Cajunodysea Blog

Anticipation is picking up and so are the phone calls, e-mails and web site hits. I can feel the excitement in the air, seasons are changing and Big Game Anglers are gearing up for some of the best Yellow Fin Tuna fishing in the United States.

Most common questions right now are:

1)      When will the waters open?

2)      Is lodging available?

3)      How is the fishing in Venice during late September through November?

4)      Are you booked? How many people can you take per trip?

So, let me answer them one by one.

I have talked to NOAA just today and had a great “Debate” with the official lady…. It’s amazing to me that our wonderful country looks after us so well. I mean we can’t be trusted to catch and release because we (an angler) might eat a fish and get sick…. AND, once again I was reminded of the opening protocol and the systematic way we will be allowed to resume fishing. YES, the explanation I received this time was EXACTLY the same as the last explanation. It appears NOAA definitely agrees on this “Opening Protocol” and will stick to their plan. Un-fortunately they are about 4-6 weeks behind what I was told a month ago and seeming to fall farther behind rather than moving forward faster….

Lodging in Venice is becoming available once again. For several months BP and it’s contractors had all lodging taken, but as the oil headlines decline so does cleaning efforts. I will assist in lodging options as needed.

Fishing in Venice is awesome during the fall months. HUGE Yellowfin Tuna feed behind the deep water shrimp boats gorging themselves for the up-coming winter months. I’m sure the Tuna will come through, we just don’t know if the shrimp boats will be allowed to shrimp in the areas they normally shrimp. Weather is mild, temperatures are nice and normally we have ample days we can get offshore before the cold windy weather months of bitter winter set in.

I AM NOT BOOKED 100%. I have openings and only a few bookings, as the fishing closures reduce and open areas increase I expect some anglers to jump on the opportunity and book their chosen days.  I always try to run a deck hand so I will ONLY take 4 anglers per day.  Finally, “Marina-Ticket” includes ice, bait and fuel and I expect the normal “Marina-Ticket” to average about $400.. So, the trip looks like this: $1,200 + “Marina-Ticket” Avg. 400$ = $1,600 average daily fee….

 NOAA closed Federal fishing waters because of OIL…. Not because of boat traffic.
Simple enough, HUH?
There was no testing done to conclude that Federal Fishing Waters should be closed. No one knew if TOXINS were in the fish, no one checked or tested before closures!! NOAA DID NOT close federal waters because of boat traffic……NOAA closed federal waters because there was oil on the surface so **DUH** that must mean fish flesh was spoiled, the fish must be toxic to consume!!
HOG WASH !!
Now that the Federal Government has taken something away from us (Fishing Community) we must PROVE to the FDA and NOAA that fish pass testing that they ***NEVER FAILED***

You know, if the waters had been closed due to boat traffic, I could totally understand and would have been more than happy to stay out of the way, stay off the water. OR even if testing had occurred for several weeks or months to PROVE the fish did indeed exceed a level of concern but NO, oh, hell no!! The Federal Government just closed area’s and zones because they can. NOW, there is extensive testing being conducted to conclude or to prove something that was never proven. Does my writing sound confusing? Is it me? NO< Michael, it’s not you that’s the way it is…. It sounds confusing because it’s so freakin stupid that its confusing.

Oh, I’ve got another idea: ‘UM< Catch and Release? Buyer Beware? If I’m allowed to traverse the waters and it’s OK for me to be in the area and I assume all risks to my vessel, equipment, engines, line, etc…etc…. AND I’m not hampering the recovery effort, <Remember, boat traffic is not closed> then why can’t I catch and release my fish? OR for that matter catch and fillet if I’m aware? How about this, commercial fishing is closed but recreational fishing remains open? (I’m not against the commercial guys, don’t shoot)…. OR, how about testing the fish as the commercial guys bring them to the dock, that way they can continue to make a living? Why not assign a task force to Zones and Marinas in the areas of concern and let the fishing resume and test our catch at the dock randomly.

We’ll, Michael! SAID quietly; Strikes the voice of NOAA… We paint with one large brush and sorry you just got dipped in the bucket! Besides, what your explaining makes too much sense, we are the FEDERAL Government and we know best!

Continue to follow this link, Federal Fishing Waters remain largely closed, although you hear on the news “State” waters are opened.

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm

Have another Great Saturday!

