SIXTY YEARS OF INNOVATION
StowAway
When it’s time to get on the water, your gear should be as ready as you are. Introducing the new and completely redesigned - Plano® StowAway®. Thick, pre-cut dividers make for easy box setup. More divider slots allow you to store more lures. RustrictorTM technology blocks rust and corrosion to help keep your favorite tackle rust-free. A single latch with a labeling area helps to quickly identify and access tackle on the fly. The best part? We’ve kept your favorite Plano StowAway at the same affordable price. Don’t just be kind of ready - be Plano ready.
With your finger on the line, every second counts. X-Series keeps you prepared with its lightweight design, consistent performance, and the control to handle whatever comes your way. When the moment hits, you’re already in control.
24-LBS OF STOPPING FORCE
FEATHERWEIGHT DESIGN SEALED FOR THE SALT
Capt. Wayne Davis is this month’s cover angler, proudly displaying a rare angling accomplishment. While encountering tarpon in Texas bays is rather common during summer, landing one while wade fishing doesn’t happen very often. Congrats to Capt. Wayne!
8
26
52 A Lot of Stingray…and a Little Crow
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Everett Johnson | Everett@tsfmag.com Office 361-785-3420 Cell 361-550-3637
VICE PRESIDENT
PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Pam Johnson | Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918
PRODUCTION / SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Jennifer Shive | Jen@tsfmag.com
ADVERTISER REPRESENTATIVES
Bart Manganiello | bartalm@optonline.net
Pam Johnson | pam@tsfmag.com Office 361-785-3420 Cell 361-550-9918
Everett Johnson | everett@tsfmag.com Office 361-785-3420 Cell 361-550-3637
CIRCULATION
SUBSCRIPTION – PRODUCT SALES
Vicky Morgenroth Store@tsfmag.com | Office 361-785-3420
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Stephanie Boyd Artwork@tsfmag.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Bob Barrera
Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly.
Subscription Rates: One Year (Free Emag with Hard Copy)
Subscription $32.00
E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $15.00 per year. 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. Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded.
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. Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at Victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.
Lots going on in July; get out on the water and enjoy the Texas summer
Follow and Like us on YouTube!
LOOKING FOR JULY TO BE A HUMDINGER
Texas has been blessed with much-needed rainfall recently in lots of places that have been drought-stricken for way too long. I cannot describe how happy it makes me to see social media feeds filled with photos and video clips of Hillcountry and central Texas rivers and streams running bankfull and even a few overflowing. While this will no doubt create temporary headaches for some folks upstream, all that water flowing to the coast will be like manna from Heaven, enriching the bays and estuaries. Fishing has been great all up and down the coast, even through the droughts and despite the nagging winds that just seem to never lie down. The way things are beginning to shape up I’m betting July is going to be a humdinger!
In case you are not aware, oysters are an incredibly valuable resource, not only as a seafood delicacy, but even more so in the way they filter water, redirect currents to help prevent erosion, and provide critical habitat for literally hundreds of other species…including game fish. If you’ve been following the many references and announcements relating to the status of the Texas oyster industry and associated
conservation efforts here in the magazine, I am happy to report that things are really beginning to look encouraging. News from TPWD a few days ago; the most recent round of the oyster license buyback effort closed on May 31 with very positive results – 112 license holders (fully 20% of active licenses) have indicated willingness to accept the state’s offering of $30,000 to hand over their license – and this is huge. TPWD will publish an official announcement shortly, and there’s even the possibility of another buyback round being conducted prior to oyster season opening this fall. The Texas oyster resource has been under great stress due to unfavorable weather patterns and continued overharvest for nearly two decades; hopefully this success in the license buyback effort will provide relief for the resource to recover. I see this as a great win-win outcome – oystermen receiving a financial incentive to leave the industry and the opportunity for oysters to thrive under reduced harvest pressure.
A few words on boating and navigational safety heading into the July 4 – Independence Day weekend. This is the greatest holiday period of the summer season and you can bet there’s going to be crowds of people heading to every port on the Texas coast. Boat launch facilities are going to be jammed and there will be boats headed every whichway on the bays. Couple things to remember; your 10-million lumens LED lightbar can blind other boaters, don’t be the guy tying up the boat ramp, keep a close watch for wading anglers.
Take a kid fishing!
UNPLUG AND CONNECT ON TEXAS WATERS
Start your adventure today! Contact us directly or scan the QR code for unparalleled savings on our
Grady-White Canyon 456
I’m noticing more and more new oyster growth along Galveston Bay’s shorelines. It’s no wonder why our wade fishing has been fantastic this year!
