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Offshore is ON! O N ! .
May is one of my favorite months for o!shore shing, as the shing seasons coincide with good weather. Being spared from the beginning of hurricane season until next month, right now is the most reliable time to get nice weather days to make the trek to deeper waters.
Mahi season has begun to be more consistent, making the trips o!shore more exciting and worthwhile. When making the long drive to the humps for black n tuna, or the sword sh ledges, it’s always a plus to know that you have opportunities to catch mahi on the way there and back. Staying alert for weedlines, diving birds and oating debris makes the trip seem like less of a chore, and keeps that sherman’s optimism alive for more of the venture, knowing you’re still on the hunt nearly the whole way back to the dock.
With the prevalence of mahi, tuna, queen snapper and sword sh in our deepwater shery, May 1st marks the opening of grouper season here in e Florida Keys, providing additional catching opportunities for both nearshore and o!shore adventures. We also welcome the opening of tile sh this month.
For those with an electric reel setup in their arsenal, this is a great month to get out there and scout for new deep-dropping locations. With snowy grouper and yellowedge grouper found peppered throughout the area, test dropping on new found spots can be a fun addition to mahi shing. As you run aimlessly o!shore looking for
signs of dolphin sh, you may notice you run over a ledge or depth variation. Anything that looks shy a%er about 500’ could be your next honeyhole.
By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
If this is a new area especially, use a variety of baits on your 5-hook deepdrop rig to ensure your best chances of surveying the location. Squid is always a good choice o!shore, with many species unable to resist its potent aroma, but chunks of sh should be included to entice a grouper bite. With bait sizes matching hook sizes, its a good idea to make your own rigs with di!erent sized hooks if you’re unsure of the species that might be available at a new place. A x larger hooks near the bottom of the rig for grouper baits, and smaller hooks near the top with squid for tile sh.
If o!shore isn’t your thing, there are plenty of grouper on the reef and wrecks nearshore this time of year as well. However, a%er releasing these sandwich providers since their closing January 1st, every local sherman in town will be hitting the wrecks hard for the recaptures now that season is open. Before they face all this pressure from being targeted nearshore, particularly on publicly known wrecks, it’s a good time to put some skin in the nearshore grouper game.
A%er a short closure for the month of April, amberjack has also opened again this month.
ese sh are easy to nd, and add some nice backbreaking action to the grouper hunt.
Whatever your avor of shing is, e Florida Keys has you covered this month. With the anticipated opening of grouper season at the beginning of May, and schools closing for summer break nearing the end, it’s a good idea to get booked for a charter before you arrive on your Keys vacation.
Give us a call at Sweet E’nuf Charters to get tight.
Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters out of Marathon, e Florida Keys. (504) 920-6342. www.captainquinlyn.com; IG: @captainquinlyn
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The Bigger the Adventure, the Bigger the Blade
The perfect knife for your next adventure
No ofense to those nifty little knives that the Swiss pack a kitchen into, but sometimes it takes a big blade to get the job done. Tat was the case three years ago when I found myself in the jungles of Argentina.
I’d heard a tale about lost Inca gold and was on the hunt for clues. Among other things, the Inca were known for their extensive road system that ran at least 25,000 miles along South America’s eastern side. But the clue I was looking for was down a long-abandoned road overtaken by jungle.
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That’s when my Pathfinder Blade came to the rescue. Constructed of high-quality 420 surgical stainless steel and with a total length of 16 inches, this full-tang knife made quick work of the jungle brush. And with its rugged handle of genuine, natural white bone that’s been hand-carved and torched with an iconic design, I didn’t lose my grip. Rounded off by brass spacers, handguards, a brown pakkawood handle, and hand engravings on the blade’s spine, this baby is all you could ever handle in jungle brush.
Upon reaching a stone wall hidden by the jungle, I snapped my knife back into its tooled genuine leather sheath and read the markings the Incas had left long ago. It was time to travel north for the next part of my adventure.
