Written and edited by Capt Greg Mercurio on 5/12/08
January 2 2008 Temperature 55 Degrees Wind North 35 Knots
Happy New Year everyone. Every here at the Yankee Capts wishes you a healthy and prosperous new year.
We have had a busy week between doing a 3 day trip in between the holidays and dealing with all the issues that come up at the end of the year. I will post a detailed fishing report later but do have some news I would like to share.
After a very long and tense situation regarding our dockage situation in Gloucester I am happy to report we have secured a new base of operations. Plenty of safe secure parking as well as easy access from Route 128. Plus my favorite, no more canal bridge to deal with. That alone saves me 1/2 an hour everyday. Plus no more issues at low tide. I have been working all day on a schedule and should have something in a couple of days. Reservations should start in a couple of weeks. Soon as I finalize things I will get all the details on the site. Thanks for your patience.
Capt. Greg
January 5 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 25 Knots
Let's talk about the last trip first. Weather was great! It blew up in the afternoon the second for a couple of hours but for the most part it was 10 knots or under. pretty much the same old thing with the bite during the day. Handful of yellowtails with little else. I did have a couple of picks but for the most part just a slow grind. The night shift saw much better action. A mixed bag bite. Muttons and all the yellowtails you wanted. A few kings mixed in too. To sum it up if fished hard and paid attention you had a nice cooler at the end of the day. Here is link with some great pictures.
Here is the preliminary schedule for New England 2008 season-
Cod and Haddock Schedule
All trips leave 10:00 P.M. the night before
unless otherwise noted
1 Day Georges Bank Special - $205 – 6/23, 7/14,
8/4, 8/25
1 Day Cashes Ledge Special - $205 –
5/26 (Memorial Day) 6/6, 6/16, 7/4, 7/21, 8/8,
8/11
Bait and Haddock Express - $135 – 6/11, 6/18,
6/25, 7/16,
7/23, 8/6, 8/20, 9/1(Labor Day)
5/30, 7/9, 7/30, 8/13, 8/26
2 Day Skippers Choice - $320 5/24-25
(Weekend!), 6/19-20, 7/31-8/1
2 Day Georges Banks and Night Hake Fishing-$340
7/24-25, 8/28-29
2 Day
2 Day Georges Bank - $320 7/17-18, 8/14-15
2 Day Cashes
Special $320 5/31-6/1(Weekend!), 6/12-13, 7/10-11,
8/21-22
2008 Tuna Schedule
All trips leave 10:00 P.M. the night before.
2 Day Tuna Limited Load Special. Strict 27 passenger limit.
(We reserve to over book by two for any last minute cancellations or no shows) -
$385
9/13-14, 9/20-21, 9/25-26, 9/27-28, 10/2-3, 10/4-5, 10/9-10,
10/16-17, 10/18-19
3 Day Tuna Special - $510 Columbus Day Weekend! 10/11-13
Also new for 2008-
Limited Load All Day Fishing
This brand new 10 hour trip is the answer to weekend anglers prayers. It offers
more fishing time than regular day trips, as well as an
improved range and greater options of fishing areas. Best of all, you
won't have to put up with the shoulder-to-shoulder nonsense of the summer
season, as these trips are strictly limited. 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM. $80. Dates are
6/7, 6/8, 6/14, 6/15, 6/21, 6/22, 6/28, 6/29, 7/5, 7/6, 7/12 7/13, 7/19, 7/20,
7/26, 7/27, 8/3, 8/9, 8/10, 8/16, 8/17, 8/23, 8/24, 8/30, 8/31, 9/6, 9/7.
I don't think your going see any changes to this, I will finalize this schedule this week and will will post when reservations are going to start. Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
January 7 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 15 Knots
Weather looks great for the weekend. Looks like 10 knots or less. Right now plenty of room. Click here if you want to book a spot.
Also we are "live" with all the overnight trips bookings on the website. If you would like to book a spot click on that link and just follow the prompts. It takes less than 5 minutes to book, very quick and painless.
We are also coming along with all the boat projects. We are painting the topside this week. Things are moving a little slow but it always takes longer than we think. However the boat looks great, Capt. Matt is leading the project and his work is awesome.
