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ABOUT THE COVER Glenn Ellis is our cover angler, proudly displaying a ten-pound-plus trophy trout he landed late-winter 2019 in the Lower Laguna Madre, fishing with Capt.

Wayne Davis. Quite remarkably, this fish was his second career-best speck in as many days having landed a heavy eight-pounder the day before. Even more remarkable, it came on the final cast of the day. Conservation kudos on releasing both trophies!

JANUARY 2020 VOL 29 NO 9

CONTENTS

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

10 16 20 24

28 Boat Show Preview 32 Bart’s Bay Armor 34 Let’s Ask The Pro 38 Shallow Water Fishing 42 TPWD Field Notes 44 Kayak Fishing Chronicles 48 TSFMag Conservation News 52 Fishy Facts 56 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks...

60 Plastic & Water Don’t Mix 84 Boat Repair & Maintenance 85 Science & the Sea

2019 - A Year Filled With Promise Aspire, Evolve, Persevere We’re not in Kansas anymore…or Texas!

New Year’s Resolution

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard

20

TSFMag Staff Everett Johnson Jay Watkins Scott Null Tad Papes Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Eric Ozolins Everett Johnson Chris Mapp UT Marine Science Institute

WHAT OUR GUIDES

HAVE TO SAY

64 66 68 70 72 74

Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene The View from Matagorda Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Wayne’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene

Dickie Colburn Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros

REGULARS 8 Editorial 62 New Tackle & Gear 76 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 80 Catch of the Month 82 Gulf Coast Kitchen

82

68 6 | January 2020

38

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Patti Elkins Patti@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-649-2265

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Order on-line: WWW.TSFMAG.COM MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue.

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HOW TO CONTACT TSFMAG: PHONE: 361-785-3420 FAX: 361 792-4530 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 WEB: www.TSFMAG.com PHOTO GALLERY: photos@tsfmag.com PRINTED IN THE USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.

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EDITORIAL

YEP; IT’S HERE, IT’S REAL…HAPPY NEW YEAR! January is a great fishing month; our writers have packed this issue with hints and tips for your success. But you have to get on the water to enjoy it.

I can’t think of a bigger waste of time than moping on the couch – rolled in a blanket like a sausage kolache because it’s a bit chilly or windy.

Get over it already and get outdoors. Winter can be a ton of fun. And take the kids and grandkids. They’ll love you for it.

Parents gripe about kids glued to Smartphones; but whose fault is that? Kids aren’t born with them attached to their hands any more than adults are born in front of televisions watching football. Monkey see, monkey do.

While the weekend weather might not be ideal for fishing; what about taking them hunting?

Have you considered taking them to Sea Center Texas? I’ve been several times and always come away impressed.

Boat and sport shows can be fun for the whole family, especially if you include a meal and a movie.

Have you taken time with them for casting practice in the backyard with that Christmas rod and reel? Hoping “they’ll get the hang of it” when you take them fishing may be expecting too much; and might actually diminish their ability to enjoy the outing rather than looking forward to it.

The point of all this is that there are lots of interesting things to do this month, and great opportunities to encourage youngster’s interest in the outdoors. Getting them involved and teaching them to be good stewards

8 | January 2020

is our responsibility. The key is in your hands – use it!

Southern flounder are in the news again. Even though anglers have enjoyed an uptick in catching lately, TPWD says the future does not look so bright. Population sampling to discover spawning success and recruitment of fingerlings into the fishery has been declining steadily and is now at the lowest level since sampling efforts began forty years ago.

You will read several references in this issue of better-than-average flounder landings during recent months but it is important to temper this with the best available science to make sense of the situation. Flounder have a relatively short lifespan, about five to six years. While a betterthan-average number of two or three-year-old females coming into angler’s hands would suggest a recovered fishery, the serious decline in recruitment is great cause for concern.

Southern flounder in Texas waters and other gulf states are considered overfished with overfishing ongoing. Coastal Fisheries Division staff are currently advising TPW commission members of the state of the fishery according to the data, and it is reasonable to expect more conservative harvest regulations will be adopted soon.

The problem facing Coastal Fisheries staff and the commissioners will be convincing coastal fishermen of the risk in continuing to harvest the brood stocks of the future when sustainability of the fishery is not being supported by the present rate of recruitment.

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Rich with a 5-pound flounder on a chilly fall morning.

2019

A year filled with

Promise STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

A

couple of clichés are running through my head; “Man, It seems like yesterday” and, “I can’t believe the year is over already.” Well, truth be told, I really can’t believe twelve months have passed so quickly. The past year definitely had its highs and lows but, overall, we made it work and we learned a few things along the way.

January and February offered some of the best big trout fishing I’ve experienced in a long time. I ran the majority of my trips down in Matagorda Bay but sprinkled in some Galveston trips during that time as well, and we did very well for numbers of fish.

MirrOlure She Dogs and Rapala Skitter Walks did well with two of my 8-plus pound trout coming on pink Skitter Walks. Many trout in the 5- to 7-pound range were caught on MirrOlure Provokers and Paul Brown Original Fat Boys. The floating Fat Boys were extremely effective, especially the pink holograph. The Double D twitchbait by Lowell Odem and Jay Watkins had its moments too, especially when we were working shallow mud flats with bright sunlight. My good friend Bob Hardy was wading along a muddy-bottomed gut with me one day in early January when he hooked a huge trout on his Borboleta Hot Rod slow-sinking twitch bait. This bait has some serious upside potential when it comes to big trout. We focused on color changes and flipping mullet that chilly winter afternoon while releasing several 5- to 8-pound trout.

By mid-March I was back to fishing my home waters of Galveston Bay every day. The timing seemed to be perfect as the bite in Matagorda had become a bit inconsistent and we were lighting them up pretty good here at home. Above average trout fishing would continue through the first week of April with my groups catching upwards of 40 fish on many trips. A few were in the 3- to 4-pound class but nothing big made an appearance. Various soft plastics, Lele’s and topwaters worked well during this time.

What appeared to be the onset of an incredible spring was literally drowned by exceptionally heavy rainfall in East Texas and the Dallas area. The Trinity River was flowing furiously like we’ve seen so many times in recent years. As a result, the Lake Livingston dam was once again releasing fresh water at the rate of nearly 80,000 cubic feet per second. This has become an all too familiar problem. Not only did this destroy the fishing in Trinity Bay, but the freshwater TSFMAG.com | 11

inflow inundated more than 70% of the Galveston Bay Complex. I believe that a lot of our trout went into the Gulf but quite a few of them took up residence in Lower Galveston Bay and West Galveston Bay where salinities remained more suitable to their needs. By late April and early May these are the areas we had to spend time in if we wanted to catch enough to justify our efforts.

By mid-June most parts of Galveston Bay, other than Trinity, started experiencing increased salinity levels. This allowed us to spread out a little more. The problem was that the trout weren’t in all of their usual summertime spots. I was fortunate enough to have 2 or 3 patches of fish I could lean on. The trout didn’t seem to pop slicks like they have historically. Therefore, we were relegated to fishing shallow reefs and jetty-like structures while keying on rafts of mullet and pods of shad.

It wasn’t what we were used to doing but it got the job done and I learned a little something new. I probably anchored more than I have in years past but schools were small and tight to the structure and we had to weed through the small trout to get our keepers. Tails and topwaters both worked great during this time. This pattern continued all of the way through September and into early October.

The fall and early winter was very promising. We caught large numbers of keeper trout up to 5-pounds, and lots of 9- to 14-inch specks, which always bodes well for the future of the fishery. More and more slot reds showed towards the end of the year. I frequently speak with some of the guides who have been doing this guiding thing a lot longer than me and they experienced the same thing. We share theories and try to figure out where these fish came from, why they’re in some areas and why they’re not in other areas where they should be. I think a lot of it has to do with environmentally induced habitat changes. There are areas that used to have shoal grass but no longer do, and vice versa. The same can be said for live oyster reefs.

Trout, reds and other species are always going to gravitate to live

The Borboleta Lele was a great bait for us last year!

12 | January 2020

bottom structure because these are the areas that hold the greatest amount of forage, on average. The bottom landscape of the Galveston Bay Complex has changed dramatically in the last 40 years or so.

Whether we were fishing in Matagorda or Galveston Bay we caught more flounder than I can remember. We weren’t necessarily targeting them but some of the areas where we caught them weren’t all that surprising. Anyone who knows how I fish knows that I like to fish around bayou drains, marshes and back lakes quite a bit, so finding flounder in these areas shouldn’t be all that surprising. Catching the sheer numbers of them, however, was kind of eye-popping. I remember one wading trip where we caught 14 flounder. My friend, James Plaag, caught 26 nice flounder wading a flat one day this past summer. My clients and I caught 7 flounder yesterday but most of them were just short of the minimum length.

Double hook-ups like this will be more common down the road if we stay on the right path!

I had one of the worst summers for slot reds I’ve ever experienced, then the fall/winter pattern arrived. Where did they come from? Crazy!

The bad news is that I caught a disconnected (or broken) electric wire. The good news is that it had live oysters growing all over it!

Anyone who knows habitat knows that this is a great sign for things to come!

TSFMAG.com | 13

We caught several solid flounder by accident this day. I’m hoping the trend continues.

One of the highlights of 2019 was the implementation of a five fish limit for spotted seatrout here on the Upper Texas Coast. As most folks know Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on our estuaries for the past 11 or 12 years in the form of habitat destruction, floods and droughts. Many of our trout became concentrated in certain areas and made for easy pickings. The floods from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 were responsible for the displacement of many trout from this system. I can go on and on but the bottom line is this - when environmental changes cause a decline in the most popular and targeted species of fish on the coast…something has to give. It comes down to us controlling what we can control and we’re finally heading in the right direction.

To summarize things, I would compare 2019 in Galveston Bay to the 2011 – 2014 Houston Astros when their farm system was strong and they were in a rebuilding mode. They won the World Series in 2017 after years of changes and sacrifices. With the numbers of new recruits (undersize fish), along with the recent reduction in the bag limit, I think we have a shot at winning it all in years to come. Barring, of course, any further weather catastrophes and environmental changes.

Happy New Year and may everyone be blessed with plenty of fish in 2020. God Bless!

CONTACT

STEVE HILLMAN

14 | January 2020

Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures.

Phone 409-256-7937 Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com Web www.hillmanguideservice.com

TSFMAG.com | 15

ASPIRE EVOLVE PERSEVERE STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

M

ost people achieve mastery of complex endeavors through implementation of two synergistic processes--self-discovery and observation. Deep, reflective self-analysis provides a foundation for excellence, but mastering any avocation or profession while operating in a metaphorical bubble, without mimicking others, seems unlikely, even impossible. Most people who fish actively borrow sound concepts and productive practices from each other. This enhances the efforts of all anglers, regardless of methods or species targeted; it means most to those devoted exclusively to using artificial lures.

I learned much from several exceptional anglers, all of whom helped me forge the set of principles by which I operate. These people could not be described accurately as “old salts”, at least not during the timeframe in which they most profoundly influenced me. Their ages would decry the use of the label.

Without exception, these young, competitive, analytical, highlymotivated individuals displayed type-A personalities and abundant energy. I can consolidate the most valuable things they taught me into three categories, ones which serve as the foundation for excellence not only in the sport of fishing, but also in many other activities. My unintentional mentors urged me to aspire to a mindful

state, to constantly evolve and to display perseverance.

In the world of fishing, operating with a dull mind inhibits productivity, while increasing risks and dangers. Operating with an active, focused mind does the opposite. Aspiring to a mindful state involves conscious decisions made before, during, and after all outings.

The first step in this process demands actively planning each and every trip, taking into account any and all variables which might impact productivity and safety. Initially, this means checking weather forecasts and tide charts and considering the impacts these things will likely exert on the general area chosen for the outing. Further development of the float plan usually requires consulting fishing logs and/or memory, to come up with specific spots which have produced on prior days during the same season, with similar weather and celestial elements in play.

Depending on the purpose(s) of the outing, aspiring to a mindful state before departure might also include contemplation of areas of weakness, and ways to eliminate them. For instance, tournament anglers working to learn more about a body of water for an upcoming event might consciously plan to visit far-flung areas they know little about. In contrast, a weekend warrior hoping to help an older relative catch a few fish for an evening meal would likely spend time trying to devise a scheme to improve the odds of catching quickly after enjoying the comforts of a short boat-ride. In either case, cranking up the gray matter before cranking up the outboard improves the odds of fishing with an active mind while on the water.

Mindful activity carries the most weight during the hours of an outing. Fishing in a mindful state requires consciously and constantly evaluating all relevant elements which can Caleb McCumber caught this beautiful monster in the middle of a cold January day, be controlled. Mindful captains approach specific places and right after strong winds spurred by a passing cold front subsided to a whisper. target their fish in calculated ways. After arriving at some place with predicted high potential for productivity, they open their doors of perception and observe their surroundings, looking and listening not so much for specific things, but attempting to perceive every meaningful thing.

Then they decide how best to target the fish they suspect lie within the scope of their influence. Rather than just throwing whatever’s tied onto the end of the line from the last outing, a mindful angler makes a conscious decision to deploy some specific lure because it makes the most sense, given the details of the situation.

Once they make a choice about what to throw, anglers in the proper mindset begin to experiment with presentation, again acknowledging the environmental elements in play at the time and place, attempting to identify movement patterns which produce strikes most consistently. If early choices produce at an acceptable rate, these alert anglers work to maximize productivity; if and when things don’t play out as planned, they make more meaningful adjustments to lure choice, presentation, or aspects of the location they’ve chosen.

Eventually, alert anglers usually identify predictable dilemmas related to sticking with the plans they originally made or altering them to meet the perceived needs presented by the vagaries of the moment.

Chuck Holloway with another fine specimen In all cases, the most astute anglers pause to reflect on what caught in January with the captain. they’ve done after they finish an outing, ideally recording

18 | January 2020

Chad Goyen urged this pretty trout to take a soft plastic on a calm January day with bluebird skies.

well or better than the ones already known.

Paying proper homage to the concept of perseverance involves understanding when conditions provide high potential for evolution and when they dictate the need for relying on the known. Sometimes, persevering means sticking with a lure or presentation when its production rate is low; at other times, persevering means standing and casting at a proven, productive spot while experimenting with lure choice because moving will almost certainly take low chances for success right down to zero. In other contexts, showing perseverance might mean continuing to search for just the right spot for the conditions, running through a relatively long list of candidates, when conditions allow for doing so. In still other circumstances, it might involve continuing to employ a specific pace of movement, despite experiencing poor results for a while.

In the best-case scenarios, a mindful angler understands when to persist and when to abandon well-made plans. No angler gets these things right every time. The most productive work from an active mindset which enhances their chances and helps them evolve, so they can persevere with the best choices an optimal percentage of the time.

KEVIN COCHRAN CONTACT

details in some form of a log. Many bounce ideas off partners during this analytical phase, considering the experiences of others and cross-referencing them with their own, with the goal of generating solid conclusions about what worked and what didn’t. The ultimate aim of post-outing analysis involves identifying strengths and building them into future plans, while pinpointing mistakes to eliminate.

This leads to the second important element of excellence, the need to evolve. All aspects of human life dictate this need. In fact, a person will either evolve or regress, whether attempting to or not, since change is a permanent element of our existence.

Sand flows through the glass, waves caress the beach, the tide rolls in and out, and people change. In order to change in productive ways, or evolve, instead of regressing, people must fight one of the most powerful and universal components of human behavior, the tendency to resist change.

The strength of the survival instinct dictates a basic inclination to resist change. An individual who feels happy and well does not want things to change. In its ideal form, resistance to change creates a sturdy foundation for many positive behaviors. For instance, it allows people to rely on practices and behaviors which generate productive results.

In its most negative form, resistance to change inhibits growth and causes one to become inflexible and stubborn, like a one-trick pony. For an angler, resisting change too strongly leads to plateaus in skills and levels of productivity. The most accomplished fisherpeople recognize the need to constantly evolve, so they regularly strive to learn new things. They open their minds to trying new places, lures, presentations and general strategies, with the ultimate goal of enhancing their versatility.

