November 2017 by Texas Salwater Fishing Magazine

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after page 32 about the Cover

November 2017 VOL 27 NO 7

Contents

Whitney Burns is our cover angler. Join Whitney and TSFMag in celebrating breast cancer awareness.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

10 Focusing on Drains in November 16 Elements of a Pattern 22 Bodie Goes to England: Part 4 26 Best of the Best 30 Consider the Oyster

36 38 42 44 46 48 50 53 54

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard

Let’s Ask The Pro Jay Watkins Shallow Water Fishing Scott Null TPWD Field Notes Jill Thompson-Grim & Chris Ledford Fly Fishing Scott Sommerlatte TSFMag Conservation News CCA Texas Fishy Facts Stephanie Boyd Inshore | Nearshore | Jetties | Passes Curtiss Cash Science & the Sea UT Marine Science Institute Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks... Eric Ozolins

WHAT OUR GUIDES

HAVE TO SAy

58 60 62 64 66 68 70

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

REGULARS 8 Editorial 56 New Tackle & Gear 72 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 76 Gulf Coast Kitchen 78 Catch of the Month

66 6 | November 2017

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

Glorious November!

Every month brings opportunity to enjoy the great Texas outdoors in its own way but November presents a virtual cornucopia. Bay fishing is excellent for speckled trout, reds and flounder. The surf zone teems with a smorgasbord of species. Nearshore gulf fishing is action-packed and, with seas usually calm between northers, a great last chance for small boat anglers to target migrating pelagics. And hunting! Good Lord! There was a time I was absolutely nuts about deer hunting. Now it’s waterfowl and upland birds that keep me tossing and turning until the alarm goes off. Long ago I realized that to maintain any semblance of sanity I would have to divide my November days carefully – fishing when the weather and tides were most promising and hunting nearly all the rest. Some days I do both. Darn the luck! Seems we cannot let go of the Hurricane Harvey story, even if the major media has been ignoring the recovery effort. But here on the home front, where the story is still very real, it is just so amazing to witness the continued outpouring of generosity from Texas businesses and private citizens coming to the aid of their fellow man. Texans are a special breed, with much to be proud of and thankful for. A couple of very encouraging news items. Texas oysters got a big break in Austin on August 24 when the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners adopted sweeping conservation measures put forth by the agency’s Coastal Fisheries Division. Commercial oystermen will be fishing under

a 30-sack daily limit, reduced from last year’s 40-sacks, with greatly tightened tolerance for undersize oysters (less than 3-inches) retained. Harvest is being restricted to weekdays only – no Saturday. In addition, six minor bays have been closed, and a buffer zone of 300-feet from shore has been established as a no-harvest zone in all bays to protect intertidal reefs. Hopefully, after suffering ravages of extended drought and repeated fresh water inundation, both of which are extremely harmful to oysters, we will see a rebound of this critical and precious resource. Breaking last week was the long-awaited EPA decision on the San Jacinto River Waste Pits. Created in the 1960s and 70s for disposal of paper mill waste, the waste pits have been likened to a ticking time bomb. A series of cap-in-place measures had been applied but proved inadequate, again, as Harvey’s deluge raced downriver. Post-Harvey sampling applied an exclamation point to the need that conservationists and environmentalists have been screaming about for years. EPA’s ruling specifies containment via coffer dams to isolate the entire site for complete removal of the hazardous material. Not a day too soon, the way I see it. November is a great time for outdoor recreation, whether your passion is fishing, hunting, or both. Include your family and especially the young ones when planning your outings. And, as you gather around your Thanksgiving table, give thanks to God for all that we are so richly blessed to enjoy. God Bless!

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8 | November 2017

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STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

arvey’s aftermath of devastating wind and widespread flooding left many families in despair. We continue to pray for everyone affected as they try to put the pieces back in place and assemble some form of normalcy. We’ve all witnessed its impact on people as well as its short term (hopefully) negative effects on the quality of fishing, especially here in Galveston Bay. The one positive that I witnessed from this unprecedented event was the unity of people from all walks of life coming together to help one another. Thankfully, my family narrowly escaped the floods. However, many of our friends and family members were not as fortunate. The weeks following were spent helping all of them as well as some folks who were complete strangers. There were no heroes during all of this; just people helping people. We will never forget it for the rest of our lives. Now that Harvey is in the rearview it’s time to refocus on fishing. While open water slicks and bird action will garner plenty of attention during November there will be a cornucopia of opportunities along secluded shorelines, especially near drains. Drains can range in size from small ditches to river mouths. Rivers, coves and bayou drains offer prime habitat such as spartina (cord grass), shoal grass and oysters which provide food for trout, reds and flounder especially during the fall as water temperatures continue to drop. Fish are programmed to gravitate to such areas with every passing cool front, instinctively knowing that an all-you-can-eat buffet of primarily shrimp, mullet and shad awaits. Aggressive feeds occur because predators know such forage will not be as readily available in the winter months to follow. Furthermore, such areas often provide protection from trademark northeast frontal winds and offer opportunities for aboveaverage-size trout compared to “bird” trout. No wake zones – Big trout tend to avoid shorelines and other areas where boat wakes crash upon the bank creating noise and turbulence. Trout do not like a disruptive environment but more so a comfort zone. I like to focus on areas such as coves and bayous with small openings to the bay side for this reason. Many coves and bayou inlets have some form of a partial barrier near the mouth which breaks or at least greatly reduces noise and turbulence caused by waves. These barriers can consist of reefs, sand bars or marsh grass. FYI – Google Earth is a great tool for locating such areas. Less noise is sometimes more effective for larger trout. Big trout didn’t get big by making silly decisions. A reclusive trophy-worthy speck tucked away in the back of a cove will spook in a heartbeat, so every precaution must be taken to ensure a stealthy approach. Small topwaters like MirrOlure’s Top Dog Jr. or Heddon’s Super Spook Jr. can be effective but it’s hard to get much quieter than a MirrOlure Floating Corky. A MirrOlure Provoker or Saltwater Assassin rigged on a 1/16-ounce jig head sometimes works better than anything. Better yet, those same soft plastics rigged weedless on an H&H Flutter jig can be even more effective. Its horizontal hovering action can induce strikes when the conventional up and down rhythm of a worm on a traditional jig head will not.

Marsh drains such as this one exiting a back lake are prime targets for some excellent fall fishing. Best opportunities are usually during a falling tide especially following a cold front.

Taking Sides – It’s important to know which side of a drain to fish, especially when wading. Many such areas here in Galveston Bay are too deep to wade across the gut or channel to the other side. Ideally, you want to choose the side where more structure, depth change and bait are present. I guess you TSFMAG.com | 11

could say you have a 50% chance of getting it right but all hope is not lost if you jump out of the boat and find yourself on the wrong side. Assuming no one is on the other side, just relocate. If someone is already occupying the other side and they’re catching fish, then politely ask them if you can join in the fun. I’m joking of course. In this case, just leave and find another area with similar characteristics. Wading vs. Drifting – Wading is typically more effective than drifting due to hull slap created by waves in a quiet shallow water environment. Furthermore, standing in one spot while fanning your casts covers water more thoroughly as you wait for a feed to occur. Try to keep the sun in your face while wading. This prevents your shadow spooking your target that lies ahead. Ingress & Egress Know how to quietly enter and leave the area. The reason I include exiting the area quietly is simple - you’re done fishing there but what about the next guy? In addition, jumping up on plane in a foot and a half of water is not only disruptive to the habitat but it can also be destructive to the fish. I found a six-pound trout floating along a shoreline several years ago that had been wounded by a prop. Trolling or idling out of an area is smart and respectful.

Timing – Fishing a high tide as it’s going to a low is by far my favorite time to target the areas mentioned. While mainly moon-induced, a dropping tide can also be caused by strong northwest winds associated with a front passage. Some of our best results have occurred during the four or five days leading up to a full moon. When tide drops to below normal levels I like to spend time probing guts and pockets in the middle of coves and bayou mouths as fish will tend to concentrate there. The same holds true for dropoffs and ledges on the bayside. Most marsh drains have carved out substantial troughs running out into the bay. Many of these troughs intersect with a ledge or drop-off a fair distance out on the bayside. We have had some stellar days in such areas, especially when the underwater intersection also contains some shell structure. Look for Signs Muddy or stained water deserves some attention. Pockets and streaks of off-colored water near marsh drains possess several benefits. The added turbidity absorbs more heat which tends to create a very comfortable environment for forage species and predators. Sometimes water exiting a marsh drain can be several degrees warmer than the bay. The dirty water’s edge creates an ambush point for trout and reds. In addition, it’s been my experience that larger trout are easier to dupe when the water clarity trends toward slightly Gulls feasting on tiny white shrimp after being flushed from a nearby bayou provide tons of action for smaller trout. Ross Techmanski placed his MirrOlure Soft Shad perfectly up against a small reef near a back lake opening to trick this healthy speck.

There will be plenty of opportunities for flounder like this one I caught while drifting the mouth of the Trinity River.

12 | November 2017

Not only does Chris Piper know how to set trends by wearing his wading belt like a bandolier but he knows how to catch trout too!

Larger trout like this 26 incher are sometimes easier to fool in offcolored water.

murky. Other than during low light conditions, catching big specks in calm clear water can be very difficult. As always, small slicks and nervous bait are tell-tale signs of predator presence.

Redfish like this one Scott Medsger is fighting are pretty easy to come by when fishing around drains.

Dave Pierce with a nice marsh drain speck!

BlockingFishing the areas mentioned, you will undoubtedly encounter other boats entering and leaving back lakes, rivers, etc. Take care to avoid blocking main entrances and navigable channels. Coves don’t necessarily apply here, but some drains lead to back lakes so use common sense when setting up your wade or drift. This being said, other boat operators should make every effort to avoid negatively impacting your fishing as they pass through. Conclusion Things are shaping up around along the coast and I’m looking forward to experiencing some great fall fishing with friends and clients to close out the last two months of the year. 2017 will have passed before we know it and we’ll look back and realize the challenges we faced but we will also take solace in knowing that we are strong enough to overcome and we have each other’s back through thick and thin. Meanwhile, hit those drains. You can thank me later!

Contact

Steve Hillman 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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14 | November 2017

STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

The captain repeatedly tossed a natural looking MirrOlure Provoker rigged on a sixteenthounce jighead around rocks lying on a sandy slope close to a deep basin to entice this big trout to bite on a cold, bright winter day.

or lure chunkers targeting speckled trout, a familiar old adage rings consistently true. “Find the bait, find the fish.” Though the specifics vary widely, the truth generally applies, regardless of the time of year, weather elements in play, depth of water, or other aspects of the situation. Despite the reliability of the tenet above, for the purposes of the discussion below, presence of prey species plays only a minor part. At some level, finding bait and using signs of stress exhibited by the bait can’t be considered a fishing “pattern.” Other elements comprise the essence of a pattern. In order to meet the strictest definition of a pattern, a situation must include some, though not all, of the following natural elements: depth of water and depth variation in the area, wind speed and direction, and current speed and direction. It also then includes human elements, related to lure choice(s) and presentation style(s). Identifying a potentially productive pattern allows an angler to accurately predict both the precise locations of fish in an area and an effective method to use to make the fish strike. Both the natural and human aspects sometimes prove reliable without dependence on the other. A particular lure choice and/ or presentation might produce strikes in all kinds of places on some days, and on other occasions, probing a particular depth might allow one to catch plenty of fish on various lures worked most any way. At other times, catching fish will require recognition and utilization of both types of aspects in order to achieve a successful outcome. On the toughest days, when identifying and employing a productive pattern carries the highest level of significance, one must incorporate all elements into play. As mentioned above, depth of the water plays an important role in many patterns. Fish prefer different depths at different times, often basing their choices on temperature. Particularly in extremely high and low temperatures, fish regularly move up and down in the water column, seeking either cooler or warmer regions, depending on the situation. Sunny skies warming the water after a prolonged cold snap sometimes urge speckled trout into the shallows, where they bask in the welcome rays. The same conditions might pull them to the surface of deep basins, if the shallows lie a long distance away. The purpose of this discussion involves clearly identifying general elements which comprise patterns, not the details related to specific patterns which tend to produce bites in different times of the year, places or situations. Whether an angler stands on a bay’s bottom or on the deck of a boat, the depth of the surrounding water plays a significant role in a pattern. In some cases, particularly those which occur in stratified water with variable temperatures, the depth at which fish suspend becomes critically important. Correctly identifying the depth preferred by the fish in an area provides a key to identifying the proper lure and presentation style to deploy in attempt to catch them. Since speckled trout generally feed by sight, looking up for their next meal, presenting a lure close above their heads strongly impacts the ability to urge them to strike. Fish which actively seek to feed have larger “cones of influence” than inactively feeding fish, but in almost all cases, presenting lures above and in front of trout works best. Of course, determining the preferred depth of the fish relates to the next natural element involved in a pattern--the variability of depths in the area. In general, places holding water of various depths within a relatively small area prove more productive than places with homogenous depths over a longer range. Depth variation can result from several influential natural factors, including currents, winds, and the presence of structural elements, like oyster reefs, serpulid rocks and sand bars. Human activities like dredging create artificial TSFMAG.com | 17

depth variations, along channel edges and in places where pipes dumping dredged material generate spoil banks. Speckled trout often relate to all of these structural elements on the bottom, particularly when actively feeding. In some situations, they relate best to specific kinds of structure or cover elements better than all others present. In many cases, when trout actively feed, they prefer shallower parts of an area, in close proximity to structure/cover elements. For instance, they venture into shin-deep guts along the beachfront at night and early on summer mornings, when tides roll in. They also arrive in subtle depressions atop oyster reefs to sit and wait for opportunities to ambush unsuspecting prey. Identifying routes which provide easy access from deeper parts of an area into these kinds of shallow places can help anglers figure out precise locations in which to target active fish. Obviously, anglers with the most complete knowledge of the details of the topography of the bottom in an area have the best chance of properly In the scenario incorporating this depicted here, aspect of a pattern into an angler works a pattern which a productive strategy. allows for wading No shortcut can along upwind of a eliminate the effects rock bar and casting of this reality. Anglers a topwater lure cross-ways to the who work and study wind, so the plug to learn more about lands in the shallows the subtle structures atop the rocks and depth contours and moves into deeper water on present in the waters in their upwind sides, which they target fish where trout wait to have a better chance of ambush their prey. identifying productive patterns on a consistent basis. Part of recognizing potential in a pattern involves correctly deducing the effects of winds on the water and underlying terrain. As a general rule, water on the upwind side of a structural element shows higher potential than water on the downwind side. Wind speeds of twenty knots or more can render this truth obsolete, by causing excessive turbidity and/or creating difficulty in execution of angling strategies on the breezy side. 18 | November 2017

