September 11, 2026
Texas’ Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 23, Issue 2
Low tides, hot temps Coastal fishing still good By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Soft plastics have been drawing strikes from specks at sunrise, up and down the Texas coast. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Anglers targeting speckled trout and redfish across coastal estuaries have been greeted by low tides and extremely warm water temperatures. For many, the best action has occurred during the first few hours of
the morning. By the midday hours, the speckled trout bite has been dying off as the fish have been getting lethargic while the sun is overhead. Redfish, however, have been schooling in various locations, providing action throughout the day for those willing to withstand the heat. Black drum have been in the mix for some, as well. Fishing buddies Nash Danford and
Jacob Neskora fished out of the Rockport area recently with fishing guide, Capt. Josh Wagner, where they found consistent numbers of speckled trout and some scattered reds mixed in. They had the most success wading main bay flats with seagrass beds and isolated sand pockets in knee- to thigh-deep water, from sunrise until about 10 a.m. From mid-morning on, the action slowed significantly. Please turn to page 13
September 1 statewide start Historic dove opener memorable for many hunters By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Dove season started with hot weather and plenty of birds throughout many areas of the state. An abundance of feed across the landscape had the birds scattered in some areas. Nonetheless, there were plenty of mourning and white-winged dove flying, and those that found themselves in the right place at the right time enjoyed excellent shoots with quick limits. With a September 1 historic opener across the entire state, gas stations, taco stands, county roads, crop fields, and farm pastures were full of camo-clad hunters before daylight, eager to get in on the wing shooting action. Some were so eager and anxious about opening morning, that their hastiness lead to some unfortunate mishaps. One west Texas hunter described his experience on opening morning as rough. He said a 150-pound hog ran into the truck while he and his buddies were headed to the field before sunrise. “Then, after we finally got set up in our spot, all of the birds ended up flying to the other end of the field,” he said. “I never fired a shot, and my buddy ended up shooting one bird. We spent the morning watching hunters across the
Seven-year-old Everett Purvis proudly shows his mom Cameron a dove he shot in their family dove field near Albany. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Please turn to page 11
A whole new lake Choke Canyon Reservoir back in play for anglers By Nate Skinner Fishing guide Clendon Taylor shows off a chunky bass he caught recently on Choke Canyon Reservoir. Photo from Clendon Taylor.
Choke Canyon Reservoir is currently about 23% full. In early July, the water level at the lake was only at about 8% of its total capacity. It rose to nearly 25% full by the end of the month, reaching its highest level since 2024 due to runoff from flooding rains. This rise in water level has now made
Please turn to page 15 Fishing reports . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 12 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
it possible for anglers to once again launch their boats at the reservoir to target a variety of species. Those that have been on Choke since this rapid rise in water have said things have completely changed in regards to finding and catching bass, crappie, white bass, and catfish. Owner and operator of C&C Guide Service, Clendon Taylor, said with the current water level on the lake, the end of the boat ramp stops about 4 feet out into the water. “The water is somewhat stained and
HUNTING
FISHING
Ducks down (P. 4)
Summer flatties (P. 8)
Waterfowl survey shows continued decline.
Flounder gigging good this month.
Dove man (P. 6)
Two for one (P. 8)
Owen Fitzsimmons leads TPWD dove program.
Couple fishes together and pulls in memorable catch.
Page 2
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 3
Page 4
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
HUNTING
Pleasant opener in South Zone
Raul Abrego Jr., left, and Raul Abreo Sr., get ready to shoot on opening morning Sept. 1 at the Ebony Unit of Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area in Cameron County. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Lots of birds reported for historic Sept. 1 start By Tony Vindell
For Lone Star Outdoor News Valley residents in deep South Texas celebrated a historic September 1 dove season opener with smiles and plenty of birds. Shooters said hunting in the morning for the first time in decades has been one of the best things done by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Before this season, shooting started at noon with the special white-winged dove season, which was discontinued this year. This year, hunters are
enjoying cooler weather and the spectacular South Texas sunrises. Some hunters said they have been harvesting their limits of birds within hours after shooting began, half an hour before sunrise on opening day. ”We love it,” said McAllen resident Campbell Patton, before leaving from a unit of Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area about 10 a.m. on Sept. 1. “I wish they would have done this before.” He and fellow hunter Bruce Krocker took advantage of the new changes TPWD approved for this year’s season. The unit, along with the three others encompassing several hundred acres, were
By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
A Callahan County white-tailed deer breeding ranch had its deer herd completely wiped out in August after a 13-yearold doe tested positive for chronic wasting disease. The facility was the fifth ranch that has had its deer herd killed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department due to positive CWD tests this year. Of the 198 deer killed after the initial positive test, none came back positive for CWD, according to official records. “Facility received notice July 10, 2026, that (a deer) was CWD suspect positive and the post-mortem sample was being sent to (the lab) for confirmation. On July 23, 2026, (the doe) was confirmed CWD positive in the obex and retropharyngeal lymph node tissue,” according to the TPWD Disease Management Plan for the facility. The facility was placed on restricted movement status and given an option for TPWD to kill the herd, which came with
“We love it,” said Jacinda Woloson. “I like the morning hunting better because you get to see the world coming alive.” Woloson came with her husband and two sons from Louisiana and have been coming to shoot birds with Texas Dove Hunt for the last five years. Rachel Whitlock and Kirk Foret, also from the Bayou state, said they are pretty happy with the new changes. “We love to be outside,” she said. “By hunting in the morning, you get to submerge yourself with the environment.” Jeff Cano, from Victoria, said he enjoyed the morning hunt but still liked the special season. Please turn to page 17
Deer herd killed Fifth ranch in 2026 depopulated by TPWD
planted with sunflower and sesame seeds, making them one of the best public bird hunting areas in the state. “This is our first time here,” Patton said, “and it was great.” Not so far from there, some hunters limited out by 8 a.m. at the recently acquired Ebony Unity 2, off Rangerville Road. Apart from the public places, hunters also booked hunting opportunities on several private tracts of land that opened on Saturday, Sept. 4, rather than Sept. 1. Interviewed after the morning hunt on Saturday, Sept. 4, hunters said they could not be any happier to be out there early in the morning.
an indemnity payment from the USDA, or choose another mitigation route by isolating bucks on a separate facility or breed CWD-resistant strains into their herd, which is both time consuming and difficult. The ranch took the option to liquidate the herd, according to TPWD. USDA’s Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was allocated $12 million dollars to reimburse ranchers and deer breeders from the impact of CWD. The organization can allocate up to $3,000 per live deer. TPWD’s Big Game Program Director Kory Gann said although mid-August is not an ideal time to depopulate a herd, it needed to be done before an Aug. 15 deadline with USDA so they could get the ranch owner indemnity money before the fiscal year expired for USDA. “They gave us a tight deadline for the facility to receive funds by the end of September,” Gann said. “We did what we needed to do.” It’s a bit of a mystery how a 13-year-old doe suddenly shows up with a positive CWD test in a penned area with many other deer, yet none of the others tested positive. “We are seeing different services bringing these prions into facilities,” Gann Please turn to page 23
Duck numbers decline Mallards lowest since 1993 By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Waterfowl numbers continue to trend in the wrong direction, according to the 2026 Waterfowl Population Status report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mallards are of special concern, as their numbers continue to decline annually and are way off their longterm average (LTA). The total breeding population of ducks in the traditional survey area is estimated at 33.44 million, a 2% decline from last year and 6% below the longterm average in the annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey dating back to 1955. According to Delta Waterfowl, when ducks returned to the prairie breeding grounds in May, they encountered drier conditions across the Dakotas Please turn to page 17
Duck population trends continue to go down as habitat and other factors impact production. Graphic by Ducks Unlimited.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 5
Winning waterfowl lottery Brazos River Authority recently held drawing for duck blinds By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The Brazos River Authority (BRA) allows for waterfowl hunting opportunities on Possum Kingdom Lake, Lake Granbury, and Lake Limestone at specific designated areas. A drawing for hunting blind sites is held at each reservoir toward the end of August each year. According to the BRA website, there are up to 60 designated areas for waterfowl hunting blinds that are issued by annual permits for
SCI applauds South Africa for exports Texas-based Safari Club International applauded the Government of South Africa and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on the publication of final export quotas for elephant, leopard, and black rhinoceros hunting trophies for 2026 and 2027. Publication of export quotas provides much-needed certainty to conservation stakeholders, hunting operators, and communities that rely on wildlife-based economies. Sustainable hunting programs have long been a cornerstone of conservation success in southern Africa, generating revenue for habitat protection, wildlife management, anti-poaching efforts, and community development. "Safari Club International applauds the South African government for finalizing these export quotas and reaffirming its commitment to sustainable use conservation," said Jeff Meyerl, president of Safari Club International. "These quotas are grounded in science, support conservation funding, create incentives to conserve wildlife habitat, and provide meaningful benefits to landowners and rural communities that live alongside wildlife. South Africa continues to demonstrate that sustainable use conservation works to ensure healthy wildlife populations for future generations." —SCI
Eagle poacher sentenced A 43-year-old Porter resident has been sentenced to prison for shooting and killing a bald eagle. Santos Guerrero pleaded guilty May 14. U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray has now ordered Guerrero to serve 14 days in federal prison and pay a $5,000 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Guerrero shot the eagle in his backyard Oct. 11, 2024, hid it in his garage, and later lied to authorities. The court also reviewed images from video and body camera footage documenting the eagle prior to the shooting and subsequent discovery of the eagle. In October 2024, a concerned citizen reported seeing a bald eagle shot in Montgomery County. Texas Game Wardens responded and investigated, ultimately locating the injured eagle hidden beneath a tarp on the property. Law enforcement located the injured eagle and transported it to an animal hospital. Veterinarians later euthanized the eagle because of the severity of its injuries. —Staff report
specific locations across Possum Kingdom Lake, Lake Granbury, and Lake Limestone. Permits are awarded through a lottery drawing, and up to four hunters may share a designated blind area. Only one entry is allowed per person, and the fee for a waterfowl hunting site permit is $200. Those wishing to obtain a BRA Waterfowl Hunting Site Permit must be at least 18 years of age, and they must be present on the day and time of the drawing. They must also have their names registered for the drawing no later than 8:30 a.m. on the drawing date to enter. If fewer entries are received than the number of available sites, the remaining sites will become available on a first-come,
first-served basis. The drawings for the upcoming season for hunting blind site permits at each lake took place at the tail end of last month. This year, all of the site permits were filled. BRA Public Information Officer Judi Pierce said about 100 people showed up to enter the drawing at Possum Kingdom Lake, and 14 hunting site permits were filled. “At Lake Limestone, 102 individuals entered and attended the drawing, and 27 hunting site permits were filled,” Pierce said. “At the Lake Granbury drawing, 159 participants attended, and 15 blind location permits were filled.” Pierce said the location of the designated hunting blind sites change from year to year, depend-
ing on lake levels, as well as any new construction or change to infrastructure around the lakes. “Hunters that receive permits for these locations cannot build permanent blinds,” Pierce said. “They have to use make-shift blinds or some sort of mobile blind that must be removed from the site at the end of the season.” Pierce said while each site permit allows for up to four hunters in the designated area, the permit holder must always be present while the site is being accessed and hunted. “All of the sites are only accessible by water or boat, and they are open for access to permit holders during the entire waterfowl hunting season,” said Pierce.