Captain Mike Gray

www.CajunOdysea.com

If you are a fisherman and you are watching this site:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm
You are aware of Federally closed fishing waters. If we can get an opening in Venice we will have access to the areas we are accustomed to fishing. We will once again have access to the best, richest and most fertile Pelagic Fishing Grounds in the United States. You have to remember the government has had fishing closed completely in 2/3 of the Gulf for the entire summer. The fish have had zero pressure and when we get the opening I can promise you the fishing will be absolutely GREAT. There has been no recreational fishing, no commercial fishing, no tournaments, zero long line fishing….Nothing, NOTA…..
Lodging for anglers is gone. There are zero availabilites, but I have accommodations that I can arrange for my fishing clients. OH, and clik on photos and check out the new boat, It has not even been on a charter as of this posting. Check out the site for the boat www.freemanboatworks.com it’s awesome.

The day we get an opening I will post saying such. OH, and check out Louisiana Sportsman go to videos there is another TV show I was part of last month, it’s a two part series. I was the swimmer getting the underwater footage of the Whale Sharks…Impressive how large they are, it was really cool.

Till next time.

Captain Mike Gray

In an effort to keep you guys updated here are two links that are relevant. One is already posted below and has been used alot by our viewers. The Louisiana Closures can be found here: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill/
And the federal Closures can be found here: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_…_oil_spill.htm
……..
OH< and I have huge news, will post later when I have a few minutes. But I will say this we had 54 days and now we have 53 days left…..I want to fish every single day that is left…….

The two links again:

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill/

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm

Ok, guys! When the closures began we set out to show the world you could still fish in Venice. This video was shot by John Jackson for Louisiana Sportsman TV. I can not tell you how professional John is but when you view his work you will most definately understand this guy is 2nd to none. I would also like to thank Eric Newman of Blue Runner Foods for the invite and finally if it was not for the performance of our Okuma gear and FRENZY Tackle, none of these fish would have ended up dead !!

So, grab your beverage of choice and get your favorite POLE  (fishing) greased up and ready this is some serious Sh$T !!

http://www.lasmag.com/media/details_flash.php?id=166

(The above LINK WAS BROKE now i’ve replaced it with a working link)

Enjoy.

Enjoy,

Captain Mike Gray

www.CajunOdysea.com

As most of you know there has been a rush to cancel trips and ask for deposit refunds….. I try to explain that the fishing is great and with a 100% money back guarantee I WILL NOT put myself or you in a situation of un-happiness. (Knowlingly) This includes giving poor advice on the oil situation…But that is NOT what this post is about, it’s about the kindness that my customers (You guys) have extended in your understanding, compassion and willingness to reschedule. OH, and BTW, I talked with him, explained the GREAT fishing and he is still on for his original scheduled date. But this e-mial I’m posting below is from a stranger and it speaks volumes of Humility> Enjoy!

********************

Mike:

We watch the news with such interest. I can’t imagine the angst you must be expriencing over what will be.

It is hard for us to imagine that we can still fish on June 10, 2010. Should we reschedule? If you are experiencing cancellations

that make it difficult to return the deposit, I am certainly comfortable having you keep the deposit toward a trip when things will be more

certain.

Steve Stone

This is a really cool piece of video, check it out….You may have to download a new version of realplayer but it’s free and quick….

http://gallery.me.com/johnjacksonpro#100608

Fish ON-

Michael

Venice Tuna Fishing and Offshore Blue Water Fishing is on Fire in Venice !! What? Wait a minute I heard fishing had been closed in Venice Louisiana. NOPE, nothing could be farther from the truth. But the oil spill is another Katrina, I heard the oil is worse than the Valdez. I heard….I heard…..I heard….

Well let me tell you from ground Zero it is not gloom and doom, the fish don’t glow in the dark and we are not wiping oil off them before we put ‘em on ice.

So, can I go on?

This fishing trip had been coordinated by Eric Newman of Blue Runner Foods and more specifically the absolute best Blue Runner Beans on the planet earth. Eric had assembled a crew for mass destruction. On the boat were myself, Eric Newman, Captain Will Wall, Captain Steve Thomas and the Louisiana Sportsman TV crew.

Captain William Wall is my longest time friend and my homie for more than 20 years. He’s my brother from another mother, Will and I have been roommates, we’ve done things that set records together but mostly we’ve evaded the law and capture !! When we are together, you can bet something is happening.

