December2010

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EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

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Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

08 “Got any threes?�

12Â Two Calendars 16 Â The Passing of a Brother and Concern...

20  Changing Your Retrieve 22 What’s It Gonna Be? 28 Serena Residences - Dream Comes...                Â

Mike McBride Kevin Cochran Billy Sandifer Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Shirley Elliot

Coastal Birding Science and the Sea Let’s Ask The Pro Fly Fishing TPWD Field Notes Conservation Kayak Fishing According to Scott Youth Fishing Texas Nearshore and Offshore

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Dickie Colburn Mickey Eastman Bill Pustejovsky Gary Gray David Rowsey Capt. Tricia Ernest Cisneros

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Billy Sandifer UT-Marine Science Institute Jay Watkins  Casey Smartt    Allison Hatten CCA Texas Scott Null Scott Sommerlatte Jake Haddock Mike Jennings

52 Dickie Colburnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sabine Scene 54 Mickey on Galveston 56 Capt. Billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fish Talk 58 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays 60 Hooked up with Rowsey 62 Capt. Triciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Port Mansfield Report 64 South Padre Fishing Scene          Â

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06 Editorial 50 New Tackle & Gear  66 Fishing Reports and Forecasts  68, 78 Catch of the Month 74 Gulf Coast Kitchen 80 Index of Advertisers

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$%287 7+( &29(5 Phil Dalrymple of Houston made the trek to the Lower Laguna Madre to catch this beautiful 29-inch speck that weighed close to eight and a half pounds. Phil was fishing with Capt. Tricia-Skinny Water Adventures using a Texas Trout Killer soft plastic bait. Phil earns TSFMag conservation kudos for releasing his trophy. Capt. Tricia snapped the photo.

4 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

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Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

$ 1HZ /RRN DQG D &KDQFH WR 3DUWLFLSDWH LQ )LVKHULHV 0DQDJHPHQW I do not often use this column to discuss this magazine but, given that our Art and Graphics team dreamed up a new masthead image, I thought I should at least give them credit for the new look we’re sporting on the cover. Experts say you have but a few seconds to grab attention on the newsstand and we are hoping it will be a winner. The team has also been busy between the covers with what they assure me is a more professional look and better organization in the layout. I promise the quality of the content has not changed, so don’t waste time worrying about that.

Now for fishier business; if you have been reading here for a while you have probably endured my rants and reviews vis-à-vis the state of the spotted seatrout fishery in mid-coast bays. TPWD Coastal Fisheries’ population surveys have identified a twelve year decline in San Antonio Bay and nine years in Aransas Bay. Neighboring West Matagorda and Corpus Christi bays are only slightly better. Ask any speck angler who has plied mid-coast waters for a dozen years or longer and you will likely get an earful. Here lately, fishing has been toughest since the big freezes of the eighties in the eyes of many seasoned anglers.

Well, the managers have been studying the data and a change could be in the works. Coastal Fisheries Division is planning a series of scoping meetings to seek public comment as regards seatrout regulations.

There are a limited number of tools managers can employ and these will be explained in their presentations.

Changing bag limits is an obvious tool to promote propagation of the species. A five fish bag limit was enacted in the Lower Laguna Madre back in September 2007 and many anglers will attest to an abundance of eighteen to twenty-four inch fish since the regs took effect – fish that were conspicuously absent there for more than a few years prior.

Increasing the minimum legal length would be the quickest boost to spawning biomass but tough to sell to fishermen who perceive the bays to be already brimming with sub-legal specimens they’d be happy to take home and fry. Assuring the fishermen that the population is not growth-stunted as is sometimes seen in smaller freshwater fisheries will not be easy but, suffice to say, none of our bays are currently supporting capacity populations.

According to Robin Riechers, Director of Coastal Fisheries, the intent of the public scoping will be to advise recreational users of the status of the fishery and then seek comment to shape the Division’s recovery and management plans. Interestingly, both San Antonio and Aransas Bays have shown record crops of fingerling trout in recent bag seine surveys.

Recruiting this year-class to become the backbone of the fishery will be a primary objective.

I would like to encourage all coastal anglers to attend the scoping meetings and participate in the discussion. Meeting venues and schedules will be released soon. This is our fishery and this is our chance to be heard. TPWD is seeking your input and support. Think of the quality of fishing we had ten years ago. Think of future generations of Texans. I will be encouraging a rebuilding plan for our mid-coast seatrout fisheries. It will be up to the resource managers to take us there. ristmas and great fishing in 2011!

Merry Christmas

6 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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¹/W\ IVa \PZMM['º My first topwater experiences weren’t even with a real topwater, it was a Cotton Cordell Broken Back Redfin. The shock and awe was certainly real enough, though. With almost no clue how to work the thing at first, we soon discovered that by keeping it on the surface our fish tended to be larger, not to mention larger than life. Instead of just feeling a strike, we got to actually see and hear the violence – dangerous stuff that can lead to compulsive behavior and even addiction in extreme cases. Some call it Surface Junkie Syndrome, and while there is yet no proven cure, fishing often and for long periods is often prescribed for temporary relief of symptoms.

A lot has changed since those early learning years. Topwater fishing is now

much easier and we sometimes even have a bit of a clue what we are doing these days.

What hasn’t changed is how stiff your neck hairs still get when your plug gets broadsided by a large and angry fish. Now if we could only decide which one to throw and when and how to work it.

Back to that old Redfin, all we really knew in the beginning was to just chunk it as far as we could and then jerk it around until something hit it. Something eventually would and, when it did, the explosion itself was worth all the punishment your shoulders

and elbows took from flogging those old seven and a half foot blunderbuss rods all day with stretchy rubber band line. We didn’t know whether to keep the lure on top, pull it down hard or slow or do a combination of it all, but whatever we tried commanded a lot of effort and often many hours of nothingness. The learning was as fun as the catching though, and soon enough the fish got consistently bigger and so did those addictive explosions. Things kept getting better.

When the stick-type baits finally made their way into our boxes we thought we had won the big fish lottery but the physical punishment became even worse trying to “walk the dog” all day as all the supposed expertly-written articles of that era demanded we should.

Those old popping rods were much better suited for a rod holder, but

The Cotton Cordell Jointed Redfin or “Broken Back” as it is commonly called has been around a long time; Mike’s first proven “topwater” lure.

somehow we still got it done.

Mann’s Dancer was a great plug, but it was soon forced aside to make way for the Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow, and that’s about all we used all year round except during the most brutal winter sessions. At first it was either black or blue on back with silver sides, and then somebody figured out that a plug chewed down to plain bone was the best thing to ever happen at the end of a rod. Who would ever need another lure?

Enter modern times. With shorter and ridiculously lighter rods,

Got any threes? Here’s three sets of three plugs to match a wide variety of conditions and fish feeding attitudes. Note that colors are arranged from lighter to natural to higher-contrast. For calm-shallow and when the fish show preference for smaller forage: SS Jr. in bone, Skitter Walk SW08 (known to many as a “Baby” Skitter Walk) in Shad Translucent, SS Jr. in Black Shore Shad. In-between in size and voice: Rapala Skitter Walk SSW11 in bone (white) fitted with single hooks, SS One Knocker in Okie Shad, MirrOlure Top Dog Jr. in 808, black-gold-orange. The big and nasty for choppy and deeper water: MirrOlure She Dog in bone/chrome, SS in Okie shad, SS in black shore shad. The author believes strongly in bright red gill flares and that middle trebles are “desperately not needed.” Single hooks are less dangerous to angler’s hands and do not snag as much floating grass.

8 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Meet the Super Spook family. Top: SS Jr. (3-1/2 inches-1/2 ounce) in bone color pattern, fitted with single hooks. Center: SS One Knocker (41/2 inches-3/4 ounce) in Okie Shad. Bottom: Super Spook (5-inches-7/8 ounce) in Black Shore Shad pattern. The Super Spook comes from the factory with three treble hooks. The author prefers to remove the middle hook in belief that a pair of #1 trebles improves landing ratio.

plus braided line and a plethora of good surface lures to choose from, topwater fishing has now become near effortless. What used to take rabid arm flailing is now reduced to mere flicks of the wrist. The new problem most beginners face today is deciding which plug to use, when to use it, which color and why, and how to work the darn thing in the first place. In trying to keep things simple I am remorsefully reduced to a little dock joke that has ended up as a sort of go-to phrase around our camp lately.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 9

10 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Mike Mcbride

&RQWDFW

A while back At El Jefe’s Cantina and Marina here in Port Mansfield, one of the more colorful locals swaggered up (quite happy with his physical and mental condition at the time I might add), and asked, “You got any threes?”

Naturally I had to inquire what the Hell he meant; which then prompted his punch line, “Ha-Ha…That’s what I figured…Go Fish!”

OK, it was funny at the time, especially with the generously imbibed inflection, but these days “Got any threes?” simply means it’s time to go fishing. Now, as for how all of this relates to topwaters, and in trying to keep things simple, we really only need about three classes of them to cover most all situations on the water. Let’s go there, but with the agreement that most lure discussions are individually owned and that your results may certainly vary.

To me (and with thousands of additional man hours watching others), what matters most about topwater fishing besides getting on fish is simply the level of presentation. If we have three basic plugs with us we can usually come close to what it takes for the moment.

We basically just need something delicate, something strong, and then something in between. We also need about three basic color schemes out of everything available; something light, something dark, and something consistent with the more natural baitfish patterns. There is a huge difference between fishing and fishing well, so let’s try, and let’s start small.

Depending on available forage and water conditions, a smaller presentation can wreck shop on even bigger fish. If they’re on shrimp for example, and in shallow and calm water, large and loud plugs can often run them off instead of calling them up. Please understand there is a very fine line between being enticing and threatening. The junior-sized Super Spook and Skitter Walk (SW08) do very well here.

A lighter-colored plug such as bone, plus a more natural-colored bait like Okie Shad or speckled trout, and perhaps a darker or louder-

colored version such as black or chartreuse will do just about everything we need to do. As a general rule; lighter-colored and flashier baits do well on sunnier days, darker or loudercolored baits during cloudier periods, and more natural/ neutral lures in clean water.

You really can’t go wrong with intermediate-sized lures for most applications. These would be the Skitter Walk (SSW11), Top Dog Jr, and our most recent froth-at-the-mouth favorite…the Heddon One Knocker. The One Knocker is right between a Super Spook Jr. and a full-sized Super Spook. Again though, something light, something dark, and something more natural leaves little left but your own twitching skill.

There are times when we need a more grandiose presentation, such as in high chop or in nasty water clarity.

Here we need something that draws lots of attention, so bring the big guns out. The full-sized Super Spook is standard here, as are the obnoxious and loud-mouthed She Dog and He Dog from MirrOlure that sound more like angry spray paint cans than fishing lures when worked aggressively.

One of the most common questions I get from new topwater guys is, “How do I work it?” I’m sorry, but that’s like asking Leonardo De Vinci how to work a paintbrush.

You do what you need to do to make them hit it, and that can vary from hour to hour. Many people subscribe to a monotonous retrieve akin to a chugging single-cylindered Briggs&Stratton. Don’t get me wrong, there are times for that, but again, there is a big difference between fishing and fishing well. Let the fish tell you and be prepared for the accidental and unexpected.

Just last week for example, Tricia and I with our clients were on a great topwater bite; lots of blowups at first but few hookups.

Somebody stopped their plug to wipe their glasses and seconds later almost had their rod jerked from under their arm. We found out, by accident, they wanted long pauses…almost dead-sticking, and we all had a tremendous day.

Winter is here but never place too much stock in that old adage that says, early and late – spring and fall, for fishing up top. There is no one right way to work them, we just need to have about three basic sizes and then be intuitive about how strong (or soft) our presentation needs to be. There will be some extreme fish caught on the surface this month, so I gotta ask…“Got any threes?”

Mike McBride is a full time fishing guide based in Port Mansfield, TX, specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.

Contact Skinny Water Adventures Telephone 956-746-6041

Email McTrout@Granderiver.net Website Skinnywateradventures.com/ Three_MudSkateers.wmv

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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Obey all state firearm transport laws. Ram is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

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7ZR &DOHQGDUV All around the globe, calendars are set according to celestial realities.

The timing of the earth’s rotation on its axis and the duration of its orbit around the sun set up the grid of days that compile each year.

Any studious ninth-grader can identify the points on the calendar which mark the beginnings and endings of the four seasons.

Spring begins on the vernal equinox, when the earth’s equator lies on the same plane as the center of the sun. This date normally falls on March 20 or 21 in the northern hemisphere.

Summer starts when the earth is tilted most sharply toward the sun. In our half of the world, north of the equator, that event most often occurs on June 21.

Once the axes of the earth and sun align again, the autumnal equinox arrives, and fall begins, on or about the 22nd of September.

After that day, the tilt of the earth’s axis dictates that the upper half of the globe moves steadily farther away from the bright star at the center of the solar system. Until December 21 or thereabouts, when the maximum angle is reached, and winter solstice happens, signaling the beginning of Jack Frost‘s season.

These well-known facts shape the calendars we buy at bookstores; officially and scientifically, the seasons are thus defined.

But in our culture, we operate under the influence of an unofficial, second calendar too.

In our informal, secondary-calendar world, the seasons start and end with the timing of other culturally significant events.

Thanksgiving is often thought of as the end of autumn in this alternate universe, so the entire month of December is part of winter in the minds of many.

The timing of Spring Break in public schools and universities signals winter’s end. Bust out the Speedos and bikinis and head to the beach, spring is here! So goes the thought process, even though many of the week-long breaks end before the vernal equinox.

Summer starts, we all learned in our childhood, when the last school bell rings, sometime around Memorial Day. June is, for many, a singularly summer month, one for getting a part-time job, or just basking in the glow of freedom from the pencil pushers.

Similarly, Labor Day is seen as summer‘s end. Numerous news programs and television ads describe the holiday in exactly that way.

School buses roll into the neighborhoods, and summer fun screeches

to a halt, but technically, Labor Day occurs more than two weeks prior to the onset of autumn.

None of this qualifies as news to the readers of this magazine, I’m sure. I have taken the time to point it all out because I believe the existence of two calendars potentially creates confusion about how the changing seasons affect fishing tactics.

For decades, the stereotypical saltwater fishing “season” was thought to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, (summer on the secondary calendar) because bait houses had plenty of live and dead shrimp available, and multiple species could then be caught in the bays. More recently, many have recognized that good coastal fishing is available throughout the year. Still, benchmarks are regularly cited as having relevance in saltwater fishing.

A surf temperature which stays at or above 70°F has long been said to serve as a kind of kickoff for the year’s speckled trout fishing.

Flounder migrate most urgently when the water dips down to about 65° F and stays there. These are reliable, well-known truths. There are others of significance. Trophy trout nuts like me have identified more subtle, less recognized trends, which we consider when deciding where and how to fish.

I notice a tendency for big trout to move shallow, and by that I mean knee-deep or shallower, in great numbers, usually around the middle of February. Many stay in those depths until sometime in mid-May. In other words, plenty of jumbo trout are available in super skinny water in the last month or more of winter.

This hints at what I mean when I say the secondary, imaginary calendar has the potential to create confusion. Most people think catching trout in winter means, “You gotta get ’em deep.” In early December, (when it’s still autumn) I often hear people say, “Now that winter’s here, the trout have moved deep and they’ll stay deep until spring. The smart strategy will be to fish the edges of the channels until it warms up.”

Many trout, especially the schoolies, do move deep sometime in late-fall and stay there until spring. Accomplished trophy hunters know this isn’t true of the ol’ big ones, though. I find that large trout prefer water from waist to belly-deep from Thanksgiving through mid-February, though they will periodically go shallower during this time frame, when the shallowest water is the warmest

2010 has been one of the wettest years ever in the Corpus Christi area. Fishing is historically good during rainy periods.

12 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

water. Those who believe they “gotta get ’em deep” will likely catch plenty for the frying pan, but few for the wall.

Basically, that’s the bone I have to pick with the two-calendar system; it potentially misleads one about fishing facts. I’ll accept that “fifty is the new thirty”, especially for actresses with access to Botox. I might even buy the idea that HD televisions which cost thousands of dollars are supposed to last half as long as the cheap sets we had back in the 70s. But I just can’t wrap my mind around the premise that winter is the new spring.

It pays to have one and only one calendar in mind when talking and/or writing about fishing patterns. If I write that trout are often found shallow in late-winter, I’m referring to the month or six weeks prior to the vernal equinox. If I post a picture in the magazine and say a productive summer pattern led to catching the featured fish, readers can rest assured that the fish was caught after June 21, during the real season, not during a mythical one muddling the minds of daydreaming schoolboys.