More versatile anglers generally outperform more limited ones, in the end. The most flexible and creative captains add data to their GPS units to improve their catalogs of spots and tweak elements of their processes consistently and thoughtfully. All the while, they do so without behaving in random ways, in order to avoid wasting time and effort. Evolving anglers realize the inherent danger of excessive experimentation and fear throwing out the baby with the bath water, so they rely on tested, productive practices and strategies, while acknowledging that any good plan or process can likely be improved if tweaked the right way.

While attempting to evolve, top anglers recognize and deploy the third element in the triad of excellence, the quality of perseverance.

Patience is a virtue in many endeavors, certainly patience plays a key role in angling excellence. In order to discover and repeat many successful angling skills and practices, one must execute persistent efforts. To persevere is to overcome the tendency toward haste.

Folks who spend too much time running around at the helm of the boat with the breeze tickling their cheeks, in search of some angling Shangri-La, won’t likely compete well with those who display more commitment to the choices they make about where to stop, stand and fight. Similarly, people who spend too much time searching through the tackle box for a magic lure will likely reel in fewer fish than those who display patience and creativity while giving appropriately selected plugs ample time to produce. Angling excellence requires balancing two contradictory needs, the first related to identifying and relying on places, practices and lures which produce, the other on the need to learn new places, practices and lures which will produce as

Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject.

Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.

TROUT TRACKER GUIDE SERVICE Phone 361-688-3714 Email kevxlr8@mygrande.net Web www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com TSFMAG.com | 19

We’re not in Kansas anymore...

STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

The famous arch at Cabo.

F

or a number of years I have been visiting Mexico, vacationing mostly, and on nearly all these trips I have managed to squeeze in some amount of fishing. The Caribbean coastline has been my primary destination, until recently when I decided to visit Cabo San Lucas. Cabo lies at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) on the east. For years I had read of the different vibe Cabo offered and how amazing both the fishing and scenery were from friends who had been there. Images of rich blue water framed by rugged mountains and beautiful deserts were the ingredients that great stories and vivid dreams were made of.

The voice of the pilot startled me as we began our descent over the Gulf of California, with the Baja Peninsula coming into view. The water was gorgeous and the terrain did not disappoint. The mountains rising in the distance were a reminder of exactly how amazingly rough and beautiful this place is. The scenic drives we made along the coastline north of Cabo left me speechless as the Sea of Cortez lies virtually flat until it crashes upon the beach – just like the postcard images. I was mesmerized and could not wait until I could experience it firsthand and there was no better way to accomplish this than wetting a line.

Alberto and Miguel with Cabo Sportfishing provided a great opportunity to fish and watch the whales.

Kudos to RedRum for encouraging their customers to keep our troops in their prayers.

22 | January 2020

Deckhand Omar preparing baits.

The whales along the Cabo shoreline were amazing.

After a conversation with TSFMag editor, Everett Johnson, I settled on RedRum Sportfishing for my charter.

Everett has been fishing with RedRum and the high marks he gave them boosted my confidence in booking with them. Learning that RedRum is an American veteran-owned business sealed the deal. Entering their office in the Cabo San Lucas harbor, I was greeted by second-generation owner-operator Ryan Donovan and his team. Together they make the whole outfit run like a top.

Donovan, I soon learned, is a classic fishing junky. He shared his story about fishing the California and Mexico coast with his dad as a teenager and how those experiences fueled his desire to continue that lifestyle. He actually has some Texas roots, having studied a few years in Fort Worth at TCU, so he had a good feel for some of the things we described. I also learned that RedRum helps sponsor a weekend fishing vacation for six lucky U.S. military veterans each year. They take care of the fishing, lodging, and overall good time for these welldeserving service men and women who participate in the event. Truly a classy gesture by this company and one that should not go unnoticed.

Overall the initial visit did nothing but confirm all of the good things I had heard about RedRum. My charter partners for the day were Bryan Burtsfield and Chris Burch, both from my hometown, and avid outdoorsmen. We met up with our Captain, Juan, and his deckhand, Omar, aboard the 28-foot TantRum and made our way out of the marina.

One quick stop just outside the marina to pick up live bait from some local fishermen in a small panga allowed us a great photo opportunity of the famous arch that separates the Pacific from the Sea of Cortez. After a few minutes of admiring the famous landmark we turned the corner and headed north to the fishing grounds.

It took very little time for the first line to go off and that was followed closely by the second as a pair of solid dorado leapt from the

water. This pattern continued throughout the day as we stayed in 70- to 100-feet of water and scanned the horizon for frigate birds and surface activity. Our greatest flurry saw four rods hooked up simultaneously, which created an absolute rodeo in the cockpit.

Deckhand Omar did a fantastic job keeping the whole thing from getting out of hand while Capt. Juan maneuvered the boat skillfully.

A fully prepared bait rig ready to go fishing.

It was top-notch action and service all the way around from hook-up, to gaff, to filleting and packaging our fillets for shipment. I could not have hoped for and more in any category.

The great day we spent on the water did nothing but increase the desire for more, so that’s exactly what we did. A second trip was scheduled with more of a sightseeing theme so our wives could enjoy Cabo the same as we had. For this trip we enlisted Cabo Sportfishing Fleet and took a very nice 32-foot Seadancer out with Capt. Alberto and Miguel. The knowledge of the area that Miguel shared with our group was truly interesting and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone on board. Easily the highlight of the day was watching humpback whales as they cruised the shoreline. Several of these enormous creatures jumped and put on quite a show for us. We followed several pods of whales during the morning and each time they surfaced it was a treat. Another trip in mid-January, when the really large numbers of whales make it into the area, is certainly on my bucket list.

Overall I must admit Cabo San Lucas far exceeded my expectations and ranks high on the list of places I want to return to explore and enjoy more thoroughly. The flight from Houston is an easy two hours and the hospitality in Cabo is first rate. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a complete package of both fishing and sightseeing because this place most definitely has it all.

Happy New Year to all our readers!

Happy crew with some of the finest table fare from the sea.

Author poses with a great dorado fishing with RedRum.

Celebrating on the way back to port; catch flags flying!

CONTACT

CHUCK UZZLE Chuck fishes Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes from his home in Orange, TX. His specialties are light tackle and fly fishing for trout, reds, and flounder.

Phone 409-697-6111 Email wakesndrakes@yahoo.com Website wakesndrakes.com

TSFMAG.com | 23

New Year’s

View from the Richard family’s plane as it circle to land for their three-day campout.

Resolution STORY BY JOE RICHARD

W

e used to make a resolution every year to take the kids on a vacation to some out-ofthe-way spot where few tourists go. A real adventure that was manageable for them but also something they wouldn’t forget.

Maybe the trip would be a character builder, too. Last autumn I was reminded of one such trip while listening to the 30th anniversary of the Traveling Wilburys, and their famous record album.

Music has always taken me right back to certain trips or even fishing tournaments, and this was no different. Cast your mind back to 1989 or so when some of the biggest names in music history collaborated on a stellar album. It was our sons’ first acquaintance with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynn, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Talk about a lineup! We memorized that album from Houston to Key West, singing out loud in what is today referred to as carpool karaoke. Along the way, despite trepidations, we stopped in Orlando at Disney’s EPCOT, where huge aquariums full of painted coral and captive fish seemed bogus and sad, compared to our previous boating and snorkel adventures.

After arriving in Key West we prowled Duval Street and next day headed out in a borrowed boat. Returning to some of my old fishing

haunts from college days, we actually caught two tarpon while my dad (who showed up from Miami) watched the kids at the hotel. At Sand Key Lighthouse offshore (pictured on an early Jimmy Buffett album), we all snorkeled, saw real coral and wild fish, and had a good time. Shocked at how much Key West had changed since the ‘70’s (now with cruise ships bearing thousands of burnt-red tourists often from Iowa), determined to introduce the boys to real island experiences, Amy and I chartered a Cessna float plane for a 3-day campout at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, a small cluster of islands 68 miles west and way offshore from Key West. The fort, a national park, is the largest fortress in America, built during the Civil War with red bricks from Alabama. It was obsolete before it was finished; it seems that artillery from ships by the end of the war could pierce it like paper. The fort still holds numerous cannon from that era, however.

Our plan was simple enough.

The plane would drop us off and return three days later. We had the essentials—an Igloo packed with food, gallons of water, a couple of small tents, fishing tackle, a box of cigar minnows, snorkel gear, sheets and not much else. Circling the island from high above, the four of us stared at what seemed like South Pacific scenery while I took pictures out the window. We dove down, skipped onto the water, it turned out our pilot was a consummate flier. Once ashore and after unloading our gear, we realized we were the only campers on Seaplane about to take off from Fort Jefferson’s harbor in good weather. the island. A couple of park rangers later appeared, one laid back and the other clearly a by-the-rules guy who soon didn’t appreciate us catching 2-pound mangrove snappers from the fortress moat. Young Ian even landed a 3-foot nurse shark, quickly released after pictures. We were barefoot the entire time and had the run of the place.

We soon discovered where the old coal docks once stood, now reduced to a big cluster of old pilings—the very same structure where the battleship Maine refueled on its last voyage. History in the making: anchored next in Havana only 90 miles away, it blew up for reasons unexplained, starting the SpanishAmerican war in 1898. Soon after, the US invaded Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, keeping military bases there for a century or so.

Fast forward to modern times and Wading the shallows west of Key West. these same pilings are now covered

26 | January 2020

in colorful corals and large sea fans, home to clouds of baitfish.

Tarpon, which are plentiful, came rushing out of the dark green harbor drop-off, past our startled faces (while snorkeling), gulping down sardines. The lone beach on the west side was perfect for swimming, and watching strings of big tarpon passing by. With our trout tackle, we didn’t care to hook one and get cleaned out of line. Snorkeling on the east side of the island, I saw mutton “sow” snapper of at least 12 pounds lurking in only eight feet of water.

During the day it was fairly easy to catch live bait with Sabiki rigs off the main wharf, which sits in 20 feet of water. Problem was, the resident barracuda kept taking their share, until our 6-hook rigs were down to 2 or 3. At one point we caught live bait at night with a flashlight and our bare hands, quickly hooking a tarpon from the dock. We should have brought a small castnet.

Campfires weren’t allowed, so each night after dinner we did a lot of storytelling and stargazing. With the island’s generator turned off, we were many miles from any lights, which can ruin night vision.

Thoughts of swimming at night were quickly forgotten as there was bound to be a couple of tiger sharks prowling the shallows. There were not too many medics around for first aid, if things went south.

On our last evening, we waited apprehensively for our plane to arrive. The sky back towards Key West was purple with a big

thunderstorm. Our Igloo was empty and we had nothing to eat, save a few crackers. Finally, a speck appeared in the sky, a classic “Da Plane!” moment, and soon our Cessna circled overhead to land.

And none too soon: The wind was picking up, generating a healthy two-foot chop. Planes have to land into the wind, and so the little Cessna took a beating with spray flying. We loaded up and soon were pounding several hundred yards upwind, leaping over whitecaps, finally lurching into the air. After a smooth flight we splashed down near Key West almost after dark.

Today, tougher Beaver planes haul passengers to the Dry Tortugas; they’re used in Alaska and Canada, bigger and more rugged for inclement weather, which is a good thing when landing in the Gulf. As we learned less than a year after our trip, two Cessnas returning from the Dry Tortugas went down with families aboard. There were a few survivors, but sharks were involved…

Years later when our kids were in high school, we returned several times to Fort Jefferson, but traveled on the big catamaran ferryboats instead, which could run at 30 knots over 8-foot seas, though the ride can be a little bumpy. A complimentary picnic lunch was included.

Once the ferry returned to Key West with the “day trippers,” a handful of campers (including us) once again had the island to themselves.

On one of these later trips, we paid a little extra and brought a kayak which made it easy to explore neighboring islands and catch our own dinner, which was fried yellowtail snapper on most nights.

Best fishing action was over rocky bottom on the north side of the island, visible at the top of the aerial photo. I remember making that first cast, thinking it would take time for a bite, and having the rod almost jerked out of my hands.

On our last trip the head park ranger, who’d been there seven long years, took us on a ghost tour way after dark, pointing out where he’d seen what appeared to be Confederate soldiers loitering about, and also detailing odd happenings indoors. It seems that, back in the day, several hundred people died on this small island from yellow fever, though some were saved by Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was banished to this island prison after setting the broken leg of Lincoln’s assassin in 1865. More history.

Today our kids have grown up and “run off,” as folks used to say. But they still enjoy camping and fishing and have traveled widely—as in several dozen countries. I like to think our early adventures had something to do with it. So this year, if you’re struggling to think of a different New Year’s resolution, consider taking the family on an outdoor adventure they won’t ever forget, far from cell phone service.

Not on some Chevy Chase National Lampoon vacation.

JOE RICHARD

CONTACT

Author with catch of snapper after kayaking Fort Jefferson.

Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast.

He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com

TSFMAG.com | 27

PR E V BOAT

20

Desperado / Bernie’s Boats & Motors

Desperado 22 Catamaran was designed and built for the Texas Coastal Bay System. Not only does the hull design handle rough bay waters giving a smooth , dry ride. The Catamaran design excels in shallow water running. The large front casting deck features a large storage compartment, 2 rod boxes and anchor storage. The rear casting deck features 2 large and 1 smaller storage compartments while the Leaning Post provides battery storage and a large 25 gal. recirculating live well. Hull construction is Hand Laid and all Composite.

www.BerniesBoats.com

Catalyst Boats - Go where you wanna go!

Catalyst Boat Works has taken an innovative approach to manufacturing with their attention to detail and great performance. Sleek lines coupled with pristine fit and finish push it to the front of its class. Designed for the Gulf Coast, our hulls are second to none in shallow water, big bay chop, agility and maneuvering. Catalyst Boat Works offers a 21’ and 26’ model. Both models are constructed with 100% composite materials and manufactured with the highest grades of bi-axials and coring materials. We offer 10-year structural hull and transom warranty. Our website is being updated daily so we encourage you to check back to see new videos and images that will demonstrate why our boats are in a class of their own.

www.CatalystBoats.com

El Pescador Boats El Pescador Boats currently offers catamaran hulls of 21 and 24-foot lengths. Each hull is custom crafted of the finest and most up-to-date composite materials available to the industry. El Pescador catamaran hulls are fast, smooth, and dry. They come up shallow and run shallow. El Pescador offers a 10-year hull warranty. Call Dave for a demo ride, sit down with him and spec out your new custom El Pescador Boat. 979-292-5144

www.ElPescadorBoats.com

Excel Bay Pro An Excelleration™ Pad Hull virtually eliminates hydrodynamic drag for increased speed and handling. An extremely tough .160 gauge hull is standard on all models. The sleek lines of the Bay Pro provide maximum interior space and design strength. A large casting deck provides plenty of elbow room for fighting trophy fish. Lockable rod boxes keep gear safely stowed.

Other features include flip-up jump seats, deluxe center console with rod holders, leaning post with storage, two livewells, integrated trolling motor bracket, 45° transom splash-well and more than 31 cubic feet of storage. The Bay Pro represents an exceptional combination of performance, functionality, fishability and craftsmanship. Offered in 18’, 20’, 22’ and 23’ models.

www.Excel-Marine.com 28 | January 2020

V I EW SHOW

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BlueWave / Ron Hoover - Donna & Galveston Blue Wave Boats builds bay boats ranging from 20’ to 28’. “Our 2400 Pure Bay owners were looking for a boat to move up to, but they weren’t quite ready for the 28 yet,” states Steven Parks, President Blue Wave Boats. 2600 fits the sweet spot between 2400 Pure Bay and 2800 Pure Hybrid. 2600 Pure Bay features a double‐stepped hull that is reinforced with Kevlar®. Sporting an impressive 26’ 2” LOA this boat offers up serious space for fishing that converts to a stable and comfortable family cruiser thanks to third row seating that runs the width of the impressive 9’1” beam. Blue Wave Boat’s unique build methodology consists of four stringers, whereas the rest of the industry relies on just two, plus a gridwork of bulkheads that fuse together when the hull and deck are laminated. This process of construction delivers a strength you can feel the moment you step aboard and lightens up the build for impressive speed and fuel economy.

www.RonHooverDonna.com

JH Boats Our Outlaw series has become so popular over the years that we have created a 25’ version by popular demand! If you have not taken a ride in the smoothest, shallowest, best-handing cat hull on the market, you must do so immediately! Come see our whole line of JH Performance Boats at the Sport Marine booth (8100) in the 2020 Houston Boat, Sport & Travel Show!

www.JHPerformanceBoats.com

Mowdy Boats Mowdy Boats has built a reputation of integrity and cutting-edge manufacturing. Mowdy Boats are premium shallow water fishing boats whose quality is unmatched. Unsinkable. Durable. Versatile. That is Mowdy’s Brand.

