Coastal anglers ponder whether social media could be hurting their beloved sport
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star outdoor newS
What’s the first thing you do after you land an impressive catch on the water? Take a photo, of course. It’s what follows next that some anglers argue could have serious implications.
We’ve all been there — after catching and taking a photo with a fish that we are proud of, almost all of us are immediately inclined to send the photo out to all of our fishing buddies via text, and to post the photo on our social media platforms. With more and more anglers
Opportunity ‘nocking’
Persistent archery hunters getting shots at some mature bucks
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
Despite the lack of significant cool fronts or drops in temperature, archery hunters continue to pursue white-tailed deer with stick and string throughout Texas during the month of October. Slightly cooler mornings have promoted increased deer activity in some places,
while other areas have experienced sporadic daytime activity at best. Overall, traffic around feeders seems to be slowly picking up, and some hunters have been fortunate enough to let an arrow fly.
Eleven-year-old Hunter Faas got drawn on standby for the youth archery hunt at Mad Island Wildlife Management Area. The youngster was hunting with a crossbow and was bound and determined to harvest his first buck.
After two long days in the blind without a legal buck presenting itself, Faas decided to take a doe with only 20 minutes of legal light
left on the hunt. He made an excellent shot, watched the doe fall, and successfully took his first deer with archery equipment.
Lance Holloway recently successfully harvested his first archery buck while hunting his family’s property in Montague County. The deer scored just over 162 inches. Not only was this his first buck with stick and string, it also became his new personal best.
“I actually missed the deer when he first gave me a shot opportunity,” Holloway admitted. “I was sitting in a saddle in an oak tree, and he showed up with about 35 minutes left of legal shooting light.”
Brush, timber and structure
Crappie bite heating up
By Nate Skinner one Star outdoor newS
Crappie are beginning to stage over brush piles, timber, channels, and flats in a variety of water depths across Texas inland lakes. The bite is starting to gain momentum, and anglers and fishing guides are catching good numbers of fish on both minnows and jigs. Areas with structure in 10- to 30-feet of water have been producing solid catches.
East Texas fishing guide Josh Sikes of Bent Rods Guide Service said he’s been chasing crap-
pie on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn reservoirs recently. On Toledo Bend, he said the early morning bite has been really good.
“There seems to be a little lull in the action about mid-morning each day, but the first few hours of the morning have been excellent,” Sikes said. “The southern half of Toledo Bend has held the most action.”
Sikes said main lake brush piles and brush piles along the sides of creek channels in 19- to 22-feet of water have been hotspots lately. Jigs in natural color patterns have been out-fishing minnows. Most of the crappie on Toledo Bend have been in the 10- to 12-inch range, with a few larger fish mixed in.
Anglers are starting to question whether or not posting photos of their catches on social media could have negative effects on the areas they like to fish. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Big bucks are starting to show up in front of Texas archery hunters. Willie Waldrip harvested this 202-inch buck on a portion of his family’s ranch in Sutton County. Photo by Monty Cain.
Crappie are being caught in 10- to 30-feet of water over brush, timber, creek channels, and flats across our inland lakes. Photo by Josh Sikes.
Holding steady
Pronghorn numbers low, but hunters still successful
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Despite low population numbers for pronghorn across Texas when compared to the historical average, hunters still managed to find good bucks this season in both the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions of the state.
Panhandle guide Colton Gibbons was hunting near the New Mexico border west of Lubbock when his client connected on a solid pronghorn. He reported seeing fewer pronghorn overall, but the average size of the bucks was better.
“Overall, it was pretty slim,” he said. “But in the area we hunted, we saw bigger bucks, just fewer of them.”
Gibbons said the area around Dalhart had higher numbers over all, but the horn quality of the bucks was not as good. Gibbons said his group found the buck they shot scouting during the preseason and then found him again opening day.
“This area only has a couple of landowner tags,” he said. “We found this one before the season and two days later we found him again and took
More than a dove hunt
By Meghan Jackson For Lone Star outdoor newS
What began as a simple dove hunt in Albany for fathers and their children has turned into something they would never imagine.
Hunt founder Garrett Golding said in his neighborhood, there seemed to be a lot of dads interested in hunting and the outdoors. With their children being around the same age, this seemed like a good opportunity to unite everyone.
“We started three years ago as a low-key thing with maybe 15 dads and their kids,” Golding said. “We had a lot of fun and when we did it again last year, some kids were old enough to hunt by themselves for the first time.”
The growth in the field was evident and special, but when tragedy struck, Golding said this core group of dads unified like never before.
“Cole Naylor and his eight-yearold daughter Wynne lived down the street and were part of the core group
that started this annual hunt,” Golding said. “Wynne was one of the victims of the Camp Mystic tragedy and we wanted to do something in honor of her.”
Naylor was very appreciative and knew Wynne would love to have everyone participating again. Little did they know this year would explode, attracting 30 dads and 50 kids.
“Wynne started dove hunting when she was 2 years old with me and was a pack leader the first year we started these hunts,” Golding
Headed this way
Ranch and hunting community in South Texas worried about screwworm
By Tony Vindell For Lone Star outdoor newS
When the cattle screwworm infected South Texas cattle in the 1960s, ranchers sounded the alarm on the potential impact the parasite could pose on one of the country’s largest beef producing areas. But things have changed since as hunting grew by leaps and bounds.
Large holdings like the King, El Sauz and the Kenedy ranches in Willacy County have become major destinations for those who like to hunt white-tailed deer, nilgai antelope and the many other non-native exotics.
So when the first report of the screwworm surfaced in Mexico after it was
eradicated from the United States decades ago, the alarm was being sounded again.
Freddy Nieto, manager of El Sauz Ranch east of Raymondville, said state and federal agricultural agencies are in charge of the screwworm program. But the private sector is also taking its own steps.
“Even though there have been no cases detected,” Nieto said, “we are monitoring our animals.”
El Sauz Ranch is home to a large herd of cattle, white-tailed deer, and nilgai antelope.
And that is in just one region of South Texas.
Phillip Kaufman, a professor and head of the entomology department at Texas A&M University, said the parasite that could cause major economic damages if it reaches Texas.
He said it’s estimated the losses could range from $2 billion to more than $10 billion.
“It’s a major pest and we want to make sure it stays in Mexico,” he said. “It’s a devastating parasite that could cause major damages to cattle and wildlife.”
The latest sighting of the worm was reported this summer in Sabinas Hidalgo, some 70 miles south of the Texas-Nuevo Leon (Mexico) border. A cow brought from southern Mexico, against current shipping restrictions, made it into northern Mexico.
In light of that, cattle and wildlife authorities have been monitoring the situation closely just in case things get out of hand.
At the latest annual meeting of the Texas Farm Bureau in Raymondville held earlier this month, an update of the screwworm was given to members as part of the annual TFB luncheon.
Rodney Zamora, with Texas A&M AgriLife, and Chad Bussey, a TFB member, said people need to be vigilant as the
Young hunters near Albany had a great dove hunt in remembrance of their friend lost in the Camp Mystic floods. Photo by Kelly Godfrey.
Hunters like Colton Gibbons (left) and Aaron Swetish were able to find nice pronghorn bucks this season. Photos from Colton Gibbons (top) and LSON (left).
Reports of the screwworm making its way north from Mexico has ranchers nervous along the border. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Quail prospects good for upcoming season
Quail hunting can change dramatically from one season to the next. Weather plays a major factor each season, and this year was no different.
Quail hunting season kicks off on Nov. 1 in Texas, and the annual Texas Parks and Wildlife Department roadside survey revealed some encouraging population numbers heading into opening day. Good habitat conditions along with timely rainfall helped bobwhite and scaled quail pro duction this last spring and summer.
“Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists covered over 3,300 road miles in early August during our annual roadside quail surveys,” said Patrick Schutz, TPWD Upland Game Bird Program Leader. “Overall, we are encouraged by the numbers in this year’s surveys and anticipate a good season for hunters especially in the Rolling Plains, South Texas and Trans-Pecos regions where populations have traditionally been the strongest.”
Bobwhite quail benefitted from improved habitat for chicks thanks to above-average rainfall throughout most of their range. Bobwhite populations in the Rolling Plains appear to be similar to last year but reports in many areas in this ecoregion show above-average bobwhite numbers.
Teacup Mountain Wildlife Management Area in North Texas will provide a new public hunting opportunity for this upcoming season. Along with the Matador WMA, TPWD expects average to above-average hunting opportunities at these WMAs.