Similarly, water on the windward side of a lake, cove or even the main body of a bay generally proves more productive than water in leeward pockets. Depending on the type of bottom and the abundance of suspended sediment in a bay, this truth varies widely from place to place. In Lower Coast bays, where grass covers much of a generally firm, sandy bottom, and average levels of suspended sediment run low, windward shorelines produce better than In a place with in Upper Coast bays, numerous sweet spots and cover/ where less grass covers structure elements, a muddier bottom, and establishing a rivers dump copious productive pattern amounts of sediment sometimes means setting up the into the estuaries. angling effort with a Wind speed and specific type of lure direction do more to and presentation establish a pattern than and considering the wind and current simply create turbidity direction, then in the water; they also casting at all signs dictate truths about of life throughout the potential efficacy of the entire area. various aspects of the angling strategy, including the optimal direction in which to focus an effort. Many lures work best when worked cross-ways to the wind. This truth rings more true as wind speeds increase, to a point. Too much velocity in the wind can relegate anglers to casting straight downwind and retrieving upwind, often with negative consequences. In most cases, when moderate wind speeds prevail over coastal waters, anglers targeting trout should attempt to position themselves upwind of the fish they target, so the conditions enhance their casting distance and facilitate effective cross-wind presentations. Light Sometimes, time winds allow for casting of day becomes and retrieving lures an â&#x20AC;&#x153;elementâ&#x20AC;? of a pattern. In late-fall in any direction, and early-winter, for sometimes elevating instance, fishing the the efficacy of shallows adjacent upwind casts and to grass mats on the western shoreline downwind retrieves. of the Upper When present, Laguna Madre at moving water affects dusk with slowthe other aspects sinking twitch baits often produces of a pattern in a bites from big trout similar fashion to like the one Jason wind speed and King holds here. direction. Speckled

trout generally move and feed facing into the current. Consequently, determining the specific locations of fish in an area, and more importantly, the orientation of their sight cones, requires one to consider the direction of prevailing currents. Savvy anglers also factor current speed and direction into their lure choices and presentations. In general, anglers targeting speckled trout should position themselves up-current of the fish and cast and retrieve lures in front of those fish. Floating and slow-sinking plugs work best when retrieved either directly down-current or cross-ways, with the current following. Most lures donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work well when worked directly against a current. Stronger current speeds make the preceding truth ring louder. Currents of moderate to strong amplitude dictate other aspects of lure choice and presentation. Strong movement in the water will pull slow-sinking plugs too high in the water column at times, and will dictate the use of heavier jigheads on soft plastics in situations which require maintaining close contact with the bottom or within a specific stratum of the water column. As a rule, slow to moderately moving tidal influences allow for more flexibility and creativity in lure choices and presentation styles, while strong tidal flow reduces choices. Recognizing how the prevailing natural elements of a pattern affect the probability of finding fish in specific parts of an area allows one to set up a valid strategy to test the veracity of the predictions. Once an angler commits to targeting fish within a specific part of the area, experimentation with lure choice and presentation can proceed with purpose. If one can then determine a productive lure and method of presentation, one can deploy the strategy in all parts of the area likely to hold fish. This process usually involves standing or positioning the boat upwind of a structural element or part of the area perceived to be holding fish at a particular depth and presenting lures in front of and above those fish, with consideration of the direction of wind and tidal currents. Perhaps more importantly, once one identifies a productive pattern, one can move to other parts of an estuary and execute it repeatedly, bringing the aforementioned, reliable adage into play. On a given day, locating plenty of nervous bait in an area possessing a layout similar to a place which has already produced fish predictably elevates its potential for repeating a similar outcome.

Contact

Kevin Cochran

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. Kevinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 TSFMAG.com | 19

Part IV STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP

odie and Tommy left the western wear store and were heading home when Tommy asked Bodie if he wanted to grab some supper at Haddon’s Place. “I was just thinking the same thing, Tommy Boy. I’m feeling about as empty as my wallet.” “Aw heck, Bodie, a man has to dress his part. You got some nice clothes, a new hat and a nice pair of boots that will last you a good while…it’s all good,” Tommy replied with a smile. “Well, you know me, Tommy. I even complain about the prices when I’m at the grocery store.” Eloisa came to the table where Bodie and Tommy sat, delivering two cold draft beers. “So, did y’all two buy up the stores today?” she asked. “Sure did,” Bodie smiled to her. “I’m thinking I’m going to be on a hamburger diet until I can pay off my credit card bill.” “We didn’t really spend all that much, Eloisa. But Bodie did try on a pair of sixteen-hunnerddollar boots!” Tommy chortled. “Tried them on is all I did, and I wouldn’t have done that if I had known the price beforehand,” Bodie added. “You guys need to learn about online shopping and stay out of those western boutique places. You’d like the prices,” Eloisa chided in jest. “Oh, and by the way,” she continued, “We made a really big pot of chili if you guys are interested…and plenty of jalapeño corn bread to go with it.” “I’ll take the chili,” Bodie answered. “Me, too, if it’s not too hot. I can’t take it if it’s too hot…wakes me up at night and gives me bad dreams,” Tommy lamented. Bodie and Eloisa rolled their eyes as she headed for the kitchen. “Well it does, Bodie. And you know it does,” Tommy whimpered. “I know what does?” Bodie asked after a big swig of suds. “That chili. If it’s too spicy it keeps me up and gives me bad dreams.” TSFMAG.com | 21

22 | November 2017

By noon the two had completed their ride and were back at the truck and horse trailer. Bodie and Monroe unsaddled the horses, wiped them down and put them into the trailer for the hour drive back to headquarters. “So, Bodie, what are you going to bring me from England?” Monroe asked as they bounced along the rough road. “I was thinking one of those English hats like you see in the movies, to replace that worn out old cowboy hat of yours.” Bodie said with a grin. “Bowler, they’re called bowlers, Bodie. And I’ll pass, but thank you just the same,” Monroe smirked to his boss. “Yeah, good point, Monroe. You’d probably get bowled over if you wore a bowler into Haddon’s. Maybe I’ll just bring you some tea – to see if you can brew up something better than that stuff you call coffee,” Bodie jabbed. “I’ll need to figure out something to bring Mr. Connor, Red, and Tommy, too.” Changing the subject; Bodie informed Monroe that he’d packed some sandwiches, and maybe they could swing by Mr. Connor’s bass lake, have a quick lunch and see what’s biting. “Sounds good to me, and it’s sure better than the beans and tamales that I’ve been eating for three days,” Monroe replied. “Well, that’s what you get for telling Horacio you were hungry for beans and tamales. That boy doesn’t know how to cook anything unless it’s enough to feed three people for a week.” Finishing lunch, Bodie was already working a weedless-rigged worm along a line of old stumps. “You planning to do any fishing when you’re in England?” Monroe asked. “Heck, Monroe, I can get all the fishing I want right here in Texas. And besides, I want to spend my time seeing the country and find out what they’re grazing their cattle on,” Bodie said, setting the hook on a nice bass. “Probably grazing them on fish and chips, and that figgy pudding we hear so much about,” Monroe answered, reeling in a bass of his own. To be continued...

Martin Strarup

Contact

“I know, you’ve told that many times. We just like picking on you,” Bodie assured him. Eloisa brought the chili along with a big plate of cornbread, grated cheese, chopped onions and sliced jalapeños. Bodie spooned some peppers and onions into his bowl and topped it with cheese. Tommy added onions and cheese to his bowl, but no peppers. Red walked in and dragged up a chair as Eloisa called from the bar if he wanted chili. “Oh, Hell No!” Red shouted back. “You know that stuff tears me up if it’s too spicy. But I will have one of your magnificent chicken fried steaks, my dear.” “You really know how to talk to the ladies, Red,” Eloisa beamed at the compliment. “It does it to me too, Red,” Tommy said excitedly, glad that somebody agreed with him. “What does what to you, Tommy?” Red asked. “Spicy chili gives me problems. Gives me bad dreams,” Tommy said. “I remember one really bad dream, you were wearing a dress and sitting on the swing in my backyard, singing Over the Rainbow. Now, tell me that’s not a bad dream!” Red glared and instantly turned crimson. Bodie chimed in before he could say anything. “Look you two, I’m trying to enjoy my supper. No more talk about old redhaired men wearing dresses and sitting in swings. And, you can’t kill him in here, Red. Not while I’m eating, anyway!” Tommy stared into his bowl a few minutes while Red’s color faded to normal. “So, when are you leaving for England?” Red asked. “Doug helped me with my passport and we leave next Friday,” Bodie replied, reaching for another chunk of cornbread. “Well, Bodie, seems to me we should get some fishing in between now and then,” Red announced. “You’re reading my mind, Red. I’m planning on doing just that, soon as I can line out a few things at the ranch tomorrow. You two care to join me toward evening?” “So, Bodie, has your passport arrived?” Tommy asked. “Not yet but Doug says it should be here pretty quick.” Bright and early, Tommy headed to town to pick up his purchases at Dillard’s and the western place. Man, Bodie sure is going to be surprised when he finds these clothes, hat and those boots on the plane, Tommy thought proudly to himself. Bodie and Monroe had gotten an early start as well and were horseback, riding a fence line on the far side of the ranch. “We need to get a dozer in here and clean up this fence line Monroe,” Bodie said to his foreman. “Have Pete and Horacio load it up and they can drop it back at the road and get started at the cattle guard.” “How wide do you want the cut along the fence?” Monroe asked. “Well, this is a long fence, Monroe. Let’s just do a blade’s width or they’ll be out here for a week,” Bodie advised. “Oh, and have them bulldoze that old deer blind back into the brush. I swear I thought we got rid of that old stand ten years ago.” “We did get rid of that stand ten years ago, Bodie. That’s the one we replaced it with.” Monroe laughed. Bodie laughed as well and commented that he really should get down to this part of the section more often.

Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman. Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas. Email

Trouthunter@swbell.net

November is always special in the Sabine marshes.

STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

uring the late-70s heyday of Saturday Night Live, actor Garrett Morris portrayed a memorable character based on a fictional Dominican baseball player named Chico Escuela. With thick Spanish accent, Chico would say, “Baseball been berry, berry good to me.” Well, if Chico was a fisherman he would probably feel like I do about November because over the years it’s been “Berry, berry good to me.” The month of November offers perhaps the best overall fishing of the year on Sabine and Calcasieu from top to bottom, in my opinion, so if I seem a little bit excited about the prospects this month you’ll have to forgive me. My first experience with November fishing was enough to get me hooked for a lifetime and for that I am beyond grateful. As a teenager I spent countless days on the Sabine River patrolling the banks with crankbaits in search of redfish. The basic game plan was to catch the lowest tide on those cold winter days and cover as much ground as possible. Hundreds of casts and empty hours were soon just an afterthought when a thick shouldered bully of a redfish inhaled my Rat-L-Trap and proceeded to test my drag. It was borderline miraculous how warm you suddenly felt when a fish struck, those numb-clumsy fingers were replaced with the nimble digits of a concert pianist. Most of those redfish were just bulging full of crushed crabs and mullet after they had probed endless stretches of shorelines and marsh drains. This pattern really gets started in November and continues all through the winter months. A bonus to this method was catching the occasional striped bass, some of which were as large as 30-pounds. The stripers have all but vanished since hurricanes Rita and Ike but I still hold hope a few stragglers will show up one day. As you move downriver towards the lake, both your focus and strategies begin to change. The open water will be filled with schools of hungry speckled trout and redfish being covered by squawking flocks of gulls and terns. The frenzy taking place in the air will be a dead giveaway to any angler paying attention to their surroundings. The potential to catch a fish on every cast is far too inviting for most folks to pass up, which means boat traffic and fishing pressure can be a little over the top - especially on fine weather days. However, the pressure will diminish to almost zero on the colder, less hospitable days, as only the hardcore anglers tend to brave the elements and reap the rewards. Sabine and Calcasieu are unlike most other bay systems along the Texas coast during November as the quality and size of the fish under the birds can be quite impressive. TSFMAG.com | 25

(left) For whatever reason, Sabine anglers enjoy uncommon opportunity fishing November’s squawking gulls.

(middle) Openwater redfish schools on Sabine provide lots of fun during November.

(right) One of my rescue runs during the Harvey flood – my mom and little sister.

26 | November 2017

that the weather can throw at you. Knowing you have a viable program no matter the weather situation is comforting as it increases your days on the water and could possibly provide you with that trip or fish of lifetime. On a personal note I would like to thank everyone who helped or volunteered during the catastrophic storms associated with Harvey. I also appreciate all the calls and texts from folks checking on me and my family – it sure meant a lot. I was fortunate to have narrowly escaped the flooding at my home and took that opportunity to go help out as much as possible. My son Hunter and several of his friends spent a few days running around extracting folks from their houses and carrying their belongings to dry ground. I actually had to go get my mom, stepdad and little sister out of their home in Bridge City as they were still dry but surrounded by water and without electricity. The standard house “gutting” where you remove sheetrock and soggy insulation went on for more days than I care to count but I was glad to help those who needed assistance. I hope that situation never happens again for any of our neighbors here or along the coast. It’s going to take quite a while, if ever, for the Texas coast to get anywhere close to what we might call normal before Harvey. In the days ahead it will be a struggle for some folks, so if you get an opportunity to help, please do. It will certainly be greatly appreciated.

Chuck Uzzle

Contact

Other bay systems, for whatever reason, tend to produce only undersize to barely legal fish under birds, while on Sabine it’s not uncommon to find trout to 5-pounds and even heavier. The overall quality of the fish is truly impressive and one reason that folks look forward to this time of the year. Now if jockeying around with the crowd is not your idea of a pleasing day on the water, there is another option that pays big dividends to those willing to literally turn their back on the sure thing under the birds. Wading the shorelines in November, especially those near deep water, can often produce the biggest trout of the year. Easily one of my favorite patterns is catching an afternoon incoming tide when the banks have been exposed to the sun all day. Those banks, particularly mud rather than sand, will hold heat that was accumulated during the day and act like magnets to both bait and predator fish. The temperature difference sometimes is enough to turn those fish on and provoke them to feed aggressively. More often than not, that window of opportunity is small, maybe 30 minutes or an hour at most, but is well worth the effort to get there because it can be downright magical at times. One other advantage is that warmer water and specific areas will concentrate fish in surprising numbers. I have seen small areas, smaller than a swimming pool, holding large numbers of really good fish. For example, at the mouth of a drain that empties into Sabine, clear warm water that has been held up in the marsh begins to empty out into the lake carrying with it plenty of bait. At the flat where this water enters the lake, perhaps one of the best groups of big trout I have ever seen set up shop and provided my group a most memorable hour, and my personal best fish ever on Sabine. I could not have ever imagined that many fish could be in such a small area, it was amazing. The area in which you had to cast in order to get bit was well defined and, if you missed, even by e few feet, you may as well have been casting on the moon because that water seemed to be barren compared to the “sweet spot.” I still have fond memories of that late afternoon trip. The endless options that make November such a wonderful time of year offer something for everyone. We are so very fortunate on Sabine to have all these quality options for nearly every situation

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

Oyster reefs in shallow water are getting new protection in Texas. Photo by Shannon Tompkins.

