Advertisement

Gulf Coast Offshore Nets Great Big Game Fishing

The right weedline, the right oil rig and the right timing can net wahoo, dolphin, cobia, snapper and more on the Gulf Coast.
1-garmingallery.jpg
Earlier this month, editor Chris Woodward ran offshore from Galveston with a crew from Garmin electronics aboard a 36 Invincible with pro angler Bill Platt. Out near the Stetson Bank, Platt cranked up his Garmin radar (GMR 604xHD open array) and promptly spotted a fleet of shrimp boats (top center). Chris Woodward
2-garmingallery.jpg
Shrimp boats at anchor in 200-plus feet of water attract all kinds of pelagic fish life.
3-garmingallery.jpg
Garmin’s Carly Baltes (right), communications specialist, and Platt’s friend and mate-for-the-day, Joey, toss sardine chum off the bow, watching for signs of blackfin tuna.
4-garmingallery.jpg
Platt’s sounder (GSD 22) shows a school of fish rising to the chum beneath the boat. Chris Woodward
5-garmingallery.jpg
Hooked up! Greg DeVries, Garmin’s director of marine sales and marketing, hauls on a hefty fish with light tackle.
6-garmingallery.jpg
Baltes boats one of a swarm of schoolies the Garmin crew caught behind a shrimp boat.
7-garmingallery.jpg
A shrimp boat anchored near a weedline spelled instant dolphin hookups. Here, an angler leaves her fish in the water, hoping to keep the school near. Chris Woodward
8-garmingallery.jpg
Platt (left) and DeVries show off a brace of blackfins. Chris Woodward
9-garmingallery.jpg
Platt hoists a truly impressive blackfin for angler Baltes. Chris Woodward
10-garmingallery.jpg
Platt enters a waypoint for a new spot using the touch-screen keyboard on his GPSMAP 7215. Chris Woodward
11-garmingallery.jpg
The new numbers produced a surprise speedster – a wahoo that valiantly sprayed the gaff man. Chris Woodward
12-garmingallery.jpg
Platt subdues the wahoo for a photo before releasing it to the fish box. Chris Woodward
13-garmingallery.jpg
An always welcome visitor to a chum slick – a legal-size cobia! Chris Woodward
14-garmingallery.jpg
DeVries hammers another blackfin tuna. The tuna swim with schools of bonito that compete for chunk baits at a slick.
15-garmingallery.jpg
On the way to a bottom-fishing hot spot, Platt sees a rain cell approaching from the north. The XM/Sirius weather service helps him dodge summer thunderstorms. Chris Woodward
16-garmingallery.jpg
The GSD 22 sounder shows Platt a small cluster of fish nestled in the nearly featureless bottom. Chris Woodward
17-garmingallery.jpg
The happy result of good numbers and a top-notch sounder – a pair of delicious Gulf red snapper. Chris Woodward
Advertisement
Advertisement