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March 2017
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about the Cover Capt. Ernest Cisneros is this month’s cover angler, preparing to release a hefty Lower Laguna speck. Ernest launched his highly notable Empty Stringers last March, a Catch & Release incentive program that encourages clients to release their catches on his charters. Check out his column in this issue; his customers have willing donated 1185 “keepers” back to the fishery. That’s hands-on conservation in its finest form!
March 2017 VOL 26 NO 11
Contents
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 Solunar Activity – A Game Changer 18 Deal-breakers and Bone-shakers 26 Rudy Poindexter – Part 2 32 Full Speed Ahead 40 Take a Kid Fishing
48 Let’s Ask The Pro 52 Shallow Water Fishing 56 TPWD Field Notes 60 Fly Fishing 64 Kayak Fishing Chronicles 68 TSFMag Conservation News 72 Fishy Facts 76 Inshore | Nearshore | Jetties | Passes 80 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks... 108 Boat Maintenance Tips 110 Science & the Sea
Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard
10
WHAT OUR GUIDES
HAVE TO SAy
86 88 90 92 94 96 98
Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene The Buzz on Galveston Bay The View from Matagorda Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Wayne’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene
Dickie Colburn Caleb Harp Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros
80
REGULARS
90
08 Editorial 84 New Tackle & Gear 100 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 104 Catch of the Month 106 Gulf Coast Kitchen
106 6 | March 2017
Jay Watkins Scott Null Mark Lingo Scott Sommerlatte Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Joe Richard Eric Ozolins Chris Mapp UT Marine Science Institute
Editor and Publisher Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 National sales representative Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net regional sales representative Patti Elkins Patti@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-649-2265 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Donna Boyd Donna@tsfmag.com Circulation Subscription – product sales Linda Curry Store@tsfmag.com Design & Layout Stephanie Boyd Artwork@tsfmag.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly. Subscription Rates: One Year (Free Emag with Hard Copy) Subscription $25.00 E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year. Order on-line: www.tsfmag.com Make checks payable to: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue. Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded. how to contact tsfmag: Phone: 361-785-3420 fax: 361-785-2844 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 Physical Address: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 Web: www.TSFMAG.com photo gallery: photos@tsfmag.com Printed in the USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at Victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.
EDITORIAL
In Like
They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Anything is possible, of course, but as of February, 13 the last full month of winter is but a paper tiger if indeed it has any feline blood at all. I cannot recall such mild weather; fishing and hunting snow geese in short sleeves – and sweating! Whether we actually see anything colder in the coming weeks is almost irrelevant compared to the infamous March wind that is sure to blow. Anglers heading across open bays to reach favored spring fishing grounds are advised to keep a close eye on local marine forecasts. Sustained southerly wind can be enough of a daily threat but northers are often the real boogeymen of springtime on the coast. If your favorite fishing hat does not have a stampede string you might want to add one. And sunscreen! Some of my worst sunburns came on partlycloudy March afternoons. Lots of things will be changing. Water temperatures will be on the rise and the fish should respond by feeding more often and for longer periods. Boat ramps are sure to become crowded, especially during the spring break weeks. Along with safe boating practices, we will all need to exercise greater patience. Some of the folks going fishing have not been on the water in a while and their equipment may not be in readiest condition. If you see somebody struggling with a cranky outboard, rather than fussing and fuming and performing your best whirling dervish, be a good sport and offer to help. It will go a long way toward keeping everything sane and civil, and you just might find a new friend.
8 | March 2017
a
Lion…?
I wrote a while back of the San Jacinto Waste Pits, a toxic waste site created in the 1960s when “out of sight out of mind” unfortunately prevailed in industrial waste disposal. Roll the clock forward to the present and those pits are no longer safely buried in the past. Through a combination of subsidence and erosion, the concrete cap that was supposed to seal the mess safely underground is now exposed and leaking dangerous dioxin compounds into the San Jacinto River, Houston Ship Channel, and Upper Galveston Bay. Galveston Bay Foundation and CCA Texas have been very involved, as have other organizations and agencies. What looked like a slam dunk via the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendation to remediate the mess through complete removal of the 30-something acre site is now under fire from alleged “experts,” hired by the parties responsible for the cleanup. Another “cap in place” is being proposed, promising a safer solution than a full-blown Pandora’s Box, if the pits were to be opened to accomplish full-removal remediation strategies. Concern now rages, and rightfully so, that this is merely another Band-Aid, put forth by the folks who created the mess in the beginning and are now crawfishing to avoid the much costlier removal option. TSFMag strongly urges your support of Galveston Bay Foundation and CCA Texas as they combine their strengths and resources to deal with this nasty problem. Simply pouring more concrete to hide a problem is not good stewardship. Spring Break is for kids…Get ‘em on the water!
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STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN
Beautiful sight for birdwatching...not so much for fishing.
A
recent trip with two very good fishermen found us grinding into early afternoon for just a few fish. The wind was very light out of the southeast and the water was “trout green” as some folks prefer to call it. Except for sometimes fishing deeper areas, I generally search for somewhat stained or streaky water this time of year. Such water coloration could be caused by wind, current or freshwater runoff, to name a few. Unfortunately, tide movement was almost nil that day, so finding streaky water was next to impossible. As we waded from one spot to the next we witnessed very few mullet flipping and every pelican in sight was either sitting on the water or resting atop exposed reefs. The entire bay had no pulse. Our bites were infrequent and very noncommittal. We basically covered one end of the bay to the other while jumping out at almost every spot where I’d had success just a couple of days before under similar conditions. I told Bill and Kent that if we continued to ride around searching for signs we couldn’t find, we might as well have left our rods at home. We finally arrived at what would be our final stop of the day. It was almost 4:00 PM when we eased into the knee-deep water near the mouth of a large cove. Frustrated but determined, all three of us went different directions armed with Corkys, MirrOdines and topwaters.
Roughly 30 minutes into our wade and, for the first time all day, a few mullet began jumping. A few turned into dozens, especially along the waist-deep ledge where the bottom transitioned from sand to soft mud. Bill struck first and then Kent hooked up. A large flock of white pelicans flew overhead while scattered terns and gulls picked and pecked along the surface. The bite lasted maybe 45 minutes before gradually fading away. We didn’t set the world on fire but that final stop made the trip more than worth it. For all who scoff at the notion that solunar activity impacts feeding patterns, I would say wake up and smell the trout slicks! The solunar table predicted a major feeding period to occur between 3:58 and 5:58 PM. Most of our fish were caught between 4:30 and 5:15 PM. And wouldn’t you know it, the handful we caught earlier came during a solunar minor between 9:17 and 10:47 AM. Hmmm...there just may be something to this solunar stuff after all. John Alden Knight was an avid hunter and fisherman from Pennsylvania who in 1926 went bass fishing with a guide on a Florida lake. Knight was impressed with the guide’s ability to put him in the right place at the right time to produce unbelievable results. The guide explained the importance of moon and sun positioning and their effects on feeding behavior. Knight bought into what was then considered folklore and over the next ten years logged his own experiences, ultimately concluding that effects from the sun (sol) and moon (lunar)
were not a fluke. The other force he noted that heavily influenced fish behavior was tide. These three elements, he said, affect the behavior of fish more than any other factors. He, of course, also noted the influence of local weather conditions. (Knight, John A., “Moon up – Moon down” 1942). Knight developed his first solunar tables in 1936, which ultimately became widely published, and the rest is history. Nowadays, computer models can render solunar data way far into the future that are available via many media sources, including smartphone apps. Hell, you can even buy a wristwatch that tells you the best times to fish based upon the moon phase and positioning. I can just hear it now... “Honey, I’m going fishing. Oh wait. My watch says it’s gonna suck today.” Minor feeding periods occur from 1 to 1.5 hours before the moon sets and again 1 to 1.5 hours as the moon rises. Majors occur when the moon is directly overhead or directly beneath our feet. The longer and sometimes more aggressive major feeds generally last 1 to 1.5 hours either side. The strongest activity occurs closer to a full moon or a new moon, and is weakest on quarter moons. This is because the combined gravitational force of the moon and the sun is strongest when both are directly above or directly below us. It’s important to observe the correct data for the latitude and longitude of your area. Most solunar tables provide adjustments to calculate accurate feeding times for the area in which you choose to fish. The solunar table in this magazine is very straightforward and provides tidal corrections. I must admit I’ve become a keen follower of solunar data especially between January and April, which is when our fish here on the Upper Coast can become very stubborn. These are months when late and infrequent cold fronts constantly create instability rendering a day-to-day game plan for patterning trout almost useless. That said, there are countless other factors that affect the behavior of our fish, especially trout. Weather conditions such as extreme high wind, sudden temperature swings and barometric pressure changes would top the list. Fishing pressure also deserves a place near the top. There are (left) Kent Morris caught and released this nice 25-incher on a MirrOdine XL during a late-afternoon solunar major that pretty much saved our day. (bottom left) This 6.25-pounder (CPR) came at the tail end of a major on a pink hologram Corky Fat Boy.
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(bottom right ) The minor feed just happened to coincide with a tide change providing us with nonstop redfish and trout action for a solid hour!
(below) This drum along with a few trout and reds kept Carter Morby occupied during the slow period.
14 | March 2017
Bill Belichick’s face when a reporter asks him a question he doesn’t want to answer and say, “I don’t think they swam off overnight. These fish don’t feed 24/7, you know.” All of us have had theories from time to time at some point in our lives. If we are adamant about proving our theories, we will log our experiences over time and then formulate a hypothesis. We then either form a conclusion from our hypothesis or determine that our theory requires further research. This now becomes a working hypothesis. As astute anglers, I feel that we should conduct ongoing working hypotheses because when it comes to fishing, the theories never really end. In other words, just when we think we have it all figured out the fish can make us look like dummies. Therefore, a relentless hands-on approach is necessary to help us understand behavior patterns of the trout we endlessly pursue. Damn, I’m starving. Must be in the middle of a major. Gotta run. See you next month!
Steve Hillman
Contact
more boats than I can ever remember (above) We released more fishing the same areas day after day. than a dozen nice trout on this There’s nothing we can do to change the particular night while fishing an area that receives ample fishing weather but by using our knowledge pressure during daylight hours. of its effects, we can sometimes make proper adjustments. With regards to fishing pressure, I typically avoid it by fishing obscure areas and at odd times. This tactic also lends to paying even closer attention to solunar data than maybe I would when fishing higher percentage (but generally more crowded) areas. By fishing during the late afternoon hours and at night I can avoid boat traffic and the trout seem to be less disrupted and easier to catch. A true legend in Texas fishing, the late Rudy Grigar (aka Plugger), probably caught more trout and reds at night then any man alive or dead. There are always going to be periods when fish just simply will not eat our offerings. I recall a trip down to our ranch last year when Dad and I finished our work early and decided to head down to the pond to catch a bass or two. This is a small pond and we know exactly how many largemouth are in it because we had it stocked about three years ago, and every one we’ve ever caught was released. After chunking everything from plastic worms to crankbaits for over an hour with no luck, we decided to head back to the ranch house before nightfall. Besides, Dad had a pot of beans on the stove and that man can cook some beans! I also had a cold beer calling my name. We were fishing the day after a strong front. The temperature had dropped sharply and the barometric pressure was through the roof. In addition, we were fishing between the predicted major and minor, not on either. If there was ever an example of fish not feeding when you knew they were there, this was definitely it. I sometimes get annoyed when a client looks at me and says, “Well, I guess they’re just not here Captain.” I typically just stare back with a look probably resembling
Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures. Phone 409-256-7937 Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com Web www.hillmanguideservice.com
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STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN
A
ccomplished anglers live in a world which necessitates constant adaptation to evolving weather and environmental elements. They realize the importance of considering the effects of prevailing conditions when planning excursions. For the sake of consistency, they must become proficient in evaluating how various factors impact their endeavors, and react accordingly. The wise ones recognize when numerous variables favorably influence chances, and also when the elements conspire to render the arts of angling obsolete. For the sake of integrity, they must realize when specific conditions exceed the marginal marks, and become too harsh to justify any legitimate effort. Captains who make the best judgments about these issues rely on their accumulated knowledge of details about weather and related factors over time. They do not simply trust their instincts or even make educated guesses. Instead, they use data gathered by inanimate instruments, knowing such tools provide far more trustworthy information. Ideally, one can peruse real-time data defining all of the following when assessing the likelihood that a specific fishing situation will provide enough positive potential to justify making an outing: air temperature, water temperature, wind speed, wind direction, tide level, tide-cycle
prediction and turbidity of the water. Obviously, numbers gathered at the specific area considered for the outing will provide the clearest picture of potential. Consequently, sources on the internet which document steady streams of data prove quite useful to anglers who seek to hone their skills in assessing how specific elements affect their efforts over time. The TCOON Buoy System gives studious anglers plenty of numbers to crunch, by using instruments to measure all the variables mentioned above at numerous spots along the Texas coast. Cerebral anglers know this and maintain a regular vigil on the websites, internalizing the information as it accumulates over time. They look at stats not only prior to outings, to make choices about where to fish, but also after outings, to analyze events for
20 | March 2017
future reference. Significantly, anglers can generate a much clearer awareness of exactly how a 20-knot wind feels and how it affects a particular place, if they can see in plain numbers the condition they experienced measured precisely to those dimensions. Looking at what happened with the wind speed and direction and sometimes water and air temperatures refines their sense of what conditions enhance and eliminate potential productivity. Fishing guides and tournament anglers run high risks of finding themselves trying to catch fish in conditions most would consider beyond the margins of acceptability. We get “caught out” by unexpected negative turns in the weather and work to cope with them as best we can. This helps us develop a better sense for which kinds of extremes can prevail without completely ruining the chances for success and which ones always (or almost always) break the deal and crush the hopes. Over the years, I’ve developed a well-defined list of parameters which I consider too extreme to allow for reasonable potential success on fishing trips. Years ago, when fishing primarily in places where tidal movement strongly influences the catching, I came to understand the futility of efforts made with feeble or entirely slack current. Conversely, I also recognized how water flowing too fast over shallow flats can stir up sand and mud and create turbidity levels which stifle potential. More recently, I monitor tide levels and adjust the specific locations where I make my efforts, depending on how much water covers the flats, since I usually fish in a shallow, hypersaline lagoon, with minimal predictable tide movement. I also closely watch wind speeds when assessing the potential for an outing. Sustained winds blowing at or above 20 knots generally create a Adrian Valdez showed deft skill negative scenario, especially if they have blown with a sinking Fat Boy for a while before the start of the outing and to catch this pretty stay at those speeds throughout. Surely, a lull of trout on a recent trip a few hours in which the velocities fall down to with the Captain. 15 knots or less will provide a chance of making some things work. Warm, windy All of this depends, of course, on which conditions did not direction the breezes blow and what kind stifle a midday fullof fishing one could expect to encounter in moon bite on the day areas lying in the lee of a land mass, protected when Brian Finley caught this solid trout. from the negative effects of the winds and their associated wave action. If I’ve caught fish regularly on recent outings in a place well-protected from winds of a particular direction, my sense of the dealbreaker velocity will go up some. Certainly, I don’t leave the dock if the forecast shows sustained velocities of 25 knots or more, regardless of the direction. Since they occur after the passage of cold fronts, strong northerly winds damage the potential for catching not only by making the physical processes of casting and presenting lures more difficult, but also because they normally blow while water temperatures fall rapidly. Descending water temperatures generally cause fish to become lethargic, often sending them into deep holes and basins, where they sit on the bottom for a while,
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of the gnashing teeth of gnarly purple vapors. I’ve been caught and engulfed by monstrous cells numerous times, with the throttle of my outboard pressed fully forward, racing along at over 50 mph. This isn’t particularly dangerous in shallow water, but out in the middle, such a race can rattle one’s bones and sink more than hopes. This scenario, perhaps more than any other, requires all competent captains to remain cognizant of the tangible dangers inherent to navigating the waters of our estuaries. Most decisions related to extreme conditions do not carry such heavy weight; they relate more to the possibilities for catching some fish, not to survival. All the aforementioned elements can become harsh enough to squelch the legitimacy of an effort, including excessive turbidity, extremely strong or slack tides, bulging bull tides and scratching low ones, but stout winds and bitter temperatures most consistently snuff the deal. In many situations, particularly during the colder half of the year, a combination of the wind and temperature elements combined with recent pattern trends create a clear picture of potential productivity. All competent captains monitor these elements on a regular basis, and have an active awareness not only of how various conditions impact their efforts, but also of when they render those efforts essentially futile. This knowledge allows them to operate safely and productively and to keep the fun in the fishing.
