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December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
www.TSFMAG.com
Just Keep Five
CONTENTS
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.co com Everett@tsfmag.com
DECE M BER 2 0 0 9 Volume 19 No. 8
GENERAL M MANAGER Pam Johnson
10
FEATURES
Pam Pam@tsfmag.com
10 It’s Gettin’ Right! 14 Riding Winter’s Wave 18 Kindness from Friends, D.C... 22 You can have the mud and muck! 24 Cold weather fishing can get...
Mike McBride Kevin Cochran Billy Sandifer Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle
BUSINESS / ACCOUNTING MANAGER BUSIN Shirley Elliott Shirley@tsfmag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Pam Johnson Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918
DEPARTMENTS
30 38
19 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
Coastal Birding Science and the Sea Let’s Ask The Pro Fly Fishing Offshore Conservation TPWD Field Notes Kayak Fishing According to Scott Youth Fishing Every Man’s Offshore
Ads@tsfmag.com
Billy Sandifer UT-Marine Science Institute Jay Watkins Casey Smartt Bobby Byrd/John Cochrane CCA Texas Mark Lingo Scott Null Scott Sommerlatte Aaron Cisneros Ruben Villarreal
WHAT OUR GUIDES HAVE TO SAY
60
50 52 54 56 58 60 62
Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene Mickey on Galveston Capt. Bill’s Fish Talk Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene
68
Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net CIRCULATION Debbie Dugan Cir@tsfmag.com DESIGN & LAYOUT GRAPHICS BY DESIGN Stephanie Boyd Office: 361-785-4282 stephanie@graphicsbydesign.biz production@graphicsbydesign.biz SUBSCRIPTION – PRODUCT SALES Debbie Dugan ADDRESS CHANGED? Email Store@tsfmag.com
Dickie Colburn Mickey Eastman Bill Pustejovsky Gary Gray David Rowsey Capt. Tricia Ernest Cisneros
REGULARS 06 46 48 64 66 68 72
NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly. Subscription Rates: One Year (15 months for 12 months; Get Three Free. Offer valid until 1.31.10)
$25.00, Two Year $45.00
E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year. Order on-line: WWW.TSFMAG.COM MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue. Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded.
Editorial TSFMag Spotlight New Tackle & Gear Fishing Reports and Forecasts Catch of the Month Photo Gallery Gulf Coast Kitchen Index of Advertisers
HOW TO CONTACT TSFMAG: PHONE: 361-785-3420 FAX: 361-785-2844 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 WEB: www.TSFMAG.COM PHOTO GALLERY: photos@tsfmag.com
PRINTED IN THE USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.
ABOUT THE COVER Lisa Laskowski fished the sloughs of San Jose Island with guide Jay Watkins recently. Her big flounder couldn’t pass on the Bass Assassin Sea Shad. Lisa’s husband, Michael, is President of CCA Texas Hill Country Chapter.
Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at Victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices.
Merr y Fishmas !
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.
December 2009
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
Times Inside!
December 2009
5
Golf, anyone? Lately I am averaging an email each day and several telephone calls per week from anglers expressing growing concern over what they perceive to be relative scarcity of spotted seatrout between West Matagorda and Corpus Christi Bays. We suffered one of the hottest and driest summers on record, and so naturally, everybody was anxious for the coming of fall weather and much needed rainfall. Through September and October diehard anglers waded historic honeyholes like dice players chasing their money, betting everything that their luck was about to change. Here it is early November and while we’ve been seeing a few sparks; catching still isn’t what seasoned fishermen would describe as hot or consistent. Success has been hit and miss with redfish still providing the most excitement. In my September column I referenced the fact that our midcoast seatrout fishery has been declining steadily over the past eight or nine years while fishing pressure has increased dramatically. TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division does a great job of measuring recruitment and population density, so it is no surprise that their data reflect the same scenario that anglers are reporting. Sadly, the Spring 2009 net sampling result pegs the trout population in mid-coast bays very near the level recorded after the freeze of 1989. Concern has reached the level where many have begun blaming live croaker as too effective, again, others hope for limited entry to be enacted on fishing guide licenses. While I agree with the effectiveness of croaker, I do not believe that banning a specific bait or method of fishing that is currently legal is a good idea. Neither do I see limited entry on fishing guide licenses as a practical means through which to fix the decline of the mid-coast seatrout fishery. To embrace either of these makes as much sense as continuing to take aspirin hoping the pain will go away when in fact surgery to treat the problem at its source is the only way to save the patient. If I could put the problem in a nutshell, I would say we have been removing fish from the bays faster than Mother Nature can replace them. As concerned anglers and stewards of the resource, the maintenance of sustainable fisheries should be our primary goal. Rather than taking ten every chance, we need to practice more catch and release. Catching is the greatest thrill in fishing yet we willingly reduce the chances of catching every time we take more than enough for fresh fish dinner. The entire concept of sportfishing hinges on the kingpin of sustainable fisheries. Without sustainable fish populations we may as well take up golf or gardening for our outdoor recreation. So while I truly enjoy corresponding with the growing number of anglers tired of not catching, and I’m not for one second saying I wish for the emails and calls to stop, I’m going to ask everybody to give it an even greater effort. Send the same email you send me to TPWD, send it to CCA Texas, and send it to the Chamber of Commerce in the coastal community you fish most often. I believe that more conservative regulations are needed to restore the mid-coast seatrout fishery to the level we enjoyed in the late 90s. The wheels of the machine that will bring these changes turn slowly. Your voice is the energy that can fuel the machine. Practice catch and release, keep the emails, letters and calls coming, and remember to send copies. Merry Christmas, come see me on the water!
6
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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It’s Gettin’ Right!
We often have to wait for conditions to develop.
“It sure looks like everything is shaping up,” I said, more hoping than knowing.
on the Food Channel.
the catches were epic in anybody’s book,
I reluctantly agreed about the time
and I would say that twenty trout over
“Look at all of those hogs and turkeys
frame, plus the smell of the grease
seven pounds each day qualifies as epic.
moving down the bank. The birds are
had me salivating for some of that
However, it came at cost few seem willing
getting up too, so it’s all finally starting to
mayonnaised mercy soon to be
to pay these days, which is time. Rarely
get right. Let’s get out of this stupid boat
served on a toasted bun. We had time
does nature perform on our preferred
and hit it again. You ready man?”
anyway, because each day we had
urbanite schedules, and unfortunately
to wait later and later for these fish to
“three hour tours” often don’t lend much
than a knuckle dragging sort of grunt,
become vulnerable to the plastic we
of a chance. Sure, we can catch fish
and I could only marvel at how fast
were throwing. In nature’s waiting game
when they are not feeding, but we can
another redfish flew off the stringer tied to
nature can play, we often have to wait
often plan our allotted time to better
the bow cleat and plopped into some hot
for conditions to “develop” if we want
coincide with greater catches.
grease on the rusty Coleman stove.
to catch fish, especially the type of fish
My optimism was met with little more
“Nope” came the reply. “Still too early. It’ll be another forty five minutes before
some people want to put on their walls.
Letting things “develop” can mean a lot of things. There is much we don’t know
That little fish fry
but we can
anything happens, and besides that I’m
happened nearly
easily know it
totally famished. One more redfish burger
ten years ago on a
when we see it.
and we’ll get back in the water.”
remote part of the
It’s interesting
lower coast. After an
how nature
three days and on top of some of the best
early morning flurry,
seems to work
winter trout Texas could offer. Although
everything would go
in concert at
we knew we were on incredible fish,
dead and you’d swear
times, where
there were daily periods lasting for hours
there were no living
life everywhere
where absolutely nothing was going to
creatures on land or
seems to
happen no matter who you were. We
in the water. Then
become active
only had a few dink trout and a couple of
‘something’ would
simultaneously.
reds by mid afternoon, which made the
happen, and the
Deer start to
little things like a hot meal on a frosty
whole scene would
move, ducks
flat count more than usual. Food always
transform into an
start filling
seems to taste better in a boat, but frying
explosion of activity in
a previously
up a square-cut chunk of fish while the
all directions. When
cells are still alive should get top billing
conditions “got right”
Mark and I had been on anchor for
10
December 2009
empty sky, You ready to get off the boat?
Texas Saltwater Fishing
pelicans begin www.TSFMAG.com
Just Keep Five
them when they were
more events that seem to kick aquatic
aggressive, and after
life into gear and these are but few, but
having nothing but
being a good angler means a lot more
dinks all day, within a
than just being a good technician with a
two hour period we had
rod. That’s the last part of the equation,
several trout over six
the first part will always be viewing the
pounds and three over
entire picture to better predict where big
eight. I can’t tell you
fish are going to become vulnerable in
how many boats had
the first place.
pulled in and out earlier,
when we can and do what we can, but
nothing. Perhaps they
if we are truly serious about committing
needed a fish burger.
ourselves to catching a “real” trout,
Also last December,
Being a good angler means a lot more than just being a good technician with a rod.
The bottom line is that yes; we go
then left after catching
sometimes we just need to pack a
the same but opposite
lunch and wait. It seems to me that the
happened. After near
two worst tools people use these days
zero activity all morning
are their GPS and watch. Too many of
on a cold bluebird day,
us just go to a “marked spot” and if it
increasing south winds
happens it happens, but if it doesn’t by
began to push water
about 1:00 pm, it’s back to the dock with
up to and along a sun
an “Oh well…” Many might do better to
drenched shoreline.
turn off that stupid machine and look for
paddling out, ospreys begin to hover,
As color started to form in the warming
developing spots in the water instead
and all of a sudden the baitfish come
shallows, legions of baitfish pulled up
if dots on a screen. You’ll know it when
to the top and our topwaters start going
with large predators hot behind them.
you see it, and good things can certainly
down. We don’t always know what sparks
Fish previously staged out deeper finally
come to those who wait, especially
activity in general, but as far as fishing
made themselves available to wading
during winter. It’s December and
goes, we can often predict scenarios in
depth and pulled tight to the bank with
everything is getting right. You ready to
certain areas. Here are a few examples
drag-chattering vengeance. Astonishing
get off the boat?
of when things developed from dead
was how fast the scene turned from Dead
to deadly, which we might be able to
Sea into showering explosions of mullet.
Last December we had a good group
Another classic example of waiting it out is waiting for the water to develop
of fish hanging in a big depression
some “cover” on it. Calm surfaces and
bordering an expanse of shallow
clear water do not encourage activity in
water. They stayed out and suspended
many areas, but let either wind or tidal
somewhere in the depths and basically
current start feathering some ripples on
did a bunch of nothing for long periods.
the water, create rip lines or some good
You could peck a fish out here and there,
color changes, and be amazed at what
but basically nothing was happening.
shows up seemingly out of nowhere.
The condition it took for life to explode
Another sometimes predictable scene
was increasing onshore afternoon winds,
in the winter, particularly after a strong
which started current moving for one
front, is things starting to “get right” as
thing, but also began driving water off of
the air becomes warmer than the water.
the flats bringing the bait down with it. As
Watch fish rise from the depths to high
it tumbled across the next level drop and
up in the water column and become more
then into some now deteriorating water
aggressive. Barometer changes, such as
clarity, both trout and reds moved up to
when winds veer back toward the south,
the opportunity. Now we could isolate
can also spur activity. There are many
Just Keep Five
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
Contact
duplicate elsewhere.
Mike Mcbride
Mike McBride is a full time fishing guide based in Port Mansfield, Tx., specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.
December 2009
11
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13
Riding Winter’s Wave
Padre Island National Seashore looked good in snow, a 100-year event for South Texas.
The stable weather patterns of summer
the fish will affect lure choices and
can dictate a move up to floating plugs,
make the choices of where and how
presentation styles. Winter trophies can
primarily large, noisy ones like Super
to fish relatively easy for Texas trout
and will be caught on a variety of lures,
Spooks, X Raps, Skitter Walks and Top
anglers. Winds are pretty predictable
but given the meteorological extremes,
Dogs, all of which work well to attract
in strength and direction, temperatures
some lures will be virtually useless some
trout roving among windswept waves
stay high and the barometer typically
of the time. Even within the span of one
prior to a front.
moves up and down over a short
day, the optimal lure for the moment can
range, except when altered by transient
run the spectrum from minnow-sized soft
trout in winter is in the few hours
tropical systems. Conversely, winter
plastics to topwaters as big as a mullet.
immediately before, during and after the
The rapid changes in winter weather call
passage of a front. The wind shift offers
weather changes rapidly, with wind
One of the best times to catch magnum
speeds ranging from nil to gale force,
for variable strategies in location as well
a prime window of opportunity for making
barometric levels dropping drastically
as in lure choices. Normally, when a front
the biggest trout in the bay blow up on
then ballooning behind fronts and
approaches, temperatures are warmer
full-sized topwaters. Since arriving fronts
temperatures varying widely, sometimes
than normal, and winds are out of the
often bring strong north and northwest
on a daily basis.
southeast, blowing at moderate speeds. In
winds that stir up waters already churned
this pre-front situation, windward shorelines
by moderate pre-front breezes, loud plugs
season, trout pile into the deepest holes
or structural elements often hold fish. Pre-
and erratic presentations make sense
in a bay system and hug the bottom;
front fish are generally relatively mobile and
during this period of peak activity. Moving
those same fish might emerge on super
aggressive in the warmth, particularly if tide
at a steady pace to cover water within
skinny flats to warm up a short time
levels are high and the barometer is falling.
prime general areas is a proven strategy
During the coldest snaps of the
later. In the cold months, consistently
Rattling Corkys
as the wind makes
productive trout anglers, particularly
or other twitch baits
its switch, perhaps
trophy hunters, are those who best
fished moderately
allowing for contact
adjust to the rapidly changing conditions.
fast, with lots of
with more of the hyped-
starting, stopping and
up, hunting fish.
It takes no genius to figure out that a frontal passage creates a radical wind
erratic movements,
shift. The passage of a front also ushers
fit nicely onto the
front gale settles in,
in a dome of heavy air, which causes a
menus of mobile trout.
snapping and rifling
rise in barometric pressure. The air is
Pre-front efforts are
the flags for a couple
heavy because it’s cold; temperatures
normally best focused
of hours, the feeding
behind the front drop, then turn and rise
relatively shallow,
attitude of the fish
again as the next front approaches.
from about eighteen
It’s a cycle, or circle of change, and
inches to maybe three
the feeding attitude of the fish often
feet. Bait observed
predictably relates closely to that curve.
schooling on the
Of course, the feeding attitude of 14
December 2009
surface or jumping Texas Saltwater Fishing
After the post-
will become poor and This nine pound trout bit a rattling Corky fished in moderately high waves on a windward shoreline prior to a frontal passage.
bites will become few and far between. The severity and duration of the dead
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Just Keep Five
Freak snowstorm Christmas Eve 2004; daytime temps three days later reached the seventies.
weather rounds the corner after
rigged weightless sometimes trigger
the shut-down. Typically, such
strikes from ultra-finicky fish.
fish are found in water less
Eventually, the calm will give way
than thirty inches deep, feeding
to onshore winds and the tactics will
voraciously in response to the
change in response to those winds and
upturn in the weather. These
the warmth they usher in. The use of
fish might be reticent to take
lures and techniques which assume a
conventional topwaters, but
more aggressive mood in the fish will
they’re usually ready to attack
work better again. Depending on where
rattling or floating Corkys,
the bottom-out occurred, that might mean
depending on the depth at which
a switch from dragging a worm up to a
they‘re found.
floating Corky, or a shift from floating
If the turnaround is subtle after a strong front, meaning
Corkys to rattling Corkys; potentially, the pre-front breezes bring back the need for a
period after a front passes will depend on
water and air temperatures are rising
how long the strong winds persist, how
slowly and the sky is cloudy, rattling
far temperatures fall and how high the
twitch baits slung across waist-deep flats
in winter involves constant analysis
barometer rises.
near a drop off to deep open water work
of the conditions and subsequent
When fishing the dead period, it pays to
move all the way up to full-sized topwaters. Successfully plugging for trophy trout
best. If the front was milder, or if the sky
perceptive adjustments in location,
assume the fish will be exceedingly hard
is bright and the turnaround is dramatic,
lures and presentations. Trophy specks
to catch. Such fishing should be done
meaning the flats are warming quickly,
respond to frontal passages by moving in
in a spot which is somewhat or entirely
floating Corkys fished farther from the
predictable patterns, and their willingness
protected from harsh post-front winds,
edge will be the preferred tools.
or need to feed shifts like the winter
ideally in an area close to deep water which
As the post-front winds diminish further
winds. Pluggers who locate and catch
has ample muddy and/or grassy flats for the
and stall entirely, a stretch of blue-bird
them most consistently employ evolving
fish to use when the warm up comes.
weather often occurs. Such “chamber of
strategies which properly acknowledge
commerce” conditions are a potentially
the effects of winter‘s circle of change.
be soft plastics, and extreme presentation
annoying winter extreme; the dead-calm
styles will be preferred, either crawling the
lull can make fish (including trophy trout)
worm on a sixteenth ounce jighead slowly
difficult or nearly impossible to catch.
across the bottom, or suspending it under
Strategies for coping with the calm are
a cork. Windier conditions favor the use
diametrically opposed to the ones used to
of the cork and jig, and if the water’s nasty
take advantage of the arrival of the front.
in color, larger worms in extremely bright
When the heavy hand of high
or dark colors and with rattles inserted in
barometric pressure drops the tide and
them work best.
flattens the waves, the two extreme soft
As a side note, that color variation
plastic techniques mentioned earlier
scheme is one which comes up often in
can become most useful. Dragging and
winter, when skies rapidly range from
short-hopping a worm on a light jighead
utterly clear and bright to dismal and
over the bottom will usually outperform
dark. Bright skies cry out for either
the cork and jig when it’s slick calm; if
natural or bright lures, depending on the
used, the cork and jig should be worked
water clarity, while dark skies, especially
slowly, deliberately and without as much
if they persist for days, necessitate the
vigor as it would be in the windier period
use of dark lures.
associated with a settling-in front.
