Following one of the best dove seasons in memory in 2024, Texas dove hunters should be gearing up for another good season of dove hunting in 2025.
According to Owen Fitzsimmons, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Dove Program Leader, this year’s dove survey numbers would be hard to top last year’s record numbers, but early indications were showing lots of dove – both mourning and white wings – throughout the state.
“We do spring dove surveys that are datadriven by eco-region every year for the past five years,” he said. “I think we are looking very good for the upcoming season. The rains and storms may have taken a toll on some nests, but they came at the right time and as conditions remain good, those birds (that lost a nest) should continue nesting.”
This year’s survey will be out at the end of July or early August, but Fitzsimmons said early indications are positive across the state, especially in the Hill Country which has seen a multi-year drought broken by spring and summer rains this year. On average, Texas hunters account for 32 percent of the U.S. mourning dove harvest and 87 percent of the total white wing harvest.
The white-winged dove population in Texas continues to expand, offering hunting opportunities, especially in South Texas where a special season is in effect for six days, instead of four like last year.
Trout bite steady, reds scattered
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star
Summertime patterns are in full force for those targeting speckled trout across Texas’ coastal bay systems. Most anglers and guides have been able to find limits of specks, with some oversized fish mixed in as well. The redfish bite has been a different story. Many have reported redfish have been harder to find.
Galveston Bay Complex fishing guide Capt. Max Conner said the speckled trout bite has been steady in the upper portion of West Galveston Bay over shell in 3.5-6.5 feet of water. Specks in the 15- to 20-inch range have been easy to come by while drift-fishing with live shrimp rigged under a popping cork. Conner said live croaker and soft plastics have also been producing plenty of fish.
“Edges of oyster shell reefs have been loaded with mullet and shad, and the trout have been feeding aggressively on the baitfish, which has made catching limits pretty easy lately,” Conner said. “Most of the keeper-sized trout in the slot range have been anywhere from 17-19.5 inches. We’ve also been catching some oversized trout weighing up to about 5 pounds or so.”
Conner said all of the larger specks have been biting on croaker.
“The redfish bite, on the other hand, has been a lot more sporadic,” Conner said. “Reds have been scattered at best. We are catching a couple here and there in the same areas where we are catching trout, but there has been no consistency to their patterns.”
Conner said the redfish his anglers have been catching have been in the upper slot range with some oversized fish mixed in, with most weighing 7 pounds or more.
In Baffin Bay, Capt. Preston Long said good numbers of keeper-sized speckled trout in the 15- to 19-inch range have been stacked up along the south shoreline out past the edges of seagrass beds over hard sand in waist to chest deep water. Wade fishing with live croaker has been
The month of July is generally a time of year to enjoy the great outFamilies go on vacation. Camping is usually at a yearly high. The Texas gulf shrimp season gets under way and boaters hit the waters
But here in the Lower Laguna
Madre, it has been a turbulent period.
A charter boat was recently abandoned after taking on too much water some 7 miles from the South Padre Island jetties as it headed to Gulf waters.
In Port Mansfield, a fishing boat capsized and its two-member crew had to be rescued and taken to safety.
And to the south, a shrimp boat
outdoor newS
The fishing and temps are heating up along much of the Texas mid-coast. However, keepersized trout are easier to find this month than redfish. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Texas dove season is on the horizon, and hunters should find plenty of birds this year. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
A fishing boat sits mostly submerged along the Texas coast. July is one of the main months for boating accidents. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
FROM WORK TO PLAY
WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
Not a big change
Silencer law update as little impact for applicants
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Hunters and shooters hoping the updated proposed laws in the “Big Beautiful Bill” would bring major changes to how suppressors and silencers are regulated (or not regulated), are in for a disappointment.
According to Jarred McNeely, a leading expert on suppressors and Chief Academic Officer at Sonoran Desert Institute, the only thing changing in the new bill is the $200 tax
Hunters helping researchers
Texas A&M studying impact of insecticides on wild turkeys
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Researchers at Texas A&M University are studying wild turkeys in Texas to determine the prevalence of neonicotinoid pesticides in tissue samples. Neonicotinoids are the most commonly used insecticides in the world, with massive application to crop seeds in North America.
We are trying to understand if wild turkeys are exposed to neonicotinoids as a starting point to see if additional work is needed to determine the consequences of these exposures,” said Sarah Hamer, Ph.D, principal investigator and director of the Schubot Center for Avian Health in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M. “We are building upon our prior work that shows broad patterns of wild bird exposure.”
Grad students at A&M have been studying songbird toxicology for years, and they are seeing an alarming uptick in the pesticides, leading to a reduction in birds and insects alike.
“About one-third of songbirds we tested in non-agricultural areas of Texas were positive for neonicotinoid exposure in plasma
samples, a tissue in which we expect has about a 24-hour window of detection for compounds,” said Meredith Anderson, coinvestigator and Ph.D. student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program at Texas A&M. “This indicates that neonicotinoids are pretty widespread in these environments.”
Turkeys may be exposed to neonicotinoids through ingesting contaminated insects, seeds, water, nectar, soil, dust or through skin and feathers during preening.
“Birds and bees are struggling,” said Gabe Hamer, PhD, Professor at TAMU. “We know populations are impacted by feral cats and building strikes, but insecticides remain a bit of an unknown. We suspect they are having a large impact. Insects are an important food source for turkeys, especially poults. We know through other research that poult production has been down across the country for turkeys. We are looking hard at turkey populations in areas with heavy agriculture. Texas, Iowa and Illinois are three states that sent in samples this past spring.”
After receiving a grant from the National Wild Turkey Federation, students and program faculty began by contacting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists to take samples of hunter-harvested birds from the state’s wildlife management areas.
“Starting this past spring, Jason Hardin with TPWD helped coordinate the acquisition of samples from WMAs that conduct
that has been charged for each application will now go away.
“The only thing that changes is the tax goes away,” McNeely said. “If you have bought one previously, the process stays the same. We have yet to see if this will impact sales in any way or if it leads to other changes in the market. It’s business as usual until January 1, when companies won’t collect the tax.”
The background check portion of the application for a suppressor will remain the same. McNeely said he is hopeful the current administration will continue to make positive changes to suppressor laws.
“Suppressors are such a no-brainer, who
doesn’t want to protect hearing?” McNeely asked. “It will be interesting to see if the push (to remove suppressors from the NFA) for short-barreled rifles and shotguns continues to push forward. Any lawsuit has the opportunity to go somewhere, but this needs to be done legislatively.”
Gun Owners of America and other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit earlier this month —which they have dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Lawsuit”—that the Supreme Court had upheld the NFA as a tax statute and the constitutional justification for it no longer applies once the tax is eliminated.
GOA has also long argued that the NFA’s
Ongoing recovery
Pronghorn surveys show fawn recruitment, buck horn size improving
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
West Texas pronghorn are making a rebound in some areas of the state this year. Timely rains and improved habitat have led to the best fawn recruitment in five years in some areas, and horn growth among bucks is also on the rise.
According to the founder and general manager of Wildlife Systems, Inc., Greg Simons, recent aerial surveys for pronghorn in the Marathon and Marfa basins revealed there are
specific areas in west Texas where populations of these animals are thriving. Survey results for properties with pronghorn that are managed by WSI showed increased fawn crops in comparison to the last five years, as well as promising horn growth among bucks.
