TEXAS FISHING ANNUAL March 13, 2026
Texas’ Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Fishing texas ANNUAL 2026
BIG BASS GALORE PAGE 5
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Volume 22, Issue 14
Varying conditions Sheepshead and flounder provide action despite tide changes, wind By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Texan Brian Bird is the founder of World Bass Enterprises, which will host a $3M bass tournament in November. Photo from Brian Bird.
One true champion World Bass Enterprises putting on $3M bass tournament By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Leave it to a Texan to do it bigger than it’s ever been done before. Eastland businessman Brian Bird grew up bass fishing around his north-central Texas home, catching plenty of fish on the classic Mann’s grape-colored plastic worm. Getting dragged around while tube-fishing in area tanks ignited a lifelong passion in Bird. That passion would be rekindled in a big way after Bird sold his electrical business several years ago. While on a fishing trip to Minnesota, he and several good friends, a few of whom fished in Elite open tournaments, began to realize their wasn’t a true world championship for bass anglers.
Upper coast anglers are beginning to catch flounder consistently along main bay shorelines, the edges of shallow reefs, and the mouths of marsh drains and bayous as springtime patterns emerge. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
A transition towards springtime patterns has begun across Texas coastal bays and marshes. Despite varying conditions, including changing tide levels and gusty winds, anglers have been consistently catching sheepshead along rocks and jetties near channels and passes. Flounder have also returned to the shallows, and anglers targeting them have been rewarded. Upper Coast fishing guide Capt. Ryan Battistoni has been focusing his efforts around shell reefs and marsh drains in smaller, satellite bays like Chocolate Bay, Bastrop Bay, and Christmas Bay. He said flounder are stacking up along the edges of shallow oyster reefs and in the mouths of marsh drains and bayous. “The best flounder bite has been taking place when the tide is moving,” Battistoni said. “I prefer an outgoing tide when targeting flounder, but you can catch them during the incoming tide, as well.” Battistoni said live shrimp under a popping cork and scented soft plastics bounced along the bottom have been producing the most flatfish. Capt. Donnie Wood said the flounder gigging action across Galveston Bay is gaining momentum now that flounder have started returning to the shallows with springtime patterns emerging. Shallow flats along main bay shorelines and satellite bays with scattered shell and mud across Galveston Bay have been producing solid flatfish during his nighttime trips. He said more and more, flounder are pushing up shallow during the overnight hours with each passing day. According to Galveston Bay Complex fishing Capt. David Dillman, rocks along the Houston Ship Channel in Trinity Bay, Tabbs Bay, Scotts Bay, and Burnett Bay
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TPWD Commission proposes changes for South Zone season By Nate Skinner
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has proposed two changes for the 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird Proclamation
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that, if adopted, would change the South Zone dove season date format that South Zone dove hunters have become accustomed to in recent years. These changes will be voted on at the TPWD Commission meeting in Austin on March 26. The first proposed regulation change is to move the South Zone regular dove season opening date to September 1. This
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 8 Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 14 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 17 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18
would eliminate the Special White-winged Dove Days, and institute standardized bag limits across all days in the South Zone (15 mourning, whitewinged, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, with no more than two white-tipped doves per day). “If adopted, this change would also mean we would have a uniform opening day of Septem-
ber 1 for all three dove hunting zones in Texas,” said the TPWD Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader, Owen Fitzsimmons. “This is something that the public has expressed they are overwhelmingly in support of in recent years.” The second proposed regulation change pertains to the second segment of the South Zone dove season. At the comPlease turn to page 15
INSIDE
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Dove changes coming
Hunters could see a change of season dates in the South Zone for dove next season. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
HUNTING
FISHING
Toms over jakes (P. 4)
Spawn is on (P. 6)
Hunters set for good turkey season.
Bass moving shallow.
Delisted (P. 4)
Party offshore (P. 6)
Prairie-chicken taken off ESA.
Party boats catching tuna, snapper.
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March 13, 2026
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March 13, 2026
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HUNTING
West Texas aoudad success By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
This hunter harvested this mature aoudad ram while hunting in West Texas with Wes Mundy of Double Diamond Outfitters. Photo by Wes Mundy.
Many West Texas outfitters and hunting guides have had tremendous success getting their hunters into position to harvest mature, free-ranging aoudad. Overall, the populations of sheep in the region appear to be flourishing. However, some outfits have reported seeing a decline in the quality of rams across the landscape since the implementation of helicopter-based management for aoudad.
Calan Ahrens, owner of Ahrens Ranch & Wildlife, said his hunters have been enjoying an outstanding season for aoudad sheep on ranches in Brewster, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties. “Here recently, the rams have separated themselves from the ewes and have pushed down into some of the lower country,” Ahrens said. “Most of them are in bachelor groups with other rams, and some are roaming by themselves.” Ahrens said his hunters recently have been harvesting sheep measuring over the 32-inch mark. He said the lamb
crop across the ranches his operation hunts on was excellent this year. “Most of the ewes had twins, and our aoudad population is thriving,” Ahrens said. According to Ahrens, they have seen somewhat of a decline in the quality of rams on average since helicopter-based removal and management practices for aoudad began being implemented in West Texas. “We have not seen a decline in the overall number of sheep on the ranches we hunt,” Ahrens said. “However, there Please turn to page 15
Toms over jakes Recruitment success leading to lots of gobblers By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Spring turkey season kicks off this month, and many folks have reported seeing turkey flocked up in various portions of the state. Gobblers have been strutting for large groups of hens, and it seems there are more Toms than jakes this spring, in comparison to years past. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Wild Turkey Program leader Jason Hardin, Rio Grande turkey populations across the state experienced excellent years in terms of nesting success and recruitment in 2023 in 2024. In 2025, the statewide turkey population as a whole, only experienced average production. “We’ve got a ton of 2- to 3-year-old gobblers out there across the landscape this year, due to the extremely productive breeding seasons that wild turkeys had in 2023 and 2024,” Hardin said. “There will be some jakes running around to start the season too, but there won’t be as many as there was the last couple of seasons.” Hardin said the statewide harvest rate each year for gobblers in Texas is 13%, meaning Texas turkey hunters only harvest 13% of the total population of male wild turkeys in the state. “When comparing this statistic to other states in the southeast that have gobbler harvest rates as high as 30%, it’s easy to understand why we have such a good population of mature gobblers available for hunters here in Texas,” Hardin said. “We carry a lot of birds over year after year, from one season to the next.” Although we experienced a mild winter throughout much of the Lone Star State, dry conditions have persisted. This has delayed the spring green-up in many areas, and Hardin said this will likely result in turkey Please turn to page 13
Due to solid recruitment, hunters can expect to see more mature gobblers than jakes this spring. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Delisted Lesser prairie-chicken taken off Endangered Species list By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
The USFWS recently delisted the lesser prairie-chicken from the Endangered Species Act. Photo by Joseph Richards.
Two distinct population segments of the lesser prairie-chicken have been delisted under the Endangered Species Act, after being listed back in 2023. The TPWD Upland Game Bird Program Leader, Patrick Schutz, said lesser prairie-chicken populations in Texas have declined significantly from their historic levels. “TPWD continues to work with landowners, NGOs, and other partners to implement conservation minded land management practices in the lesser prairiechicken range,” Schutz said. “These efforts are ongoing.”
Schutz said the decline in lesser prairie-chicken populations is of major concern to TPWD, and there are currently no discussions for implementing and opening a hunting season for these birds. According to the Acting Assistant Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Communications Aislinn Maestas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the northern and the southern distinct population segments of the lesser prairie-chicken from the federal list of threatened and endangered wildlife in response to a court order. As a result of the court’s order, the regulatory protections under the Endangered Species Act no longer apply to either distinct population segment of the lesser prairie-chicken. “During the last week in February, we announced a new 12-month petition finding process with a 30-day comment period to submit any information relevant to the status Please turn to page 16
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The end of a season
March 13, 2026
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Stars were out
There is a season for all things, a beginning and an end By Glen Webb At the end of the 2025 season, I awoke early to that sweet sound “flap, flap, flap.” That long tail whipping the cement floor to pronounce, I am ready to walk, I am ready to hunt, and I am ready to go. My loyal and sweet best dog friend, unfortunately, today would be the end of a season. A time to be born. Creation made beautiful in its time is something to admire. An English Pointer covered in vibrant white and liver spots, with eyes painted like a bandit. Bred in excellence since the 17th century. A time to dance. A white dog searching the little bluestem, pink meadow and green winter grass for the Exodus covey. A great light among the Texas yellow star, purple aster and red morning glory. Picasso never created something so beautiful. Ask Hemingway. A time to heal. If I could not see it then, I do now. This dog’s life provided me a great gift. The point held more substance than simply the rhythm between a dog and a quail. Rather, peace among the thorns and thistles of Throckmorton County. A time to mourn. The tumors were small at first, then metastasized ... fast. I suffered denial. I thought maybe an allergy to the wild flowers of West Texas. Then the terminal diagnosis, malignant neoplasia. The once smooth belly twisted with tumors. I made the call at 7 a.m. “Dr. Gober?” this is Glen Webb. I choked the words down like a bitter medicine. Can you uh ... uh … put a dog down for me? “I bet I can.” “Thank you, I will see you in in one hour.” Little time left. For the first time since birth, Jo Jo could not stand. I helped her to her feet. Together, we walked to my truck for the last time. I opened the door. She jumped to the front seat and
Jo Jo in her prime chasing quail in West Texas. Photo by Glen Webb.
settled in her well-worn spot on the right side, looking for birds through the windshield. My pretty wife held back tears as I pulled through the circle drive on Range Road. I thought, I am a 53-year-old man, and this is not one of my children. But it was a life. A beautiful life, that did beautiful things. The end of beauty is always tragic. I turned on Highway 183 at 7:30 am. The sun rising over West Texas in pastels of blue and white and pink, Throckmorton 30 miles. I wanted 3,000 miles. I needed more time. At 7:45 am, we crossed the Brazos and Jo Jo fell face down on the console. The pain too heavy. Throckmorton 15 miles. No, no, too quick for me. My mind went racing to all the prior times we celebrated the seasons. Tender memories on my mind. Highway 183 merged with Highway 283, Throckmorton 3 miles, 8 a.m. Out of time. The vet clinic came into view on the East side of town. The truck stopped in a cloud of caliche dust. My final command, “Jo Jo, I love you, thank you for being a good dog.” Please turn to page 13
Robert Earl Keen was the guest of honor at the Park Cities Quail Banquet March 6. Photo by PCQ.
Park Cities Quail Banquet a big deal for conservation By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
In what has turned into the can’t-miss event of the year in Dallas, the Park Cities Quail Coalition held their annual banquet Thursday, March 6 at the SMU field house. PCQC awarded Robert Earl Keen with the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award. The award recognizes sportsmen who have distinguished themselves by living a life of adventure, love of the outdoors, respect for natural resources, and most of all have demonstrated a spirit of giving back and making it possible for others to enjoy the sporting life. Keen embodies this as a quail enthusiast, English Cocker lover, and outdoorsman through and through, according to a release. The live auction raised more than $1.2 million for the evening, with attendees bidding on premier quail hunting trips with famous guests and lavish accommodations, such as the 8-hunter trip to the Mesa Vista Ranch on private airfare. Or a King Ranch shoot for four hunters that was sold at close to $110,000. The evening ended with Keen picking up a guitar and playing an acoustic set for the close to 1,500 attendees. An expo was also set up with hunting outfitters, topquality gear manufacturers and partner conservation organizations. Since 2006, PCQC has donated over $19.5 million to quail research, conservation, and education programs in Texas.
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March 13, 2026
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FISHING
Spawn is on
Anglers have been chunking frogs around flooded vegetation to catch bass that are spawning up shallow. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Largemouth bass have pushed up shallow on many Texas lakes By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The spawning season for largemouth bass has kicked off in full force on many inland lakes. While fish can still be found in all stages of the spawn, good numbers of bass have already made the push up shallow. Anglers are having banner days on the water, enjoying the fast, aggressive action. Danny Uribe and Jeremy Nielsen targeted bass on Canyon Lake recently, where they
found good numbers of fish along shallow grass and flooded vegetation in the backs of coves in 1- to 8-feet of water. Most of the fish they caught were in the 1- to 3-pound range, with a few 4 to 6 pounders mixed in. Uribe said he had the most bites while working a weightless fluke around shallow grass, sticks, and rocks. “A lot of the fish were definitely up shallow and spawning, and I found many of them on beds,” Uribe said. “There was also a decent frog bite, especially in super shallow stretches with plenty of flooded vegetation.” Nielsen said he also had success fishing the outside edges of grass beds in about 8 feet of water while chunking a jigging
spoon. “I did find some fish that hadn’t pushed up shallow to spawn just yet in as deep as 15 feet of water,” Nielsen said. “They couldn’t resist a spoon bounced along the edges of the grass right above them.” Lake Amistad bass fishing guide Kurt Dove said many buck bass and some larger females are moving into shallow spawning areas in 10 feet of water or less. “Moving baits, such as bladed jigs and crankbaits have been effective lately,” Dove said. “Slow presentations like lizards and creature baits have been the ticket for targeting fish around beds.” Fayette County reservoir anglers reported largemouth bass are spawning in less than
5 feet of water. According to fishing guide Mark Fransen, the fish are hitting a variety of lure presentations, including bladed jigs, square-billed crankbaits, Shaky Heads, and lipless crankbaits. “Female bass that have already spawned out can be found on points near spawning grounds with beds nearby,” Fransen said. “The best way to target these fish is with Carolina-rigged soft plastics.” Fransen said many of the bass up shallow are feeding on shad as a result of a recent shad hatch. On Inks Lake, anglers reported largemouth bass seem to be in the early stages of the spawn. Crankbaits, finesse jigs, umbrella rigs, Neko-rigged finesse worms, and Please turn to page 9
Reeling in cash Three-angler team wins $90,000 By Tony Vindell
Good bite on 9- to 60-hour trips
For Lone Star Outdoor News The flotilla of boats was seen recently leaving the harbor in Port Mansfield harbor. As soon as they all passed the “no wake” zone, each boat sped off either to the north or south to find their secret part of the Lower Laguna Madre, while a few others went straight out from the dock. On each boat were two or three anglers, each wearing waders of various colors and sizes. Their goal was to get to their fishing spots in hopes of catching the big kahunas – a spotted seatrout big enough to take top prize. The anglers – 192 altogether – were participating in the 2026 Saltwater Legend Series Fishing Tournament. The tourney comprises of three fishing events, one taking place in Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and this past weekend in Port Mansfield. The tournament, now in its eleventh year, started as a way to recognize the anglers that spend many hours of their lives chasing big fish in salt water. Speak to them, and their motivations are often different. Some of them fish for big prizes while others like to the camaraderie of hanging out with their buddies. That is how Weldon Dietze describes why he fishes. He and Please turn to page 17
Tuna and snapper for party boats By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Angler Weldon Dietze holds one of six trout the team caught and entered in the tournament. Photo by Tommy Ramzinsky.