Many out there will undoubtedly suggest I’m ranting and raving about something of minor importance. I plead guilty; having done that before, I’m likely doing it here and will undoubtedly do it again! I don‘t just sweat the small stuff, I exercise it to utter Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 13

All seasons resemble others at times. Conditions like water temperature change slowly, and the effects of one season can linger into the next. After a cold winter, the water may warm slowly, and patterns in early spring may be decidedly winter-like.

More commonly, hot daytime temperatures persist into October, causing early-fall fishing to remain disappointingly summery.

Conversely, the coldest weather of the year often occurs in December, in the last gasps of autumn, especially in South Texas. If a hard freeze causes all the trout and reds to go belly up two weeks before Christmas, it will have been a deadly FALL front that took them out, not a winter one! That’s my story, and I’ve got ancient and reliable charts of the solar system to prove it.

Kevin Cochran

&RQWDFW

exhaustion. Seriously, I do believe details are important in fishing.

Keeping track of details accurately is helpful; doing the opposite is potentially harmful.

If a guy tells me he likes to fish a particular spot in the spring, I want to know that he means the period from March 20 to June 20, not February. I know, I know, temperatures can be balmy in South Texas in the second half of February, but a fish caught then is not a spring-caught fish, even if it‘s 89 degrees.

Cold weather like we had in the winter of 2009-10 can help savvy trophy trout hunters land more big fish, like the pretty 8 1/4 pounder shown here.

14 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has authored two books on the subject. Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut. Trout Tracker Guide Service Telephone 361-688-3714

Email KCochran@stx.rr.com Website www.FishBaffinBay.com

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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On Saturday, 09 October, my shark fishing mentor and brother in spirit of thirty-four years, Karl Boardman, passed on at the age of 75. Karl was a part of that family Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve written about, the one we collect on our journey through life that ends up closer than being blood kin. Seems like we might have been blood brothers though because I have a vague recollection of him and me performing that ceremony while under the influence years ago. I attended a small outdoor memorial service for him at Royâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bait and Tackle Outfitters for him on Thursday the 14 October. Many thanks to the Guerra family for doing that.

Beach fishermen have always been family and the shark fishermen are the tightest family of all. The grandson of a full blooded Bruleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Lakota, Karlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s church was under the open skies and his religion centered around Mother Earth and Mother Ocean as does mine.

Karl was larger than life in many ways and played a major role in the very beginning of surf fishing for sharks, but most of you will not have heard of him because he kept to himself and he sought neither publicity nor acclaim.

To the contrary; he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want anyone to know what he was catching or where or by what methods. He and the handful of others who started the sport locally would load large sharks and take them all the way up to Bob Hall Pier so people would think they had been caught there instead of down the Chuck Evetts and Sam beach. They got away Fugate with a nice PINS jack with this for years.

16 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

He knew that to publicize the availability of such a fishery would bring countless droves of disrespectful newcomers to this place (PINS; before it was PINS) that he and I and others considered sacred and we knew they would not all share our spirituality that considered all living things equal.

We felt humbled to be the children of this place where the sea meets the shore and treated it as our church. But we knew that as more and more people began to visit PINS far too many of them would not have the slightest conception of how we felt towards PINS and Mother Ocean. Karl quit going down island long ago. It broke his heart to see what PINS and shark fishing had become. Selfish?

Certainly. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been thinking about it the past few days and of all the many things he was, Karl Boardman was a shark fisherman above all else. And as I thought those things about Karl I heard a rough voice deep inside of me say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeah, and so are you. You always have been.

You do lots of things and fish for lots of fish but what you ARE is a shark fisherman.â&#x20AC;? I Author with fly-caught jack. have no choice but to stand guilty as charged. Boardman used to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care how much money youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got or how big your boat is.

MY FISH EATS YOUR FISH.â&#x20AC;?

It caused me to recall decades of pain and strain; of danger and anguish and often unrealistically heroic efforts and I realized I would have had it no other way.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Bars and points form in mysterious ways on the Gulf beach. This “greatly extended” point formed recently at the PINS 30-mile beach; only the second the author has ever observed.

And for several days now I’ve been mulling it around in my mind and asking myself if the spirituality is gone from the sport and the place we considered sacred. I’m pleased that the answer to that is no; it isn’t gone. It lives on just as always. Trust me there are plenty of folks down there who don’t have a clue and probably never will but there are also many who do. I’m grateful and pleased. Some things are being lost along the way but at the same time some of the first negative practices are likewise going away and it was imperative that they do so. For years we killed every big shark we caught and used pups for bait. We didn’t know any better. We thought the sea was a boundless resource and that we couldn’t possibly damage fish populations.

So much for that. Now catch and release is the norm among sport fishermen and I thank the Creator that it is, but I am deeply concerned about the continuing mass destruction of shark species by commercial fishermen for the Oriental shark fin market. And it’s not half way around the world. Mexican shark boats out of Playa Bagdad are illegally fishing the waters off PINS and have been for years. I’ve been studying up on it a bit and noticed the Mexicans were complaining that the average size of sharks they catch in Texas waters are getting smaller. That’s scary. Lots of small fish and few big ones is a sign of a

fishery in big trouble. And we see the same situation developing in our speckled trout fishery, by the way.

I did a little film shoot with National Geographic and Harte Institute recently. National Geographic is doing a special on bull sharks. Of very special interest is why there are so very few attacks on humans by bull sharks in Texas and certain other places, even though there are goodly numbers of bulls present, while other coastlines have many more attacks for no conspicuous reasons. Availability of food source, salinity and all kinds of things to consider as potential reasons and it should sure make for an interesting study and show. Gulf shrimpers used to say that sharks feeding on their by-catch was the reason more people don’t get bit. They would always say, “Just put us out of business and watch them sharks start hitting people on the beach.”

BUT – Gulf shrimper numbers and Gulf shrimping effort are way down and attacks haven’t increased.

Driving in the Big Shell Beach area began to deteriorate following our string of September tropical weather events and on the first morning of the Sharkathon Tournament, 01 October, I believe I saw in the neighborhood of 40 vehicles broken down or stuck in the Big Shell. The beach took three days of heavy pounding by tournament

Please don’t block the road...

There is a right way and a wrong way to park and set up camp on the beach.

When driving conditions deteriorate, the best route is at the water’s edge. Note vehicle in foreground is not blocking the road. Please display the same courtesies you would like to enjoy.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 17

Ball of dusky anchovies getting hammered in the surf.

BILLY SANDIFER’S

&RDVWDO %LUGLQJ Sandwich Tern -Sterna Sandvicensistraffic followed the next weekend by the Surf Cats tournament. I have broken leaf springs on two occasions lately but last Sunday it got me real good when both sets of rear springs gave up the ghost. A $740 repair bill along with a lost charter makes it tough on a beach guide. Organizing a tournament is a huge undertaking, no doubt, but to tell you the truth I think organizers might want to consider the reality that the beach can only handle so much traffic before it is seriously and negatively impacted.

A good two-inch rain to pack that loose sand down would help more than anything else right now.

Although I’ve had few shark charters in October there are really some high numbers of bull sharks being caught and released. I believe the total I heard concerning Sharkathon was eighty sharks caught with thirtyseven being bull sharks. Later in the month several camps have landed six or more bulls on one trip. Strangely, the biggest I’ve heard of was 7’-2”.

These are sub-adults; not mature breeders. Adult female bulls ranging between eight and nine feet have been present in varying degrees every summer of my life and I remember one year we landed sixteen over eight feet in a two-and-a-half week span. The last few years there are one or two landed at best and I am concerned about the adult population. The 8’-6” bull I pictured in a recent article getting outfitted with a satellite tag (and the only one I know of being caught this year) quit transmitting in the area of Playa Bagdad. I fear that says a whole lot. Enjoy the Holidays and remember life’s a hoot if you let it.

If we don’t leave any there won’t be any! -Capt. Billy L. Sandifer

Medium-sized member of tern family; adult plumage is pale gray upper with white underparts, shaggy black crest that is less extensive in winter with white crown. A vocal bird with long, slender, black bill tipped with yellow. Has deeply forked white tail and black legs and feet. Feeds by plunge diving for fish. Courtship displays include males offering fish to females. Present along Texas beaches and bays March through November, migrates south for winter.

Breeds April through July on coastal islands. Nests in ground scrapes, lays one to three eggs. Young birds have grey and brown scalloped plumage.

Length: 15 inches Wingspan: 34 inches Weight: 7 ounces

&RQWDFW

Capt. Billy Sandifer 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 361-937-8446

Website www.billysandifer.com

18 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Photo by Jimmy Jackson

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

6WRU\ E\ 0DUWLQ 6WUDUXS

20 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

only time that I slid my bait across the bottom was when I was after flounder. Don’t get me wrong, I had slowed my retrieve depending on the circumstances often, but I’d never fished for trout that way.

In my mind I thought that I had to work the bait in that manner while I was fishing down there in order to catch fish; sand eels and all that stuff. But that wasn’t the case at all. In fact I caught more trout fishing my usual rhythm than by sliding the bait on trips after that particular day, especially in my home waters, and the sand eel concept sort of vanished into the recesses of my mind. Well until a couple of weeks ago anyway.

I was fishing a favorite stretch of water down south and while the water looked like pond water and was almost fresh on top there were fish below making bait come up and break the surface and there were some nice small slicks popping up here and there. The problem was that none of the toothy fish were cooperating with me. Then just as I was about to change bait colors, again, I realized what type of bait I was throwing. Yup, a Norton sand eel.

So remembering that day so many years ago I cast out, let the lure go to the bottom then raised my rod tip, took up the slack with my reel as I lowered the rod back down toward the water then did it again and was rewarded with that familiar thump that we so love to feel resonating up our expensive graphite sticks. It went on that way all morning and that afternoon as well. Go figure.

The next morning was different though as I started out as I had ended the previous day, sliding the bait across the bottom but I had no takers. I started working the bait as I usually do and “thump” – there she was.

I guess the sand eels were milling about and weren’t hanging on the bottom, heck I don’t know. But I do know that when I’m not getting any action from my usual retrieve, in addition to trying other baits, different weight lead heads, topwaters, tails of every brand and style, and slowing or speeding my retrieve – I’ll remember what the old man said about sand eels and sliding my bait across the bottom.

Maybe you’ll remember too.

Be Safe.

&RQWDFW

Years ago when my friend Sammy Wigginton and I used to haunt the Land Cut often I learned something about working soft plastic baits.

I was working my bait as I always did and wasn’t getting much return out of my efforts.

I was fishing a familiar bottom; sandy potholes, grass, no shell… pretty much what I was used to fishing in that area but even though I knew that there were fish present, none was giving my lure so much as a tap to see what it was. I changed color, I changed lead head weight I sped up and slowed down my retrieve but with no good results.

About two hundred yards from me were two men fishing and I almost gave up when I saw both of their rods bent and trout splashing out in front of them. Arrgghhh!!! What was I doing wrong?

I was going to change the color and type of bait that I was using for the umpteenth time when I saw one of the men cast back out into the water.

So I watched him.

I couldn’t see at that distance how fast he was reeling but I could see how he was working his bait. He wasn’t hopping the bait as I usually do, imitating a live shrimp; he was dragging the bait across the bottom and rarely twitched his rod but dang it if he didn’t hook up again.

I put my go-to colored soft plastic back on and made my cast. I let the bait settle to the bottom and I slowly raised my rod tip, dragging the lure along the bottom. When my rod reached its apex I lowered my rod, gave it a twitch then resumed dragging the bait back to me.

Two more casts and working the bait the same way yielded my first trout of the morning and from that moment, it was on.

Yes, I did try working the bait the way I usually do but the fish ignored what I had to offer them. When I went back to sliding the bait back, they got interested again.

I didn’t get it at the time, I only knew then that by sliding the bait across the bottom I got results and when I worked the bait as I normally did I didn’t. But I was curious and I mentioned my findings to an old salt later on.

“Sand eels,” he said.

“Sand eels?” I asked, puzzled.

“Yup, sand eels,” he said. And he went on to explain, “Sand eels bury up in the sand and when they come up out of the sand it doesn’t take long for trout to find them. What you were into were sand eels leaving the protection of the sand that they were buried in to feed and the trout were on the bottom eating them. When you were working your bait like a live shrimp you were out of the zone but when you started sliding it across the bottom the trout found your bait.”

Okay that made sense even if at that time I knew absolutely nothing about sand eels except that it was sort of like the old “matching the hatch” type of thinking except not in color or bait design but in movement of the bait. Prior to the sand eel lesson, the

Martin Strarup Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman.

Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas.

Email Trouthunter@swbell.net

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

:KDW LV D

VDQG HHO" In the fishing vernacular, marine creatures often get lumped into categories by their appearance more than by proper biological classification. That’s the way we are. If a fish resembles a perch we call it a perch. If it is eel-like or worm-like in appearance, we call them eels or worms.

Dr. Mark Fisher of TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division says, “On the East coast, when an angler says ‘sand eel’ they are referring to a sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), which really isn’t an eel; none-the-less they are highly-favored as bait by striped bass anglers. Here on the Texas coast; when an angler sees ‘sand eels’ inside the stomach of a red drum or speckled trout, they are most likely seeing shrimp eels (Ophichthus gomesi).”

In his book Fishes of the Texas Laguna Madre, Dr. David McKee professor of marine biology at Texas A&M Corpus Christi describes the speckled worm eel and also the shrimp eel. Both species are common on muddy and sandy bottoms of Texas bays and the nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The juveniles of both species would make excellent forage for reds and trout. Fully mature adults can reach two feet and more in length and migrate to the Gulf of Mexico to spawn.

Juveniles are most commonly seen in Texas bays December through May. It is widely understood that red drum and speckled trout are opportunistic predators and therefore apt to eat just about anything they can catch and swallow. If we find something in a fish’s stomach at the cleaning table, we know he ate it. If we have a lure that might imitate it, we try it. And, sometimes we get lucky.

That a plethora of soft plastic baits are created to replicate various forms of marine life is neither a secret nor surprise.

Learning to use them in ways to trick the predator is no doubt one of the greatest thrills in angling.

Photo Credit: Brenda Bowling, TPWD

<ŶŽǁ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽǀĞƐ ƚŽ ĮƐŚ͍ <ŶŽǁ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ǁŝƐŚ ǁŽƵůĚ ĮƐŚ͍ sŝƐŝƚ

ǁǁǁ͘ƉŝŶŬŵĂƌůŝŶ͘ĐŽŵ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ŐĞĂƌ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵƌ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ͊ :ƵƐƚ ŝŶ ƟŵĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŚŽůŝĚĂLJƐ͊

͞ZĞĞů ^ƚƵī ĨŽƌ tŽŵĞŶ͟

~Martin Strarup Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 21

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%RDW PDLQWHQDQFH DGYLFH IURP &KULV 0DSS &RDVWDO %HQG 0DULQH This is the time of year when boats are stored for a season. What you have to spend in the spring can depend on what you do today.

The critical part of winterizing your boat is knowing what to do and when to do it. If you fish year round and duck hunt during winter and the boat does not sit for more than 45 to 60 days you do not need to winterize, only stabilize.

Winterizing should be performed as soon as the last trip is done.

What to do? Stabilize fuel system and fog engine. Spray CorrosionX Red on steering components, powerhead, pumps, jackplate and batteries. Lube all grease fittings on engine and jackplate as well as trailer wheel bearings.

Stabilizing and fogging: I do not recommend filling tank prior to storing. Treat the fuel in your tank with the proper amount of fuel stabilizer based on gallons in your tank and stabilizer package recommendation. Change fuel/water separator filter. Pour one ounce of stabilizer into new filter, pump fuel bulb, start and run engine on hose for 20 minutes at 1500 rpm. (The goal is to have treated fuel in the tank, fuel/water separator, fuel lines and engine fuel system.) Most additives need to be agitated, not just poured in, so drive around on the trailer a few minutes.

If you have been running a fuel additive every tank, read your product label to see if stabilization is part of the fuel additive formula; no need to double dose. Use engine fogging oil directly

22 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

into intake during the last three to four minutes of engine operation and reduce RPM to idle. (Removing air box is usually recommended.)

Packets of rat poison in storage hatches are highly recommend if pets and children are not going to be a factor. Leave hatches open, pull drain plugs, turn battery switch off.

Sample lower unit fluid for water. Tilt engine all the way under and jack trailer up as high as possible. (The goal is to make sure all water is drained from bearing carrier/exhaust cavity in case we get a real Texas winter, don’t want to be at home and can’t remember).

Disconnect fuel line at engine if so equipped, (usually standard on smaller hp engines).

This service will cost around $125.00 at service facility if time is not your friend.

Inboards should change oil and follow procedures above.

Have a great winter!

Coastal Bend Marine & Auto PO Box 301/1808 W. Adams – Port O’Connor, TX 77982 Phone: 361-983-4841 Fax: 361-983-4676 Email: mchrismapp@aol.com

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

SHIMANO CURADO 50 BAITCAST REEL

BERKLEY SALTWATER GULP SHRIMP • Available in 3 and 4-in.

