Thursday, 3 December 98
The crew of the Venture had an early White Christmas yesterday....tagged a beautiful White Marlin on the Nipple at about 1500....only jumped once on initial run but very active near the boat....15 to 20 more jumps. Earlier at 1230 near the 400/47000 line got a Wahoo and at 1340 caught a big Bull Dolphin. Water temp got to 75.6 degrees....water is still blue. Last trip for the Venture....Merry Christmas to all.
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Thursday, 19 November 98
Thanksgiving came one week early for the crew of the Venture. Weather was unbelieveably good--less than 5 kts. of wind and clean blue water. At about 1000 the long flat went off...no hook-up, but saw the shoulders of what appeared to be a Blue. Fished that area(almost on the Nipple)for several more minutes, and then the short flat went off....Blue Marlin on and jumping. Took about 40 minutes to get to boatside. Very active while billing....more battle scars on gelcoat. Fish was about 175-180#. That was to be our only action for the day....another boat out of Orange Beach(Miss Jill?)tagged a Blue about an hour later just a little East of the Nipple....it was about the same size as ours. Not sure where the White's are, but who cares when the Blue's are still here. Water temp stayed about 77° all day.
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Sunday, 1 November 98
Went out today and first fish up at 7:30 was a small chicken dolphin but it spit the hook too soon. Then around 11:00 a large white (possibly a smaller blue) was in the baits but wouldn't eat. Teased him for 5 minutes but finally he decided to find something that didn't have silver barbs. Then at 4:00 something hit the starboard rigger and only the large splash was seen before it got off and while putting the rod back into the holder the starboard flat line went off and then the chair. On 30# (the flat line) Bill fought a 22 lb. tuna while in the chair Nick fought a 30 LB on 50#. Then after they were in the boat and taken care of the lines were just set back in. Five minutes later another double hookup on 30's. One Bonita was reeled in quickly while the other stripped line out for 10 minutes when finally he stopped while the fight was continued he escaped along the line and after the hard work of reeling in the stripped line all that remained was the tip of a half digested ballyhoo.
/s/Bill Gomez on the HYPERTENSION (PBGFC)

Saturday, 31 October 98
Trick or treat day and Venture got treated! Two attacks all day but we made them count. First came at 1000.....stud Wahoo....took two gaffs to bring him on board.....weighed in at 56 #....64 inches long. Water was light blue pretty much everywhere we fished.....77° to 78° water temp. Proceeded to the East after hearing of some White Marlin action over there....went all the way to the 460 line along the 46000 line. Disappointed with lack of action started back toward the SW. At around 1500 at 381/976 got a Whitey attack.....simultaneous double hookup....lost one of them in just a few seconds, but a great hookup on the other.....jumped seven or eight times as only a White Marlin can.....a beautiful sight to behold. Late afternoon sun was shining on him and silvers/purples and blues reflected off his sides....a real fighter....jumped four more times a couple of boat lengths back. Fish was hooked so good we nearly had to bring him on board to get the hooks out. We started trolling again after tagging and photo session figuring the afternoon bite was on. Did not get back in the Pass till well after dark but it was well worth the effort.!
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Saturday, 10 October 98
FISHING IN MONKEY-BOAT TOURNAMENT,LINES IN AT 6:05 AM WEST OF NIPPLE. WATER BLUE-GREEN LOOKING GOOD. HEADING SOUTH-WEST TOWARD 131 AND ON TO THE ELBOW. ABOUT 7:15 PORT RIGGER KNOCKDOWN, BLUE/WHITE ILANDER,BALLEYHOO MADE A SNACK FOR SOMETHING. WATER BLUE/BLUE WORKING POORLY FORMED GRASSLINE AT 9:00 BILLFISH IN FLATLINES CREW FEEDS BLUE/WHITE/BLACK MERLIN SLANTHEAD, FISH-ON AND DOING OUTSTANDING TAILWALK. CENTERRIGGER HAS KNOCKDOWN,WHITE NUMBER TWO DOING AQUAROBICS ON RED/WHITE PLUG BEHIND A BIRD. WHITE NUMBER ONE PULLS HOOK WITH JIMMY TAYLOR AT THE CRANK. BOBBIE STRONG WORKING NUMBER TWO. AFTER TUG-A-WAR OF 300 TO 350 YARDS FISH PULLS HOOK 35 FEET FROM BOAT. LINES BACK OUT AND WORKING SOUTHWEST OPEN WATER. I DECIDE TO CHANGE PORT FLATLINE TO A PINK/WHITE AHI P BULLET SIT BACK TO WATCH BAITS WHEN A BILL JABBS THE AHI P, DROPPED BAIT BACK MR WHITE PICKS IT UP TURNS TO PORT, REEL PUSHED INTO GEAR, FISH-ON. BOBBIE STRONG AT CRANK, THIS FISH IS SMALLER THAN PREVIOUS TWO BUT PUTTING ON GOOD SHOW. TWENTY MINUTES LATER MR WHITE SWIMS AWAY AFTER PICTURES,MEASURING (66INS) AND A TAG. TWO MORE MISSES (KNOCKDOWNS) A SMALL HOO, CHICKEN DOLPHIN, SOME SMALL JACKS. BACK TO WEIGHT-IN AT HOLIDAY HARBOR AND THE MONKEY BOAT TOURN. BOBBIE STRONG TAKES TAG AND RELEASE HONERS, AND THE BITE ME BABY ENDS THE DAY WITH TRIPLE CROWN, A VERY GOOD WAY TO END THE DAY.
/s/Robert Strong on the BITE ME BABY (PBGFC)

