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Random Quote: ever stop to think...and forget to start again?
Saturday July 1st made my first and long awaited tuna trip. We traveled to the Shell "Brutus" floating drilling/production rig. "Brutus" sits in something like 3000' of water and is in Green Canyon block 158. This makes her 83 miles south of Fourchon our starting point. I made the trip along with 3 other tuna virgins my dad, younger brother and buddy Jay. Also of course the captain of the boat, Split Decision, Heath. I was humbled to say the least. It was a serious adventure. Sorry the story is so long, but it was allot to take in!
We started getting things in order and loading the boat at around 9am Saturday morning. Filled the boat with 215 gallons of gas, picked up 400lbs of ice and got the bait we needed. Had the boat in the water at Fourchon for around lunch time. Made a quick stop at the pass to catch some croakers. We were going to try live croakers for rig fishing on the way/way back and also see how the tuna liked them. We caught 25 or so and then started the 83 mile journey to "Brutus". Along the way out we made stops to catch bar jacks along some weed patches. My younger brother and buddy Jay did some free diving along the grass patches and shot a few pictures. Once out in some deeper water we made some drops near a rig in 280' with live bait. We were broken off twice and caught an undersized gag (which sucks because it was wrenched up from the bottom and I'm sure died). After that we headed to "Brutus" with no more fishing stops. Finally made it to "Brutus" sometime between 6:30-7pm. Four other boats had lines in the water. We set out a trolling spread and made laps around the rig until a half hour after dark with not a bite. After dark we set up drifting. On each drift we would put out one live bait and throw poppers blindly and at busting fish if we saw any. The night was slow and action was not very steady. By 10pm I was extremely tired and also feeling a little queezy so laid down for a nap. Not long after laying down the live bait line had a strike. My brother picked up the line and fish on! The fish didn't seem to be fighting very hard. We got a glimpse and it was a yellowfin! After we saw him he put up a good effort, but came in the boat. My brothers first tuna, a yellowfin, that went 50lbs or so. What was funny is the fish was caught on a line that cost $55 from walmart. The kind of rod with only 3 eyes on it and a reel made by a company I have never heard of with a level wind! All I could think about was the gurus who say you can't catch a tuna on a level wind reel (see pictures)! Also it was caught on a channel mullet. I'm sure that has to be a first! After that excitement wore off and no more bites I went back for a rest. I was awoken by my brother who had just hooked a tuna on a surface popper. He handed the rod to me and I fought my first tuna. I was successful at getting him into the boat. It was a very nice blackfin. It is my first tuna, but I didn't hook it so in my mind it doesn't count. After that I crashed and didn't wake up until daylight. Four or five more blackfin were caught and that was it. The good thing is everybody on the boat was able to catch at least one tuna. The bite never really turned on for us. By morning the seas had gotten rougher. We had a LONG ride in. At 8:15am we gave up and started the journey in. The first 20 miles were like a dream. We were able to run 28 knots with no pounding or spray. We stopped at the first rig in out path which was in 480' to try for some amberjack. I made drops losing baits. Finally I connected and caught my largest red snapper to date. It weighed 19lbs. I was stoked! After a few more drops with no rewards off we went. The seas built some and the ride quality decreased. At 43 miles out we stopped at another rig in 320' of water. At this rig my brother and Jay decided to get in the water and try to shoot something. My brother is just getting into free diving and bought his first spear gun on the previous Friday. There were able to practice on a couple of chubs and a horse eyed jack. They really enjoyed that. My dad caught a nice mangrove on blackfin belly. I thought we might get into the mangroves, but he turned out to be the only one hungry. I finally was able to break in my brand new Daiwa Saltist/Shimano Travela rod that I bought from Tackle Direct on a 25lbs horse eyed jack. It was a pretty good fight. The reel is smooth as silk and the power is amazing. The rod while good is a little light for my taste. I bought the medium power, but will try to sell as I ordered a heavy power today from Tackle Direct. Fishing so close to structure (rigs) I need more power to drag the fish away. Time got away from us at this rig. We looked up and saw a ominous squall line fast approaching from the east. The cold wind and white caps hit us and off we went. This made the seas rougher and the ride became pretty bouncy and very wet due to the extreme cross wind. We slugged it out in the building seas and beat the storms until we ran out of gulf. We ended up close to shore 20 miles west of the pass trying to out run the storms. We couldn't out run it anymore. We had to go through it to get home. It was a pretty nasty storm with strong winds, heavy ran and lightning. All we could do was hold an idle and keep the bow pointed into the heavy seas. Finally the storm broke and only choppy seas stood in our way. We plugged our way though them for the last 20 miles and made it to the dock 28 hours after leaving. Man I was wore out! That ride was LONG. 83 miles didn't seem extremely far until we actually ran it! I have a new respect for you guys that make these long runs all the time. I had no idea how much it takes to get out that far. All in all everybody had fun. 4 tuna virgins are no more as everybody on board was able to catch a tuna. It was a rough Monday for me. I found out just how out of shape I am! Need to exercise for this kind of fishing!