STORY BY JOE RICHARD

he lowly oyster may be the most important marine critter living in Texas bays. Often hiding in murky water, they’re hard on boating and fishing equipment, fairly ugly, and have sharp edges that send fishermen like myself to the ER. Who knew they provide extremely beneficial, diverse habitat for a host of marine species— all the way up to trout, redfish, black drum and sheepshead? According to biologists, oyster reefs are far more productive habitat than bottom seagrass. Little known fact: Each oyster filters up to 50 gallons of water per day, which makes one wonder about water clarity in Texas bays before the advent of commercial oystering. A tough animal to crack, the oyster is fragile in other ways. Too much fresh water, and they die. Water too salty, and predatory sea snails called oyster drills move in for the kill. Overharvest has killed off about 90 percent of the world’s oyster beds, unfortunately, and there isn’t enough local spawn left to repopulate. When a bay loses too many oysters, they may never return. Not in our lifetimes, anyway. Texas oysters have been in the news this year after the local situation reached critical mass. More than 500 commercial oyster boats were registered in Texas in recent years, and many more came from Louisiana after their oyster harvest took a dive. On top of that, Texas has alternating periods of flood and drought. Texans finally reached their boiling point when oyster crews abandoned their boats and

pillaged a number of shallow bays, using four-wheelers at low tide, exploring on foot and harvesting by hand. It was “cooning” oysters on a commercial scale. And it was all too much. As a result new harvest laws, shorter daily bag limits, tougher fines and bay closures were approved in September, hoping to remedy the situation. It was a step in the right direction, hoping to rebuild valuable bottom habitat that has been slowly ground away (in the deeper bays) for more than a century. It’s a good thing oysters grow fairly quickly, or this crisis might have happened long ago. Texas hurricanes Harvey, Rita and Ike hit within a 12-year span, and were destructive to Texas bay bottoms. Many of the old, historic oyster reefs in Galveston Bay by then had been scraped almost flat

30 | November 2017

by commercial harvest, putting them at risk of being covered in silt. It turns out the silt from Hurricane Ike alone smothered 8,000 acres of reef. A few generations ago, that likely would not have happened when these reefs, some of them centuries old, were taller. In the meantime, new oyster laws will be in effect on November 1, which is the opening of Texas oyster season. Bay fishermen are encouraged to be vigilant when observing future oyster harvest. From now on, commercial oyster fishing is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Game wardens will be checking boats for the daily bag limit, which has dropped from 40 to 30 bags. Undersized oysters can only make up five percent of the catch, and fines have been significantly increased. All harvest (recreational or commercial) of oysters is prohibited within 300 feet of shore. Commercial oyster harvest is now prohibited in Christmas Bay, Hynes Bay, Carancahua Bay, Powderhorn Lake, St. Charles Bay and South Bay down at Port Isabel. Rebuilding Texas oyster reefs won’t be easy. It takes heavy equipment and a lot of money to rebuild even 50 acres. Protecting them from midnight harvest will require vigilance, as well. I have no idea how many tons of oyster shell is required to start a new viable reef, but it must be measured by the barge load. Dry oyster cultch (the old shells) are ideal for this, and it’s painful to see piles of these shells up and down the coast, going to waste. Or saved for dockside bulkheads. Wouldn’t it be great if these shell piles, nicely dried out and clean, were returned to Bay anglers know that the bays within 60 days of harvest? We fishermen top gamefish feed can haul a few baskets or Rubbermaid boxes of around oyster reefs. dry shell out to the bay and dump them at some favorite spot, and maybe start new oyster growth. Even attract gamefish in the near future. But a basket of oyster shell is heavy, trust me. And building a multi-acre reef requires heavy equipment. One historic reef that has been partially rebuilt with success is Half Moon Reef in Matagorda Bay. Two centuries ago it was a square mile of living reef, partially exposed at low tide, far from any shoreline. It was just one of 45 square miles of oyster reefs in Matagorda Bay. In 1858 Half Moon was so thick with oysters, they had to build a lighthouse there to warn boat traffic. Back then the bay’s water hydrology was very different. The Colorado River flowed directly into the east end Sometimes, when of Matagorda Bay, providing a constant mix of we find a pile of fresh and salt water—ideal for oyster growth. shell, we’ll gather up a basket full and That great mix of quality water could only exit deposit them at a the bay through distant Pass Cavallo, where the favorite spot, hoping daily current kept it open and deep enough for to start a new reef. visiting ships. But modern times have brought change, and none of it good for the bay. Fresh water from the Colorado was entirely diverted and drained into the surf, wasted until recent years. The big jetties were dredged, sending massive doses of Gulf water on a daily basis into Matagorda Bay. Half Moon Reef was ground down to shell hash by the commercial oyster fleet. Pass Cavallo, once a legendary fish pass, is today anemic, mostly shallow sandbars. There is good news, however. The Nature Conservancy recently rebuilt part of Half Moon Reef, at a cost of $5 million dollars. They planted 54 acres of mostly limestone riprap that oysters quickly attach to, and today the reef Rebuilding an oyster reef is a fine spot for catching (you guessed it) that has been destroyed trout, redfish, drum and sheepshead. It’s takes time and money.

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of coastal restoration for the Conservancy. “As fishermen, we know anecdotally how important oyster reefs are for the fishery. But we had a chance here to measure it scientifically.” Surveys with local fishermen indicate the reef is quite popular, with up to 30 boats anchored there on some days, despite the reef’s isolation. It’s become such a success that the Conservancy has labeled it a “cornerstone” project. With the knowledge gained from this new reef, they have future plans for reefing Copano and Galveston Bays. Building reefs takes time and money and volunteer work. We could look back to the past century(s) and say, “If only this and only that.” Or we can look to the future. It’s going to take a lot of reef-building in the bays (and offshore), for Texas to maintain a sustainable fishery in the 21st century. We may as well get started.

Halfmoon Reef was once so big in Matagorda Bay, a lighthouse was built on it in 1858. The reef was commercially destroyed and the lighthouse moved to Port Lavaca, where it sits along Hwy. 35 today.

Joe Richard

32 | November 2017

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become a case study in rebuilding an oyster reef, where biologists can study the quick rebound in marine life—when there was nothing there only four years before. “With Half Moon Reef, we saw the chance to measure how oyster reef restoration impacts recreational fishing and the local economy,” said Mark Dumesnil to the Houston Chronicle. Mark is associate director

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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Silver Lining Harvey is a name Texas residents will remember for a very long time as the storm brought Category 4 wind, tidal surge and flooding rain across a wide swath from Port Aransas to Orange. Rockport was hit hardest with 130plus sustained wind, torrential rain and storm surge. Port Bay residents saw the highest storm surge that reached almost 11-feet! Harvey’s eyewall passed right over my house while Renee and I took refuge in the stairwell closet first, and then the master bath shower. I can still hear the high-pitch shriek of the wind and debris hitting the house. I will never ride out another hurricane. In hindsight, it was a poor decision, but that’s a long story. We had damage to the house and lost many of our majestic oaks. Walking around at daybreak in the wind and rain, I felt very lucky as so many lost everything. My heart is broken for my small coastal town but we are rebuilding every day as is the rest of Texas that was affected by Harvey. I want to take a few lines before getting to my fishing report to thank all the family, clients, non-clients, sponsors and lifetime friends that reached out to us over the past weeks. Every sponsor from Texas to Florida reached out to tell 34 | November 2017

us we were in their prayers. All my Fishing Club members contacted me for weeks, asking what we needed and reminding me that we were in their prayers. Fishing people that I’ve never met sent similar messages. Prayer is powerful medicine my friends and I am so proud of the personal relationships so many of us have formed through fishing. I am the emotional type anyway, so I teared up every time clients showed up in snake boots with chainsaws and trucks filled with tools – ready to work. Huge thanks to John Massengale, Mike Kuhn, young Eric Kuhn and Craig Bunk, Mike McBride, Tricia Whitley, The Wood Group from the Dallas area and Robert Sanders. Tricia took Renee’s laundry and washed and dried, Mike and Robert brought generators, fuel, chainsaws and extension cords. John Massengale brought diesel fuel and gasoline - not once but twice. Mike Kuhn and son Eric worked two days right alongside me and Jay Ray, and my step-sons Dustin and Cash Tidwell. Jay Ray’s wife, Morgan, wearing her snake boots, pulled brush with her two brothers Ryan and Dillon right along with us. Great family the Novasads that Jay Ray has married into. It does a man’s heart good to see young men and women

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or as soon as the lure entered the cleaner water. This pattern was repeated in another area later in the day with the exact same results, making a tremendous day for my clients. We have been having great success with 5-inch Shad Bass Assassins in Magic Grass and Fried Chicken, and also 5-inch MirrOlure Provokers in Roach and Geaux Gleaux. Lil John and Lil John XL from MirrOlure have also been effective in the slightly stained to off-colored water. One other notable aspect to the days on the water following Harvey has been the abundance of slicking activity all across our bay system. Slicks seem most prevalent in shoreline coves and pockets, and also along submerged sandbars that have seagrass. Really good success on trout to 25-inches on grassy bars! Again, the farther you can stand away and still reach the structure is where you need to stay. Concentrate your efforts during major and minor feeding periods and do not be afraid to setup and grind it out as long as baitfish are present and slicking is occurring. This past Thursday we had a tremendous upper-end trout bite on this specific type of structure in southern Aransas Bay. So, out with Harvey and in with fall and winter fishing. I am going to go on record and predict that the 2017-18 fall and winter season will definitely be one to remember. Out of every storm comes a silver lining, ours will be rebuilding our town and once again enjoying great fishing. May your fishing always be catching! -Guide, Jay Watkins

C ontact

step up and work their butts off in severe heat and mosquitoes. Driscoll Otto shows off his personal-best trout, two These are only a few of the names weeks post-Harvey. of people that reached out and helped and we are forever thankful to all of you. Also, a very special thanks to the City of Rockport and the City of Fulton for their preparedness in day’s preceding the storm and the days following. What a great job in the handling of our two towns citizens in the toughest time since the 1919 storm, I am told. Finally, I want to say I am so sorry and thank you to Renee. I should not have put her in harm’s way, but I did and it bothers me still. Her work ethic in getting our home back together has been highly admirable. She is truly remarkable under fire. Ok, enough Harvey, let’s talk fishing. First is safety. There is a lot of floating and submerged debris along barrier island shorelines. Slow and easy in good light is my best advice. I have been blessed to be able to go back to work within about ten days. Bay waters in the Aransas complex are stained but visibility is good to great in some areas. The water in Copano, Port Bay and St. Charles is fresh due to run-off. Tough for the short term but the longterm outlook is very good. The fresh influx will produce an abundance of blue crabs and shrimp. There are so many new drains or blowouts from the tidal surge and wind that I can’t begin to count them. Access to back lakes along San Jose and Matagorda with the equinox tide is unbelievable. Grassbeds seem to be mostly intact. Cedar Bayou and Vinson are still flowing so we should see good circulation for the fall and winter seasons. I have been fishing both north and south over the past two weeks with good success. A tough day here and there, but not for lack of fish, just me failing to get the guys in the right place when they’re feeding. I believe it a misnomer that higher than normal tides move fish into back lakes. I find that they stay where bottom structure is suitable and a substantial and reliable food source is present. If that is off a main shoreline in depths normally averaging 3- to 4-feet, if nothing changes except the water rising 8-inches, why would they leave? Let the baitfish move shallow or deeper and there’s where the fish will be. In the past several days I have been fishing water color changes along the barrier islands that are being created by morning falling tides and strong SE winds. When the color change is pulled along the shoreline, covering up the preferred bottom structure for the area it creates a stacking affect, placing bait and gamefish in close proximity. Evidently, the baitfish think they can hide in dirty water and gamefish think the baitfish can’t see them. Place yourself inshore, about a good cast length from the color change that lies a bit offshore. I believe gamefish work the edge of the change, popping in and out of the cover to ambush unsuspecting bait. When your lure is presented consistently along the same line you can expect sudden, distinct bites. Today, fishing the same line for nearly three hours, we continually caught trout, reds and black drum either just inside the color change

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

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

C A P T. S COT T N U L L

S H A L L O W W AT E R F I S H I N G

Getting back on the water I can’t begin to tell you how many times in the last few weeks I’ve answered the question, “How’s the fishing after the storm?” Well – it’s fantastic…and it sucks. Yeah, that’s the way it has been for me. Feast or famine. Sometimes both in the same day. In normal times, I can count on at least finding a few fish in most of the places I go to take a look. Even when the fishing is slow you can count on scattered reds to keep things interesting. And, if I pole around through enough backwaters or cross enough grass flats, we’ll scratch out a decent day. However, these last few weeks have not been normal. My first day back on the water was interesting. Fairly strong north wind for a few days had pushed the tide high into the lakes on Matagorda Island and kept me shorebound longer than I had planned. This morning had dawned clear and cool without so much as a breeze. I left out of Charlie’s and buzzed across a glass-slick Espiritu Santo. It felt great to push the throttle down again. I burned plenty of fuel and poled pretty much every reliable back lake on the island throughout the morning. The problem wasn’t a lack of fish so much as a lack of clear water. That’s kind of important in my sight-fishing game and I had fly fishermen due in the next day. As I poled around, I could hear the distinct sound of spooked reds under my hull, I just couldn’t see them. Most of the lakes and shorelines were holding a funky grey-green silty-looking water. I thought a couple weeks would be enough time to settle out, but I guess not. I made my way to Power Lake and as I came through the entrance I could see the south shoreline and cove was a nice dark color. Clear water at last. I eased into the furthest cove and hopped up on the platform. The water was tannin stained, but plenty 38 | November 2017

clear to see the bottom - and the sulking eight-foot gator. No matter. I was poling and feeling upbeat. After a couple hundred yards I was feeling less enthusiastic. No bait, no crabs, and definitely no redfish. I pushed on for a while longer without a change in results. I got down to get a drink and do some thinking. While sitting on the gunnel pondering what this place had been like as Harvey passed through I took a taste of that tannin water; not the slightest hint of salt. Apparently, the rainwater draining off the island had gotten trapped back there. Time for the next great idea. On the way into the lakes I’d noticed there was a sliver of clearer water along the open bay shorelines so I headed back out. By this time the relaxed winds and falling tide was letting all of that stacked-up water flow out of the lakes. I’d find little clear stretches every so often, but then I’d get close to a drain and all that silty stuff would be pouring out to muck up the joint. What I needed was a longer stretch of shoreline without drains. I took a little ride over towards Pringle. The water off the point by Rahal was looking pretty nice. The wind had picked up out of the west and the afternoon sun made things right for poling from there towards the main entrance. As I shut down and climbed up on the poling platform I spooked a little pod of reds that had been tight to the shoreline. Sweet. The next hour or so was awesome. Singles, small pods, a couple decent schools and even some scattered larger trout all the way down to the Pringle entrance where things mudded up a bit. I had easily seen a couple hundred fish and could see the clear water picked back up on the other side, which gave me confidence that I’d find fish on that side of the boat lane as well. I went ahead and checked the back of Pringle since I was already there. The grass flats on the south

40 | November 2017

found to the west the day before, I headed east thinking things might be better closer to the Gulf passes. It was better, but not by much. We scratched out some small fish here and there without finding any one area that was better than any other. It was a true grind. The guys were happy to have been back on the water after everything our coast had been through. They had dinner plans and were ready to call it a day. On the ride back I saw a little pocket of clear water over thick grass and asked if they wanted to give it a go. Why not? As soon as I hopped up on the platform a tight group of tails started waving. Easy as that, perfect cast and fish on. As they switched out spots on the bow I spotted a second school of tailers and eased into position. Another nice cast and another immediate hook-up. Yep, feast or famine.

