Sept 2016
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about the Cover September marks the beginning of the “bull red run” on the Texas coast. David J. Sams, renowned outdoor photographer and founder of Lone Star Outdoor News, takes a turn on the other side of the lens, fishing with Scott Sommerlatte. Sommerlatte photo.
September 2016 VOL 26 NO 5
Contents FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 Stay Put or Move? 18 Adult Concepts 24 Tommy and the Jackfish: Part Two 28 The Never-Ending Search 32 Bull Redfish Ruckus
38 Let’s Ask The Pro 42 Shallow Water Fishing 46 TPWD Field Notes 50 Fly Fishing 52 Kayak Fishing Chronicles 56 TSFMag Conservation News 58 Fishy Facts 62 Inshore | Nearshore | Jetties | Passes 66 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks... 92 Boat Maintenance Tips 94 Science & the Sea
Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard
Jay Watkins Scott Null Norman Boyd Scott Sommerlatte Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Curtiss Cash Eric Ozolins Chris Mapp UT Marine Science Institute
10
WHAT OUR GUIDES
HAVE TO SAy
70 72 74 76 78 80 82
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
74
6 | September 2016
Dickie Colburn Caleb Harp Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros
42
REGULARS 08 68 84 88 90
Editorial New Tackle & Gear Fishing Reports and Forecasts Catch of the Month Gulf Coast Kitchen
90
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
The Beauty
It’s Sunday morning and I had the alarm set for 5:00. In our normal beat-the-heat style of late, we had planned to splash the boat at first light but the drizzling rain will delay that, if we make it out at all. No complaints, though. Daily highs have been crowding triple digits for weeks and with high humidity the heat index has been beyond sizzle by afternoon. Seventy-three degrees sure feels good watching the rain from the patio. In a few weeks it’s going to be difficult deciding whether to grab a fishing rod or shotgun, but herein lies the beauty of September. Sporting options will be many and varied and sometimes tough to squeeze them all in. Bull redfish will begin making their way to the gulf for spawning and these guys are a blast for every angling age group. Flounder will begin feeling the urge as the days grow shorter and they too will begin trickling toward the passes. Trout that have been too lazy in latesummer heat to chase down a lure will soon be feeding like piranhas. Throw in flights of doves and teal and it could hardly get any better. Barring the arrival of a wicked tropical weather system, (I try not to use the H word), the stage is set for the coming of a great fall season. Our writers have provided angling strategies for everything from sightcasting on the flats to chasing tarpon along gulf beaches. If you haven’t scratched a Texas silver king from your wish list there’s still time. Also for the nearshore crowd – kingfish, Spanish mackerel and bonito will be active on clouds of menhaden and anchovies. The surf stays in play all
8 | September 2016
of
September
month with plenty of light tackle action for trout and reds and maybe some shark fishing. Migrating shrimp and hovering gulls are always a September delight in the bays. More great state water artificial reefing news. The Rio Grande Valley Nearshore Reef, a true grassroots project that began in 2014, will soon see its first load of reefing materials deployed off South Padre Island. This has all become possible thanks to the diligent efforts of Friends of RGV Reef, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, CCA’s Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow and Building Conservation Trust, TPWD’s Nearshore Reefing Program, the Texas General Land Office, along with a host of local individuals and businesses also contributing. This is yet another outstanding example of Texas angling enthusiasts coming together to enhance fishing opportunity for the small boat fleet. Meanwhile, back on the patio. The rain is now coming in buckets and I cannot say it disappoints me. Maybe I’ll just brew another cup of coffee and head into town for a taco. After that I might take advantage of this cool morning and get my Labs out for a little tune-up. Only eighteen days ‘til the central zone dove season opener and I like my dogs sharp – even if my shooting might be a bit rusty. Whether you make plans to hunt, fish, or both…do not leave the kids at home. Getting them involved is the single greatest means to insure the future of our sporting traditions.
STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN
Some days trout just simply will not cooperate but we still had a blast following this school of dolphins for over 45 minutes as they put on a show reminiscent of Sea World.
T
here was just enough of a ripple on the surface to see trout slicks as the sun peeked over the horizon. It was a late summertime pattern that was about as predictable as the sunrise itself. I may as well of had the Jackson 5 playing on my stereo because catching was going to be as “Easy as 1-2-3.” The tide was changing from a high to a low. A waxing eighty-percent moon was sinking out of sight in the west. Everything seemed staged for an epic bite but we could only manage a few dink trout. What in the heck was going on? Should we stay put and wait on the larger trout to feed or should we move on to hopefully greener pastures? Were those larger trout even still there or had they found a new home? The question of when to stay put or when to move to another locale seems to be the million dollar question that lurks in the minds of fishermen. There are countless variables that should influence your decision to stay or leave. I will attempt to address some that I feel are relevant based upon my own experiences as well as provide a few tips along the way. All of this being said, we also need to understand that there are days when there seems to be no explanation for a trout’s unwillingness to cooperate. Those are the days when we just take our lumps and pray for a better day tomorrow. While fishing is not an exact science there are certain indicators to help decide whether to stay put or continue searching. Most importantly, you need to remain updated on all elements that affect trout feeding patterns and movements. If you understand what’s going on around you then you will have the confidence to make the correct move. Hopefully, you did some homework to determine the tide movements for the area you planned to fish. Studying a solunar table also plays an important role. There are days when major and minor feeding periods have an unbelievably profound effect on the trout bite. Having some knowledge of the hydrology, forage species movements and seasonal influences for your area are also imperative. If you didn’t take time to study these influences you’ll just have to rely on luck. And while we can all use a little luck sometimes, there are things we can do to increase our odds. You may consider staying put if you see slicks popping, you’re in an area that has been producing, and the tide is about to start moving. This is more about the “When” than the “Where” and the fact that you enjoyed success in the area the day before. You probably should move on if there is decent tide movement, active bait, you’re in the middle of a major or minor feeding period, and you’re not getting bit. If you’ve tried everything you know and you still can’t make them eat then you’re most likely not on fish. There are exceptions, however. If you really feel like you are on fish then try a few different things before moving on to another location. Sometimes it’s as simple as throwing a different color soft plastic or changing the weight of your jig head. There are times when the fish you’ve been catching near the bottom
have repositioned higher in the water column. We actually witnessed this on a recent trip. I cautioned one of my clients that he was working his jig too fast as we began the morning’s first drift. About that time he landed a healthy speck. Needless to say everyone in the boat increased their retrieval rate and caught fish. We had caught our trout the day before near the bottom in almost 10 feet of water by employing a low and slow retrieve in that same location. My guess is that predawn rain showers cooled the surface while also infusing oxygen causing the shad to elevate and subsequently the trout. It could be that you and your buddies are casting down current instead of across or upcurrent. All fish face into the current – so bringing your lure from behind them is the wrong approach. Next time you hit the water take a look at some of the other boats with 3 or 4 guys in them. More often than not Many reds like this one (released) you’ll see the guys on the bow and stern along with countless trout were catching more fish than the guys in the duped in an area we revisited during the tide change and center of the boat. This is because they’re minor feed. Two hours earlier the ones throwing cross-wind or crossthe same area produced nothing. current. The proper approach is to swing the boat around to allow everyone opportunity to cast at the correct angle. This can be done by using your trolling motor and/or drift sock. Anchoring is also an option especially if you’re on a good school. Just know which cleat to use based upon the wind and current to keep the boat positioned for cross-current casting. Chunking a high pitched topwater like a MirrOlure She Dog to draw an agitation strike will most often let you know if the fish are there or not. Topwaters can serve as good indicator baits when all else fails. Making the right call is not always an easy thing to do, but understanding what triggers fish to feed will result in more Switching over to bright catching and less casting practice. colors (Limetreuse) made Sometimes relocating to another area all the difference on this has nothing to do with catching. Here in sunny green water day! Galveston Bay we fish quite a few unmarked reefs and other submerged structure not identified on maps and charts. When a spectator slows down to take a closer look it’s time to quickly relocate. You can revisit the area at a later time, but you darn sure don’t want the wrong person finding out about your secret hole especially in a bay where there aren’t many left. I can’t say how many times we’ve ended up catching fish where we started the morning. It may seem illogical to revisit a spot that didn’t produce the first time, but in most cases catching is more timing related than anything else. A perfect example can be illustrated from a recent 8 year-old Dax Satterwhite made his mother, Jenny, proud by having the patience to wait for the tide to change. His reward was this 25-inch trout!
12 | September 2016
A late summer-time trip when we were on the back side of a full moon when pattern is usually tides are weak. Our first stop of the morning yielded one about as predictable gafftop. After casting to slicks for about 15 minutes I knew as the sunrise itself. these trout were not ready to feed yet. After hitting several other areas with no luck I decided to return to our first spot. The slicks were still there, the tide was slowly beginning to creep in and the moon was about an hour from the horizon (minor feed). Like magic, the same school that had turned up their noses at our Tidal Surge Split Tails two hours earlier wouldn’t let us reel in without attacking it. We caught trout literally every cast for 30 minutes. Spend time becoming more familiar with the areas you’re fishing. Learn the bottom structure and contours of the flats, reefs, etc. you’re frequenting. Figure out which tides and winds are best for those areas. Find the sweet spots “within the spots” and always be observant. Try to rely more on your senses and instincts than waypoints on your GPS. Use high sensitivity rods and reels such as Waterloo’s Ultra Mag or HP Lite fitted with a lightweight long-casting reel like 13 Fishing Concept E. You have to be able to feel the bites to know you’re on fish. Know that you can’t always catch them the way you want to catch them or when you want to catch them – so learn which adjustments to make and when to make them. Gaining confidence through experience and having the ability to actually pull up to an area and visualize what’s happening beneath the surface will result in a more advanced level of thinking and smarter choices. Once you’ve acquired these attributes the decision to stay or leave will process more quickly and become second nature.
Contact
Steve Hillman
14 | September 2016
Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures. Phone 409-256-7937 Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com Web www.hillmanguideservice.com
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STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN
S
I
n April of 1998, I submitted my first article to Gene Baker, then owner of Gulf Coast Connections magazine. I remember pecking out words on a typewriter and folding a paper into an envelope, which I sent via snail-mail. Boy, times have changed! This year, my career as a columnist for this publication reached legal voting age. Like people generally do, my writing skills have matured over time. As the calendar evolves, so do my perceptions of sports and the world, of all things. Regularly, I find myself rehashing old, familiar ideas in new ways, in attempt to acknowledge the effects of innovations in equipment, methods and technologies. To honor of the maturation of my work, I’ll offer three statements here. Among the most poignant words I’ve ever tapped out on the keys, these edicts remain significant to me. One identifies an important foundational element supporting success in the sport of inshore fishing, the second states an absolute truth related to the sustainability of the resource, and the last relates specifically to our spirit and to the purposes underlying the activity. I stand behind the veracity of the first statement-“the person with the most extensive knowledge of the physical features of the bay systems has the greatest chance at consistent productivity.” This
Handling large trout carefully with a Boga Grip or similar device and extracting them from the water only briefly for pictures enhances their chances for survival after release.
assertion appeared as part of a piece intended to identify the characteristics shared by the most productive inshore anglers. The best show the strongest ability to locate fish consistently, and their familiarity with the bay systems in which they work contributes mightily to the ability. To enhance their awareness of the intricacies of the bays, these anglers also recognize how various environmental elements affect all parts of the waterways. Ironically, much of the profoundly critical knowledge reached the brains of these experts after passing through their feet. I’ve said it before and will type it again--wading allows for the most detailed appreciation of the anatomy of the bays, because walking around in the water facilitates the complete perception of an area, including the precise location of subtle depth changes and the type of bottom throughout the place. Google Earth images help modern anglers learn things, and experts take advantage of the eye in the sky, but no satellite image on a computer screen can This monster trout, caught and released by Beau Blackard replace a tactile connection with at the end of January, 2014, might still be swimming the face of the earth itself. around somewhere in our coastal waters. The fish Memorizing a thorough provided quite a thrill to both Beau and me when he and accurate template of the caught it; I hope it does the same for other anglers. topography of the bays and how seasonal changes, weather elements and tide levels and cycles accentuate or degrade potential productivity in various areas allows top anglers to find fish more regularly than people who show a rudimentary grasp of these details. Fishing many hundreds or thousands of days, documenting the outcomes of their efforts either formally or informally, the masters of the sport compile an ample data base and catch more fish than others. Because they potentially place the highest levels of stress on the resources, due to their consistent presence and extraordinary effectiveness, fishing guides and expert amateurs acquire a responsibility to act as role models and show other anglers the best ways of doing things. In the end, ensuring the resources’ long-term sustainability proves more important than the size of the harvest on Studying the bottom features any given day. revealed on Google Earth images As these concepts relate specifically to fishing like this one of Rocky Slough can for spotted seatrout, the second statement help anglers determine precise, bears an especially high level of significance. effective ways to target fish in the documented area. I originally discovered it while working on a book titled Inshore Angler’s Blueprint for Success. Searching for absolute truths related to fishing, I managed to articulate three, one of which reads this way--”a dead fish cannot be caught again.” Most coastal anglers, including those who target trout, want to take home some fish to eat. For many, cooking fresh fillets satisfies an urge and provides closure to an outing. While we quell our appetite for fish, we must also remain aware of the finality associated with the act of killing a fish. No sane, responsible individual would deny the legitimacy underlying the act of ingesting what has been harvested legally. The state bears the ultimate responsibility to define the parameters which establish the legality of the harvest. I 18 | September 2016
20 | September 2016
ancient, both externally and internally. The water and organisms in it precede us, our connection with it and them sustains us, and we feel these things deeply. For many of us, these feelings generate a strong urge to protect and preserve the creatures and habitats which draw us outdoors. Consequently, we face a constant quandary, wishing to participate in time-honored rituals which involve harvesting and eating what we catch while also acknowledging the need to preserve the resource responsibly. This conundrum affects the lives of fishing guides most profoundly. We must concurrently provide fish for our customers, while serving as role models to explain why killing all the fish cannot be a good thing. My customers regularly tell me, “We don’t need to keep fish today. We’ve already got a freezer full of fillets.” I know they mean well when they say these things, and many of them will make good use of the fish they’ve chosen to keep and freeze. But across this wide state, under the figurative light of a single star, bags of frozen fillets go to waste as I type this, and that’s a travesty. As youngsters, we all learned (or should have learned) a valuable sporting ethic—you must eat what you choose to kill. Allowing fillets to spoil in a freezer obscenely insults this important mantra. Disrespecting ethical standards damages the soul eventually. Within us, the soul provides the battleground for a war between good and evil. A weakened soul allows dark forces to gain the upper hand in this eternal conflict. Essentially, the allure of fishing resides in the way it confronts us with a moral dilemma. When we succeed in catching a fish, we must decide its fate, measuring its importance against our own. Doing so simultaneously bends us back toward our roots, while potentially illuminating a path to enlightenment and forward-gazing sensitivity. Because we live in a world dominated by technology and digital media, we sometimes feel out of touch with the tactile, physical aspects of our world, things which more directly and profoundly influenced human behavior for eons. In days long gone, people didn’t think much about conservation or sporting ethics, but in our modern world, we must consider these things when we choose to hunt or fish. Anglers who become most educated about the physical aspects of the earth show the greatest potential for success and celebrity. They also shoulder the heaviest burden to protect the heritage and the resources, so future generations can remain cognizant of the ways of our ancestors and the world they once knew, and so they will have fish to catch and eat.