Kevin Cochran Contact
inactive. Typically, I don’t place much stock in making outings when water temperatures Christina Geer dip much below 50⁰F, especially when had upgraded the water first falls to those temperatures her personal best during a cold season or frontal event. trout a few minutes When air temperatures hover in the earlier before doing so again by 40s and water temperatures dip down catching this sevenaround 50, wind speeds of more than pounder on a One about ten knots will make staying Knocker, just before warm while wading nearly impossible. daylight on a warm December morning. Light winds blowing through cold air over water of about 50⁰ create a slightly better situation, one with enhanced potential in situations where the conditions have moderated from greater extremes. Consequently, I will venture out with high hopes when water temperatures rise from the mid-40s into the high-40s, if warming air temperatures and light winds occur at the same time. In some of those situations, catching monster trout becomes quite possible, even likely. Big trout often feed vigorously during the hour or so immediately before, during and after the passage of a strong cold front too. Fishing in the right places during the wind shift can produce memorable catches for brave souls prepared to deal with the aftermath of the event. If the forecast shows a front passing over the waters late in the morning on a given day, for instance, I can justify heading out and fishing up to and through the big change, figuring we will get in a full day if the prediction holds true. Often, this plan pays off handsomely, provided we prepare and equip ourselves properly for the chilly boat ride home. Part of this preparation involves staying out of places which will put us in harm’s way once north/northwest winds crank up in earnest after the front arrives. One should not attempt to cross deep, open waters in such a situation, so planning on fishing in places which offer some protection from the winds and from which one can return to the dock without crossing long stretches of the main bays becomes critical. A similar reality arises when ominous, dark clouds approach over the horizon during the warm season. Thunderstorms certainly smash the hopes of all anglers. Waving a graphite rod around in the air under electric clouds makes no sense whatsoever! When a forecast calls for a high likelihood of thunderstorms occurring, I generally see it as a deal-breaker and cancel plans to fish. Unfortunately, forecasters often fail to recognize the potential for strong storms developing and provide false hopes for an outing, and we find ourselves on the water facing the threat of severe weather. In months like May and June, such scenarios occur with some regularity, but they can certainly happen in any warm month. No sane angler should attempt to fish through a rain event which produces lightning; doing so risks life and limb. Running from a storm in the boat can also place a captain in dire straits. I prefer to wait out strong cells sitting on land if possible, placing my profile as low to the ground as I can. I will only choose to try and outrun the wall cloud back to safe harbor if I can do so while passing through water less than about three feet deep. Neither I nor anyone else should attempt to cross deep, exposed basins in the main bays while trying to stay ahead
Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject. Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.
Trout Tracker Guide Service Phone Email Web
361-688-3714 kevxlr8@mygrande.net www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com
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STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP
Part 2
T
ommy mulled the story of Rudy Poindexter all afternoon and then called a friend at the local weekly paper. Tommy knew it was a long shot but asked if he could check news archives for the story of a kid named Ruby, killed by a school bus in Houston in the 1950s. The reporter asked what it was all about and Tommy told him of the dog food and fleas, and how he came to be run over. He told of the boy being wrapped in a blanket and buried with his ball glove in a backyard grave. The newsman was aghast and promised to check with a reporter friend in Houston who had special archive privileges. “It’s been so long ago, Tommy, I can’t promise anything but we’ll try to get to the bottom of it,” he promised. Wheels were turning in the reporter’s head. Cracking a case like this and exposing the maker of the dog food might be my ticket out of this one-horse town… Billy “Scoop” Franklin, Tommy’s local reporter friend, found nothing in the archives of the little rag where he worked, and as promised, placed a call to an acquaintance at the big Houston daily. Learning that the guy was out for a two-week vacation, he turned to the internet. Lo and behold, he discovered a young Rudy Poindexter killed in an auto pedestrian mishap in 1957. Ecstatic, he phoned Tommy. “Tommy, are you sure the boy killed by the bus after eating dog food was named Ruby Poindexter. Or was it Rudy?” “Well, maybe. I might have misunderstood Red, the story was so awful and all I might have got it twisted up,” Tommy admitted. Scoop ran with it and dug deeper into the death of one Rudy Poindexter. The obituary was vague, stating only Rudy’s name, date of birth, date of death, and parent’s names. It also named surviving siblings. Brother James and sister Rose. The lack of funeral and interment details struck him as very odd. Scoop worked late into the night searching genealogy websites and was sure he’d found Rudy’s brother, James, and his sister Rose. Becoming a member of the site for a modest credit card fee, he obtained what he hoped would be current addresses and phone numbers. Too late to call tonight but I’ll try first thing in the morning, he thought. Bright and early, Scoop placed a call to one James Poindexter in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. “Ah, Hello,” Scoop stammered, “May I speak with James Poindexter?” “This is he,” came the reply, “Who, may I ask, is calling?” “Mr. Poindexter, my name is Billy Franklin, a reporter with Espiritu Santo Bay Fisherman down here in Texas. I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me?” “Well, I’ll try,” Poindexter offered. TSFMAG.com | 27
28 | March 2017
here,” he screamed aloud. “Big enough to get me out of here and into a real paper. Austin, San Antonio, maybe even Houston! Scoop didn’t know what to do next. He tried getting in touch with Alpo but ownership of the brand had changed many times over the years. Even if he tried to learn of a settlement in the death of elevenyear-old Rudy Poindexter, nobody would likely divulge any details. He decided to try contacting Rose Poindexter Endres. “Hello,” a male voice answered. “Yes, may I speak with Mrs. Rose Endres please? This is Billy Franklin calling, a newspaper reporter from Texas.” “I’m sorry, Mr. Franklin. Mrs. Endres and her husband are both deceased.” “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, sir. It didn’t have anything to do with dog food did it”? Scoop’s imagination was getting the better of him. “I beg your pardon,” the voice replied. “Oh, never mind. Sorry for the intrusion,” Scoop said and hung up. Maybe I could dig into legal notices for evidence of a lawsuit that settled the matter between Alpo and the Poindexter family, Scoop wondered. Or maybe I could find the address where they lived and get the authorities interested in the unlawful interment of a young boy on the property. Scoop phoned a school chum who worked in homicide at HPD and spilled the story. “Billy, so you’re telling me the family just dug a hole in the backyard and dumped this kid into it?” Bob Talbot asked. “Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told. Wrapped him in a blanket and buried him with his ball glove,” Scoop assured the detective. “So, it happened in 1957, what do you want me to do about it? The only crime would have been burial without a permit or something like that, and the people that did it are dead. “Look, Bob, I dug around and found this address. Maybe you just swing by and see if an old frame house still stands there, OK? Maybe you could find a reason to check out the backyard with a cadaver dog. This story is very important to me,” Scoop pleaded. “Whoa buddy, you’re really reaching here,” Talbot replied. “It takes a warrant for that kind of stuff and I’m not EVEN going to take something this sketchy to the DA. Got it?” “OK. But can you at least drive by the place and tell me what you see. Please?” “Well, I’ll be in that area tomorrow and I’ll drive by and have a look,” Talbot said, giving in to his old friend. Scoop phoned Tommy as soon as he ended the call with the detective. “Tommy, you ain’t going to believe it. You were right… To be continued...
Martin Strarup
Contact
“Umm, I’m, I’m working on a story. Did you by chance have a brother named Rudy, killed in an auto pedestrian accident in 1957?” “Why yes, Rudy was my younger brother. But, say there, Mr. Franklin; that was almost sixty years ago, what’s this about?” “Mr. Poindexter, I’ve a friend that learned of your brother’s death from a fishing buddy. Just tragic. Is it true he was runover by a school bus?” “Yes, it was very sad and I don’t believe my folks ever got over it.” “Can you tell me what caused the accident, Mr. Poindexter?” “Well, I wasn’t home when it happened but we were told Rudy was playing in the street and the bus driver was blinded by the glare of afternoon sun and did not see him.” “Was Rudy ever bothered by fleas?” “Fleas…What’s that you said?” “Oh, uh, never mind,” Scoop answered. “Mr. Poindexter, did Rudy have a dog?” Scoop asked. “We had a family dog named Lonesome. Followed Rudy everywhere.” “Do you perhaps remember what brand of dog food you fed to Lonesome?” “We always fed Alpo. Dad always said it was the best money could buy.” Beginning to feel uncomfortable, Poindexter interjected; “Mr. Franklin, I do not understand something here. My brother was killed in 1957, for Heaven’s sake. Why the sudden interest in his death?” “As I said, sir, a friend of mine was told the story of Rudy’s death and it upset him. He asked me to do some checking to see what really happened.” “Well, sir, it’s very upsetting to me, too. It took years and I finally put those memories behind me, until now.” “I’m very sorry to have upset you, Mr. Poindexter. I’m just trying to get to the bottom of it to give my friend some closure.” “Closure?”, Poindexter blurted, irritated. “Why would he need closure? He didn’t even know Rudy!” After a long pause, Poindexter came back in a more controlled voice. “For the record, Mr. Franklin, my mother and father settled with those responsible for Rudy’s death and we moved on. My sister married and moved to Montana and bought a ranch. I went to college at Tulane, met my wife there and we eventually moved to Georgia. It was hard for all of us but we finally got over losing little Rudy. “What kind of work were you in, Mr. Poindexter?” “I was president of a bank in Chattanooga.” Scoops mind was racing. – His sister bought a ranch in Montana and he went to Tulane. Where’d a poor family get that kind of money? Must’ve been a huge settlement from Alpo! “Mr. Poindexter, I do appreciate you taking time to speak with me and I do apologize for rekindling such unpleasant memories.” “You’re welcome, Mr. Franklin, and I do hope your friend finds closure, as you put it.” “Oh, Mr. Poindexter, just one more thing if you will, where in Houston is Rudy buried?” There was a long pause and Scoop was practically salivating for the reply. “Rudy was, ah, Rudy was laid to rest in a family plot on private property,” Poindexter replied, ending the call. Scoop was beside himself. “This is 100 percent headline news, right
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
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STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE
That magical time of day when the water calms and the sun sets.
I
f you care to check your rearview mirror, hopefully, all you will see are the doldrums of winter getting smaller by the minute as spring gains traction and carries us into a fresh season. The ridiculous up and down winter we experienced is a distant memory and, like the temperatures outside, the hopes of Texas anglers are on the rise. March means many different things along the coast and throughout the state of Texas. For the saltwater community, the number one topic is without a doubt the pursuit of some of the biggest speckled trout of the year. Historically, March has been a great month for taking some major-league fish, especially on the upper coast. The late-winter runs on those trout that stretch the tape towards the magic 30-inch mark are usually associated with areas much farther south. Legendary bays such as Baffin, Upper Laguna, and Port Mansfield on the Lower Laguna tend to crank up a little earlier than areas farther up the coast. Don’t get me wrong, there are great fish caught all along the Texas coast from Thanksgiving through New Year, but the month of March is very special on the upper coast. Rather than give you the same old song and dance about chasing big trout, let’s look at opportunities that are often overlooked. As mentioned earlier the bay systems down south tend to crank up or at least become more consistent during late-winter and early-spring, partly due to significantly less fresh water inflow and runoff we see across the Galveston, Sabine, and Calcasieu systems every year. The watershed for these bay systems and the rivers that feed them are enormous and that fact alone is enough to completely disrupt any established pattern almost overnight and keep it that way for days or even weeks.
Just for grins, look at the map and trace out the Sabine, Neches and Trinity rivers and the massive basins that drain into them. The weather patterns that ultimately affect our upper coast bays stretch much farther north than most folks realize. Just like the old saying about stuff rolling downhill, the rainfall up north must go somewhere and that usually means a river that flows to the coast. I don’t have the numbers to prove my point so I’ll simply call upon my “shade tree masters degree” in biology or meteorology or one of those other “ologies” to say that I believe there is no other bay system on the coast that deals with a larger freshwater runoff situation than Sabine Lake. Depending on the time of the year, the Sabine and Neches rivers are both a fantastic blessing and horrible curse for Sabine Lake anglers. The aforementioned runoff problems go without saying and the amount of water that runs into the lake is just mindboggling at times. It’s these times when fish and anglers alike head for the deepest water in order to seek sanctuary and salinity. The extreme south end of Sabine Lake offers the deepest water available until you reach the jetties. The old Sabine River channel winds its way through a huge oyster reef which offers both food and suitable water for speckled trout. This area of the lake is a haven for early springtime trout and trout fishermen alike. Besides the numbers of fish caught in that area, there are always some exceptional trout taken every year as well. On certain occasions, those big fish will stack up and some lucky angler will stumble upon the motherlode like a gambler blowing his paycheck at a slot machine. I’ve seen some impressive fish caught off that shell in some of the worst water conditions, so that area is always a great place to start when runoff is a problem. Now, if we are fortunate enough to have a relatively dry winter and runoff from the big rivers is marginal, you can bet your best nickel that there will be some serious fish caught from the shallow flats bordering the lake. The entire Louisiana shoreline will harbor textbook perfect areas with structure, bait, and warmer water temperatures. Easily one of my favorite patterns when this occurs is to fish an outgoing tide near one or more of the many marsh drains along the eastern shoreline. The drain zones contain depth variations which can be considered structure and these almost always hold tons of baitfish. The drains will also have another very favorable variable that many anglers overlook and that’s warmer water. The marsh ponds that rise and drain with the tide will in most cases be warmer than the main body of the lake. That warmer water naturally attracts baitfish and predators to congregate into confined areas all along the eastern shoreline. Quite often the marsh water is not only warmer but also much clearer than the lake water it flows into. The plume of clearer and warmer water often shows up as streaks that are readily defined and visible. If you run across areas like these, it’s worth the time and effort to probe them as they can produce some eye-popping results. On the opposite side of the lake, the Texas side, many anglers will focus their attention on the flats that border the ICW and at the mouth of the both the Sabine and Neches rivers. These flats are generally comprised of shallow areas that warm up much faster than the deeper water that borders them. The best of both worlds, trout can utilize the comfort and consistency that deep water provides along with shallow and warmer flats regions for easier feeding. The common pattern that most big trout anglers who fish these areas subscribe to is that larger trout will leave the deeper water and prowl the shallow and warmer flats where the feeding is easier, and then slip back down into the 34 | March 2017
(above) The marshes that held thousands of ducks during winter will soon be full of fish seeking warmer water and food.
(below) Ultra-clear wintertime water gives us angling opportunities as well as challenges.
judgment by telling you what lures to use, I think being in the right area is far more important. I’ve had plenty of times where I stood side by side with another angler and we both caught fish using nearly polar opposite approaches. If you can put yourself in the right area and have confidence that you have put as many variables in your corner as possible then you will be successful regardless of your lure selection. A confident angler will fish an area with greater proficiency and be more successful day in and day out when compared an angler who is just hoping for the best. Keep that in mind in the coming month and remind yourself often that the next bite could be the fish of a lifetime.
Marsh drains offer moving water, ambush points and, most importantly, reliable food sources.
36 | March 2017
Chuck Uzzle
Contact
security of the adjacent deeper water. I personally like to fish these areas opposite of how I fish the marsh drains, and that’s on an incoming tide. The shallow flats that get exposed on low tides will heat up throughout the day and once the incoming flow begins to wash over the sun-warmed mud it seems to really turn the fish on. If I could draw it up exactly the way I like it best, it would be an afternoon incoming tide, following a day or two of exceptionally low water levels. We do not always get it the way we want it but, believe me, it can be awesome. Now after looking at these variables I don’t want to cloud your
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 409-697-6111 Email wakesndrakes@yahoo.com Website wakesndrakes.com
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STORY BY JOE RICHARD
ou never know what effect that first fishing trip will have on a youngster. Hopefully it won’t be a negative experience, but a memory they will treasure. Growing up, the older generation used to say that fishing would help keep a kid off the streets and out of pool halls, and, as it turns out, they were probably right. Except today, it’s not the pool halls we have to worry about so much, but glowing electronics that our younger generation (and even older) seem glued to. Countless American kids these days could benefit from more time in the great outdoors. In fact, there is even a term for it—nature deficit disorder—coined by author, Richard Louv, who wrote a well-researched book on the subject, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. His book made me think about how much fishing broadened my own horizons. I started early and, though clearly deprived while living in
Here’s an idyllic scene on how most kids should start out fishing. Frio River in midsummer. Not much action.
