Strike Zone Charters

Venice and Guatemala Fishing Reports from last week::::

Venice:  over night trip last Sunday/Monday ,   they wanted to stay close and not make the 100 mile run so we did what everyone else has been doing lately —which is getting a limit of nice Red Snapper, a limit of AJ’s, a mix of Groupers, Kings , Blackfin Tuna and of course Sharks.  The action was non stop but no Yellowfin… Capt. Kevin Aderholdt  had a day trip on the 55′ with a good group out of New Orleans.  They did the same with some 15 to 20 lb Snapper and the biggest was 32 lbs.  Still Blue Water is off the map….Capt Kevin is out now on the 55′ for a 24 hr trip…he will run 100+ miles and I will get you that report later today.

Guatemala:  As I reported last week on Saturday one of the boats had 30 Sails and 22 Dorado’s.  Capt Edgar had to make a fun trip after he got that report so on Monday he and some of his friend to off on the Strike Zone and ventured out 8 miles to catch 10 Sail’s and 33 Dorado’s….He was fired up….We have some spots open for our August and September trips so give us a call and get your group together and let us show you our fishing operation in Guatemala. It is FIRST CLASS from start to finish at a price you can afford.

The fishing out of Venice has been very good If you want to travel.   You can catch a lot of nice Yellowfin….When Capt. Kevin fires up the 55′ he has had some great trips in the past few months.  Working 85 to 100 miles out of Tiger Pass it has been his fishing grounds in the past four weeks. Blue water is still OFF THE MAP.  The water is not blue but a clean green and the Yellowfin have been very hunger.

He had a group out of Texas for a 24 hr trip last Friday/Saturday on the 55′ STRIKE ZONE TOO.   This was a fun group who had never caught any big Yellowfin…..What a treat….they had 9 Yellowfin with the largest being 122lbs, 1 Wahoo 36 lbs, limit of Red Snappers 5 to 10 lbs and over 25 Blackfin.   A nice trip, with a nice bunch of Anglers. After Capt. Kevin and Seth told them about our operation in Guatemala they started making their plans for a trip to Guatemala with us next year….They will then have had the best FISHING of both worlds.

We will have the 55′ Strike Zone Too and the 39′ Stress Management heading for Grand Isle to fish the Tarpon Rodeo….Of course we will be on the front row at Sand Dollar Marina thanks to my good friend Butch.  Butch always takes good care of us and we truly remember what he did for us after hurricane Katrina.  Anyway, come party and visit us at Sand Dollar Marina Friday and Saturday nights.
SEA YOU AT THE RODEO~~~~

Well – the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is over and my crew and guests had a GREAT TIME!  Thanks to Brother Butch at Sand Dollar Marina on the Island for putting up with our groups and taking good care of us…It was a great tournament and the party was out of sight. I got to see a lot of my friends, customers and some of my Ex-captains.

On the fishing side the Strike Zone TOO anglers won four trophy’s and had seven large ice chests filled with Tuna, Dolphin and Snapper fillets.

We arrived in Grand Isle on Wednesday afternoon on the Strike Zone TOO and the Stress Management.  At 6:00am on Thursday both groups were on the boats and ready for our long journey 125 miles southwest.  On the Strike Zone we ran 4 1/2 hours an stopped at our first platform to started trolling…After a short time we had our first 60 lb Yellowfin munching on one of our Islanders.  We worked the rig for about an hour and picked up 4 more 60 to 70 Yellowfin….We then put our autopilot on 180 and ran for 25 miles until we got to our home for the night.   We began trolling and it started off slow with a few Blackfin and Bonitos.  We did get a Marlin to put one of our Bonitos in his mouth – make three jumps and almost hit the drill ship.  He gave us a thrill but he never got hooked….After dark the bite was slow until 2:30 am. At that time we started catching some Blackfin along with some 60 to 70 lb Yellowfin until the sun came up…On Friday we picked up two Dolphin and on the way in we stopped and caught a limit of nice Red Snapper….By the time we got to Sand Dollar we had three large carts full of our catch on the Strike Zone. 

The Stress Management had a good trip also but things were so crazy I still don’t know what they caught. I do know that my crew and anglers had a GOOD TIME….. They had some boat problems but they did have a good time….at one point on Saturday night they had 50 people on the boat….that’s when I had to go to sleep.