• Aluminum frame • 6.4:1 gear ration • 5+1 bearings • #CU50E

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:KDW¶V ,W *RQQD %H" Anyone who has spent their fair share of winters in Texas knows that it can go from Bermuda shorts to thermals and back again in the blink of an eye. I know dang good and well just as soon as I write this column and push send it will all go down the toilet but I’m going to do it anyway – here goes.

For the past several weeks the entire Gulf coast has basically put bad weather on hold and hit pause on “perfection.” The coastal forecast on any weather website appears to be stuck, the temperatures and wind forecasts change so little that many folks have almost grown complacent. Instead of taking advantage of “light and variable” or “smooth” winds, many just opt out and go the next day because the forecast never seems to change. Talk about spoiled; it’s been incredible.

Now perhaps the most unique condition that Upper Coast folks are blessed with right now has been the lack of rain and runoff from heavy rains. Anglers on Sabine have been especially fortunate in that area since we have probably the largest water shed area in the state with both the big rivers, Sabine and Neches, dumping into our bay.

To our north both Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend are below pool and sending minimal amounts downstream which means Sabine Lake has stayed saltier than normal for most of the summer. In fact Toledo Bend is at near record low pool due to some maintenance work being done on the dam. The ultra-low lake level will also help cushion the blow for Sabine anglers from any big rains in the near future since the lake will need to fill before all

24 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

that water is released and heads this way.

The biggest reason for this little weather talk and update on the conditions is to make folks aware of just how good the fishing is and how good it may get in the very near future. Conditions like what we have now on Sabine don’t happen every year like many other bay systems because we just have way too many variables to deal with that others don’t. Runoff from the big lakes upriver being the biggest, this has a major impact on salinity levels which in turn impacts the fishing patterns. An incredibly vicious cycle that will make you pull your hair out from time to time. The conditions we have at the moment are some of the best you will ever see and it may be years before we see it again. For these reasons I am very excited about the fishing possibilities for the fall and winter seasons.

Almost every saltwater angler knows how incredible the fishing can be during the fall, flocks of gulls hovering over hungry schools of trout and redfish as far as the eye can see. A fish on every cast and the feeling that there is no way fishing could ever get any better.

That program will be the main focus for many anglers, just look at the launches around the lake. There will be an extra sprinkling of freshwater anglers who “snowbird” on Sabine Lake just to take advantage of the lights-out fishing we’ve been enjoying so far this fall. The crowds will descend on the lake until the weather finally runs everyone except the most diehard anglers back to the comfort of a warm couch and football on TV. That program is obvious but definitely not the only game in town.

One of the mainstay methods of fishing in the fall and winter months actually has nothing to do with the lake, it happens in the deeper water of the Sabine River. Patient anglers probe the deep points and bends in the river with live shad during this time of the year and they often produce some eye-popping catches. Plenty of redfish and good flounder are caught as well as some really huge trout by the folks “draggin’ shad.” I have seen trout well over nine pounds taken miles up the river on a live shad dangled from a Carolina rig, trust me it works. Quite often big trout show up in the middle of a school of good redfish, so don’t discount that thump on

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

the end of your line, it could be the trout you’ve been waiting for your whole life.

Another really cool opportunity that seems to come around only when we have these conditions is the phenomenal run of good sand trout. Just about any main river point has these fish stacked on them and they are ready and willing to bite.

This is the best game in town for the kids since the there is basically no technique involved and a variety of baits can be used. Fresh dead shrimp, shad, squid, and just about any small soft plastic will do the trick. Once the depth of the school is determined it’s almost automatic; just drop your bait over the side and fish vertical.

Don’t be afraid to move around and find another school, there are some really good sand trout in the river and the better fish tend to run together. The big bonus that comes with catching sand trout is when a school of redfish or trout come in and start feeding on them, you can get your line stretched in a hurry.

Now with all this focus on the winter months many will concentrate on hunting, especially waterfowl hunting along the coast. The only problem with this plan is what are you going to do with all the redfish in the marsh? There is absolutely

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 25

glorious and will soon come to an end when all the water leaves on the first really good norther, but until then it will remain an absolute paradise for those willing to do a little work. I know that during the first split of duck season I will not go to the blind without a fishing rod stashed somewhere.

The thought of ducks committed to land in a pond with redfish bouncing around in the decoys is what pleasant dreams are made of and I plan to get all of that I can stand.

I hope that the fall and winter months are kind to all of you and that your fishing and hunting exploits make you great memories that will last a lifetime. If the current conditions will hold up or perhaps get even better, I can’t see any reason why these next few weeks won’t be some of the best we’ve seen in a quite a while. Enjoy your time on the water and by all means be safe.

26 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

&RQWDFW

nothing better in my mind right now than chasing some stud redfish, watching ducks work a pond, and listening to geese overhead as the make their way into our part of the world. Talk about an absolute sensory overload! The marshes all along the coast have been chockfull of redfish and they are not bashful about eating during this time of the year. The great thing has been the size of some these fish, redfish up to fifteen pounds tailing or cruising with their back out of the water is a sight to behold. My son Hunter refers to the current conditions as “back to the glory days.” Indeed they have been

Chuck Uzzle Chuck fishes Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes from his home in Orange, TX. His specialties are light tackle and fly fishing for trout, reds, and flounder.

Phone Email Website

409-697-6111 cuzzle@gt.rr.com www.chucksguideservice.net

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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The University of Texas

Marine Science Institute

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org The University of Texas Marine Science Institute Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 27

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LȐɑȐȽǸ HȐɕȨȇȐȽȃȐɕ ҈ ɑȐǸȹ ɄȹȐɕ PɑɤȐ Ever since I was a little girl growing up on the Texas Coast near Matagorda, I have dreamed of one day going out to sea and catching a big fish. Well, that dream finally became reality at the ripe old age of sixty!

After seeing the advertisement in our magazine for Serena Residences in Mazatlan, Mexico, I mentioned to my boss (Everett) that I sure would like to catch a blue marlin one day. Well, he and Pam talked it over and, lo and behold, they hooked me up. The first week of October 2010, husband Ron and I went to Mazatlan to visit Serena Residences and what a trip it was.

After arriving on the airplane and going through customs, which can be frustrating and even intimidating for folks who don’t make international flights very often, a very friendly face was waiting in the lobby and the man was holding a sign with my name on it. Let me tell you; that made my day right there and made me feel important. He loaded us into his Jeep and away we went to the resort. Arriving at the resort, we were checked into our three bedroom - two bath condo which was immaculate and well-stocked with everything anyone could need. The personnel at the resort had asked us upon arrival if we would

28 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

like lunch so they could prepare it for us. We opted out, but I wonder what it would have been after eating the fine meals prepared for us in the evenings. We took the liberty of roaming around the facility and checking out the swimming pool and hot tub for the afternoon until we decided to sit on our patio and have a few cervezas left in our room for us (at a nominal fee of course).

We then walked over to the restaurant for dinner. The menu is rather limited but the food at Serena Residences is excellent. The first night, my husband had grilled mahi-mahi with grilled vegetables and a salad and I had a rib eye steak with grilled vegetables and salad also and then came brownies with ice cream on top. While we were waiting on this fine meal, Jonathan Alarcorn the Serena general manager came over to visit with us and fill us in on the next day’s fishing activities. He informed us that we should arrive at the restaurant around 6:00 am for breakfast. We questioned him about things to do in Mazatlan and were told that they could arrange any type of activity that we would like to do; going to the beach, old downtown for shopping where the cruise boats come in, along with other attractions. Unfortunately, we did not have much time for these things as our focus was fishing but there are plenty of activities

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

available for the curious and non-fishing members of any group.

The next morning, we went to have our breakfast and there was toast, cereal, muffins, and fresh fruit all laid out for us. Shortly the boat captain came in and retrieved us for the day’s fishing. Our boat crew was Captain Luis and Chato and what entertainers they were. You never got bored, even when the fishing was slow. The boat we were assigned was a 26’ Glacier Bay and we enjoyed the speed, comfort and stability it provided. We trolled all day and ran into a school of dorado and caught quite a few but my mission was to catch a marlin so we changed up and began exploring. Luis and Chato explained how the marlin often push bait to the surface. We found lots of surface activity, major splashing and small fish leaping in many places, and naturally we’d all be on pins and needles as we cruised closer, but it was only dolphins – acres and acres of dolphins. Now we have lots of dolphins in Texas but I have never seen so many in one area in my whole life.

We did run into a small school of tuna in the middle of one of these schools of dolphin and were lucky enough to catch one but no luck with the marlin for the first day.

Arriving back at the resort dock, Captain Luis and Chato cleaned our fish and the chef came down to the dock and took some fillets back to the kitchen to prepare for our evening meal. Our meal that evening was also amazing. We were first brought some fresh ceviche that had been prepared from our mahi-mahi and the next course was sashimi prepared from our tuna. This was my first time for sashimi and I must say I was pleasantly surprised, it was very good. Our main course for the evening was garlic grilled mahi-mahi along with and array of grilled veggies and again an excellent dessert of crème brulée with bananas and Baileys Irish Cream.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

The next morning we went out again and this was the day. By 9:30 I had my first blue marlin and was absolutely thrilled. When this fish hit the line, I was sent to the back of the boat to fight it and only lasted about ten minutes before I was worn out. All these years I thought I was fit and in shape for my age doing lots of yard work and gardening chores but boy did I find out otherwise. Chato took over for about ten minutes while I rested and then it was my turn again.

This went on for about an hour with Chato giving me short breaks until we finally landed the fish. I was ecstatic. The dream I had carried all through my years growing up on the coast and fishing so many years had finally come true. Ron and I were all smiles and so proud that I was able to accomplish this even though I had to have some help in getting the fish to the boat.

With our marlin in the boat, we trolled around looking for another school of tuna or maybe more dorado. We never found any but it never dampened our spirits. The thrill and memory of that blue marlin is something I will always cherish.

To sum it up, our trip was a very pleasant experience and I would recommend anyone wanting to go sport fishing in the Mexican Pacific to try Serena Residences at Mazatlan. It is first class all the way and the boat captain is wonderful and speaks our language so there is no barrier in communicating. This resort is very secure and also very accommodating. The staff is very polite and quick to deliver anything you could want or need. The meals were excellent and included in the price of the trip. I know there is currently a lot of concern with security and personal safety in some parts of Mexico but I would never have a problem with recommending Mazatlan and this resort to anyone wanting to vacation in Mexico. The area is just gorgeous!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 29

JAY WATKINS

I have been asked countless times why I prefer wade fishing versus drifting and fishing on the trolling motor. My answer has always been the same – I believe wading i h angler l a distinct advantage in finding and staying with gives the fish for longer periods as well as greater freedom in casting. As a guide, I believe wading provides the best opportunity for clients to learn technique as well as catch fish.

Expectations rise among diehard trophy trout anglers with the passage of each northerly front. Given the ample rainfall received in 2010 I expect 2011 should be better than average for fish pushing the eight pound mark along the Middle and Lower Texas coast. There is some concern over the fish-kill that occurred in Baffin in early September but bad as some of the photos looked my sources assure me that it was localized and did not affect the entire bay system or other areas surrounding Baffin. I saw very few dead gamefish from the Kennedy Causeway through the Land Cut. Alazan, Laguna Salada and Cayo Del Grullo were hardest hit as far as trout and reds go but even here I am told the kills were highly localized. Corpus Christi and Aransas Bays were unaffected. I am an optimist looking on the bright side; I think we are in for a good winter and earlyspring trophy season.

A few issues back I walked you through a morning of summer trophy trout hunting and received more e-mails about that article than ever before. So in this issue I’ll take you on a winter trophy run. I hope you enjoy the trip.

It’s 5:00am. The temperature is a damp 50°F as I stow my Simms wading bag in my already warming truck.

What I carry in the bag are some of the most important items for the day. Simms G-4 waders, Simms Freestone wading jacket and my very comfortable Simms Flats Sneakers are all that separate me from the harsh conditions of winter fishing. I am already wearing

Heavy winter trout on Corky from back bay over shallow grass.

30 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

my Simms WaderWick undergarments, wading socks and Simms Guide Top. I have the boat hooked up and my rods are in the seat next to me. It is Thursday, so I listen to Mickey Eastman on 610 Sports Radio. Maybe I’ll call in and talk as I drive the forty-plus miles to Bluff’s Landing. I get the boat in the water and grab a quick cup of hot coffee from the marina. My guys are getting into waders on the tailgate of their truck. We are all anxious to get on the water knowing that nighttime lows near 50° along with daytime warming could produce a very special day. After small talk and a few lies about trips past we get serious and settle in for a chilly run to the fishing grounds.

NE wind at 15mph and water temperatures in the low-50s send me past the shoreline potholes of the King Ranch. I’d prefer to sink a little with each step this morning with water temperatures just above the 50 mark. Forty-five minutes later I am standing in mud to my calf. Ten pounds of Thanksgiving and Christmas feasting bog my wade somewhat today. Not to worry, a week of this and the extra weight will be gone. I have my guys fifteen to twenty yards either side and have instructed them to move slow and cast to any and every mullet we might see.

Bait is slow to wake but in the distance I see an area where a few mullet are flipping nervously. Over the years I’ve learned that flips are better than jumps. As the sun rises higher we begin to see darker patches in the water; these are grassbeds, our structure for the day. My tackle selection is pared to bare essentials (several MirrOlure/Paul Brown Corkys, 5” Bass Assassins and a few 1/16 ounce jigs) and fits in a small box wedged between my wading belt and lower back. In the soft stuff you need to be able to move quietly so less is better. No net or stringer trailing behind, only my Boga attached to the clip on my belt. My camera is in my jacket pocket along with lip balm and lens cleaner.

The water is stained but clear enough to make out the dark grassbeds. A mullet rolls over the top of a grassbed just within my casting range. A cast to the area is met on the initial fall with a solid Ka-Thump! Quick reel down, then set, and we’re on! Good fish. A frantic surface act and then she runs right at me before looping back out and loading the rod and pulling a little drag. If it takes drag on my reel, she is a five pound class fish. Say what you want about a tight drag but my history reflects that a stiff drag, small hook, and a rod with some backbone works.

This fish is a trophy in waiting; five pounds on the Boga but barely twenty-four inches so the potential for this fish is tremendous. Good genetics and age often result in the production of a true trophy fish.

As the day warms the bait becomes more active and Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

bites more frequent but most are not the fish we are searching for.

A few nice fish escape our hooksets and one lost at hand looked to be a seven. With the amount of bait and the bottom structure in the area I ease back and move the boat down about a quarter of a mile while my guys continue fishing. A little more bait along the outside of the flat begins to appear. A drink of water and a Power Bar and I am back in the water heading towards the bait and my guys. BAIT IS EVERYTHING IN WINTER TROUT FISHING so when you find good bottom structure and a food source STAY PUT! Outside the bait line we start picking up solid trout to near five pounds. Not the fish we are looking for but it is likely that a big fish could be mixed in with this age class. The action is not fast but it is

May your fishing always be catching. -Guide Jay Watkins

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Solid cold-water trout caught over grassbeds.

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steady and each hookset brings anticipation. As we approach the end of the major (feeding period) our flat slowly goes dead as if on cue. An hour and a half of chunking without out a bite sends us back to the boat. By now our legs are tired of trudging through the mud and the photos on the camera will show a pretty darn good day of trout fishing.

No we did not get that trout of a lifetime but we did enjoy catching some better-than-average fish. When targeting a select class of fish we often encounter fish much better than the average but it is still no guarantee that a real trophy will be caught. It is days like we just had that make that one day so very special. I bet you thought the story would end with someone catching a ten pounder. It certainly would have made a great ending but in all honesty those endings are rare and rarity you see is what makes the quest so exciting. Wade slow, see everything around you and dream in double digits.

Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Phone Email Website

361-729-9596 Jay@jaywatkins.com www.jaywatkins.com

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

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During cold-weather months, fish frequently seek the comfort and shelter of deep water. They may do this for long periods of time during extreme conditions, or for short periods when the shallows have not yet been warmed by sunlight or an influx of warm water. Predatory fish also venture into deep water during tidal movements, where they lurk near structural features and wait to ambush prey. Anglers who are accustomed to fishing shallow water sometimes feel helpless when fish move deep because delivering a fly to depths of 10, 15, or even 20 feet is challenging. But it can be done, and with the right tackle it can be done quite effectively.

When going after deepwater fish, the most important component of fly tackle is the line. Although it is resourceful, trying to reach deep targets by simply adding heavy flies and long leaders to traditional floating fly lines is not enough. At best it’s inefficient and clumsy. Swapping out the floating line for a sinking line is a much better choice.