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By Riley Love
PURSUING MONSTERS IN A SEPARATE REALITY...
nly in the dreams of shermen does this occur. A wondrous game sh pursued across ve countries not only awaits but the biggest, baddest, best of them lay for you in a single place.
e Salminus Brasiliensis is certainly not related to salmon, but is of the order Characiformes which includes many species— notably vampire-fanged payara and modern cinema star piranha in South America and tiger sh in Africa. Redundantly named the golden dorado (dorado means “golden” in Spanish), it’s immensely powerful, acrobatic—and magni cently beautiful.
e Rio Uruguay (indigenous Guarani interpretation “bird river”), with the northern border of Argentina and southern of Uruguay, sports a massive hydroelectric dam, the “El Salto Grande.” Stunned eels and bait sh ow through the locks in highly oxygenated water to the waiting predators. Permits are required by the dual operators on the Argentinian and Uruguay sides of the river to sh within 1,000 meters from the dam. Fishing is rigidly structured into slots of three hours quartered per weekdays per group of two or three anglers in two boats in this “Zona.” e Argentinians lost their permits recently and our two cra% had the entire area to ourselves. Downstream, twenty other boats oated outside the zone a kilometer away, prohibited from approaching nearer. My inner voice asked, “How o%en does this happen to me?”
ere are a lot of places to sh for golden dorado in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. One would note that the world record is a bit cloudy; there is a 70 lb. specimen claimed in 1970 but without a veri cation or a photo. To re ect on the quality of this shery, the current IGFA record is just over 55 lbs. and taken at La Zona. Our group landed numerous sh into the mid-40 lb. range, within 80% of the documented record. In contrast, the renowned, luxurious golden dorado destination, Pira Lodge, gets about one sh over 30 lbs. annually. shermen do well here. Locals target carp-like boga both for live bait and food. Using large topwater poppers, Rapala style diving minnows and handmade jigs, we hit rocky structure and fastmoving torrents. e dorado were exceedingly sensitive to water levels and ow being released from the dam. When it happened and their buttons were pushed, it was double digit trophies in each time slot. Multiple hookups were common.
Fishing teaches us lessons about life. Whether love, war or business, if you want success you need multiple opportunities. Even with shoulder- wrenching, reel-screaming strikes and Hank Aaron grade roundhouse hooksets, over half of what seemed like solid hookups would suddenly vanish from the transaction. It’s very much like trying to land large toothy- jawed payara. e modus operandi of these golden hulks revealed that even extra strong hooks were straightened, sometimes pulled from the lures; 65 lb. braid and wire leaders were broken. But some just “Houdinied” away, still waiting for you to come, instead of only dreaming.
Justi Campa of Fly Fishing Patagonia assisted with our planning. Reach them by emailing jcampa@ y shingpatagonia.com or visit www. y shingpatagonia.com.
Riley Love is a physician and author with homes in Kentucky and Key Largo, Fla. He has penned dozens of articles on international sport shing and a host of screenplays. He is a member of the International Game Fish Association, e Bill sh Foundation and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Contact him at 270-816-4423, rjhclove@gmail.com or visit his website: rileylove.com.
BOARD
STANFORD KNOWLES shows how it’s done! He landed this trophy 30+” Speckled Trout on a drop off while fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre while teaching his son-in-law the art of lure fishing. The big girl was safely released to go lay another million eggs.
May: The Movement
CAPT.
DAVID C DILLMAN
832-228-8012
galvestonbaycharterfishing.com
Great movements have happened throughout history. Whether people or animals, migration will always be part of life. Fish movements take place in lakes, bays, even the seas. May is the month of movement for Speckled trout in the Galveston Bay Complex.
Galveston Bay is a large and vast complex, whose blood line is the “vein” called the Houston Ship Channel. During the month of May, Speckled Trout utilize this “vein” to traverse into the Galveston Bay complex. These fish are typical called “surf runners” to most anglers. So why do they come into the bay?
