booked a 12 hour offshore trip with Galveston party boats, aboard the New Buccaneer. Anyone used them?

get ready to board a VERY crowded boat. They like to hang everyone's catch up on the way in...in the blistering heat and sun so the fish goes bad before you reach land. I've had nothing but bad experiences with them... Maybe yours will be different.

ive been on both capt john and new buccaneer. lucky they were not to crowded when i went...maybe 50 percent cap on both.

i usually go with my son. i take my own gear and use sardins not the cut squid.

you will ride for 4 hours, fish 3 spots for 45 mins ea then 4 hours back in

1st trip was 7 b-liners vermillion and 1 shark....(red snapper closed)
2nd trip was 6 b-liners (snapper closed)

several nice red snapper vented and released

so im going on fathers day 6/20 8 hr trip
60 adult and 40 kid

so its cheap fun and i get to spend quality time one on one with him.

just keep in mind its all about having fun and not filling your freezer

o yea and goods and bads

capt john....

bads
no grill all micro wave food/sandwiches
no seats all the way around fish area
goods
keep your fish on ice
work harder to find good fish

NB.....

bads
fish lay by your feet for a few hors un iced
goods
grill has burgers
seats all around fish area
let you bring a small soft sided cooler with ur drinks aboard

both have cheap beer/snacks

hope this helps....post or pm your catch/ feedback

I've only gone on the Texsun Two which is now The Capt John and they have always been great.

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here is what john is talking about... they start sticking your catch up to show it off about the end of the jetty coming in...

boat gear is alittle old and very well used.... i once hooked a good Black Tip and as it was smoking drag and i had a ball of shaved mono building up on the end of the rod... still managed to get it to the boat guess it to be about 95 to 105 #s we have always caught alot of fish witht them and the deck hands have been great... its a 12 hr deep seas trip with a good boat they will put you on fish... i've caught grouper king ling Aj sharks snapper and one darodo....

I went out on this boat in April 04. I probably caught 150 red snapper before I caught 3 that would keep. It was very crowded and I was expecting to catch something much bigger. If you go, bring your own tackle. I did'nt because I thought I did'nt have anything heavy enough. The rod they gave me was JUNK!!!!! I could have caught every fish I had on a 7' flipping stick and a 6500 ABU. I will not be back to catch snapper with these cats every again.

"The party boat New Buccaneer made offshore trips Saturday and Sunday with each trip resulting in full limits of red snapper.

Saturday, Capt. Garrett King took 96 anglers out 60 miles where, in addition to red snapper, they caught 10 vermilions, 13 lane snapper, two gray snapper, four rock hinds and a Warsaw.

Sunday�s trip included 90 anglers, and in addition to red snapper, mangroves, lane snapper, red hind and rock hind grouper were taken."

Cant believe they get 96 people on that boat. The Capt John tops out at 80 and is a much nicer and larger boat. I enjoy the party boats but you have to go in knowing what to expect. Know it isn't a charter where you are catered to and will catch large fish like AJ's and big snaps. Expect to catch your snappers and maybe a few spadefish and be happy with that. If you are on the back of the boat then you should be able to freeline for some kings and might even get a ling.

Have been on charter boats before and know the equipment may not be in very good shape. Anybody have any feedback on the new buccaneer equipment. Also what kind of rig is used (type hook, size weight, most effective bait). Any information will be much appreciated.

The Capt John is SMALLER than the New Buccaneer and tops out at 83.

Hanging my catch in the sun for their own advertising would be a deal killer for me. I hate the dockside photo parties as it is.

If you're going to catch snapper, any partyboat will have adequate equipment. If you hook up to a 50lbs AJ, you'll be hurting. As for bait, snapper will readily eat anything. The boat will provide squid. Go get yourself a box of sardines, if you're unsure.