I'm a newbie, never fished the ocean, but I'm taking my dad and brother and we are all going to fish deep sea for the first time. I was wondering what 4 to 5 hour ( non-bay ) fishing charter (party)to use? Which is the better? No flats. The ones I am looking at cost around $50.00 and some forum post on the ones I seen have good and bad. Would like our first trip to be good. I'm not worried about sea sickness, if it happens, it happens. Also, is there any additional charges or tips I need to know.

Thanks

Don't waste your time on those short boat rides. Boat Rides? Yes, because you won't catch much in the way of fish.

If you're going offshore then go for a minimum of 8 hours and 12 is preferable. Remember, 1/2 to 2/3 of the trip is getting to and from the fishing. The remainder is spent fishing.

Generally the farther out you go and the deeper the water then the better the fishing. You want to be on a boat that's going to be in at least 180 ft. of water to get any real chances at large snapper, grouper, and amberjack.

A 4-5 hour trip will probably only put you in waters less than 100 feet deep. Not exactly "Deep Sea" fishing.

For comparison, when I go offshore on my own boat or with friends we normally leave at about 7am, we run twice as fast and twice as far as most of the party boats and then don't normally get back in to port until 8 or 9 pm. Sometimes it takes that long to limit everybody out.

Take the longer trip and catch more fish.

Thanks Mike. So which charter would be better in SPI, either Osprey charters or Captian Murphy's ? Not sure we have the time for anything longer than 5 hrs ? maybe another time, as we will have the wife and kids waiting on us back at the hotel.

I don't fish SPI so I can't say which is better. Turn the wives loose for their own shopping adventures and lazing on the beach. Again, I'd stress at least do the 8 hr. From SPI you can reach deeper waters quicker than ports to the north.

i'd pick murphy over the osprey but don't expect too much on the short trip

tip a little if the deckhands have been helpful..... they'll usually pass a hat

just got a call 2 minutes ago........ murphy's short trip out to east bank has been producing snapper along with surface fish coming-n-going....... kings, dorado, and even a blackfin tuna this week

I had good luck with Osprey once a few years ago, it was November, a short trip plenty snapper. The restaurant right at the dock gave us a great deal on cooking the catch, we cleaned ourselves fed 20 odd people, fried, broiled and blackened.

I don't think you have to go so far out as say at Galveston to find a good spot at SPI.

just returned from SPI went on two trips with Osprey they were both awesome 12 hr trip lots of Snapper nothing under 15 lbs. A black grouper, few dolphin fish and cobia. Jeremiah and Steve were very helpful and kept the boat clean and hand wash water changed regularly.Cant wait to get back!

That's great to hear I'm booked with them on next Tuesday and then a bay trip with them next Friday.

how was the fishing trip today?

It was good yesterday. Enough to take the 12hr. trip today. LOL