Kevin Cochran Contact
applaud Texas Parks and Wildlife’s recent reduction of the daily bag limit on trout to five throughout most of the state. Given the increased amount of effective fishing pressure compared to what existed when the state created the previous limit of ten in 1984, the reduction seemed long overdue to many. In addition to lowering the limit, I’d like to see the agency eliminate the one-over-25 rule, which allows each licensed angler to legally kill and keep one trout over twenty five inches every day. Such a law fails to fully acknowledge the critical role large trout play in sustaining the resource, one TPWD states explicitly on their own website. “A female spotted seatrout may spawn several times during the season. Younger females may release 100,000 eggs and older, larger females may release a million.” I’ve copied and pasted the preceding statement straight off the TPWD website. It directly reveals the reason we should release all (or at least almost all) the big trout we catch. Speckled trout “females are larger than males, and they also attain a greater maximum age and size. They may live as long as 18 years, but individuals over five years of age are rare.” (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission website) The last part of this statement rings loudest to me. The value of older, female trout resides not only in their tremendous fertility, but also in the enjoyment they provide to the anglers who catch them. Releasing jumbo trout enhances the potential of the fishery in two ways, by allowing the old fish to spawn again and providing excitement to people who catch them again. To assist in the endeavor, CCA should take a public stand against killing giant trout, and stop using weight to decide the winner of a tournament like the S.T.A.R.. Doing so sends the wrong message to the public and plays a role in reducing the number of big fish we have a chance to catch. This act diminishes the quality of the fishery, a consequence contrary to any conservative mission. We all know catching is more fun than fishing, and many of us believe catching big fish is more fun than catching little fish. Coastal anglers don’t unanimously agree about everything, but we all share common traits and characteristics. I touched on one of these when I generated the last of the three statements which serve as cornerstones for this piece. I placed it originally in a reflective ramble created for the magazine called “Dunebucks and Butterflies”. I intended to examine the deep sources underlying our motivation to go fishing and to pay homage to some of the profound feelings and magical things we experience and witness when we leave our everyday lives behind and head out into the wild. Significantly, this statement found a home near the center of the piece--”we fish to keep our souls alive.” Certainly, we do not fish simply to keep our bodies alive; coastal fishing cannot cost-effectively sustain us physically. For all of us, the act of fishing fuels more than just our bodies; it nourishes and replenishes our souls. Eventually, the purpose of fishing proves more meaningful than a mere meat haul, and even exceeds a noble attempt to stay in touch with nature. We do fish to maintain contact with the natural world, to remain connected with our roots as hunter-gatherers. Somewhere inside us resides a deep-seated need to learn skills which superficially serve to sustain us. Instinctively, we harbor a desire to do things which provide sustenance, in addition to more subtle forms of satisfaction. When we wet a line, we hone a connection back to a simpler time, linking ourselves literally and figuratively with something
Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject. Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.
Trout Tracker Guide Service Phone Email Web
361-688-3714 kevxlr8@mygrande.net www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com
STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP
Part Two
T
ommy was still fussing about his broken rod while he and Bodie cleaned fish and washed the boat. “Tommy Boy,” Bodie said, “You can always get another rod, it’s not all that big a deal.” “Well not like this one, Bodie,” Tommy lamented. “You remember old Skinny Johnson? He made this rod personally for me, it’s custom stuff, and Skinny’s been dead for years.” “Yessir, I remember Skinny, and he made a decent rod. But there are better rods being made these days,” Bodie assured him. “But if you’re set on that particular one, why don’t you take it by Old Man Jackson’s place and see if he can fix it for you?” “Hey, that’s a good idea, Bodie. I’ll bet that if anybody could fix it… Old Man Jackson could!” Bodie placed Tommy’s big jack in a spare cooler and dumped what was left of their ice over it as the pair proceeded to head off in their own directions. Bodie to the ranch and Tommy to Old Man Jackson’s shop. Bodie drove up to the barn and saw that Monroe had the crew loading cedar posts onto a trailer to go to work on a new cross-fence they had been planning. “We should have that fence knocked out by day after tomorrow,” Monroe told his boss. “That’ll work, Monroe. And I’m guessing you have enough posts and wire?” “We have plenty of everything, no worries there,” Monroe replied. “I have some paperwork, Monroe, so I’ll be here in the office for a spell. Call if you need anything hauled out there.” “Sounds good, Boss, but I think we’ve already loaded what we’ll need,” Monroe answered over his shoulder. Bodie sat at the old wooden desk that had once been in some Army office. Mr. Connor had purchased a lot of surplus furniture from the government when they were closing bases after the war. He started stapling invoices with corresponding orders to be sent to the ranch accountant for payment. His thoughts wandered to Tommy’s broken rod and doubted whether Old Man Jackson could repair it. With that thought he made a call to a hobby rod-builder friend that owed him a couple favors. They discussed a new rod – what blank and
action to use, along with the guides and style of handle he thought would best suit Tommy. Bodie’s friend agreed to take the project and said he could build it within a few days. “I sure do appreciate it, Tim. Call me when it’s ready and I’ll drive into town and pick it up,” Bodie told the rod-maker. Tommy walked into Old Man Jackson’s shop carrying his damaged rod and gave him the full story about how strong the fish was that he had whipped, damaging his favorite rod during the fight. Old Man Jackson looked it over carefully and shook his head. “I could replace the reel seat and handle, Tommy. But look here, the blank is cracked and I can’t fix that.” Tommy thanked him for his trouble and walked sadly to his truck. He drove to Haddon’s to have a beer and grab some lunch and, of course, to share his sorrows with Eloisa. “It was the biggest fish I have ever caught,” Tommy told her. “But it ruined my favorite rod and it can’t be fixed.” Eloisa bought Tommy a beer and turned in his order for a chickenfried steak and fries. Tommy looked up at Bodie’s big trout hanging over the bar and it reminded him of his plan. “Hey Eloisa, I’m gonna have that big old jackfish mounted. Will you hang it over the bar when I get it done?” “I’ll put it on the wall by the pool tables, Tommy. More people will see it that way,” she answered rather skeptically. Haddon’s was pretty slow with just a few regulars and a couple of out-of-towners sporting flowery shirts, ugly shorts, white legs and flipflops with socks. “Tourists!” Tommy muttered to himself. Finishing his lunch, Tommy headed to the house to put his fishing gear away and then decided a good nap was in order. Bodie wrapped up his ranch business and headed into town to grab some lunch. “You just missed Tommy…crying about a broken fishing rod,” Eloisa greeted. “Said he was going to have a big jackfish mounted and wanted to hang it over the bar…I told him I’d hang it over by the pool tables,” she added with raised brows. Bodie ordered a cheeseburger with bacon and jalapenos and an order of fries. “Yeah, he’s pretty torn up about that old rod and he can well afford to buy any custom rod he wants…but Tommy’s nostalgic TSFMAG.com | 23
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Red, aren’t you supposed to be in casino someplace?” Tommy asked pulling up a chair. “I was in a casino someplace. Now I’m here,” Red snapped back. Bodie chuckled at that as Eloisa brought a round of beers and Tommy began talking about his broken rod. Red told him to buy a new one. Tommy was insulted and Bodie intervened. “It was a nice rod, Red, and his favorite at that,” Bodie offered. “I know they’re good. Hell I’ve got four of Skinny’s rods,” Red remarked. “And no, I don’t plan on letting any of them go, in case you’re interested.” Red’s comment put Tommy to sulking. “Tell Red about your big jack, Tommy,” Bodie sighed, trying to change the subject. Tommy suddenly got a sick look and started choking. Bodie slapped him on the back to help him get his breath. Tommy jumped up and ran out the front door. “See, I told you a hundred times he’s a nut!” Red muttered. A few minutes passed and Bodie and Red went outside to find Tommy at the back of his truck holding his nose, staring into an ice chest covered with flies. “What’s the matter, Tommy?” Bodie asked. “I forgot about my fish and never put any more ice on it,” Tommy sobbed. “That fish been in the cooler all day in the sun?” Bodie frowned. Tommy nodded. Bodie and Red walked closer and both got a good whiff of the rotting jack even before reaching the truck….
Martin Strarup
Contact
about his old gear,” he chuckled. “Well, he’s a nut, if you ask me,” Eloisa replied. Bodie was munching his cheeseburger when Monroe phoned to say he was going to need more fence staples. “I thought you said you had everything you needed,” Bodie joked back. “Well, Boss, I thought so too. But we’re going to run short.” Bodie drove out to the ranch and picked up two boxes of staples and then drove to the pasture where the crew was working. “Man, you guys work fast!” Bodie remarked. The crew had made more progress than Bodie would have thought possible and were almost finished setting the corner posts for the gate and ends. With the post holes already in place they would be finished in little more than a day. Tommy awoke from his nap and set about tearing down his reel for cleaning. He stripped the line and added new braid, then started puttering around the house. He decided to vacuum the carpet in the den but the vacuum cleaner wouldn’t work. He tried different plugs thinking maybe a breaker was out and it was the same with all of them. He was going to have to have it repaired or buy a new one. Tommy drove into town and went to a local vacuum cleaner shop where he liked doing business and the owner took a look at his old unit. “Looks like the motor’s burned up, Tommy. I have a sale going on if you would like to buy a new one,” the man announced hopefully. Tommy looked at all the new machines with sale tags and couldn’t decide. “Just pick one out you think will work for me and I’ll take it,” he told the shopkeeper. Making small talk as he rung up the sale, the clerk remarked that it was the hottest day of the year and already over 100 degrees outside. Tommy agreed that it was mighty hot, thanked the man, carried the vacuum to his truck and headed home. Opening the carton on the living room floor, Tommy thumbed through the owner’s manual and started vacuuming. “Wow, this thing is powerful. It would run across the room if I let go of it!” he exclaimed. Amazed, he went all through the house, vacuuming and trying out all the attachments as he went. Bodie phoned just as he finished, wanting to know if he had supper plans. “I’ll jump in the shower and see you at Haddon’s in thirty minutes,” Tommy told his friend. Bodie was seated at a table with Red when Tommy walked in. “Hey
Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman. Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas. Email
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24 | September 2016
Trouthunter@swbell.net
Paul Akscyn figured out the redfish.
STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE
M
y mornings typically begin the same as most fishermen as I go through my mental checklist of the items I need or the potential areas I may choose to fish. Loading gear and taking care of the boat to insure a safe trip to and from the launch is also high on my list. I’m sure most of you reading this have a favorite place to stop and gas up your rig, grab some ice or snacks, and maybe a cup of coffee the same as I do. It’s a familiar routine that puts us in the right frame of mind to go out and enjoy a day on the water. Recently, I was well into my morning routine as I eased up to the gas pump and for some reason I left my key in my truck turned on so the radio continued playing while I pumped my gas. There, coming out of the speakers, was the one and only Robert Earl Keen Jr and his famous The Road Goes on Forever tune that most any Texas country music fan can recite lyrics frontward and backward. I stood there and listened as I pumped my gas and smiled while thinking to myself about how true those words were as Keen sang “and the party never ends.” On the way to the launch I started thinking about how fishermen seem to always be in search of the next “something” like that famous road in the Keen song. It dawned on me that there was a lot of truth in that song and I could see some of that in my own time on the water. Take for instance the very basic action of trying to figure out the fish each day, otherwise known as establishing a pattern. There are tons of variables that have critical effects on each pattern and that’s exactly what drives fishermen to either succeed or fail. Some areas have their own regional patterns that occur like clockwork while others have far more difficulty stringing together consecutive days or weeks much less months or years. Searching for answers seems to be a common thread for those who fish and it looks like we all fall somewhere into that group. For now, in my part of the world around Sabine Lake, we are in one of those cycles that only come along every so many years. Normal conditions and patterns would dictate that the entire lake would be one giant livewell flush with shad, pogies, and shrimp. All that bait under normal circumstances would be running for its collective lives as it was pursued by everything that swims and most everything else that flies. Huge schools of redfish and trout would normally be stomping holes in the lake as they feasted under the gulls and terns that opportunistically follow these schools of bait. This action would be normal anywhere from the IH-10 Bridge to the gulf and almost all parts in between, had this been a normal summer. Instead we have two thirds of the lake basically unoccupied as the struggle for salinity supremacy continues between the runoff and rains from upriver and the strong tides from the gulf. As of this writing the runoff and rains appear to be winning as the majority of the fishing world currently resides south of the Causeway Bridge.
Hungry little largemouths have taken over in many of the backwater lakes and ponds.
28 | September 2016
normally fish, it will certainly pay dividends in the long run. The freshwater staying in the brackish marshes for longer periods will promote new growth and allow more grasses to take root, which will certainly help some areas with erosion problems. The new grass will be a welcome sight for the many duck hunters who inhabit the area starting in September with teal season and on into November when the regular duck season gets cranked up. The more vegetation that grows will also help provide food and cover for not only bait fish but also juvenile sportfish that begin their lives in the marshes and estuaries that surround Sabine. In the past after these types of conditions, we have seen tremendous fishing in the years that follow – especially in the numbers of redfish that become available. The variations in the patterns are an inconvenience at the moment but they’ll be a blessing in the future.
Chuck Uzzle
Contact
Now this pattern is not completely new but it’s also by no means normal either. We have in the past had wet summers that forced fishermen to concentrate their efforts farther down the lake and that is exactly what’s going on now. Anglers who enjoyed the late summer and early fall patterns of soaking live bait in the far northern reaches of Sabine Lake and on into the river are being effectively shut out as the freshwater just refuses to cooperate and let things get back to a somewhat normal status. Many areas that traditionally hold some fantastic speckled trout during the summer are coughing up boatloads of largemouth bass! The freshwater folks are having as good a summer as many can ever remember. Speaking of bass, I ran a huge section of marsh recently while scouting for an upcoming redfish trip and I quickly realized I was in trouble as one thirteen-inch bass after another continued to inhale my Savage shrimp under a cork. I was absolutely amazed at how many bass were in some of these areas until I really started looking around. Several of the larger boat cuts were choked with lily pads that had beautiful white flowers growing among them. The different species of grass that are normally prevalent in only a few areas were everywhere and the water looked like it had been poured from a bottle of good bourbon. It truly was gorgeous but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for because the redfish were scarce to say the least. So the never-ending search sent me south where I eventually found some cooperative redfish and far fewer largemouths. Even though this current pattern of far more freshwater being present than we are accustomed to causes us to change how we
Hunter Uzzle and Larry “Pops” Fikes with a “pumpkin” caught during a rain shower.
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 wakesanddrakes@yahoo.com Website wakesndrakes.com
STORY BY JOE RICHARD
A
utumn’s bull redfish run is no myth. They gather and spawn late in summer but especially in September, which coincides with high tides and also the fall mullet run. That’s when millions of these silvery baitfish gang up and migrate south along the beach and for their efforts, get blasted by redfish. First, the spawning game: Redfish of 34 inches and bigger utilize autumn’s high tides, aided on occasion by even higher water from tropical storms or hurricanes. Big reds favor jetty passes to drop their eggs, where they’re carried back into the marsh to develop and grow. Biologists say that a “strong recruitment year,” or a great year for new redfish, coincides with big storms. These fish carry a full appetite while doing so, and they’re not particular about what they eat. September action on big reds can be fast and furious, until anglers are exhausted. If catching a bull redfish is on your bucket list, look no further than the jetties in September.
Offshore schools of bull redfish often mix with sharks and jacks and even tarpon. When a red is hooked up, big sharks can show up fast.
They’re hard to predict on a daily basis, but catching several on a moving jetty tide, day or night, should be no problem. We have hammered bull reds on incoming and outgoing tides, but a slack tide was lame and something to avoid. At times these fish can school in the thousands, which we have encountered on a few occasions. On magically calm and quiet nights, we’ve heard them drumming 20 feet below on bottom, beneath the boat, and it must have been a lot of fish. So many, there was no need to set out more than one rod, because you couldn’t even lower a bait and set the rod in a gunnel holder before it bent double. We were fishing bottom of course, with cut mullet and other bait, including croakers and dead menhaden, really anything bigger than shrimp. Even a small chunk of bait on a big circle hook was quickly grabbed. Back then we used medium boat rods, Penn reels loaded with 40- or 50-pound line. Heavy mono leader, eight-ounce lead weights if the current was running, and a big circle hook that could handle even a passing tarpon. There was no need to cast—just flip a bait out
A double-header of bull redfish landed in Matagorda Bay. The top fish was caught on a plastic jig, the lower fish on a crab bait.
