Report submitted by 'Oz'

Nyati Offshore Report Port Aransas, TX September 17th, 2005 Tweet

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Mid September and Fall is starting to set in. Fish are beginning to move with migratory patterns and weather is changing with water temps in the gulf are slowly cooling off. YT invited us out once again on the NYATI in search of billfish. The team consisted of mainly the regulars and we headed out early Sat morning pre-sunrise. After a slow rough ride out we made it to what appeared to be an optimal location despite the conditions. We pulled up to a rip and started trolling. Through the course of the morning we had at least 2-3 billfish come up in the spread and nail some lures without hookups. We changed to ballyhoo and started hooking into and picking up several small Dorado.

After about 8 Dorado noon came around and the bite slowed down. We remained on a good rip holding many Dolphin but after switching to plastics and making about every change in thebook we still couldn't hook into anything.

The bite remained slow and early in the afternoon we decided to head south to where we were hearing of concentrated baitfish holding on a prevailing weedline. Around 4pm we finally make our way to our destination and get baits out just as we come up on a load of activity on the surface. Our first pass and we have a quick double hook up as Brice stood by with the gaff.

I get in and land a Blackfin Tuna as Aggie lands a large Skipjack Tuna (Oceanic Bonito). From this point on it was Game On.

The Tuna were destroying bait on the surface and the action only grew the longer we were there. Tuna and Bonito were going aerial on the surface surrounding various pods concentrated around several Whale Sharks.

Multiple hookups resulted in fun welcoming chaos. Quadruple hookups had happened several times as we raced to keep lines clear of each other.

We would continue to reign hell on the Blackfins on every pass YT made around the feeding Tuna. Scott Nate and Aggie would make Tred Barta proud. Those of us that weren't hooked up would clear the other lines and help land the fish.

During one of the multiple hookups, Nate hooks into a solid fish that starts emptying his reel. After a short time Nate is able to turn it and quickly bring it in to find a dead crushed tuna. The culprit.. a large Marlin wanting a piece of the action, one deep slice as if it were done by a razor sharp sword and skinning a portion of the back in the process.

We then put some meat back out but still resulted in Tuna covering the spread. Multiple hookups continued and was rare to be hooked in to only one fish at a time.

We make it in, around, and through the feeding frenzy and come across the largest of the Whale Sharks in the area.. a massive gentle beast 25-30' long swimming along under the surface in the activity.

There was no evading the tons of Tuna exploding on the surface. It would really suck being a small baitfish in the vicinity of these torpedoes. Sometimes we just watched in awe at the action we were seeing develop before us.

Rodney, Scott, and Aggie are once again hooked up. It got the the point where we were regaining strength and stamina and passing the rod on to another tired victim.

With the sun setting and still 2 hours out, we had boxed close to 3 dozen Tuna in a short time. Happy faces during these chaotic frenzies make these fun times well worth the trip. We begin our journey back to the dock with a supply of sashimi awaiting us.

We get back and Aggie poses with his large Skipjack Tuna and here is a display of the catch.

While we didn't land and Billfish or Yellowfin, the non-stop destructive action of the Blackfin Tuna allowed everyone to get their fill of the action.. and then some. Thanks to a great bunch of guys and as always, thanks to YT for another fun trip aboard the Nyati.

- Oz

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