Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
February 13, 2015
Volume 11, Issue 12
Battles on the beach
Different kind of cat
Surf anglers, Winter Texans battling reds, whiting, others from the beach By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Hunters in bobcat contest call in, shoot mountain lion instead By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
When four friends set out last month to search for a big bobcat for a contest in West Texas, they didn’t realize just how big of a cat they would call in. Monahan hunter Jacky Heflin, along with friend Laddan Ledbetter and two others, headed to Val Verde County to Heflin’s deer lease to attempt to find a big bobcat to place in the West Texas big bobcat contest. “This is big, rocky country with cedars, canyons and mesas,” Heflin said. “We started out the day and called in a few fox on the first couple of sets, but after those two sets we were skunked on the next three. We decided to move
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success with typical winter species such as whiting, pompano and big redfi sh. Photo by Joe A. Garcia. Please turn to page 13
Slow start for big bass Texas anglers struggling to find lunkers this season By this date last year, six bass weighing more than 13 pounds had been recorded in Texas Parks and Wildlife’s ShareLunker program. This year, that number sits at one bass — a 13.88-pound largemouth caught by Frisco angler David Roulston from Lake Fork on Nov. 20. While the program has seen some lean years, you have to
INSIDE
NO TIME TO BE NERVOUS: West Texas hunter Jacky Hefl in hoists the mountain lion he and friends called in looking for bobcats in Val Verde County. Photo by Jacky Hefl in.
Winter Texans, along with the normal assortment of surf anglers, have been hitting the beaches this month and coming home with plenty of tasty whiting, big redfish and some big black drum, along with a few pompano and others. According to South Padre Island National Seashore angler Joe Garcia, the surf has been tough this winter, with stained water and colder temperatures making for a tough bite. “I’ve only been out once this month, but the action was pretty slow,” said Garcia, who routinely catches big sharks and redfish from the beach. Even though anglers have had to battle the conditions — not uncommon for February on the beach — nice fish are still being caught. Shark_Reeler on 2coolfishing.com has been hitting the sands recently, and reported a good whiting bite. “I arrived at the beach late Monday night and found a decent spot to make camp for the night,” he wrote. “Woke up Tuesday morning to very low tides and glass-smooth water. Threw out a few casting rods baited with shrimp and Fishbites. Got a fresh southern ray right off the bat. For the next couple hours, it was whiting after whiting. By noon, I had about a dozen in the cooler. Early in the afternoon, the slot reds came through briefly. First one was an undersized 18-incher that went back in. A few minutes later, a PRODUCTIVE IN THE FIRST GUT: Although February can be a tricky month to catch fi sh off the beach, some Texas anglers are having
go back to 2008 to find a year with fewer lunkers recorded by early February. However, program leader Juan Martinez said he has checked a lot of fish that just barely missed the 13-pound mark, and thinks anglers are in for a good late February and early March. “I don’t think there is a lack of big fish,” Martinez said. “I’ve had a lot of calls for 11s and
HUNTING
12s, but nothing over 13 so far. I don’t think it is an issue of big bass not being there. I think the weather has been a little unusual, anglers are having a tougher time figuring out where big fish are and a lack of access because of low water on some lakes is hurting.” Martinez said the bulk of the WHERE ARE THE TOADS? Anglers are still searching for program’s fish have historically huge bass like this 13-pounder caught in November by Please turn to page 13
FISHING
A two-decade saga
Winter snook
Season for fur
Proposed changes
Family hunting rifle stolen 24 years ago returns to its rightful owner, who is putting it to use once again. Page 4 Fur prices up, trappers taking advantage in field and at the bank. Page 4
Frisco angler David Roulston. Photo by TPWD.
Anglers in the Brownsville Ship Channel know what a challenge winter snook can be. Page 8
TPWD could change Falcon rules on alligator gar, along with bass regulations at other lakes. Page 9
CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 25 Crossword . . . . . . . . . Page 20 Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 For the Table . . . . . . . . Page 20 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes. . . . . . . . . . . Page 18 Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 26 Products . . . . . . . . . . . Page 19 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 20 Sun, Moon and Tide data . . Page 11
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February 13, 2015
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HUNTING
Texas Legislature looking at hunting bills By Mark England
Lone Star outdoor newS As the 84th Texas Legislature gets underway, the headliner wildlife legislation early on are twin bills in the Senate and the House to let voters decide whether hunting and fishing should be constitutional rights. “Out of state groups are coming in and trying to influence our way of life, and we aim to put a stop to it,” said Lance Phillips, chairman of the Dallas Safari Club’s PAC. DSC had input on the bill, along with other groups, according to Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, sponsor of the House bill. Phillips and other advocates are con-
cerned that antihunting groups such as PETA are trying to roll back hunting and fishing rights in states through “backdoor legislation.” “We helped turn away an animal cruelty bill,” Phillips said. “The problem with the bill, which was done intentionally, was that if you were hunting and had a young man with you and, let’s say, he accidentally shot a killdeer, a nongame animal, like a former governor of Texas did, it would have fallen to the local district attorney to decide whether to prosecute the young man under animal cruelty legislation. If convicted, he could have been banned from public universities in Texas.
“That’s the kind of bills we’ve been fighting off the last three legislative sessions.” Although there’s been speculation an amendment would require bills “negatively” affecting hunting and fishing to pass by a 2/3 majority, a spokesman for Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, sponsor of the Senate bill, said that’s not the case. “The intent of the bill is to prevent a ban of hunting and fishing.” Similar bills have been filed in four other states: Oregon, Indiana, Kansas and Michigan. Currently, 18 states have passed hunting and fishing amendments. If passed, the amendment would go before Texas voters on Nov. 3, 2015.
Almost a month into the legislative session, there’s a bill declassifying elk as an exotic animal but no bills dealing with deer. That’s expected to change before the filing deadline, March 13. Joey Park, a Texas Wildlife Association legislative lobbyist, said he expects another attempt this session to extend the amount of time a breeder deer is released before hunting season (currently 10 days). Two bills have been filed to reclassify elk from an exotic to a native animal. More than semantics is involved as supporters find themselves squaring off with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Please turn to page 7
Long, strange trip Stolen rifle returns to owner years later, once again harvesting deer By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS Johnny Quiroz II’s father took him hunting when he was a young man, letting him shoot his first deer, a 6-pointer, at age 9 or 10, using the Colt Sauer 25.06 that he planned to someday give to his son. The rifle, though, took quite the journey. “My father’s .25-06 rifle was stolen from our home shortly after shooting my first buck,” he said. “The gun that accompanied us on all of our hunting trips was gone. At the time, I was more terrified that someone would break into our home and take our stuff.” The pair hunted on a 100-acre lease that shared a fenceline with the famous King Ranch near Encino. Then they lost the cherished hunting lease. “A group of doctors had come in and offered a substantial amount more money to the ranch owner to take our place,” he said. “At the time, the ranch owner was going through financial problems and reluctantly had to take the doctors’ offer. My father understood and started the search for a new hunting lease, but we didn’t hunt as much after that.” The Colt Sauer was stolen on March 28, 1990. Over the next 20-plus years, Johnny’s dad would occasionally talk about the old gun. Johnny worked as a fishing guide in the Texas Hill Country, graduated from Southwest Texas State University and spent four summers in Alaska as a fly-fishing guide, finally returning to the Valley to work as a full-time photographer and part-time surf-fishing guide. Last year, though, the conversations returned to the rifle. “I was sitting at home working on my guiding and photography websites when my father called and said, ‘I need to talk to you. Can I come over?’ I told him of course he could and that he should make plans to stay for dinner. We hung up the phone and I contemplated what it was he couldn’t tell me over the phone.” Johnny’s father came to his home with an old rifle — the Colt Sauer 25.06. “My father began to tell me the most unbelievable story. He told me that he received a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice stating that the DEA had seized 20 assorted firearms during a drug raid in Edinburg (in February, 2013), and that one of the serial numbers matched a rifle under his name from a police report submitted in 1990.” The letter asked if Johnny’s dad would like to have his old gun back. Six months and mounds of paperwork later, the rifle was returned to its owner. “Twenty-four years after my father’s Colt Sauer .25-06 was stolen, it was now back in his hands and he was handing it over to me,” Johnny Please turn to page 22
A LONG TIME COMING: Johnny Quiroz II drags the buck he harvested this month in South Texas with the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation, while the rifl e stolen decades ago from his family sits atop his back. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Trapping prices on the rise By Steven Bridges
For Lone Star outdoor newS The vast majority of Texas outdoor enthusiasts are missing out on an enjoyable and profitable opportunity — fur trapping. “Fur trapping holds lots of advantages for the environment, economy and the trapper,” said Rob Cahill, senior vice president of International Marketing for North American Fur Auctions. “Fur trapping reduces predator and nuisance species which helps desirable wildlife and livestock thrive. Trappers also act as the eyes and ears of the land, often sounding the alarm at the first hint of habitat destruction or pollution. Plus, there is definitely value in Texas fur.” Brian McMillan serves as vice president for Wild Fur NICE PELT: Fur prices are up this season, and trappers say running a line will make you a better hunter. Photo by LSON.
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TPWD proposes turkey changes The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is considering closing spring eastern turkey hunting in 11 East Texas counties, restructuring the season in two other counties and extending the youth-only fall turkey season. If adopted, hunting season for eastern turkey would be closed in 11 counties (Angelina, Brazoria, Camp, Fort Bend, Franklin, Harrison, Hopkins, Morris, Titus, Trinity, and Wood) and on national forest lands in Jasper County. While closed, TPWD wildlife biologists will evaluate the prospects for future eastern turkey restoration compatibility and restocking efforts. The agency’s goal is to reopen hunting should the eastern turkey populations in the affected counties become capable of sustaining a harvest. TPWD is also proposing to restructure the existing spring turkey hunting season in Wharton and Matagorda counties. The proposal would continue to allow for a 30-day spring only, one gobbler season and eliminate mandatory harvest reporting. The department is proposing to expand by 14 days the late youth-only season in counties having an open Rio Grande fall turkey season, to run concurrent with the late youth-only season for white-tailed deer. — TPWD
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LoneOStar Outdoor News
February 13, 2015
A comparative success
GOOD NUMBERS STILL AROUND: Hunters are talking about this quail season as the best in several years, although numbers still have a way to go to reach historical averages. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Quail hunters, land managers seeing and shooting more birds this season
By Jillian Mock
For Lone Star Outdoor News From the Rolling Plains and West Texas to the southern part of the state, this has been a heartening season for Texas quail hunters. “It has been a therapeutic year for me and my dogs,” said Dr. Dale Rollins, executive director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch . In the rolling plains west of Abilene, Rollins has been averaging about 24 coveys per day, 80-percent bobwhites and 20-percent blues, with excellent conditions and healthy-looking birds.