I have spent many hours throwing sinking lines. In fact, targeting fish in deep water has slowly evolved into one of my favorite styles of fly fishing. This month we’ll take a look at sinking fly lines and several factors to consider when selecting a sinking line for deepwater fishing scenarios.

Sink Rate When choosing a sinking fly line, the first question you should ask yourself is, “How deep do I need to go?” It sounds elementary, but it is an important question to answer because sinking fly lines are designed to drop at defined rates. For example, slow sinking “intermediate” lines drop at about 1-2 inches per second. This is quite slow… about like a waterlogged floating line. Fast sinking lines however, fall anywhere from 6-8 inches per second. That’s quick… about like dropping a Clouser overboard.

The sink rate of a fly line will be labeled on the box, usually in inches per second (i.p.s.).

video

Simple multiplication will tell you how long a particular line will take to carry your fly to a certain depth. Keep in mind that listed sink rates do not account for factors like current, a fly’s drag, and a drifting boat. These will slow down the sink rate of the line.

When considering sink rate, select a line that reaches your target depth as quickly as possible. In general, don’t plan on having the patience to wait more than 45 seconds or so for your line to sink. This is a long time to stare at a fly line and it becomes not-so-fun after a few casts… even less fun if you’re not catching anything. If you don’t believe me, make a cast and wait an honest 45 seconds. It’s a long time. My advice is to be bold with your selection. Don’t try to fine tune it. If you are targeting fish deeper than 10 feet, go straight to the fast-sinkers, and choose the quickest sinking line your fly rod can handle. In the 8wt. varieties, these lines sink from 6-8 i.p.s. and have head weights of 250-300 grains.

Full Sink vs. Sink Tip Once you have established your target depth, the next question you should ask is, “Where will I be standing when I cast?” If you plan to be fishing from a boat it is likely your target depth is nearly the same as the depth below your feet. You won’t be concerned with dragging your fly line over shallow snags. A full sink line is a good choice for this situation.

Full sink lines are designed for casting either from a boat or from shorelines with very steep drops or ledges.

Because the entire length of a full sink line falls at a steady rate, anglers can make retrieves that keep flies as deep as possible for as long as possible.

Full sinking lines are generally quite thin and dense. This makes them easy to cast in the

Check out Casey’s Fly Fishing Video Library at www.TSFMag.com

32 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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wind and less affected by current and the sinking head. This bow creates

drift than other lines. But their narrow slack and makes it difficult to quickly diameters also make them prone to detect strikes. tangles and difficult to manage in the For those standing on the sand ! hand, especially with cold fingers. and mud at the edge of a steep If you plan to fish from shore, or channel, a line with a sinking tip and from the jetties, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be forced to intermediate belly is a good choice.

retrieve the submerged line back These lines sink quickly but they over an area of shallow water in front still allow anglers to retrieve across of you. Full sink lines will drag over shallow mud or grass areas at their

this shallow water, embed in the feet. They maintain a fairly straight sand or rocks, and almost certainly line connection between the rod become snagged near the end of the and the fly and are reasonably easy retrieve. For this reason, choose a to handle. sink tip line instead.

Do not get discouraged if you Sink tip lines are basically modified shooting lines that cleanly find sinking lines difficult to handle at firstâ&#x20AC;Ś everyone does. Make integrate sinking heads to floating or intermediate running lines. sure you use a stripping basket or bucket to help manage and While the head of the line sinks, the floating or slow sinking shoot these lines, aim high with your casts, and keep practicing. bellies hover over shallow obstructions and enable anglers to When the fish move deep youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be ready. make retrieves without getting snagged on them. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pretty nifty lines.

Casey Smartt has been fly fishing and tying flies for For jetty fishing, a sink tip line with a floating belly is a good 30 years. When he cannot make it to the coast he is choice. These lines deliver flies to deep water and still allow happy chasing fish on Texas inland lakes and rivers. anglers to make clean retrieves in spite of line-eating barnacles and rocks. Learning to cast them efficiently takes practice, Phone 830-237-6886 but defeating those jetty-snags makes it worthwhile. One Email caseysmartt@att.net Website www.caseysmartt.com disadvantage to sink tip lines with floating bellies is the inherent bow formed in the line between the floating running line and

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 33

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By Allison Hatten | Coastal Fisheries Division | Sabine Lake Marine Lab | Port Arthur, Texas

When I interviewed for the internship with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Coastal Fisheries Division last summer, I was informed that there would be work days when I would watch the sun rise and set in the same day. I did not realize this would be true on the first three days.

When I reported for duty on Monday, I didn’t expect to be doing much more than paperwork, but within an hour I was going out into the field to collect three bag seine samples. We ended the day setting two gill nets in Mud Lake. This was just before sunset.

Forty-five gill nets are set in 10-week periods during the spring and fall of each year and are used to monitor adult fish and crab populations. Each net is 600 feet in length made of 150-feet sections of 3-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch, and 6-inch monofilament mesh. The bottom line is filled with lead to weigh it down and the top looks like a green ski rope lined with floats. These are called the leadline and floatline, respectively. Anchors at each end of the net hold it perpendicular to the shore.

I returned at 5:30 a.m. (before sunrise!) to start my second work day with Craig LeBlanc and Kirk Blood. I watched as they fell into their typical routine of filling ice chests, hooking up the

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34 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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boat, and loading it with gill net necessities.

Baskets, knives, gloves, measuring boards, rubber boots, bright yellow slickers, and clipboards with lots of data sheets are a few of the items. After a quick weather check, we were off.

At the first net site, I watched Craig and Kirk start the process of collecting water samples, setting up baskets for each mesh size, preparing data sheets, and laying out the tarp in preparation of pulling in the net.

After retrieving the net’s offshore anchor, we began pulling in the net, stopping frequently to extract fish and crabs. All organisms were measured and data recorded.

Craig and Kirk rolled their eyes as my excitement grew with each new type of fish that was pulled from the net. As the gill net season progressed, I learned to dread encountering many of the same fish I was so ecstatic about seeing on that first pickup day.

Toward the middle of the net, Kirk pulled out a beautifully copper-colored fish with an interesting spot located a few centimeters from its tail. I asked what it was. I definitely saw Kirk’s look of disbelief as he said “Sciaenops ocellatus, or redfish (red drum) as I am sure you have heard.” Yes, I had heard of them and seen a few pictures, but I had

never thought much of them until now. I had never seen a photo that captured this fish’s resplendence.

As the weeks progressed into gill net season, I found myself experiencing wonderful field activities I had never imagined. I have to hand it to the Coastal Fisheries guys; they are a tough and knowledgeable crew that gets the job done. I learned a lot about numerous species and their habitats. I also found the gill net catch rates very interesting.

During this spring 2010 gill net season, new seasonal catch rate records for Sabine Lake were set by total finfish (7.70 fish/hour) and alligator gar (0.54 fish/hour). The previous records for total finfish (2006) and gar (2009) were 6.82 fish/ hour and 0.51 fish/hour, respectively.

Spotted sea trout tied their seasonal catch rate (0.65 fish/hour) set in 1998.

This spring gill net catches rates of red drum set a new seasonal catch rate record (3.43 fish/hour). This new record more than doubles the previous record set during the spring of 2007 (1.63 fish/hour). In fact, three of the last four years have produced record numbers for red drum since gill nets were first sampled in the Sabine Lake ecosystem in 1986.

The increase in red drum in the Sabine Lake area could be due to many factors. It could be the increase in red drum occurred after the intense flooding associated with Hurricane Ike. Marsh lands leading to many freshwater ponds and low lands were opened to salt water lakes and bayous creating more shoreline microhabitat for small shrimp, crustaceans and other types of foods red drum consume.

My summer with TPWD is one I will never forget. This is definitely an experience I would recommend to those interested in this profession. You can’t put a price on true hands on experience and working with the finest fisheries managers in the field, even if you work from sunrise to sunset!

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 35

&216(59$7,21 3$*( CCA Texas entered 2010 with guarded optimism and, like many other non-profit organizations and businesses in general, a watchful eye on the economy. A strong effort by dedicated local chapters and volunteers, communities and supporters helped CCA Texas make 2010 another successful year for the organization. Chapter boards and CCA Texas staff worked tirelessly to find areas where the organization could provide the same great local banquets and at the same time cut unnecessary expenses and frills. This effort, both locally and at the CCA Texas office, proved to be the right medicine for 2010. While some chapters operated at 2009 levels, some had a down year and others set new banquet records for both attendance and money raised for the conservation of Texas’s coastal resources.

CCA Texas’ Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) initiative continued to move forward in its mission to enhance and restore the coastal marine habitat of Texas. Projects that have been on the table were completed, new projects were approved and long standing projects such as the crab trap cleanup were continued.

CCA Texas volunteers once again heeded the call of duty and participated in the 9th Annual Texas Abandoned Crap Trap Removal program. Volunteers up and down the entire Texas coast turned out to once again remove old and derelict traps left in the bays, and at the end of the day many gathered to eat and swap fishing stories of the present and past year.

CCA Texas volunteers participated in a marsh grass planting day at the Goose Island Marsh restoration project in the fall of 2009. In January of 2010, CCA Texas and Texas Parks Wildlife Department (TPWD) contracted Belaire Environmental to professionally plant the remaining marsh mounds in phase one of this project. CCA Texas contributed $25,000 to this phase and facilitated the volunteer day.

In August, CCA Texas approved an additional amount of $25,000 to fund Phase II of this project. $20,000 of these funds was secured from a private foundation in Austin, Texas and $5,000 was secured from H-E-B. These funds will be used to plant the last twelve acres of marsh of this project. Once completed, CCA Texas will have provided the necessary funding to plant all marsh mounds in the twenty-four acre restoration project. Another volunteer planting day is scheduled for the spring of 2011, so please watch the CCA Texas calendar and your email for notifications.

CCA Texas/HTFT contributed $23,000 to the 160 acre Nueces Bay marsh restoration project, lead by Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP). This project is currently in the construction phase of work and will eventually restore approximately 160 acres of lost marsh along the Portland Causeway. CCA Texas has contributed $10,000, and through the efforts of the HTFT initiative, has secured another $10,000 from the Fish America Foundation and $3,000 from West Marine’s Marine Conservation Grant process. This contribution will go directly to the planting of marsh grasses in Phase I of the project and will have been completed by the end of November 2010. At the time of writing this article, a joint volunteer grass planting day is being planned by CCA Texas and CBBEP. On the Upper Texas coast, $20,000 in funding was approved for the Snake Island Cove Habitat and Seagrass Protection Project lead by the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF). These funds will go directly to Phase II of the project which is extending the existing 4,100 feet 36 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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of geotextile tube breakwater by 1,000 feet. This project once fully completed will create 75 acres of protected and calm shallow water habitat and protect 200 acres of existing estuarine intertidal marsh.

CCA Texas and TPWD deployed in excess of 250 tons of materials at the nearshore Vancouver reefing site off of the coast of Freeport, Texas. The first of three major nearshore reefing projects, this reef site is located within Texas state waters and this joint effort is the single largest deployment to the site to date. CCA Texas/HTFT was able to secure partnerships with Dorsett Brothers Concrete, who provided storage and docking facilities; Old Castle Pre-Cast, who provided one-hundred-fifteen concrete catch basins for reefing material; Texas A&M Galveston, who provided 23 granite blocks ranging in size from 2.5 to 13 tons; and helped arrange local transportation of materials as well as provided $50,000 in funding to the project. This project will be followed by projects in Port Mansfield and Matagorda. Materials are currently being staged in Port Mansfield for deployment. This material, concrete culverts, is being provided by Alamo Concrete Products and once all material is on hand, will be deployed with a target date of spring 2011. CCA Texas has committed $50,000 to this project. The new Matagorda project is currently waiting for permitting by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Once permitted, reefing will begin in this new site. With $35,000 committed to the Matagorda site, CCA Texas will have a total commitment to date of $135,000 to nearshore reefing in Texas waters.

CCA Texas has partnered with many like organizations in habitat projects. One of the most recent and newest partners is Texas Ducks Unlimited. CCA Texas recently contributed $50,000 in funds to the shoreline stabilization project at the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County. These funds include $30,000 from a private foundation in Austin and $5,000 from the DuPont Foundation. This project will restore up to 3,000 acres of freshwater and coastal wetlands. These CCA Texas funds will go directly to the construction of a 2,500 linear-foot rock breakwater. This breakwater will protect critical marshes that are a vital nursery grounds for many fishery species important to commercial and recreational fisheries.

The Deep Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico brought the future of coastal habitat to the forefront of all anglers’ minds. CCA, and in particular CCA Louisiana, was at the forefront of this tragic event. CCA Louisiana Executive Director David Cresson was invited to testify before the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife on the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. His testimony spoke of the loses and closures following the spill and the effects they had on the local economies, people and ultimately the richness of the Gulf coast ecosystems. In closing Mr. Cresson spoke of the immediate needs for habitat creation and restoration in the areas impacted and the need for a state of the art hatchery and research facility to help as the Gulf coast recovers.

In closing, CCA Texas is thankful for a successful year in 2010.

This success would not be possible without the dedicated support and tireless energy of some of the finest volunteers in the state of Texas. CCA Texas leadership and staff wish all of our members, volunteers and supporters a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year in 2011.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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Don’t look now but Christmas is right around the corner. It is truly odd how the years seem to pass so much quicker. The best explanation might be that as 10-yearolds a year was one tenth of our life. As we age, a year is still the same amount of time but an increasing smaller percentage of our life. Makes sense to me.

This has been an odd year in the fishing biz. It got a slow start with old man winter overstaying his welcome and then came the BP oil spill and the uncertainty it cast over everybody and everything along the entire rim of the Gulf of Mexico. Throw in the sluggish economy and let’s just say I’ll shed no tear over the exit of 2010.

on this page and leave it on the kitchen counter as a hint...or risk another year of unwrapping sweaters and cologne.

Let’s start with safety gear. I have a SPOT GPS tracker on my list this year. This device fits in your pocket and tracks your location via satellite. You can set it up to send a pre-programmed message to up to ten contacts as a “checking in” function with the push of a button communicating GPS coordinates of your location. In the event a non-emergency situation arises there is a “help” button that tells your contacts you could use a hand. For more serious situations there is a 911 button that gets professional assistance headed your way. Another feature allows contacts to track your progress on extended excursions.

Many of us rely too heavily on our cell phones. Cell phone reception can be patchy and they are notorious for getting zapped in wet conditions such as an unexpected dunking.

The SPOT is always in contact and waterproof.

Another important piece of safety equipment is the PFD. Beginning paddlers often grab any old PFD and while these will certainly work, there are better options. A PFD designed specifically for paddling or preferably, one designed for kayak fishing, is much better. A kayak fishing PFD will have the flotation cut away from the lower back to improve comfort in the seat. Owning a comfortable PFD means you’ll be more likely to wear it and that’s a good thing. Any paddling specialty shop should have these in stock.

Carbon fiber kayak paddle from AT; The most basic piece of equipment beyond the kayak strong, light and ergonomic design. is the paddle. Folks spend a great deal of time selecting a kayak and then buy a less than ideal paddle – I did. An On to bigger and better things in 2011 and what better way inexpensive paddle will work but a good paddle will work better. to start it off with than unwrapping I started with an aluminum shaft/plastic HydroStar Multi-Strobe can be used as some new fishing and kayaking gear blade variety but once I put my hands on a flashlight, 360° white light, a safety on Christmas morning. Outdoorsmen a lightweight carbon-fiber unit I learned beacon and also a distress strobe. are predisposed to be gadget junkies. I what I was missing. A quality paddle will open every outdoors catalog that arrives make your paddling more enjoyable and only to find something I really need. less fatiguing. Do yourself a favor and put Okay, I don’t really need it, but I want it. this on your wish list, then stash your old Like you, I’ve got enough gear and toys paddle inside the hull as a backup. to open my own store but there’s always Kayak carts make life easier. If you room for an upgrade. launch very far from where you park, The glitch in the system is chances are you simply drag your kayak communicating to gift buyers that even to the water. If that area happens to be a with the pile of stuff we already have concrete or gravel parking lot you could there are still things we want or need. be scuffing and damaging your hull.

So here is my gift to you this holiday Do it often enough and you might find season; a list of ideas. This is by no yourself slowly sinking as the yak fills with means a complete list but hopefully it water one day. There are many carts on will spur your brain into coming up with the market; all have two wheels and a something to put on your wish list. Feel frame that attaches to the kayak allowing free to make notes or circle something you to grab the front handle and wheel

38 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

your way to the water. Prices vary based on materials and quality of construction. One note; the softer the terrain you traverse the wider the wheels you’ll want.