Lucky groups of hunters who drew a BRA duck blind will get to hunt all season. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Page 6
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
Fruits of his labor Fitzsimmons joins Texan dove hunters on opening day
Premium Hunting & Fishing Experiences GLEN DENE STATION | WĀNAKA | NEW ZEALAND
At the heart of the Southern Alps, Glen Dene offers world-class hunting and fishing, alongside family hospitality, luxury accommodation and unrivaled scenery. Set across nearly 15,000 acres of private high-country land, our third-generation family-owned station provides the ideal setting, while our experienced guides and tailored packages take care of every detail.
Red Stag | Fallow Buck | Bull Tahr | Chamois | Elk Bull Goat | Ram | Bird | Fishing | Heli-Hunting Non-Hunter Programs | Luxury Accommodation | Family Hospitality
GET IN TOUCH TODAY Richard Burdon e. bookings@glendenehunting.com p. 615-693-3938 w. www.glendenehunting.com
(800) 701-4754 | KTCoolers.com
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The TPWD Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader Owen Fitzsimmons spent the opening morning of dove season down in the Rio Grande Valley, hunting with some friends and colleagues in a field at one of the units on the Las Palomas WMA. He had to catch an early flight the following morning in order to attend migratory game bird meetings in Kansas; however, he said he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to hunt dove on the first ever, September 1 opener in the South Zone in modern day Texas hunting history. Fitzsimmons said they hunted over sesame and sunflowers, and the birds did not disappoint. “There were lots of limits shot,” Fitzsimmons said. “It was an excellent TPWD Dove Program Leader Owen Fitzsimmons spent hunt and felt great to have a boots-on- the historic opening day in the field alongside other huntthe-ground experience in South Texas ers. Photo by Kevin Erdvig. on a historical opening day of dove season.” Fitzsimmons has held his current position with TPWD for the past nine years and said a statewide September 1 opening day has been a long time coming. “I have been pushing for the South Zone to have the same September 1 start date as the North and Central zones since my tenure as the Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader began,” Fitzsimmons said. “I actually asked about a September 1 opener in the South Zone during my interview for this position. For years, there was a biological concern that nesting efforts from dove ran later into the year in the southern portion of Texas, hence the reason for a later start date in the South Zone over the previous decades. Recent data has shown that this just isn’t the case anymore.” Fitzsimmons said over the last 15 to 20 years, TPWD really started making an effort to push for the South Zone dove season to open earlier in September than it previously had been. The evolution of these efforts has been seen over the years with the establishment and expansion of the Special White-Winged Dove Days, the expansion of the Special WhiteWinged Dove Zone, and a September 14 opening day, which was the earliest the South Zone dove season had ever opened in the past, prior to this season. “Around 2006, many southeastern states, where there had been concerns about dove nesting efforts lasting into the first half of September, ended up being able to start their seasons on September 1,” Fitzsimmons said. “At that time, the South Zone in Texas became the only region in the country that was not allowed to open its dove season on September 1.” Fitzsimmons said over the last two years, he really took a serious dive into the data available on dove in the southern portion of Texas, with hopes of finally securing a September 1 opening day. “Finally, after many discussions, hours upon hours of crunching data, and strenuous efforts, we were able to establish a September 1 opener for the South Zone, starting with this season,” Fitzsimmons said. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave the approval for this new season start date this past winter, and then the TPWD commission officially set the South Zone season to open on September 1 at their annual meeting at the end of March. And here we are, after years of an ongoing push for it to take place, with a statewide September 1 opening day.” Fitzsimmons said this new start date for the Texas South Zone dove season is technically under a three year experimental period at the federal level. “This is common for any significant, long-term regulation changes,” Fitzsimmons said. Basically, the feds want us to do some additional monitoring in regard to this new season opening date. So, we are doing some extra harvest surveys and extra wing collection surveys to assess if any birds that were harvested had hatched after September 1.” Fitzsimmons grew up in Upshur County in northeast Texas, where he became passionate about the outdoors at an early age; however, dove hunting wasn’t something he got into until his college years. “Growing up, I would maybe shoot two or three dove a year out of my yard,” he admitted. “As a kid, I did a lot more squirrel hunting, deer hunting, and bass fishing.” While attending college at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Fitzsimmons really got into duck hunting, and dove hunting soon followed. He said he quickly realized his interest and passion for migratory game birds, as well as all migratory birds in general. Please turn to page 19
Deer & Game Coolers Designed for Versatility
Stainless Steel Sinks, Tables & Ice Machines
We Specialize in Rail & Trolley Systems Delivery & Set-Up Available Call Today for More Information!
Ross fire still burning More than 90,000 acres have been burned the past few weeks across Palo Pinto and Jack counties. As of Sept. 7, 2026, the Texas A&M Forest Service reports the blaze was 57 percent contained. More than 150 structures have been burned, including many on deer leases and rural properties used for hunting. “Twenty-eight years of the best memories I could possible imagine,” wrote Travis Patterson on social media after losing a family ranch. “Where I learned to hunt. Where PawPaw would sit by the tank and fish all day. Where I drank my first beer (allegedly). Where I shot my first buck at 15. Where all the guys would meet after a morning hunt and trade stories. Where I learned to appreciate and love the outdoors. Where I felt closest to God in those outdoors. And where I had begun to pass along the love of the outdoors to our kids. It’s not over. Just time for the next chapter.” According to local reports, the fire has required hundreds of firefighters, dozens of engines, heavy equipment and aerial resources. “Texas often has a dry, hot, windy weather like this summer, the dry grass and vegetation provide a lot of fuel for wildfires, and the strong wind helps the fire propagate very fast," said Yunyao Li, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. The Texas A&M Forest Service says wildfire potential remains high across much of Texas because of ongoing drought. The Ross Fire remains active as crews continue working to increase containment. No reports of loss of wildlife have been found. —Staff report
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 7
Page 8
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
FISHING
Get after it Less than two months left to gig flounder before annual closure By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News This angler gigged this hefty flatfish in Aransas Bay. Photo from Capt. James Parbst.
With fall fast approaching, many anglers and fishing guides have been targeting flounder with gigs and lights at night in order to get their fill before the flounder fishery closes in November. Light winds have been producing
clear stretches of water in many areas. The biggest hurdle has been low tides, and the fact that flounder up and down the coast don’t seem to be holding to any specific pattern just yet. Capt. James Parbst with Nocturnal Assault Guide Service said he’s been finding decent numbers of flounder scattered across various areas of the Aransas Bay complex and Corpus Christi Bay while gigging during the overnight hours. With the recent low tides, he said he’s been having to target deeper areas. “We’ve been gigging flounder in areas
as deep as 3 to 4 feet,” Parbst said. “A lot of the shallow flats that we normally have success in have been all but dry recently. Many are only holding inches of water.” Parbst said the key has been covering water and finding areas with good water clarity. “Some nights we are finding them over grass flats with sand pockets, and other nights they are stacking up along mud near the edges of shell reefs,” Parbst said. “Every night has been different lately. The good thing, however, is there Please turn to page 13
Turning a corner Bass fishing picking up as summer closes By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News Largemouth bass are beginning to group up, and feeding windows are lengthening. Anglers are now shifting from slow finesse-style fishing to moving, reaction-style baits. On the Brazos River, Ben Hernandez with Finstincts Guide Service reports that summer has been tough for bass on the fly. “This week we went out after all the fires, and the river was fishing pretty good,” he said. The Ross Fire burnt nearly 90,000 acres in Palo Pinto and Jack counties. In some of the areas where Hernandez fishes, the bank vegetation is nonexistent. With the lack of cover on some sections of the river, Hernandez noted the fish are holding on to more permanent structures like submerged rocks, undercut banks, and riffles. He and his clients have been most productive using nymphs. “I’ve been having a lot of luck with nymphs, specifically the Texas Tickler,” Hernandez said. Other flies have also been productive when you get it in front of them. “You have to feed them how they want to eat,” Hernandez said. On Lake Sam Rayburn, Luke Wolf caught his fourth largest bass, a
9.8-pound behemoth off of a brush pile. Wolf has been catching fish shallow and deep all over the lake. “When I am shallow, mainly I am targeting what they call spider stumps,” Wolf said. “The best bite has been where the stump is in 10- to 15feet of water and transitions to 15-plus feet deep. When I am deep, mainly just brush piles.” Most of his bites have been on Texasrigged, 6- to 7-inch plastic minnows with a jig head in natural colors. The deeper you go, the more effective big worms become. Once you find the ones that are biting, you can stay on them and catch more. If you want quality or you’re hunting a trophy, you are going to need to move around and look for that bite. The bigger ones will hold on the same structure. On the San Marcos River, the early morning bite has been the best according to Judson Cole with Rio Anglers. He and his clients have been enjoying a popper bite first thing. “Early mornings have been better before it gets too hot,” Cole said. “Always try to get that top-water bite if we can,” Cole said. “As the sun gets up, I have been moving to streamers and Crawfish patterns like the Bandito Bug in natural colors.” Anglers should target the banks. “A lot of beating the banks,” he said. “San Marcos has a lot of sandy bluff drop-offs.” He has also been targeting riffles with deeper pools at the end for GuaPlease turn to page 22
Mark Allen teaches Addie Allen how to cast and catch fish on a recent trip to Caddo Lake. Photo from Mark Allen.
The couple who fishes together By Tony Vindell
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Mario and Carmelita Rodriguez spent a recent day on the water together and were rewarded with these redfish. Photos from Mario Rodriguez.
For some anglers, catching a redfish is as routine as getting out of bed and can happen repeatedly. For others, it can be a challenging task that can go on and on, even for Port Isabel couple Mario and Carmelita Rodriguez, who regularly fish the Lower Laguna Madre. Sometimes, the reds are either undersized or oversized. Other times, these fish are not there, but catching other species like specked trout, black drum and mangrove snapper come as consolation prizes. For the couple, who retired from
the Brownsville school district some years ago, a recent morning fishing trip to South Bay ended with a catch of the day they don’t hesitate to talk about. “We went fishing in hopes of catching one of those tagged reds,” Mario Rodriguez said of the trip they made at the end of August. “That is because we both belong to CCA.” He was referring to the Coastal Conservation Association, a conservation group that wound up its annual fishing tournament on Labor Day. For Mario, who likes to call himself Capt. Bent Rod, and Carmelita, Please turn to page 19
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 9
Holding steady Galveston Bay has good bite for reds, trout By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News For boaters, kayakers, and shore anglers, Galveston Bay’s bite has been steady the past few weeks. “It’s been super consistent,” said Abby Webster with Texas Legend Charters. Webster and her clients are just now seeing the redfish move out of the marshes and back into the lakes. “Any of your back lakes and your shallow lakes are just stacked with them right now,” she said. Kayakers with a shallower draft can avoid boat traffic by targeting those areas. Webster has been targeting the reds making their way out to the main bay on shallow transitions. “Ledges, with a little bit of relief and some current; Not a lot of current, but a little bit,” she said, “have been the most productive.” She and her clients have been keeping it simple with a popping cork, live shrimp and cut mullet. For trout, she has remained focused on similar transitions in deeper water over scattered shell. “They’re typically hanging right there on the ledge,” she said. “Popping corks with shrimp and soft plastics with a jig head have been the most productive. The Laguna Limeate has also been good.” Anglers should hang out and fish an area slowly if you are finding fish. If you find the bite has died away, make a move to similar structure and keep trying. Jake Rangnow with Swamp Donkey Fishing Charters has been smashing the trout lately in Galveston Bay. “We mainly target the trout, and it’s been
The winning team holds a check for first place in the Big Cash Snapper Tournament held this summer. Photo by Big Cash Snapper Tournament.