Mowdy Boats are hand-crafted in our new State-of-the-art facility one boat at a time. Mowdy is one of the only fishing boats backed by a 10 year hull warranty.

Call us today for the last fishing boat you will ever need or want... 361-553-6939

www.MowdyBoats.com

Mud Buddy Backwater Motors The new HDR 40EFI and 5000 Anniversary Edition motors offer the highest level of performance, reliability, strength and power. Features include a strengthened cylinder block and forged aluminum piston rods. A new head design provides smoother fuel flow while the re-designed piston, piston rings and gear cam increase performance. Advanced features include Direct Throttle Control to eliminate lag and deliver crisp throttle response. Idle Air Control allows for smooth low idle. EFI automatically calibrates to deliver optimum starting in all conditions. Standard Q Performance stainless exhaust and K&N filters. Combined with the superior HDR drive that features cast aluminum outdrive and transmission cover, stainless drive tube and skeg and the convenient handle end controls; this motor takes hunters into the future and wherever they dare to go.

www.MudBuddy.com TSFMAG.com | 29

PR E V BOAT

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NewWater Boatworks

NewWater boats feature the most innovative shallow water designs available. Five current models include; Avocet, Curlew, Ibis, Stilt, and the all-carbon Willet. We are currently developing a new 24-footer along with an all carbon fiber Stilt that will debut in 2020.

Each model is an original design, developed on the water as a one-off project before production tooling is generated. All models feature mono-hull design with shallow-vee forward and low-deadrise astern. It is not enough to run shallow - you must be able to shut down and get back up shallow. For that reason, all NewWater hulls include our Lamiflow tunnels and are available with our patented, Lamivent technology, a feature that provides tunnel or nontunnel performance. Performance, materials, processes, and yacht-quality fit and finish make NewWater a great value with high resale.

www.NewWaterBoatworks.com

BlueWave / Coastal Bend Marine When you need to get into the shallowest water for your target species, the STL is the answer to your prayers.

Blue Wave Boats exclusive tunnel design gets a steady flow of water to the prop to maximize speed and fuel efficiency giving you all the range you need for a day on the water. STL is loaded with purpose-filled features like comfortable seating, big dry boxes and livewells on a spacious boat with high gunwales for the ultimate family fish boat.

www.CoastalBendMarine.com

Shallow Sport X3 Strong yet lightweight, the 25’ X3 has proven itself as one of the most stable and versatile inshore/offshore fishing boats in the industry today. It’s distinctive mulit-hull design eats heavy chop yet is extremely maneuverable in shallow water. The oversized center tunnel and aggressive strakes leading under the hull generates incredible lift allowing it to run on plane in only 5” of water! The X3 never fails to amaze... you just have to see it to believe.

www.ShallowSportBoats.com

Houston Boat Show Jan 3-12

30 | January 2020

2020 Texas Boat Show Austin Boat Show Jan 3-5

Dallas Boat Expo Jan 31-Feb 9

V I EW SHOW

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Shallow Stalker Boats

Shallow Stalker Boats has a rich history of thinking outside the traditional box.

Never accepting the status quo, they continually innovate in areas ignored by others for more secure handling, safety, and comfort. Does your bay boat leave you feeling like you’ve spent the day on the back of a bucking bronco?

You owe it to yourself to experience the natural ergonomics and cloud-like ride of Shallow Stalker’s patent-pending EZ-Cruze and Air-Ride system.

ShallowStalker.com

SCB R-24 The R-24 is a go-anywhere premium fishing platform that delivers dry speed in rough chop, accelerates on rails in the backwater, and truly shines carrying heavier loads. A broad shouldered cat that refuses to sacrifice draft - inlayed with triple stepped chines for maximum speed and performance. The expansive deck comfortably fishes a multitude of anglers and the “in-deck” storage will move more than enough cargo to outfit your entire platoon. The R-24 is not a typical fishing boat for ordinary fisherman, this craft is custom built for competitive explorers looking for un-fished waters that hold bigger fish.

www.SCBBoats.com

Majek / Ron Hoover - Donna & Galveston Majek Boats has done it again with an 18’ version of their currently offered 22 & 25 M2 Illusion. Built right here in Texas, it’s a Skinny Water Running Hull with Unparalleled Performance in chop and Concrete Stability when Precision Casting is key. This model will not only be a force to reckon with by its adversaries, but also enjoyed by those with a budget in mind yet fine eye for perfection. Stop by Ron Hoover RV & Marine at the 2020 Houston Boat show to see it in person.

www.RonHooverDonna.com

Calendar

All Valley Boat Show McAllen | Feb 7-9

Rock the Dock San Antonio Boat Show In-Water Boat Show Aransas Pass Mar 26-29 May 1-3 TSFMAG.com | 31

Bart’s Bay Armor Protective Wading Boots

Wade fishermen have two options – shuffle your feet, or wear stingray protection. Take your pick; I’ll take protection.

Everybody remembers the movie Jaws and Quint’s famous line spoken to Matt Hooper…”You get in the cage, cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark’s in the water, our shark.” We all know what happened when Hooper got in the water.

I mention the Jaws scene only because we all had the premonition that Hooper was mistaken about the cage’s ability to protect him from the shark. Kind of like shuffling your feet when wade fishing.

I have spent thousands of hours wade fishing and have worn some form of stingray protection more than twenty-five years. All that time I have never suffered a stingray injury. Nearly all my saltiest friends have, some several times. None were wearing stingray protection, and incredibly, some still don’t.

San Antonio Bay’s oyster reefs hold lots of fish year ‘round.

The sharp shell is one of the toughest tests of wading footwear.

32 | January 2020

Even with my religious dedication to donning protection every time I get in the water; wearing stingray protection has never been fun or easy. The gaiter-style leg guards we strapped over wading booties offered little protection for our feet and had a nasty habit of leaving us unprotected when they rode up our legs in soft mud. Then came boots that were highly effective in the protection department, but were heavy and uncomfortable, in the boat and more so on land.

Bart’s Bay Armor to the rescue! If the weight issue has been your excuse, my size-11 Bay Armors weigh a scant 1-pound – 14-ounces each. And they are surprisingly comfortable; in the water, in the boat, and walking on land.

The ability to fend off strikes from stingray barbs comes from the unique patented protective fabric from which they are made.

From the top of the shaft to the sole of the boot, a continuous layer of protective fabric encases the lower portion of the calf, the ankle region, and all of the foot.

Having first watched the video on Bart’s website where he demonstrates how the fabric resists puncturing, as soon as my boots arrived in the mail I had to see for myself. I’m not from Missouri, but I wanted to see it firsthand.

First an ice pick with a needle point. Repeated forceful stabbings and…Nada! Then a Dexter fillet knife right out of the package...still Nada! Seeing is indeed believing.

Neither the ice pick nor knife penetrated the protective fabric, although both pierced the rubber overlay in the foot area.

Remember, though, the rubber is only an overlay and the protective fabric wraps the entire foot.

If I cannot stab an ice pick or point of a Dexter knife through the boot, I have confidence a stingray will not deal me misery if I should be unlucky to step on one.

During discussion with Bart Reid, inventor and owner of Bart’s Bay Armor, I expressed concern that the boot was not tall enough to protect the upper half of the calf. Bart referenced his investigations into the most likely region of stingray injuries occurring well below the shin, most often in the lower ankle and foot.

Not the first to raise this concern, Bart said he recognized the need for taller protection and will soon receive shipments of an accessory device, made of the same fabric as the boot itself, with hookand-loop closure to secure it around the calf. An extension of the protective fabric, it will also function as a gravel guard to keep bits of shell and other debris out of the boots, and offer further insurance against losing a boot to the suction of deep mud when fastened snugly around the calf – see photo.

Two days of reef wading – the soles still look brand new.

Sizing of the Bart’s Bay Armor boot deserves discussion. I wear size-10 shoes, and without heavy socks, the size-10 boot is a good fit. Typically, though, for wet-wading I wear neoprene wading socks inside my wading boots, which bumped me up a size to 11s. For colder weather, with waders and thick wool socks, I would recommend going up two sizes.

I also give the Bay Armor boots good marks in the toughness department. Two full days of reef hopping in San Antonio Bay, walking on heavy oyster shell the whole time, the soles of my test boots came through with flying colors. No cuts, no nicks, only minimal scuffing. I can’t help it, I still shuffle.

Bart’s Bay Armor’s marketing slogan is, “Fear not what lies beneath.” As far as stingray protection is concerned, and protecting feet from sharp objects, I am inclined to believe that slogan is accurate. Time will tell and I intend to put my Bay Armors through many more days of equally rigorous testing.

Bart’s Bay Armour Wading Boots are available online at barts-bayarmor.com and also at the following retailers: • Rockport Tackle Town, Rockport • Jeco’s Marine, Port O’Connor • Waterloo Pro Shop, Victoria • Matagorda Outfitters, Matagorda • Johnny’s Sport Shop, Eagle Lake • Anglers Anonymous, Katy • Slickwater Tackle, Clute • Hook Line & Sinker, Harlingen • Harbor Bait and Tackle, Port Mansfield Suggested retail is $169.99.

Even a factory-sharp Dexter fillet knife failed to pierce the protective fabric.

Soon available; protection for the upper portion of the wearer’s calf.

TSFMAG.com | 33

Amy Rausheck – another fine lady angler landing one of many.

J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

PREFERRED WINTER CONDITIONS: PLAYING THE HAND YOU’RE DEALT Winter fishing is in full swing and we have seen some gorgeous weather patterns the past several weeks.

Pre-front and post-front fishing have both been pretty consistent for us. With colder than normal air and water temperatures, bay waters have reached clarity levels that I can recall only a few times in my career, this early in the winter season. So clear that it has become necessary to watch the Power Pole very closely at some stops to avoid stepping off the boat into water deep enough to fill my waders. Couple the clarity with higher than normal tides of late and you get my drift.

In this issue I will again stress the importance of monitoring surface water temperatures throughout the day. I have believed in this for many years and it is now easier than ever with the present generation of GPS/ 34 | January 2020

Depth Finders. Forty years ago I used a thermometer my dad gave me from the biology lab at school – taped a string to it and put it over the side as we drifted Estes Flats. Not as handy as we have today, but it worked.

A few days ago, after four days of sub-50° air temps, we were marking water temps in the low-50s in Estes and the southern part of Aransas Bay. As we moved south toward the Corpus Christi Ship Channel we observed a gradual increase as the deeper and warmer waters in the channel transferred warmth to nearby shorelines and spoils. We settled on a patch of 57° water where a few mullet were active, pelicans were diving, and a lone osprey was lurking overhead. We caught five trout over twenty-five inches. Numerous reds were also caught, which reinforced my long-held belief that monitoring the

Taylor Fritz – great fish for an awesome lady angler.

Author with solid pre-front trout.

water temps led us to the right spot. It also established a pattern for the next several days. If you do not have the ability to monitor surface water temperature, you need to invest in it as soon as you can. It’s part of Fishing Smart 101.

Had several people contact me after my podcast with Chris Bush of Speckled Truth, asking what conditions I look for when targeting winter trout. While I’m a big believer in the solunar tables, these forecasts do not allow for local weather conditions – cold fronts, warming trends, unseasonably high or low tides, wind directions and velocities, atmospheric pressure, local fishing pressure, etc. In addition to the solunar data, all of these must be considered when formulating fishing plans.

Always take into consideration that I am extremely confident in the patterns I have observed to be productive in the areas I fish most often in winter. One of the reasons for the wintertime success Jay Ray and I have enjoyed at Port Mansfield, besides the help received from so many locals, is our knowledge of shallow water fisheries. What looks good to me here in Rockport, often looks equally inviting in Port Mansfield, and more often than not it is.

Wind direction and velocity controls more days than any other condition. I prefer NE wind in the winter months because this is the prevailing wind direction of the season. We also have short warming trends between fronts when the wind turns ESE that definitely influence the bite. I prefer water temperatures below 60° but not much below 52°. I have caught some tremendous fish in 47- to 50-degree water over my career. My records however also indicate that by day’s end a warming trend was in play that increased water temp in the shallows by as much as 5- to 7-degrees. During these afternoon

warmups we observed both baitfish and trout becoming more active, which no doubt contributed to the success.

I like overcast skies. Foggy, humid mornings, when we have trouble keeping our glasses clean of condensation can be awesome. Fog typically forms in calm conditions, which leads to greater water clarity.

Fog masks sunlight, which encourages fish to feed in clear water.

When the fog burns off and the sun pops out you almost always notice a significant decline in the bite.

I like low atmospheric pressure versus a high barometer. How many times have you noticed floating spider webs collecting on your rods on a beautiful calm, clear day in late-fall and winter? Parachute spiders are the culprits and they need low humidity to pull off this mode of transportation. When we see this, we’re probably done and my records reflect this as well. I never stop trying but it definitely turns the fish off. Mickey Eastman taught me about parachute spiders many years ago while pre-fishing a Trout Masters Tournament. Mickey, Blaine Friermood and James Plaag really helped me a lot in those days.

I like medium tides versus the lowest of winter lows and the highest of highs. I can’t put it into inches but I know when I step out by where it hits me on my waders. My Simms waders have a permanent salt ring at this level, just so you know.

I like a modest wind-driven current versus strong tidal currents typically found near major inlets. I believe the effort required for fish to position and feed in strong currents during winter burns more energy than they can gain from the food they consume. As always, zero science in play here but the pattern works for me.

In my home bay system, I love fishing water that is moving across and along the edges of mid-bay reefs. My records indicate that when TSFMAG.com | 35

36 | January 2020

So, in reality, very few days come my way when the prevailing conditions all fall into the neat columns of my preferred conditions checklist. What I have learned to do is capitalize on the moments when everything aligns the way I like it, and then work with what I have at hand on the days that give me less. We will never be able to control the weather or fishing pressure. Rather than fretting over the things you cannot control, concentrate instead on the things that you can. No matter the day’s conditions, strive to learn something every day.

My dad told me before he passed away that there was only one thing wrong with the old saying; “I’d rather be lucky than good.” Luck eventually runs out. Working hard to be good at what you like to do will always win in the long run.

May your fishing always be catching! -Guide Jay Watkins

C O N TA C T

water temperatures drop to 52° and below, the productivity of this pattern goes right out the window. I keep detailed records daily, continuously testing and retesting my theories. Just last week, in an area where prior to a front the water was running 60°, we caught forty solid trout. After the front, with 52° water and similar water movement, we caught only two. Three days later, with 56° water, we were back up to thirty-plus fish off the same reef.

I prefer areas affected by freshwater runoff in winter when rainfall has been generally scarce. Such areas can be further categorized as backwater marsh or back lakes where fresh runoff from a land mass is funneled and then pulled toward the main bay during tide movements. The mixing of fresh with salt can create situations that trout will use to their advantage.

Fishing tournament scouting in weeks prior to a major event, and weekend fishing pressure in general, creates the need for me to work outside my normal box and that creates an opportunity for me to continue to learn. I loved the tournaments when I fished them regularly, and totally understand that weekends are the only time many anglers can get on the water. A guy asked me the other day why I still fish weekends. I told him that it keeps me focused as I react to all the conditions and situations we face in a highly pressured fishery. I strive to see the good in things rather than the negative.

Can fishing pressure cause fish to relocate? Certainly! But they do not vanish into thin air. They move, so we have to hunt for them with the instincts and knowledge we have gained through experience. And yes, you can get them to bite if you believe you can.

Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Telephone Email Website

361-729-9596 Jay@jaywatkins.com www.jaywatkins.com

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C A P T. S COT T N U L L

S H A L L O W W AT E R F I S H I N G

USE WINTER DOWNTIME WISELY After busy spring, summer, and fall seasons full of days on the water, there are bound to be things that need some attention. Little things tend to slip through during the daily routine of getting up before dawn, fishing all day, cleaning the boat and gear and answering the day’s messages before passing out to do it all over again. I know a few super-diligent types who somehow seem to get it all done, but the majority of us have a to-do list longer than your leg.