Whether the sky is clear or cloudy, a
Thorough coverage of micro-spots with
turning point will occur at the end of the
silent lures worked at a snail’s pace can
shut-down of the trout bite associated with
also be a useful strategy in the quiet time
post-frontal weather. Often, the biggest
along the bottom of the curve. Floating
trout of the winter are caught while the
Corkys, silent topwaters and soft plastics
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Kevin Cochran
Contact
The lures of choice will almost always
Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
15
Letter to the Editor Mr. Johnson,
Dear Brent,
I just want to thank you for putting out an awesome magazine like no other. It is amazing what Joe Public could learn by reading what your authors (men and women who are fishing every day) have to say. A while back we spent some time down in the Arroyo area and were suppose to fish with Mike McBride but as you know he was out for a while. Anyway, fishing was just awesome, especially the topwater bite. Unfortunately, Saturday was like nothing I have ever seen. Not the fishing, but the boaters! We wade 99% of the time and on this particular Saturday we had several boats drift through us and on us. One of my guys had to hurry and move out of the way to keep from getting drifted over, then the boater started yelling and cussing at us saying people are suppose to fish from a boat. The really sad part was there were two teenage kids with him. How do you think they are going to fish when they are by themselves? We mainly fish out of Rockport and even though there is more traffic there this has never happened to us. Our guess was that maybe the majority of fishermen down at Arroyo prefer to drift while wade fishing is more popular around Rockport. This might explain Rockport fishermen in general being more cooperative with wading fishermen. I thought I would share this with you so maybe you could remind your readers there is more than one way to fish and if someone is standing in the water, don’t run over them! Brent Garner College Station, TX
It is disappointing to hear of your unpleasant encounter down at the Arroyo. Tempers always seem to flare more readily when the water gets crowded and the Arroyo has been very popular of late. Waders become annoyed when drifters come too close and, of course, drifters will always take a dim view of waders in their drift. What is most important is that we are all fishermen and all fishermen are equally entitled to use the water. Along with that entitlement comes responsibility. It is our duty to respect our fellow fishermen and conduct ourselves as good citizens at all times. Whether the chap who lost his cool was right or wrong in his view of your preferred fishing method for the day is really small potatoes. The disrespect he displayed toward you and the poor example he set for the teens in his boat just flat puts him in the wrong. Shame on him. Glad to hear the fishing was good. Thanks for writing and thanks also for the kind words on the magazine. EJ - Editor
Send your Letters to the Editor to PO Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983, or email Everett@TSFMag.com
16
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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December 2009
17
Kindness from Friends, D.C., and Red Tide What a chaotic
winner came as
taught to be self reliant and to do without
no surprise to me.
when necessary. In our lives we are
But the six finalists
accustomed to often doing without things
were selected from
others take for granted and life is at
twenty-five pound
hundreds of nominees
times harsh and hostile. No whining here
jack crevalle with fly
and obviously all six
whatsoever; just a statement of facts.
rods in the surf on
were already winners
Decades ago I chose to follow a
Tuesday the sixth,
- big time.
month October has been. It started with us sightcasting
Jim Brodhead caught this 25 pound jack crevalle sightcasting with fly tackle.
followed by me
path without promise of any financial
The monetary award
security and she chose to be with me
being photographed
the six finalists receive
through it all. Our benefactors finally got
wearing a gas
will be a real blessing
it through my thick head that as far as
mask among
with winter coming on.
they were concerned we had earned it
large numbers of
I casually mentioned
but it took a bit of getting used to. Many
red tide killed fish
in an e-mail to several
years ago; my ol’ papa told me that if a
on Tuesday the
friends that I was
man had more genuine friends than he
thirteenth, and
going to the award
could count on the fingers of one hand
ceremony in D.C.
he was an extremely lucky and blessed
losing an entire week’s worth of daily bookings to the red
alone and intended to keep the trip as
tide. Then the following Tuesday my wife,
short as possible.
man. After all these years of living a life where genuine acts of Erin Salazar with her first-ever jack crevalle of 25 pounds.
Joy, and I were given a private tour of the
They inquired
West Wing and Oval Office of the White
as to why my
House in Washington, D.C.
wife, Joy, wasn’t
it seems now they
Although I felt greatly honored to have
kindness have been few and far between
accompanying
unexpectedly pop
been nominated for the annual Field &
me and I replied
up continuously and
Stream Heroes of Conservation Award
that we were
I am humbled and
and to have been selected as one of
not in a financial
overwhelmed and I
six finalists to attend their gala event in
position to afford
thank all involved from
the nation’s capitol; I never for a split
the expenses of
the bottom of my heart.
second thought I’d win the grand prize
her going with
although many enthusiastic supporters
me. Within one
to represent the
did. I’ve been around too long and was
hour, and despite
hardworking volunteers
very aware that I’m too rough around
both Joy’s and my
of the Big Shell Beach
the edges and too politically incorrect.
repeated protests,
Cleanup with dignity
Not being selected as the grand prize
they had her a Joy and me at the White House.
I went to D.C.
and respect and in round trip ticket procured
such a manner they could be proud of;
on the same flights I was
not to win a truck, and I succeeded in
on and shortly thereafter
that effort very well. The Big Shell Beach
several of them showed
Cleanup got a lot of respect and attention
up here at the house
in D. C. and I was able to make some
with additional spending
contacts that could be invaluable to
money that they had
conservation efforts in the future. I had
collected for the trip.
the opportunity to meet some really great
Joy and I were both
18
December 2009
leaders in grassroots conservation from
overwhelmed. We are
other areas and share ideas with them
of the traditional rural
and Joy has blisters on her feet from
Texas culture where you
trying to see everything in D.C. in one
never expect anything
day and some memories she’ll always
from anyone and are
cherish. It’s all good.
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ranger patrol vehicles for quite some time a couple of miles south of my campsite. They stopped by to visit the next morning and naturally I asked them
BILLY SANDIFER’S
Coastal Birding
what had transpired and they frowned and said they had a drunken driving incident. First day of the red tide fish kill.
“Well at least you caught
Wood Stork -Mycteria Americana-
them,” I replied. “They The red tide is in its seventeenth day on PINS as I write this. We have two cold fronts forecast to hit in the next
don’t have to come down here to get dead drunk; they can do that at home.” One of the young rangers looked up
three days and the water temperature
at me sadly and said, “Yeah Billy; they
has dropped ten degrees since the event
could. They can even get as drunk as
began so hopefully it will soon disappear.
they want down here, no one really cares,
Beach drivers beware – Tire Puncture
they just cannot do it and drive.”
Alert - Those hardhead skeletons with
The PINS beach is and has always
protruding fin spines are going to be
been about families. I just cannot imagine
stacked up high on the beach all winter
583 tournament contestants and their
and make driving near the dunes virtually
families camped on the beach and folks
impossible except in the Big Shell area.
driving around drunk in the middle of
On September 26, the first
them at night. Think about it; scary ain’t
Cleanshores Cleanup event took place
it? May each of you have a happy holiday
in Port O’Connor with 1,820 pounds of
season filled with kindness.
trash removed from local shorelines. This event was organized and coordinated
White with much black in wing and with dark-colored, naked head. Long, thick, decurved bill. Found in marshes, lagoons, estuaries and bays. Present in Texas July-Sept. during post breeding disbursal. Nearest known breeding colony is in Campeche, Mexico and most of this species seen in Texas are from Mexico.
Length: 40 inches Wingspan: 61 inches Weight: 5.3 pounds
If we don’t leave any there won’t be any. Capt. Billy L. Sandifer
by Capt. Curtiss Cash – Low Tide guide Service. For more info contact Curtiss event is scheduled for March 27, 2010. Sharkathon 2009 was an awesome event and the sharp-minded and hardworking organizers of this event set the standard for tournaments.
Capt. Billy Sandifer
Contact
at 361-564-7032. The next Cleanshores
They also filed for a Guinness World Record for the largest land-based Catch and Release tournament with a total of 583 contestants. My ol’ pal, Big Lou McEachern e-mailed recently to let me know he won the long distance casting competition at SportCast USA held October 3-4 in North Carolina. Lou’s winning cast measured 774 feet. Wow! I recently spent a couple of nights camped down the beach and one
Billy Sandifer operates Padre Island Safaris offering surf fishing for sharks to specks and nature tours of the Padre Island National Seashore. Billy also offers bay and near-shore fishing adventures in his 25 foot Panga for many big game and gamefish species. Telephone
Photo by Jimmy Jackson
361-937-8446 Website www.billysandifer.com
night I noticed the flashing lights of the Just Keep Five
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
19
20
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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Blue Water Hunter Hunt Series! Tuna Hunter Available in Seventeen Colors. The number 1 topwater tuna lure in America. Featuring Japanese Cypresswood construction, through wire harness, 250 # triple-wrapped stainless split rings and forged cone cut VMC 6X strong hooks. The Tuna Hunter is equipped to land big fish! WD -013 8”, 5 oz.
Tuna Hunter Sr. Available in Four Colors
Tuna Hunter Jr. AAvailable Av Avai vail aila lable labl ble in in Fourteen FFou ourtee ourt rttee eenn CColors olor ol olor ors The father to the Tuna Hunter Jr. it has all the great features of the other Tuna Hunter lures. WD-003 7 1/16, 3 1/2 oz.
Same great features as the Tuna Hunter, only in a smaller version. WD-003A 5”, 2 oz.
Wahoo Hunter Available in Five Sizes & Seven Colors.
?hk =^Ze^k Bgjnbkb^l \hgmZ\m ?khgmb^k LZe^l FZkd^mbg`3 =^ggbl <eZkd% 202&11.&-11*% hk ^fZbe ]^ggbl&_khgmb^k9l[\`eh[Ze'g^m
Built with Japanese Cypresswood to stand up to those toothy, big game fish. WD-006 5 1/2”, 3 1/4 oz, WD-007 7 1/16 “, 7 1/2 oz. WD-008 8 1/4”, 8 1/2 oz. WD-009 10 1/4”, 15 1/4”, WD-010 12 1/2”, 36 1/8 oz.
Tel : 409-938-7400 Just Keep Five
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l
Fax : 409-938-7401 l WWW.STRIKEPROLURES.COM l strikeproamerica@yahoo.com Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
21
You Can Have the Mud and Muck!
Devil tails sliding behind them was just a
cast his soft plastic bait and almost
landed in the slick-calm and shot a set of
booster to my no muck wading philosophy.
immediately hooked up with what at first
growing rings. I let the lure sit still for a
One member of our party attempted to
I thought to be another redfish. It turned
few seconds then gave it a slight twitch
slip out of the boat to make a wide circle to
out to be a twenty eight inch trout that
with my rod. They say that the worst
the school but quickly changed his mind
had made its way into the area where
thing an angler can do is anticipate the
after sinking to his waste in the quagmire.
the reds had just disappeared.
strike, especially when fishing a topwater
It would take some clean water
lure, but the telltale wake that was
and sandy bottom for him to
bulging toward the She Pup was pretty
wash the mud off of his clothes
hard to ignore. There was no blow up and
and wading boots.
The Mirrolure made a splash when it
there was no explosion. When the fish
Our momentum pushed us
hit the lure it just vanished in a swirl of
closer to the school of fish after
green water in the classic toilet flush and
I killed the engine; enough to
the fish hooked itself. I gave the big red a
put us in casting range of the
good jerk just to ensure the hooks were
fish that had begun to feed back
set well, and the fight was on.
toward us. I had moved to the
There was no wind this morning and
stern of the boat to fight the
while running across the shallow spoils we
fish that I had on and my two
saw the bait being molested as I closed
partners for the day were fishing
the throttle to further assess the situation.
mid-ship and on the bow. One
My first problem was that the bottom here
was throwing soft plastics and one was
I see people wade fishing the muddy
was muck and mud of the worst kind
fishing a She Dog. Both of them hooked
bottoms of our bays often and I hear a lot
and those who know me will attest to the
up on their first casts to the school of
these days of anglers getting nailed by
fact that I’m not mad enough at any fish
feeding fish.
stingrays when they lose their balance in
these days to fight that stuff. That and the
My red was twenty four inches long
the soft stuff and stepped wrong or when
fact that several stingrays were visible
and went into the cooler for some really
they had to step instead of sliding their
scooting around on the bottom with their
good grilling that evening and the other
feet. In the mud and the muck it’s often
two guys added
not possible to slide your feet and you
theirs to the ice as
must take steps as you struggle with the
well. As soon as it
terrible footing. Some say that you have
had started it was
to wade in the soft stuff to get to the big
over as the school
trout. I say bull.
sounded and
22
December 2009
The first thirty inch trout that I landed
continued with
was while drifting a small bay from my
their search for
boat and likewise the first thirty my son
breakfast. About
landed was while drifting a large expanse
the time we were
of shallow mud flats from a boat. That
going to crank
and my knowledge of others who have
up and head to
put large fish on the wall or caught,
our wading spot
photographed and released them while
of the day, one
drifting pretty much refutes the old tale
of my friends
that large trout can’t be caught while
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drifting. Fish are where you find them and if they’re hungry and you are offering what they want, the chances are you’ll catch them no matter if you’re struggling through soft bottom, wading on hard sand, or casting from the deck of a drifting boat. Oh some will disagree and they’ll say that the chances of catching a true trophy trout are better if you’ll get into the mud
strong warriors of the bays and I hope that
that is warmer in the winter than the sand
for your efforts you’ll catch the trout of a
or shell bottom and maybe they’re right.
lifetime and that your luck is better than
But sinking into muck that goes over my
mine. In all the years I fought the soft stuff
knees pretty much settles the debate for
I never landed a trout longer than twenty
me and really when you think about it, it
nine inches. Did I mention that my first
negates the reason you wear your stingray
thirty incher was caught while drifting?
boots. In mud that goes more than half-
My grandfather had a favorite saying
way up your boots you’re now presenting
and now that I think about it I do believe
your bare upper leg as a target for rays
he was trying to tell me something. “Too
that you might run into since your boots
soon we get old; too late we get smart.”
can’t protect there. And no, you don’t have
Hope to see you on the water. I’ll be
to step right in the middle of a ray to make
the guy wading on the good bottom or
it use its tail. You can push into one and in
drifting across the muddy flats in the
some cases they’ll take defensive action.
comfort of a boat. I’ve not only gotten
I’ve watched guys in the soft stuff struggling to keep their balance and in my
fatter over the years, I’ve gotten smarter. I hope you all have a very Merry
younger days I was one of them. Many
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
times I’ve lost shoes in the mud and had
Lord knows that we have much to be
to carefully make my way back to the boat
thankful for.
so as not to cut my foot on anything sharp.