Lastly check out the links on the home page.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
January 15 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 25 Knots
What a great trip on the weekend. Perfect weather and a great steady mixed bag bite. Again yellowtails where everywhere inside of 22 fathoms. However we are starting to see more and more muttons and red groupers mixed in with them. At the end of the trip the back boxes were full. Highlights included a few exotics including a nice wahoo. High hook for the trip was Ryan Campbell with 18 muttons. Plus black groupers made their best showing of the year this trip. I counted 23 between 15 and 30 pounds in the totes back at the dock.
Back the dock on our off days we are continuing with our painting project things. Things continue to move slower than I would like but the quality is coming out great. I figure we have anther two days above the rub rails and then we can concentrate on the hull and outside bulwarks. That should be next week.
My next trip is the annual "Ironman". So far the weather looks good for the first part of the trip after Saturday night the reports are vague. Time will tell.
Lastly all trips for the 2008 season are available for online booking. Click here to get to the trip listings.
Thanks for looking. More in a couple of days.
Capt. Greg
January 24 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 5 Knots
Sorry for the late report. We managed to get just over half of the Iron Man in before the weather turned to crap. Saturday night it went from flat calm to 30 knots of wind in just 10 minutes. We did have a nice ride home thank goodness. Had we delayed, it would have been ugly. Sunday and Monday were terrible here in Key West, 30 to 40 knot winds. Glad we were tied to the dock.
Here are two links about the Ironman trip. Please click here and here. Well written reports that are on the money.
Next trip is Friday night, 1/25. We still have some room. The forecast has changed and it looks like light winds till Sunday afternoon. Please click here if you would like a spot.
The beatification of the Yankee Capts continues. The painting projects are nearing an end. I hope we will be putting away the brushes this time next week. Hopefully?
I will post some pictures when were done. I have changed the paint scheme and some of the colors for a fresh look. Many compliments so far. Matt and the crew have done some nice work.
Lastly all trips for the 2008 season are available for online booking. Click here to get to the trip listings.
Thanks for looking. More in a couple of days.
Capt. Greg
January 29 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 5 Knots
Tough slow grind this last trip except a six hour window on Saturday night. Capt Matt had a decent bite during that time. Not surprising the yellowtails have made a disappearance to a certain extent. Kingfish have made their presence felt and I am sure the yellowtail's are keeping a low profile. It happens every year around this time. That is not to say they are not around, they are just not as thick as they were.
Here is a link to the last trip.
More painting this week, maybe we will be done. It is getting close by as usual it is taking more time and material than I thought. Happens every time we do this.
Next trip is a 3 Mutton Marathon on Thursday night, still some room. Please click here.
Thanks for looking. More in a couple of days.
Capt. Greg
PS I just found this link.
February 5 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 15 Knots
An interesting weekend. Bite was slow during the day and also during the incoming tide at night. The outgoing tide was the time to be at the rail. Those who put the time had a great trip. I counted 7 anglers with a mutton count of 16-20. The polish mafia was on fire on the bow a couple of stops.
Only a couple of blacks this trip however we did break off a fair share during my shift. The best one and also the pool fish was a 35 pounder.
The weather was a little snotty at first (we left 4 hours late just to let things calm down a bit) but by noontime on Friday it was great.
As soon as I can find a link I will post it.
Here is a picture of the new paint scheme, I hope you like it. Also notice the new cabin windows for more air flow. It makes a huge difference! Hopefully we will get clear of this project this week and move down into the engine room.
Thanks for looking. More in a couple of days.
Capt. Greg
February 6 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 5 Knots
Here is the link from the last trip.
Thanks for all great comments about the boat!
Lastly I have a Very Limited Load Charter this weekend that still needs a couple of people. E mail me asap if your interested. Here is a link from their last trip.
Thanks for looking. More in a couple of days.
Capt. Greg
February 10 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 25 Knots
Big weekend! Pulled off an excellent trip. I will leave the details to post that will be put up in the next 24 hours. We have loads of pictures and great story to tell. I will tell you one thing, only one yellowtail was caught.
Next trip is Wednesday night, only a handful of people. Please click here if you would like a space.
Also another 3 Day trip over the Presidents Day holiday weekend with plenty of room.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
February 15 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 15 Knots
The trip report link the fishing world has been waiting for!
Not much to report on the 2 day trip we just got in from. A very slow grind would be putting it mildly. The conditions just were not there.
