I was pretty hyped about going out for a twelve hour trip on the Big E this June and finally called to make a reservation but was sorely dissapointed when I was told that there is no assigned placement on the boat like there is with the party boats in galveston. I was further dissapointed when I was told that the Big E will be on a Tuna trip that weekend (June 8) and I'd be going out on another smaller boat.

The two outfits in galveston make it possible to reserve a place on the back of the boat while Captain Elliotts forces you to arrive at 2:00am and camp at their door to ensure such a sweet spot. Does this sound accurate to you guys? Or was the fellow that took my call jerkin me around? Perhaps he simply lacked good inter-personal skills but he seemd very put out that I was trying to give him money.

Thanks,
Monte

assigned spots on boats that offshore fish is rediculous in my opinion... I have better luck up front.... I dont think position matters as much as putting your bait in the strike zone....

Only a few boats do the number thing anymore, and when the bites "ON" it doesnt matter what number you have- just get to the rail and FISH. Elliots knows this, so they dont do the number thing.

"SWEET SPOT"... mine is up near the pulpit...away from the crowd and tangles..

On a twelve hour open trip, IMO you do want an assigned spot at the back of the boat, esp if there are a hundred people on board. Elliotts does do the assigned number thing, they just do it differently. Thats why I don't do day trips with them. They guy on the phone was correct.

If you want a spot on the back of the boat for a day trip, I recommend Capt. John in Galveston. But if you want to reserve that spot during the summer for a weekend trip, you better get on the phone quick because they fill up FAST.

I think its actually a lady with a deep voice on the phone....

Anyway, IMO it just matters that your on the boat, no matter where, fishing with Capt. Elliot's outfit. They always put you on the fish. Just as long as your not next to a loud mouth drunk, or line tangler.

Agree, being anywhere on the boat is better than not being on it at all.

The real benefit to being on the back of the boat is the tangle issue. You can catch fish from anywhere, but you are less likely to tangle on the back. This is because the boat anchors, or ties off to a rig, and the boat then drifts in direction of the current. So naturally the baits also drift this way. If you are on the sides, you likely have others lines drifting towards you. At the back, your line drifts directly away from the boat and others. Of course, this all depends on the current which changes often. If I cannot get on the back, I like to be on the port side, or the front.

"Just as long as your not next to a loud mouth drunk, or line tangler...."

Or one spot down from a chummer when there's are stiff wind blowin ...

I too would rather fish the bow. And when I start catching fish and have folks come over me I simply go to the spot they came from and start catching fish ... works for me

Thanks for the advice. I would agree that for snapper fishing, anywhere on the boat would probably be ok. Guess I should have mentioned that my preferred fish is the King Mackerel which I've found is kinda tough from the side of the boat. The current takes the bait right to the back of the boat so it isn't in the
water long before you're forced to reel it back up to keep from tangling up with other lines.

Another Question:
So there I am in the front of the line at 2:00am. When I board the vessel, will I then be assigned a place or will I be forced to fight for one then be relegated to guarding that spot from would-be squatters?

I haven't done a 12 hour with them in a long time, but they used to have a bag at each spot and put your name/number on it. When you board, you go to an unclaimed spot, put your name/number on the bag there, thus claiming it. That is what they do on the overnighters, so I assume they still do it on the day trips.

I see. Thanks. I have an idea of what to expect now. I like all of the talk about them putting you on fish. I've also heard that it is a shorter ride to the fish than from Galveston thus creating more fishing time.

MM -

It is but I'm not sure how much. I used to fish Elliott's a lot and they do their best.

It's a pretty long ride to clear the jetties though.

UPDATE:

Well, I again had a less than stellar experience with Capn Elliots. They called me while I was on my way to freeport from Justin (north of Ft. Worth) and cancelled the trip due to "lack of interest."

I had been told by LaQuinta that they would charge my card anyway if I didn't give them at least a 48 hour notice of cancellation. So there I was 82 miles into the trip, out the expense of two nights at the hotel, and about to blow my stack. I asked the girl at Elliots if they planned on making financial restitution for the hotel and she of course said, "I don't know, I was just told to call you." She was the only one there but I could call back the next day and maybe I could catch someone in charge. That only stoked my anger which prompted me to ask, "You mean I'm going to have to call back, nobody will be calling me back?! "That's right!"

I then had to hang up because I was loosing it. I calmed down quite a bit when LaQuinta allowed me to cancel without any penalty. However, Capn Elliots didn't seem to mind either way. That's right I never received a call from them and I have not yet received any refund either.

I know that my comments will not set well with many of my angling peers here on the Texas Fishing Forum and that most of you have had nothing but good experiences with Capn Elliots but my experiences with that outfit have been very frustrating and it will take alot of convincing to try to fish with them again.

Man that sucks..


I would call down there tomorrow and gripe to high hell to someone in charge. Maybe they will be kind enough to extend a huge discount on another trip to you. That would be a start.


-Z-

Monte

I know you're upset but cancellations are just part of the party boat experience these days. That's why many of us went to booking private charter where the crew list and money are all done up front.. then only the weather can cancel your trip.

While I do agree they should have called earlier.. it's not uncommon for trips to get late cancellations. Offshore charter companies are in a Real Hurt because of strict Red Snapper regs and fuel prices. I've fished Capt Elliots since the early 80's and found them to be Top Notch from day one. Last time I had a 12hour cancelled I did a walk on trip the next day and went fishing anyway.

Capt Elliots is having to sell their fleet this year due to business decline. Nobody wants to pay a premium price to catch 2 Red snapper that might weigh 3# each.. some B-Liners, Trigger Fish and a few stinky sharks, or Barracuda. With fuel prices they can't afford to go with much less than a full boat. Unless the Texas Charter Fleet gears up to do long range trips for other bottom species or Tuna many offshore charter companies will be out of business after this summer.

We had to reschedule our Cinco Tuna trip from Nov 2006 to May 2007 because of Bad weather and 12-14ft seas. We still had 5-7ft the first night and seas in excess of 10ft the second night to contend with.

Going offshore is a gamble plain and simple. I'm not making light of your situation.. that's just the way it is.

You might want to check with Capt Johns in Galveston or Deep Sea Headquarters in Port Aransas. They seem to fill their trips and go out more consistently these days.

Elliots will refund your money or reschedule your trip for sure.

Bazz

Are trips with Captain Elliot's not going out very consistently? If so, that's not a big surprise with the new regs and the increased cost of their 52 hour trips but I was sure hoping to get out on a 52 hour trip on the Big E sometime this year before it's too late. I'd like to go just to experience a long range trip on a boat like the Big E.

Monte ....Bazz is pretty much on the money with his description of the offshore party boat world. With Captain Elliot's thinning down I'm sure the mood is less than bright there right now so it would be easy for me to see that responses might be a little terse or even unpleasant.

Again though, we see your point and are not trying to make light of the event. One of the really unique things about partyboat fishing out of PortA is that if DSH and DD don't have quite enough to make a trip you can you can go down the street 2 blocks and get together to have enough. I've done that several times.