“We flew pronghorn surveys over three different properties recently, two of which were in the Marathon basin, and one in the Marfa basin,” Simons said. “We’ve been flying surveys over these properties for many years, so we’ve got a good baseline of data to compare from year to year.”
Simons said the Marathon basin greened up earlier this year than the Marfa basin did, and they observed decent fawn crops with an estimated
Shooters will save money with the new bill, but not much else changes. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
There are pockets of growing pronghorn populations in the Marathon and Marfa basins of West Texas, where fawn crops have been productive this summer. Photo by Greg Simons.
Researchers are studying the impacts of neonicotinoids on wild turkey populations. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Pronghorn progress
Continued from page 4
50-55 percent success rate in places on the properties that they surveyed.
“We counted 97 does and 52 fawns on one particular property,” Simons said. “Most of those fawns were at least a month old. With that region greening up as much as it has, and those fawns being about a month or so old and in good shape, we are optimistic about those fawns carrying over to next year. There’s just a lot of good grass and weed cover available for the fawns, and the does seem to be in good shape and lactating well. This could ultimately result in excellent recruitment for the pronghorn population in that area next year.”
Simons said the quality of horns on the pronghorn bucks observed was also good.
“Pronghorn numbers throughout the Trans-Pecos region of Texas as a whole, remain low due to chronically low fawn crops over the last several years; however, there are pockets of landscape where populations of these animals are increasing,” Simons said.
Simons attributes the increasing populations and fawn crops of pronghorn on the properties that they surveyed in the Marathon basin to premium range conditions due to timely rains, as well as the fact the majority of the landscape in the region has been lightly stocked with cattle for the last few years.
“Some areas in the region haven’t had any cattle on them for a year or two now, as well,” Simons said. “The lack of cattle grazing has allowed for increased vegetation growth, as well as the carryover of grasses and weeds from the last year or two, which has provided much needed cover for fawns. The increased amount of vegetation on the landscape has also provided more quality sources of food for pronghorns in these areas.”
Simons said. “Even though the numbers weren’t as high on that property in the Marfa basin, it was just remarkable in general, that we saw the fawns and adult pronghorns that we did, due to the fact that the area had been extremely dry for the last two years or more, up until recently.”
Simons said all of the properties that they surveyed were lacking middle class age numbers of bucks.
“The population of pronghorn in West Texas is an aging population, and that’s due to the lack of recruitment over the last five years,” Simons said. “Poor conditions resulted in poor fawn crops, and there is definitely an age gap in the population right now. There are a lot of mature bucks, and we are starting to see the number of younger class bucks increase.”
Overall, Simons said both the Marathon and Marfa basin populations of pronghorns seem to be in a recovery state, which is something to be excited about.
Simons expects these areas that are supporting higher numbers of pronghorns to experience even more vegetation carry over into next year. If his prediction holds true, this could result in the most significant fawn crops that pronghorn populations have seen in the region in many years.
As far as the property in the Marfa basin that they surveyed is concerned, Simons said that they also observed a decent number of fawns on it, as well. Overall, they just did not find as many pronghorns in that area.
“We estimated those fawn crops to be at about 40 percent, and we just didn’t see the numbers of does like we were seeing on the properties we flew in the Marathon basin,”
In the Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas, TPWD biologist Julie Myers said the department has not conducted pronghorn aerial surveys yet, but they should be starting in the next few weeks.
Range conditions have improved dramatically this year, so biologists are hopeful it equals a better fawn crop and more big bucks across the landscape.
“We’ve had more rain in this area the past few months than we’ve had the previous few years combined,” Myers said. “We don’t have a lot of pronghorn in Pecos County, so we won’t know exactly how well they are doing until we get up in the air.”
DSC Foundation launches Global Care Fund
DSC Foundation announced the new Global Care Fund at its Gala July 19 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine. The establishment of the Global Care Fund reflects the increasingly global reach and impact of this critical initiative and further advances the charitable and educational purposes of the DSC Foundation.
“We are excited about introducing the new Global Care Fund,” said DSC and DSC Foundation CEO Rob McCanna. “This is a natural evolution of a very successful program as DSC and DSC Foundation expands its global reach to help hunting and industry professionals, or their families, at their greatest time of need. Our commitment to this principal will not change.”
DSC Foundation’s Global Care Fund mission is to provide financial relief to individuals or their families when those individuals suffer serious injury or death during the course of, or related to, providing services that ensure conservation of wildlife and associated habitats. This program further exemplifies DSC Foundation’s commitment to leading by example with this unique program committed to hunting industry professionals. From professional hunters and game wardens to biologists and field staff, these individuals serve on the front lines of conservation. When tragedy strikes, the Global Care Fund steps in — providing financial relief to them or their families in times of serious injury or loss.
“Hunters helping hunters is what this is all about,” said DSC Foundation President Russell Stacy. “For years, DSC Foundation has been the leader in supporting injured professionals and their families in this often-dangerous line of work. This new program honors and expands the strategic path we have forged over the past decade.”
DSC Foundation’s Global Care Fund responds with compassion and timely action when tragedy strikes. Supporters of this program can rest assured that each dollar directed to DSC Foundation for the Global Care Fund will directly support the hunting industry professionals and their families in times of greatest need.
Aerial surveys showed good numbers of mature pronghorn bucks this season. Photo by Greg Simons.
First DSC Summer Expo a success
Gala auction raises
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
funds
Dallas Safari Club held its inaugural Summer Expo and Foundation Gala July 17-19 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, and the event raised funds to further the DSC mission of Conservation, Education and Advocacy.
The event began on Thursday, as expo doors opened in the afternoon. A good crowd flowed through on the first day, culminating in a Thursday evening event, Smoke & Spurs.
Traffic picked up on Friday and Saturday, with many outfitters reporting a solid show. The lone Australian buffalo hunting outfit said they sold four high-dollar hunts which made the trek from down under worth it. Other outfitters had similar stories, and all said it was good to be back in Texas. A few complaints were heard about the price of parking and the summer heat, but the outlook remained positive throughout the three days.
The highlight of the event came Saturday night, when emcee Robbie Kroger of Blood Origins made several announcements to the nearly 700 people in attendance – the first being the establishment of the new Global Care Fund to help injured industry professionals and another for a cash call where two donors immediately pledged $25,000 each.
The keynote speaker was professional hunting guide Michael Schneider of Driftwood Valley Outfitters, who gave a passionate speech about his program helping at-risk youth in the native populations of his hunting area learn life skills to escape the cycle of poverty, drugs and alcohol that plague so many native villages in British Columbia. Schneider said some natives go on to become highly successful professionals, but many lack opportunities and spiral back into the old habits when they return to their native villages. Some outfitters came into the event from recent hunts around Texas. Exhibitor Daniel
Please turn to page 22
Exhibitors reported a good show in Grapevine for the DSC Summer Expo. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Wade-fishing gear made in Texas
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star outdoor newS
During his tenure in the Marine Corps, Darren Jones quickly realized his appreciation for quality, durable gear that could withstand the abuse from the elements. Fast forward to today, and he has made it his mission to manufacture and produce wade-fishing gear that is downright tough. He owns and operates Feral Concepts, which offers anglers a variety of wading boxes and wading packs or bags, as well as other wade-fishing gear accessories and gear bags.
“When I was in the Marine Corps, there were folks in charge of creating and repairing our gear that we would use,” Jones said. “They were experts at sewing, and I always thought that was a really valuable skill to have. It made me want to learn how to sew, so that I could start experimenting with repairing and making my own quality gear.”