“We’ve been on a downward trend for many years — for the last eight years in the rolling plains,” said Dallas hunter Joe Crafton. “These really great numbers seem to be a function of just the right rain at just the right time.” Hunters, experts, and outfitters have echoed Crafton’s hypothesis across the state. Jay Stine, a frequent Clay County hunter, points to the timing of the rains — spread fairly evenly across the calendar — and the relatively mild summer in 2014. “The combination of a milder summer and well-timed rains really boosted quail populaPlease turn to page 22
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First hunt for wildlife biology grad student New hunter takes three deer on Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation hunt By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS As a graduate wildlife biology student studying Montezuma quail at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Liz Oaster has spent plenty of time with animals, both outside and in the lab. Growing up in Pennsylvania, her father didn’t hunt after she was born. While a few of her cousins hunted, she was never invited to tag along. At the University of Wyoming, where she completed her undergraduate degree in wildlife biology, she was interested but never got the chance to hunt. In a previous story in Lone Star Outdoor News, professors from universities in Texas commented on the increasing number of wildlife biology students who weren’t hunters. Louis Harveson, who directs the Borderland Research Institute and is a professor at Sul Ross, recommended Liz as a prime candidate. She was invited by the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation to participate in her firstever white-tailed deer hunt, where hopefully she would have the chance to take a buck. She had no idea she would get to harvest three deer. Arriving with her boyfriend, Daniel Tidwell, also a graduate student at Sul Ross and an experienced hunter, Liz quickly showed she had indeed shot a rifle before, and the time at the range was brief. That afternoon, in the deer blind with guide Cole Farris and her boyfriend, Liz watched a buck step out. After studying the buck, it was agreed the buck could be taken. “I was nervous and it took awhile to settle myself down,” Liz said. The shot was pure, and after the buck was on the ground, Farris went to get the
vehicle. It was then her emotions took over. “She jumped up and down and squealed about 10 times,” Tidwell said. The new hunter, not unfamiliar with handling animals or getting her hands dirty, dove right into the gutting and skinning process and the young couple was happy to be able to take some meat for the freezer. The next evening, though, she had even more excitement. “We need help with reaching our numbers on does, LSONF’s Craig Nyhus said, “so let’s keep hunting.” At a different blind, several bucks, including a spike and a fawn, were seen, but no does appeared. “Let’s take that spike,” Nyhus told her. It was easier said than done. Other deer were always either in front of or behind the spike, and no shot was presented. “Something else is coming,” she said. “It’s a doe.” “Change of plans, move to the doe,” her guide whispered. The doe wouldn’t stand still unless facing the hunter, but finally, the traf- A NEW HUNTER FOR LIFE: Graduate wildlife biology student Liz Oaster got her fi rst chance to hunt with the Lone Star fic of other deer cleared and she stood Outdoor News Foundation in South Texas, and took this buck along with a doe and a spike. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News. broadside. “Whenever you’re ready.” guide moved within the blind and the rifle It didn’t take her long and another shot The shot was good and the doe moved was out the side window, but the move- rang out. into the nearby brush. ment spooked the spike into the nearby “I got him good,” Liz said. “He darted to The hunt wasn’t over, as less than 10 brush. the left and then to the right.” minutes later, the spike nervously returned “He’ll come back, he didn’t see us — he’s “Good, let’s go find your doe and come to the sendero. looking right into the sun.” back.” “Let’s go back to the spike.” The spike returned, but the canvas cloth As the new hunter and guide located the The spike stayed behind some brush and hanging over the side window of the blind two deer and her boyfriend drove up to later trotted to another open area located blocked the guide’s view. see what she had accomplished, the new behind the blind. “I can’t see anything, but you know what hunter was grinning from ear to ear. “We need to switch places.” to do. When he turns broadside, take him.” “This is so much fun,” she said. As quietly as possible, the hunter and
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The Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award — Dallas Safari Club’s highest honor — has been presented to Dr. James Henry “Red” Duke of Houston. DSC and the Dallas Ecological Foundation present the Capstick Award to recognize exemplary leadership in conservation, education, hunting, humanitarian causes, research, permanent endowments and charitable giving. Duke, a physician, media personality, hunter and conservationist, has been devoted to wild sheep restoration. He is a founder, past president and honorary lifetime director of the Texas Bighorn Society, which spearheaded successful desert sheep initiatives in West Texas. The Sportsman’s Club of Texas, Shikar Safari Foundation and now DSC have presented him with their highest awards. Duke, 84, was honored during the DSC convention and sporting expo, Jan. 15-18, in Dallas. “This well-deserved recognition, and Red speaking from the heart about conservation, and the incredible audience response to him, was a highlight of our convention. It was a really special moment,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. — Dallas Safari Club
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Both bills seek to prevent TPWD from culling elk deemed to be in competition with bighorn sheep, a species the state is trying to reestablish. “Because elk are classified exotic, there’s really no regulation on killing them,” said Lauren Cacheaux, legislative director for the House bill’s sponsor, Rep. Poncho Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass. “With this bill, Texas Parks and Wildlife wouldn’t be able to remove them the way they have. But they also wouldn’t be required to manage them either.” One of the bills’ proponents, rancher Christopher Gill, of the Circle Ranch in West Texas, said TPWD would be given the “flexibility” to look at the science and act on it. “Across the West, you find bighorns with elk all the time. If you don’t believe me, go to Colorado. When you spot a bighorn, see if you don’t see an elk in the background. The idea that for one animal to thrive you have to wipe out another is crazy.” TPWD reported that it’s still studying the bills. However, a spokesman questioned the bills’ effect on the agency if passed as well as Gill’s conclusion. “We do not believe TPWD’s goal to limit the number of elk on certain WMAs will be impacted by this bill,” Tom Harvey told LSON in an email. “We are not disallowed from looking at the science today, and we believe the bill does not impact our ability to consider science.” A flurry of bills have been filed to waive various hunting and fishing fees for everyone from disabled military veterans to those over the age of 65. At this point, it’s too early to know how they would impact TPWD’s budget. “We won’t know the final tally until a House-Senate conference committee approves the state budget, usually by May,” Harvey responded.
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Dallas Safari Club sets records
“Red” Duke receives Capstick Award
Breeder bills, elk as natives on tap
February 13, 2015
Receipts are counted, gate figures tallied. By every metric used to score events, the 2015 DSC convention and expo is going into the books as a record-setter. And it’s all translating to record funding for conservation, education and hunters’ rights worldwide. The event netted $1.4 million for this year’s DSC grants, to be announced soon, plus $1 million especially for the groundbreaking youth education program, Outdoor Adventures. DSC’s mission — related fundraising and effectiveness have been steadily rising: 2015 — $1,400,000 + $1 million for youth education 2014 — $1,256,000 + $350,000 for black rhino conservation 2013 — $1,010,000 2012 — $998,000 2011 — $702,000 2010 — $577,000 2009 — $247,000 “We’re pleased with our growth, grateful to our supporters and determined to keep making our show better than the one before,” said Ben Carter,
DSC executive director. “Over the past five years, we’ve raised more than $6.7 million to benefit wildlife and preserve traditional sporting lifestyles. That’s an amazing figure. And it’s a powerful statement about the passion of our members, supporters and volunteers.” Other interesting figures from the 2015 DSC convention and expo: • Total attendance over the four days was just over 45,000; a new record. • Record DSC membership sales with nearly 800 newcomers, bringing the club’s total membership to 6,300 (about 60 percent of DSC members are from outside of Texas). • Record 1,000-plus exhibitors, who rented 1,730 booth spaces filling 850,000 square feet. • Most-ever on-site booth renewals for next year’s show, with 60 percent of 2015 exhibitors signing contracts and paying in advance for 2016. • More than 600 companies now on a waiting list to exhibit at future DSC expos. • About 150 booth spaces will be added for the 2016 event — most have already been acquired by Please turn to page 23
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February 13, 2015
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FISHING
Headed north
White bass running early this year, heading up Trinity, Nueces rivers already
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
The white bass run is spreading northwards thanks to warm days and good water conditions, according to area anglers and guides. On the Nueces River above Lake Corpus Christi, anglers are having to fight low water conditions, but the white bass are there in good numbers. “This warming trend has helped,” said David Sikes of the Corpus Christi Caller Times, after a trip last weekend. “Lake Corpus Christi isn’t bad — there is enough water in the Nueces for them to get up the river. We were fishing about 15 miles from the lake and we are already catching some big fish this year.” Sikes said he caught several fish in the 2-pound range, and believes it is due to the amount of bait in Lake Corpus Christi since the lake filled back up two years ago. “When the lake filled up in 2013, the baitfish exploded,” he said. “I spoke with a biologist who is aging the white bass, and 90-percent of the fish are 1 or 2 years old. They are just gorging on all of the bait. I haven’t seen white bass this big down here ever.” Sikes said Choke Canyon is so low, the white bass run might not happen up the Frio River.
“The Frio is barely a river,” he said. “Access is very limited. The San Miguel Creek is almost dry, so I wouldn’t expect much this year.” A little farther north, Lake Livingston guide Simon Cosper said the warm weather has pushed white bass into the creeks faster than he has ever seen. “It went from zero to 100 really fast,” Cosper said. “It had been raining, and then we got the warm weather and it put fish up the creek on sandbars. This year, we are already catching big females, full of eggs, in 1-foot of water on sandbars and in creek bends. It is crazy early.” Cosper said the bite has been very good on warm days. “This is the earliest I have ever seen this many, this big,” he said. ‘I expect a phenomenal run this season. All the creeks are fishing good. The (Trinity) river isn’t as good because it is still a little muddy from the rains, but it will clear up. “We have been having good success on typical white bass baits — inline spinners, Rooster Tails, white curly grubs and small lipless crankbaits.” On message boards, anglers are also reporting success in the Guadalupe River up from Canyon Lake and on the Sabine River near Longview using live minnows.
WARM WEATHER SPARKING EARLY RUN: White bass are beginning their run into some Texas rivers this month, including the Nueces and Trinity north of Lake Livingston. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.
Getting snookered
Plenty of snook roaming Brownsville Ship Channel, but catching one a challenge
By Jillian Mock
For Lone Star outdoor newS It has been a slow season for snook in the deep waters of the Brownsville Ship Channel. Fishing for snook in February is not for the fair-weather angler. “They stopped biting after the first part of December. I haven’t caught any snook in the last 10 or 12 trips down to the ship channel,” said Capt. Gencho Buitureia Jr. of South Padre Bay Fishing. “And I took 30 trips down there this winter.” Experienced fishermen like Buitureia know that snook fishing is best April through November, when the weather is considerably warmer along the coast. Snook are extremely temperature sensitive and cold averse. “Snook are a tropical fish and right where we live on South Padre is its northern-most range,” said avid South Texas angler Eric Sepulvida. There are snook that brave winter in the safety of the Brownsville Ship Channel, however. “Snook are an ambush-type fish; it hangs out in structure and swims with the currents to stay in one spot like a bass,” said Capt. Todd Casey of South Texas Charters. Therefore the pilings, walls, debris, and oyster beds that line the ship channel provide habitat for the elusive fish. The deeper water also allows the fish to hang out in warmer thermoclines, a must for the snook. “There are fish to be caught,” said longtime South Texas DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? Winter snook anglers in the Brownsville Ship Channel have to be on their game when targeting fi nicky cold-water fi sh. However, big fi sh are around and being caught this month. Photo by David. J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
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Five for the prize
Council mulling red snapper changes
Five Texans will be shooting for bass fishing’s biggest prize when they head to Greenville, South Carolina for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell. • Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Won BPS Northern Open #2 on Lake Champlain The Japanese angler who now resides in Palestine will be fishing in his first Classic. • Todd Faircloth, Jasper, 2nd, Angler of the Year standings The runner-up in last season’s Angler of the Year race is looking for his first Classic win in his 12th appearance. He finished 7th in last year’s Classic. • Keith Combs, Huntington, 6th, Angler of the Year standings Making his third classic appearance, Combs will look to win the big one for the first time in his career. He will try and improve on his 22nd-place finish last year. • James Niggemeyer, Van, 27th, Angler of the Year standings The longtime pro will be making his third Classic appearance. • Takahiro Omori, Emory, 38th, Angler of the Year standings The winner of the 2004 Classic, Omori will be making his 11th Classic appearance looking for his second trophy. — Staff report
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Point Clear, Alabama, January 2629, to discuss a number of fishery issues, including regional management for recreational red snapper and red snapper allocation. Here are some of the actions taken by the council: The council heard an update on the Red Snapper Stock Assessment, including information on the 2014 provisional red snapper catch estimates. The council reviewed a revised draft of Amendment 28, which considers reallocating a portion of the commercial quota to the recreational sector. After amending the purpose and need statement, the council added two alternatives to Action 1. Alternative 8 — The increase in allowable harvest (due to changes in recreational data) from the update assessment will be allocated to the recreational sector. The percentage increase for the recreational sector should be that amount attributable to recalibration of MRIP catch estimates. Alternative 9 — The increase in allowable harvest (due to changes in recreational data) from the update assessment will be allocated to the recreational sector. The percentage increase for the recreational sector should be that amount attributable to recalibration of MRIP catch estimates and the change in size selectivity. The council will review Amendment 28 again during its March/April meeting and could take final action as early as June. — GMFMC
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Changes proposed Fisheries staff with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are considering adjustments to bass length limits on several lakes, a change in alligator gar bag limit on Falcon International Reservoir and clarifications to commercial crab and finfish rules. The proposed changes to the 201516 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing regulations include: Braunig and Calaveras Reservoirs — Current regulations for largemouth bass consist of an 18-inch minimum length and five fish daily bag limit. Under the proposal, the length limit would be changed to the statewide 14-inch minimum limit. Daily bag limit would remain at five fish. O. H. Ivie Reservoir — Current harvest regulations for smallmouth bass consist of an 18-inch minimum length and three fish daily bag limit. The limits would be changed to the statewide 14inch minimum limit and five fish daily bag. Lake Nasworthy — Current harvest regulations for largemouth bass consist of a 14-inch minimum length limit and a five fish per day bag limit. The length limit would be changed to a 14- to 18inch slot limit (no harvest between 14 and 18 inches). Daily bag limit would
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remain at five fish. Falcon International Reservoir — The current daily bag limit of one alligator gar would be changed to five fish per day. The increased bag limit would be in effect in the all impounded waters of the Rio Grande from the Falcon Dam upstream to the Zapata/Webb County line. Falcon anglers and stakeholders have become increasingly concerned about management of alligator gar in recent years. In response, TPWD conducted a comprehensive study at Falcon in 2014 to obtain the biological information necessary to make management recommendations for the species at this locale. Most (88 percent) anglers who target the species reside within 1 1/2 hours of the reservoir. The fishery is primarily harvest oriented, and harvesting a trophy-size alligator gar was not a highly important motivation. Most Falcon anglers (gar and non-gar anglers) desire an increase in the daily bag limit. Commercial Crab and Finfi sh Rules — These amendments seek to clarify that when a vessel is being used under a commercial finfish or crab fisherman’s license, that the crab or finfish fishermen must only have one license plate on board and that the license on board the vessel must match the license plate. — TPWD
February 13, 2015
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Buchanan, Kircus win Bass Champs LBJ Familiarity with a lake and each other is often a recipe for success. That was proven Saturday, when longtime fishing partners and brothers-in-law Jason Buchanan and Terry Kircus brought in a 5-bass limit weighing 23.35 pounds to win the 2015 Bass Champs Central Region Lake LBJ Tournament. The pair took home $20,000 for the win, plus a $1,000 bonus for big bass of the tournament. “It was pretty nasty early in the morning,” Buchanan said. “We had our limit in the first hour-and-a-half, though. We’ve fished here a bunch and know the lake pretty well. We were throwing a 10-inch Power worm and swimbaits. We’d caught a lot of fish previously in a few of these spots, so we had confidence in what we were doing.” The big bass hit at 12:30 p.m., something that was common for many of the top teams when water temperatures warmed into the mid-50s and turned on a strong afternoon bite. — Bass Champs
Rambo and Clark win TXTT on Rayburn Cory Rambo, of Orange, and Rusty Clark, of Sam Rayburn, brought 29.77 pounds of bass to the scales to win the 2015 season-opening event of the Texas Team Trail presented by Cabela’s on Jan. 31 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Sam Rayburn lived up to its reputation as a big-fish factory, kicking out 14 limits over 20 pounds and nearly a 30-pound winning limit. Approximately one month ago, Rambo and Clark found a midlake staging area that was loaded with prespawn bass. The spot was special because it had both numbers and big fish, and it would continually replenish. “We’ve been sitting on this one spot,” said Rambo. “We knew it was good because the fish we’ve been catching are white and pale. That told us they were coming and it has just kept reloading.” “We had a limit first thing this morning,” Rambo said. “Rusty caught a 5-pounder and a little bit later I picked up an A-rig and caught a 7-pounder. At 8:30 the bite slowed a little and then we’d catch a good one every half hour or so. At about 1:30 we had a 7, two 6s, a 5- and a 3.5-pounder. Right then, Rusty caught another 5-pounder on a Carolina rig and we were done.” — TXTT
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February 13, 2015
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Loading the cooler LAKE SOMERVILLE — The crappie action has been hot recently on Lake Somerville, according to angler Thomas Shafer. Shafer reported limiting out on crappie in about three hours last week, throwing to fish in 20 to 22 feet of water near a marina with old tires. “They put up a windbreak for the marina and used a bunch of old tires,” he said. “There are a few brushpiles in there, as well. I was fishing with my brother and we both had a limit in a few hours.” The pair was using gray jigs with an electric chicken trailer, and said the thump was on. “That electric chicken color works really well this time of year,” Shafer added.