South Texas should provide good opportunities for hunters looking to harvest birds this fall. The typical number of bobwhites seen per route by biologists was 12.70 compared to 9.13 last year, above the 15-year mean of 9.78.
“South Texas remains a stronghold and bobwhite populations appeared to increase the further south you go within the region,” said Schutz. “This region accounted for over 50 percent of the estimated total bobwhite harvest last season and biologists are encouraged by the bobwhite numbers they’ve observed recently. Public hunting opportunities in this ecoregion can be found at the Chaparral and James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Areas, and we expect these WMAs to provide fair hunting conditions.”
The 2025 scaled quail population survey revealed that population numbers increased across their range. The average number of scaled quail seen by biologists was above the 15-year mean in all ecoregions and reported good carryover from the previous year. Birds were observed on more than 70 percent of the surveys in the Trans-Pecos ecoregion and on more than 50 percent of the routes in the Edwards Plateau ecoregion.
“The Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau were in drought conditions early on, but rainfall and habitat conditions improved through mid to later summer,” said Schutz. “Early spring rains and good habitat conditions in the High Plains provided for some early nesting, increased calling activity and multiple broods observed throughout the region.”
The Edwards Plateau and High Plains ecoregions made the biggest leaps in scaled quail sightings during August surveys. The average number of scaled quail seen in the Edwards Plateau was 14 per route compared to 6.38 last year, which was significantly above the 15-year mean of 6.47. Out in the High Plains, the number of scaled quail seen per route by biologists was 7.75 compared to 3.83 last year, above the 15-year mean of 3.42.
TPWD biologists expect Black Gap and Elephant Mountain WMAs to provide average to above-average opportunities for scaled quail despite limited early season production due to continuing drought in the region.
—TPWD
Photo by TPWD.
Getting it done
Bow hunters overcoming odds to be successful
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS
Bow hunters across the state are seeing success pick up as October rolls along, but one hunter was just glad to be able to get back into a tree at all this season.
“I was told I wouldn’t be able to get in a tree stand this year,” said archery hunter Michael Mooneyham, as he recalled his surgeon’s words from just before the bow season started. Michael and his brother were moving some of their tree stands, when he fell. Michael was not wearing his safety harness and broke his ankle, which required surgery. His brothers, Doogie and Justin, got him out of the woods and to the hospital. Two surgeries later, with a bit of determination, he was able to make it up into his tree stand for the season.
“It’s been good. I harvested two doe despite the heat,” Mooneyham said. He reports that in Parker County, the spring rains have really benefited the deer.
“I would like to thank my brothers, Doogie and Justin, for getting me out of the woods when I fell. My surgeon, Dr. Stickney, for putting me back together, and my wife for taking care of me for weeks and still today,” Mooneyham said. He reflects it could have been a lot worse.
“Always wear your safety harness when in a tree,” he added.
The deer in his area have been most active mid-morning and at 5 p.m.
“I am seeing some light sparring between the younger bucks,” Mooneyham said. “The older ones are still holding back. They are still in their bachelor groups, but they will start to split up just before Halloween.”
Micah Thompson harvested his 10-point in Bell County on public land early in October. “It was my first sit of the year,” Thompson said. “This spring and summer I did a whole lot more scouting. As far as looking for really good spots with lots of sign.”
He and a hunting buddy found an extremely well-traveled area.
“It was kind of an overlooked spot. It was only 100 yards off the road,” he said. “So we hung back and watched the area and picked our trees we planned to hunt from.”
It was a dead calm morning when Thompson set up early in the place he had picked out.
“You couldn’t get away with hardly any movement,” he said.
His target buck followed two younger bucks within 30 yards. Thompson patiently waited 10 or 15 minutes for an opportunity to draw his bow.
“The little 4-point finally chilled out, but once he did that, the other smaller 8-point started to getting spooky,” Thompson said.
He was finally able to get to full draw and put a good shot on his deer.
He called in his buddies to track his deer.
“We didn’t go maybe 15 yards before one of them whistled to me. He had found my deer. He maybe went 80 yards total but had circled back to where I was,” Thompson said.
Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters Association hosts meeting
The Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters Association held its Fall Rendezvous in Gatesville on October 17 and 18, and more than 200 members came out to the event.
Major awards were handed out — Bill Duke of Duke Traps was presented the Heritage Award, Matt Carter of Fort Stockton was the Top Hand and Mitchell Simpson of Silverton took home the Trapper of the Year.
At the latest rendezvous, there were demos on beaver trapping, dealing with beavers that cause damage to farm fields and urban drainages, bobcat trapping, which is necessary to protect livestock, and predator management with an emphasis on coyotes. There were also demos for otter trapping (both a valuable furbearer as well as a predator at aquaculture facilities), urban damage management and skunk trapping.
The Spring 2026 rendezvous will be held in Childress on April 24-25.
Good duck season predicted
Texas duck hunters are excited about the main upcoming waterfowl season, even after a slower-than-normal early teal season.
Abundant population numbers and above-average rainfall during the summer months is a confidence booster for hunters preparing for the start of the new waterfowl hunting season.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists indicated that teal, gadwall, wigeon, pintails, shovelers and redheads, key duck species for Texas hunters, are collectively plentiful and showed population increases this past summer.
“Texas hunters can anticipate another strong waterfowl season, though overall success will depend on local water availability and the timing of cold fronts,” said Kevin Kraai, TPWD Waterfowl Program Leader. “Hunters who scout actively and find fresh shallow water will have the best opportunities this season.”
Hunters will also benefit from the new three-bird daily bag limit for pintails. A recent analysis confirmed that pintails are more numerous than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service May Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey detected. The new fall flight models also indicate the potential for a greater sustainable harvest compared to previous models.
TPWD biologists denote that goose hunting prospects are strong due to a second year of improved productivity that could send more juvenile birds south. Those factors typically lead to better decoy response and higher harvest success for Texas hunters.
—Mike Bodenchuk, for Lone Star Outdoor News
Micah Thompson took this big 10-point early in his season. Photo from Micah Thompson.
One of the many demonstrations at the TTFHA rendezvous. Photo by Mike Bodenchuk, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Keeps Getting Better
LSON Foundation Wild Game Night continues to grow, provide opportunity
Photos by Tim Sharp
For the 14th straight year, Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation’s Wild Game Night served up amazing food, great camaraderie and some amazing raffle items that raised money to support the mission of the foundation — providing opportunity to the outdoors.
The menu for the evening, including exotic game sausage, backstraps and a host of wild game appetizers was once again provided by Cinnamon Creek Processing. Guests enjoyed plate after plate of wild game as they perused the raffle items on the night. The highlights included a Beretta 5-gun raffle, African and New Zealand safaris, as well as more local hunting and fishing trips and awesome gear.
Thank you to the sponsors who make the night possible and the supporters who showed up for a great night of camaraderie and fellowship.
We’ll see everyone next year for Number 15.
Mullet run underway
By Nate Skinner
Jetty anglers have been reporting large schools of mullet in and around passes up and down the Texas coast. They have been catching a variety of species that are stacked up and chasing the mullet in these areas. Redfish, jacks, tarpon, and sharks have been brought to hand along the granite amongst the feeding frenzy.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Upper Laguna Madre Ecosystem Leader Ethan Getz, adult mullet migrate to the Gulf to spawn offshore during the autumn months. This migration is triggered by above-average tide levels, a shorter photo period or length of day, and a decrease in water temperature, all of which occur along our coast each fall.
“This peak migration period along our Texas waters occurs from October through December, and is often referred to as the mullet run,” Getz said. “Mullet are mature at about 3 years old when they reach 6- to 7-inches in length, and then begin making this annual migration each year. The result is large concentrations of these fish along passes and other areas connecting our estuaries to the Gulf during the fall.”
Getz said the large concentrations of mullet around jetties, channels, and passes attract a variety of predatory fish that anglers prize. These species are there to take advantage of the buffet table set before them, and anglers can use this to their advantage when pursuing the feeding schools.
TPWD Aransas Bay Ecosystem Leader Jeremy McCulloch said research has shown barometric pressure change during the fall can also trigger a spawning run for mullet.
“This could be a barometric pressure change due to the passage of a fall cool front,” McCulloch said. “Pressure changes related to storm or tropical activity in the Gulf can also trigger the mullet run.”
YouTube angler Brandon Molina recently took advantage of the consistent action from the fall mullet run along the Matagorda jetties while fishing with his buddy, Javier Hernandez. They caught jacks, sharks and redfish while throwing spoons and mullet imitation swim baits from the rocks.