Angler Matt Green with a trout caught near transition zones in Galveston Bay. Photo by Abbey Webster.
really good,” Rangnow said. He and his clients have been targeting fish over deeper oyster shell and hard sand. “Most of our boat fishing, we’re in 3- to 7-feet of water,” he said, “They tend to be pretty close to deep water. So, if you can find that shell that’s fairly close to deep water, it’s a good place to start.” Anglers have had most of their success on free-lined croaker. “They’ll thump them pretty good,” he said. “Soft plastics with a 1/8- or 1/4-oz jighead have also produced good fish. Plum color, green, kind of a lime truce color, and a white is all you really need. Basically, if I’ve got a cloudy sky and decent water, I am throwing white. And if I’ve got a little sunshine and rays coming down through that water, I’ll throw one of those lime-colored chartreuses with a little flash.” Early morning remains the most productive time to target specs and reds right now.
Cash for big snapper Big Cash Snapper Tournament concludes By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The 2026 Big Cash Snapper Tournament ran from June 1 through August 28, and paid out $25,000 to its Grand Prize winner, Mario A. Valenzuela. The angler took the top spot in the competition with a 23-pound, 11-ounce red snapper, which he weighed in at Surfside Marina. Valenzuela’s winning snapper was caught with Get The Gaff Fishing Co., under the tutelage of Captains Justin Scarpetta and Bo Steber, whose team also earned the $10,000 Captain’s Cash Prize. A mere 5 ounces separated the top two fish on the tournament’s leaderboard, as Phillip Carruthers entered a 23-pound,
6-ounce red snapper to secure the $8,000 second place prize. Ethan Chong took third Place with a snapper that weighed just an ounce less than Carruthers’ fish. The 23-pound, 5-ounce red snapper earned Chong the $7,000 third place prize. Chong also took first place in the Junior Big Cash Snapper division for the 2026 Big Cash Snapper Tournament, which earned him a $10,000 Scholarship. This was the young angler’s second year in a row to win the Junior Champion title. Other Junior Division winners include Phillip Clay Carruthers, who took second place, earning him a $5,000 scholarship. Crawford Eckhardt took home the third place Junior Division $1,000 scholarship prize, and Elijah N. Norsworthy won the fourth place Junior Division $500 scholarship. Captains Michael Kubecka and Johnny Please turn to page 19
Page 10
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
LONE STAR FISHING REPORTS SALTWATER FISHING By Chuck Uzzle
For Lone Star Outdoor News
SABINE LAKE •
•
•
• •
Speckled trout and redfish are consistent despite runoff from both Neches and Sabine rivers after post-tropical storm Edouard East shoreline has been the most consistent bite with the best water conditions Redfish are patrolling the shorelines and herding bait while trout are concentrated at the mouths of the marsh drains looking for shrimp Beachfront action has been good for schooling redfish Solid speckled trout are being caught early on top-water plugs in the first two guts
GALVESTON/TRINITY BEACHFRONT
ROCKPORT • • •
•
BAFFIN BAY •
• • •
• •
•
•
• •
•
Summer patterns are still holding as water temps remain at 90 or slightly above Light winds have improved both water clarity and the bite for speckled trout after recent rains Best bite is out in deep water near Trinity Bay wells and East Bay reefs Good numbers of solid trout and schools of mostly oversized reds are being caught on soft plastics over shell Light winds on the beach front brought in green water and really improved the early speckled trout bite as fish to six pounds are being caught
• • •
Trout are good while wading reefs adjacent to the ICW with top-waters Redfish action has improved with better incoming tides Trout and redfish have been good along the jetty Tarpon are hanging in 12- to 25-feet of water along the beach
WEST MATAGORDA BAY • •
Current surface water temps have been reading 86 to 88 degrees Best pattern has been fishing deeper reefs and wells with live shrimp and Little Johns in pink, chartreuse
• • •
•
•
• •
•
•
•
•
Lake Level Tracker (automated gauge) shows it at 100% full pool; Water temps are around 90 degrees, clarity fair to good One of Texas’ better late-summer bass lakes as the power-plant cooling reservoir keeps fish active year-round At current the bite is generally good, especially for bass anglers who target vegetation and deeper structure Largemouth bass rated good with many fish in the 2- to 5-pound range Early morning, use top-water frogs, walking baits and buzzbaits around hydrilla and shoreline vegetation Late morning, work submerged grass edges and creek channels in 8 to 15 feet Midday, switch to Texas-rigged worms, jigs, drop-shot rigs and weightless flukes around vegetation and deeper structure Best colors are green pumpkin, watermelon red, junebug, black/blue in stained water and shad patterns for moving baits Catfishing is good with channel catfish remaining reliable; Fish cut bait, punch bait, shrimp or stink bait along creek channels and deeper flats Evening and night fishing are most productive
•
• •
• • •
•
• •
•
FRESHWATER FISHING
• •
By Vivian Leopold
For Lone Star Outdoor News
•
WHITE RIVER •
•
•
•
•
• Redfish have started showing up in better numbers Fish with cut mullet on bottom or live shrimp under corks Both the surf and jetty bite has been very good on top-water early Later in the day, switch to soft plastics in pink color
•
submerged brush and drop-offs in 12to 20-feet of water Productive colors are green pumpkin, watermelon red, junebug and shadpattern crankbaits Focus on areas where baitfish are present Crappie are fair; Target brush piles, standing timber and submerged cover in 10 to 18 feet; Fish tend to suspend around deeper cover this time of year
Minnows and small white/chartreuse jigs are producing best Catfish are good Fish creek channels, timber edges and flats adjacent to deeper water; Channel cats are being caught on cut bait, shrimp, liver and stink bait; Best times are evening and overnight fishing White bass are fair; Schools are scattered over open water and creek channels Look for baitfish activity and use small slabs, spoons or white swimbaits Best fishing times are first light until about 9 a.m. and the last two hours before sunset
RICHLAND CHAMBERS
•
•
Light winds have opened up many areas that were not fishable and also brought in clearer water Surface temps dropped to 83 to 85 degrees The bite for both trout and redfish dramatically improved overall Good numbers of both trout and redfish being caught on both top-water plugs and soft plastics Best bite was along the south shoreline under big schools of mullet Anglers throwing live bait along scattered rocks in the middle of the bay have been catching better sized trout and oversized redfish
BASTROP
•
EAST MATAGORDA BAY •
Speckled trout have been on the move making them tougher to locate at times Best bite continues to be on deeper shell Reds are starting to pick up at a steady pace with scattered black drum mixed in but not consistent Overall fishing is still above average as the temps starting to get cooler and drop down towards the mid 80s
•
Lake level is 22.6 feet below pool and only 22.5% full; Water temps are about 81 degrees Fishing conditions are challenging but fishable; Fish are more concentrated around remaining creek channels, deeper water, submerged structure and shoreline cover; Bank anglers may actually have some advantages Largemouth bass are your best bet; Use top-waters early around remaining shoreline cover, timber and points Switch to Texas-rigged worms, creature baits or jigs around deeper timber/ structure once the sun gets up; Concentrate on the deepest remaining water adjacent to cover Lots of gizzard shad and small bluegill for bass forage Crappie are present, but size is the question; Target standing timber, brush/remaining submerged cover, edges of old creek/channel areas and deeper cover Try small jigs or minnow, working different depths to find the fish Catfish (channel catfish) are rated excellent; Use cut bait, stink bait or worms for channel cats and fresh cut bait for blue cats in deeper water
Crappie are fair with lower numbers; Target submerged timber and brush piles in 12 to 20 feet using small minnows and white/chartreuse jigs
• •
JACKSONVILLE • • • •
•
• •
•
Water level is 1.05 feet below pool at 95.3% full Water temps are about 89 degrees with clarity clear to fairly clear Largemouth bass and spotted bass are good Best areas to target include deep structure and brush piles, the face of the dam, points with rock/riprap, drop-offs around the island near the marina and native vegetation around Cat Creek and Byrd Branch Best baits are Texas-rigged worms, Carolina rigs, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits or a drop-shot Early/late, try a top-water around points and vegetation Crappie are fair; Fish are not abundant but usually well above the 10-inch minimum Work brush piles, deep timber, lighted piers, creek channels and deep structure adjacent to the old creek beds
• •
•
• •
•
Water level is 2.02 feet below pool at 92.1% full Water temps are around 89 degrees Very typical summer pattern; Bass are shallow early and moving to docks/ brush as the day heats up, crappie are suspended over offshore cover with catfish available throughout the lake Largemouth bass are fair to good Early morning, fish grass edges, mainlake points and shallow ambush areas where shad are active; After sunrise, try boat docks and offshore brush piles Fish in 2 to 15 feet with fish moving deeper as the day progresses For baits, use top-water early, then switch to Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits Finding vegetation or clear water is key; Pondweed and scattered hydrilla are best bass habitat Crappie are the fish to target at Richland Chambers Black and white crappie are abundant; The fish are suspended between 8 to 18 feet around offshore brush and standing timber with minnows producing Also try 1/16- to 1/8-oz jigs and small plastics
BRADY CREEK • • •
•
Water level is 1.85 feet below pool at 87.7% full Water temps are about 88 degrees Largemouth bass are fair; Early morning, fish shallow points, flooded brush and rocky banks with top-waters, buzzbaits or walking baits After sunrise, move to creek channels,
•
Catfish are widespread throughout the reservoir and rated excellent; Cut bait, stink bait, chicken livers and worms are all recommended. Anglers were catching catfish all day with cut bait on the bottom in about 10 to 20 feet
LSONews.com
Dove opener Continued from page 1
field shoot their limits.” He and his buddies went back out that afternoon and called it “the hunt for the misfit hunters,” since their group consisted of folks who didn’t shoot their limit that morning. “It took just over an hour to harvest our limit in a very hot sunflower field,” he said. “I think dove hunting is more about who you’re hunting with than how many birds you kill. All in all, it was an eventful, yet awesome opening day in West Texas.” West Texas wing-shooting outfitter Ranger Creek Goose, said they were dealt an interesting series of events and circumstances of their own to kick off dove season. One of their hunters was trying to get to what he thought might be the best spot in the field, that he ended up running over a brush hog that was parked near the entrance to the field when they pulled in due to poor visibility from road dust. Another group of dads got caught trying to head back out for an afternoon hunt after they already harvested their limits, their kids’ limits, and then posted it on social media. They even had a few hunters receive tickets from a Game Warden for shooting birds over a county road, adjacent to the field they were hunting. “We also had a hunter pepper another hunter in a field, and one of our guides had to run over there and break them up before they got into a fist fight,” the outfitter said. “Another hunter showed up to the field in tennis shoes. He stepped on a sunflower stalk, the stalk went through the sole of his shoe and into his foot, and he had to go to the hospital. And on top of that, we ended up having four flat tires that we had to deal with. Other than that, all of our hunters ended up getting their limits by the end of the afternoon on opening day.” The west Texas hunting guide jokingly admitted it was an opening day he’ll never forget. Dove hunters in the Hill Country reported steady activity from birds around tanks and water troughs. Jarrad Moore hunted with a group of buddies just outside of Rocksprings where they shot limits of dove over water. “The birds were coming down right of ways into tanks like crazy,” Moore said. “It was a good mix of both whitewings and mourning dove. There were six of us total in our group, and we all got limits on the first two days of the season.” Moore said hunting over water sources was key. “The property we were on had the only water around for miles and the birds were flocking to it, especially during the evening hours,” Moore said. Roland Facundo hunted with some work buddies on the first two days of the season in the Charlotte area. He said their group of nine hunters shot near limits on opening morning over a milo field. Most of the birds they saw were mourning dove. Only two of the birds they harvested were white wings. “On day two, we hunted near an irrigated grass farm and shot full limits,” Facundo said. “There were a lot more white wings hitting that field.” KWTX News reported that 85-yearold Waco area hunter Dudley Haas harvested dove on opening morning for the 80th consecutive year in a row. Haas has hunted on the opening day of dove season every year since he was 5 years old. “I call September first New Year’s Day, because that’s the start of hunting season,” Haas said. “I plan to keep this tradition going as long as I’m able to do it.” Gerald Davis of Seco Creek Dove Hunts posted on Facebook that his hunters in Moore and Lytle harvested more than 70 limits of birds on opening day.
