Heading to Venice LA after Christmas. Help Please

Scoutin 4 Goodies · 11-02-2009, 06:54 PM

We have a buddy with a house boat is Venice that invited us down to duck hunt and hopefully tuna fish after Christmas. He knows very little about offshore fishing but encouraged us to bring down the contender and give it a try. We fish out of South Carolina pretty much exclusively. Sea witches and ballyhoo is what we know. I really would love some advise or someone that would share some pointers. I have considered chartering when we get there but it is just more fun to hunt with your own bird dog if you know what I mean. I am not above hiring and experienced mate for a day to show us the ropes. Kind of help shorten the learning curve.

So,

Rigs?
Locations?
bait?
heck is late December even a good time to offshore fish down that way?
How far will we need to run?

Thanks guys!

I would obviously love to return the favor if anyone ever heads to SC.

bluffman2 · 11-02-2009, 07:04 PM

im sure most of the guys are going to tell you to hit the floaters and jig and chunk for them.......

REDWEISER · 11-02-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutin 4 Goodies

I am not above hiring and experienced mate for a day to show us the ropes.

Best way to go.

OBALOFFSHORE · 11-02-2009, 07:20 PM

Probably that time of year you could follow everybody to the lump, at least start there.

Scoutin 4 Goodies · 11-02-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDWEISER

Best way to go.

Do you have anyone in mind? I hate to call a charter and ask to borrow their mate for the day. Doubt that would go over well.

bluffman2 · 11-02-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutin 4 Goodies

Do you have anyone in mind? I hate to call a charter and ask to borrow their mate for the day. Doubt that would go over well.

HELL just take "RED"

BOOMER · 11-02-2009, 08:24 PM

If you don't have radar on your boat leave it at home. As far as hiring a guide to run your boat, Eddie Burger, William Wall, Larry Hooper.

Scoutin 4 Goodies · 11-02-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOMER

If you don't have radar on your boat leave it at home. As far as hiring a guide to run your boat, Eddie Burger, William Wall, Larry Hooper.

I do have a radar, it is a 48mile dome not open array. I assume you are talking for navigational purposes.

Do you have numbers or websites for the above mentioned?

Also, is December a good time to go? Many of the websites I have review seem to lean toward that but they say every time of the year is good. If the fishing is slow then we will leave the contender and just duck hunt. I am sure we could go back during peak season.

Thanks for the info

lazy.dennis · 11-02-2009, 09:33 PM

winter months in venice are when the big tuna come out to play (200lb's are landed), and everyone is gonna be fishing the midnight lump which is maybe 30 miles i believe from venice.

luna sea II · 11-02-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutin 4 Goodies

I do have a radar, it is a 48mile dome not open array. I assume you are talking for navigational purposes.

Do you have numbers or websites for the above mentioned?

Also, is December a good time to go? Many of the websites I have review seem to lean toward that but they say every time of the year is good. If the fishing is slow then we will leave the contender and just duck hunt. I am sure we could go back during peak season.

Thanks for the info

the radar is for the pea soup fog that covers the delta during winter and spring. Venice can be a very dangerous place in the fog for someone who doesn't know the area even with a good chartplotter and radar. LOTS of hazards and obstructions.
as far as fishing december can be great for big wahoo and tuna if you know where to go. the lump used to be the place to go in winter but it has been dead the past couple of years. folks down here don't talk much about where the fish are so don't expect any good tips on where to fish. probably best to charter or hire a mate or captain to run your boat.
I think Eddie's site is fishvenice.com but I'm not sure.

Scoutin 4 Goodies · 11-03-2009, 05:20 PM

Thanks for the info. I called Captain Eddie, I have not heard back from him yet. I have been researching a bit and seems like live bait and chunking is the thing to do for the tuna.

Question, ballyhoo / islander style rigs are used alot on the SC and NC coasts. Any reason they are not used as much in LA?

bluffman2 · 11-03-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutin 4 Goodies

Thanks for the info. I called Captain Eddie, I have not heard back from him yet. I have been researching a bit and seems like live bait and chunking is the thing to do for the tuna.

Question, ballyhoo / islander style rigs are used alot on the SC and NC coasts. Any reason they are not used as much in LA?

my belief is that since theres not many major structures (rigs) off the east coast, is that you have to "find the fish" ....in the gulf the fish seem to be right around the rigs,so why troll when you can live bait,jig and chunk where they are?...just my .02

BOOMER · 11-03-2009, 06:36 PM

Rig your islanders on wire and bring em on. Should do real good on the wahoo if you want to try them. Always a good backup in Venice in the winter.

CaptEddie · 11-03-2009, 07:10 PM

I was a little busy so I never got back to you today but I will call you tomm. The reason we dont troll as much is partially because like bluffman said we know where the fish are so trolling is less productive then fishing with bait. Also when trolling a lot of times you will get eaten up with blackfins and skipjack and small yfs. Fishing the live bait seems to weed out at least the blacks and skipjacks.

Scoutin 4 Goodies · 11-03-2009, 08:31 PM

Makes since.

CaptEddie give me a call tomorrow. I will be tied up in meeting most of the day but will call you back if we miss each other.

Thanks!