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side looked fairly good. The water wasn’t the normal crystal-clear clarity, but good enough for sight-fishing – and it was salty. My reward was two small reds in several hundred yards of poling. Feast or famine. The following morning, I woke up ready to roll. I knew I had a solid bunch of fish located and a good pattern for locating more. The guys loaded up and we headed out. It wasn’t quite as cool and crisp as the previous morning. The south wind had brought summer back from the Gulf, but I wasn’t concerned. There’s a certain cockiness you feel when you know without a doubt you’re about to roll into a great morning with customers. I was feeling it. And then I wasn’t. Where the hell did my fish go? We searched that entire shoreline and nary a redfish was seen. I checked tight to the bank on out to the deeper grass beds, zig-zagging like a drunken sailor. My initial thought had been that maybe they were staged a little deeper. My guys were primarily fly fishermen, but don’t have anything against chunking some hardware. While one was standing guard with the long rod the other was blind-casting deeper. Nothing. Well hell, it is really unusual to lose an entire concentration like that overnight. It was a weekday and there had been virtually no boat traffic. I relocated to a similar area with similar results. Knowing what I’d

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

281-450-2206 captscottnull@gmail.com www.captainscottnull.com

Fig6. The 371-foot Kraken sits above its final resting place before reefing in the Gulf of Mexico.

By Jill Thompson-Grim and Chris Ledford

FIELD NOTES

Release the Kraken! The latest Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) artificial reef ship project happened earlier this year. The Kraken was released on January 20, 2017. Aside from a few minor issues with the laws of physics, the sinking went perfectly. The 371-foot long ship is sitting on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, perfectly upright with a clearance of 60 feet above her to protect vessel traffic. Due to rising seas, our team was able to complete only one quick checkout dive the day after the sinking, and then we had to let her fend for herself until the TPWD Artificial Reef Program scientific diving team could return in June. The TPWD Artificial Reef Program is responsible for promoting, developing, maintaining, monitoring, and enhancing artificial reefs off Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. To date, 91 artificial reef sites totaling more than 7,400 acres are in the program. These reef sites consist of Ships-toReefs, like the Kraken, Nearshore Reefs, and Rigs-to-Reefs. TPWD has nearshore reef sites near all major ports on the Texas coast within nine nautical miles of shore, although some sites are still waiting for material to be deployed. By creating nearshore reefs, we encourage the development of nearshore marine habitat and increase the economic potential of coastal communities through enhanced fishing and diving 42 | November 2017

activities. These reef sites are made primarily of recycled construction materials like concrete culverts or pre-

Fig1. General location of the Kraken ship artificial reef about 67 miles offshore of Galveston, Texas.

Fig2. An arrow crab takes up residence near ivory bush coral on the Kraken.

Kraken by the Numbers Location: 28°26’38.43”N, 94°17’6.16”W - 57 nautical miles from Freeport/Galveston Jetties Depth: Bottom - 140’, Top of structure - 60’ Contaminants removed: 125,585 gallons of hydrocarbons (and associated wastewater); 390 cubic yards of debris and floatables; and 9,000 pounds of ammonium sulfate (urea) recovered from a cargo hold. Built: Japan, 1987. Icebreaker Class. Previous Name: SCM Fedra fabricated reef pyramids. In the Rigs-to-Reefs program, petroleum companies can donate their inactive or decommissioned rigs to be recycled into prime fish habitat, resulting in excellent fishing and diving sites that we can all enjoy. This program is a win-win situation for all involved. Everyone shares the fantastic habitat that has grown on the structure over the past 30 years or so of operation, plus the companies do not have to completely remove the structure, thus saving them money. Half of the money that is saved is donated back to the Artificial Reef Program where the funds are used to enhance existing reefs, maintain buoys, construct more nearshore habitats, and fund research. The Ships-to-Reefs program utilizes obsolete or surplus vessels, like the Kraken, to further develop artificial reefs off the coast of Texas. There are 29 ships that have been reefed by the Artificial Reef Program to date. These ships include multiple World War II Liberty Ships as well as the USTS Texas Clipper that was formerly used as a cadet training vessel for the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. November 2017 will mark the tenth anniversary of the sinking of the Texas Clipper. The process of sinking the Kraken, a Japanese-built general cargo carrier constructed in 1987, was completed by the Artificial Reef Program in cooperation with several environmental consultants. The funds to reef her were awarded to the State of Texas through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment program to compensate for lost recreational fishing and diving opportunities in Texas waters of the Gulf of Mexico caused by the BP Oil Spill in 2010. In March 2016, TPWD contracted with Cahaba Disaster Recovery (Alabama) for the acquisition, modification, cleanup, and reefing of the Kraken. Since the sinking of the Kraken, about 67 nautical miles offshore of Galveston in 140ft of water, she has become a fantastic artificial reef. The location was chosen to meet our needs of having water deep enough to cover the ship while providing a minimum clearance of 60ft over her, and would be in water clear enough for the best diving. We surveyed the Kraken for the first time on our June 2017 monitoring trip. Prior to the sinking of the ship in January, we collected pre-reefing fish data and found only a few species of shark. Since the sinking, the Kraken has become home to large populations of red and vermillion snapper. Divers have also reported seeing king mackerel, cobia, several species of jacks and grouper, and schools of mackerel scad so thick they were interfering with our visual surveys. Oh, and a large sting ray and two octopuses have claimed this ship as their home. (How befitting since the Kraken is a mythical sea monster that closely resembles an octopus…but with more teeth!). The TPWD dive team have now recorded a total of 48 unique fish species during their surveys. The diversity at the new reef site is impressive considering the ship has been down for such a short period of time. There has been

Fig3. TPWD scientific divers conduct an early morning fish survey.

Fig4. The Kraken teems with marine life since it was reefed in January 2017.

Fig5. The Kraken sits prominently above the ocean floor providing marine habitat, along with diving and fishing opportunities for the public.

strong recruitment of larger fish at the Kraken, but more important is the presence of both predatory and non-predatory fishes at the site. Spawning behavior was seen by one diver as well, providing further evidence that the ship is already producing biomass, not just aggregating fish. The Kraken is a prime example of the positive impacts that artificial reefs have on marine habitats. She is a unique and productive site for fishing and diving that will be enjoyed for many years to come!

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www. tpwd.texas.gov for more information. TSFMAG.com | 43

S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E

F LY F I S H IN G

A Little Fall Fun on Top Since the hurricane, fishing has been very up and down due to factors such as high and/or dirty water, so I decided to go looking for something better. After looking at the forecast last evening, I decided to call a trusted friend to go check out a “secret spot” that I have been fishing since the mid ‘80s. So…let me tell you about my day (01 Oct 2017). It started by waking up next to a curled up yellow lab, Sonny, who started thumping his tail at the first sign of my stirring. An hour later I was drinking coffee and enjoying great conversation with longtime friend Brandon Smith as we headed down the road to enjoy a nice fall morning on the water. We were welcomed at the ramp to clear skies, light winds and no line ahead of us. So, like a well-oiled machine, we were launched and idling away from the dock in less than two minutes. After a lengthy boat ride we arrived to the area I intended on fishing to my worst nightmare. After fishing this area since I was 16 and never seeing another boat, much less a poling skiff, my stomach soured as I saw someone perched on a poling platform. My very last secret fishing spot has finally fallen prey to Google Earth. 44 | November 2017

I really think the thing that upsets me most, is that for years, if I was fishing the area and saw another boat from my platform, my angler and I would step down and have a drink of water until the other boat was out of sight. This guy was standing as high as possible, waving his push pole higher, and continued fishing closer and closer to where he could be seen by passing boats. In contrast, I always fished the spot as far from the main waterway as possible, to avoid being seen. I just hope he does not tell anyone about this special place or worse, post it on social media. Just a few years back, I had another area where I had never seen anyone before discovered by a young guide who destroyed it with social media in a matter of a few months. Anyway, after nearly stroking out and listening to Brandon laugh at me as I cursed and slammed things around, I idled in and we went fishing. As the blood returned to my brain after my near stroke, I dizzily climbed onto the platform and started looking for fish. About 100 yards down the bank we spotted the first fish but I had poled past it. I spun the skiff to give Brandon the shot but was a little too violent with change in direction, and blew it for him. I apologized and gathered

best part- you never know what they are going to do when that switch does flip in their head. My favorite is when they turn upside-down to eat. I have even seen them, after a long follow, literally leap from the water and crash down on the fly. Redfish can jump! Back to our epic day…one of my favorite moments was when Brandon had an oversized fish track the fly all the way until the leader was in the rod tip. At the last second the brute then raised its head out, only to lay eyes on the skiff and two guys that wanted nothing more that to give it a toothache and a little exercise. Needless to say, the fish thought better when it’s eyeballs cleared the water and saw my ugly mug staring over Brandon’s shoulder. As the best fish of the day bolted away in a mud rooster, we decided to call it a day. The long drive back and some more great conversation, the near perfect day ended with me on the couch with a glass of some good sipping tequila with Classic Tequila Sunrise (Sonny) curled up at my feet. As for tomorrow, if you watched the news the evening of October 1st… who knows what is in store for us all in the days to come. God bless you all!

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myself as we moved quietly into the light wind. The next fish we spotted fell victim to a well-placed cast and inhaled the offering near the surface, as did the next couple of fish. “These fish are eating good,” Brandon pointed out. “Do you think they will eat on top?” Shortly thereafter I was tying on a gurgler. Mind you, I often get asked the same question by customers and often (not always) discourage them from even trying. The reason for this is that redfish seem to exhibit a low hook-up ratio on top, and the majority of my customers seem to be more interested in quantity. I do however have a few sports that are more interested in “the bite” and we will sometimes give it a try. This is especially the case when we are seeing the fish rise up from the bottom, much like today, to eat flies. Now, before I finish telling you about my day, let me tell you about my favorite topwater fly for Texas reds. Many years ago, while down in Florida, I was introduced to a fly you all probably know- the gurgler. Now I do not know who came up with this gem but he was a genius. If there was ever the perfect topwater fly to mimic a shrimp, the gurgler is it. I tie the majority of my gurglers in tan with an EP Tarantula Brush underbody (the rubber legs simulate the legs of a shrimp). In addition, I like for the brush to incorporate some sort of UV color such as UV orange or UV pink. I believe the UV helps fish see the fly in off-color water. I also really like them tied in black for real dirty water, or when fishing early or late. As for the remainder of the day, it truly was an epic bite. To me, few things are finer than watching a redfish fall in behind a popping or waking topwater trying to decide if it is going to eat or not. And, the

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

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Story by Shane Bonnot

T S F M ag C o n s e r v a t i o n N e w s

A Flood of New Oyster Regulations Memorial Day Flood of 2015, Tax Day Flood of 2016 and late-May Floods of 2016. Two consecutive years of historic flooding were major setbacks for public oyster reefs and the oyster fishery in Texas. In fact, in June of 2016 Galveston County declared a state of disaster for the oyster industry. That was all before Hurricane Harvey, the largest flooding event in United States history. Sadly, much of Harvey’s rainfall was also within the Galveston Bay watershed. Short pulses of freshwater can be beneficial to oyster reefs but prolonged exposure to waters less than 5 parts per thousand (ppt) salinity will surely result in death. Unfortunately, Hurricane Harvey floods will likely have devastating effects on oyster reefs in Galveston Bay, upper San Antonio Bay and other small bay systems that received enormous amounts of freshwater inflows. It will take several months perhaps years before the totality of the impacts can be measured. Prior to Hurricane Harvey, the State of Texas took action to offer public oyster reefs additional protections, some through legislation and others through fisheries management action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife

46 | November 2017

Department Commission. Let’s take a quick look at the new laws relating to the oyster fishery.

House Bill 51 (HB51) HB51 was passed during the 85th Legislative Regular Session and signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 12. The original version of HB51 established a commercial oyster license buyback program, allowing willing commercial oystermen to sell their licenses back to the state of Texas, and required commercial oyster fishermen to have a vessel monitoring system on their boats. Through a series of amendments during the legislative process, the final version of the bill includes all of the following measures: • Establishes commercial oyster license buyback program. • Requires vessel monitoring on oyster boats. • Requires seafood dealers to distribute oyster shell, in an amount equal to 30% of the total volume of oysters purchased, in waters designated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Alternatively, oyster dealers can pay TPWD an amount calculated equal to the current cost of shell acquisition and deposition at

the same 30% level. • Boat captain and all crew will receive citations for violations. • Third violation relating to oyster undersize tolerance results in Class B misdemeanor. • Second violation for having ≥30% undersized oysters results in a Class C misdemeanor and 30-day license suspension. • Third violation for having ≥30% undersized oysters results in a Class B misdemeanor and 30-day license suspension. • Seafood dealers can be held accountable for undersize oyster violations. Third violation for having at ≥30% undersized oysters within a 5-yr time period results in a 30-day license suspension.

New TPWD Regulations On Thursday August 24, Commissioners for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) made broad sweeping changes to the management of the oyster fishery in a landmark decision. New regulations will offer needed protections for sensitive coastal areas and public oyster reefs. Here are the amendments to the Statewide Oyster Proclamation: • Reduction in daily sack limit from 40 to 30 sacks per day. • Closure of Saturday to commercial oyster harvest (Sunday already closed). • Reduction in the undersize (less than 3 inches) tolerance from 15% to 5%. • Closure to all oyster harvest in Christmas Bay, Carancahua Bay, Powderhorn Lake, Hynes Bay, St. Charles Bay and South Bay. • Creation of a “shoreline buffer” to prohibit the harvest of oysters 300 feet from the water’s edge or vegetation line. 2017 may be long remembered for Hurricane Harvey and lasting effects on our coastal communities. As the flood waters recede and we adjust to our new-normal, let’s take a moment to contemplate the historic conservation efforts taken by our legislators and fishery managers. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their resolve to protect

and preserve our public oyster reefs. We want to send out special thanks for Representatives Dennis Bonnen and Ryan Guillen, and Senator Juan Hinojosa. Without these gentlemen’s support and that of others in the legislature, the important changes in HB51 would not have been possible. In addition, a huge amount of praise and thanks go out to the recreational fishermen and conservationists that commented at public meetings, and sent in their written comments and support. The changes in TPWD policies were directly affected by your support. Grassroots efforts make a difference and this is another great example of CCA Texas members at work across the entire state. Bird Island Cove Marsh Restoration Grass Planting By John Blaha CCA Texas and Building Conservation Trust recently contracted Apache Ecological to plant 32,000 plugs of smooth cordgrass in the Bird Island Cove restoration area, located in West Galveston Bay. This restoration project was originally completed in February 2015. This recent grass planting is a supplemental planting within the project area to shore up marsh mounds which were not originally planted and to add stability to mounds that were previously planted, but were succumbing to some additional erosion factors. CCA Texas and Building Conservation Trust have committed $128,400 to this project to restore and protect critical marsh. The Bird Island Cove project directly benefits approximately 114 acres of existing coastal wetlands in the Bird Island Cove area. This project includes approximately 4,000 linear-foot of segmented breakwater that protects existing estuarine marsh. In addition, hydraulic dredging was used to pump sediments from a nearby designated borrow area to restore the site to intertidal marsh elevations. These materials and elevations are suitable elevation for restoring salt flat marsh/sand flat habitat in addition to intertidal Spartina alterniflora marsh and allow for the migration of intertidal marsh to higher elevations in response to sea level rise. The methods used in this project have shown much success in West Galveston Bay, including projects at Jumbile Cove, J-Cove, Delehide Cove, Starvation Cove, Carancahua Cove and McAllis Point. Texas coastal wetlands are one of the most important parts of the ecosystems up and down the Texas coast. These wetlands serve over 95% of fish species found in the Gulf of Mexico and the intertidal marshes serve as nursery areas for fishery species such as brown and white shrimp, blue crab, sand seatrout, Gulf menhaden, southern flounder, red drum, bay anchovy and many other marine organisms. Coastal wetland loss in Texas and in the Galveston Bay system in particular is significant and an ongoing concern because of the important and necessary roles that the wetlands perform. TPWD, CCA Texas and other organizations recognize the importance of these wetlands and are working continuously to protect and restore these resources. TPWD takes the lead in this effort and CCA Texas is there to provide community matching dollars for federal and state grants, outreach about the importance and roles of these resources, and volunteers for marsh grass planting events and other types of habitat events when volunteers are needed. TSFMAG.com | 47

Photo by Bill Waller.