January is the perfect month to catch up on those nagging projects. Most hunting seasons have wrapped up and unless you are a hardcore trophy trout rustler, fishing weather tends to be less than desirable. Getting all your ducks in a row before spring arrives lets you start off the new season with a clean slate. Here are some things I’ll be taking care of over the next few weeks that might spur 38 | January 2020

you to come up with a list of your own.

Let’s start with the most important piece of equipment – the boat, or in my case, boats. My Sabine skiff is really in great condition since it’s only a few months old. The Dargel is due for an oil change and a thorough cleaning.

Think about any little annoyances that occurred on recent trips. Rough idling, tough to start, or maybe the cooling system telltale stream wasn’t quite as strong as it used to be? January is a great time to take care of these as waiting list at most boat repair shops are non-existent this time of year. But, put it off until the first warm spring weekend and you’ll have to get in line.

When you own a boat, you likely own a trailer, too.

Trailers do yeoman work and tend to get ignored until there’s a problem. Next time you launch your boat, take a good look at the trailer as it sits in the parking lot. It’s a lot

easier to notice things when the boat isn’t on it. Has corrosion eaten something important?

My previous trailer was galvanized and had brackets attaching the bunks to the frame that tended to rust on the regular. I replaced them a couple times and, while I was at it, replaced the bunks as well the second time around. I now have all-aluminum Coastline trailers under my boats and don’t have near the issues. However, I recently noticed my LED running lights flickering when I hit bumps.

A quick inspection revealed a loose ground.

Perhaps the weakest point of a trailer is the bearings. I keep them greased and watch them like a hawk, but I never fully trust those things. If you’ve ever had one fail, you know what I mean. The heck with worrying, I’ll replace those suckers once a year. That’s cheap insurance against a malfunction that costs me a day on the water. Check the tires, put a little grease on the hitch and check the winch strap for wear. All of this seems simple and obvious, but I see boats on the side of the road nearly all the time due to some sort of trailer malfunction, mostly bearing failure.

Your rods and reels deserve attention too. If you aren’t into detailing your own reels, this is a great time of year to drop them off at a reel repair shop for the same reason as the boat mechanic. After those first fishing trips in the spring everybody suddenly realizes their reels are jacked up and the repair guys get overwhelmed. I keep

up with the minor cleaning, but once a year they get to visit Warren at Fishing Tackle Unlimited for a thorough cleaning and lubing. I get them back and they fish like a brand new reel again. If you fish mono line, go ahead a replace it. If you use braid, maybe think about reversing it if you don’t want to fork over the money for changing it out. If you’re like me you’ve got several reels that carry the same line.

Strip one of them and then use that reel to reverse the line onto the

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40 | January 2020

end of the year I’ll realize there are quite a few benchwarmers that never even touched the water. Out they go. Simple is efficient and I rarely find myself staring at the box wishing for something that isn’t already there. Fill them with lures you have confidence in.

I’m mostly the same way with my flies. I tend to use only a few styles and colors, yet I still can’t make myself totally ditch all the others. I will also ruthlessly go through and toss flies with any hint of rust on the hooks. Those boxes with the foam slits are nice for holding flies, but man do the hooks rust if the box gets the least bit wet.

Lastly, take a look at all the miscellaneous items you keep in the tackle bag or on the boat. Nets, Boga Grips, pliers, sunglasses, waders, etc., all need a once-over. Also check your supply of things you use regularly such as leader material, sunscreen, reel oil, hooks, weights and soft plastic baits. The more you get done in the downtime, the more enjoyable your fishing time becomes later. Get after it, spring will be here before you know it.

C O N TA C T

next. Do that on down the line-up and then you only have one reel that needs new line. Rods often get totally neglected until they snap or lose an eye. Check the eyes for corrosion, wipe down the blank, and give the cork a good cleaning.

Lure maintenance is something I try to keep up with throughout the year, but eventually the tide of broken hooks, rusted components, and bent split rings overwhelms my efforts. Day to day I rinse off used lures and set them out to dry before putting them back into their box.

No matter how diligent you are, sooner or later there’ll come a day when you open the tackle box and see that dreaded rusty mess. I keep a bucket on the workbench that catches any lures deemed unusable, but repair-worthy. A dreary winter day is the perfect time to dump that box and start working.

I start with a tub of warm water mixed with some sort of cleaner, usually Simple Green. Remove the old hooks and split rings, then throw them in the tub to soak. Most of the time, just wiping the lures with a washcloth is good enough, but some might require a little scrubbing. Once dried, replace the split rings and hooks. I’ve been using single hooks on my plugs for years. Several hook companies now make replacement hooks with the eye turned 90 degrees so you don’t need an extra split ring to align the point correctly. A good set of quality split ring pliers is worth every penny and speeds the process tremendously.

Something else I do during this winter cleaning is a good pruning of the selection. In all those hours on the water you tend to lean on certain lures whether it’s a certain type, model, or color. I’m a pretty simple guy in this regard; not big on switching lures very often. At the

Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading.

Telephone Email Website

281-450-2206 captscottnull@gmail.com www.captainscottnull.com

TSFMAG.com | 41

Image 2. Johnny Rios of Fulton, TX taking a lunch break after cooning oysters in San Antonio Bay (note how the shrimp baskets float when placed in a life ring of an appropriate size).

B y Ta d P a p e s | R o c k p o r t M a r i n e L a b o r a t o r y, Corpus Christi Bay Ecosystem

FIELD NOTES

JOIN THE TEXAS OYSTER CULT THIS WINTER As the winter season sets in and water temperature begins to dip, it can become tempting to enjoy the comforts of home and avoid the elements. Nevertheless, this is the time of year that one of the tastiest saltwater delicacies that the Texas coast has to offer, the oyster, comes into season. “Cooning”, or gathering oysters by hand, is certainly a labor of love, which likely contributes to the historic underutilization of this recreational oyster fishery. Although known as a beloved winter tradition for many coastal Texans, sport oystering trips are rarely documented in creel surveys conducted by TPWD staff.

Armed with a little bit of information and the right tools, you can hit the reefs this season with confidence that your efforts will be handsomely rewarded.

First, there are a few regulations and some recent changes that you should be aware of. Your Texas Recreational Fishing License with a Saltwater Endorsement entitles you to two “sacks” (defined as 110 lb of unshucked oysters) per day. Your oysters must also be of “market size”, which is defined as 3 inches or larger as measured along the greatest length of the shell.

Oyster harvest cannot begin before sunrise, and it must conclude by 3:30 PM each day for both recreational and commercial operations. These harvesting hours are in 42 | January 2020

place all week except on Sunday when recreational oyster harvesting is closed.

Some additional regulations have gone into effect recently, including the prohibition of oyster harvest within 300 feet of a shoreline (as it shifts with the tide), and the closure of six minor bays along the coast (Christmas Bay, Hynes Bay, Carancahua Bay, Powderhorn Lake, St. Charles Bay and South Bay). These new regulations are largely in response to depleted oyster populations, which drew commercial harvesting operations onto shallow-water reefs that serve as incredibly valuable nursery habitat for a wide variety of ecologically and economically important species.

These highly productive nearshore reefs were rarely exploited by commercial harvesters in the past. While this recent increase in commercial harvest warranted the implementation of new regulations, these regulations apply to all harvesting activities, including recreational cooning. Be sure to check the Texas Department of State Health Services website (https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/ seafood/shellfish-status.aspx) for any additional closures.

As for gear, you will want a rugged pair of gloves and some good waders and/or boots with hard rubber soles.

Cotton gloves and neoprene wade boots with softer

soles will not hold up very long on oyster reefs, as the shells can be sharp. A hatchet or culling iron fashioned from a sharpened length of flat iron will help break up large clusters and allow you to retain legal-sized oysters while returning the undersized ones back onto the reef for future harvest. You can also add notches 3 inches apart to whatever style culling iron you choose to help gauge whether an oyster is legal or undersized (Image 1). Buckets work well for stationary cooning, but a standard shrimp basket tied to your waist and floated in a throwable life ring is ideal for keeping your bounty near and accessible (Image 2). A full shrimp basket is a good rule of thumb for the 110 lb limit, and if you choose to sack your oysters, a basket with the bottom cut out can be placed inside the sack and lifted up when full to allow the oysters to fall cleanly into the sack.

Once you have your gear, you will need to find a good reef to work. Finding a good reef means you should consider the biology and life-history of an oyster so that you can find the best oysters for your table. Oysters move water over their gills to get oxygen and food, and in doing so, filter particles including bacteria and other contaminants from the water. For the cleanest and tastiest oysters, target reefs further from civilization where pollutants and runoff are less of a concern.

When you are scouting a new location, it can be easy to spend too much time over dead oyster shell. Perform a quick assessment of the location, and if you do not find plenty of legal sized oysters, move along until you find the right spot.

It is best to plan your outings around low tide on days with very light winds, and in clear water that is about knee deep or less, since this will help with visibility. Cooning at low tide also ensures the oysters you pick have been constantly submerged in saltwater, just remember to make sure that the oysters you harvest are more than 300 feet from the shoreline. Working against a current will also help maintain good water clarity where you are cooning, since the mud that is stirred up in the process will be carried away behind you and out of your path.

Whether you are a seasoned cold weather enthusiast or simply looking for a fun and delicious new winter tradition to enjoy with family and friends, consider giving oyster cooning a try. It is great exercise, and with the market price of oysters rising consistently each year, a good day’s harvest is becoming quite valuable. Whether you prefer them fried, baked, grilled, or even raw, once you crack into your first batch of delicious, salty oysters that were hand-picked fresh from a bay, you and yours will agree the juice was definitely worth the squeeze.

Image 1. An example of an inexpensive, homemade “culling iron” that works well for breaking up large clusters of oysters while ensuring legal size of take.

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or tpwd.texas.gov for more info.

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DAV E R O B E R T S

K AYA K F I S H I N G C H R O N I C L E S

STAYING WARM AND DRY “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

I’m not sure who first offered that advice but it is definitely true when applied to wintertime kayak fishing.

By this point we should all have accepted that winter is here and we might as well embrace the cooler temperatures. When it comes down to it, I personally love the cold weather and tend to stick to my outdoor activities. As long as the weather permits for safe travels on the water I will be going fishing. If not; I will exercise my next best option and go sit in a duck or deer blind.

With these being my true outdoor passions, one thing is inevitable and that is I am going to be smack dab in the middle of the wintertime elements. This time of the year, the weather can be unpredictable and you never really know what to expect. Since there is always uncertainty, I have found that when making a winter outing it is always best to be prepared for any condition. The two most important aspects are staying dry and warm.

As a kayak angler, I believe we are more prone to getting wet than just about everyone else on the water.

We are sitting just above the water line, waves tend to break over the bow and gunnels, our paddle drips 44 | January 2020

water, and when we catch a fish we have little choice but to dump it in our lap. Basically everything we do in a kayak has potential for getting us wet. It is therefore very important that we try our best to stay as dry as we can.

The drier we are, the warmer we are.

When it comes to buying gear and clothing, there are many brands and some of the options can get quite expensive. In my opinion, and this goes for fishing, hunting, camping, and every other outdoor activity, you need to buy the best gear you can afford. I fully understand that most of us can’t go out and splurge for top of the line gear all at one time. I started several years back by purchasing the minimum stuff and that was a cheaper set of waders and gloves. From that point forward, I would break down and buy a higher quality piece of gear each winter. I believe by now I have everything that I need and most of it is designed to last and keep us comfortable for many years to come.

As for staying dry while being in the kayak, I always wear waders in the cooler months. They are always warm, dry, and do a great job of blocking wind. If I know that I am going to be staying on top of my

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46 | January 2020

you go prepared and face them head-on, you will be able to enjoy comfortable and productive outings. Be sure to plan ahead by monitoring weather forecasts carefully, and equipping yourself with the proper gear. Stay warm and dry; winter fishing is awesome.

C O N TA C T

kayak, I usually wear neoprene bootfoot waders. I typically go with the Magellan brand from Academy – they are relatively inexpensive and work just fine for limited wading. When I expect to hop off the kayak and wade the flats, I reach for my Simms breathables. They are comfortable, durable, and make standing in frigid water much more bearable when worn with the appropriate underlayers.

One of the other things I have learned is that you need to keep your hands as dry and warm as possible. We use our hands for everything we do on the water; paddling, casting, tying lures, landing fish, etc. My original winter kayaking gloves were plain old nitrile-coated work gloves. They were OK but not great. Eventually, water from the paddle and the fish I landed would saturate the cotton base layer and I’d have cold, wet hands the remainder of the day.

I now wear Simms Flex Windbloc gloves; they are windproof, don’t retain residual water, and are lined with fleece to keep your hands warm to fish comfortably throughout the day.

Staying warm is much easier and less costly than staying dry.

The most important parts of the body are your feet, hands, head and face. Once one of these gets cold there’s little chance of getting warm again. To keep my feet warm I wear wool socks and my favorite brand is Darn Tough. They are durable, warm, and have a lifetime warranty if they rip or tear. For the head, I always wear a beanie and face mask to prevent my ears and nose going numb. The same “Buff” we wear for sun protection in summer works like a charm in winter.

As soon as the temperatures begin to drop, I always pack a change of clothes and a towel in a trash sack to insure they will stay dry and stow it in a fore or aft compartment. If something unforeseen was to happen on a bitter cold day and you were to get completely wet, a fun outing could turn life-threatening in a few minutes. If you learn nothing else from this article, I hope you will take this bit of it to heart and adopt this practice religiously.

This is the time of year that we should be more prepared than any other when hitting the water. The elements can be brutal, but if

Dave Roberts is an avid kayak-fishing enthusiast fishing primarily the inshore Upper Coast region with occasional adventures to surf and nearshore Gulf of Mexico.

Email: TexasKayakChronicles@yahoo.com Website: www.TexasKayakChronicles.com

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Story by John Blaha

T S F M A G C O N S E R VAT I O N N E W S

RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR CCA TEXAS Coastal Conservation Association Texas (CCA Texas) enjoyed another successful and record-breaking year in 2019. This success would not be possible without the dedicated efforts of grassroots volunteers from across the state. Successful efforts at the local chapter level enables success in all areas of marine conservation in Texas.

CCA Texas was very active in the 86th Legislative Session resulting in positive changes for the management of marine resources; CCA Texas and Building Conservation Trust (BCT), CCA National’s habitat program, contributed $900,000 to habitat restoration and creation projects; CCA Texas continued its long-standing support of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Games Wardens and Coastal Fisheries Divisions; CCA Texas continued its support of marine fisheries and habitat research, and educational internships; and finally, CCA Texas continued its long-standing community outreach and education to inform members and the general public about marine conservation efforts.

Local Community Chapter Success Local community chapters accomplished continued success across the state. The common theme was sold out banquets and record-breaking fundraising. This success would not be possible without the dedicated efforts of chapter volunteers, attendees, donors, and sponsors. The local grassroots efforts continues to be the greatest strength of CCA. Beyond the fundraising/membership events, local chapters continued to be active in their communities by providing “Take A Kid Fishing” events, taking active roles in coastal bay and beach cleanups and habitat projects, hosting Angler’s Night Out (General Membership Meetings) events with guest speakers, and helping CCA Texas advocacy efforts by testifying at public comment meetings on behalf of the health of Texas coastal resources. In addition, the Aransas Bay and Corpus Christi 48 | January 2020

Chapter hosted the Babes on the Bay and Babes on Baffin women’s fishing tournaments respectively. These events continue to promote women in the recreational fishing sector through conservative-based events. These events have generated over 1,700 members for CCA Texas annually, and positive impacts on local economies.

86th Legislative Wrap Up Oyster Mariculture House Bill 1300 passed with broad support from numerous stakeholder groups including CCA Texas. This bill directs Texas Parks and Wildlife to establish an oyster mariculture (aquaculture) program by September 30, 2020. CCA Texas looks forward to working with TPW to develop a cultivated oyster mariculture program that addresses concerns of the angling community, redefines the Texas half-shell market, and puts more oysters in our waters to benefit the coastal ecosystem.

