Fishing Oil Platforms Cameron Area

[gumboman]

Looking for a little advice on fishing some of the oil platforms near the Cameron area. Will be three of us on a 24ft explorer and will be targeting the following species - Ling, black fin, dorado (if possible), kingfish, grouper, cobia and whatever else takes the bait. Just a couple of questions/advice.

1) Any suggestions on rigs to target or where can I find a good online map of the old rigs within 30 miles of the coast?

2) When does snapper season start and how long will it last?

Any other suggestions to help increase our chances of a good experience? Plan on going out 2nd or 3rd week of June.

Thanks!

[meaux fishing]

Originally Posted by gumboman

Looking for a little advice on fishing some of the oil platforms near the Cameron area. Will be three of us on a 24ft explorer and will be targeting the following species - Ling, black fin, dorado (if possible), kingfish, grouper, cobia and whatever else takes the bait. Just a couple of questions/advice.

1) Any suggestions on rigs to target or where can I find a good online map of the old rigs within 30 miles of the coast?

2) When does snapper season start and how long will it last?

Any other suggestions to help increase our chances of a good experience? Plan on going out 2nd or 3rd week of June.

Thanks!

Within 30 miles you wont find any of that except for kings, ling(cobia) and chicken dolphin sometimes

[homerun]

Snapper season is 10 days only starting june 1st. but can catch and release all you want.

[KDM]

Been fishing out of Cameron for over 40 years. At 30 miles you may find 45-50 foot of water. At 118 EC (about 42 miles) you hit the 10 fathom (60 feet) curve and are close to Calcasieu rock and several others. There is a wreck in 104 EC as well. Get a Hot Spot map and it will have the Lat/Lon of various rigs and reefs. I have caught snapper as close as 14 miles but not on a regular basis. Conditions generally get better in mid to late July and some days you will find pretty water within the 30 miles. The rigs in WC 68 are great for specks, Spanish, ling and triple tail just as the Johnson Bayou rigs are to the west. Late August thru the month of Oct we have caught lots of ling and triple tail just hitting the buoys on the buoy chain from the end of the jetties out to the sea buoy. Hope this helps

[BuckingFastard]

not sure why people insist that you have to be 3000 miles offshore to catch snapper out of cameron. lol we usually went 30-45 and did good. we would troll between and catch all our spanish and king then hook off and drop down when we go to the rig we wanted.

[gumboman]

Thanks guys.. I love this old school social media where fellow fishermen are more than willing to provide information and guidance to strangers. I'll definitely use the above and future information you have/will provide. BTW, we may venture out as far as 50 miles if conditions are sufficient.. just not much more since our fuel capacity is 50 gals.

[BuckingFastard]

you might wanna bring more fuel!!!!!!

[Pull n Pray]

Originally Posted by gumboman

Thanks guys.. I love this old school social media where fellow fishermen are more than willing to provide information and guidance to strangers. I'll definitely use the above and future information you have/will provide. BTW, we may venture out as far as 50 miles if conditions are sufficient.. just not much more since our fuel capacity is 50 gals.

Originally Posted by BuckingFastard

you might wanna bring more fuel!!!!!!

100 miles round trip with only 50 gallons of fuel. That's cutting it kinda close. You better hope you don't get lost or veer of course a little.

[BuckingFastard]

or might wanna take into account the height of the waves adds linear distance to the trip.

[gumboman]

Good points... guess we will have to stick to 30-35 miles.

[BuckingFastard]

yea we had 250 gal and we would go about 60 out without extra fuel.. could have easily went further.. i think the most was 75 or so. no need to pay that tow bill!!

[meaux fishing]

Or you can buy a fuel bladder to extend your range

[Ratdog]

Do you have a gas gauge ?
Can u hook a fule consumption meter and to a gps for range ?

I would check into cost if it's such a big concern.

I have gotton so used to my boat I have cut so close to a point I run out 100 yards from dock. Granted its a pain loading boat with no power onto trailor but I have a lot of fun seeing things along the way.

Good luck and get a sub. To a boat tow provider it might be the best way to go.as they can get u back or provide gas with no other equipment on board .it just takes time away.

Again good luck.