T.O.O. is again honored JP has allowed us to announce plans for the 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charters (yes sir, charters!) for the benefit of the fishermen and women of the Texas Fishing Forum.
The 2012 schedule for Friday-Sunday charters shows two excellent moon phase weekends in November, and as we believe we will be able to fill both dates, we have reserved both weekends of November 9th-11th and 16th-18th, 2012.
Below is the specific reservation information for both charter dates.
What T.O.O. requires by those interested is a post stating the number of spots interested and a preference of the weekend, or both weekends to fish.
T.O.O. will track the commitments of each charter and if one charter fills up quicker than the other, that charter will become the 2012 TFF Once Charter. If both charters fill quickly, both charters will be designated as 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charters.
If one reserved weekend fills faster than the other, the fishermen on the fewer reserved charter will have the option to either move their spots to the “official” 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charter as long as there are spots available or to hold the spots on the less reserved charter and T.O.O. will continue to work to fill the charter.
It might sound complicated, but T.O.O. will manage the requests for all charter spots and we want to give as many TFF folks as possible a chance to do a long range tuna charter in 2012.

Today, December 1st, 2011 is the start of the commitment time frame to see if there is enough interest in one or the other weekends, or both weekends.
January 13th, 2012 deadline is when T.O.O. requires significant commitment numbers for one or both charters to continue planning these charters.
We recognize the cost involved and that the holiday season is upon us and T.O.O. tries to make the payment situation as painless as possible, but a small payment per spot is required to secure the spot.

*Reminder: a post and an email stating a commitment does not reserve your spot until the security deposit of $60 is paid for each spot. These charters are first pay, first reserve to all fishermen on the TFF.*

Even with the extra managing/planning with two possible charter dates, T.O.O. is able to keep the cost per person at $710, the cost same as 2011. The only possible change to cost will be if fuel prices do rise extremely high in 2012 and F.W. has to change its policy of no fuel charge. T.O.O. will then have to adjust the cost per person to the exact additional fuel cost that F.W. would charge. Other than that possible situation, we do not foresee any other reason prices would be higher than the posted cost per person. If any situation does come up T.O.O. will notify and discuss with all on the charter(s) that situation before any price change.
Let the posting begin!


2012 TFF Once Tuna Charters
Boat: Scat Cat
Dock: Fisherman's Wharf
Location: Port Aransas, Texas
Dates: Friday-Sunday November 9th-11th and November 16th-18th, 2012
Length of Charters: 56 hours
Cost: $710 per person
Minimum Fishermen: 23
Maximum Fishermen: 24
Departure Time: 6am
Return Time: 2pm
Targeted fishing: Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna, etc at night, daytime deep drop if within traveling distance.

Payment:
Checks
Made out to and sent to:
T.O.O.
1403 W. Oak Estates Dr
San Antonio, Texas 78260
or Paypal through too@outdoorstexas.com
if you use Paypal, we require the 3.9% fee be added to the payment sent.

Payment Time Frame:
$60 "earnest money" to secure and hold each spot up to the 23 minimum due January 13th, 2012.
$225 deposit to finalize your spot(s), due March 3rd, 2012.
$425 Final Balance, due October 19th, 2012.

Payment plans for paying are available if needed, please call or email us if you need to work something out.

In order to secure a spot or spots on the 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charters;
1. Post on this thread your commitment and preferred weekend to the 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charter.
2. Email us at too@outdoorstexas.com committing to the 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charter(s).
We'll need names, if we do not know you, to keep accurate records.
Emergency contact numbers would be good as well at that time instead of having to ask for it later on.
3. Send in your $60 security deposit between now (December 1st, 2011) and January 13th, 2012.
(The longer you hold off securing the spot the higher the chance of the trip filling with others securing spots and you not getting a spot on your preferred charter date.)
An email and post stating a commitment does not secure your spot until the security deposit is in our possession.

You'll then be good to go until March 3rd, 2012, when the remaining $225 deposit is due.

As the March 3rd, 2012 full deposit deadline approaches, we'll email a reminder to all that sent in an earnest deposit of the deposit balance being due March 3rd, 2012 along with our Term of Agreement & Waiver that is required to be signed and returned by everyone fishing the 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charter.

2012 TFF Once Tuna Notes:
We've continued the security deposit. We have to have a small commitment for these types of trips to make sure everyone truly wants to commit to this trip.
The security deposit and all payments are refundable only if anyone has to withdraw and a buyer for that spot pays the original buyer.