32 | September 2016
there a few feet, and set the rod in a gunnel holder, in gear, medium drag on the reel. These big reds couldn’t take too much line when hooked so close, and that’s how we racked up the big numbers, even when the current was racing. Our best afternoon was 46 bull redfish landed and released, before pulling anchor. And that was after we ran out of mullet. We estimated that many reds weighed perhaps 800 pounds, dragged aboard and then released. This was on a hot afternoon, but we’ve seen the same fast action even at midnight, especially during the full moon or dark of the moon tide cycles. It should be noted that rounding up fresh live bait with a cast net is a valuable plus on these redfish trips. Frozen bait doesn’t stay on the hook as well, especially when sea catfish, crabs and critters are nibbling away. Bring a cutting board—if you pin a circle hook through the lower lip and out the top of the head of a fresh, onepound mullet, nothing can steal that. It will eventually draw the attention of big predators, usually redfish. I soon realized lighter gear was more fun for big redfish. We began using 25-pound spin gear with 7-foot rods — tackle commonly used in winter sailfish tournaments in South Florida. Perfect tackle! Each fish gave a very good account of itself, making runs up to 60 yards. Anglers in nearby boats were hooking these 40-inch reds on lighter bay tackle, often using 12-pound line, and that meant a long and tedious fight that eventually overtires big redfish. That wasn’t good; these fish are mostly released, and you don’t want them floating bellyup from exhaustion. We have also found bull reds feeding on the surface during outgoing tides on the bay side of the jetties, busting small, migrating blue crabs. We were able to sight-cast to these big fish—they looked like orange cobia in green water. During five consecutive afternoons I put 59 of these big reds into the boat, eventually straining my shoulder. Some were caught on heavier gear, by pinning a frantic blue crab to a red circle hook Bigger redfish prowl offshore in open and lobbing it behind the boat, leaving the reel water. Some, mixed with slot reds, in gear. It was savage action, compared to your gather around the platforms, too. typical trout trip. One redfish that I spot-cast to made a longer run than the rest, spooling the big spin reel, leaving me with nothing. It was an awesome show of power; maybe a big shark had him, we never found out. The hot lure that month for sight-casting was a green and orange bucktail jig, which perhaps imitated a blue crab. We even used topwater MirrOlures. Watching a 42-inch redfish rear its head out of the water to chomp down on a topwater plug — that was a first. But digging heavy treble hooks out of thrashing redfish isn’t much fun, and we went back to throwing single-hook jigs. These same autumn bull reds are caught by surf anglers using the big, 12-foot (and longer) sticks, capable of heaving a mullet head way out there, 200 feet or so. Somehow I’ve never done this while barefoot in the surf. Maybe some day.
When bull reds are feeding in autumn, happy families (well, sort of ) can rack up a dozen or more of these trophy fish. They’re easily released when caught on single-hook jigs.
I have, however, fished the old-fashioned way in huge, breaking surf, by heading for a pier when a tropical storm was in the Gulf or even imminent. (High Island pier, years ago). Guys out there were spending the night with 12-foot surf shooting spray between each deck plank. It was a wooden surf pier, and they don’t make ‘em any more. During a full moon it was exciting fishing, with huge waves passing by and the pier shaking. But somehow we always missed a big redfish “run” and only saw a few of these fish ever landed. There was too much luck involved, hitting a passing school that was probably headed for the nearest jetty, in this case Galveston. And then there are today’s late-summer schools of bull redfish working along the beachfront in calmer weather, most notably from High Island to Crystal Beach. These are accessible only by boat, (unless they wander in real close), because these fish usually work too far from the sand to be reached by shore-bound anglers. In these circumstances my friends and I have launched in flat surf with johnboats and gone after them, a technique that is almost too easy. Often we did so after spotting surface action on the horizon 34 | September 2016
Joe Richard
Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast. He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com
Contact
Bull redfish caught in Matagorda Bay on artificial jig, while casting at fish feeding on the surface. Quite a battle on medium spin tackle.
with binoculars, from the comfort of a pickup truck’s cab. We’d see big blowups out there— something was blasting baitfish—and it was often big reds. Jacks and big blacktip sharks mix with them, and even tarpon. That’s serious action, not meant for trout tackle. As mentioned, the circle hook is perfect for catching bull reds—these fish are almost always hooked in the corner of the mouth, making for an easy release. These big reds are Texas tough and can be released a minute or two after landing. We never use a landing net, but grab the heavier 100-pound mono leader and also the tail of the fish, and heave them aboard. After release, they might float bellyup for a short time, which means they’re resting. Many times, we’ve seen them float and then dive out of sight. They’re really a great, inshore fish for hard action, while durable enough for the public to release. Not so good on the table however, and we never keep them. Though some people do, utilizing their annual kill tag from their Texas fishing license, tagging the fish like a turkey or deer. We’ve used circle hooks on big redfish since the mid-1980s, but always size 16/0, much bigger than needed. That’s the best hook for tarpon, often our target fish, but we still landed hundreds of bull reds with this gear. The eye of big circle hooks are so big, you can pound one with the heel of your fist to knock the hook loose. (Instead of prying with needlenose pliers). About one of every 30 of our big circle hooks were swallowed by these fish and when that happened, we simply cut the leader right next to the lips. We often used 150-pound Ande line for leader, and with that you can land a lot of these fish without losing any tackle at all. For many guests on my boat, these bull reds have been the biggest fish they’ve ever caught. And so easy to do, when September rolls around.
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Joseph Schmidt with early morning hook-up.
J AY WAT K I N S
ASK THE PRO
Strategies for
Nighttime Feeding Zones
We all want fall weather to get here quick but the reality is that September is another hot month. Fishing patterns will not change much, our days will likely begin with little to no wind and surface water temps will be well up into the 80s for several more weeks. Nighttime feeding will continue to prevail throughout most of the month and understanding the mechanics of this pattern are critically important if catching quality trout is to be expected. Nighttime feeding – there’s two key words for you. I firmly believe that the best of the best trout available in any region feed almost exclusively under the cover of darkness during really hot weather. Shallow water gets hotter than deep water during the hottest part of the day but it also cools quickly overnight. A few degrees cooler may be barely noticeable to us but it is significant to fish. Continuous monitoring of water temperature aids in recognizing and interpreting feeding patterns in all seasons. I have always equipped my boats with water temperature gauges – even my old Smokey Gaines poling skiff, some thirty-eight years ago. If you don’t have one on your boat…you need one! So water temperatures cooling slightly overnight 36 | September 2016
in summer months forms the basis for my nighttime feeding pattern theory. Sun goes down, water cools down, boat traffic ceases and up they go to cooler shallow water. In the heat of summer predators rely on ambush more than chasing their food. The strike zone up shallow is much narrower, better for ambushing. One quick tail thrust is all it takes and a large trout can slam its prey with deadly precision. Confirming the theory: It is common at first light to see acres of mullet and menhaden in the shallows being harassed by predators. A slight breeze to ripple the surface (when we are lucky to have one) reveals slicks made by feeding trout and reds. Everything that can be observed within the confines of the bait school is valuable information. Even when bites are not coming in fast succession, I am confident that I have found what I’m looking for with the right signs present. Finding the zone: Nighttime feeding zones are areas along shorelines where pockets have been formed through erosion or other forces of nature. Many pockets have drains somewhere within their configuration that allow water to flow to and from backwater marshes.
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Pockets with drains are my favorites because there will be some amount of water movement through the drain with every tidal change, even if very slight on weaker tides. Two consecutive years of abundant rainfall have loaded the marshes with bumper crops of shrimp and crabs – another key reason for targeting pockets with drains. Putting the theory to work: If I can position myself within a pocket that includes a drain and also happens to lie windward, I am liable to remain there the entire morning, picking off a fish here and there. If you are savvy, keen observation will identify travel lines the bait and game fish will travel, both as the fish continue to feed shallow at first light and when they exit the flat heading to nearby deeper water. Large fish that have already fed will typically take a smaller presentation on the exit path if Water change inside and outside it is presented properly. I am fortunate to have the nighttime feeding zone. grown up and worked in a shallow, clear water fishery. I have actually watched big trout and baitfish I suggested that we ease up shallower and quietly exit the flat, redfish as they slowly exited the primary feeding zones and observed and then make another wade through the same area. This is a tactic that lures placed properly out in front of the exit path are usually that I use more and more as fishing pressure all up and down the greeted with aggression. Get the bait at the wrong angle, too close or coast continues to increase. It is foolish (in these times of high fishing too large, and its mud puff or mud stir time. Trout make puffs when pressure) to leave an area that you know to be holding fish, but we they take off and reds make stirs or larger boils. I credit Cliff Webb for must be careful along our approach and exit paths when considering bringing this to my attention many years ago. working the area again. So we eased back into the line where the Funny thing happened today and I mention it because it is slicks had been popping. imperative to remember that very slight changes in wind direction On the moonset minor things became way more interesting with and tidal movement often call for the need to tweak your game plan. bites from 20- to 24-inch fish coming faster than I would have ever Water temperature was 85⁰ when we eased over the side of the boat thought possible for the time of year and the water temperature. at 6:00AM. The wind was light at 5mph SW and an early morning rain Several fish in the 5-pound class were quickly released and 4-pound shower was approaching. No lightning in the cloud and only green on fish were actually common for about an hour. We released at least a my weather radar app, otherwise we would not have been there. dozen solid trout before it became obvious that the bite was over. Once in the water I noticed that the current was running south All these trout slicked upon the hookset or during handling and though the wind was more southwest. This set the stage for fishing release. These were definitely the fish making the slicks we had seen a nighttime feeding area, even though I had not fished it in several popping earlier. weeks. The area is large and mostly shallow grass and softer bottom A pattern is a pattern and as long as water temperature, structure, that becomes windward on southwest wind, complimented by bait and water movement is similar, one can duplicate the pattern in tidal movement to the south. It just felt right to me. Once there we many places. You have to be smart enough to pattern the pattern – if discovered what looked like an acre of large mullet working across the that makes any sense. I have always tried to make “fishing smart” my shallow grass flat. first priority even though I do not consider myself all that smart. Savvy Not much happening along the outer drop-off that we could see in the ways of fishing, perhaps. but the bait situation on the flat was plenty enough to get me out May your fishing always be catching. - Guide Jay Watkins and wading. Shortly into the wade, small slicks began to appear in the middle of the baitfish. Topwaters and 5” Assassins were being cast into the school and almost immediately we started getting strikes and blow-ups. More blow-ups than hookups and very small trout on the plastics, just about every cast. Bite after bite but something told me Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearthe slicks were not coming from the smaller trout. round for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers I am not suggesting that small trout do not make slicks but the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. during the fight and upon release, no slicks were being formed by the thrashing trout we were catching. Slicks from hooked fish are Telephone 361-729-9596 extremely common and a sign I look for to confirm the size of the fish Email Jay@jaywatkins.com that I believe to be making the majority of the slicks in an area. Website www.jaywatkins.com After an hour of slowly working our way around the large area of 38 | September 2016
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September Kickoff Having just come in from filling deer feeders in hundred degree heat, it’s hard to believe the time has come to write my September article. By the time you read this the kids will be back in school, football will be starting up and it’ll be time to get out to the hunting lease for a work weekend. Shortly after this magazine hits the newsstand the smell of gunpowder will fill the air as doves twist their way past lines of shooters. At that point we’ll be in full blown outdoors mode. Yes, fall is coming. It likely won’t feel like it until about mid-October, but the calendar doesn’t lie. I love fall, except for the lack of enough time to do it all. Dove, teal, archery season, duck, goose, deer and quail are the headliners with season openers that are can’t miss events for most of us. A fella could run himself ragged trying to take it all in. And to top it off, bay fishing is about as good as it gets. As the days get shorter and water cools, the fish will start feeding heavier. For sight-cast enthusiasts, chasing redfish can be epic as they start schooling up to feed on the maturing shrimp crop in the marshes. The sight of that first school coming down the cord grass shoreline popping and smacking is something I look forward to throughout these long hot summer days. This action doesn’t just kick off overnight and it isn’t 40 | September 2016
happening all over the marsh. For whatever reason shrimp aren’t evenly distributed in the back lakes and ponds. And the best concentrations seem to vary in location from one year to the next. Getting in on the kick-off of this action takes a little work and scouting. As I’m fishing my way through the marsh in late-July and early-August I start poking at the edges of the cord grass with my push pole looking for juvenile shrimp. They’re pretty small at this point and tough to see. Sometimes it just looks like sprinkles on the surface as a red cruises a shoreline. They’re too small to get much attention from the reds right now, but knowing where the best concentrations are gives you a leg up on where the action will start. Once those shrimp get to about an inch long you know it’s about to get started. Sometimes it is lateAugust and other years it’ll be later in September. It also varies from bay to bay and can even be different in adjacent marshes. It’s all about the shrimp and when they hatched. Stay tuned to your local shrimp population. They don’t migrate around too much at this size so keeping up with their whereabouts isn’t too difficult. Once those shrimp get to the right size the reds will find them. At first it’ll be small pods that aren’t very
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not uncommon to see a hundred or more crashing their way down the shorelines. It would seem like getting a bite from these schools would be no problem, but it isn’t always that easy. While it would seem they are totally preoccupied with chasing shrimp, you need to keep in mind they’re in very shallow water and can be pretty spooky. Don’t just barge in and start chunking. Once you spot a school, watch them for a minute and see which way they’re headed. I like to pole a good ways ahead of the school and get set up so that my angler has a head on shot as the school approaches. Trying to chase them from behind and throwing over them is a much lower percentage play. Whether fly or lure, the cast needs to land in the grass or at least very close to the edge. These fish are knocking shrimp loose from the base of the grass and reacting as they flee. A cast landing a foot or more off the shoreline won’t get much attention. If you miss short, reel in as fast as possible to get another shot. As for lures, you need something weedless that at least somewhat resembles a shrimp. I like a small Buggs jig in pink or tan. While they don’t look all that weedless they’ll slip through cord grass pretty well. Another option is a small soft plastic with a swimbait style bellyweighted hook. Almost any small fly that reasonably looks like the right size shrimp will work. Of course I prefer the Redfish Crack as my go-to, but honestly it doesn’t much matter. It’s more about putting it in the right spot than having an exact replica. Most times a good cast will get nailed without even having to strip it. If you don’t get bit on the landing use three or four quick, twitchy strips. If that doesn’t work pick it up and throw again. Don’t waste too much time continuing to strip. It is nearly impossible to entice one of these fish away from these kinds of schools. I know it’s hot out there, but go get your honey-dos done. The calendar is turning and it’s about to get busy.