“Best opener ever,” Davis posted. Josh Myers hunted on one of Davis’s properties with a group of friends, and they all killed full limits consisting of white wings and mourning dove. Russell Ernst hunted on his family property outside of Floresville on opening morning and didn’t harvest a single bird in the croton field. He went back out in the afternoon and hunted near a tank and ended up harvesting nine mourning dove.
Young hunters enjoyed the opening weekend of the Texas dove season, where plenty of birds provided lots of shooting opportunities. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 11
Page 12
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases Houston
First
Full
Last
New
Sept 18
Sept 26
Oct 3
Oct 10
Solunar Sun times Moon times Dallas
2026 Sept
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
2026 Sept
A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri
5:50 ----6:38 12:27 7:27 1:16 8:18 2:07 9:11 2:59 10:05 3:53 10:59 4:46 11:51 5:38 12:17 6:29 1:04 7:17 1:50 8:02 2:33 8:45 3:14 9:26 3:55 10:06 4:35 10:46
6:13 12:24 7:00 12:49 7:50 1:39 8:42 2:30 9:36 3:23 10:30 4:17 11:24 5:11 ----6:04 12:41 6:54 1:29 7:41 2:14 8:26 2:57 9:08 3:37 9:48 4:17 10:28 4:57 11:08
07:03 07:32 07:03 07:31 07:04 07:29 07:04 07:28 07:05 07:27 07:05 07:26 07:06 07:24 07:06 07:23 07:07 07:22 07:07 07:21 07:08 07:19 07:08 07:18 07:09 07:17 07:09 07:16 07:10 07:14
7:30a 7:48p 8:31a 8:18p 9:31a 8:49p 10:32a 9:22p 11:32a 9:59p 12:31p 10:41p 1:28p 11:27p 2:21p NoMoon 3:09p 12:17a 3:53p 1:11a 4:32p 2:09a 5:07p 3:08a 5:38p 4:07a 6:09p 5:06a 6:38p 6:05a
11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri
5:56 ----6:44 12:32 7:33 1:22 8:24 2:13 9:17 3:05 10:11 3:58 11:04 4:52 11:57 5:44 12:23 6:34 1:10 7:22 1:56 8:08 2:39 8:51 3:20 9:32 4:00 10:11 4:41 10:52
6:19 12:30 7:06 12:55 7:56 1:44 8:48 2:36 9:41 3:29 10:36 4:23 11:30 5:17 ----6:09 12:47 7:00 1:35 7:47 2:20 8:32 3:02 9:14 3:43 9:54 4:22 10:34 5:03 11:14
07:07 07:39 07:08 07:38 07:08 07:36 07:09 07:35 07:10 07:34 07:10 07:32 07:11 07:31 07:11 07:29 07:12 07:28 07:13 07:27 07:13 07:25 07:14 07:24 07:14 07:23 07:15 07:21 07:16 07:20
7:36a 7:53p 8:39a 8:21p 9:41a 8:51p 10:43a 9:22p 11:45a 9:58p 12:46p 10:38p 1:43p 11:23p 2:36p NoMoon 3:24p 12:14a 4:07p 1:09a 4:44p 2:07a 5:18p 3:07a 5:48p 4:08a 6:16p 5:09a 6:44p 6:09a
San Antonio
Amarillo
2026 Sept
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
2026 Sept
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri
6:03 ----6:50 12:39 7:40 1:28 8:31 2:19 9:24 3:12 10:18 4:05 11:11 4:58 ----- 5:51 12:30 6:41 1:17 7:29 2:02 8:15 2:46 8:57 3:27 9:38 4:07 10:18 4:47 10:58
6:26 12:37 7:13 1:02 8:02 1:51 8:54 2:43 9:48 3:36 10:42 4:30 11:36 5:24 12:03 6:16 12:54 7:06 1:42 7:54 2:27 8:39 3:09 9:21 3:50 10:01 4:29 10:40 5:09 11:20
11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri
6:16 ----7:04 12:52 7:53 1:42 8:44 2:33 9:37 3:25 10:31 4:19 11:24 5:12 ----- 6:04 12:43 6:55 1:30 7:43 2:16 8:28 2:59 9:11 3:40 9:52 4:21 10:32 5:01 11:12
6:39 12:50 7:26 1:15 8:16 2:04 9:08 2:56 10:01 3:49 10:56 4:43 11:50 5:37 12:17 6:29 1:07 7:20 1:55 8:07 2:40 8:52 3:23 9:34 4:03 10:14 4:43 10:54 5:23 11:34
07:26 08:00 07:27 07:59 07:27 07:57 07:28 07:56 07:29 07:54 07:30 07:53 07:30 07:52 07:31 07:50 07:32 07:49 07:32 07:47 07:33 07:46 07:34 07:44 07:35 07:43 07:35 07:41 07:36 07:40
7:57a 8:13p 9:01a 8:40p 10:05a 9:07p 11:09a 9:38p 12:13p 10:12p 1:14p 10:51p 2:12p 11:36p 3:06p NoMoon 3:53p 12:26a 4:35p 1:22a 5:11p 2:21a 5:43p 3:23a 6:12p 4:25a 6:39p 5:27a 7:05p 6:30a
07:15 07:44 07:16 07:43 07:16 07:42 07:17 07:40 07:17 07:39 07:18 07:38 07:18 07:37 07:19 07:36 07:19 07:34 07:20 07:33 07:20 07:32 07:21 07:31 07:21 07:29 07:22 07:28 07:22 07:27
7:44a 8:01p 8:44a 8:31p 9:44a 9:02p 10:44a 9:36p 11:44a 10:13p 12:43p 10:55p 1:40p 11:41p 2:32p NoMoon 3:21p 12:31a 4:04p 1:26a 4:43p 2:23a 5:19p 3:21a 5:51p 4:20a 6:21p 5:19a 6:51p 6:18a
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 Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
Time 4:38 AM 4:56 AM 5:11 AM 12:02 AM 12:44 AM 1:28 AM 2:47 PM 1:42 AM 2:32 AM 2:57 AM 3:12 AM 3:22 AM 3:31 AM 3:39 AM 3:48 AM
Height 1.75H 1.71H 1.67H 1.19L 1.42L 1.61L 0.28L 1.83H 1.88H 1.89H 1.88H 1.86H 1.83H 1.81H 1.78H
Time 10:19 AM 10:59 AM 11:39 AM 5:19 AM 5:10 AM 4:29 AM 5:49 AM 3:48 PM 4:53 PM 5:55 PM 6:50 PM 9:28 AM 8:55 AM 9:04 AM 9:27 AM
Time 4:33 PM 5:37 PM 6:43 PM 12:20 PM 1:04 PM 1:52 PM 3:04 PM 5:50 AM 5:19 PM 1:12 PM 11:08 AM 12:31 PM 1:39 PM 2:36 PM 3:30 PM
Height 1.83H 1.82H 1.80H 0.29L 0.24L 0.24L -0.10L 1.79H 1.25H 0.67L 1.73H 1.56H 1.63H 1.71H 1.81H
Time 10:38 PM 11:21 PM 11:49 PM 7:54 PM 9:19 PM 11:16 PM 10:54 PM 4:08 PM 7:47 PM 6:44 PM 7:21 PM 7:37 PM 8:19 PM 8:59 PM 9:38 PM
Height 0.64L 0.92L 0.83L 1.78H 1.76H 1.78H -0.11L -0.17L 1.20H 1.22H -0.17L 0.37L 0.43L 0.54L 0.70L
Time 4:49 PM 5:54 PM 11:52 AM 12:28 PM 1:07 PM
Height 1.80H 1.82H 0.44L 0.29L 0.20L
Time 11:16 PM
Height 0.68L
7:02 PM 8:24 PM 9:45 PM
1.82H 1.83H 1.86H
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
Time 5:06 AM 5:19 AM 12:02 AM 12:48 AM 1:48 AM 1:53 PM 2:45 PM 12:54 AM 2:12 AM 2:57 AM 3:27 AM 3:46 AM 3:58 AM 4:07 AM 4:12 AM
Height 1.63H 1.58H 0.96L 1.22L 1.45L 0.18L 0.19L 1.92H 1.96H 1.96H 1.93H 1.88H 1.83H 1.78H 1.74H
Time 10:42 AM 11:17 AM 5:28 AM 5:31 AM 5:28 AM 11:03 PM
Height 0.90L 0.65L 1.56H 1.56H 1.58H 1.89H
3:42 PM 4:44 PM 5:52 PM 6:51 PM 7:39 PM 9:25 AM 9:37 AM 9:52 AM
0.22L 0.26L 0.30L 0.34L 0.40L 1.47L 1.31L 1.10L
Height 1.68H 1.57H 1.52H 1.39L 0.42L 0.41L 0.42L 2.09H 2.13H 2.14H 2.12H 2.08H 2.00H 1.91H 1.82H
Time 10:28 AM 10:48 AM 11:15 AM 4:43 AM 9:30 PM 10:55 PM
Height 1.05L 0.81L 0.62L 1.51H 1.99H 2.05H
3:08 PM 4:09 PM 5:16 PM 6:27 PM 7:21 PM 9:37 AM 9:21 AM 9:18 AM
0.44L 0.46L 0.47L 0.49L 0.52L 1.55L 1.43L 1.24L
Height 0.47L 0.64L 0.81L 0.96L 1.08H 1.16H 1.20H 1.23H 1.24H 1.24H 1.23H 1.19H 1.12H 1.03H 0.95H
Time 8:42 AM 6:02 AM 4:55 AM 4:27 AM 3:00 PM 3:51 PM 4:58 PM 6:16 PM 7:27 PM 8:26 PM 9:16 PM 10:00 PM 10:41 PM 11:21 PM 11:49 AM
Height 0.81H 0.79H 0.88H 0.98H 0.35L 0.35L 0.37L 0.39L 0.39L 0.39L 0.41L 0.46L 0.53L 0.64L 0.87L
12:53 PM 2:21 PM 3:34 PM
1.58H 1.63H 1.71H
8:20 PM 9:02 PM 9:47 PM
0.50L 0.64L 0.81L
Time 4:13 PM 5:24 PM 6:28 PM 11:46 AM
Height 1.83H 1.90H 1.94H 0.48L
Time 10:52 PM 11:54 PM
Height 0.84L 1.14L
Time 4:38 AM 4:43 AM 4:45 AM 1:11 AM 12:22 PM 1:07 PM 2:05 PM 12:11 AM 1:11 AM 1:55 AM 2:32 AM 3:02 AM 3:22 AM 3:33 AM 3:36 AM
7:46 PM
1.95H
12:31 PM 1:50 PM 3:00 PM
1.62H 1.71H 1.82H
8:05 PM 8:47 PM 9:35 PM
0.60L 0.74L 0.93L
Time 12:26 PM 1:05 PM 1:41 PM 2:19 PM
Height 0.74L 0.59L 0.47L 0.38L
Time 5:39 PM 9:09 PM 11:12 PM
Height 0.89H 0.91H 0.98H
Port O’Connor Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
Time 12:22 AM 12:59 AM 1:31 AM 1:49 AM 4:08 AM 4:21 AM 4:56 AM 5:41 AM 6:30 AM 7:21 AM 8:07 AM 8:42 AM 8:53 AM 8:10 AM 7:01 AM
Time 3:46 AM 4:46 AM 3:00 PM 4:51 PM 2:56 AM 5:25 AM 7:10 AM 8:17 AM 9:16 AM 10:21 AM 12:23 PM 12:30 AM 12:59 AM 1:29 AM 2:02 AM 8:10 AM
Time 2:28 AM 3:02 AM 3:26 AM 3:26 AM 12:31 AM 5:51 AM 6:26 AM 7:21 AM 8:21 AM 9:00 AM 9:22 AM 9:20 AM 8:56 AM 12:41 AM 1:22 AM
San Luis Pass Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