If those rigs were NOT there, and the fishing was still very good, will all you guys down there still make those overnight trips in small CC's? Doesnt usually work that way up here, but then again we dont have massive oil rigs at the canyons...
We make overnight trips on my dads 19' CC during the summer. We spend the night just outside the pass fishing for trout. I actually sleep pretty good on an open boat. Saturday night I put on my frogg toggs and layed on a bean back on the front deck.
If those rigs were NOT there, and the fishing was still very good, will all you guys down there still make those overnight trips in small CC's? Doesnt usually work that way up here, but then again we dont have massive oil rigs at the canyons...
This was my first trip. I don't think I would want to go back that far in an open boat unless the weather was perfect. There were four other boats at the rig. One was a 25' Seacat, one was a 30'+ Gravios with triple engines, one was another aluminum CC and the fourth boat looked to be a Hydra Sports CC about 25-27'. I think the rigs along the way, oilfield boat traffic and floating rig destination give you a false sense of security. I don't think as many small boats would go without the rigs being there, but who knows. I do think the fishing would still be good. The depth drops from 420' to 3000' in less than 20 miles.
GMACK!!!!! Awesome pictures bro, I'm glad you liked the rod/reel..I gotta get out to an oilrig one of these days hahaha
John,
Thank you again for the great service. You guys went above and beyond to make sure I had the rod and reel in time for the trip all a great price! You are now my go to vendor for all my tackle needs. You guys are the real deal.
Any time you get down here let me know. We will get you out to do some rig fishing.
Great pictures, the rigs along the way to destinations off the coast of La. do offer some security. Most platforms have helipads and some have personel on rhem full time. There are lots of supply boat traffic to the rigs. Most of the sevice company's that run the boats are very willing to help fishermen in trouble. About 10 yrs. ago I was towed in by a supply boat. There are many stories down here of people fishing being helped by persnel on work boats or the rigs. They also nice places to tie up and fish along the way yto a destination. All you other states need to open up oil drilling and you would have great fishing on your way to deepwater.
Great pics, looks like fun. In one of those pics it looks like you are swimming around the rig? Is that legal / cool? I would think that would be a huge foul with homeland security.. I really don't care either way, it just crossed my mind.
I was out 100 miles south of fouchon in my 27 contender a couple nights before on an overnighter. Slow for us also. Gotta love being out there though! Nice pics!
Great pics, looks like fun. In one of those pics it looks like you are swimming around the rig? Is that legal / cool? I would think that would be a huge foul with homeland security.. I really don't care either way, it just crossed my mind.
We were not near the Brutus rig while playing in the water. That was done near some production platforms in the South Timbalier 200 blocks 43 miles from land and in 320' of water. It is legal to dive the rigs unless some sort of dangerous work is going on.
I can honestly say that the best trips from a pure enjoyment are our night trips...less heat etc. The typical summer night pattern is for the wind to lay down a bit and its generally very very nice..easy drifting baits etc.... sometimes gotta dodge some TSTMS but main the stars are awesome....the fishing can be off the hook and well...like i said ...... the best times were just drifting the canyons after midnight listening to some tunes and just chilling out....till that line begines ZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Bigtuna what did you'll end up with? How about unreel what was your catch? BlueMarlin you are right it makes for a real good time being out there at night.
We stayed out there an afternoon and the night and ended up with one bull dolphin, one wahoo, 3 yellowfin (one going 80 lbs), 5 blackfin, and some big ole ajs on the way back in. We were fishing the fouchon tarpon rodeo and ended up with 2nd place yellowfin and 1st place blackfin (31 lbs). There was not much current or activity so I am very satisfied with what we ended up with. Can't wait to get back out!
Overnight Tuna Trip to Shell "Brutus" 
"diesel 10" sportfishing 
I really don't care either way, it just crossed my mind. 