Along the coast of Texas, party boats provide a unique opportunity to anglers not accustomed to getting offshore for the coveted snappers and groupers of the deep. Anglers can sign up for a 9-hour trip or up to 60 hours offshore to suit their Big red snapper are being caught offshore this month. Photo by Dolphin Docks Deep Sea Fishing. needs. Out of the Galveston Bay area, Ed Schroeder with Galveston Party Boats reported, “Fishing on the 30-hour safari trips we have lately has been pretty good. Quite a few yellowfin, a lot of blackfin tuna, and vermillion snapper.” Please turn to page 19
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Fork tournament marred by alleged cheating angler
March 13, 2026
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Willow Park man taken to jail By Vivian Leopold
For Lone Star Outdoor News The first annual Lake Fork Lures/Sealy Outdoors bass tournament on Lake Fork March 7 and 8 had 564 anglers registered to fish. But only one angler was taken to the Wood County Jail on charges of cheating a competition for money, a third-degree felony per Texas law. In the final hour of the two-day tournament, two Wood County Game Wardens rushed to the weigh-in area after tournament staff used a hand-held metal detector device that alerted them to the presence of foreign objects. After a necropsy, Willow Park angler Curtis Lee Daniels’ 3-plus pound fish had three 3/4-ounce weights stuffed inside. Game wardens searched his boat and found more similar weights. Since the prize for the tournament was more than $10,000, in addition to a
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Weights were pulled out of this bass caught by Willow Park angler Curtis Lee Daniels. Daniels was sent to jail on multiple felony charges. Photo by TPWD.
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Crappie staging By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News Spring is in the air, and the crappie are staging for their annual spawn. Fishing on Lake Waco has been great, reported Robert Stover with Workingman Crappie Guide. Stover and his clients are remaining mobile with a focus on the little creeks going into the lake where there is deep water. “They are in their pre-spawn areas right now. I am focusing on anything from 10- to 20-feet of water, and the fish are staging in 3- to 8-feet of water,” he said. “We are always on the move looking for the bigger fish. But if you get in an area, you can find multiple fish in that area.” He and his clients target those fish with a 1/16-ounce Jig head and Snacky Lures, FS-200 soft plastic. He recommends staying natural with your color choices. Stover also reports that live bait has been productive. “I always have live bait on my boat. Right now, I am using that jig with a minnow on it or that jig itself,” Stover said. As the season progresses, Stover will follow them out to the main lake using the same tactics as pre-spawn. Keep mobile, find the big ones, and present your bait right in their face. “It could change with the rain that we are going to be getting,” he said. “It Angler Jace Loftin with a pair of slabs from Lake Somerville. Photo by JW Loftin. could wash everything out.” Lake Waco is prone to flooding, which makes access difficult for anglers. If that happens, Stover will shift gears to other lakes in the area until Lake Waco settles out. On Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the crappie fishing has been picking up. “The fish are getting on their beds and staging for pre-spawn,” said Tonya Jones with JonesN4crappie. She has been targeting them shallow, transitioning to deeper water. “Your bite is up shallow and then out a little bit,” she said. “But with how Sam Rayburn is right now, it is so shallow. We need rain.” Jones’ bait of choice has been minnows. “They’re after the minnows right now. They’re hungry,” she said. “We will use a jig or two just to see if they’re chasing. The most productive color has been orange. Strangely, orange has really been hitting this week.” As the season progresses, she plans to go with the flow. “With the way the water is, you kind of have to go with it. They’ll move back out to the river,” she said. “Keep mobile during the transition. Once you find a group, you’ll be able to catch.” Lake Somerville fishing has been picking up according to JW Loftin with 419 Fishing. He and his clients have been focusing on shallow water brush piles. Please turn to page 17
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT ALAN HENRY: 53 degrees; 5.81’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in 15-30 feet. AMISTAD: Water stained; 65 degrees; 65.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on bladed jigs and crabkbaits as fish move shallow. Slower presentations with lizards work near beds. AQUILLA: Water stained; 56 degrees; .98’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits in 10-20 feet of water. Crappie are good over brush piles on minnows and jigs in 10-12 feet. Catfish are good on prepared baits. White bass are starting to move out of the main lake into creeks. ARLINGTON: Water slightly stained; 57 degrees; 1.46’ low. Prespawn largemouth bass are good – fish deeper on cooler days, shallower on warmer days. Crappie and white bass are good in the creeks. ARROWHEAD: Water stained; 52 degrees; 2.97’ low. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad and prepared bait in 2-10 feet of water. ATHENS: Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.41’ high. Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs, Carolina- and drop-shot rigs on deeper grass edges. Crappie are good on main lake areas. AUSTIN: Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.54’ low. Largemouth bass are good on drop-shot rigs, bladed jigs and spinnerbaits as they move shallower. B.A. STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.35’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on soft plastics over submerged vegetation. BASTROP: Water stained; 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged soft plastics fished near beds. BELTON: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.87’ high. White bass are migrating into Leon River and Cowhouse Creek. Small Alabama rigs and crankbaits are working. Blue catfish are excellent on fresh cut bait in 10-25 feet of water. BENBROOK: Water stained; 57 degrees; 3.57’ low. Crappie are good next to structure on live minnows in 20-30 feet. Hybrids are fair on live bait. Catfish are good on stinkbait. BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.332’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and small jigs in the cove mouths. BOIS D’ARC: Water stained; 57 degrees; 2.41’ low. Largemouth bass are improving in the afternoon on square-billed crankbaits in 3-4 feet of water. Crappie are slow as they transition. BRADY: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.59’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on bladed jigs and Rat-L-Traps shallow. BRAUNIG: Water stained; 74 degrees; 1.0’ low. Redfish are slow on shrimp from the bank. Catfish and striped bass are slow. Tilapia are good using cast nets. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 54 degrees; 4.77’ low. Crappie bite is fair on minnows and jigs as they move shallow to spawn. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, Alabama rigs, and swimbaits on main lake points in the late afternoon. White bass are good in creeks. BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 54 degrees; 4.77’ low. Largemouth bass are excellent on soft plastics around docks in 10-12 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 15-18 feet. White bass are slow on slabs. Catfish are good on cut carp and jug lines with cut shad or perch. BRYAN: Water stained; 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged craws and creature baits fished near the
bottom. BUCHANAN: Water stained; 63 degrees; 2.38’ low. Stripers are good on live bait in 2-30 feet of water. White bass are good trolling crankbaits. Catfish are good on cut shad. CADDO: Water stained; 62 degrees; water level at 169.02’. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, Senkos, chatterbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits, spoons, and Alabama rigs. CALAVERAS: Water stained; 78 degrees; Redfish are fair on shrimp and soft plastics. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cheese baits in 5-10 feer. CANYON LAKE: Water stained; 64 degrees; 21.37’ low. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair on small swimbaits and underspins. Stripers and white bass are good on umbrella rigs. CEDAR CREEK: Water slightly stained; 58 degrees; 3.78’ low. Hybrid striped bass and white bass are good deadsticking spinnerbaits and slabs in 30-42 feet. Crappie bite is improving on small jigs and minnows in 7-12 feet. Catfish are good on cut gizzard shad in 3-10 feet. CISCO: Water stained; 62 degrees; 16.78’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits as they move shallow in the afternoon. Catfish are good on cut shad and punch bait. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush and timber in 12-20 feet. COLEMAN: Water stained; 52 degrees; 3.52’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on points with red lipless crankbaits. COLETO CREEK: Water stained; 75 degrees; 3.19 high. Largemouth bass are fair with soft plastics. COMANCHE CREEK: 68 degrees; 0.95’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Catfish are good on prepared baits. Tilapia are good. CONROE: Water stained; 61.4 degrees; .99’ low. Largemouth bass males are on beds with some females behind them. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows as they move shallow. Hybrids are good on slabs, spoons, large minnows, and shad. Catfish are good in baited holes in 10-40 feet on liver, worms, and punch bait. CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.54’ low. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in the mouths of coves. Fish are in prespawn patterns. DUNLAP: Water stained; 63 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and minnows. Catfish are good on stink bait and cut bait. Crappie are fair on jigs on minnows. EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 63 degrees; 2.53’ low. Largemouth bass are staging on spawning beds in shallow water. Catfish are good on cut shad and live perch. Crappie are fair in boat slips. FALCON: Water stained; 69 degrees; 44.39’ low. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait in 20 feet. FAYETTE: Water slightly stained; 67 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are good in 5 feet of water on squarebilled crankbaits and Shaky heads. Catfish are fair. FORK: Water stained; 57 degrees; 2.94’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on bladed jigs, square-billed and lipless crankbaits in 5-7 feet of water. Crappie are good on minnows
and slowly fished jigs near brush piles in 2-22 feet. Most crappie baits are working. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 55 degrees; 5.67’ low. Crappie are good on deep structure on jigs and minnows. Hybrids are fair trolling in 2530 feet of water. Catfish are fair shallow on fresh cut shad. Target bass on points. GEORGETOWN: Water stained; 62 degrees; 7.84’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on shallow presentations and slow-worked creature baits in pre-spawn areas. Bass are also feeding on main lake points. GRAHAM: Water stained; upper 56 degrees; 4.46’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on slow-moving baits. Crappie are good in 12-14 feet of water with jigs over brush piles. White bass and hybrids are good on jigs and crankbaits. GRANBURY: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.19’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow on live shad and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait. GRANGER: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.30’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and worms fished upriver. Crappie are fair in shallow coves at night. White bass are good on jigs and spinners. Catfish are good on shad along windy shorelines. GRAPEVINE: Water slightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.54’ low. White bass are good in 22-44 feet of water on humps on slabs, jigs and swimbaits in areas with baitfish. GREENBELT: Water stained; 60 degrees; 51.52’ low. White bass are good on minnows in areas with bait. Crappie are slow. HAWKINS: Water slightly stained; 56 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair around grass near sunny banks with red and white streamers. Crappie are slow. HOUSTON: Water clear; 71 degrees; 0.09’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on small jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits staging in creeks. Catfish are fair on fresh shad. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 59 degrees; 0.13’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on reaction baits. HUBBARD CREEK: Water Stained; 58 degrees; 14.85’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on points with lipless crankbaits. INKS: Water stained; 60 degrees; 1.04’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and finesse jigs in 8-15 feet of water around rocky areas. White bass and hybrids are good around river channels. JACKSONVILLE: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.08’ high. Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs and Rat-LTraps around docks. JOE POOL: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.27’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, weightless Senkos, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Crappie and white bass are good up the creeks. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.80’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits along creek channels. Crappie are good on 1/16-ounce jigheads in 3-6 feet of water. LAVON: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.21’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on
crankbaits, jigs, jerkbaits, and soft plastic minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs on main lake humps. White bass are good on slabs, swimbaits, and jigs as they move up into creeks. Catfish are good on large dough balls and corn in 2-10 feet. Tilapia are fair. LBJ: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.24’ low. Largemouth bass are good in all phases of the spawn on weightless plastics. Crappie are good on minnows over brush with some males on nests. Catfish are fair on shad. LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.07’ low. Hybrid stripers and white bass are slow in 40-60 feet of water on jigs and spinnerbaits. Crappie are slow. Blue catfish are fair in 5 feet of water near creek mouths. LIMESTONE: Water clear; 57 degrees; 2.18’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Texas rigs. White bass are good on spoons. Crappie are good on minnows from the bank. Catfish are fair on cut bait. LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.03’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics on points and timber. White bass are staging up the river and are good on slabs, spoons, and live bait. Catfish are good on punch bait, cut bait, and worms. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. MARBLE FALLS: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.59’ low. Crappie are good in 15 feet of water on chartreuse jigs and minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on cut shad in 20 feet of water. MARTIN CREEK: Water slightly stained; 65 degrees; 1.80’ low. Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs and wacky worms. Crappie are excellent on jigs and minnows over brush piles in 12-20 feet. Catfish are good on live and cut bait. MEREDITH: Water stained; 55 degrees; 44.12’ low. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and white bass are good on top-waters, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits. Crappie are slow. Bluegill and perch are good on worms and corn. Walleye are great on jigs or white grubs. MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 55 degrees; 4.04’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and buzzbaits. Crappie are good on minnows from the pier. MURVAUL: Stained; 62 degrees; 0.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on bladed jigs and shallow-diving crankbaits. Crappie are good on black jigs around docks. Catfish are fair on live minnows or cut bait. NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 59 degrees; 1.17’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged craws in shallow water. Crappie are fair on white jigs. Catfish are fair on live minnows. NACONICHE: Water stained; 57.5 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are good on square-billed crankbaits, jerkbaits, glide baits, top-waters, and deep-diving plugs around timber channels. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are slow. NASWORTHY: Water slightly stained; 61 degrees; 0.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair flipping soft plastics. Key is covering water. Crappie are fair on chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and
stink bait. NAVARRO MILLS: 62 degrees; full pool. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows as they stage. Catfish are excellent on cut shad and carp. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 56 degrees; 19.94’ low. Largemouth bass are good up to 9 pounds on deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and chatterbaits as they move shallow. White bass are good on jigging spoons and Alabama rigs. Catfish are slow. OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 23.09’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows over brush. Largemouth bass are slow on soft plastics. PALESTINE: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.03’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs with fish spawning along banks. PALO PINTO: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.71’ low. Crappie are good in deeper water on minnows and jigs. White bass are good around the spillway. Catfish are good shallow with fresh cut bait. PINKSTON: Water stained; 58 degrees. Largemouth bass are excellent on bladed jigs and large swimbaits. Crappie are fair on clear jigs. Catfish are slow on live minnows. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 57 degrees; 2.78’ low. Largemouth bass are fair in shallow water on swimbaits and crankbaits. Stripers are slow. White bass are good in 30-40 feet of water on crankbaits. Catfish are fair on cut and live shad. PROCTOR: Water stained; 56 degrees; 2.94’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics above ledges in 15 feet of water. Crappie are fair on ledges in 5-15 feet. RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 55 degrees; 1.11’ low. White bass are excellent on deep flats in 32-38 feet and in feeder creeks. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good drifting large baits in 38-42 feet of water. RAY ROBERTS: Water slightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.06’ low. Largemouth bass are staging to spawn in 5-12 feet of water. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair below birds. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water slightly stained; 56 degrees; 1.86’ low. Largemouth bass are fair in coves on the north side of the lake on bladed jigs and square-billed crankbaits. White bass and hybrid bass are fair on slabs under birds. Hybrids are good on flukes in creek channels. Catfish are good on cut bait. SAM RAYBURN: Water muddy; 46 degrees; 9.01’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Alabama rigs, Carolina rigs, dropshots, and crankbaits around points and pockets. SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 62 degrees; 3.05’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on craw jigs and slow-moving soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows in 8-16 feet of water. Catfish are good on minnows and punch bait in 5-12 feet of water near dropoffs. Hybrids are fair on jigs and cut bait. Bluegill are good on crickets. SPENCE: Water stained; 59 degrees; 51.94’ low. Catfish are fair on punch and cut bait on shallow flats. STAMFORD: Water stained; 54 degrees; 1.73’ high. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows at the crappie house. Catfish are fair. Largemouth bass are fair on red crankbaits.