Tonight we are heading out on a 3 Day Mutton Marathon, conditions look much better. I will report back on Monday. Enjoy the link, it is a classic!
Lastly I have this weekend trip that has loads of room including a stern spot, please click here. Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
P.S. Alana had updated her page also. Some issues have come up so we needed to clarify some things. Please click here.
February 22 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 5 Knots
Here is a link to the last weekends trip. A tough grind. Covered lots of ground and just could not get the bite going. We also had the same problem on the trip we got in from today. I hope to have a better report after the weekend. Check back in a couple of days.
Lastly the trip next weekend only has 14 reservations! We are looking for a few more so if your looking for a trip with a light load this is the one. Please click here.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
February 25 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 5 Knots
Sorry to say more of the same this weekend. Covered loads of ground for a few fish each stop. However the night bite was much better. In that regard I think we have turned the corner and the bite is going to get back on track.
Now all we need is some weather. This week looks tough. Hope fully by the weekend the weather will have straighten itself out.
Here is the announcement from the office-
Hello Yankee Capts Anglers:
As some of you know already, as you have checked in with me this evening,
TUESDAY NIGHT'S TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELLED due to inclement weather.
Please try to contact anyone booked under your name as soon as possible and
make them aware of this cancellation. Those of you interested in transferring
deposits to a future trip, please contact the office as soon as you know what
trip you are interested in. If you would like to be refunded for this
reservation you must call the office or contact me via email to request the
refund.
Our office hours on Tuesday, Feb 26 are 9am to 5pm. Due to the high volume of
calls I will receive first thing in the morning, in addition to the calls I
still need to make to reach all of you, if you get my voicemail PLEASE LEAVE A
MESSAGE and I WILL call you back as SOON as I can!
We do apologize for the inconvenience this cancellation may have caused, but
please know that it is of course in the interest of your safety that you make
cancellations such as this at all. If you have any questions, please let me
know!
Thank you!
Alana, Office Manager
305-923-3926
info@yankeecapts.com
So more boat work this week. It doesn't seem to want to stop this year. We have to get things done though, summer is coming fast.
Lastly the trip this weekend only has 14 reservations! We are looking for a few more so if your looking for a trip with a light load this is the one. Please click here.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
February 26 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind East 5 Knots
Just found a report about last weekends trip. Please click here.
The weekend trip is starting to fill up but still has room. Please click here.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
March 9 2008 Temperature 65 Degrees Wind Northeast 25 Knots
Greetings from the Key West command center. Still not much news on the fishing front. Conditions are still making it difficult for us to put a catch together. We had a hard easterly current chase us to the north the last trip. So yet again we could only manage a few fish each stop. We lost the weekend trip due to a strong cold front. Needless to say this is getting old and is very mentally tiring.
Luckily the cold front that passed through on Saturday should be just what we needed. We are now off the moon and the hard northerly wind should take care of the current (hopefully!).
Two trips this week, both still have some room. Click here for the midweek trip or this link for the weekend trip.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
March 25 2008 Temperature 65 Degrees Wind Northeast 25 Knots
Still grinding away here. Daytime bites have been slow but the night have been pretty good. Currents for the most part have been reasonable. The weather have been cooperative for the most part, we did however lose a charter I should be out on right now.
Here is a link from a trip a week ago. Next trip is this weekend, still has some room and the long range weather looks good. Please click here.
Also our summer schedule is fast approaching. Hard to believe we only have about six weeks to go. Please remember about our new dock and here is the schedule-
All trips leave 10:00 P.M. the night before
unless otherwise noted
1 Day Georges Bank Special - 6/23, 7/14,
8/4, 8/25
5/26 (Memorial Day) 6/6, 6/16, 7/4, 7/21, 8/8,
8/11
Bait and Haddock Express - 6/11, 6/18, 6/25,
7/16,
7/23, 8/6, 8/20, 9/1(Labor Day)
5/30, 7/9, 7/30, 8/13, 8/26,
2 Day Skippers Choice - 5/24-25 (Weekend!),
6/19-20, 7/31-8/1
2 Day Georges Banks and Night Hake Fishing-
7/24-25, 8/28-29
Limited Load All Day Fishing. 7:00 AM -
5:00 PM. Dates are 6/7, 6/8, 6/14, 6/15, 6/21, 6/22, 6/28, 6/29, 7/5, 7/6,
7/12 7/13, 7/19, 7/20, 7/26, 7/27, 8/3, 8/9, 8/10, 8/16, 8/17, 8/23, 8/24, 8/30,
8/31, 9/6, 9/7.