“As soon as we arrived at the Matagorda jetties, we could see rafts of mullet everywhere,” Molina said. “Sharks, redfish, and jacks were busting them along the surface. We started casting into the feeding frenzy and hooked up immediately.”
Molina said they got the most bites by casting their lures along the edges of the schools of mullet that were concentrated along the surface.
Jetty angler and YouTuber Ray Terrazas recently reported schools of upper-slot redfish and bull reds feeding on swarms of mullet along the Port Aransas jetties. He said landing limits of redfish was a simple task after catching mullet in a cast net and using it for bait.
“The reds were everywhere chasing mullet,” Terrazas said. “It was some of the fastest action I’ve ever witnessed. As soon as a live mullet was cast out, a redfish would immediately engulf it.”
FISHING
4-for-4
Special offshore trip catching billfish for father and son
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Not much beats catching a bucket list fish. Especially if that fish happens to be a blue marlin. And it’s double special to do it on a boat captained by your son.
Paris, Texas resident Danny Kilcrease had been wanting to get down to Port Aransas and fish with his son, Grant, who captains the 72foot Viking Blue Rush 2.0. It finally happened on Oct. 11, when Danny was visiting his son for a baby shower and the boat had an open spot for a day offshore. Grant and Danny headed out with the boat’s owners to look for billfish at several of the offshore Fish Attraction Devices located miles off the Port Aransas shoreline.
“I’d never been fishing for blue marlin,” the elder Kilcrease said. “But it’s always been a bucket list fish for me. Grant said there might be a billfish or two around, but to go four-forfour on blue marlin was a dream day. It’s the best trip I’ve ever been on. I was blessed to be able to take a trip like that.”
Grant Kilcrease, 31, graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in wildlife management, but a summer job before his junior year of school changed his professional pathway.
“My dad knew some folks on Texasbowhunter.com, and he sent out a note asking if anyone could use a hand for the summer,” Grant said. “I winged it that first summer, but I loved it. I moved down here after graduation and thought it would be temporary. It turned out not to be temporary, but I am blessed to be here and it’s awesome to get to do this.”
Capt. Kilcrease said this season has been the best billfish action along the Texas coast in his 10 years of being offshore.
“There are a lot of factors like current, weather and the presence of bait,” he said. “This year was really good with how the currents came up from the south, we had good bait and really good weather, so we got a lot of fishable days on the water.”
Shallow water yields big fish at tournament
By Vivian Leopold For Lone Star outdoor newS
Both the over and under-the-slot winners were caught in 5 feet or less water at the Berkley Big Bass Lake Fork 2025 tournament October 1819.
Robert Washington of Waterproof, Louisiana, used a Digger crankbait to land his 9.48-pound, over-the-slot bass from 5 feet of water. After several casts into brush northeast of the dam, Washington thought he was hung up. When he realized he had a big one on the line, his son grabbed the net saying, “It won’t fit.” Washington only got three hours of sleep that night hoping his big bass would hold up through the second day of fishing.
Meanwhile, Randy Klevenski of Plantersville was fishing in 4 feet of water at the opposite end of the lake. He cast under brush with a finesse worm on a Texas rig to bring in his 3.13-pound, under-the-slot winner. It is one of the heaviest under-theslot fish ever caught which, Klevenski referred to as a “fat rascal.”
Another highlight of the tournament was 10-year-old Leo Moses of Kaufman bringing in an 8.79-pound beauty on the first morning of the tournament. He was leading the overall tournament for a short time. Moses fished with his pink Zebco rod and reel with 8-pound test line and a top-water Choppo lure. He became the only young angler to bring an over-the-slot bass in at a tournament here. Fishing with his father, Landon Moses, little Leo said, “I’m just thankful to get the fish in the boat.” His father didn’t grab the net and just leaned over to pull the fish in. Moses won $1,000 for heaviest bass of the hour and the hearts of tens of thousands of social media viewers. He also received a package of fishing gear as youth division winner. Competing in the tournament were 1,307 fishermen from 20 states. They were required to only use Berkley lures. Bass Champs presented a donation of $10,000 to Purple Heart Homes, an organization that focuses on addressing the unique housing challenges veterans face.
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For Lone Star outdoor newS
Javier Hernandez landed this shark on a spoon while fishing from the Matagorda jetties during the annual fall mullet run. Photo by Brandon Molina.
A deckhand leaders one of four blue marlin caught by anglers aboard the Blue Rush 2.0. The boat went 4-for-4 on blues. Photo by Grant Kilcrease.
Ten-year-old Leo Moses, pictured with his dad, Landon, holds an 8.79-pound bass. He became the only youth angler to bring in an over-the-slot bass in Berkley’s 20-year history.
Photo by Vivian Leopold, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Lacking data
TPWD having trouble determining flounder numbers since gill net surveys closed
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS
Determining the impact of seasonal closures of flounder fishing has been challenging for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
“We saw a bump in 2022. It went back down in 2023 to where we saw it in 2021. The problem that we have is we don’t have any data since then, really. Because the gear that we use to survey, gill nets, has been suspended since the beginning of last year,” said TPWD’s Joel Anderson.
TPWD does conduct creel surveys at boat ramps.
“That’s a good way to determine what is being harvested. It is not as great a way to determine abundance,” Anderson said. “Because what we see is constrained by what anglers are allowed to harvest, but catch seems to be pretty steady over the last 10 years, so that’s an indication that there hasn’t been a decrease.”
There are a couple of other ways biologists use to target younger fish: bag seine and bay trolls.
“Neither of those has really shown the same trends as our gill nets, so we know that the natural mortality is happening somewhere between our gear targeting smaller fish and gill nets,” he said.
These other methods do not tell TPWD how the adult population of flounder is doing, though, which has made it difficult to tell if the complete closure of the season
from Nov-Dec has had any effect on overall populations or how effective the flounder stocking program has been in recent years.
“We do have a pilot study that’s going on that is being funded by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission,” Anderson said. The focus of this study is to get a handle on the discard number, or the fish that are not harvested by anglers, of various species. It is not specifically targeted to flounder; “but we can get a better estimate of what is being caught in that fishery that is not constrained by the bag limit,” he added.
This study is set to begin next year. There are three locations for the pilot program — Galveston Bay, San Antonio Bay, and the
Urban fishing thriving in San Antonio
By Jacob Abrami
In Central Texas’ largest city, fall has arrived bringing cooler mornings and lower afternoon highs. Fair weather sunrises and warm afternoons are just right to coax out eager anglers accustomed to retreating indoors throughout the summer. With sunlight lingering into the evening, there is plenty of time and space to target warm weather species into the months ahead. And for residents of the Alamo City, the proximity to world class fishing has never been closer.
Since Mission Reach’s completion in 2013, city residents and visitors alike have been able to comfortably and reliably fish within city limits. Bringing together wild spaces with accessible river frontage, urban anglers can cast from restored banks or float a kayak using public launches and chutes to explore this restored stretch of river.
“The diversity below our waterline is truly impressive,” said Garrett Tucker, an Aquatic Biologist with the San Antonio River Authority. “Anglers can encounter everything from sizable largemouth bass to channel catfish, colorful sunfish like the longear sunfish and warmouth, and even lesser-
known native species like Texas logperch and tadpole madtom.”
Thanks to careful monitoring by scientists like Garrett at SARA and more than 30 years of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s stocking program, there is a good chance you could land the state fish, the Guadalupe bass.
With so much going on, choosing a favorite fishing
A century of production
In May 1925, the Heart of the Hills State Fish Hatchery, now known as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center was born in the Texas Hill Country. One hundred years later, the hatchery continues to play an important role in ensuring the science-based management and conservation of freshwater fisheries in Texas.
“As we reflect on 100 years of impact, we are filled with gratitude for the lasting legacy made possible by the visionaries, leaders, donors, and supporters who made this facility and its later renovation a reality,” said Tim Birdsong, Director of TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division. “Heart of the Hills has sustained an incredibly high level of productivity for generations. We are truly humbled and inspired by the commitment, passion, and professionalism of current and former staff whose impactful careers offered figurative road maps for subsequent generations. Their steady, collective contributions to the TPWD mission can be experienced by anglers in public waters across the state.”
In a 1925 report, the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission said: “It is our intention to make of this the largest bass hatchery in the United States, the output of which will be used in restocking the streams and lakes of the Hill Country where it is estimated that upwards of half a million citizens of Texas seek the out-of-doors annually.”