Lubbock, it did offer up bullhead catfish and bluegills. After finishing the eighth grade, the family moved to coastal Port Arthur. I was suddenly in outdoor heaven, fishing the same day the moving truck was unloaded. Soon, I was hanging around local marina docks, and one day a captain named Seaweed let me jump aboard for a trip offshore, and I’ve always been grateful to him. A fishing trip is an easy, outdoor getaway with a short-term goal, catching fish. (The long-term goal, helping build youth into wellrounded adults, is more complicated.) Not all of them will (above) Crabbing counts as fishing, and these kids like boating or fishing. But take a few are having a great time kids out in the boat, introduce a little rounding up dinner. scarcity or hardship, and some of them just seem to find their mettle. My fishing mentor, great uncle Wib, would have scratched his head over today’s recommendations for getting younger kids started: fish quiet water, target small fish easy to catch, simple tackle, plenty of snacks, nice weather, safety, encouragement, and not a long day. Visiting him several times in Florida, we fished from his small boat with a ponderous 40 horse Johnson out of Flamingo, north of the Florida Keys, and those trips stretched from predawn to barely making the house at sunset. We caught mostly trout and mangrove snapper, but maybe a dozen other species, even tarpon. A case of soft drinks, mustard sardines and Vienna sausages was standard fare. He had one old cooler with a block of ice; soft drinks and fish together. If we wanted ice, there was a rusty ice pick… Even with those Spartan conditions, I got the fishing bug real bad.
Years later I would have two sons, who were soon introduced to the Gulf. Fortunately, they were also exposed to quiet waters while visiting grandparents in North Carolina during a few summers, where they snatched dockside bluegills and sometimes a huge carp. The rest of the time, while living in Houston, Fulton and Port O’Connor, they were carried along on all sorts of saltwater trips and campouts not generally recommended for the young. Walking the jetties, hand-lining snapper offshore, fighting big jacks in the bays with spin and heavier tarpon gear. Or sitting (below) Older son Ian with big jack that took him an hour to all afternoon anchored in a choppy land with a cheap spin outfit. A Pass Cavallo, waiting for tarpon, the tough fish for an eight-year old. boat rolling badly, everybody sweating in the August heat. As far removed from bream fishing as an angler can get, save for billfish trolling. Amy and I owned two boats with cabins under the bow, a 22foot AquaSport and 23 SeaCraft, where the kids could nap and hide from the sun, cold, rain, lightning, and jumping tarpon. Pillows and toys helped. You can see where this is going, we’re getting a long ways from quiet ponds and hungry bluegills. The kids were outdoor troopers living in Port O’Connor for five years, far removed from city dwelling. Coastal fish were tough and the weather seldom perfect. The kids could have been left at home with a baby sitter, living a sheltered life until they were 10 years old or so, but they would have missed a great many family adventures. The furthest afield we ever took them was a three-day campout at Fort Jefferson, 68 miles off Key West. We were delivered by Cessna floatplane, and young Joseph was still in diapers. There was lots of fishing and
“Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our children’s health (and also, by the way, in our own).” “We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children’s memories, the adventures we’ve had together in nature will always exist.” – Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
42 | March 2017
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44 | March 2017
crabs around our little camp. On winter nights, he’d pull me along in the jonboat, holding a searchlight while he silently waded with a gig, stabbing the dark water, heaving flounder into the boat. Big ones… And then older son Ian, settled down and working in Italy, writes: Going fishing, and being outdoors in general, as a kid warped and molded me more than anything else. Patience, persistence, a respect for the natural world, a love of adventure and old wisdom, appreciation of life and death. Upon reflection, these are all probably bad habits I may have picked (below) Camping on Padre Island. The trout size limit was up while fishing. There are worse habits smaller in those days. The kids than these, which I also recommend. But were turned loose to run wild, do watch out. You could get bit! while Amy and I caught trout. I’m pleased to report that all three still like to fish all day with me, when they visit. None have the fishing bug or own boats, however. Perhaps they already have a lifetime of memories. I say take a kid fishing. And leave the optional electronics at home, if possible. It’s discouraging these days, the number of people distracted by their I-phones, their minds elsewhere, ignoring their surroundings. Things have changed fast in the past 20 years, and not always for the better. Kids and even adults are more nature-deprived these days, sheltered and distracted. When fishing, they should be aware of their surroundings. Wind, water and tide, heat and cold. And nearby wildlife—elemental things like that. You know, like people did for thousands of years.
Joe Richard
Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast. He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com
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snorkeling. We liked it so much, we returned three more times as the years went by and the kids grew older. Advice on taking a kid fishing always says to bring snacks on the boat. When Amy was aboard, we always did. Sometimes the big bag of Cheetos flew and spilled all over the deck, testing my patience. When fishing just with me however, rations were sometimes scarce but I think they got used to it, or hope so. During summers in POC, their older cousin from North Carolina would often stay with us. He arrived each year pale and very (above) Near Copano much attached to television, soft drinks Bay bridge: Older cousin Jason visiting, with Ian and hanging out at the local mall. But and Joseph. Give ‘em a after six weeks in POC (and camping crab net and beach… on the Frio River), he returned to Carolina 10 pounds lighter, tanned, with a clear head and lots of tales. Today, he is successful businessman in California. I recently emailed him about memories from those summer days in POC and he quickly wrote back: Memories? How about offshore, hunting for an elusive whale shark [seen a day earlier around the MI-669 platform] and while there, never seeing a thing, and then skimming off its head on the way back in? [We accidentally ran over a surfaced whale shark two miles from the rig at a color change, and it knocked the 150-horse lower unit clean out of the water, like hitting a sandbar. I’d slapped the motor into neutral at the last moment. The shark was 25 to 30 feet long]. All I remember is the tail raising out of the water as it retreated below, but I’m sure you saw more while driving the boat. Snorkeling around an oil rig for hours and then later trolling around it, and catching what to me was the world’s biggest barracuda. That scared the crap out of me. Heading out to an oil rig on a big boat (can’t remember if it was a supply boat or what) with you guys. I ate an entire bag of Cheetos while sitting at a table down below and ended up puking my guts out the rest of the way. When we arrived at the rig it was night—we fished and brought in one shark after the other. I haven’t touched a Cheeto since that trip. Younger son Joseph then wrote: Some of my best memories of childhood involve adventures with my Dad on the Gulf. We’d go out for bull redfish on hot, windless days. Or he’d drop my brother and I off on Matagorda Island with a local baby sitter, to wander for hours amongst the dunes and cactus while he fished off the beach. We’d make shelters out of driftwood, and build huge fires on the beach at night and chase ghost
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Eric Kuhn shows off his career-best trout. Kudos to Eric for eagerly releasing this beautiful fish.
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Effective Downsizing Many articles have been written, several by me, on useful tactics anglers can employ to improve post-front fishing success. One of these is downsizing lures to entice the often-finicky trout bite. However, despite what others may say, and even though I have seen it and used it effectively myself, I will typically not resort to downsizing lures until all other options have been explored. Good anglers can develop bad habits, just ask me. We become overly confident with baits that produce consistently, overlooking the advantage that a smaller offering might provide. So, to set the stage – I want to refresh those not familiar with post-front conditions and the tough bite one can experience. Calm and clear is the norm in the wake of a front and this goes hand in hand with high atmospheric pressure. Any way you look at it, high pressure makes for tough fishing. Water turns air-clear due to lack of wind and tides are typically low. Add that the fish probably gorged as the front approached and have no urgent need to feed, yet. When trying to entice already well-fed trout basking under warming sunshine in clear water, to accept a lure, you have some work to do! 48 | March 2017
If water temperatures are not abnormally cold, trout might not need to move to the shallows to warm up. Fish acclimate to the cold and remain capable of feeding aggressively even though some, including me years ago, might believe they have become lethargic. I think this paints a fair picture, so let’s go fishing. I got my first package of Bass Assassins from Jim Cooper, then owner of The Tackle Box in San Antonio, almost twenty-five years ago. These were the little 3-inch size, not the popular 5-inchers we use today. I had a slickcalm fall day after a rather strong early-season front. If my memory serves me, I had Glenn Martin from San Antonio fishing with me. Bait was present and a few slicks were popping as we moved along the shoreline between Long Reef Bend and Jay Bird. Bites did not come easily, even with significant evidence that fish were present. Around noon we were working an area of scattered shell west of Jay Bird Point. After a short wade with slicks popping and receiving no bites, I went to the boat and retrieved that greasy bag of pumpkinseed-chartreuse 3-inch shad Bass Assassins. It was like magic, bites came quick and fierce. The smaller profile was evidently
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appealing whereas my old standby 5-inch Kelly Wiggler shrimptails were being ignored. Little did I know it was more about downsizing than brand. (Even though I became a diehard Bass Assassin man that day.) The lesson eventually sunk in but to this day I’m probably still one of the last in the group to make the switch. I’m hardheaded I guess, or maybe not too bright, in general. Speaking of switching to smaller baits – Anglers can also downsize surface and suspending lures. MirrOlure offers the Top Dog floater, the medium-sized Top Dog Jr., and finally the Pups. Heddon has the Super Spook and Spook Jr. In the suspending category, we find the MirrOdine XL and the MirrOdine. The Corky line includes the Fat Boy, the Soft-Dine XL, and even smaller standard Soft-Dine. Going smaller with these lure types in post-front conditions might be more critical than with soft plastics. There is little scientific evidence that would support trout with large baitfish in their stomachs preferring smaller offerings. It seems logical to me but, are trout capable of logical thought? This is a study for Dr. Greg Stunz and crew. I have always believed that fish that have already fed are more likely to eat something small versus another large baitfish. This observation might actually have scientific merit as seldom in my career have I cleaned a trout with more than a single large baitfish in its stomach. Most have a large one and perhaps several much smaller. Forage species vary in shape as well as size, and this often leads me to trying different lure shapes. Mullet are shaped very differently than menhaden, shrimp are different than crabs, eels and ballyhoo, etc. Much can be gained by Mike Kuhn with a examining stomach contents of trout at the cleaning table. healthy 27-incher. CPR! Freshwater fly anglers routinely pump the stomachs of fish in attempt to “match the hatch” with their flies. We might also consider downsizing the diameter of leader materials fishing hard in harsh winter weather through low probability periods, and increasing the length of our leaders when targeting finicky when you can concentrate instead on major and minor feeding times? post-front fish. Bass fishermen have been doing this for years. While I I am not a fish at night or run 50 mph in the dark kind of guide seldom downsize the diameter of my leader material, you can bet that trying to beat others to the spot. I tend to be confident enough to try I increase leader length whenever conditions warrant. and locate other areas and be there at the right time. Timing is critical For anglers with deeper pockets, one can even consider going to a to all that we do when trying to put ourselves in that special place lighter action rod for greater finesse in presenting smaller lures. I apply where those few special fish reside. this trick often when facing tough post-front weather patterns. I use As I have said many times, no single downsizing tactic is the key a 6’-6” Henri Custom – Jay Watkins Series – CS. Waterloo makes the but applying many, if not all of them together, makes a noticeable 6”-7” HP Light in medium-light action which is also excellent for this difference in fishing success. So, the next time you find yourself fishing application. a bluebird winter day under post-front conditions, try some of the tips We should also consider downsizing our wading areas. This will we have talked about. It can’t hurt. involve some scouting and planning on the angler’s part. You need to May your fishing always be catching! -Guide Jay Watkins choose an area that has the proper bottom structure, some bottom contour, bait presence, referencing the Solunar Table, and a magnum dose of patience to pull it off. Personally, I try to work the edges of the areas I choose, depending Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, on the wind direction. If I am fishing alone I seldom enter the sweet TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearspot, trying to work the area from the perimeter. Long casts laid across round for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. the wind or even into the wind when possible are preferred. I can’t always do this when I have 3 to 5 guys in the water. If I had my choice, wanting to put myself in position to catch that Telephone 361-729-9596 Email Jay@jaywatkins.com special fish, I would also downsize the amount of time spent “fishing Website www.jaywatkins.com stupid” and work on “fishing smarter.” Why burn up all your energy 50 | March 2017
Yep, you guessed it, sightcasted hardhead on fly!
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Alternative Targets Shallow water sight-fishing along the Texas coast seems to mean chasing redfish for most anglers. That’s understandable, I suppose. Redfish fit the bill quite well. They feed shallow, give away their presence by tailing and pushing wakes, readily eat lures or flies, and are famous for an outsized fight. All around awesome targets and certainly one of my favorites. But if you’re limiting your casts to only reds and passing on everything else, you’re missing out. Sight-fishing is all about the challenge and being able to watch the fish eat. If it’ll eat my fly, I’m throwing. Some will turn their noses up at the thought but, I’ve even caught some big hardheads by sight-casting. Why not? I release 99% of what I catch anyway. And, if there are no better targets around, I like to amuse myself. Think of all the different species you see drifting a flat or poling the marsh. Sheepshead, black drum, jacks, gar, and those unidentifiable dark spots you know aren’t reds. If I’m on the bow, there’s a cast headed in that direction. Not only is it a challenge to see if you can get them to eat, it’s also great casting practice for when that big red does show up. How many times have you stood on the bow for 52 | March 2017
an hour waiting for a shot, only to blow it because you Sheepshead are weren’t warmed up? definitely worthy I see it all the time with my customers. It’s a slow day sight-casting targets. (it happens) and the customer isn’t into blind-casting. I’m seeing the occasional sheepshead or drum and pointing them out as possible targets. Nope, not gonna do it. If it isn’t a red or trout they refuse the shot. Then along comes a pig of a redfish happily rooting its way down the shoreline. Miss, miss, miss...spooked. I can fully understand if you don’t want to cast to a hardhead or piggy perch, but why pass up a sheepshead or drum? They require a perfect cast, spook with the slightest provocation and are picky eaters. They also represent themselves quite well once hooked and aren’t too shabby on the dinner table, if you’re so inclined. Alright guys, now that the snobby folks have turned the page, it’s just us fun people. I figure if you’re still reading I should probably let you in on a few things I’ve learned about casting to “trash fish.” First off, pretty much everything out there eats shrimp. Second, most everything eats small crabs. This is good news for fly fishermen. Most popular flies
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used for redfish are designed to imitate a small shrimp or crab. The Redfish Crack fly I rely on can sort of look like either one depending on how it’s tied and how you fish it. For those of you using conventional gear, the best thing I’ve found for catching drum or sheepies is a Buggs jig. They also work like a charm on reds. Buggs are flathead lead jigs tied with rabbit fur, like flies. When simply resting on bottom the fur wiggles and waves like something alive. I’ve got a whole box of them in a variety of weights and color combinations. Sheepshead are perhaps the toughest of the crew to catch on artificials. The good news is they’re pretty common so you’ll get plenty of opportunities. The bad news is they’re spooky as all get out and you’ll only catch a small fraction of them. I generally find them more agreeable from fall through early spring. In the fall, as the shrimp are moving along the edges of the marsh grass preparing to migrate, you’ll see a lot of sheepshead right against the bank. They’ll be slowly working along, poking their nose in the grass hunting the shrimp. I like to wait until the fish backs out of the grass and starts to move down the bank before casting. If you can drop a small shrimpy looking fly right on its nose you can often receive an immediate strike. A few inches too far away and they’ll never see it, too close and they’ll flee like you shot at them with a rifle. During the dead of winter, I like to look for sheepshead along the edges of oyster reefs. They can often be found tailing just like reds as they poke around the loose shell. The hardest part is getting the fly or Buggs jig in front of their face without hanging up. I’ll usually just wait patiently for the fish to move to the outer edge of the reef or over a clear spot. Drop the fake a foot or two in front and let it sit. As he gets
close, give it the slightest movement to get his attention. Do it right and he’ll pounce, pinning it to the bottom. Do it wrong and he’s gone in a puff of sediment. But that’s the fun of it. I’ve thrown to hundreds of sheepshead with flies and only caught a handful. There’s a reason they’re called Texas permit. Black drum are just flat out weird. In general, they can be found in the same areas as redfish. Smaller drum, under 10 lbs, tend to be the pickiest about eating artificials. Treating them like a sheepshead on a reef will sometimes work. The generally accepted fly is small and dark, same with a Buggs jig. However, I once found myself in a large shallow pond on Matagorda Island that was loaded with 5- to 10-pounders. I had tried all the traditional methods and flies to no avail. On a whim I tied on a small bright-pink shrimp. My first cast was to a drum headed straight at me. I was shooting for a spot about a foot ahead of him but missed left. I knew I was toast so I stripped the fly quickly from behind the fish towards his head while waiting for the inevitable mud puff and fleeing wake. As the fly passed within inches of his gill plate it spun and hammered it. I figured it was a fluke, but tried it again on the next fish. Time after time it worked like a charm and I had a blast. I’ve tried it several times since then without catching a thing. Like I said, drum are weird. There are times when we find large drum way back in the marsh. It’s not unusual to see 20- to 40-pounders tailing like crazy. These fish tend to be a bit more aggressive about eating artificials. Treat them like you would a tailing redfish with the only difference being the lure often must pass within inches of their nose to get a response. It may take repeated shots, but it’s worth it. A really big drum in shallow water can put up quite a fight. Next time you’re out there and the redfish have disappeared, give these oddballs a try. You might just find that you enjoy the challenge.