My Current Assessment OF THE Galveston Bay Fishery
STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN
Around 1920 my Great Grandpa T (Theodore) and Grandma Anita moved from Goose Creek to a house located on the northwest side of the mouth of Dickinson Bayou, directly across from Channel Marker 27. They moved there because a friend had mentioned just how great the fishing was in that area. Great Grandpa T would end up building several small cypress wood skiffs to guide folks on fishing trips. He also pieced together a small shrimp boat using parts from a Model T Ford for its cabin. He sold live shrimp, two for a penny. Some years later he started hauling out shrimp and oyster boats so the owners could do maintenance and repairs such as bottom jobs, anode replacements and other things. He built what is generally called a “boat ways” to do this.
For those who don’t know, a boat ways is an inclined set of steel rails (tracks) extending out into the water on which vessels such as shrimp boats are pulled onto dry land using a series of cables and winches. The winch that I remember was powered by a Ford flathead V-8 motor. Before that boats were winched up by hand. My dad’s father (my Pawpaw [Tommy Hillman]) eventually took over the boat ways when his dad (my Great Grandpa “T” Theodore Hillman) got sick with cancer. My dad partnered with Pawpaw and the boat ways eventually evolved into a marine supply store as boat owners would need scrapers, paint, prop repairs, etc. Many years down the road my Uncle Wilson (dad’s brother) and Aunt Renee would take over the marine store. It grew into a successful business and a fixture for all of the staple items shrimpers and oysterman would need to make a living. Unfortunately, with the hardships brought on by Mother Nature and other factors in recent years there were fewer shrimpers and oyster harvesters so demand drastically declined causing them to close their doors after decades of success.
My great Uncle BB (Theodore Lawrence [Pawpaw’s brother]) owned and operated a snapper boat named the Bee’s Wing which sold snapper to Hillman’s Café which was started in the mid to late fifties by my Great Uncle Sonny (Louis) [Pawpaw’s other brother]), Aunt Snooks (Marie) along with Great Uncle BB and Aunt Laverne. Aunt Snooks would prepare lunch for the shrimpers as they came in. This eventually
led to the start of Hillman’s Café which stayed in business until Hurricane Alicia in 1983. The seafood market, shrimp dock and bait camp are still in operation to this day located right there on Hillman Drive where I grew up. That’s where we buy all of our fresh seafood. It’s owned and operated by my late Great Uncle BB and Aunt Laverne’s daughters; Mary, Joanne, Sybil and Delores.
Vietnam Veteran Larry Gresham reeled in some good ones while enjoying the time with his daughter and granddaughter. Thank you for your service, sir!
Despite the windy conditions, Donna Coneley and her family caught some solid trout while drifting structure.
Erin Coneley got in on the action along with her mom, Donna, and her Pawpaw, Larry. What a fun morning it was!
WHERE THE SALT GETS SHALLOW, OUR REPUTATION DEEPENS.
Inshore fish require an angler and a reel that can hold up to long, powerful runs. That’s why the PENN® Battle® IV Spinning reel with its proprietary CNC Gear™ technology, 5+1 sealed stainless steel bearings, and proven HT-100™ carbon fiber drag system, is one of the most popular reels in saltwater.
My dad, Clifford Hillman, started his seafood business in 1977 on Dickinson Bayou. He owned several oyster and shrimp boats and had many other individual harvesters selling to him as well. He became one of the largest oyster dealers in the country by the early 80s. I worked for him during the summers filleting fish in our retail market when I was 12 years old. By the time I was 14 Dad had 350 acres of private oyster leases on Galveston Bay and I was working on one of his oyster boats (the Captain Sam J.) harvesting and transplanting oysters. Dad taught me at a very early age the importance of planting cultch (oyster shell) to grow new reefs and not over harvesting our existing reefs. He was very instrumental in getting bills and regulations passed to ensure the sustainability of oyster reefs. Unfortunately, Mother Nature would have other plans many years later. Dad eventually sold the business and I became a full-time fishing guide here on Galveston Bay.