I recently tried out the new Humminbird 385ci Kayak Combo Kit. This is a combination GPS/fishfinder designed for kayaks. It comes with a thru-hull transducer, mounting kit, small 12V battery, wiring harness and charging cord. Initially I wasn’t all that interested in having a depth finder on my kayak as I generally fish shallow but I’ve changed my mind after locating deepwater structure I had no idea was there. With winter fishing coming on I’ve got those places marked on the GPS and will be visiting them again in the next

Milk crate replacements make a great addition to anybody’s kayak setup.

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A kayak cart is a back-saver and can eliminate scuffing damage common with dragging your yak to the water.

couple of months.

After paddles and PFDs, probably the most common accessory found among kayak fishermen is the milk crate. With the addition of PVC pipe and tie straps you’ve got a pretty handy carry-all for a variety of essential gear. However – the milk crate is not without drawbacks. Large holes allow smaller items to escape and there’s the problem of legally securing a genuine heavy-duty milk crate. Several companies picked up on this and have come out with some really cool upgrades. There are models encased in canvass or mesh to hold in small items, pockets for securing tools, quality rod holders and even a lid to prevent everything falling out should you happen to flip. I like the fact that I can store virtually everything needed in one place for spur of the moment trips instead of frantically searching for those missing pliers.

Waterproof boxes and bags are always a safe bet as gifts for kayak fishermen. Kayak shops offer near endless sizes and styles to keep

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most anything safe and dry. I’ve got everything from soft bags for extra clothing and first aid kits to small hard-cases for my phone, wallet and keys. I use a rather large Pelican case for my camera and extra lenses when I head out to do a photo shoot. A huge plus is that these bags and boxes have enough air trapped inside to float should they happen to fall overboard.

For those on limited budgets I suggest visiting your local paddle shop and reviewing the accessory display. It is amazing how far this segment of the industry has come in the past few years. Back when I started there was very little accessory equipment designed for kayak fishing. Much like the old milk crate, we fashioned what we needed from whatever we could find. Now there are endless racks holding

40 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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A well-stocked kayak fishing accessory aisle will hold literally dozens of ideas for gift givers.

every piece of gear you could possibly need along with a good many items that I doubt I’d ever need.

Some of these accessories are specific to brands of kayaks, a trend that started a couple years back when manufacturers began adding built-in docking points for a variety of equipment. Wilderness Systems has the “Slide-Trax” rails on their SOT models that allow accessories to be easily mounted and then removed for transport.

Hobie has upgraded fins for the Mirage Drive, livewell systems that fit their tankwells and even sailing kits. Native Kayaks has a mindboggling assortment under their Watertrail brand.

So as 2010 winds to a close I’d just like to say that I really appreciate all you folks who follow my ramblings on this page. It’s very rewarding to get stopped at the tackle shops or at the launch and have folks commenting how much they enjoy the articles. The phone calls and e-mails asking for tips or additional information are really cool too. So if you see me out and about, feel free to introduce yourself or drop me a line...particularly if you’ve got a super-secret spot loaded with redfish that you’d like to share. Have a great Holiday Season.

Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading.

Phone 281-450-2206 Website www.letsgofishing.net

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 41

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I am a marsh rat. In fact, it would be safe to say; the smaller the water, the happier I am. However, I am a sailor too so… it would be foolish of me not to recognize the fact that I like the sight and adventure of open water. How to decide where to go from day to day has, in the past, been dictated by the size of the skiff I am running at the time. The small skiffs that I choose to root around in the back-country are not suited for the open water of the Gulf so the only time I get to go is when it is ridiculously calm or when I get invited by a friend who has a much bigger boat. I am here to tell you, that is just not enough for me. So, in search of the perfect boat for fishing the nearshore waters of the Gulf I have been. Actually, it has not been much of a search. I have known the solution for over twenty years but, it was not until recently that it became perfectly clear.

I encountered my first panga style skiff over twenty years ago on a dive trip in Latin America. Eight of us boarded a 22’ skiff powered with a 40 horse Yamaha and I looked at the setup and thought to myself, “Yeah right, like we are going to get anywhere in this thing.” My doubts were put to rest slowly but surely as the skiff climbed on plane and steadily zigzagged through the third world maze of mangroves and out into open water over a reef. I was impressed.

I did not encounter another panga until the summer of ’96 when on temporary assignment to Coast Guard Station Port Isabel. As coxswain (small boat captain) my crew and I patrolled state and federal waters daily in search of Mexican nationals engaged in illegal activities. Almost every boat that we encountered were 22’ pangas engaged in fishing and most were rigged with 40 or 55 hp Yamaha outboards. However, we did come across occasional 22’ pangas in the middle of the night

42 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

with tiller-steered 150 or 200 hp outboards.

The boats rigged with the smaller motors would see us coming, crank up and head back over a mile or two into Mexican waters, sometimes barely making it because they were usually loaded with fish and minimally powered. The boats that were over-powered and 30-40 miles into our waters, well they were trafficking narcotics, and were a whole other story. This is usually where a lengthy and dangerous chase began as these boats would head straight for the breaking surf, taking advantage of the panga’s shallow draft, seaworthiness and overall rugged build and essentially escape because of the draft of our Zodiacs.

This is when and where I fell in love with the design of the panga and decided that I had to have one. The only problem is that, while it can be done, it is quite a chore to buy a boat down in Mexico and get it up here to the states.

Since then, I have traveled to and from several lodges in Mexico and Central America that utilize pangas every day and am still amazed at how versatile they are. I have been poled around to catch bonefish, transported to flats to wade-fish for permit, have caught tarpon from them and have even caught roosterfish, large dorado, sailfish and my biggest fish to date- a 250 pound black marlin from one. What more could you ask for?

About the Panga Where the true design of the panga originated is debated regularly however, it seems to be an undisputed fact that the most common panga style hull is 22’ and is typically referred to as the Yamaha Panga. This design, as I understand it, was a project sponsored by the World Bank hoping to create a safe, economical to operate and affordable craft for the commercial fisherman of third world nations and that Yamaha engineers had

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Case in point, recently I hooked up with Dave Hayward, manager of the Swan Point Landing Fly Shop, and friend Jeff Shatto to put it to the test. We headed out of POC in a 25 mph norther heading for the jetties to do a little dredging for whatever might bite a fly. While the ride was wet (I do not think any boat would be dry), it was not uncomfortable or unsafe and once we got there, we were able to fish off the end of the jetties in some pretty nasty conditions. Add to that, when in calmer waters, the boat was getting 36 mph with a fuel burn of about 8 mpg with a 90 hp fourstroke opened up. Imagine what it could do with a 115 and minus three tubby anglers.

So now, after having it for a while and utilizing it several times to fish the jetties, beach front, offshore and even to cross a very snotty bay to go do some wade-fishing, I cannot say enough about it other than- I have to have one.

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a big part in helping create it. In fact, Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution to the design significantly helped them gain the market share of outboard sales in Latin America. There are not too many of these boats that you do not see sporting a 40 or 55 hp Yamaha tiller motor. The long and short of it is, no matter what the history, a near perfect fishing craft was created and it was only a matter of time before someone decided to make them better. Enter- Panga Marine.

About 30 years ago, a gentleman by the name of Rob McDaniel used to fish down on the Yucatan quite regularly. In fact, he was down there enough that he partnered with a friend that owned a resort and bought a panga. He loved the boat but had ultimately decided, the boat would be better if it was built with more modern materials (no wood) so he went into the boat building business and started building the craft in Guadalajara in 2003. Then, after a while, he realized that because of where he was that the evolution of these boats was limited due to the absence of modern technology and decided to move the molds to Sarasota, FL where his factory remains. He is the man responsible for bringing the panga to the states where they are now easily obtainable and are built better than ever.

Knowing for so long that the panga would be perfect for the fly or light-tackle angler interested in fishing the nearshore waters of the Gulf, I set out to get my hands on one and try it out. Well my dreams came true when McDaniel offered to loan me a 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Panga Marine Super Skiff to see if was all that I hoped it would be. I have to say it has far exceeded my expectations both in performance and the way it fishes in rough water.

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

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www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 43

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7LSV DQG 7ULFNV IRU :LQWHU )LVKLQJ The holidays have always been special to me.

I get extra time off of school and more time on the water with close friends and family. This time of year fishing has a different feel about it. The most obvious one of course is the difference in the water temperature which has a big impact on lure selection and how the fish act in general.

The fish feed slower and swim slower- everything just slows down. The season changes tackle selection too, especially if you’re going after big trout. You’re going to want a slower gear ratio of a reel; maybe a 6:1 or even 5:1 just to insure that your lure is presentable to the fish.

One of my number one priorities when getting ready for a fishing trip in the colder months is making sure my waders are in good condition. There is nothing worse than getting off into the cold saltwater and feeling your neoprene sock start to fill with freezing water. This can and will ruin your whole day.

The best thing to do is put on your waders and walk around in a swimming pool for a while. You will know very quickly if you have leaky waders or not. If you feel

44 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

a leak, take them off, turn them inside out, and look around where you felt the water come in. As long as the hole isn’t on the seam, which is where they’re usually located, sometimes you can repair a small leak. If it is on the seam, your best bet is to try to return them or just buy a new pair.

There is a difference in the lures you use in the summertime and the lures you use in the winter time. The biggest one I can think of is trading your topwaters in for a Corky. I am not saying that you can’t catch fish on a topwater in the winter, because I have before, I’m just saying that for the most part, you’re going to be using a Corky way more than a topwater. If you do not know how to use a Corky yet or you are learning, I would strongly suggest asking someone who has been around the sport a long time for a few tips. It can be a difficult art to tackle, but the rewards are very high. As far as plastics go, for this time of year I’ll be throwing a lot of reds, blacks, and purple colors.

Some of the most useful things to have on a winter fishing trip are the

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

proper attire for comfort. For example, fleece wader pants if you have breathable waders. Also, thin neoprene gloves, handwarmers to keep in your pocket, and a good windbreaker with a fleece jacket underneathdepending on how cold it is.

The last thing you want is to get cold when you’re fishing.

However, you always want to have a regular fishing shirt underneath, because when the sun comes out and the wind stops blowing you will be shedding clothes as fast as you can to escape the heat. As long as you dress in layers you can always adjust to be comfortable.

One of the hardest things when fishing in the winter is locating fish. Often times they are not in the same area as they are in the summer months.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

One of the main things to key in on in the winter is mud and shells. That’s where the fish want to be when it’s cold because that’s what heats up the most. Another thing to remember is that the fish are moving slower this time of year, therefore, your lure presentation has to slow down. If you don’t, you will get a lot of follow ups with no hits. This seems especially true with big trout.

They’re lazy and want to move as little as possible, so to get them to eat you have to slowly scoot your Corky off the bottom with pauses in your retrieve. It takes a lot of patience, but it’s worth it. So go out in your garage, knock the salt off of your wading belt, and let’s get ready for what will hopefully be a wonderful winter fishing season.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 45

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Wi h winter With i weather keeping us at bay (pun intended), I can’t help but to reflect on this year’s turn of events. The Supplemental Red Snapper Season was a complete success in my opinion and for about half of it the weather was fairly cooperative. Our late summer slump in the amberjack action picked up about the time the snapper season opened to give us some fantastic fall fishing. The lack of fishing effort due to the oil spill also held off the early closure of the amberjack season allowing us to access them longer than originally expected.

I would have to say the largest surprise with the fall red snapper fishing would have to have been the average size of the fish. We were seeing fifteen to eighteen pound averages with many fish over twenty pounds. It was not just the guides that were landing these fish; I was seeing it from just about every boat that pulled up to the dock. Although this was great for those of us that were able to take advantage of them, I can’t help but wonder how the National Marine Fisheries Service will figure these daily landings of such large fish into their models and will it drive up the average size of the fish caught, only to push us

46 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

close to overfishing them for yet another year? Only time will tell if it has any effect on next year’s season.

For the most part the fall fishing was fairly predictable, with a couple exceptions being our dorado and blackfin tuna. Many of us are accustom to targeting the blackfin behind the deepwater

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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shrimp boats late in the year, but they have been difficult to find in the usual large numbers, if not just downright nonexistent at times.

Although I received some decent reports on them from the lower Texas coast, those of us in the Freeport/Galveston area saw them in limited numbers to say the least. The dorado were not as bad, but never seemed to show in the numbers that we are accustomed to

seeing. The downturn of these two fish over the last two years leads me to wonder if we are seeing the effect of the El Nino weather pattern we have experienced recently and its suspected impact on fish distribution, especially along coastal regions.

Even with the unpredictable weather patterns and changing temperatures, offshore fishing in December is alive and well off the Texas coast and as the days shorten and the temperatures fall we will see some changing but predictable patterns with many offshore species. The least predictable aspect is obviously the weather, and although our fishable windows are limited and short, the action can be hot for those who can take advantage of them. The Red Snapper Season may have come and gone, but the vermillion snapper fishing is going strong. Most scientists will tell you that snapper, being a reef species, will not migrate but most fishermen know that they can be found during the winter in places that they did not exist six months earlier. With the vermillion snapper you can expect them to move shallower this time of the year, allowing you to target them without running quite as far offshore. Although they will still be where you found them in the summer, I will consistently find them in fishable numbers this time of year as shallow as 140 feet. And if the bottlenose dolphin will leave you alone, they seem to be willing to rise higher in the water column making them even easier to target.

The ever-present kingfish have left their shallow water haunts, and although I suspect that many migrate south toward Mexico, many will also congregate over large live bottom areas in excess of about 180 feet that will sustain them throughout the winter. Stetson Bank is one area that will hold large populations of kingfish well into the late spring and is a popular winter location for many fishermen.

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 47

They will seem to be a little deeper than seen in the summer months, usually requiring you to drift your baits a little deeper or use trolling bait that dives, rather than one that runs just under the surface.

One of my favorite winter fish is the scamp grouper, as with the others they can be targeted in the warmer months with regular

48 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

& 2 1 7$ & 7

success, but nothing like they can be in the winter. These fish are prized as table fare and will congregate in large numbers around deepwater structure such as oil rigs and cutoffs. Just about any rig or reef area that has been built with Rig Jackets in excess of 250 feet will hold scamp grouper in the winter months like at no other time of the year. Target these fish with live pinfish or diamond jigs, at or near the bottom, or mid-way down the water column as close to the rig leg as you dare to fish.

Although the fickle winter weather will keep most of us in port dreaming of warmer and calmer days ahead, there is a great fishery to be experienced when that occasional calm day occurs. Just always remember that whether the weather is perfect or not; there will be days when the fishing will be better than forecasted and others when it will be worse. Either is far better than just staying home.

Captain Mike Jennings is a professional charter captain with more than 25 years offshore experience. Mike is the owner/ operator of Cowboy Charters in Freeport TX and is known locally for running further and fishing harder for his clients.

Telephone 979-864-9439 Email texassportfishing@gmail.com Website www.cowboycharters.com

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Teaming up with some of the best guides on the coast, they created the perfect plastic, durable yet soft and full of action.

The 3” Bayou Thumper has a large paddle tail that calls in fish from everywhere.

The 4” Bayou Thumper has a larger body profile and oversized tail that is designed to do one thing, catch BIG fish. The Killa Squilla (that’s Latin for shrimp) is a demon on trout, redfish and anything that eats shrimp. The Ripple Shad is a five inch jerkbait that has some incredible twitching action. All of these products are available at local retailers along the coast and Academy Sports & Outdoors.

50 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

After two years in design and testing, the Marquesa™ was successfully launched to accolades from even the most critical entities within the industry. Achieving speeds in excess of 48 mph with a 90 hp Mercury™ outboard, this skiff is the choice for anglers needing rough-water capability while retaining shallow draft. With integrated spray rails on the patented hull, the Marquesa™ delivers a dry comfortable ride in the harshest conditions. With large capacity for storage for up to 18 rods combined with a 36-gallon release/live well system, the Marquesa™ is the choice for the serious tournament angler and professional.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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Throw our tanks over your bikini or pair with a jean skirt. Anywhere women go, Pink Marlin can go too!

Texas Women’s Fishing is a place where women can chat with other women, post photos, research tournaments, and many other useful things. To take advantage of this great resource please visit wwww. texaswomensfishing.com and help Pink Marlin support all the women out there who fish!

Visit us online at www. pinkmarlin.com to get all your ladies fishing gear.”

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The Fat Money Minnow’s eleven very natural color patterns include big fish favorites like Rainbow Trout and Herring. Suggested retail - $8.99

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TTF’s premium Mondo Eye jigheads are built for serious fishermen who put a high priority on visual presentation.

These heads are built on super sharp, 3/0 wide-gap black-nickel hooks and feature a collared shank that prevents your plastic from tearing and sliding. The large red eye is sealed onto the head to ensure that it stays put - fish after fish.