The facility’s sole purpose up until 1969 was fish production, but in 1970 it transitioned to focusing primarily on applied fisheries research.
Notable Research Projects:
• Guadalupe bass conservation
• Non-lethal age-identification techniques for bass
• Stocking source research for redear Sunfish
• Blue sucker tagging project with Texas Tech, Texas A&M University
• Conservation of protected mussels, crayfish
• Alligator gar research
O.C. Fisher Reservoir stocking working
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries biologist sampled the largemouth bass and prey species populations at O. C. Fisher Reservoir on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Their results indicate that stockings this spring were successful.
The prey base in the reservoir, primarily bluegill sunfish and gizzard shad are in great shape. Biologists collected bluegill ranging from 2 to 5 inches with the majority measuring 4 inches. Gizzard shad were abundant and ranged from 5 to 8 inches, the majority measured 6 or 7 inches, ideal eating size for largemouth bass and other predators.
This spring, TPWD stocked fingerling Lone Star bass, the offspring of pure Florida largemouth bass that have the proven genetics to reach trophy size in Texas waters. The fish collected during the survey ranged in size from 7 to 11 inches and were in excellent shape. Otoliths were removed from a few individuals to check for age, confirming that these fish were the ones stocked five months ago. Overall body condition was well above the standard biologists use to assess bass. This is likely the result of an abundance of food resources and the lack of competition from other predators, aside from channel catfish which were stocked last fall. These largemouth bass are growing and will make for excellent fishing opportunities in the near future.
spot won’t be easy; on the Mission Reach alone there are more than eight miles of successfully restored in-city river habitat. The entire stretch’s fishability is enhanced by those few miles’ connection to the more than 8,800 miles of rivers, creeks and streams in the San Antonio River basin, extending from the Hill Country and along 240 miles to the Gulf.
TPWD does not have good flounder data this year due to NOAA’s gill net survey ban. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Kayak paddlers can enjoy solid urban fishing access in several places along San Antonio’s rivers. Photo by City of San Antonio.
TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT
ALAN HENRY: 74 degrees; 3.11’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut baits and prepared baits.
AMISTAD: Water very stained; 81 degrees; 59.47’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and spinnerbaits.
AQUILLA: Water stained; 84 degrees; 1.19’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on jigging spoons. Catfish are good on prepared baits.
ARLINGTON: Water slightly stained; 90 degrees; 2.90’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shad. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
ARROWHEAD: Water stained; 78 degrees; 1.83’ low. Catfish are fair on fresh cut shad.
ATHENS: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.02’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, spoons, and soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
AUSTIN: Water clarity good; 82 degrees; 0.50’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, weightless flukes, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and Texas-rigged soft plastics.
B A STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
BASTROP: Water stained; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on small top-waters, frogs, jerkbaits, and shaky heads.
BELTON: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.21’ high. White bass are good on slabs and down rigging with pet spoons. Catfish are fair on dough bait.
BENBROOK: Water stained; 79 degrees; 2.76’ low. Crappie are good on live minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait. Hybrids are fair on live bait.
BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 89 degrees; 0.98’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.
BOIS D’ARC: Stained; 85 degrees; 1.57’ low. Largemouth bass are good on buzz baits, topwater frogs, square-billed crankbaits, soft plastics, and chatterbaits. Crappie are good on minnows.
BRADY: Water stained; 76 degrees; 1.36’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
BRAUNIG: Water stained; 85 degrees; Redfish are fair on spoons and soft plastics. Catfish are slow.
BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 78 degrees; 3.22’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, flukes, Senkos, and chatterbaits. White bass and hybrids are fair on top-waters and slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and live bait.
BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 74 degrees; 1.84’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-water frogs, flukes, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad or perch.
BRYAN: Water stained; 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse-style baits.
BUCHANAN: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.84’ low. Striper are fair trolling and on top-waters.
Hybrid striper and white bass are fair on top-waters and slabs.
CADDO: Water stained; 83 degrees; water level at 168.76 feet. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, chatterbaits, swimbaits, frogs, Texas rigs, and drop shots.
CALAVERAS: Water stained; 88 degrees; Redfish are good on spoons casting and trolling. Catfish are good on stink bait and live tilapia.
CANYON LAKE: Water stained; 83 degrees; 17.81’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spoons, square-billed crankbaits, chatterbaits, and soft plastics. Striper and white bass are slow.
CEDAR CREEK: Water slightly stained; 77 degrees; 2.10’ low. Hybrids are good on slabs and spinnerbaits. Catfish are good on cut shad.
CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 88 degrees; 37.62’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie and white bass are good on small jigs and spinners.
CISCO: Water stained; 87 degrees; 15.53’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and worms.
COLEMAN: Water stained; 82 degrees; 2.30’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on small finesse worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
COLETO CREEK: Water stained; 91 degrees; 2.06’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
COMANCHE CREEK: 90 degrees; 0.36’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Catfish are good on prepared or cut baits.
CONROE: Water stained; 83.6 degrees; 0.61’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Hybrid and white bass are good on slabs, spoons, and shad. Catfish are good on punch bait, liver, and worms.
COOPER: Water stained; 78 degrees; 2.56’ low. Crappie are good on minnows.
CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: Water stained; 81 degrees; 16.38’ low. Catfish are fair on shad.
CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.70’ low. Crappie are good on minnows.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 80 degrees; 2.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits and jerkbaits. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Perch are good on nightcrawlers. Carp and buffalo are good on sweet corn. Catfish are good on manufactured bait and cut bait.
FALCON: Water stained; 87 degrees; 46.58’ low.
Largemouth bass are fair on shallow-running crankbaits and Senkos.
Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrids are good on minnows and shad. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on crankbaits. Catfish are fair on minnows and cut bait.
GEORGETOWN: Water stained; 82 degrees; 7.36’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on reaction baits.
GRAHAM: Water stained; upper 80 degrees; 2.84’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass and hybrids are good on jigs and spoons. Catfish are good on cut shad and chicken liver.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.89’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on spinnerbaits and slabs. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are good on cut bait.
GRANGER: Water stained; 82 degrees; 0.29’ high. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slab spoons. Catfish are good on live bait and cut bait.
GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.91’ low. White bass are good on slab spoons.
GREENBELT: Water stained; 85 degrees; 50.03’ low. White bass are good on minnows.
HAWKINS: Water slightly stained; 84 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. Bream are good on nightcrawlers.
HOUSTON: Water clear; 82 degrees; 0.13’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on grubs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on pet spoons. Catfish are good on shrimp and fresh shad.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 82 degrees; 0.17’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on reaction baits.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water Stained; 80 degrees; 13.20’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
INKS: Water stained; 81 degrees; 0.90’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on dropshot rigged finesse worms. Hybrids and striper are good on top-waters.
JACKSONVILLE: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.01’ high. Largemouth bass are good on jigs, top-waters, and soft plastics.
FAYETTE: Water slightly stained; 90 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are slow.
FORK: stained; 84 degrees; .64’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, Carolina rigs, and crankbaits. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.
FT PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 78 degrees; 4.72’ low.
LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 78 degrees; 0.34’ high. Crappie are good on jigs.
LAVON: Water stained; 86 degrees; 2.42’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are on fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
LBJ: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.19’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 82 degrees; 1.13’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair
on slabs, spoons, spinnerbaits and live bait. Hybrid striper are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
LIMESTONE: Water clear; 77 degrees; 1.43’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, and Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are fair on spoons. Catfish are fair on cut bait and minnows.
LIVINGSTON: Stained; 82 degrees; 0.73’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged worms and top-waters. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait.
MARBLE FALLS: Stained; 85 degrees; 0.71’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on reaction baits.
MARTIN CREEK: Water slightly stained; 87 degrees; 1.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina-rigged worms and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slab spoons.
MEREDITH: Water stained; 79 degrees; 43.20’ low. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are good on crankbaits, jointed jerk baits, and topwater lures. Crappie are fair on jigs. Bluegill and perch are good on worms and corn. Walleye are good on grubs, bottom bouncers, chatterbaits, and live minnows. Catfish are good on minnows, worms, stinkbait, and frozen shrimp.
MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 2.92’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and buzzbaits.
are good on minnows and jigs. Hybrids and white bass are fair on top-waters. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait.
PINKSTON: Water stained; 77 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina-rigged soft plastics, flukes, and swimbaits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.58’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, crankbaits, shaky heads, and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are good on jigs. Striper are good on top-waters. White bass are good on top-waters and slabs. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut shad.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 87 degrees; 1.90’ low. White bass and hybrids are fair on top-waters and slabs. Catfish are good on worms and cut bait.