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noticeable. Keep an eye on the shoreline grass for fleeing shrimp, wakes or small splashes. Also, listen for the telltale pops and smacks as the reds work their way down the shoreline. This early action is typically small pods of less than ten fish. As the season continues the schools will grow into the dozens and by early-November it is
42 | September 2016
Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading. Telephone Email Website
281-450-2206 scott@tsfmag.com www.captainscottnull.com
By Norman Boyd | Coastal Fisheries Division | Por t O’Connor
FI E L D N O T E S
Where did all those boats come from? Editor’s Note: If this presentation from TPWD looks familiar, it would be because we ran part of it last month. Unfortunately, during layout and proofing some of the angler origin maps were omitted. We decided a full rerun was in order, so here you go. Does it look like there are too many boats on the bay to you? If you’re a half hour late getting on the water are there already three boats sitting on your favorite fishing hole? Where did all those people come from? Well, you’ve come to the right place, TPWD-Coastal Fisheries has collected that exact information, from you. No, we didn’t tap into some NSA database. Remember when a TPWD surveyor met you at the ramp with several questions about your trip? One of those questions was, “What county do you live in?” With that information we can show the residence county for all the anglers we encounter during our routine, coastwide surveys. Don’t worry, we don’t ask about names, addresses, phone numbers, or any other private information, just the county. TPWD-CF has been collecting this information since the seventies. Now, about all those boats. Look around on this and adjoining pages and you’ll find some Texas maps. There is a map for each of eight bay systems on the Texas coast where we conduct angler 44 | September 2016
surveys, along with a 9th map from the University of Texas, Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection to identify the counties. Using the color legend you can see where all those boats, or more precisely people, came from and were interviewed after fishing that bay system. For example, on the Galveston Bay area map it’s easy to see that Harris County residents account for between 50% and 60% of the anglers interviewed in that area from 2010 to 2014 with the count representing the number of counties in that percentage category. However, not all the angler trends are as easy to follow. Although nearby counties are always prominent in angler origins, anglers often drive long distances to fish an area. Let’s look at some angler origin notes for eight different bay system destinations along the coast. Sabine Lake: As expected Jefferson County is the top angler origin county for this estuary at the end of the Sabine and Neches rivers. Sabine Lake also has a higher out-of-state angler origin than the other estuaries. Of the anglers intercepted on the Texas side, almost 2% claim Louisiana as home. Also, a substantial number of anglers come from as far away as Harris County to fish this border bay. As we will see, Harris County is an important source of anglers for several estuaries. Galveston Bay: Being located adjacent to the 4th
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largest city in the country it’s predictable that most of this bay’s anglers call Harris County home. Most of the remaining anglers come from counties very close to the estuary with relatively few anglers traveling long distances to fish the Galveston Bay system. Mid-Coast bays (East Matagorda, Matagorda, San Antonio, Aransas, Corpus Christi, and Upper Laguna Madre): Anglers using these bays typically come from nearby counties and the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. Harris County (Houston) also contributes substantial numbers to all of these bays. Additionally, the DallasFort Worth area is well represented in the angler populations of San Antonio, Aransas, and Corpus Christi bays. Lower Laguna Madre: The Lower Laguna Madre is different from the other bays in that only three local counties contribute a substantial number of anglers. However, Bexar, Harris, and Travis counties all contribute meaningfully to that angling community, indicating anglers find the area attractive enough to travel long distances to fish here. 46 | September 2016
Other interesting observations are also possible from this database. Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays each tied for having the most counties represented during the 2010-2014 survey period with 213 of a total 254 Texas counties. Sabine Lake had the least number of counties with 99. Only three counties didn’t show up during the 5-year period reviewed: Deaf Smith (Texas panhandle), King (northcentral Texas), and Throckmorton (northcentral Texas). More broadly, all bay systems had at least 26 states represented with the Aransas Bay system leading the way with all 50 being recorded. Lastly, all bay systems had at least one foreign country in their database, highlighting the fact that angler origins are as diverse as the habitats along the Texas Coast.
Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.
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Blind-casting saved the day on this outing.
S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E
F LY F I S HING
The Secrets to
Fishing Blind
Not too long ago I had an angler fishing with me. Who’d have guessed that…? Anyway, we had been on the water for about five hours and already enjoyed great fishing. We had landed numerous reds and successfully sight-casted a couple of trout, to boot. The problem was that the fish in the shallows were becoming uncooperative and we still had some time remaining on the day. What to do? I then remembered bumping a few flounder off a shallow point leading into a marsh drain the day before. I asked if he might like to give them a try and possibly fill out a Texas Slam. He was curious whether the flounder would be visible and I replied that it would be blind-casting. He scoffed at that and we instead, pun intended, floundered around in the shallows the remainder of the day. Two days later I had an angler land six reds and seven flounder. Unfortunately, there were no trout to fill out 48 | September 2016
the slam. But seven flounder on fly in a single day is something to be proud of – I don’t care who you are. And the take-away is this: No angler will ever come close to accomplishing this feat unless willing to blind-cast. Now, knowing that I have touched on this topic in earlier writings, I will do my best to provide a fresh perspective in regard to it. But, before moving into that, I will revisit one key issue rather bluntly, hoping to break through some of those hard heads out there, (no reference to saltwater catfish – thank you.) For whatever reason, a goodly portion of the Texas flyfishing community find it beneath their angling dignity to fish blind. Hogwash—Get over yourselves already! Chances are the reason for your reluctance lies in the fact that you are not a good enough caster, and not sufficiently dedicated to your pastime to become good enough. So, tough love and all of that. But seriously, blind-
C ontact
Fly Lines and Leaders One of the key elements in being successful when blindcasting comes with choosing the right fly-line and leader combination. This can make the difference between a fish or two versus really beating-up on them. Fly lines come in four basic types: floating, sink-tip, intermediate and full-sinking. It goes without saying that your choice of fly line will obviously be determined by the depth you are fishing. I would say if you are fishing less than two feet a floating line is the way to go and when fishing deeper than twelve feet you need the full-sink. The sink-tip and intermediate will fill in everything in-between. Another important consideration is your leader. As a rule, when blind-casting a floating line, I prefer as long a leader as I can manage with the fly I have chosen. This gives me more fishable water that the fly line has not been over. Also, if I am using a topwater fly such a popper or gurgler, I build Rattles are secret ingredients in flies tied for blind-casting. my leader with monofilament as it is more buoyant than fluorocarbon. As for a sinking line, I like a shorter leader tied from a little heavier fluorocarbon. When fishing near bottom and casting is an important aspect of becoming a good fly-angler and it expecting shell or rock, the heavier fluorocarbon helps reduce the opens doors to spectacular fishing opportunities. potential of break-offs. A perfect example would be for the guy (or gal) planning a family vacation to say, Cape Cod. One of my single-greatest fishing days Flies occurred off Woods Hole, there on the Cape. We caught over 200 The trick is to choose a fly that will get noticed easily or that will stripers and bluefish that day and nearly all were caught blindhopefully draw fish from a distance. You have two options – move casting. When you get right down to it, most fly-fishing in salt water some water or make some noise. is done by blind-casting. When fishing blind in shallower water, my first inclination is go either white or black, and always bulky. White reflects ultra-violet Where and When light and black creates extreme contrast, making each more There are many aspects to being successful when choosing to cast visible at a distance. As for bulkiness, this enables the fly to move blindly with a fly rod. That said, you have to know where, and more water in such a manner that fish can “feel” it and hopefully come so, when to change tactics. As for specifically when – let’s just say looking for it. any time that you think or know fish are present but you cannot In deeper water I sometimes choose a more slender and weighted see them. fly that will sink faster, especially in current. In this situation I almost So, as I mentioned above…I poled across a point and bumped a always use a darker fly with a rattle. Remember that the trick is to few flounder. Having already spooked them, it made no sense to try draw the fish to the fly. The slender fly has less presence in the water, to catch them and I filed the info in the back of my noggin, hoping that’s where the rattle come in. I might soon return. Two days later the tides were not significantly There is so much more I could delve into but, unfortunately, I different and we managed to catch a few. From there we moved to a have run out of space. I do want to leave you with one final thought, similar spot and stuck a few more. though. If you find yourself on the water and not finding fish or The point I want to make is that certain combinations of current, able to see fish to sight-cast to—do not look down your nose at the water level, wind, etcetera, can cause fish to stack in marsh sloughs, prospects of blind-casting. It is a great way to not only catch fish but down-current sides of reefs, a drop-off in the bend of a bayou, or to also practice your casting and hopefully, hook-sets. And believe even on a point. These are but a few of many places that make sense me, we can all use the practice. to try a few blind-casts. Until next month… be good and stuff like that. The important part of employing such strategies is in realizing what they have in common and that is rather abrupt changes in bottom structure. One thing to remember is that all fish relate to structure and even the slightest change in bottom contour constitutes structure. Once you have found a structure type that Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, fish are identifying with, you have discovered a great place to ply freelance writer and photographer. the waters blindly with a fly. I will leave you with one final thought Telephone 979-415-4379 in regards to “where you should blind-cast” and that is – seek Email vssommerlatte@hotmail.com similar structure features in other areas because they too are likely Website www.mangrovefly.com holding fish.
50 | September 2016
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DAV E R O B E R T S
K AYA K F I S HING CHRONICLE S
GOING THE EXTRA MILE There are no traffic jams along the extra mile. -Roger Staubach Years ago when I started kayaking I was obsessed with exploring untouched marsh in hope of finding hidden, secret places. I pored over Google Maps continuously trying to spot a pond that I missed on prior searches. Often times I would look at an area and automatically take it out of consideration. The idea of having to paddle an extra mile before I could begin fishing seemed too much trouble. Curiosity eventually overwhelmed my concern of paddling further and it paid off in the long run. Before making a long trek to unfamiliar water, there are a few things that should be taken into consideration. Being physically able to make the roundtrip journey is the most important factor. Becoming fatigued or injured several miles from the launch site is a bad situation to be in. So prior to going, be sure that you are prepared for the journey and have notified at least one friend where you are headed. Gauging the distance you are planning to paddle is an easy task, thanks to modern technology. Google Maps 52 | September 2016
has a feature that you can “Measure Distance� when right clicking on the map; this allows you to map out the desired path and gives you a reference of the distance to be traveled. This is a great tool to use when plotting a previous course which will give you an idea of how far you typically paddle on a given trip. You can then use that to compare the distance to a new pond or area and see if you are up for the trip. Another good guide to use while paddling is time. I have found that in ideal conditions I can manage a mile in 15-20 minutes, which puts me at 3-4 mph. Maintaining these speeds is however dependent on factors such as wind and tide. Prepping for this paddle is important. Weather and tides should be carefully considered before heading out on your voyage. The direction and speed of the wind should be the deciding factor on whether you undertake the trip, or not. Paddling into a strong wind there or back is never easy nor fun. If planned correctly though, paddling in light wind on the way out, and then taking advantage of stronger afternoon wind to blow you back to your launch point makes greater distances possible.
54 | September 2016
C ontact
Tide is another factor and just as important as the wind to a kayaker. It is SO nice to ride the tide to your destination first thing in the morning but there is nothing worse than paddling a long distance into incoming current. Add the wind in your face while paddling against the tide and it seems almost impossible to make headway. I have had times with that scenario when it would take me 45 minutes to paddle a half a mile…not fun! So the real question is why? Why paddle that far? Why spend the effort and time to go this distance? Simply put, life is about exploring
and witnessing different areas with new fish. Paddling a quarter of a mile to the same reef or marsh drain gets boring after a few trips. Also, there are likely plenty of other people that fish those places. There is true benefit to be gained in getting away from the crowds – which is the premise behind undertaking a 3-4 mile paddle in the first place. When you arrive at a marsh that is full of reds that have never seen a kayak, much less a gold spoon, She Dog, or Spro Frog; the fishing can just be plum stupid! Fishing in a new area and finding new fish provides opportunity to witness how and why the fish behave in a natural state. You may get a chance to see them tailing or even schooled up on a flat, something we do not see every day. The important thing is that you do not know what you will encounter until you actually get there. Last year, my buddy Chad and I decided to fish a new area that we believed no one had ever fished. I do not know if we were the first but, when we got there, the fish acted as if we were the first. Just before we got on a small flat, I looked down and an upper-slot red passed beneath me. I yelled at Chad telling him to cast behind me…a red was heading his way. Before he could get his rod in his hand, the red passed him up and slowly kept swimming. He looked and me and said, “That fish has never encountered anyone.” And it seemed that all the other fish we found in that marsh never had either. We aimlessly fished across that marsh and must have caught well over a dozen reds apiece. They came on gold spoons, flukes, and She Dogs – not picky in the least. It turned out to be a day for the books and paddling the extra distance paid off handsomely. When it comes to the rise in popularity of kayak fishing, escaping the crowd can be a good thing. I tell people that my average trip is anywhere from 6-10 miles and they look at me like I’m crazy. Maybe I am – but I rarely see people as far back as I go. I am willing to bet that if you were to paddle just one more mile you would pass up 75% of your fellow kayakers. Going the extra mile will always pay off, whether it in beating the crowd or finding new fish in a new area. One thing I have learned over the past few years is that there is no such thing as too far to paddle for a truly memorable fishing experience. You just have to plan and prepare correctly. Go the extra mile!
Dave Roberts is an avid kayak-fishing enthusiast fishing primarily the inshore Upper Coast region with occasional adventures to surf and nearshore Gulf of Mexico. Email: TexasKayakChronicles@yahoo.com Website: www.TexasKayakChronicles.com
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Low-relief artificial reefing creates beneficial habitat for many gulf species. Photo by Gwyn Carmean.
Story by John Blaha
T S F M a g C o n s e r v at i o n N e ws
Partnerships & Grass Roots Make Habitat Creation Possible Successful coastal habitat restoration and creation projects are more times than not the result of strong partnerships and local grassroots efforts. Many examples exist along the Texas coast between federal, state and local agencies, conservation organizations, academic institutions, and local grassroots initiatives. CCA Texas’s Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) and Building Conservation Trust (BCT), and the CCA National Habitat Program have been a part of many such projects. The Rio Grande Valley Nearshore Reefing Project is an excellent example of a community effort being accomplished through a group of partners. The Rio Grande Valley Nearshore Reef site will soon see its first load of reefing materials deployed thanks to the diligent efforts of Friends of RGV Reef, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, HTFT and BCT, Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Nearshore Reefing Program (TWPD), the Texas General Land Office and many other local individuals and businesses. The effort to create the RGV nearshore reef started through the efforts of longtime local recreational fishermen. CCA Texas was contacted in the fall of 2014 and asked if the organization would support an effort to create a new nearshore reefing site off South Padre Island. This new site would give recreational anglers in the Valley region an easily accessible fishing spot to target species such as red snapper. In addition to seeking support from CCA Texas, the local group visited extensively with Dr. Rick Kline about his 56 | September 2016
studies on nearshore habitat to determine the best possible site for such a project to be constructed. With concern for poaching and other illegal fishing activities coming up from Mexico, conversations were also held with the TPWD Law Enforcement Division to discuss where the best location would be from an enforcement point of view. Throughout this entire process, the local group visited extensively with the TPWD Nearshore Reefing Program. The group of recreational fishermen that formed Friends of RGV Reef, CCA Texas, TPWD Law Enforcement, local recreational fishermen and community leaders all came together in February of 2015 to meet with the TPWD Gary Glick, Friends of RGV Reef; James Dunks, TPWD Game Warden; and Dale Shively, TPWD Artificial Reefing Program with a donated vessel that will soon become part of the RGV Reef. Photo credit: Bryant Industrial Services.
High-relief pre-fabricated concrete pyramids being placed on recent reefing project. Photo by Lisa Laskowski.
Nearshore Reefing Program and present what would become the largest nearshore reefing site along the Texas coast to date. Armed with Dr. Kline’s research, maps of the proposed reefing site, support letters from across the community and a burning desire and will to make the project happen, the wheels were put in motion to create this new site. The TPWD Nearshore Reefing program went to work immediately to get the site permitted. In July 2016 it was officially permitted as the largest nearshore reefing site ever in Texas at 1,650 acres. Friends of RGV Reef has worked tirelessly to secure storage facilities on the Brownsville Harbor, as well as secure reefing materials that include two boats and assorted rip-rap. At the request of HTFT in October of 2015, CCA Texas
committed $100,000 to the project, and BCT stepped forward with a matching grant of $100,000. The input of local recreational fishermen and TPWD Law Enforcement throughout the process has been invaluable as well and played an important role in making this site a reality. “Recreational fishermen in the Valley are excited to have a new nearshore site with easy access for fishing and what we feel will offer excellent fishing opportunities for many species,” commented local fisherman Bob Glick. Glick added, “The vision of the local active members of this effort is to create a nearshore site that isn’t just a onetime endeavor, but a continuous effort to reef the entire site and create a habitat within it that supports the entire life cycle of the Gulf fishery.” The RGV Reef is a shining example of what recreational anglers can accomplish by working closely with groups such as CCA Texas and BCT, TPWD, local academia and, most importantly the local community and leadership to execute a habitat project. HTFT and BCT are working closely with Friends of RGV Reef to deploy the first materials into the site during late-summer or early-fall of this year. The initial deployment will include low relief materials that will provide habitat for young early-life cycle fish as well as an old shrimp boat. TPWD hopes to begin deploying larger materials, such as pre-constructed pyramids, in 2017 and begin creating a nearshore reefing site that has habitat for the fulllife cycle of marine species. To learn more about the RGV Nearshore reefing site, visit www. ccatexas.org, www.rgvreef.com, www.buildingconservation.org. You can also reference Facebook Pages for CCA Texas, Building Conservation Trust, Friends of RGV Reef, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Artificial Reef Program.