Be safe,
We waded in tennis shoes back then with
Martin
no thought of stingray protection. We so deep we would go to our necks in the back bayous of Matagorda Bay’s south shoreline and many times I’ve had to crawl out of an extremely muddy area and was just lucky that I never got hit in the
Martin Strarup
Contact
worried more about slipping off into mud
upper body by a ray. I fished a tournament a few weeks ago and noted that the heaviest trout weighed in was caught by Captain Wayne Stark’s crew. While talking with the good captain about the fish he told me that the trout his clients had caught that morning were larger than the reds they caught and they were all caught while drifting. Imagine that. So keep to the soft stuff you young and Just Keep Five
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
23
Cold Weather Fishing can get HOT in an Instant Each year I get the opportunity to meet
shell are prime places to start the hunt
out. Tides, temps, and water conditions
fishermen from all over the state, many
for a big fish. Any decent concentration of
are extremely important factors to be
of whom have dreams just like all of us
shell will be a gathering place for baitfish
considered as each plays a big role in
about catching a huge fish. Seasoned
and a will also qualify as a good piece of
successful winter fishing. One thing that
saltwater veterans know this time of
fish-holding structure. Small patches of
I’ve found while looking back on some
the year is not for the faint of heart and
shell on or near shallow flats will not only
successful days was the presence of
certainly not for the folks looking for
hold bait, they will also hold heat. Much
moving water, incoming or outgoing tides
instant gratification. Temperatures and
like bass in the springtime, speckled
were always helpful in catching fish while
foul weather make winter fishing as much
trout will be more active in warmer and
slack water conditions made it tough. It
of waiting game as anything, waiting on
shallower water. During the fall and
seems that if you concentrate your effort
tides and feeding periods to align so the
winter months big trout become sluggish
on days when the time between the tide
Being in the right spot with the right bait at the right time can produce a career day.
and less aggressive
changes is short, the fishing on average
than normal until it
is better, especially when the tide change
comes time to eat. Big
from outgoing to incoming. Put all these
trout will move up on
factors together with the presence of
shallow flats or shell
mullet or shad and you had yourself a
reefs and seek out a
great shot at some super fishing.
“full meal deal” and
One huge word of caution to all anglers
then retreat into deeper
of all skill levels - Be extremely careful
water until it comes
during the winter months - the cold
time to feed again.
water and air temperatures can make
Fishermen who can
for dangerous conditions. The threat of
pattern movements like
hypothermia is real and if you are not
these major feeding periods show can begin. Many fishermen new to
can really cash in on some
the sport have heard the stories about
extraordinary fishing and this
how fantastic the big trout fishing can
is where patience plays a huge
be in the dead of winter but few of them
part in the program.
actually know how to go about making it
Winter fishing for big trout is
happen. For those of you wanting to get
a game of stamina, endurance
in on the cold weather action here are a
and patience. By logging
couple of things to consider.
many unfulfilling hours casting
If you are in the mood to do some
big topwaters or sub-surface
fishing this winter season for perhaps
mullet imitations, an angler
that fish of a lifetime, you definitely need
can begin to form a pattern.
a double helping of patience. It is no
For example, if you fish in
secret that the lion’s share of big trout are
morning for a couple of days
caught by wade fishermen, this is a given
straight and have little or no
in the big fish equation. The unknowns
success and then change
for most anglers are where to be fishing
to the afternoon where you
and when do they need to be there. On
enjoy terrific fishing you have
Sabine lake we have some areas that
found a pattern. On good
are really conducive to holding big fish;
fishing days it is wise to check
they all have shell in common. Areas of
out all the conditions and try
the lake that have either clam or oyster
to duplicate them next time
24
December 2009
Cold weather fishing means being dressed for the occasion.
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chasing trophy fish is a tough grueling exercise that has captivated many really good fishermen from all over the state. Any and all destinations along the Texas gulf coast will have their share of hardcore anglers out there chasing after the big one this month and Sabine will be no different. Hopefully the big fish taken during this month will be respected enough to be released to fight another day, only time will tell. Until the weather and the months change, the winter fishing program will be the best bet in town, try it out and see what the fuss is all about. Redfish can keep a winter angler warm while they wait for the next big trout to show up.
I promise you this, if you are at the right spot when it all comes together you just may have one of those
careful it can be life threatening. I have a
career days that helps you forget all
very good friend who narrowly escaped
about the cold and makes a memory that
such a fate when his boat swamped in
will last a lifetime.
high seas, he was lucky enough after being in the water for over an hour that and pulled him out. Had he been in the water much longer he would have been in serious trouble and the experience could have been fatal. The number one rule during any trip on the water is
Chuck Uzzle
Contact
another fisherman happened to see him
the use of a personal flotation device, don’t get in a boat without one. Also be sure you tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, this helps out considerably when the cavalry needs to be summoned for whatever reason. A little bit of preparation mixed with common sense will go a long way towards keeping you safe and getting you home. Winter fishing is by no means easy or predictable, but the rewards are well worth the effort. This trend toward Just Keep Five
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
25
Science and the Sea
TM
Finding Safety Upstream Bull sharks are unique among sharks in their ability to live in freshwater habitats for long periods of time. However, dealing with changes in salinity is very taxing on their bodies, prompting scientists to wonder why these sharks venture into fresh water in the first place. One hypothesis is that freshwater environments are better for the survival of young bull sharks. Female bull sharks are known to enter rivers or estuaries to give birth to their pups, which grow in these low-salinity waters for 2-5 years. These juvenile bull sharks might stay in these waters because of the rich food supply available there - or they might do it to avoid predators. One researcher has tagged juvenile bull sharks in the Shark River Estuary of the Florida Coastal Everglades to track the sharks’ movements through habitats of differing salinity. So far, the young sharks seem to be spending most of their time in upstream areas, where the salinity of the water varies widely with the seasons. This variability forces the sharks to constantly adjust the balance of salt inside their bodies. Why spend so much time in such a physiologically demanding habitat? Juvenile bull sharks may give up the more forgiving conditions of coastal waters, where salinity is more constant, because those habitats harbor greater numbers of adult bull and lemon sharks that might prey on the youngsters. If this is true, the juvenile bull sharks’ ability to cope with changes in salinity help them avoid ending up as another shark’s meal.
The University of Texas
Marine Science Institute www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute 26
December 2009
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Ask the Pro
J AY WAT K I N S
In the last issue of
November is a month when smaller
condition changes. Many times the
the Texas Saltwater
baitďŹ sh begin to migrate to deeper
bottom will go from hard packed sand to
Magazine my article
quadrants of the bay as well as the
a much softer bottom texture.
was based on targeting
Gulf via the shoreline drop-offs. Come
drains or sloughs that
December, many of the back lakes and
then move back ten yardsâ&#x20AC;?, if I have said
feed our backwater
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walk out until you hit soft bottom and
sloughs have drained several times
this one time I have said it a million. Still
lakes. For those that frequent the middle
and tides are starting to remain at lower
someone always ends up neck deep with
Texas coast you know that even though
levels. Three factors draw predatory ďŹ sh
those following the instructions wading
we have had several good frontal
to the outside drop-offs along our area
along this line catching ďŹ sh. No way is
passages; none have really dropped
shorelines - lower water temperatures,
this ever a straight line, the line varies
our water temperatures enough to get
an absence of baitďŹ sh and a lack of
much as does the shoreline it follows. You
the slough thing going. No biggie, it will
water. These three factors aid in placing
simply must be able to move in and out
happen and when it does you know what
both baitďŹ sh and gameďŹ sh along distinct
with the line. I agree that having the years
to do. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just assume that the slough
lines of most all of our barrier islands. I
of experience behind me allows me to
gig has happened so we can move on
know I have touched on this many times
into our next winter pattern. To become a
have a better feel for this than many but before but your ability to distinguish Trout like this
complete angler one needs to be pattern
this line is absolutely the most
oriented. Recognition of the changes in
critical aspect of ďŹ shing. For the
patterns is something that often changes
life of me I cannot understand
from year to year due to weather related
why many make this so hard. Not
issues so we need to be prepared to
only are there distinct water color
adjust as quickly as possible. No doubt
changes due to bottom structure
the drought of 2009 will continue to affect
but there are also noticeable water
our ďŹ shery for many months to come.
depth changes as well as bottom
are often found on drop-offs, grasslines, and other changes in bottom structure.
*1) .&"%) , *%&- * ( * %$ /%+1( "%%! $ %( "%%! $% #%( +( *%&- * ( %$! %$!1) / * $ *+($ $ 1( "%%! ! $ %( %( " % ( "%% "%%! $ "%%! ! $% # ! $% % #%( +( +( +( ( **%& *%&- * - * ( * ( ( %$! %$! %$! %$ %$!1 % %$ ! ) / !1) / / * * * $ - (%&& $ * %$ ) (( ) )* " *% 2) ) $ (%# * $) %+* - * ,/ +*/ ) "*- * ( ( ( - ( $ %#&%$ $*) $ % ( $ * ( (%# * $) %+* - * ,/ +*/ ) "*- * ( ( ( - ( $ % ) 0 ) $ $ 2 * $ %"%() $ *-% & * ) , ( * %$ ( '+ $ / +( & * & , () %$ ) & ( * %( - $ / /) $ )* $ - * ( %$ * %$) - " * "%- & * & , () %$ ) +)* - * /%+ $ %$ * %) "# /) $ " ( - * ( %# * # ) * 2) +)* - $* )%# * $ " **" ( $* )% %$1* * # # . * $ ) +& % # ** ( - & * & %( & /%+ %%) * & $ ! &( / , ( * %$ - "" &(% + .&"%) , *%&- * ( * %$ * " ! ) /%+1, $ , ( ) $
W W W. B O M B E R S A LT WAT E R G R A D E . C O M
28
December 2009
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A S K T H E PRO
Note deeper grasslines, this is often the structure on which fish will stage.
Your ability to see these areas is a critical part of your day. I like to mark the areas along the shoreline drop-off on my GPS where I have located the best bottom structure and the most abundant bait source. This allows me the comfort of stopping a reasonable
it is not impossible to learn if you’ll simply
distance from my intended wade
pay attention. You know when fishing is
and scoping the area as we prepare for
great and the bites are coming in rapid
our wade. Once fish are located there
succession all of us tend to get a bit lazy.
is absolutely no reason for running a
We overlook the little things that are truly
shoreline. Understand that the pattern
defining the pattern. Lazy ain’t workin’
has the fish positioned along the same
right, now I can promise you that.
line all up and down the shoreline so there
In the long run, lazy tactics will cost one more often than not. 2009 has so far proven to be the year when knowing
should be little if any reason for continuing to run where we need to be fishing. I will be looking to throw suspending
the pattern and being able to execute
types of lures such as the Mirrolure
the needs of that pattern have proven
Catch 5, Mirrodine XL and Paul Brown’s
to be the best tactics for catching fish,
Corky. Corky was recently bought by
especially trout. I will go on record and
Mirrolure. Paul is, has been, and always
say that it has been the toughest trout
will be a saltwater original, Mirrolure
season for me in my thirty years of
will take his name and design to the
guiding excluding the killer freeze of 1983.
next level and this should be good for
That is a strong statement but I have
everyone. Well, everyone but the trout!
my numbers to prove it. I attribute our
The stress the drought has put on
success, when we were successful, to
the bays this year has caused me to
knowing the pattern that fit the conditions.
believe that we, intelligent anglers that
With some much needed rainfall and
we are, should consider keeping only
a slight sweetening of the bays I am
a few fish for that fresh fish dinner we
hoping December will bring a marked
all enjoy. I know that my clientele have
turn around. The drop-offs appear to be
been great about this the past few
holding ample seagrass structure so the
years and it has sure made my days
ambush points are in place if the fish
on the water much more enjoyable.
will show. Bait is abundant for sure so hopes are high that when Mother Nature
May your fishing always be catching. - Guide Jay Watkins
says it time to strap on the feed bag the themselves. I am a believer that the best numbers of big fish spend most of the warmer months out deep no matter what we see up shallow. The three factors mentioned in this article are the triggering mechanisms that draw them to the dropoffs where we get more shots at them.
CONTACT
trout and redfish will pull up and show
As always, we need to concentrate our efforts in areas that contain the most structure, best concentration of bait, and the most distinct drop-off. Not all of the shoreline drop-offs are created equal. Just Keep Five
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
29
F LY F I S H I N G DE PA R T M E N T
CASEY SM A RTT
Time to Go Recently while making
be concerned about. We pounded
should keep their eyes on the sky
the long drive from
our way through the waves stacking
and make conservative judgments
Port O’Connor my
up in Mitchell’s Cut and from there
when evaluating encroaching storms,
mind began to wander
things just got rougher. After another
strengthening winds, or significant
as it often does when
20 minutes of bashing, banging, and
changes in the weather.
h there are many miles of road ahead.
wave-eating we pulled into the ICW
I got a hard lesson in weather
The day before, I had been fishing
and the safety of the marina. To say
watching about twenty years ago on
with a friend who is an experienced
I was happy to put my feet on dry
Choke Canyon reservoir. We had
angler. We had spent the morning
land was an understatement. I was
been camping and fishing for several
poling the flats searching for redfish
fortunate my fishing partner was an
days on a small island on the north
while keeping a careful eye on
experienced operator who handled
side of the lake. The weather was
the skies to our north. A powerful
himself and his boat very well in the
hot and windy, just like it always is in
cold front was predicted to move in
rough conditions. Things could have
the summer in South Texas. On the
around noon, packing heavy rains
turned out much worse. The weather
morning of our last day we noticed
and high winds. On cue late that
stations later reported sustained winds
storm clouds forming to the south
morning the skies began to darken.
of 50 mph with gusts much higher.
of the lake. Over several hours,
We straightened the boat, strapped
Having endured them, I believe it. It
the storm organized, intensified,
on our life jackets and headed for
was a cold dose of Mother Nature
and began to move in our direction.
town with full intentions of beating
right in the face.
We decided it was time to get the
the approaching system.