2008 Tuna Schedule
All trips leave 10:00 P.M. the night before.
2 Day Tuna Limited Load Special. Strict 26
passenger limit. (We reserve to over book by two for any last minute
cancellations or no shows) -
9/13-14, 9/20-21, 9/25-26, 9/27-28, 10/2-3,
10/4-5, 10/9-10,
10/16-17, 10/18-19
3 Day Tuna Special - Columbus Day Weekend!
10/11-13
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
March 26 2008 Temperature 75 Degrees Wind Northeast 15 Knots
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
High hooks had 15 muttons a piece but I think
Mike Frins
or
Edel Dugalic
were high hook with the most fish. They did
whatever it took each stop and had quite an assortment in their 150 quart
coolers. Overall it was a great group to host on board.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
Not an April fools joke! Three stern spots are open for the weekend trip! Please click here.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
All three spots from the previous post are now gone. Thank you!
We are leaving tonight for a 2 day trip, looks like it might be breezy. Look for a report Friday.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
A slow grinder bite all weekend. Some wind on and off also. Between the conditions, the bite and dealing with broken things on the boat it made for a long trip. Tide was a headache at time as well. I just chalked it all up to new moon nonsense, best just move forward. Best fish was a 40 pound Black Grouper, great fish!
Weather looks great for the weekend and we are due so my expectations are high. A great group is signed up so we are going to have a good trip regardless.
Anyway we just had a cancellation on the last 3 day Limited Load trip of the year. Please click here if your interested.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
Well this past weekend was different. I don't think I have ever made so many moves for what we caught during the day. Shows of fish were so of the best of the year. We dealt with more tide than I would like to have seen, Capt. Matt also got stuck with it at night.
Overall it was great trip with a great group of people. Many thanks.
Here is a link, enjoy.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
Here is a link to the last 3 Day Limited Load trip of the year. Weather was an issue on this trip, that being said myself and Capt Matt did the best we could with the conditions we had. Many thanks to those of you who were very understanding and cooperative because of the weather. It makes our job easier when we have support like that.
This week myself and the crew are taking a much needed and much deserved break. Our next trip is a charter with Lower Keys Plumbing over the weekend. I will have a report on Sunday.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
Greeting from the command center. Time is ticking away here in Key West very quickly. Only 6 more days until our scheduled departure. I have been running around getting things squared away and I am just about ready to go. As long as we have no issues on our last trip of the year we are in great shape. I am praying and hoping for good weather.
On the fishing front we have done two trips since our last report. Our charter was a great time with some excellent folks. The weather was sloppy at the beginning but squared itself away about halfway through the trip. Our latest trip was a half and half deal. We departed late because of the wind and the first 15 hours the bite was tough. Hard tide made tending bottom difficult. The night shift was much different. Capt. Matt had little tide to deal with and the bite was much better. He was able to put together a decent yellowtail catch and then slipped offshore for a 3 hour mutton bite that carried us through until sunrise.
Only 1 trip this week and also our last trip of the year. Still some room available. Last chance till November!
Speaking of next year you can expect some new trips as well as more of some of your favorites. Reservations will commence on September 1 2008 at 0000 EST on my website. Phone call reservations will begin at 8:00 AM the same day. Expect to see a preliminary schedule by June 1 and a final schedule on July 1 posted here on the site. If you have any questions please contact us at info@yankeecapts.com.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
Well another Tortugas season for the books. Overall I was very pleased with my last trip. I should have some links in a few days.
I am in full court press mode today and hoping to depart for Gloucester Monday morning. I will have detailed post in a day or two. I do have some things I would like to share.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg
Here is the link I promised about our last trip.
Also and this is most important. It would appear yet again the NMFS (SAMFC) want to regulate us with piss poor data and science. Here is a very simple link that will express our views on this subject. Please take the time to submit the e mail, it only takes a minute.
As I type we are steaming past Fort Lauderdale. The weather is great and the company is better. Should be in New England by the weekend.
Thanks for looking.
Capt. Greg