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Hydrolagus alberti, one of the short-nose chimaeras. Photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory.
STEPHANIE BOYD
F I S H Y FA C T S
Chimaeras
If the ancient Greeks loved anything, it was splicing creatures into terrifying mythological beasts (well, that and building temples). Some of the more bizarre (creatures, not temples) include the sphinx (body of a lion, head of a woman, wings of an eagle), the cerberus (the three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the underworld), the minotaur (body of a man, head of a bull), and the chimera (body of a lion, extra head of a goat, tail that ends in a snake’s head, breathes fire). Early naturalists must have been reminded of these stitched-together creatures when they named the chimaera fish. These fish don’t breath fire, largely due to the fact that they live in water, but they do have a seamlike lateral line system giving them the appearance of being sewn together. Chimaeras are cartilaginous fishes in the class Chondrichthyes. Sharks and rays also belong to this class, and while chimaeras superficially resemble sharks, they’re only a distantly related, ancient species, having diverged some 400 million years ago. They are 58 | September 2016
known informally as ghost sharks, ratfish, spookfish, and rabbit fish – not to be confused with rattails, true spookfish (family Opisthoproctidae), or true rabbit fish (family Siganidae). On the whole, chimaeras are rather peculiar looking. They have a disproportionately large head (appropriate since they belong to the subclass Holocephali, meaning whole head). They have rabbitlike front teeth, and large, plate-like grinding teeth fill the rest of the mouth. The tail is long and slim, even rat-like, you might say (if it weren’t for the fins). It’s mostly useless as a propulsion device, so they rely on their large wing-like pectoral fins to get around. Adults have scaleless, rubbery skin that comes in a variety of colors, and no stomach (food passes straight to the intestine). True to their name, chimaeras are grab bag of odd characteristics. There are three families of chimaeras: Chimaeridae, the short-nose chimaeras; Rhinochimaeridae, the longnose chimaeras; and Callorhinchidae, the plough-nose chimaeras. That’s a lot of focus on the nose, and with
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good reason. Chimaeras can have some weird snouts, which makes for easy identification between these three families. Those noses are for more than looks. They’re covered in ampullae of Lorenzini, specialized sensory organs called electroreceptors, probably used to detect buried prey. Depending on whom you ask, there are between 30 and 50 currently living species. These extant holocephalans represent a small fraction of a previously successful and diverse group. Chimaeras may be the most anciently formed lineage of jawed fishes. The earliest members of the class Chondrichthyes, they are thought to have originated some 420 million years ago, during the Silurian. Due to their cartilaginous skeleton, most deductions about early chimaeras are known from just tooth plates and fin spines, but if this fossil record is anything to go by, they reached their highest diversity during the Carboniferous, about 300 million years ago, and then decreased at the end of the Permian, about 250 million years ago. Chimaeras inhabit all of the world’s oceans with the exception of Arctic and Antarctic waters. Most species are deep dwellers of the shelf and slope off continental landmasses. They tend to prefer and aggregate near the bottom over a number of different substrates, including sand, mud, rock, and ooze. Like many of their shark cousins, chimaeras of different sex, age, and species segregate out by depth. In the Atlantic, juveniles and males are more common in shallower waters, while sub adults and females are more common in deeper waters. This depth segregation by maturity stage is common in many fishes. Sexual segregation by sex may have arisen from social factors, such as mate avoidance. Frequent mating may have a high cost for females due to blood loss or possible infection from bites or manipulations, evident within many shark species. Staying separate from the opposite sex when not engaged in mating activity may be best for both breeding success and survival from repeated and prolonged mating attempts. Additionally, shallow, warm waters may have a positive effect on sperm production, and deeper, cold waters may support embryo growth. Sexual segregation can result in differential fisheries exploitation of the sexes (even just as bycatch), identifying a possible need to manage stocks spatially to prevent depletion and local extinction. Chimaeras do share similar reproductive and life history characteristics to many sharks, starting with internal fertilization. A male chimaera has two claspers behind his pelvic fins 60 | September 2016
and a supplemental, retractable clasping organ on the head, a type of tentaculum. It fits and attaches to a corresponding hollow on the back of the female’s head during mating. And it looks like a tiny medieval torture device (imagine a spiked club). All chimaeras are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs. Most species lay two eggs at a time. The eggs are contained in small, leathery, frilled cases. It can take four to six days for the female to extrude the eggs, which can take another twelve months to hatch. This incubation period is thought to be even longer in deep-water species and is also one reason why populations may be sensitive to fishing mortality. Though they are long lived, between 25 and 30 years, they don’t attain sexual maturity until at least 11 years, and they produce few young. Add to that the fact that they are relatively weak swimmers and are delicate when caught, dying quickly out of water, and you might wonder how these fish survive to propagate. Since they spend most of their days swimming just above the sea floor, searching for food, they’re most vulnerable to attacks from above. They protect themselves by having a spine just in front of the first dorsal fin, which is venomous in at least some species. In addition to discouraging marine-based predation, the spines also serve as a deterrent for wary deep-sea anglers. Though the venom itself is only mildly toxic to humans, causing burning sensations and swelling, the spine alone can inflict a painful wound. Chimaeras are crunchers of hard food. Instead of rows of bristling, disposable razor blades, like sharks, chimaeras possess beak-like chompers in front and permanent bony plates inside the mouth for crushing hard-shelled bivalves, mollusks, crabs, sea stars, etc. The mouth faces downwards, which helps it hoover up squishier fare as well, such as worms and small fish. Chimaeras hunt primarily at night, when it’s hard to see. Like other cartilaginous fish (and some bony ones), they can detect the weak electric fields produced by living organisms. The “seams” all over their bodies are a lateral line system, which detects movement and vibration in the water. On the front and lower sections of the head, the lines become a series of dots. These dots are the location of the electroreceptors. Even with that spine, chimaeras have some predators, including (not surprisingly) humans. Their meat is edible and sold as food in some areas. However, it’s their liver oil that seems more popular. Once, it provided a useful lubricant for guns and fine instruments. Now it’s just another health supplement. The IUCN Red List classifies some species as near threatened. Deep water bycatch and demand for liver oil are increasing, and because of their habit of sexual segregation, intensive fishing practices that include spatial and depth targeting are highly likely to affect the viability of chimaera populations. In Texas waters, we have two short-nose chimaera species: Hydrolagus mirabilis and Hydrolagus alberti, both rabbit fishes (Hydrolagus meaning water rabbit). In the Gulf, we have two more species, of the long-nose variety: Harriotta raleighana and Rhinochimaera atlantica (the knife-nose chimaera). Long-nose chimaeras are deep-sea fishes that, as a group, are very poorly known. None of our local species are among the more “famous” species. Perhaps the best-known short-nose species is the spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei), found off the west coast of North America. It reaches almost three feet in length, has silvery-bronze sides sprinkled with white spots, and striking emerald eyes that reflect light like a cat’s eyes, a special treat for any diver lucky
enough to catch a glimpse. The best-known plough-nose species is probably the elephant fish (Callorhinchus milii), an important food fish off New Zealand. Reaching about four feet in length, the elephant fish is caught commercially in trawls and set nets to the tune of 1,000 tons per year. New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry purports be “internationally respected for an innovative and world-leading approach to sustainable science-based fisheries,” so hopefully the last of these wonderfully implausible creatures won’t end up deep-fried and dolloped in tartar sauce.
Where I learned about chimaeras, and you can too! World Register of Marine Species www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=10217 FishBase www.fishbase.org/identification/SpeciesList.php?class=Holocephali&order=Ch imaeriformes&famcode=&areacode=&c_code=&spines=&fins=&resultPage=1 &sortby=species ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/chimaera.htm Shark Trust www.sharktrust.org/en/chimaera Shark Devocean sharkdevocean.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/introducing-chimaeras/ Oxford Journals mbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/27/11/2576.short icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/06/19/icesjms.fst058.short Encyclopaedia Britannica www.britannica.com/animal/chimaera It’s Nature www.itsnature.org/sea/fish/chimaera/ Wired www.wired.com/2015/04/absurd-creature-of-the-week-chimaera/ The Artful Amoeba theartfulamoeba.com/2010/09/16/chimaeras-of-the-deep/ Koryos Writes www.koryoswrites.com/nonfiction/creepy-creatures-4-the-real-ghost-shark/ Hub Pages hubpages.com/education/The-Chimaera-Ratfish-or-Ghost-Shark-Strange-andCartilaginous Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimaera Seafood New Zealand www.seafoodnewzealand.org.nz/industry/sustainability/ TSFMAG.com | 61
Some people get so excited over catching trout…they want to kiss them!
CURTISS CASH
IN S HORE | NE A R S HORE | J E T T IE S | P A S S E S
A SUMMER TO REMEMBER Whew! I am so glad to have July and August in the rearview and cooler weather ahead. It has been a hot one for sure and I don’t think it is only because I’m getting older. The high temps have been dissolving my Gulp baits right in the bag, contorting topwater lures left in the sun, and melting ice in the coolers faster than it can be replenished. More comfortable days are not far away; that’s what I keep telling myself anyway. A welcomed change I’ve always challenged myself by targeting the other guys – species other than speckled trout. This became especially necessary through a string of several tough drought years when the summertime trout bite became dodgy at best around Port O’Connor. This summer’s trout rebound has been most welcome and we have definitely taken advantage with hope that it will continue into the fall months. Everyone enjoys the steady action and lots of folks seem to be catching them. I can really see where this 5-fish limit will benefit the resource. Many times we could have sat on the fish and easily reached 10 per angler 62 | September 2016
without much effort. Five trout in the two-and-a-half pound range makes a good mess of fillets. Throw in a couple of reds or drum and it’s a family feast. September strategies Many days will begin by riding the incoming tide, drifting for bull reds and jacks. Slower tides will find us pitching bait on a flooding ledge for slot reds and maybe a couple of trout. We work each tide until the momentum wears down and the water temperature rises. Once the air temperature turns to broil and the tide goes slack it is time to make a move. We cool off and regroup by jamming the throttle down This red and several of his running buddies were intercepted en route to the gulf.
and making our own breeze. Another species comes into focus when the boat settles off plane. Our path now leads us to schools of black drum that have an increased appetite during the change of tide. Many times these slow-moving zombies awake from their stupor for a midday snack. The change in water movement alerts them to reposition for their ride into the next tidal flow. Once the drum bite slows and the wind picks up we move off in search of reds on the falling tide. We anchor off windward shorelines or flats near deeper water. Sand pockets and points at the leading edge of coves always promise a few more bites. Our travels across the bay often bring us upon roving schools of jack crevalle. These bruisers of the bay are great fun to catch-and-release on tackle of appropriate size. They can be found in numerous areas from deep, open water to shallow shorelines. Their near constant roaming and changing of location daily keeps this hunt very interesting. The ferocity a school of jacks can display as they compete to inhale a rapidly moving topwater is phenomenal. A welcome change – solid trout catches have been the norm this summer on midcoast bays.
Subtle changes September is one of the most significant transition months for gamefish on the Texas coast. The decreasing hours of daylight, cooler water temperatures and light frontal passages all contribute. TSFMAG.com | 63
A thirteen-pound jackfish can be quite a surprise when trout fishing.
Finding the fish Like I always say, “Find the current, find the bait, find the fish.” It is basically that simple. Find areas that the current concentrates the bait by pulling or pushing them into a channel or against a shoal. When the bait stacks up in these areas the predators have a much easier time locating and feeding on them. Focus on Redfish Early in the month redfish will start schooling along bay shorelines. Groups of fish will come together to form a ravenous traveling mass. As the reds move toward the gulf they grow in numbers and become very predictable targets for anglers. Wave after wave of fish concentrate where the food source is stacked the thickest close to the gulf passes. When targeting schooling reds I prefer to use the bait that is available in greatest abundance in the area. This time of the year mullet will get the most orders from the menu. A cast net is the surest and most cost effective means by which to procure fresh bait. There will be days when freshly cut bait may produce more takes than live swimmers, so mixing 64 | September 2016
up the offerings can increase the odds of catching. Broadcasting chunks of chum within the fishing area definitely helps. Fresh mullet makes good chum but Spanish sardines and menhaden really get their attention. The strongly scented oils in these fish travel much farther in the current, therefore attracting fish from a greater distance. Ideally, you would like the reds to swim into the current following the scent trail. In water less than five or six feet I cast baits downcurrent and as far away from the boat as possible. The chum is then tossed out between the boat and the bait. If all works according to plan the redfish find your baits before filling up on chum. In deeper water, around jetties and ship channels, the chum line can be more difficult to manage. I try to throw the chum up-current from the boat in hope that it will settle to bottom, still up-current of my baits. Depending upon the depth of the water and strength of current this can require some trial and error to learn where to distribute it to land in an effective placement. I begin by tossing a few chunks next to the boat where I can observe the sink rate and then guess the distance it should be thrown so that it will settle where I want it. It’s never an exact science, different every day, and sometimes minute by minute as tidal currents ebb and flow. However you prefer to catch redfish, September is for certain the best time for slot-sized specimens. The summertime heat and crowds have come and gone as fall arrives. The fish seem to perk up from effects of the cooling water and air temperatures. It’s funny how comforting a few degrees change in temperature can be. I perk up a lot in September, just like the fish. Hope to see you at the coast!
C ontact
Concentrations of several species begin to migrate toward the warmer waters of the gulf. Baitfish and gamefish alike move toward the jetties and passes leading out of the bays. Many times schools of each stage along these channels waiting for a signal, maybe a primal instinct, telling them to leave the bay systems. Until they are signaled, they feed heavily in staging areas. The same pattern evolves in fish that inhabit nearshore gulf waters, they too school up and make ready for a move to a warmer climate. Glass minnows, mullet and dusky anchovies pull together in tight schools for safety. These schools are formed for protection in numbers, but at the same time allow for easy detection and interception by predators. As the month matures, the seasonally migratory species head toward warmer waters, either farther offshore or further south along the beach. You can expect Spanish mackerel, little tunny, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, jack crevalle, shark and tarpon will all be on the move.
Little Tunny (aka bonito) will be plentiful this month in nearshore waters.
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
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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
ERIC O Z OLIN S
Adventure Awaits There is perhaps no better month than September for offshore kayak fishing. The early days of fall kick-start migrations of fish large and small. Massive schools of menhaden, shad, mullet, and anchovies will be abundant within paddling range of the beach as endless flocks of screaming gulls and crashdiving pelicans partake from above while a variety of hungry game fish slice in from below. Outstanding angling opportunities abound for smoker kings and tarpon, to mention but two species. In recent years I have gained greater notoriety as a shark fishermen but it wasn’t always this way. More than a decade ago I helped pioneer the style of fishing we call beyond the breakers, my fishing time divided about equally between surf-sharking and offshore kayaking in those days. I have 66 | September 2016
not totally abandoned the adventures of chasing birds and gamefish in the kayak, but certainly not spending nearly as much time in molded plastic as I once did. My passion for this type of fishing still burns as little can compare to the dangerous thrill of being among voraciously feeding predators, including sharks, with minimal protection or safety. This is perhaps the rawest form in which to encounter nature on the water. Adrenaline courses through your veins faster than your brain can process the action surrounding you and this more than anything is why I fell in love with it. To break down the action we expect to see in September and October, we must first understand what puts it all in motion. Many of our saltwater baitfish species follow migratory patterns. It
when gaffing a cobia. Gaffing is a one-way deal so be sure that your cobia is unquestionably of legal size before you do stick it. Structures such as jetties and nearshore oil platforms can have equally impressive action this time of year. Oil rigs just a couple miles out will tend to hold massive schools of bait. Cobia, king mackerel, and red snapper can become very plentiful. I have seen and videoed schools of red snapper on the surface devouring anchovies. Take note that these baitballs will often use your kayak as shelter. If and when this happens, despite how “cool” it may appear, you need to immediately paddle away from them. Sharks cruising the baitballs often slice through with explosive power to stun prey and I have had sharks accidentally ram the kayak during these speed bursts. While I have not been thrown out during these episodes, this is certainly not the place you want to fall into the water. Large species such as tarpon, jacks, and sharks could all be around and feeding at the same time. Sometimes you will be able to specifically target the species or even individual fish you want. The possibilities with the autumn run beyond the breakers run are virtually endless. Before we all get too happily carried away, know that beyond the breakers kayak fishing is dangerous and accidents have happened. The need for safety cannot be expressed strongly enough, especially with the growth of kayak fishing in general and the inexperienced newbies so eager to get out on the water. This unique genre of kayak fishing pushes personal boundaries and yet always seems to pay off with incredible results. With game fish activity about to reach its peak for the year, dreams of trophy fish from the kayak may just come true for anglers willing, capable and prepared to go for it. While my personal schedule is quite full with surf and shark charters, rest assured I will get out in the kayak every chance I can in the coming months. If you practice safe and responsible kayak fishing, you too may be in for the time of your life!