Afternoon bite LAKE LBJ — Anglers at the recent Bass Champs Central Region tournament on Lake LBJ had a morning fog delay that ended up helping many anglers. Some focused on main lake points targeting bass with Carolina rigs in green pumpkin color in 16 to 20 feet of water, while other flipped jigs under docks, but the majority of the top teams reported a strong afternoon bite. Water temperatures rose to 54 degrees, which turned the bigger bass on.
ALAN HENRY: Water stained; 42–46 degrees; 9.56’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and shaky heads. No report on crappie. Catfish are fair on chartreuse nightcrawlers. AMISTAD: Water murky; 58–62 degrees; 29.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on football jigs, crankbaits, jigging spoons, and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. ATHENS: Water clear; 48–53 degrees; 0.70’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, bladed jigs and flukes near grass. Crappie are slow. BASTROP: Water stained; 55–59 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on pumpkinseed soft plastics and jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp. BELTON: Water murky; 54–58 degrees; 12.55’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and trolling lipless crankbaits. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad. Crappie are fair on minnows under lights at night in 30 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait. BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 48–52 degrees; 1.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on square-billed crankbaits, bladed jigs and white spinner baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. BONHAM: Water stained, 47–51 degrees; 2.68’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on crankbaits and jerkbaits — some fish being caught on jigs. BRAUNIG: Water stained. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse soft plastics and spinner baits near the dam. Striped bass are fair down rigging silver and gold spoons and marble spinners near the dam. BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained, 47–52 degrees; 24.18’ low. Largemouth
bass are slow on suspending jerkbaits and small spoons. Crappie are slow on minnows. White bass are fair on minnows. BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 52–56 degrees; 12.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits, black/ blue jigs, and chrome/blue lipless crankbaits in 1–5 feet. White bass are good. BUCHANAN: Water murky; 53–57 degrees; 33.01’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse/black lipless crankbaits and white grubs on jigheads over deeper rock piles along ledges and points in 8–20 feet. CADDO: Water stained; 50–54 degrees; 0.85’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, black and blue flipping jigs. White and yellow bass are fair on minnows. CALAVERAS: Water stained. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and lipless crankbaits around reed beds. Striped bass are good on spoons and jigs. CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 55–59 degrees; 11.45’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastic worms, perch-colored spinner baits, and shallow-running chartreuse crankbaits over 5–10 feet. CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 47–51 degrees; 4.92’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on white spinner baits and square-billed crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 55–59 degrees; 28.41’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon crankbaits, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. COLEMAN: Water clear; 56–60 degrees; 19.26’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. Channel catfish are good. COLETO CREEK: Water murky; 57 degrees in main lake, 78
degrees at hot water discharge; 4.73’ low. Largemouth bass to 8 pounds are good on soft plastics and spinner baits. CONROE: Water murky; 55–59 degrees; 0.05’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics, crankbaits and spinner baits. Striped bass are fair on chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are good. FALCON: Water murky; 56–60 degrees; 26.19’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored soft plastics and spinner baits. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are fair on white tube jigs. FAYETTE: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin spinner baits, crankbaits and soft plastics. FORK: Water clear; 48–52 degrees; 7.00’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits, flipping jigs and umbrella rigs. White and yellow bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 42–45 degrees; 17.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait. GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastic worms, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. GRANBURY: Water murky; 52–56 degrees; 10.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon spinner baits and soft plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 46–50 degrees; 11.85’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads, Flick Shakes and football jigs near brush piles. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 50–54 degrees; 0.35’ high. Largemouth bass to 3 pounds are fair on wacky worms around boat docks and in small coves.
The biggest fish of the tournament — a 10.5-pound largemouth — was caught with a swimbait at 12:30 p.m. Many of the top anglers said without the morning delay giving them an extra hour to fish in the afternoon, they might not have gotten the bigger fish to bite.
Good down south FALCON INTERNATIONAL RESERVOIR — The fishing has been good when the wind hasn’t been blowing on Falcon, according to James Bendele at Falcon Lake Tackle. “This week, the fishing has remained steady with a lot of good fish caught over the weekend. Yesterday was still a good day with water temps back around 60,” he said. “The soft plastic bite is (on) these days, and shallow fish in the trees is where it is happening. I would personally not make a cast in water deeper than 8 feet right now. The spinner bait bite is still there in the same shallow water, but you will not get bit near as often. But when you do, it is possible that it could be a giant. Our water level is still on the rise, and we are at 274.91, or 26.29 feet low.” He said. “Over the last couple of months we have been catching about a foot every 10 days, give or take.” — Conor Harrison
HUBBARD CREEK: Water offcolor; 42–46 degrees; 29.89’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, Texas rigs and dropshot rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. JOE POOL: Water clear; 47–50 degrees; 1.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, weightless flukes and fish head spins. Crappie are fair on minnows. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 48–52; degrees; 0.96’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, soft jerkbaits and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. LBJ: Water stained; 54–58 degrees; 0.30’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on pumpkinseed crankbaits and yellow/white spinner baits over and around humps. LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 46–50 degrees; 6.95’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on jerkbaits in French Pearl, as well as umbrella rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 54–58 degrees; 0.07’ high. Largemouth bass are good on buzzbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and soft plastics. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 53–59 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are good on square-billed crankbaits and spinner baits. Texas-rigged craws around same cover is effective as well. MONTICELLO: Water clear; 45–49 degrees; 0.97’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged creature baits and bladed jigs. NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 53–57 degrees; 1.45’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on black/ chartreuse and watermelon jigs. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 42–46 degrees; 43.43’ low.
Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, Texas rigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 41–45 degrees; 25.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, drop-shot rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. PALESTINE: Water clear; 46–50 degrees; 0.21’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, shaky heads and flipping jigs on brushed out docks. Crappie are good on minnows. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 42–47 degrees; 14.63’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, shaky heads and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. PROCTOR: Water murky; 56–60 degrees; 12.64’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on spoons. Crappie are good on minnows. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 47–51 degrees; 9.11’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on crankbaits, smaller umbrella rigs and suspending jerkbaits. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 46–51 degrees; 7.89’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on jigheads rigged with flukes as well as drop-shot worms near deeper timber. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 46–49 degrees; 10.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads, weightless worms and Senkos. SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 54–58 degrees; 0.76’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse soft plastic worms and shallow-running crankbaits. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 57–61 degrees; 2.85’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored lipless crankbaits. STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 56–60 degrees; 14.72’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on
n Saltwater reports: Please turn to
Page 20 pumpkinseed soft plastic worms and small crankbaits. SWEETWATER: Water murky; 42–46 degrees; 28.2’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and jigs. TEXOMA: Water clear; 45–50 degrees; 5.34’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on suspending jerkbaits, umbrella rigs and Spy Baits. TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 52–56 degrees; 2.98’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies. Crappie are good on minnows. TRAVIS: Water murky; 53–57 degrees; 55.81’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse/black crankbaits and spinner baits in 25–35 feet. WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striper are fair on chartreuse striper jigs in the coves and at the hot water outlet. WHITNEY: Water murky; 54–58 degrees; 10.35’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse/black spinner baits, crankbaits, and lipless crankbaits. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 47–52 degrees; 3.69’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin flipping jigs and bladed jigs near shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. — TPWD
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February 13, 2015
Page 11
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases Houston
New
Last
March 5
Feb. 25
March 13
Solunar Sun times Moon times Dallas
2015 A.M. Feb.-Mar. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
13Fri 14Sat 15Sun 16Mon 17Tue 18Wed 19Thu 20Fri 21Sat 22Sun 23Mon 24Tue 25Wed 26Thu 27Fri 28Sat 01Sun 02Mon 03Tue 04Wed
1:27 7:40 2:17 8:31 3:09 9:23 4:01 10:15 4:54 11:08 5:48 12:03 6:45 12:31 7:44 1:30 8:44 2:30 9:45 3:32 10:45 4:32 11:43 5:30 12:11 6:24 1:02 7:15 1:50 8:03 2:35 8:47 3:17 9:29 3:58 10:09 4:38 10:49 5:19 11:30
8:02 8:01 8:00 7:59 7:59 7:58 7:57 7:56 7:55 7:54 7:53 7:52 7:51 7:50 7:49 7:48 7:47 7:46 7:45 7:43
3:01a 1:59p 3:58a 2:54p 4:54a 3:53p 5:48a 4:57p 6:40a 6:04p 7:28a 7:13p 8:15a 8:21p 8:59a 9:28p 9:43a 10:34p 10:27a 11:38p 11:12a NoMoon 11:58a 12:41a 12:45p 1:40a 1:34p 2:36a 2:24p 3:29a 3:16p 4:17a 4:08p 5:01a 5:00p 5:41a 5:52p 6:19a 6:43p 6:55a
1:00 7:13 1:49 8:03 2:40 8:54 3:31 9:46 4:25 10:39 5:20 11:34 6:17 12:03 7:16 1:02 8:17 2:03 9:18 3:04 10:18 4:05 11:16 5:03 ----- 5:58 12:37 6:50 1:25 7:38 2:11 8:23 2:54 9:05 3:35 9:47 4:16 10:27 4:57 11:08
Full
First
Feb. 18
7:07 7:08 7:09 7:10 7:11 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:14 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:22
2015 A.M. Feb.-Mar. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
13Fri 14Sat 15Sun 16Mon 17Tue 18Wed 19Thu 20Fri 21Sat 22Sun 23Mon 24Tue 25Wed 26Thu 27Fri 28Sat 01Sun 02Mon 03Tue 04Wed
1:32 7:46 2:23 8:37 3:15 9:29 4:07 10:21 5:00 11:14 5:54 12:09 6:51 12:37 7:50 1:36 8:50 2:36 9:51 3:37 10:51 4:37 11:49 5:35 12:17 6:30 1:08 7:21 1:56 8:08 2:41 8:53 3:23 9:35 4:04 10:15 4:44 10:55 5:24 11:35
8:12 8:11 8:10 8:09 8:08 8:07 8:06 8:05 8:04 8:03 8:02 8:01 7:59 7:58 7:57 7:56 7:55 7:54 7:52 7:51
3:12a 2:00p 4:10a 2:54p 5:06a 3:54p 6:00a 4:59p 6:50a 6:07p 7:37a 7:16p 8:22a 8:26p 9:05a 9:34p 9:48a 10:41p 10:31a 11:47p 11:14a NoMoon 11:59a 12:51a 12:46p 1:51a 1:34p 2:48a 2:25p 3:40a 3:16p 4:28a 4:09p 5:12a 5:02p 5:52a 5:55p 6:29a 6:48p 7:03a
1:06 7:19 1:55 8:09 2:46 9:00 3:37 9:52 4:30 10:45 5:25 11:40 6:22 12:08 7:22 1:08 8:23 2:09 9:24 3:10 10:24 4:11 11:22 5:09 ----- 6:04 12:42 6:55 1:31 7:43 2:16 8:28 2:59 9:11 3:41 9:52 4:22 10:33 5:03 11:14
7:09 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:15 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:25
San Antonio 2015 Feb.-Mar. 13Fri 14Sat 15Sun 16Mon 17Tue 18Wed 19Thu 20Fri 21Sat 22Sun 23Mon 24Tue 25Wed 26Thu 27Fri 28Sat 01Sun 02Mon 03Tue 04Wed
A.M. Minor Major 1:12 7:26 2:02 8:16 2:52 9:07 3:44 9:59 4:37 10:52 5:32 11:46 6:29 12:15 7:28 1:15 8:29 2:15 9:30 3:17 10:31 4:17 11:29 5:15 12:00 6:10 12:49 7:02 1:38 7:50 2:23 8:35 3:06 9:18 3:48 9:59 4:29 10:40 5:10 11:20
P.M. Minor 1:39 2:30 3:21 4:13 5:06 6:01 6:57 7:56 8:57 9:58 10:58 11:55 12:24 1:15 2:03 2:47 3:30 4:10 4:51 5:31
SUN Major Rises 7:52 8:14 8:44 8:13 9:36 8:12 10:28 8:12 11:21 8:11 12:15 8:10 12:43 8:09 1:42 8:08 2:43 8:07 3:44 8:06 4:44 8:05 5:42 8:04 6:37 8:03 7:28 8:02 8:15 8:01 8:59 8:00 9:41 7:59 10:22 7:58 11:02 7:57 11:42 7:56
Sets 7:20 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:26 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:29 7:29 7:30 7:31 7:31 7:32 7:33 7:33 7:34
MOON Rises 3:13a 4:10a 5:07a 6:01a 6:52a 7:41a 8:27a 9:12a 9:56a 10:40a 11:25a 12:11p 12:59p 1:48p 2:38p 3:29p 4:21p 5:13p 6:05p 6:57p
Amarillo Sets 2:13p 3:07p 4:07p 5:11p 6:18p 7:26p 8:34p 9:41p 10:46p 11:51p NoMoon 12:53a 1:53a 2:49a 3:41a 4:29a 5:13a 5:54a 6:32a 7:08a
2015 A.M. Feb.-Mar. Minor Major
13Fri 14Sat 15Sun 16Mon 17Tue 18Wed 19Thu 20Fri 21Sat 22Sun 23Mon 24Tue 25Wed 26Thu 27Fri 28Sat 01Sun 02Mon 03Tue 04Wed
1:26 7:39 2:15 8:29 3:06 9:20 3:57 10:12 4:50 11:05 5:45 ----6:43 12:28 7:42 1:28 8:43 2:29 9:44 3:30 10:44 4:31 11:42 5:29 12:13 6:24 1:03 7:15 1:51 8:03 2:36 8:49 3:20 9:31 4:01 10:12 4:42 10:53 5:23 11:34
P.M. Minor Major
1:52 2:43 3:35 4:27 5:20 6:14 7:11 8:10 9:10 10:11 11:11 ----12:37 1:28 2:16 3:01 3:43 4:24 5:04 5:45
8:06 8:57 9:49 10:41 11:34 12:29 12:57 1:56 2:56 3:57 4:58 5:55 6:50 7:41 8:28 9:13 9:55 10:35 11:15 11:55
SUN Rises Sets
8:35 8:34 8:33 8:32 8:31 8:30 8:29 8:28 8:27 8:25 8:24 8:23 8:22 8:20 8:19 8:18 8:17 8:15 8:14 8:13
7:26 7:27 7:28 7:29 7:30 7:31 7:32 7:33 7:34 7:35 7:36 7:36 7:37 7:38 7:39 7:40 7:41 7:42 7:43 7:44
MOON Rises Sets
3:38a 2:15p 4:36a 3:09p 5:32a 4:10p 6:25a 5:15p 7:15a 6:24p 8:01a 7:35p 8:44a 8:46p 9:26a 9:56p 10:07a 11:04p 10:49a NoMoon 11:31a 12:11a 12:16p 1:16a 1:02p 2:17a 1:50p 3:14a 2:40p 4:06a 3:32p 4:54a 4:25p 5:37a 5:19p 6:16a 6:13p 6:52a 7:07p 7:26a
Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.