Saturday, 10 October 98
Lines in the water around 0900.....beautiful blue water vicinity of Nipple. Lost a Wahoo at 1340....soon thereafter at about 1400 close-in flat line went off (turbo teaser)....no hook-up....fish then went for Ballyhoo on port outrigger and the fight was on....nice White Marlin which was tagged some 20 minutes later. Shortly thereafter we had several good shots at another White, but unable to get hooked-up. Reel McCoy tagged a White at noontime....Fish Tale had a good shot at a White in the morning....Clawdad caught a small Blue around 1600 near the Nipple. Bite-me-Baby tagged a White in the morning....that was in the Monkey Boat Tournament...never heard the results of the Tournament. Great weather! Great day of billfishing!!!!
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Sunday, 4 October 98
Left Grand Lagoon Yacht Club around 6:00 AM which there was no dock to load your gear from. We had to use another boat to bring every thing to us. Started fishing the nipple around 7:45. The water at the nipple was a light green color, so we went a little farther south to the 131 hole. Then the action got a little hotter with Jim Ward getting a knockdown on a 30. Jim had several shots at a nice white but just could not set the hook. It seemed just minutes that another white came up on the starboard flat line. John Miller was on for a few seconds and it seemed that that was going to be it. Then right behind John the outrigger line went off and I grabbed the rod and set the hook. The fight was on! There is nothing like watching a marlin jumping and the excitment on the boat. The fight was over and we tagged a nice white marlin. Jim saw a large splash up ahead so we went to the spot and told everyone to be ready, when the short flat line went off. Sure thought it was a white. James fought the fish for about 10 minutes (a 44# wahoo) and the fish had a whole mullet in his mouth. Not five minutes passed when we saw another large splash. We went to it and behold, another large wahoo, a 40# caught by John Miller. Had a Great Day fishing on the Miss Ashley. A special Thanks to Jim Ward.
/s/Curtis Johnson on the MISS ASHLEY (PBGFC)

Friday, 4 September 98
Venture went fishing Friday 4 September.....first day after "Earl" that conditions permitted. And did we ever score! At 1300 the Zuchini Knucklehead hooked-up with Mr. "Earl"......a beautiful Blue Marlin in the 175 # range.....tagged him at 1340. Went in the water and got some shots with my Kodak waterproof camera......water was clean green at the 226/938 position. Around 1500 caught a real nice Wahoo.....weighed in at Outcast at 48.79 #. Joel's not going to like that Hooter. Saw very little debris from the Hurricane. Gem Dandy went to the Dumping Grounds and Elbow.....had a couple of Wahoo.......water green everywhere. How sweet it is!!!
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Saturday, 29 August 98
The Hypertension went out this weekend and found a nice rip. There was a huge bull dolphin following the boat hitting 3 or 4 lures some plastics, some naturals, but he would not take it. Finally we got on the bow with a 16 lb. test spinning rod and cast at the bull for about thirty minutes until he was finally chummed up. About 45 minutes later the fish was brought on the boat and weighed 34 ¼ lb.
/s/Nick Gomez on the HYPERTENSION (PBGFC)

