Multi-day fishing trips are the holy grail of hitting limits and hooking monsters. From overnight sprints out of lower Louisiana, to the 2–3 day fishing trips northern Florida specializes in, these long range charters can get you on some real monsters.
Some of the Gulf’s best table fare can only be caught on multi-day trips. Huge deep-water Groupers, tasty Tilefish, and even abyssal monsters like Swordfish. On top of that, multi-day charters can get you on the Gulf of Mexico’s top pelagic predators, from Mahi Mahi and Wahoo to Sailfish and even Marlin. It really is an all-star cast.
What are your options for multi-day trips in the Gulf of Mexico? Where should you launch, and what will you be catching? This short guide will answer all these questions and more.
First Things First: Planning Your Priorities
The beauty of multi-day fishing trips is that you can target the full range of habitats and species. Spend the first day working the topwaters then switch to deep-dropping on the second. Stop off on the way out for some oil rig fishing. Load up at the nearshore reefs if you hit your limits of bluewater species. With enough time, you can do it all.
Of course, we don’t all have the time or money for three or four days on the water. Overnight trips are a great intro to long-range fishing. They let you hit remote waters without wasting daylight and can get you on the catch of a lifetime. You will need to make some choices on these trips, though.
Are you only out for the meat? Would you rather catch a monster than keep a feast? Getting your priorities clear will make sure you get the most out of your time on the water. Of course, even the best-laid plans mean nothing if the weather changes, and you should always stay flexible with dates on these long trips. Nonetheless, a clear game plan really makes a difference.
Here be Monsters: Bluewater Trolling
If you’re after the biggest, meanest fish out there, this is the way to find them. The Gulf of Mexico is home to some real legends if you know where to look. Blue Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna steal most of the headlines, but you can also find White Marlin, Sailfish, and tons of bull Mahi and Wahoo.
Bluewater Trolling Spots
The very best action is out along the offshore rip lines, where Gulf currents meet coastal waters. This can be anywhere from 50 to 150 miles offshore, depending on weather, chlorophyll, and where you start. You can’t miss it once you get there, though. The change in water color is immediately obvious, and the long trail of sargassum weed can be seen from a mile away.
Closer to shore, you can also try trolling around oil rigs for Wahoo and Mahi Mahi. These spots are much closer to land, even within day-trip range from towns like Venice, LA. They’re a great stopping point on your way out if you want to break up the monotony of cruising.
Bluewater Trolling Tactics
The best way to find big Blue Marlin and Tuna is to troll along the bluewater side of the rip line. Throw out half a dozen lines rigged with skirted ballyhoo baits and wait for the action. Heavy bent-butt rods, 80 lb line, and hefty shock leaders are essential if you want to stand a chance when the Marlin finally bite.
Marlin are still a possibility around the rigs, so you’ll need the same heavy tackle you would use farther offshore. You can often get better results without using up your baits, though. Deep-diving plugs are like candy to the monster Mahi and Wahoo that live here.
Into the Dark: Deep Dropping
This is your ticket to the tastiest fish in the sea. You’ll be targeting huge bottom fish like Snowy, Warsaw, and Yellowedge Groupers, as well as Tilefish, Barrelfish, and rare treats like Longtail Seabass and Scorpionfish. Of course, the king of the deep has to be Swordfish, both for its epic fight and its incredible flavor.
Deep Dropping Spots
Where you fish will depend on where you’re launching from. It will usually be around hard structure in anywhere from 400 feet to over 1,000 feet of water. Some of the best fishing is around the continental shelf, which can be 100+ miles offshore.
Another option is to drop lines around intersections of the oil pipelines crisscrossing the ocean floor. These spots require a lot more precision. They’re pretty much impossible to fish when the waves kick up. But when the conditions are right, they can get great results a lot closer to land.
Deep Dropping Tactics
The three pillars of successful deep dropping are weight, bait, and light. You need enough weight to hold your lines on course as they drop to the bottom. When they get there, you need a combination of strobe lights and fresh baits to make the fish take an interest. Whole squid is a classic deep dropping bait, but fish fillets work well, too. Rig them onto heavy-duty circle hooks so you don’t lose your fish on the way up.
Once you’ve got a bite, you need to get it to the surface. Electric reels are pretty much a necessity if you’re in it for the meat. They have no sport value to speak of, though. If you want a test of strength, you can also use hefty manual reels. You’ll get less fish this way, but you’ll earn every one you bring aboard.
Setting Out: Best Places to Launch in the Gulf of Mexico
So you have a plan, now it’s time to find a boat. Where you launch from depends a lot on how much time you have. If you’re high-tailing it out for an overnight trip, launching from the lower Mississippi River Delta gives you a heck of a head start. Towns like Venice and Port Eads are also great spots to turn in on longer trips if you don’t want to sleep at sea.
Around the rest of the Gulf, you’re basically looking for easy access to open water and the shortest distance to the shelf. In Texas, Port Aransas and South Padre/Port Isabel are both good options. Farther East, Orange Beach, AL and Destin, FL are your best bets, as they’re close to the deep waters of the De Soto Valley.
Multi-Day fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico are some serious bucket list stuff. They’re the kind of adventure you’ll tell your grandkids about. You’re going to have a blast whatever you do, but heading out from the right port with the best equipment and a clear plan will take it to the next level.
How would you spend a multi-day fishing trip? Have you ever been on one? Tell us your stories in the comments below, we would love to hear about that trip of a lifetime!