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Hook into a drum this size on fly gear in shallow water and prepare for a battle!
Black drum can be extremely picky eaters.
54 | March 2017
Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading. Telephone Email Website
281-450-2206 scott@tsfmag.com www.captainscottnull.com
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TPWD staff retrieving a gill net. Gill nets are used to census larger fish and crabs that inhabit bay shorelines. This is an example of fisheryindependent data collection.
By Mark Lingo | Coastal Fisheries Science & Policy Branch Chief
FI E L D NOT E S
The How and Why of Fisheries Management in Texas The fish and shellfish found in Texas waters are a natural resource that is shared among many groups, including “catch and release” anglers that enjoy catching fish for sport; commercial fishermen who harvest oysters, shrimp, crabs, and finfish for a living; those who like to take a few fish home for supper; and even those who just like knowing they are there. It is important to note that, although our fishery resources are renewable (they can reproduce and replenish their populations, within limits), they are not infinite, and great care must be taken so our fisheries are conducted responsibly. That is where fisheries management comes into play. In general terms, fisheries management is the process of gathering data and public input, analyzing the data, and then making sound management decisions based on that data to ensure the sustainability and health of our fish populations. In Texas, it is the responsibility of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) to manage Texas’ fisheries for the benefit of Texas’ residents and visitors, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities for present and future generations. A fishery is defined by a combination of the people involved, species targeted, geographical area, and method of fishing (i.e. Gulf of Mexico red snapper hook and line anglers). Responsible fisheries management starts with sound scientific information about fish 56 | March 2017
populations and the ecosystems in which they live as well as the fisheries that harvest them. TPWD biologists use a variety of methods to gather this information, including examining fishermen’s catch and gathering socio-economic data (fishery-dependent data) and conducting scientific studies (fishery-independent data)1. Managers use this information to determine appropriate fishery management strategies to safeguard the health of the resource. Since TPWD’s decisions directly impact our stakeholders it is vital that we solicit their suggestions as we define our management goals and strategies. We encourage public input through our various advisory panels, public scoping meetings and hearings, and during meetings of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission). The Department encourages public participation throughout the management process to not only make certain stakeholders’ interests are considered but also to ensure they understand the regulatory process and resulting management actions. In Texas, TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division is responsible for managing fisheries out to 9 nautical miles (1 nautical mile = 1.1508 statute mile). The data collected by our biologists help fishery managers and administrators make strategic management recommendations to the Commission. This process
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typically starts with a meeting of our biologists where fisheries issues are discussed, over a year before any new regulation is put into place. If there appears to be a need for some type of management action to help protect a fish stock, The Commission gathers public input, analyzes recommendations, and ultimately decides on how to achieve sustainable fishery management goals and objectives for Texas. Management in Federal Waters When recreational anglers and commercial fishermen travel beyond state waters they are subject to federal regulations set forth by federal fishery managers. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are responsible for monitoring and managing fishery resources in Gulf federal waters (from the state water boundary to 200 miles offshore). The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act guides how federal fisheries are regulated and how the regional fishery management councils should operate. Compliance and Enforcement Having laws and regulations without enforcement would be of little use. Therefore, TPWD game wardens, NMFS enforcement agents, and the U.S. Coast Guard ensure fishermen are complying with the rules
TPWD Game Warden visiting with an angler.
TPWD staff recording an anglers catch at the boat ramp. This is an example of fishery-dependent data collection.
and regulations that are in place to help protect fish stocks and their habitats. They use traditional enforcement techniques such as patrols and investigations to catch violators but also rely heavily on outreach and education efforts to help prevent illegal activities. The most common fishing violations include fishing out of season, fishing in restricted areas, and exceeding catch limits. I hope that this article helps clear up some of the mystery surrounding how and why fishing regulations are put into place in Texas. If you have any questions about the process or how you can have input into it, please contact your local bay’s Ecosystem Leader (see list below). So get outdoors and enjoy all the beauty and recreation our great state has to offer! Sabine Lake Carey Gelpi, (409) 983-1104
Aransas Bay Chris Mace, (361) 729-5429
Galveston Bay Ecosystem Glen Sutton, (281) 534-0100
Corpus Christi Bay Brian Bartram, (361) 729-2328
Matagorda Bay Leslie Hartman, (361) 972-6253
Upper Laguna Madre Faye Grubbs, (361) 825-3353
San Antonio Bay Norman Boyd, (361) 983-4425
Lower Laguna Madre Jason Ferguson, (956) 350-4490
For more information on the different types of fisheries sampling programs used in Texas see “Harvest Monitoring and Estimation of Landings” by Zaida Faye Hagar in the August 2013 issue of the Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Next month Dr. Mark Fisher, Science Director, writes about one of the most numerous animals in Texas bays, brown shrimp.
Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www. tpwd.texas.gov for more information. 58 | March 2017
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S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E
F LY F I S H I N G
Team Sports If you could have known me during my early years you would know that I LOVED FOOTBALL. I was obsessed! How many of you remember watching Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Mean Joe Green, Earl Campbell, Kenny Stabler or better yet, Dan Pastorini? I do. Those guys were my childhood heroes. However, a whole lot has changed since November of 1988 when I played my last high school football game. For a host of reasons, I now almost universally despise what many refer to as “team” sports. You probably wouldn’t care to know all the details but my dislike of modern football has led to
60 | March 2017
similar feelings for baseball and basketball. I have recently come to realize that the sports I participated in during my childhood and teen years were not so much “team” sports as they were “organized” sports. In short, the main reason I now watch the Super Bowl is for the commercials. Rumor has it that the first movie trailer for the new Star Wars will air during this year’s Super Bowl commercials. Moving on…The first “true” team sport I believe I ever participated in was in the fall of 1989 when Wright Taylor and I left the dock in my 14’ aluminum skiff powered by a 25 HP outboard, with two fly rods and a wooden closet dowel for a push-pole, hoping to catch our first redfish on fly in Upper Coast marsh ponds. You see, to me, the ultimate in team sports happens when two or three people board a poling skiff with intention of fooling a fish, or twenty, with some feathers and/ or fur. Whether it is two buddies, a guy and his gal or a guide and a couple of sportsmen, the only organization is deciding who steps onto the bow first. In my
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opinion, few things in this world are finer. So, I guess it is time for me to elaborate…I do not think fly fishing is a sport that should be recognized on a box of Wheaties. To me, that would be about as wrong as the image of a chess player. In my mind, fly fishing is more a mental game than a physical contest. I say this as though the last time I fought a really big tarpon I was not thanking the Good Lord for the battle being over. In fact, I may have just realized why I like guiding tarpon anglers so much, I get the same thrill of seeing them eat the fly, the jumps, and then get to watch the fight rather than to have to deal with the sore muscles and bruises the next day. The point is, I respect athletes for their dedication and hard work, I just do not believe in the “team” aspect when professional athletes demand and are paid the ridiculous salaries they receive. And, most college and high school players all dream of going pro. In short, I now have a difficult time believing that modern athletes play for the love of the game. However, I do believe in the love of fly fishing. Fly fishing, especially from a skiff or even a drift boat, is in fact a team sport in that everyone has a specific responsibility that goes beyond a paycheck (unless you are a guide.) And, the better you are at your job, the more successful you will be in your endeavors. Even more importantly, everyone shares in the success. So, let’s break it down. The person poling the boat has numerous responsibilities. He/she must not only move and/or control the boat but must also look for fish (especially if you are a guide.) Once a fish is spotted, the person poling the boat must slow/stop/position it in such a manner as to provide the angler on the bow the best casting angle as possible. As for the angler on the bow, it gets even more complicated, especially if there is not a third person on the skiff. He/she must also be looking for fish whether it be cruisers, crawlers or tailers, all while maintaining control of their line. Add to that, the angler must then make an accurate cast and entice the fish to eat the offering. Then they must execute a proper, or more appropriately, effective hook-set. And finally, must fight the fish quickly and cleanly leading it into the hands of either their guide or buddy who patiently waits his/her opportunity on the bow. Now, I will be honest in saying, as a guide, I do not like having more than one angler on my skiff for reasons that range from it slows us down, hinders covering as much water as possible, all the way to it makes the skiff draft deeper. The long and short of it, the extra weight and draft requires extra effort on the pole. However, I will also acknowledge that there are many times that I wished there was a third set of hands on the skiff. Although, this “mate” helps land fish and is an extra set of eyes, their most important responsibilities are to help maintain line control when it is windy and to remain perfectly still as to not blow a shot for their counterpart. It is a tough job but… Honestly, I could make this a lot longer telling you so many stories regarding teamwork in fly fishing but, I think you get the point and I’m running out of space. I will leave you with this one final thought; fly-fishing is not too much different than life…it is always better when there is someone present to share it. Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer. Telephone Email Website
979-415-4379 vssommerlatte@hotmail.com www.mangrovefly.com
DAV E R O B E R T S
K AYA K F I S H I N G C H RO N I C L E S
The Mothership I believe a motto appropriate to kayak angling might be: Where there’s a will there’s a way. Kayakers are some of the most innovative people in the fishing community, simply because we must be creative and adaptable to overcome the limitations we place upon ourselves. We are limited to the amount of gear we can carry, the places we can access, and the number of days the weather allows us to be on the water. Accepting these limitations, we strive to find ways to expand our limited opportunities. It is no secret that kayakers are at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to exploring new water. I know that everyone has an area or two they dream of trying someday but those dreams are unrealistic due to the paddling distances required. I have seen people mount trolling motors, small tiller-steer outboards, and even weed-eaters retrofitted with a prop to mimic a Go-Devil (I told you we were innovators). All of these are homemade creations that are designed to get you to an area faster and go further. However, no matter how unique and creative such inventions might be, there is a better way. We pondered the dilemma long and hard and finally the light came on… mothership! If you have access to a motorboat, and size really doesn’t matter, you can strap kayaks and gear aboard and take advantage of the motorboat’s range to reach far-flung destinations in mere minutes. One day last summer, my buddy Nate and I were discussing our fishing 64 | March 2017
trip for the next day and were torn between two ideas. He needed to run his boat and was suggesting that we put the yaks up for a morning. While on the other hand I really felt like paddling the next day. It was light wind and perfect tides; you have to take advantage of days like that when you are a kayaker. Anyways, we have heard of people doing this before so we figured why not do both; we decided to use his boat as a mothership and explore some new marsh in the kayaks. This was the first time either of us had tried to pull this stunt. The conversation that Nate and I had got about as far as him asking, “Do you have rope?” I quickly replied, “Yup,” and it was settled. I was meeting him at the boat ramp at daylight with rope and kayaks and he was bringing the boat. Arriving at the launch ramp, we surveyed the problem of how best to transport the kayaks. Lacking room to carry
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them onboard, we quickly decided to lash them together side-by-side and attach a tow rope to his poling platform. There was a bit of a learning curve – If the tow line was too short the kayaks would start surfing the boat wake, cutting back and forth through the wave, and taking on water. Note: Remove all scupper plugs and seats before getting underway. After a little troubleshooting, we found a good length to leave the kayaks at and still get up enough speed to cross the open water. Crossing the bay, we wound our way through a bayou and eventually far enough into the marsh to begin paddling. Nate pulled the boat alongside the bank and set the anchor in preparation for transferring tackle and gear to the kayaks. We only had to pull in the tow line and the kayaks came within easy reach. In practically no time at all, and with very minimal effort, we were on our way to explore new fishing grounds. We ended up paddling across pond after pond and catching new fish in all of them. As we continued deeper into the marsh it seemed there was no limit to the fish, and by the way they were reacting I would be willing to bet nobody had ever tried to catch them. The new marsh was not only full of hungry redfish, it held some really solid ones as well. Our lure selection really did not matter; an accurate cast
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was all we needed. That new marsh had a little more grass than we were expecting but they were in it thick and feeding recklessly. After exploring the new area thoroughly, we embarked on a quick and effortless paddle back to the mothership. We paddled up, unloaded gear, lashed the kayaks behind the boat, and started making our way back to the ramp. Having mastered the towing technique, the ride back was much smoother than at the beginning and made a great way to end the day. Using Nate’s boat as a mothership was a great idea and something I plan on doing again this summer. It took a small learning curve but, once we got all the kinks worked out we were good to go. If you have access to a boat of any size, I recommend that you and a buddy load up the kayaks and go explore a new area. You never know what you might find.
