Hi folks, got a couple of things for folks to consider and vote on for the TFF Seite Tuna's 38th and 39th spot.
As folks were made aware the 40 spot has been reserved for a special guest. There will be 37, 38, or 39 paid spots divided up equally.
These are the costs at each number:
39: $667
38: $685
37: $703

We have held the charter to 37 paid spots right now. What we need to find out is how folks want to handle the last two spots.
As most folks know the Big E cost is the same whether there is 30 going or 40 going.
The difference is the cost person is dependant on the number going.
We want to see what folks want to do with the last two spots.
Here are the options:
1. One spot for a cook. We would provide a menu for three meals a day, 6 total, plus snacks at a firm cost. We were able to hold TBB 06 and TBB 07 to $35 a person, and we think we can hold Seite Tuna to about the same cost. Prices have gone up, but we believe we can make the cost stay at $35 per person. Options would/might include grilled chicken, steak, carne guisada, sausage & egg taco's, chicken fajitas, baked potatoes, cole slaw, bratwurst, hamburgers/cheeseburgers, as well as other good things. Not all of the above will be offered, but we would fine tune the menu with the approval of the group going.
The main compensation for the cook would be fishing on free time, while making sure the food is ready when it is supposed to be. We've done several of these cook deals on the Big E and other boats in the past, so we have experience making it happen the right way.
If the group votes for a cook and food at an acceptable cost, that would take one spot.

2. A major sponsor for the 39th spot, with the sponsor joining the charter in a fishing capacity. We would work with a sponsor to see about folks getting a "goodie" bag equal to or exceeding the cost difference as well as some really good door prizes and give aways as well as hopefully pot winners.
There will most likely be other sponsors but one major sponsor would be taking a spot on board.

We would make sure all the details were provided to the group before we agree to a sponsors spot, as for right now the request is what do folks want to do with the last two spots. Offer them to the next two in line or go with a cook and a sponsor on board.
Please post your votes, simple yes or no to a cook at about $35 per person as well as a yes or no to a on board sponsor with sponsorship goodies.
Once we get the votes on a yes or no for each spot, and if the votes are yes, we will offer menu options and costs and sponsor information for everyone to consider and if the group still wisahes to go for it, we'll finalize the details.
If the votes are no, we will secure the final two spots with paying folks.
We would need 24 yes votes or 67% yes to make the food and sponsor spots happen. If that many want to do food we can comfortably provide food at a reasonable cost.
The main benefit is that all anyone would need to bring on board is drinks, and it seems that is taken care of as well.
Let the voting begin.

My two spots are good with the cook and/or sponsor. A margarita in one hand and a taco in the other. Sounds good.

I think the cook is NOT a good idea.

My 4 slots vote:

Yes - for the Cook

Yes - for the Sponsor

Our party will contribute a bottle of Tequila and Triple Sec for the Ritas

I am traveling by air, I don't cook, and I like goodies...
Yes and Yes to both questions.

Yes and Yes. But maybe the sponsor can bring soft drinks and water too! Won't need that much in November probably.

I'll donate the cost of the frozen lemonade mix to Margarita Mojo! I love that stuff!


Tom - DeepBlueGulf

my two spots vote:
no to the cook
yes to the sponsors

My 2 Spots... We're in for the cook (Newman) and sponsor..

Bazz

yes to the sponser and dont really care either way on the cook. between what Mojo brings and what i bring we have to much food as it is...

Cook yes
Sponsor no.

I'd rather fish with less guys by paying more.
35 limit would have been better. But it is OK whatever you guys decide.

Yes to cook if it's Newman
No to sponsor

Yes and yes on my two spots. BTW, fajitas would be nice one night.

OK,
And
OK

Yes to sponsor and don't really care on food. I usually only eat about 10.00 worth when I bring food.

Joe

I vote yes on a cook and no on a sponsor.

I'm with Kil... I'd prefer to pay a tad more and stay at 35.

35 is ok too!

Actually, I'd have paid significantly more to fish 25 on the boat but we're already sitting at 37.

Fred

37 isnt really bad especially the size of the boat and for the most part, everyone is fairly experienced, but 25 would be nice also.