Time 5:09 AM 5:06 AM 12:21 AM 1:34 AM 1:07 PM 1:52 PM 1:17 AM 2:21 AM 3:12 AM 3:53 AM 4:20 AM 4:27 AM 4:25 AM 4:22 AM 4:17 AM
Height 0.55L 0.83L 1.12L 1.37L 1.58H 1.68H 1.74H 1.77H 1.79H 1.81H 1.80H 1.76H 1.69H 0.56L 0.72L
Time 8:49 AM 8:45 AM 8:44 AM 8:35 AM 3:10 AM 5:49 PM 6:47 PM 7:46 PM 8:54 PM 10:13 PM 11:13 PM 11:59 PM
Height 1.48H 1.47H 1.47H 1.49H 1.53L 0.36L 0.40L 0.43L 0.45L 0.45L 0.44L 0.47L
Time 3:20 PM 3:36 PM 3:56 PM 4:21 PM 5:38 AM
Height 0.96L 0.72L 0.53L 0.40L 1.57H
Time 8:30 PM 9:47 PM 11:01 PM
Height 1.46H 1.50H 1.54H
4:58 PM
0.35L
8:35 AM 8:05 AM
1.60H 1.53H
2:24 PM 2:21 PM
1.28L 1.07L
5:43 PM 7:07 PM
1.42H 1.46H
Height 1.28H 1.25H 0.98L 1.19L 0.37L 0.36L 1.61H 1.66H 1.67H 1.67H 1.64H 1.60H 1.54H 1.48H 1.43H
Time 10:42 AM 11:13 AM 5:04 AM 5:03 AM 11:22 PM
Height 0.88L 0.69L 1.26H 1.30H 1.54H
Time 4:37 PM 5:52 PM 11:49 AM 12:26 PM
Height 1.46H 1.47H 0.53L 0.42L
Time 11:23 PM
Height 0.75L
7:11 PM 8:49 PM
1.48H 1.49H
2:43 PM 3:43 PM 4:50 PM 5:59 PM 7:01 PM 7:52 PM 9:52 AM 9:33 AM 9:34 AM
0.39L 0.42L 0.45L 0.47L 0.48L 0.52L 1.37L 1.26L 1.09L
12:34 PM 2:06 PM 3:28 PM
1.41H 1.44H 1.49H
8:37 PM 9:21 PM 10:06 PM
0.59L 0.70L 0.85L
Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
Time 12:18 AM 12:58 AM 1:32 AM 1:45 AM 4:25 AM 4:31 AM 5:02 AM 5:44 AM 6:34 AM 7:34 AM 8:41 AM 9:51 AM 1:26 PM 6:21 AM 5:18 AM
Height 0.55L 0.62L 0.70L 0.76L 0.81H 0.83H 0.82H 0.82H 0.81H 0.80H 0.80H 0.80H 0.78H 0.74H 0.75H
Time 5:23 AM 5:07 AM 5:00 AM 4:47 AM 2:49 PM 3:41 PM 4:55 PM 6:20 PM 7:28 PM 8:24 PM 9:12 PM 9:57 PM 10:39 PM 10:01 AM 11:05 AM
Height 0.70H 0.73H 0.76H 0.79H 0.44L 0.44L 0.45L 0.45L 0.45L 0.43L 0.43L 0.45L 0.50L 0.74L 0.69L
Time 12:13 PM 12:54 PM 1:32 PM 2:09 PM
Height 0.65L 0.57L 0.50L 0.46L
Time 5:20 PM 6:53 PM 10:56 PM
Height 0.81H 0.78H 0.77H
3:23 PM 4:36 PM
0.80H 0.81H
11:21 PM
0.57L
Height 1.07H 1.10H 1.15H 1.11L 1.25L 0.40L 1.43H 1.48H 1.50H 1.49H 1.46H 1.41H 1.32H 1.27H 1.25H
Time 9:46 AM 10:32 AM 11:20 AM 4:18 AM 4:09 AM
Height 0.89L 0.73L 0.59L 1.20H 1.27H
Time 3:44 PM 4:57 PM 6:10 PM 12:06 PM 12:50 PM
Height 1.35H 1.34H 1.32H 0.48L 0.42L
Time 10:52 PM 11:50 PM
Height 0.74L 0.94L
7:50 PM 11:51 PM
1.32H 1.38H
2:20 PM 3:11 PM 4:13 PM 5:25 PM 6:31 PM 7:23 PM 8:15 AM 8:09 AM 8:35 AM
0.41L 0.44L 0.48L 0.51L 0.53L 0.57L 1.31L 1.19L 1.05L
11:42 AM 1:08 PM 2:29 PM
1.36H 1.37H 1.39H
8:08 PM 8:50 PM 9:33 PM
0.63L 0.73L 0.86L
Height 1.40H 1.38H 1.41H 1.39L 0.39L 0.33L 1.78H 1.81H 1.83H 1.84H 1.83H 1.79H 1.73H 1.65H 1.60H
Time 9:45 AM 10:17 AM 10:52 AM 3:49 AM 10:30 PM
Height 1.08L 0.86L 0.66L 1.45H 1.75H
Time 3:48 PM 5:06 PM 6:25 PM 11:31 AM
Height 1.67H 1.70H 1.72H 0.50L
Time 10:30 PM 11:26 PM
Height 0.90L 1.17L
8:05 PM
1.72H
1:49 PM 2:45 PM 3:48 PM 4:56 PM 6:01 PM 6:57 PM 7:48 PM 8:39 AM 8:46 AM
0.31L 0.31L 0.34L 0.39L 0.45L 0.54L 0.67L 1.46L 1.28L
1:16 PM 2:40 PM
1.62H 1.71H
8:36 PM 9:25 PM
0.83L 1.03L
Port Aransas
4:48 PM
0.95H
Nueces Bay Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25 May 22
Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
East Matagorda
Freeport Harbor Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
High Island
Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
Time 4:06 AM 4:06 AM 4:13 AM 12:52 AM 1:56 AM 1:33 PM 2:07 AM 3:27 AM 4:14 AM 4:54 AM 5:29 AM 5:53 AM 5:29 AM 3:39 AM 3:15 AM
South Padre Island Height 0.46L 0.58L 0.53L 0.47L 0.91H 0.92H 0.92H 0.92H 0.92H 0.92H 0.94H 0.35L 0.37L 0.43L 0.53L 0.07L
Time 8:04 PM 8:44 AM 11:20 PM
Height 1.02H 0.6H 0.92H
6:14 PM 7:36 PM 9:04 PM 10:21 PM 11:16 PM 11:57 PM
0.43L 0.41L 0.41L 0.39L 0.37L 0.35L
2:20 PM 3:39 PM 5:06 PM 9:32 AM 7:07 PM
0.97H 0.99H 0.99H 0.76H 1.03H
Time
Height
Time
Height
12:36 PM
0.60L
9:33 PM
0.96H
11:41 AM
0.75L
6:53 PM
0.99H
Date Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25
Time 4:26 AM 0:11 AM 4:05 AM 12:32 AM 12:13 PM 12:58 PM 12:07 AM 1:22 AM 2:26 AM 3:16 AM 3:53 AM 4:16 AM 4:20 AM 3:55 AM 3:29 AM
Texas Coast Tides
Height 0.80L 0.57L 0.40L 1.64H 1.63H 1.66H 1.73H 0.32L 0.34L 0.34L 0.34L 1.50L 1.38L 1.18L 0.94L
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 13
Coastal
Flounder
“We caught plenty of trout anywhere from 15 to 23 inches all morning long,” Danford said. “There were also a lot of smaller specks biting, with the majority of the fish were in the 15- to 18inch range. That being said, we did catch a handful stretching from 20 to 23 inches in length.” Danford said soft plastics rigged on a 1/16-ounce jig head, along with hard plastic twitch baits, proved to be the most effective presentations. After the trout bite came to a lull later in the morning, Danford walked up within casting range of a school of redfish feeding on a knee-deep grass flat. “I could see about 15 or 20 reds with their tails sticking out of the water, and I also noticed some black drum feeding alongside them.” Danford said. “I made a cast towards the edge of the school of redfish. I twitched my lure, and before a redfish could get to it, a black drum came out of nowhere and smashed the hard plastic twitch bait I was throwing.” Neskora also confirmed that soft plastics rigged on a 1/16-ounce jig head were rendering plenty of strikes from speckled trout in knee- to thigh-deep water during the early morning hours. “Focusing on the edges of potholes and sand pockets where there was active baitfish along the surface seemed to be the key,” he said. “There were trout of all sizes from 13 to 22 inches feeding.” Wagner said he went looking for redfish the day after he had Danford and Neskora on the boat and found small pods reds around
has been plenty of fish scattered all over the place, it seems. But once you find one or two fish, there’s usually more nearby.” According to Parbst, his anglers have been gigging fish in the 15- to 20-inch range, with some flounder pushing 24 inches mixed in. Capt. Shawn Harvey said folks willing to get out of the boat and walk into shallow flats where a boat can’t go have been having better luck gigging flounder in the Port O’Connor area than those trying to gig from a floundering Anglers and fishing guides are targeting flounder with boat recently. gigs and lights at night before the fishery closes in No“When the tide vember. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor is low like it is, a lot News. of the fish go super shallow in areas that are hard to reach in a boat,” Harvey said. “The water temperature is also very warm right now. The best time to go is during the wee hours of the morning when the coolest temperatures occur. Not many folks want to go from 3 a.m. to daylight.” Capt. Dave Dupnik of Surrender at Sunrise Flounder Gigging Trips has been posting limits of flatfish from the Coastal Bend area on his Facebook page. He said the patterns are becoming more consistent with each passing week. Flounder gigging guide, Capt. Rick Hammond of Night Stalker Guide Service, said gigging action for flatfish has been very good lately. “Bigger fish have started showing up during my last few trips, with a few flounder in the 20- to 23-inch range,” Hammond said. “We have been putting limits in the boat most nights.”