Commercial Oyster Fishing Loopholes Each year the Texas commercial oyster fishery opens November 1 and closes on April 30 – effectively a sixmonth season. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) monitors public oyster reefs continuously throughout the year by conducting random bi-monthly sampling. They also conduct additional sampling before and during oyster season if feedback from law enforcement or the oyster industry triggers them to do so.

Using metrics that TPWD has established based upon the abundance of oysters and the percentage of their sample under three-inches (legal size), they may close a bay system to commercial harvest. Once a bay system is closed it will take 1- to 2-years for the reefs to recover and be re-opened for harvest by TPWD. That time table is highly dependent on how hard that bay system was fished and environmental conditions. It is important that the reefs are

given the proper time to recover for a sustainable oyster fishery.

Unfortunately, there are bad actors within the fishery who ignore the closures and continue to harvest oysters from closed waters, often targeting the undersized oysters remaining on the reefs. While there is an enhanced penalty structure for undersize oyster violations, there is no true deterrent for fishing in closed waters, other than a Class C misdemeanor. That will soon change thanks to Representative Geanie Morrison (R-30) and Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-30), sponsors of legislation (House Bill 2321 and Senate Bill 671) that cleans up language in current statute regarding harvesting of undersize oysters and increased penalties for commercial oyster fishing in closed waters.

In the next commercial oyster season, persons committing harvest offenses can expect the following: • Class A misdemeanor for harvesting at night and either harvesting in closed waters or restricted waters during same criminal episode.

• Class B misdemeanor for harvesting undersized oysters or harvesting in closed waters if defendant was previously convicted at least twice for violation regarding undersize oysters (less than 30% of cargo) and/ or previously convicted for harvesting in closed waters.

• Class B misdemeanor for second violation of possession of cargo of oysters greater than 30% undersize oysters.

• Class A misdemeanor with attendant license suspension for third violation of possession of cargo greater than 30% undersized or fishing in closed waters.

• State-level felony for harvesting at night and either harvesting in closed waters or restricted waters if the defendant has been previously convicted once before within five years for the same crime.

You can read more about the need for these penalty enhancements in the June/July edition of the CCA Texas’ Currents magazine.

Unlawful Sale of Aquatic Products No doubt the “back door” sale of aquatic products to restaurants and fish markets has increased over the years as fish, such as red snapper, fetch a premium price in the market. The Texas legislature passed House Bill 1828 to address this issue, increasing the penalty for the illegal sale of aquatic products. The normal penalty for a violation of this nature is a Class C misdemeanor which carries a fine of no greater than $500. This bill increases the penalty to a Class B misdemeanor, Class A misdemeanor or State Jail Felony with an escalating fine structure for increased poundage of illegal aquatic products.

Please reach out to Shane Bonnot (sbonnot@ccatexas.org) if you have any questions regarding any of these legislative measures.

Habitat Update CCA Texas and BCT funded eight projects for a total of $900,000 in 2019. This commitment has pushed CCA Texas and BCT commitment to habitat restoration and creation to over $7.3 million across forty projects. The current status of 2019 funded projects are: $50,000 Dollar Bay Shoreline Protection and Marsh Restoration This project is with longstanding CCA Texas partner Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF). This project will use shoreline protection measures that will protect up to 1,500 feet of shoreline and restore 72 acres of intertidal wetland habitat within Dollar Bay, located within the Galveston Bay system. Currently, GBF has contracted with an engineering firm to oversee the construction of the project. A

contract is expected to be awarded for construction in the 1st Qtr of 2020 with construction to begin immediately after. $50,000 - Galveston Bay Foundation Kemah Headquarters Habitat Protection and Restoration The new Galveston Bay Foundation Headquarters in Kemah will not only provide a home for the GBF staff, but the property boundary shoreline will provide an excellent opportunity for local schools and citizens to see firsthand a healthy shoreline ecosystem. The longterm goal is to complete several demonstration habitat restoration projects on the property in addition to the living shorelines. This is to include, oyster reefs, freshwater wetlands, and prairie restoration. CCA Texas and BCT are committed to habitat restoration and providing educational experiences for the next generation of conservationists.

GBF is currently reviewing design parameters for the project and making changes to bring the project within current funding levels.

Once the reviews are completed, bids will be solicited and the project will move to the next step. $75,000 – Harte Research Institute Serpulid Reef Study This funding has allowed the team at HRI to move forward in the second stage of studying the serpulid reef communities within Baffin Bay. This phase of the study is evaluating the efficacy of using alternative substrates for restoration of serpulid reef habitats. Various potential substrates will be evaluated in the near future to see which might best fulfill similar ecosystem functions to natural serpulid worm reefs and will provide conservation benefits to remaining reefs. $100,000 – Sabine Lake Oyster Restoration with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department CCA Texas has now funded a total of $205,000 to the restoration efforts in Sabine Lake. These funds are being paired with $500,000 in Harvey Relief Funds secured by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

TPWD is leading this project and is currently preparing specifications and designs. Once this stage is completed, TPWD will work with existing contractors and is targeting spring 2020 for cultch (oyster substrate) deployment. $100,000 – Sabine HI20 Nearshore Reef CCA Texas and BCT have pledged $100,000 in additional matching funds for reefing efforts in Sabine HI20 Reef site. These funds will be joined with funds from Cheniere Energy, Sempra LNG and TPWD to continue the next phases of reefing deployments into the Sabine HI20 Nearshore site. $125,000 – Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Shoreline Protection and Marsh Restoration (Dagger Point and Matagorda Island) with Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP) will be partnering with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to address damages suffered at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge from Hurricane Harvey. Specifically, CBBEP will be working with USFWS to install a shoreline protection structure in San Antonio Bay that protects the habitats on the Blackjack Unit from erosion and storm events and, over time, restores upland and aquatic habitats that have been lost due to erosion. CBBEP will also work with USFWS to repair damaged water control infrastructure on Matagorda Island and restore water flow and TSFMAG.com | 49

circulation to important habitats, improving their quality for fisheries and other wildlife. The project is currently in the planning and design stages, and construction is expected to begin in 2021. $150,000 – Rio Grande Valley Nearshore Reef and Friends of RGV Reef With this funding, CCA Texas and BCT have now provided $661,000 to the Friends of RGV Reef. This project has created a one of a kind complex reefing system that supports the entire life cycle of marine species in the area. This contribution will help the next phase of deployment which is expected to begin in early January 2020 and

will include 10,000 tons of materials. This will start the 400 acre CCA Nursery Reef and will be made with 54 low relief reef patches of 25 tons of concrete rail ties, 25 tons of broken concrete, and 6 pallets (420 blocks) of cinder blocks. In addition, 16 patch reefs of 250 tons of concrete rail ties will line the reef’s northern side to keep shrimp trawls out of the nursery reef. An additional 1,500 tons will also be added to the CCA Corner of the reef. CCA Texas and BCT are proud to continue supporting Friends of RGV Reef and congratulate them on the Conservation Wrangler award from Texan by Nature. $250,000 – Dagger Island Shoreline Protection and Marsh Restoration with Ducks Unlimited The Dagger and Ransom Island Shoreline Protection Project is a wide-ranging project with the ultimate goal to eliminate or drastically reduce the rate of shoreline erosion and island migration.

Three different types of shoreline protection (shoreline revetment, beneficial use, and offshore breakwaters) will be used at three priority areas. Once completed, the project will protect more than 5,000 acres of marsh and wetland, and create more than 40 acres. Mobilization for the project construction began the first week of November and construction is currently underway.

Thank you CCA Texas’s Leadership and Staff thanks each and every member, donor, and sponsor for their continued support that has made CCA Texas the most successful marine conservation organization of its kind. The Leadership and Staff look forward to another successful year in 2020. For more information about CCA Texas, please visit www.ccatexas.org or call (713) 626-4222.

50 | January 2020

TSFMAG.com | 51

STEPHANIE BOYD

F I S H Y FA C T S

WHOOPING CRANES Reaching up to five feet in height, and with a seven-foot wingspan, whooping cranes are the tallest birds in North America. They are named for their resonant call, which can be heard over long distances thanks to a five-foot long trachea that coils twice around the bird’s breastbone like a French horn. Most of their height comes from a lengthy neck and long black legs, so it’s not surprising that they weigh in at only fifteen pounds. The bright white feathers covering most of the body are accented by jet-black wing tips (visible only when the wings are extended), a ‘mustache’ of black feathers over the lower face, and an accent of red skin on the head. Their bills are dark olive-gray but become lighter during the breeding season. Eyes are yellow. Juveniles are nearly the same size as adults and have rusty brown plumage in the fall, which molts into the adult white by the following spring.

The overall slender body widens to a plump “bustle” at the tail, making them look deceptively big-bodied. In flight, whooping cranes can be distinguished from other large white birds by an extended neck, and legs that trail equally straight behind.

The only remaining naturally occurring whooping crane population winters on the Gulf Coast, primarily in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and breeds in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada. A re-introduced 52 | January 2020

migratory flock winters in Florida at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and breeds in the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin. And a nonmigratory flock was formed near Kissimmee, Florida, as part of a reintroduction program. At their Texas wintering grounds, whoopers can be found on estuarine marshes, shallow bays, and tidal flats, sometimes venturing to nearby farmland. During migration they stop over on wide shallow river flats. They travel during the day in pairs, family groups, or small flocks, sometimes in the company of sandhill cranes, and after 2,500 miles, finally arrive to their Canadian breeding grounds of prairie marshes and muskeg (swampy coniferous woods with numerous lakes and ponds).

When the winds are favorable, migrating whoopers glide on fixed wings, rather than actively flying. They spiral upwards on thermal updrafts, glide back down, and then spiral upward again on the next draft. This spiraling and gliding is energy-efficient and allows them to fly nonstop for great distances. Whoopers communicate constantly while flying, using loud trumpeting bugles and deep trills. They learn migration routes, traditional stopovers, and nesting locations from their parents (or from researchers in ultralight aircraft, as part of reintroduction efforts). These strong homing

instincts limit their expansion to new habitats. Though they travel in flocks, in winter they mostly separate out into family groups, each pair of adults defending a feeding territory against neighboring whoopers.

Whooping cranes are omnivorous, feeding on a range of live prey and vegetation. In their Texas wintering grounds, they feed on blue crabs, wolfberries, crayfish, frogs, large insects, cordgrass, marsh onions, prairie lily, and acorns roasted during the prescribed burns. The Canada breeding population eats mollusks, Photo by NOAA. crustaceans, aquatic insects, minnows, frogs, snakes, mice, voles, aquatic tubers, and berries, while the Wisconsin breeding population eats mostly aquatic animals. Additionally, migrating whoopers eat waste grains including barley, wheat, and corn from harvested fields. Cranes feed by browsing for food, rather than hunting stealthily like a heron; they peck and probe sandy or flooded soils to find prey underground, or outright stab larger prey.

While feeding the adults use a frequent low purr to keep in contact with each other.

In early spring, while still on the wintering grounds, pairs of cranes whoop and dance as part of courtship. Whoopers are monogamous, forming pairs at two or three years old. Though they mate for life, individuals will accept a new mate if one of the pair dies. Courting pairs perform an elaborate, energetic dance display in which they leap, flap their wings, toss their heads, and even fling feathers and grass. Dancing intensifies until the birds depart, usually in mid-March. Surrounded by the headwaters of four rivers, the Canadian breeding grounds lie on poorly drained soil interspersed with shallow wetlands. Courtships pick up where they left off in Texas, with loud trumpeting or ‘whooping’ calls that carry over several miles and astonishing leaps into the air by both partners. Pairs choose nest sites in the shallow water of marshes, sloughs, or lake margins, frequently on small islands.

They often take advantage of vegetation that hides the nest and incubating parent from predators. Each breeding pair has a territory defended primarily by the male, who attacks intruders by running, flapping, hissing, stabbing, or jumping and slashing with his feet. New pairs often establish a territory near their parents. The pair builds their nest together by piling up and trampling vegetation such as bulrushes, sedges, and cattails. Nests typically measure two to five feet across and have a flat surface or a shallow depression for the eggs. The

female lays one to three brown-spotted eggs, though rarely does more than one chick survive to adulthood. Both parents share the task of incubating the eggs, which hatch in about thirty days.

Whooper chicks, called colts, are covered in reddish-brown down at hatching and are able to walk and swim within a few hours.

Parents communicate with the newly hatched colts with a purring sound. Both parents feed the young, and family groups frequent the shallows of small ponds and marshes, where the parents forage for larval forms of insects such as dragonflies, damselflies, and mayflies, as well as snails, small clams, water beetles, leeches, frogs, and small fish to feed their colts. They can fly around three months after hatching, though they stay with their parents for most of the first year. Whoopers are slow to mature and don’t usually breed until they are four or five years old. In the wild, they live around twenty years. The oldest wild whooper on record, banded in the Northwest Territories in 1977, was at least 28 years and 4 months old when it was found in Saskatchewan in 2005.

Photo by US Fish & All of the whooping cranes alive today, Wildlife Service. both wild and captive, are descendants of the last fifteen whoopers from the Texas/ Canada migratory population that were found wintering at the Aransas Refuge in 1941. A handful more existed at the time in a non-migratory population in Louisiana, but that flock soon died out. Before human interference, there were believed to be 15,000 to 20,000 whooping cranes ranging across North America east of the Rockies, but due to hunting and habitat loss, that number dwindled to around 1,400 by 1860.

Thanks to intensive conservation efforts, the whooper’s population grew to about 600 individuals in 2011 (with around 160 of these in captivity). They benefited from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1916, the establishment of Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park in 1922, and the 1937 establishment of Texas’s Aransas National TSFMAG.com | 53

Operation Migration Lead Pilot Richard van Heuvelen performs a perfect air pick-up on Nov. 19, 2013, in Union County, KY, to lead the eight endangered whooping cranes into Tennessee. Photo by Heather Ray, Operation Migration.

Whooping Crane release, May 1998.

Wildlife Refuge. Today’s only self-sustaining population migrates between those two refuges.

Scientists recognized the risk of having all the wild whooping cranes in one population. They could be wiped out in one fell swoop by disease, bad weather, or human impacts. Their survival depended on additional, separate populations. In 1967, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began captive breeding programs and reintroduction efforts, using sandhill cranes as foster parents. Biologists first tried to introduce a new population in Idaho, but after several years, the population crashed and disappeared. But efforts continued, and three reintroduced populations currently exist, sustained by captive breeding: a resident Florida population, a resident Louisiana population, and a migratory Wisconsin/Florida population. Creating a new migratory flock of whooping cranes required teaching young chicks how and where to migrate. Lacking experienced adult whoopers, the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team decided to use an ultralight aircraft to show the young whooping cranes the route between western Florida and Wisconsin.

Although this species has been saved from extinction for the moment, and populations are increasing, the whooping crane remains the rarest of the world’s fifteen crane species. The greatest threats to whooper populations are man-made: power lines, illegal hunting, poorly situated wind turbines, and most especially, habitat loss. Though whoopers are generally safe from hunting, twenty percent of the Florida/Wisconsin population have still been shot. At least 5,500 turbines already exist in the species’ migratory corridor and several thousand more are planned. While the areas where the birds breed and winter are protected, they are also isolated and make the entire population vulnerable to any disastrous ecological event. Additionally, biologists have much less information about locations used during migration between Texas and Canada.

Whooping cranes are still endangered, but there is reason to be hopeful with continued intensive conservation. If you are interested in being part of the conservation effort, there is a citizen science project called Texas Whooper Watch that collects information such as migration stopover sites and non-traditional wintering areas 54 | January 2020

(as well as assessing behavior and habitat use, and whether any hazards exist to whoopers at these sites). The project can be found on the iNaturalist app.