Since the early 1990’s, I fished 75% of my charters along a portion of the Houston ship channel. I fished in the middle of the bay, from channel markers 46 thru 62. This is where I spent the majority of my time during the months of May through August. I, myself, wondered, where and why do they come to this area?
In the mid 1990’s, I finally hypothesized these fish come thru the jetties around the end of April. This was accomplished with the knowledge of Capt. Mike Williams, who exclusively fished the Galveston jetties. We talked to each other frequently during April, and he would let me know when the “specks” hit the Galveston jetties. I would then know that in a week or so, they would be making their way up towards Eagle Point. Why the middle of Galveston Bay? In my opinion, these fish known as “surf runners” seek this due to their spawning nature. The salinity and water temperature are optimum, and the currents play in their favor. The fish stay within a 7-mile circumference off Eagle Point till the end of August. Then some move further into the bay system, while others exit back thru the jetties.
This movement of fish takes place on a “normal year”. What is normal? Well, Galveston Bay has been anything but normal the past few years! The bay needs the correct amount of freshwater, no flooding. Also, becoming “too salty,” with no freshwater during drought years is just as bad. I cross my fingers and will say this year is shaping up to be “normal” for our bay system. Let’s pray this weather pattern holds out!
Best Bait on Galveston Bay since 1929
What’s made Eagle Point Fishing Camp unique since 1929 is its location and business model. Because it’s in the center of the Galveston Bay, EPFC allows anglers to conveniently fish a vast stretch of water spanning from Houston to Galveston. Using the same full-service concept as its date of establishment, EPFC has proven for nearly a century that easy access to the water combined with a skilled staff creates the perfect fishing experience. Along with the boat ramp, boat storage, live bait for purchase, tackle shop, and RV park, EPFC has always had a fleet of shrimp boats to supply the bait that so many of their regular customers desire. Their successful commercial shrimping business has been an intricate part of what makes EPFC unique.
One More Chance at a Trophy
CAPT. MICHAEL OKRUHLIK
832.419.5777
MyCoastOutdoors@yahoo.com www.MyCoastOutdoors.com
If you’re a dedicated trout angler like me, you’re probably eyeing the opportunity to land a personal best speckled trout before the spring spawn. While most Texas anglers focus on big trout from mid-December to early April, May offers a prime window for trophy fish, especially with the full moon on May 12 this year. The warmer weather also makes fishing more enjoyable, creating a perfect environment for those seeking action-packed outings.
May sees many anglers shifting focus and putting away their waders. However, big speckled trout are still holding onto their eggs, making this an excellent opportunity to catch one before they spawn. The pleasant temperatures in May allow us to use more aggressive lures and speed up our presentations, a welcome change from the slow, careful approach required in winter. For those who enjoy a faster pace, May is the time to go.
One of my favorite techniques for targeting trophy trout in May is using topwater lures. The explosive strikes on the surface are thrilling, and the warmer waters make fish more eager to strike. But topwater isn’t the only option— slow-sinking and suspending lures also perform well. As a paddle-tail enthusiast, I recommend experimenting with 3”, 4”, and 5” sizes and
adapting to the fish preference. At this time of year, trout are aggressive, so adding rattling sounds to your lures can make a difference.
In terms of location, I prefer fishing grass flats in water that is knee- to waistdeep. Flats with small creek drains or depressions are incredibly productive, as these features tend to concentrate fish. Shallow grass areas are ideal, and potholes can increase your chances of finding a big trout. These areas offer an excellent opportunity to catch a hefty fish before the season transitions.
However, fishing in May can be challenging due to the abundance of small baitfish in the water, like tiny glass minnows. Trout are often gorging on these minuscule meals, making it difficult to grab their attention with larger lures. The key is downsizing your lures to match the size of the baitfish. I’ve found that using the smallest lure you can cast effectively is the best approach when you see an abundance of small baitfish. Both hard and soft lures are effective, and colors like white and silver tend to mimic the forage closely.
the appearance of wounded prey, which trout find irresistible.