STEPHANIE BOYD

F I S H Y FA C T S

Pinfish Spines are a common defense in the ocean, but few spines are as well-known to anglers on the Texas coast as those of the pinfish. As a child, I loved catching just about anything off the bulkhead at my dad’s office, but there was a particular pride to removing these prickly creatures from my hook. Their spines were a fun challenge, unlike the dreaded hardhead barbs. And I was almost guaranteed to catch one any day I plopped the lure in the water. In fact, it was often the only catch of the day! The pinfish is a porgy, like the sheepshead. Members of this family are generally demersal and endowed with grinding molar-like teeth. The pinfish itself is equipped with large incisors, a trait recognized by its genus, Lagodon, which is Greek for “hare teeth.” Adults can reach a maximum length of 15.7 inches and weigh 3.3 pounds, though they rarely exceed 12.2 inches in the wild and more commonly grow to around 5 inches. The body is compressed and oval, though its species name, rhomboides (also Greek), indicates a rhomboid shape. Distinguishing characteristics include its olive back, bluish-silver sides with thin yellow and blue stripes running longitudinally and 5 or 6 dark, diffuse, vertical bars on the sides. Fins are light yellow with broad, light blue margins. There is a distinctive black spot on the shoulder, behind the gill plate. The mouth is comparatively small. Both upper and lower jaws have 8 broad, deeply notched incisors and 2.5 rows of molars. A single small, forward48 | November 2017

projecting spine precedes the 12 rigid dorsal spines, giving the species its common name, pinfish. Though the genus Lagodon is monotypic (meaning it contains only a single species), pinfish can still be confused with other co-occurring species. The longitudinal yellow lines resemble some of the various species of grunts, though the head, mouth, and teeth look different enough to avoid most confusion. As juveniles, pinfish are sometimes mistaken for sheepshead, but the dark vertical bars of sheepshead are more prominent and persistent. The pinfish is one of the most abundant fishes in shallow water throughout most of its range – from New England south through the Gulf of Mexico, and the north coast of Cuba to the Yucatan peninsula. It is the numerically dominant fish in subtidal seagrass habitats of the Gulf of Mexico and the southeast Atlantic coast. Although pinfish occur over many bottom types, there is a preference for vegetated bottom, probably due to the culinary importance of these areas. When vegetated areas are not available or are too crowded, pinfish will also live around rocks, jetties, pilings, docks, breakwaters, mangrove roots, etc. They occupy a wide depth range, up to 302 feet, though adults seem to prefer between 30 and 50 feet deep, on average. Juveniles are more common where there is cover from predators and rarely venture into the open, except at night. Pinfish are considered euryhaline (able to tolerate a

wide range of salinity). They spend most of their There are pinfish mixed time in the estuaries, but they spawn in offshore with other species in these waters and also frequently venture into low-salinity TPWD trawl samples. environments, even freshwater. Distribution of Trawls are used to monitor populations of pinfish is determined by season (temperature), marine life in the open salinity, bottom type, water clarity, and growth stage. waters of Texas bays and Season seems to be the most commonly mentioned gulf. Specifically, trends factor. Pinfish tolerate temperature fluctuations in sizes and catch rates of the different species typical of shallow subtropical estuaries, roughly inhabiting Texas between 50°F and 95°F. Extremely high and low waters. TPWD photo. temperatures cause them to migrate from shallow areas to deeper areas. Some individuals may bury themselves in the bottom to avoid extreme cold. Young pinfish are voracious feeders who eat fish eggs, insect larvae, polychaetes, and small crustaceans, such as shrimp, mysids, and amphipods. Adults eat all that plus plant material. As they mature, the species exhibits a dietary shift, from carnivore to omnivore. This shift accompanies a physical change in the shape of the incisors to a flat-topped morphology, as well as a change in foraging technique, from sucking and ram feeding (a method of the species for this purpose. They have been used extensively as of feeding in which the predator moves forward with its mouth open, test organisms, primarily in pesticide toxicity assays. In 1967, it was engulfing prey along with the water surrounding it) to biting. reported that petrochemical wastes caused up to 10 percent mortality Pinfish are so abundant that their feeding habits are an important of pinfish in polluted waters near Corpus Christi, TX. limiting factor to amphipod populations, keeping them in balance Although sometimes scorned as bait stealers, pinfish provide within the seagrass community. In some areas, pinfish become so considerable sport to recreational anglers. Recreational landings in seasonally numerous that their foraging activities can affect the the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States showed a general aggregate composition of benthic organisms that live in seagrass increasing trend from 1981-2012, according to NOAA. The bright communities. They are equally important as a prey resource for coloring and abundance of the pinfish make it a familiar sight in the several larger species, including gars, ladyfish, seatrouts, redfish, coastal waters of Texas, and a favorite among young anglers because flounders, dolphins, etc. They are a major trophic link between they are fun and easy to catch, over and over and over… seagrasses and piscivores. It would seem that their sharp dorsal spines only offer so much protection… Adults and juveniles migrate out of the shallow waters in the fall to their spawning grounds in the deeper waters of the Gulf, the juveniles maturing during the migration. Females likely spawn several times within the season, and larger fish are believed to spawn earlier than smaller fish. Eggs that are about 1 millimeter in diameter are broadcast in the water by the females, then fertilized by the males. Fertile eggs are semibuoyant; non-viable eggs sink. Anywhere from 7,000 to 90,000 hatch after 48 hours, producing 2.3-millimeter larvae that feed primarily on calanoid copepods (a kind of zooplankton). At 12 millimeters in length, larvae become juveniles and migrate into the estuaries. Pinfish reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 inches, about 1 to 2 years of age. Age estimates obtained from otoliths (ear bones) of wild pinfish indicate that they can reach 7 years old, but because they are prey for so many other species, the vast majority of individuals do not live nearly that long. In 1962, it was reported that no more than two percent of age 0 pinfish in Laguna Madre, TX, survived from hatching to reach age 1. Pinfish are quality food fish, though their small size limits their commercial importance. They are sometimes killed in great numbers during fishing operations directed at other species and are often a nuisance because of their sharp spines and tendency to become tangled in nets. They are a popular live bait used by both inshore and offshore recreational anglers, and some commercial baitfish fisheries do center on the species for that aspect. They are also said to produce a high-grade oil, though there appears to be little or no current use

Where I learned about pinfish, and you can too! TPWD tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/pinfish/ Texas Marine Species txmarspecies.tamug.edu/fishdetails.cfm?scinameID=Lagodon%20rhomboides Fish Base www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=3576&AT=pinfish iNaturalist www.inaturalist.org/taxa/132473-Lagodon-rhomboides IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/170250/0 Smithsonian Marine Station www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Lagodon_rhomboides.htm Southern Regional Aquaculture Center fisheries.tamu.edu/files/2013/09/SRAC-Publication-No.-7210-Species-ProfilePinfish-Lagodon-rhomboides.pdf East Carolina University Pirate Panel core.ecu.edu/BIOL/luczkovichj/pinfish/pinfish.html Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN www.fao.org/docrep/017/ap947e/ap947e.pdf TSFMAG.com | 49

The famous Brimer brothers strike again!

CURTISS CASH

IN S H ORE | NE A R S H ORE | J ETTIE S | P A S S E S

November Has a Lot to Offer! The warm weather fishing season is winding down as we ready ourselves for the colder weather that is coming. The recent cool winds coming from the northeast are great reminders to get busy before it actually arrives. Time to check waders, waterproof jackets and undergarment layering that together keep us comfortable for late-fall days on the water. The last couple of months of each year offer banner fishing opportunities with decreased angler pressure. Many other activities garner our attention, like hunting seasons, school events, football and holidays. The fish have no knowledge of any of this but they sure notice the lack of boaters, and that’s a good thing! This month tends to steer my boat in many different directions throughout each week as the weather changes, with multiple species and areas to catch them. Big bull reds are still near the jetties and passes in numbers that make catching easy and reliable. The last of the tarpon, cobia and sharks are migrating south in our nearshore waters. The sheepshead are pumping into the bays on each afternoon flood tide. The cooler water temps are making the trout and reds friskier than a 12-week old puppy. And we can’t forget the flounder, migrating through passes and channels in increasing abundance following each frontal passage.

50 | November 2017

BULL REDFISH The bull reds are still lingering near the line of demarcation at any gulf passage. Though they may not be as plentiful as we experienced during October’s new moon. Good numbers are still available during the first couple of weeks on ebbing tides. Cracked crab on the bottom on channel edges are still the best bait, day in and day out. I find more schools at the end of the gulf jetty rocks and on the outside sandbars of the gulf passes. TARPON, SHARK & COBIA I monitor the weather for approaching frontal passages closely this time of the year. One reason is for safety on the water and the other is for an opportunity to fish the nearshore waters. Tarpon and shark have been known to linger in small groups heading slowly southward through November. The magic depth of 30- to 40-feet is a good area to look. My final tarpon jumped last season occurred on November 15, the DOA Swimming Mullet slipped from its mouth. I was fishing with Scott Alford on his beautifully crafted Winters custom boat “Migration.” We had seen several pods of fish that morning along with roaming schools of big jacks and sharks. I’ve seen tarpon migrating south as late as Pearl Harbor Day. If the tarpon are not cooperating, we’ll make a mad dash to some of the state-water oil platforms or reefs

TSFMAG.com | 51

Late season jacks are sometimes large enough to require teamwork!

This trout chose the Cajun Lures Mad Minna under mullet rafts.

SHEEPSHEAD Anyone who knows me or has read some of my previous articles are not surprised that I mention this species here. I simply love the sheepshead even though many dislike them. They are a worthy adversary; cunning, hardy, plentiful and excellent eating. Typically targeted in deeper waters near jetty systems, docks and harbors. I like to target them on primary drop-offs of the outside shorelines of the bay systems. Find some shell on the drop or upper edge and they should be there or roving and cruising by every few minutes. There should also be some trout, reds or drum in the same area to sweeten the mix. A Carolina rig with about 12-inches of 20-pound Big Game mono works very well. Use an egg weight heavy enough to barely reach bottom and a Mustad 9174NP-BN 2/O O’Shaughnessy Bait Hook. Hook a live shrimp through the center of the back in the third abdominal segment form the tail toward the head. Sheepshead most often nip a live shrimp first in this area. TROUT & REDFISH I target trout and redfish this month near shell and mud. I look for shell reefs, passes and shorelines with lots of current from tide or wind. Find a drain out of a backcountry marsh area with a shell delta on an ebbing tide and hold on. Live shrimp suspended 24- to 30-inches below a float works well, as does the sheepshead rig described above. For soft plastics, I’ve been caching good trout and flounder lately on a lure that is new to me; Cajun Lures – Mad Minna. The salt ’n pepper Mad Minna rigged on 1/8-ounce jig heads produced very well for me in September and October, under and around rafting finger mullet. Bouncing the lure on the bottom in light current was the ticket… should work the same over reefs and outside drains. 52 | November 2017

Veteran Thomas Marr caught this nice red during the 2017 Patriot's Cup.

Father and daughter team, Robert and Shayla Wammack, landed this nice redfish duo.

FLOUNDER November is a great month for flounder and we catch them all over; from the jetties, to smaller passes, oyster reefs and marsh drains. For years, my go-to flounder lure has been the Berkley Gulp 3” minnow grub in chartreuse or pearl white. Rigged tandem on short shank 1/16 or 1/8-ounce jig heads really knock ‘em out. Slow-bounced on the bottom near bulkheads, sand flats and marsh drains is almost always a winner. With the majority of finger mullet gone from the bays by lateNovember, we seek other readily available baits. Pinfish and live shrimp are popular and effective when free-lined over hard structure such as jetty rocks and oyster reefs. Attention to the bait’s drift is very important for the proper presentation without hanging up on structure. In addition to exceptional fishing opportunity, November is also known for pleasant weather. What better way to celebrate the fall season than an exciting day of catching fish and listening to college football?

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in search of cobia. These fish will be working their way south, fairly close to shore, so long as water temps remain above 72-degrees. Nearshore structure also holds quality snapper, slot reds, drum and bluefish. The larger snapper come into shallower water during cooler weather while the reds and drum show from the bays. The bluefish, I don’t know where they normally hide but, I do know they like to eat shiny lead sinkers! I like to carry a variety of baits to tempt any of the nearshore fish mentioned, but 4- to 5-inch pinfish and fresh dead shrimp are always solid choices. A single-drop rig with a 2- to 4-ounce bank sinker descends like a rock when fishing close to the structure. If the redfish are thick on the wells, the snapper often hold down-current 50-yards or so. I like to leave the reels in free spool to keep it near the bottom strike zone while drifting off.

Capt. Curtiss Cash offers charters in the Port O’Connor area; specializing in fishing the bays, passes, jetties, surf and nearshore waters. Species targeted include speckled trout, redfish, flounder, tripletail, black drum, bull reds, sharks, snapper, kingfish, ling and tarpon, when seasonally available. Phone

361-564-7032

Science and the

Sea

Hurricanes’ Havoc Harms Marine Homes Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria… the 2017 hurricane season has been intense, and it’s not just humans trying to recover from the destruction. Like forest fires, hurricanes wreak havoc on habitats, but can also promote ecological renewal — if corals and other undersea creatures are not already under simultaneous stresses.

Hurricane Harvey in the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: NASA Larger fish and mammals can often escape hurricanes. A study of blacktip sharks found they sense changes in barometric pressure ahead of a storm and swim further out to sea. Dolphins also often “evacuate” shallower waters, possibly after noticing decreases in salinity as the fresh water from heavy rainfall mixes with sea water. But rapidly moving storms can catch them unaware. Dolphins, manatees and other mammals, as well as fish, frequently wash up on shore or end up in inland ditches during powerful hurricanes. Most shallow-dwelling creatures don’t have the option of leaving their homes, and they suffer the effects of salinity changes, extreme waves and surges, churning sediment, blocked sunlight, loss of food and decreased oxygen in the water. Hurricanes can break off and scatter coral pieces that start new colonies elsewhere, but corals may also become buried under sediment and die from excessive algae growth. Reefs already under stress, such as repeated bleaching from climate change, may not recover quickly—or ever—from the devastation. Habitats of mussels, oysters, crustaceans and smaller reef fish often get wiped out, and some fish may even die of electrocution from power lines that fall into the water. Sea turtle nests may get washed out to sea, drowning embryos before they hatch. How long it takes a marine ecosystem to recover depends on the storm. Hurricane Agnes in 1972 harmed fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay for years afterward. Only time will tell how long Atlantic undersea communities need to recover from the 2017 hurricane season.

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute

TSFMAG.com | 53

Another great mako shark from PINS surf landed on Catch Sharks leader.