I thought about that storm as I
heck out of Dodge. We fired up our
Several minutes into the trip a
careened down the asphalt and was
rattling outboard motor and headed
wall of cold wind traveling well ahead
reminded yet again of how important
out across the open water toward
of the clouds blasted us. Funny
preparation and caution are on the
the boat ramp two miles away.
thing was it actually felt good after
water. Gambling with the weather or
Halfway across the storm swooped
a sultry morning on the water. But
overestimating the seaworthiness of
down on us with a vengeance and
by the time we made it through
your vessel and your ability to operate
we found ourselves in the middle of
Saluria Bayou and into Mitchell’s Cut
it is a dangerous game and can turn a
what looked like a Hollywood movie
the wind had whipped up an ugly
routine trip on even a modest body of
set, complete with lightening, hail,
chop… real ugly. The wall of wind
water into a nightmare.
brutal wind and crushing waves. I’ll
that cooled us off moments earlier
Next to wearing a life jacket,
had now strengthened to a roaring
we all are taught that one of the
columns of water coming over the
blast and it was clearly something to
fundamentals of safety on the water
bow and washing away our stuff as
is to pay attention to the
we tried to stay afloat in the middle of
weather. It’s just plain
Choke. Through the grace of God,
common sense. Unlike
we reached the other side and made
years past, weather
it to the boat ramp. We were battered
monitoring technology
and cold but in one piece and very,
abounds and real-time
very, lucky to have lost only our
radar and weather
gear. Never in a million years would
reports are now available
I have guessed that lake could have
every day at any time
gotten that rough, but it did. And it
of the day. There is no
happened in a hurry. If we would
excuse for hitting the
have exercised better judgment, we
water without knowing
would have been safe and sound
what conditions to
long before the storm hit.
expect throughout the
30
December 2009
never forget the sight of thick laminar
Another lesson I learned is what
course of an outing. At
can happen when you play chicken
a bare minimum, anglers
with something as routine as the
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the bulb popped as soon as I flipped
better decisions on the water. We owe
the cattle pens in Port O’Connor on a
the switch on. Darkness engulfed us as
it to ourselves, our families, our friends,
beautiful fall evening a few years ago.
we drifted with no power and no lights
and other boaters. Please remember
The fish were biting so we stretched
somewhere between the Little Jetties
to watch the weather, check your
the trip out as long as we could. As
and Pass Cavallo. My mind raced and
equipment ahead of time, and know
the last sliver of sun dropped behind
I tried not to think about the frightening
when it’s time to go. These things add
the horizon, we fired up the boat and
possibility of being plowed by another
up to good common sense and could
headed for town, assuming we still had
boat or sucked through the pass.
very well save your life.
After thirty minutes of fiddling
across the open water run to the Little
unsuccessfully with the running lights
Jetties the motor stalled and we came to
I reached up and hit the boat’s ignition
a sluggish stop. I tried repeatedly to fire
switch, expecting no response. To my
up the motor but it was unresponsive.
astonishment the motor fired up. To
With fading skies overhead I reached
this day I still don’t know why it stalled,
down and flipped on the running lights.
or for that matter why it restarted. We
They didn’t come on. I jiggled the wires,
managed to get our bearings straight
checked the fuses, and cleaned off the
and made a harrowing journey back to
connections. Still no lights. So, I pulled
town in total darkness. I don’t ever want
a Q-Beam from under the front deck
to re-live that night.
and managed to get it hooked up. To my horror,
O VIDE
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CONTACT
thirty minutes or so of visibility. Halfway
Casey Smartt has been fly fishing and tying flies for 30 years. When he cannot make it to the coast he is happy chasing fish on Texas inland lakes and rivers.
F LY F I S H I NG DE PA R T M E N T
setting sun. We were fishing near
Each of us has a responsibility to learn from our experiences and make
Check out Casey’s Fly Fishing Video Library at www.TSFMag.com
www.TSFMAG.com
Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
31
OF F S HOR E
BLU E WAT ER JOU R N A L
Holiday Season Check List waxed to keep it from pitting. Block
enjoyed fantastic bluewater fishing off
heaters, glow rods and de-humidifiers
our coast, make the commitment to
can help keep electronics, engines
step up to twin diesels and the comfort
and other compartments on your
of overnight trips in the Western Gulf
many people will be glad to see it
boat, dry and mildew free. Outboard
of Mexico. If you’re considering selling
go. Fishing-wise it was a good year,
and inboard engines alike should be
your boat and sizing up, there’s a
but economically speaking it was
started and brought up to operating
large variety of entry level outboard
challenging for many. Hopefully, the
temperature on a regular basis.
and twin diesel sportfishing boats on
upturn in the economy will continue
Make sure battery switches are off
the market.
and everything will start resembling
on non-essential systems to prevent
what we would call normal.
your batteries from being drained
time to look for new products and
B OBB Y B Y R D & C A P T. J PH N C O C H R A N E
Well, this year is almost over and
unnecessarily. A marine-grade battery
we know a lot of you will want to buy
maintenance, tackle repair, upgrading
charger is the best way to extend the
presents for your fishing friends and
electronics and installing new
life of your batteries and keep them
family. Here are some of the latest
equipment. Some of the things you
charged and ready to go. If you have
products we thought might interest
might want to think of are items like
a trailerable boat, don’t neglect your
you:
putting fuel stabilizer in your boat’s
trailer. Keep your bearings greased
Digital Radar - This may be sort
gas tank to prevent it from breaking
and repack them when necessary.
of a big ticket item, so you may have
down and causing engine problems.
Check your lights, license, pads,
to give it to yourself, but the new
It’s also a good idea to keep your fuel
running boards, winch, etc… We see a
digital radars from most of the big
tanks full to prevent condensation
lot of people just put their stuff up and
electronic manufacturers like Garmin,
from forming on the exposed metal
forget about it until spring. Take the
Furuno, RayMarine and Si-Tex are
due to the extreme temperature
time to service your equipment and it
incredible. They feature high definition
changes. Make sure any aluminum,
will last longer, cost less and take less
performance, sharper imagery and
chrome or stainless on the boat is
time to get ready when it is time to go
improved target separation for the
thoroughly cleaned, polished and
fishing. It will also benefit you when it
most precise radar display picture you
Now is a great time to do boat
comes time to sell it.
have ever seen. These units provide
This time of year
a clearer detailed image that picks up
boat owners and
smaller targets and most have target
sellers find it an
tracking and chart overlay capabilities.
ideal time to make
Combine a new digital radar with a
that move to a
multi-function display and you will
new or used larger
have the ultimate navigation system
boat, prior to the
on your vessel.
much anticipated
32
The Holiday season is also a great
December 2009
Underwater Lights – Now that the
fishing season. We
underwater light craze has leveled off,
experience a lot
one company stands out at the top.
of interested boat
Ocean LED has taken the underwater
owners moving up
light industry to another level with a
from the boat they
myriad of sizes, colors and designs
have had three years
for every size boat. LED technology
or longer to a newer
has become the industry standard
boat that fits their
featuring low power draw, low heat
needs. Many owners
generation and unparalleled life
running large center
expectancy. Underwater lights are
consoles, that have
great when night fishing for tuna and
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sportfishing boats and motor yachts.
like the
Come by and get a great deal on your
Bahamas,
next boat. For more information
Bermuda
check out our website at www.
and the
foxyachtsales.com or you can
Pacific.
contact John Cochrane at captjohn@
These
foxyachtsales.com.
OF F S HOR E
places
developed one of the swordfish and are becoming a standard
most popular teasers for big blue marlin
item on many new boats. Check them
on today’s tournament circuit. Some of
out at www.oceanled.com.
the top sportfishing boats in the world
Marlin Mudflaps – This “home
are using mudflaps with great success.
grown” teaser was originally created
For more information, go to www.
by Capt. Bobby Wells here in the Gulf
marlinmudflaps.com or contact Brian
of Mexico. While fishing on the Texas
Wimmer directly at 832-818-0695.
based Jammer with Capt. Bob Richter
You can also check out Marlin
and mate Brian Wimmer, Bobby’s
CONTACT
guys have
Mudflaps in Seabrook at the Fox Yacht
teaser underwent a series of design
Sales - Seabrook Office at Tops-N-
changes and was put to the test by the
Towers. At Fox we have an extensive
whole crew. The original teaser evolved
inventory of brokerage boats and
and several different designs created
we are the exclusive Texas dealer
from the crew’s experience fishing in
for CABO Yachts. We specialize in
Born in Galveston, Capt. John Cochrane has been a professional captain for over 25 years. He concentrates his fishing efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, promoting big game fishing and billfish research. A native Texan, Bobby Byrd has fished the Gulf of Mexico since he was eight. In 1995, Bobby combined his love of fishing and boating into a business when he opened Tops-N-Towers in Seabrook, Texas. Contact Fox Yacht Sales / Seabrook 281291-0656 Tops-N-Towers 281-474-4000 Capt. John Cochrane 409-739-4817 Websites www.byrd-cochrane.com www.topsntowers.com www.foxyachtsales.com
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
33
CONSERVAT ION PAG E CCA Volunteers Help Rebuild Goose Island Marsh Twenty seven CCA Texas volunteers from across
discussed why it was needed and how it was organized and
Texas recently spent a Saturday morning and afternoon
executed. Questions were asked and discussed and all
transplanting marsh grass at the Goose Island State
walked away with a greater appreciation of the marsh and
Park marsh restoration project. This project under the
its importance. The crew of volunteers and TPWD staff
coordination of Texas Parks Wildlife Department (TPWD)
then headed to the marsh for a solid day of work. Once the
is restoring 24 acres of saltwater marsh along the Lamar
crew arrived at the site, teams were divided up for planting
Peninsula shoreline line that has eroded since 1969.
grasses, previously prepared for transplant, and several
Volunteers traveled from as far away as Plano, Boerne, San
volunteers also began digging more plants for relocation.
Antonio and the Houston and Corpus Christi areas to take part in this volunteer day.
At the end of the day, the event was deemed a great success. Approximately 1,860 plugs of grass were transplanted, covering three islands in the eastern
Volunteers at work.
most marsh cell. These plants are the first of many more to be planted as conditions allow. In addition, the volunteer’s time and the relocation of plants provided for approximately $4,000 in grant matching credits for this restoration project. CCA Texas had
Doug Boyd gathering spartina plugs for transplant.
Kay Blaha, science teacher at Rockport-Fulton Middle School and student Cody Marr.
Park manager,
directly to the contract planting of remaining islands within
and Project
the marsh cells.
Coordinator Kay
34
December 2009
previously contributed $25,000 to this project that will go
Stormy Reeves
“The Goose Island team is grateful for the time and efforts
Jenkins started
of the volunteers,” commented Stormy Reeves, TPWD Park
the day with
Manager. “Not only is it an educational experience and
an overview of
an opportunity to give back to the resource, but the hours
the project and
spent and the number of plants transplanted help in the
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opportunity for volunteers to take an active hands-on role in the restoration process of Texas’ great coastal resources.” Get Involved National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) has recently made several decisions that have unfairly penalized recreational fishermen up and down the entire Gulf Coast. Recreational fishermen are needed now more than ever to stand up and demand proper and equitable fisheries management through out the entire Gulf and all US waters. CCA Texas (www.ccatexas.org) Headlines Planting seagrass is no easy task.
section and CCA National (www.joincca.org) Newsroom websites offer large amounts of information to help educate members and the
grant matching process that help secure necessary funds for
general public on critical marine fisheries issues. Be sure to take
restoration projects such as this one at Goose Island.”
the time to visit these sites and educate yourself and step up to
“CCA Texas and Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) are proud to be a part of this project,” commented HTFT Director
the call for action when needed. For more information about CCA Texas and HTFT, please
John Blaha. “Not only does HTFT provide funding opportunities
visit www.ccatexas.org or contact John Blaha directly at
for these types of projects, but they are also an excellent
800.626.4222.
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
35
F I E L D N O T E S
Maybe It’s Time We Try Something Different for Supper By Mark Lingo Lower Laguna Madre Ecosystem Leader Brownsville Field Station, Brownsville, Texas
Over the years I have tried foods that most folks would
about anything you put in front of them. However, catching
find down right disgusting, including opossum, nutria, lynx,
some big enough to use in my experiment proved a little
and dried salmon dipped in rancid seal oil, but I had never
harder. For each edible sized one I caught (I had set as
even thought about eating a hardhead catfish, Ariopsis
my goal at 14 inches since they are mostly head), I caught
felis. That all changed one day late last fall after I had a
dozens of smaller ones. By the way, the Texas state record
conversation with several winter Texans at a creel survey in
is 4.06 pounds and 23 inches. A word of caution, you must
Port Isabel. To a man they all swore that hardheads were as
be careful when handling hardheads because they have
good a tasting fish as any freshwater catfish variety. Since
three spines (two pectoral and one dorsal) that are barbed
I truly enjoy fried catfish, I decided that it was about time I
and covered in a toxic slime. Even a slight nick from one of
tried hardhead catfish too.
these spines can inflict a painful wound. If you do get stuck by a hardhead, the book Dive First Responder by Richard
Hardhead Catch Rates by Bay System 2.5
A. Clinchy says that you should immerse the injured site in as hot of water as you can tolerate for 30 minutes, then
2
clean the wound thoroughly and treat with an antibiotic. After I brought my fish home, it took only a couple of
1.5
minutes to clean each fish. For those of you that have never 1
skinned a freshwater catfish, I will describe the procedure with a modification I made for hard heads. First cut all three
0.5
the way around the fish just behind the dorsal spine, and
bi ne
reduce the chance for injury), next cut through the skin all
La ke G al ve st on B Ea ay st M at ag or M da at ag or da B ay A ra ns as B ay C or pu s C hr is Up ti pe rL ag un Lo a w er La gu na
barbs off with a pair of side cutting pliers (this will greatly 0
The first step in my culinary journey was to conduct a
of pliers (they make ones just for this job) and pull the skin off starting at the head. All that is left then is to cut off the
literature search on the edibility of hardheads. Hoese
head and tail and clean out the entrails. It’s just that easy.
and Moore’s book Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico states that
What you end up with is a cleaned fish that is about half
“although they are edible, it is generally considered to be
the length of the original fish. Of course if you want to, you
a pest by most fishermen and is rarely eaten.” Texas Parks
can fillet them like any other fish but I found that pan frying
& Wildlife Department’s web page (www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
them whole worked just fine and preserved more meat.
huntwild/wild/species) contained all kinds of information on
I prepared the
hardheads, including their life history, where and how to
catfish just the
catch them, and even the fact that the male carries the eggs
way I do most of
around in its mouth until they hatch. Concerning edibility,
the fish I eat; I
it said that “while the flesh is edible, it isn’t very tasty and
soaked them in
the fish is difficult to clean.” It wasn’t looking too promising
milk, rolled them
for the hardhead to be my next great culinary discovery.
in seasoned
However, the only real way to find out if they were edible
cornmeal and
was to catch a few and give them a try.
pan-fried them.
Catching them proved to be VERY easy. Hardheads are
36
then down the back to the tail, grasp the skin with a pair
For my first
widely distributed, and are found from Texas to Virginia.
hardhead fish
They are also scavengers meaning that they will eat just
fry I recruited
December 2009
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F I E L D NO T E S Given the ever increasing demands placed on the traditional some friends to take part in the taste test. None of them had
fish harvested in Texas’ bays for table fare (reds and trout),
ever tried hardhead catfish so this was a first for all of us. As
maybe its time we all try something different for supper.
a side note, it is hard to find friends when you tell them to
Note: there is a fish consumption advisory for all catfish
come over for a hardhead fish fry. Go figure. Anyway, my first
species in Galveston Bay and the surrounding bodies
tentative bite was rewarded by a taste that more than just
of water. Therefore you should check the Texas Parks &
edible, it was actually GOOD. Like the winter Texans had said,
Wildlife Department’s webpage (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
the hardheads were just as good as any freshwater catfish
publications/annual/fish/consumption_bans/) for further
I had ever had. My friends also enjoyed the meal and some
information before consuming your catch.
even asked for seconds. As a bonus, since the smaller bones stay attached to the vertebra it was very easy to remove the cooked flesh without getting any bones. So in conclusion, hardhead catfish are a good tasting, easy to clean, and widely distributed fish that everyone can enjoy.
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.