Sabine Pass, north Date Time Feb 13 4:33 AM Feb 14 5:26 AM Feb 15 6:18 AM Feb 16 7:08 AM Feb 17 12:42 AM Feb 18 1:44 AM Feb 19 2:46 AM Feb 20 3:49 AM Feb 21 4:56 AM Feb 22 6:09 AM Feb 23 12:37 AM Feb 24 1:40 AM Feb 25 2:46 AM Feb 26 3:53 AM Feb 27 4:58 AM
Height -0.3L -0.5L -0.6L -0.7L 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L
Time 12:48 PM 1:32 PM 2:08 PM 2:42 PM 7:58 AM 8:46 AM 9:35 AM 10:23 AM 11:12 AM 12:03 PM 7:32 AM 9:08 AM 10:52 AM 12:23 PM 1:27 PM
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty
San Luis Pass
Date Time Feb 13 5:48 AM Feb 14 6:33 AM Feb 15 7:16 AM Feb 16 8:02 AM Feb 17 12:33 AM Feb 18 1:56 AM Feb 19 3:17 AM Feb 20 4:27 AM Feb 21 5:33 AM Feb 22 6:54 AM Feb 23 1:39 AM Feb 24 2:43 AM Feb 25 3:49 AM Feb 26 5:02 AM Feb 27 6:08 AM
Freeport Harbor Date Time Feb 13 3:51 AM Feb 14 4:45 AM Feb 15 5:43 AM Feb 16 6:40 AM Feb 17 7:37 AM Feb 18 1:01 AM Feb 19 2:17 AM Feb 20 3:27 AM Feb 21 4:38 AM Feb 22 5:55 AM Feb 23 12:14 AM Feb 24 1:14 AM Feb 25 2:20 AM Feb 26 3:33 AM Feb 27 4:48 AM
Rollover Pass Date Feb 13 Feb 14 Feb 15 Feb 16 Feb 17 Feb 18 Feb 19 Feb 20 Feb 21 Feb 22 Feb 23 Feb 24 Feb 25 Feb 26 Feb 27
Time 12:00 AM 12:46 AM 1:41 AM 2:41 AM 12:21 AM 12:49 AM 1:15 AM 1:47 AM 2:31 AM 3:24 AM 4:29 AM 5:42 AM 6:57 AM 8:08 AM 9:12 AM
Time Height 4:55 PM 0.9L 6:00 PM 0.9L 6:48 PM 0.9L 7:32 PM 0.8L 3:16 PM 1.3H 3:49 PM 1.3H 4:23 PM 1.3H 4:57 PM 1.3H 5:33 PM 1.2H 6:10 PM 1.2H 12:58 PM 0.6L 2:06 PM 0.8L 3:44 PM 0.9L 5:56 PM 1.0L 7:10 PM 1.0L
Height -0.3L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2L
Time 12:44 PM 1:42 PM 2:35 PM 3:12 PM 8:05 AM 9:03 AM 9:54 AM 10:41 AM 11:29 AM 12:23 PM 8:09 AM 9:14 AM 10:34 AM 11:54 AM 1:01 PM
Height 1.1H 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H -0.6L -0.5L -0.4L -0.2L 0.1L 0.3L 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H
Time 5:32 PM 6:16 PM 6:58 PM 7:50 PM 3:45 PM 4:14 PM 4:43 PM 5:11 PM 5:39 PM 6:11 PM 1:16 PM 2:05 PM 3:01 PM 6:00 PM 6:42 PM
Height 1.0L 1.0L 0.9L 0.9L 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 0.6L 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.0L
Height -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 0.8H 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L
Time 3:03 PM 3:40 PM 4:05 PM 4:23 PM 8:56 AM 9:53 AM 10:45 AM 11:34 AM 12:27 PM 1:34 PM 8:45 AM 10:54 AM 12:50 PM 2:14 PM 3:35 PM
Height 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H -0.4L -0.4L -0.2L -0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H 1.0H 1.0H
Time
Height
9:48 PM 4:33 PM 4:47 PM 5:07 PM 5:32 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 2:48 PM 4:15 PM
0.7L 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.5L 0.7L
Height -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.6L 1.1H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 0.0L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L
Time 12:49 PM 1:39 PM 2:22 PM 2:57 PM 3:28 PM 8:33 AM 9:29 AM 10:26 AM 11:28 AM 12:36 PM 7:28 AM 9:25 AM 11:02 AM 12:15 PM 1:15 PM
Height 1.2H 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H 1.4H -0.5L -0.4L -0.2L 0.1L 0.4L 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H
Time
Height
9:19 PM 9:37 PM 3:57 PM 4:24 PM 4:52 PM 5:19 PM 5:45 PM 1:54 PM 3:22 PM
1.0L 0.9L 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 1.0H 0.7L 0.9L
Height 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7L 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L
Time 9:10 AM 10:02 AM 10:52 AM 11:39 AM 3:44 AM 4:47 AM 5:53 AM 7:00 AM 8:13 AM 9:34 AM 11:16 AM 2:26 PM 4:57 PM 6:00 PM 6:48 PM
Height -0.4L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.7H 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H
Time
Height
8:26 PM 8:26 PM 8:34 PM 12:25 PM 1:09 PM 1:53 PM 2:38 PM 3:27 PM 4:27 PM 5:46 PM 7:15 PM
0.7H 0.8H 0.7H -0.6L -0.5L -0.4L -0.2L 0.0L 0.2L 0.4L 0.6L
Time 4:55 PM 10:26 PM 11:37 PM
Height 0.9L 1.1H 1.2H
8:16 PM 9:03 PM 9:52 PM 10:44 PM 11:39 PM
0.7L 0.5L 0.3L 0.1L 0.0L
6:50 PM 7:37 PM 8:37 PM 9:50 PM 11:00 PM
1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H
Time 8:37 PM 9:35 PM 11:10 PM
Height 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H
8:52 PM 9:42 PM 10:25 PM 11:11 PM
0.7L 0.5 L 0.3 L 0.1 L
6:52 PM 7:29 PM 8:01 PM 8:34 PM 9:19 PM
1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H
Time
Height
10:11 PM 10:36 PM 11:06 PM 11:44 PM
0.6 L 0.5 L 0.4 L 0.2 L
7:00 PM 7:26 PM
0.7H 0.7H
Time
Height
11:37 PM
1.1H
9:51 PM 10:06 PM 10:37 PM 11:21 PM
0.8L 0.6 L 0.4L 0.2L
6:10 PM 6:32 PM
1.0H 1.0H
Time
Height
11:04 PM 11:47 PM
0.7 L 0.7L
8:42 PM 8:42 PM 8:40 PM 8:47 PM 9:00 PM 9:14 PM 9:30 PM 9:49 PM
0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H
Port O’Connor
Date Time Feb 13 6:50 AM Feb 14 7:52 AM Feb 15 8:49 AM Feb 16 9:41 AM Feb 17 10:30 AM Feb 18 12:48 AM Feb 19 2:32 AM Feb 20 4:25 AM Feb 21 12:00 AM Feb 22 1:10 AM Feb 23 2:19 AM Feb 24 3:31 AM Feb 25 4:47 AM Feb 26 6:06 AM Feb 27 7:23 AM
Rockport
Date Time Feb 13 7:58 AM Feb 14 8:53 AM Feb 15 9:49 AM Feb 16 12:26 AM Feb 17 1:21 AM Feb 18 2:22 AM Feb 19 3:32 AM Feb 20 4:58 AM Feb 21 6:49 AM Feb 22 2:12 AM Feb 23 3:40 AM Feb 24 4:51 AM Feb 25 5:55 AM Feb 26 6:56 AM Feb 27 7:55 AM
Port Aransas
Date Time Feb 13 4:12 AM Feb 14 5:07 AM Feb 15 5:58 AM Feb 16 6:48 AM Feb 17 7:36 AM Feb 18 12:31 AM Feb 19 1:43 AM Feb 20 2:55 AM Feb 21 4:10 AM Feb 22 5:31 AM Feb 23 12:19 AM Feb 24 1:29 AM Feb 25 2:41 AM Feb 26 3:51 AM Feb 27 4:56 AM
Height -0.5L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L 0.2H 0.2H 0.1H -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L -0.4L -0.4L
Time 7:12 PM 8:03 PM 9:08 PM 10:52 PM
Height 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H
11:16 AM 12:01 PM 12:44 PM 6:17 AM 8:09 AM 11:56 AM 6:24 PM 6:49 PM 7:23 PM 8:01 PM
-0.5L -0.5L -0.3L 0.1H 0.1H 0.1H 0.2H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H
Height -0.4L -0.4L -0.4L -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L
Time 10:52 PM 11:36 PM
Height -0.1H -0.1H
10:43 AM 11:34 AM 12:21 PM 1:01 PM 1:29 PM 1:37 PM 9:24 AM 7:43 PM 8:20 PM 9:08 PM 10:03 PM 11:02 PM
-0.4L -0.4L -0.4L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2H -0.1H 0.0H 0.0H 0.0H 0.0H
Height -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L
Time 4:17 PM 4:59 PM 5:45 PM 3:47 PM 3:49 PM 8:25 AM 9:13 AM 10:01 AM 10:50 AM 11:41 AM 7:18 AM 10:14 AM 1:46 PM 2:36 PM 3:23 PM
Height 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H -0.3L -0.2L -0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H
Height 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L
Time 3:05 PM 3:34 PM 3:59 PM 4:15 PM 4:25 PM 8:41 AM 9:34 AM 10:27 AM 11:21 AM 12:19 PM 7:50 AM 10:02 AM 12:36 PM 2:01 PM 2:58 PM
Height 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 0.0L 0.1L 0.3L 0.6L 0.8L 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H
Height 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.2L 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.0L 0.0L
Time 04:14 PM 11:16 PM 5:40 PM 6:56 PM 9:42 AM 10:04 AM 10:31 AM 11:02 AM 4:31 AM 7:53 AM 12:10 PM 12:44 PM 7:55 PM 2:44 PM 3:41 PM
Height 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.1L 0.3H 0.3H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H
South Padre Island Date Time Feb 13 4:01 AM Feb 14 4:59 AM Feb 15 5:57 AM Feb 16 6:53 AM Feb 17 7:48 AM Feb 18 12:07 AM Feb 19 1:44 AM Feb 20 3:13 AM Feb 21 4:39 AM Feb 22 6:09 AM Feb 23 12:19 AM Feb 24 1:18 AM Feb 25 2:21 AM Feb 26 3:28 AM Feb 27 4:35 AM
East Matagorda Date Time Feb 13 6:16 AM Feb 14 6:43 AM Feb 15 7:31 AM Feb 16 9:20 AM Feb 17 12:30 AM Feb 18 1:10 AM Feb 19 2:22 AM Feb 20 3:45 AM Feb 21 1:41 AM Feb 22 2:07 AM Feb 23 2:25 AM Feb 24 2:55 AM Feb 25 5:07 AM Feb 26 5:55 AM Feb 27 6:30 AM
Time
Height
Time
Height
7:43 PM 1:24 PM 1:57 PM 2:06 PM
-0.1H -0.2L -0.1L 0.1L
6:57 PM 0.0H 6:26 PM 0.0H 6:11 PM 0.1H
Time
Height
Time
8:34 PM -0.2H 7:33 PM -0.2H 1:02 PM -0.2L
Time 7:49 PM 6:25 PM 7:25 PM 3:48 PM 3:58 PM 4:18 PM 4:42 PM 5:07 PM 12:45 PM 2:36 PM
Height 0.7L 0.7L 0.6L 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.5L 0.7L
Height
11:58 PM -0.2L 7:24 PM -0.1H
Time
Height
9:52 PM 11:16 PM
0.7H 0.8H
8:19 PM 9:14 PM 10:12 PM 11:14 PM
0.5L 0.4L 0.2L 0.1L
5:30 PM 5:51 PM
0.7H 0.7H
Time
Height
Time
Height
8:55 PM 4:34 PM 4:44 PM 4:56 PM 5:07 PM 5:15 PM 1:26 PM
1.3L 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1L
Time
Height
9:49 PM 9:55 PM 7:38 PM
0.4L 0.4L 0.4H
11:56 PM
0.5H
9:40 PM
0.3L
5:42 PM 6:33 PM 1:56 PM 2:15 PM 2:23 PM 2:47 PM
0.3H 0.3H 0.2L 0.3L 0.3L 0.3L
10:32 PM
0.3L
4:49 PM 5:21 PM 6:18 PM 7:17 PM
0.3H 0.3H 0.4H 0.4H
6:20 PM 6:29 PM
0.4L 0.3L
8:32 PM 11:59 PM
0.4H 0.4H
9:18 PM 9:53 PM 10:37 PM 11:26 PM
1.1L 0.9L 0.7 L 0.5 L
5:13 PM
1.2H
Time
Height
Texas Coast Tides
Date Time Feb 13 4:35 AM Feb 14 5:34 AM Feb 15 6:22 AM Feb 16 7:10 AM Feb 17 12:23 AM Feb 18 1:47 AM Feb 19 3:15 AM Feb 20 4:15 AM Feb 21 5:22 AM Feb 22 6:56 AM Feb 23 12:58 AM Feb 24 1:49 AM Feb 25 2:42 AM Feb 26 3:54 AM Feb 27 5:19 AM
Height 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H -0.7L -0.7L -0.5L -0.3L 0.0L 0.3L 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H
Page 12
February 13, 2015
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
GAME WARDEN BLOTTER WARDEN WATCHES ROAD HUNTERS Newton County Game Warden Landon Spacek observed a pickup truck driving at an extremely slow rate of speed on a county road. Spacek observed flashlights being used to shine the clear cuts on both sides of the road. After several minutes of watching the truck travel down the road and continue to shine, Spacek stopped the truck and made contact. The truck was occupied by two adults and one juvenile. The adult driver was found to be in possession of a loaded .243-rifle, flashlight and spotlight. The juvenile passenger was in possession of a second flashlight. Confessions for hunting white-tailed deer from a public road were obtained and appropriate charges filed. DRIVER’S BIZARRE BEHAVIOR BLAMED ON OPOSSUM At night, Smith County Game Warden Brad Clark was watching two pastures in the county. A car came by his location, slammed on the brakes, swerved into the bar ditch and turned around at a high rate of speed. The car accelerated for a short distance and again swerved into the bar ditch before turning around. The vehicle repeated the routine two more times and then sped off. Clark caught up with the vehicle and made a stop. The driver said he was trying to run over an opossum that was trying to cross the road. An odor of marijuana was coming from the driver and he admitted to possessing a small amount. Citations issued. DEER PROCESSOR HIDES DEER HEAD FROM WARDENS Jasper County Game Wardens Morgan Inman and Justin Eddins