C ontact
traditionally gets underway first on the upper-coast as mullet and menhaden make their way out and along the surf zone. Menhaden is perhaps the most attractive food for tarpon of all sizes. Waters off Matagorda Island have been known to fill with feasting tarpon for days. Last year I witnessed silver kings numbering in the hundreds rolling and chasing bait for nearly a week straight in front of my shark camp. If I hadn’t seen it firsthand I probably wouldn’t have believed it. The same spectacle often occurs further south in the clear water off Padre Island. Jack crevalle are another species that wreak havoc on the menhaden schools and their competitive feeding habit means they will angrily crash practically any lure you choose to toss at them – notorious for aggression toward topwaters. Menhaden are probably the biggest attraction in creating frenzies but the speed at which the schools move can make it hard to keep up in the kayak. Fortunately, they are not the only bait species receiving attention. Here along the Coastal Bend huge baitballs of dusky anchovies begin to form and maneuver southward just past the breakers. This is the kayak angler’s green light to pursue a variety of hefty gamefish. The chaos that erupts is nothing short of something you might see on National Geographic programming. When viewed from the kayak amid acres of bait you gain a greater appreciation for the mechanics of the food chain. One of the greatest thrills is a monster king mackerel rocketing airborne with his jaws clamped tightly on your topwater. One must be careful within the proximity of so many predators though for sharks are usually around, whether or not you can see them. The Holy Grail for Texas kayak anglers is a billfish and as you might guess only a handful have been landed in our waters – between August and October when the anchovy baitballs are present. I have been lucky only a few times to see sailfish from the kayak and these occurred during feeding frenzies. Your best shot at a sail is to “dreadfully” troll ribbonfish or skirted ballyhoo behind the kayak. I reiterate dreadfully because the number of other predators is so great that it is almost impossible to get a bait past the Spanish mackerel and kingfish. In addition, the same as in spring, cobia reappear in full-force during fall. No surprise, their arrival coincides perfectly with the bait movements. Many times I have chummed cobia to the kayak with cut mullet or menhaden. If you get and hook one, be very careful if you decide to gaff a cobia from the kayak for they are very energetic and go berserk. Kayak anglers have been known to fall off or flip the kayak
For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric runs Kayak Wars; one of the largest kayak fishing tournaments in the world. Email Websites
oz@oceanepics.com extremecoast.com | oceanepics.com | kayakwars.com
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Dickie Colburn
DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene
Sabine
Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.
Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com
70 | September 2016
Salinity levels have finally improved to the point that I usually already doing their thing by the time we arrive. have seen both bottlenose dolphin and sharks in the Topwaters like a She Dog or Spook walked across Intracoastal north of the lake this week and “pretty the surface in one to three feet of water are both a good” is no longer a relative term when describing the productive and exciting way to start the day. Once that bite on Sabine Lake. By any measurable standard, our bite slows down it is simply a matter of following them bite is finally good again! into slightly deeper water and switching to plastics. Having said that, Mother Nature will probably take Five-inch tails like the Assassin Sea Shad rigged on offense and unleash her wrath even before you read 1/16 ounce heads and the larger 4-inch Usual Suspect this column. We no longer take anything for granted, will usually get it done initially, but it is hard to beat but the combination of far less rain and very little water exiting Toledo Bend was just what One more big red before the doctor ordered. school starts! While the trout are currently full of eggs, we are still yet to see any serious numbers of fish in excess of six pounds, but that is of little concern as we are very pleased to once again leave the dock with expectations of catching good numbers of two to four pound fish. Massive balls of immature shad now litter the surface of the entire lake and the bite is as good in the middle of the lake as it is on the shallow flats. Basically due to the heat, we are starting trips well before dawn and the trout are
the smaller Sea Shad, Lil’ John or a Vudu Shrimp rigged under a TKO cork the remainder of the day. Even the redfish that unexpectedly interrupt the trout bite will jump all over not only the tail, but the cork itself! Tide movement is always the major key to catching fish, especially on the flats, but water movement due to the ship traffic will extend that bite on the weakest of tides. Thus far the birds have not done much to help us ferret out schools of feeding fish in the open lake. The There’s a lot better indicators have been slicks and ladyfish of catching in chasing shad to the surface. Wyatt’s future! There is no doubt what is going on as the shad are too numerous and too small to attract and hold schools of larger fish, but I have cleaned a number of reds and trout that have ladyfish in their stomachs. When you find yourself in the middle of one of those melees the trout can be a little picky, but not the reds. After all of these years, I tend to believe that the Hoginar may be a Sabine Lake thing, but there is no better choice of lures for duping schooling reds! Because we are finally catching fish all over the lake, the crowds have thinned out south of the Causeway and if you are specifically targeting big trout that is the place to be. The majority of the winning trout caught in the last three tournaments have all been taken off the ship
channel or the jetties. Croaker fishermen have accounted for most of those fish, but trout in excess of seven pounds have also been taken on everything from tails to crankbaits. The ship channel continues to yield steady numbers of flounder in the three to five pound class. Gulp baits and finger mullet fished on the 4 to 7 foot shell breaks have been the ticket. I would like to take this opportunity to salute the Jefferson County Sheriffs Association. At a time when we are constantly buried with negative news reports concerning the bond between the police and their communities, that organization recently held their seventh consecutive Cops Helping Kids tournament and it was another huge success. They raised nearly $100,000 which they will donate not only to designated children’s charities like the Garth House and Girl’s Haven, but any number of other local organizations that benefit children throughout the community. This annual tournament is the culmination of a full year of “after hours work” on their part and their tireless efforts are both respected and appreciated. I am also especially pleased that they have chosen to count on the support of area fishermen to make all of this happen every year!
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Capt. Caleb Harp
The Buzz on Galveston Bay
Galveston
Capt. Caleb Harp has fished the Galveston Bay System since childhood and, now a charter captain and fishing guide, he uses his knowledge to enable clients to enjoy the excellent fishing the area offers. His specialty is the yeararound pursuit for trophy trout and redfish with artificial lures
Telephone 281-753-3378 Website harpsguideservice.com
72 | September 2016
September brings coastal anglers a well-deserved break from August’s excruciating heat, even if just a little. September also brings other sporting opportunities and I am excited to be sitting in a teal blind along a rice field levee. While the first weeks might not be all that much different than August, other than teal season and an occasional light north breeze, it sets the stage for a transition that will begin to emerge in our fishery. Mention transition and most fishermen think instantly of spring but this one can be equally significant in the ways it rearranges staging and feeding patterns. Long about mid-to-late month the change should become noticeable. Water temperatures have been pushing into the 90s and will continue into the first days of the month. Fishing deep water is the key when it’s this hot. We’ve been bouncing bottom with plastics on 3/8 ounce jigs and then finding our trout suspended at five feet the next day, with the same baits on 1/8 ounce heads. You have to keep your head on a swivel and patiently decipher the pattern of each school. The alternative is buying a bucket of croakers and anchoring on the Houston Ship Channel, Corps of Engineers rock piles just off the channel, Redfish Island
or Todd’s Dump and put a big box of fish together. But I do not see this as angling or especially sporting. I fear that we could see a decline later this fall in the numbers and quality of trout in the back of Trinity Bay because of the numbers taken from these places through the summer months. Fresh water stack-ups can be fun, no doubt – until you sit back a few months later and realize that you’ve already caught them all. Freshwater is almost all gone other than the upper region of Trinity Bay. The Trinity River is almost at a complete standstill now. Most of the bay complex is Open water redfish are a blast when the trout aren’t biting.
beautiful and emerald green again! I never thought the day would come, three to four months ago, when it was fresh water brown everywhere. TRINITY BAY Trinity is finally making a rebound. The gas wells and shell pads in the middle of the bay are holding decent numbers of keeper trout but nothing big. Let’s hope the big ones haven’t already gone for a ride in an ice chest. Fishing the wells in the middle of Trinity Bay can be all about bouncing around. Sharks are abundant with the elevated water temps. Rolling up to a well and catching a hand full of trout right away, only to have bite shut down instantly, could be a sign that sharks have moved in. Fish struggling on the line and thrashing on the surface are like a dinner bell to predators further up the food chain. To stay on steady action we frequently have to hop to the next well and start over with another school the sharks have not spooked recently. MirrOlure Marsh Minnows in Blue Moon on 3/8 ounce jigs and the MirrOlure Lil’ John on 1/4 ounce are my most consistent baits out there. I expect to see a big improvement in Trinity Bay by the beginning of September and continuing throughout the month. Once the first light northers begin to arrive the fish should begin to congregate at the top of the bay and around the river mouth.
EAST BAY I’m certain that East Bay still has some fish but the unreal crowds during the early and mid-summer stack-ups on the reefs cleaned out tons of them. I hate to sound all doom and gloom but you simply cannot deny what was going on out there. Places that were yielding a dozen or so before the fresh water stack-up turned into forty by 8:00AM during the peak of it. Now you’re lucky to catch more than three or four. The crowds aren’t as bad…probably because the fishing is so much slower. September tides and weather will hopefully change things. Open water redfish schools can be found feeding on pogies and ribbonfish in the middle of the bay and will take big spoons and plastics on heavy jigs.
Take a kid fishing!
WEST BAY West Bay has grown generally inconsistent for lure guys although decent trout catches continue to come from the San Luis Pass area on loud topwaters such as She Dogs when the currents are strong. Redfish remain pretty thick on north shoreline grass beds and also in the marshes. September’s cooler weather and stronger tides should spark trout action on mid-bay reefs. Stay safe out there – Caleb Harp
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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
74 | September 2016
The first north breezes of September have potential to slice overnight mercury readings by five to ten degrees. Those cooler nighttime temps do wonders for coastal fishing, knocking water temperatures down at least a couple of degrees. It may not seem significant, but there is a big difference in 78â ° and 80â °
when it comes to coastal fishing. A couple of degrees of difference puts life in a stagnant fishery. Like every fall, tides remain above normal until the first serious cold fronts blow water out of the bays. As long as tides remain bloated, expect redfish to fill the back lakes and grassy shorelines.
If water temperatures continue to hang in the 80s, Matagorda trout will remain in a summer pattern. That means over deep shell in East Bay; where Bass Assassins, Down South Lures, MirrOlure Soft-Dines, Gulps and live shrimp are best under a cork. Small topwaters like She Pups and Super Spook Jr get blown out of the water as well. Reefs along the north shoreline of West Bay hold trout, redfish and black drum that are readily available on live shrimp. Shell Island, Twin Island and all the points along the north shoreline are littered with shell. Redfish have been known to school in large numbers in lateSeptember in these locales. Wading the mid-bay reefs in East Bay produces throughout the year. With higher tides, the muddy bottoms around Brown Cedar Flats hold both trout and redfish for waders and drifters. Most waders forget about the grass beds in West Bay in September, but they still hold fish. Guts and cuts along the south shoreline often get overlooked. Swollen tides also encourage large, solitary trout to extend their boundaries to the upper reaches of estuaries. Work tight to the shorelines with topwaters and MirrOlure Soft-Dines. The north shoreline of West Matagorda Bay, including Shell Island and Twin Island, are always September players. Watch for tails popping up in the grass. A gold spoon, Gulp or live shrimp under a popping cork are solid offerings. Matagorda trout hang on to a summer pattern when water temperatures remain in the 80s. Trout stage over sand and grass in West Bay and hold over deep shell in East Bay; and, don’t be surprised to find bird action on calm days with light boat traffic. Teal season runs September 10 through 25 and we will hunt every morning and fish the afternoons. Blue-wing numbers remain strong; and, with rice production up almost 50% from last year, waterfowl hunters are excited about prospects for waves and waves of rice-rockets. The cool thing is that most of our teal hunts are finished with plenty of time to get a bite to eat before hitting the bay before noon. The South Zone dove season opens September 23 and this gives us another blast option through the first half of duck season – which opens November 5. Dove numbers are strong and our fields near El Campo give us a shot at both mourning and white-winged doves. Football, ducks, doves, specks and reds. September gets it all started. Follow our catches on Instagram @matagordasunriselodge.
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TSFMAG.com | 75
Capt. Shellie Gray
MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays
Port O'Connor Seadrift
Captain Shellie Gray was born in Port Lavaca and has been guiding in the Seadrift/Port O’Connor area full time for the past 14 years. Shellie specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.
Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com
76 | September 2016
Ahh – September! Summer is coming to an end and weather allows. The Ship Channel spoils continue cooler fall days are right around the corner. While I to yield good numbers of trout for boat anglers and truly enjoy the longer days of summer I am so done we have also enjoyed great days wading the south with the heat that accompanies them. One thing A rare treat, Gary and I recently I can’t complain had a day off together and about though is decided to try for tripletail in West Matagorda Bay. the fishing. It has been very good. Getting an early start is always a must this time of year. If you are a late sleeper you could be missing the best bite of the day. San Antonio Bay is finally returning to near normal salinity but the best catching is still in West Matagorda. The surf has also been good when
shoreline. The guts that lie parallel to West Matagorda shorelines vary in depth at different locations and it seems the most productive are the deepest ones closest to shore. It has been very common to see fish slicking in these guts as the sun is rising but does not usually last more than hour or so after it is fully up. I would like to discuss slicks. This may be a bit too basic for many readers but I encounter quite a few folks who really do not understand what slicks are all about. So, for any who do not already know… One type of slick I refer to often is what I term a current slick. We see these occurring where the edge of fast moving water meets up with slower moving water. Easy to tell that these are created by current because they are typically quite long and narrow and sometimes have floating grass and small clumps of foam. Current slicks can be advantageous at times because they do offer a type of structure for fishing but I will save that for another article. We also see slicks coming from freshly baited crap traps. The oily contents of the bait chamber are the source of the slicks and a group of traps slicking together can confuse unknowing anglers into believing that feeding fish are present in the area. So, with two common types of slicks removed from the equation, let’s talk about the type that are actually produced by live, feeding fish. These types of slicks are generally accompanied by an aroma similar to that of freshly cut grass or watermelon. Many anglers believe that only trout produce these sweet-smelling slicks but the truth is all fish are capable of producing slicks and here is why. Feeding slicks that appear on the water are tiny drops of oil secreted from either the flesh of the prey being chewed and eaten by a predator, and/or the result of a fish burping up or vomiting oily stomach contents. Why do fish do this? We sometimes see fish making a slick when they have been spooked on a full stomach. We also see this when we first hook them and when we have them in hand. I have seen this happen with trout, reds, gafftop catfish and even flounder. Where we find the slicks, and also when we see multiple slicks in an area, are excellent signs that a school of game fish could be feeding there. Further useful evidence would be the absence of crab traps where the slicks are popping. You need to quietly get in there with them and offer a lure or whatever bait you may be using. As you approach what you hope are a group of feeding fish, keep in mind that a freshly made slick starts off quite small, about the size of a platter, that quickly grows larger as it drifts across the water in the direction that the wind or current is taking it. To get a better idea of what I’m talking about, toss a tiny piece of your lunch into the water – bit of sandwich, piece of sausage or potato chip. Watch how a small oily spot develops instantly and then spreads as it drifts. Now envision that same slick as a fish creates it. Your best odds of hooking up is not right beside the biggest slick you can cast to, but rather it is upwind or up-current, where it likely began. Get the picture? I hope this helps some of our readers gain an understanding of what a slick is, and how and why fish make them. Even the simplest information we can gather related to successful fishing tactics is better than learning nothing at all. In my next article I will discuss fall fishing patterns and some of the tricks and treats we can learn from our bass fishing friends.
