will be going to SPI in two weeks. anyone know someone who can take 4 of us out to catch some chicken dolphin. we have never caught them and thats all we want to do.

Do any of you have a boat? If so you can catch them around the shrimpers about 15 miles out.

all u want is chickens? thats kinda weird...when u get em up in the boat, they commence to thrashing and sprayin blood everywhere. very messy fish. you can hook two or three of 'em at a time on a sabiki jig. just fish next to weed lines and you'll catch millions of them. i'd recommend searching for a big bull and sow though. Hell of a fight on lighter tackle.

Catch some snapper in the morning and troll the shrimpers around lunch thats when they clean their catch.

If you dont have a boat try rooster charters from port mansfield I've heard good things about them. Its also a shorter ride to better fishing from PM than it is from SPI.

Not bringing a boat, flying in for vacation. I have a 23' bay ranger but I don't have the huevos to venture that far out of Sabine Pass for Mahi. Just really want to catch one!!!

Are you renting a vehicle or just taking a cab down to SPI?

Renting a car in Harlingen, driving to PI.

This is just my opinion but you will have less of a boat ride if you drove to port Mansfield one day to do your fishing; its aobut a 2 hour drive but you will have more fishing time. Just my opinion. There is a charter buisness that does 4-6 people trips for like 8 hours called rooster charters and if you let them know you would like to catch some dorado I'm pretty sure they could put you on the fish.

Thanks, we'll keep it in mind. Really don't want to drive, thats why we are flying in. if we have to I guess that will be the plan.

I was just letting you know about close by options incase you didnt really find anything you wanted in SPI. If you need to know about anything else down here I'd be glad to try and help.

I appreciate it, I'll keep in touch. I'll buy you a drink in SPI!!!!! Got kinda fond of Parrot Eyes last year!!!!

Im not drinking legal but thanks for the offer. Good luck and I hope you guys get your mahi.

Thanks, technically it's 2 guys, myself, my brother and our wives, they are avid fisherpersons also.

KJ, are you looking for a share expenses deal with a non-licensed boat, or a paid charter? Your posts are a bit unclear.

If you're looking for a charter, you can expect to pay from $450 and up for a half day trip offshore and up to about $600-800 for an 8 hour day for a lot of charters in SPI. It does depend on the boat. Usually for 3 or 4 people and then additional charges for up to 6 people.
As TSD said, SPI and PM areas will get you fishing quickly. Deep water closer than further north and not as much fishing pressure. With any luck you can find the chickens under weedlines and the semi-close shrimp boats.

Suggestion, if you get into the chickens keep a casting rod baited and available. You can often find bigger dorados showing up when the little buggers go ballistic biting everything. Gives you a chance to spot cast and maybe put a bigger on the end of your hook. Couple of years ago that happened to me, chickens going crazy and then a 15# Dorado came busting through, I cast in front of him, he bit, jumped once, jumped again and I flipped him into the boat mid-jump. Fight lasted all of 5 seconds.

Good luck down there.

Keep at least one chicken in the water, the rest wont leave it behind. Tie a double speck rig like used for trout on, and they should slam them like crazy.