ANYBODY HOME? While home for lunch with his truck in the driveway, there was a knock at the door of Comanche County Game Warden Mike Alexander’s home. Expecting a UPS delivery, his wife answered the door. A young man asked her if she knew where he could hunt hogs. She said no and sent him on his way. Alexander got to the door just as the man was getting into a white truck to leave. Feeling there was something odd about the encounter, he moved his patrol truck and watched the oat field across the highway from his house. At dusk, a white truck was observed driving slowly on the highway and it stopped on the edge of the oat field. The same inspected a local deer processor. The owner began to be very uncooperative, telling the wardens they had no right to look at his business. The wardens found several violations and stepped away. When they returned, the wardens noticed a deer head in question (with undersized antlers) was missing. Felony charges were filed for tampering with evidence. SHOOTING CORMORANT WITH UNPLUGGED SHOTGUNS Four people hunting ducks on a private pond were checked by Titus County Game Warden Jerry Ash. One of the subjects was found to have no hunting license and an unplugged shotgun. While issuing the citations, Ash heard shots coming from another nearby pond, where three persons had unplugged shotguns and one had an illegally killed cormorant. Cases pending. MEN GIVEN OUTDOOR ANNUAL AFTER SHOOTING 6-POINTER DURING SPIKE AND ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON Travis County Game Wardens Jeff Hill and Christy Vales, along with K9 partner Ruger, responded to a call from the Travis County Sheriff’s
man got out, removed a rifle from the back seat, snuck up to the fence and fired four shots into a herd of deer across the road. Another car was coming down the road and spooked the man. He ran back to the truck just as Alexander got to the scene. Alexander asked the man, “What were you thinking?” The man replied, “I didn’t think you would be home.” A search of the field did not reveal a deer or any blood. The man said that he had just bought the rifle and had not bothered to sight in the scope. The subject was arrested and charged with hunting from a public road and hunting in a closed area. His new rifle was seized.
Office regarding two men who illegally harvested a 6-point buck during the youth-only and special late spike and antlerless season. The two males were issued citations and civil restitution is pending on the buck. The wardens gave the subjects an Outdoor Annual Hunting and Fishing Regulation Guide, which includes information on an app for harvest seasons and an online-only Hunters Education course. TWO MEN, 60 DUCKS, OVER BAIT An anonymous tip with only a last name and photo of a subject posing with 60 ducks led to several charges. Upshur County Game Warden Mark Frayser and Wood County Game Warden Derek Spitzer investigated. The tipster said two men shot a 10-man limit of ducks at an unknown location that morning. The wardens were able to identify, locate and interview the two subjects involved later that evening. Both subjects admitted shooting 60 ducks over a baited pond, then dumping 55 ring-necked ducks in the woods to waste. The ducks and bait were located and collected as evidence.
Multiple cases pending.
and
restitution
NEIGHBOR SHOOTS RED STAG, CROSSES HIGH FENCE TO RETRIEVE A subject was caught hunting an exotic animal without landowner consent in Uvalde County. Game Wardens Javier Fuentes and Rachel Kellner charged the violator after he admitted shooting a red stag on the neighboring ranch property. The violator admitted to crawling over the high fence separating two ranches, field dressing the animal and taking it to town. The violator was booked into the Uvalde County Jail on Class A misdemeanor charges. The stag’s head was returned to the landowner, who donated the meat to a local charity. GROUP CAUGHT SHOOTING DOVE SITTING ON TELEPHONE WIRES Lubbock/Lynn counties Game Warden Shannon Chambliss and Lubbock/Hockley counties Game Warden Mallory Mitchell responded to a complaint of road hunters in Lubbock County. Chambliss witnessed three subjects in a pickup truck creeping down a county road
with guns sticking out the window. The wardens initiated a stop and, after interviewing the occupants, it was discovered to be three juveniles shooting at dove on the high wire, along with other numerous violations. The juveniles were detained until their parents arrived and citations were issued. TAG, HARVEST LOGS A LITTLE LATE Comanche County Game Warden Mike Alexander received a tip reporting violations at a local deer. Alexander checked the camp and found three untagged deer hanging. One did not have evidence of sex and a buck had a suspicious broken antler. The man in the camp said they were not his deer and called the other men to come in. An hour later, the rest of the crew arrived. They said they had a flat tire on the way back, however, they had the missing tags and their harvest logs were completed for the deer. Five citations and six warnings were issued. MAN TRIES TO GET AWAY WITH TWO-YEAR-OLD TAG ON DEER Starr County Game Warden Ryan McGinley observed an open gate leading to a ranch and decided to investigate. He spotted two vehicles and five individuals dressed in camouflage standing around a hunting blind. At first, the individuals said they were working on the ranch, but after some questioning they said they were hunting. McGinley followed the men down to where one of the men had shot an 8-point buck, and helped load the deer. The tag on the deer had expired in 2012, and the man did not have a valid hunting license. The 8-point buck was seized and the meat was donated to a local family. Cases and civil restitution are pending.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Lack of big bass so far
February 13, 2015
Page 13
Typical winter on beach
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1
24-inch slot came calling, that went in the cooler for dinner fare. Ryan bagged a 45-inchish bull red on his first cast and we caught four more rays, three of which went into my bait freezer for future use. “All fish were caught in the first gut casting from the sand.” Although the reports farther north also have been tough, the beaches around Sargent have held promise for surf anglers with enough patience to wait out the bite. The salinity has risen and the baitfish are back in the surf, with whiting and drum following, along with a few hardheads. “The water keeps going from one extreme to the other,” wrote 2coolfishing.com poster Sharkchum. “The last two weeks have been almost unfishable due to all the freshwater runoff and strong east or west winds. Got down there around noon on Saturday and the water was crystal clear and smooth as glass, which in my opinion, is worse than being rough and muddy. Drove west for a few miles until I found some off-colored water and set a few rods out. Caught one 38-inch black drum on crab within 10 minutes, then the incoming tide pushed the dirty water out and we never got another bite.” On the texasfishingforum.com, posters fishing in San Luis Pass had this suggestion. “Cracked blue crab and cut fresh mullet are working pretty good for bull reds and black drum right now,” posted Palehorse. “Live shrimp fished tight to the bridge pilings will get some good bites from sheepshead, too.” LOOKING FOR NUMBER TWO: Anglers are hoping for bigger bass, like this 13-pounder caught last season, as the spawn approaches some Texas lakes later this month. Photo by TPWD.
come from mid-February through early March. “That is when we start seeing more tournaments, with anglers prefishing a lot and finding big bass,” he said. “But some years, over the 20-some years of the program, we’ve had years where not a lot of fish over 13 pounds were brought in.” Lake Fork guide Mike McFarland said the fishing on the famed big bass lake has been up and down with the temperatures this season. “Those bass get in those roots of trees and they suspend in about 40 to 50 feet of water,” he said. “They are just hard to catch. The water temperature is 10 degrees warmer than it was this time last year. At this rate, I expect us to have a normal spawn in March and April.” Texas angler and radio host Brian Hughes said he has heard from many anglers that the fishing has not been good so far this year. “Lake levels being down and a lack of anglers are the two biggest factors I am hearing right now,” Hughes said. “Specifically, Lake Fork has been tough. The lake is low, making it difficult to launch,
and they aren’t seeing as many anglers as they normally would this time of year.” Hughes said the fish are still there, they are just on a different pattern because of water levels and a lack of hydrilla. “The bass are harder to find and they are harder to catch,” he said. “Fluctuating water all over the state is having an affect, especially out west.” Hughes said along with water levels, some anglers have not been reporting big bass because they know the publicity brings more pressure to a lake. “I think when they caught all of those ShareLunkers in O.H. Ivie several years ago, the anglers out there saw the pressure it brought on the lake. All of a sudden, there were a lot more boats on the water. I think the anglers learn from that and don’t publicize those big fish to TPWD anymore.” Martinez said some of the lakes where double-digit bass have been caught this year include Lake Gilmer, Lake Ray Roberts, several from Fork and Lake Austin.
IT’S MORE THAN A BOAT. IT’S A
— Staff report
TRACKER
GETTING IN ON THE ACT: Surf fi shing can be a great family activity, with kids grabbing rods when the fi shing is hot, and playing on the beach when the action slows down. Photo by Joe A. Garcia.
