Six anglers on board the ‘Dirty Money’ reeled in a bluefin tuna that weighed 753 pounds and was 108 inches long on a recent offshore fishing trip out of Port Aransas.
The boat left the Fisherman’s Wharf dock Sunday, March 26, and returned the next day.
It was a two-hour fight to reel the fish in, and everyone on the boat pitched in, said Kyle Billings, a North Padre Island resident who was among those on board.
“It was an incredible experience, truly a once-in-a-lifetime fish,” he said.
Meat from the fish was divided up among the six people on board the boat. The boat is owned by Ryan Stark, who was also on board.
A 676-pound bluefin tuna was caught as well on a recent 56-hour offshore trip out of Dolphin Dock. (See photo on the front page of this edition for more.)
The offshore trip also brought in a lot of bull shark. Offshore 12-hour trips out of Dolphin Dock have reeled a lot of vermilion snapper. Bay fishing has had catches of redfish and gafftop, said Robin Williams, an employee.
Offshore trips out of Fisherman’s Wharf have brought in kingfish, vermilion snapper and sharpnose sharks. Bay fishing has had catches of gafftop and whiting, said Natalie Michalec, an employee. Anglers have been catching cobia and redfish off the jetties.
At Deep Sea Headquarters, eight-hour trips have brought in limits of vermilion snapper and sharpnose sharks. Offshore 12-hour trips have had catches of sheepshead, black drum and red snapper. Bay fishing has reeled in gafftop, bonnethead sharks and oversized redfish, said Mac Owens, general manager.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, redfish, drum, sheepshead and pompano are biting on live shrimp off the jetties. Bull redfish can also be caught at the jetties on cut mullet or menhaden. Redfish can be caught on cut mullet or menhaden in Redfish Bay behind the Spoil Islands.
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