TSFMAG.com | 77
david rowsey
HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey
Upper Laguna/ Baffin
David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/ Baffin region; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty. David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.
Telephone 361-960-0340 Website www.DavidRowsey.com Email david.rowsey@yahoo.com
78 | September 2016
The summer season is winding down and I would be lying if I said I was unhappy about it. I love fishing as much as any man on the planet but it has been hot – real hot. The next hot thing I want to see is the blued barrel of my 20 gauge Benelli from all the hot loads I will be delivering in the dove field. The smell of the first gunpowder burn of the season is like a shot of adrenaline to the soul for me. Has been since I was a kid…and that was a long time ago. This will mark the twenty-fifth consecutive year that close friend Tobin Stillwell and I will meet up on a little farm in Marion to shoot the first of the doves that pass through. It has become quite a tradition and one we always accomplish – rain or shine every September 1st. That date is dang near sacred to us, as it is with so many other Texas sporting traditionalists. Best of friends, shotguns, dogs, fast birds, cold brewski, and a tailgate slider. Folks, in my book, that’s good living! As much time as I anticipate that I will be spending in dove fields during September, I will be spending equal amounts of time on the bay. September is an interesting month here in South Texas. It can be just more of the same that we were doing from July through August, or a little cool front can pass through
and some magic can happen. I’ve seen it go both ways. A few Septembers ago I had the pleasure of fishing with some clients that have become close friends, Kirk and Kelly Childress. Kirk’s birthday is September 21 and he always hires me for that day to enjoy some fishing with his beautiful wife. We eased into Baffin at first light and landed on top of some great trout that easily made the day epic for anytime of the year. Multiple trout over 27-inches were landed by everyone in the group, and so many under 25 that we lost count. Mrs. Kelly popped a big flounder that was pushing the scales toward five pounds and was just busy with her camera and thanking God for such a blessed day on the water. In between photos, guiding talk, and laughing, I noticed something on the water. At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me so I asked Kirk (who is a very experienced fisherman that has fished many tropical waters), “Did you just see that?” “Yes,” he replied. I knew what I thought it was but still had to ask, “What do you think it was?” Without hesitation Kirk replied, “Tarpon!” My thoughts, exactly!
The tarpon had surfaced within easy casting distance of us and we started bombing the area with Bass Assassins. Ten minutes passed by with no hits and no further sightings. We waived it off and got back into the trout water and started catching good fish again. Kirk stayed out a little deeper but within easy talking distance. I was helping Kelly land a solid fish when I saw Kirk bow up on what I thought was another trout. He turned sideways toward me with a cocky grin and said, “This is a good one. Best of the day!” As a guide, nothing makes you happier than putting your clients on quality fish and knowing their smiles are genuine and from the heart. I was happy for him, but even happier when I realized it was that tarpon as it broke the surface and gave us big headshake. Kirk’s grin turned into a facial expression that reminded me of an Alabama fan’s face when Auburn ran back that missed field goal for a game winning touchdown in the 2013 Iron Bowl. Y’all know that look, jaw dropped to the water line and eyes as wide as the bay. That was Kirk at that moment. As the tarpon was burning out the drag I pulled the camera out to catch as much of it as I could. I told Kirk, “Let me know when you think she is coming up.” “Right now,” he yelled back. I was snapping the pictures as fast as the camera would process them and watching the show at the same time. The silver king eventually got the best of Kirk’s trout tackle and managed to set herself free. But not before giving us another great September memory. Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey
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TSFMAG.com | 79
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
80 | September 2016
A wise man told me that a good fishing report often comes from a fishing adventure when something special happens. And, if you are lucky, you will have a camera ready to capture the moment. It has been hot, real hot. Mornings have been almost unbearably humid, praying for a breeze. Rest easy though, we are moving into September with fall just around the corner. I had a great group of anglers fishing the 42nd Annual Port Mansfield Fishing Bobby Walker’s Tournament. This tourney perfect-25 took top is popular and exciting for honors in the ArtyMansfield regulars and I was Only Trout Division. privileged to have such a focused team. Many new format upgrades were incorporated this year. The tents at weigh-in provided welcome relief from scorching sun, and more helpful and courteous volunteers running around than you could shake a stick at. Everything from helping tie boats at the dock and carrying fish to the scales – topped off
with offers of refreshments. How awesome! Many thanks to the crew who put this all together. I mentioned last month that tides have been relatively lower and best current flows are strongest in and near East Cut, still moving but continuously weaker the farther from the pass we fish. I frequently make an early-morning pass along the ICW to observe and gauge direction and strength of the current on channel markers before deciding where to fish. This helps get your day started in productive areas. Back to having that camera handy. My fishing is 99% wading and 100% artificial lures, which presents a challenge in having a camera ready. Zippered shirt pockets stop my iPhone slipping from my pocket into the water but there is still danger of dropping it when hurrying with wet hands to make action photos. I do not like waterproof phone cases and with lots of data and photos not always backed up, my wife threatens divorce every time I drop it in the
Miniature and rare Lower Laguna trophy for Captain Wayne – dwarf seahorse!
water and fret losing everything. So far we have been able to save it both times, and still together. Big surprise in the tournament. Struggling in calf-deep ICW muck hoping for a flounder to complete our team’s slam category, I was working a paddletail along bottom and frequently hanging grass. Reeling in to clean my lure I noticed something unusual – a dwarf seahorse had wrapped its tail around my hook! Talk about an oddity. I wanted so badly to photograph it but – fearing divorce – my phone was a couple hundred yards away on the boat. Dilemma. Let the little guy go with no photo or walk back and waste fishing time? Well, the image included here tells you what I did. Placing my FTU Green Rod in my wade belt holster, I cradled my new friend carefully in my cupped hand and added drops of water with the other to keep him alive, all the way back. I hurriedly made a few images and released the little creature back into the Laguna Madre. Maybe another lucky fisherman will get to meet him someday. Oh – and I ended up getting a nice flounder a few minutes later. Guess you could say I was lucky twice. We put our best effort into the tournament, fishing from 6:00AM until barely enough time to make weigh-in before 5:00PM both days. Our catches on day one carried us confidently into day two but by afternoon our attitudes were sinking as fishing was slower. We needed something really uplifting to carry us through. Somehow, from a sea of dinks rose a beautiful trout on a teammate’s lure that hit the board at a perfect 25-inches. And don’t you know, 25-inches is the max length for trout in the event. What a game changer! Motivation resonated throughout the team and we fished harder than ever, arriving at weigh-in again only fifteen minutes before the bell. It paid-off. We ended up capturing first and second in the artyonly trout division. Overall, I’d say fishing has been fair to good and I look for a big improvement getting into September’s cooler weather. One Knockers and Zara Puppies have been working in early morning with light breezes. Mid-morning we are on K-Wiggler paddletails with 1/8 ounce 2/0 jigs in waist-deep and then Ball Tail Shads out deeper for the remainder of the day. I recommend switching to 1/4 ounce jigs when bottom-bumping for flounder. Tournament Tip: One or two decent fish while pre-fishing a spot is all you need to see – move on! I firmly believe you should release all legal fish while pre-fishing because you may up needing to catch them again when it counts. Be safe on the water and courteous to your fellow anglers. TSFMAG.com | 81
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
It makes me very happy to see our hottest taking topwaters while K-Wiggler Ball Tails on 1/8 weather departing this month. Not trying to play heads are the ticket everywhere and the best for us meteorologist, I’ve been wrong too many times but, in deeper water. The arrival of cooler weather should history says September has shown to be a wet one improve the flats fishing. and dark clouds do wonders in bringing temperatures Our trout numbers are doing very well; catching a down a bit. We saw days in August when water limit of keeper size fish has been fairly easy when they temperatures hit the low-90s making catching difficult. are feeding. Spoils islands in the morning hours have Our best tactics were wading at least belly deep by been very consistent as well as the edges of the ICW. mid-morning and avoiding areas of high boat traffic. Even old oil field cuts have produced good numbers of Targeting areas with good tide movement became trout. The bigger trout have been few and far between essential in finding steady action. Through it all though, fishing has been good from sunrise until mid-morning and again toward evening. Jason Jessup is no Windy days can make locating redfish schools stranger to these to difficult. Running the flats on calm mornings these linesiders. we often see small schools and lots of singles scurrying from the boat, still lingering on the flats after feeding at night and not yet headed to deeper water. The trick has been to set up a wade on their most likely path to deeper potholes and guts, concentrating on early morning mullet activity. Deeper areas off the flats, some too deep to wade, have also been producing scattered midday reds over grass beds. Shallow reds are
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with our heaviest fish being caught around waist to chest deep water. Trout have been taking topwaters readily first thing in the morning, and when they seem to go lower in the water column, a K-Wiggler Ball Tail Shad worked slowly near the bottom always seems to do the trick. The number of undersize trout from Port Mansfield all the way to Port Isabel is phenomenal. This alone shows that the future is very bright for this fishery. I remind you though; please be as careful as possible unhooking and releasing undersize trout. We need them to swim away as unharmed and healthy as possible. As the tides rise steadily this month, look for grass lines on the edges of the eastside sand to turn on with good numbers of trout. Along the west side shorelines, the keys will be slicks among plentiful bait schools holding in guts. When it comes to flounder, two words that pop into my head instantly are wow and remarkable. What a comeback they have made. My records indicate more flounder on my charters this year than ever, dating Brooks Montgomery’s all the way back to the early 2000s. first of five snook. On many of our trips we are catching flounder even without targeting them specifically. The ICW ledges are always prime locations to try and the edges of channels branching off the ICW are also good places to hook one. Sand holes off the edges of spoil islands are places where flounder lay as they ambush their prey. I like to use a 1/8 oz jig head and work it slowly along
the sandy bottoms. With the numbers we currently have down here they have become more predictable all across the Lower Laguna and catching them has been a bonus. Before closing I would like to mention sponsors who contribute to the success of my charter business. There’s not a trip goes by without me feeling confident and proud that my new Shallow Sport will take me wherever I need to be with comfort and safety. Fishing Tackle Unlimited for putting a great Green Rod in my hands, Costa Sunglasses for their technology in allowing me to see above and below the water with maximum visibility and protection to my eyes. Simms for being the cutting edge in designing the best waders on the planet, innovators of quality wear that give you protection and comfort in any season. K-Wigglers for jigheads and tough soft plastics in a range of colors that work in all water conditions. I don’t remember where I first heard this saying, “If you keep having the same results, you need to change what you are doing.” If your fishing has been more casting practice than catching you may need to change what you are doing. Fish patterns have changed over the years, especially the last five. Have you changed, or are you still hitting that same old empty hole that used to produce? Change can be good for you this fall.
TSFMAG.com | 83
FISHING REPORTS
ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica
AND
Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 September kicks off our fall program. With the first few fronts of the year blue-winged teal fly in and shrimp move out of the marshes. This is one of our favorite periods of the year, due to the change in season and the incredible fishing opportunities. Birds will be picking, and trout will again make their way back north. Turners Bay, Commissary Point, West Cove, and Long Point will offer plenty of opportunities for catching schooling fish under birds. The nearshore oil platforms and ship channel will still produce at times, but most of that action is waning by September. Redfish will be in abundance in the surf as well as at the Cameron Jetties. We will again be offering our “Cast and Blast” trips for teal season. This trip gives our customers an opportunity to see what we have to offer. Many times over the course of September, the results will be quick limits of teal in the morning and limits of trout and redfish in the afternoon. Hope all of you have had a great summer of fishing. Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 September is a transitional month, offering great opportunities for anglers in the Galveston area. “We have a bunch of good options in September,” James says. “The mid-bay, deep water patterns will still be producing both trout and redfish at times. Out there, we’ll key on mud
stirs and slicks around shell humps and throw topwaters early and soft plastics later in the day. Birds should be working on lots of days too, making it easier to locate the schools of trout chasing shrimp. Wading also produces well at times during September, especially along shallow shorelines and in protected pockets of water when the tide is high and/ or coming in. Usually, the tide runs pretty high this month. Higher tides and slightly cooler water temperatures make for good wading. And, of course, the chances for catching a few silver kings are excellent too. If we don’t have many storms, and winds stay mostly calm, people willing to search the nearshore waters for signs of rolling fish might experience the thrill of a lifetime by catching a tarpon or two.” Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Busy preparing for the opening of dove season, Jim reported excellent trout fishing on recent trips. “We are catching plenty of quality trout early mornings over shell. Some are biting topwaters, but the better bite is on tails. Those fish are averaging a nice size, with a few up to about five pounds. After the early bite dies down, we’ve had better luck chasing the rest of our limit of trout by focusing on birds. We’ve got plenty of birds working on most days lately, so that has made it easy to fill out our limits on most days before noon. Fishing for redfish has been less consistent. On some days, we’re locating the schools and catching limits of slot fish and a few bigger ones, but on other days, they are harder to find. As with everything around here, calmer weather is a key
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there. We are also looking forward to the start of dove and teal seasons. I’ll be hunting both, starting in September and up into November. Right now, we’re burning fields, which tends to draw the doves in. It all sets up for a fast and furious cast and blast season.” West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Fishing near a major pass between the Gulf of Mexico and an inland bay offers tremendous potential during a transitional month like September, Randall says. “Light winds and good tide movements will allow for excellent trout fishing in the surf and close to the pass early in the month. Bull reds will be caught in the same areas during windier periods. We will also have excellent mid-bay action on schooling trout throughout the month in Christmas Bay, Bastrop Bay, Chocolate Bay and West Bay too. Birds, slicks and mud-stirs can all lead us to fast action catching trout which chase migrating shrimp. Soft plastics like Norton Sand Eels generally work best to attract the attention of the specks focused on feeding on the crustaceans. With some frontal action, we should see water temperatures cool down some, and that might spruce up the potential for catching reds, specks and flounder in the shallows. Best bite on that pattern will be on shoreline flats with a mix of shell and some other bottom feature, like sand or mud.” Matagorda | Tommy Countz Bay Guide Service - 979.863.7553 cell 281.450.4037 September marks the time on the calendar when we know cooler weather and improved fishing are imminent. “I love fishing in September. Normally, the redfish start schooling up and when the bull tide of the fall equinox tide rolls in, catching lots of reds in the back lakes is usually easy. I will also look for schooling reds along the shorelines,
in shallow water. The north shorelines of both bays will hold schools in most years. We like to get in front of the schools and stay there with the trolling motor and experience some of the best topwater action of the year. When wading, the grass beds close to the shoreline normally produce well early in the mornings. Even slightly cooler water temperatures seem to improve the action in the shallows. Once the day warms up, I like to switch over to dark Lil’ Johns on sixteenth-ounce heads, tossing them around the deeper grass beds. Wading mid-bay reefs and the surf can produce well too.” Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 What a difference a month makes. Fishing went from terrible to awesome as our bays recovered from the deluge of June. Every species of fish from trout, reds, flounder, drum, and tripletail have found their way back to our local fisheries. Trout have been hanging out over deep shell in five to six feet of water, and we have been smoking them on live shrimp under popping corks. Trout have also been in the surf when we get light north winds; we have had some stellar mornings where we catch from daybreak to mid-morning. Redfish are schooling awfully early in the year for us, and we have been targeting shorelines looking for schools pushing shrimp and shad. Areas around drains, bayous and river mouths seem to be holding the best fish. We have caught some nice tripletail up to 18 pounds on live shrimp rigged under a cork out around the structures in West Matagorda. September should be a bang-up month, as the waters start to cool and birds start working over schools of trout, and the shorelines get thick with schools of redfish.