As an avid outdoorsman, Jones has a strong passion for wade-fishing. He grew up wade-fishing with his dad in Baffin Bay, and like many anglers, he had some wading gear that had worn out and fallen apart over the years. Jones started trying his hand at learning to sew and making his own gear for himself. He had a buddy who was a full-time fishing guide reach out to him about making a new strap for his wading box.
“I made him a new strap, and then he asked me to make him another one,” Jones said. “He said that he loved the first one and wanted to have a spare. I ended up making him some extra wading boxes with straps, so that he could have some for his clients to use, in case they didn’t have a wading box of their own when they went on a trip with him.”
About a week later, Jones’ fishing guide buddy called him back, and asked him to make him some more wading boxes with straps.
“I asked him what happened to the ones I had just made for him,” Jones said. “He told me he had given them to his clients because they loved them, and he immediately encouraged me to consider making wading boxes and selling them. That was the beginning of Feral Concepts, and I founded the company back in 2019.”
Before long Jones had other full-time fishing guides asking him to make other types of wading packs, bags, and accessories, which have turned into extremely popular products amongst hardcore wadefishermen. Some of these products include the Flats Satchel, the Salt Wallet, the Snot Rag, various models of wading box straps, various models of wading boxes with straps, and tote bags.
“Every single one of my products have been inspired by full time fishing guides, as well as anglers that are passionate about wade-fishing and spend a ton of time on the water, abusing their equipment,”
FISHING
Shrimp in Sawdust
By Tony Vindell For Lone Star outdoor newS
Anglers use a variety of things when going after their favorite fish.
Some like plastic and metal lures. Other prefer homemade or commercial flies for a different type of fishing.
Frozen and live bait, like mullet and shrimp, are the decoys of choice of others if they fish from a boat, a shore or from a jetty.
But what about using live shrimp placed on the bottom of a brown bag half filled with sawdust?
A Brownsville-based shop has been doing that for more than 50 years to
the point a few other shops began copying their lead, as well.
That is Gordon’s Bait & Tackle, a one-stop shop on Texas Highway 48.
The store first opened in 1969 in Port Isabel and relocated to its current location two years later.
It’s one of the oldest places to buy bait, fishing gear and clothing and just about anything else anglers need for their fishing trips.
Gary Williams, along with his sisters Sheila Montes and Amanda Burres, have been running the business after their father, Gordon Williams, bought it from A.B. Walker in 1953.
“We are in an area that used to be
known as the Port of Brownville,” he said. “But everything started changing as time went by.”
The port is now several miles away to the north.
Williams said the family started the practice of selling live shrimp in wood shavings or saw dust in the early 1950s and has kept the tradition ever since.
When asked how that came about, he began telling a once-in-a-lifetime story.
He said they learned the idea after talking with Chinese fishermen who stopped at the shop to buy goods.
“They told us they put the shrimp on sawdust around a large block of
Stripers and hybrids in summertime patterns
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
Many anglers and fishing guides are targeting striped bass and hybrid stripers over main lake humps and out off the ends of main lake points, as the fish are settled into their typical summertime patterns. There has been some schooling action on the sur face during the early morning hours. Most folks are catching the stripers and hybrids on live bait; how ever, some anglers and guides are finding success on top-waters and soft plastics.
Capt. Cory Vinson of Guaranteed Guide Ser vice has been targeting hybrid stripers on Richland Chambers Reservoir, and stripers on Lake Whitney. On Richland Chambers, Vinson said limits of hy brids have been coming quickly for his anglers.
“The hybrid bite on Richland Chambers is abso lutely on fire right now,” Vinson said. “Live bait has been producing the most consistent action right
Gary Williams gets ready to fix a pint of live shrimp he puts inside a brown bag half filled with sawdust.
Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Durable fishing gear was tough for Darren Jones to find, so he started his own company. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Dr Mauricio Rodriguez caught this striped bass on Lake Whitney on a live shad in 20 feet of water. Photo by Capt. Cory Vinson.
Shark tourney for cancer victims
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS
The Take a Bite Out of Cancer Benefit Tournament wrapped up its eighth year. Started by Nick Fuller and his wife Emily, the tournament raises money to benefit families impacted by cancer. This year’s tournament had a great turnout with 126 anglers participating in four divisions. Anglers also had to contend with thunderstorms and sudden squalls from Sabine to the pier in Matagorda.
Alejandro Molina has participated in this tournament three of the last four years. He has been successful in the Shark and Redfish divisions. He attributes his success to mentors in the land-based shark fishing community.
“I have been lucky,” Molina said. “Lucky enough to catch fish and lucky enough to be around good people.”
Molina fished the tournament from the Bolivar area. He caught his shark Friday evening.
“We used a couple of different baits,” he said. “The shark I caught was on a ray or jack.”
On Saturday morning, Molina and friends experienced a sudden squall that hit the beach.
“There was really no warning, no thunder, no lighting. It just came with a strong north wind and a pouring rain,” he said. “As quick as it came, it left, and it was like nothing happened except the mess it turned our camp into.”
After the storm hit, the bite slowed down for the group.
“We caught our shark Friday night, so we were lucky in that regard,” he added.
Molina did not place in the redfish division.
“I came up a little short with a 41 (inch) redfish.”
He caught his redfish on cut mullet. He also said he plans on fishing the tournament again next year.
“It’s a great event for a good cause, a great reason to bring the community together. So, I will be participating as long as I am able to,” he said.
Carol Cox has fished the event for three years in the Women’s and Redfish divisions.
“Caught a lot of fish but I didn’t place in the redfish division,” she said.
Cox fished the Sabine Beach area during the tournament.
“We fished one location and that location just wasn’t good on Friday,” she said. “We switched locations because we wanted to catch a lemon shark.”
She ended up landing her first lemon shark in Texas and, as a bonus, it was big enough to win her the Women’s Division.
Carol’s success came on a chunk of cownose ray. She droned her baits out about 250 yards from the beach with the outgoing tide. The bite was slow early on but picked up later in the day on Saturday.
“I caught mine at 5 p.m. and another was caught at 8 p.m.,” she said.
Hill Country anglers adapting to rising water
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS
With the enormous and devastating rains in the Hill Country in early July, lakes have risen, and anglers have changed tactics to meet the new conditions.
On Lake Buchanan, the lake level was 21 feet low, and the rains have now filled the lake, slowing the striper bite.
“It’s only because a lot of dirty water came in,” said Fermin Fernandez, with Lake Buchanan Striper Fishing Guide Service. “Everything will change back and the water will clear up and the fish will start biting just like they normally do.”
His clients have had most of their success on live bait and umbrella rigs. With live bait, he has been anchoring up or drifting across where the fish should be in 30- to 40feet of water.
“When you’re in doubt, troll,” Fernandez said. “Even if you don’t hit a lot of fish, you’ll be able to find fish. Soon the water will clear and our top-water season is coming up.”
The boat ramps at Canyon Lake have reopened.
Stubbs said early morning is the best time to target stripers in less than 10 feet of water. Spooks, hula poppers and MirroLures have been working.
“The other times we are targeting them
“Canyon has come up almost 13 feet,” said Kevin Stubbs with Expedition Outfitters. “The (fish) have had no pressure for several months. They have had free run of the lake with no pressure, so they are a little closer to the surface.”
Alejandro Molina caught this lemon shark at night. Photo by Alejandro Molina.