December 2009
37
K A Y A K F I S H I N G
C A P T. S C O T T N U L L
Late Shrimp Crop and Mudhole Reds
This is turning out to be a great fall season. As I’ve said many
water looked like a mirror as the sun started coloring the horizon.
times, one of the biggest advantages of fishing from a kayak is
Within moments I saw the first tail poke through the surface
getting into places a boater can’t go and it’s too muddy to wade.
followed by a scattering of tiny shrimp. Too cool. The kayak
My recent trips have proven this in crystal clear bronze beauty.
allowed me to take full advantage of the situation and easily pick
I’m no shrimpologist, but locating shrimp in the marsh is key to locating shallow water reds. While redfish are not generally too particular when it comes time to eat, they’ll absolutely lose their
off reds that had no idea I was there. It was simply a wonderful day to be on the water. Yesterday I ventured into one of my favorite Galveston area
minds when they discover schools of small shrimp. And over the
marshes. This place is a true mudhole where stepping out of the
last couple of weeks, I’ve been seeing more juvenile shrimp in the
kayak is a definite mistake. Do that and you’ll quickly empathize
marshes and back lakes than normal for this time of year.
with the mastodons that found themselves in the La Brea tar
Under normal circumstances these shrimp would be grown
pits. Again, it was the day following a norther and the tides were
and ready to migrate with the falling tides following the first few
falling. I love fishing those conditions in the marsh as it tends to
northers. This past summer was anything but normal along the
concentrate the fish and bait into smaller areas and exposes their
Texas coast. Shrimp larvae thrive in brackish water and with
movements. It didn’t take long to realize that the baby shrimp I
the extreme drought throughout this past spring and summer I
had found in POC were present in Galveston as well. Every time
think the salinity levels in most places were too high to produce a
my paddle dipped into the mud there was a shower of redfish
solid crop. Recent rains have changed all of that and they have
candy. At that point the water was still high enough for the reds to
apparently responded with a late bumper crop. I’m not sure what all this means for the ultimate survivability of these late bloomers, but for the time being it is a boon for the redfish and the kayakers who pursue them. Last week in Port O’Connor I ventured to one of my favorite areas. It was the day after a front and the tide had fallen leaving acres of grass and mud flat with only a few inches of water covering it. No way a boat could access it and a wader would have to be desperate or super-human to even attempt it. And even if a wader could somehow make his way onto the flat he’d make so much noise it would defeat the purpose. With the kayak I was able to quietly enter the area and scope it out. The wind that morning was non-existent and the 38
December 2009
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K AYA K F I S H I NG
be in the marsh lakes so I paddled to one
shallows as the temperatures fall, but the
of the larger ponds and started watching.
reds can and will tolerate much cooler
Minutes later I saw a big wake along the
temps than folks realize. It is the baitfish
shoreline that ended it a frothing crash.
and shrimp leaving that cause the reds to
The reds were there and it was only a
move deeper. As long as the groceries
matter of putting a light-colored paddletail
are present, they’ll stay. Given the size
Assassin in front of them and imitate a
of the shrimp in the marsh at present, I
fleeing shrimp.
fully expect these patterns to continue
As the day wore on the tide fell further
deep into late fall and early winter as they
and everything moved to the drains,
mature. On the colder days you can go
including me. Fishing the ditches and
to the softer mud where the shrimp will
bayous when the lakes go dry is perhaps
bury to stay warm and find the reds there
one of the most exciting ways to catch
trying to root them out. A well-placed lure
marsh reds. The singles and pods that
becomes easy prey and will tempt most
were earlier cruising the ponds tend to
every red you come across.
team up and feed in aggressive packs that
Hopefully we’ll have a mild enough
are hard to miss. Often times in a winding
season to allow this late crop to complete
bayou you’ll hear them coming before you
their lifecycle. But until they migrate or
can see them. These fish aren’t shy and
succumb to the falling temperatures, I’ll be
will jump all over a lure that lands in their
pushing my kayak deep into the mudholes
path. Under these conditions I like to push
to take advantage of an unusual year.
furthest back lakes funnel into fairly narrow and shallow drains. Again, the only possible access to many of these spots is via kayak. Yesterday was a classic example of this plan coming together and resulted in a lot of splashing, crashing mud-filled battles.
CONTACT
the kayak deep into the marsh where the
Many times anglers will abandon the
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
39
C A P T. S C O T T S OM M E R L AT T E
AC C OR DI N G T O S C O T T
I do not know how you all feel about it, but I honestly believe
Pro 1 rods in 7-weight and 11-weight with matching Ross
in that little lesson from the Bible – “It is more blessed to
Momentum reels. I have to tell you Santa, if you haven’t
give than to receive.” I am not sure why, but over the last
had the chance to cast either of these rods you need to get
couple of years I have really reveled in the joy that I have
down to the fly shop and try them out. I personally think
gotten when someone opened a gift or present that I took
that they are some of the best casting rods I have ever
the time to pick out for them. However, this year I am going
thrown and, because they are the one-piece version of the
to be a little selfish and I am going to write Santa Claus a
Crosscurrent line, they are exceptional fish fighting tools. As
letter requesting a few items for myself. After all, he who
for the Ross Momentums, they came out with the new LT
dies with the most toys- wins. . . . Right? Anyway, I thought I
version and just like all of Ross’s products over the years,
would share the letter with you all in order to either help you
they are bulletproof and a great value compared to so many
write your own this year.
other fly reels on the market.
Dear Santa,
2)
My next request is along the same line as above.
I could really stand to have a couple of new spinning reels. I know it has been a while since I have written you but it is
I don’t do the light tackle thing too often so you really don’t
only because that I have been blessed in that I pretty much
need to go overboard here. I think a pair of Shimano Sahara
have all in this world that I want or need. This year, however,
reels in the 2500 size would do me up nicely. They perform
I find myself wanting a few things so. . . I have decided to
great and are half the price of what I am currently using.
write you this little letter telling you not only what I want, but
And, since I am saving you a little money here, would you
why I want it in hopes that for all the years I didn’t ask for
mind throwing in a couple of matching Waterloo HP Lite
anything, you might hook me up with some good stuff.
spinning rods. Just give Jimmy a call over at the shop, he knows what I like and can hook you up.
1)
I have had a little run of bad luck as of late
regarding fly rods and reels. So. . . the first thing that I am going to ask for is a pair of the new GLoomis Crosscurrent
40
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
3)
Next, I am really digging Oakley’s line of polarized
glasses. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to like them but
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being built and saw the first running hull last time I was
to say- Wow! They are so light you don’t even know that
over there. They finally got it finished and the performance
you have them on and they are so clear that they definitely
numbers are impressive to say the least. It seems to me
reduce eye fatigue. If you haven’t tried them, you should. I
to be almost perfect for running the beachfront. What do
bet they would do wonders for knocking all that glare off the
think? I am willing to beg if necessary.
snow that you have to put with up there at the North Pole. Also, they look pretty cool!
As you can see, Santa, my list isn’t that long this year. If you could hook me up this time I won’t bother you again for
4)
Well before I ask for the last thing, I will give you
another 30 years or so.
–Scott
an alternate in case the last one is a little over the top. I have really been getting into this whole paddling thing.
Wishing you all the best of tides, a Merry Christmas, and
Canoes, kayaks and the whole nine yards. Anyway, I was
stuff like that!
ACCOR DI NG TO SCOT T
I have been trying a pair out that a friend lent me and I have
at one of the shops earlier this year and saw the Native would not believe it! I already have an Ultimate 14.5 but it’s so heavy compared to this one. So, if you don’t think the next item is reasonable, feel free to fall back on this one. I won’t hold it against you. 5)
Alright Santa, here comes the biggie! I am
sure you know that I have been wanting a bigger boat
CONTACT
Watercraft Ultimate 12 Tegris. This thing was so light you Capt. Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer. Telephone 979-415-4379 Email vssommerlatte@hotmail.com Website www.scottsommerlatte.com
for chasing tarpon. Well the folks over at Hell’s Bay just released a new boat called the Neptune. I saw the plug
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
41
YOU T H F I S H I N G
TEX AS SALTWATER
The Spirit of Giving Back A A RON C I S N E RO S
By the time this issue goes out I will have completed my
proper place. There is no place for trash in our waters, and
High School football career. In a way it saddens me, but I
it doesn’t take much effort to store it while you’re out on the
will now have lots of spare time to pursue my first passion,
water and place it in the trash containers when you get back
fishing. The Christmas holidays marked colorfully with
to the dock.
decorations, lots of family time, and the spirit of giving and
The spirit of giving back to our prized resource doesn’t
receiving. A major reason in the writing of this story came
stop there. There are countless ways of giving back,
about as I recently waded along a sand flat and happened
like sharing your experiences with those that are not as
to run across an old baseball cap on the sand bottom. I
fortunate to see what we see. Take that unfortunate person
picked it up and noticed it had been there for sometime. It
and give them something to remember. Now that I have
had small shells and algae growing on it. I thought to myself,
some spare time I plan on inviting my grandfather for a day
“Why would someone want to trash the pristine waters of
of fishing, which I know he would truly enjoy. I also look
the Laguna Madre.” I picked up the cap, put it on my stringer
forward in taking out some of my cousins and friends that
and later dumped it in the trash. Throughout that day it
have been asking me to take them out. Let us give and
seemed that I became more aware of the empty aluminum
share with what we have been blessed with and not for one
cans lying on the bay bottom. Even the ICW spoils littered
moment think that it’s only for us to enjoy. Look around you.
with foam packages and other trash materials immediately caught my eyes. Never before as on this day had I been so aware of these unnatural, unattractive manmade materials. Picking up a few more items of trash from the bay floor that day gave me a good feeling on the inside, but I knew it wasn’t enough. Here we have such a valuable but fragile resource in our own back yard, yet sometimes we don’t take care of it. We are always ready to receive from it, but are we as ready to give back in the same measure as we take. I’m sure everyone reading this article including myself can say that at some point we have witnessed someone allowing their trash to become part of the natural surroundings. The question is, “What are we doing about it?” “What should we be doing?” I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that it needs to start with us educating those that we have an influence on. It begins with correcting and explaining why we should take care of that which gives so freely and brings loads of enjoyment to those that participate in the waters available to us. I now know that I have been made more aware of this situation from my own experience, and I have decided that I want to do something about it not only in the waters I fish, but also give back to the waters I have never set foot on. There are numerous “trash offs” in our area beaches throughout the year, including the one that my uncle supervises. You can bet that I will be part of that group on their next event. Next time a piece of trash falls or blows into the water take the time to pick it up and discard it in its 42
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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Who is that one person you can give a little of your time and
undersize fish can not be saved, but the ones I’m talking about
bring a life time of memories? I have been very fortunate and
are the ones that can be saved. Let’s give them a chance by
glad that a few individuals took their time to show me what has
being a little more patient in removing the hook or hooks. If you
become my passion for the rest of my life, and I hope to do the
do, that fish will certainly have another chance in bringing a
same to those around me.
smile to another angler.
It’s a good thing that many anglers nowadays are practicing
As I mentioned above, there are countless ways we can all
catch and release. It’s a practice that seems to be catching on
give back! Each and every one of us plays a role in taking care
and well appreciated by all conservationists. The phrase “keep
of our own back yard that we all share whether it’s a beach
five” is alive and well. The attitude of keeping only what you’re
front, a favorite cove, open sea, or bay in general. Let’s develop
going to eat is being followed more and more. All the education
the spirit of giving back and not live with the mentality of always
and information of practicing catch and release is paying off,
taking away. Next time you see trash occupying your fishing
but let’s not stop there. How many times have we been guilty
area, pick it up. Let’s all do our part. Perhaps this Christmas
of mishandling an undersize fish, being in a hurry to catch the
you can give someone a mountain of memories by taking them
next legal fish we quickly and forcibly remove the hook from its
fishing for the first time. Catch the spirit of giving because the
mouth and sometimes injuring its vital organs? Another method
more you give, the more someone else can receive. Let’s all
or way we can give back is protecting not only the spawners,
make our back yard look safe and clean for all to enjoy. Have a
but the future spawners as well. There will be times where an
Merry Christmas!
Just Keep Five
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YOU T H F I S H I NG
THROUGH YOUTHFUL E Y E S
Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
43
E V E R Y M A N ’ S OF F S HOR E
Top Shot or Not - Part II RU BE N V I L L A R R E A L
More fish and
use SOLID or HOLLOW braided line.
splicing needle to achieve a nearly
t sizes i greater of fish are being
Solid braid has qualities that set it
seamless transition versus a bulky
caught through advancement
apart from its hollow counterpart,
connecting knot.
of material and manufacturing
most noticeable being smaller
technologies. More specifically,
diameter and lower price tag. Solid
(solid or hollow) to the spool arbor.
new technology allows braiding
braid is more abrasion resistant
Spectra line can be attached to the
extremely small fibers of gel spun
due to the coating it receives and it
spool arbor by various means - note
polyethylene into a consistent
is also stiffer. Stiffness is great for
that the slick coating on these lines
familiar with Spectra line under trade
jigging and bottom fishing but not
will allow the entire spool of line to
names such as Spiderwire, Sufix
so good for casting applications.
slip on the arbor unless preventive
Performance Braid, Jerry Brown,
Hollow braid offers advantages
measures are used. We can wind
Power Pro and Momoi Diamond
too, especially in the way it can be
on a single layer of mono and then
Braid and are thinking of giving it a
joined to monofilament. Mono can
the Spectra; we can apply a wrap of
try, the next question is whether to
be inserted into hollow braid via a
tape to the arbor for the Spectra to
Now it’s time to connect our braid
diameter fishing line that are at times no thicker than a strand of hair. Spectra line has literally changed the way reel manufactures design reels and the way we fish. The aspect of saving space on the reel arbor by as much as 75% has ushered in a new era of downsized reels for blue water fishing. Now that consumers are growing
bite on; or we can leave a long tag end on the arbor connection knot. I prefer to leave a long tag on the arbor knot and then wrapping the Spectra over it to maximize the reel’s line capacity. Next, as we fill the reel, we need to “pack” the Spectra tightly to prevent it digging into itself. When the working portion of the line digs into the lower layers it can 44
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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A drop of Pink Zap A Gap adhesive is applied at the point of insertion followed by a tight whip finish of 30lb Spectra covered with another drop of Zap A Gap to protect it. I prefer pink over green Zap A Gap as it is more readily absorbed into the whipping. A five foot piece of #5 Malin piano wire folded double and inserted into the hollow core of the braid expands the sidewalls making insertion of the mono easier. If you have chosen solid Spectra a good joining knot is required to connect the mono top shot. Many joining knots can be used here including Bimini twist to Bimini twist, Albright, Jose Pena, Sabile, figure eight, and my favorite, the
E V E R Y M A N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S OF F S HOR E
grabs the monofilament in the fashion of a Chinese handcuff.
Reverse Albright. Your every day Blood Knot or Uni to Uni need not apply as they are prone to failure under heavy drag settings combined with a long fight. I hope what I have presented in these articles lends itself become weakened or might even break.
to your fishing success. Just remember, not all reels are
So we have a good quantity of braid wound into the reel
suited to Spectra line and both solid and hollow braids have
and it is time to apply the top shot. If you have chosen
useful qualities. Braid must be installed properly to eliminate
hollow core Spectra you need a hollow splicing needle to
slipping on the spool arbor and you may need to learn some
take the monofilament up inside the hollow spectra about six
new joining knots. When these are mastered I think you will
feet where the needle is then pushed through the sidewall.
find Spectra line a great addition to your arsenal of fishing
The Spectra is smoothed and gently pulled tight so that it
tools. Merry Christmas and I hope to see you on the water.
