Launching out of Venice Marina in the Louisiana Delta in late July with Yamaha Blue Water pro Capt. George Mitchell, "North American Fisherman TV" host Steve Pennaz targeted yellowfin tuna, dolphin and billfish for a 2012 episode of the show.
Fishing out of Capt. Mitchell's boat -- which is powered by three Yamaha 300 four-strokes -- Steve and the crew ran more than 180 miles on 2 1/2-foot seas on Day 1, dodging storms and searching for fish.
"Our first fish was a 30-pound blackfin tuna -- the largest I've seen personally," Steve said.
Late in the afternoon, Steve and the crew hooked an 80-pound yellowfin that destroyed Capt. Mitchell's gaff before pulling the hook. Later, they hooked and landed a 50-pounder.
On Day 2, Steve and the crew fished shallower rigs, landing several species, including mangrove snapper as big as 10 pounds, sharks, several king mackerel and others.
"North American Fisherman TV," which reaches 10.8 million households seasonally, airs for 20 weeks in 1st and 2nd quarter on Versus TV/NBC Sports. The footage Steve and the crew captured last week will appear in a show in the 2012 line-up.