In the video below, Captain Kevin Beach, of the Mexican Gulf Fishing Company (MGFC) captured a massive bait ball in the Gulf of Mexico.
Pogies formed a column just beneath the water surface, and swam together in a concentric movement for as far as the eye can see. Bait balls are a defensive tactic deployed by forager fish and some small pelagic species. Bait balls like the one shown in this video are common in the Gulf of Mexico off Venice, LA, from October through January each year.
Defense mechanism that it is, the maneuver still attracts predators, and charter fishing captains, keen to put their customers on big yellowfin tuna.
Watch the video, and you’ll see millions of pogies swarming around with mind boggling precision and beauty. As Capt. Beach says, “this was our own personal, living planet moment.”
In addition to the bait fish, you’ll see plenty of yellowfin tuna, a couple of sharks, some manta rays and jellyfish.
“The scene was exciting from a distance, but once we got into the bait ball, we knew it was something special,” says Capt. Beach. “Water conditions were beautiful, crystal clear blue, the weather also was perfect, and the Gulf was just teeming with life.”
Visibility was 30-40 feet, sea temperatures were in the high 70s, and winds were low, making for absolutely perfect fishing and diving conditions.
Want to embark on your own sea adventure? Give MGFC a call, and book a trip.
You saw it on the drawing board, and you saw it at the Miami Boat Show. It caught your eye riding on the Interstate from Florida to Louisiana, and this week ahead, … it makes its debut as the newest Freeman in our fleet of Freeman’s at The Mexican Gulf Fishing Company — a 42 foot Freeman Boatworks masterpiece.
Offshore Venice — is off to a good start in 2017. We’re seeing monster yellowfin tuna, plenty of blackfin tuna, wahoo of great size, and temps (water and air) that you just won’t believe.
“It’s been wild,” says Captain Wade Wells. “We’re seeing really nice temps making for some nice warm days. It’s bringing in the fish, too,” said Wade.
Captain Jordan Ellis agrees. “I’ve put customers on yellowfin and wahoo and we’re surprised at the size of both species. The ambient temps are great, and the water temps running a bit higher than normal too. It’s been a fun start to the new year. Looks to me like Spring is gonna be awesome.”
Justin Rackley, known as Lakeforkguy, creates fishing videos on youtube and other social platforms. Lakeforkguy travels to freshwater and saltwater fishing spots to explore new fish species and fishing techniques to show as many fishing places as possible and help viewers catch more fish, and recently he wanted to make a yellowfin tuna video.