When fishing around bait balls, I recommend positioning your lure on the edge or beneath the school. This strategy attracts fish to a single target, rather than competing with a large mass of baitfish. Slow-sinking lures are ideal, as they give
Tandem rigs are another excellent option for spring fishing. By rigging two smaller lures, you can cast farther while still maintaining the proper lure size. A combination of small silver spoons and white bucktails works well when fishing around glass minnows. A small floater diver with a spoon trailer also adds an extra level of action. In the spring, downsizing your lure presentation can make a significant difference in your success, potentially leading to the big trout you’ve been waiting for.
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www.USHarbors.com Eagle Point, Galveston Bay, TX - May 2025
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Options on Galveston Bay
The plan was to explore a few promising areas around San Leon, Dickinson Bay, and near the Texas City Dike. But those old pier pilings—always a magnet for redfish—called me back. It’s hard to give up an old habit, especially one that’s fed me so many fried redfish filets over the years. The Big Bay Parker just seemed to know where to go, easing into the familiar waters off April Fool Point and Eagle Point.
Rigged up with a limetruse plastic mullet on an FTU Green Rod, the bait looked lethal slicing through the sandy green waters. I made a long cast with my Green Titanium rod toward the shallows, bringing the bait back parallel to the pier pilings. Just as the sun broke over the East Bay shoreline, the rod bent deep. The fish on the other end had that unmistakable redfish run—strong, surging, with a rhythm all its own. My 30 lb. Sufix braid and ultra-light rod were doing their job. But the fish knew those pilings better than I did. It was over in less than two minutes.
I was fooled two more times that morning. Same setup, same cast, same heartbreak. They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results—but in fishing, that’s just hope in action.
A few days later, we found magic near the Texas City Dike. With medium-action Green Rods, four of us battled some incredible black drum. Big ones. It was a clear, sunny day with a light east wind, and those fish were stacked in a deep hole, hammering fresh blue crab like there was no tomorrow. Ferry passengers heading to Bolivar got a show—Herculean fights with drum in the 25–40 lb. class. They made our forearms swell like Popeye’s.
Then came a gorgeous July morning with my dear friend, Brother Chuck. We fished near Goat Island, around the Hog Pins in East Bay. Armed with She Dogs, Baby Spooks, and soft plastics like Assassins and Nortons, we waded the shoreline and ended the day with a mixed bag of speckled trout, redfish, sand trout—even one hefty gafftop. Brother Chuck held his own, getting action both on topwater’s and soft plastics.
On another trip, I was joined by Mike Heidemann and Casey on Trinity Bay’s north shoreline. With no tidal movement, you’d think we’d be skunked—but we boxed speckled trout up to four pounds using soft plastic
CAPT PAUL MARCACCIO
T.P. & W. & USCG License
Marcaccio Fishing Academy
captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com
And then, on one of those days when cabin fever overrides common sense, I made a run to the back of Moses Lake. Conditions were poor—light drizzle, murky water—but even then, a few sand trout and some oversized ribbonfish helped scratch the itch.
A reminder to all anglers: Trinity and Upper Galveston Bays are sensitive to freshwater inflow from the San Jacinto and Trinity Rivers. Even a few extra inches of rain can drastically lower salinity levels—too low for speckled trout and redfish to thrive. Keep an eye on water levels and salinity numbers if you’re chasing fish in those areas. I’ll continue to share updates in my newsletter as conditions change.
These stories aren’t told to boast about the fish caught—but to shine a light on just how good July and August can be on Galveston Bay. By early May, water temps hit that magic number in the 70s, and the summer smorgasbord begins.
Big black drum show first. Though their peak is in September, they start moving early. Bull reds? A year-round possibility. As the beachfront warms, you’ll find specks, keeper reds, and gafftop in the shallows. Big flounder start pushing through the passes, making their way to Trinity and East Bay. And yes—sharks follow them in. It begins with small sand sharks, followed by blacktips, bulls, and hammerheads.