n Saltwater reports Page 17
STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 60 degrees; 1.90’ high. White bass are good on slabs and jigs migrating near the Lampasas River channel. Largemouth bass are fair by finding bait balls with Alabama rigs. TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 1.34’ low. Largemouth bass are good on larger soft plastics, and crankbaits. Hybrid stripers and white bass are good on soft plastics in 10-30 feet of water. Crappie are good on jigs. TEXOMA: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.16’ high. Stripers are good deadsticking jigs in 40-65 feet of water. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows in 20-25 feet of water. Catfish are good on cut bait. Largemouth bass are moving toward spawning areas. TOLEDO BEND: 46 degrees; 4.06’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas- and Carolina-rigged soft plastics and drop-shot rigs as fish move to shallow water. TRAVIS: Water stained; 62 degrees; 14.81’ low. Largemouth bass are good on 4-inch swimbaits fished around brush. TWIN BUTTES: Water stained; 60 degrees; 35.83’ low. Catfish are fair on punch and cut bait. Crappie are moving up creeks. TYLER: Water stained; 57 degrees; 0.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good in shallow water on jigs and minnows. WACO: Water stained; 61 degrees; 0.47’ high. Crappie are excellent in pre-spawn patterns along creek channels. WALTER E. LONG: Water stained; 58 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow on jerkbaits, swimbaits, drop-shot rigs and jigs along grass edges. WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 58 degrees; 5.94’ low. Largemouth bass are slow in deep water with soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow in deep water with stinkbait. WELSH: Water stained. 55 degrees. Crappie are good on plastic jigs around structure near spawning grounds. WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 56 degrees; 19.55’ low. Largemouth bass are staging near spawning grounds. Catfish are good on punch bait under roosting birds. WHITNEY: Water stained; 55 degrees; 1.53’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Striped bass are good on live bait and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good up the Brazos River. Catfish are good on cut bait. WORTH: Water normal; 60 degrees; 1.60’ low. Largemouth bass are good slowly bouncing jigs off the bottom. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good with jigs and minnows Catfish are good on cut shad in shallow water. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 56 degrees; 3.56’ high. Crappie are good on minnows as they move to staging areas to spawn. —TPWD
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
March 13, 2026
Page 9
Richest bass tourney
Flounder update
The five-day event, with three days of competition, will be held on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tenn., from Oct. 28 – Nov. 1 and will include a record-setting purse of more than $3 million, including a $1.25 million payout to the winning angler — the biggest monetary prize ever awarded to a winner of a bass fishing tournament. Additionally, the second- and third-place finishers will receive $500,000 and $300,000 payouts, respectively. There will also be a Champion’s Cup presented to the winning tour. “There are two leagues for professional bass anglers,” Bird said. “I started asking questions about why there wasn’t a true champion from both tournament trails. Why not? I couldn’t get a great answer. When I got home, I went fishing with (professional guide) Dalton Smith on O.H. Ivie and started asking more questions. I began to think maybe something was possible.” Using contacts he made when he was selling his company, Bird was introduced to attorneys and then to a sports management company — Excel Management — that historically has hosted and produced golf tournaments. Bird said he initially ran up against pessimism, which he believes stems from past tournament organizers failing to live up to promises. “There have been guys try and do this in the past and they kind of scammed some people,” Bird said. “It was frustrating to come up against that, but we are doing this the right way and anglers are excited.” The format is simple: take the top 25 anglers from both pro tours, the Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour, put them on Hickory Lake in Tennessee, offer the highest amount of money for any bass tournament in history in a 3-day format and let them fight it out for top honors. Thursday and Friday will be qualifying days, with the championship day on Saturday. Anglers will have a choice to use forward-facing sonar one of the first two days, and those that make it to the championship round on Saturday, will have a 3-hour window of their choosing to use the sonar. There will be a 5-fish daily stringer with a weigh-in at Sanders Ferry Park, along with a 150-booth expo, live music and vendors. “As a longtime bass fishing enthusiast, I have always marveled at the incredible skill of the world’s top anglers and believed they deserved a marquee platform to showcase their talents to the world,” said Bird. “And there is no better way to crown a true world champion than by bringing the two biggest tours together to fish on the same lake. We’re thrilled to introduce this world-class event that will unify the sport, establish an annual tradition, and increase exposure to pro fishing by welcoming in new audiences.” So far, the event has had buy-in from 146 of the possible 151 eligible anglers. And they are excited for this new format tournament to crown a true world champion. ““There has always been friendly competition and banter between the anglers on each tour, but no way to actually settle the score on the water,” said four-time Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year Jacob Wheeler. “The opportunity to crown a true world champion across the entire sport is something our anglers have wanted for a very long time, and we’re thrilled to finally have that chance this October in Nashville. The fact that there is more than $3 million in total prize money is remarkable and a true testament to the elite nature of this competition.” “The entire bass fishing community is energized to see who is the best of the best, and have the opportunity to chase a $1.25 million grand prize,” said two-time Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk. “And while we will be competing individually for the purse, I know the rest of the anglers on the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series will be fired up to try to bring home the first-ever Champions Cup to our tour.” The event will be streamed live. Stay tuned for updates to programming as the event gets closer.
have held solid numbers of sheepshead. “The best action has come from live shrimp fished under a popping cork along the rocks,” Dillman said. “If you’re not fishing tight to the rocks, you’re not going to get bit.” Anglers fishing along the Texas City Dike have reported decent catches of sheepshead. Those fishing with live shrimp near the rocks have had the most success catching the convict fish. Port O’Connor area fishing guide Marty Medford said sheepshead can be found up and down the big jetties. “The best bait option has Flounder are being caught in good numbers in Texas bays this month. been live shrimp,” Medford Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News. said. “For whatever reason, the sheepshead have not been willing to bite dead shrimp near as consistently as live shrimp.” Port Aransas anglers are reporting good numbers of sheepshead along the jetties. Freelined or Carolina-rigged live shrimp fished tight to the rocks has been the ticket. Wendell Keresztyen fished along the rocks of Packery Channel recently and caught several large sheepshead ranging from 17 to 22 inches in length. “While visiting a local tackle shop, a guy told me frozen shrimp would work just as well as live shrimp for targeting sheepshead,” Keresztyen said. “It turns out he was wrong. All I could catch on the frozen shrimp was pin fish.” Keresztyen said another angler fishing at Packery gave him his leftover live shrimp as he was leaving. He put one on a hook, made a cast and immediately caught a sheepshead. “I hadn’t caught anything over the previous five hours besides pin fish,” Keresztyen said. “Then I ended up landing three solid sheepshead within an hour.” Down in South Padre Island, Capt. Glenn Harrison said the sheepshead are thick along the jetties. “Most of these fish are holding tight to the rocks,” Harrison said. “Cut, dead shrimp, as well as live shrimp, have been producing plenty of sheepshead at the jetties.”
Continued from page 1
Bass spawn Continued from page 6
Anglers are catching good numbers of spawning bass on a variety of lures this month. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
small soft plastic stick baits have all produced strikes lately. Fishing guide Ander Meine said targeting bass around docks and rocky structure has produced the most consistent action. “Some bass are still relating to the remaining submerged vegetation on Inks Lake,” Meine said. “The majority of fish are in 15 feet of water or less, and are pushing shallower by the day.” Lake Fork fishing guide Marc Mitchell said bass are starting to push to the backs of pockets and coves. “Bladed jigs, lipless crankbaits, and square-billed crankbaits fished over flats in 3to 5-feet of water with cover have been producing the most fish on Fork,” Mitchell said. “Some of the larger females are still staging around the edges of channels. Texasrigged creature baits are the best presentation for these bass that haven’t pushed up shallow just yet.”
Continued from page 1
Page 10
March 13, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
GRIP & GRIN
Paige, Texas angler Brady Moore, 12, caught this nice largemouth bass at the M-M Ranch.
Les Compton drew a tag with 32 points and was rewarded with this 184 1/2-inch mule deer in Colorado on Nov. 19.
Easton Mahler, 12, took his first buck, a spike, on Nov 2 in Kimble County with his dad, Jorden.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Grip & Grin, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
Duke Landers picked a big pig to take for his first.
Ty Inman shot his first buck on Nov. 22, while hunting with his dad, Alan, in Kimble County.
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BIG BASS GALORE PAGE 5
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Fishing texas ANNUAL 202 6 Fishing texas A N N UA L 2 02 6
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BJ Tarver
About the Cover: O.H. Ivie Reservoir fishing guide Brady Stanford led client Charles Roberts, of Trinity, to this 13.785-pound giant fishing on Jan. 20. The group was targeting big fish using forward-facing sonar and watched as the giant chased a jig in 35 feet of water. The battle lasted almost five minutes before the fish was brought to hand. Stanford is no stranger to huge fish, and knew this one was over 13 pounds. They headed for the marina to officially weigh the fish, where a representative from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department took the fish to Athens for breeding.
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Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $35 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $3, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2026 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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FISHING ANNUAL 2026
Lone Star Outdoor News
Chase Copper on the Fly
CCA SAN ANTONIO CELEBRATES ITS 47TH ANNUAL BANQUET
There’s nothing subtle about a coastal redfish and a Level Series 8-weight fly rod. At first light, the flats glow bronze and every push of water signals power. With a fast action 8-weight in hand, tight loops cut the salt air and land a streamer fly softly ahead of the wake. One strip — then the line comes tight and the rod bows deep to the cork. The reel sings, the fish runs, and the fight is clean, direct, unforgettable. This is fly fishing the Texas coast the way it’s meant to be: shallow water, big reds, and gear built to handle wind, distance, and raw strength. If you’re ready for bent rods, burning reels, and fish that test every knot, the flats are calling. Bring a Level Series 8-weight fly rod — and answer the call.
RISE FISHING COMPANY
Mark your calendars: The Coastal Conservation Association of San Antonio chapter’s 47th Annual Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, April 30th in the Freeman Coliseum Exposition Halls. Doors open at 5 p.m. This banquet is CCA San Antonio’s largest fundraiser of the year and one of the largest and most enjoyable fundraisers annually in South Texas. The San Antonio chapter of the CCA is one of the oldest and largest chapters in the country and plays a huge part in the success of CCA Texas. Two of the ways it raises money are sponsorships and table sales, and all money raised in Texas, stays in Texas. Also, all attendees receive their CCA membership. Upon arrival, everyone gets a patron gift, and the fun begins, with stuffed YETI bucket sales, $10 raffle items, a silent auction, and raffles featuring, 10 pistols/10 long guns, a Bobcat zero-turn mower, gun safe sportsman package, twin e-bikes, new 23’ Haynie Amigo with 150 horse power Mercury and Coastline Trailer and a new Max XT Can-Am. The big event is their live auction featuring hunting, fishing and family trips throughout the world, custom guns, artwork and more. Don Strange of Texas is caterer, providing a variety of food stations and open bar, featuring beer, wine, and premium liquor. We anticipate a sell-out, so please help protect our coastal resources by attending. Contact Ruth Eaton for tables or sponsorship info at 210-289-8821 or reaton@eatoncontracting.com. Visit us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Visit ccatexas.org/san-antonio
RISEFISHING.COM
CCA-SAN ANTONIO
☎ (210) 289-8821
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47th Annual CCA San Antonio Banque April 30, 2026 5:00pm • New 2025 Haynie 23' Amigo w/ 150 HP Mercury and Coastline Trailer • New 2026 MAX XT Can-AM outfitted by Ranch Armor •10 Gun Long-Gun Raffle and 10 Gun Pistol Raffle
• 50+ $10 Raffle packages • Silent Auction • Stuffed YETI Bucket Sales
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CONTACT RUTH EATON FOR TABLE SALES *Use use code: LSON LSON* AT 210-289-8821 OR REATON@EATONCONTRACTING.COM OR VISIT CCATEXAS.ORG/SAN-ANTONIO FISHING ANNUAL 2026
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GO TIME
Angler Chris Fowler with a trophy trout on a fly. Photos by Capt. Tom Pennington.