Joe

Yes to cook
Yes to Sponsor


Guys, the spread they put on is well worth the $35. I said no two years ago, and after experiencing the cooking on the TBB trip, it was well worth it.

This boat fishes up to 102 people on a Day Trip.. it will swallow up 37.

Besides you can only Jig or throw Topwaters for so long and in November the Chunk Bite should be exceptional. It's all about the rotation.

Bazz

I say yes to the cook if its Newman. I was really impressed with how much he improved the TBB07 trip. I like not having the hassle of packing food and being able to focus on fishing but still get to eat something tasty when hungry. I'm don't have an opinion on the major sponsor.

just a little food for thought... I spent $50 on food and snacks just for myself last tuna trip. $35 on quality meals is more than worth it.

So Ronnie, have you figured out how you can get on this trip yet? you know you want to!!!

my vote is as follows:
sponsor- yes.
reason- I like goodies

cook- no
reason- I don't eat much on these trips

hold @ 37 anglers+ guest- yes
reason- even the big E can get crowded
when the bite is on, especially on down-current side

tight lines
-Brian

Last trip we spent about $40 buck for 3 people on food. That included fajitas, breakfast tacos and and other chili meat for other tacos along with some snacks.

Does the cook price include munchies, chips etc. ?
I am with light liner on the I dont eat very much on these trips...

I vote "Yes" for the cook and "Yes" for the sponsor. I don't want to mess with food if possible, and I love goodies too. The space on the Big E is OK with 40 people- plenty of room to fish.

-Pat

If Chris Newman is the cook, let me tell you, each meal is first rate. He spends days and days getting ready for this trip. This isn't some microwave burrito food. And if you look at the actual cost of food on a trip, it is generally more than $40-50 per person by the time you get enough variety to last an entire trip.

As mentioned before, I was one of the guys who said no to it before. But after seeing what Newman did for the TBB trip, for $35 bucks, hell yes I'll let him do it.

These new OTI Jigging Rods are pretty sweet. Only one more rig to get before BigE. I'll keep the Saltist on it for this Summer and get either Avet or Accurate for Tuna Madness in November.

wow, that is a purdy rod/reel setup ... bling bling

Kerry,
is that the 2008 jigging rod blank? last time i talked to TJ he was waiting on the new rods to come in.

There in but kind of hard to get. TJ and Ragman are trying to get them to their Dealers first. I got mine from Mike.

http://www.mikesgulfcoasttackle.com/


He got Three in and I got the second one. I believe you can contact TJ or Ragman and get them also. Very impressed so far.

I think by Summers end I'll have at least two of the Jigging and one 7' Spinner.

ok thanks Kerry, i just talked to TJ and he got a shipment in yesterday so i might be going to see him shortly.

Look at their 7.6" spinner. I've got the 80 lbr and LOVE it. It casts and handles like a dream!

My vote,
Yes to cook
Yes to sponsor

We have a running total for cook and sponsor, but are lacking a number of votes. We'll do what the group wants, just want to offer the group options that can make Seite Tuna more memorable and enjoyable. Just need folks to vote.
K. Neal is that a Saltist 40? Is it high speed or standard? Got a customer with a 40 highspeed looking to swap to a standard speed Saltist 40.
Is there a reason you want to change from the 40? That's a good reel for 99% of the fish you'd jig up. Maybe upgrade the drags a bit, but other than that it will do just fine.
If it is a 40 standard speed Saltist, would you consider swapping for the high speed 40 my client has? Let me know if you would.

Willy,
Think I'll keep it and get another Oti Jigging with Accurate 665. This one is sweet for lighter stuff. Snapper and Kings and so forth.

Good choice in keeping the Saltsit, for the money and drag upgrade it is a fantastic reel.
Just got to know, is it a 40 and is it a 4.8 or whatever is standard? My client is really looking to swap his 40 high to a stadard gear 40. Highspeeds are better for kings and snapper, IMO. Trying the swap really hard, eh?

Willy,

I bet it's the same Reel your Client has. It's part of a Kingfish Combo offered by Bass Pro. There is nothing on the Reel to let you know.

Are we there yet?

I'm so looking forward to this..

k

It's easy enough to count the revolutions of the spool to one revolution of the crank.