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Story by John Blaha | Photos by Lisa Laskowski
T S F M a g C o ns e r v a ti o n N e ws
Respect the Resources and Fellow Anglers The Texas coast offers some of the most diverse, productive, and trafficked waters along the entire Gulf coast. The Upper Coast features areas with sometimes deeper waters; bays with lots of oysters; bays that often time receive a lot of freshwater runoff from the Sabine, Trinity, Brazos and Colorado rivers; extensive industrial and urban development; and ever-increasing fishing pressure from both recreational and commercial sectors. As you move down the Middle Coast toward Port O’Connor, Rockport and Corpus Christi, the bays begin to become generally shallower although deeper waters still come into play. You find more seagrass habitat; there is still an abundance of oysters in places; fewer industrial neighbors; and ever-increasing fishing pressure from both recreational and commercial fishermen. Further south, through the Upper Laguna Madre, Baffin Bay, Nine-Mile Hole and Lower Laguna Madre, you see miles and miles of shallow flats; seagrass beds; only a few oyster reefs; very little freshwater runoff; practically no industrial development, and until you reach the southernmost reaches of the Lower Laguna Madre – very little urban development. But you still find heavy use by recreational and commercial fishermen. What is the common thread through the three regions described above? Heavy participation by recreational and commercial fishermen. Census predictions seem to indicate that the human population of the Texas coastal region will double in the next twenty years. Will the resources be able to withstand this? Will anglers be able to adapt? A key word in answering these questions of what lies ahead is RESPECT. As recreational anglers and conservationists, we want to continue to fish and enjoy what the Texas coast offers, every day that we can. To do this we must respect the resources, respect the efforts to conserve and protect the resources, and respect one another. It’s that simple. 2017 marks 40 years since the formation of Coastal Conservation Association Texas. We all know the story of how CCA Texas started and the desire of a handful of recreational fishermen to turn the tide of overfishing and begin restoring the bounty of our coastal waters. The cornerstone of those early efforts was respect for what remained of the fisheries and the desire to see 68 | March 2017
them flourish once more for their generation, and generations to come. It was a long and hard road traveled to first get saltwater fishing licenses and limits established for redfish, in both recreational and commercial fisheries in 1979, and eventually game fish status for redfish and speckled trout in 1981. Along with the establishment of game fish status for redfish and speckled trout came the banning of gill nets. Any respect that existed between the commercial and recreational sectors evaporated quickly but the respect earned by these early conservationists in the Texas capitol led to a great turning of the legislative tide. And although respect between commercial and recreational fishermen will likely always remain less than desired, we should never lose respect for the efforts and the accomplishments of a few determined conservationists that have since grown to become a 65,000-member association. Grassroots conservation efforts over the years is truly what saved the Texas coastal resources enjoyed by so many today. Going back to that common thread, people are not leaving the Texas coast, they are coming to it full speed ahead. The sale of boats, tackle, and other fishing related equipment continue to rise like Jack’s beanstalk. The development of the immediate coast continues at an incredible pace in many areas. The number of people on the water grows every year, and yet we still have the same finite amount of fishable water and resources. If the resources we currently enjoy are to continue to thrive, there will need to be a continued and even greater outpouring of conservation effort. Adhering to bag limits, and maybe taking only a few for a meal on a given day is a great place to start. Leading by example is a great way to teach new and younger fishermen the benefits of conservation. Operating our boats conservatively goes a long way as well. So many of the newer boats can run shallower than ever dreamed possible. Because it can, doesn’t mean you should. Respect the habitat and fishing areas you are running in and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As our population grows our fishable areas will only continue to shrink. Keep that in mind as you start each fishing adventure. Take all of this a step further by joining CCA and
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becoming active in your local CCA Chapter. Respect should also be part of your daily fishing plan even before getting on the water. It begins in the morning at the filling station, at the ramp and on the dock. Start the day off right. If the lines are long at the gas pump, move your rig as soon as you gas up. Throw your empty ice sacks in a trash can instead of draping them over a bollard where they will soon blow away. When you arrive at the boat ramp, use the staging area to prepare for launching, not when you are backed halfway down the ramp. As you back down the ramp, turn your headlights off so you don’t blind other drivers trying to back down. Park where you are supposed to park and in the direction that best suits the traffic pattern. If a parking lot is not striped, pay attention to what the flow of traffic in the ramp area is and do not block the drivethrough, and especially in front of the ramp. If the particular ramp you want to use is full, maybe you need to go to another one close by, if there is one. It is pretty ridiculous what some users at public ramps do. Don’t be that guy. If you launch your boat early at a public ramp, do not block dock space for long periods of time. Other people are privileged to use these ramps and docks as much as you. If waiting for a member of your party to arrive, rather than occupying dock space for twenty or thirty minutes, anchor a short distance away where you will see them and pull up only when they are ready to board. This is all common sense and you should be able to look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and know you did the right things. Technology and communications change rapidly and so does the amount of information at our fingertips. Social media is a big part of this growth and at the same time seems to carry a splintering effect amongst our fellow anglers at times. Everyone has a different level of skill and knowledge. Everyone has a different style and tactics. If it works for them and they are excited to share, applaud them and constructively offer other ideas and ways, but don’t berate and tear them down. Some of the exchanges seen on social media recently in regards to our fellow anglers are very disappointing. Use social media to help educate your friends and family about conservation projects and coastal advocacy efforts. The more we educate one another on good stewardship and conservation measures, the better off our resources will be for us, our kids, and grandkids. CCA Texas is excited and optimistic as we move into our 2017 fundraising season. Look for events in your local area and if you are interested in becoming an active volunteer, please reach out to CCA Texas at 713-626-4222. The office staff will point you in the right direction. Thank you all for your continued support and remember… RESPECT the Texas coastal resources and your fellow anglers.
70 | March 2017
Port Mansfield Cut
and
Beach Cleanup
Please join us for our 9th Annual Port Mansfield Cut and Beach Clean Up scheduled for Sunday, March 12, 2017. The event will begin with a 7:00AM free kick off breakfast at the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce Pavilion. Volunteers will be assigned to boats for the trip over to the Mansfield Cut and Padre Island National Seashore for the day’s work cleaning our majestic resource. Free lodging along with a sack lunch, bottled water, gloves, and a Sam Caldwell commemorative t-shirt will all be provided to each volunteer worker and our annual celebration dinner will cap the event at Pelican’s Pub. Please contact Kathie Bassler at kathieb@basslerenergyservices.com for more information and to register for housing. With over 150 workers expected we are always in need of captains and boats to ferry workers to the beach.
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STEPHANIE BOYD
F I S H Y FA C T S
Cutlassfish The cutlassfish derives its name from its curved shape, much like that of a cutlass sword. Fish of the family Trichiuridae (Greek for hair tail) are long, slender, and generally steely blue or silver in color, also like their namesake. This family has several deepwater members that occur in water depths greater than 600 feet, and one member that occurs in shallow waters: the Atlantic cutlassfish. Found throughout the tropical and temperate oceans of the world, the Atlantic cutlassfish was long considered a cosmopolitan species (a species whose range extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats), but it may represent a species complex comprised of three main groups: the Atlantic, East Pacific, and Northwest Pacific (Japanese) populations. Though the groups differ slightly in morphology and genetics, and are sometimes, colloquially, recognized as different species, the boundaries between them are often unclear and, as such, are generally still categorized as one species, Trichiurus lepturus. Members of Trichiuridae are also called scabbardfishes or hairtails; some are called frostfishes because they appear in late autumn and early winter (around the time of the first frosts). In Texas, Atlantic cutlassfish are usually called ribbonfish. This fish is unmistakable – a long, skinny, scaleless body (giving an
eel-like appearance); a single dorsal fin running from head to almost end of body; shiny, metallic silver skin; tiny spines along belly from anus to tail; a lower jaw that juts out farther than the upper jaw; and a mouth full of large, fang-like teeth. Adults can reach over 7 feet in length, though they average closer to 3.5 feet. The Texas rod and reel record is 4.2 feet, 4.7 pounds – caught on a bass assassin in Corpus Christi Bay by Travis Colley. The bright, steely-blue skin readily loses its silvery coating after capture, becoming uniformly gray sometime after death. This benthopelagic (both benthic and pelagic) species is generally confined to continental shelf waters, ranging from shallow sandy or muddy estuaries to depths of 1000 feet. Although common in bays and inshore Gulf waters, cutlassfish aren’t popular. They steal bait and won’t hesitate to use their sharp, barbed teeth on unwary anglers. One look at the ribbonfish’s intimidating assortment of dental equipment and it’s obvious this fish is built for grabbing live prey. Adults feed mainly on other fishes, such as herrings, anchovies, drums, jacks, and catfishes, though they’ll also dine on shrimps and squids if the opportunity arises. They frequently eat each other, as well. Cutlassfish lack the broad, stereotypical fish tail that is the primary means for fast, powerful swimming. Instead, they undulate Capt Michael Savedow caught this cutlassfish in Edgewater River, FL. (EdgewaterRiverGuide.com) Photo by Skiff Life Inshore Fishing & Boating.
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their entire body, like an eel, to move through the water. This method of propulsion is not very powerful, and most of their prey can probably swim much faster. Consequently, the cutlassfish has evolved as an ambush predator, with an innovative hiding technique. They suspend their long bodies vertically a short distance below the surface, with their toothy jaws upward and long, tapered body hanging downward. Remaining motionless in this position, they present a very small visual cross section to prey swimming overhead. When a fish ventures too near, the cutlassfish lunges upward and seizes the unsuspecting victim. If the cutlassfish is close to the surface, the forceful strike can propel it straight out of the water. Some anglers claim that it’s not uncommon for one to rocket out of the water six feet in the air. Fearsome as this toothy predator seems, it is certainly not the sea’s top predator. Dolphins, seals, and sea lions all prey heavily on this species. A variety larger fish also have cutlassfish on the menu. Its comparatively slow swimming makes it particularly vulnerable to these predators, and its habit of forming dense shoals make it particularly vulnerable to us. Though cutlassfish aren’t used as a food fish in the U.S., they supposedly have an excellent flavor and are a major commercial species in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and others. Atlantic cutlassfish are the most abundant and frequently caught commercial trichiurid worldwide. It is notable for being fairly easy to debone; its flesh is firm yet tender when cooked, with a moderate level of “fishy smell” and a low level of oiliness; and it’s tasty fried, grilled, or raw (sashimi) and is marketed fresh, frozen, dried, or salted. In the Gulf of Mexico, this species is taken as incidental catch in fisheries targeting large carangids (jacks, pompanos, etc). Their primary use in the U.S. is as bait for offshore gamefish, such as king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and wahoo. Though not usually targeted by anglers, this fish is caught relatively easily using light tackle and small lures or surface baits. According to angler anecdotes, big ones “will hit a mirrorlure or spoon like a freight train. They hit so hard that with the long teeth you will miss a lot of them, but with a mirrorlure you can see the teeth marks.” The current angling world record is 8 pounds 1 ounce, caught by Felipe Soares in Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay in 1997. Commercial fishermen have caught cutlassfish up to 11 pounds. The cutlassfish’s life history has been fairly well deciphered. Juveniles are found in the central, coastal area of Texas in May and June, indicating spawning as late as February. Females produce an estimated 3400 eggs per spawning batch (130,000 over the entire spawning season). Eggs are pelagic and hatch after 3 to 6 days. Young are found in deeper water than the nearshore-inhabiting adults, indicating an offshore-to-inshore recruitment pattern. In the Sea of Japan, Atlantic cutlassfish mature at 2 years old (about 1 foot in pre-anal length). The oldest recorded age is 15 years, though they generally live only 7 or 8 years. Though populations have declined from the central to northern coasts of China due to fishing pressure, the IUCN Red List classifies Trichiurus lepturus as Least Concern, no overall/worldwide population decline. If the species (complex) split, the Atlantic cutlassfish would retain the scientific name T. lepturus; the Northwest Pacific (Sea of Japan and East China Sea) would be recognized as T. japonicus; and the East Pacific (California to Peru) would be recognized it as T. nitens. They are already referred to as such in some literature. If the split 74 | March 2017
becomes formalized, it is likely each group would be re-evaluated for classification on the Red List, eventually.
Where I learned about cutlassfish, and you can too! TPWD tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/cutlassfish/ tpwd.texas.gov/fishing/sea-center-texas/flora-fauna-guide/gulf-waters/ animals-of-the-gulf-waters/atlantic-cutlassfish?print=false tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/staterecords.php?env=SW&age_ group=all&list=0&browse=Go Texas Marine Species txmarspecies.tamug.edu/fishdetails.cfm?scinameID=Trichiurus%20lepturus FishBase www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.php?Family=Trichiuridae www.fishbase.se/summary/Trichiurus-lepturus.html Discover Life www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Trichiurus+lepturus&b=FB1288 Gulf of Maine Research Institute www.gma.org/fogm/Trichiurus_lepturus.htm Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations www.fao.org/fishery/species/2468/en Fishes of Australia fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2562#moreinfo IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/190090/0 IGFA World Record Search wrec.igfa.org/WRecordsList.aspx?lc=AllTackle&cn=Cutlassfish,%20Atlantic World Waterfowl Forums www.worldwaterfowl.com/showthread.php?p=5979 Fish-Fishes www.fish-fishes.com/salt_water_fish/cutlassfish.html Zen Gyotaku www.zengyotaku.com/cutlassfish.html Helter Skeletons www.helterskeletons.com/atlantic_cutlassfish.htm Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutlassfish en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largehead_hairtail Marine Fishes of Florida By David B. Snyder & George H. Burgess A Guide to the Common Sea Fishes of Southern Africa By Rudy Van der Elst
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Big drum brought alongside, with circle hook pinned to a rubbery lip.
JOE RICHARD
I N S H ORE | N EAR S H ORE | J E T T I E S | PA S S E S
Spring Fling with Black Drum Texas’ population of big, black drum are now gathered for their annual spawning ritual. These brutes commonly grow to 50 pounds, and for many anglers who don’t venture offshore, this is the biggest fish they can reasonably expect to catch. Big drum are a low-cost fish: The biggest expense may be scoring a dozen blue crabs for bait. No other saltwater species is out there of that size, that will bite only yards from dry land, except perhaps alligator gar. Keep in mind that, only one cast away from dry land, these spawning fish prefer depths of 15 or 20 feet. You can park a car and fish, or use a simple jonboat with a few sturdy rod-holders. If the wind is blowing, no problemo: Anchor in deeper, saltwater bayous (such as Saluria 76 | March 2017
Juicy, fresh half of a blue crab, with red circle hook pinned through the rubbery paddle fin. Not many big drum could pass this up…
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in POC), the Texas City Dike, Seawolf Park in Galveston, or sheltered water around coastal jetties. Target a decent incoming tide, or at least moving water. Depth is important; I’ve never heard of big drum spawning in shallow water. Use medium tackle with at least 25-pound line, with just enough lead weight to hold bottom in a current. A nice red circle hook works great, the bigger the hook the better, because these guys have a big mouth and greedy appetite. With a (preferably live) blue crab, first pop the shell off and toss it out there where you plan to fish—it makes good chum. Next, cut the crab carcass in half, right down the middle. Pin the hook through the crab’s paddle fin, which has a nice rubbery joint at the base. (See photo). Using this recipe, set out four rods, and you’re in business. Where to find blue crabs? Bay water should certainly be warm enough by March, for crabs to be active. If you have a crab trap, let it soak overnight before checking it. Blue crabs can be difficult to buy in small coastal towns, but I suppose crabbers ship them to bigger cities for a better price. Asian food markets invariably carry these crabs, usually still alive. I pick out the biggest, meanest crabs in (below) Comparing sheepshead and black (above) Happy young angler at the Galveston drum, both caught on the Sabine jetty using live jetties on a calm, foggy spring morning, ideal these stores, not the limp ones. Blue crabs will stay alive shrimp. Both of these fish were fine on the table. habitat for big spawning drum. overnight in a cooler with a sealed bag of ice, though it’s best to shield them from cold plastic and water. Haul a few spring breakers out in the boat to a known drum hotspot with a dozen or more blue crabs, and things can get interesting very quickly. Especially on the right tackle. We used to catch these fish with whatever offshore snapper tackle was available, but they’re far sportier on spin tackle. Since I started using more blue crabs for bait during warmer months (targeting redfish), we’ve battled many big black drum, sometimes landing eight or so without moving the boat. It seems that during summer and fall, these big fish spread out and prowl fairly shallow water, usually feeding over oyster reefs and shell, rooting out young oysters and whatever crabs they can find. We’ve also caught them next to commercial docks in a dozen or more feet of water. If you want to get serious with a big fish in tight quarters, try that. Our 25-pound line couldn’t stop them, so we upgraded to heavier gear. Two summers ago I was pleased to educate a few local These big spawner drum carry a slot size limit of 18 to 30 inches, with shore fishermen on a small bridge over a bayou. They were tossing five fish allowed per day. However, one of those fish can be kept if it is dead shrimp and catching small panfish. I told them I knew redfish longer than 52 inches. Presumably a drum of that size has spawned a were in the bayou, and since mullet was scarce that day, why not number of times in the past. But it would be tougher than horse meat try a crab? One of the guys pulled out a single crab from his bucket. on the table, not worth keeping. Best let the big ones spawn again, to I showed them how to prep the crab, and pinned the guy’s J-hook through the paddle fin. He tossed it out and within two minutes, had produce many “puppy” drum that are far tastier. a heavy strike. But missed the fish. I told him to wait a few seconds before setting the hook. With his last bait he tossed back out there Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of and within seconds was hanging on to his rod, something huge Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down was trying to take it away from him. There was much commotion, the entire coast. He was the editor of Tide magazine for a flailing landing net too small, but eventually a big drum was eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in landed. As I drove away there were high-fives and selfie pics with the 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The ponderous fish. Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com Not sure if they released that fish or tossed it in their car trunk. 78 | March 2017
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March sandbar shark – released.