RAVEN: Water stained; 79 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic worms.
RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.47’ low. White bass are fair on small swimbaits, tail spinners, and rattletraps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait.
NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 79 degrees; 1.26’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina-rigged soft plastics, flukes, and swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait and live minnows.
NACONICHE: Water slightly stained; 79 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are good on square-bills, jerkbaits, glide baits, top-waters, and underspins. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow.
NASWORTHY: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 1.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and top-waters. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.
NAVARRO MILLS: 85 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair trolling. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait.
O H IVIE: Water stained; 80 degrees; 18.29’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwater frogs, spooks, and small creature baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good cut shad and stink bait.
OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 21.43’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are slow.
PALESTINE: Water stained; 79 degrees; 0.32’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.
RAY ROBERTS: Water slightly stained; 82 degrees; 1.15’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water slightly stained; 83 degrees; 1.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on square-billed crankbaits and chatterbaits. Hybrids and white bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.
SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 80 degrees; 7.81’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on topwater frogs, Senkos, crankbaits, jigs, and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 81 degrees; 1.36’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair on spoons and shad. Hybrids are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
SPENCE: Water stained; 77 degrees; 50.01’ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and fresh cut bait.
STAMFORD: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.71’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow.
STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 81 degrees; 0.13’ high. White bass are fair on slabs and downrigging with pet spoons. Catfish are fair on doughbait.
TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 1.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shallow crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Hybrid striper and white bass are good on inline spinners and slab spoons. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait.
TEXANA: Water stained; 78 degrees; 3.46’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on shad.
TEXOMA: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.48’ high. Striper are fair on live bait, swimbaits and slabs. White bass are fair on slabs and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait.
TOLEDO BEND: 90 degrees; 4.08’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs.
TRAVIS: Water stained; 82 degrees; 10.04’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged Senkos and Carolina-rigged creature baits.
TWIN BUTTES: Water stained; 77 degrees; 34.00’ low. Catfish are good on punch bait and fresh cut bait. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
TYLER: Water stained; 82 degrees; 1.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on trick worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Bream are fair on red worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on liver and nightcrawlers.
WACO: Water stained; 78 degrees; 0.37 feet above pool. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and deep diving crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.
WALTER E LONG: Water stained; 88 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and swimbaits.
WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 80 degrees; 5.22’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and shrimp.
WELSH: Water stained. 90 degrees. Crappie are fair on minnows.
WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 78 degrees; 17.77’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait.
WHITNEY: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.74’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Striped bass are good on live bait and top-waters. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on punch bait.
WORTH: Water stained; 84 degrees; 1.32’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shallow running crankbaits and topwater lures. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on punch bait. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 78 degrees; 4.28’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs tipped with minnows.
Firsts all around
Red snapper trip yields many new experiences for anglers
By Tony Vindell For Lone Star outdoor newS
Anyone believing that red snapper fishing in state waters nets smaller fish than those caught in federal waters, better think twice.
A recent trip out of Port Mansfield revealed this not to be the case. Red snapper fishing in state waters is open all year round, however, some anglers can’t wait for the opening of federal waters that begins 9 nautical miles from shore.
Although both areas hold plenty of red snapper, deeper waters produce bigger fish on average.
But red snapper weighing closer to 20 pounds can be caught near shore — the trick is knowing where and when to go.
Harlingen resident Malachi Oxford and four other anglers made a four-hour trip recently in state waters and the red snapper fishing was superb.
One of the anglers even described it as “the best fishing time of my life.”
John Edwards, a Kansas man who now lives in Florida, said the amount and quality of the fish caught was amazing.
“This is awesome,” he said, after the Oct. 15 trip. “It has been quite an experience for me.”
For Nate Davis, the trip was also one for the books for him.
He got two of the biggest snapper of the 20 caught by the five anglers. One was 29 inches long and his second one 28 inches, each weighing about 15 pounds.
Oxford also caught a 31-inch long snapper estimated to weigh 19 pounds using a bucktail jig, while the others used squid and dead mullet.
Oxford said fishing in state waters can be as good, if not better, than in federal waters.
“I fished for kingfish a little while back,” he said,
while reeling in the biggest snapper caught. “I found and marked this new spot where we are right now.”
The red snapper fishing trip was the first of two expeditions as the anglers tried their luck earlier gigging for flounder along the banks of the Port Mansfield Cut.
Gigging went on from 3 to 7 a.m. and fishing from 9 to 11 a.m.
Davis, who also gigged the biggest flounder, said he was thrilled for making the trip.
“This is a first one for me,” said the Kansas man back at the marina. “My first biggest big red snapper. My first time gigging. My first flounder. My first time fishing in Port Mansfield.”
Crappie
Continued from page 1
“We are hitting anywhere from about 18 to 25 brush piles in a day,” Sikes said. “If you’re able to catch more than five crappie on a single brush pile, then you’re doing really well on that particular pile. Most brush piles on Toledo are only render ing one to four fish right now.”
Sikes said crappie on Sam Ray burn reservoir have preferred minnows over jigs recently, in brush piles in 18- to 25-feet of water.
“The fish are much more concentrated on Rayburn right now,” Sikes said. “You can eas ily catch 20 to 30 crappie on one brush pile when you find them.”
Sikes said the crappie on Sam Rayburn have been in the 12- to 14inch range.
According to Lake Lavon fishing guide Carey Thorn, crappie have been striking both minnows and jigs over brush and standing timber in 10- to 20-feet of water.
“We are also catching some fish in shallow brush piles in about 7 feet of water,” Thorn said. “Most of the crappie in the shallow piles are suspended about 3 or 4 feet below the surface.”
Thorn said he is also starting to find some concentrations of crappie as deep as 25 feet over the railroad tracks on Lavon. However, he said the sweet spot recently has really been in the 10- to 20-feet depth range.
“It seems like just about every piece of structure in 10- to 20-feet of water is holding crappie right now,” Thorn said.
Lake Fork fishing guide Jordan Sanders said the key to loading the boat with crappie has been covering water. He’s been using forward facing sonar to target fish in stretches of 17- to 24-feet of water and also a bit deeper up to 33 feet of water. Live minnows have been producing the best results for his anglers.
“When you stop seeing 15 to 25 catchable fish on forward facing sonar over the period of an hour or so, then it’s time to move to a different area,” Sanders said. “The key is to just keep on moving and covering water until you find a decent concentration of crappie.”
Sanders said main lake and secondary channels have been holding plenty of fish on Fork, as well as flats adjacent to these areas.
Malachi Oxford, left, and Nate Davis with their red snapper and flounder caught in state waters. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Photo by Josh Sikes.
Social media
Continued from page 1
using their smart phones and social media to gain intel and information about how and where to fish, many folks are either resisting the urge to post their catches on social media, or they are altering the photos before they post them.
Enter the blurred background effect.
Some anglers and fishing guides edit the images of themselves or their clients with quality fish, so the background is blurred out and unrecognizable. This act beckons the question, does blurring out the background really matter? And if it does, can posting a photo of a fish without a blurred background give up or even ruin a fishing spot?
Avid and successful middle and upper coast inshore tournament angler D.J. Rouse said he believes posting a photo of a fish or sharing it with folks without being mindful of what’s in the background can definitely give up the location of where the fish was caught.
“You won’t see a recognizable landmark or background in any photos that I post on social media,” Rouse said. “I make sure to take photos in a way that doesn’t reveal anything noticeable about where I’m fishing. Whether I turn to put open water in the background, or I crop the frame of the image to where very little of the background can be seen, I make sure I’m not giving up my spot.”
Rouse said he has definitely seen the effects of folks scrolling social media looking for intel and spots to fish.
“Nothing seems to be a secret anymore,” he said. “The word can get out on social media about a school of redfish, and before you know it, you’ll be headed to what you feel like is a spot you’re going to have all to yourself and find multiple boats there.”
Rouse said he does not post any photos on the days leading up to a tournament where he’s competing. He also said there are some fish photos he just doesn’t post at all and keeps them to himself.
Sabine area angler Logan Mitchell said there are certain areas he likes to fish where folks could easily figure out exactly where he is at if he included the background in the photo.
“There are certain spots I hold near and dear to my heart,” Mitchell said. “They hold special memories for me and almost always produce quality fish at certain times during the year. I want to pass these areas on to my kids, but I don’t want them to be overrun with crowds.”