Anglers are figuring out the new patterns as water levels fluctuate across the Hill Country due to recent rains. Photo by Fermin Fernandez.
TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT
ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 81 degrees; 0.83’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
AMISTAD: Water very stained; 82 degrees; 63.39’ low. White bass are good no slabs. Catfish are good on punch bait.
ARLINGTON: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.69’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on deep diving crankbaits.
ARROWHEAD: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.33’ low. White bass are fair on crankbaits. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad.
ATHENS: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.28’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rig worms, wacky rig senkos, and crankbaits. Crappie are slow.
AUSTIN: Water stained; 81 degrees; 0.71’ low. Largemouth bass are good on whopper ploppers, spooks, poppers, and weightless flukes.
BASTROP: Water stained; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics.
BELTON: Water stained; 84 degrees; 4.71’ high. White bass are good on jigs and slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
BENBROOK: Water stained; 83 degrees; 1.58’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrid striped bass are good early morning on live bait. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch baits.
BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.04’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait. White bass are good on minnows and slabs.
BOIS D’ARC: water stained; 83 degrees; 0.15’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on flukes, frogs, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows.
BRAUNIG: Water stained; 88 degrees. Redfish are good on spoons and soft plastics. Catfish are slow.
BRIDGEPORT: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrids and white bass are good on slabs and live shad. Catfish are fair on cut shad and live minnows.
BROWNWOOD: Water slightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.34’ high. Largemouth bass are good on big soft plastics, wacky rigged senkos, swim jigs, and frogs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on jigs and crank baits. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
BRYAN: Water stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
CADDO: Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.00’ high. Largemouth bass are good on topwaters, frogs, flukes, worms, buzz baits, and swimbaits.
CALAVERAS: Water stained; 91 degrees. Redfish are good on soft plastics. Catfish are good on shrimp and stink bait.
CEDAR CREEK: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.26’ high. White bass and hybrid stripers are good on slabs. Catfish are good on shad or cut shad.
CISCO: Water stained; 80 degrees; 13.49’ low. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
COLEMAN: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.55’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrids are good on squarebill crankbaits. Catfish are slow.
COLETO CREEK: Water slightly stained, 87 degrees; 0.40’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
CONROE: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.07’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Bluegill are are good on night crawlers. Hybrids are good on slabs, spoons, and live bait. Catfish are fair on punch bait.
COOPER: Water stained; 80 degrees: 0.50’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on shad and cut bait.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 80 degrees; 13.99’ low. Gar are good on cut bait.
CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.14’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait. White bass are good on minnows and slabs.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.17’ high. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Perch are good on worms. Catfish are good on manufactured baits.
FALCON: Water stained; 89 degrees; 46.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigged plastics and deep diving crankbaits. Gar are good on cut carp and tilapia. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on live bait, fresh cut bait, and shrimp.
FAYETTE: Water slightly stained; 92 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, shaky heads, and Carolina rigs. Perch are fair on nightcrawlers.
FORK: Water Stained; 82 degrees; 0.23’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters, frogs, Carolina rigs, and crankbaits. Bream are good on worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait.
FT
PHAN-
TOM HILL: Water stained; 85 degrees; 2.86’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
83 degrees; 0.25’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics. White bass are fair on slabs, spinnerbaits, and trolled baits. Striped bass are fair on live bait, jigs, and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad and perch.
GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 9.28’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.44’ high. White bass are good on slabs.
GREENBELT: Water stained; 80 degrees; 47.65’ low. White bass are good on minnows. Crappie are slow.
HAWKINS: Water slightly stained. 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on topwater lures. Bream are fair on worms.
HOUSTON: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.37’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on grubs, worms, crankbaits and chatterbaits. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on shad.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.16’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water Stained; 80 degrees; 11.00’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
JACKSONVILLE: Water slightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.10’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and rattletraps.
JOE POOL: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.35’ high. Largemouth bass are good on topwaters and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows.
LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 90 degrees; 2.64’ high. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, Carolina rigs, flukes, and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait.
LAVON: Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.45’ high. Largemouth bass are good on squarebill crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on topwaters, slabs, and swimbaits. Catfish are good on punch bait, chicken liver, and shad.
GEORGETOWN: stained; 84 degrees; 13.89’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads and Texas rigs.
GRAHAM: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.37’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow on minnows. Sand bass and hybrids are good on spoons. Catfish are good.
GRANBURY: Water stained;
LBJ: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.43’ low.
Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, flukes, and worms.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.27’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are fair on slabs, spoons, spinnerbaits and live bait. Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs and live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striper are fair on live bait and slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
LIMESTONE: Water stained;
89 degrees; 0.22’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chatterbaits, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 85 degrees. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
MARTIN CREEK: Water slightly stained; 92 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigged worms and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.
MEREDITH: Water stained; 81 degrees; 44.54’ low. Smallmouth and Largemouth bass are good on jigs, jerkbaits, and live minnows. White bass are good on jigs and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Bluegill and perch are good on worms. Walleye are good on minnows, bottom bouncers with floating worm harnesses, soft plastics, crankbaits, and bladed baits. Trout are fair on worms. Catfish are good on shrimp, frozen shad, and cut bait.
MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 83 degrees; 1.04’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are slow. Largemouth bass are good on creature baits and plastic worms.
NA-
COGDO -
stained; 87 degrees; 0.04’ high. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad and drum.
PINKSTON: Water stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits and dropshots. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on minnows.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water slightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.13’ high. Stripers are slow. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 86 degrees; 1.72’ high. White bass are fair on crankbaits trolling. Crappie are fair minnows and jigs.
RAVEN: Water slightly stained; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on artificial worms. Bluegill are good on hotdogs and worms under a bobber.
RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.07’ low. White bass are fair on swim baits, tail spinners, and rattletraps. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on punch bait.
CHES: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.31’ high. Largemouth bass are good on deep diving crankbaits and Carolina rigged creature baits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on live minnows and cut bait.
NACONICHE: Water slightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.50’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
NASWORTHY: Water slightly stained; 79 degrees. 0.98’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.
NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 75 degrees; 4.04’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on shad and perch.
O H IVIE: Water slightly stained; 86 degrees; 15.86’ low. Largemouth bass are good on topwater frogs, ploppers, chatterbaits, and Texas rigged worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on stink bait and cut shad.
OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 19.43’ low. Largemouth bass are good on topwaters and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
PALESTINE: Water stained; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on senkos. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on rattletraps and crankbaits. Catfish are good on stink bait and cut bait.
PALO PINTO: Water
RAY ROBERTS: Water slightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on 10 inch worms, crankbaits, and football jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on live shad.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.20’ high. White bass are fair on topwaters. Hybrids are good on live shad. Catfish are good on shad and cheese bait.
SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 86 degrees; 1.54’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters, crankbaits, and Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.
SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 88 degrees; 0.78’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on shad and ghost minnows. Hybrids are good on cut bait and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad and punch bait.
SPENCE: Water stained; 80 degrees. 47.80; low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Catfish are good on punch bait.
STAMFORD: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.20’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on minnows.
STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 82 degrees; 4.25’ low. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms, craws, creature baits, chatterbaits and swim jigs. White bass are good on slabs and swim baits.
TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.31’ high. Hybrid striper and white bass are good on swim baits, slab spoons, and live bait. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass are good on frogs, flukes, and
Page 16
rattletraps.
TEXOMA: Water stained; 84 degrees; 1.87’ high. Striped bass are fair on topwaters and swimbaits. Catfish are good on punch bait and shad.
TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.75’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
TRAVIS: Water stained; 87 degrees; 21.93’ low. Largemouth are fair on soft plastics.
TWIN BUTTES: Water stained; 82 degrees; 33.19; low. White bass and crappie are fair on minnows and shad. Catfish are fair on punch bait.
TYLER: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.02’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Bream are good on red worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on liver and nightcrawlers.
WACO: Water stained; 89 degrees; 4.88’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
WALTER E LONG: Water stained; 87 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and chatterbaits.
WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 85 degrees; 2.92’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait and shad.
WELSH: Water stained. 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and Carolina rigs.
WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 78 degrees; 15.77’ low. feet below pool. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on live bait.
WHITNEY: Water slightly stained; 82 degrees; 1.82’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Striped bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
WORTH: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.27’ high. Catfish are fair on punch bait.
WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 7.81’ high. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on punch bait. —TPWD
TTHA fun in August
The time is fast approaching for Lone Star Outdoor News to set up its booth at the Texas Trophy Hunters Extravaganzas. In August, TTHA will begin the organization’s 49th Annual Hunters Extravaganzas, making stops in Houston, Fort Worth and San Antonio.
Featuring the best in vendors, informational seminars, giveaways, attractions and activities, the extravaganzas will help prepare you for your next outdoor adventure.
“It’s great to see everyone who comes by, especially after a long summer and with hunting season on the horizon,” said LSON’s David J. Sams. “We really look forward to getting back into the show season, seeing old friends, and finding out what the upcoming season is going to look like. It’s always a great three days.”
The 2025 Hunters Extravaganza dates:
Houston Aug. 1-3 NRG Center
Fort Worth Aug. 8-10 Fort Worth Convention Center
San Antonio Aug. 15-17 Freeman Expo Hall
With hundreds of exhibitors and tens of thousands in attendance, the shows are a tremendous success for the exhibitors and attendees, as well as the host cities and remains the largest, longest-running hunting and outdoor show in Texas.
Attendees can scope out the newest gear, latest products and meet outfitters from across Texas, the US, and international exhibitors. Join LSON in Fort Worth on Aug. 8!
At the San Antonio event on Aug. 16, TTHA will have a 50th Anniversary party at the Big Buck Bash presented by the Los Cazadores Deer Contest. Live music, catered dinner, cold beer, silent auctions, raffles and raising money for the Hill Country floods will take center stage.
Photo from TTHA
OUTDOOR BLOTTER
THREE POACHING INCIDENTS WITH CROSSBOWS
On the night of June 24 or the early morning of June 25, a white-tailed buck was shot from the roadway near 109 Mission Drive in New Braunfels. It was shot with a black, green, and white crossbow bolt, possibly of the “Rage” brand, tipped with an expandable broadhead. The buck was left to bleed out and the carcass and meat were abandoned and wasted.
Then, on the night of June 26 or the early morning of June 27, a white-tailed buck was shot from the roadway in a residential neighborhood near 1170 Kuehler Ave. in New Braunfels. Game wardens have determined the animal was shot with an arrow or crossbow bolt tipped with a broadhead. The buck was decapitated — it’s head likely taken as a trophy for the violator(s) — and the carcass and meat were abandoned and wasted. Anyone with knowledge of either of these offenses is asked to call Operation Game Thief.
On the night of July 9 or the early morning of July 10, a white-tailed buck was shot from the roadway in a residential neighborhood near the intersection of Summit Ridge Dr. and Stagecoach Trail in San Marcos. The animal was shot with a crossbow bolt colored red, black and white. The carcass and meat were abandoned and wasted. Report any information to Operation Game Thief.
FLOODWATERS SEND VEHICLE INTO CULVERT, TWO RESCUED
In the early hours of July 13, Texas game wardens, the local fire department and local first responders rescued two individuals after their vehicle was swept nearly a mile downstream by fast-moving floodwaters in Lampasas County. A man and woman were in a car that was forced by floodwaters through the square culvert beneath railroad tracks. The car was completely submerged. Both occupants managed to escape the vehicle. Wardens found the man clinging to a tree approximately 15 feet above the water, and the woman around 50 to 100 yards farther downstream holding onto a tree.
Looking to September
“The feds set the framework for the season,” Fitzsimmons said. “Probably eight years ago, we moved the South Zone season opener to an earlier start date. We continue to shoot for Sept. 1, but we got it to Sept. 14. With the Special White-Winged Dove Days and youth days, South Zone dove hunters have a chance to hunt every weekend in September.”
One of the things Texas migratory bird biologists are looking at, is the steady northward migration of white wings in the state. Once found primarily in the Rio Grande Valley in deep South Texas, the birds now nest as far north as Nebraska.
“We have seen a large increase in white-wing numbers,” Fitzsimmons said, “but we haven’t seen the same correlation in hunter harvests. What are these birds doing? White wings seem to be more flexible and able to thrive in an urban environment, where a mourning dove seems to like rural habitat better. We are seeing more mourning dove displacement out of urban areas, and this could be causing more mourning dove to be shot by hunters. On the surface, it doesn’t appear the white wings are leaving the urban centers as much.”
Turkey and chemicals
Continued from page 4
draw hunts,” Gabe Hamer said. “We got sample kits to the biologists and received hunter harvested birds. We will learn a lot in year one.”
Hamer said the prevalence of neonicotinoids is hard to detect from a sample after a few days, so getting them quickly is a concern. Spring birds tested against birds harvested in the winter could yield different results. Researchers collected both blood and tissue from the liver because these chemicals are generally only detectable in blood samples for a short window after an exposure; whereas in the organs like the liver, there is a longer window of detection, and researchers can also look for metabolites of the chemical.
“A lot of our current samples came from winter,” he said, “and there is not as much agriculture in the winter. We might find the winter birds don’t show up as well as the spring birds. Are hens more important than gobblers because they sit on the nests? Does that have an impact?
Hamer said he is grateful for the work of the TPWD biologists.
“We’re really fortunate to have access to these samples,” Hamer said. “We’re also grateful to the biologists from each state that worked with us. They became empowered to figure out what study design would work best for their particular state. We definitely could not take a one-size-fits-all approach to the study design. It was pretty cool to get the insight of the biologist and what they thought would work best.”
Dove surveys are wrapping up for the year, with early indications pointing to a strong nesting season and lots of birds this hunting season.
Photo by TPWD.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
Liam Kohleffel was fishing in Port Mansfield over the Fourth of July weekend with his family when he hooked into this nice speckled trout.
Beau Thomas with a personal best 18-pound flathead catfish he caught on the Brazos River close to West Columbia.
Boone Harrison, 10, took this blue wildebeest bull in Namibia while hunting with his grandfather, Jim
Cooper Kiffe caught and released his first hammerhead shark using skipjack for bait at the East Cut on Father’s Day with his dad, Ron
Piper Bailey, 16, caught her personal best redfish with Capt Cameron Collins, fishing near Port Aransas.
Be careful out there
Continued from page 1
sank in the Brownsville Ship Channel and its captain has been reported missing.
The boat, which is now under water, disrupted the start of the 2025 shrimp season and the incident happened less than a week after the traditional “Blessing of the Fleet” took place at the Brownsville Shrimp Basin.
Carlton Reyes, who owns several trawlers, said they had to wait for the U.S. Coast Guard to reopen the waters for navigation – something which has already happened.