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
45
T S F M AG A Z I N E S P O T L IG H T
TS F M AG A Z I N E S P O T L IG H T
Sail & Ski Center
Sail & Ski Center has been serving Central Texas since 1969
Trophy brand bay and offshore available at Sail & Ski offer great selection for more value conscious buyers seeking
in business is only achieved through willingness and ability to deliver goods and services that
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nineteen to twenty-four feet and offshore center console designs
from achievement of the basic goal described in their mission statement, “To set the standard of excellence
from seventeen to twenty-five feet hull length, anglers can choose from a wide range of standard and
in boat ownership by providing the highest quality products available
optional features to personally design the boat that best suits their
with the best trained people delivering sales and service so that you can enjoy the boating lifestyle.” Rod Malone, president of Sail & Ski, puts it more personally. “Sail & Ski has
fishing style. Investing in a new boat is not something fishermen should undertake without understanding whether the dealer can and will support the
thrived by catering to our customer’s needs. Your happiness is very important
investment with courteous and reliable service after the sale. Word-of-mouth is
to me. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with our organization, please contact me directly. Your feedback is the catalyst for improving our dealership.” For saltwater anglers, Sail & Ski offers Boston Whaler and Trophy fishing
a wonderful indicator, but is limited to only a few experiences. Manufacturers and trade associations measure dealers through owner experience and satisfaction before and after the sale all across the nation. The ratings dealers
Austin location Lakeway location
boats and is a full service dealer for Mercury outboards. Boston Whaler has achieved legendary status the world over for their “unsinkable” hull designs, exceptional seaworthiness, and outstanding resale value. Sail & San Antonio location Ski’s association with Whaler began in the early 80s with the Boston Whaler Harpoon sailboat line and continues today with full line Whaler offerings. Positioned strategically in San Antonio, Sail & Ski provides Whaler sales and service to fishermen from Port O’Connor 46
down to Brownsville.
and currently operates stores in Austin (US Hwy 183 North), Lakeway (Hwy 620 North), and San Antonio (IH-10 West.) Success
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
receive in these surveys reflect the degree of satisfaction each customer could expect to enjoy and are therefore of great value to the consumer. Sail & Ski is justifiably proud of the following service and performance awards they have earned. Sail & Ski was ranked 4th in the nation in NMMA’s Top 100 Dealer Awards in 2008. They also received the Mercury Marine President Award, MultiMercury CSI Award Winner, and the Boston Whaler Master Dealer Award.
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' (
)
! " # $ $ %!! &
' ( $ ' & & ' & ! & ' ) & ! $ ! & & ' ( ! & ' % $ ' * +, $ !
' ( * +* *, -./ 0 1 2
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$ 3 # $
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
47
‘Tis the season for...
New Tackle & Gear
Guideline Elite
Baymaster “Bravo”
The Legendary Russelure Is Back!
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New Kona Model
The new Kona from Guideline Elite is as good looking as it is functional. This stylish, rectangular frame is loaded with features to help the wearer feel comfortable even in the harshest light conditions. The Kona’s polarized G3 lightweight glass lenses protect from harmful UV rays and menacing glare. Additionally, Kona’s rugged TR90 frame material is durable and even adjustable to ensure all-day comfort.
New Hilo Model
The Baymaster “Bravo” offers as much to the sophisticated shallow water fisherman as it does to the occasional angler who also likes to entertain on relaxing cruises. While its 9” draft allows easy access to the favorite hiding places of coastal gamefish, it’s open deck accommodates six to nine comfortably with porta-potty, table, fishing tackle storage center, live well, and unbelievable amounts of storage. The Bimini top provides protection from the sun and is easily dropped and stored when it is not needed. Baymaster’s ingenius use of ice chests reduces weight and adds versatility to store food, drinks, fish, and dry storage that stays dry.
With its unusual wobble swimming action, which can be varied from an eccentric fast motion to a slower, smooth, natural movement the Russelure is irresistible to fish. Formed from aluminum with anodized colors, solid brass brackets riveted to the body and superior quality MUSTAD hooks attached with stainless steel rings, the Russelure is a virtually indestructible lure. For more information visit www. russelure.com 281-723-0721 or 832-688-9296
Contact ronhoover.com (800 545 8818) or baymaster.com ((956 361 7744) to learn more about this “one of a kind” boat.
The new Hilo from Guideline Elite offers big features in a compact and stylish frame. Hilo’s polarized G3 lightweight glass lenses allow the wearer to instantly feel relief from harsh glare and damaging UV rays. The Hilo’s rugged TR90 frame material is comfortable, adjustable and looks great on, or off the water.
48
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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Magellan Mag2 Breathable Waders
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Stick It Anchor Pins introduces THE BRAKE. A shallow water anchoring system that will help you hold your
KFMXL
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For more info go to www.StickItAnchorPins. com or call 941-815-6875.
Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
49
DICKIE COLBURN’S DICKIE COLBURN Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.
Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com
Sabine Scene
I hadn’t typed the first
downhill in both the Neches and Sabine rivers is another story.
word and the thought that
We experience this problem about the same time of year most
immediately came to mind
years so I do have a pretty good idea of what to expect.
was the audacity of trying
The bad news is that it will temporarily slow down what has
to predict what the fishing
been an incredibly good bite all fall. The bite under the gulls
will be like over the course
has never been better and the average size of the school trout
of a month when I all too
dramatically improved once the surface temperature started
frequently cancel trips due to
to drop. While we could catch a fish on darn near every cast
weather the night before!
through November, the keeper to throwback ratio was poor.
Right now it is raining
I will be very surprised if that bite slows down any this
sideways thanks to a twenty-
month regardless of water clarity or salinity levels. Those two
five mile per hour north wind and my garbage cans have floated
factors generally slow the fishermen down more than the fish
away once again. If that weren’t enough, a friend called this
here on Sabine.
morning to see if I would like to ride up to Toledo Bend and help him move his cows to high ground.
If the water clarity is good, and I don’t expect it to be, there isn’t a color in tails that won’t catch fish. If the water is dirty, less
He has land on the river just below the dam and the SRA is
than a foot of visibility, I consistently do better with darker colors
going to start releasing more water in a hurry. Local flooding has
like Morning Glory, Texas Roach and pumpkin chartreuse in
very little impact on Sabine Lake, but excessive water running
longer tails like the 5-inch Assassin or Mirrolure soft mullet.
50
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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S A BI N E We also consistently catch our better trout swimming the
Catch 2000. I did not throw the
tail rigged on a lighter head in the top part of the water column
Mirrodine XL enough last winter, but
rather than bouncing it off the bottom. I cannot imagine the
that will not be the case this year.
redfish bite slowing down much and they don’t care how fast or
g that It is very difficult to tie on anything
slow you retrieve your lure. If it gets really cold, they may back
isn’t pink in a suspending bait, but we have some
off into the river and deeper bayous, but they are everywhere
great days with
and biting right now!
glow-chartreuse,
I know the flounder need all the help they can get, but this
black-chartreuse,
has been a fantastic year on Sabine at least as far as size is
bone and electric
concerned. I don’t know about the numbers as we have not
chicken as well.
targeted them and keep only a few that occasionally crash the
We occasionally
party. We have caught very few flatties under three pounds and
hit it just right
that is still a very good flounder around here.
some mornings,
The bite under the gulls will serve as little more than a minor
Holly Landry released this solid slot red taken under the gulls.
but an incoming
distraction for most of my clients as they know the window is
tide and the
ajar for catching the largest trout this lake has to offer starting
warmer afternoon
this month. It will be slow drifts and long casts for some, but for
hours are Plan A
the majority it is time to climb out of the boat and wait out the
across the winter. Remember…
afternoon feeding spree. We start most days with topwaters like the She Dog or quieter
those undersized
Top Dog, Jr. as long as the surface temperature is above the
school trout are
fifty degree mark. That said, I think you will still get more quality
just as important
swings with a Corky Fatboy or Devil as well as the Catch V and
as the mature sows that we have learned to photograph and release. Invest in the future by taking the time to handle every fish, regardless of size, with the same TLC!
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
51
MICKEY
On Galveston
Howdy folks, Capt. Mickey
shrimp and small baitfish in there. We are seeing lots of school
here again bringing a recap
trout from 15 to 18-inches and occasionally a 19 or 20-incher
and fishing forecast for
under these birds. I am literally talking hundreds of flocks of
Galveston Bay anglers. My
birds working just in Trinity alone. Same thing going on in East
job is easy again this month
Bay. The action is steady and the fish are easy to find. How
as fishing is good and, barring
cool is that?
anything freaky from Mother
Shoreline wade fishing action is still a bit slow. We are finding
Nature, I expect it will remain
smaller trout, lots of males, and the bigger fish are just now
so right through December.
starting to roll up on the flats. I think it needs to get a little bit
Everybody knows the
colder, probably about Thanksgiving time, before we’ll see the
upper Trinity and San Jacinto
shoreline thing really start to shine.
basin regions have been
Redfish are all over the place, shallow and deep, out under
receiving lots of rain and
birds, it doesn’t matter. You can pretty much pick your weather
we’ve got a lot of inflow from
conditions and you can find fish everywhere. You get a certain
both rivers beginning to affect
wind, you just go to that area where it is protected and fish
the Galveston Bay System.
that and catch your fish. Just flip flop between northers, hit
The upside to this is some big time bird action even though the
your southern shorelines and wade fish them or work birds off
surface looks real muddy. What is happening is that the river
of those shorelines. After a norther go to the north side and
water is layering on top, about two feet thick, and we have clear
do the same thing. If it is calm just work all down the middle.
saltwater underneath. It looks bad but there are just millions of
There are birds working in all depths of water right now and
52
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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G A LV E S TON ON
shrimp everywhere. The only thing missing right now is the
the run you would have no problem catching atching
big trout bite and I believe it’s just around the corner between
ten or twenty. None-the-less we are going oing by the
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
rules and playing the game their way. We will be keeping our
I guess we need to talk a little about the baits we’ve been
two fish throughout November which is really not a big deal to
using. Now this is going to get pretty technical, so bear
me. I am not a diehard flounder fisherman so the new limit is not
with me. Right now we’re throwing soft plastics, Corkys and
really hurting my business or my pride.
topwaters. I told you it was pretty technical but in truth all you
So let’s wrap it all up. Right now I give the trout and redfish
need to do is find a good concentration of bait and then chunk
catches we are enjoying an A+ rating and Trinity and East Bays
whatever you like. Presentation, color, and all that other good
get the nod for the most consistent action. West Bay always
stuff is hardly as important as finding a good bunch of bait and
lights up when the winter chill hits the water so keep your eye on
you can almost rest assured you’ll find trout and reds, it’s just
it. Water clarity, at least at the surface, is very iffy right now in
that good right now.
certain areas of Trinity and Upper Galveston but it is only fresh
I’d like to talk a little bit about the flounder run. I know that
on top. We have lots of fish lying just below that murky layer.
TPWD says the numbers are down, especially further south on
Wintertime fishing is always a weatherman’s game and we have
the mid-coast, but I see no shortage here in the Galveston area
to bounce from south to north to avoid the harsh north wind
bays. We are wade fishing and catching as many as ten flounder
when the fronts come through. Shoreline wading will come into
in the parties I am guiding and we’re not even trying for them.
its own any day now and we should begin seeing some heavy
These fish are being caught almost by accident while we are
trout showing very soon.
looking for trout and redfish. Honestly, I think if someone really targeted flounder and got in the areas that flounder favor during
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Merry Christmas and good fishing! – Capt. Mickey Eastman
Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
53
CAPT. BILL’S Though largely overlooked, December is truly one of the
Fish Talk Eddie Douglas Broken Back Specials, and good old Saltwater Assassins will be excellent choices for December. Depending on our degree of winter weather, we can talk about
prime months for catching trophy trout. With most
lure presentation. If we run into really cold conditions your lure
of our shrimp population
presentation will need to be slowed quite a bit. Fish are cold-
migrated out of East and
blooded and their metabolism slows down tremendously when
West Matagorda Bays and
temperatures drop. When they decide to eat they can become
into the gulf, fishing tactics
very aggressive and when full they can lay on the bottom until
will need minor modifications.
they need to feed
There might be a few birds
again. Redfish are
still working the of the shrimp
generally heartier
migration on the far east end
and will feed more
of East Bay but do not expect
often than trout. I
to occur regularly as it does
believe that trout
earlier in the late fall period.
will generally feed
Our water temperature will
maybe twice a
be colder than the last couple of months with trout and reds alike
week or possibly
chewing on fin fish, eels, and small crabs. Bait selections as well
three times if the
as presentations will need to be adjusted if you plan to have a
water isn’t real cold.
successful adventure on the water. Sinking and floating Corkys,
54
December 2009
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Andy McRae - 25” trout C&R – East Matagorda – Skitter Walk
Popular wading
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M ATAG OR DA spots for me will be Michael Dowler 38” redfish C&R – East Bay – Bass Assassin – 12lb test!
On occasion, I will head over to
places with mud and
West Matagorda Bay when clients
shell bottom that
want to catch reds which will usually
can be found with
des happen after a cold front and when tides
deep water close by.
are low. Fishing the drains, guts, and sand bars
Look for me to fish
along the south shore will quite often put you in the middle of
all the drains in East
steady action.
Matagorda Bay that
A very important tip this time of year is to slow down your
have some deeper
retrieve while fishing cold water conditions and try to remember
water in and around
your retrieve speed and amount of rod tip action after you catch
them. Another possible
your first fish so that it can be duplicated. Keep repeating that
scenario may be the Colorado River if not too fresh. Here I will
first retrieve on your subsequent casts. This should pay off in
throw sinking Corkys and Salt Assassins rigged on 3/8 oz lead
the long run.
heads bumping the bottom and working the ledges on both
Until next time - Merry Christmas and God Bless - Capt. Bill
sides of the river. Keep in mind the Diversion Channel which is another good spot to fish if we find ourselves with a howling blue northern. Plastics will be my go-to bait choice here. Drifting over mud and scattered shell is a great possibility in
Capt. Bill - 29 1/2” headed to taxidermist – 10W40 Assassin – East Bay.
East Matagorda Bay. Look for slicks and never pass up streaky or the edges of off-colored water. Jumping mullet is a good sign while drifting. I like to make long drifts, sometimes as much as one half mile. I recommend jig weights in the 1/4 to 3/8 oz lead heads to help get your lure down and keep it in the strike zone.
Coastal Backwater Marine is a company dedicated to designing and supplying all season boats and motors for shallow water, fishing and hunting Texas Gulf Coast sportsmen. www.coastalbackwatermarine.com
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December 2009
55
MID-COAST BAYS
With the Grays
CAPT. GARY GRAY The fishing in San Antonio
will work day in and day out.
Bay and the marsh lakes on Matagorda Island has been
I have had some days that no
red hot for redfish. The trout
matter what you did you could do
fishing, on the other hand, has
no wrong, trout jumping all over our
taken a backseat to the bronze
lures, and then you come back a
brutes on my boat for the time
day or two later to wonder if there
being, but hopefully that will be
are any trout in our bay system.
changing soon.
The common denominators in any
Late October and November
and all of my good trips this fall has
showed a substantial change
been; you have to be on shell, you
in the trout fishery for the Port
must have finger mullet present,
O’ Connor/ Seadrift areas.
and you have to be on the north end
Freshwater runoff from local
of San Antonio Bay.
rains and inflow from the Guadalupe has made the San Antonio
Phil Scherer – oversized red San Antonio Bay – released!
I will do something I try to never do in my reports and that is to
reefs a little more favorable for my speckled friends who have been
mention names of reefs I have concentrated my efforts on in the
hiding in the northern regions of the bay system and the upper
past month. These reefs are not guaranteed hot spots but the list will
reaches of the Victoria Barge Canal. Sure we have all heard of
give you a place to start. Now please also remember that I fish a lot
magnificent catches and limits from some internet reports, but to truly
of shell reefs that have no names and are not on your new-fangled
say the fishing was normal would be a typical internet report. It is not
GPS maps, they were found by time on the water and by my time
normal yet, I have yet to find a pattern for my speckled friends that
on the back of my dad’s oyster boat. My dad would drop the dredge
56
December 2009
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P OR T O’CON NOR / S E A DR I F T
Weston Osborne was extremely proud of his trout.
over in the middle of nowhere
Night. I rig these lures on a 1/16 oz Assassin assin
and bring up shell from parts of
jighead. If the fish seem to be finicky or seem to want
San Antonio Bay that I thought
a little more bottom action I will slip on a four inch Sea Shad in the
only had mud bottom. I would
same colors and probe the bottom a little more slowly and let the
memorize these reefs with
swimming tail do most of the work for me. Remember if you do not
reference points and come
hang the shell occasionally you are working the lure too fast.
back that afternoon or the next
I would like to mention something I’ve written about many times
day I had off and check the
that seems to be almost universally misunderstood. Please listen
reef for fish. Some paid off right
carefully, when wading the shell reefs for trout, make sure you do not
away and some of them saved
walk into the fish. I see it happen all the time; someone hooks up and
my trips in later years.
the next thing you know one of the guys thinks he needs to move
Okay – Here’s some reefs
forward to get in on the action. Before you know it he standing where
for you guys to check. Dagger Reef, fish the south side at the
you just hooked that fish and before long the bite shuts down. When
northeastern tip of the reef. Magnum Reef, fish the cuts that go
you hook up, stop and fish the area thoroughly. Stepping toward the
through the reef. Mosquito Point Reef, fish the north side of the reef
bite is the last thing to do if you want to get bit again!
and pay special attention to all the cuts that are washed through the
In closing remember that it is duck season, be courteous and stay
reef. North Panther Reef, where the reef crosses the ICW, fish the
clear of decoy spreads. Most hunters will be packed up and gone
spoils all around the reef where the channel was cut through it.
by mid-morning and you can fish that area then, or just find another
I have been throwing the five inch Saltwater Assassin in the more natural colors such as, Baby Bass, Bone Diamond and Opening
section of water to fish. Fish hard, fish smart!