Matagorda Bay angler Riley Freese said he took most of his photos off his social media platforms once he started noticing increased traffic in the areas he likes to fish for trout and redfish.
“Everywhere I went, people started asking me about the fish I was posting photos of on Facebook,” Freese said. “I realized I was part of a problem, so I removed most of the photos from my profile.”
Coastal bend angler Danny Uribe offered a different perspective. He said an image could give away a location, but it wouldn’t necessarily enable a person to catch fish in that specific area.
“Fishing is all about approach,” Uribe said. “You could have GPS coordinates to a spot that has been loaded with fish, and if you don’t take the right approach, you won’t be able to catch them. If somebody is willing to put in the effort and do everything they can do to learn how to become a better angler, then more power to them.”
Uribe said it’s important to be mindful about how this information sharing age is approached as anglers.
“While most avid anglers don’t want to just tell anyone and everyone where and how they are catching fish, it’s important to make sure we pass on the traditions of the sport and continue to grow the community,” he said. “That’s definitely a gray area subject right now, with the amount of information that is available at everyone’s fingertips on their smart phone.”
Billfish
Continued from page 8
Danny said the boat made several passes near the FADs the morning of their trip, with anglers hooking mahi mahi and black fin tuna very near the buoys. The marlin came a little farther away — up to a mile from the devices.
“That’s the only structure out there,” Danny said. “Every time we went by, we caught a mahi mahi or a tuna. It’s only about 3- or 4-feet of bouy above the waterline, but they attract a lot of life.”
The boat owners caught the first several marlin before retiring to watch the Texas/ Oklahoma football game while Grant con tinued trolling.
“I caught the fourth,” Danny said.
“The other three were caught on the small rig, so the fight took longer, about 25 minutes. The fish I caught was about 250 pounds, and he hit the teaser first, and the deckhand put the bait right by the teaser. I could put a lot more pressure on the fish due to the 170-pound leader and bigger reel. We had him beside the boat in about 7.5 minutes.”
The last fish of the day put on the best aerial display.
“He jumped close to the boat,” Danny said. “He got up on his tail and the deckhand was a little worried he might come in the boat. He was real green. We backed down and grabbed the leader. It was a good release.”
All of the marlin were in the 200- to 250-pound class.
Both father and son are still smiling thinking about the great day offshore.
“It was awesome,” Grant said. “Really special. The only reason I’m here is because he reached out. It was really cool to get him on his first blue marlin with me as the captain.”
Dad agreed.
“It was a special day,” Danny said. “Everything was perfect.”
Father/son Grant and Danny Kilcrease on the dock after a great day spent together on the water. Photo from Grant Kilcrease.
GRIP & GRIN
Al May caught this 31-inch redfish on his 81st birthday.
Bill Minyard caught the largest redfish (26 3/4 inches) at the Port Bay Club fly-fishing tournament near Rockport.
Cooper Keys made his first retrieves of these sharptailed grouse near Fairbanks, Alaska. The red lab was bred at AB Kennels near Port Lavaca before moving north.
Ayla Jones traveled with her mom, Rebecca, to South Africa where she took a warthog and this impala with impressive 150-yard shots.
James and Susie Jeans with James’ 375 1/4-inch gross buck taken at Battenkill Ranch in New York.
Successful hunt
Continued from page 1
Holloway said he began to get real worked up and started shaking as the buck came in to the feeder. He gathered himself and drew his bow. Just as he released the arrow, the deer ducked and turned.
“I completely missed him,” Holloway said. “My arrow ricochetted off the feed pen and went flying into the air. The buck ran off about 30 yards in the direction he came from and just stood there for about 10 minutes.”
Holloway said the buck finally turned towards him and walked down the treeline, right to the tree he was perched in. The deer stood underneath him at about 10 yards for a couple of minutes, but there was a limb in the way that prevented him from taking a shot.
“Then the buck walked straight away from me to the feeder,” Holloway said. “He sort of made a loop around the feeder and then stopped at 32 yards. I knew this was my chance for redemption and focused on taking my time and making a good shot.”
This time when Holloway released his arrow, it passed right through the vitals of the buck. The deer ran about 45 yards before he crashed and expired.
Mason Mullen arrowed a 7.5-year-old buck that scored 152 inches on a lease in Webb County. He said bucks were still in bachelor groups and frequenting feeders regularly early in the mornings.
“I was sitting in a pop-up blind with the intent of laying eyes on that deer,” Mullen said. “He was the first buck to come out that morning, and I knew I wouldn’t have long because it was pretty warm. The buck gave me an 18-yard shot, and I let an arrow fly.” Mullen said the buck ran about 50 yards before crashing in the brush. It became his new, personal best archery buck.
Monty Cain and Willie Waldrip harvested bucks on consecutive sits while hunting on the high fence portion of Waldrip’s family property in Sutton County called Feathered Arrow Ranch. They said deer activity had been really slow on the ranch until their most recent trip.
Waldrip was hunting out of a saddle in a tree in the morning, overlooking a trail deer typically use to and from a nearby feeder.
“Sometimes the older deer on the ranch will shy away from feeders, and I felt like hunting a trail would give me a better chance at getting a shot at the mature buck I was after,” Waldrip said. “This was the second season I was hunting this buck, and I only saw him one time last year.”
Waldrip said the buck walked out in front of him and stopped 55 yards away. After the deer eluded him last season, he decided to take the opportunity in front of him. He made a great shot, and the deer went down within 50 yards of where it was standing. The mature buck scored right at 202 inches.
Later that afternoon, Cain got settled into a tree in a saddle overlooking a feeder where the buck he was chasing had been frequenting during the evening hours.
“The buck showed up a little before sunset, and I watched him feed for what seemed like an eternity,” Cain said. “He finally gave me a quartering away shot at 15 yards, and I took it.” Cain said the deer ran a little over 50 yards before he watched him fall. The buck scored 191 inches.
Properties producing that kind of headgear might be rare, but the way to hunt mature bucks remains consistent. Move back off a feeder several hundred yards to a staging area and hunters might find more success on older bucks.
Monty Cain arrowed this 191-inch buck on the Feathered Arrow Ranch in Sutton County.
Photo from Monty Cain.
Guest Speakers
Colton
said. “For me, this is a lifestyle, and my goal is to put my kids first while teaching them in the safest way I can.”
Like Naylor, this is the mindset of all fathers on this hunt and the kids reciprocated perfectly. Naylor said having more people attend this year was really special.
“The kids were two-legged bird dogs running around having the time of their lives,” Naylor said. “We talked to them about how we turn the birds into meat, provided snacks, and even watched them race to get birds.”
Golding said this year they brought in a game warden to talk about their role as well as a member of an outfitters group to share dove biology and migration. Eight-year-old Tegan Kjeldgaard was one of many who left positively impacted.
“I wanted to go on this dove hunt because I knew it was a way to honor Wynne … she loved to hunt,” Kjeldgaard said. “My favorite part was cleaning the dove and having fun with family and friends.”
Eleven-year-old Mo Kjeldgaard said for the very first time, she was able to hunt and enjoy God’s creation.
“A lot of people are getting addicted to screens which is not good,” Mo Kjeldgaard said. “I’ve never hunted before, and my favorite part was shooting my first dove.”
Golding said this two-day hunt filled him with gratitude as many of them grew up hunting, but did not have this kind of community that pulled together like this.
“If you want to get involved in this world, find a mentor who is comfortable and willing to spend time with you to teach you,” Naylor said. “That is the purpose of this hunt and if the opportunity arrives, do not worry about anything else, just do it.”
In Wynne’s honor, Naylor said the More Like Wynne Foundation serves to educate and provide opportunities for the youth to have interest in the outdoors.
“Kids being able to learn how to hunt like this with their dads was very special and will continue to be years ahead,” Naylor said.
him that afternoon.”
Pronghorn numbers in the Panhandle have declined in recent years due to drought. However, a good season of rains this year has biologists hopeful for a resurgence up north.
“The Panhandle has been in decline,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Pronghorn Leader Shawn Grey, “but numbers are trending up. We’re hopeful in the next three or four years that numbers will be back to where they were previously.”
In the Trans-Pecos region, Grey said the herd was stable, but still short of long-term population goals.
“Conditions are good, and we finally got some rain,” he said. “I’m really hoping it continues. The Trans-Pecos herd is down but holding steady. I really haven’t heard how the hunting season has gone, but there are a few bucks out there for hunters to pursue.”