Seatrout bite good, but anglers need to keep moving By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News Max Smith with Max’s Guide Service reports trout have been scattered in the Port Aransas area. “The wind has been high and the water has been down,” Smith said. “The fishing has just been strange this year.” He and his clients have been targeting the edge of transition zones from shallow water to deep. “I am finding them on the edge of deep guts,” Smith said. “We are on the move a lot. It’s not hit-a-hole loading up. We are putting a lot of miles on our boats.” Anglers should take note and be mobile; do not get hung up in one spot, and you should be successful. The best time to fish is on the incoming tide, Smith reports. He and his clients have been using shrimp on a Carolina rig. As spring progresses, Smith will keep on the same pattern. “I mean, this old man told me one time, Max, fish never leave; they just go a little deeper,” he reminisced. “You just got to find them.” Up shallow, Capt. Tom Pennington with Port Aransas Fly-fishing works his buggy whip primarily for reds but has been seeing a lot of trout. He and his clients have targeted trout as a bycatch for reds. “We have been seeing more quality trout, and by quality trout, I mean more 24-inch and above sized trout than we have seen in recent years,” Pennington said. “Lately, we have been finding those fish very, very shallow on sand pockets over grass flats.” For trout, Pennington will switch flies to a Clouser or bent-back Clouser. The most productive colors have been white, chartreuse over white, and a black and purple. “We also fish a lot of crab patterns. Last fall, we actually did catch some trout on a crab pattern. It isn’t typically what we will throw to target those fish, but they were just fired up and responding to it,” Pennington recalled. Right now, he and his clients are throwing smaller flies to match the hatch. As the season goes on, he will gradually throw bigger flies for the bigger fish. In the Freeport area, trout fishing has been consistent, reports Capt. Abby Webster with Texas Legend Charters. “It’s slowly getting better,” she said. She attributes the slowdown to the time of year. Webster has been targeting deeper waters around transition zones on the outgoing tide. “Right now, pretty much everything I am fishing is decently deep,” she said. “Anything from 10-15 foot of water has been productive.” Webster and her clients have found live shrimp either under a cork or freelining in the current the most productive. She has also had success on jigs with soft plastics from Coastal Brew Baits in the Hoochie Coochie color. It’s important for anglers to keep mobile. “Just follow the bait. So, if I see, you know, lots of bait moving on the bank,
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I’ll pull up to it,” Webster said. “I also watch for pelicans. If I see pelicans working, I’ll stop and fish it.” She will follow the patterns as the season progresses. After water temperatures come up some more, anglers should follow the trout up shallow, generally in the morning, before backing back off to the deeper water as the sun gets higher. Capt. Chris Phillips with Sabine Outdoors reports that Sabine Lake trout fishing has been picking up. “It’s been warmer than normal, and we have been catching quite a few trout,” Phillips said. Most of his success has come on knocker tails in white and chartreuse with a jig head. “We have been catching a few on Corkies, but they seem to want those knocker tails more,” Phillips said. He and his clients have been focusing on moderately deep water on the edges of guts and near the levee. “They are in 3- to 5-feet of water. I start on the bank and drift my way out to see where they are,” Phillips said. “If I see any mullet jump around, that’s kind of what I key in on.” Phillips and his clients have had to remain mobile. “There have been a few spots where we can put it on spot lock and stay in that area,” Phillips admitted. Overall, the fish have moved up shallower. They will likely stay there until summer fully sets in. Once that happens, anglers should move out towards the jetties.
Lone Star Outdoor News
BIG BASS GALORE
By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Texas anglers are having a great start to 2026. Multiple trophy bass are being caught daily as fish transition to shallow water to spawn. O.H. Ivie Reservoir, always a good bet to produced trophy fish, is off to its usual hot start. Big bass guide Brady Stanford led client Charles Roberts to a monster fish on Jan. 20. “At 3:30, we found a school of big fish near a submerged creek ledge in 35-feet of water,” Stanford told Wired2fish. “Charles made a cast with spinning tackle and 16-pound test braided line to the fish. He let the lure sink, and Photo by BJ Tarver. we watched a bass on sonar come to the jig and take it.” The bass weighed in at 13.785 pounds. “Last March, that same bass was caught off a spawning bed by my friend Kevin Robertson,” said Stanford, who owns Brady Stanford Fishing guide service. “The bass last year weighed 13.66-pounds and was taken by biologists to their hatchery, where it was spawned and produced fry. Then they placed a microchip in the bass and released it back into Ivie Lake.” Lake Tyler and Lake Fork are also getting in on the action. Lake Tyler was back on the board for the second consecutive year while the legendary Lake Fork returned to the stage for the first time since 2021. With the addition of these two Legacy Class fish, 10 different waterbodies have now recorded a Legacy Class largemouth bass in 2026.
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SHEEPSHEAD TIME By Tony Vindell
Lone Star Outdoor News They are back! Anglers either love them or hate them for some reason — the sheepshead. These stubborn fighting fish are sought after because of their tasty white meat but, at the same time, some anglers despise them for their difficulty to clean when compared to other species because of their long and hard dorsal fins. In fact, during a recent trip angler Jeff Gray got stuck on one of his fingers as he was trying to get a tiny hook out of the notoriously tough sheepshead mouth, causing him a good bleeding in the process. In the Lower Laguna Madre, sheepshead can be caught all year along the jetties, pilings and bridge structures. But the month of March is when thousands of these fish migrate from Gulf waters to shallower areas to spawn and gorge on barnacles and shrimp. The fish’s arrival coincides with another love ’em or hate ’em group — the coming of U.S. college students that spend their spring break recess on South Padre Island and other beach destinations. Once he got his finger sorted out, Gray accomplished his mission of catching a limit using live shrimp on what appeared to be an Eagle Claw-snelled baitholder hook. He uses no leader but attaches two No. 4 split-shots to the line. “The secret is to cast about 10 or so yards,” he said. “Let the bait sink and drag it slowly towards you.” His style paid off as he limited out quickly. He said he fished the day before but a little too late in the afternoon. In spite of that, Gray he said he caught three fish, one of which measured about 20 inches in length. Angler Jacob Zarate of Harlingen said he caught the first sheepshead in mid-February but it’s this month when the chance to get a daily limit of five fish increases considerably. “I got my five within three hours today,” he said as he was getting ready to leave the island jetty about noon on March 4. “This is as good as it gets.” Zarate uses live shrimp on a popping float with a five-foot long leader. As soon as the plastic went under, he made a quick motion with his right hand to catch the fish. Several anglers could be seen fishing at the tip of island jetty and the Boca Chica Beach one. Some anglers said the further out one gets, the better the fishing is, but walking to the end can be trickier as the rocks are slippery and falling into the water is a danger. Other anglers are reporting good catches of sheepshead at the Port Mansfield jetties and around the cabins, built years ago along the edges of the Laguna Madre. Wherever one fishes this month in deep South Texas, sheepshead should be on your target list. Angler Jeff Gray displays a limit of sheepshead from a jetty. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
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Lone Star Outdoor News
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26TH ANNUAL SHALLOW SPORT & SCB OWNERS TOURNAMENT
PRESENTED BY SUZUKI MARINE AND VISIT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND This May marks the 26th Anniversary of the iconic Shallow Sport & SCB Owners Fishing Tournament on South Padre Island. Setting the gold standard for fishing events, the Shallow Sport owners tournament acts as the opener of the South Texas tournament season. What started as a handful of local fishing guides back in the 90’s has grown into one of the largest saltwater owners fishing tournaments, drawing thousands of participants from across the nation. This event has a well-earned reputation as one of the biggest & best tournaments on the Gulf Coast, and this year’s event is guaranteed to follow suit. The official event kicks off with the Registration Party on Friday, May 8th at the South Padre Island Convention Centre. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and visit vendor booths while your team completes their registration, purchases raffle tickets and browse new custom Shallow Sport merchandise. At registration, each participant will collect their coveted “swag bag”, which includes a custom long sleeve dri-fit event shirt, tournament bag, neoprene event koozie, bag of custom KWiggler soft plastic lures and various other products from our generous sponsors. The energy and anticipation of the tournament fills the room as new and old friends catch up before an amazing day on the pristine flats of the Lower Laguna Madre.
Saturday morning before dawn, boats begin to trickle past Louie’s Backyard to join in what feels like the world’s coolest boat parade. As each boat passes by, the excitement starts to build. Hundreds of boats gather to await the signature ‘BOOM’ of the longest-running canon take-off blast. Seeing 300 boats take-off at once is quite the spectacle as the competition begins. Each team is allowed to weigh in one slot redfish, one speckled trout and one flounder per boat. However, even if the fish aren’t biting, there are plenty of other ways to win. In 2021, our tournament created an extremely popular Scavenger Hunt competition, where lucky anglers who come across one of the many bright green floating buoy balls that have been distributed throughout the fishing grounds are awarded a guaranteed prize at weigh-in. Participants and guests head to Louie’s Backyard for a live-streamed on-stage weigh-in to show off their catch and take team photos. Last year, representatives from the CCA STAR Tournament were on-site and with the permission of the angler, tagged their live redfish and put them in a tank for them to later be released for the STAR Tournament. A total of 30 redfish from our tournament were released into the waters of the Lower Laguna Madre so that lucky anglers could cash in on some
amazing prizes and even scholarships. After weigh-in, our participants begin getting ready for the night’s festivities at the Convention Centre. The Awards Banquet is unlike any other in South Texas. Shallow Sport has hired a concert event production company to transform the banquet hall into an unforgettable night of entertainment with professional lighting, audio shows and a video recap of the tournament while Bill Miller Bar-B-Q serves our participants a delicious dinner. Over 40 handcrafted trophies will be awarded to the day’s top catches in Guided, Amateur, and Youth divisions before the highly anticipated drawing for the winner of the 2026 Tournament Raffle Boat; a brand new 24’ Sport with a 300 horse power Suzuki motor and McClain trailer. This year’s raffle boat will feature a unique and one-of-a-kind GameGuard vinyl wrap that matches the tournament theme which embraces our South Texas culture. With over $250,000 in prizes given away, everyone has a good chance of going home a winner. The 2026 Shallow Sport & SCB Owner’s Tournament happening May 8-9th will be an event you and your family do not want to miss. Make sure to register early as we will cap registration at 250 boats.
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Grow big bass with Lochow Ranch Pond & Lake Management Many landowners dream of catching a double-digit largemouth bass from their pond or lake. But 10-pounders don’t grow by accident. It takes the correct amount of habitat, forage, age and genetics to produce big fish. Even if you have the first three, if you don’t have the right genetics, your bass will never reach trophy size. “There are a lot of interesting studies being done on the importance of Florida bass,” said John Jones, president of Lochow Ranch Pond & Lake Management. “One-hundred percent Florida genetics is so important. It needs to be pure.” Lochow Ranch’s certified team of biologists and water maintenance experts provides the full range of lake and pond management techniques, including water quality and clarity testing and improvement, vegetation control and removal of pond weeds, liming and fertilizing, algae control, erosion and sediment control, identification and control of predators and much more. If a fishery is your goal, Lochow Ranch’s experts bring state-of-the-art techniques and expertise to maximizing your environment for game fish to thrive. The team is known across the South for its electrofishing surveys that yield the most accurate inventory of a lake’s fish population. The company also provides fish stocking, including a full range of game and forage fish, as well as supplemental fish feeders that help spur growth. “We’re growing some really big fish,” Jones said. Another issue some owners might not think about is the ever-expanding otter population. It is a massive problem for landowners trying to grow big fish. “Ninety-five percent of the water we work with has had otter impact,” Jones said. “They kill between 7 and 28 pounds of fish per otter per day. Otters show preference to bass and crappie. We are working on trapping methods and working with the Otter Research Institute for less-lethal methods. With more than 1 million private water bodies in Texas alone, many anglers and pond managers are turning to Lochow for expertise. Lochow Ranch provides turnkey pond and lake management and maintenance services to landowners across the south central United States. The company also works in partnership with its affiliated company, Shoreline Consulting, to design and build new lakes and expand or renovate existing ones. We have a pond construction company with low interest rates,” Jones said. These professional techniques take the guesswork out of maintaining your body of water and ensure you can make faster progress toward your goals. “We can establish fundamental management practices,” Jones said. “Having that solid foundation can help your lake thrive despite seasonal disturbances and broader environmental conditions.” Lochow Ranch’s biologists and fleet of trucks are based in Bryan. They manage more than 6,000 lakes across the region — and they are offering their services into the southeastern states. “Our aim is to help you reach your goals so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your beautiful body of water,” Jones said.