Where I learned about whooping cranes, and you can too!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whooping_Crane/overview International Crane Foundation www.savingcranes.org/species-field-guide/whooping-crane/ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service www.fws.gov/refuge/Aransas/wildlife/whooping_cranes.html www.fws.gov/refuge/Quivira/wildlife_and_habitat/whooping_crane.html Operation Migration operationmigration.org/the-whooping-crane.asp National Wildlife Federation www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Birds/Whooping-Crane TPWD tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/whooper/ tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/ whooper-watch/ tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/ whooper-watch/report.phtml/ Audubon: Guide to North American Birds www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/whooping-crane American Bird Conservancy abcbirds.org/bird/whooping-crane/ WhatBird identify.whatbird.com/obj/52/_/Whooping_Crane.aspx National Geographic www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/w/whooping-crane/

TSFMAG.com | 55

The author’s beach companion, Trigger, loves romping in the surf.

ERIC OZOLINS

E X T R E M E K AYA K F I S H I N G & S H A R K S F R O M T H E S A N D

GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS Every year, when the eternal hand of Father Time flips the calendar over for a fresh start, anglers have a natural tendency to think about both the past and the future.

Some lucky ones relish the phenomenal year of fishing they’ve just experienced, while others, less fortunate, recall more hardships and frustrations when remembering their recent days on the water. In this time of reflection, most of us find some joy in imagining the possibilities

Gazing into the eye of Oz’s last mako.

56 | January 2020

presented by the arrival of a brand new January.

As one year winds down and another begins, I try to peek into the future, after taking a thoughtful look back at the past. Since I place so much value in optimism, I often set really ambitious goals, including some that might seem completely out of reach. On occasions when one of these lofty goals is met, I realize the value of setting the bar of expectations as high as possible.

Legitimate goals and expectations can prove difficult to set, when one considers the unpredictable and inconsistent backdrop of Texas coastal weather. All across the Lone Star State, people deal with the effects of rapidly changing weather; on the coast, these effects are at their most extreme. The often-wacky weather systems which prevail in our region toss anglers plenty of curveballs throughout the year, and many people struggle to adjust to constantly evolving environmental factors like shifting currents, variable water clarity and fluctuating salinity levels, all of which contribute to patterns which can be hard to replicate.

People aren’t the only creatures who have to adjust to rapidly changing weather and related factors. Aquatic creatures must cope too, and they respond to the changes in different ways. My years spent pursuing sharks and numerous gamefish in the Gulf have taught me I always have things to look forward to. Understanding what lies ahead does involve a thoughtful look back. But while recalling the previous year’s activities and the timing of migration patterns might provide a basic way to predict what’s likely to happen in the coming months, these things rarely repeat exactly the same way two years in a row, especially over the evershifting sands of Texas beaches. One of the factors exerting profound influence on the productivity of our efforts is the relative abundance of Sargassum weed.

Over the last twenty years, while I fished the Texas surf like a mad man, the effects of Sargassum on my efforts has changed dramatically. For many years, weeds floated into the surf zone during the summer and doomed our efforts in many places. The current that brings this menacing weed into the western gulf from the Sargasso Sea is the Gulf Stream, which grabs floating rafts of the vegetation after they break away from the main patch and drift into the Caribbean.

Like a warm river flowing through a cooler sea, the Gulf Stream is vital to the health of large parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It can also play a role as the bane to Texas surf fishing. Over recent years, various catalysts have prevented the stream from pushing copious amounts of weed into the Gulf. As of now, I’m hopeful we’ll have another great year of weed-free beach fishing.

If we get another break from the weeds, we’ll catch plenty of fish, so I’ve set some new goals I hope to meet.

Some, of course, involve monstrous fish with mouths full of rows of razor-sharp teeth. Several months ago, Texas Parks

and Wildlife passed a new rule related to legal methods for shark fishing. Currently, anglers can only use non-stainless steel, nonoffset circle hooks for rigging shark baits. This is a major change, since people have been using traditional “j” hooks for sharks for many decades, though many recently evolved to using stainless steel circle hooks.

The stainless hooks helped fight the rigors of rust, and the generic overseas varieties were quite affordable. Fishing legally might now require us to replace hooks more often, but though we might spend more money on hooks with the new regulation, I won’t stop targeting giant sharks on the beach. I run the Catch Sharks tackle company (catchsharks.com) and have been promoting standard circle hooks Ben Franklin’s original rendering of the Gulf Stream.

Oz’s home on the PINS beach with a fantastic view of the Milky Way above.

TSFMAG.com | 57

great hammerheads exceeding twelve feet, and would love to set a new record for the species in 2020.

To this day, I love catching giant sharks from the beach, and I’ve come to really enjoy watching my clients fight them too. The surf feels like home to me; saltwater seems to flow through my veins. Overall, I enter this year with high expectations, hoping to accomplish several other goals, most of which involve encounters with relatively uncommon species like dusky, lemon and nurse sharks. Another goal might be met out on the beach, or in the shallow backwaters of the bays; I always look forward to trying to catch more thirty-inch trout every year, and usually spend some time targeting them between the harbor and the dunes. I expect to spend as much time as possible in the outdoors at the salty edge of the Lone Star State throughout the coming year, motivated by my goals, my mind full of great expectations.

C O N TA C T

for several years already, and I and my clients have caught many large sharks on them. With a little good fortune, I foresee many more monster sharks added to my record book in the coming year.

One goal I pursue every year is catching a mako shark from the beach. This is still my all-time favorite species to bring to the sand, a kind of Holy Grail for me. Over the years, I’ve narrowed the window of prime opportunity down significantly; we usually get our best shot at these magnificent predators from the middle of winter through the middle of spring. The window revolves around water temperature, present bait source, and water clarity driven by the offshore currents. In Texas, six publicly documented mako sharks have been caught in the surf; I was on the beach for five of them, and have officially landed 2 ( a third, unofficially). My last one would have likely been the current state record specimen, weighing well over seven hundred pounds.

In addition to targeting the ocean’s fastest, most acrobatic predators, I’ll also be seeking to put a twelve foot tiger shark on the beach. I’ve come close several times, but despite catching many tigers, including on charters, I’ve yet to drag a legitimate twelve footer onto the sand. With the new hook regulation taking effect, it will likely be easier to catch hammerheads than tigers. Tigers are suckers for giant jackfish or stingrays rigged on J hooks. Most of these huge baits can’t be rigged on circle hooks, so it might be tougher to get the attention of the mightiest tigers. Regardless, I’m going to blast out the biggest baits I can during the most opportune times, and hold onto hope this will be the year to eclipse that twelve foot mark for the tiger! I’ve beached multiple

For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric is the owner of Catch Sharks Tackle Company.

Email Websites

oz@oceanepics.com oceanepics.com | catchsharks.com

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EVERETT JOHNSON

P L A S T I C & W AT E R D O N ' T M I X

LET’S GET ‘ER DONE IN 2020!

The focus of this column since its inception has been to increase the awareness of the harmful effects of plastic refuse in coastal waterways among fishing enthusiasts.

You may recall the discussions of how plastics never really go away, even when they disappear from sight in the coastal ecosystem. The subtle reality of plastic is that even when it degrades it’s still there in the form of microplastic particles – some too small to see with the naked eye.

Microplastic particles, unfortunately, become mixed with algae and other tiny food substances ingested by animals that filter nutrients from the water. Prime examples of these are oysters, shrimp, and finfish such as mullet. Some plastic particles are voided with the animal’s waste products but a surprising number are tiny enough to actually become absorbed into body tissue. If we eat

60 | January 2020

shrimp and oysters, we are at risk of ingesting plastic ourselves. In the case of mullet, while we do not eat them, the gamefish species we seek (and enjoy for dinner) eat mullet every day. And so it goes.

There are many forms of proactive plastic management fishermen can practice and we have highlighted many.

The most basic and simplest is that if we don’t take plastic on the boat, it won’t end up in the water. I could discuss dozens of other great practices fishermen can adopt but the thrust of this month’s column is more about hands-on involvement in the effort to remove plastic debris already littering waterways, shorelines, and beaches.

There are a great number of cleanup activities we can participate in during the coming months and I want to highlight some of the more notable events that present

excellent opportunities for involvement with families, schools, and civic groups, etc.

The Texas General Land Office began sponsoring coastal beach cleanups way back in 1986. Since those early days 54,000 volunteers have removed 9,700 tons of debris from Texas beaches. What an amazing record of achievement! Adopt-A-Beach events are coordinated coastwide with literally dozens of facilitated sites twice a year – spring and fall. Learn more by logging into Texas Adopt-ABeach for specific times and places.

So, if you’re ready to pitch in and help clean some beaches, here’s where you can get started: • GLO Adopt-A-Beach February 07, 2020: South Padre Island (Contact GLO) • GLO Adopt-A-Beach February 08, 2020: Coastal Bend (Contact GLO) • Billy Sandifer/Friends of Padre Big Shell Beach Cleanup on Padre Island National Seashore (the granddaddy of Texas beach cleanups): February 29, 2020 (Contact Tyler Thorsen 361-779-3044 – FriendsofPadre.com) • GLO Adopt-A-Beach April 18, 2020: Coastwide (Contact GLO) • Port Mansfield East Cut and Beach Cleanup June 06, 2020: Port Mansfield (Contact Miller Bassler 979-324-5555, or visit Port Mansfield East Cut Cleanup on Facebook) Let’s join together and make 2020 the year to get involved and help rid Texas beaches of plastic and other debris. Many hands make lighter work!

TSFMAG.com | 61

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TSFMAG.com | 63

DICKIE COLBURN

DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene

S ab i n e

Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.

Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com

64 | January 2020

Prior to Harvey burying most of southeast Texas under an unthinkable 48 to 60 inches of rain, this was undoubtedly my favorite time of the year to chase magnum trout on Sabine. On any given morning, regardless of how inclement the weather, you could realistically expect multiple shots at five- to sevenpound trout while possibly even duping a fish in the nine-pound class!

Once word finally leaked out that the incredible fishing was more than a rumor, visiting clients from the Houston area paraded eastward morning after morning. Twenty-four-hour fast food joints and convenience stores along I-10 were packed in the predawn hours with determined fishermen.

Almost to the angler, if he was towing a boat he was headed an extra thirty minutes east to Big Lake, otherwise his group had a Sabine Lake guide booked.

Big Lake was possibly even more prolific, but very few guides working the Cajun hotspot bought into the benefits of wading!

I could not be happier to see the improving numbers of ten- to twelve-inch trout that we have seen on Sabine over the past few months, but Lord only knows what happened to those trout that made you

impervious to little or no sleep and frozen fingers.

Based on the average size of the trout that we have caught wading thus far, the youngsters at least know where and what they should hunt when the surface temperature dips below 60°. We have experienced no freezes and only a day or two in the high-30s, but it has been cold enough to push those smaller trout up on the shallow flats near deeper water in search of finger mullet.

I was forever convinced that a bulkier Corky Fat Boy or larger topwater like the Super Spook minimized the smaller trout bite, but they apparently like those same lures as much as their parents do. They will fold up a Fat Boy or Softdine XL cast after cast, and bounce a topwater around until they finally fail to avoid one of the treble hooks. The catching remains as much fun as it has ever been, but the “big trout” magic is on hold.

After two years of wondering if I would even live long enough to see the trout return to Sabine, I can now exhale and hope that the big fish bite will rebound quicker than expected as well. Too many anglers continue to take advantage of the more liberal Louisiana size and creel limits, but “no netting” should more than compensate for that over the long haul.

The biggest question for local anglers that couldn’t care less about hustling smaller trout or at the very least, keeping any, is what is going on with the flounder bite. We took another major hit when Imelda recently parked over us, but prior to that we were catching excellent numbers of smaller flounder.

While the numbers have fallen off we have continued to catch a few

very solid flatfish, but the much anticipated annual run has just not materialized. Biologists contend that warmer Gulf waters for the three years prior to 2018 had a negative impact on the annual spawn, but regardless of the reason, the bite has been disappointing.

The water in the lake could not possibly be in better shape than it is right now and that greatly expands our playing field. Salinity levels are more than adequate all the way to the mouths of the Sabine and Neches and we have two feet of visibility across most of the lake.

A big north wind occasionally keeps us pinned down on the north end, but that has not been a problem as far as the catching goes. We are also finding excellent numbers of slot reds mixing with the small trout and their ability to crush a lure and peel drag works for me. If you feel the same way, try working the shoreline in Coffee Ground Cove or behind Sidney Island with a four-inch Usual Suspect or Rat-L-Trap. The trout don’t like either offering as much as some other choices, but the redfish cannot resist either lure.

The same two lures work equally well when fishing under the birds in the open lake, as does the venerable Hoginar. If you find yourself in the middle of a school of reds, just leave your Hoginar lying on the bottom rather than Another solid retrieving it and hang on. trout for next year!

Lots of small trout work well for lots of small kids!

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BINK GRIMES

THE VIEW FROM Matagorda

M ata go r d a

Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing and hunting guide, freelance writer and photographer, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay.

Telephone 979-241-1705 Email binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net Website matagordasunriselodge.com

66 | January 2020

By now, many anglers have winterized their boats and tackle is tucked it in the corner of the closet, locked away until the first buds of spring. That bodes well for winter waders wanting a bout with a large speckled trout. Quiet is good. Fewer boats burning shorelines is good. January’s serenity is good.

Corkys are premier wintertime baits, but topwaters often get the nod on those warm, clear afternoons. By January, shrimp have left the bays and speckled trout adapt their diet to finfish. That’s when slow-sinking mullet imitation plugs like Soft-Dines and Texas Custom Corkys go to work.

Flipping mullet are tell-tale signs that specks could be in the area; however, even though you don’t see active baitfish, that doesn’t mean the fish are not there. Work baits slowly with multiple casts to the same piece of structure; cold weather turns fish in to methodical creatures.

Locales receiving the most tidal flow often hold the majority of schools – that means reefs and mud flats adjacent to the Intracoastal in East Matagorda Bay. Brown Cedar Flats, Chinquapin Reefs, Bird Island, Half Moon Reef and The Log are all proven winter spots holding healthy specks.

Drifting is also an option, especially with low-tide

winter water levels. East Bay is often 2-3 feet below normal in January, depending how hard the north wind blows.

Raymond Shoals, Boiler Bayou, Pipeline Reef and Cleveland Reef hold good fish during the winter; and, when tides are extremely low, shoreline redfish move off the flats to these reefs in the middle of the bay.

When the wind really blows, never discount the Colorado River. Trout congregate in the deep, warm waters of the Colorado and if we remain in a dry spell the entire river all the way to Bay City has potential.

Low tides in West Bay drain the delta at the mouth of the Diversion Channel and funnel all fish to the deep channel. Anglers drift across the channel with Down South Lures, MirrOlure Lil’ Johns

or Bass Assassins.

I’ll be honest, some days they bite, some days they don’t. But when they do, it doesn’t take long to score a limit.

Most of the time we toss to the shore and work the drop. But when we have trouble finding fish, we troll the middle of the river and bump the bottom until we find a school. The river drops from two, to five, to nine feet along the bank and the trout hang close to the drops, depending on the water temperature.

We have fitted Haynie Magnums with Minn Kota trolling motors for this type of fishing. The rivers and channels give us a place of refuge when the wind blows our hats off in the bays Night fishing in January is very popular. Piers along the river turn their lights on at night to draw mullet, shad and shrimp. Often, some of the largest trout of the year are caught on the coldest nights.

Corkys, MirrOlures, Soft-Dines and night-glow plastics worked gingerly through the water column can excite lethargic fish.

If you don’t have access to a pier, set up lights along the bank of the Diversion Channel and go to work. Catch the Diversion Channel on a falling tide and expect redfish as well.

Duck hunting continues through Jan.26 and, if past campaigns are any indication, we will have a strong finish. The first two months have been nothing short of fabulous.

Our marsh holds lots of gadwalls and full-plumaged blue-winged teal. If you are looking for a cobalt-headed bluewing for a mount, our marsh gives you plenty of opportunities.

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TSFMAG.com | 67

CAPT. SHELLIE GRAY

MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays

Port O'Connor Seadrift

Captain Shellie Gray was born in Port Lavaca and has been guiding in the Seadrift/Port O’Connor area full time for the past 16 years. Shellie specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.

Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com Facebook @captsgaryandshelliegray

68 | January 2020

Winter fishing can be trying at times, but also very rewarding. As with any season, the weather may have you hunkered down seeking protection in back lakes one day, and then enjoying a calm afternoon of reef-hopping across San Antonio Bay the next. No matter the conditions, there are a couple of things you will want to look for when you approach any area this time of year.