Flounder
Continued from page 9
Lower Laguna Madre. There will be technicians at the beginning of the day handing out cards to anglers so they can mark what they caught for the day. At the end of the day, they can put them into a collection box at the boat ramp.
“We are hopeful that we are going to get our gill nets back. We are working with the folks in the endangered species department in the National Marine Fisheries Service,” Anderson said. “If we can start trending positively and get back some of what we lost it would be a lot better.”
There is light at the end of the tunnel. Since 2006, TPWD has been breeding and stocking southern flounder in the Texas Bay system. In the last decade, TPWD has made major improvements to its breeding programs and more recently to the flounder brood tanks at the Sea Center. The production success of flounder has significantly improved but anglers won’t really know how effective these recent regulation changes are until TPWD can once again conduct gill net surveys to report accurate numbers. The Texas flounder season is closed from Nov. 1-Dec. 14.
One Platform. Zero Compromises.
A great group of dads and young hunters gathered near Albany for a recent dove hunt to remember young hunter Wynne Naylor.
Photo by Kelly Godfrey.
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT
REDFISH BAY: 87 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, piggy perch, and croaker. Black drum are good on live or dead shrimp and Fishbites.
SAN ANTONIO BAY: 85 degrees. Redfish are fair on top-waters, free-lined live shrimp, and cut mullet. Speckled trout are good on top-waters and live shrimp under a popping cork.
SABINE LAKE: 83 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on silver spoons, live shrimp, and soft plastics. Flounder are fair on live shrimp, live mullet, and soft plastics.
BOLIVAR: 84 degrees. Redfish, speckled trout, and black drum are good on live shrimp. Flounder are fair on live shrimp, live mullet, and soft plastics.
TRINITY BAY: 83 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp and mullet. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Black drum are fair on live shrimp.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: 82 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Flounder are fair on soft plastics and shrimp imitation lures.
GALVESTON BAY: 84 degrees. Bull reds are good on mullet. Slot redfish and black drum are fair on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: 84 degrees. Bull reds are good on mullet. Slot redfish and black drum are fair on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics.
TEXAS CITY: 84 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on live shrimp and live finger mullet. Flounder are fair on mullet.
WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, topwaters, and live shrimp. Redfish are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and cut mullet.
PORT O’CONNOR: 85 degrees. Slot redfish are good on Spanish sardines. Bull redfish are good on Spanish sardines and blue crab. Black drum are good on dead shrimp. Speckled trout are slow. Tarpon are fair on croaker.
ROCKPORT: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp, and piggy perch. Redfish are good on shrimp, mullet, and piggy perch. Black drum are good on live or dead shrimp and fish bites. Mangrove snapper are good on shrimp.
PORT ARANSAS: 85 degrees. Tarpon are fair on free-lined shrimp and swim baits. Redfish are good on live shrimp, cut mullet, and silver spoons. Oversized redfish are good on cut crab and mullet. Speckled trout are fair on croaker, piggy perch, and shrimp free lined along rocks.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 87 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet. Speckled rout and black drum are slow.
BAFFIN BAY: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics, suspending baits, and top-waters. Redfish are good on soft plastics.
PORT MANSFIELD: 85 degrees. Redfish are fair on top-waters, spoons, and soft plastics. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, topwaters, and suspending baits.
SOUTH PADRE: 83 degrees. Snook are good on top-waters. Mangrove snapper are good on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish and oversized reds are good on live croaker and cut bait.
FREEPORT: 85 degrees. Speckled trout and sand trout are good on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastics. Black drum, mangrove snapper and flounder are fair on live mullet and live shrimp.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and live shrimp. Redfish are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and cut mullet. Flounder are fair on soft plastics, live shrimp, and live mullet.
PORT ISABEL: 83 degrees. Snook are good on top-waters. Mangrove snapper are good on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish and oversized reds are good on live croaker and cut bait.
Urban fishing
Continued from page 9
Beyond Mission Reach, residents living away from the restored stretches of the river have many more miles of in-city habitat im provements on the way in the form of the Westside Creeks restoration. Com munity members can fol low design progress online or get involved through public forums. The design reviews of the four creeks — the Alazan, Apache, Martinez, and San Pedro — are well underway.
For those seeking to bol ster improvements to the river it can be as simple as fishing. Targeting inva sives like blue tilapia and armored catfish can improve habitat and relieve pressure for native fishes in the system.
Where locals once may have avoided city waters in favor of excursions to the Guadalupe or San Marcos Rivers, they are increasingly turning their interests and efforts closer to home. One local expert and enthusiast, Brandon Simmons of Alamo Anglers, recently stated: “I know that truly native Guads have been stocked south of downtown. I know that mussels have been reintroduced, (and) I know there is a great forage base. All are ingredients for growing big fish. I’ve heard from reliable sources that the next state record Guad will come from the SA River, south of downtown.”
Photo by Mission Reach.
NATIONAL
WASHINGTON
New world record elk
certified
Pope & Young has certified the new World Record Non-Typical American elk.
A special panel was convened by both the Pope & Young Club and Boone and Crockett Club consisting of experienced measurers from each organization in Lacey, Washington, on October 13 to verify the scoring of the animal—and it has officially been confirmed as the new Pope & Young World Record. This was the first ever joint special panel with both Pope & Young Club and Boone and Crockett Club convened for a potential World Record for both organizations.
On Dec. 31, 2024, Casey Brooks shot this record-breaking bull in Kittitas County, Washington. The bull has an official score of 478 2/8”, surpassing the previous Pope & Young World Record by an astounding 28 6/8”. This incredible bull is less than half an inch from the Boone and Crockett World Record, which would be the largest bull ever taken or found in North America, and Casey killed his bull with archery equipment.
—Pope & Young
OKLAHOMA
Muzzleloader season opener Oct. 25
Oklahoma’s deer muzzleloader season is Oct. 25 - Nov. 2. Like last year, adult residents and nonresidents can hunt and harvest all deer allowed within the Oklahoma muzzleloader bag limit with just a deer muzzleloader license and an annual hunting license. Hunters under 18 just need a youth annual super hunting license.
The youth annual super hunting license also covers the youth for all other hunting that requires a license in Oklahoma (federal permits and licensing rules still apply), including youth deer gun season which runs through Oct. 19. —Go Outdoors Oklahoma
ARIZONA
Quail numbers down
If you’re a bird hunter, keep your fingers crossed that more rain is on the way over the next few months so Arizona quail populations get a needed boost in 2026-2027. Fortunately, quail populations have the ability to quickly recover when adequate precipitation occurs.
In the meantime, it’s shaping up to be a challenging year to locate Gambel’s, scaled and California quail when the statewide general season opened Friday, Oct. 17, and runs through Feb. 8, 2026.
“Conditions have been extremely dry over the past year,” said Dr. Larisa Harding, small game program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “For desert birds, there were good numbers on the ground going into the winter, but the 2024-2025 winter saw little precipitation and virtually no “green-up” this past spring to support breeding activity or chick-rearing.
“All annual spring call counts for Gambel’s
quail were low this year, indicating less breeding and reproduction. Those call counts are a good predictor of what hunters can expect to see in the fall: When the counts are high, harvest numbers tend to be high. Likewise, when the counts are down, hunters can expect lower harvest.”
—AZGFD
WASHINGTON D.C.
Supreme Court declines corner crossing case
The U.S Supreme Court has declined to hear a case that would have given a final ruling on the question of accessing millions of acres of public land in six western states. Commonly known as corner crossing, the case began in 2021 when a sheriff in Wyoming filed criminal trespass charges against four Missouri hunters who placed a ladder between two catty-corner public parcels of land, climbed over, and hunted the public land. The property’s owner maintained the hunters had trespassed on his property. The hunters’ attorney, on the other hand, argued because they only passed through private airspace and did not touch private land, they were in the clear. A jury ruled in favor of the hunters, but the property owner then sued civilly for $7 million in damages.
The 10th Circuit of Appeals also agreed with the hunters in the civil case. That ruling now stands, and corner crossing is legal in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. However, the issue remains a grey area outside of those six states, including Texas.
—Staff report
MONTANA
Antelope harvest down
The general antelope hunting season opened Saturday, Oct. 11. Fish, Wildlife & Parks operated game check stations in Big Timber, Broadview and Billings on both Saturday and Sunday for the opening weekend. Hunter success was highest at the Big Timber check station at 57 percent. Over the weekend, 157 hunters visited the check station, which is down slightly from opening weekend last year and well below the long-term average of 281 hunters. This was the only check station in the region with a decrease in hunters compared to opening weekend of 2024.