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Big bass Continued from page 5
Jack York of Emory reeled in a 13.45-pound lunker Thursday afternoon, his second overall Legacy Class fish. York landed 13.51-pound giant on Jan. 23, 2023, at Lake Nacogdoches and returned to the spotlight with his entry from Lake Tyler. Dale Washington of Godley landed a 13.38-pound fish at Lake Fork. This is his second overall 13-pound catch. Washington submitted his first on April 10, 2007, a 13.05-pound fish. Meanwhile, for Lake Tyler, York’s fish was the third 13-pound bass in the waterbody’s history. Jason James of Whitehouse caught a 13.20-pound bass on March 22 last year and, at the time, just the second 13-pound entry for Lake Tyler, the first since 2021. James Crawford of Whitehouse put Lake Tyler on the lunker stage on March 20, 2021, with a 15.44-pound fish. It shattered the previous Lake Tyler record by over 2.5 pounds and still reigns as the biggest largemouth bass in lake history. Out on Lake Fork, Washington had been fishing for three or four hours and had caught a few fish, but the bite wasn’t great. Washington then decided to change things up a bit with his approach. “It was around 2 p.m. and I decided I was going to try and fish a tree line,” said Washington. “I’d been throwing a jig all day but decided I would pick up a chatterbait and literally on the second cast on this tree line, this fish hit it and the fight was on at that point. The fight was pretty phenomenal. Thankfully, I had it on braid because when it hit, it took off. I was fishing by myself and had a rough time getting my net on it because it was so big. I was finally able to get it in the net, put it in the bottom of the boat and I almost passed out at the point.” Washington knew it was well over 10 pounds but not exactly how heavy it was. He called a friend who was on another boat to let him know about the catch and asked him to come to his location. They weighed FISHING ANNUAL 2026
Lone Star Outdoor News
the fish on Washington’s scale and when it registered over 13 pounds, they headed to Lake Fork Marina to get a verified weight. And don’t forget about Toledo Bend. A bass caught on Wednesday, March 4 caught the attention of the East Texas bass fishing community. Jim Franklin, of Hemphill, reeled in a 14.23-pound fish. Not only was it the second Legacy Class fish from Toledo Bend this year, but the 12th overall of the collection season, which runs through March 31. Franklin had caught a lot of fish during his time on the water over a few days but hadn’t landed a massive largemouth bass. That all changed on his Wednesday trip to Toledo Bend. “I’d been disgusted a little bit that I hadn’t caught a ten-pounder or nine pounder yet this year so I did something completely different,” said Franklin. “I went to areas of the reservoir I hadn’t been in the last two years or so. The day had not been very good to me, and I was about to give up, but I stopped at one last spot. A friend called me and I caught a 3.5-pound bass, cast again while I was talking to him and I had a five pounder get off. I told my friend I have to let you go because I think I’m on some fish and then made two more casts and I caught the fish.” Franklin said he caught the fish about 2530 feet away from his boat on a Carolina rig and once the fish was on the hook, the fight was on. “I was by myself and it was total chaos,” said Franklin. “My net was put up, and I ran circles around my boat about three times, and she stayed on top and put on a show the whole time. Finally, she gave up and I caught her. When I got her in the boat, I was shaking like a leaf, and I got my scale out. I zeroed it out and thought I had raised her off the deck completely, but apparently, I hadn’t because my scale said 13.57 pounds. I thought holy cow.” | 11
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March 13, 2026
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INDUSTRY
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER
Texas Hunter Products celebrates Gonzalez
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Texas Hunter Products proudly announces the retirement of Emiliano Gonzalez, who concluded an exceptional 56-year career with the company at 82 years of age. His legacy stands as one of the longest and most-impactful tenures in the company’s history.
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Ruger announces earnings
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Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. reported fourth-quarter net sales of $151.1 million and full-year net sales of $546.1 million. The company generated $54.3 million in operating cash flow and returned $36.2 million to shareholders in 2025.
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Armament hires Alexander
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Armament Systems and Procedures hired Eric Alexander as director of sales for the midsouth US region. Alexander will manage law enforcement agency relationships across New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Asia distributor relationships.
Lee Hoots passes away Lee Hoots, a respected editor of Rifle and Handloader magazines at Wolfe Publishing and former editor of Guns & Ammo, died February 6, 2026, at age 57 due to early-onset dementia. He had a 30+ year career in out-
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Across 5. Most commonly hunted big-game species in Texas. 8. Spot deer frequently cross in ranch fencing. 9. Central Texas region famous for deer and turkey hunting. 12. Commercial fishing method restricted in many waters. 13. Mature drake mallard. 15. Arrow-based angling method popular for gar and carp. 16. Fishing technique using only line and hook. 17. Resin-rich pine often used to start campfires. 18. Nickname for smallmouth bass. 20. Trophy largemouth bass over ten pounds. 23. Property tax classification sometimes affecting private wildlife management land. 24. Prime venison cut. 26. Fly-fishing line section beyond the shooting head. 30. Sound of a reel losing line to a strong fish. 33. Process of cleaning game soon after shot. 34. Rock bank structure holding baitfish and bass. 35. Major Texas water body forming the northern border. 36. Slang term for a shotgun used in bird hunting. 37. Vertical finesse rig effective for suspended bass.
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door publishing with Western Outdoor News, Outdoor Sportsmen Group, and Petersen’s Publishing.
Davidson’s seeks ASM Davidson’s, Inc., a leading firearms, ammunition, optics, and accessories wholesaler, is hiring an assistant marketing director in Greensboro, NC. The role supports dealerfocused marketing strategies and brand initiatives, requiring 5-plus years of businessto-business marketing experience and preferably firearms industry knowledge.
DU Awards Ducks Unlimited named Jeff Tillma the 2026 Minnesota Conservation Partner of the Year and recognized Brittany Nosbush with their Beyond the Call Award. Both work for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and were honored for their conservation partnership efforts supporting DU’s public land protection and restoration initiatives.
Azimuth appoints Giraldo Azimuth Technology announced the promotion of Mauricio Giraldo to vice president of operations after more than 13 years with the precision manufacturing company. Giraldo will lead manufacturing strategy and operational performance across Azimuth’s platform.
Down 1. Rising air current used by migratory birds. 2. Another name for gallinule hunted on the coast. 3. Family group of bobwhite quail. 4. Collared peccary hunted in South Texas. 6. Strong, made from woven fibers for fishing 7. Large predatory catfish common in Texas rivers. 8. Nighttime gigging for amphibians. 10. Common bait used in coastal angling. 11. Massive prehistoric fish native to many Texas river systems. 14. Hill Country reservoir known for striped bass. 16. Pursuing feral swine with trained pups. 19. Legal archery implement during certain seasons. 21. Informal term for place to hang game. 22. Popular lipless crankbait used for bass. 25. Dabbling duck species such as mallards or pintails. 27. Boat attachment used in offshore trolling. 28. Slow stalking method used for deer or hogs. 29. Water temperature layer affecting fish location. 31. Geological drop-off influencing wildlife habitat. 32. Archery location where arrow meets the string.
Puzzle by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News
FOR THE TABLE *email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Quail and rice 1.5 lbs. smoked sausage 2 lbs. quail meat, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 tsp. homemade garlic powder 1 tsp homemade onion powder 4 cups stewed tomatoes 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 4 to 6 cups chicken broth 1 cup green onion, chopped 1 lb. shrimp Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste 2-1/2 cups raw rice
In a large skillet, brown the sausage with the onion and bell pepper until cooked through. Remove and drain; place in a Dutch oven. Season the quail with the garlic and onion powder. Fry pieces in the sausage grease until brown and completely cooked through; drain and place in Dutch oven. Cover the meat with stewed tomatoes and chopped green onion. Add more chicken broth and bring to a boil. Turn heat down and simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp and simmer again for 20 minutes. Add rice and just enough broth to cover ingredients by an inch or so. Boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for another 35 to 45 minutes or until rice is done.
Blackened white bass 1 lb white bass fillets 1/4 cup blackening seasoning or more to taste 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 lemon cut into wedges, for serving
Dry the fish fillets with a paper towel and sprinkle both sides with the blackening seasoning. In a large skillet set over medium heat, heat the oil until it begins to shimmer slightly. Carefully add the fillets to the skillet and cook until browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until the fish is dark, crisp, easily flakes with a fork, and is cooked through, 3 to 5 more minutes. Serve over grits with lemon wedges on the side.
—Staff Report
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Spring turkey
March 13, 2026
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End of season
Continued from page 4
Continued from page 5
still being flocked up during the early portion of the season. “Early season hunting could be tough for hunters,” Hardin said. “There are likely going to be large flocks of hens running around when the season kicks off, which is going to be a huge distraction for gobblers, making them tough to call in.” Hardin believes the best spring turkey action may take place later in the season, once more hens are bred and flocks begin to break up. How fast this transition takes place will be dependent on how quickly the landscape begins to green-up, which is ultimately dependent on rain and moisture. “That’s why I always tell folks year after year, to get out in the field early, and to go often,” Hardin said. “The best time to be turkey hunting this season is going to vary, based on the conditions of the properties you are hunting, and the region of the state that you are chasing birds in. Get out there as much as you can and take advantage of the opportunities the spring season provides.” For those that plan to hunt when the season opens, Hardin suggests trying to call in a dominant hen. “The gobblers are likely going to be following hens when the season commences,” Hardin said. “If you can call a dominant hen into your set-up, she may bring some gobblers with her.” As far as East Texas is concerned, Hardin said counties with spring hunting seasons that have Big Toms should be plentiful this spring thanks to several years of good held decent numbers of Eastern turkeys in the past recruitment. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News. several years will continue to provide some opportunities to hunters. Turkey populations in the eastern portion of the state have remained fairly static in the counties that have been sustaining populations of birds. TPWD restocking efforts for Eastern turkeys are ongoing in the region. Hardin said the Mandatory Harvest Reporting required for turkeys harvested in all counties helps TPWD make better population estimates, which can be used to assess the long-term survivability of the species. TPWD requires hunters to report their harvest within 24 hours through the My Texas Hunt Harvest app or the TPWD website. “Harvest reports show us how populations are doing,” Hardin said. “If harvest reports are down, then it appears that populations are declining. That’s why these reports from hunters are extremely important.” Hunters in both the North and South zones have been observing large flocks of turkey while scouting. Cody Johnston said he’s been seeing big groups of gobblers following flocks of 20 to 30 hens or more on the property he hunts in the North Zone in Schleicher County. Down in Karnes County, Bryan Maley reported seeing similar behavior from turkeys on his ranch. He said his cellular game cameras have been loaded with large flocks of birds, including gobblers and plenty of hens.
Jo Jo Webb’s memorial at a ranch near Throckmorton. Photo by Glen Webb.
Dr. Kirby Gober, Texas A&M D.V.M. 1977, slowly stood from his well-worn chair, crimson snap back, olive green vet shirt – worn with a pocket, and starched wrangler jeans. He said in a soft quiver, “Yeahhhhh … the cancer got her pretty good. Let’s go to Exam Room 1.” The metal table cold, the room dark, and emotion coming down like a sad Sunday service. The first needle sedated. The next needle entered the cephalic vein on the right front paw. The blood stream pushed the pentobarbital to the heart. A scarlet drip appeared among white and liver spots. The breathing slowed, the head bowed, and the eyes rolled … a time to die. A time to weep. Dr. Kirby Gober, was a professional and a gentleman. I asked if he ever got tired of seeing grown men cry about bird dogs. I am satisfied I was not the first and I know I will not be last because every season always ends.
Info@BrokenBottleArcade.com call today: (903) 571-6536
Page 14
March 13, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases Houston
New
First
Full
Last
Mar 18
Mar 25
Apr 1
Apr 9
Solunar Sun times Moon times Dallas
2026 Mar/Apr
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
2026 Mar/Apr
A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri
1:40 7:53 2:27 8:39 3:12 9:24 3:55 10:07 4:38 10:49 5:21 11:33 6:08 11:52 6:58 12:46 7:54 1:41 8:55 2:41 10:00 3:45 11:07 4:51 ----- 5:56 12:42 6:57 1:38 7:52
2:06 8:19 2:52 9:05 3:36 9:48 4:19 10:31 5:01 11:13 5:44 11:56 6:31 12:19 7:23 1:11 8:21 2:08 9:24 3:10 10:31 4:16 11:38 5:22 12:11 6:27 1:12 7:27 2:06 8:20
07:33 07:27 07:32 07:28 07:31 07:29 07:29 07:29 07:28 07:30 07:27 07:30 07:26 07:31 07:25 07:32 07:23 07:32 07:22 07:33 07:21 07:33 07:20 07:34 07:19 07:35 07:17 07:35 07:16 07:36
4:11a 2:17p 4:54a 3:18p 5:32a 4:20p 6:06a 5:23p 6:38a 6:24p 7:09a 7:27p 7:40a 8:30p 8:12a 9:37p 8:48a 10:47p 9:29a NoMoon 10:18a NoMoon 11:13a 1:09a 12:16p 2:14a 1:22p 3:11a 2:30p 4:00a
13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri
1:46 7:59 2:33 8:45 3:17 9:30 4:01 10:13 4:44 10:55 5:27 11:39 6:13 12:02 7:04 12:52 8:00 1:47 9:01 2:47 10:06 3:51 11:12 4:57 ----- 6:02 12:48 7:03 1:44 7:58
2:12 8:24 2:58 9:10 3:42 9:54 4:25 10:36 5:07 11:18 5:50 12:02 6:37 12:25 7:29 1:17 8:27 2:13 9:30 3:16 10:37 4:21 11:44 5:28 12:17 6:33 1:17 7:32 2:12 8:26
07:39 07:32 07:38 07:33 07:37 07:34 07:36 07:35 07:34 07:35 07:33 07:36 07:32 07:37 07:30 07:37 07:29 07:38 07:28 07:39 07:26 07:39 07:25 07:40 07:24 07:41 07:23 07:42 07:21 07:42
4:26a 2:15p 5:07a 3:17p 5:44a 4:21p 6:17a 5:25p 6:47a 6:29p 7:16a 7:33p 7:45a 8:39p 8:15a 9:48p 8:49a 11:00p 9:28a NoMoon 10:15a 12:13a 11:10a 1:24a 12:12p 2:29a 1:20p 3:26a 2:29p 4:14a
San Antonio
Amarillo
2026 Mar/Apr
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
2026 Mar/Apr
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri
1:53 8:06 2:39 8:52 3:24 9:36 4:07 10:19 4:50 11:02 5:34 11:45 6:20 12:08 7:11 12:58 8:07 1:53 9:08 2:54 10:13 3:58 11:19 5:04 12:00 6:08 12:54 7:09 1:51 8:05
2:18 8:31 3:05 9:17 3:49 10:01 4:31 10:43 5:13 11:25 5:57 12:08 6:44 12:32 7:36 1:23 8:33 2:20 9:37 3:22 10:43 4:28 11:50 5:35 12:24 6:39 1:24 7:39 2:19 8:33
13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri
2:06 8:19 2:53 9:05 3:38 9:50 4:21 10:33 5:04 11:15 5:47 11:59 6:34 12:22 7:24 1:12 8:20 2:07 9:21 3:07 10:26 4:11 11:33 5:17 12:13 6:22 1:08 7:23 2:04 8:18
2:32 8:45 3:18 9:31 4:02 10:14 4:45 10:57 5:27 11:39 6:10 12:22 6:57 12:45 7:49 1:37 8:47 2:34 9:50 3:36 10:57 4:42 ----- 5:48 12:37 6:53 1:38 7:53 2:32 8:46
08:00 07:52 07:59 07:53 07:58 07:53 07:56 07:54 07:55 07:55 07:53 07:56 07:52 07:57 07:51 07:57 07:49 07:58 07:48 07:59 07:46 08:00 07:45 08:01 07:44 08:01 07:42 08:02 07:41 08:03
4:55a 2:28p 5:35a 3:31p 6:10a 4:37p 6:41a 5:43p 7:10a 6:48p 7:37a 7:54p 8:04a 9:02p 8:33a 10:13p 9:05a 11:26p 9:43a NoMoon 10:28a 12:42a 11:22a 1:54a 12:25p 2:59a 1:33p 3:55a 2:44p 4:42a
07:45 07:40 07:44 07:41 07:43 07:41 07:42 07:42 07:41 07:42 07:39 07:43 07:38 07:44 07:37 07:44 07:36 07:45 07:35 07:45 07:33 07:46 07:32 07:46 07:31 07:47 07:30 07:48 07:29 07:48
4:23a 2:32p 5:05a 3:32p 5:44a 4:34p 6:18a 5:36p 6:51a 6:38p 7:22a 7:40p 7:53a 8:43p 8:26a 9:50p 9:02a 10:59p 9:43a NoMoon 10:32a 12:11a 11:28a 1:21a 12:30p 2:25a 1:37p 3:23a 2:45p 4:12a
Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.
