunrise.
We were bringing in these fishes at lightning speed and the tackle we brought were all performing at their optimum keeping the tunas away from the 80 feet long catamaran hull.
When we were done with the limits with everyone onboard, we headed to a different rig for some bottom fishing.
The next spot yielded vermillion snappers, groupers, blue runners, amberjacks, jack crevalles, makos and even a big squid!
When it was time to go, everyone shared food, drinks, stories and experiences on the open deck enjoying the beautiful weather for the last 5 hours of our journey.
Thumbs up to the Scat Cat crew, Fred and Steve who helped us with the logistics and all the information about fishing in Texas.
Kevin for the zip lock bags at the fillet station!!!
Mark for the directions, which saved us from getting lost.
Thank you everyone who was on this fantabulous trip, we will be back!
Tackle used,
Rods – MC Works, Saltywater Tackle Race Point 200, 250, Saltywater Tackle Prototype Jigging Rod, Spinal Rods,Hot’s, Valleyhill Exploder, Yamaga Blanks.
Reel – Shimano Stella, Trinidad, Daiwa Saltiga, Studio Ocean Mark.
Jigs and Lures – Craft Bait, CB One, Hot’s, Moutoukenmaru, TB Lures, Siren Lures, Tackle House Shibuki, Deep Liner, Shout.
Lines and Leader – Sunline, YGK, Shout Sasame, Varivas, Yozuri.
Now for the photos!

Tight Lines!
Paul
Saltywater Tackle.

Epic Bluefin tuna season opening, Oregon Inlet Jan 14 2012

For the past 3 years Saltywater Tackle have been opening the jigging and popping season in North Carolina, it is a like a tradition to us and we will very much keep it going,
We have been talking on a daily basis with Captain Ned Ashby from Sea Breeze and Captain Dan Rooks from Tuna Ducks to check on the bite and most important to find out if the fish showed up!
We got the call last week but the weather was not in our favor and a major decision needed to be made as Chris, Hot’s field tester is flying down from California,
I wanted to go badly as I know we will do well, many guys are waiting for the bite report to start before pulling the trigger and commit to a trip, while I know it is a matter of going out and putting in the time, so off we go with a total 4 anglers,
Chris, Paul Ilya and I took the drive and made it right before light,
Greeted by Captain Ned and first mate George and off to the spot.
After 15 minutes trying to raise the fishes up with a spreader bar we saw a fish annihilating the teasers, all 4 of us casted but no love, then all of a sudden Captain Ned shouted, I am marking fish, 4 jigs cut through the water column,
Chris came tight and fights the fish and loses it right next to the boat,
30 minutes goes by and again 2 jigs goes down and I came tight on the new Saltywater Tackle Outer Banks prototype jigging rods, more detail will follow as we are in the process of testing a couple of jigging rods that we are designing for the massive Blue fin tunas in the Outer Banks.
After 40 minutes I landed my first Blue fin tuna and we opened the season, the fish estimated at 320lb and measured 81 inches,
Again I made a cast and came tight with the Race Point 200 and the Shell Shaping twister lure, fought the fish and brought it to color in under 20 minutes, the fish measured 84 inches and estimated at 340lb,
Chris came tight next and he lost the fish right away as she bit through the leader, dropped the jig again and Chris came tight again and he finally landed a nice 80 inch fish estimated at 300lb,
All fishes landed free style and none of us used any harness !!
What a day for us and to open the season, another group will be arriving on Monday. We will keep you guys posted!
Tackle used:
Hot’s One Pitch Slider 56XH
Race Point 200, 250, 300
Valley Hill EXP-55XXB The Maori Spirits
MC Works Southern Deep Ultimate Monster SD538XX
Saltywater Tackle Outer Banks 400 jigging rod (MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW)
Line used: Sunline PE Jigger 8HG, Shout Sasame PE Premium, Varivas SMP
Popping Leader: Saltywater Tackle twisted leader
Lure & Jigs: Shell Shaping Twister,Shout Shab Shab & Stay, Hot’s drift tune, Deep Liner
Enjoy the pictures guys !!

Tight lines
Sami

Saltywater Tackle Outer Banks 400 prototype Jigging Rod!

Saltywater Tackle Race Point 200 In Action!!