Capt. Mike's Deep Sea Fishing, Alabama, United States

5Phil L 5:00 PM Oct 16, 2015

Are you kidding? It is even better than last year!!! Amazing Fishing Trip.
This Review is only for people wanting to experience a fishing trip of a lifetime! We left the dock for a 3 day trip on Wednesday afternoon in perfect weather conditions. For those of you that are not sure, Captain Mike's Fishing does not have a direct line to "Mother Nature" or a weather control machine.The Captain does offer up a Prayer for a safe trip and good fishing after the safety briefing, but this is not a guarantee just the best that us humans can ask for. It is a outdoor activity and the safety of the passengers, crew, and vessel comes before all else. Trips can be rescheduled, people cannot be replaced. If you can't be flexible in your quest for fun, book something indoors! If you trust the professionals for fishing, You can't go wrong with this group! We ran for a couple of hours and stopped for bait, then continued on for the 90 mile run to the Tuna grounds. Around 3 AM, Yes in the morning we were awakened to the sound of engines slowing and reversing. Its magic time in Tuna City, The chunks start disappearing over the stern, live baits are going out on the outriggers, the coffee pot empty and the deck is full of fishermen trying to remember what number they are for fish catching. The rods start exploding into screams of line leaving the reel in ways that only can be experienced and not read. One, two, three rods have fish on at once! The call goes out to reel slow on the little fish where the crew can gaff the big ones first. Problem, no small fish! What a problem to have to overcome. We boated 10 Yellow Fin by 4 Am. The guys on the blackfin tuna jigs are being cut off all of the sudden and we find out why. Mako shark suddenly appears in the lights and is looking for his next meal. The crew springs into action coming together with rod, Steel leader, and a large slab of Fish for bait. Yours truly has the magic number and eagerly awaits the strike. In seconds the reel is screaming and I am in awe with the speed that hundreds of yards of line can vanish into the dark seas. With just a few yards left, the shark is stopped and the wind and grind battle ensues. Commands are given to keep areas of the deck clear, Instructions are given to myself and the other deck hands to keep the boating process in order and safe. The shark is boat side and was dispatched in a instant, three gaffs sink in and a tail rope is secures. My battle is complete and my prize is coming over the side. 200 lbs of the fastest fish I ever landed is in the boat. Thanks go out to God, Captain Skipper, Crew, and high fives around from everyone. Its only 4:30 and we still have 2 and 1/2 days to go. We are concerned with having to cut the trip short as the boxes are filling fast. The Mako shark is put in the insulated bags and iced down, He won't fit in the fish box. We did check to see what he ate and recovered some missing blackfin tuna along with Randy's favorite Glow in the dark jig "Still hooked to the tuna the Mako ate".Randy tied it back on to his rod and ended up catching a 105 lb Yellowfin Tuna on the recovered lure. It is now officially retired and will go in a shadow bow with pictures of the tuna head the shark ate, the shark that ate the tuna, and the tuna caught after recovering the lure. Any one want to try to top that fish tale? We have evidence this happened on pictures and videos on YouTube. We are just starting to see first light, this is when the fishing gets good! Every where you look Tuna are jumping out of the water, and we are fortunate enough to be there. Life is good but friendships are better. Two more days of this to go. We started trolling to save tuna fishing for tonight. Mahi Mahi are picking off our baits before they even get in position in the spread, and then Magic. Sail fish on and released, the crew haven't released one in years. Another sail hits the baits and then a third. We have a double sail hookup. Some on verify that we didn't run to Key Marathon while we slept, this does not happen in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.I guess no one told the sails this information. We released all 3 live and swimming. Catch and release is the name of the game when billfish are involved. Mounts are made from pictures and killed fish are not needed, with clean releases being more of the norm these days. In order to keep info coming in and adding some additional fishing, Captain Skipper had red snapper tags research tags that allowed us to catch and keep snapper after the close of a very short and most say unnecessary limited season. 8 minutes and we are done, the limit is met. I am trying to catch a King Mackerel and not having and not having any luck. Those "endangered red snapper" are everywhere and the blue water is now red from the hundreds of fish coming up from the depths and taking every bait in the water. Could someone tell the Government what is really going on? Please! We are now going to the docks, beat up, bruised, and worn out from the shear amount of fishing over the 3 days at sea. My thanks to God, Captain, Crew, Friends, and the servicemen and women that gave their health and lives so we can enjoy the freedoms that most take for granted! THANK YOU.

5Phil L 5:00 PM Oct 17, 2017

It had to Happen Sometime
Well Folks, It was time for our annual Tuna trip and all was prepared. We had Friends driving in from around the country, supplies were purchased, gear was services, and the stories from trips past were flying though the the internet. Then the warnings started to circulate that the weather might not be in our favor. We watched, listened, prayed, that this would be just a passing front. Nope, It was here for the duration of the 3 day trip and then some. 18-20 knot winds or more with seas averaging 4-6' with much larger ones coming with them. Yesterday we got the final and official call that it was cancelled and were offered choices of rescheduling as a group or individuals or a refund. I have read numerous reviews as to why the Captain is a $*N of a^&*% for cancelling their trip. Let me tell you that this is the sign of true professionals, when they forgo a money making venture from repeat customers and apologize for conditions beyond the control of us Mortals in the name of safety. I want to personally thank the Team from Captain Mike's for this and will be leaving my money with them for a later trip that I can walk away from without bruises and bandaids! Thank you Skipper, Ann, Mike, and our own team mate / organizer Jim for keeping our health and safety in mind before our pride "I Fished 6' foot seas before!" and their profits. P.S. the actual Buoy data from our fishing area showed actual wind and waves were worse than the forecast!