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Page 14
February 13, 2015
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
February 13, 2015
Page 15
No time to get nervous Continued from page 1
down into the bottom of the canyons to get out of the wind, even though it is much thicker in the bottoms.” Heflin and Ledbetter set up on one side of a dry creek bed, while the other team members were on the opposite side, facing the opposite direction. Ledbetter had a shotgun, and Heflin had a rifle. “I had a 10-foot window about 40 yards away that I could shoot through,” Heflin said. “I set up and we called for about 15 minutes with a baby cottontail and then a jackrabbit distress call. I saw an orange flash for a second and thought it was something big. This something was walking rather nonchalantly down a road on the opposite side of this creek bank, about 35 yards away and we only caught a half-second glimpse as she passed a narrow opening between a couple cedars. All we could tell was it was orange and didn’t look quite right. “Four steps and about three seconds later she hit a small clearing and that was all the time I needed.” Heflin had his .22-250 already shouldered and shot the cat as she stepped into the opening. Ledbetter followed up with TEAM EFFORT: The whole calling team had a hand in harvesting the big cat, although it was Hetwo shots from his shotgun and all was fl in and Ledbetter who actually did the shooting, with Hefl in connecting. Photo by Jacky Hefl in. quiet. “Five seconds and it was all over,” Heflin said. “We didn’t have time to become scared or nervous. The cat was about 10 yards from the other guys, but they were facing the other direction, so they had no idea what we had just shot.” After the shot, Heflin’s heart was racing and he thought he was going to hyperventilate. “The adrenaline was sure flowing in my veins,” he said. “We took pictures, admired her for a while, and went back to hunting. We hunted hard until the next morning, and came up short on the big bobcat, but we couldn’t really care less right now.” Ledbetter said it is a hunt he will never forget. “After the shot, we just sat there for a few minutes,” he said. “Then we started whooping and hollering like a bunch of teenage girls. That went on for about 15 minutes.” Heflin said pulling up at the contest caused quite a stir. “Laddan just pulled up right in the middle of everyone, got out, slammed the tailgate down and pulled the lion out. Jaws just dropped,” he said. The cat weighed about 90 pounds and was a young female. “This was by far one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” Heflin added.
Fur prices rising Continued from page 4
MONEY TO BE MADE: Trappers in East Texas are getting up to $18 for coyote pelts, while trappers in the western portion of the state are making upwards of $45 per coyote. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Operations for North American Fur Auctions. “Fur prices dropped with the stock market decline in 1987 and again in 2008, but rebounded to a peak in 2013,” McMillan said. “Over the last five years, coyote prices stayed steady. East Texas coyote pelts have averaged $12 to $18, while West Texas pelts averaged $30 to $45. “All indications are that coyote prices will be strong this year.” According to McMillan, the gray fox, raccoon and bobcat markets are tied much closer to the events in Russia and China. “The Chinese market continues to grow while the market in Russia has been hurt with dropping oil prices and a weak currency,” he said. Over the last five years, gray fox pelts averaged $20 to $35, raccoons $8 to $14, East Texas bobcats $60 to $80 and West Texas bobcats $130 to $180. Fur trader Chuck Redell and his family have been buying and selling furs in Texas for more than 70 years. Redell fields phone calls every year from people looking to get into trapping. “The first thing I always ask is where in Texas they live?” Redell said. “If you want to turn trapping into some money, where you live has lot to do with what you should trap. If you live in West Texas, go after coyote, bobcat and even raccoons. Central Texas holds an abundance of raccoons and nice bobcats. Even if you live in Southeast Texas, you can trap valuable otter. My advice is always to call a local fur buyer or trapping organization before deciding which species to target in your area.” Besides the money, there are lots of other reasons for Texans to take up trapping said Don Hightower, district director for Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters Association. “Trapping is a great way to gain access to ranches otherwise closed to the public,” Hightower said. “For example, raccoons can eat a lot of expensive protein and corn meant for deer and other wildlife. I can save a rancher a lot of money by keeping the raccoon population in check. After gaining the trust of local ranchers by trapping nuisance animals such as raccoons, ranchers started handing me keys and rattling off their gate combinations. I trap on ranches that charge deer hunters many thousands of dollars each fall. “I have year-round access to the same ranches for the price of a phone call.” According to Hightower, trapping also builds hunting skills. “The whole game is to figure out how to get your quarry to place its foot onto the 2-inch diameter circle of the trap trigger,” he said. “To get that animal to step on your trigger, you will learn to be constantly in tune with nature; looking for tracks, trails and patterns. You will be amazed at how much better a hunter you’ll become after you trap a few seasons.”
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NATIONAL Cabela’s Outdoor Fund gives DW grant A $50,000 grant from Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to benefit Delta Waterfowl’s Hen House Program will put more mallards into the fall flight. The grant money will fund annual maintenance and repairs to 250 hen house nesting structures in Manitoba for the next 10 years. “Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is proud to award this grant to Delta Waterfowl, a longtime partner in conservation with Cabela’s,” said Jeremy Wonch, vice president of Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. Used primarily by mallards, hen houses are nesting cylinders placed over water in small wetlands. Delta focuses hen house sites in prairie wetland areas with limited nesting cover where nest predators such as red foxes, raccoons and skunks can easily find duck nests in the sparse patches of grass. Delta Waterfowl research has shown duck nesting success rates of less than 2 percent in some intensely farmed areas of Manitoba, said Matt Chouinard, waterfowl programs manager. At the same time, Delta studies have shown average nest success of 61 percent in hen houses, and that 82 percent of the structures were used in Manitoba over a five-year period. “We estimate through our research that this grant will add 5,250 mallards to the fall flight,” Chouinard said. — Delta Waterfowl
L, ON TING WITH HIS DAD, JOE COLE HART, 7, WAS HUN A .22-250. NG USI DOE BIG S NEW BRAUNFELS HUNTER THI ON T E A GREAT 90-YARD SHO NTY. DEC. 13 WHEN HE MAD K PLACE IN KIMBLE COU ER DEER. THE HUNT TOO THIS WAS COLE’S FIRST-EV
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Florida considering bear hunt In response to rapidly increasing conflicts and several incidents where bears seriously injured people, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is building on its long-standing, proactive approach to bear management. At its Feb. 4 meeting in Jacksonville, the FWC approved a plan to move forward with a variety of tools to manage bears and help reduce human-bear conflicts. “We are taking a more aggressive approach to conflict bears in neighborhoods and will continue to partner with counties, municipalities and homeowner associations to reduce conflicts by securing bear attractants like garbage,” said FWC Chairman Richard Corbett. The commission also asked staff to move forward with developing specific plans for a limited bear hunt in certain parts of Florida. Hunting alone is not likely to reduce human-bear conflicts in urban and suburban areas. However, in other states, hunting has proved to be an effective measure for managing bear populations and can help more direct measures of reducing conflicts such as securing attractants and removing conflict bears. — FWC
Aimpoint celebrates 40th anniversary
Aimpoint, the originator in electronic red dot sighting technology, marks the company’s 40th anniversary this year. Founded in 1975 by Gunnar Sandberg, the Aimpoint Electronic was the company’s product introduced that same year. Hunters immediately understood the advantages of this new technology, and it quickly gained acceptance by competitive shooters, as well. Other key product developments soon followed, including the Aimpoint Mark III, and Aimpoint 3000 during the 1980s, and the Comp Series of sights during the 1990s. The 2000s saw the development of Aimpoint’s Advanced Circuit Efficiency Technology, which provides Aimpoint sights with battery life measured in years, and introduction of important new products including the CompM4, Patrol Rifle Optic, Carbine Optic, and Micro series of sights. — Aimpoint
Highest number of mature bucks ever
American deer hunters are killing the highest-ever percentage of bucks age 3 1/2 and older, according to data gathered by the Quality Deer Management Association for its 2015 Whitetail Report. In the 2013-14 season, the most recent
season with complete deer harvest data available from all states, 34 percent of bucks harvested in the states that collect buck age data were 3 1/2 or older. That statistic is up from 32 percent the season before, and significantly up from a decade before in the 2003-04 season, when only 23 percent of the national buck harvest was mature. These gains have been made while the percentage of yearling bucks in the harvest has steadily declined, reaching a record-low of 36 percent. The five states with the lowest percentage of yearling bucks in the antlered buck harvest are also the top-five states in percentage of mature bucks: Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.
— QDMA
Four to enter Bass Fishing Hall of Fame The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will honor two pro anglers: Harold Allen and Stacey King; a successful bass fishing industry entrepreneur, William “Bill” Huntley; and an exceptional writer on the bass fishing scene, Don Wirth, at the organization’s annual dinner on February 19 in Greenville, South Carolina — the evening prior to the first tournament fishing day for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Being recognized for their impact upon and their support of both professional anglers and recreational bass fishing during their careers, Harold Allen is a pro bass angler and Toledo Bend guide; William “Bill” Huntley started Bumble Bee Baits and T-H Marine; Stacey King has found success on both the B.A.S.S. and FLW Tour pro; and award-winning journalist Don Wirth is best known his work in Bassmaster Magazine for more than 40 years. — B.A.S.S
Time to apply for big game hunts in Utah It might be the middle of winter, but it’s already time to start applying for a permit to hunt big game animals in Utah this fall. Applications are being accepted now and must be received no later than March 5 to be included in the draw for permits. Applications are being accepted for every big game hunt except the general-season bull elk hunt, which will be on a firstcome, first-served basis starting July 14. Go to wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks for more. — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Prison time for Washington oyster poacher The former owner of a shellfish company based in Jefferson County was sentenced today to 5 1/2 years in prison after a poaching investigation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife proved he and his employees had stolen millions of oysters and clams off Washington beaches. Rodney Allan Clark, 50, former owner of G&R Quality Seafood in Quilcene, pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court to 17 counts of trafficking in stolen property and one count of reckless endangerment for selling shellfish to the public without a state health certification. According to the health inspector, a shellfish buyer reported buying thousands of Clark’s oysters, which made some of his customers in Yakima and the Tri-Cities sick. For the next 11 months, WDFW detectives developed a case on Clark and his employees, documenting their activities as they illegally harvested shellfish at night on isolated beaches in Jefferson and Kitsap counties. WDFW Police Chief Steve Crown estimates that Clark and his employees illegally harvested more than $2 million worth of oysters and clams from publicly and privately owned beaches, but said the true value of the stolen shellfish may never be known. — WDFW
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February 13, 2015
Page 17
WE ARE OVERSTOCKED ON ALL MODEL SIDExSIDES; in effect immediately, and until we move 70 units, on all SxS’s, makes and models with NEW DESIGN RANCH PACKAGE, take an ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT — $600, Ranger 900 series — $400
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HEROES
Six-year-old Ethan Yocum harvested his first deer — this 8-point buck — with his dad, Skye, as his guide using the same .22-.250 his dad used to harvest his first deer.
Coy LaBuhn, 7, landed his first redfish the day before Thanksgiving at Port O’Connor.
Gavin Guess, 9, of Cypress, took his first deer, a nice 8-pointer, on a family ranch Nov. 24 in Fayette County.
Tim Whorley harvested this 10-point buck in Liberty Hill, at the R & R Ranch with help from guides Bob Reynolds and Jeff Wallace.
Jason Petter from Trinity County with a buck he harvested on a family ranch in Fayette County.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
Joshua Wilson, 9, harvested his first whitetail Nov. 29 at the RRR Ranch.
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February 13, 2015
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PRODUCTS SONICDRY FLY WADERS: Redington utilizes an active particle permanently embedded in these waders’ fabric to capture and release moisture, drying up to five times faster than similar fabrics. This diminishes wet cling to keep anglers more comfortable. The SonicDry Fly Waders also offer such features as articulated knees for ease of motion; two internal drop mesh pockets for easy access to stored gear; and fleece pockets for warmth. A wading belt, suspenders and storage bag are included. The MSRP is $499.95.
UNDER ARMOUR STORM GEAR BLIND: Ameristep’s blind is lightweight and fabricated with durable rip-stop fabric. The durable water repellant finish and taped seams provide ultimate weather protection for the outdoorsman’s next trip to the woods. The blind features a silent slide window system. Available in RealtreeXtra Camo pattern, the blind sells for about $250. AMERISTEP.COM
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FISH ’N FILLET SUPERFLEX KNIFE: This Rapala knife, crafted by Finnish blade manufacturer Marttiini, is a must-have accessory for anglers. It features a baked birch contoured handle. Its 6-inch extra-thin nonstick blade allows for flexibility and control when filleting fish. The knife, which comes with a leather sheath, sells for about $20. RAPALA.COM
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Trout in the afternoon LOUISIANA SHORELINE — The Louisiana shoreline of Sabine Lake has been fishing better than the Texas side recently, where water isn’t as stained, according to Dickie Colburn. “The La. shoreline clears the quickest, but the water was decent enough by yesterday evening, even on the Neches flats,” Colburn wrote on sabinelake.blogs.com. “The redfish bite lit off again immediately, but the trout bite has just gotten a little better each day. There is no doubt that they are far more active in the afternoon hours, as we have failed to catch a single trout before noon, only to limit twice in the last hour or so of daylight. We have not found any big trout thus far, but I will never complain about 17- to 24-inch fish. Luke Dell’s 6 1/2-pound fish was the best fish we have caught recently. The redfish will eat most anything you throw in front of them, but we have caught most of our trout on bone or pink top-waters, red shad and chicken-on-a-chain tails and dayglow Fat Boys.” To contact Capt. Dickie Colburn, call (409) 883-0723.
