Fishing Trip/Bachelor Party Suggestions

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

OD's, I'm looking to plan a bachelor party for the first weekend in May and we're considering going fly fishing in Arkansas or off shore fishing down on the coast. We're looking for something that is guided and perhaps has a cabin for accommodations.

Does anyone have experience with either option?

Can anyone provide a good company or guide?

Any other suggestions?

[Political Hack]

not really, but if you're looking for a good combo weekend and only a little focus on fly fishing, Cherokee in North Carolina may be a good choice. You have to know the releases though through the tribe and it would probably be best to have a guide. The good part is that there's 100 things to do around there. You're an hour from Gatlinburg, next to the casino, easy drive to white water, and 100's of awesome camping spots. The fly fishing wasn't great when I was there though.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Thanks, I'll have to look into that for other trips as well.

[FISHDAWG]

Fly fishing = Telico Plains, TN.
offshore = wait until June or July ... actually, as soon as the very short red snapper season opens .... paying to run way out isn't really feasible until you can start keeping what you catch

[Johnson85]

OD's, I'm looking to plan a bachelor party for the first weekend in May and we're considering going fly fishing in Arkansas or off shore fishing down on the coast. We're looking for something that is guided and perhaps has a cabin for accommodations.

Does anyone have experience with either option?

Can anyone provide a good company or guide?

Any other suggestions?

If you're going to fish on the coast in May, I'd do specs and reds rather than off shore. There's a group (Shore Thing Charters?) that has a nice house on Cat Island that you can stay in. There's also a guy out of long beach (Southern Way Charters?) that offers chandeleur boats. They run you out there in a big boat probably that will sleep maybe 8 or 10 people. They put you in skiffs to fish. The big boat is kind of your home base and you can come back there during the day and at night. I think they cook for you too.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Fly fishing = Telico Plains, TN.
offshore = wait until June or July ... actually, as soon as the very short red snapper season opens .... paying to run way out isn't really feasible until you can start keeping what you catch

Wow...Telico Plains is impressive! From looking on various guide sites in Arkansas and Tenn it looks like the maximum number people would be 2 per guide/boat, so we may just have to take it down to the coast. Just checked and it looks like snapper opens June 1, but I'm not sure if that weekend is an option.

If you're going to fish on the coast in May, I'd do specs and reds rather than off shore. There's a group (Shore Thing Charters?) that has a nice house on Cat Island that you can stay in. There's also a guy out of long beach (Southern Way Charters?) that offers chandeleur boats. They run you out there in a big boat probably that will sleep maybe 8 or 10 people. They put you in skiffs to fish. The big boat is kind of your home base and you can come back there during the day and at night. I think they cook for you too.

After looking online and hearing your advice, the coast may be our best option. We'll have anywhere from 6-9 people on the trip and I think that would be better suited for the coast.

[SpeckleDawg]

After looking online and hearing your advice, the coast may be our best option. We'll have anywhere from 6-9 people on the trip and I think that would be better suited for the coast.

I think you are right. Lots of guides to choose from down here, but you might want to get on it quick if you want to get on a weekend snapper trip at that time. Also, plenty of casinos and other things down here to keep yall busy.

[BeastMan]

One thing to consider if you stay on the gulf coast is a charter out of LA. Shell Beach is a quick drive and not only do you get higher limits, you get access to the Biloxi marsh that is protected. If you used a MS charter and encountered high winds, you may not be able to make the run to Cat or the marsh. As another poster mentioned, Shore Thing has that "Cat Island Experience" and it looks amazing.

[Esmerelda Villalobos]

Beast, you know anything about deep sea fishing in cabo?

[BeastMan]

Beast, you know anything about deep sea fishing in cabo?

Nope. I bet Fishdawg does. My dad has done some fishing in Mexico but I haven't

[Barking 13]

I'd settle on cabins or the hotel at JP Coleman on Pickwick.... sigh...***

[FISHDAWG]

Beast, you know anything about deep sea fishing in cabo?

Cabo San Lucas is my very favorite fishing destination ..... main cost is getting there, tickets are usually $1,100 - 1,200 bucks .... once you're there everything else is very reasonable .... you can stay @ a 5-star resort for something like $ 125-$150 per night .... meals and entertainment are cheap, decent casino, and you can charter a 30' boat for 8-hrs for around $400-450 ..... I have gotten the locals as low as $300 and made them include live bait and license ...... ahhh Cabo .... best part is my daughter was just hired by American Airlines and parents fly free ...... yes, they fly into Los Cabos (closest airport to Cabo San Lucas)

[Esmerelda Villalobos]

Thanks fish. I will be there in a few months. Id like to charter a boat. How many can you fit on a 30 footer?

I was budgeting 2k but sounds like I way overshot the cost of a charter boat.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Thanks for all the help. I'll update when a decision is made. Beast, anyone in particular to guide with in Shell Beach?

[BeastMan]

I don't really have anyone in particular. We use big dog charters in Lafitte a few times a year but that is about an hour and a half from pass Christian. I know they are $500 for 4 people full day. I don't have any recs for Shell.

ETA- I just googled "Shell Beach charter" & there is a ton of options

[FISHDAWG]

$ 2000 is about right for the States but in Cabo never pay more than $500 ( I have never booked for more than two so a large party might be more, just remember, in Cabo - EVERYTHING is negotiable ..... a 30' can fish 4 guys comfortably while trolling or 6 or 7 guys for bottom fishing .... although there are always a few casualties due to sea-sickness ... I would say go to the marina a day or two before and look at the boats .... you will be swamped with captains or brokers trying to book your charter (no need for advanced booking) .... cool thing is that if you are trolling you will be in sight of the beach because the water drops to 2000 feet as soon as you leave the maria so the sea-sickness will probably be minimum

ETA- Night life is pretty good - try The Giggling Marlin or Cabo Wabo (Sammy Haggar's bar)

[FISHDAWG]

forget the guides .... rent a cabin, buy a license and permit and head upstream to the managed area and fish .... I actually prefer going up past Indian Boundry campground and over the mountain to the Citico stream - it's more remote, smaller, and has less fishermen

[Johnson85]

Thanks for all the help. I'll update when a decision is made. Beast, anyone in particular to guide with in Shell Beach?

I would say if you're going to do Louisiana fishing and don't want to do the chandeleur boat option, I'd just got ahead and got to Venice. There are lots of guides that can set you up with a fishing cabin rental (some of which are pretty nice, some of which aren't) or you can go with the Venice Sportsman's Lodge if you want to spring for something really nice where they will cook for you, have a stocked bar, etc.

ETA: In May, I'm pretty sure the only way you won't catch a lot of specs and reds in Venice is if the weather just keeps you from fishing.

[GlassFacedScum]

I have been deep sea fishing a number of times .. And enjoyed it every time .. Depending on what ur looking to catch depends on how long u need to book ur trip. Certain fish u will need to go farther out to catch .. When I chartered it was out of flordia and Alabama ... For 8 hr trips.. Caught a lot kings, small sharks and snapper..

[GlassFacedScum]

Here lately been going with family out of dauphin island and travel out 5 to 6 miles off the gulf.. And catch tons of snapper.. But not much else. Besides a occasional of bull dauphin or king... If your really wanting to catch the really big fish .. U will need to take a least a 12 hr trip probably longer whole day