Eric Newman is a sales rep for the Louisiana based Blue Runner Foods group and he has the triple engine, bad a$$ wrapped Triton that will take us to the killing grounds. Eric is an avid offshore fisherman and he understands the bad press Venice has been getting. So on this day he has set up the team of death for a dream TV show on his sled.

After Eric prepares an epic meal of Shrimp and Grits, he and I start working on final tackle preparations. We spool up and top shot the brand new out of the box shiny, blinging Okuma gear that will be tested tomorrow. Each one gets the finishing touches of Frenzy Flourocarbon and Frenzy circle hooks… Each Okuma popper rod is finished with a uni/uni knot to about 1ft’ Flourocarbon leader and a Frenzy Angry popper. And the last rigs in our arsenal are the small but strong Okuma reels and jigging rods finished in the same way but using the Frenzy Angry Jigs. OH< and one last statement when rigging the big 50 wides that will play a part later in this story was and I Quote from Eric Newman: “Do you have a drag tester so we can properly set the drags?”….and answer from me as I swig my Miller Lite “don’t worry about that, just give ‘em a pull then clik it 4 more times”….

Thursday morning arrives and we roll out. Note in the pictures how calm the gulf was for this day of killing. We rolled to our spot almost **70** miles offshore and we were fishing at 7:30AM. We made bait on one rig and had to move about 15 miles to the rig that held the fish. Tuna lines went in the water with fresh live bait at 8:02.25 sec. First fish 8:02.50sec. OH, and second fish came at some point in the minute of 8:03 !! The Yellow Fin Tuna were there and they were hungry. The fish were jumping all around the boat, what an areal display we watched.

So, after our near limit of Yellow Fin Tuna Steve Thomas, director of the Cajun Canyon Billfish Classic said this water looked perfect for holding some Big Blue Marlin. On that command we switched gears and put out a Billfish spread that would produce more Yellow Fin tuna to round out our limit and YES a nice 300 ish pound Blue Marlin strike. Our fight was short lived due to a broken line but never the less we had the prefect day…(UM< Broken line? 50Wide? Drag Tester?) ooooppppssss…Sorry for the quick but decisive Lite Beer advice J…. WE turned the Blue Runner Triton North and put the Verados to a RPM that only the Kingfish people would run, in short order we were inside South Pass and screaming past the light house near 57MPH. This show will be aired on Thursday night on Coxnet in Louisiana. www.LouisianaSportsman.com

www.CajunOdysea.com

Captain Mike Gray

If you are following the news and you are looking for doom and gloom, if you are a subscriber to main stream media you will not be happy with the following “Kick-Ass” report I’m going to type.

Fishing is absolutely on fire in Venice. But Michael, I thought fishing in Venice had been shut down? HOG Wash !! As of the writing of this report it’s fishing as normal in Venice for the Offshore Charter Captains.

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=2227

I was in the Gulf Of Mexico two days last week and the fishing is on fire. Oil is hard to spot and the smell is almost absent. There are no dead animals, there are no oiled birds and there is no reason NOT to come to Venice Louisiana for your scheduled charter trip.

I fished on Thursday with Eric Newman on his “Team Blue Runner” boat with my long time friend, past roommate, brother from another mother and also a charter captain Will Wall….It was a fun day, we had the Louisiana Sportsman T.V. show on board and “Show” is what they got. We caught 12 Yellow Fin Tuna and had a Blue Marlin strike our spread. (See Pictures)

Two of our “Approved Charter Captains” had limits of Yellow Fin Tuna last week. Captain Eddie Burger had a 3 man limit of 9 on Thursday and Captain Peace had a limit of 12 on Wednesday and then had 11 on Friday……Let me tell you something, with the pressure off these fish the way the media has caused it… Wouldn’t you LOVE to be one of the remaining charters that capitalize in on others fears?

There are two main factors that drive humans FEAR and GREED….When others are fearful winners are greedy and when everyone is greedy truly successful people are fearful…

What I’m telling you is don’t be scared, with CajunOdysea and a 100% money back, no questions asked guarantee you can not go wrong. Simply said if you come to Venice and I have lied to you and OIL spoils your trip then walk away and don’t pay…..Who else offers that?

I will post the link to the TV show later this week, so check my site towards weeks end. I downsized the photos since I sent so many…..

Call me and let’s talk fishing-

Captain Mike Gray

www.CajunOdysea.com