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

ERI C O Z O L IN S

Changing the Game Evolution is inevitable. As nature itself evolves, so do we as humans, constantly seeking better methods that modern technology provides. Every sport and outdoor pastime is enhanced with advances in gear and tool manufacture. Whether these ideas enjoy initial widespread acceptance, many eventually become the standards by which other products are judged. Through constant advances in technology, modern sporting equipment is far superior than anything previously available. This is especially true if you compare fishing tackle of say twenty years ago with products we use today. From braided line to mechanically enhanced reels, improvements have been emerging that greatly increase angling efficiency and success. I take fishing and fishing tackle very seriously and believe very strongly in the old adage – you get what you pay for. Generic fishing line and terminal tackle are two of the greatest examples – cheaper, because they are made of inferior materials and massassembled with less than exacting attention to detail. Items fashioned from lesser-quality materials often fail in service and rarely provide the long service life of superior goods. You can spot the difference immediately in a cheaply made lure versus one crafted with great detail from state-of-the-art materials. Cheap paint jobs scuff the first time you tie them on and generic hooks often result in the loss of the first good fish hooked. We see the same things with reels. Whether cheap modern-day imitations or leftovers from yesteryear, you still get only what you pay for. On the other 54 | November 2017

hand, we find premium products crafted of highestquality materials and engineered to exacting tolerances. Some of my newer reels are so intricate in design that you almost need a PhD in reel technology to service them – but they perform flawlessly, even when stressed beyond the intended service range. You could say quality and precision are everything, in every sense of the word. Shark fishing is a concoction of various gear, all working together to achieve success. When dealing with sharks of several hundred pounds, or more, tackle failure is simply not an option. A broken hook or swivel can ruin your trip. You don’t need an array of gold-plated goodies, but strong terminal tackle that is capable of withstanding the stress of landing large fish and withstanding the

Catch Sharks ED Coated Hooks resist abrasion from sand and saltwater corrosion.

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elements is essential. Since Steven Kenedy, coming onto the shark Hammerhead landed by founder of Catch fishing scene many moons author on Catch Sharks leader. Sharks, exhibits a ago, I have always been thirteen foot tiger extremely finicky with my shark he landed using Catch terminal tackle. Sharks leader. I started out making my own shark leaders simply because the ones I made by hand were superior to anything I could buy pre-made, and I enjoyed great success for years. To say that it required product innovations of great significance for me to even consider trying years I have landed some of the largest sharks brought to Texas sand anything but my own handmade shark leaders would be a great with them. An extremely impressive unofficial state record bull shark understatement. But - terminal tackle for serious shark fishing was was landed and released on a Catch Sharks leader during one of my evolving and a game-changing improvement in materials and design charters. My personal unofficial record mako shark, last year, was also was emerging. I quickly took note. landed on this gear. In addition, these remain the only leaders in Texas About ten years ago, shark fishing buddy Steven Kennedy launched to have landed sharks greater than 13-feet from the Texas surf the last the company he named Catch Sharks. From an online-only retail three years - one being my hammer, the other Steven’s tiger. The pure format, Steven focused solely on high-quality fishing leaders and terminal tackle. While the venture included a clear profit motive, it also quality and design of these leaders has also been proven with many tournament wins by various anglers. Interestingly, with virtually no coincided and benefited his personal shark fishing hobby. advertising effort, the majority of sales resulted simply through word-ofBefore long, Steven began pioneering new ideas and technology mouth and people taking note of what successful anglers were using. that had never been applied in shark fishing. After a couple years In September 2017 the shark fishing scene would take a new turn of exploring and experimenting, his new gear caught my attention. for me when Steven asked whether I might have interest in acquiring Steven started to carefully focus on improving and making the most his Catch Sharks enterprise. Even though I had said many times that optimized and efficient leaders possible. This was done through the I had no interest in becoming involved in the fishing tackle business consideration of angling, science, and reality. What resulted were – this opportunity included the special charm of a product line I have portions of his tackle to which he would apply a unique protective relied upon and been proud to use. coating. Steven named his process Electroreception Deception, ED for My intention is to continue with the manufacture of the finestshort. This environmentally-friendly polyester-based coating provides quality products, catering to the needs of land-based shark an attractive, corrosion resistant finish without the use of solvents fishermen. My goal will be to continuously seek design and material or heavy metals. The ED provides insulating properties to 1000 volts improvements that will increase angling success. per mil. It is quite durable, resisting sand and salt, which is a huge In addition to shark gear, Catch Sharks offers a line of leaders advantage in surf fishing. dedicated to large jack crevalle and oversized red drum in the surf. Steven soon offered that I might try the gear, to gather my input. Come wintertime and the oversized black drum run, we will put Being slightly hesitant at first (wary of using a leader other than additional focus upon cast-out crab leaders for the big uglies. my own) I gave the tackle a fair shake-down and was immediately I am very excited with the direction things are headed. My surf impressed. The craftsmanship was very precise, superior even to fishing charters will provide a testing ground for new innovations what I made. Not only did the leaders appear to be of quality levels within the product line. Catch Sharks will strive to maintain the above anything on the market, they stood up to the test of giant excellent reputation for quality Steven made it famous with, and I will sharks off the beach. incorporate further innovation developing new products. Steven would go as far as applying heat-shrink covering to the crimps to make things streamlined and more natural in appearance. Other unique features were the back-braiding double-crimped For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark sections for the monofilament portion of the traces. For large catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric traditional Mustad circle and J-style hooks, the ED coating (available offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also in various colors) extended the longevity of the hooks, not allowing renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric runs Kayak Wars; them to rust as quickly. Saltwater is a harsh element and any true one of the largest kayak fishing tournaments in the world. sharker knows it is extremely difficult to prevent rust and corrosion of Email oz@oceanepics.com non-stainless components. Websites extremecoast.com | oceanepics.com | This terminal tackle, essentially the Ferrari of shark fishing leaders, kayakwars.com quickly became worth their weight in gold to me. For the past several TSFMAG.com | 55

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Further, the rail itself offers 17 different attachment points to hold every accessory known to the sport. Forceps, lanyards and clippers? Of course. But there’s also room for split-ring pliers, a Line Saber, fishing towel, retractable ruler, hook file, wacky rig tool, even portable rod holders (we could go on)— not stowed in some far recessed compartment, but right at your fingertips.

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Brand New From Bass Assassin: The Salty Snack! The 5” Salty Snack is specially designed for trophy speckled trout. Rigged on the included worm hook, Salty Snack descends slowly in horizontal orientation, imitating a live baitfish like no other. The ribbed body telegraphs subtle fish-attracting vibration for greater appeal to specks looking for an easy meal in cold water. The single weedless-style worm hook not only allows the Salty Snack to be presented through bottom grass and shell, it greatly reduces the possibility of fish injury associated with treble hooks. Perfect for CPR! Available in 8 proven Bass Assassin colors in 3-pack – worm hook included.

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Fuji Rod Components Intros New Corrosion CONTROL™ Frames Fuji’s new Corrosion CONTROL™ (CC) frames offer a new level of corrosion resistance far superior to traditional stainless guides. The process involves a series of eco-friendly metal treatment steps that result in a matte finish frame that is 7-times more corrosion resistant than standard stainless steel. Corrosion CONTROL™ frame treatment is a huge step forward for any angler looking for reliable long-term service and unmatched performance on more affordable rods. Best of all, Fuji has rolled out the new process on its flagship K-Series Tangle Free guide frames with ALCONITE® and new (very economical) FazLite™ rings. The CC frames are available in Matte Silver, Matte Dark Grey and a new Gunmetal color with SiC rings. www.AnglersResource.net

New Excel F4 Pro Hull Series F4 Pro Hull is the lightest and quickest F4 in the lineup. Ideal rig for accessing extreme shallows whether chasing redfish or mallards. Open floor plan provides tons of room for gear and passengers. Standard features include F4 step deck, grab bar and driver’s seat box. Available in low or high front deck models. Options include extremely tough .125-gauge, 5086 aluminum alloy, Orca cooler seat, gun box, built-in fuel tank, and exclusive OPTIFADE camo. The slippery-smooth bottom and triple-taper chine glides through shallows and turns on a dime. Especially when outfitted with a surface drive motor; such as the Mud Buddy HDR. The Pro Hull is one mean hunting and fishing machine.

Visit Excel-Marine.com for more information and your nearest dealer. TSFMAG.com | 57

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

58 | November 2017

Over the past seventy-two years I have weathered my fair share of hurricanes and tropical storms, but none compare to Harvey. We’ve had trees fall through our roof resulting in rain damage, but the rising water always stopped a little short of the front door. I cannot recall an incoming hurricane that didn’t initially flood the southern portion of Orange and Bridge City, but they miraculously stayed relatively dry while the western and northern portions of the county caught hell. The public boat launch is now covered up with tents, travel trailers are wedged in between piles of debris and many residents will not be back in their homes for at least a year! After salvaging our computer, the first thing that popped up on the screen

was last month’s column which never got mailed. I try to start on it a little early and had I sent it to Everett at that time, you would have thought I had lost my mind. The only sentence that was semi-accurate mentioned that it looked like Rockport The flounder might have to weather a pretty bite is impressive and improving tough tropical storm. almost daily. The last thing I will say about Harvey is that hurricane force winds are amazing to witness if you are in a safe place, but the sheer volume of rain that fell on us for the better part of a two-hour span was even more unbelievable. There was no space between the raindrops. It was as if someone was standing on the second floor pouring a bucket of water on your head! Needless to say, I have not done a lot of fishing over the past few weeks, but neither has anyone else. Due to the

need for more temporary housing, every motel room is occupied and there is no place for visiting clients to stay. Fish cleaning is a bit of an inconvenience as well with the marina still out of commission, but the good news is that the catching has rebounded. The water clarity is great and there is still enough salinity near the bottom to keep the reds and flounder hanging around. The trout bite has really taken a hit, but they are still catching some small to medium fish south of the Causeway. The phenomenal redfish bite comes as no surprise as they almost always go on a tear immediately following any type of flooding. It is so good, in fact, that you can basically catch them any way you choose. The surfacing schools in the open lake will eat anything from a plastic tail to a stick if you can get it front of their face. When they are as aggressive as they are right now, I don’t recommend fishing with a cork. Not only will a second fish often hit the cork, but it adds to the resistance while fighting the fish. We will hunt fish with the cork, but once we find them we switch to a single hook lure as treble hooks are a “no-no” as well. If you savor the explosion of a thick shouldered red crashing a topwater, simply swap the stock treble hooks for single hooks. I will be surprised if after fishing them this way

that you ever switch them out for the original treble hooks. The schools of redfish patrolling the shorelines are smaller, but no less aggressive as they push everything from mud minnows to small crabs to the surface. A four-inch Usual Suspect or shallow diving crankbait works especially well when chasing these fish in shallow water. At least for right now, don’t be surprised if your next fish is a bass! We have been totally eaten up with the flounder bite lately and it is only improving. Both the size and numbers have been impressive. I think the largest fish are coming out of the ship channel, but the best numbers are coming off the shoreline in the main lake. Redfish action is Live bait or Gulp rigged on a quarter incredible, which ounce head are probably the best choices means there’s of lures, but we catch a lot of our fish with a lots of catch and release going on. curly-tail grub rigged on an 1/8-ounce horse head jig. The blade doesn’t produce any vibration but it does yield enough flash to attract the more finicky eaters. With many of our kids currently living with family friends just to remain in their school districts, fishing has been pushed lower on their wish lists. You can, however, mend that problem with an unexpected invitation to wet a hook!

TSFMAG.com | 59

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

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey doesn’t seem to will be detrimental to some types of habitat. Oysters be as bad as we had originally thought. Being that cannot live in salinities less than 2 ppt for longer than we’ve never experienced such an event, it was hard a few days. We have to assume we lost nearly all of to predict what would happen to the bay, especially our oysters. The long-term effects of this are almost after seeing all the devastation on land. I think that impossible to predict, but being that we still have a fall we expected to be thrown off course for a very long oyster spawn coming, we should see a great oyster spat time, judging by the amount of water that came down set. It will just take time for the new oysters to grow. the rivers. The San Jacinto and Trinity were at record Luckily, Mother Nature has blessed us with favorable flows and the dams were conditions for a quick salinity at record discharges. What rebound. First is wind, that saved us is that it came and will encourage evaporation left so quickly. Within five of the fresh surface layer. days, the Livingston Dam Next is strong seasonal tides went from record discharge that will obviously help mix to a standstill. Essentially, it up the fresh water and bring was just a giant flash flood. in new salt water. We’ve also Judging by how quickly the experienced exceptionally bay is recovering, the flood high tides recently due to didn’t completely inundate other storm systems in the the entire water column in gulf, and predominantly some areas, allowing for a easterly wind that always The Corky Fat Boy and Maniac quicker recovery. “bulls up” the tides. All of Mullet are both excellent Now, with that said, we did these factors play strongly in slow-sink/suspending lures. incur enormous inflow that salinity recovery and I think

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we are on the road to recovery sooner than originally believed possible. Fishing in November, generally, can be fabulous across the entire Galveston Bay Complex. Being that all of the fresh water isn’t gone yet, we will have to adjust some things from a typical November, but I believe that we will still have a decent fall season. October is often thought to be the best month to target speckled trout, but October has been far from normal this year. With a great abundance of juvenile shad and white shrimp in the bays, the bite has been finicky. Hopefully, November’s cold fronts will fix some of that problem. I feel that as bait migrations reduce the amount of forage available we should begin to see fish more willing to take lures, and then it’s only a matter of unraveling the patterns. As the availability of smaller forage is reduced with each passing cold front, larger finfish species, like mullet, will take their place as the primary forage species. Mullet imitators, Corkys and topwaters, seem to always work better as November approaches, at least for me. Some believe topwaters are more effective in warmer months but November’s water temperatures are still very favorable on average for trout Seven-pounder release – and redfish to feed on the surface, landed on Corky Fat Boy except maybe for a few days if we get while wade-fishing. an exceptionally cold norther coming

through. I trust the presence of bait activity at or near the surface more than anything as a signal that topwaters might be effective. When the mullet cannot be seen to be active at the surface is when I know it’s time to tie on a Corky. MirrOlure offers many different styles of these Paul Brown classics and each has its own niche. Most of us tend to use the Fat Boy more often and I feel that its deeper profile adds to its appeal. The Fat Boy also suspends better than most of the others in the Corky family. The suspending qualities are basically what allow covering the water column more thoroughly. The Maniac Mullet, now also made by MirrOlure, is another great suspending lure that can be worked effectively while drifting. Drift fishing can also be a good tactic during November. Especially when the wind angle allows following the contour of dropoffs and ledges that cannot be waded. West Bay should be great this fall, being that it was least effected by the flooding. South shoreline coves and mid-bay reefs should setup better with each front. East Galveston Bay looks promising with the amount of forage that’s already in the back of the bay towards the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge. Trinity isn’t completely out of the question yet, we just need a little time for the salinity to recover. Enjoy your fishing! –Capt. Caleb Harp

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Spotted Seatrout Released After Photo TSFMAG.com | 61

Bink Grimes

The View from Matagorda

Matagorda

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

November is my favorite month in Matagorda. Very few places in Texas, or anywhere in this world, offers worldclass duck hunting in the morning and world-class trout and redfish action in the afternoon. It’s a heckuva place to live and make a living. I feel blessed. Birds will work throughout the month over solid trout. East Bay, West Bay, and Tres Palacios Bay all are players and all will give up limits of trout on topwaters and soft plastics. Mid-bay reefs have produced heavy trout while wading with topwaters and soft plastics such as Down South Lures, Lil’ Johns and Bass Assassins. West Matagorda Bay has been hot for limits of trout over shell while wading. Good stringers have come from around the Cedars and City Slickers on Super Spooks, She Dogs, Top Dogs and Skitter Walks. The Colorado River is clearing and greening up which normally spells good catches of trout under lights at night from the piers. During the day, trout to 20-inches

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have been found on Hogies, Bass Assassins and Lil’ Johns. Good numbers of fish will be in the Diversion Channel this month. It’s a lot like bass fishing - pitching baits to timber and fallen logs from previous river rises. Don’t be afraid to toss a topwater along the bank. Solid trout hang on the edge in 5-8 feet of water and will bang a Super Spook, Skitter Walk or She Pup. Waders have found good fish in West Matagorda Bay while wading the south shoreline and casting to points of shell. Topwaters and soft

plastics have been the ticket. Half-Moon Reef in West Bay is always good when the wind allows. This month, soft plastics and topwaters are a good bet and don’t be surprised to find birds working near the reef. Bull redfish have been found along the beachfront. All the jetties are players as well. The Matagorda jetties are holding lots of redfish on cracked blue crabs, mullet and fresh table shrimp. As always, this time of year encourages slot-sized redfish to school in bunches of two dozen or more along the grass line. Spots like Shell Island, Twin Island, Cut Off Flats and Zipperian Bayou in Matagorda are usually very productive. Mud Lake and Crab Lake are players along the shoreline with live shrimp. When the wind blows stiff from the south many boaters have worked the points and sloughs with live shrimp fished right along the grass line. Spots like Boiler Bayou, Don’s Pipeline and Alice are holding good numbers of Gulf trout. Their white fillets are perfect in ceviche and also battered and fried in peanut oil. Good numbers can be found along the beachfront on fresh dead shrimp or plum plastics. Most November days will be spent duck or goose hunting the mornings and fishing the afternoons. Afternoon fishing is just as profitable; and, few things rival a fish blowing up a topwater while the sun goes down. I don’t plan on getting much sleep. Follow our reports on Instagram and Facebook on weekly on the Texas Insider Fishing Report.