Water clarity is a big one. Catching fish in superclear water is tough in any season. The problem becomes even greater in winter when algae counts decline due to cooler water temps. Quite often we must rely on wind and current stirring bottom sediments to create favorable (reduced) clarity conditions along windward shorelines, currents running through sloughs that connect backwater areas with main bays, and also along edges of reefs impacted by tidal flows. Another source of “colored water” can be found where large concentrations of mullet root up bottom sediments during their normal feeding activities.

So, the takeaway should be this: For more bites; concentrate your efforts in areas where clarity trends toward the murky side, and also where some

Patricia Morin enjoyed a beautiful winter day and lots of catching.

Rafe Neasbitt came all the way from Oklahoma to fish San Antonio Bay. Rafe released his big redfish right after the photo.

amount of bait is present.

When such an area has been located, it is time to consider the best approach for fishing it.

The first bite or hookup is a signal to plant your feet and “fish” your way forward VERY slowly and METHODICALLY. I call it fan-casting, deliberately aiming my lure to cover the full semi-circle of water in front of me. This is easy to control when fishing alone but can often become difficult when fishing with others. Everybody wants in on the action. Too often I have clients that will continue to walk forward with each cast, right into the zone where fish are holding. The bite usually dies instantly and it can be tough to get them going again.

Another mistake I see anglers make, when fishing reefs, is rushing to reach a certain spot along the reef or join a buddy who is catching fish. Crunching oyster shells and pushing through the water at a normal walking speed will spook every fish within casting distance. Trust me on this.

Move slowly, feeling your way carefully with your feet, to avoid crunching as much as possible. The greatest advantage of wading is the ability to fish more stealthily than from a boat.

My lure selection during winter becomes very basic compared to the warmer months. When the water temperature is really cold I lean toward the slow-sinkers such as MirrOlure’s Paul Brown Original Suspending Twitchbait and sometimes the Original Floater. I use these baits mostly in relatively shallow areas; 2- to 3-feet deep. These baits can yield big results but you must pack your patience. These are slow-sinking baits and should be fished slowly. Cold fish are not likely to rush a bait as they do in warmer conditions. Slow it down and let the bait do what is was designed to deliver.

During the recovery days between fronts when the water has warmed a bit, I like MirrOlure’s Paul Brown Devil Twitchbait. It sinks a little faster than the Originals and has a great darting action produced by short jerks and twitches of your rod. The Devil’s long tail swishing side-to-side when twitched is very attractive to hungry fish.

Almost without fail, the heaviest fish come from back lakes during winter, but for sheer numbers of bites you can’t beat the reefs in San Antonio Bay, especially on warmer afternoons. Here I prefer to use Bass Assassin’s 4 inch Sea Shad. This paddletail rigged on an 1/8-ounce jighead sinks faster than the baits mentioned above – perfect for probing the entire water column. Trout like to hang along drop-offs that lie along the edges of reefs, where depths can range from 3- to 6-feet. We might find them holding anywhere from mid-depth to lying on bottom; that’s what I mean when I say probe the entire water column. Some days we find steadier action when giving the lure a few seconds to sink and then simply dragging it slowly along the bottom. Slight hopping action is sometimes necessary to prevent hanging on scattered oyster shell.

In this New Year I hope you reach all your goals, gain lots of knowledge, and find happiness in everything you do… especially when it comes to fishing!

TSFMAG.com | 69

DAVID ROWSEY

HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey

Upper Laguna/ Ba f f i n

David Rowsey has over 25 years in Baffin and Upper Laguna Madre; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty.

David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.

Telephone 361-960-0340 Website www.DavidRowsey.com Email david.rowsey@yahoo.com @captdavidrowsey

70 | January 2020

Happy New Year to all. Hope y’alls holidays have been filled with friends, family, and good fishing trips. I’ve had all the above and am very grateful for it.

January has long been one of my favorite big trout months; one that has always been underrated in my opinion. Know that I am somewhat biased on the subject as I caught my largest-ever in January. I get at least a zillion questions asking about the best dates to book. The truth is that any of the colder months can be top shelf. The number one factor for me is the water temperature.

For instance; this year (2019), we have had unusually cold weather in the late fall/early winter period that dropped water temperatures way in advance of typical winter fishing season. Because of that we landed some legit trophy trout in November and early December – the largest being a 9.25 pounder. I had to look back at my records to confirm this, but it had been way back in 2004 since that happened. The number of four- to six-pound trout also shot up – as would also be expected. The key factor was colder water and fish gorging as the temperature dropped. Based on what I am seeing at the moment, I am very optimistic about the

possibilities of what January through May will hold for us in the big trout department.

As excited as I am about the quality of fish I am catching already in the early season, the immediate and future continuance of it all rides on our backs as true sportsman and stewards of the bay. If you have ever wanted to catch a trout longer than 25 inches, you simply can’t kill them between 20 and 25. They have to grow to become trophies!

Large trout have become fewer and fewer over the years and the amount of work required to catch them has probably increased tenfold. This is simply because so many fisherman have targeted this class of fish and given them a one way ride to the cleaning table. Although Baffin is my biggest concern, I hear the same from up and down the coast from some very salty fishermen. Saying that, I do see some light at the end of the tunnel, as many of the worst offenders have matured and are becoming catch and release converts. Hey, I’ll take what I can get from them. It may take a while longer to get there, but maturity and concern for their own wellbeing is setting in with some.

January will begin with relatively few boats on

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the water, which is always a plus. But as fish are caught and word spreads, we can expect more pressure on the resource, and also on our patience. I am already thinking outside the box and fishing areas where I know boats will not be an issue. November and December already found me as far south as Nine Mile Hole, and as far north as Corpus Christi, Nueces, and Oso bays. I do not care where I catch big trout, as long as I catch them, and most of my clients feel the same.

Every now and then I’ll get a new client who is baffled as I point the bow of my boat away from Baffin or tell them to meet me at the Nueces Bay Causeway. I take my job and your hard-earned money very seriously, and will always do what I think is best for that day to catch a trophy trout.

Trust me on this, I don’t want to waste your time or mine!

Regardless of the bay system I’m in, the same basic rules will apply in finding and catching the best trout available. Most agree that muddy bay bottoms are the go-to areas to find the bait that will draw the trout during the cooler weather. All the aforementioned bays have plenty of that close to shorelines and back in the feeder creeks and sloughs. Saying that, however, never overlook shallow sandy areas this time of year when the sun is out. A three degree water temperature rise throughout the day will draw them right in to warm up…regardless of what type of bottom it is.

Without a doubt, this time of year, the afternoon bite is my favorite during warming trends.

Theoretically and traditionally, this has always worked well for me to catch some wintertime monsters. However, dumbasses burning shorelines can screw us all over in in a heartbeat when the pattern is in full bloom. Rolling my eyes at them.

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TSFMAG.com | 71

WAYNE DAVIS

WAYNE’S Mansfield Report

Port Mansfield

Captain Wayne Davis has been fishing the Lower Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes in wade fishing with lures.

Telephone 210-287-3877 Email captwayne@kwigglers.com

72 | January 2020

Happy New Year from Port Mansfield! It has certainly came around quickly. With that said I also want to say our fishing has been steady the past month.

One caveat would be the early arrival of some pretty substantial cold fronts. What is more interesting is the immediate return of strong southerly winds (30 plus mph) in the wake of those fronts. This reminds me of a late-winter weather pattern rather than an early one. Lower Laguna tides have continued to run on the high side. We’ve yet to see a true dump of water but I suspect it could happen any time now.

Weather patterns and high tides have been dictating my daily fishing plans – setting up on humps and rises in the bay bottom near drains that have quick access to deep water. When fishing during a warming trend following a cold snap, with light to moderate wind, consider targeting a large flat littered with numerous potholes. Fish will almost automatically move to the flats when the barometer settles and temperatures begin to rise.

We have heard it many times about wintertime fishing; fish slow and then go slower. Let me expound on that just a bit. Glenn Ellis is on the cover with a

Glenn Ellis landed this 8.5-pounder on the afternoon of his first day with Capt. Wayne.

His personal best… until the next day!

true double-digit trophy and I want to describe the Michelle Lucio with a solid red on a crisp strategy we employed that post-norther day. day. We arrived to our spot about forty-five minutes after daylight and I discussed my plan with Glenn and Patrick to cover about 500 yards, moving forward very slowly, carefully picking apart every piece of structure – grassbeds, potholes, or any flicker of bait.

They followed my lead and executed the plan flawlessly.

We started our wade about 7:45am and finished a little after 3:00pm, just to give an idea of what I mean by moving slowly. When we finished, we repositioned and began another wade at a slight offset to the original. The area had been “fishy” several days and I was reluctant to leave it.

As noted in the caption of the accompanying photo, Glenn landed his first personal best of that two-day trip on the second wade. Glenn’s trophy that appears on the cover came on the second day. Again in the afternoon and remarkably on his final cast. It was a couple of days before full moon. We followed the same plan as the first day; move slowly and cast to every piece of structure or bait movement within reach. After landing that double-digit trout Glenn simply sat in the boat and grinned from ear to ear.

The same as with Glen Ellis, my strategy this winter will include fishing slowly and carefully, tossing KWigglers Willow Tail Shads and 4-inch Paddle Tails. Lure colors will be selected based on water conditions and clarity. Water depths will dictate whether we use 2/0 Spring Lock Black Nickel jigheads in 1/16 or 1/8-ounce. I’m a big believer in the ability of the smaller 2/0 hook to gain solid hooksets, especially when the bite is less than aggressive. Where the grass becomes thick, with only a few potholes, I generally recommend the Willow Tails rigged on the 1/8-ounce, 5/0 Willow Maker Weedless Hooks. This combination is virtually 100% weedless and allows swimming the lure through just about any amount of grass without hanging up.

Our redfish bite has been very steady, most of which are coming from potholes in knee- to thigh-deep water. KW Paddle Tails and Ball Tails have been the go-to baits for these bruisers. Even though we have had an abundance of reds on the flats recently you still had to work the bait relatively slowly to get them to take it. The bite is often only a light tap, but hang on when you set the hook. That light tap usually turns into a line stripping brawl that has been testing the drags of our Shimano reels to their fullest. You can expect this pattern to remain in play when high barometric pressure dominates the weather pattern the first day or two following a norther.

As we move forward keep in mind this is winter fishing, unless you feel you need to beat someone to a specific spot, you don’t need to head out before dawn. I’m typically in no hurry; I’ll enjoy an extra cup of coffee and basically just ease into a more relaxed day of fishing. This is another reason why winter is my favorite time of year.

In closing I want to again wish everyone a Happy New Year and I hope you all get to fish as much as your dreams allow. Remember to stay safe out there and practice good conservation to help ensure healthy fisheries in the future.

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TSFMAG.com | 73

CAPT. ERNEST CISNEROS

SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene Arr o y o C ol o ra d o t o Po rt I sa bel

A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel.

Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.

Cell 956-266-6454 Website www.tightlinescharters.com

74 | January 2020

I visited Alaska a few years ago and witnessed firsthand salmon returning from the ocean to spawn in the exact headwaters where they were born. Scientists believe they use Earth’s magnetic fields to find their way. This experience came back to me recently as I have begun finding trout and redfish in several parts of our bay system where I used to catch them reliably but haven’t been able to find them for several years. While I realize there is no correlation between trout and redfish, and salmon; I am very pleased to see the local trout and redfish populations thriving and returning to areas that were very productive for us years ago.

More evidence that our fisheries are healthier today than recent years; not long ago a steady redfish bite was hard to find while the past several months have given us reliable action all across the Laguna Madre. Flounder, too, seem more abundant and more widely distributed. Snook have been the biggest surprise of all. Our landings of the linesiders through the warmer months of 2019 exceeded every expectation – both in targeted efforts and random encounters.

Baitfish will be harder to pinpoint in January,

Sandy and Kevin Saxe were very pleased with recent wintertime snook landings.

Colder weather usually brings growth‌and girth!

especially on colder days, as they tend to hug bottom and often aren't visible on the surface.

When this happens I pay greater attention than ever to the location and behavior of birds. Brown pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, and the ever-reliable osprey all depend on baitfish to survive.

Hovering and diving are easiest to spot, but even a few pelicans and seagulls resting on the water and occasionally dipping their bills can point the way to a good day.

Another clue I use often, both when wading and motoring across the flats, are the mud boils produced by redfish as they flee when spooked. Reds are way more tolerant of colder water temperatures than trout, and it takes only a few hours of warm sunshine following a bitter blast for them to begin making their way back into shallow water in search of small crabs and finger mullet.

Spoil island shorelines and shallow humps between islands are some of the first and best places I look for them after a cold snap. Slower lure presentations are usually required as the water first begins to warm. Two very reliable baits to try are the KWiggler Willow Tail and the Barboleta Lele.

The Willow Tail has great tail action even when retrieved very slowly.

Trout, this time of the year, are a whole other animal, and definitely more weather-sensitive than the redfish. They spend more time in deeper water during cold spells and are slower to move back to the shallows during warming periods. The edges of the ICW or deeper holes are areas you might want to target to find good numbers of trout during the first days of warming weather. A few warm days will usually have them back on the flats, staged in and near potholes in the grass.

I typically key on mullet presence when targeting trout, but like my reference to the various bird species mentioned above, we cannot always find them flipping happily on the surface. There will be many days when all we see are a few flashes or swirls below the surface. Some of my wintertime go-to trout baits are the Paul Brown Original and Fat Boy lures and I have also become fond of the Lele. When soft plastics are producing the KWiggler Willow Tail is my first choice and I certainly never rule out a slow-walked topwater when fishing a warmer than average afternoon with mullet becoming active on the surface.

January is a great fishing month; trout are heavier on average this month, which adds to the opportunity to land a true trophy fish. However, the weather is always a huge factor that must be accounted for when putting a plan together. The early arrival of cold weather this fall reminded us of this fact. A good piece of advice is to never pass up an area that has proven itself in years past to attract and hold trout during cold weather.

Tides will most likely be a good deal lower than average, so caution is advised when navigating the flats. Something I take note of and practice regularly is placing marks on my GPS to identify humps, sandbars, and ridges on the flats that can be important structure features when searching for fish on normal tides.

Stay warm, tight lines, and Happy New Year to all.

TSFMAG.com | 75

FISHING REPORTS

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James expects to fish a variety of patterns in January, all of which can produce the biggest trout of the year. “We like to wade shorelines and coves when it's warm. A couple days after a cold front, when the tide rolls back in and the shallow water on the islands warms up, we'll have a decent number of big trout to target. Sometimes, we encounter lots of reds fishing that pattern. When it's just right, topwaters work great, but slow-sinking lures work more often. The old 51 and 52M MirrOlures do too. If it's cooler and the tide is lower, fishing out of the boat in deeper areas works better. We have great drift fishing in Trinity, East and West Galveston Bays, all of which have fairly muddy bottoms and some concentrations of shell. We usually target our trout from the boat in water about four to six feet deep, throwing soft plastics on fairly light heads, but heavy enough to keep the lure down in the water column, connecting with the bottom every now and then. Slow-swimming the MirrOlures works great too, holding the rod tip pointed down at the water.”

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Jim will be splitting time between the blinds and the bays in January.

“We like to hunt ducks on weekends mostly, but we also get out on some of the weekday mornings when the weather's not good for fishing, meaning it's really windy, for the most part. Duck hunting has been good, and I expect steady shooting to last through the end of the season. Fishing has been better lately than it has over most of the year, at least in terms of producing numbers of fish. We've had some birds working, and we're also finding fish in lots of places, some in the marshes and bayous, also out around the reefs, now that the water's salty again.

You can catch fish wading on the windier days, staying tight to protected shorelines and throwing topwaters and slow-sinkers. Fishing out in the middle is, of course, better when winds are light and tides are lower. We haven't been catching any really big trout, but normally January is one of the best months for those. I like to head out in the afternoon and fish into the first hour or so of the night this time of year.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Randall was looking forward to taking delivery on his new boat with excitement when we talked. “It's gonna be really similar to the one I've got now. A deluxe model JH Performance Boat from Sport Marine.