Saturday, 29 August 98
Fished the Inter-Club Tournament Saturday and finished dead last along with some other boats......never got a knockdown......there must have been a hundred boats out there......a fair number of White Marlin were tagged. Have no idea who won our competition? Now let me tell you a real fish story-----Venture fished the day before, Friday 28 August and what a day it was! Tagged three Whites and lost two Blues......also caught two Wahoo and one Dolphin.......two of the Whites part of a successful double hook-up......all that with a two man crew. An unbelieveable day......will give you all the details at next meeting.
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Monday, 17 August 98
Was unable to make it offshore this past weekend, but after hearing about a good White Marlin bite Fri/Sat decided to go for it on Monday. That turned out to be a good move. Started at the Edge in clean green water....a nice bright green...I call it chrome green. Trolled east to the 400 line then turned southwest toward the Nipple. Got a small Dolphin around 0900 and at 1030 at 340/975 got the "right bite".....a magnificent Blue Marlin....he zipped off 2/3 of a spoll of a 50TW...only made one jump which was near the end of his run....stayed airborne several seconds kicking up all kinds of white water. It took 45 minutes before I billed him and he was quite active at boatside. Measured just short of 90" and looked to be about 240-250#. That was to be it for the day, but no one was complaining.....matter of fact was so charged up went back out again next day.....a complete skunk.
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Sunday, 9 August 98
Missed the Jr. Angler's Tournament 8 August due to failed alternator. Went next day starting at the Edge.....clean green everywhere. First strike came at 1415 on west side of Nipple in 50 fathoms.....big White Marlin that was tagged & released. Got a Wahoo immediately after putting the lines back out. Both fish came on a Ballyhoo. That was it for the day. Three previous trips got skunked so we were pretty happy with Mr. Whitey!
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Saturday, July 18, 1998
Made the long run down to the Spur area Saturday morning in search of blue water.....there was none to be found. Went as far south as 750 line and east to 400 line......water was clean green everywhere. Had a good shot at a White at 1145....bowed up but no hook-up....he was on that "wayback" knucklehead for more than a minute. PBGFC well represented Saturday----Chico Runner/Small Wonder/Fish Tale/Karma/Reel McCoy to name a few....also Miss Marguerita/Fever Reliever....dead calm most of the day. Never heard of any billfish being caught....most of the boats were in and around Tuna....Blackfin/Yellowfin and Bonito only fish heard being caught. Karma headed south midday for an RON after learning the rip was down at the 350 line last weekend....sure wish I could have made it down there. Anyway Venture trolled west to below the Elbow and fished the 60-100 fathom area.Water got to 90 degrees late that afternoon.....Miss Marguerita jumped off a White north of the Elbow so fished that pretty hard....rewarded at 1610 with a "stud" Bull Dolphin....weighed in at 36 1/4 #....took over 15 min. to boat him. Water same color at Elbow as it was the rest of the day. Sure hope prettier water shows up soon!
Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE(PBGFC)

Tuesday, July 7, 1998
Ran all the way to the 800 line before water had any tinge of blue....got better as we proceeded East. At high noon caught a nice 30# class Bull Dolphin on a weak rip at 330/750....Mollie and Gotcha were also in that area. Started trolling toward home at 1400 and at about 1430 while in clean sparkling green water (59 mi. SSE PNS) hooked a small Blue Marlin that put on quite a "greyhounding" show rather close to the boat...Wally got him to boatside in about 20 min. This was the smallest Blue caught aboard the Venture in some 35 Blues over the years. Estimated at 70# and measured only 60 inches. Should have some great photos at boatside which will share with all later. Long Run out of Destin was also in the area....they raised a Blue earlier. If I ever rename my boat that would be a great choice cause yesterday we really made a long run, but were rewarded for our efforts.
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Wednesday, June 24,1998
After coming up with "goose eggs" the last three trips we had a field day Wednesday. Just south of 131 hole at 0900 caught a really big Wahoo....62 1/2#. Proceeded to Elbow.....still clean green water. About noon-time on way to Dumping Grounds and now in blending blue water caught a Bull and a Cow (double hookup)....Cow was bigger than the Bull.....40 pounder! At 1400 down near the 800 line got our first billfish of the year---nice White Marlin which by the way had a TAG in it. Retagged and cut the old tag off....it's a Billfish Foundation tag and will call today to get the details....very difficult to read the last two numbers on the tag so will send the tag to them....green and mossy and well worn. Caught two more Wahoo and had a 52 mi. trip back to "home plate". Is big game fishing fun or what?
/s/Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Sunday, June 21,1998
It seems like finally the blue marlin log-jam has broken. I have been told that the Mobile Ladies Tournament tagged 8 (eight) blue marlin on Sunday. Everyone that I have tried to talk to has either gone out or is going offshore tonight so I don't have any specifics. I just wanted to get the word out.
RayC