E X T R E M E K AYA K F I S H I N G & S H A R K S F R O M T H E S A N D
ER I C O Z O L I N S
The March is On March is a versatile month in the Texas surf as spring migrations deliver a wide variety of species to target. The list of opportunities includes jack crevalle, red drum, black drum, and sharks. All of this is triggered by the water warming a few degrees. With a bit of luck, we could also see some of the largest speckled trout of the year in the March surf. This truly is one of my favorite times of the year, whether targeting trophy trout from the kayak or in hot pursuit of jackfish in the surf, the possibilities are nearly endless! Everyone knows that I am one with the surf. A sand man. After three long months of sub-par activity on the beach I am usually beyond excited for this change. My forte being sharks, I rely heavily on migrating baitfish to bring in the large toothy critters. During March, jack crevalle storm the beaches, and with them comes an excellent shot at some of the largest sharks of the year. During the past two years, we have been spared the scourge of sargassum and shark fishing with both longrods and kayaked baits has been an absolute pleasure. Even “new boot� sharkers, those who arrived fairly recently and never experienced wave after wave of the menacing weed, succeeded in putting many great sharks on the sand. There is perhaps no greater impediment to shark fishing the surf and we pray for another year of 80 | March 2017
little to no sargassum to enable keeping lines out until time to pick up. As I have mentioned in previous articles, even though March gives us good shark opportunity, it is curious to me that old-time sharkers never began fishing in earnest until around Memorial Day. With the shark fishery at its peak 40 years ago, we can only imagine what they might have caught earlier in the spring. The present generation of sharkers are graced with newer technology in regards to both tackle and bait deployment. It is a blessing to see that anglers are still able to obtain incredible catches despite a drastically reduced fishery. In March of 2016, there were two incredible catches. For the first time in Texas surf fishing history, more than one mako shark was landed from the beach in the same month. Brad Tabor and Jessica Repa landed healthy makos, on the same day I landed an early-season hammerhead. Later in the month, Dwade Hickey landed and released the largest (at that time) surf-caught Texas mako and we succeeded in attaching an Ocearch satellite tracking tag for shark research. Other species of sharks also run rampart in early-spring. Typically, large blacktips are in shallow, and famous for their fierce behavior. Many of these are pregnant females with ravenous appetites, go figure. While not monstrous,
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any blacktip heavier than 100 pounds is a notable fish. Targeting these beefy blacktips can also result in hooking A beast of a March drum…the kind that saved the TV show! bull sharks as they too typically tend to move in at the end of March and early-April. Once again, this all depends on how the seasonal patterns develop, warmer will hasten their arrival and colder will delay it. One of my most surprising March shark landings was a 10-foot tiger. Tigers do not usually begin showing until around May, but this one was caught during spring break along the Padre Island National Seashore. The irony of this fish was that earlier in the day while scouting a location, I noted a large shark on the second sandbar. Could this have been the same fish? Along with sharks, there are other species that often make surprise March appearances in the PINS surf. Little tunny (cousin of Atlantic bonito) are typically offshore pelagics. However, if water clarity and conditions are just perfect in springtime they will invade the shallows by the thousands. These tuna-torpedoes are pound for pound one of the hardest fighting medium-tackle fish you will likely Rare visitors the little tunny; you ever encounter from the surf…think jackfish. The presence just never know what might show of little tunny is also a likely reason the makos make guest up in the PINS surf during March. appearances in the springtime surf. While timing is critical and they are difficult to catch, even during their invasions, little tunny have been caught from the sand in the past. Very small spoons or flies are your surest bets for these energetic predators. Another bonus during this month of rarities could be the possibility of early-season cobia and king mackerel. March is famous for its wind and frequently blown-out surf conditions. I was part of a television filming effort three years ago, to showcase shark fishing in Texas. The segment was to be the show’s season finale and expectations were high. We had a week allocated during March for filming. The first three days were catastrophic. The surf was raging and high to the dunes the first day with sargassum washing ashore with a vengeance. It was practically impossible to fish for sharks. Any attempt at getting a bait out would result almost immediately in failure. For the baits we did get out, they would quickly painfully slow...then it happened. Casting out whole blue crab we finally had what we came for. We get washed in due to the strong current and weed hanging on the began hooking up repeatedly on some of the largest black drum lines. It was very stressful for everybody and the day was scrapped. I’ve ever seen. These “big uglies” were nothing short of prehistoric That evening a front blew in and the north wind began to rip hard. in appearance, and for several hours we battled them non-stop. The We ended up fishing the protected Port Aransas jetties in cold water season finale episode turned out to be a great success, encompassing the next day with little action and no sharks to film. wild weather conditions and “doing whatever it takes” to find worthy We waited a couple of days and ventured back down the seashore. fish. The adventure itself became the show. Reminds me of my This time the tide was so high and with fresh weed, we could only make it a few miles down the beach. We ended up turning around and personal life and my own fishing career. sought another venue to salvage the show. With the surf impossible to fish and targeting sharks no longer an option, we had to devise a new plan. The bays were peaking with oversized drum activity so we figured, why not turn this show For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark into a real adventure and do what it takes to find some credible catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also fish. I ended up borrowing an inflatable Zodiac and the host, two renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric runs Kayak Wars; camera men, and I set forth into the backwaters of the Laguna one of the largest kayak fishing tournaments in the world. Madre – loaded down with expensive camera gear and tackle, mind you. The steady wind was throwing salt spray everywhere and there Email oz@oceanepics.com extremecoast.com | oceanepics.com | Websites was great concern regarding the cameras. Nonetheless, we made it kayakwars.com to an isolated location and began fishing. The first two hours were 82 | March 2017
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$10 Entry for Open Bait Division $25 Entry for Artificial Bait Division Open Bait (live, dead, prepared bait, or artificial,) and Artificial Bait (artificial lures only) This will be an individual effort tournament. Multiple Anglers may fish from the same boat.
Age Group Division: Youth Division: Ages 12 and under Junior Division: Ages 13-18 (Junior anglers age 18 must be attending grade school at time of event)
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Dickie Colburn
DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene
Sabine
Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.
Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com
I am both relieved and excited to report that the We are better fishermen for having to hunt trout catching part of our trout program has drastically that simply weren’t there and the biggest lessons improved over the past month. Not learned were slow down, fish Albert Bates with a stocky only are the numbers there most more methodically and don’t 8-pounder caught and released! days, but the size is there as well! yield to the wind. We caught Having endured the epic trout over eight pounds this past flooding over the past two years, month crawling Corkys and tails we no longer take our tenuous over scattered shell on days that saltwater bite for granted. Even in I would have canceled due to the the best of years Sabine Lake leans wind even a year ago! toward the fresh side of brackish, We have enjoyed a few of those but our trout population was days when everything in the box forced to relocate to survive the seems to work, but simply being glut of fresh water during those able to grind away once again two incredible events. with the legitimate potential for Without wading through the catching a big trout is exciting. countless theories of how they Just knowing they are there puts adapted, suffice to say that they the fun back into fishing. made it and are starting to return to Areas like Coffee Ground Cove, their old haunts. In fact, if it weren’t Game Warden’s Cove and the for gusty winds that eliminate flats between Johnson’s and fishing different areas any given Green’s are still receiving the day, I would say that it is “game on” most pressure and deservedly from the Causeway to Middle Pass. so. They are somewhat protected
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from the prevailing wind and the water clarity is consistently better than most of the lake. They are also magnets for schools of shad and finger mullet. Having said that, we have also experienced some very good afternoons drifting the Neches flats and the flats behind Sidney and Stewt’s Island. Water movement is a huge factor in exploiting this bite and the waves produced by a passing tanker can be as helpful as a good tide change. When wading these areas, pay special attention to the height of those man-made wakes rolling your way! Partially due to warmer surface temperatures that continue to hover in the high 50s and lower 60s, we have been catching some of our largest trout on topwaters. Mid-size baits like the She Dog and Skitter
Another nice slot red for Aaron.
2017-TX-march-TSL-trout.pdf
Walk have worked better than the larger Super Spook. Long pauses between twitches have been the deadliest retrieve. This is certainly no time, however, to bench your soft plastic or hard plastic suspending mullet imitations. On days when the fish are a little finicky, the smaller MirrOdine XL has made a difference, but as a rule the only question is whether to start with a Fat Boy or Devil. Having said that, the three best trout I have caught thus far all ate a Catch 5 in either bone or chicken. The Catch 2000 produced more bites, but the slightly larger Catch 5 duped the better fish. We are fishing both lures on the same retrieve that we do the Corky. While at least a third of my clients refuse to even tie on a Corky or Catch 5, they will now grind away all day with one of Bass Assassin’s new Salty Snack lures. They have done so well at times, in fact, that I have switched over and joined them. The Salty Snack is shaped like a Devil with rings on the body for added vibration and, most importantly, the lure sinks in a horizontal position when fished with the enclosed wormhook rigged exposed. It casts well even with no lead and I have found that the hookset ratio is better when you leave even more hook exposed than recommended. The redfish bite cannot get much better than it is right now. We are catching them in the bayous and the passes, but lots of folks are doing just as well fishing the ship channel and the jetties. While Gulp and virtually any tail will catch them, I really enjoy having them smack a shallow running square bill like the Echo 1.75 or a four-inch Usual Suspect swimbait. The bonus benefit in fishing the swimbait is that the flounder like it as much as the redfish do. Every trip is a good one when fishing with kids!
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Capt. Caleb Harp
The Buzz on Galveston Bay
Galveston
Capt. Caleb Harp has fished the Galveston Bay System since childhood and, now a charter captain and fishing guide, he uses his knowledge to enable clients to enjoy the excellent fishing the area offers. His specialty is the yeararound pursuit for trophy trout and redfish with artificial lures
Telephone 281-753-3378 Website harpsguideservice.com
March can be one of the best months for wade fishing confused as we are as to which season they are in. in the Galveston Bay Complex. There will be days when Most of our fish have been on mud all winter and you can’t make a mistake and then there will be periods with rising water temperatures they begin moving where nothing makes sense. to harder, sandier bottoms. Even though some days might With that said, we experienced reach 85⁰ and feel almost a very mild winter and water summery, a front will scream temperatures never dipped to in and bring things back to normal wintertime levels. It doesn’t normal. It’ll be windy, for sure, take much imagination to wonder as strong southerly flows whether the traditional March become an almost everyday transition may have already been thing. Wade fishing is the best underway for a while. way to beat the wind. This movement or restaging The word transition seems of fish never occurs en masse, to be part of every springtime sometimes you can barely notice fishing discussion, and rightly it. What you will notice is that so. The dreaded period of half feeding becomes erratic. One day winter–half spring can be a you knock their heads off and whole headache to anglers the next day is pitiful. Remember trying to stay on a reliable this though, whenever you find bite. Transition is probably yourself in the middle of a steady Mickey Eastman landing as descriptive a term as can March feeding pattern it can be a March 8-pounder on a MirrOlure She Dog. be applied to March fishing, very memorable! sometimes I think the fish are as Lure selection during March
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88 | March 2017
to
Island.
Soft-Dine and MirrOdine from MirrOlure are hard to beat during spring transition when the bait species run toward the small size.
Shrimp
can be a crap shoot at times. The fish can be finicky and you need to give them exactly what they want and present it with finesse to trick them into striking. As the water temperature rises, the fish will gang into schools and become easier to feed, but that’s rarely the case in the first weeks of the month. Expect them to be spread out, so covering water is necessary. Topwaters are best for covering a lot of water quickly but I typically do not rely on this technique unless bait is plentiful and active at the surface. Corky-types may offer the greatest appeal for tricking heavyweight specks but not the best for covering water. What this means is that soft plastics get the most playing time and we vary retrieve speeds between covering lots of water and trying to let it settle right in their faces. Downsizing your lures can be critical whenever glass minnows and similarly small forage is abundant. MirrOlure offers a great line of lures for “matching the hatch” with their MirrOdine and its softer Corky cousin, the Soft-Dine. The 17MR, 27MR and Soft-Dine can be dynamite for drawing strikes when the fish aren’t looking for the full meal deal. Downsizing applies to soft plastics as well, but for me it more of a lighter jighead strategy than a smaller lure. In situations where I would normally use a 1/8-ounce head I will opt for a lighter 1/16 or maybe even a 1/32 to create a descent through the water column with more finesse.
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West Galveston Bay West Bay has been the most consistent of all the bays and even coughing up some good weight from time to time. Stingers of trout and redfish have been coming from south shoreline coves on warmer days. Cooler days have been better on mid-bay reefs and more isolated structure. As March develops, we should see more action towards sandier bottoms. East Galveston Bay East Bay has a lot of fish in it, but it’s all about timing. You can be in an area where everything looks textbook but with no success. You’ve just got to grind them out. The warmer it gets, the further the fish will spread away from the back of the bay heading towards hard sand and shell. The south shoreline of East Bay is a great place to escape the hard south winds that normally come during March. Upper Galveston Bay The Upper Galveston Bay region has been holding a lot of fish but fairly inconsistent after hard winds and warmer than normal water temperatures. Strong tidal flows rolling up the Houston Ship Channel will fix the clarity issue quickly so keep an eye on this region. It can bust wide open in only a matter of a few days. MirrOlures and Corkys have been the ticket, as always. Berkley_Gulp_SW_3.675x9.875.indd 1
berkley-fishing.com Berkley is a register trademark subsidiary of Pure Fishing, Inc. © 2017
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1/13/17 9:21
Bink Grimes
The View from Matagorda
Matagorda
Folks frequent Matagorda during Spring Break for our beaches and easy-access fishing. Wives and kids love the quiet living on the peninsula and our waterfront rentals and coastal restaurants. If you don’t fish on the bays, most riverfront houses have piers with lights to fish at night. We often fish morning and afternoons this month to
Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing and hunting guide, freelance writer and photographer, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay.
Telephone 979-241-1705 Email binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net Website matagordasunriselodge.com
accommodate our guests. There are only so many days of vacation for families and we don’t like to tell people “no” when they want to go fishing. We will be splitting time in East and West bays. Most of our drifting trips will be in East Bay over deep shell with the same baits we use wading. Live shrimp are deadly in spots like Lake Austin, Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and Boggy. Redfish are usually everywhere. We can make long drifts or anchor on reefs. Tides are traditionally above normal in March so there are plenty of places to get out of the wind if spring holds true to form. Redfish are not the only drum in abundance in March, juvenile black drum, the eating kind, frequent reefs in West Matagorda Bay. Twin Islands, Shell Island and Oyster Lake are all proven drum haunts in
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March. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the best bet, but dead shrimp will work, too. The jetty is a great spot to intercept big reds and drum for Spring Breakers. There are some folks who do nothing but target large sheepshead against the rocks with live shrimp. Over-sized black drum, those over 30 inches, are the spawners and are catch-and-release only, but that doesn’t mean they are any less fun to catch. Big black bruisers frequent the channel and jetty leading to the Gulf and a cracked blue crab or mullet gets eaten quick.
If our mild winter persists, March could be more like May. Water temps in the upper 60s and lower 70s is not out of the question; and, if you like throwing topwaters, those big tides push big fish to the shorelines. We love to wade the guts and bayous with Soft-Dines, Bass Assassins and Down South Lures. If a late-season cold front blows through and drops tides, move to the mouths of lakes. The water and bait will be pouring out of the back lakes and the fish ride with the tide and bait. Camp out and wait for the redfish to come through. Waders seeking big trout most certainly work the east end of East Matagorda Bay. Brown Cedar Flats, Half Moon Reef and Catch-All Basin have soft mud bottoms that hold heavy trout in the spring. Flats adjacent to the ICW on the north shoreline are players as well. Big trout slide in to the deep of the channel on low tide, then creep back up on the flats on the incoming. Hangout there long enough and you meet one or two of Matagorda’s finest. Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay will be at the Houston Fishing Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center, March 8-12. Come by and say hello. We will have complimentary tickets available Wednesday through Friday of the show. Give us a call or text for tickets (979-241-1705). Follow our catches on Instagram @ matagordasunriselodge.
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www.daiwa.com/us TSFMAG.com | 91
Capt. Shellie Gray
MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays
Port O'Connor Seadrift
Captain Shellie Gray was born in Port Lavaca and has been guiding in the Seadrift/Port O’Connor area full time for the past 14 years. Shellie specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.
As of recent weeks, our fishing patterns here on the Middle Coast are more in line with what we expect during springtime, due to the very mild winter weather we have experienced. Typically, this time of year, you would find me either wading or drifting the back lakes in search of warmer water. But, given the unseasonably warm weather, some of my best catches have been coming from areas that I typically do not A drift sock is a must-have for driftfishing in March.
Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com
®
92 | March 2017
frequent until the end of March or first days of April. The areas I’m talking about are the outside sandy shorelines of Espiritu Santo and San Antonio bays. These areas have been holding plenty of bait and the sea grasses have started to grow after their wintertime slumber. These components are just what a hungry redfish or trout look for when it comes to feeding – food with plenty of structure to hide in so they can ambush their prey. Most of the sandy shorelines that are in our area have several guts that run parallel to land. As you get further away from the shore these guts get a little deeper until you reach what is referred to as the dropoff. This is the area where the sandbars end and the water is at its deepest point. You are probably wondering why I am giving an explanation on something as simple as what guts are on a shoreline. Well, these guts (also called troughs) are where many predator fish choose to patrol
I want to brag on Gary for winning heavy trout honors in the Freeze Out tournament held recently in Port O’Connor.