On Sunday after finding everyone and getting the groups off the boats we had to go back to Venice and get ready for another 24 hr trip.   I hate to say it but both my crews looked a little green or should i say a lot GREEN.  By the time we got back to Venice and filled the boat up with diesel our new group was at the dock and ready to go fishing.   Capt. Kevin Aderhold, Seth Holl and Capt. David Frelich were back on the water again….heading Southwest on another 125 mile run.  They got back at 6:00 pm and had another great trip….this time the Marlin didn’t get off the hook and they tagged a 250 to 300 lb Blue.  Off course the ice chest were full with Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna….15 Yellowfin and  lots of Blackfin.  The weather was good but they did have a few bad storms blow through the night…This is when you want to be on a 55′ sportfishing vessel.

Capt. Kevin is out on a 24hr trip on the 55′ Strike Zone Too today and Capt. Josh is on a day trip on the 39′ Stress Management….Pictures and reports will follow tomorrow.

We are now booking for September and October when the Blue water moves in closer and the big Yellowfin start chasing the Mullets.  It is also starts the BEST season in Guatemala for the Sailfish RUN….Make plan for one of our exciting fishing trips out of Venice or Guatemala…..you will never forget the fun and the catch you will have”””’

Where do I start::::Last week Capt. Kevin Aderhold and Seth Holl on the 55′ went to the East and then went to the South and after running 120 miles didn’t find blue water or fish.  They had a 24 hr trip and they wanted to see if the reports were true about the blue water coming in from the Southeast.  They had to work very hard to land 25 Blackfin and only one Yellowfin in open water for the trip.  They spotted large schools of Yellowfin but when they would get close the fish would sound and never come back up to feed.  It was the first bad 24hr trip they had in over two years.  On Saturday/Sunday we had the pleasure of fishing with Dr. Randy Vick and family from Baton Rouge on the 55′ for a 24hr trip.  Doc worked with his family catching fish day and night.  This man was one of the best dad’s I have ever seen working and caring for his kids.  kudos to the Doc…We stayed in close but we had a limit of Snapper and Aj’s and one Tuna.  We got back to Cypress Cove at 5:00 pm on Sunday and our next group was at the dock and ready to go fishing…I got off the boat and Capt. JW Berry took my place and they were off to Capt. Kevin’s new home…GREEN CANYON. 

At 8:00 pm on Monday I got a call from Capt. Kevin…who by the way was very late….WE KILLED THEM….He said….. you never leave them biting…His next words –we had two Marlin ON and tagged one about 300+lbs.  We had 15 Yellowfin with the largest about 130lbs and all the Blackfin you wanted.  I was relieved but I had not heard from Capt. Josh Howard that was on a day trip on the Stress Management.  By that time i had a beep on the phone and it was Capt. Josh….Again I was relived to here his voice….We had a good Day …..we went 3 for 5 on Yellowfin with the largest 110 lbs, three 50lb + AJ’s and we tagged a 300+lb Blue Marlin.  BY this time I was relieved but a little jealous that i was not on one of those boats When Mr Marlin came CALLING.  Good job to the crews and anglers for a job well done.

We have a group from North Louisiana coming down for a 24hr trip on both boats tomorrow….I hope we can fill their ice chest with some fresh SOUTH Louisiana Tuna, Snapper and Amber Jack.

GUATEMALA:  No Action this week…We have the boats booked this weekend and I can’t wait for the reports….Give us a call to book your Guatemala Trip…the Sail’s start getting thick in October.
Book your September and October Yellowfin trips in Venice when the bite is in close and the ACTION is on Fire.

Just want to report that me and my family had the most fantastic fishing trip out of Venice with STRIKE ZONE CHARTERS on the 55′Ocean. Gary Bonanno and his crew could not have done a better job in preparing for us and making the trip for me, my children of 13, 12 and 9, and a couple of other family members an experience to remember. We said “Green Canyon” or bust! And was it ever worth the trip out.

We did an overnighter this Sunday and Monday to the 125 mile location, and busted up on the blackfin, yellow fin, a couple of bull dolphin, and the beauty of a 300+ lb blue marlin with another that we just didn’t bring in! One of the tuna was a 130 pounder. Under the absolute uncanny direction of Captain Kevin Aderhold, and unstoppable crew of Seth Holl and JW,there was no stopping my little “crew” from catching the biggest fish and having a great time.

