Anybody ever been to Venice, LA for Yellowfin?

Post by **Will_Fish_4_Food** » December 1st, 2006, 2:19 pm

We're planning to go in January. Just wondering if anyone had an experience or suggestions I could reference. No charter captain in the plans which I would expect is the first "lesson learned".

Post by **Tom Keels** » December 1st, 2006, 2:30 pm

It is on my list of things to do.

Post by **MudDucker** » December 1st, 2006, 2:33 pm

There is a fellow here in Valdosta, Frank Strickland who is a Venice pro. He goes several times every year. Everytime he has invited me, I've had court hearings I could not get out of. They have an awesome time.

Post by GC » December 1st, 2006, 2:43 pm

Taking your own boat?

I've been working on a trip for a while now. Let us know how it works out.

No personal experience, but I've heard good things about this guy. http://www.relentlesssportfishing.net/
If nothing else, might give him a call for some pointers.......

Post by **Will_Fish_4_Food** » December 1st, 2006, 4:12 pm

I found a few like Relentless that say they will give input to help.

We've got 4 boats that we're taking from Tally. I'm interested to see what 2000 lbs of LY's looks like

Post by **Chalk** » December 1st, 2006, 5:01 pm

I found an open seat to the lump in January, trying to see if I can swing the trip....rodnreel.com has some good pics from some guides

Post by **electric chicken** » December 1st, 2006, 6:30 pm

LA...is that lower alabama?

Saltwater4me · Post by **Saltwater4me** » December 1st, 2006, 10:32 pm

The trip is fairly easy and not to too expensive for what you get out of it, if you do it yourself. You need a good connection or reports from Venice to know when the tuna are running. This will usually be Jan - Feb. I have a good friend in Pensacola that goes every year and takes his own boat (25' Aquasport). Always run out in two boats for safety. It is about a 45 - 70 mile ride depending on where the Tuna are. My buddy likes to drive to Venice and motor out the first afternoon to where ever he finds fish. Then spend the night on the water just drifting and fishing. Finish up your limit (or endurance) the next morning and motor back in by late afternoon. It is very exhausting, but an unreal trip. Good luck with your trip. I have not been south of New Orleans since the storm.

Post by **seatrout99** » December 5th, 2006, 11:50 am

I would not suggest taking your boat first trip for safety reasons. The fog can be terrible. RADAR is a must. Snags and jetties line the passes. It's just not worth it if you are not used to running there. You need to see those passes before you try to run them yourselves in your own boat. Also, I don't really think it is cost-effective to pull your boat out there.

Call Reel Peace Charters and book with them. They are reasonable and catch fish. We fished four people on a boat with no problem. Trip split four ways made it very affordable and no hassles of towing a boat 500 miles. They even clean your fish. We fished two days and the trip cost me less that $800 bucks total - food, drinks, lodging (3 nights at Cypress Cove Lodge), gas, fishing, tip, etc........

And a 170 lbs YFT will kick your butt!

http://www.reelpeace.com/

Post by **Perch Jerker** » December 5th, 2006, 11:17 pm

I'm ready.

Saltwater4me · Post by **Saltwater4me** » December 6th, 2006, 11:44 pm

I second the motion about Reel Peace Charters. I am probably going in February, if hunting season doesn't use up all of my "get out of jail free cards" around the house.

About towing your own boat, that is a haul with a big enough boat to do what you need to, but doing it in you own rig is exciting. Yes, radar is a must.

My friend in Pensacola that goes most every year called yesterday and asked if I would go. He said that it made no difference to him if we took his boat or chartered with Reel Peace. If you guys get up a road trip let me know and we might coordinate something or split the charter.

December 7th, 2006, 11:13 am

Plan A - 1/18-21
Plan B - 1/22-25

Weather/Report dependent decision on 1/17/07.

At this point I think everyone wants to try w/out a charter, however my case to charter is starting to grow legs. Trailering the boats doesn't seem to bother anyone, 3 out of the 4 are radar equipped with a chance at 4 out of 4 at the expense of giving up the cuddy for safety of radar.

We'll be at Cypress Cove.

January 11th, 2007, 12:04 pm

Switched plans....chartering on 1/24-25. What a relief..

Post by GC » January 11th, 2007, 12:27 pm

Good Luck! Take pictures!

TroutTrent · Post by **TroutTrent** » January 11th, 2007, 2:49 pm

Don't forget the light tackle for the awesome Trout and Red fishing over there

Good luck,,,,as if you would need it over there from what I've seen and read