Corpusfishing.com

[gulftrout]

Frigate birds. I have heard they always appear when a storm is on the way. This is the first time I have seen them this summer. They used to live on an old rig north of "Whitey" we called "The Gallows." Not sure if that rig is still there but if it is, I'm pretty sure they still call it home. I just may take my whaler up that way and check it out if I make my trip from Port A. to Matagorda.

[gulftrout]

A "Rock Hind" or commonly called "Strawberry Grouper."

[gulftrout]

This is the largest ling ever landed on a boat I was running. It went 84 lbs. I had the fish cleaner cut the head off after cleaning.(I was thinking about getting it mounted) The head by itself weighed 35 lbs. I saw and hooked one larger at the "Way-Downs."(These were a couple big rigs 36 nautical miles south of Port Aransas, they were pulled years ago) Lucky for "Me" it got off the hook before I had to gaff it. I did not have a deck hand that day!

[gulftrout]

Both these 80+ lb. catches came from "Sparkyville." Joey Pritchard, my deckhand, caught a blue runner and wanted to slow troll it between the two offshore rigs of the four there. About half-way to the yellow rig I looked back and saw this 80 lb. "Wahoo" swimming right behind the blue runner. I sped up and watched in amazement as that lit-up fish ate the bait. The ling pictured came from the second rig closest inshore, the mid-size yellow one.(I have heard that there are only two of the original four rigs left) One Sunday we were about finished and Joey wanted to try this spot on the way home. We saw two ling there and he quickly hooked up the big one. He instructed me to stay out of his way when it came along side to be gaffed. He was a big guy and played basketball for Ingleside HS. He sure made that summer easy! When we got in Captain Cody asked where we caught the ling. After I answered he said a few choice words and mentioned he had seen it a couple days before and was going to head that way on tomorrows trip. I apoligize, Brian.

[gulftrout]

My old friend "Louie Kusey", God rest his poor soul. I guess he was a lucky fisherman. He did not work with me all that much, but 2 of the biggest ling ever caught while I was running a boat over a 20 year period, he was on board. Eighty three pounds on the "Bill Busters" and 76 lbs. on the "Salt Water Express."

[gulftrout]

My old friend, "Bob Dubose" with "Half Fast Machine Shop" chartered the "Sparky" for the Deep Sea Round-up one year. His wife won first place ling. I really wish I still had a few of his colorful shirts. A couple I remember are, "Port A. Where They Bite Every Day," with a large "mosquito" on the shirt. The other one was, "It's Not How Deep You Fish, It's How You Wiggle Your Worm." Here we are pictured backing into the weigh station at the Port Aransas "Deep Sea Round-Up". It had been a good seven years, but this was my last year running the "SPARKY" and the last time for this boat in this tournament, for me.

[gulftrout]

I am just about to get the "Hell" beat out of me by this big ling we caught at the "Samedan" Rigs SE of Bob Hall Pier. This was before Packery Channel and fishing used to be unbelievable when the conditions got right. I'm using my "Special" gaff for this sized fish. It was a piece of 3/4 galvanized pipe 8 or 9' long with a 4" shark hook bolted and clamped to it, with the barb filed off. It was ugly, but "Always" did the job.

[gulftrout]

Eight foot seas were nothing for the "Old Sparky Boat." Funny thing is, Captain Reese and I were the only charter boats out that day. He was out there on a 20' outboard with the sports writer for the "Austin American Statesman." The year, 1989. Bill Busters looked a lot different back in the mid 90's, but it still sure attracts fish! Thanks Captain Reese, it was a fun summer and one I will always remember.

[lifeaquatic]

cool old photos.

Frigatebirds?

[gulftrout]