Along with redfish, a good bite for black drum, sheepshead, flounder and trout has also been reported. The best bait has been shrimp for redfish and trout, along with cracked crab for black drum. To contact the Indianola Fishing Marina, call (361) 5525350.
Fish the guts
INDIANOLA FISHING MARINA — Anglers fishing near the small town of Indianola are reporting redfish are back in Powederhorn Lake, and pier anglers at the fishing marina are reporting good catches of slot-sized fish.
KING RANCH SHORELINE — According to Capt. Noel Guerrero of Fin Fever Guide Service, the trout fishing has been very good the past few weeks along the King Ranch Shoeline. “Trout are good in mud and grass on Corkies and MirrOlures while wading,” Guerrero said. “Trout can also be found in the guts along the King Ranch shoreline on Corkies and scented plastics.” Along with trout, redfish have been caught, although the redfish bite has not been as hot as the wading trout bite. Dead shrimp have been the ticket to entice redfish to bite, and don’t be afraid to search around South Bay for pods of feeding redfish. If you find one, you might limit out very quickly. To contact Capt. Noel Guerrero, call (361) 500-2687. — Conor Harrison
NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell. Sheepshead are fair to good around the rocks. SOUTH SABINE: Redfish are fair on the edge of the channel on mullet. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair on the south shoreline on slow–sinking plugs. Black drum and redfish are fair to good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair for drifters working deep shell on the upper end of the bay on soft plastics. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on Corkies and MirrOlures. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, red-
PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on Corkies over soft mud in waist–deep water in San Antonio Bay. Redfish are fair to good at the mouths of drains on soft plastics and live shrimp. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow DOA Shrimp. Redfish are fair to good on the Estes Flats and in California Hole on mullet and shrimp. Tides are well below normal. PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good around Pelican Island on scented plastics and mullet. Sand trout are good on shrimp in the channel. CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. Trout are fair to good in Oso Bay on scented plastics, top-waters and soft plastics. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies and MirrOlures. Trout
Mixed bag near Powderhorn
fish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Trout are fair over deep shell in the afternoon on plastics. TEXAS CITY: Sheepshead are fair around rock groins on live shrimp. Mangrove snapper and whiting are fair from the piers. FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are fair on live shrimp on the reefs. Redfish are fair to good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp and soft plastics over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the south shoreline in the guts and bayous. Trout are fair on shell and grassy shorelines on soft plastics and live shrimp. Tides are 2 feet below normal.
OUTDOOR PUZZLER ACROSS 1. Common name for the bowfin 6. Action of a dry fly on the water 8. A brand of camo 9. A breed of shark 10. A wingshooter’s quarry 11. Scent lure used by bear hunters 15. A freshwater fish 16. A type of arrow 18. Best lure color to attract fish 20. Electronic wear controls gundogs 21. A family of bottom fish
FOR THE TABLE
*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Stuffed stripers 1 (5-pound) striped bass 3 small white onions, sliced thin 4 stalks tender white celery 4 slices bacon, chopped fine 1/2 green pepper, chopped 2 tbsps. butter 1 tsp. finely chopped pepper Dash of pepper and salt 1 cup dry white wine 2 tsps. butter Clean and split bass, but do not detach halves, so that fish will retain its shape; remove backbone. Place onions, celery cut in thin strips, bacon and green pepper into saucepan and sauté until
are fair to good in the guts along the King Ranch shoreline on top-waters and soft plastics. PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics under a popping cork around grass holes. Trout are fair to good on mud along the edge of the ICW on Corkies and MirrOlures. SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. Redfish, black drum and mangrove snapper are fair to good in the channel on shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Redfish are fair to good in Cullen Bay on live shrimp and scented plastics. Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. — TPWD
By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen Solution on Page 26
24. Name for the trout after hatching 26. Shoulder hide on a deer 27. A food source for bears 28. 17 down seeks this 29. All outdoorsmen should carry one 30. The varmint DOWN 1. A species of the bighorn 2. Act of forcing wildfowl to flight 3. Trout will run smaller in this 4. Newborn elk 5. A good trap bait
6. To place feathers on an arrow 7. State boasts second most elk 12. A perch 13. Female deer 14. A young wild turkey 15. Turkey’s feet 17. Otter, coon, weasel are their type quarry 19. The pheasant 20. A game bird 22. A wounded game or fowl 23. A northern saltwater flat fish 25. State most populated by elk
Venison burrito casserole
light brown. Add butter and cook over low heat, adding parsley. Blend well and add dash of black pepper. Wipe fish clean and salt and pepper well. Spread filling inside between halves, fold fish over and place in well-buttered casserole. Pour wine over fish and place the teaspoons butter in bits over top. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until fish is tender, basting frequently with the wine. Serve with own sauce. Serve with marinated cucumbers. — cooks.com
1 1/2 pounds ground venison 1, 16-ounce can refried beans 1 packet burrito seasoning Shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided 1 package large flour tortillas 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 small can diced tomatoes or fresh equivalent 1/2 packet taco seasoning Sour cream Fillings — onions, salsa, etc. Brown the burger in a large skillet. Drain if necessary. Mix the burrito seasoning with water per package instructions. Mix the sea-
soning and beans into the meat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Assemble the burritos using 2 tablespoons of the meat/bean mixture, some cheese and your choice of fillings. Once rolled up, place in a 9x13 baking dish. Reserve 3/4-cup of the meat mixture, some cheese and fillings (optional). In a bowl, mix the soup, tomatoes and taco seasoning together. Pour over the prepared burritos. Top with the cheese and fillings. Bake at 325 degrees for 10–20 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with the sour cream. — backwoodsbound.com
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February 13, 2015
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Long day nets big mako Offshore trip for shark anglers requires patience, luck The Fish & Fun II left the docks for a wahoo and mako trip with Scott Nelson at the helm and Eric Ozolins at his side, along with angler Chris Sessions. The boat set a course for Southern Rock with eight pre-rigged ballyhoo on board for wahoo. It was a cold morning with calm seas and they had a short trip of 45 or 50 miles. After running 30 miles, the group across a shrimpboat. “We trolled around the shrimp boat for 30 minutes and nothing,” Sessions said. “Before you knew it, we were at Southern Rock. There was another boat trolling when we arrived, and we set out a spread out of ballyhoo with a lure on the bird. The water was running 64 degrees, with a green color and scattered weed and grass. “We trolled four hours with no hits or runs, so it was time to pick up and run south to look for mako sharks.” Sessions and the group pulled up to an offshore rig and immediately began marking jack fish. “We know where there are jacks, there will be mako sharks,” he said. “This time of this year, Oz and I target wahoo and makos — December, January and February are the best months. We catch a lot of them just free jumping.” It wasn’t long before several jacks were caught using jigs with 40-inch leaders and a 16/0 hook with a cable. That is when the shark fishing begins. “I throw them out with a longline float on the leader and a hook in their tail,” Sessions said. “Jacks are a very hardy fish and they will stay alive and swim for a long time. Oz and I had live jacks out — his 200 yards from the boat, and mine was 100 yards from the boat, tied off to the rig with a buoy on a rig hook.” While the boat waited for a big shark, they entertained themselves fishing for grouper. “I hooked one, but could not get him out of the rig and (he) broke me off,” Sessions said. “The magic time for makos to hit is 3 p.m. Oz was looking through the rig and saw a big mako free jump. He asked if we had seen it? We didn’t.”
The anglers were on guard and watching the floats — nothing happened and after an hour went by, they started grouper fishing again. “At 4:30 p.m., a late fish hit,” he said. “The first run was long and gave us enough time to run a hook from the rig. We went into action — Scott Nelson on wheel and Oz picking up and cleaning the deck. They put a billy plate around me and asked if it was OK? ‘Yes, it’s a mako,’ I said.” About that time, the big shark jumped 20-feet high and tried to throw the hook. When he landed, he thrashed the water and ran straight for the boat. “When he got to the boat, he dove down 200 feet deep and stayed deep,” Sessions said. “He was trying to knock the hook out by rubbing on the bottom. When he came up, he was a tired fish with mud DEEP SEA PREDATOR: Chris Sessions shows the 8-foot shark that was caught after the on his nose and a hook that was not set. The hook and cable were wrapped around his upper jaw and hook slipped out of its mouth and wrapped around a cable caught on the shark’s teeth. Photo by Chris Sessions. the barb of the hook was hooked to cable. This was what was holding the fish.” The big mako was beside the boat thrashing with very little connecting him to the angler. “We thought for sure we were going to lose the fish,” Sessions said. “Oz got a tailrope on fish and we got it in the boat the best we could. Before you knew it, it was dark and we had a live mako in boat with Scott driving toward home and Oz taking photos. The shark measured 8-feet, 8-inches long. “What a long day — we made it in with no jetty lights on at Packery and the fog set in one hour later at the boat ramp.” — Staff report
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Gun back to rightful owner Continued from page 4
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Happy bird dogs Continued from page 5
TOOK A WHILE FOR THE SECOND DEER: Johnny Quiros II poses with the two deer he has now taken with his father’s old gun — one when he was a young boy, and the buck he harvested a few weeks ago. Photo by Johnny Quiros II and David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
said. “My father choked up as he told me he had always intended to pass the rifle down to me as a family heirloom and now was the moment he could do so. It was a very special moment, and the rifle that I had shot my first buck with was back in my hands.” After hearing the story, the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation invited Johnny on a deer hunt, with the old rifle. A week or two before the hunt, the unthinkable happened. “My wife and I bought a home and had just moved in,” Johnny said. “Then it got broken into. The only thing the thieves took was a brand new TV, though. They didn’t take the rifle — it was the first thing I looked for.” During the late January hunt, and after two days of seeing young deer that didn’t result in a shot, an older buck finally appeared and the rifle was about to be used. “I was calm until I got the go-ahead to shoot,” Johnny said. “Then my heart was pounding.” After looking at his buck and posing for some photos, Johnny knelt and said a prayer, thankful for the hunt and showing respect for the animal he had just harvested. “I couldn’t help but think of where this rifle has been or what it has shot at,” he said. “My Colt Sauer .25-06 has taken an incredible journey from the hands of a loving father to a greedy thief, collected by a drug trafficking compound, seized by the DEA, returned to it’s rightful owner and now passed down to an only son.” And 24 years after being stolen, the 25.06 is serving its intended and lawful purpose. It was used to take another deer.
February 21-22 FREDERICKSBURG - Gillespie County Fairgrounds March 21-22 AMARILLO Amarillo Civic Center
April 18 -19 KERRVILLE Hill Country Youth Event Center
July 11-12 AMARILLO Amarillo Civic Center
March 28-29 ABILENE Abilene Civic Center
May 16 -17 ABILENE Abilene Civic Center
August 15-16 ABILENE Abilene Civic Center
tions,” Stine said. Rollins confirmed this combination has led to a bountiful crop of filaree and broom weed, two plants that provide important nutrients and cover for the quail year-round. “If we can sustain this weather pattern through June, I think it will mean a really good situation for quail hunting, at least in West Texas next year,” Rollins said, striking a cautiously optimistic tone. Bird counts are generally up, but hunting conditions still varied across the region. Dewey Stockbridge, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist at the Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area, said he is seeing more quail, almost entirely blues, now than he has in years but the hunting remains tough. The blues aren’t sticking to their regular pattern of running and busting,” he said. “They’re just coveying up and staying put or Photo by David J. Sams, LSON they’re running on the ground and you never see them, which has made the plentiful coveys somewhat difficult to hunt.” Others, like West Texas hunter Brad Bates, are having great success going after blues. “My hunting buddy and I go out two days a week for three and a half to four hours and together we shoot 15 to 25 birds a day,” Bates said. In South Texas, David Green of Inflight Outfitters advises hunters to pay attention to local conditions. “South Texas is a pretty big area and different areas see different amounts of rainfall,” Green said. “Places that saw more rainfall sustained better levels of native grass, which made for better nesting grounds and more abundant bird populations. While the coveys seen in some southern regions were considerably greater than others, across the board, South Texas has done well compared with last year for wild birds.”
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Owens Outdoor Sales named NSO Group of the Year Nikon Sport Optics recently recognized its top sales representatives for 2014 during their annual meeting in Las Vegas to kick off the 2015 SHOT Show. These awards are chosen by taking into consideration sales number increases, but also factor in unique aspects of a representative’s given territory and the efforts they put forth. Salesman of the Year — Joe Palermo, Professional Marketing Inc. Rep Group of the Year — Owens Outdoor Sales, Boerne Travis Fox of Owens Outdoor Sales was also recognized as an Elite Salesman. “We select our top sales reps by more than just sales increases. We want them to know and understand not only the product, but the Nikon brand, and we also like to receive positive feedback from their customers,” said Randy Garrison, general manager at Nikon. “It’s important the representatives we have in the field truly represent the core characteristics that make them valuable assets to the Nikon family. Their overall efforts in planning, execution, analysis and follow through are the components which separate Nikon salesmen from the rest.” — Nikon Sport Optics
A WINNING TEAM: The sales team at Owens Outdoor Sales in Boerne was awarded with this year’s Nikon Sport Optics Rep Group of the Year. Photo by Owens Outdoor Sales.