Saturday, June 20,1998
" The Long Run" out of Destin Tagged and Released a Blue Marlin on Sat. June 20th. The fish was caught on a Door Knob D-12 lure. The Angler was Bruce Aplin of Ft. Walton Beach and it was his first Blue Marlin. The fish was caught stand up with a 50SW Penn with 50 lb test. The fish was caught on a bubble line with no grass located just south of the Steps at 29Degrees 04 min N and 87 Degrees 37 min W ( or 12950 and 46713). We also caught a nice 35 pound blackfin Tuna on the line. This is Jim Roberson's 2nd Blue Marlin early on in this season. The first Mate was Dr. Forrest Townsend.
Good Luck and Tight Lines.
/s/Jim Roberson
" The Long Run"

Friday, June 12,1998
On Friday June 12, 1998 the crew aboard "The Long Run" with Capt. Jim Roberson out of Destin Released a Blue Marlin 110" LJFL just south of the Steps. Pretty Blue water line against green water with a 1 degree temp difference. Narrow grass line with scattered flying Fish. Randy Mills was the angler and Russ Marion 1st Mate it was their first offshore trolling trip. The fish hit a 9" Moldcraft Pink Super Chugger rigged with a single 7691 Mustad hook. Everyone on board got to watch the fish attack the lure. Then the fish stripped off more than 1/2 a spool on the Penn 50SW in a heart beat. Randy fought the fish hard for 60 minutes before the release. During that time the fish put on an awsome display. First tail walking then greyhounding several times. The crew also caught several dolphin. Russ caught a 35 pound Cow Dolphin on a spinning rod. The Cow also put on quite an air show for the crew.
/s/Jim Roberson
" The Long Run"

Wed June 10,1998
-Fishing approximately 50 miles southeast 13433/46866 on the Mango Tango, captain Mark Braxton with Dr. Strick Mays, Mike Majewski. Found a great rip with scattered grass, boards and other debri..Good current pushing northeast with clear blue water on the southeast side of the rip. We broke the wire on @ 350# blue Marlin at 8:45 am and had non-stop hook-ups on Dolphin and Wahoos until we left @4:40 pm. Largest Wahoo @40 #. Total knock- downs @ 40. Using natural baits with lure combinations. Seas only @2-3 ft. with wind @10 knots out of the southeast. Looks like Mark's new boat is a real fishing machine, especially for the first trip offshore!
/s/ S. Mays on the MANGO TANGO

Tuesday, 26 May, 1998
Venture fished Tuesday......pea-green all the way to the 800 line where we found a rip and blue-green water. Got 4 Dolphin.....together they might have gone 25#. On Monday, Mike Guffey tagged a Blue south of Steps. During Mobile Tournament Dixie Snellgrove tagged a White south of Dumping Grounds.
/s/ Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)

Weekend of 23-25 May, 1998
GILL LANDS POTENTIAL STATE RECORD TUNA A potential state record yellowfin tuna was the highlight of the Mobile Big Game Fishing Culb's Memorial Day Weekend Tournament, which concluded Sunday. Pam Gill on Albacore II hooked the 202.4 pound tuna and fought it for two hours to get it to the boat. The group was fishing a floating rig near the Steps when Mitch Latoff III caught a 37.6 pound dolphin, which won the category. About an hour later, Gill hooked the big tuna subdued the big fish from the fighting chair. The current state record is 198 pounds. A total of 94 boats and 382 anglers participated in the event.

The Intruder earned the prize for top boat over 31 feet with a tag and release bule marlin worth 650 points. The Argument was the top boat under 31 feet with a 132.6 pound yellowfin tuna. The Lady Angler award went to Dixie Snellgrove on Karma with a tag and release white marlin. The Junior Angler award went to Brian Harris on Full House with a 39 pound wahoo. The next club event will be the Ladies Tournament June 19-21.