“We usually go a day before the season opens,” he said referring to the July 15 midnight kickoff. “We wasted a whole day.”
Meanwhile, the charter boat has been floating since it was abandoned early this month and has been there for a while.
And in Port Mansfield, the two-person fishing crew was rescued on a Sunday several miles from the port’s harbor.
George Strader, owner of TowBoatUS South Texas, said incidents like that can happen to the best vessel and to the best person behind the steering wheel.
However, he noted people can take some steps to avoid running into uncomfortable situations whenever they are out there.
In other words, he said to be prepared for the unexpected.
Strader said boat passengers, whether under age or adult, should wear life jackets at all times.
Wearing a flotation device is not a practice for the older riders of a boat as seen day in and day out, but children under 13 are required by law to put them on.
“You never know when a person can be thrown out of the boat into the water,” he said. “If a steering cable breaks, the person behind could topple overboard.”
Another important aspect, which is underutilized, is to have what is known as a “Float Plan.”
Strader said having this plan should be a must for the most and least experienced boaters.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, for instance, offers a course on responsible boating called Boat Texas.
In the booklet, there is a wealth of information about boating, including a section on the Float Plan.
Strader said people can do other things to mitigate a given situation. He recommends people buy a portable two-way radio to call if the need arises.
“You and I know, cellphones stop working whenever you are out there more than not,” he said. “When you run into some trouble, you need immediate assistance.”
He said the boat riders they recently rescued off Port Mansfield, was one of the average 100 emergency calls they receive on a monthly basis.
Strader said his company covers the Laguna Madre area from Baffin to South bays, including the ship channel.
Although his port of operations are in Port Isabel and Arroyo City, he said they will open a third place in the next couple of months in Port Mansfield.
Wade-fishing gear
Continued from page 8
Darren Jones owns and operates Feral Concepts, and focuses on producing durable, functional wadefishing gear and accessories that will withstand the abuse of the elements.
Jones said. “Above all, I want to produce quality equipment that is functional, and that lasts.”
Jones is currently working on developing a wading belt, and is also working on some tote bags in different color patterns, as well as other products. His products have a lifetime warranty and guarantee against material defects he stands behind. If you break it, he will fix it or replace it.
“Anything built by human hands is eventually going to break,” Jones said. “How you treat and appreciate your customers is what sets you apart from other companies and manufacturers. I want folks to feel confident in all Feral Concepts products, knowing that they are backed by our lifetime warranty.”
Jones said he is always looking for ways to get better and improve on the products that he produces.
“I’ve been blessed to have some outstanding mentors that have helped me along the way, and I have also been blessed to fish with some of the best pro anglers and fishing guides out there,” Jones said. “I can’t thank any of these people enough. Without them, Feral Concepts would not be what it is today.”
Jones also said his wife has played a major role in the success of his business. She encouraged him to take a leap of faith when he started the company, and pushes him to continue to develop and test products, so that he can provide folks with premium gear.
Jones currently has 18 dealers for his Feral Concepts gear. The majority are in Texas, but he also has dealers in Virginia, North Carolina, and Mississippi.
All Feral Concepts products are made in Texas, and that’s something that Jones is very proud of.
Managing the Wildlife Enterprise Lectureship
AUGUST 21-22, 2025 || RIVIERA, TX & ONLINE
Whether it’s a for-profit business or a recreational opportunity for family, friends, and guests, the wildlife enterprise requires management. Facets that warrant attention include: habitat, wildlife, employees, infrastructure, financials, and guest expectations. Managing the diversity, quantity, and quality of wildlife will be left to the biologists. The focus of this new lectureship is managing the business aspects of a wildlife enterprise, because sooner or later, the money always matters.
For a detailed agenda and to register, please scan the QR code or visit: krirm.tamuk.edu/wildlifeenterprise
Instructors: Abe Woodard, Ph.D., Range & Wildlife Scientist; East Foundation • Justin Feild, Senior Wildlife Manager; Deseret Ranches • Roy Ludick, PH, Property Coordinator; Matador Resources Company • Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, J.D., Agricultural Law Specialist; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Rising
water
Continued from page 9
with heavy jigs and spoons,” he said.
Fly anglers have been using a deep Clouser minnow, game changers and pencil poppers.
“The higher water levels have submerged a lot of vegetation,’ Stubbs said. “I have even seen some bedding of largemouth bass.”
Lake Texoma has been high for months, and anglers are hitting the Red River below the dam. Fly-fisherman Neil Alexander found success on the water recently.
“I went one day and didn’t catch anything, and went the next day and caught 20,” said Alexander.
Alexander used a Clouser minnow in chartreuse and white.
“When they get in that current you really need something you can turn them with,” he said.
Alexander had success targeting eddies on the edge of the current.
“I fished where the current hit the slack water,” he said.
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT
SABINE LAKE: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics. Tripletail are fair on live shrimp. Black drum and sheepshead are fair on live shrimp. Redfish are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics.
BOLIVAR: 79 degrees. Redfish are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Gafftop and black drum are fair on live shrimp and cut bait. Speckled trout are good on live croaker, live shrimp, and soft plastics. Sheepshead are good on live shrimp.
TRINITY BAY: 85 degrees. Redfish, and flounder are good on live shrimp under a popping cork. Speckled rout are good on croakers and soft plastics. Black drum and sheepshead are good on live shrimp.
outside are good on Spanish sardines. Jack crevalle and bull redfish are fair on jigs and Spanish sardines. Sharks are fair on cut jack crevalle and skipjack. Black drum are fair on live shrimp.
SAN ANTONIO BAY: 83 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on live shrimp.
ROCKPORT: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, piggy perch, and croaker. Redfish are good on live shrimp, mullet, pin perch, and menhaden. Black drum are good on live or dead shrimp and fish bites.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live croaker, live shrimp, and soft plastics. Black drum, sheepshead, and redfish are fair on live shrimp.
GALVESTON BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live croaker and soft plastics. Black drum, sheepshead, and redfish are fair on live shrimp.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live croaker and soft plastics. Black drum, sheepshead, and redfish are fair on live shrimp.
TEXAS CITY: 86 degrees. Speckled trout, redfish, and black drum are good on live shrimp and finger mullet. Sheepshead are good on live shrimp.
FREEPORT: 82 degrees. Speckled trout, redfish, and flounder are good on live shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics.
REDFISH BAY: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet. Speckled trout are fair on piggie perch. Black drum are slow.
PORT ARANSAS: 85 degrees. Red snapper are good on squid, cigar minnows, and live perch. Redfish are good on live shrimp, finger mullet, and shad. Oversized redfish are good on cut crab and mullet. Speckled trout are good on live croaker and shrimp. Sharks are fair on mullet, jacks, and stingray.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet. Specked trout are fair on piggie perch. Black drum are slow.
BAFFIN BAY: 83 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, topwaters, and live croaker. Redfish are fair on soft plastics, topwaters, and live shrimp.
PORT MANSFIELD: 83 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are good on soft plastics and gold spoons.
SOUTH PADRE: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and live shrimp. Bull redfish and large mangrove snapper are fair on cut bait. Black drum and sheepshead are good on live shrimp. Kingfish and Spanish mackerel are good trolling.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on croakers, soft plastics, and topwaters. Redfish are fair on live mullet and soft plastics.
WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on croakers, soft plastics, and topwaters. Redfish are fair on live mullet and soft plastics.