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 8
Anglers have been catching speckled trout while wade fishing in thigh deep water over grass flats with sand pockets during the first few hours of the morning along the Coastal Bend. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
shallow mudflats near the edges of oyster shell reefs in Aransas, Carlos, and Mesquite bays. “With the low water levels, it was hard to get within casting distance of the redfish without spooking them,” Wagner said. “They were in super skinny water. But, if you could get a soft plastic or topwater in front of them, they would crush it.” Sabine Lake anglers have been reporting schools of reds roaming across the open waters of the north end of the lake during calm conditions. According to local angler, Rusty Frederick, a lot of the reds in these schools are oversized. He also said there have been pods of jackfish mixed in with the bull reds.
Down south, Port Mansfield anglers have been finding speckled trout around spoil islands. Live croaker, soft plastics, and topwaters have all been producing strikes. Scattered schools of redfish have also been reported along shallow sand flats on the north side of East Cut. Mitch Stephenson and his son, Matt, have been catching solid numbers of speckled trout in the 16- to 18-inch range in the Galveston surf during calm conditions. They have been catching most of their fish on live croaker during the early morning hours on an incoming tide.
READY WHEN THE FIELD GOES DARK RattlerV3 LRF 35-384 Advanced thermal built for hunters after sundown, with 1,000m ranging and sub-15mK performance in one compact platform.
AGMGlobalVision.com © 2026 AGM Global Vision. All Rights Reserved.
Page 14
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
GRIP & GRIN
Barton Irby caught this 27-inch redfish in the Laguna Madre on a birthday fishing trip.
Blake Burt shot this 15-foot crocodile in South Africa hunting with his parents and sister.
Andy Polk shows off one of the many gafftop catfish that he caught on recent trip to Galveston.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Augusta Burt, 17, shot this sable in South Africa hunting with her parents and brother with a .308 at 150 yards.
Wes Pyfer caught this ladyfish recently in Offatt’s Bayou in Galveston.
Email them with contact and caption information to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com. Highresolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Grip & Grin, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Choke Continued from page 1
has a tannin color to it due to all of the plant material that is now underwater, dying from the rapid rise in the lake level,” Taylor said. “It has about two feet visibility, but it looks like tea or coffee.” Taylor said anyone that has fished Choke in the past can pretty much take most of what they knew before the dry spell, and now the recent floods, and throw it out the window. “Most of the structure that I used to target fish over, whether it be rocks or brush piles, is now gone,” Taylor said. “There are salt cedars all over the lake now, even in areas where the bottom used to be covered with rocky material.” Taylor said the lake is full of baitfish and that the entire reservoir seems to be full of life. “All of the fish we are catching are fat and healthy,” he said. As far as crappie are concerned, Taylor said the fish are scattered across the lake throughout the flooded salt Mike Ahlers landed this crappie while fishing Choke Canyon Reservoir after cedars. floods helped raise water levels. Photo “The majority of the brush piles that used to be in the by Clendon Taylor. lake are no longer there,” Taylor said. “So, there aren’t really any specific spots at the moment that I’ve found that are concentrating large numbers of crappie. They are simply roaming around salt cedars in 16- to 25-feet of water, and you really have to use your electronics to find them.” Taylor said he’s been catching crappie on 1.75-inch crappie tubes and 2.25-inch wicked shad in various color patterns rigged on 1/8- to 1/16-ounce jig heads. Most of the fish have been between 10 and 12 inches in length, with a few larger crappie mixed in. “Most of the bass I’ve been catching have been in the 8- to 12-feet depth range around structure,” Taylor said. “Early in the mornings they can be found shallower over hard bottoms, chasing baitfish around the salt cedars. For the most part, the bass bite has been an early in the morning and late in the evening deal. They have been shutting off during the hottest portion of the day.” Crankbaits, Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, Carolina rigs, swimbaits, and top-waters have all been producing strikes for Taylor. He and his anglers have caught bass up to about 7 pounds, but most of the fish have been in the 1- to 3-pound range. According to Taylor, there’s also been pockets of white bass schooling throughout the water column in various places where there are concentrations of baitfish suspended below the surface. He also said catfish are moving up shallow around salt cedars. He and his anglers have been catching them on his very own punch bait. “I have not seen many other boats on the water on Choke at all,” Taylor said. “I’ve been fishing this lake since 2004, and I’ve never seen it like this before. It’s a completely different lake, and there’s a lot of potential to have some phenomenal days.” According to other reports from Choke Canyon, bank fisherman and kayak anglers are also catching good numbers of various species using a variety of techniques. The newly flooded vegetation has provided a ton of new areas for the fish to use as cover.
SERIOUS NUTRITION FFF , RRRRRR RRRR® . FIND YOUR SERIOUS NUTRITION AT RECORDRACK.COM
©CARGILL, INCOPORATED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
September 11, 2026
Page 15
Page 16
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
INDUSTRY
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER Matthews transitions
Solution on Page 22
Mathews Archery, founded by Matt McPherson in 1992, has officially transitioned to employee ownership as the company approaches its 35th year in business. The transition reflects McPherson's commitment to employees and ensures the company's values of innovation and community impact remain central to its future.
Barnes mourns passing of founder Barnes Bullets announces the passing of Randy Brooks, the company's former owner and creator of the revolutionary Barnes X Bullet. Brooks and his wife Coni purchased Barnes in 1974.
New ownership Aero Precision, Ballistic Advantage, Stag Arms, and VG6 have been acquired by a family investment group committed to restoring these firearms brands. Under new ownership advised by W.G. Nielsen & Co., the companies plan to ramp up manufacturing, restore supply chains, and rebuild customer trust.
ATA CEO retiring The Archery Trade Association announced that CEO & President Jeff Poole will retire on January 31, 2027, after five years of transfor-
ACROSS
DOWN
4. Popular bird or bourbon 6. Freshwater gamefish can be white or black 8. The future of conservation 9. Area maintained for wildlife on a property 12. Orange disks used for practicing 14. Can shoot in most places 30 minutes before this 15. Exotic of oriental descent 20. Versatile tree stand 22. Offers a high vantage point over a field 23. Population is down this year for this duck 25. Used by Orvis fans 27. Common type of fishing using this 29. The month to be in the deer woods 31. Used more and more in game recovery 32. Blackbuck country of origin 33. Need this for bird hunting 34. Reservoir in South Texas that is filling up again 35. Needed after a poor shot 36. B&C, P&Y are examples 37. Ducks and geese
1. Famed deer area in Texas 2. The deer pattern before everything breaks loose 3. Hard, erosion-resistant layer above subsurface 4. Great for late-season deer 5. Common panfish 7. Atlantic, Central are examples 10. Good for fishing early morning 11. Source of deer food in Texas 13. Texas' most common fish 14. Feeder that doesn't require a ladder 16. Coastal WMA known for exotics 17. When sheds are attached to a skull 18. Usually begins the first weekend of October 19. Trinity River monster 21. Home of the Texas Freshwater Hall of Fame 23. Most popular game bird in the state 24. Tasty treat with jalapeños and bacon 26. Can be good or bad for hunting 28. Began statewide Sept. 1 30. WMA known for mule deer
mative leadership. The ATA board has initiated an executive search for the next CEO and president.
GSU looking for trap coach Georgia Southern University is hiring a Clay Target Head Coach to organize, develop, and lead a competitive collegiate clay target sports program. The position requires NSCA/NSSA Level II or III certification and two years of coaching experience in sporting clays, trap, or skeet.
MWS Associates hiring MWS Associates, Inc., an industry leader in outdoor sales representation with over 40 years of experience, announced a realignment of its Ohio and western Pennsylvania territory following outstanding growth by Dustin Youtz. The company is now accepting applications from qualified sales professionals to lead the realigned region.
Florida Sportsman names editor Landon Hall has been appointed editor in chief of the Florida Sportsman brand by Outdoor Sportsman Group. Hall, a freelance outdoor writer and founder of Outdoor Legacy Media, brings expertise in saltwater fishing, hunting, and coastal living to oversee all editorial properties.
Puzzle by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News
FOR THE TABLE *email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Roasted wild boar 1 (2-pound) wild boar loin or picnic shoulder 6 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup sliced green onions salt and black pepper to taste granulated garlic to taste 1/2 cup olive oil 1 cup diced onions 1/2 cup diced celery 1 cup diced bell peppers 2 Tbsps. minced garlic 2 Tbsps. tomato paste 3/4 cup red wine 1 quart beef stock Preheat oven to 325°F. In a mixing bowl, combine 6 cloves minced garlic, green onions, salt, pepper and granulated garlic.
Flounder piccata
Make incisions at equal space around the top of roast and stuff with garlic mixture. Season outside of roast well with salt, pepper and granulated garlic. In a roasting pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat then brown boar on all sides. Remove meat from pan then set aside. In the same oil, sauté onions, celery, bell peppers and remaining minced garlic until wilted. Mix in tomato paste then deglaze with wine. Add stock, return meat to pan and cover with bacon. Bring to a rolling boil, cover and place in oven. Bake 2 hours or until meat is fork tender. Remove roast from pan and allow to rest for 30 minutes. —PBS Food
4 flounder fillets, about 20 ounces total freshly ground black pepper 2 large egg whites 2/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs 1 Tbsp. olive oil spray 1 Tbsp. whipped butter 2 lemons, 1 juiced with squeezed lemon reserved, the other sliced for serving 1/4 cup dry white wine 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 Tbsp capers, drained Season fish with salt and pepper. Heat the oven to 200 F. In a shallow bowl, beat the egg whites. Place the breadcrumbs in another dish. Dip each fish filet in the egg whites, then breadcrumbs. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-low heat.