The Mondo Eye is available in 1/8-, 1/4and 3/8-ounce sizes and comes in three colors: white, chartreuse and silver.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 51

',&.,( &2/%851·6 6DELQH 6FHQH 2010 is but done, yet I continue to hear local anglers say, “I don’t know…everything has been a little late this year.” Does that ',&.,( &2/%851 mean that if nothing changes, current weather conditions will Dickie Colburn is a full time guide magically attain “early” status a out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has week after Santa rolls out of town?

37 years experience guiding on While runoff was not much Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes. of a problem on Sabine this past year, an extended sure ‘nuff Telephone 409-883-0723 cold winter did delay traditional Website spring and early summer www.sabineconnection.com patterns. I have no idea how cold or prolonged this winter will be, but it is time to start afresh and the conditions could not be more favorable heading into December.

Due in part to the average age of my coveted clientele, (they would undoubtedly point out their guide is also Medicare eligible) I will still spend more time drift fishing than I would otherwise choose. Given a choice, however, I will be standing in thigh to chest deep water every opportunity through mid-March. While it can be

equally productive at times, drift fishing a shallow flat cannot rival that moment when you suddenly realize that you are standing in the midst of the best trout Sabine has to offer.

The folks at MirrOlure are well prepared for Corky-mania this year, but the redfish may once again be a problem for our diehard trout fishermen. Seemingly every time we got a big trout bite going last winter the reds would crash the party. They are currently schooling all over the lake.

The best areas to wade on Sabine are certainly no secret.

Depending wind direction, you ply the mud from East pass to Garrison’s or wade a little harder bottom from Middle Pass to Pleasure Island. Aside from the fish being present, the keys to consistent catching are fishing the potentially best hours of the day and committing to small areas.

Water clarity to some degree, the warmest surface temperature, the presence of bait, and an incoming tide are also factors that improve your odds. Easily the most overlooked difference maker by the majority of anglers, however, is the solunar table. I don’t want to be boat riding during a major or minor feeding period!

Well before Everett gave me the opportunity to write this column, the first thing I would do upon its arrival was remove the Tide and Solunar Table and put it in my leaning post. Did you ever bother

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

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6 $ %,1( to ask yourself why that information was printed on thicker more durable stock even back when the rest of the magazine wasn’t. He knew how valuable it was and it was his gift to his readers, but you can only lead a horse to water!

While I hate the boat ride back after dark, the warmer hours of the afternoon are usually more productive on the toughest of days. It is not unusual to have the best bite of the day occur right at dusk.

The Corky (don’t show up without something pink or chartreuse), Catch V, Catch 2000, and MirrOdine XL are musts in every wading box. There are also days when they will demolish a She Dog or Spook in bone-silver or black-chartreuse.

It is equally unwise to not include 5-inch straight tail plastics like the Assassin Shad in Texas Roach, morning glory, red shad and a handful of 1/8 ounce jigheads in your ziplock bag.

Two years ago, while wading with two members of a party that would have rather been golfing, I stumbled up on a technique that has since saved the day more than once.

Bored to death and unwilling to fish any lure with confidence, I tied them a Corky Fat Boy on 18-inches of leader under an Assassin Kwik Cork to at least keep their lure in the strike zone.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

I just cannot force myself to fish the technique, but it has worked too often to ignore the fact that it has its merits. If you share my mind set, talk a cked when buddy into trying it, but don’t act shocked his cork goes under!

There will still be plenty of schooling action under the birds this month. The trout will be a little heavier and they will have to race the redfish to your lure most days. Smaller tails like the 4-inch Sea Shad or Killer Flats Minnow fished under a Kwik Cork are hard to beat even after the birds move on. We are catching a lot of fish right now with two new colors…..stinky pink and cantaloupe.

This is an exciting time of the year to fish, but the most minor mishap is magnified by cold water. Pack a change of clothes, quality rain gear and energy snacks. Let someone at home know where you will be fishing and when to expect you back.

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 53

0,&.(< 2Q *DOYHVWRQ Captain Mickey here with another look at fishing in the Galveston Bay Complex. Life is very good on Galveston Bay right now, no doubt about it.

0,&.(< ($670$1 We have lots of fish showing Mickey Eastman is a full-time in lots of places with plenty fishing guide out of Baytown, catching going on. Maybe not TX. Mickey has 26 years guiding the best I’ve ever seen in all experience on the Galveston area bays and is the founder aspects but certainly good of Gulf Coast Troutmasters, trout fishing. Redfishing is a the largest speckled trout little off at present in some tournament series of all time areas but trout action is really good. Each new front that Contact makes it to the coast will Mickey Eastman’s reduce the water temperature Guide Service Telephone and sets the stage for serious 281-383-2032 wade fishing – the kind hardcore fishermen love to do this time of year during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It’s a real good time to get in the shallow flats, find your baitfish, throw topwaters, Corkys and various MirrOlures, and catch some of the best trout the Upper Coast can offer.

54 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

It’s kind of strange the patterns in Trinity and East Bay. We still have a lot of fish out deep over major reefs holding in seven to eight feet of water. Normally when we see fish that deep this time of year they are usually over the mud in the northern ends of the bay whether it be East Bay or Trinity Bay; or under gulls as they get to chasing those last big herds of shrimp coming out of the marsh on the low tides. Birds work especially well under the conditions described and everybody targets those, but the fish still holding on the deep reefs is not the norm by a long shot. The part that is most confusing is that we also have trout working shallow shorelines.

Go figure!

I would have to give East Bay the nod for being the best out of the whole complex right now – East Bay is holding tons of fish.

Basically all of East Bay down through the middle is full of fish as are both shorelines. North and south shorelines are holding good numbers of very nice trout, solid three and four pound fish, and for conditions (warm water temps) the way they have been that is saying a lot. Traditionally we do not see fish of this quality in abundance in the shallows until the water is cooler.

I think the best game plan at present along the south shoreline of East Bay is keying on the bayou mouths and the primary points just adjacent to those. There are still lots of shrimp coming out of those drains on out-going tides and the trout schools are staged

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

*$ /9 ( 6 7 21 close by to take advantage of the easy pickings there. In addition to the shrimp there also lots of shad balls in these areas. The action is pretty easy to locate, look for slicks, jumping shrimp, pelicans, gulls, shad balls, any kind of jumping bait. Move in carefully and you are sure to draw some strikes.

We are using a fairly diverse combination of baits; Super Spooks, Top Dog Jrs, Corkys, soft plastics, even spoons, basically whatever you like to throw. That is what is so good about this time of year, a lot of people, whatever their favorite lure is, they can pretty much draw the strikes and catch fish this time of year with no problem at all. Water conditions couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be better.

West Bay has been showing some hints of pretty good action especially bigger fish shallow in the coves and along the south shoreline and over some of the grassbeds there. There are some pretty good trout being caught over there, not lots of them and not big numbers of them yet, but some good solid fish in the twentyfive to thirty inch class. West Bay definitely gets my nod for the best redfish action in the Galveston Complex right now. We have been receiving reports of good schooling going on and lots of these fish are perfect middle of the slot size. If reds are your passion, West Bayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s south shoreline is the place to be as of this writing.

If you like to catch trout like I do this time of year, East Bay and Trinity Bay are definitely your best bets. After a norther and even

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during a norther, my pick would be the protected shorelines of Trinity and also the upper reaches of back bays such as Burnett and Tabbs. San Jacinto Bay and Crystal Bay can also be good bets on strong north wind days.

If Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not facing strong north wind, I like East Bay, the south shoreline has plenty of fish on it. Just watch for your bait signs, your tides dictate a lot of that, and jumping, nervous bait whether it be mullet, shad, shrimp or whatever. Near bayou mouths and behind major reefs are going to be your best pay off and as it gets colder the softer mud bottoms are going to start holding your bigger trout.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty much it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a go and we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have ordered better weather so far this fall. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been blessed with an uncommon number of calm days where you could enjoy the best of two worlds; you could wade fish in the morning and go out and work birds in the afternoon, not too bad at all.

I want to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I know lots of folks have hunting foremost on their minds right now but you need to get out on the water and get a few days of the best fishing weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen in quite a few years. Good luck and keep an eye on the weather.

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&$37 %,//¡6 )LVK 7DON Though sometimes light on participation, December fishing has been known to turn heads when the photos get circulated. &$37 %,// 3867(-296.< The monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fishing patterns are largely dictated by weather Bill Pustejovsky is a full-time and water temperature and also guide at Matagorda, TX. quite often by the final stages of Bill fishes year-round for trout and redfish in all the the fall shrimp migration from Matagorda Bays. Wading and the bays to the Gulf. Trout and drifting for trophy trout and reds begin feeding primarily reds are his specialty. on small finfish, crabs, and eels after the shrimp are gone.

Telephone Metabolism levels of gamefish 979-863-7353 will decrease resulting in shorter Email feeding periods each day and CaptBill@GoldTipGuideService.com Website sometimes only one or two www.goldtipguideservice.com good feeds per week if it gets real cold. The weatherman holds the cards and for the most part temperature will dictate feeding and activity in general so we need to consider this when planning our fishing trips.

Taking a look back at last December, my records show that

fishing remained very good through the eighteenth of the month.

During that period shrimp were still in the middle of the bay due to the generally mild prevailing weather conditions. Every year has its own weather signature so we just have to roll with what comes our way. One inevitable challenge faced each year by fish and fishermen alike is adapting to cold water. When fishing colder water temperatures, it is mandatory to understand the complexities taking place within the fishery.

For example, as I have often stated, fish body temperature is equal to the water temperature.

Therefore, to produce steady catching, our presentations will need to be in synch with the environment. A slow crawl can be the ticket on cold mornings and during Jane Baugh drifting East Matagorda â&#x20AC;&#x201C; nice redfish â&#x20AC;&#x201C; periods of heavy overcast hot chicken Bass Assassin. but not always necessary

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

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0 $7$* 25 '$ during warmer and sunnier afternoons, especially in shallow water. Savvy anglers will vary their lure selection and speed of retrieve based upon the general level of bait and gamefish activity that can be observed.

Picking your days and even targeting certain times of the day becomes increasingly important as December rolls along.

Skip Heath wading East Matagorda Many times my boat will – 27 inches – 7 pounds 6 ounces – not leave the dock until hot chicken Bass Assassin. midmorning, purposely delaying the start of a trip to allow the midday and afternoon sun to warm the surface waters. Mullet are an important food source for trout in December and they become very active during these daily warming periods. Any location with mullet activity at the surface, be it a cove, shoreline, or reef, deserves investigation. Wading generally soft and muddy regions with scattered shell – with lots of mullet activity - is a solid game plan. Drift fishing mid-bay reefs and muddy flats can also be productive, but here again the bait activity is the

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primary key. I have found the bite slow at times even when the bait is active but rarely find a good bite without bait showing at the surface. On windy days when d to the the bay goes badly off-color I like to head Colorado River and the Diversion Channel. Last year we found more than a few reds on windy days in the Intracoastal Waterway.

If you enjoy catching redfish, try West Matagorda Bay’s south shoreline after a front. Tides should be low and the fish will be on the sandbars, guts, and in-between. When you catch it right you will be able to see the reds cruising and sometimes tailing in the shallows.

What a sight! And what a fun day you can have wading and sightcasting to them.

A few lure suggestions that have been proven producers in Decembers past: MirrOlure’s Catch 2000, Paul Brown’s Original Corky and Fat Boy, Fat Boy floaters. Color selections should include pearl chartreuse, pearl chartreuse w/gold sides, and one of my all-time favorites, mullet color. Fish these guys slow and with a twitch for best results. I will be using Bass Assassins mainly in the mud and my favorite colors include hot chicken, roach, opening night, sweet pea and 10W40. The above baits will comprise my personal arsenal for the next several months of winter fishing; unless of course something catches my eye and I catch fish on it.

Karen and I would like to wish all great hunting and fishing and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. God Bless! Capt. Bill

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 57

0,' &2$67 %$<6 :LWK WKH *UD\V Excellent fishing reports are circulating all along the Texas coast and the POC-Seadrift &$37 *$5< *5$< area has turned on as well.

Captain Gary and Captain Shellie During November I have Gray fish year-round for trout fished birds in upper San and redfish in the Port O’Connor/ Antonio Bay, waded north Seadrift area. Gary started his Bay and south shorelines in San Rat Guide Service 20 years ago.

The Grays specialize in wade and Antonio and Espiritu Santo, drift fishing with artificial lures. waded and drifted SAB and Gary and Shellie also team up to Mesquite Bay reefs, as well fish many tournaments. as waded and drifted many Matagorda Island back lakes.

Telephone We are fortunate to have such 361-785-6708 a range of fishing opportunity Email on this part of the coast.

Gary@BayRat.com Quite often when I’ve had Website www.bayratguideservice.com a good day someone at the dock will ask, “Where did you find them?” While I would like to be more helpful I do not normally say, “Oh yeah – just go to such and such reef and cast toward the PVC

58 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

pole off the north end. You’ll have a limit in no time.” A more likely response would be for them to try the deeper edges and points of the mid-bay reefs or maybe to work waist-deep grassbeds on the south shoreline if that’s where I’ve been.

I don’t want to be ugly or snobbish but I am usually pretty tightlipped about my fishing areas. It has taken me a lifetime of trial and error to learn structure that holds fish under various conditions, and I’ll be danged if I will just blurt out everything I know to anybody that walks up. I will however give you a Rici Poitevent showing good hint for a start. off her first redfish.

What some folks fail to realize is that a guide’s day actually begins the day before. Planning is the biggest part of success and this includes researching fishing logs, checking the weather, and reading the tide tables – especially if the area I’m fishing is tide/current dependent. To be honest, after doing my research, I actually find it easier to mentally eliminate

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

3 257 2·&21 125 6( $ '5 , ) 7 A happy crew with San Antonio Bay reds.

possible fishing areas rather than trying to identify some I might fish. So when you see me returning to the dock in the afternoon; I’m already planning where I’ll be fishing tomorrow, and probably more exhausted mentally than physically.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at how to plan tomorrow’s fishing trip. First thing to consider is whether the fish will remain in the areas we found them in today. This means the weather (especially wind), predominant currents and water levels, must remain similar.

A change in wind direction can totally wreck a fishing spot. North wind can drain a backwater area on the north side of the bay and totally inundate a similar area on the south side. A switch from light southeast to southwest can put the kibosh on a mid-bay reef. Tides change from day to day and weather (wind) can increase the tide and current or even cancel it entirely. If the fish we caught today were tide/current dependent, meaning they fed in the current, we’ll need a similar current tomorrow. This is what I meant when I mentioned

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

mentally eliminating certain areas.

Another factor to consider is boat traffic. A spot that fishes well on a weekday may not produce worth a hoott on i h l Saturday. Likewise, boat traffic can sometimes help.

Just recently we were able to catch some exceptional trout and very healthy reds in an area that is traditionally almost too clear and too shallow. These fish had been in this area for several weeks but I hadn’t fished it because I did not believe we could catch them. Well, along comes a strong north wind and I find myself locked down and unable to fish the areas I had been working. I told my guys we would try the shallow area but stealth would be the key. Moving very slowly through ankle deep mud (not so quietly) the fish moved constantly ahead out of range. I was about to go back for the boat when another boat came running the edge of the flat we were on. Guess what – he pushed the fish back toward us and the guys began hooking up left and right. This same scenario can work for you and against you and can be created by a crabber checking his traps or even by other waders pushing fish around a shoreline because they are making too much noise. I see all the above, good and bad, happen regularly.

I have ordered a 2011 24-ft Shallow Sport which means the 24-ft 2010 model I’m currently running will be for sale soon. Email or call for details if you are interested in a great boat at a great price.

Fish hard, fish smart!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 59

+22.(' 83 :,7+ 5RZVH\ Are the cool mornings starting to make the hair stand up on the back of your neck? If there is such a thing as a trout “rut” we are in it. December will be the kickoff for all things big in '$9,' 52:6(< the big trout arena of Baffin Bay. David Rowsey has 20 years November showed us signs of experience in the Laguna/Baffin things to come with numerous region; trophy trout with artificial solid catches of fish that carried lures is his specialty. David has a solid girth from head to tail. great passion for conservation Being lucky enough, and good and encourages catch and release of trophy fish. enough, to catch one that carries good weight into the Telephone thirty-plus range is what we are 361-960-0340 now after, and where all of our Website focus is concentrated. www.DavidRowsey.com I’d be a rich man if I had a dollar for every time someone asks me, “What is the best month to catch a big trout?” My response always starts with, “From December through...”

December has always been the Rodney Dangerfield of months to catch giant trout, it just gets no respect. Why, you ask? Well, it is not because the trout are not available and large; they are. More of it is

60 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

due to the February and March myth that has wormed its way into popular belief amongst the weekend trout fraternity. Bottom line is that folks have their “rut” on for Bambi, watching Santa fall from the chimney, and are just not out there to experience it. I’ll do my part and include photos of what they have missed.