By mid-June, the nearshore game turns up a notch. Spanish mackerel, jackfish, pompano, king mackerel, and even ling are caught near the beachfront. This year, we’ve seen sharks in the bay thanks to salinity levels that mimic offshore waters—except during heavy rains in May.
It’s tempting to rush the experience. As much as I love the quiet bite of a cold morning, I can’t help but look forward to what summer brings. Every year, without fail, I blink—and those magical spring days are gone.
But what lies ahead is a time of abundance. The next three months will offer more fishing opportunities than any other time of the year. The possibilities are nearly limitless. God bless you and your families as you enjoy the Lord’s great backyard.
Stanley Jigs and Saltwater Assassins.
GROUPER SEASON BACK OPEN...FOR NOW
A!er breaking shermen’s hearts by releasing trophy grouper throughout the closed season, May is nally here, opening grouper season for anglers on the Atlantic Coast. I, for one, am thrilled to be able to add these tasty critters to the icebox yet again.
e red grouper is one of the most popular bottom sh found along the southeastern coast of the United States, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s rm, white esh and rich avor make it a favorite for the majority of o%shore anglers. Easily recognizable by its reddish-brown coloration, the red grouper features scattered white blotches and a stocky body that suits its role as an ambush predator in rocky reef environments. Pulling one up from the depts that they exist in is the price you’ll pay to put this meat on your table because they’re also able to aggressively resist your will and challenge your strength. I like targeting them using live or cut bait. Once hooked, they tend to dive back into structure, which makes landing them a rewardingly brutal experience.
THATCH MAGUIRE, EDITOR AT LARGE
those who regularly bottom sh the overabundance seems to be more of a problem than the reduced stock assessments that NOAA has promoted.
e National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has attempted to monitor stock assessments of red grouper, although many cite awed data in their forecasts. e catch limits and season closures that they’ve implemented have substantially reduced the angling communities’ opportunities to catch this highly sought a!er sh. For
FISHING IS BETTER IN A C-HAWK
I could be wrong, but it seems as if NOAA has become antirecreation-fishing oriented. eir policies and choice of data has created a distrust among many (most all) anglers these days. While ASA and numerous other angler organization have attempted to impact NOAA’s trend toward “Don’t Catch,” much remains to be done to correct the adversarial relationship between the American angler and this once highly respected organization. My small home town once had an animal control o cer that hated and abused stray dogs. Once the community brought this to the attention of local government o ce the problem got solved relatively quickly. ey red him. No more problem. Has it come time to re the management team of NOAA?
Disclaimer: e views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not necessarily re ect the views or positions of Coastal Angler Magazine or any entities they represent.
TACTICS FOR CHASING CHANNEL CATS
By Paul MacInnis
Catching channel cat sh can be a lot of fun and super rewarding—these guys ght hard! And the nice thing about cat shing is you don’t need fancy baits or tackle. If you want to target bullheads and smaller pan-sized cat sh you can use baits you gather right out of the river like grass shrimp and mussels. You can also use earth worms or small chunks of hotdog. Fish these baits on a 1/0 Aberdeen hook and add just enough split shot to your line to hold bottom.
But I prefer to target bigger channel cat sh, the bigger the better, using peeled shrimp for bait. You don’t need fresh shrimp, a bag of frozen shrimp from your local bait shop works ne. I also like to use cut bait as it holds up well to the bait stealers. Cut mullet or chunks from just about any sh work.
I use a standard sh nder rig. Run the line through a one-quarter to one ounce egg sinker, choosing just enough weight to hold bottom. Tie the line to a swivel and add about one to two feet of twenty pound test mono lament to the other end of the swivel. To the end of this leader I tie a 4/0 Team Cat sh TC84Z circle hook.