Sabine Pass, north Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Time 6:17 AM 7:11 AM 12:31 AM 1:39 AM 2:38 AM 3:34 AM 4:31 AM 5:30 AM 6:33 AM 12:15 AM 1:08 AM 2:07 AM 3:14 AM 4:27 AM 5:41 AM
Height -0.06L -0.09L 1.28H 1.37H 1.47H 1.57H 1.65H 1.72H 1.75H -0.27L -0.35L -0.36L -0.30L -0.22L -0.14L
Time 3:35 PM 3:45 PM 7:58 AM 8:41 AM 9:22 AM 10:03 AM 10:44 AM 11:26 AM 12:10 PM 7:41 AM 9:01 AM 10:40 AM 12:31 PM 1:46 PM 2:28 PM
Time 7:19 PM 8:46 PM 3:54 PM 4:04 PM 4:14 PM 4:25 PM 4:36 PM 4:47 PM 4:57 PM 12:54 PM 1:42 PM 2:42 PM 6:04 PM 6:26 PM 8:01 PM
Height 1.20L 1.20L 1.41H 1.39H 1.37H 1.35H 1.34H 1.36H 1.40H 1.18L 1.38L 1.52L 1.03H 0.97H 1.35L
Time 11:11 PM 7:01 PM 8:40 PM 9:02 PM 9:32 PM 10:07 PM 10:46 PM 11:28 PM 11:52 PM 5:08 PM 5:18 PM 5:25 PM 11:39 PM 8:20 PM 11:28 PM
Height 1.32H 0.94H 1.07L 0.89L 0.66L 0.39L 0.13L -0.10L 0.04L 1.46H 1.52H 1.56H 0.31L 0.97H 1.43H
Time
Height
Time
Height
9:36 PM 4:33 PM 4:40 PM 4:46 PM 4:53 PM 5:01 PM 5:10 PM 1:52 PM
1.01L 1.26H 1.21H 1.18H 1.16H 1.16H 1.20H 1.18L
9:42 PM 9:57 PM 10:23 PM 10:55 PM 11:32 PM
0.86L 0.65L 0.38L 0.10L -0.17L
5:13 PM
1.26H
Time
Height
Time
Height
9:47 PM 4:07 PM 4:10 PM 4:15 PM 4:23 PM 4:34 PM 4:42 PM
1.11L 1.38H 1.29H 1.20H 1.13H 1.09H 1.10H
9:26 PM 9:25 PM 9:42 PM 10:10 PM 10:47 PM 11:30 PM
1.00L 0.81L 0.56L 0.29L 0.04L -0.17L
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Time 6:18 AM 7:15 AM 8:02 AM 1:12 AM 2:31 AM 3:41 AM 4:45 AM 5:46 AM 6:52 AM 12:13 AM 1:00 AM 1:56 AM 3:02 AM 4:17 AM 5:44 AM
Height -0.23L -0.23L -0.21L 1.14H 1.22H 1.32H 1.43 1.52H 1.59H -0.39L -0.52L -0.55L -0.51L -0.41L -0.28L
Time 4:09 PM 4:19 PM 4:26 PM 8:45 AM 9:31 AM 10:20 AM 11:08 AM 11:54 AM 12:41 PM 8:16 AM 9:44 AM 11:10 AM 1:02 PM 2:14 PM 2:52 PM
Height 1.37H 1.34H 1.30H -0.14L -0.03L 0.14L 0.35L 0.61L 0.90L 1.63H 1.67H 1.69H 1.69H 1.66H 1.58H
Height -0.08L -0.10L -0.10L 1.17H 1.26H 1.37H 1.51H 1.65H 1.75H 1.83H -0.31L -0.36L -0.35L -0.29L -0.17L
Time 2:57 PM 3:33 PM 3:56 PM 8:24 AM 9:09 AM 10:01 AM 11:03 AM 12:12 PM 1:46 PM
Height 1.54H 1.52H 1.47H -0.04L 0.09L 0.27L 0.50L 0.76L 1.00L
Time 5:38 AM 6:48 AM 7:40 AM 12:32 AM 1:52 AM 3:05 AM 4:18 AM 5:25 AM 6:30 AM 7:54 AM 12:20 AM 1:19 AM 2:30 AM 3:42 AM 5:00 AM
9:42 AM 11:14 AM 12:36 PM 1:36 PM 2:22 PM
1.90H 1.97H 1.99H 1.96H 1.85H
Height -0.17L -0.17L -0.14L -0.08L 0.51H 0.48H 0.23L 0.09L -0.04L -0.12L -0.16L -0.15L -0.13L -0.11L -0.08L
Time 9:00 PM 9:46 PM 10:29 PM
Height 0.66H 0.65H 0.60H
Time
Height
Time
Height
12:02 PM 12:45 PM 7:32 AM 9:41 AM 11:15 AM 1:39 PM 4:20 PM 5:24 PM 6:29 PM 7:36 PM 8:40 PM
0.03L 0.16L 0.50H 0.59H 0.67H 0.74H 0.83H 0.88H 0.90H 0.90H 0.85H
8:39 PM 7:00 PM 1:32 PM
0.40H 0.33H 0.32L
11:24 PM
0.38L
4:45 PM
0.36H
Height -0.25L -0.24L -0.20 -0.12L 0.43L 0.33L 0.21L 0.11L 0.03L -0.02L -0.03L -0.02L -0.00L 0.01L 0.03L
Time 10:30 PM 11:03 PM 10:55 PM 10:16 PM 4:01 AM 7:18 AM 9:38 AM 7:21 PM 6:50 PM 6:47 PM 7:19 PM 8:00 PM 8:43 PM 9:25 PM 10:02 PM
Height 0.55H 0.54H 0.51H 0.46H 0.44H 0.42H 0.45H 0.58H 0.71H 0.82H 0.91H 0.95H 0.97H 0.96H 0.91H
Time
Height
Time
Height
1:51 PM 2:25 PM 2:52 PM
0.01L 0.17L 0.36L
9:40 PM 8:52 PM 8:00 PM
0.41H 0.41H 0.47H
Port O’Connor Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Time 8:51 AM 9:47 AM 10:36 AM 11:19 AM 1:25 AM 4:28 AM 12:01 AM 12:38 AM 1:16 AM 2:00 AM 2:53 AM 4:01 AM 5:28 AM 6:57 AM 8:14 AM
Time 11:28 AM 12:07 PM 12:42 PM 1:17 PM 1:25 AM 2:07 AM 2:57 AM 3:48 AM 4:39 AM 5:32 AM 6:28 AM 7:33 AM 8:49 AM 10:03 AM 11:06 AM
Time 10:44 AM 11:41 AM 12:27 PM 1:10 PM 2:08 AM 2:14 AM 2:31 AM 2:54 AM 3:24 AM 4:03 AM 5:00 AM 6:21 AM 7:37 AM 8:58 AM 10:24 AM
San Luis Pass Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Time 6:11 AM 7:11 AM 8:04 AM 12:06 AM 1:50 AM 3:22 AM 4:45 AM 6:03 AM 7:29 AM 12:20 AM 1:13 AM 2:11 AM 3:15 AM 4:26 AM 5:45 AM
Height -0.19L -0.23L -0.22L -0.14L 0.77L 0.57L 0.34L 0.10L -0.08L -0.20L -0.25L -0.26L -0.25L -0.23L -0.21L
Time 9:59 PM 10:11 PM 9:53 PM 9:22 PM 5:44 AM 7:03 AM 8:27 AM 9:35 AM 10:39 AM 11:58 AM 5:08 PM 6:11 PM 7:31 PM 8:38 PM 9:17 PM
Height 1.10H 1.08H 1.01H 0.92H 0.94H 0.97H 1.04H 1.13H 1.20H 1.22H 1.24H 1.31H 1.35H 1.36H 1.32H
Height -0.29L -0.29L -0.26L 0.80H 0.81H 0.85H 0.91H 0.99H 1.06H -0.28L -0.39L -0.43L -0.41L -0.34L -0.25L
Time 5:22 PM 5:36 PM 5:19 PM 8:52 AM 9:40 AM 10:29 AM 11:25 AM 12:32 PM 1:56 PM 9:19 AM 11:18 AM 12:53 PM 2:09 PM 3:09 PM 3:52 PM
Height 0.94H 0.91H 0.86H -0.19L -0.08L 0.09L 0.29L 0.52L 0.73L 1.14H 1.23H 1.30H 1.33H 1.30H 1.23H
Height -0.21L -0.19L -0.16L 0.23H 0.24H 0.26H 0.11L 0.07L 0.03L 0.02L 0.03L 0.05L 0.07L 0.08L 0.10L
Time 9:10 PM 10:24 PM
Height 0.22H 0.23H
10:44 AM 11:25 AM 12:03 PM 5:36 AM 10:43 AM 4:38 PM 4:28 PM 4:32 PM 5:00 PM 5:39 PM 6:21 PM 7:00 PM
-0.10L -0.01L 0.09L 0.28H 0.33H 0.44H 0.51H 0.56H 0.59H 0.60H 0.60H 0.57H
Height -0.06L -0.05L -0.03L 0.03L 0.88H 0.90H 0.94H 0.98H 1.02H 1.06H -0.18L -0.23L -0.21L -0.14L -0.04L
Time 5:55 PM 6:29 PM 11:31 PM 4:39 PM 9:08 AM 9:55 AM 10:50 AM 11:56 AM 1:09 PM
Height 0.95H 0.91H 0.88H 0.76H 0.14L 0.28L 0.46L 0.65 0.83L
12:18 PM 1:58 PM 3:18 PM 4:11 PM 4:49 PM
1.17H 1.24H 1.27H 1.25H 1.18H
Height -0.09L -0.06L 0.00L 0.11L 1.23H 1.31H 1.40H 1.49H 1.54H 1.58H -0.28L -0.38L -0.38L -0.30L -0.17L
Time 4:34 PM 5:01 PM 5:12 PM 4:54 PM 8:59 AM 9:51 AM 10:50 AM 11:58 AM 11:27 PM
Height 1.39H 1.37H 1.32H 1.23H 0.27L 0.47L 0.70L 0.93L -0.10L
11:04 AM 12:40 PM 1:57 PM 2:59 PM 3:43 PM
1.65H 1.70H 1.72H 1.69H 1.60H
Time
Height
Time
Height
1:52 PM 2:32 PM 3:13 PM 3:58 PM 5:57 PM
-0.00L 0.20L 0.43L 0.68L 0.90L
8:42 PM 8:10 PM 8:05 PM 8:10 PM 8:13 PM
0.84H 0.81H 0.83H 0.86H 0.92H
Time
Height
Time
Height
10:06 PM 5:08 PM 4:59 PM 4:51 PM 4:49 PM 4:53 PM 4:58 PM
0.79L 0.81H 0.75H 0.72H 0.72H 0.76H 0.82H
9:30 PM 9:40 PM 10:11 PM 10:49 PM 11:32 PM
0.69L 0.52L 0.32L 0.10L -0.11L
Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Time 8:27 AM 9:16 AM 10:02 AM 12:52 AM 3:00 AM 4:18 AM 12:07 AM 12:46 AM 1:26 AM 2:09 AM 3:01 AM 4:09 AM 5:31 AM 6:49 AM 7:55 AM
Time
Height
Time
Height
5:39 PM 5:07 PM 12:38 PM 1:06 PM
0.21H 0.24H 0.20L 0.32L
11:22 PM
0.16L
4:52 PM 4:45 PM
0.30H 0.37H
Time
Height
Time
Height
8:05 PM 3:48 PM 3:43 PM 3:47 PM 3:55 PM 4:00 PM
0.73L 0.73H 0.73H 0.76H 0.82H 0.90H
8:41 PM 9:24 PM 10:10 PM 11:01 PM 11:53 PM
0.59L 0.42L 0.24L 0.06L -0.08L
Time
Height
Time
Height
8:53 PM 4:17 PM 4:01 PM 3:55 PM 3:45 PM
1.11L 1.15H 1.09H 1.06H 1.08H
9:01 PM 9:26 PM 10:00 PM 10:41 PM
0.93L 0.69L 0.42L 0.14L
Port Aransas
Nueces Bay Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
East Matagorda
Freeport Harbor Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
High Island
Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Time 5:39 AM 6:43 AM 7:36 AM 8:23 AM 1:06 AM 2:33 AM 3:51 AM 5:02 AM 6:17 AM 10:30 AM 12:46 AM 1:41 AM 2:40 AM 3:46 AM 5:06 AM
South Padre Island Date Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27
Time 5:10 AM 6:16 AM 7:15 AM 8:08 AM 1:06 AM 2:43 AM 4:03 AM 5:19 AM 6:41 AM 8:39 AM 12:19 AM 1:16 AM 2:19 AM 3:28 AM 4:43 AM
Texas Coast Tides
Height 1.43H 1.43H -0.10L -0.06L 0.04L 0.20L 0.41L 0.67L 0.93L 1.74H 1.70H 1.66H 1.65H 1.65H 1.63H
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
March 13, 2026
Page 15
Dove regs Continued from page 1
mission meeting that took place on January 21, 2026, the commission proposed to adjust this second segment of the South Zone dove season to allow for dove hunting opportunities around Thanksgiving weekend. The adjusted season dates as proposed, would be Nov. 25 — Dec. 29, 2026, instead of keeping the same second segment season date time frame from previous years that would allow for dove hunting opportunities in the South Zone from mid- to late-December through late January. This proposed regulation change has provoked quite the buzz among the South Zone dove hunting crowd, who look forward to January dove hunting opportunities every year. According to Fitzsimmons, TPWD staff recommended to the commission for the second segment of the South Zone dove season to occur Dec. 18, 2026 — Jan. 21, 2027. “South zone hunters have been hunting doves in January since the early 1970s,” Fitzsimmons said. TPWD is asking hunters for their opinion on South Zone dove “That being said, the commission changes. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News. decided to propose instead, for the second segment of the South Zone to take place Nov. 25 — Dec. 29, to encompass opportunities during the Thanksgiving holidays.” If adopted, this proposed regulation change would mean the second segment of the South Zone dove season would close before both the second segments for the North and Central zones in Texas. “Here’s another way to look at this,” said Fitzsimmons. “This proposed regulation change of season dates would put the second segment of the South Zone dove season closing around the same time that Oklahoma’s season closes.” Essentially, the southernmost zone in the central flyway would close on par with what’s taking place an entire state to the north. The TPWD Commission consists of a panel of governor-appointed members who legally adopt the hunting regulations every year. “They are the folks that establish the rules and regulations as law,” Fitzsimmons said. The proposed dove season dates by the TPWD Commission for 2026-2027 are as follows: Sept. 1 – Nov. 8, 2026 and Dec. 18, 2026 – Jan. 7, 2027 for the North Zone, Sept. 1 – Oct. 25, 2026 and Dec. 11, 2026 – Jan. 14, 2027 for the Central Zone, and Sept. 1 – Oct. 25, 2026 and Nov. 25 – Dec. 29, 2026 for the South Zone. TPWD is currently accepting public comment on these proposals until March 26. Whether in support or opposition of the proposed regulations, all public comments will be taken into consideration before the commission makes any decisions. TPWD strongly encourages everyone to make their opinions on these proposals heard through the public commenting process on their website. The March 26 commission meeting is also open to the public, and folks can attend to comment on these proposals in person.
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Aoudad Continued from page 4
does seem to be less trophy class rams on the landscape than there used to be.” Outfitter Bob Daugherty of Big Rim Outfitters, said their aoudad hunts in Presidio County have rendered a 100% success rate for mature rams. “The population of mature aoudad has decreased some since the helicopter-based management began,” Daugherty said. “More than anything, what I’ve noticed is that there are just not as many herds of top tier rams out there.” Despite this, Daugherty said his hunters have been able to harvest rams measuring 30 inches or more on average. Owner and operator of Double Diamond Outfitters, Wes Mundy, said his West Texas aoudad hunts recently have been Big rams in West Texas have been falling this spring, although some outfitters say aerial shooting is taking a toll on trophy sheep. Photo excellent. “Most of the rams I’m seeing by Calan Ahrens. right now on the ranches we hunt have still been pushing around and chasing ewes,” Mundy said. “There are some in large herds, but for the most part, I’m not finding bachelor groups of sheep like I normally do at this time of year.” Mundy said hunting over water sources has also been productive lately with the warm weather conditions that have prevailed. The highest traffic around water sources has been taking place during the warmest portions of the day, from the late morning hours, on into the afternoon. “Our best success has come from glassing until we locate some rams, and then stealthily stalking into a good position for a shot opportunity,” Mundy said.
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March 13, 2026
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NATIONAL
Prairie-chicken Continued from page 4
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LOUISIANA