The owner of Diamond J, James Rosalis, was a partner in Circle J Enterprises at the time our office and son’s home were built by Circle J. Workmanship and attention to detail were both excellent! – Everett Johnson, Editor/Publisher, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine
looking for a tasty snack to come swimming overhead or for bait that happens to cruise by on the edge of a sandbar. As we head into spring, our weather will be dominated by lengthening periods of warm southerly flows and with this comes more moisture and cloud cover. Cloud cover is a huge factor when it comes to fishing. Those beautiful days when there is not a cloud in the sky are usually the best days for picnics, not fishing. Give me clouds and I’m a happy girl. Why, you ask? Cloud cover is a product of low average atmospheric pressure. Fish sense this and they become willing to feed more often and for longer periods. Some fishery biologists attribute the increase in feeding behavior to the ease with which fish can regulate buoyancy via their swim bladders. Cloud cover also reduces sunlight penetration, and fish become naturally more comfortable staging higher in the water column. Now that you know how clouds affect fishing, put that knowledge to work. Look for fish to be active and higher in the water column during times of cloudiness. Surface plugs tend to really shine during these times. Choppy surface conditions call for large, noisy plugs. On calm mornings, we will throw smaller, quieter surface lures. On days characterized by “Chamber of Commerce” skies you can expect the fish to stage lower. Concentrate your efforts in the deeper sand guts, drop-offs and deeper sloughs. All of this holds true even while fishing the oyster reefs in San Antonio Bay. March is famous for its wind and we just have to find ways to deal with it. Many of the open bay regions will be off limits due to rough and discolored water. If drifting is your preference, you are going to need a drift anchor – aka drift sock – to slow the drift speed of the boat. Drifting too quickly through a potentially good area can hinder your ability to work your artificials slowly and thoroughly. I use a 36” Limit Chaser sock that I purchased at the Houston Fishing Show several years ago, to slow my 24’ Shallowsport. I also bought the rope kit that includes a float, just in case the sock comes unattached from the boat during a drift. We have come across many sizeable schools of redfish on the sandy shorelines but you can still find numbers of those red brutes cruising around in the shallow back lakes. Don’t be surprised if you catch a larger speckled trout swimming with these shallow water reds. It is that time of year when the larger trout are looking for protected areas to spawn. Gary and I will have a booth at the upcoming Houston Fishing Show at the George R. Brown convention center, March 8 through 12. The Fishing Show is a great opportunity for anglers to check out many new products that will be introduced in 2017. Please feel welcome to stop by Booth 532 for a visit. When we can’t be fishing we enjoy talking about it! TSFMAG.com | 93
david rowsey
HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey
Upper Laguna/ Baffin
David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/ Baffin region; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty. David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.
Telephone 361-960-0340 Website www.DavidRowsey.com Email david.rowsey@yahoo.com
94 | March 2017
I hope this article finds you just coming out of your Simms waders after a great day of winter fishing. Spring is on us, and really seems like winter never happened on the Laguna Madre. The weather has made for a crazy year on the water. Unseasonably warm and high tides has made for some adventurous pursuits for giant trout. Most of them were not easy, but enough were to keep our drive from plummeting to unrecoverable levels. The first week of February saw the tides finally fall out of the bay. Yay! This was a big deal, and one that I had been looking forward to all winter. The problem with the high water is that it kept is from wading many areas that we traditionally fish this time of year. With so much extra water in the bay, the trout were scattered all over the place, never in high concentrations. Add to that the air-clear water, and it was just making life pretty scrappy out on this ‘ol legendary trout bay. God must have heard me whining from behind the console of my boat or from the soft hole that I just sank into, only to fill my waders with hyper-saline water, as he blew in some stout west winds and changed everything overnight. Thousands of prime acres of water are accessible to wading now. The fish
have become more concentrated, as they should be this time of year, and the water clarity has become the perfect milky color. Alas! Fishing has become much more predictable and rewarding of late. March is a monster month here on the Upper Laguna and Baffin. It does not always give up the most fish, but my journals tell the story of the heaviest fish of any of the twelve months. That fact was carved into stone last year when an awesome friend/client set the client record on my boat with a behemoth 10.75-pound trout. That is what you call a “lifer” my friends. The other part of the story on that fish is that it was caught by a Common Joe. Just a regular guy that loves to fish, has a very normal job, and just blends into society like most of us. Big trout couldn’t care less about social status, how big your boat is, or how much you spent to get there. What they do require is patience, preparedness, knowing when to be in their house, and some of God’s blessing mixed in. Any salt that has spent plenty of days on the water knows that March can be downright unpredictable with regards to weather, especially the wind. With the warm winter that we are experiencing, I believe gusty spring winds from the southeast will be the norm
The warm weather should have some monster fish pulling up into shallow water for prolonged periods of time, and that is where I will be spending most of my time with clients. Approach these shallow areas with caution and stealth. Utilize your trolling motor to get in close and quietly. I would suggest shutting the big Mercury down at least one hundred yards from the target area and walking in, if you don’t have a trolling motor. Giant trout are big because they are wary. Waving a red flag by shutting the boat down on top of them is not going to work out for you. My top choices for lures in the shallow water is a small topwater, a floating Fat Boy by MirrOlure, a 5” Bass Assassin rigged onto a 1/16 ounce Pro Elite jighead by Bass Assassin, and the new weedless “Salty Snack” by Bass Assassin. (This is a new lure on the market I have been fishing with for some time as a prototype. It has been very effective in shallow grassy areas, as well as bouncing off rock piles in the middle of the bay.) Remember the buffalo! -Capt. David Rowsey A great eight-pounder from the Upper Laguna. MirrOlure Fat Boy proved irresistible to her and some more on this day. Released!
this March. That will be my first consideration every day I leave Bluff Landing Marina to put clients on big trout. Within reason, the wind is your friend in Baffin and the Upper Laguna Madre. Being so far from coastal passes, tidal current is minimal in these bay systems. Water movement is controlled by the wind, and some form of it is essential for a great fish bite. Days of slack wind are great for boat riding, but fishing this pattern is very tough and slow in production.
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Wayne Davis
WAYNE’S Mansfield Report
Port Mansfield
Captain Wayne Davis has been fishing the Lower Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes in wade fishing with lures.
Telephone 210-287-3877 Email captwayne@kwigglers.com
96 | March 2017
Hello March! This is the month when we begin to see sustained southeast winds; so how should we plan to approach these windy days? Many years ago, I resented steady 20- to 25-mph southeast winds but I have since learned we can use them to our advantage. Not to be confused with 30- to 35 sustained…know when to say it’s just too strong to A solid eight-pounder landed by the author on that cold and nasty but epic Friday 13th in March 2009.
fish and safe boating is always your primary concern. The only serious deterrent this time of year, apart from extreme wind, is when Mother Nature sends us a not-so-friendly temperature-dropping norther and, yes, we’ll likely experience a few. I have seen this scenario in years past and, as luck would have it, I went anyway – but only after the wind settled to a steady 15 mph. To my surprise, I had my best fishing day of all time. It was Friday the 13th in March 2009. The Lower Laguna had been slammed with a strong, cold norther. It came so abruptly that the fish, in my opinion, did not know how to respond, except thinking it was time to eat, and eat a lot. In fact, on that day, there were 40 trout over five pounds caught on topwaters. That alone would rank as stellar. More on the weather; we had north wind steady at 15 with air temps in the 40s and drizzling rain all day. My good buddy and former Texas Ranger, Jimmy Schroeder, and
A hefty late-winter red for Erin that ate a Willow Tail Shad; the kind we’ll be looking for in March.
Captain Robert Sanders, enjoyed the incredible bite but suffered in the rain and cold. We stayed in the water for hours and videotaped much of it until my old flip-phone’s battery died. You can bet I’ll be headed right back to that spot if that same set of conditions ever come around again. Currently, the tides have fallen and we hope they stay low for a while. But, sure as spring is coming, they will soon rise again. Until tides rise, we will be targeting deeper areas on the flats for trophy trout while they’re at their heaviest weights. Water clarity has held up nicely in general but lower tides “dirty up” quickly when the wind cranks. The fish will hold in that dirtier water but trying to catch them on lures can be a frustrating experience. Now, back to the wind – When it is blowing steady from southeast, consider targeting points that will be swept by wind-generated current. I would start upwind 100 yards from the point and fish methodically toward it along the visible current line. Try the leeward side if that doesn’t produce. One of the two should provide opportunity to set the hook. Other obvious options during windy conditions will be coves and back lakes. There will be less wind-current in the coves but fishing a calm cove during high wind can be rewarding. This tactic is a great option heading into spring, however, be sure the water level is sufficient to get in and back out without grounding. As the water warms, back bays and sloughs should have glass minnows schooled up along flooded grass flats. Keep an eye open for redfish crashing these micro-morsels along the bank. Small, clear topwaters and soft plastics with lots of glitter are generally good baits for this scenario. We have been throwing the Willow Tail Shad, a new 5.25-inch soft plastic with a willow leaf tail shape, double-layered hook slot on the back, a shallow hook slot in the belly, and an “action hinge” where the body tapers toward the tail. A nice feature is the ease of rigging it straight – simply use the hook slot as a guide and bingo – a straight-rigged bait. Or, fish it weedless, depending on the conditions. We have been throwing the WTS quite a bit and the hot colors seem to be Red Shad Pro, Mansfield Margarita, Geaux Tiger and Flo-Mingo, all rigged on the small 1/16 or 1/8-ounce black nickel jigs. We are seeing sporadic spurts of active feeding, but generally the fish are still hugging the bottom. The bites have been subtle and we are still fishing slow. Another confirmation the fish are hugging bottom is by checking out the belly for small parasites clinging there. Heading into spring, expect longer lines at the boat ramp and more traffic on the water. One thing worth mentioning as you get ready to launch, consider the long line of anxious anglers behind you. Prepare your boat ahead of time and be quick on the ramp. Nobody wants be the guy held up in the line or blinded by discourteous drivers who leave their headlights on. Stay safe and be courteous on the water. TSFMAG.com | 97
Capt. Ernest cisneros
SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene A rr oyo C olorado t o Port I sabel
A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.
Cell 956-266-6454 Website www.tightlinescharters.com
Taking a break on the boat recently with a longtime client, our conversation turned to my Empty Stringers catch and release program. He is very conservation-minded and has participated in the program since the beginning. He was amazed when I told him we have released 1,185 keepers (mix of trout, reds and flounder) in the past eleven months. After a short pause, he said, “Ernest, the total is probably much larger. Think how many millions of eggs those fish produced after being released.” That’s when I realized the potential impact Empty Stringers could have on our fishery. March 1 will mark a full year since I began offering this catch and release incentive and it has become quite popular with my clients. I give great credit to the sponsors who have supported this conservation effort: Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Simms Fishing, Shallow Sport Boats, K-Wigglers and Costa del Mar. Special thanks also to the many anglers who released their catches to help improve our fishery. I am very proud of every one of you!
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w w w. d o a l u r e s . c o m 98 | March 2017
170912_DOA_1.24_TxSF_PT-7_3.685x4.875_redfish170912_DOA_1.24_TxSF_PT-7_3.685x4.875_redfish.indd 1/24/17 12:00 PM 1
Colin displays his big trout of the day.
Moving on: When I think of March, my first thoughts are changes in primary weather patterns. Cold fronts remain a possibility but will lack the punch they delivered in January and February. Strong southerly wind will dominate and we should see fewer days of high atmospheric pressure. The wind will dislodge large amounts of dead bottom grasses that will float on the surface and suspend in the water column. Some very good fishing locations will turn the color of chocolate milk. We deal with this scenario every year so it’s just a matter of changing the game plan based upon what Mother Nature delivers. Redfish remain plentiful and I am hoping this will continue into spring. Higher tides recently have given us good numbers of reds on sand flats east of the ICW. When tides recede, they show preference for deeper grass beds pocked with potholes, cuts between spoils, and other natural funnels. As the water warms up this month, we should see the prelude of a topwater bite that has been almost non-existent for months. My fishing the past four months has taken me as far north as the Land Cut, all the way down to Port Isabel. We have not been seeing large schools in any particular area, but enough places are holding sufficient numbers to provide steady action. The quantity and quality of the trout we have Early morning shot been catching has been loads of fun. Lately, of Lydia with one it seems at least one angler per charter group of many redfish she lands one or more in the four to six-pound landed this day. range, sometimes we are all blessed with fish that size. The weather has been very mild on average and I do not expect to see much of a change heading into spring. In past winter seasons our efforts were concentrated over deep mud and shell for trophy fish but the milder conditions have led us to spend more time over sandy grass flats with potholes. Like the weather, I do not expect much of a change in their preferred structure type. The same as the redfish, trout have been staging in deeper guts and channels on the grass flats during low tide periods. Most of the trout are seasonally very heavy for length this time of the year, and it will not be long until the mature females will have bellies full of developing roe. Depending the prevailing water temps, the full and new moon periods in the second half of March can produce the first spawning activity during two-tide days here on the Lower Laguna. I’m a firm believer in conservation, and as these fish prepare to spawn in the coming months, if you do not want to practice full catch and release, I strongly encourage keeping only a few for a meal. It’s up to us individually to make a difference for the future of our fishery. The Houston Fishing Show is always a March highlight and this year’s event will be held March 8-12 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Fishing Tackle Unlimited goes all out for this show with the largest exhibit of tackle, clothing and related gear in the hall. The FTU Pro-Staff will be in attendance, including yours truly, so please come by and visit. K-Wigglers’ brand new Willow Tail Shad will be introduced in the FTU booth and has been a proven big trout producer during field testing. I am excited to see old friends and make new ones. Best of fishing to you!
TSFMAG.com | 99
FISHING REPORTS
Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 March is a transitional month. Trout will make the change from winter patterns into more spring-like patterns. Large speckled trout will be lurking on shallow flats and around oyster reefs throughout the estuary. Best numbers of trout will be found on reefs in three to six feet of water. Productivity this month is highly weather dependent. Historically, salinities are lower at this time of year than at any other point. Strong southerly winds sometimes make for poor water clarity, but trout will still be present. Darker colored soft plastics rigged on lighter jigheads used with much slower retrieves are sometimes necessary to trigger bites. We usually stick with translucent colors in clearer water and solid colors in stained water. Redfish will once again be prowling the middle of the lake in search of whatever they can find to eat. Diving birds and slicks usually give away the locations of these giant schools. Good luck to everyone and hope to see you all out there fishing soon! Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James says the fishing in his area lately has been hit or miss, with some really good outings and a few tough ones. “Really, our best catching has been when the water temperatures are between 50 and 60 degrees. When it warms up, it gets tougher. And, lately, we've done best when the tide is low.