PORT O’CONNOR: 82 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live croaker. Slot redfish
PORT ISABEL: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and live shrimp. Bull redfish and large mangrove snapper are fair on cut bait. Black drum and sheepshead are good on live shrimp. Kingfish and Spanish mackerel are good trolling.
Shrimp for the jetty
Continued from page 8
ice,” Williams said. “They told us having electricity was a scarce commodity where they came from.”
He said they worked around with the idea and began buying sawdust from carpenters and other area woodworkers.
Sawdust is a byproduct that is generally thrown away, but after people learned it was going to be used for other purposes, they began keeping it to make extra money by selling to the bait shop.
Williams said the vendors now show up or call them with the product he keeps in a 55-gallon plastic drum.
“This is it,” he said, showing a scoop of sawdust. “But this is not the best, as the finer the better.”
He said the sawdust that looks like coffee grounds is the best.
Williams said most people prefer to buy live shrimp, although some of his customers do prefer the frozen, dead variety.
He said live shrimp usually stay alive for several hours in the powdery element. And if one puts ice cubes in the sawdust, they seem to last longer.
Some anglers said they prefer to buy shrimp in sawdust whenever they go jetty fishing as it’s more convenient to carry the product compared to a bait bucket. They said a bait bucket can be a pain as it’s heavier and its battery and aerator tend to stop in the middle of a long walk. They also said shrimp in sawdust seems to stay alive longer.
“We have been selling it for decades,” Williams said, “and will continue doing so some time.”
Live shrimp will survive for hours in sawdust in a brown paper bag. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
05
06
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES
Nueces
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER
Solution on Page 26
ACROSS
1) Ammo brand
3) Carrizo Springs’ county
8) Texarkana’s county
10) Minnow species
13) Angelina County’s seat
14) Bass hiding spots
16) Robert Lee’s county
17) A dabbler
19) One of the fins
21) Wildlife feed brand
22) Border lake 24) Fisher County’s seat 26) Sinker type
28) Safari destination
31) Fishing TV host
32) An African antelope
34) Kenedy County’s seat
36) Italian shotgun brand
38) One of the labs
40) A deer favorite
41) Good white bass river
44) A spaniel
45) An African pig
46) Exotic in Texas
DOWN 1) A nontoxic shot 2) Wader brand, ___ Toggs
The poult’s primary diet
Colorado River town
Fishing knot
Mule deer hunters’ org.
Trap type
Hill Country lake
Leakey’s county 15) Harris County lake 18) Jim Wells County’s seat 20) Rifle brand 23) Coastal bay 25) Ellis County lake 27) Type of crank bait
29) Benjamin’s county 30) A creature bait
33) Nueces River town
34) Right side of the boat
35) Trout species
37) A duck favorite
39) Turkish shotgun brand
40) Lake near Victoria, ___ Creek
42) Jig type
43) The female hog
Seared Duck Breast with Citrus Cranberry Sauce
2 boneless skinless duck breasts
2 tbs. butter Salt Pepper
Sauce:
1 bag fresh cranberries
1 to 2 fresh oranges (squeezed) and zested
2 medium pears (diced)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup water
Citrus pear cranberry sauce - Add 1/2 cup water to medium saucepan. Stir in cranberries, pears, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon and ginger. Stir and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer. Continue to stir until pears and cranberries are soft (around 25 minutes). Place in container to cool in the refrigerator or freezer.
Place duck breasts between two pieces of cling wrap. Pound duck breast with a meat mallet to achieve even thickness, starting in the middle and working outward.
Melt one tbs. butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add duck to skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, turn over breast and cook an additional 4 minutes. Duck will be medium rare.
— Indiana DNR
Leica adds ambassadors
Leica Sport Optics USA announces renowned hunters, conservationists, and storytellers Adam and Frankie Foss as official brand ambassadors.
Turner’s Outdoorsman appoints President
Turner’s Outdoorsman, a California destination for hunting, shooting, and fishing enthusiasts, announces the appointment of Rob Zubak as President.
Nomad Outdoor Partners with Outdoor Business Solutions Group
Nomad Outdoor has partnered with Outdoor Business Solutions Group to broaden its reach and to provide world-class service to its network of dealers and customers.
Arcus + Smith & Wesson
Arcus Hunting, LLC, USA announced a new licensing partnership with Smith & Wesson. Through this agreement, Arcus Hunting will
develop, manufacture, and market a new line of Smith & Wesson-branded personal defense sprays, including Pepper Spray and Bear Spray products, set to launch in Fall 2025.
Silencer
Central adds SilencerCo to Free Tax Stamp Promotion
Silencer Central announced that SilencerCo suppressors are now Free Tax Stamp eligible. SilencerCo joins BANISH Suppressors, Gunwerks, LMT, Nosler, Off Grid, and Wilson Combat in partnering with Silencer Central to cover the $200 cost of the NFA-required tax stamp for their customers on qualified purchases.
Court Protects Hunters’ Personal Information
SCI recently filed an amicus brief in a Texas state court case arguing against disclosure of hunters’ personal information as an unwarranted invasion of their rights to privacy and adverse to state policy. The court agreed with SCI and held that hunters’ names and personal identifying information do not need to be disclosed.
Mix the rub ingredients and massage the mixture onto the roast. Smoke for 3 hours at 225 degrees. Remove roast from the smoker and place in a slow cooker or Dutch oven. Add the cooker ingredients and enough water to just cover the roast. For a slow cooker, cook on low for 10 hours. For an oven, cook at 285 degrees for three hours. Remove roast from the cooker or oven, let cool 10 minutes, then shred the meat with your fingers or a large fork. Remove any chunks of cartilage that didn’t melt. Serve the shredded meat in warmed corn or flour tortillas topped with sliced radish, queso fresco (a delicious crumbly, salty cheese available in many grocery stores), and salsa.
— Montana FWP
Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
Trout better than reds
Continued from page 1 the best approach for catching limits of specks with his anglers in these areas.
“We’ve also been targeting trophy speckled trout in the back reaches of the Baffin Bay complex over stretches of mud in Alazan Bay, the Cayo del Grullo, and the Laguna Salada,” said Long. “A lot of the bigger trout in these areas are hanging out in troughs or guts with muddy bottoms, between shallower flats.”
Long said his anglers have also been using live croaker to target the larger specks in the back of the Baffin Bay complex. They’ve been catching trout up to about 28 inches or so in length.
“The redfish have been extremely scarce lately,” Long said. “Usually, we are running into schools of reds during this time of year, but that hasn’t been the case recently. We’ve been catching a redfish or two here and there, but the pattern for the reds has been far from consistent.”
Long said one of his anglers recently did catch a massive bull redfish while wade fishing for trout, that measured more than 40 inches in length.
Anglers fishing in East Matagorda Bay recently reported good numbers of trout could be found under flocks of working birds along the northern half of the bay during the afternoons. A lot of these fish are on the small side, but some keepers can be found mixed in with the larger fish.
Those that have been wade fishing in East Matagorda Bay have had the best success catching limits of trout when the winds have been calm enough to target shallow oyster reefs in the middle of the bay. Top-waters and soft plastics have been the ticket. Most of these trout have been in the 15.5- to 17.5-inch range.
Riley Freese has been finding scattered redfish along the edges of the Intracoastal Waterway in East Matagorda Bay. He said the fish have been holding tight to the bank around marsh drains. These reds have been all sizes, from 17 up to 27 inches in length. Small swim baits rigged on a 1/8-ounce jig head have been working the best.