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Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 If tides are high like they normally are in September, Lynn expects the patterns to be predictable. “I like to wade shallow along sandy, grassy shorelines this time of year. We like to throw topwaters early, especially when the tide is coming in. When the blow ups stop coming as often, we will switch over to slow-sinking twitch baits like MirrOdines. We’ve been catching lots of quality trout on those lately. With lighter winds, we’ll still be heading to the surf. The action on the beach has been fantastic for solid trout. We’re catching lots of twenty to twenty-eight inch fish out there. Topwaters work well out along the beachfront too, particularly early in the morning in the shallow waters closest to the beach. When the tide is high or coming in, we’ll stay in the first gut well into the morning. We do need pretty light winds or offshore winds to make the fishing good out there. When we have medium to stronger winds, we’ll stay in the bays and work the shorelines most of the time. Fishing has been great lately, and the action should continue.” Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 With dove and teal hunting seasons cranking up in September, Blake will start his cast and blast season. “We’ve had a really good year so far catching trout. We’ll continue to fish for them on main-bay shorelines with a mix of sand and grass and over shell reefs this month, using Norton Sand Eels mostly, topwaters when the fish are really active. The redfish tend to get into their classic late-summer schooling pattern and begin working their way out of the backwater areas and toward the passes in big herds. We will try to stay in touch with them as best we can. If the weather’s hot and tides run high, we might catch plenty of them in the marshes and lakes. If we get some strong early fronts, the better action might be in places like East Flats and Super Flats. Teal
86 | September 2016
and dove hunting should be rewarding too. We have had a pretty long stretch of dry weather, so finding some freshwater will be critical to finding plenty of doves. I’ve got some good spots leased and expect fast shooting and fast fishing at the onset of autumn.” Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 This summer gets a big thumbs up from me in terms of the fishing and catching! Although there is still some brown tide in some parts of the Upper Laguna Madre, there are many areas where the water is in really good shape. We’ve been catching very good numbers of speckled trout and redfish on my charters. I’m still finding a few schools of redfish during early mornings when calm winds allow for seeing their wakes and the best lure for catching them at these times is the salt & pepper silver phantom/chartreuse tail Bass Assassin Die Dapper rigged on an eighth-ounce Spring Lock jighead. The trout will be moving into slightly deeper water this month, so I’ll be using live croakers or piggy perch in three to four feet of water along drop offs, grass lines and potholes rigged with fifteen to twenty inches of fluorocarbon leader. Very good numbers of redfish and black drum continue to show up in less than twelve inches of water and going after natural colored Bass Assassins and chartreuse, shrimp-flavored Fish Bites on sixteenth-ounce jigheads. Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961 Clear water continues to cover almost the entire Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay system, making for excellent fishing. Joe says, “We’ve got really good water quality. With the really hot weather, we have been fishing deep grass edges, ledges along channels and deep structures like rocks, which lie close to deeper, cooler water. Fishing has been good in places along the ICW from close to the bridge all the way into the Land Cut. Areas like the Kenedy Shoreline and Rocky Slough are holding lots of trout, which have been biting near rocks and deep grass
beds. Fishing that pattern is easiest from the boat. If the weather cools down and the typical bull tides of September come back, we should see an improvement in sight-casting opportunities for trout, redfish and black drum in shallow water on flats in places like Yarbrough, the Meadows and the King Ranch Shoreline. When sight-casting, we favor paddletails in natural colors, which can be reeled close in front of the fish. Topwaters work great this time of year at times too.” P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins Water conditions on PINS have been typically dirty through most of summer due to periodic coldwater upwellings. Trout fishing has been virtually dead due to these conditions. In fact, much of the action aside from random pup sharks has been extremely slow in the surf. With activity finally building in the tropics, a quick storm in the Gulf could bring the tides up and fix all this. As the water clears, expect large baitballs of dusky anchovies to get the action started. Skipjack, Spanish mackerel, and jackfish should be present and smashing various lures. Recovering surf conditions could also spark a late-season trout bite with excellent topwater action early and late. Mullet will be migrating to the surf – tossing live or dead finger-sized ones could produce redfish and possibly tarpon. Feeding gulls will likely be further offshore early, moving closer as the baitballs drift in. Shark fishing will improve when the bait action in the surf begins to materialize – mostly bulls and blacktips. Stingray numbers diminish but wise anglers still shuffle when wading. Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 September is such a great month. Still hot but we will have occasional showers and storms coming through to cool things down a bit. Topwater trout action is usually very good. I like the west shoreline up north
when the wind is light with a slight drizzle of rain early in the morning. Always lots of small trout in September, but still plenty of keepers and occasional big ones. Spoil banks along the ICW should also be good. Eastside grass flats are a great option on windy days – mid-thigh to waist deep. Soft plastics on eighth-ounce jigs and gold spoons should do the trick. Redfish have been tough to find, but this could change as they form larger schools and make their way toward the Gulf this month. Flats adjacent to guts leading to the East Cut are always prime locations. One or two hookups are signals to slow down and fan cast the area thoroughly – you might have found a school. If conditions are favorable, it is hard to beat topwaters. If not, the reds will definitely hammer weedless gold spoons. Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty – www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 The tide has been starting out around noon, helping the late bite during recent trips. The daylight drift is still the best time to catch left-over action from the night before and the last of the incoming tide. The best water movement has been throughout the afternoon hours, with a strong, steady receding tide. But, late in the day, the wind picks up and conditions are rough and muddy. The answer is FP3 and Berkley Gulp! Live three-inch shrimp. Freddy says, “When the wind is helping both drift speed and casting distance, we’ve been able to catch limits of reds, but most of the limited-out trout days are calmer, making the deeper water fishable; occasionally you get one of those perfect days when we limit on both. FP3s are working for us in the shallows, whether clear or muddy, and in the deeper potholes.” When the perch start nibbling the Gulp!, we’re in the right spot to make drifts that pay off with solid hits that rip out line and put smiles on faces! Summer is for family fishing, so put life jackets on the kids, and let’s stop open bay dredge disposal!
TSFMAG.com | 87
Jeff Pinsky warsaw grouper
Stan Singleton Offshore - blackfin tuna
Lucas trout, hooked for life!
Rickey Torres Deep Rock -king fish
Robert Mosqueda Freeport surf - redfish CPR 88 | September 2016
Bonnie Rocha Matagorda - biggest kayak red!
Jimmy Marshall Offshore - first blackfin tuna!
Mark Yaklin Offshore - first blackfin tuna!
Scott & Hayley Blanchard West Bay - 32” & 29” red drums
Kaylyn Smith East Matagorda Bay - flounder
Robert Guerra Nueces Bay - 31” 8.5 lbspeck CPR
Wayne Birch black drum
Troy Atwood Corpus Christi - redfish CPR
TSFMag
Catch of the Month &
Silverstar Fishing Jewelry
Photo Contest Sponsored by
Travis Novosad Baffin Bay - 44” redfish CPR
Roy Gonzales Corpus Christi - redfish
Beginning with the November 2015 issue, Silverstar Fishing Jewelry will be sponsoring a brand new photo contest. Winners will receive a beautiful 1-inch diameter custom-designed sterling silver pendant that would look great worn on a neck-chain. Contest Rules Alexander Vasquez LLM - first redfish!
Mike Vasquez Pringle Lake - speckled trout CPR
Michael Brown barracuda
Jacob Flores Adams Rock - amberjack
Douglas Mauch Morris & Cummings Cut 30” speckled trout
Brandon Smith 31” 10 lb trout
Dennis Brewer Trinity Bay - 40” redfish CPR
1. Only current magazine subscribers, their dependents, and members of household are eligible to win. 2. One winner each month selected by TSFMag for photo quality and content. 3. Single-fish photos only, please. We do not publish multiple-fish images or stringer shots. Photos are judged for display of sporting ethics and conservation. 4. Send entries to photos@tsfmag.com **Photo entries must be submitted electronically— prints cannot be accepted. All images submitted to Catch of the Month become property of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.
SEPTEMBER WINNER
Matthew Dillon
Swan Point - 26” first red! TSFMAG.com | 89
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
Dawn’s Redfish Throat Cakes TSFMag has always encouraged anglers to utilize as much of their catch as possible and the often-overlooked throat portion of the redfish certainly qualifies. Thank you Dawn Larson (chef at Larson’s Lodge) for sharing this wonderful recipe.
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
1½ pound redfish throats (grilled) 2 eggs 1 cup Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise ¼ cup onion diced ¼ green onion diced 2 Tbsp. dried parsley 2 Tbsp. horseradish mustard 2 Tbsp. Sriracha “Rooster” hot chili sauce ¼ tsp black pepper ½ tsp salt ½ tsp garlic powder ½ tsp onion powder 1½ cup breadcrumbs – split, reserve ½ cup for frying H-E-B Sunflower oil with garlic & herb flavors
- Grill your throats on a medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes. Pick flesh from bones and set aside.
90 | September 2016
- Mix eggs, mayonnaise, and all other ingredients together. Add fish and 1 cup bread crumbs to mixture. - Shape into patties and then lightly dredge in breadcrumbs. Set aside. - In large frying pan, add oil to about 1-inch depth. Heat on medium high. Fry patties for 3 to 4 minutes each side until golden brown. - Serve with cocktail sauce.
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TSFMAG.com | 91
CHRIS MAPP
B O AT M A IN T EN A NCE T I P S
Monster Labor Day
Customer Appreciation Sale Coming on September 1, 2, and 3—Coastal Bend Marine will be hosting our first Monster Labor Day Customer Appreciation Sale. The idea behind this event is to provide a great opportunity for customers to upgrade their current boat or outboard at substantial savings, and to move a little inventory. And so you ask, “How does this fit into helping me with maintenance on my current boat and outboard engine?” Here is the biggest take away for us this year. Since we started our boat and outboard motor maintenance education campaign here in the magazine years ago, we have been able to help quite a few folks diagnose and get answers which may have been a bit confusing to the average boat owner and hopefully saved you a few dollars and headaches along the way. There is a vast quantity of older product in use today that needs to be upgraded due to mineral build up in the powerhead along with corrosion issues affecting the performance and reliability of key components. And there have been changes to motor fuels over the last few years! Probably everybody has experienced E-10 ethanol fuel issues by now affecting fuel and air Injectors, air and fuel diaphragms, carburetor bowls, fuel pumps, and various other internal components you have yet to learn have been degraded over time. Couple all of this with the cost of maintenance and associated downtime and you can perhaps understand why we want to provide this opportunity to upgrade to newer product. The outboard marine industry has been diligent in their engineering efforts and all the manufacturers are turning out vastly Chris Mapp, owner of Coastal Bend Marine. Evinrude, Suzuki, Yamaha, Mercury, Honda, BlueWave, SilverWave, Shallow Stalker Boats, Coastline Trailers, Minnkota & Motor Guide Trolling Motors. Great Service, Parts & Sales “What can we do for you?”
18 Acres of Towable RVs Indoor Showroom Hwy 6 in Alvin, TX CONTACT Brent Garrison 281-303-1095
92 | September 2016
superior products that provide greater durability and reliability in all these areas. For example, Evinrude has been touting a three-year no maintenance policy and based on our experience they have made an outboard that performs remarkably on this long-range schedule. Sure, we still need to pull props to check for fishing line wrapped on prop shafts, monitor fluid levels, etc., and if the hours of running time are above normal certain maintenance schedules may need to be pulled forward and service performed ahead of that three-year timeline. The key thing to consider is that today’s outboard warranties are generally longer and more comprehensive than ever in all brands which is of great benefit to owners, saving you money over the life of the product. Yamaha has focused on their Maintenance Matters campaign to educate dealers and customers over the last few years as well. Drop by our dealership with your old rig in tow or just drop in for a visit. We welcome the opportunity to discuss what we have available in terms of trade-in opportunities on low-hour used outfits and new products as well. Help us help you get on the water and stay on the water longer with less downtime. We will have food, drinks and fun and you will get the best deal on new boats, motors, and trailers. We currently have 2015, 2016 and 2017 models in stock. Here’s a special incentive for TSFMag readers: Tear the page with this article from your magazine and bring it with you. Make your best deal…and I will give you an additional $500 off! We appreciate you reading our column, your business and your loyalty. Let’s have a great September! Chris Mapp Coastal Bend Marine | Port O’Connor, TX coastalbendmarine.com | 361-983-4841
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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
• 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 | 93
Science and the
Sea
TM
Turning Up the Heat on Jellyfish Stings When the agonizing sting of a jellyfish shoots up your leg, all you can think about is stopping the pain. But does that mean ice or heat? Vinegar or urine? A couple of scientists in Hawaii decided to find out what actually works.
A Hawaiian box jellyfish. Credit: Angel Yanagihara
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
Jellyfish stinging cells called cnidocytes deliver the painful sting. A specialized organelle shoots out a harpoon-like tubule from each cell to inject the venom that hurts so much, explained Dr. Christie Wilcox, one of the scientists who conducted the study. But when you first feel the sting, only a tiny proportion of cnidocytes on the tentacle have actually fired. How can you stop more from firing? The scientists placed fresh tentacle pieces from a live box jellyfish on gelatin made with human blood. Then they tested vinegar, freshwater, urine, saltwater, alcohol, epsom salts, Pepsi, lidocaine and several commercial jellyfish sting products, including one containing vinegar and copper gluconate. Ice, salts, Pepsi and urine did nothing, and freshwater and alcohol sent more cnidocytes firing. Lidocaine helped only a little. But vinegar irreversibly changed the cells so that they didn’t fire, though it’s not clear how or why. Most effective, however, was the product containing both vinegar and copper gluconate . Copper gluconate inhibits the deadliest toxin in the venom, a pore-forming protein called a porin. Porin is what punches holes in red blood cells, and copper appears to prevent the porins from forming. Another very effective and very simple remedy is heat. Heat deactivated the venom’s proteins. Somewhere between 42º and 45º C (107º and 113 ºF), the toxin loses its ability to cause harm. The good news, then, is that you only need one kind of shower to lessen the pain of a jellyfish sting: a hot one.
www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute
94 | September 2016
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)
Galveston
corpus to port isabel
classifieds
Designer & Manufacturer of Specialized High Performance Fishing Rods Office: 361.573.0300
805 B. South Bridge Victoria, TX 77901
Fax: 361.573.0304
TSFMAG.com | 95
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Tidal Corrections Location Calcasieu Pass, La. Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass (jetty) Sabine Pass Mesquite Point Galveston Bay (S. jetty) Port Bolivar Texas City, Turning Basin Eagle Point Clear Lake Morgans Point Round Point, Trinity Bay Point Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, Trinity Bay Christmas Point Galveston Pleasure Pier San Luis Pass Freeport Harbor
High -2:14 -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14 +0:33 +3:54 +6:05 +10:21 +10:39 +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -0:09 -0:44
Low -1:24 -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06 +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15 +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:38 +2:33 +2:31 -0:09
For other locations, i.e. Port O’Connor, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and Port Isabel please refer to the charts displayed below.
Please note that the tides listed in this table are for the Galveston Channel. The Tidal Corrections can be applied to the areas affected by the Galveston tide.
Minor Feeding Periods coincide with the moon on the horizon, and the last from 1.0 to 1.5 hrs after the moon rise or before moon set. Major Feeding Periods are about 1.0 to 1.5 hrs either side of the moon directly overhead or underfoot. Many variables encourage active feeding current flow (whether wind or tidal driven), changes in water temp & weather, moon phases, etc. Combine as many as possible for a better chance at an exceptional day. Find concentrations of bait set up during a good time frame, and enjoy the results.
Te x a s S a l t w a t e r F i s h i n g M a g a z i n e l
w w w. t e x a s s a l t w a t e r f i s h i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m