DSC beats record attendance Continued from page 7
existing exhibitors. • Record number of tickets sold (1,400) for DSC’s final night banquet and auction. • Record attendance at the prestigious Weatherby Award banquet hosted by Weatherby Foundation International. One of the most memorable highlights of the DSC convention was raising $1 million in one minute for Outdoor Adventures, a Texas-born program that introduces students to traditional outdoor activities. The curriculum is now being taught in more than 170 secondary schools — many of them public — across Texas and in a growing number of other states. — DSC
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Patience required for snook Continued from page 8
Capt, Daly Fridy, “but you are going to have to be fairly methodical to catch them.” The first major challenge in trying to land a snook in the winter months is the depth. “You probably need to probe deeper water,” Fridy said, “and while you might start by fishing your lure in a surface or subsurface manner, you will probably need to depth charge your offering.” The second major challenge is the structure under the surface of the channel. “You’ll start getting more break-offs,” Fridy said, alluding to the depths the fish occupy this time of year. “There is so much structure and rock and trash that the chance of losing a line goes up dramatically.” To hold on to hooked snook, Sepulvida suggests ditching the regular light tackle. “Go with heavy, heavy tackle because once you hook them you have to get them out of the structure,” he said. The third challenge is patience, generally true of angling and especially true if you are targeting winter Texas snook. “You are going to have your work cut out for you,” Fridy chuckled. While not the best time of year to go searching for it, Fridy asserts that “the snook
Photo by David J. Sams, LSON
fishing (in the Brownsville Ship Channel) is healthy and not declining in any form or fashion.” To keep it that way, Sepulvida encourages anglers to practice snook catch and release. “It’s a beautiful fish,” he said. “If you ever get your hands on one, you really understand why I don’t kill them.”
School holds sporting clay shoot to raise money for new track The Woodlands Christian Academy Booster Club raised approximately $30,000 at a sporting clays shoot held at Creekside Shooting Range in Conroe. “I’m very proud to be in charge of a school that allows 120 people to come out and shoot guns,” said Julie Ambler, head of school for Woodlands Christian Academy. The four-person team led by James Hanigan, DO, finished first, followed by the team led by Mark Bennett. Will Reich, a member of Bennett’s team, won the individual title, hitting 73 of 75 targets. Ethan Bennett, also a member of Bennett’s team, won the highest junior award. — Staff report
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February 13, 2015
CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING POETRY SHOOTING CLUB 700-yard range, range target camera, quail hunting preserve, dog training, shooting classes, day leases Dove, duck & deer Poetryshootingclub.com (214) 728-2755
TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOC Scholarship application now available at TexasDoveHunters.com for high school seniors who are hunting enthusiasts Nine $500 scholarships will be awarded this year Applications must be postmarked by April 2, 2015 (210) 764-1189
TROPHY WHITETAIL BUCK HUNTS Intensive Management Program. Lodging included. (940) 362-4219
RANCH PROPERTIES Looking for a ranch or want to sell one? Contact Chris Susilovich, Agent, Hortenstine Ranch Company Chris@HRCRanch.com (903) 503-5961
VLE HUNT CLUB 5,300-acre Val Verde County lease for 4 hunters. $3,000 per hunter for deer, turkey, quail and small game. Lots of deer stands and feeders provided or bring your own. Must be management minded. Family and guests are allowed. Nice campsite with power and water. Call (832) 435-6226. 1.23.15TPWD
RANCHO SIERRA VIEJA Aoudad Hunters — World class — not hunted in 20 years in Sierra Vieja mountains. (432) 386-7702. Ask to speak with Antanicio. Mule deer in Sierra Vieja Mountains below Marfa in Presidio County. (512) 327-5753. Ask to speak with Bob. 1.23.15TPWD
CLARKSVILLE RED River County Untouched wooded 85 acres surrounded by pasture land and split in half by a creek. One week/7-day leases from Wed to Tue — giving you a full weekend to hunt. $100 gets you a one-week hunt. HUNTCLARKSVILLETX.COM 1.23.15TPWD
HAECKER SAFARI RANCH Family-friendly environment on this 1,000-acre Real County property with meals and lodging on-site. Come hunt hogs and predators for just $250 per day and add any other animal for a reasonable harvest fee. All Inclusive Packages for whitetails and exotics start at only $2000 for 3 days of hunting and 2 nights lodging. Call us today (830) 660-4933. 1.23.15TPWD
WHITETAIL JUNCTION RANCH 3-day fully guided whitetail hunts on a 2,900-acre ranch located between Junction & Menard. Limited availability on 200+ class bucks. All lodging and meals provided. Can accommodate up to eight hunters either individually or a corporate group. Also has spring turkey hunts available and year round axis, blackbuck and red stag hunts. Call for further information or for a complete list of Exotic Game Available. CALL (210) 247-8317
(830) 780-4609. 1.23.15TPWD
NAMIBIA HUNTING Chapungu-Kambako Hunting Safaris PH Herman Coetzee will guide you to your next plains game or dangerous game trophy. Herman@chapungukambako.com chapungu-kambako.com
1.23.15 JCOC
HUNT/FISH/RELAX Texas Hill Country. Ideal Corporate Retreat for entertaining key customers, prospects and employees. 15,000 acres, year-round use of headwaters lodge and game room, fully furnished, accommodates 20+ guests. Hunt deer, turkey, dove, javelina, wild hogs and some exotics. Great bass fishing in spring-fed lakes bounded by pecan groves. Near Junction, TX Call Maynard Ranch (512) 477-7774 1.23.15 JCOC
MASON COUNTY High Fenced Package Hunts: 3 days fully guided with accommodations and meals included. Trophy, management, and doe hunts available. Father and Son packages encouraged. Spring turkey semi-guided with lodging Call Ranch Branch Ranch (830) 981-4225 1.23.15 JCOC
DAY LEASE DEER AND TURKEY Located in Kimble County. Lodging available with water and electricity. Blinds and feeders. Can accommodate five hunters. Call Ivy Ranch days (361) 6482922, nights (830) 5832407
FINE GUNS Patrick Willoughby-Mccabe has opened his new store in Albany, Texas Stop by and see what it has to offer 140-144 S. Main Street Albany. Call for an appointment (469) 759-6146
FISHING SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses. Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com. CustomSportsAnglers.com (956) 551-1965 COLORADO RIVER FISHING Located in east Austin on the north bank of the Colorado River, Latitude: 30.256179 Longitude: -97.634178 1-acre leased-access fishing, boating, and camping area. It offers 225 feet of bank access and serves as a boat launch, and overnight campground. Advance reservations must be secured through the Texas River School. Call for rates (512) 289-0750. 1.23.15TPWD
1.23.15 JCOC
SPRING TURKEY HUNTS $400 Per Hunter — Includes 2 Nights Lodging Wild Hog Hunts $200 Per Hunter — Includes 2 Nights Lodging Near Junction CALL (325) 475-2901 1.23.15 JCOC
PECAN SPRINGS Bandera County property includes a pecan orchard. We offer weekend dove hunting packages, whitetail, blackbuck and axis packages. We have newly remodeled, fully furnished cabins. Please contact Stacie at
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB MEMBERS Are you 21 to 40 years old? Join the new Conservation Society (a young professional group) We are a fun group and want you to learn about us. Contact Crystal at (972) 989-9800 or Crystal@biggame.org dscconservationsociety.org
UMBRELLA RANCHING 4200 acres in northwest Kimble County. Remote. Electricity & Water available. Hunting Rested Last Year. Protein Feeders & Pens already set up. Drop Tine Genetics. Other leases also available. For info CALL (325) 456-0130 1.23.15 JCOC
WHITE BASS FISHING Neches River, upstream from Lake Palestine Chandler River Park Spring run (Feb-April) 2,650 feet of river frontage to the north and 3,000 feet to the south for bank fishing. Latitude: 32.315014 Longitude: -95.452488 no cost fishing. (903) 849-6853 1.23.15TPWD
TROPHY BASS AND BIRD HUNTING Fish famous Lake Guerrero. Hunt Dove, Quail, Ducks. Please contact Lago Vista Lodge today! dickyn@ lagovistalodge.com (713) 376-3938 or (281) 495-9296
TROUT FISHING Camp Huaco Springs Guadalupe River rainbow and brown trout. This site is stocked by TPWD with rainbow trout though February. Latitude: 29.759801 Longitude: -98.140090 (830) 625-5411 1.23.15TPWD
LEASED FISHING ACCESS Brazos River downstream from Lake Whitney Located on the east bank of the Brazos River in northern McLennan County near the town of Gholson, approximately 6 miles downstream of the FM 2114 bridge crossing. Lease period: January 1, 2013 through October 31, 2016 Phone: (254) 290-0029 Latitude: 31.738457 Longitude: -97.270316 This 120-acre property offers 2,051 feet of river frontage for bank fishing and serves as a day-use and camping area for canoe and kayak anglers that launch upstream. There is no road access to this area; paddlers can reach it only from the river. Free public parking is available by reservation at Dick’s Canoes, 6 miles upstream on the west bank at the FM 2114 bridge crossing. Call (254) 622-8364 for more information. 1.23.15TPWD
BOATS BOAT FOR SALE! 2012 Panga Marine 22’ Marquesa - Yamaha 115 36volt iPilot Minn Kota Coastline trailer Humminbird 998 (979) 415-4379
MISC. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS & MAPPING RANCH & HUNTING, AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, 2014 IMAGERY AVAILABLE BalboaMapCompany.com (806) 777-8840 ARROWHEADS AND ARTIFACTS I buy and sell authentic Texas artifacts. Please call Nick. (210) 557-9478 DECOYS WANTED WOODEN Duck and Goose. Top prices paid. Ask for David. (214) 361-2276
14’X48’ MOBILE HOME Choke Canyon Lake .8 acres, 2 bedroom, 1 bath Calliham, TX $65,000 Call Don (361) 318-4774
VEHICLES LOOKING FOR A FORD F-150 OR F-250 SUPER DUTY? I’m a lifelong hunter and can help you hunt for your next truck. Call Bobby at Rockwall Ford, (214) 632 7963. I have a great selection of preowned trucks, as well.
2007 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab 4x4 5.4L — $21,990 2012 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab 4x4 — $31,500 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4-door — $34,980
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DATEBOOK FEBRUARY 13
Texas Deer Association Superior Genetics Deer Auction Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch, Helotes (210) 767-8401 texasdeerassociation.com Ducks Unlimited Brazos Valley Dinner The Brazos Center, Bryan (79) 255-8507 ducks.org/texas
FEBRUARY 14
Bass Champs East Division Toledo Bend Reservoir Tournament basschamps.com
FEBRUARY 17
Ducks Unlimited Houston County Dinner Lovelady Exes Building (936) 544-9826 ducks.org/texas
FEBRUARY 19
Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Stonebriar Country Club (972) 980-9800 biggame.org Delta Waterfowl Rogue Waterfowl Chapter Stone Oak Ranch, Murchison (903) 752-3764 deltawaterfowl.org
FEBRUARY 21-22
Texas Gun and Knife Shows Gillespie County Fairgrounds, Fredericksburg (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
FEBRUARY 21
Texas Team Trail Toledo Bend Reservoir (210) 788-4143 texasteamtrail.com Bass Champs South Division Falcon Lake Tournament (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com
FEBRUARY 24
Ducks Unlimited Gilmer Dinner Gilmer Civic Center (903) 576-6680 ducks.org/texas
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 1
Prime Total Archery Challenge Natural Bridges Caverns (801) 380-6442 totalarcherychallenge.com
FEBRUARY 28
Safari Club International North Texas Chapter fundraiser Grapevine, Embassy Suites Outdoor World (214) 226-1944 scinorthtexas.com Bass Champs North Division Lake Fork Tournament (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com Delta Waterfowl Abilene Chapter Taylor County Expo Center (650) 465-3190 deltawaterfowl.org Quail Tech Alliance Bird Dog Supershow Circle A Ranch, Archer City (214) 679-9781
MARCH 5
Park Cities Quail Dinner and Auction Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas (214) 632-7460 parkcitiesquail.org
MARCH 6-8
Texas State Rifl e Association Annual Foundation Banquet, Members Meeting Austin (512) 615-4115 tsrafoundation.com
MARCH 7
Texas Dove Hunters Association Shooting For Scholarships National Shooting Complex, San Antonio (210) 764-1189 texasdovehunters.com Dallas Woods and Waters Club 36th Annual Dinner and Auction Plano Centre (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org
MARCH 12-14
Texas Game Wardens Association Whiskers and Reds Fishing Tournament (979) 257-6508 texasgamewarden.com
MARCH 13-14
Exotic Wildlife Association 48th Annual Membership Meeting Embassy Suites, San Marcos (830) 367-7761 myewa.org
For home or offi ce delivery, go to LSONews.com, or call (214) 361-2276, or send a check or money order to the address below. Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 21628300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2015 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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MARCH 21-22
Texas Gun and Knife Shows Amarillo Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
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Good for Private Property Rights Good for Maintaining Whitetail and Mule Deer Herds Good for Texas’ Rural Economies Good for Preserving Our Hunting Heritage Good for Agricultural Jobs Good for Promoting Conservation Good for Sharing Our Passion for the Outdoors Good for Promoting a Sustainable Rural Lifestyle www.TexasDeerAssociation.com 403 East Ramsey, Ste. 204 | San Antonio, TX 78216 P: 210.767.8300 | F: 210.767.8401
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