And what could be better evidence than the photos I’ve attached. I truly thought that my 13 year old might not come home and stay living in Venice to work the back deck. We never stopped fishing except to make the run out and back, with the Captain Kevin and crew working every angle and techniques to catch the boat load of fish that we caught and brought home. And to see my little girl of 9 bring in a yellow fin tuna was an experience I won’t forget. The kids won’t forget the experience of landing the beautiful blue marlin, its tagging and safe and healty release back to her own home.

Many high fives to Gary, Kevin, Seth and JW because I wouldn’t have done this with the kids without their guidance and direction. Heck, I even got to catch my own fish…after I convinced my kids to let me that I just might be able to! LOL!!!!!! In the process of planning another trip now for more fish and fun because it certainly was a kick. Thanks guys. It was AWESOME!

Julie Fusilier, Morgan, Cameron and Savannah

WHAT A TWO MONTH RUN….This has been the best July and August that I have had in the 21 year history of STRIKE ZONE CHARTERS.  The weather, the anglers and the fish have been cooperating.  We have had to run a lot further than the norm but the reward has been GREAT catches of Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna.  The average 24hr trip on the 55′ Strike Zone Too has been 12 to 15 Yellowfin with the largest in the last two months being a 141 pounder that came on the slowest trip of the Two Month RUN.  We have tagged eight Blue Marlin with three of them coming in the past three weeks.   Lots of Bull Dolphin in the first part of July.  And the AJ’s have been the big hogs as usual.  And let’s not forget the red icing on the top of the fish box…THE RED SNAPPERS (Who are in danger….. of killing themselves from over population)  

We are now waiting for the Blue Water and the big Yellowfin to move back home. It will  be nice to start fishing seven to twenty miles out of the pass.  I know this will make the oil companies sad but it will sure help our fishing pocket books.

Guatemala has been slow….Everyone is waiting for the up coming season (Oct to May)…..When we have had boats out they have done very good….The last trip was with a local group and they went 5 for 10 on the Sails and had 16 Dorado’s.  The problem is the same as it was in Venice years ago…It was only a few of us fishing from October to April(Capt Mike Fernett and Capt. Mike Adam’s)….Now we have found this is some of our better months as long as the weather stays in tack.   Next year we are going to promote the slow months with some great specials on three day fishing trips. to Guatemala…We are getting ready for the Guatemala Run:::Seth Is heading down on Monday to bring some supplies and to make sure the boats are ready for October.   Capt. Kevin Aderhold and Seth Holl and going to start running one of the boats in Guatemala the latter part of this year.  They are not good on their spanish but they are real good on the Sails and the Spanish ladies. 

Get a group and come join us on a fun fishing trip on one of our luxury yachts, either in Louisiana or Guatemala.  If you can’t find a group give Capt. Danny Pate a call and he will try and get you on one of the trips…WE WANT TO TAKE YOU CATCHING.

Saturday morning we left out of Cypress Cove Marina around 9am on Strike Zone Too with Charlie and crew from Texas for their “Meat in the Bucket Rodeo 09”. By the way, Happy 40th birthday to Larry. As we headed south to Green Canyon, the color change was gradual with no defined line. After dodging some fairly large thunderstorms full of fire, we arrived at our first stop. The outriggers were dropped into position and the lines were out. It only took ten minutes for the first double knock down. After a few minutes and some fancy boat maneuvering, we landed two Yellowfin Tuna, the first was about 50lbs with the second being around 60lbs. After a few more runs we had a curious Blue Marlin browse the spread but would not eat. About an hour later a White Marlin shows in the spread and hit one of the baits, but all we got was a messed up leader. He lives to fight another day. As we were presented with a beautiful sunset, the grilled was fired up for a steak dinner with all the fixings. We fished a couple of rigs with no surface signs but caught several Blackfin Tuna then moved on to the next spot. Around 2am Yellowfin Tuna started busting and the guys picked off another 4 Yellowfin, a few more Blackfin and 5 Rainbow Runners. With only a few minutes left before heading back north, Charlie hooked up. Thirty minutes later, a 100 pounder was in the box and we headed home.