NORTH DAKOTA
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission announced that the 2026 private recreational and state charter red snapper season will begin on Friday, May 1, 2026, in both state and federal waters for private recreational anglers and in state-managed waters only within nine miles for state charter vessels. The season will run seven days a week, with a daily bag limit of four fish per person and a 16-inch minimum total length limit. “Thanks to our LA Creel program, last year, Louisiana anglers experienced a historical red snapper season — fishing for a total of 200 days,” said LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth. “This is what active management is all about, and we are so excited to bring back another successful red snapper season to our sportsmen this year.” The season will remain open until recreational landings approach or reach Louisiana’s 2026 private recreational allocation of 882,439 pounds, as monitored on a weekly basis by LA Creel. LA Creel is the active management method used by LDWF to estimate recreational and state-charter harvest of fish species landed in Louisiana, with the goal of providing anglers with increased fishing opportunities. —LDWF
North Dakota Game and Fish Department harvest statistics show overall success for the 2025 season was 100% for bighorn sheep, 87% for moose and 62% for elk. Bighorn Sheep The Department issued eight bighorn sheep licenses, one of which was an auction license. The Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife issued two licenses in 2025, one to a tribal member and one to a Game and Fish Department applicant. All 10 hunters were successful. Moose The Department issued 292 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 281 hunters harvested 245 animals – 147 bulls and 98 cows/calves. Elk The Department issued 1,021 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 929 hunters harvested 576 elk – 280 bulls and 296 cows/calves. —NDGF
Red snapper season set
Lesser prairie-chickens will not have a hunting season, despite being down listed from the ESA. Photo by Joseph Richards.
of the lesser prairie-chicken or its habitat,” Maestas said. “Information is included in the Federal Register notices, which published on Feb. 26, 2026, under docket numbers FWS–R2–ES–2021–0015 and FWS–R2–ES–2025–1661.” When asked about estimated population totals and their trends, which might warrant the delisting of lesser prairie-chicken from a biological standpoint, Maestas declined to respond with any data. “There is nothing new to report on population numbers, as there have not been any range-wide surveys for the past 4 years for the lesser prairie-chicken,” Maestas said. The Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller, called the removal of the lesser prairie-chicken from the federal Endangered Species Act list a long-overdue victory for Texas farmers, ranchers, and energy producers. The lesser prairie-chicken currently occupies a five-state range that includes portions of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and portions of the Texas Panhandle. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, lesser prairie-chickens once numbered in the hundreds of thousands or even millions, across nearly one hundred million acres. Their populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss and fragmentation, and the service estimates that lesser prairie-chicken habitat has diminished across its historical range by about 90 percent. Lesser prairie-chickens need large tracts of native grasslands and prairies to thrive, and their annual reproductive success is directly tied to precipitation patterns.
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ARIZONA
Mexican wolf populations The Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team has completed the annual population count and documented the population increased to a minimum of 319 at the end of 2025, which is up from the minimum count of 286 in 2024. This is a consistent growth pattern for more than a decade. The importance of this data is that this moves the recovery program one step closer to getting to the point that will support the downlisting of the Mexican wolf and development of a 4(d) rule under the Endangered Species Act. Implementation of a 4(d) rule would add greater flexibility in implementing management actions intended to reduce conflict while continuing recovery of the subspecies to the point of delisting. The goal of every recovery program is to use the best scientific criteria to recover a species so the species is no longer in need of protection under the ESA. The recovery criteria to support downlisting the Mexican wolf is an average of 320 wolves documented per year over a four-year period. Although that average has not been obtained, this number does trigger the timing where a downlisting would be justified. With a 4(d) rule, the states of New Mexico and Arizona would have more management authority than they currently have. —ADGF
MONTANA
Nonresident shed hunting laws
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The 2025 Montana Legislature passed a new law that prohibits nonresidents from picking up antlers on Montana WMAs that have a seasonal closure for the first seven days they are open to the public each year. The law also established a $50 Nonresident Shed Hunting License for WMAs. This means that nonresidents cannot register for this entry and cannot enter the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA for the purpose of shed hunting until May 22, 2026. The new law doesn’t impact resident shed antler hunters or nonresident shed antler hunters who are not on a WMA. Shed antler hunters planning to enter the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area by vehicle when it first opens for the season at noon on May 15 should register online beginning April 1 and will use the WMA’s east entrance. The WMA, located southeast of the town of Seeley Lake, is a popular destination that draws hundreds of antler hunters annually on opening day. Instead of staging vehicles along Hwy 83, which historically created congestion and safety concerns along the busy highway, FWP first instituted a registration system in 2024. Those planning to access the WMA by vehicle when it opens at noon on May 15 should register online April 1 through April 19. —MFWP
Harvest numbers released
MISSOURI
Paddlefish season begins The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds anglers the season for the major paddlefish waters – Lake of the Ozarks, Harry S. Truman Reservoir, and Table Rock Lake – along with most other waters in Missouri runs March 15 through April 30. The season for the Mississippi River is March 15 through May 15 with a fall season of Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. A fishing permit is required for snagging and other allowed methods, unless exempt. The daily limit is two paddlefish, and the possession limit is four. No person shall continue to snag after taking a daily limit of two paddlefish. The statewide minimum length limit is 32 inches – measured from eye to fork of tail – with a minimum length limit of 34 inches for Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Harry S. Truman Reservoir, and their tributaries. All paddlefish under the legal minimum length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. —MDC
TENNESSEE
State record bass On February 28, angler Darren Nunley caught a massive 15.75‑pound largemouth bass on a chatterbait, pending DNA testing and final certification by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as the new state record. The fish was caught on Nickajack Lake. The scale read 15.8 pounds, and the anglers immediately headed back to the ramp and called TWRA. TWRA directed them to a certified scale where the fish officially registered 15.75 pounds. The existing record is 15.20 pounds set it 2015 on Chickamauga Lake. —Staff report
ARIZONA
Leftover big game tags The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted a list of leftover hunt permit-tags, as well as a printable paper application, on its website. Leftover hunt permit-tags include: 95 — limited opportunity (general) antlerless elk 2 — youth-only (general) antlerless elk 3 — archery-only antlerless elk 1 — archery-only bull elk The department will begin accepting paper applications for leftover hunt permit-tags on a first-come, first-served basis — by mail only — beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, March 16. Any remaining leftover hunt permit-tags will go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Monday, March 23, at all department offices. Some of the leftover hunt permit-tags are for Hopi hunt open areas and are available to everyone, both tribal members and non-tribal members, through the firstcome, first-served process. —AGFD
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT REDFISH BAY: 60 degrees. Redfish and drum are good on windblown shorelines on shrimp and cut mullet. SAN ANTONIO BAY: 65 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good on live shrimp in deeper holes and guts. Target the flats as the weather warms. SABINE LAKE: 60 degrees. Trout are good on long drifts in 4-6 feet of water over the oyster shell and clam with 5-inch slow-sinking baits or twitch baits with 1/8- or 1/16-ounce jigheads. A mixed bag of trout and redfish can be caught at the mouth of bayous on outgoing tides on live shrimp under a popping cork. BOLIVAR: 65 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are slow wading the pockets around structure. High winds have been an issue. TRINITY BAY: 65 degrees. Speckled trout are good up north on live shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics along deep drop-offs. Redfish are good on soft plastics and live shrimp near drop-offs along marshes. Black drum and sheepshead are good on live shrimp under a popping cork near pilings and hard structure. EAST GALVESTON BAY: 69 degrees. Redfish are fair around drains in shallow-water back areas using imitation shrimp lures under popping corks. Speckled trout are good on paddle tails in salt and pepper and chartreuse colors. GALVESTON BAY: 65 degrees. Fishing has been slow due to high winds. The red snapper bite has been good in state waters, along with some bull redfish.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: 65 degrees. Some solid speckled trout are being caught wading shallow water along grass shorelines. A few good catches in deeper guts near shallow water with live bait. TEXAS CITY: 65 degrees. Oversized black drum and a few bull redfish can be caught off the docks with live half crab or cut bait. Sheepshead can be caught near rocks with live shrimp. FREEPORT: 58 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good on live shrimp under a popping cork anywhere where the ICW is draining. Flounder are good using live or dead shrimp with 3/8-ounce jigs with swimbaits or Gulp shrimp. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 63 degrees. Redfish are good with mullet. Trout are good drifting mid-bay with artificials. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 63 degrees. Redfish are good with mullet. Trout are good drifting mid bay with artificials. Tides are on the rise. High southwest winds are in the
forecast so focus efforts along the southwest corner of East Bay where you will be protected from the wind. PORT O’CONNOR: 67 degrees. Big black drum are good on blue crabs at Honey Hole. Trout are slow while the clarity is muddy. Oversized redfish and a few keeper-sized are good at Honey Hole with blue crab or sardines. Keeper drums are good at the back of jetties in 15- to 20-feet of water on dead shrimp. Sheepshead are good throughout on live shrimp.