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Some of our best fishing on low tides has been done on mid-bay reefs, when we can wade them, and at other times, we're catching them in shallow areas along the shorelines. If the tide gets low enough, the fish get dumped out of the marsh, and that helps the pattern work. We did have one day recently on which we caught a bunch of trout between five and six pounds, and several between six and seven. That day, I had a lot of bites on a red and white Bass Assassin rigged on an H&H Flutter Jighead, but the other guys did well on Catch 5s, Catch 2000s and FatBoys too. In March, fishing will be much the same as it is now, with wading producing best most of the time. We'll probably see things improve in East Bay and around San Luis Pass.” Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Duck season had just ended when Jim gave this report, and he was ready to get back onto the pond regularly again. “We caught a bunch of trout and reds last time out, fishing from the boat in the bayous. Nothing big on the trout, just solid keepers. The guys who are wading in East Bay have been catching some good stringers lately, though. The north shoreline never really produced like it does most winters, and now we've got some freshwater runoff, so the fish are pressured onto the south side a bit. I believe once it warms up some more towards the beginning of spring, the fish will spread out some, and we'll be able to catch 'em in more places more of the time. In other parts of the area, fishing is really good, like in the upper parts along the ship channel and over in West Bay. Guys over
there have been doing good wading the coves and other shoreline areas. Upper Parts of Trinity have been messed up recently by water flowing down the river, so it hasn't been so good up that way.” West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Randall expects to be running charters in his new 25' JH Performance boat by the time this report comes out. “It will have an Etec on it, as always. I have had great luck with these boats and motors. I'd also like to mention how much I like my new Daiwa Tatula reels. They cast like nothing I've used before. Get 'em at Fishing Tackle Unlimited. As for the fishing, we're seeing an early bloom of what I call button shad right now. When the bays fill up with tiny forage species like that, it can be hard to get the trout and redfish to take lures. When it's like this, we have the best luck on lures with white on them if the water's off-color a bit, and colors like red magic if it's clear. And small soft plastics definitely work best. By the time we get to March, I expect the glass minnow hatch to be fully under way. The key to locating and catching the trout and reds then will be finding the herds of glass minnows. Watching various species of birds helps narrow the search. Tossing topwaters around the balls of minnows usually produces well.” Matagorda | Tommy Countz Bay Guide Service - 979.863.7553 cell 281.450.4037 March is a good month for drifting in East Bay, over mud-flats in the east end and around the main humps in the west end, according to Tommy. “I normally like to throw bright paddeltails like electric chicken rigged on quarter-ounce jigheads, keying on slicks and mud stirs to locate the fish. We also wade in East Bay quite a bit around drains coming out of the marshy areas, throwing topwaters and slow-sinking twitch baits. We'll catch quite
a few big trout doing that in most years during the month of March. I also usually spend some time wading the south shoreline of West Bay this time of year. Over there, I throw topwaters like bone Super Spook Juniors and also the twitch baits, particularly early in the mornings, when I like to stay tight to the shorelines and reefs. Later in the morning, I find the action is often steadier if I switch over to dark soft plastics and rig them on light jigheads and work them slow, kinda fluttering them off the bottom. On some days, we find the deeper guts lying further from shore full of fish mid-day.” Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Fishing remains steady in our area despite the crazy trend in weather. Trying to pattern fish when water temps go up and down so rapidly every week has been a challenge, but we are still catching. Trout fishing has been most productive along the seawall, over shell and in the turning basins. When we have had mild weather, the trout are hanging in three to five feet of water and have been eating Paul Brown FatBoys readily. Fish up to three pounds have been the norm. Colder water temps push the fish into the harbor and turning basins, where they take VuDu shrimp covered in VuDu sauce slowly bounced along the bottom. Redfish continue abundant in local drains/bayous/marshes. Gold spoons and pearl/ chartreuse paddletails have produced best, with most fish falling in lower end of slot. I expect March to be a good month, since we have had warmer than normal weather, which should bring plenty of bait into the bay earlier than normal. Areas to focus on will be places that hold lots of shell with a mixture of mud/sand in the mix.
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Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 In March, Lynn finds the fishing for big trout in the Port O'Connor area to be about as good as it gets all year. “We'll be targeting mostly big trout this month, fishing with topwaters as long as we can get the fish to show interest in them, switching over to the slow sinkers like FatBoys and Catch 2000s when the blow ups aren't coming regularly. We like to fish in the back lakes a lot when tides are high and coming in, focusing on areas with a muddy, grassy bottom, perhaps some scattered shell. We also like the late-afternoon pattern when tides are flowing out of the lakes. On times like those, we often set up to wade in guts which funnel the current and bait out of the back lakes toward the main bays. Keying on bait presence is, as always, a major key to locating the right places, ones which are holding plenty of fish. Right now, both the redfish and the trout are gathered in pretty large schools, and that should remain the case right through the end of winter and into the start of spring.” Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake called to make this report after spending the day catching well over one hundred redfish and trout on topwaters. “This warm weather makes it feel like March already. Today we had a great topwater bite. Caught probably a hundred redfish and lots of trout too. I expect the same kind of fishing once we get to the start of spring, with increasing chances for big trout. I'm using the air boat most days, because I'm fishing shallow areas in the back lakes, where it's tough to get in a regular boat. The areas holding the most fish are basically knee-deep, and they have either a sandy or muddy bottom, covered with various amounts of grass. Small topwaters like the Super Spook Junior and the Baby Skitterwalk work well in the shallows. We've also had good luck on Paul Brown lures lately, so I expect to be throwing them plenty in
102 | March 2017
March. We will, of course, always remain ready to switch over to dark Norton Sand Eels with chartreuse tails rigged on light jigheads when the going gets tougher, and will use Gulp! split-tail Shads some.” Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 Everything is on the rise during March, including the wind speeds, air and water temperatures. Because the fish are coming into shallower water, the number of fish being caught is also on the rise. Our speckled trout in the Laguna Madre are in great shape, and so is the rest of our fishery! I’m still wearing my waders and ForEverLast RayGuards when I’m wadefishing, and I’m concentrating on water depths of three feet or less. The water clarity is good almost everywhere, so I’m looking for areas with gravel and sandy bottoms, potholes, grass lines, shallow drop-offs and shallow rock formations. The food sources the trout are feeding on are small, so I will match them with the Bass Assassin Elite Shiner in colors like mama’s 14K, Houdini, salt & pepper, silver phantom and meat hook. The five-inch Saltwater Shads will also work in colors like plum/chartreuse, bone diamond and pumpkinseed/ chartreuse. Rig these plastics on sixteenth-ounce Spring Lock jigheads with eighteen inches of 20-25 lb. test fluorocarbon shock leader. Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961 March is among the best months for targeting big trout in the Corpus Christi area, Joe says. “We catch some of our biggest trout of the year in the month of March. Working shallow areas tight to the shoreline of the King Ranch usually has great potential. The best days for catching the fish in the really shallow, clear water are ones with heavy cloud cover. It's also a good idea to fish early and/or late, when the sun is just coming up or sinking below the horizon. In the middle of the day, with bright sunshine, sight-casting becomes much more likely. We often see quite a few big
trout and some redfish moving around over the sandy bottom in potholes surrounded by darker grass beds. Of course, on some days in March, strong onshore winds muck up the water somewhat. I find the fishing more productive along deeper grass edges in the Upper Laguna in places like Emmord's and Beacroft's Holes on days like that. If it gets really windy, the entire Lagoon can become a mess, and fishing in areas like Shamrock Cove and East Flats can produce better.” P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins Let the action begin! March is a month of migration and movement in the surf. Mullet start running once again and jack crevalle come crashing onto the beach. Jacks are easily tricked with live mullet, topwaters and spoons. Red drum will also be on the move and are suckers for mullet. With all this activity, expect an array of sharks. Large, pregnant blacktips can be taken on whiting and large mullet in the first gut. Depending on water temps, bull sharks may move in close as well. Large scalloped hammerheads will also be possible on close baits, especially later in the month. Expect sandbar sharks after each cold front. Water clarity will be important. If semi-clear, expect everything from little tunny to Spanish mackerel inshore. It has been a slow winter for trout in the surf, yet some still will be present with good water clarity. Large whiting, slot drum, sheepshead, and pompano will all be possible on shrimp and Fishbites. Thick fog can develop with south wind immediately following a front. Extra caution is advised when driving near camps. Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 Fishing continues great at Port Mansfield! The weatherman throws us a curve some days, but in general I would say we are blessed. Good advice
for wading anglers would be to target potholes on grassy bottoms and ICW spoils. Both types of areas will reliably produce solid trout with some redfish. The west shoreline north of port has also been productive. On charters, I typically place an angler closer to the shoreline for a shot at a big trout. The small Rapala SkitterWalk or Spook Junior is a good bet when conditions are right. K-Wiggler Ball Tail Shads and the new K-Wiggler Willow Tail Shad are our go-to soft plastics. Can’t beat Mansfield Margarita and plum/chartreuse. If you’re more inclined to drift, I would recommend working the three to five-foot depths in the Pipeline area, the old Weather Station, and Century Point. Trout, redfish and the occasional black drum can be found in these areas. On slow days, tie on a three-inch new penny Gulp! on an eighthounce jighead about 15-20 inches below a Cajun Thunder cork. Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty | www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 We’ve been limiting on reds every trip when the water temperatures are below seventy degrees, anchoring and setting out cut ballyhoo. Most mornings while it’s still cool, this method works great, but once the day gets warmer, and the shallows begin to fill back up with perch and hardheads, it's time to start drifting with artificials again. Freddy says, “FP3 is still working the best with Berkley Gulp! three-inch shrimp on a sixteeninch leader. Not only does the cork offer longer casts in the shallows of the Lower Laguna Madre, but the vibrations from the innovative popping cork rig call fish from a much greater distance than ever before!” We’ve been catching some lunker trout along with our limits on many of our charters on warm days, and frequently bringing in oversized redfish with the slot-fish. The tides this winter have been some of the lowest in memory, especially when the wind is out of the southeast, which will blow the water out and away from the docks in Laguna Vista, so caution is advised. Let’s stop open bay dredge disposal!
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Alyssa Wachsmann with boyfriend Brandon Spear Coy Blair Sabine Lake - 30.5” redfish Galveston - 23” 4.5 lb trout
Drake M Laguna Madre - snook
Christopher Mott Baffin Bay - 23” trout
Hector Garcia Boca Chica Beach - hammerhead
JD Pribyl-Pacheco Colie Blumenshine & Bob “Mangus” Drisgell Galveston - 26” Spanish mackerel Galveston - trout
Alma Christoferson Pringle Lake - 22” first keeper red 104 | March 2017
Lori Halliday Matagorda - 42” 38.5 lb drum
Kathy Burton POC - 23” red CPR
Jonathan Boothe & buddy Matagorda - 27.5” & 29.5” trout
Calynn Jayne Lankford first redfish!
Travis Machado Port Isabel - 50 lb wahoo
Barry Machos Port Aransas - 41” redfish
Ryan Machos Port Aransas - sheepshead
Tina Ponkoney San Jose Island - 22” red
Connie Keplinger Padre Island - 25” first black drum!
Bruce Kivell Matagorda - 28.5” trout CPR
Grace Wilganowski Matagorda - 18” first flounder!
Conner Mayeu West Bay - trout
Bradley Schuetz Seadrift - redfish
Barry Bell Matagorda, overlooking East Bay Austen Rivera Matagorda - 30.25” 8 lb 9 oz trout
Jesse Swearengin Padre - 9.06 lb red
Kelly Groce Galveston - 5.9 lb trout
Please do not write on the back of photos.
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Ardacan Guzel Half Moon Reef - 35” drum CPR
Michael McDonald Bird Island - 31” redfish
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Pam Johnson
Gulf Coast
Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share? Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844
Swiss and Crab Pie INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
Sprinkle cheese over pastry shell. Top with crab and sprinkle with 1/4 cup green onions. In separate bowl combine eggs, half and half, lemon zest, mustard, salt, pepper and mace. Pour mixture over crab. Top with almonds and remaining green onions. Bake at 325â ° for 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with sprigs of fresh parsley. Servings 6
1 pastry shell, baked, 9-inch 3/4 cup fresh crab meat 1/2 cup sliced green onions, divided 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup half and half 1/2 tsp. lemon zest 1/4 tsp. dry mustard dash of ground mace 1/4 cup sliced almonds Salt and pepper to taste
Thanks to Patti Elkins for this savory recipe! 106 | March 2017
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CHRIS MAPP
B OAT MA I N T E N A N C E T I P S
Fiberglass and Gelcoat Chris Mapp, owner of Coastal Bend Marine. Evinrude, Suzuki, Yamaha, Mercury, Honda, BlueWave, SilverWave, Shallow Stalker Boats, Coastline Trailers, Minnkota & Motor Guide Trolling Motors. Great Service, Parts & Sales “What can we do for you?”
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Here we are headed into March, the beginning of the busy warm-weather fishing season. Your boat is running great and you are ready to hit the water, thanks to careful attention to detail in your preventive maintenance plan. So, let’s shift gears in this month’s article and discuss some cosmetic touches you might be thinking to add to make your boat look as great as it runs. Fiberglass and gelcoat, and some of the professionals who understand the art and science of everything from complete reconstruction to cosmetic repair. Some boats today are built totally of composite materials and some manufacturers continue to rely on high-grade marine lumber covered with fiberglass and/or a combination of composite materials. No matter the basic construction, a common denominator remains and that is the quality and brilliance of the finishes. Whether you own an incredible Shallow Stalker, Shallow Sport X3, Eric Simmons Custom, El Pescador Cat, Blue Wave Pure Bay, Majek or Dargel, all these boat builders use the highest quality materials to give you not just a boat but a great experience on the water. Let’s say you’re either loading the boat on the trailer and have a minor mishap or someone drops the anchor on the deck. Or maybe you’re coming into the dock a little hot and misjudge the distance and chip, scratch, ding, or gouge the finish. Or maybe you own an older boat that belonged to your dad or grandfather, or perhaps considering purchasing a pre-owned boat to beat the depreciation curve. Any of these scenarios could have you thinking of sharpening your rig’s appearance. You’d like to take it back to the builder but the factory
may be too far away, maybe no longer in business. Where should you turn for a complete makeover, adding accent colors, or just removing a few dings? Over the years, Coastal Bend Marine has been using two great vendors of these services and I want to share them with you. Down south around the Corpus Christi area, FiberTex and Supply owned by Kevin Shaw, is one of Texas’ premier fiberglass repair facilities. You may know FiberTex as the maker of the famed Stiffy-Brand pushpole. Kevin and his team of professionals turn out some amazing work ranging from complete reconstruction to repair of minor gelcoat dings. They are located at: 1501 Road B, Corpus Christi, Texas Phone: (361) 991-5956. We have another great vendor here locally, just up the road in Seadrift, TX. Beck & David’s Fiberglass Repair are relatively unknown fiberglass artists who have been in business for a few years and produce some of the most beautiful work I have ever seen. They are located at: 1611 West St. Louis Avenue, Seadrift, TX 77983 Phone:361-489-1361. When quality people produce consistently highquality work products, we call them professionals. I assure you these folks are my trusted sources for fiberglass repair of all types and they are the embodiment of professionalism. Thank you and have a great spring fishing and boating season! Chris Mapp Coast Bend Marine | Port O’Connor, TX coastalbendmarine.com | 361-983-4841
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Deciphering Sounds from the Deep They went looking for typical calls of blue, minke, fin, humpback and other whales who live in the area of Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, a nearly 100,000-mile region east of the Philippines near Guam. The team of acoustics scientists from Oregon State University and Cornell University “flew” an underwater robot 1,000 meters deep to record sounds in the area. But they stumbled upon a mysterious sound they had never heard — or seen — before.
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A spectrogram of the “mystery sound” recorded on October 14, 2014. Credit: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2016 “As acousticians, we spend a lot of time looking at sounds, rather than just listening to them,” explained one of the scientists, Selene Fregosi. They see the sounds in maps they create, called spectrograms, which show the timings, frequencies, and intensities of sounds. The team set about trying to determine the mysterious sound’s source, starting with whether it was biological or not. They captured the sound hundreds of times and saw that it was consistent—but not so perfect each time that it could have come from something mechanical. “There was a little variation, sometimes louder, sometimes quieter,” Fregosi said. They ruled out other sea creatures because of the sound’s duration, intensity and similarity to other whale calls. A systematic comparison to other whales’ calls found it most resembled the “Star Wars” call of the dwarf minke whales of the Great Barrier Reef. The call is named “Star Wars” because its metallic-y “ping-ping-ping” sounds like a spaceship shooting little lasers. Both the mystery call and the Star Wars call also cover the same frequency range of 38 hertz to 7,500 hertz. They hypothesized the sound could be a previously unknown type of minke whale call. Two minke whale populations live off the coasts of Japan and northeastern Russia, directly north of Guam, but no one has heard their calls, and many species of whales migrate to equatorial latitudes for breeding. The next step in the investigation is to seek out the sounds again and attempt to triangulate to its source. If the scientists can collect a biopsy of the mysterious singing whale, they can use genetic analysis to identify it and solve the mystery.
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IF WE SAVE THE SEAGRASS,
WE SAVE THE FISH. Seagrass is critical to good fishing. Marine organisms depend on it for survival—for food, shelter, and oxygen. But boat propellers are destroying Texas seagrass, which is seriously impacting saltwater fishing in the coastal shallows. When boaters do not lift their propeller in shallow water, the prop cuts and uproots the seagrass beds—leaving long barren trenches or “scars” that may take years to heal ... if ever.
Stop Prop Scarring – Lift, Drift, Pole, Troll
It is ILLEGAL in Texas to uproot seagrass with a propeller. Avoid damaging seagrass – lift your prop! When in shallow waters, lift your motor and drift, pole, or troll through it. After all, there’s nothing like a redfish on light tackle in shallow water. Let’s keep it that way!
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