Baitcasting gear used for bass shing and 2000 to 3000 sized spinning tackle works ne for channel cats. You can get by with inexpensive mono lament, but I prefer a good quality 10-pound test braid like Platypus Platinum Plus. Braid won’t bow out as much as mono lament due to wind or current so it gives you a straighter connection between rod tip and bait. is kind of tackle can get sporty if a 10-pound-plus cat sh takes your bait, but sporty is exactly what I am looking for!
Popular wisdom says you should sh your baits in the deeper bends and holes. I shed that way for years and caught plenty of one to ve pound cat sh, but bigger sh eluded me. Many rivers (even lakes) are loaded with little coves and basins. I’ve learned if there is three feet or more of water in these basins there’s a decent chance there will be some nice cat sh there. I’ll park my kayak at the edge of the opening and cast a bait towards the center of the mouth of the cove, trying to place my bait in the slack water but close, within 10 feet or so, of the current. If I am feeling ambitious I’ll toss a second bait towards the back of the cove. Most of the time the biggest cat sh go for the bait close to the cove mouth...but that isn’t always the case. I like to let the circle hook do all the work so I’ll leave the rods in the rod holders until a sh puts a good bend in the rod and maybe even takes drag. Keep your ears open for loud splashes as channel cats will o!en thrash at the surface right a!er feeling the hook. Also watch your line. Cat sh don’t always take the bait going away from you. If your line goes slack or your bait changes position reel up tight and see if there is a sh on the line. Finally, if you start catching a lot of bow n you might want to move elsewhere (unless you like catching bow n) because I nd cat sh and bow n seldom share the same locations.
Channel cat sh can be aggressive predators and many a bass angler has been surprised when a big cat grabs their bass lure. Most of the time I wouldn’t advise tossing lures as an e cient way of targeting cat sh, but some years there is an exception that happens in spring into early summer. Winter and spring are typically dry season and water levels drop. Fish congregate in what deeper holes are le! and become aggressive due to high competition for food. is is one time when you can readily catch cat sh on lures and even ies. I like small plastic worms and other so! plastic baits bumped slowly along the bottom. Keep in mind cat sh are primarily scent feeders so dousing your lure with a decent sh scent helps.
During low water you’ll occasionally run across a real treat, a sandy bottom pool where you can spot cat sh and sight cast to them. I highly recommend a quality pair of polarized sunglasses with an amber tint and mirror coating to help you tell cat sh from gar and tilapia.
I suggest you give shing for channel cats a try, especially on those days when “game sh” don’t cooperate. Be patient, stay persistent, and enjoy the process!
FROM A PRO COVERING WATER WITH A BLADED JIG
When you rst drop your boat in the water, o!entimes it can be extremely overwhelming on where to sh and what to throw. One bait I have found in particular seems to catch bass at every lake I go to. is bait is a bladed jig, better known as a chatterbait. e bladed jig is a extremely versatile bait, meaning you can throw it around so many di%erent types of cover and sh it at many varying depths. It allows you to cover a vast amount of water and locate bass that would usually take days to nd with other baits.
As you approach a new lake or even one you have been to a thousand times, it’s always a good idea to throw a con dence bait that you know will get bites. e chatter-bait is mine. I’ve found that no matter the cover, grass, trees, docks, riprap, etc., it gets bit. With the blade on the front vibrating so erratically, it allows this bait to come through cover extremely well and creates a reaction strike no other bait can.
their home. Depending on the time of year and what kind of bait the bass are feeding on where you are shing, there is a color made to match the hatch. If shad is the prevalent forage, I like to stick to a white or a bait sh color like a pearl and silver with a silver colored blade. If it’s bluegill, you can get by with a green pumpkin or anything with some yellow and orange mixed in with a darker blade color. Sometimes water color can play a factor in color choice as well. If the water is very dirty, you will have to use a color that will stick out so that they can see it pass by. Something like a white and chartreuse with a white blade (for bait sh imitation) or even a bright orange with a black blade (for craw sh imitation) can do the trick.