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
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57
HOOKED UP WITH It was December 2002
DAVID ROWSEY David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/Baffin region; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty. David has a great passion for conservation
Rowsey
did not want such a good fishermen to know about it. Well, those
when Mike McBride and I
of you who know Mike know he can be pretty persuasive, with
first fished together in Baffin.
more than a little charm hidden behind that handlebar mustache.
We had become friends
I had that in the back of my mind when I called him back, and was
through Troutmasters in
certain to play the day down, never mentioning exactly how great
the late 90s and discussed
it really was. I guess he read between the lines well enough to
fishing Baffin together. At
know that he had better get down here, and get down here he did,
that point in my career I was
two hours late, but he did actually show up.
and encourages catch and
about as under the radar as
To my great horror, he pulls up in front of my house with his
release of trophy fish.
anyone could be, so bringing
own boat and has a co-pilot with him. I, secretly, almost lost my
a proven trout hand to my lair
breakfast, went into a cold sweat, and was pacing in my garage
was done with one eyebrow
for something that resembled a lead pipe, a broken shovel handle,
raised, and a constant inner
or maybe even a handgun. After breathing into a paper bag for a
battle with paranoia.
few minutes, I finally leveled out and Mike introduced me to Louie
361-960-0340 www.DavidRowsey.com
We set it up for a December weekend and, in
Baumann. “This guy is big… find a bigger pipe.” After the mad rush of loading gear into the boat, and me deciding that Louie
true McBride form, he misses the first day. I go by myself
could possibly bend the pipe around my neck, I carefully hide the
and experience a career day of catching and releasing ten
pipe and we pointed Mike’s Pathfinder south.
trout weighing over eight pounds and a boat load between
We got to the chosen area that had produced so well the day
five and eight. As I write this I am all grins and goose bumps
before and everything looked perfect or just as it had the prior
remembering every detail of that day.
day. I was being bashed by McBride for my lure choice, an LSU-
When I returned that evening the message machine was lit up
colored corky, while he is tying on something that resembles a
and confirmed my worst fears; McBride wants to fish the second
topwater with grass hanging from its belly. Turns out it was just
day. As much as I wanted to fish with him I had no idea that I
rusty hooks on his lure, and Mike, amidst his bashing, failed to
would get on those kinds of fish, and now I was really certain that I
notice the chewed condition of my lure from the day before. Being the good host, I describe the lay of the land and what the trout were holding on. It was a very specific pattern that could easily be messed up if you walked through it versus casting to it. After my careful and considerate explanation to insure all would have a memorable day, Mike does a 180 and goes the opposite direction. Mistake! Louie sticks with me and within five minutes I am hung up on a pig. The Boga says 8.75, and I cut her loose. Within minutes the Corky is slammed and another big fish comes
58
December 2009
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U PPE R L AG U N A / B A F F I N to hand. Louie is getting excited watching all of this, and I start
As I was snapping photos and
pointing out, specifically, where the lure needs to be. Mike is
feeling overjoyed for Mike, his rod
babbling some gibberish off in the distance, but continues to walk
snapped back and unloaded in close
away from the fish. Louie starts hooking up and brings to hand
proximity to his face. She was gone. I felt
a personal best fish. This is more than McBride can handle and
g trout, and terrible for him as I had seen a lot of big
finally starts heading back, although slowly.
easily recognized her as a true giant, as did he.
For the rest of the day we pound on trout into the nine pound
I will not come right out and say who caught the most big fish
range and a slew of “small” fish from five pounds and up. At
that day, but his initials include D and R, as opposed to letters
some point the bite slowed but we knew the moon would be rising
commonly found on hard-shelled chocolate candy. When the
just before dark and the potential for another epic day was just a
day was over I had matched my prior day with another 80-pound
couple hours away.
catch for my ten largest. Louie caught his personal best and
Louie and I stayed with the Corky as the moon broke the
some other great fish to go along with it. McBride had a great
horizon behind Padre Island and Mike switched to a new
day landing numerous big trout and a memory of fighting a fish
topwater that had just hit the market. His Skitter Walk was rattling
that will haunt him for a long time.
obnoxiously but promptly greeted with a monumental explosion
This is the month where patterns really become established
that made us all stop what we were doing. No doubt, this fish
for the larger trout. The water temperatures will be staying
was very big, and Mike is so rattled he is talking in tongues or
on the cool side and morning jitters will be well justified in our
Swahili. I can, every now and then, make out words like “Lifer…
eagerness to get where we think the big trout will be held up. I
Goobeehoodeedoo….Best Ever…Yomomma…. Oh My God!”
love this time of year.
The battle was taking a long time. Time enough for me to get to Mike, get his camera, and start taking some shots. As the trout
God bless you all and have a Merry Christmas,
came close we could see its size and she was really big. We had landed some in the nine pound range and this fish looked larger.
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Capt. David Rowsey
Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
59
P OR T M A N S F I E L D
TRICIA’S
Mansfield Report
After the exceptional
Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water Adventures operates out of Port Mansfield, specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.
is cool by any standards, especially being that at
catches we had been
nately she this one strapped thirty one inches. Unfortunately
enjoying, plus the high hopes
didn’t have winter’s weight on her yet, but that will change, and there
we’ve had, things just sort
should soon be more of them.
of fell apart down here in
December is hard to predict because we don’t know what the
the last couple of weeks.
weather will throw at us. The expectations are that due to another
We’ve had some great trips,
“El Nino” period, it should be a warmer, wetter winter. We’ll keep that
but for the most part, fishing
hope alive and be ready for some of the things we do know.
was rather tough, at least as
We do know that tides will drop significantly, which will help
regards quality. We’ll move
concentrate fish in traditional depressions, guts and other level
our higher expectations
drops. We know they will be driven there when it’s cold, but come
towards December, which
up to the nearest shallows when conditions moderate after northers.
has traditionally been one
Besides the big trout many covet, some of the best redfishing of
of our more pleasantly
the year is also possible. Rather than catching scattered fish on the
productive months.
flats, we often see large schools stack up in the aforementioned
As far as recent efforts, it seemed that no matter where you went
deeper swales and guts, which here are still less than waist deep.
the system was full of juvenile trout. It was almost as many as you
The theory that all of the mature reds leave the bays during winter
wanted to catch but the “keeper” ratio became quite low. Floating
must have been formulated by folks who don’t fish in the winter.
grass was a major issue which kept several prime areas virtually
As far as lures go, not much will change with the exception that
out of play. Add honking winds, high water levels, thunderous
many will pull their Corkys back out, especially while probing for
storms and a touch of red tide, and the formula wasn’t exactly
that personal best trout. However, the main part of the equation will
productive. Redfish often covered the flats one day and then would
always be determining the best retrieve for the situation. Besides
totally vanish for the next three. Other times, although we could
being where fish are, proper speed and depth will catch your fish,
clearly see fish flashing at topwaters and following tails, they were
and that can change throughout the day. The key will be figuring out
just not going to cooperate for long portions of the day. Even so,
the bite, and often mere inches can make a huge difference.
there were still days when even a ten year old could get it done, such as Corbin Bender pictured here with his first trout. Corbin was the first out
Topwaters will of course be exciting when fish are aggressive, but for practical purposes, the plastic tail is the most versatile tool in your box. You can easily put it where it needs to be with minor
of the boat for each of
adjustments, such as lead head size, and colors are easily changed
three days, waded in front
to provide the contrast needed to get some attention. Swimming
of everybody with little
baits are great when a flat retrieve is needed, such as just above the
assistance, and basically
grass in shallow water, and rat tail baits rule when a greater portion
never stopped fishing. There
of the water column needs to be addressed. I’ll probably just go
are kids and there are kids,
with what I know, which is the big Kelly Wiggler paddle tail in some
and it’s amazing how some
situations and the Brown Lure Devil Eye in others. Let’s go!
of them get after it better than many adults. Expose them early, the right way, and Corbin Bender was an inspiration…I don’t care who you are!
be inspired at what some of them can achieve.
A thirty-one in the sand... cool by any standards.
The good news is that we are seeing some exceptional fish using the shallows. That tells of things to come; that they are here and will soon become more available. One particular instance while working redfish high in the sand, several large trout could be seen silently gliding off between them. I managed to hook one in the clear, shin deep water, which 60
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
61
SOUTH PADRE All summer and through
Fishing Scene
The higher water levels scattered the fish in the early part of
early fall I anxiously awaited
fall. The good thing is that our bays are full of bait. I have been
the arrival of December.
fishing around acres and acres of active mullet. These bait
There are several reasons for
schools always attract plenty of hungry redfish and trout and the
this, not the least of which are
temperature drop means that predator feeding will increase. The
air and water temperatures
redfish and trout are already beginning to look like they have
cool enough to require
been on steroids and some are sporting a wintertime potbelly.
wearing waders. It’s not just
Perhaps the greatest thing about December fishing here in
the donning of waders that
the Lower Laguna is that fish are fairly easy to find and generally
excites me, it’s the mere fact
willing to take what you throw at them. As fronts arrive on a more
that cooler temperatures
frequent basis the trout and reds will begin staging near deeper
allow us to fish all day without
water. The ICW, adjacent guts, and channels are good places to
suffering under harsh summer sun. Another reason is greatly
start and the nice thing about winter fishing is that when you find
reduced boat traffic; the fish will not be nearly as spooky as in
fish, you can bet that there will not be just one fish, but rather a
busier months. Finally, the main reason for my excitement is lots
concentration of fish because of the favorable conditions that
of hungry fish that are easy to pattern between the cold spells.
area might provide. In the wintertime it’s common for us to do
Our catching tapered off some in the later part of October and into November, especially around the full moon phases.
shorter wades and really concentrate in fishy areas rather than try a dozen areas looking for fish.
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A R ROYO COL OR A DO TO PORT I S A BE EL
What does a fishy area look like in early
trophy trout season.. Trophy
winter? Apart from areas known to have
e widely trout enthusiasts are
produced in the past, I cannot stress enough
known for their willingness to endure the
how important it is to find concentrations of
elements and wait patiently for that one big
bait species in areas with easy deep water
bite. The Lower Laguna certainly produces
access. Shallow flats near the ICW during
its share of wintertime trophies and it is
warming trends can bring nonstop action
beginning to look as though this year may be
from both hungry trout and reds.
even better than the recent past.
Most definitely the fish’s metabolism slows
In closing I would like to give an update on
down during cold spells and we should
the red tide outbreak along the Gulf of Mexico
match this with slower presentations. Even
beaches from Corpus Christi to South Padre.
though we still use other lures on occasion;
As of this writing the majority of the red tide
suspending baits and slow fished tails take
has been confined to the Gulf with no real
precedence when fish seem to be hugging
ill effect in our bay system. Some fish kills
the bottom. Quite often the bite is a subtle
have been documented in the Lower Laguna,
peck and this is when we need a super
mainly piggy perch, mangrove snapper,
sensitive rod. I find Fishing Tackle Unlimited’s
mullet, catfish, and other small fish can be
“Green Rod” (APXL1) a great tool when trying
seen floating south or around the causeway.
to feel the lightest of bites. Don’t get me
A few miles further north in the Laguna you
wrong. If the weather and conditions present
could never tell that a red tide is present in
themselves for a surface bite, I will be the first
the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s hope that the colder
to tie on a topwater plug. Pink Skitter Walks
weather that should reach us soon will make
and the bone Super Spook Jr seem to attract
it all go away. In the meantime the chase is
their fair share of fish during warmer days,
on for the fish of a lifetime. If you can bear
even in the middle of winter.
the elements, your reward is one cast away.
December also marks the beginning of
Don’t forget your camera. Happy Holidays!
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Fishing Reports and Forecasts From Big Lake to Boca Chica BRO U G H T TO YOU BY. . .
Under them are trout of all sizes; it’s easy to catch a box of fish. We are catching them pretty much on whatever we want to. Location is key.”
Lake Calcasieu - Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service • 337-598-3268 Calcasieu Lake is known for monster trout and this is one of the best months to catch them. If wadefishing is your forte, then the flats on the north end of the lake would probably be your best bet for catching one of these wallhangers. Other flats that are good are in West Cove and Joe’s Cove. These two smaller lakes are big trout factories located west of the ship channel toward the south end of Calcasieu. I prefer throwing Corky FatBoys and Catch 2000’s. My favorite all around color, no mater the water clarity, is gold with a black back and orange belly. If you don’t care for the trophies, there should still be plenty of school trout under the birds. Best baits to throw are shrimp imitations. Glow H&H Grubs and glow Norton Sand Eel Jrs. are good colors to start with. If the water is a little stained, switch to avocado or black. Redfish should be peaking in December. The weirs along the east bank will be stacked with both fish and boats. To avoid the crowds leave earlier, or just fish the banks around the weirs where the reds are just as plentiful.
Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay James Plaag - silverkingadventures.com - 409 935 7242 The trout fishing has been pretty easy lately, James says. “Trinity’s getting a little fresh, but the fishing is still good over there at this point, especially on the reefs on the west side. There are a lot of boats working in there right now, so I’ve kind of switched my plans. Lately, I’ve been wading, mostly to avoid the crowds. We are really spanking them, catching early limits almost every day. Best lure lately is the small Bass Assassin Sea Shad in chicken on a chain color. We’ve also had a decent bite on bone Top Dogs at times, but the fish are the same size, so I just stick with the old worm mostly. One day in East Bay we did catch a few trout over five pounds, but mostly it’s just nice eating sized fish. If you do want to catch a bigger fish, it pays to stay shallow. You won’t get as many bites, but you’ll eventually catch bigger fish on average. If the freshwater situation gets worse in the upper parts of the bay, we should be set up for an excellent winter in West Bay. The fishing over here is already good and should only get better as it gets colder.”
Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409 996 3054 “The fishing is on fire!” Jim says with enthusiasm. “We’re catching good numbers of both trout and reds lately. The marsh is full of reds of all sizes, mostly under about twenty six inches. There are some even better fish on the outsides of the drains, along main bay shorelines. A caution to those who choose to enter the marsh on low tides; watch out for junk and sand bars! The trout fishing is outstanding too. We’ve been wading the shorelines close to the drains on outgoing tides some and catching quality fish, up to about seven pounds. Had four nice trout between six and seven pounds in one week. Mostly, it’s just regular fish though, between about a pound and a half and four pounds. The water in the back of the bay is fresh, and there’s a line about Marsh Point between the sweet and salty water. The birds are working that area like crazy. When the bite is on, there’s birds working as far as you can see. 64
December 2009
West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service - 979 849 7019 - 979 864 9323 Randall reports that the fishing prior to recent heavy rains was excellent. “The fish are here; we just need a little break from all the freshwater. I did find a bunch of trout recently in an area that was fresh on the surface. The water tasted sweet, but there was a layer of salty water underneath and the catching was easy. Mostly, we are finding them around patches of shell. Sometimes, you have to move around and hit several piles of shell to find one that’s holding fish, and it won’t be the same reefs day after day, but the pattern is reliable if you know how to run it. The best lure lately has been a purple Norton Sand Eel Jr..” He predicts that the pattern of fishing mud with scattered shell will be a consistent producer in December. “With the colder water temperatures in December, the fish will stay over mud more and more of the time. Then we make our best catches where there’s mostly muddy bottom with some scattered shell. Eventually, the mud streak pattern will kick in; that usually starts late in December and works through the winter.”