ROCKPORT: 60 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics along channel edges. Redfish are fair on shrimp, mullet, and perch in guts and along channel edges. Black drum are very good on live and dead shrimp in guts or holes in the flats. PORT ARANSAS: 60 degrees. Sheepshead are fair on live shrimp. Redfish are good on live shrimp and cut mullet on the north and south jetty. Oversized redfish are good on cut crab and cut mullet. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp free-lined near rocks. Pompano are good on live shrimp in the surf. CORPUS CHRISTI: 60 degrees. Black drum and redfish are fair on cut bait. Pompano are good in the clearer warmer water on Fishbites. Redfish and black drum can be caught on cut bait. Trout are good in the surf with slow-sinking lures. BAFFIN BAY: 60 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics, and slowsinking and suspending twitch baits. Choose darker colors on darker mornings and lighter, sparkly colors on sunny days. PORT MANSFIELD: 70 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on smaller-profile baits as the water warms. Cast suspending twitchbaits and shallow divers in white/silver or clear, almost translucent. Most productive bites can be found during the high tide or tides of the day. SOUTH PADRE: 68 degrees. Black drum are good on cut bait and shrimp. Speckled trout and redfish are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and slow-sinking and suspending twitch baits in waist-deep water. PORT ISABEL: 68 degrees. Black drum are good on cut bait and shrimp between cold fronts. Soft plastics, gulp shrimp under popping corks along with top water remain consistent in deeper areas for both speckled trout and redfish. —TPWD
March 13, 2026
Page 17
Tournament scandal Continued from page 7
third-degree felony charge, Daniels faces 2 to 10 years in state prison, fines up to $10,000, revocation of his fishing/hunting license and civil restitution. Daniels was free the next day with a $20,000 bond. Tournament cheating is serious business. William McDaniel of Fetus, Missouri, took home top honors and $11,500 with a 10.22 pound over-the-slot fish caught the morning of the first day. He had fished a few tournaments on Lake Fork, but this was the only time he has brought in an over (The slot limit on Lake Curtis Lee Daniels. Fork is 16 to 24 inches). McDaniel was fishing in less than 2 feet of water using a jointed, smoked pearl color Live Magic Shad lure. As this tournament was sponsored by Lake Fork Lures, all anglers had to use that brand. Brian Thaut just moved to Emory in the Lake Fork area a month ago from Dickinson. He caught his 2.79-pound under in the north end of the lake in shallow water. He was fishing with a Hyper Stick lure. Thaut shared that he had caught 18 fish that first day, but this was the only one that qualified for measuring and weighing. It is important to stress that anglers need to thoroughly read the rules of the lake and tournament, as multiple anglers were disqualified. Pulling up alongside Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association live-release-boat, the crew witnessed one angler disqualified for the day when the boat check revealed a registration six months past renewal. A second fisherman pulled up in his 10-day old Phoenix boat. He was disqualified for not having a fire extinguisher on board. He was upset that for what he paid for the boat, it didn’t come with a fire extinguisher. Yet another angler was disqualified for not having a lifesaver/throw cushion in his boat. One fisherman pulled up with a 9-pound fish that was an over when he caught it. He decided to measure it again before taking it to the scales. He tried to get it to the magical mark of 24 inches, but he kept coming up short by 1/4 inch. More than $100,000 total prize money was awarded at the two-day tourney.
Tourney champs Continued from page 6
two of his buddies, Jay Ray Watkins and Tommy Ramzinsky, took first place in the Port Mansfield tournament held Feb. 27-28. The three wade anglers walked away with some $90,000 in cash and prizes, catching six specs and three reds, weighing a total of 52.74 pounds — the most caught and highest total weigh-in during the second tourney. Dietze said they participate in wade competitions for their love of fishing, although winning the big prize is something each of the 187 other anglers had in mind. The tournament drew the most contestants in its history and that was attributed to good weather and the abundance of fish in the area, according to Tournament Director Chad Peterek. “We have been going through periods of drought,” he said. “However, the Laguna Madre got a lot of fresh water from the Arroyo Colorado last year.” Peterek, a 30-year veteran fishing guide from Corpus Christi, said he started the tournament as a way to pay respect to those hero anglers. Another aspect is conservation. Up to nine specs — three per angler — and three reds — one for each — are allowed to be checked-in during the two days. The team Dietze was with entered six trout and only two reds — yet they won in total weight. Every trout caught by a wade angler is released. Each trout is photographed, weighed by a scale provided by the organization, texted to the weigh-in as soon as possible and let go at the spot the fish was caught. Any redfish caught are brought to the weigh-in and then released. Peterek said their goal is to reach the $100,000 mark as the ultimate prize for a team of anglers, adding they are getting pretty close to the mark. “We have a tournament with a purpose,” he said. “The one we had in Port Mansfield has been our biggest one so far.”
PGRIP accepting applications through March 27 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in partnership with Quail Forever, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is now accepting applications for the Panhandle Grassland Restoration Incentive Program. PGRIP provides financial assistance to landowners and agricultural producers who voluntarily implement conservation practices to restore these habitats. Eligible practices include: • Brush management (including mesquite, juniper) • Prescribed burning • Herbaceous weed treatment • Planting native grasses and wildlife-friendly plants • Prescribed grazing Landowners and producers in the following counties can apply until March 27 (with exceptions): Priority counties – Armstrong, Bailey, Carson, Castro, Cochran, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Lynn, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Terry, Wheeler, and Yoakum (for precise priority area boundaries, contact TPWD). Other eligible counties – Andrews, Borden, Briscoe, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Dawson, Dickens, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Gaines, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Haskell, Hockley, Jones, Kent, Knox, Lamb, Martin, Motley, Scurry, Sherman, Stonewall, and Swisher (entire counties open), as well as priority counties outside defined priority areas (contact TPWD). Minimum project size of 25 acres, 100 or greater preferred. —TPWD
Crappie Continued from page 7
“They’ve been heading to the brush piles. I am finding them in 5 feet or less of water,” Loftin said. “There is no water in the creeks this year and the lake is about 4 feet low, so they’re all staying in the lake.” Loftin uses a hand-tied jig from Jigs by JJ in natural colors and white. “He’s got something called the milk monkey that seems to work the best for me,” he said. “Anything resembling a small shad seems to work really well.” He also reports live shad about an inch or so long have been productive. “I mean, as soon as you put it in, you’ve got something,” Loftin said. He attributes much of his success to being mobile. “Just because you catch four in a row on a spot, don’t stay there all day,” Loftin quipped. “Don’t get hung up on one spot.” He and his clients will begin to transition to brush piles in 10- to 15-feet of water toward the end of March.
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March 13, 2026
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T M C J H WH I T E T A I L D E E R O A B E R V V R R S F F E NC EGA P M H I L L COUN T R Y L I A P A H A O I D L I G I L L N E T T I NG GR E E NH E A D S N L N H C G A D B OW F I S H I N G E A I L A I G H A ND L I N I NG I R S F A T WO O D Y G N H T G O E O D B RON Z E B A C K L UN K E R O L R M R G G A D V A L OR EM B A C K S T R A P G K S A T RUNN I NG L I N E S T T O S D N B P T L U T DR AGS CR E AM N O O H E T I L S O W L E T R L E C C E R R F I E L DDR E S S A K M A G H U R I P R A P O P G U C P O C E N K M I L R T R E DR I V E R N I N S C A T T E RGUN DROP S HO T E 1
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Puzzle solution from Page 12
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March 13, 2026
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Party boats Continued from page 6
They also offer shorter trips for those interested in a more focused approach. “We have had two, 12-hour trips that have done pretty decent on vermillion snapper,” he added. On the shorter trips, Schroeder said: “We only provide squid on our trips. Squid is an overall good bait for catching vermillion snapper and even grouper.” Anglers don’t need to bring much — a rod, reel, and stringer are also provided. Anglers can bring other baits if they choose to. On the safari trips for tuna, you will have to bring your own jigs and poppers. They recLoads of snapper hang aboard a boat returning from Galveston Bay. ommend 8-ounce diaPhoto by Galveston Party Boats. mond jigs and Halco 130 swimbaits or poppers. The boats will stick to vermillion snapper and tuna all the way through June 1. “June 1 is when red snapper season is supposed to open,” he said. “We will concentrate on red snapper, and then if we have time on those trips, we will try and catch other things.” Out of Aransas Pass, Gary McDonough with Port Aransas Fishermen’s Wharf reports, “fishing has been good, weather permitting.” They run 9-hour and 60-hour trips targeting vermillion snapper and tuna, respectively. He and his crew will target the reefs in the area for vermillion snapper, setting up in three or four spots a trip. “We will fish a spot until it slows down, then we will move over and find another group,” he said. Like other party boats, they will provide you with bait, ice, and tackle for the 9-hour trip. On the 60-hour trip, McDonough and his crew target the deep-water rigs in 200- to 400feet of water and focus on tuna. McDonough also recommends that anglers bring 8-ounce diamond jigs and Halco poppers. “We will spend some time fishing for marlin on the tuna trips,” he said. “Those work on a lottery system for the anglers on the boat. They will also take the opportunity to fish weed lines for dorado if they come across any on the way out.”
THE ORIGINAL DEER BLIND WINDOW CO.
SCI sees growth Safari Club International said its 2026 Annual Hunters’ Convention saw a 14.4% increase in registered attendees over 2025, with Wednesday turnout up 17.7% from the previous year. SCI leaders said the growth reflects strong engagement at a time when hunting faces growing legal, regulatory and political challenges. Thousands of hunters, conservation partners, outfitters and industry representatives gathered in Nashville for the four-day event. “This level of growth reflects the resolve of our members,” said Jeff Meyerl, president of Safari Club International. “Hunters understand what is at stake. They are organized, engaged and committed to protecting our heritage and ensuring conservation decisions are guided by science.” “The 14.4% growth in registrations and Wednesday attendance shows clear momentum behind SCI’s leadership,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, the organization’s CEO. “As anti-hunting litigation increases and policy battles intensify, our members are showing up. This convention helps support the advocacy infrastructure needed to defend hunting access, protect state wildlife authority and promote sustainable-use conservation around the world.” —SCI
No hunting at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park For the first time in more than 25 years, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is opening the gates to a state park in North Texas. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located between Abilene and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, offers Texans 4,871 acres of former ranch land to hike, bike, fish and explore. “This is a tremendous moment for Texas State Parks and the state of Texas,” said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. “Opening Palo Pinto Mountains State Park represents the culmination of collaborative efforts that includes our Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as well as private donors. I am proud of the dedication of our TPWD team but also the unwavering support of the Texas Legislature and the voters of Texas that have brought us to this moment. State park staff stand ready to welcome families far and wide to begin making memories at Texas’ newest state park.” Palo Pinto Mountains State Park offers visitors a chance to escape from the bustling pace of the city into the juniper-topped hillsides and hardwood bottomlands of the Cross Timbers. According to a park employee, there are no hunting opportunities at this time and she didn’t know if any would become available. —TPWD
HUNTING BLIND
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March 13, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
AVAILABLE AT THESE AUTHORIZED AREA DEALERS Abilene Gun Works Abilene, TX 79601 325-704-5174
Baker Outdoors Lubbock, TX 79424 806-516-5700
Cole Gunsmithing San Antonio, TX 78253 210-906-0857
Gordy & Sons Outfitters Houston, TX 77007 713-333-3474
Lone Star Guns Weatherford, TX 76087 817-599-9275
Sharp Shooters Lubbock, TX 79407 806-791-1231
Able Sporting, Inc. Huntsville, TX 77320 936-295-5786
Berg’s Outdoors Broussard, LA 70518 504-610-4319
Clay Shooters Supply San Antonio, TX 78253 210-610-2999
Gray’s Shotgun Cache Amarillo, TX 79118 806-622-8142
Mumme’s Inc. Hondo, TX 78861 830-426-3313
Superior Outfitters Tyler, TX 75703 903-617-6141
Ally Outdoors Midland, TX 79705 432-203-3661
BPS Outfitters Sherman, TX 75090 903-892-2227
Defender Outdoors Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-935-8377
Jeff’s Gun Shop Wichita Falls, TX 76310 940-631-2314
Past & Blast Whitesboro, TX 76273 903-564-5444
Texas Ranch Outfitters Yantis, TX 75497 903-383-2800
Alpine Shooting Range Fort Worth, TX 76140 817-478-6613
Briley Manufacturing Houston, TX 77043 800-331-5718
Dury’s Gun Shop San Antonio, TX 78223 210-533-5431
Joshua Creek Ranch Boerne, TX 78006 830-537-5090
Rocky Creek Outdoors Texarkana, AR 71854 903-278-8780
Windwalker Farms Stanton, TX 79782 432-458-3324
August M. Crocker Austin, TX 78727 512-567-7855
Cajun Gun & Gear Lafayette, LA 70508 337-999-0373
Elite Shotguns San Antonio, TX 78253 210-741-9940
KB House of Guns Boswell, OK 74727 580-566-1400
Scheels (The Colony) The Colony, TX 75056 469-854-7500
Wilkerson’s Gun Shop Boerne, TX 78006 830-388-7205