With a 300HP Etec on the back. Can't wait to run it! Fishing has been pretty good most of the time lately. We had an abundance of small trout last month, but this month, the percentage of keepers is up, and I expect things to continue to improve as the cold weather patterns become more reliable. Lately, we're fishing five to six feet of water on most days, moving a bit deeper when it's colder, shallower when it warms up. We like to stay over a muddy bottom with some shell this time of year. Best lures lately have been Norton Sand Eels, the full-sized ones, in colors like red magic and tequila gold. We're rigging them on three-eighth ounce screw-lock jigheads. In January, the plan will be much the same, and we'll hope to catch some of the biggest trout of the year. If the water temperatures warm up over 60 degrees, we'll throw topwaters as long as we're getting blown up.”

76 | January 2020

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

Matagorda | Charlie Paradoski Bay Guide Service - 713.725.2401 January is a great month to target some of the big trout that make fishing in the Matagorda area famous, Charlie says. “We mostly spend our time trying to catch big trout this time of year. When tide levels are up, and the weather's on the warm side, we do a lot of wading in the coves and close to reefs adjacent to the ICW. When we're wading, we throw slow-sinking lures like Paul Brown Lures and MirrOlure SoftDines most of the time, and switch to topwaters if we see a bunch of bait jumping. When the tide rolls out, and it gets colder, which often happens about the same time, we do more fishing out of the boat, targeting the big trout in open water out in the middle. We throw soft plastics more when we're fishing that way, trying to keep them in close contact with the bottom. Most of the best fishing is over a muddy bottom with some shell scattered around on it. If the weather gets even nastier, meaning we have strong winds, we'll duck into the Colorado River or the Diversion Channel. Since it's been pretty dry for a while, the water in those places is salty and green.”

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Cold weather patterns have kicked off nicely in our area, and fishing has been fantastic. The trout bite has been steady in all three of the local rivers. We're fishing drop offs and ledges, using three-eighths ounce heads rigged with DSL in chicken of the sea and dirty tequila colors. Night fishing for trout along the seawall in Palacios has been as good as ever lately, with lots of keeper trout caught by anglers using H&H speck rigs in colors like glow and glass minnow. The deep holes in turning basins two and three have also held good numbers of keeper trout. Free-lining live shrimp has been the best way to target those. Fishing for reds has been even better than trout fishing. We've been sight-casting them in the crystal clear water and having a blast.

Using quarter-ounce gold spoons and pearl paddletails on eighthounce jigheads has worked best. January fishing should continue the roll we're on. We've got lots of bait in the area, and the predators are staying close to them. We'll concentrate on muddy flats close to deep water, ones holding plenty of bait, as the weather cools down even more and the fish become settled into the winter patterns.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 Lynn likes January, for several reasons, not the least of which is the increased chances of catching the bigger trout, as compared to the warmer months. “January is a great month to target the big trout.

We like to start off late morning, let the sun get up and heat up the flats a bit. We'll fish into the afternoon hours. Best pattern is usually one where we've had a warming trend for a day or two or even three, and the coves and lakes have filled up with warming water, then an outgoing tide pulls that water out into the main bay. We like to fish adjacent to the guts and drains in situations like that, especially in places where thick, dark grass beds cover a muddy bottom. Of course, we'll always be searching for spots which are holding bait. Doesn't have to be that much bait this time of year, but there does have to be some. Mullet is by far the most common bait species, so we look for

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TSFMAG.com | 77

them. We throw mostly slow-sinking twitch baits this time of year, like the Paul Brown Lures and Lele lures.

Topwaters will work at times, but they're a specialty this time of year, not a staple.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake will continue working through the Cast-n-Blast season in January, heading into back corners of the marshes and lakes before daylight, shooting until the birds stop flying or limits are met, then fishing his way back to the dock. “Several of the back lakes are holding good schools of reds right now. Normally, in January, we find them in the deeper guts and holes in there. Catching is best throwing along the drop-offs. We target the reds with the Gulp! split-tails mostly, also with Bass Assassins and Norton Sand Eels in dark colors with bright tails. Once we get done with the reds, we usually have some time left to move to the main-bay shorelines in Aransas, Mesquite and St. Charles Bays to try for our trout. When targeting the trout, I like shorelines with fairly deep water close to the bank, since we're usually catching our fish in water about waist-deep or so. Shorelines with thick, dark grass beds and some muddy areas seem to produce well too. We'll throw topwaters when conditions are warm and we're seeing a lot of activity at the surface, but spend more time throwing soft plastics at the trout than anything else.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 In January, the traffic on the water usually slows to its lowest point of the year on the ULM, as trophy deer hunters head to their stands in the brush. Though the traffic, air and water temperatures go down, fishing is usually excellent, especially for the bigger trout. As cold fronts pass over the coast, water temperatures will drop rapidly, and the trout will move to deeper water for a while. After a day or two, especially when the sun shines brightly, the shallows will warm back up faster than the deeper water, and the bait and trout will move back onto shorelines and closer to the shallow parts of mid-bay structures. I'll be targeting them using Texas Assassins in colors like plum/chartreuse, bone diamond and salt and pepper silver phantom/chartreuse rigged on eighth-ounce Spring-lock jigheads, throwing them in three to four feet of water early, then switching to lighter jigheads and working shallower water later in the day.

The Assassin Elite Shiners in colors like salt and pepper, Houdini and meat hook also work very well in the generally clear, cold water we are usually fishing in the first month, our coldest of the year.

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230 December is a great month to troll around in the ICW and catch plenty of trout and redfish throwing at the edges. The channels leading off the main ditch into and cast toward them, keeping the boat centered in the deeper water. Using a trolling motor aids in this endeavor greatly. Anchoring up along the edge and casting out of the back of the boat can produce a few fish, but staying mobile, away from the edge and casting toward it works much better. Windier days make using heavier jigheads necessary, since the goal is to flutter the bait down along the wall. Strong currents can also bring heavier heads into play. On the warmer days, when the fish move into the shallows at the ends of the side channels, light jigheads work better. Topwaters also work great at times on days like those, especially if it's cloudy, also late in the afternoons. Fishing along shorelines protected from the effects of strong north winds also produces good catches this time of year.

78 | January 2020

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins 361-877-3583 | Oceanepics.com We start the New Year with some of the coldest surf temps of the year. Through January and much of February, water temperatures warm briefly and then drop back below 60°. Each winter is different, but expect surf action to slow dramatically when the water is in the 50s. Pompano don’t seem to mind too much; any warm bluebird day can get them running full force, especially when the water clarity is good. Pompano are regarded highly as table fare. We usually target them with Fishbites, dead shrimp, or combinations of both on small hooks. The bull redfish bite will taper off and be replaced by smaller slot-fish, and large numbers of black drum. Both species will take pompano baits.

Whiting should be plentiful. Shark action will be generally slow, but should include some sandbar sharks. Sandbars are bulky, muscular sharks that look like a cross between a blacktip and a bull. Most are mature adults that come to the surf to breed. Sandbars possess an obvious interdorsal ridge that most species do not have. The species is federally protected and MUST be released. When the weather breaks, get out and have fun in the surf!

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 Temperatures have gotten a bit colder, but the fishing hasn't slowed down. This is the best time of year to catch more quality trout; doing so often requires more patience than normal. With temperatures dropping, we find more trout and redfish in deeper water early, moving shallower as the days warm up, often over a soft muddy bottom. Area's like Peyton's, Glady's Hole and the west shoreline south of Glady's are excellent places to start a search for big trout early in the morning. As the sun warms the air and water, the spoils around Bennie's Island all the way to San Antonio Shack start producing better. Community Bar can be good any time of the day this time of year. Best drill over there is to stand shallow and cast to deeper water, letting the lure sink for a while after it lands, then working it in low and slow, waiting for a light tap. Sometimes, the line will just get tight, without the slightest tap. The east side can produce too this time of year, especially during warm spells, when lots of bait shows up over there in grassy areas with plenty of sandy potholes.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com – 956-639-1941 We continue to have a good bite fishing deep potholes near the ICW. We are having to cull through lots of fourteen to fifteen-inch fish to catch an occasional twenty incher. Best bite has been on red and white KWiggler Ball -tails rigged on an eighth-ounce screwlock head.

Shallow water along muddy shorelines have been holding ample rafts of bait, and we're finding the trout bigger on average in those kinds of places, but the action has been pretty slow. Best way to urge bites in the shallows has been dragging the bait along the bottom really slow, almost like flounder fishing. Reds have been holding in two to three feet of water, feeding on small bait fish and whatever shrimp they can find. Bone diamond soft plastics have worked well for them, as have weedless gold spoons, when the winds stir up large amounts of floating grass. With cooler weather in December, the fishing for bigger trout should pick up in the deeper potholes. And, the fish should be fatter on average, as they start feeding more on the bigger bait fish, with not much left to choose instead.

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Abigail Grantham Rockport - 24.5” black drum

Kole Bendele Lighthouse Lakes - redfish

Kellie Davis San Antonio Bay - 27” first red!

Gabe Bejeran 33” personal best red!

Weston Sparks POC - Texas Slam 80 | January 2020

Whitley Blackburn with brother, Thomas Port O’Connor surf - 29” redfish

Persi Gallegos first kingfish!

Karen Karner Laguna Madre - 28” redfish

Marcus Molina South Bay - 34” snook

Jesse Swearengin Matagorda - 41.75” 47.6 lb red

Kelton Davis Galveston Bay - ladyfish

Maricela Morales & son, Fisher spotless redfish

Justin Mayes Port Aransas - 18.5 lb blackfin tuna

Roger Atkinson POC - 28” trout

Bobbi Santana Aransas Bay - 29” red CPR

Ava Lewis Sabine Pass - 43” redfish

Kendal Salva & father, David Galveston - 28.5” red

Pete Garza Jarbo Bayou - 5’ gar

Norah Lake Loftis - first fish!

Jaime Yerena Seawolf Park - 45” ling

Romeo Rodriguez Port Isabel - redfish CPR

Nancy Woods East Matagorda Bay - 28.5” trout

Armando DeLeon Galveston - 25” trout

Photo Gallery Guidelines

Veronica Rocha Matagorda Bay - 26" redfish

Julianna & Zach 10' 5" tiger shark

First come – first published!

Photos are judged on artistic merit and sporting ethic displayed. No stringer, cleaning table, or hanging board images allowed.

Digital images only. Adjust camera to high or best quality. All images become property of TSFMag. Email to: Photos@TSFMag.com Include short description of your catch with name, date, bay system, etc.

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PAM JOHNSON

Gulf Coast

Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share?

Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361 792-4530

Shrimp Artichoke Dip INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350°

1 cup grated parmesan cheese ½ cup chopped green onions

In a medium baking dish, mix together cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, artichoke hearts, green onions, garlic salt, mayonnaise and shrimp.

½ teaspoon garlic salt

Sprinkle with paprika.

Cayenne pepper to taste (optional)

Bake 20 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned.

1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained

½ cup mayonnaise 1 cup cooked and peeled shrimp

You may want to consider doubling this recipe. It’s a crowd pleaser!

Paprika, for garnish

Thanks to Patty Westbrooke for sharing this tasty recipe with our readers. I’m sure they will enjoy it!

82 | January 2020

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S P O N S O R E D B Y C O A S TA L B E N D M A R I N E

C H R I S M A P P ’ S R E PA I R & M A I N T E N A N C E

PREPARING FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR ON THE WATER Preparing for another great year on the water, I would like to encourage all our customers to bring their boats in for annual service during the winter Chris Mapp, owner of offseason. The offseason is the perfect Coastal Bend Marine. opportunity to help each customer Evinrude, Suzuki, Yamaha, Mercury, Honda, BlueWave, personally, unlike the craziness of SilverWave, Shallow Stalker spring and summer months.

Boats, Coastline Trailers, On the engine side, we begin Minnkota & Motor Guide with a thorough visual inspection to Trolling Motors. identify sources of potential leaks – Great Service, Parts & Sales saltwater from the cooling system “What can we do for you?” and engine oil. We inspect control cables for binding or hanging, chaffed or melted wiring, signs of mud dauber nests or other pests. Next we perform an engine history report, which includes spark and compression tests, replacing spark plugs, remove and inspect or replace thermostats, change oil and filter (four strokes), replace fuel filters (low and high pressure), remove the vapor separator tank to inspect internal filter (clean or replace), and replace pump grommet where needed. Remove the lower unit to replace water pump, change lower unit fluid, pull prop to inspect for wrapping of fishing line, inspect bearing carrier, install new pin in

84 | January 2020

prop nut, grease shifting shaft and upper driveshaft fittings. Lube the swivel bracket and steering tube, lower carrier fitting if equipped, and shifting linkages fittings where equipped.

The boat side annual includes; inspecting batteries for age and condition (wet cell replacement interval 24- to 30-months), all battery terminal connections and condition. Inspect fuel lines, clean remote oil tank, (two stroke), change the fuel-water separator filter, flip all switches to verify circuit integrity, and finally test run boat to verify prop and engine performance. Rinse boat, flush engine, and inspect trailer.

We have developed this service procedure over the twenty years we have been in business and we find that being thorough might cost more upfront but pays off in the long run for the customer.

As its name implies; annual service should be done once per year or 100 hours of operation, whichever comes first. When service hours are fewer than 100 per year a two-year schedule is sufficient. The average cost of parts and labor is $1000. Let us know if we can help you schedule your rig for a thorough annual service.

Here’s wishing everybody a safe and Happy New Year on the water!

Chris Mapp Coastal Bend Marine - Port O’Connor TX 361-983-4841 Email: chrismapp@coastalbendmarine.com

Science and the

Sea

TM

Sea Turtles Get Hands-On with Meals Sea turtles use flippers to swim and glide through the water or sometimes crawl across the beach—anything related to moving around. But it turns out that these aquatic reptiles use their flippers in other ways too, including handling food.

A green turtle swiping a stinging jellyfish. Credit: Fujii et al., Monterey Bay Aquarium Most animals that use limbs for eating learned those behaviors from parents, siblings, or other members of their social group. But sea turtles never know their parents and live solitary lives. Without fingers or toes, they use suction or biting to consume their prey, and their brains are not highly developed. So researchers presumed that sea turtles would not use their fins to grasp prey or carry food—that is until they observed it on an underwater video unit located on a French Polynesian coral reef.

Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California saw a hawksbill turtle use its limbs while feeding, sending the scientists on a hunt to discover evidence of similar behavior by other sea turtles. They pored through underwater surveys and searched photos and videos online, including on sites such as Google, YouTube, Flickr and Shutterstock.

They sought any examples of sea turtles using flippers to capture, manipulate or transport their food in the water.

They found a surprising variety of ways turtles handle prey such as sponges, jellyfish, algae and fishes. In one image, a green turtle appears to “hold” a jellyfish. In another, a loggerhead turtle uses its fins to roll a scallop along the sea floor. In yet another, a hawksbill turtle uses a reef for leverage as it pulls away an anemone. This research demonstrates just how “hands on” turtles are with their meals and how much more scientists have to learn simply by observing sea creatures.

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute

TSFMAG.com | 85

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING HOLES GUIDE SERVICES M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish

USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan

832.693.4292 www.fishfcc.com

• Bay Fishing, Offshore, Floundering, Waterfowl, Dove • Night Fishing off Lighted Pier • Right On The Water • Lodging with/without Meals www.matagordasunriselodge.com 979-241-1705

TROUT REDFISH FLOUNDER

Capt. Lynn Smith’s Back Bay Guide Service Port O’Connor Area

Wade & Drifting the Back Bays & Surf

Call 361.983.4434 (cell 361.935.6833) Email lynn@tisd.net (tswf.com/lynnsmith)

Designer & Manufacturer of Specialized High Performance Fishing Rods Office: 361.573.0300

805 B. South Bridge Victoria, TX 77901

86 | January 2020

Fax: 361.573.0304

POC St. Christopher’s Condo FOR RENT

Additional one bedroom / one bath bunkroom available downstairs - $150 per night. May be rented together or separately.

• $250 per night • Two bedrooms, one bath with boat slip • Private harbor • Great view of ICW

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TSFMAG.com | 87

IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE. UNDISPUTABLE VALUE. The PENN® Pursuit® III spinning combo is great for inshore, boat, and surf fishing.

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