TSFMAG.com | 63

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 Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor area full time for the past 14 years. Shellie specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.

Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com

64 | November 2017

The heat of summer is finally in the rearview mirror and cooler fall temperatures have arrived. I always look forward to November. Thinking back, I remember looking forward to fewer boats on the water due to deer season, but that has changed. Deer leases have become so expensive that many people have invested in bay boats instead. Owning a boat is a great way to enjoy the outdoors year â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;round and a good way to get family and friends together as well. So, while boat traffic will be a little lighter than summer, we are beginning to see more in the fall than we once did. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OK, though, the cooler weather still puts a big smile on my face. I probably sound like a broken record but fall fishing is by far my all-time favorite. The bays really come alive as the water begins to cool after the long and hot summer. Baitfish are more active and predatory fish are more aggressive in their feeding patterns. We will also see more bird activity as white shrimp migrate from the estuaries. Juvenile white shrimp inhabit lowsalinity backwaters and marshes from early summer until fall. As the first northers arrive, they begin migrating on the falling tides toward the gulf where they continue to mature and spawn. As the shrimp begin migrating through the open

bays, they attract lots of attention from many species of predatory fish. And, when these fish push them to the surface, you find swarms of gulls wheeling and diving to pick them off. Clusters of birds just sitting on the water are also a good indication that there are fish in the area, maybe just not as concentrated. The feeding frenzy tends to be at its best during early morning and usually subsides by midday. Finding a flock of birds working aggressively, it is best to motor upwind and stop far enough away to avoid spooking the fish that are feeding below. Better yet, if your boat is equipped with a trolling motor, use it rather than your outboard to position the boat within casting distance. My number one setup for fishing birds is rigging with popping corks or Mauler style floats above 18-inches of 20-pound leader, attached to a 1/8-ounce jighead. Soft plastic lures are your best option, simply because you get the same results as using live shrimp without having to refresh your hook with every fish you catch. When fishing in a feeding school of trout or redfish, I do not believe color is as important as when searching for fish that are scattered along a reef or other structure. But, to be safe, I prefer to keep my

colors on the natural side. Favorites over the years have been 5-inch Saltwater Shad Bass Assassins in Salt and Pepper Silver Phantom and Pumpkinseed-Chartreuse. It usually doesn’t take more than a few pops of the cork before you are hooked up. Many species take advantage of these migrating shrimp so don’t be surprised when you catch a little bit of everything under the birds. And yes, gafftop, skipjacks and other less desirable fish will be there, too. Be patient and take the good with the bad. You are also sure to find smaller trout. I have seen anglers handle these little guys very roughly but please remember they are next year’s keepers and have potential to become trophies. I prefer to use a de-hooking tool or longnose pliers and avoid grabbing with my hands

as much as possible. A quick flip of the wrist once you’ve secured the hook with de-hooker or pliers is usually all that is needed to get them back into the water without injury. On windier days when it is difficult to fish open bay waters, you will find me venturing into some of the back lakes for protection. The grass that was so thick in summer has finally become much thinner and we can now aim for sandy potholes and other structure without hanging up. Another reason I love fall fishing. Hurricane Harvey created some new shoreline cuts and washouts, but keep in mind most are quite shallow and not navigable. Unfortunately, Charlie’s Cut did not benefit during the storm. It is still very shallow and will be even shallower as tide levels begin to recede later in the Sandy Ward was season. You can still thrilled to reel in this get through with a backwater redfish! shallow-draft boat but the channel is very narrow. During latesummer, many boats ran aground where there was plenty of water as recently as a year ago. I would advise seeking advice from other boaters at the dock if you are not familiar with it.

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TSFMAG.com | 65

david rowsey

HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey

Upper Laguna/ Baffin

David Rowsey has over 25 years in Baffin and Upper Laguna Madre; 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 @captdavidrowsey

November is such a highly touted month among Texas outdoorsmen. Winter trout fishing is kicking off, bows are being drawn back, rifles crack in the distance, bird dogs are on point all over the state, ducks are locked up on early-morning decoy spreads, retrievers are crashing through shallow flats and ponds, blue quail and buggies out in the mountains, bonfires at deer camp, excuses about a buck that “jumped the string” and “I must have bumped my scope.” Y’all get the idea. November is just a wonderful time to be with quality friends and celebrating God’s gift of the Texas outdoors. I was on the water yesterday and it was a sight to behold. Large tides had slowed things for us in the far reaches of Baffin so the client and I decided to do some work on the north side of the bridge (JFK Causeway). I was hoping to find big pods of mullet migrating to the north, and we were not disappointed. They were, essentially, everywhere. In fact, the bay was so alive with activity that it was hard to determine where to start. Applying some common sense to local knowledge,

I headed to an area of bars and guts along Mustang Island. The bait activity was almost obnoxious everywhere as we shut down, but looking a 1/4-mile down the shoreline, we noticed slicks that were really concentrated within a particular 100-yard stretch of water. We set up just outside of them, and started up shallow to take advantage of the southeast wind at our backs for long casts. As I was explaining to Hunter on how to make the approach and work the hardware parallel to the guts, he was already hooked up with a 4-pound trout. Wow! That was quick. And I hadn’t even gotten into my “smart guide talk” routine. That stretch of water produced for about three hours. There was not a fish landed on every cast, but every third cast or so the lure was at least touched or a hookup was made. A variety of gamefish were landed, with multiple Texas Slams. A magical morning to remember. The lesson in this is that the baitfish are migrating from the bays, as they always do this time of year. The trout have been programmed by Mother Nature to

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gorge when this is happening. Getting a head start on fattening up for the winter, these fish, at this moment, are very vulnerable to being caught easily. The same patterns will be taking place in all of our southern bays throughout November. Large congregations of diving pelicans are a fast track for finding these concentrations of bait quickly, and from a distance. If you are lucky, you will be able to catch the action while wading, but do not be surprised if the water has some depth to it and you have to stay on the deck of the Haynie to get it done. I hate fishing from the boat but, if I am catching 3- to 6-pound trout while doing it, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll swallow my pride for a bit. Strong fronts arriving from the north will nip this pattern in the bud, so take advantage of it now before it gets blown out. As fronts arrive throughout the month, I will be paying very close attention to the water temperature. I truly believe this it is one of the most important factors in separating you from the crowd (and the trout). Understanding it, documenting it, and eventually learning how it affects gamefish movements in winter has been something I have long studied and paid very close attention to. I wish I could take credit for the thought to be an original moment of fishing brilliance but, my favorite guide, Jay Watkins, taught me the importance of it many, many years ago through his writings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; long before I had the pleasure to know him. Yeah, before internet,

Parker Holt got us started fast on one of the last mornings before we get in our Simms waders.

I-phones and social media, we youngsters had to read articles to gain knowledge from the gurus. November will make for some gorgeous days on the water, especially the days following northers. With a little luck, the north wind will open up the canvas of grass all over the Laguna Madre and give us some potholes to cast our diving and darting Bass Assassins into. If not, you guys and gals better be prepared to invest in some suspending lures by MirrOlure. The Fat Boy and the MirrOdine are my top two choices - hands down. Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey

TSFMAG.com | 67

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

68 | November 2017

Howdy from Port Mansfield. I hope everyone is doing well as we head into “Nocember” – my reference to the two-month period of November and December that seem so much alike and seem to blend together naturally down here on the Lower Laguna Madre. This is the time of year when time flies, mainly because of busy holiday schedules and the similar fishing patterns that dominate this season. We start by hoping our waders and cold weather gear are still in good shape. I can say from experience that you’re in luck if your waders and jacket are Simms. Especially if you cleaned and prepped everything properly before storing over the spring and summer months. Boat traffic tapers off this time of year. Many

fishermen are also hunters, and hunters love to hunt. The highways are currently filled with vehicles loaded with game feeders, deer blinds, and ATVs headed to hunting camps. I selfishly A healthy sevensmile with enthusiasm at the pounder for Capt. caravans, knowing that’s one Wayne on a Willow less angler on the water, in a Tail Shad in ankledeep water. spot I want to fish. Very little hunting on this angler’s part. Maybe a few duck hunts or an afternoon dove shoot, but for the most part I’m fishing. You never know when the epic moment of all the stars aligning will occur and a school of 30-inch-plus trout are all around you. The truth is, I think I like fishing more than hunting. Anyway, for the record, November was the month I landed five trout over 27 inches in a scant 20-minute

Mike Beadle was pleasantly surprised to land this snook.

span. The largest made the 32-inch mark. Yep, 32-inches, but only eight pounds. The fish had the body, just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the girth. That was seven years ago, on the last stop on the way back to Port. What a great day! By the time this article makes print I will have completed my second CCA seminar. This time with the San Antonio Chapter, and again with Empty Stringers Catch and Release Program as a main talking point. Keeping my ear to the ground regarding conservation, I realize we have a long way to go. Large corporate entertainment groups do not seem to embrace the catch and release concept as readily as others. But letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not rush to judgment. Having visited with the owners of several companies that host such events, I have learned that many invitees are participating in the only fishing trip they will make during a calendar year. And they want to keep fish. Understandable. Realizing this, I suggested we might reduce the number and size of fish that anglers could submit for the company fishing tournament. Maybe a compromise? So far, one very large corporate client has agreed and are modifying their tournament size and bag format to assist in the conservation effort. Wow! We made a difference. As of this writing, the tides have risen and fishing has ranged from decent to great. Reds have been moving toward passes and can be taken with topwaters and soft plastics in generally thighdeep water. Weather conditions continue to improve as far as the temperature and it has been very pleasant most of the day. We have been running both north and south of Port and finding fish in most places we stop, keying on bait concentrations in a bit less than waist-deep water. Some days the fish are aggressive and will take surface lures readily. Other days they want plastics, slow-rolled near bottom. We still have not figured that part out, but fish are hard to figure out sometimes, so we keep trying. I have noticed that fish are either in the potholes surrounded by very thick grass or, the opposite, isolated grassbeds surrounded by bare sand. One or the other will hold fish, but it has not been both in the same day. Keep that in my mind as you unravel your own fishing puzzles. A pleasant surprise is the snook we are seeing. We landed two very nice ones on a recent trip. The 4-inch KWigglers Paddletails and Willow Tails produced the snook that particular day. What a treat! Consistent soft baits in shallow water have been KWigglers Willow Tail and the 4-inch Paddletails, while the Ball Tail Shad definitely dominates the waist-deep stuff. Best success with all three plastics has been with 1/8-ounce, 2/0 black nickel jigheads. Field testing is still underway for our weedless rig â&#x20AC;&#x201C; stay tuned. Until next month, good luck out there and always remember to practice conservation and be courteous on the water. TSFMAG.com | 69

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

70 | November 2017

The month I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. November’s cooler temperatures are a catalyst that sparks consistently increased feeding activity as well as a prelude to trophy trout season. It’s almost as though the fish can sense winter’s approach and gorge daily to put on weight in preparation for the long stretch of colder days that lie ahead. Along with more frequent feeding activity we will also see greater willingness for trout and redfish to feed on the surface. During the long hot weeks of late-summer and early-fall, we often saw fish rushing a topwater and then shying away at the last second, or maybe Tommy LeBlanc only bumping it. All that displays his personal changes come November best – 26.5-inches – as crushing strikes take the Released! place of finicky swirls and

halfhearted blowups. Another reason I like this time of the year is the comfort that my Simms waders, jacket and various underlayers provide. Staying focused through a long day on the water is hard to accomplish when you are wet and cold. Dressing in layers, it is very easy to begin the day bundled warm and tight and then shed as necessary as the day warms. Hands down, Simms offers the best gear money can buy! Redfish, in general, are showing in good numbers, but mostly in isolated pockets. I have fished from the Land Cut all the way to Port Isabel recently and have not been able to establish a pattern that holds for more than a few days. The

Twenty-nine inches of personal best trout for Adam Gonzalez – Released!

tides being higher than normal recently likely contributes to this. Rather than attempting to stay on schools, we have enjoyed better results working inundated back bay shorelines and drains, searching for mullet concentrations more than waking and tailing reds. The lone exception has been the eastside sand flats near Port Mansfield’s East Cut. November usually kicks off the big trout season in the Lower Laguna. Already we are beginning to see increased trout feeding activity and better fish coming to hand than during September and the first weeks of October. As the water temperature continues to drop, we will continue to see more consistent patterns developing and individual weights increasing. Each passing cold front seems to make the fishing better. Luckily, November’s patterns do not usually require slogging through calf-deep muck, which becomes a daily routine later in winter. Our trout population, as I have mentioned before, is in good shape as we are catching them in good numbers in multiple areas, from the Land cut to Port Isabel. Finding keepers has not been at all difficult. Even slower days can be remedied by wading near the ICW drop-off. The new K-Wigglers Willow Tail in Mansfield Margarita has been a steady producer when worked low in the water column and our go-to for catching numbers. The fluttering tail evidently adds extra fish-attracting vibration, calling fish from farther away than rattail plastics. Its weedless capability also comes in very handy when fish are holding in grassier areas. Trout slicks have been very prevalent of late. Paying attention and working the area thoroughly when they initially pop on the surface is a sure bet for receiving aggressive feeding strikes. Most of the slicks I have witnessed lately have been popping in deeper water, meaning that we often need to make long casts to reach the feeding zone. But, never pass even a single slick. Lately, our bigger trout seem to be loners, and you cannot predict the size of the fish simply by the size or number of slicks popping. Our high fall tides remained well into winter last year, much longer than any of us expected. This year, who knows? Keep in mind that strong cold fronts will blow the tides out for a few days and, if like last year, they will return to pre-front levels before too long. As this occurs, it will cause fish to migrate but they also seem to return to the structure they were using earlier. Another hint for finding November fish is keying on bird activity – and not just seagulls. Sharp-eyed brown pelicans, ospreys, and even cormorants have ability to see bait in the water that we can only see when they are active at the surface. I cannot tell you how many times I have relied on the birds to lead me to a steady bite. Now is the time to gear up for the colder fishing weather that is coming. I strongly suggest Fishing Tackle Unlimited for all your Simms outerwear and underlayers. Visit one of their three Houston stores or online at FishingTackleUnlimited.com. Happy Thanksgiving! TSFMAG.com | 71

