Offshore out of Cameron
 

Staying with a buddy this weekend at his camp on BL. Just got him a 24' bay boat and he's wanting to try for some triple tail and ling (or really anything edible). I've been 30 miles out of Cameron before with a different buddy (with a good bit of experience offshore) in a 24' with 1' seas and it was nice. Now the buddy with the new boat and myself have no experience running a boat in the gulf and pretty limited on tackle (he's got 2 snapper rigs and a jigging spinning rig, and I have some bass flipping sticks that should handle trips). If it's over 2' seas I'm pretty much out, but if it is calm, would we have just as much luck hitting the buoy chain out (if the water isn't poop) or would we need to hit certain rigs? He's got a gps and all but I'm not sure if he has the right chip for the gulf (and he probably doesn't either, he's more of a popping cork while drifting or bust kind of guy), but we could at least follow our trail back in if not. Just looking to catch something cool and not die...
I might get more out of this if I break down the questions I guess.

1. How far should I expect to have to go to hit clean water
2. Is it a gradual change in color or is there normally a defined line, if so is this a good place to target if grass matts are there?
3. Buoy chain or certain rigs
4. What conditions would be bad enough to stay inshore for a 24' with a single 300hp (80 gal fuel I think). Like, where I won't be scared for my life at any point lol.
5. Cast net mullet or do I need to go buy a sabiki rig? Or will jig heads and gulp be sufficient?
6. What CAN'T I keep
7. Will I have better success if I wear my buff

Any feedback is greatly appreciated, and remember everyone has to start somewhere, so excuse my lack of knowledge. Went on my first 2 blue water trips this year and am "ruint."

Thanks again,
C-Bass

I can only answer #7 with any conviction and the answer is a resounding "YASSSS". Be even better if you've got a cloud camo shirt to go with it as well.


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I mean, I can break out the sun sleeves and sun gloves too if it's that big of an advantage..

I don't see why you wouldn't. I mean, go big or go home, right?


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2 weekends ago me and a buddy went out 4 or 5 miles and found the trash line or rip or whatever you wanna call it and just followed it picking up triple tail under floating trash. All we were throwing at em were Gulps. Not sure it mattered to much what color/or even what bait. We could see a color change at 2 miles and again at that 4 mile mark.

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=8357
I read the above article on July 6 and we went and did it on the 11th. Just like the article said.

Awesome. Is there a preferred site to get off shore weather forecasts?

NOAA is usually pretty accurate. There is a link to it if you click on the Weather/Tidea/Manchester button at the top of this page.

NOAA is usually pretty accurate. There is a link to it if you click on the Weather/Tidea/Manchester button at the top of this page.

You need to look at more than only wave height also. The eriod of the waves is very important.

2' seas with a period of 5 seconds is nice. 2' with a period of 2 seconds will be an uncomfortable ride.

Looks like a decent water change at around 25 miles. Blue water is way out. As calm as its been u might find some grass mats. Good luck.

Thanks, good info. What is the site with the live satellite images (to look for color change)? I've seen someone post pics of it before but don't remember the name of the site

Also, on the NOAA site, should I look at the Flower Gardens area, or Central?

I looked on ripcharts.

I just looked at the ripcharts website. Did you pay for the premium or standard version. Looks like a bunch of good info.

Yea u have to pay a premium.

The biggest game changer for you guys being in a bay boat will be Thunderstorms. Doesn't matter what the forecast of the sea state is...Thunderstorms popping up in the area will usually increase the seas by 2-3'. You can go from 1-2' to 3-5' in a matter of minutes if the skies get angry.

Start paying attention to the offshore radar now and up until the day you guys plan on fishing. See if you can pinpoint a trend, if/when most of the storms may be developing.

Good info, thanks.

I would target Mangroves. A stray ling might pass by as well.

That would be cool with me. What's the best way to go about this?

LAS has some great articles on it.