Fast boats, big engines, carbon fiber rods and Shimano reels get all the glory when it comes to offshore fishing. But, never underestimate the value of a great pair of sunglasses.

More specifically, Costa del Mar sunglasses. As Captain Billy Wells says, “wear Costa del Mar once, and you’ll never go back.”

Open water on the Gulf of Mexico is bright year round, but the sun is particularly blinding on crisp, fall days from late September through early November.

Wells says he’s had no fewer than five trips in the past week where he gives the nod to his prescription Costa del Mar sunglasses for helping him put customers on fish.

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Captain Billy Wells and fellow MGFC Charter Captain, Jordan Ellis joined forces this week on a charter trip out of Venice Marina. Success came fast, and Billy says they can attribute that success directly to the gear used on MGFC’s boats.

“The day was beautiful, but the wind and the seas were a bit rough,” says Billy. “No problem though, we run Yamaha outboards on our Freeman Catamarans, we plowed through that chop like it was nothing, and had our customers on fish in record time.”

What’s record time? How bout a boat full of yellowfin tuna in under an hour!

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What’s the fish report out of Venice for the Fall? According to Captain Billy Wells, fishing has been great out of Venice in recent weeks, and looks good through the Fall.

“Tuna are thick behind the shrimp boats,” says Billy, “and on the floaters. This cold front we’re having right now should get the mullet moving offshore, and the cobia moving inshore, that’s always a pattern we see with the first couple of cold fronts.”

Wells says Tuna are being caught in the 80 – 100 lb. range.

As always, Wells and the MGFC crew use Seguar Fluorocarbon and Mustad 7/0 – 8/0 perfect circle hooks.

MGFC’s boats are booked solid through the Fall, but there are some open dates in the winter months, and now is the perfect time to get on the books for 2015.

Book a trip with MGFC. Call some friends, pick a date, and come on down. We look forward to fishing with you in 2015.

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Captain Kevin Beach and his new BFFs, ventured out from Venice Marina around 6am on Monday morning. This trip, more than two years in the making, was expected to be memorable, but no one could’ve forecast the way it turned out.

Team Lucky Bastard, three friends from South Dakota, originally booked an offshore charter with MGFC more than two years ago, they had to cancel due to bad weather? Bad weather here, not in the Dakota’s mind you. But, stay with me, because this isn’t a bad weather tale.

Like any dedicated sport angler, meh. Weather happens, “Let’s reschedule for next year,” they said. And so they did, … only to be thwarted once again by mother nature. Grrrr.

Folklore, myth and legend dictates: Third Time’s a Charm.

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Capt. Billy Wells and the f/v Wild Bill, landed some nice tarpon recently near South Pass in the Gulf of Mexico. He landed, three, as a matter of fact, and it’s a good tarpon tale, for all anglers keen on fishing for silver kings.

On a slick calm day, with water like a mirrored surface, Capt. Billy and a customer set out for a charter. Freeman Boat? Check. Shimano Rods & reels? Check. Simrad electronics? Check.

Mustad circle hooks (more on this later)? Check.

The sole purpose of the trip was to fight tarpon. They had to run around a bit to find them, but when they did, the game was on.

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