As always, if someone has to sell a spot, T.O.O. will try to help out and find a buyer, however the selling process is ultimately up to the seller. We've been very successful in finding buyers when a spot was needed to be sold in years past, but it takes time from our responsibility to those going on the trip.

A PM will not work for securing a spot, feel free to PM us, but as those that have used our services know, we send group emails to those going on charters to disseminate information and we'll need everyone's email addresses.

Sleeping on board for free the night before the charter is still available.

We've agreed to have at least 23 fishermen and F.W. really wants 24 fishermen for each trip. Cost per person is the same, but as F.W. is allowing us to book so far in advance without having a deposit ready, we will do as they ask. They continue to be very accommodating to the TFF tunaheads, so we want to make sure they are happy as well.

So to wrap this up, make sure the dates work for you, post up, email us, get the security deposit in to us by the January 13th, 2012 deadline and you'll be set until March 3rd, 2012.
Once we get that payment, we work for you and we'll do whatever you need to make the trip a success.
As always, this is your 2012 TFF Once Tuna Charter(s), if there are any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact us at (210)215-3877 or email us at too@outdoorstexas.com and we'll do our best to take care of your request.

I am IN, Willie! not clear which trip yet, though

luck would have it, my wife is at the office right now I let her choose which weekend and she said the 16-18th is better I will send you a paypal in a few minutes.

paypal sent Mr Willy just take the paypal fee out of it.

Well, after being unable to log in for days, I finally got it. What is wrong with the forum? Anyway, I am in for Nov 9 weekend.

Please count me for 1 spot on both trips.

dang now i got to resend ya that virus ! lol

Me and Marlin are in for the weekend the boat sails!

Time to start shopping for gear again lmao!! At least I have a 600 gram jigger and a bottom rig just need 2 topwater rigs that can handle beasts!

Of course I am in. Will have to check dates.

Joe

Count me in for two weekends. Can't wait to catch my first YFT.

rookie, hmm This will be fun hehe. I think it's a requirement that you catch your first Yellowfin on one of the boat rods

any rods will do so long as I catch YFT.

First yellow? wear a shirt that goes well with blood.
I'll bring the video camera.......

Hey fishtuna, always make sure you know how many five gallon buckets should be on the boat too.

Nov 9th-11th works best for me

Joe

I am very interested and want to commit but I don't have any tuna gear. I've caught tuna out of Venice before. Can someone give me an idea of what I will need to spend $ so I will be ready? I know similar posts have been done before and I have the post that has the list on it. I just need to know what $ to plan for gear.

You will probably get a number of responses with a wide range of numbers. It really depends on what you want to spend and what kind of gear you want cadillac vs chevy. I have seen people get by with just boat rods and jigging with penn senators. Guess what? They caught fish.

My recommendation is allways: If you can find a way to arrange it, borrow or rent rods and reels because if you buy them first you are very likely to wish you had purchased something a little or alot different. Ask me how I know?

The basic setup is three rigs. A jigging setup, a casting setup (poppers & swimbaits), and a chunking/bottom fishing setup.

BUT You do not need those, however they are likely to make the trip more enjoyable. When I first started offshore there were not many topwater fisherman and we all had a great time jigging and chunking.

It is really quite difficult to get very specific without knowing what your budget is. Because you could spend no money if borrowing, $350 for a jigging setup that will be reliable or its possible to spend $4000 for the three setups if you go top of the line everything. Allthough I dont think that will make you catch more fish in the gulf of mexico, but you can notice the difference in the gear.

Be careful tuna fishing is addicting.

Newbie rules. When you are first getting started it is a rule to eat any part of the fish handed to you and most important make sure you know how many 5 gallon buckets should be on the boat at all times.

Thanks Oldtrackster, I don't know if I would count as a newbie since I have a few tuna under my belt. If I can rent setups then I want to go. That means I would need to purchase terminal gear and lures. I have a decent idea of what that will costs. Does anyone have some contacts for renting DECENT gear. I'm not real excited if I'm renting the stuff you get at the pier. Thanks for the help.

PM sent

sent email guess i better post, 5 spots please !

I'm in of course

Deposit went in mail this afternoon.

I'm in on the second date Nov 16-18th although you'll have to wait till I get back home from Africa to get your deposit.

I'm in for the 2nd weekend also. I have to keep up with my daddy!