FWP staff checked 88 antelope — 67 males and 21 females — at this check station, which is well below the long-term average of 157. Five of the checked males had horns 14 inches or longer, which is significantly lower than the 13 of this size class checked last year over opening weekend.
The Broadview check station saw the highest number of hunters but the lowest success rate for the region, a trend consistent with recent years. Of the 237 hunters that visited this check station, only 27 percent had harvested big game. Hunter numbers were above the long-term average of 205 for the weekend.
—MFWP
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Robert Earl Keen to be honored at PCQ Banquet
Some sounds of Texas just belong together. Like a classic red dirt country song coming from an open pickup truck window in a bluebonnet field with a bobwhite quail calling in the distance.
Park Cities Quail Coalition has announced Robert Earl Keen as the 20th recipient of our T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award. Keen is a Texas country music legend, who thoroughly enjoys the sporting life when not on the road.
After decades on the road, with 21 albums, countless shows, songs sung by legends like George Strait and The Highwaymen, he might have had every reason to slow down, but his calendar is fuller than ever. This year alone, he made his Grand Ole Opry debut, joined Tyler Childers for a sold-out performance at the Hollywood Bowl, and helped his longtime friends Turnpike Troubadours bring the house down at Red Rocks Amphitheater. He continues to headline iconic venues across the country, host his Americana Podcast: The 51st State, write a forthcoming book, and is currently working on a new studio album. This year, he also led Applause for the Cause, a major benefit concert raising over $3 million dollars for flood relief in the Texas Hill Country. It was a testament not just to his influence, but to his commitment to the community that has nurtured him for over two decades. Keen says, “when you are on top of a quail truck, you are on top of the world”. He was 10 years old when Santa laid a vintage, model 42, .410 pump shotgun under the family Christmas tree. It was a defining moment for Robert. “When all my friends were shooting paper plates with BB guns, I was hunting rabbits, squirrels, and dove with my .410”. As his love for hunting and the outdoors grew, so did his collection of tools of the trade. His classic quote is, “A man can never have too many guitars or shotguns.” He still has his Model 42 .410 pump that he received that Christmas, along with many others in his collection, including his Merkel .410 side by side, as well as his Merkel 28-gauge side by side. He is also the proud owner of two English Cockers, Mac and Roadie “the Superdog.”
Screwworm
screwworm can have a huge impact to both cattle and wildlife.
“What can we do to be prepared?” Zamora asked. “Getting informed is one way.”
The warning is being issued even though no flies or the larvae have been detected in Texas … yet.
Zamora said a meeting organized by the Beef Cattle Program was held on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Willacy County Livestock Showgrounds.
The meeting covered a number of topics, including winter feeding, forage quality and availability and an update of the New World Screwworm.
Zamora said things are different today than they were 60 years ago, when the screwworm was last detected in Texas.
Deer and other types of wildlife hunting are not what they were back then, he said.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER
Solution on Page 26
ACROSS
1. Number of a species you can have with you
6. It’s in the eye of the hunter
7. Head guide
8. Protrudes from point on a hook
10. Social gathering after angling trip
12. Way to attract fish
14. Slowly hunting through the woods
16. End of a hunting arrow
17. Slang term for muzzleloader
18. Required on many public land hunts
20. Can be used during archery season
23. Used to attract flocks of ducks
27. Western river purist bait of choice
30. Used to catch predators
31. A tenet of Boone and Crockett
32. Multi-bait bass lure
33. Anglers on a beach
34. Common duck hunting dog
35. A buck regrows yearly
36. Bullet speed measurement
DOWN
2. Another name for a track
3. Most common Texas dove
4. Used to call a buck
5. Anglers hunt for this under water
8. A bait casters bane
9. Good for hunting when there are no trees
11. Recommended quickly after the kill
13. Includes quail, pheasant and chukar
15. Common duck
16. Indian exotic hunted in Texas
19. Waterfowl’s best friend
21. Casting method
22. Size of gun
24. East Texas bass fishing lake
25. Border town
26. Even more common duck
28. Oklahoma/Texas border
29. Hunting trip to Africa
30. Takes bait to the bottom
33. Must be open to hunt
ILLEGAL FISHING
On Sept. 4, a Texas Game Warden responded to an Operation Game Thief call about men illegally cast-netting undersized red drum at Calaveras Lake near the fishing pier.
Soon after the warden arrived, a grey Ford SUV matching the description sped away from the pier. The warden caught up and stopped the vehicle after confirming the matching plate. The driver admitted to catching “small fish.” In the back, the warden found an illegal oversized cast net and an ice chest loaded with 17 undersized red drum and several tilapia. (Red drum must be at least 20 inches to keep, and the daily bag limit is 3) The driver received multiple citations. The fish and net were seized, with civil restitution pending.
While wrapping up, another vehicle from the pier circled back. The warden approached the vehicle and after a short interview, the driver admitted to cast-netting tilapia but had no fishing license. The warden seized 12 tilapia and issued a citation for no fishing license.
TRESPASSING DOVE HUNTERS
On Sept. 5, Texas game wardens in Hidalgo County responded to an Operation Game Thief call about hunters trespassing on private property. When wardens arrived, the suspects had already left.
Checking known trespassing hotspots, wardens spotted a vehicle matching the caller’s description and found three hunters on another property. An investigation revealed that all three men had trespassed across multiple properties to dove hunt. Wardens also discovered the hunters were over their daily bag limit of dove, lacked valid hunting licenses, and had not completed hunter education.
Charges filed included criminal trespass, hunting without a license, over the daily bag limit of dove and no hunter education All dove were seized and donated, and civil restitution was filed. Cases are pending.
NOT PUBLIC PROPERTY
On Sept. 7, Texas game wardens received an Operation Game Thief tip about individuals shooting dove from a public roadway in Georgetown. The caller provided a license plate number and vehicle description. Although the information led to an outdated address, game wardens continued the investigation and were able to locate the vehicle and persons of interest.
After interviews, the individuals admitted to hunting dove from a public roadway, without hunting licenses, and by illegal means using a .22-caliber pellet rifle. Charges were filed on both individuals.
SNAGGING
A CITATION
Texas game wardens received an Operation Game Thief call about individuals snagging fish at the Granger Spillway in Williamson County. When the warden arrived, he observed four men fishing with rods and reels rigged with treble hooks, but without any bait. After a short interview and a search of the shoreline, the warden found a 25-inch flathead catfish with snag marks along its side.
Further investigation revealed that three of the four men did not have fishing licenses. Citations were issued for snagging fish, no fishing licenses, and civil restitution for the 25-inch catfish.
*email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
—Operation Game Thief Facebook page
2 lbs. skinless, boneless black drum or other white-fleshed fish, cut into 1-inch-wide, 1/2-inch-thick strips
Salt
2 qts. vegetable oil (safflower or sunflower is best) for frying
2 lbs. russet or Yukon gold potatoes, sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
7 oz. brown beer, cold
Black drum and chips Roasted quail with mushrooms
Salt the fish and set it aside. Heat oil to 350. Turn the oven to the lowest temperature and put a cookie sheet inside with a wire rack atop the cookie sheet. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and beer. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. While the batter is resting, slice the potatoes and put them into a large bowl of cold water. When you are done slicing, remove the potatoes and pat them dry with a paper towel. The oil should be hot by now. Fry the potato slices, 10 to 12 at a time, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until
they start to brown at the edges. Remove the potatoes with a slotted spoon and salt immediately. Store each batch on the wire rack in the warm oven. Once the potatoes are done, take the batter out of the refrigerator. Dip the fish in the batter and let the excess drip off for a second or two. Fry in batches for 5 to 8 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oil and salt each batch at once.
—MFWP
4 quail
4 slices bacon
1 Tbsp. oleo
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped Wrap bacon around quail and secure with skewer or toothpick. Place birds in shallow buttered pan; cover and bake at 350 for 2530 minutes. Baste with mixture of lemon juice and water — continue to bake until birds are tender. About 20 minutes before birds are done, add mushrooms.
Excellent served on toasted buns or rice with gravy.
Puzzle by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News
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PUBLIC NOTICE
comment from both in-person and virtual participants. During this meeting, the Council plans to take final action on two issues. First, Shrimp Amendment 19 which considers what action to take to address the expiration of the federal shrimp permit moratorium. Second, an Abbreviated Framework Action that intends to continue the provisions of the DESCEND Act that require vessels to carry a venting tool and/or descending device onboard when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf.
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TPW Commission Meeting Nov 5-6
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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 2025 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/ or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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