Few more to go...

[Satans_Chariot]

Got to climb up to the top of the derrick tonite 3 times to fix a satellite antenna. 375ft above the Gulf, I think its the highest tuna tower around. Unfortunately no camera on this trip, and the lack of sun light ruined any spotting activities. Might make a trip up there tomorrow with the camera to see if I can find anything.

Lets see what trouble I can get into this time off

[Avenger]

Pictures! We want Pictures!

[Reveille75]

Satan:
What rig are you on? I was at Boudreaux for just a few hours and saw more fish in that short period of time than I had seen all season inshore. What do you see out there when your time off coincides with daylight. Show us some pics. Is it ever possible to tie up to any of yall's equipment at night? Deep rigs are a long way to go but the fuel burn isn't bad because we go so slow traveling at night.. The weather window is the critical thing for us.
David

[Captain Michael Buffington]

I have had the firehoses turned on me and the coastguard called all out of Tx. and all trying "Radical" maneuvers to stay in one place on a Dynamic Position System vessel, and/or fish a towed semi-submersible. Both were successful outings BTW. Please don't shoot me Satans Chariot I will take you poon fishing anytime dude..

Mike

[Satans_Chariot]

Rev, I have a few pics up in a couple different posts. Or go to my photo gallery, at the moment Im doing a couple different things and cant get the link in.

I didnt climb the derrick today, its about a 25min climb and there were thunderstorms in the area. Tomorrow I will make another attempt.

As for fishing around a DP rig.

Step 1. Call the rig, speak with the DP operator.
In most cases, we dont care if anyone is fishing around the rig.
But if we got a couple things goin on, it just helps, and we need space, just make passes out away from the rig.

Reasons:
1. We can tell you what the current is doing around the vessel and at depth, if you ask real nice.
2. Odds are, we have been seeing the fish all day long anyways and can direct you in the general area.
3. During the day, Yellowfin are out, away from the rig, on the up current side approx 50-2000yds at times. Trust me, I see it all day long. Marlin same thing, they will feed up current, and rest down current.
4. Baits higher in the water column seem more productive around a rig. EVEN AT NITE.

Step 2.
If your spending the night, its comfortable knowing that the big ship/rig your using as your target is capable of landing a large helicopter if you need to be evac'd. Trust me, we have done it before. If you want to stay in the zone, your going to use a little fuel. Start on the up current, up wind side of the rig (tuna dont like the thruster wash. Once you have your baits down and your drift started, RIPPPPPPP the top water lures. Gettin the lures out of the water more than in the water. Think flying fish. I firmly believe more fish are lost chunking at nite than would be if you were casting irons and plugs. And to be honest, I dont think charters do the casting bit enough.

Fish will be just outside the maximum range of the lights on the water, all the way up tight to the hull. So drift accordingly.


Hopefully that is a start to the answers your looking for... I think about how I would do it everyday.


Mike, whats your schedule like the next 3 weeks coming up? Just need a day or two notice...