FISHING REPORTS

Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 November is shaping up to be excellent. We are seeing a lot of shrimp entering the estuary with each passing north wind. This should make for excellent bird fishing throughout the estuary. Trout and redfish will be schooling, and this makes for excellent fast-paced action. Shrimp imitations will work well rigged on quarter and eighth-ounce jigheads. MirrOlure Lil' Johns, H&H Sparkle Beetles, and Salty Grubs will be our baits of choice. Water clarity shouldn't be an issue, enhancing the appeal of natural colors like watermelon red, opening night, golden bream, and gold/red glitter. In stained water, try margarita, chartreuse ice, black and chartreuse, and purple and chartreuse. If fish are finicky for whatever reason, sometimes switching to a lighter jighead will produce more bites. Most of our fishing will be done north of Commissary Point. Turners Bay will be a hot bed for bird action. This is where we will spend the vast majority of our time in November. Good luck and see you all out there. Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James expects an upturn in the catching once the downturn in the temperatures occurs. “We've had an inconsistent year, but I think we

72 | November 2017

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

are set up for an excellent fall run. All the freshwater has sent fish into some unusual places for this time of year. The closer you are to the Gulf and a deep channel with salty water, the better the fishing is right now. The longer we go without big rains, the more the fish will return to their usual places. Lately, the wading has been really productive. We've been catching pretty fast limits of trout on a regular basis throwing Sea Shads and a new lure called the Lil' Boss, which is a fat-bodied soft plastic with a thick, thumping paddletail. The action of it is wicked, and it works great when you just slow roll it close to the bottom. Of course, we're catching pretty good on MirrOlure ShePups too, especially the bone one. We've got tons of shrimp in the back bays right now, so I expect the action around flocks of working birds to kick off real good once we get some stronger fronts around Halloween.” Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 “The bay is really, really fresh right now. We didn't lose our fish, though. East Bay has plenty of trout, and as usual, the fishing is feast or famine, depending mostly on the weather. Normally, when the cooler weather arrives, our fish will move towards the back of the bay. This will be true as long as we have relatively dry conditions. Too much rain will keep the back bays fresh, like they are right now. Wading tends to improve in November along muddy shorelines protected from strong north winds.

The fish generally won't stay on the deep reefs when the water gets really cold. They tend to move shallower, toward the shorelines. Strong, dry fronts will blow the tide out and help flush the backwater areas. Salty water can then return on the incoming tides after that. I'll be doing lots of hunting too. We'll be hunting ducks several days a week, staying in the blinds when the weather's nasty. I like fishing on the days with better weather this time of year, when warmer, calmer conditions occur between the fronts.” West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Fishing continues to return to normal after the hurricane, according to Randall. “We'll be doing some typical drills in November, focusing efforts on areas where falling tides pull predators and prey together on cool days. We pay plenty of attention to the shrimp migration this month, as the crustaceans make their way from the back bays toward the Gulf. Chicken on a chain Norton Bull Minnows and trick or treat Sand Eel Juniors are two of my favorite soft plastics to throw among migrating herds of shrimp. I like to rig them on quarter or three-eighths ounce ScrewLock jigheads. When tides run high between frontal passages, we like to hunt for the fish along shorelines and other shallow flats in the back lakes, targeting them with topwaters. The white Skitterwalk with red head stays in my wading box at all times when this drill is part of the plan. We normally catch plenty of slot reds and a few big trout this time of year in spots with a mix of mud and shattered shell on the bottom during the warm spells in the weather.”

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

Matagorda | Charlie Paradoski Bay Guide Service - 713.725.2401 Charlie is optimistic about the options available to anglers in the Matagorda area in November. “We have a huge shrimp crop right now. As fronts drive the water temps down and the tide out of the marshes, we will see trout, redfish and flounder gather in the drains and bayous to intercept them. Of course, we should see birds working in open areas of both East and West Matagorda Bays as this plays out too. We've already been catching some bigger trout on the south shoreline of East Matagorda, and this should only get better in November, which is a great month to target the trophy fish over there. The average size of the trout on the south shoreline of West Bay has been good lately too, and of course, the coves over on that side are full of redfish, as usual. Another option this time of year, when the weather calms and the water goes green to the beach, is the surf. The beachfront still produces plenty of trout in those conditions, and waders don't have to worry as much about sharks as they do in summer.” Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Fishing has been tough for us lately. Our deep reefs and well pads have freshwater runoff keeping the water dirty, and our high tides have scattered fish. Trout have been hard to come by. We've managed a few keepers under the birds, and in some guts holding salty water. Live shrimp rigged under popping corks have accounted for best bites in the guts. Redfish are far back in the marshes. We have some huge tides right now, and it is tough to get to the fish sometimes. When the tides fall a little bit, some of the fish come out and you can catch a few on local shorelines. I am hoping by November everything starts to get back to normal. We need some cool fronts to come through and drop water temps and tides to get fishing going again. I still think bird action will be good in East/South/Turtle Bay once the shrimp start to migrate. I also think the redfish will start schooling again when the shrimp start to fall out of the marsh. These things aren't happening now, so November should be a great month once they do. Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 In the Thanksgiving month, Lynn expects to be working a couple different patterns. “The redfish tend to school up and move down area shorelines toward the pass. We catch them by staying up shallow and throwing small topwaters and soft plastics on light jigheads along stretches with a good mix of sandy and grassy bottom. Abundant baitfish normally key us into the right areas when we're trying to take advantage of this pattern. Higher tides and warmer weather for this time of year help too. TSFMAG.com | 73

When strong fronts reduce the water temperatures and tide levels, we have better luck targeting trout over a muddy bottom dotted with scattered shell. The fish tend to retreat to drains and deeper holes soon after the fronts hit, and then come into the shallows close by a couple days later, when the weather starts to warm up. In that situation, we like to throw slow-sinking twitch baits and soft plastics with paddletails rigged on light jigheads, and we like to work 'em low and slow. This normally accounts for some of our biggest trout of the year.” Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 November is the start of duck season, so Blake will be doing lots of cast and blast outings. “Fishing has been really good lately, surprisingly so, especially for trout. We're catching some reds too, but lots more trout than normal. Tides are really high, so we've been focusing our efforts on areas with sandy, grassy bottoms tight to shallow shorelines. We are catching well on soft plastics like Norton Sand Eels in dark colors with light tails, as usual, and we've had a decent topwater bite on lots of days lately too. I expect these methods to continue producing as we move into the cooler days of fall. We'll start the day hunkered down in the duck blinds in the marshy areas, and target some redfish in the same areas on the way out after the shooting is over. Then, we'll move out to shorelines and shallow reefs in the bays later in the days to finish the outings. It's a great month to spend time in the outdoors. Rockport is on the rebound, and we're looking forward to seeing some of our regulars return to the Coastal Bend.” Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 The water in the Baffin Bay area continues to look very good, but the water temperature is on its way down. When it’s time to pull out the waders, make sure that they don’t have any leaks because the water temperature is going to be getting just cool enough to make it uncomfortable. The trout will be in two to three feet of water, and they’ll be using grassy edges and potholes to ambush their prey. Chicken on a chain or sand trout Bass Assassin Die Dappers rigged on sixteenthounce SpringLock jigheads will trick 'em. Working the same areas with live shrimp under a popping cork will also contribute to success in landing healthy trout. The redfish are also in great shape, especially the schools of bulls that have been heading toward the Gulf of Mexico. The Die Dappers work very well on them as well. The sight-casing game is providing much fun with the water levels being a little higher than normal lately. Sight-casting has been producing many reds, black drum and trout, using Fish Bites in less than twelve inches of water. Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961 With the cooler temperatures arriving in November, Joe expects to see a shift in the patterns available to anglers fishing in the Baffin/ULM area. “Once it cools down some more, we should have greater opportunity for sight-casting trout and redfish in the shallows. We have super high tides right now, which will likely fall out some behind the stronger fronts to come, but we'll probably still have plenty of water covering the really skinny flats. As long as the wind creates some ripple on the surface of the water, and the sun shines overhead, this will create plenty of chances to locate and target fish. The moderate water temperatures we typically experience in the first half of November facilitate this process. Once water temperatures dip down into the fifties and stay there, fishing improves along the edges of old channels leading off the 74 | November 2017

ICW and in the main channel itself. Fish tend to seek the warm comfort of the depths this time of year when strong fronts send the water temperatures plummeting in a hurry.” P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins November is often regarded as the best surf-fishing month in Texas. The finger mullet migration is in full swing and mornings are filled with explosive jack crevalle action. Jacks will hit spoons, swimbaits, and topwaters. The surest bet, though, is live mullet. Speaking of mullet – winter rules are now in effect – 12” max. length. Mullet will also entice slot and oversized red drum. Oversized reds can be tagged and retained, but unless intended for mounting, should be released. Their coarse flesh is not nearly as good as the slot-fish. Tarpon should be available until around Thanksgiving. Spanish mackerel and bluefish should be abundant. We could see a decent pompano bite occurring late-month if the water becomes cool enough. Shark action will be steady on medium-sized bulls, large blacktips, and the occasional tiger. Harvey gave us tons of freshwater, and lower than normal salinity in the surf zone can be both good and bad – time will tell. Tides are running high with lots of storm debris on the beaches. Drive with caution! Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 Fish will often feed throughout the day as water temperatures continue to decline. Flipping baitfish, slicks and shrimp skipping on the surface are sure signs of feeding activity. Flocks of gulls and terns should become active along the edges of the ICW, especially up around Century Point. Birds have saved more than a few days for me. November is famous for topwater action. Days with light winds can be dynamite for trout along the northern stretches of the west shoreline. Redfish will also be present, but in skinnier water. Once the topwater bite slows, I switch to KWiggler Ball Tails and Willow Tails on sixteenth and eighthounce jigheads, depending on water depth. Over on the east-side flats, I like to start shallow and work progressively deeper until fish are located. November usually brings quite a few east wind days, creating the perfect scenario to head over there. The oysters along the south side of East Cut normally hold plenty of reds, and the flounder should be using edges of the channel in the same general area. Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty | www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 Redfish catching has been awesome, as is expected for this time of the year. We have been limiting most trips, using FP3 corks with Berkley Gulp! Live three-inch shrimp in the lighter colors, with sixteen-inch thirty pound test monofilament leaders and eighthounce SpringLock jigheads, As we move farther into the fall season, we will begin to switch over to molting and new penny for a different look hopping and dropping below the corks. Trout have been a little more inconsistent. We have heard reports of good trout catches in the Mansfield area from my good friends at Poco Loco Bait and Tackle. For more information on how to rig up your FP3, visit Fishingwithpettys. com on Facebook and catch Freddy’s demo. Trout fishing should pick up in our area as the Lower Laguna Madre waters begin to cool in coming months. Boat traffic has slowed considerably, but weekends can still be crowded with tournament fishermen, since some events have been rescheduled later in the year due to hurricane Harvey. Say no to open bay dredge disposal.

texas saltwater fishing holes matagorda to corpus M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish

USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan

832.693.4292 www.fishfcc.com

Designer & Manufacturer of Specialized High Performance Fishing Rods Office: 361.573.0300

805 B. South Bridge Victoria, TX 77901

Fax: 361.573.0304

• Bay Fishing, Offshore, Floundering, Waterfowl, Dove • Night Fishing off Lighted Pier • Right On The Water • Lodging with/without Meals www.matagordasunriselodge.com 979-241-1705 TSFMAG.com | 75

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

Thank you, Terry Jones, for sharing this technique!

Belly Angle Cut

Back Straight Cut

Stretched Shrimp

The first thing I want to share is the stretched shrimp technique that I think revolutionizes the whole approach to cooking shrimp. It transforms shrimp knots into luscious, full-flavor shrimp sticks. It is a Tempura technique so, instead of me trying to translate, I have attached a YouTube video that shows the basic how-to, and you can experiment for yourself. I only cut the belly and not the sides or top. I do “break its back” like he explains, to insure the shrimp stays relaxed when it's cooked. www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6nnVi3i5lg&list=PL9wq6vISUen2504DuA345zSax2VTtafZN&index=2

INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

1-pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails on. Use the cutting method as described above.

After “stretching” shrimp - dredge through beer batter mixture and then roll in panko. Set aside 15 minutes before frying.

1-package Louisiana Seasoned Beer Batter Seafood Mix. Directions on package. 1-½ cups Japanese panko-style bread crumbs 76 | November 2017

While waiting for batter to “set” on the shrimp, heat large frying pan with cooking oil one-inch deep to 350⁰F. Fry shrimp two minutes each side. Remove and serve with favorite dipping sauce.

texas saltwater fishing holes

TROUT REDFISH FLOUNDER

Capt. Lynn Smith’s Back Bay Guide Service Port O’Connor Area

Wade & Drifting the Back Bays & Surf

Call 361.983.4434 (cell 361.935.6833) Email lynn@tisd.net (tswf.com/lynnsmith)

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ON THE WATER

Saltwater Fishing Clinics WITH

Capt. Robert Zapata

If you are having difficulty catching fish on a consistent basis, the clinic is designed for you. Learn Capt.Robert Zapata’s secrets to finding and catching more fish from his 25 years of experience as a professional fishing guide.

For Information Call 361-563-1160

TSFMAG.com | 77

Braeden LaValley Pelican Island - 21 lb redfish

Kayla Boul Galveston - trout CPR

Carson Montgomery Seadrift - 27” redfish

Dion Alexander Pelican Island - 18 lb redfish

Mr. Redfish Fanelli Galveston - 52” bull red

Weslene Gaetjen West Matagorda - 25 lb 3 oz tripletail 78 | November 2017

Blake LaValley Pelican Island - 25 lb black drum

Mark Loftice East Matagorda Bay - 28” 8 lb trout

James Flinn Pelican Island - 19 lb black drum

Darla Guffey Port Aransas - 28” first redfish!

John Metz 50” black drum, personal best fish!

James Gautreaux 47” personal best redfish! CPR

Crystal McKethan Pelican Island - 20 lb redfish

Veann Penny redfish

Richard Von Minden Rockport - 28.25” trout

Landon Roberts Mesquite Flatts - 27.75” slot red

Joey Rodriguez Port Mansfield - first keeper trout!

Jack Watson West Bay - 23.5” redfish

Susan Baffin Bay - 39" personal best bull red! Lucas Smith first keeper flounder!

Brian Woods POC - 27.5” trout CPR

Please do not write on the back of photos.

Email photos with a description of your Catch of the Month to: Photos@tsfmag.com

Bob Sonia PINS - 41” bull red

Scott Baffin Bay - 36" personal best bull red!

Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 TSFMAG.com | 79

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