December will have us in full winter trout mode. With a little luck, the water temperature will settle into the 55°-65° range. Once the trout get a sense of what is going on they will feed themselves up in a hurry to store much needed winter fat. In what Jody Norris with will seem like a snap of a solid Baffin the finger, the trout will go trout – released. from resembling a foot long Caught on 5” Bass Assassin chili dog to that Butterball Turbo Shad. turkey y’all are enjoying at Thanksgiving. It really happens fast down here come December and will last until spawning begins.

December patterns are the same as we find throughout all of the colds months. Trout will show preference for soft bottom

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

8 3 3 (5 / $*8 1$ % $ )), 1 that has ability to retain some heat, small to large guts leading into these areas that also have some relevance to deepwater access, and good food supply.

Areas that have ability to David Rowsey be one to two degrees â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10.25 pounds warmer than other areas - Bass Assassin are always a key factor in â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Released.

This photo was holding these large fish, shot by client so if you do not have and friend Matt a water temperature Rotan; I would gauge on your boat, you have given anything for may want to invest in him to have one. They are cheap and caught this fish. well worth the money.

It is not uncommon to find trout in an absolute feeding frenzy when ample bait is available. With the largest part of the bait supply being located somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico now, the trout will have a tendency to gorge given opportunity. If any of us are lucky enough to find this scenario, it will be a day you will never forget. I had that opportunity in December 2001 when I landed two eightyplus pound stringers on back to back days (all released). When those

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days occur, just about any lure in the box will catch them, but those fish all came on the Original Corky in a variety of colors. er, in no Top lure choices for me this December, certain order, will be the versatile 5â&#x20AC;? Bass Assassin on the small gap 1/16 ounce screwlock jighead or the new 1/8 ounce Pro Elite series jighead, MirrOlureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paul Brown Original (Corky) and the Fatboy both sinking and floating, MirrOlureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catch 5, and MirrOlureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lipped crankbait. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a couple of topwaters mixed in as well, but my confidence is in the subsurface hardware versus any other. I always encourage everyone that fishes with me to bring what they are confident in using, but if you are on the fence I would encourage you to carry a solid variety of the lures mentioned in your wading belt or shoulder bag.

In closing, I would like to remind yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;all to be prepared for the elements, whether it be cold, rain, or wind. Check your waders for leaks before you get here. If you are going to play the game, please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let faulty equipment be part of your game plan. SimmsFishing. com has everything you could possibly need on the winter water, and their quality is unsurpassed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The man who coined the phrase, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Money canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy happiness,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; never bought himself a good fishing rod.â&#x20AC;? Reg Baird (For what we do, a Waterloo rod would have been more appropriate.)

Set â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em Loose. -Capt. David Rowsey

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www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 61

75,&,$·6 0DQVÀHOG 5HSRUW Even though our fall season has included a few challenges it was still fairly good to Lower Laguna Madre fishermen.

Nasty water conditions &$37 75,&,$ continuing from the great Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water freshwater inflow last summer Adventures operates out of are still a problem in some Port Mansfield, specializing in areas but the fish have little wadefishing with artificial lures. problem finding your lure when you’re on them. Salinity Telephone in general is improving but 956-642-7298 we still have a ways to go.

Email shell@granderiver.net Hopefully the long-term effect Website will eventually outweigh the www.SkinnyWaterAdventures.com current negatives. “Cautiously optimistic” might be the best way to describe my prediction for the coming winter fishing season.

With a bit of luck we could be in for some storybook big trout action.

Fall really is an awesome time to be on the water. Geese are honking, ducks glide into backwater ponds and fish bent on getting winter-fat are aggressively looking for something to eat. As water temperatures dip into breathable wader range, life on the flats heats

62 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

up and every trip becomes a “cool” adventure. If you are as passionate about throwing hardware as I am, late fall is one of the better times to do it. We watched fish go from pecking at tails to slamming topwaters and the average size suddenly become much better as well. Almost out of nowhere we began finding three to six pound trout with a few heavier “kickers” showing up on better days. Redfish have been abundant too, stretching lines and straightening hooks, trying to beat the trout to your lure. Knee deep and less has been the place to be.

Unfortunately though, as good as all this sounds, overall poor water clarity plus floating dead grass has everybody stacking up in the same areas. We are hearing rumors of several mid and upper coast fishermen (read guides) wanting to relocate here this winter presumably to take advantage of better opportunity. If so, everyone should prepare for a few surprises; I never leave the dock without these essential tools.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

3 257 0 $ 16),(/' Knee deep was where you wanted to be!

especially how little water is left to work due to the clarity problem. The fish are stacked up, but so are the fishermen, so let’s all try to share responsibly and with good manners toward our fellow anglers.

December has traditionally been one of our better months. The weather is usually mild with cool but not cold water, the casual crowds are (usually) gone and fish have already moved into their predictable winter patterns.

Water levels have dropped and most depressions on the flats near deeper water hold opportunity, especially between northers. It is a time to fish more thoroughly rather than marching across larger areas looking for scattered fish. The main forage will swing towards mullet so larger lure profiles will come into play. The larger Kelly Wiggler paddle tails, TTF’s Big Minow, larger topwaters, and of course Paul Brown’s Originals (Corkys) will become my go-to numbers.

December is also about Christmas shopping so here’s a few hints for the angler on your list. Good tools are critical on the water and here are five things I couldn’t do without. First are my Costa

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Del Mar fishing glasses. Quality eyewear makes all the difference and the 580s are the ultimate. For those ell. who require Rx, the 400 series rock as well.

Second is a 15-pound Boga Grip. No, it’s not a fashion statement; it is an essential safety tool when landing a fish with treble hooks all over its head. Third is quality fishing pliers. The new all-aluminum pliers by Fishing Tackle Unlimited is both practical and affordable at $79; I’m loving them. Fourth is something made by our friend and FTU Pro-Staff Coordinator, Ron Shepherd. Ron makes an angler’s lanyard to conveniently hold clippers, lip balm, hook file, leader material and especially my Power Pole remote. It’s a little 70s retro-looking with cool beads and baubles, but I absolutely depend on it to carry my necessary stuff. I don’t think anyone offers anything quite like it. Thanks Ron! Fifth but by no means last in importance is a Yeti Cooler, no other ice chest comes close. As a guide I am saving at least $6 dollars per day on ice. At that rate it doesn’t take long to pay for a Yeti.

All in all, it looks like December will be one to remember, but it won’t happen unless you make it happen. I’ve already caught a fat twenty-nine inch trout and on another day had ten topwater trout over six pounds and some brutish reds on my rod, so the potential is definitely there. Please remember to be respectful of not only the fish but of others coming down to enjoy what we have been blessed to receive. Bring your tools!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 63

6287+ 3$'5( )LVKLQJ 6FHQH Getting off the water early today was difficult as the catching has been very steady.

Owing to a prior commitment, it &$37 (51(67 &,61(526 was with a reluctant “goodbye” A Brownsville-area native, and a promise of “see you soon.”

Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes The last couple of weeks have the Lower Laguna Madre from been remarkable, even more Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. so when you consider that it Ernest specializes in wading usually gets better as the air and poled skiff adventures for and water temperatures cool snook, trout, and redfish. further in December. Are you Cell ready?

956-266-6454 Recently I’ve had opportunities Website to fish from the Land Cut south www.tightlinescharters.com to Arroyo City and even further south in the Port Isabel/South Padre Island area. The waters near and north of Port Mansfield have yielded some awesome catches of trout and redfish. Lately at Mansfield, it has not been out of the ordinary to find trout in the five to seven pound class and limits of eighteen to twenty inch fish in only a few hours have been easily attained. The amount of bait in the Port Mansfield area is incredible. Truthfully, I have never seen so much bait in our bay system as I did running the

64 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

east side from the Land Cut to Port Mansfield the other day. The bait line extended for a solid three, maybe even four miles. Redfish have been holding all along this line and the sheer number of them is stunning.

At Arroyo City, the fishing has been quite a bit slower. This is no doubt due to the fact that the Rio Grande is still overflowing and periodic releases of freshwater are being made through the Arroyo. Between releases the clarity and salinity recover enough that you can see bottom on the flats but it lasts only until the next release of freshwater. Fish are still being caught but not at the rate expected for this time of the year and certainly not like we’re seeing in other parts of the Laguna Madre.

We are hoping that the water conditions will return to normal soon. If there is any bad news in the Laguna Madre it would be the seagrass die-off from Art Leyva had a prolonged freshwater blast pulling with a inundation. Seagrasses big school of reds. are the foundation of

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

$ 5 52<2 &2/ 25 $ '2 7 2 3 257 ,6 $ %(/ (/ the ecosystem and the flats around Arroyo City seem hardest hit of all.

The waters near Port Isabel have been productive for limits of “keeper” trout and lots of Jimmy’s first trip redfish, especially down south was a oversized reds. great success in the catching department.

These fish have been hungry for just about anything on top or bottom. Super Spook Jrs in bone and woodpecker rigged with Gamakatsu single live-bait hooks have been taking lots of hits along with Kelly Wiggler’s ball-tail shads in plumblue metal flake. With the water temperatures finally dipping into the upper-60s fish are trending toward their winter patterns. Currently, potholes on the flats and sandy areas near the spoil banks have been the top producers for both redfish and trout. The redfish have begun to put on noticeable weight and we will soon see trout sporting their wintertime potbellies. Forage availability in this area is also very good, we are seeing unbelievable amounts of mullet and shrimp. South Bay is currently holding more shrimp than I have ever seen there

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and another first has been watching gulls picking off shrimp while hovering above schools of redfish in the Bahia Grande wetland lake. The amount of baitt nal which in our bay system right now is phenomenal should bring us an outstanding winter season.

Each front from the north has brought noticeable change to the fisheries and also to the fish themselves. They seem to have fattened very quickly and fight with greater vigor. As it stands right now, catching has definitely improved over the last few weeks and we can’t help but get excited about the prospects and opportunities that December will bring. Look for the tides to drop considerably somewhere around mid-to-late December. Concentrate on deeper pockets on the flats as these are fish magnets during low-water periods. Pelicans will soon become our best indicators of fish location and feeding activity. Exercising daily to toughen your leg muscles is a good idea as mud wading is always a part of winter fishing and you don’t want to miss the best of it.

December brings us the Christmas Holiday and the spirit of giving; you might want to consider giving your favorite angler an FTU “Green Rod” found only at Fishing Tackle Unlimited’s two locations in Houston. If you have any questions or need help choosing the right rod length and action, come see me at FTU on December 11th for the FTU/Simms Fishing Event. Happy Holidays to everyone, and may your fishing end on a high note in 2010.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 65

)LVKLQJ 5HSRUWV DQG )RUHFDVWV IURP %LJ /DNH WR %RFD &KLFD Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337 598 3268 Water temperatures are dropping and so are water levels. Most of the shrimp should be out of the marshes by the end of December, but early December is still prime time for bird fishing. Big trout will be on the sand flats around the lake. Salinities are currently extremely high, so I would concentrate my efforts on the northern part of the estuary. Once water temperatures start falling, switch to eighth ounce jigheads and twitch baits that fall slowly through the water column. Whether wadefishing flats or fishing from the boat, concentrate on making your lure look as helpless as possible. Maintain tension on the line all the time, because December trout bites are often very light and difficult to detect. Redfish will be stacked up on the east bank of the lake, pretty much anywhere south of Commissary Point.

Also try the weirs at Grand and Lambert Bayous. The easiest way to catch reds is with a Gulp! on the bottom. Use quarter ounce jigheads and maintain contact with the bottom and you should do very well.

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay - James Plaag Silver King Adventures - www.silverkingadventures.com - 409 935 7242 October was a busy and productive month for James. “I fished a bunch of days in a row, mostly bay fishing, with a tarpon trip or two thrown in there.

The weather was good and the fishing was steady. Since it was still so warm, we were catching fish by working patterns that were almost summer like, drifting slicks around reefs and well pads out in the middle. Here lately, the birds have been working over some decent trout up to about three pounds.

Quality trout like those should be available under birds until maybe the middle of December, but really, I like to start wading more of the time once the cold weather gets here. This month is a great time to catch some big trout by wading. I’ll head to places like the upper end of Trinity and East Bays, and I’ll spend some time closer to home here on West Bay too, working the shoreline coves some and also wading reefs. We’ll be throwing lots of MirrOlures, like pink/gold Catch 5s and 51Ms. We’re also having good luck on the little Sea Shad Assassins, in light colors.”

“Think pink in December,” Randall chuckles. “It’s almost time to break out the pink lures. We love the Baffin magic Sand Eel Juniors and the salty chicken too. When we’re throwing other plugs, we like the pink Skitterwalk and pink Paul Brown Fat Boys. There’s just something about those pink lures in the cold water. I can’t wait for the colder weather to get these fish back into a winter pattern. It’s been kind of warm lately, and the fishing has been good, especially for reds. But it’s a little weird on some days. I’ve seen it where you could troll down the bank and see the shrimp hanging onto the cord grass.

All those shrimp will be out in the bays once the stronger fronts blow the water out and drive the temperatures down. Then we’ll be catching more and bigger trout, focusing on a little deeper water over bottom with mud and scattered shell mixed in. Since there is such a good crop of shrimp and other stuff for the fish to eat, the action should heat up once the migrations kick into high gear.”

Matagorda - Tommy Countz Bay Guide Service - 979 863 7553 cell 281 450 4037 Staying in tune with weather patterns and adjusting fishing strategies to align with the conditions will be the key to consistent success in the Matagorda area in December, says Tommy. “We have several good options this month, depending on what the weather is doing. If it’s warm and tides are kind of high, East Bay coves and mid-bay reefs will be productive for both trout and reds. Birds should be working over there until at least the middle of the month too. The coves in West Bay can be good for trout during those same conditions. When the fronts blow in, it will be tough to fish in either bay for a day or so. That’s when we head to the river, as long as the run off from recent rains isn’t too bad. When in the river, we’ll either throw three eighths ounce heads at the bank and work the drop off or “dredge” the lure behind the boat, short hopping it until we find fish. As soon as the winds die down after the front, it’s a great time to head to West Bay and look for redfish stacked in the guts along the south shoreline when the tide drops out.”

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409 996 3054 Duck hunting has been keeping Jim really busy lately, and he’s stopped fishing weekends altogether. “Saturday is the best day to hunt ducks. There are lots of people out and it keeps the birds moving around more. Hunting has been good and should stay that way. Recent fronts drove a bunch of birds into our marshes. Speaking of the marshes, they should be full of fish when the tide is high in December. When fronts blow the water out of the bays and drain the marshes, the main bay shorelines adjacent to the marshes will be better. December is a great month to catch quality trout in this area, especially the first half of the month, before the really cold weather settles in. I’ll be looking to fish during the week and hunt on the weekends.

When fishing, I sometimes like to adjust my time to fish in the afternoon and into the first hour or so of the evening. Lots of days this time of year, the fish are stale and inactive through the day, but they turn on and feed real good right as the sun is setting and into the night.”

Palacios - Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979 240 8204 This past month, with above average temperatures, fish are still not in their normal winter locales. We are still finding fish over sand and grass with a few fish still coming off the wells. To tell you how warm it is, there are still sharks roaming in West Matagorda and still Spanish mackerel at the wells.

Bird activity in our area has been good lately. Birds are working from the Tres Palacios River all the way around to Palacios Point. Heavy jigheads rigged with pumpkinseed/chartreuse or pearl/chartreuse paddletails have been producing keeper fish. One tip on working the birds, if you find a school with dinks, leave them to look for a school of keepers; the schools seem to be running with same-sized fish. Redfish action is still tremendous. Sometimes, there are so many it seems like you could catch a limit out of a mud puddle.

Small Spooks and baby Skitterwalks in pearl/chartreuse or green have been hot. Once we get some cooler weather, look for fish to move over mud and shell. Find bait and you will find fish!

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service - 979 849 7019 - 979 864 9323

Port O’Connor - Lynn Smith - Back Bay Guide Service - 361 983 4434 Lingering warm weather has made the fishing over sand and grass better

66 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

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than normal for this time of year, but Lynn expects the pattern will change come December. “Once the stronger fronts start hitting with regularity, we’ll switch over to fishing mud and grass mostly. The softer and darker the mud the better, especially on the colder days. Mix in some scattered shell with the mud and grass, and you’ve got the potential for lots of fish and big ones too. We’ll start off the morning with topwaters if it’s not too cold, and we’ll throw Corkys and Catch 2000s as well. One of the other keys this time of year is to find the right kind of bottom on flats which are adjacent to some pretty deep water. Seems the fish don’t like to get too far away from the depths once the water temperatures drop down into the fifties and stay there. Main bay shorelines, especially those near the pass, should hold decent numbers of fish. Working the area slowly and thoroughly, especially when lots of mullet are present, will be the keys to catching more fish.”