Spray a generous amount of olive oil spray on one side of the fish, and lay it in the pan, oil side down. Spray the other side of the fish generously to coat and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until fish is opaque and cooked through. Set aside on a platter in the warm oven until you make the sauce. Over medium heat in the same pan, melt butter, add the lemon juice, wine, chicken broth and the reserved lemon halves, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Boil over high heat until the liquid is reduced to half, about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the lemon halves, add the capers and spoon the sauce over the fish; place a slice of lemon on each filet and top with fresh parsley. —Skinnytaste.com
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Ducks
Page 17
South Zone
Continued from page 4
and Montana, and wetter conditions throughout the Canadian prairie provinces. Together, the survey's May pond count showed 4.76 million ponds, a 14% increase over spring 2025. Notably, Canada was 29% wetter, while U.S. wetlands were down 10%. Overall, the pond count was 9% below the LTA. "Although pond counts were higher in Canada, breeding conditions for ducks across most of the prairie pothole region are rated fair to poor," said Dr. Frank Rohwer, president and chief scientist for Delta Waterfowl. "While production likely will be better in some areas, it's not the greatest news for duck hunters." Mallards dropped to 5.86 million, an 11% decrease from last year that's also 26% below the LTA. The mallard breeding population estimate is the lowest since 1993. In addition to lower numbers, the distribution of breeding mallards is concerning, Rohwer said, pointing to a 26% decrease in the eastern Dakotas and 33% in the western Dakotas and Montana, along with notable drops in southern portions of Canada. "Mallards continued the recent pattern of having a fairly northern distribution," Rohwer said. "Parkland and boreal forest mallard numbers were relatively high compared to the prairie habitats, where duck numbers were way off. That is not good for duck production because we know prairie ducks outproduce parkland and boreal forest ducks." Blue-winged teal, the second-most abundant puddle duck in North America, declined by 11% to 3.96 million. Like mallards, bluewings are now at the lowest breeding population estimate since 1993. Among the seven species of puddle ducks listed in the Traditional Survey Area results, only shovelers increased. Shovelers jumped 19% to 3.29 million. Gadwall, at 2.35 million, decreased a moderate 3% from last year. Wigeon and greenwinged teal each declined 8%, while pintails joined mallards and blue-winged teal at an 11%
September 11, 2026
Continued from page 4
decline. Even with decreases this spring, gadwalls, wigeon, and green-winged teal all remain above the LTA. The pintail estimate dropped to 1.99 million, marking the third time in the past five years the breeding population has dipped below 2 million. The 2026 estimate puts pintails 48% below the LTA. The survey region of Central and Northern Alberta/Northeast British Columbia/Northwest Territory accounted for 765,000 pintails, which is nearly 40% of the continental breeding population. The pintail estimate for that region is twice the LTA. "Diving duck species are a bright spot in an otherwise dismal report," Arnold said, citing population increases for canvasbacks, redheads, and scaup. Canvasbacks are estimated at 782,000, a 13% jump. Redheads climbed to 931,000, a 1% increase. Scaup, also known as bluebills, moved up to 4.16 million, a notable 13% increase over last year. Results for the Eastern Survey Area were similar to 2025. At 890,000, mallard populations declined 2%, although the population is 23% below the LTA. Black ducks decreased 6% to 739,000, while green-winged teal also declined 6% to 320,000. Continuing the theme of positive news on diving ducks, ring-necked ducks jumped 9% to 829,000. Goldeneyes declined 7% to 668,000, while mergansers increased 6% to 680,000. "These results are largely consistent with our expectations, as last year saw the lowest recorded May pond count since 2004,” said Ducks Unlimited Chief Scientist Dr. Steve Adair. “Those dry conditions almost certainly resulted in low production in 2025 and slight to moderate declines in returning breeding populations this year. Mallards are now at their lowest level in over 30 years. This provides a stark reminder that our conservation work is far from done and underscores the need for sustained investments in science-based population monitoring and management."
A happy hunter with an opening day dove from the South Zone. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
“I have been coming here for the last 25 years,” he said. “Like its name implied, it was a special season for me and others.” Changing the opening day from the second to the first weekend in September is something that has been debated for years but was finally enacted for 2026. According to reports, the changes were enacted due to wanting to standardize the statewide start and the number of dove – white-winged and mourning – have been increasing at record numbers in recent years. There were other changes, as well. At the Resaca De La Palma State Park outside Brownsville, no lead shot was allowed this year — only steel shot was allowed due to the marshes nearby. The park decided to open for hunting on Friday, Sept. 4. Park staff said hunter numbers were down by more than 50% in the first two days, something that could be attributed to the more expensive steel shot mandated at the park. But Erick Vasquez and other hunters said they are alright with the change. “I was the first one at the park here,” Vasquez said on opening day. “There are a lot of dove though, it has been taking longer to bring them down with these new pellets.”
Page 18
September 11, 2026
20
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 19
Gulf Council takes action on for-hire permits The Gulf Council took final action to establish electronic reporting requirements for vessels with federal for-hire reef fish or coastal migratory pelagic permits. The recommended program will require federal for-hire vessels to submit a trip notification for each for-hire fishing trip and complete electronic logbook reports for each trip before offloading fish. A 'did not fish' report will have to be submitted if no fishing occurs for a week. Additionally, a portion of vessel owners/operators would be selected each year to submit economic data on for-hire fishing activity. The document will be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for consideration and implementation as soon as practicable. —Gulf Council
SINCE 1960
BUYING, SELLING AND TRADING GUNS
Couple Continued from page 8
Used and new firearms, ammunition, knives, and optics for all of your hunting, shooting and personal protection needs.
123 Carroll Rd, Wharton, TX 77488 F o l l o w us
(979) 532-3175
c a r r o ll s _ h u n t i n g _ f i s h i n g
howdy@carrollsgunshop.com C a r r o ll ' s G u n S h o p
the day in South Bay resulted in back-to-back reds, something they have not done in many years of fishing. “We started off early in the morning,” Rodriguez said. “We went straight into the bay, stopped and started fishing.” Using cut mullet, he said he hooked a red shortly before 10 a.m. But at about 10:15, he said his wife hooked a second one. “That made our day,” he said. For Carmelita, that was an incredible experience, even though they are avid anglers who regularly fish several times a month. “We have been fishing together for many, many years,” she said. “It was incredible.” Carmerlita said her fish was the heavier of the two. “We caught some smaller ones and put them back in the water,” she said. “But catching two reds like that day was very special for me.”
Snapper Continued from page 9
Walker came up just short of winning the Captain’s Cash Prize of $10,000. Both had anglers place in the top 10 spots of the tournament’s final leaderboard. “I’ve never been much of a tournament guy, but what a great event this is,” Walker wrote in a recent Facebook post. “This tournament puts snapper fishing in a place I always thought it should be. The event has paid out more money in cash and prizes than any other snapper tournament in the Gulf.”
Dove leader Continued from page 6
“I ended up working at the King Ranch on a private lease, which quickly turned into full-time biologist position,” Fitzsimmons said. “I later took a job with a non-profit organization, focused on coastal, non-game migratory birds. That job took me all over the place, traveling and studying migratory birds. It helped me develop relationships with other migratory bird biologists and researchers across North America and really solidified my calling towards managing migratory bird species.” Fitzsimmons said he then found himself wanting to get back into the game bird world, when his current position at TPWD came open. “It was a perfect fit for me, and I haven’t looked back since,” he said. “I’ve worked with a variety of migratory birds over the years, and I really have a sincere appreciation for the dove. They are amazing animals and are definitely one of my favorite birds.”
YOUR EAST TEXAS PREMIER HUNTING & OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE Experience exceptional hunting on a private ranch where great memories are made. Whether you're chasing trophy whitetails or wild hogs, The Lodge at Davis Creek delivers the adventure you've been looking for.
Whitetail Deer • Wild Hogs Managed hunting grounds for all skill levels Stay in our beautiful 2 bedroom/2 bath lodge! Day Hunts available
(936) 209-4598 @daviscreeklodge
www.daviscreeklodge.com
daviscreeklodge@gmail.com• Bon Wier, Texas
Page 20
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
NATIONAL MICHIGAN
IDAHO
The first bear hunting period of 2026 kicked off Sept. 9 in the Upper Peninsula as thousands of bear hunters take to the field this fall. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is issuing 6,278 bear licenses for the 10 bear management units across the state in 2026. Bear hunting is allowed in the UP and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula. More than 72,500 people applied for a bear license or preference point this year. Licenses are awarded through an annual drawing that's based on the number of points each hunter has earned. The number of points needed to obtain a bear license depends on the unit and hunting period. It's generally easier to get a bear license in the UP based on the higher density of bears. —MDNR
The biggest theme in this year’s outlook is best exemplified in the words of Idaho Fish and Game Deer and Elk Coordinator, Toby Boudreau. “Highly promising.” What determines a highly promising season? A lot of factors, but none more so than a mild winter. And for those counting, this will be our third in a row. “Overwinter survival was better than average,” Boudreau said. “And when you have better-than-average overwinter survival, it means earlier antler growth, heavier fawns and calves, and more robust herds.” Statewide, 83% of collared mule deer fawns and 95% of collared elk calves survived the 2025-2026 winter. Considering, on average, roughly 57% of collared fawns survive winter, that’s huge. Mule deer doe, the fawn-making factories, accounted for 95% survival last winter thanks to ample nutrition and mild conditions. Overwinter survival and collar data concluded in May, indicating that Idaho’s elk were heading into summer in outstanding condition. “Fawns and calves that come out of winter weighing more than average is a great sign that herds will grow in the remainder of the year,” Boudreau said. Because of this, biologists are optimistic that this could be a higher-than-average year for elk hunting. —IDGF
Bear season begins
NORTH DAKOTA
Submit wing envelopes Hunters can help in the effort to manage upland game birds in North Dakota by collecting feathers from harvested birds and sending in wing envelopes. Biologists can determine if birds are male or female, age ratios, survival, nesting success, hatch dates and overall production, all of which is vital to helping manage North Dakota's upland game birds. Birds included in the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's longstanding upland game wing survey are ring-necked pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, gray partridge, turkey and ruffed grouse. Collecting enough pheasant samples is typically never a problem, but securing enough sharptail and partridge feathers can be. Instructions for submitting wing data are printed on the envelope. —NDGF
Bighorn sheep license reduction
join or renew today Members receive 2 issues of Texas Dove Hunters Magazine a year
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department allocated five bighorn sheep licenses for the 2026 hunting season. This includes one auction license and four lottery licenses, three fewer than 2025. "The reduction in hunting licenses should not be regarded as bad news for the state's population of bighorn sheep," said Brett Wiedmann, department big game biologist. "On the contrary, our population is at record levels and doing very well, but we like to harvest rams that are 8 years and older and the number of harvestable, mature rams is down due primarily to four consecutive years of poor lamb recruitment from 2015 to 2018." In total, 22,739 applicants applied for bighorn sheep. Successful applicants have been notified. —NDGF
OKLAHOMA
Guided youth waterfowl hunts Waterfowl hunting can be daunting, especially to a beginner. The gear, the setup, the regulations, and so many things to try to figure out that some people give up without even trying. But the ODWC provides young new waterfowl hunters a unique opportunity to participate in special guided waterfowl hunts that will take place around the state, all you need is yourself and an accompanying adult. These guided hunts offer the opportunity to experience the joys of waterfowling to youths who do not have a mentor who hunts waterfowl. Applicants must be 12 to 15 years of age, have proof of successfully completing a certified hunter education course, and have an adult guardian who can accompany them on the hunt. Locations for this year's hunts will be at Packsaddle, Fort Cobb State Park, Fort Gibson Lake, Hackberry Flat WMA, Keystone Lake, and Vann's Lake. Submissions are open now on the ODWC website through Nov. 3. —ODNR
Standard White Wing Life Memberships Available 210-764-1189
texasdovehunters.com
Hunting outlook very good
GEORGIA
New state record almaco jack The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division (CRD) has certified a new state saltwater game fish record for almaco jack. Chris A. Germano of St. Simons Island landed the record-setting fish April 4, 2026, while bottom fishing at R4, an offshore artificial reef. The almaco jack weighed 42 pounds, 15.36 ounces, surpassing the previous state record of 27 pounds, 8 ounces. Germano caught the fish using a Shimano Stradic 8000 reel paired with a Crowder D8000 rod and 60-pound braided line. Live bait was used. The fish measured 45.3 inches in total length with a fork length of about 40.2 inches. —GDNR
WASHINGTON DC
SCI files brief Safari Club International and the Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation urged the U.S. Supreme Court to protect semi-automatic firearms commonly used in hunting under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. These organizations submitted an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to strike bans enacted by Cook County, Illinois, and the State of Connecticut, on use of these rifles by hunters, sportsmen, and recreational shooters. In the brief, SCI and Sportsmen's highlight their longstanding commitment to protecting hunting access and defending Second Amendment rights in connection with lawful hunting. Firearms are central to America's hunting heritage, serve as essential tools for lawful hunting and wildlife management, and generate significant conservation funding nationwide. The brief explains that semi-automatic rifles are protected "arms" and cannot be banned when commonly used for lawful purposes, including hunting. For more than a century, hunters have used semi-automatic rifles and continue to use these firearms due to their accuracy, adaptability, portability, affordability, and suitability for wildlife management and hunting. —SCI
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 21
SPORTING CLAY
BACKCOUNTRY HUNTS
EXPERIENCE
at Wildpoint Ranch
Elk Cow Hunts Only 10 spots available All free range
Come experience our unique sporting clay course, set in a natural Wooded area on our ranch
Aoudad and Scimitar Oryx Hunts available
Catch a glimpse of our many Whitetail & Exotics
Contact information: Steve Jones: 575-361-1053 BackCountryHunts.com SteveJones@BackCountryHunts.com
THE ORIGINAL DEER BLIND WINDOW CO.