FINAL RESULTS:
Dolphin - Mitch Lattof III, Albacore II, 37.6
Leland Avery, Coral Sea, 36.0
Robert Erwin, Miss Mickie, 23.4

Wahoo - Stephen King Hill, Sticks Up, 47.0;
Charlie Cook III, Charlie's Boy, 44.8;
Rick Day, Experts Only 44.8

Tuna - Pam Gill, Albacore II, 202.4,
Danny Harris, Dixie Rebel, 145.4, (PBGFC)
Tucker Yance, Argument, 132.8.

Blue Marlin - Butch Tatum, Magic Carpet Ride, 308

Tag & Release - Robert Weaver, Intruder, blue marlin, 650;
Chip Haffner Gung Ho, white marlin, 300;
Dixie Snellgrove, Karma, white marlin, 200 (PBGFC)

Lady Angler- Dixie Snellgrove (PBGFC)

Junior Angler - Brian Harris, Full House, 39.0 whaoo

Top Boat (31 feet and over) - Intruder, 650 points

Top Boat (under 31 feet)- Argument, yellowfin tuna, 132.8

Thursday, 21 May, 1998
Venture fished Thursday-----started at Elbow.....clean green.....caught cow dolphin early on......then proceeded to NE corner Dumping Grounds.... pocket of blending blue water....no strikes. Proceeded to DeSoto Canyon just south of Spur to fish the weed line/rip/blue water I found last Monday. It was no longer there! Went South to 750 line.....still clean green......no action. Had to settle for the one strike/one Dolphin.
/s/ Steve Kaiser on the VENTURE (PBGFC)
Bert and I went out yesterday on Lucky Lady. Fished the nipple to 5 miles south of 131. Then due east to 100 fathom. Then proceeded toward the rock cliffs. My daughter's boy friend caught a 55- 60 lb Wahoo in 500 feet of water east northeast of the Nipple on red/black Islander with wahoo. Only knock down of the day. Water was green all the way and little to no life or debris at all. We plan to hit it hard Saturday and Sunday, will keep you posted.
/s/Chuck Haskell on the LUCKY LADY (PBGFC)

Weekend of 16-17 May, 1998
I went offshore with Tim on the BLUE SKY Saturday. Saw lots of green water, and very little else. We fished around the Nipple, 131 Hole, and the area east of there. Found a narrow weedline running SE-NW and fished it for a couple hours. No color change and very little push. Only heard of one fish taken from it. Lots of river-weed and flotsom. We broke one rubber band all day long and figured that it just wore out! We heard on the VHF that some wahoo and tuna were taken elsewhere, but there was no way to tell where because radio conditions were so freaky. (While fishing we heard the TIME OUT at South Pass all day long. Talked to the INSPIRATION who was at the Black Beauty rig from Big Lagoon on our way out!) Quig had a probable hoo at the back of the SHORT CIRCUIT, but lost it. Not many fish yet. I'll post more when I hear it.
RayC on the BLUE SKY (PBGFC)

Fished the oil rigs SW of Pensacola Saturday and Sunday. No blue water and very little bait. We caught 8 Wahoo, 1 at 73.3 lbs. and another at 53.44 lbs. No billfish raised and no grasslines sighted.
/s/ Gary Malone on GEM DANDY (PBGFC)

Wednesday, 13 May, 1998
First Marlin for the PBGFC in 1998!!
Ed Parker went offshore on first trip today......tagged a Blue Marlin on 50#.....Ed was the angler......Fish Tale the boat. Water reported as green at nipple and only slightly better at Elbow. Fish Tale hooked up on way back to Nipple from the Elbow. (PBGFC)

Weekend of 9-10 May, 1998
We went offshore this weekend (May 9) and fished the nipple down to the elbow and back to the nipple. No fish, no birds, no floatsum, and green brown water. It felt like the Dead Sea. Just thought I would let you know.
/s/ Charlie Stavely - Chico Trio (PBGFC)
Put in at the nipple and fished south to Desoto Canyon. Water was green and very little bait until we reached the 13175.0 and 46745.0 where we found a broken grass line. Water was blue-green with 75 degree temp. Fished from 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. on the line and caught 1 wahoo, 3 small dolphin and 1 tuna. Saw 1 blue marlin free-jumping before returning home. (67 nautical miles due south of Pensacola)
/s/ Gary Malone - Gem Dandy (PBGFC)