Matagorda Tommy Countz - Bay Guide Service - 713 725 2401 Tommy’s outlook on December fishing is dependent on rain. “If the water in the river stays clear, meaning it’s salty, December is usually a great month. In the river, we use heavy jigheads, like three eighths ounce, with a soft plastic that’s got plenty of wobble in the tail.” He prefers Norton Bull Minnows and the old Crème Little Fishie. “If the river’s fresh, both bays will be better. In West Bay, I like a really low tide. The fish will stack up in the guts and drains and you can catch them on spoons and on black magic Bull Minnows. I like the paddle tails because they look more like a little fish and work better when the shrimp are all gone. In East Bay, we’ll be drifting scattered shell and mud in the west end. Lately, the best bite over there is on relatively heavy jigheads which make it easier to keep the lure down in contact with the shell. When the weather’s cold, it pays to keep the lure low and work it kind of slow. Many of the bites come after the lure has contacted some shell and pops back off. Of course, lighter winds will make East Bay better.”
Palacios Capt. Aaron Wollam palaciosguideservice.com - 979 240 8204 We have already moved over to the cold weather patterns, with most of our fish now found over a mix of mud and shell. We will focus most of our efforts for trout around mud flats that have close access to deep water. Our main lure of choice for next month will be the Corky FatBoy. Colors that seem to be productive in the Tres Palacios area are pearl/ chartreuse, pearl/black, and dayglo. The best areas to work these lures are along shorelines with scattered shellpads relatively close
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to a dropoff. Slow-rolling FatBoys around pods of baitfish will almost guarantee strikes in the winter months. Other focal points for us when the weather gets real nasty are the Tres Palacios, Colorado and Lavaca Rivers. Fish can find safe haven in these rivers after drastic drops in water temperatures. Soft plastics fished along the dropoffs usually account for most of the bites. We like to use a little heavier jigheads (normally quarter ounce) when fishing the river in cold weather, since the added weight helps keep the lure down in the strike zone.
Port O’Connor Lynn Smith - Back Bay Guide Service - 361 983 4434 “Trout fishing is beginning to turn the corner and become a little more consistent,” Lynn reports. “We are catching a few trout on most trips again, even though we aren’t really fishing specifically for them. Most of the trout we’re catching are running between fifteen and seventeen inches, with a few stretching beyond the twenty inch mark. We’re finding them in the same places as the redfish, which is where the focus of our efforts has been. Mostly, we’re throwing Bass Assassins in chicken on a chain and plum with a white tail.” He predicts that those lures will be the go-to choices in December. “Depending on the weather, we’ll use soft plastics a lot in December. We will also throw topwaters when we have some warmer weather and surface activity. But the old one eighth ounce jighead with a Bass Assassin will probably catch the most fish. I’ll target soft muddy bottoms with some scattered shell, especially on flats which are close to dropoffs to deep water. Staying close to deep water is key in December.”
Rockport Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361 790 5203 - 361 441 3894 Blake indicates that he has high hopes for the duck hunting and the fishing for both trout and redfish in December. “I’ll be doing my typical cast and blast thing, hunting early then fishing my way out of the marsh. I like to target the deeper holes in the marshes when it’s cold and the tide’s low. The reds typically stack up in those holes when it’s like that. We also do some wading in other parts of the marsh and along shorelines adjacent to marsh entrances. Our trout fishing is becoming more steady. We are catching decent numbers of fish on area reefs and should have a shot at some big fish when the winter patterns kick in even more. Duck hunting looks to be potentially very good too. We’ve had plenty of freshwater dumped into the marshes over recent weeks with the rainy pattern that’s set in. Usually, when the marsh is not so salty, the ducks like it better and it makes for more consistent action. The numbers of ducks are up, according to the counts made by federal authorities, so there should be plenty to see and shoot.”
Padre Island National Seashore Billy Sandifer - Padre Island Safaris - 361 937 8446 For the past several years December has proven much more user friendly than the months to follow and had been the peak time for large numbers of Florida pompano. Puppy black drum, whiting, sheepshead, slot and oversized redfish will all be available throughout the month. Speckled trout and Atlantic bluefish are possible as are sandbar, blacktipped, bull and mako sharks. Peeled shrimp and “Fishbites” will continue to be the best producers on bottom feeders and cut or finger mullet for the redfish. Traditionally, the trout lure of choice this time of year is the 51M MirrOlure in a wide variety of colors and preference changes from day to day. Target pockets and narrow openings in the bar for trout and the deepest, widest guts you can find for pompano. Plan your trips to fall on the second day behind cold front passage for best conditions. Be extremely cautious about traveling high up on the beach as hardhead catfish killed by red tide will be plentiful in this area and will be a nuisance puncturing tires all winter.
Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata - rz1528@grandecom.net - 563 1160 I have a lot of changes to report for the Upper Laguna Madre this
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time. The only thing that is still the same is the water level, which is still high. I believe the water level is up because of all the rain that we’ve been getting and because of the north winds that have been blowing water into the Laguna Madre. A big change is that the water temperature has dropped to the lower seventies and upper sixties but that’s not too cold for most fish. The rain has diminished the water clarity and in some places we have brown tide blooming again. The lack of water clarity has caused me to use the Bass Assassin Kwik Korks in order to create noise and attract the trout and redfish. There are still some areas with clear, shallow water and when you find these areas, keep your eyes open for redfish and black drum so you can sight cast for with your favorite stinky baits like Bass Assassin Blurps and Berkley Gulp shrimp rigged on sixteenth ounce jig heads. Continue to look for the fish in shallow water.
Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361 937 5961 Joe reports some good sight casting for redfish on recent trips. “The water quality’s still really good in the north half of the area I like to work. There are plenty of redfish and even some big trout to be caught shallow. When attempting to catch these fish, it pays to incorporate several fundamentals. Normally, I like to use an eighth ounce jighead and a paddle tail soft plastic. When a fish is sighted, it’s best to cast the lure beyond where the fish is and quickly pull it into place maybe eighteen or twenty inches in front of the fish. I like to do this by reeling it fast at the surface, so I can keep my eye on it. Then I drop it in front of the fish and hop it by its nose. On the good days, all of the fish will bite it if this is done right. On tougher days, experimentation with colors might be necessary to find something they like.” In December, strong fronts typically drive the fish deep and change the game. “When it’s really cold, our fish drop into the channels, and I have the best luck with heavier jigheads worked in contact with the bottom along the dropoffs.”
Port Mansfield Terry Neal – terrynealcharters.com – (956) 944 2559 The good news is that there hasn’t been any red tide in the Port Mansfield area of the Lower Laguna Madre. The red tide is one of Mother Nature’s humbling experiences that brings us all back to earth and reminds us of a greater being that rules the natural world. The coming weeks should produce some very good flounder catches in the East Cut, thanks to the new regulations. Huge schools of menhaden have been moving north along the King Ranch shoreline. The fish working these schools are holding deep making it tough for wade fishing but offering very good for drift fishing. The water temperature is dropping with each passing norther and we should see better results on the flats before long. Just about every day you’ll hear of someone releasing a big trout. The first truly blue norther should result in fish moving to deeper holes.
Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty fishingwithpettys.com – (956) 943 2747 The red tide was definitely a factor on the beach side of South Padre Island, and there have been reports of a light fish kill, nothing like a couple of years ago. Thankfully, the effects were not felt in the bay. We’ve had a few days, when the wind was out the right direction, where you’d get an occasional cough or two while fishing, but nothing anywhere near bad enough to call it quits. In fact, if you didn’t know about the red tide event, you wouldn’t even notice. Fishing has been up and down; we’ll limit on trout and reds one day and struggle the next. Definitely not the excellent fishing we saw on a regular basis at this time last year. We’re throwing the Cajun Thunder cigar corks with Berkley Gulp three inch shrimp in the white colors for both of our target species. Freddy says, “We’re getting into the winter months when the big trout start moving into the shallow waters of the LLM. With the tides beginning to run lower and the water colder, this is a good time to add topwaters and the larger oval Cajun Thunder corks to your arsenal.”
Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
65
Catch of the Month!
All upcoming Photo Galleries are now online! Check out when your photo will appear in the magazine.
Kathryn Ketchum 22” first redfish!
Curtis 50 miles off shore warsaw grouper
Malloy Bond Port O’Connor - 22” trout
Anthony Matamoros & grandfather Aransas Bay - 22” 6lb mangrove snapper 66
December 2009
Jeanna Huston Galveston - 36” 16lbs redfish
Glenn Addison Matagorda - 49” black drum
Cris Layton 9 Mile Rig - snapper
Lauren Ezzell Port Aransas - 27 1/2” first trout! Jacob Flores State Waters - red snapper
MaKayla Staff Matagorda Bay - 22” first redfish!
Austin Allen Baffin Bay - 26” redfish
Narce Alvarado Trinity Bay - 24” first speckled trout! Flora Moore Lavaca Bay - 37” 19lb bull red
Jeff Arthur Brazos River - tripletail & trout
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Stephen Lovoi Laguna Madre - 29” redfish
Sandra Hrachovy Sargent Surf - 45” redfish C&R
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BROUG H T TO YOU B Y. . .
Bennett Carroll South Bay, Aransas - 28” redfish
Rhonda Sageser Mud Island - 25” trout
Matt Ramirez Palacios jetties - 34” 14lb Jack Crevalle
James Atkinson Laguna Madre - 27 1/2” redfish
Luke Dileo Mesquite Bay - 24” redfish
Nicole Bell Seadrift - 32” redfish
Jamie Lara Matagorda Bay - 28” redfish
Nathan Doyle Galveston Ship Channel first flounders!
Kevin Berry East Matagorda - 8lb trout Diane Chad Galveston surf - speck
Larry Kocurek Port O’Connor - 42” redfish
Please do not write on the back of photos.
Email photos with a description of your Catch of the Month to: Photos@tsfmag.com
Jeff Vinklarek Port O’Connor - 170# tarpon Just Keep Five
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Jonathan Boone Brazos River - 25” redfish Texas Saltwater Fishing
Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983
December 2009
67
GULF COAST
Kitchen
Matt Bell’s Seafood Chili PAM JOHNSON Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share? Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844
Sopapilla Cheesecake 2 pckgs crescent rolls 3 pckgs cream cheese 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out one package of crescent rolls in greased 9x13 pan. Seal seams. Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread on dough. Cover with second package of rolls. Melt butter, sugar, and cinnamon in microwave. Pour over top layer of dough. Bake for 45-55 min or until set. Store at room temp.
Ingredients 2 – 15oz cans navy beans, drained and rinsed 1 – 15 oz can navy beans with juice 1/4 cup olive oil 1 large white onion, chopped 3 large cloves garlic, chopped 2 – 15 oz cans diced tomatoes, drained 1 Tbs green Tabasco sauce 4 Tbs tomato paste 1 Tbs ground cumin 4 Tbs chili powder 1 Tbs dried oregano 2 Tbs stone ground cornmeal 1 cup fat free yogurt (unflavored) 1/2 lb canned crab meat (pick over carefully for shell and cartilage fragments) 1/2 lb shrimp (medium size) pre-cooked, peeled, deveined Salt and ground white pepper to taste Chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish before serving) Chicken broth
68
December 2009
1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon
Method In food processor, puree two cans drained and rinsed navy beans until smooth and creamy. Adding about a half cup of chicken broth helps develop a smooth texture. Set aside. In large pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat, add olive oil, onion and garlic. Sauté until vegetables begin to soften. Add diced tomatoes, green Tabasco sauce, tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, oregano, cornmeal, yogurt, and pureed navy beans. Simmer five minutes. Add whole navy beans with juice, crab meat and shrimp. Return to simmer and hold for five minutes. The final chili can be thinned with chicken broth to achieve desired consistency. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro. For spicier chili, add more chili powder and a bit of cayenne. Yield: Six to eight adult servings. Serving suggestion: Great with fresh homemade flour tortillas, warm from the comal, spread with real butter.
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T E X A S S A LT WAT E R F I S H I NG HOL E S P O C/S E A DR I F T
G A LV E S TON
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Hammertime Guide Service Captain SLEDGE PARKER
Port O’Connor, TX 713.371.7479 Specks, Reds, Flounder & Drum Don’t be Skeered, Come Catch you some! Boat Towing Avilable / Coast Guard Licensed
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M ATAG OR DA M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish
USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan 70
December 2009
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T E X A S S A LT WAT E R F I S H I NG HOL E S RO C K P OR T TO P OR T M A N S F I E L D
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Specializing in shallow water flats fishing for redfish, trout & flounder.
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Job Description: Oversee daily operation of small but growing retail business. Duties to include working on retail floor for selling, merchandising and managing inventory of fishing gear, rod components, reel parts and accessories, hunting products and other outdoor gear, with the most energy in customer care, professionalism and productivity in the sporting goods business. Areas of specialty include inshore,offshore, and freshwater fishing, hunting, boating, apparel, and others. Retail experience strongly preferred. Familiarity with computers required. (Quickbooks POS, Microsoft Word, and Excel). Applicant must be able to prepare and track invoices, be extremely organized, have the ability to work independently, and also achieve financial objectives by preparing an annual budget. Competitive hourly compensation based on experience. This is a full-time position and overtime is available. Weekend shifts expected. Benefits include paid vacation. Please email resume to outfishing63@yahoo.com. Position available January 2010 in the Gulf Coast Region. Texas Saltwater Fishing
December 2009
71
I N DE X OF A DV E R T I S E R S For more information about these advertisers visit: http://www.texassaltwaterfishingmagazine.com/contact_advertisers_product.html
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28 479-782-8971 www.bombersaltwatergrade.com Reaction Strike 53 317-938-5414 www.reactionstrike.com REC Components 43 877-339-7894 www.REC.com Rods by Pepper 58 409-737-1136 (None) Russelures Solunar 281-723-0721 russelure@yahoo.com
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GALVESTON TIDES & SOLUNAR TABLE Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine DECEMBER 2009
The BEST Choice… Any Place, Anytime!
To find a location near you, please visit us at www.speedystop.com
TIDAL CORRECTIONS Location Calcasieu Pass, La. Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass (jetty) Sabine Pass Mesquite Point Galveston Bay (S. jetty) Port Bolivar Texas City, Turning Basin Eagle Point Clear Lake Morgans Point Round Point, Trinity Bay Point Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, Trinity Bay Christmas Point Galveston Pleasure Pier San Luis Pass Freeport Harbor
High -2:14 -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14 +0:33 +3:54 +6:05 +10:21 +10:39 +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -0:09 -0:44
Low -1:24 -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06 +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15 +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:38 +2:33 +2:31 -0:09
For other locations, i.e. Port O’Connor, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and Port Isabel please refer to the charts displayed below.
Please note that the tides listed in this table are for the Galveston Channel. The Tidal Corrections can be applied to the areas affected by the Galveston tide.
Minor Feeding Periods are in green, coinciding with the moon on the horizon, and the last from 1.0 to 1.5 hrs after the moon rise or before moon set. Major Feeding Periods are in orange, about 1.0 to 1.5 hrs either side of the moon directly overhead or underfoot. Many variables encourage active feeding current flow (whether wind or tidal driven), changes in water temp & weather, moon phases, etc. Combine as many as possible for a better chance at an exceptional day. Find concentrations of bait set up during a good time frame, and enjoy the results.
Te x a s S a l t w a t e r F i s h i n g M a g a z i n e l
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