I am considering doing a 24 hour trip with Dolphin Docks down in Port Aransas.

Anyone gone? Is is worth the drive and cost? A bunch of fish for the freezer would be plenty good to me. Just wondering what experience other TFFr's have had there,

Dolphin Docks is a good bet for long range trips. The prices are very reasonable for the experience. They are not designed for spoiled people and don't expect luxury. Expect hard core fishing. I have been on two long range trips starting 4 years ago. We first went out on a 40hr trip and then a 60. I am hard core and would have chosen longer. Be ready and have fun.

Absolutely correct....expect fish. If DD can't deliver, noone can. Only ones I go out with. A well kept secret is these guys love real fishermen/women. If they know you are hard core they will work even harder for you - believe it!!

I go out with them on 48hr trips and have always brought back a ton of fish. Look at the web site and look at past years at the same time you are looking at to see what is the average for your catch. I will be going in Oct. again 6th year. I will be having 2 guys join me because they have seen the pics. and want to catch some fish.

I looked up October 2004 catches for you. Here is the link.
http://www.dolphindock.com/miscpics/Oct04/Oct04.htm

Dolphin Docks post only the pictures they want to on their site. They do deliver MOST of the time. DO NOT go on a night trip as they are not near as productive. A 24 hour trip is not a long range trip however only a double limit trip i believe. You can expect the normal assortment of snapper, kings, maybe blackfins or mahi.

Jared I just set up a 9 hour trip with Dolphin Dock. Are you saying that, there not that good unless you go on a 24 plus hour trip. Just curious.

Thanks Erek

The day trip is better than the night trip, at least thats my experience.

The 24 hour trip doesn't necessarily mean it's long range, but it does mean you get to bring home more fish.

If it were me, I'd do the 12 hour day trip on a Wednesday to avoid the weekenders.

And of coarse the 24 hour trip would be ideal.

I did the night trip once to check it out, I was thoroughly disappointed.

ntac
no the 9 hour is strickly snapper and you should make your limit, i bet it is a sat. trip.

Jared,
it is a Saturday. I have Crappie Seminer with Ernest Paty and Jeff Scrill on the 11th. Jeff I hope I didn't spell you're name wrong.

I recommend a 12 hour. They do them on Sat for a few dollars more. You might catch a few bigger fish that way. 9 hours is pretty much snapper only. (drop your line.... hit the bottom.... three to five cranks up.... bam a snapper.... reel in for a few minutes.... repeat) Not that that is a bad thing, but some variety make a much more fun trip.

Scale is right if it is offered take the 12 hour, but they usually have that booked for a private charter.

Jack, I spend alot of money with DD. However, I was disappointed with the only 24 hour I have been on. It is on the La Pesca which I will not get on again. It is the same as a 12 hr. trip range wise. You'll get snapper, kings, and tuna if the shrimpers aren't too far out. I seem to remember that we did most of our fishing at night due to the time of day we left and the length of the boat ride. If I had the time, I would upgrade to the 40 hr. You will have a ton more fishing time, be on a better boat, have meals prepared everyday, and be with a great captain. I make a few of these trips every year and have never even come close to being disappointed.

Rob

Well we are set up for the 9 hour trip. I have been out before, but this will be my son's first trip ever on Deep Sea. I would like to do the 24 to 40hr trip, just to see how it is. But seeing that he is going back to school that coming Monday, I'll have to set it up again. I just wanted to see how he's going to handle it being out that far. It he does well, then I can diffinitly see us going out on the 24 to 40 hr trip next Jan, or Feb.

I dont get sick but on dd you can expect afair share of them. I would take my son on this first, i would nt want him puking for 40 hours.