About three years ago, I got put in touch with Kwik Way Charters out of Port O`Connor, Texas.  Captain Kirk and Captain Chuck own and operate the Kwik Way, a 36-foot center console with twin 225hp Yamahas hanging off the back, but more importantly, these guys know how to fish the gulf. About three weeks ago our crew met the Kwik Way at the dock in Port O.

The first northern of the year was hitting town right as we were shaking hands with the captains. The outlook wasn`t good, but Captain Chuck suggested we grab some breakfast and see how fast the front would move offshore. Two hours later we were on our way. With a north wind at our back, the Kwik Way cruised 55 miles offshore in about an hour and a half. The first stop of day was an unmarked shrimpboat which should hold amberjack. We sent live perch down 220 feet to see if anyone was home, and it didn`t take long. 3 hookups within seconds of hitting the bottom. It is hard to describe fighting an amberjack up from 220 feet. It would be similar to latching onto the back of a moving freight train and trying to reel it in--every inch is tough. After about 20 minutes, we got the first ones to the surface, and the real fun began. Several other amberjacks had followed the first ones to the surface, and we were flipping baits over the side to hungry fish. The highlight was bringing a 45-pounder up from the deep.

With our amberjacks limited out, we headed a little closer to shore for red snapper. Red snapper action on the Kwik Way gets fast and furious. After about 45 minutes, we had loaded the boat with 6 limits of snapper, including several fish in the 12-14 pound range and one sow at 18 pounds. A couple of nice 20 pound kingfish also came up from the snapper hole, and we had a boatload full of fish and some tired anglers. Because of the late start and less than ideal weather, we made the decision to head home, but I am not sure we could have physically caught another fish if we tried.

In 20 years of fishing the Texas coast, I have never been with better offshore guides than Captains Chuck and Kirk. They always hammer the snapper and amberjacks, and we usually get the chance at other species. In fact I got invited on another Kwik Way trip this past weekend. We spent most of the day chasing blackfin tuna behind shrimpboats but that was after we had limited on amberjack and snapper. You can schedule a trip on a Kwik Way by calling (361) 983-4371.

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