TYLER WOOLCOTT
Buying a bladed jig and tying it directly on your rod usually isn’t too e%ective without putting a trailer on the back of it. I like to try and match the color of the trailer to the color of the skirt on your chatterbait of choice to get the most natural look for the sh. e type of trailer can be a bit more complicated. I use either a swimbait style trailer with a boot tail or a apping style trailer like a craw pattern. e boot tail stands out when sh are very aggressive and aren’t scared of the more aggressive action the boot tail causes behind the bait. e appy trailer is better for highly-pressured sh that want a little more of a subtle approach who might not like the amount of action a swimbait trailer has.
A chatterbait is a very dominant bait all across the country and I rely on this bait at all times of the year to help me put sh in the boat. Next time you hit the lake, give the chatter-baitt a try and cover some water!
Let’s talk about matching the chatterbait to the bait forage. By matching the color of the bladed jig to the forage in the lake, a bass can’t resist it as a nice snack when you reel it through
Sizes and weights of your bladed jig are extremely important. With sizes ranging from 1/4 oz. all the way to 1.25 oz., the depth you are shing will decide what you tie on. I typically start with a 3/8 oz. or a 1/2 oz. which will allow you to cover water depths from 1 to 10 feet depending on your retrieve. If I nd some deeper cover that i want to get down to and sh, I will go a little heavier to a 3/4 oz.
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BLADED JIG GEAR: When throwing a bladed jig its important to have the correct gear. I use a 13 Fishing Myth Rod 7’5 MH-mod paired with a 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5:1 reel. I spool this up with 17 lb. Su x Advance Fluorocarbon line making this the perfect combo for the job.
Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcott shing.com.
— Gene H.
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TEXAS ANGLER LANDS RECORD 884-POUND BLUEFIN TUNA
APort Arthur, TX angler and his friends recently achieved an extraordinary feat— reeling in an enormous 884-pound blue n tuna.
On April 10, David Esslinger and his friends were shing in the Gulf when the massive sh struck his line with incredible force. He had no idea he was about to embark on the most intense battle of his shing career. ankfully, Esslinger had an eager crew by his side, ready to assist in landing this remarkable sh.
“Let me break down the day and the events for you. First o%, for those who have never landed a sh the size of a car, this is no small feat. No one accomplishes this alone,” Esslinger posted on Facebook.
e group set out early Friday morning. By 9 a.m., a!er a couple of hours of shing, they started noticing signs of a school of tuna breaking the surface of the calm waters. Suddenly, the right rigger snapped down with a forceful bite, signaling the start of Esslinger’s showdown against his monstrous tuna.
Esslinger recalls, “Big tuna started breaking the surface and our team’s spirits began to li! at’s when it happened—the right rigger came down hard. e sh ran about ten seconds and spit the 12/0 mustad hook and the bait. As my heart sank,
I came up on the drag and gave her 10 cranks. As soon as I engaged the clicker again the giant sh piled on again. at’s when the rst 3/4 spool run at 35 pounds of drag started.”
Realizing what was at stake, his team quickly got into position for the ensuing battle, clearing lines and the deck.
“I had to crank it up to 45 pounds of drag on the Tiagra to slow her down. She responded with a rush to the surface. Carson was at the helm with Brad, TC, Je%, and Colby, coordinating everything e ciently from cockpit to helm. We managed to get the sh up to the surface in just over an hour,” stated Esslinger.
A!er an exhausting ve-hour battle of strength and endurance, Esslinger and his crew nally brought the massive blue n alongside the boat. With shaking body and inoperable hands, Esslinger made his way to the side of the boat and screamed with utter shock, “What a giant blue n! We did it!”
is impressive catch is seen as a trophy sh among anglers, celebrated for its enormous size and high-quality meat. And it was indeed enormous. Weighing in at 884 pounds, this blue n tuna has set a new state record for the largest tuna caught in Texas, surpassing the previous record of 876 pounds established by Troy Lancaster in 2021.
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