Relax & Enjoy! we run one group at a time.
Cabin Rental now available
located along the scenic ridges of the old red river breaks in Saint Jo, Texas. Relax on the front porch, watch the many whitetail & Exotics we have on the ranch, and build a fire in our large fire pit area. Leave the city behind. you will be the only renters on ranch. Visit many local wineries & restaurants. Winstar Casino is only 40 minutes away, transportation to & from casino available. Contact us for more info on ranch activities.
Book Your Time WildpointRanch.com
(flip open)
Family Owned & Operated
WILDPOINT RANCH, SAINT JO, TEXAS CHRIS SCHEEL 972-922-4225 WILDPOINTRANCH@GMAIL.COM
QUIETLY.COMPACT Adding just 4.6" to barrel length, the Nomad Ti OTB advances over-the-barrel suppressor innovation. Delivering the recoil reduction and sound suppression of a longer system, it maintains optimal balance and keeps the rifle compact for fast handling and confident control in the field.
OV E R -T HE BA R R E L
L I G HT W E I G HT & I M P R OV E D BA L A N C E
XENO C O M PAT I BL E
AC C CO O U ST IC PERFORMANCE
Page 22
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING BIOLOGIST 4 HIRE, LLC. Fish & Wildlife Habitat Consulting, 1-D-1 Wildlife Agriculture Valuation, Conservation Land Assessment & Management Plans, Drone Mapping Services. Chad E. Simmons USDA NRCS TSP B-19-22936 chad@biologist4hire.com (972) 837-0392 TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX HuntTexasWhitetails.com (717) 512-3582 DOVE DAY HUNTS $100 per Gun, $25 Non-Hunting Guests Fee 500 Acres with Fields, Lakes and Tanks One Hour South of Dallas I-35 Corridor RV Hookups Available Free Fishing CALL or TEXT (214) 808-7361 (972) 814-1051 TEXAS RANCH SALES Bootlegger Hill Ranch For Sale Turnkey, Irrigated Crops, Mallards, Florida Bass Thomas A.C. Davis TDAVIS@TEXASRANCHSALES.COM
FISHING
361 FISHING Get the Texas saltwater fishing app (iOS) that has it all. Bite times, top 5 spots right now, real-time weather and local intel from guides. Focused on artificial and fly, use the app to determine where to go, when to go and what to throw to increase your fishing success. Free trial to get started.
Largemouth Continued from page 8
dalupe bass. As the season progresses, Cole doubts much will change. He and his clients will continue following this pattern until the cold comes in. On Caddo Lake, the fishing has been really good. Mark Allen, with Mark Allen’s Guide Service on Caddo Lake said, “Fishing has been really good. We’ve had a lot of the bass grouped up right now, feeding on shad, getting ready for that big fall feeding coming up.” He and his clients have been finding most of their fish near deeper water, “and deeper water is relative on Caddo because the average depth is about six feet. So, a foot depth change here and there makes a big difference,” Allen said. Because Caddo is not very deep overall, Allen and his clients have been presenting lightweight and weightless Texas-rigged soft plastics, swim baits with underspins, chatter baits, and top-waters. “We’ve been throwing some variation of green, whether that’s watermelon seed with various flakes in it, or the green pumpkin,” Allen said. “Other effective colors have been redbug and plum. For your moving baits, try and go with something in a shad color. “ Like the rest of Texas, the bite is beginning to pick up.
361FISHING.COM
MISC JMB SERVICES Commercial Fencing, Residential Fencing Ranch Fencing, High Fencing Privacy Fencing, Gate Entrances Land Clearing, Root Plowing Metal Buildings, Post Driving Retaining Walls, Concrete Work Water Lines, Trenching John Batot (830) 560-6877
MOBILE SPORTING CLAYS FOR HIRE!
Fundraisers, Corporate, Parties! Sales/Service all Traps! 40+ Years Experience! (817) 999-1395
LSONews.com
CATTLE MARKET IS HOT Cash out every Tuesday @10 am Atascosa Livestock Exchange Pleasanton Hauling Available Call (210) 289-7698
ADD A PHOTO/LOGO $25 • 2 ISSUE MINIMUM
$1
CLASSIFIEDS (PER WORD)
2 EASY OPTIONS: CALL THE OFFICE (214) 361-2276, OR EMAIL EDITOR@LONESTAROUTDOORNEWS.COM
DATEBOOK SEPTEMBER 17
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB Fall Speaker Series DSC Pavilion, Dallas (972) 980-9800 biggame.org PARK CITIES QUAIL Benefit Clay Shoot Dallas Gun Club, Lewisville (817) 970-6917 info@GoOTF.com
SEPTEMBER 18-20
2026 Redfish Fly Fishing Rodeo Rockport/Aransas Pass texaflyfishers.org
SEPTEMBER 19
DELTA WATERFOWL Smith County Chapter Dinner Buck Wild, Tyler (903) 276-9883 deltawaterfowl.org
OCTOBER 17
DELTA WATERFOWL Coastal Bend Chapter Dinner Port O’Connor Community Center (361) 648-1905 deltawaterfowl.org
Puzzle solution from Page 16
OCTOBER 29
CROSS TIMBERS QUAIL COALITION Dinner and Auction River Ranch Stockyards, Ft. Worth (817) 582-0129 crosstimbersquail.com
FORT WORTH FLY FISHERS FWFF Annual Auction and Dinner Elks Lodge of Ft. Worth fortworthflyfishers.org
SEPTEMBER 25
DUCKS UNLIMITED Aggieland DU Dinner Brazos County Expo, Bryan (830) 832-1601 ducks.org
Subscribe to
OCTOBER 2
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Wildlife Toxicology Lab Research Demonstration Day Stonewall County Civic Center, Aspermont ron.kendall@ttu.edu wildlifetoxicologylab.org OPERATION GAME THIEF Clay Stoppers Shootout Jake’s Clays, Midland (512) 971-2471 dshaw@gvtc.com
OCTOBER 6
CALL (214) 361-2276 OR VISIT LSONEWS.COM
For home or office delivery, go to LSONews.com, or call (214) 361-2276, or send a check or money order to the address 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 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.
Executive Editor
Conor Harrison
Design Editor Reporters
C2-Studios, Inc. Cory Byrnes Meghan Jackson Vivian Leopold Nate Skinner Chuck Uzzle Tony Vindell
Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting
Lea Marsh
Website
Bruce Solieu
National Advertising Mike Nelson Founder & CEO
David J. Sams
Editor Emeritus
Craig Nyhus
For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com(214) 361-2276 Advertising: Call (214) 361-2276 or email editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
September 11, 2026
Page 23
Magic Touch lands victory at Bisbee’s East Cape The 2026 Bisbee's East Cape Offshore Tournament in Baja, California came down to the final afternoon, when Magic Touch delivered the fish that reshaped the leaderboard. Angler Taylor Schuster of South Padre Island, boated a 675-pound blue marlin aboard the 54-foot Bertram on July 31, giving Capt. Kim Manning and his team the tournament's largest qualifying marlin and the overall victory. The fish earned Magic Touch $278,379 from a purse of approximately $1.6 million. Schuster's blue marlin measured 120 inches in lower-jaw fork length with a 66-inch girth and struck a green-and-black Andy Moyes medium plunger trolling lure. The winning team also included mate Richard Ramsdell and anglers Ronald Weisfeld, Ken Eberle and Tater Tot Schuster. The result continued a strong stretch for the Cabo San Lucas-based operation, which also claimed the 2025 Bisbee's Black & Blue with a 459-pound blue marlin caught on a Marlin Parker Ruckus trolling lure. Captains Justin Drummond and Keiler Gentry of South Padre Island gaffed the marlin that angler Ronald Weisfeld of South Padre Island reeled in to claim the tournament's massive first prize of $2,440,650. —Staff report
CWD Continued from page 4
said. “Vet services, artificial inseminations, using the same utensils on animals to perform work, it can happen a lot of different ways. We are detecting it earlier and earlier by improving testing methods, but it is concerning how it appears.” This year’s five-ranch total comes on the heels of the Kerr Wildlife Management Area depopulating its research facility several years ago when a test, later found to be a possible false positive, was found and the herd was killed. “TPWD staff are disappointed to abruptly end nearly 50 years of white-tailed deer research that has significantly influenced
deer management in Texas and across the country” said John Silovsky, Wildlife Division director in late 2023. “Staff will continue to investigate opportunities to enhance the understanding of this insidious disease in both captive environments and freeranging populations.” TPWD killed the Kerr WMA herd before the final test results came back from Iowa. Texas Tech University is working on a patent for a live testing method, although it could be years before it is used as a legitimate test for CWD. Currently, the only approved testing has to come from a dead deer.
Department of Transportation - State of Texas endorsed, a certified Small Business Enterprise and licensed for commercial herbicide application.
OUTDOOR BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS CARD SECTION $25 PER ISSUE/MINIMUM OF 12 ISSUES
2 EASY OPTIONS: CALL THE OFFICE (214) 361-2276, OR EMAIL EDITOR@LONESTAROUTDOORNEWS.COM
Page 24
September 11, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com