Rockport - Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361 790 5203 - 361 441 3894 December is prime cast and blast time for Blake, and the duck season shapes up nicely. “We’ll be hunting the marshes early, trying to shoot our limit before the sun gets too high. We’ve got good numbers of ducks already, so we should be set up for a productive season. On most days, we’ll fish after we hunt. The fishing in the lakes off Aransas Bay for redfish has been good, and that should hold up. Even when it’s cold and the tide gets blown out, there are plenty of reds in the deeper holes. Gold spoons have been great for the reds. Trout fishing’s steady too. We’re catching fish pretty easy on most days. Some decent topwater action, more of a consistent bite on Sand Eels, in both pumpkinseed/chartreuse and purple/chartreuse. Some days, we are catching pretty good on limetreuse too. In December, I use the Gulp lures more often than most of the rest of the year. The scent on those lures makes it easier for guys with less experience to catch plenty of fish. It also makes it easier to entice those finicky fish after the fronts.”

Padre Island National Seashore Billy Sandifer - Padre Island Safaris - 361 937 8446 Although Atlantic pompano showed up in very good numbers mid-October; December is officially prime pompano month. Look for cuts through the outside sandbar or deep wide guts running right up against the shore.

Pink or chartreuse “Fishbites” and peeled, fresh-dead shrimp are my best producers. They like clear water and blue bird days so choose your days carefully. Slot and oversized reds, some large jack crevalle, large Spanish mackerel, Atlantic bluefish and whiting will all be available. Sandbar sharks will be available along with lesser numbers of bull and lesser blacktipped sharks. Second day behind a cold front will prove the best water and driving conditions. Avoid hard NE or E winds as they will pile water on the beach.

Driving has been a nightmare between the 19-23 mile beaches and probably will remain so until we get a good rain to pack down the sand. Avoid trying to drive alongside the water between the 19-23 beaches. There are extremely soft places in there and most of the area is straight up and down.

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 563 1160 Baffin Bay is continuing to produce fair numbers of fish. The fish that I’m finding have been up shallow, in twelve to thirty inches of water. As is normal for this time of the year, the fish are fattening themselves up in preparation for the winter. Brown tide still covers much of Baffin Bay and the nearby areas, so unless you have the rocks marked on your GPS, be careful while fishing this area. I like to use the Bass Assassin Kwik Corks rigged with a fluorocarbon leader and either a Bass Assassin Slurp, Berkley Gulp or live Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

shrimp when I’m fishing close to the rocks in the brown tide. This rig will keep me from getting snagged on the rocks. December should still be a good month for sightcasting and fly fishing for reds and black drum in ultra shallow water, meaning twelve inches or less. I will also be spending much time in the upper end of the Laguna Madre wadefishing with the same soft plastics rigged on eighth ounce Assassin Spring Lock jigheads. Another one of my favorite lures this time of the year is the MirrOlure Catch 5 (CHBL).

Corpus Christi - Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361 937 5961 December fishing can be pretty simple in the Corpus Christi area, Joe reports. “Usually, after the first couple of really strong fronts hit right around Thanksgiving, the intracoastal will fill up with fish and they aren’t too hard to locate and catch. When looking for the fish, focus on bird and bait activity first and foremost. Usually, the birds will gather over the schools of fish. They may be sitting most of the time, but if you watch them closely, they’ll get up and pick at jumping shrimp from time to time. The best way to catch fish in the channel this time of year is with a soft plastic bumped off the sand bar lying along the edge. Depending on the strength of the wind and current, a heavier jighead might work better than a light one. Usually, I’m throwing at least a quarter ounce head when fishing this patter, but if it gets really windy and the current is running strong, I might move all the way up to a half ounce head. The heavier head allows me to maintain contact with the lure as it flutters along the drop off, so I can detect the bites when they come.”

Port Mansfield - Terry Neal www.terrynealcharters.com – (956) 944 2559 For years when folks asked what redfish eat, I would say lots of crabs, piggy perch, shrimp, eels and an occasional Church’s chicken leg. How did I know this? Of the thousands of redfish I’d cleaned over the years; that is what I found in their stomachs. I would finish my statement saying that I believed reds have a hard time catching and eating live mullet due to the location and size of their mouth. Fast forward: Fishing after a recent norther with wind still at 10 to 15 mph, we hadn’t gone fifty yards from the boat when we were all hooked up. This continued for the better part of three hours. Lot of catch and release going on. Back at the dock, every redfish had mullet from two to six inches long in their stomach. These fish were obviously off their feed during the norther and then began gorging when it was over. I no longer say redfish have trouble eating mullet. Winter fishing is some of the best times you’ll spend on the water. Merry Christmas.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel The Pettys – www.fishingwithpettys.com – (956) 943 2747 The fall fishing this year has been up and down…down because of the poor water quality, but up because the fish still have to eat! We’ve been limiting on trout and reds at least one or two trips a week. When the tides are doubled and sluggish, or the moon full, we need lots of wind to get the fish biting, but when conditions are favorable, you forget that there was ever a problem with the water clarity. We continue to catch respectable trout including a real nice one every couple of trips. We are using big Cajun Thunder corks with a fifteen to twenty inch leader trailing a quarter ounce jighead and pearl white, glow or new penny Gulp three inch shrimp. Freddy says, “When you land in a pothole you want to try to keep the bait there as long as you can to give the fish as much time as possible to strike. The fish are not able to see much, but they will definitely smell the Gulp and by twitching it every now and then the motion will let them know where to start swiping until they hit pay dirt.”

December fronts should blow brackish water out and clear the bay.

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Sarah & Caleb Killian Port Mansfield - trout Jake Haddock 27.5” trout

Joe Maldonado Laguna Madre - 35” redfish

Charmel Colson Galveston Bay - 42.5” redfish

Pablo de los Santos Laguna Madre - 25” trout

Chelsea Bousquet Rockport - 52” drum

Blake & Melissa Bodungen Pensacola Beach - 40” & 35” bull reds

Mike and Chris Milano Copano Bay - 24” redfsih

Augustin Perez Arroyo City - 26.5” trout

Tommy Garza Baffin Bay - 28” trout

70 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

John & Kylah Sanchez Rockport - 52” drum John Sanchez Rockport - 52” drum

Ryan Malone ICW - black drum, biggest fish ever caught!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Roy Crush and Dominic West Galveston Bay

Marco Gonzalez Port Mansfield - 37” bull red

Marco Gonzalez, Jr. Port Isabel - 14” first redfish!

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Domingo Urdiales Laguna Madre - 36â&#x20AC;? drum

Jerri Cundeff West Bay - 8.5lb redfish

Roy Crush West Galveston Bay - red

Ryan Escobar San Antonio Bay - 33â&#x20AC;? red

William â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wild Billâ&#x20AC;? Powell Bryan Beach - bull red

Austyn JFK Causeway - keeper red

Roy Crush IV 27â&#x20AC;? trout

Julie Whiteside Kayak Fishing Drum Bay - redfish

Chris Caronna, Sr Ingleside - 26â&#x20AC;? 6.25lb red

Michael Dean East Matagorda - 42â&#x20AC;? black drum C&R

Christopher Harris Sabine Pass - 25â&#x20AC;? & 27â&#x20AC;? reds

Wyatt Drews E Matagorda Bay - 24.5â&#x20AC;? first redfish!

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Hector Ruiz Galveston - Biggest fish ever caught!

Jason Martin Intercoastal Waterway - broke the scale! black drum

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Cameryn Guzman Christmas Bay - flounder

Steve Hamman 26” trout

Cherie Landry Galveston Bay - 26” redfish

Carlos Garza Laguna Madre - 15+ lb jack 72 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Ellen Guzman Christmas Bay - 19” trout

Capt Jim Mickey 30” trout

Daniel Machicek Rockport - 36.5” redfish

David Longoria Baffin Bay - 27” red Texas Saltwater Fishing

Hailee Guzman Christmas Bay - 26” trout

Connor Adams Matagorda Bay - blacktip shark

Khoa Nguyen Humble Bridge - 25” 7lb red

Matthew Potts Laguna Madre - 23” 4.5lb trout

Joshua Hinojosa Port Mansfield - 27.5” speckled trout

Miles Engelke Flour Bluff - 28” trout

Denise Brown Little Bay - 33.5” redfish

Elisabet Penuelas Laguna Madre - 27” redfish

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Megan Longoria Baffin Bay - 24” first red!

Hector Loya Sr Port Mansfield - 34” red

Iliasis Muniz South Padre - 27” reds

Alex Alia Port Isabel - first wahoo!

Victor Martinez 22” first redfish! CPR Aaron Patterson & Travis Orsak Port O’Connor - 38” redfish

Hector Loya Port Mansfield - 28” red

Tiffany Nagelmueller & Brian Korbell Port O’Connor - 40” reds

Jon Shipley Galveston - 26” 20lb jack

Lynn Osina Port O’Connor - 24” personal best red!

Maddie Mejia first whiting!

Bryce Tilotta Galveston - first redfish!

Carlos Mejia with son, Scott Mejia 28” first redfish! CPR

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Todd Radke Matagorda Bay - 42” redfish Texas Saltwater Fishing

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74 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

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3$0 -2+1621 Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share?

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TEQUILA LȐǸɕɄȽȐȇ ɑȐȐɜȨȽȝɕѳ ȨȽȝ ȝɕѳ ѳ &UDEPHDW 3DUIDLW ed • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped seeded tomatoes • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1/4 teaspoon salt • Crabmeat Salad • Tequila Guacamole • Fried Tortilla Strips for garnish • Tequila shots

&UDEPHDW 6DODG • 1 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage • 1/3 cup mayonnaise • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley • 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice • 1 teaspoon minced garlic • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

ith the 1. In a bowl, toss the tomatoes with oil and salt. n 2. To assemble the parfaits, spoon amole about 2 tablespoons of the guacamole p with into each of 4 parfait glasses. Top nother crabmeat salad, tomatoes, and another yering layer or guacamole. Continue layering to use all the ingredients. ed 3. Garnish each glass with the fried ot of tortilla strips, and serve with a shot tequila. Makes 4 servings.

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In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onions, cilantro, parsley, lime juice, garlic, cumin, salt, and cayenne. Gently fold in the crabmeat, being carful not to break up the lumps.

76 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

1 pound ripe avocados, peeled, seeded and chopped 2 jalapenos, seeded and minced 1 T fresh lime juice • 2 t tequila 3 T chopped red onion • 1 Tn minced cilantro leaves 1 1/2 t sour cream • 1 1/2 t ground cumin 1/2 t minced garlic • 1/2 t salt 1/8 t cayenne

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, mashing slightly to combine. Refrigerate until ready to assemble the parfaits.

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7HTXLOD /LPH 6KULPS PS 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined ne 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 large garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons tequila 1 tablespoon lime juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro Hot cooked rice (optional) Lime wedges for garnish att Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Heat butter and oil in large skillet over medium heat.

When butter is melted, add garlic; cook 30 seconds, add shrimp; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tequila, lime juice, salt and chili pepper. Cook 2 minutes or until most of liquid evaporates and shrimp are pink and glazed. Add cilantro; cook 10 seconds.

Serve over hot cooked rice if desired. Garnish with lime wedges.

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Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / December 2010 79

, 1 '( ; 2) $ '9 ( 5 7 , 6 ( 5 6 For more information about these advertisers visit: http://www.texassaltwaterfishingmagazine.com/contact_advertisers_product.html

ADVENTURES

Hell’s Bay Boatworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Yeti Coolers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Big Country Outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Hobie Cat Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Your Fishing Pal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Cabo Magic Sportfishing . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Kresta’s Boats & Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Kroll’s Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

FISHING RETAIL LOCATIONS

APPAREL

Majek Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Academy Sports + Outdoors . . . . . . . . . 23

Bass King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Marshall Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Fishing Tackle Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

Peligac Offshore Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Mt. Houston Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Fish-N-Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Pink Marlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Sail & Ski Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Roy’s Bait & Tackle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Salt Water Soul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Sea Fox Boat Co, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Seaworthy Marine Supply . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Shallow Sport Boats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 1

Speedy Stop Solunar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solunar

ARTWORK/GRAPHICS

Texas Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Hillman’s Seafood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Daniel Holt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

The Sportsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 1

TSFMag Subscription Form . . . . . . . . . . 70

Art Republic of Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Tropical Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

AUTOMOTIVE

BUILDER & BUILDER PRODUCTS

Chrysler - Dodge Ram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Building Products Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Chevrolet Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Eco Vantage Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

JEWELRY

Mac Haik Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Legacy Lifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Eichhorn, Gonzales & Miller. . . . . . . . . . 22

Marine Lift and Dock Supply LLC . . . . . 14

Fishing Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

FURNITURE Texas Select Seasonings - Wild Bill’s . . 71

BOAT ACCESSORIES

Aventura - Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Boat Lift Distributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

EVENTS/TOURNAMENTS

Coastline Trailer Mfg., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Austin Boat, Sport & Outdoor Show . . 49

MARINA Cove Harbor Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Coveralls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fibertex & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

FISHING PRODUCTS (RODS, REELS, ETC.)

Gulf Coast Trolling Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Brown Lures-JB Outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . 65

House of Fiberglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

D.O.A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

PLACES TO STAY

Safe Floor Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Eagle Claw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Baffin on the Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

South Texas Trolling Motors . . . . . . . . . 72

EZ Drainer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Bentley’s ICW House Rental . . . . . . . . . . 77

Specialty Aluminum Works . . . . . . . . . . 26, 56

Fishing Tackle Unlimited Green Rod . . 43

Floating Cabin Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Stick It Anchor Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

ForEverlast Hunting/Fishing Products 39

Serena Residences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Tops-N-Towers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 1

Goyen Electric Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

The Inn At Clarks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

TR Coastal Innovations, LLC . . . . . . . . . 62

Kevin Cochran Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Bluff Landing Marina & Lodge . . . . . . . 71

Marsh Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

REAL ESTATE/RENTAL

BOATS, KAYAKS, OUTBOARDS

Mud Hole Tackle Supply Company . . . 72

Rick BonGiovanni- Condo 4Sale . . . . . . 77

Bernie’s Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Precision Fishing Resources . . . . . . . . . 56

Port Alto Waterview House . . . . . . . . . . 61

Busha Boat Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

REC Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Coastal Backwater Marine . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Rods by Pepper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

SERVICE

Coastal Bend Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Russelures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solunar

2 CoolFishing.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Coastline Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 1

Simms Fishing Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Kevin Severance Insurance . . . . . . . . . . 63

Dargel Boat Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Texas Tackle Factory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

West Point Boat Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,77

El Campo Boating Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Third Stone Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solunar

West Point Boat Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Flatstalker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Ultimate Wade Fishing Caddy . . . . . . . . 57

The Chupacabra Outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Gulf Coast Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cover, 1, 6

Waterloo Rods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

80 December 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

nde a r G Priz ing w Dra nt ve f E be y o to Da ed win ter ot ne t to n E n en Do pres

Tired of losing the battle against the Elements?

Inshore Fishing Expo

Cold

December 11, 2010 7 am - 6 pm Featuring the best in Fly and Light Tackle Fishing!

Special Guests include: Rick Hartman - World Champion Caster, Lower Laguna Guide Gregg Arnold - IGFA World Record Fly Guide, Louisiana, “Land of Giants”

Scott Sommerlatte - Inshore Fly Fishing Expert and nationally recognized outdoor photographer and freelance outdoor writer Ernest Cisneros - Texas Snook Expert. Arroyo City, TX Mike “McTrout” McBride and Tricia Buchen - Inshore light tackle experts, Pt Mansfield, TX Jason Catchings - Light tackle, Fly fishing and Sight Fishing

WaderWickTM Fleece Top & Pant

Guide, Texas and Louisiana

Guide Fleece Top & Pant

plus Aaron Theobolt, from the Simms Factory, and more regional and local experts!

LIVE BROADCAST - Sports Talk 790 am The Doug Pike Show, 7 am - 10 am Texas Flyfishers - Fly Tying demostrations all day!

Casting * FREE Seminars * Demos Wading Sock

Wet

Liner Sock Flats Sneaker Flats Boot

WINDSTOPPER® Flex Gloves

Wind

GORE-TEX® ExStreamTM Hat

Guide Jacket

G3 GuideTM Jacket

WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell Jacket

Guide WINDSTOPPER® Jacket Freestone Stockingfoot Wader

Let us help you battle whatever Mother Nature puts between you and a great day on the water.

WINDSTOPPER® Half-Finger Gloves

G3 GuideTM Stockingfoot Wader

ExStreamTM Balaclava

12800 Gulf Freeway @ Fuqua Houston, Texas 77034 281-481-6838

For more event information:

www.fishingtackleunlimited.com Lay-A-Way and Gift Certificates Available

8933 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77024 713-827-7762

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GALVESTON TIDES & SOLUNAR TABLE Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine DECEMBER 2010

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