Suppressor battle continues
Continued from page 4
registration mandates violate the Second Amendment and are an unconstitutional overreach of federal power. With the tax mechanism gutted and reduced to an unworkable state by Congress, GOA’s forthcoming legal challenge will aim to strike down what remains of the law.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dismantle one of the most abusive federal gun control laws on the books,” said Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of GOA. “With the tax struck down by Congress, the rest of the NFA is standing on air. We’re ready to take this fight to the courts and finally end the federal registry once and for all.”
Current federal requirements to own a suppressor include:
1. You must be at least 21 years old to purchase a silencer from a licensed dealer.
2. You must be at least 18 years old to purchase a silencer from an individual.
3. You must be at least 18 years old to possess a silencer as part of a trust or corporation.
4. You must be a resident of the United States.
5. You must be legally eligible to purchase a firearm.
6. You must pass the federal background check.
Also this week, a coalition of groups including the Second Amendment Foundation, American Suppressor Association, National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs and the New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate announced the filing of a lawsuit in New Jersey to challenge the state’s suppressor ban.
“Safari Club International has long stood at the intersection of hunting rights and constitutional freedoms. This case isn’t just about suppressors: it’s about defending the ability of hunters to pursue game safely and lawfully. SCI has a strong record of litigating to protect regulated bear hunting in New Jersey and views this case as a continuation of our commitment. SCI is proud to join forces with respected partners in this litigation, united by a shared commitment to defending the Second Amendment and hunting heritage. SCI stands firmly on behalf of our growing community in New Jersey, including our newly formed Garden State Chapter, to ensure that the rights of hunters are respected and upheld,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of Safari Club International.
Summer Expo
Continued from page 7
Jennings, a guide for Batenkill Farms in New York, had to purchase a chest freezer for his Gaylord hotel room to store his axis meat, along with some fresh tuna he was given by a friend. He headed home with lots of fresh game meat.
Chris Estes shows off a solid trout that he caught while drift fishing in upper West Galveston Bay with Capt. Max Conner. Photo by Capt. Max Conner.
LOUISIANA
Huge gift for wetlands
An initiative aimed at protecting and restoring coastal marshes and prairies in Louisiana and Texas has received a significant boost thanks to a $2.5 million gift to Ducks Unlimited from the James M. Cox Foundation. The gift will directly fund projects that restore wetlands, enhance wildlife habitat, and create natural buffers to protect communities from severe storms and rising waters. This gift follows an earlier $1.1 million grant made by the Foundation to preserve nearly 20,000 acres of Louisiana wetlands.
“In the next year, DU plans to invest more than $61 million to impact over 40,000 acres across the Western Gulf Coast,” said Cassidy Lejune, DU Director of Conservation Programs – S. Louisiana. “While much of that is competitive public funding, it must be unlocked with private dollars.”
—DU
NEBRASKA
Permits available for nonresidents
Nonresident hunters will be able to buy any remaining limited deer or antelope permits (subject to availability) starting on July 23. All remaining permits for deer and antelope, including limited landowner permits, will go on sale Aug. 6. through the close of applicable seasons. Remaining licenses will be available for purchase at oudoornebraska.gov.
—NGFP
UTAH
Utah hosting mule deer meetings
Over the past few decades, Utah has seen periods of growth and decline in deer numbers. The 2024 post-hunting season population estimate was approximately 295,200 deer — 73% of the long-term management objective of 404,900 deer.
In order to gather additional ideas and build more partnerships with organizations and communities, the DWR is holding several upcoming meetings to gather public feedback and input regarding ways to increase deer populations throughout the state. Go to wildlife.utah.gov for dates and locations.
—UDWR
ARKANSAS New Legacy Lunker Program
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced this week the upcoming launch of its Legacy Lunker Program, an angler-based initiative set to enhance the future of bass fishing in The Natural State. Officially launching Jan. 1, 2026, the program combines Arkansas’s rich angling culture with cuttingedge science.
Thanks to the recent renovation of the Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery, anglers will be able to donate any 10-pound-plus largemouth bass caught from public water in Arkansas from Jan. 1 through March 31 each year. If the fish is deemed healthy enough to survive spawning, the AGFC will transport it to the Joe Hogan Hatchery, where it will be housed in its own raceway to prevent any contamination or possible disease transmission. The lunker will then live in comfort until she is ready to spawn.
MICHIGAN State-record flathead arrowed
While bowfishing in Monroe County, an angler from Newport, Michigan, shot a new state-record flathead catfish, weighing in at 64.46 pounds and measuring 45 inches. Codie Carlson was bowfishing Plum Creek in the early-morning hours of June 29 when he landed the cat. This fish beats the previous record, caught in 2022 on the St. Joseph River, by more than 11 pounds.
Fisheries biologist John Buszkiewicz verified Carlson’s record fish. Buszkiewicz and his crew believe they may have caught this exact fish during a survey in the same location in 2020. At the time, the fish weighed 55 pounds and measured 43 inches.
—MDNR
Hybrids and stripers
Continued from page 8
now, but some anglers are doing well while slow rolling inline spinners. Stretches of water off the ends of main lake points in 30- to 38-feet of water have been holding the most dense concentrations of fish.”
Vinson said the hybrids on Richland Chambers are not in huge schools. He said once you are able mark a few fish on your electronics, it’s worth fishing the area.
biting slabs, spoons, and live bait in 12- to 30-feet of water.
“Flats and the edges of drop-offs have been holding the most fish,” Cason said. “Simply cover water until you find them, and then it’s game on.”
“If you’re able to get a few fish fired up to bite, more and more hybrids will start to show up and begin feeding,” Vinson said. “It’s like all of a sudden, they show up and the action is fast and furious.”
Most of the hybrids have been in the 2- to 8-pound range.
On Lake Whitney, Vinson said his anglers have been catching near limits to limits of stripers, but they are having to work for them.
“The striper action on Whitney is slow and steady,” Vinson said. “We are having great trips, but the action isn’t just fast and furious. Our anglers are catching their limits or near limits over the course of 4-5 hours of fishing.”
Vinson said the stripers on Whitney have been striking live shad in 20-25 feet of water over humps and long, main lake points. Most of the fish have been in the 4- to 6-pound range, anywhere from 23-25 inches in length.
“We are catching some fish in the 10- to 15-pound range, with a few a little over 15 pounds,” Vinson said.
Lake Conroe fishing guide, Mike Cason, said hybrid stripers have been consistently
Lake Texoma fishing guide, Bill Carey of Striper Express Guide Service, said the stripers are not in massive schools right now, but rather in pods or smaller schools. Carey said the topwater bite is pretty consistent early in the morning for the first hour or so of daylight, before the fish move down in the water column. Once the surface action dies down as the sun rises overhead, the stripers are striking soft plastics.
“Pods of fish can be found feeding on the surface at first light,” Carey said. “These smaller schools of stripers have been crushing topwater baits. You have to be stealthy in your approach when you find them schooling on the surface, but the bite can be incredible if you don’t spook them.”
Main lake humps, points, and ditches in 10-30 feet of water have been holding good numbers of fish after the sun rises and temperatures begin to heat up.
“Soft plastic swimbaits rigged on 3/4 ounce and 1 ounce jig heads have been the ticket after the stripers move down in the water column with the rising sun,” Carey said. “Most of the fish that our anglers are catching right now are in the 2-5 pound range. We have seen a few larger ones caught, up to about 10-12 pounds, recently.”
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below. 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 2025 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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