For those who have read my articles through the years you should know that I’ve never attempted to sugar coat anything. I call it like I see it and my family and I have certainly seen a lot through the years! I’ve written many articles about the negative effects of habitat loss (mainly oyster reefs) caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the drought years of 2009-2014. I’ve discussed in great detail the trout stack-ups caused by those same drought years as well as the ones caused by the 2015 and 2016 floods. Then of course, there was the historic flooding from Hurricane Harvey in late August of 2017 when pretty much the entire Galveston Bay Complex became a 600 square mile freshwater lake flushing most of our speckled trout out of the system. The Harvey event brought our trout fishery to its knees. All of the
Mother Nature related impacts as well as some human activities (i.e. Channel dredging, closing Rollover Pass, ship traffic, etc.) in the decade leading up to the Harvey floods culminated to bring our fishery down to ground zero. Four years later (February 2021) the Texas coast was subjected to a fish-killing freeze, just for good measure. I can go on and on talking about erosion issues and other factors but I think you get the point. Galveston Bay has been through Hell, and then some. So where are we now? This is the million dollar question. I don’t consider myself old but then again I’m not young either. However, I’ve been exposed to just about everything this bay has had to offer for the better part of the last five decades. All of this being said, I truly believe we are witnessing a long overdue recovery in our trout fishery. I’ve personally experienced a massive improvement in not only numbers of trout but also in quality, especially in the last two years. Since 2017 my biggest observation and my greatest concern has been the lack of all age classes being represented in the population of speckled trout in our bay system. From 2018 through 2023 we caught a lot of 1.5- to 3-year old trout. It seemed like we were just stuck in those age classes. Of course there were days when we’d catch some 5- to 8-year olds but that certainly wasn’t the norm.
Last year (2024) not only did I start to see more 4-year-old trout in the mix but they started showing up in more places. This year has been even better, especially when you consider the harsh conditions we’ve had to fish in. It’s been a very windy year so far yet most of our trips have been productive with more and bigger trout than I’ve seen in recent years. Now look, I’m not talking about catching 5 to 8 pounders every day but we’ve had quite a few days with multiple 3- to
4-pound trout mixed in with the 2-pounders. I’ve also seen more fish on the shorelines this year which is probably because of new habitat growth (more on that in a minute). When the wind allows we’ve been able to have very productive trips out in the middle of the bay. Just yesterday I drifted with two clients and we caught 31 trout before 9:00AM with nine of them measuring 21 to 23 ½ inches. Those were 3 to 5 year old females that were full of eggs. More great news! Time is our biggest healer when it comes to catching more and bigger trout. Barring any natural disasters, the more trout we leave in the system the bigger they’ll get as time goes by and the more they will proliferate. It’s not much different than passing up those 3- and 4-year old whitetail bucks with good genetics so they can breed and produce more and bigger ones down the road. September 1, 2019 our trout limits were cut from 10 to 5, then on March 26, 2024 they went down to 3 fish per person with a 15-20 inch slot. I feel like the stricter limits have helped and will continue to help, not only with an increase in overall biomass but also the increase in older age classes of trout. Just like with the deer at our ranch, nutrition combined with harvest restrictions and age management are keys to a healthy herd. We seem to have abundant shad populations in the Galveston Bay Complex and I have noticed some natural oyster reef growth, especially along shorelines, which is more great news. There are ongoing cultch planting and reef restoration efforts throughout the year, too. I’ve also noticed a handful of areas over in West Galveston Bay where seagrass beds are making a comeback.
In the early-80s my buddies and I would catch lots of trout, reds and flounder on all of the clam and oyster reefs behind my Great Grandpa T’s old house at the mouth of the bayou. Around 2006 I took my wife and daughter there. Brooke was 4 years old. It was her very first fishing trip and she landed her first trout, red, and flounder, along with some sheepshead. That was almost twenty-four years ago. That house where my Great Uncle BB was born is long gone as are most of the clam and oyster reefs out in front of it. The property has now become industrialized as it is a tugboat and barge shipyard. I still catch a few fish in that area but the pattern has changed for the most part.
We still have a lot of fish. We just have to understand that they’re not where they used to be, so we have to adjust our thinking. If we can re-establish our resident trout populations throughout the Galveston Bay Complex to anywhere near the level we had years ago it will be a springboard for an epic fishery down the road. With current good fisheries management and cooperation from Mother Nature I believe we can turn the corner. As a matter of fact I think we’re well on our way!
STEVE HILLMAN
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 4 09-256-7937
Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com
Web w ww.hillmanguideservice.com
Jim LeBlanc with one of many very healthy trout released while chunking Limetreuse and Slammin Chicken Bass Assassins over live oyster reefs.
Joe Matamoros and Jim with one of many double hook ups on an epic morning!
Lessons Gleaned (Part 2)
STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN
In last month’s piece, I acknowledged how competing against others in tournaments can accelerate an angler’s learning curve, by forcing a comparison of results. Over time, this process clarifies the quality of outcomes and provides clues which can enhance one’s ability to make better decisions about locations to fish and strategies to deploy. Of course, all angling efforts begin with a basic choice of where exactly to fish. My competitive angling experiences revealed some truths about this decision.
Certainly, one should consider the long-term productivity rate of a place when thinking about where to start fishing when a tournament begins. With conditions conducive to catching in play, wise anglers often choose the place known to produce the desired fish at the highest average rate, if they can. On the other hand, when negative conditions reduce the chances of catching in some parts of the area, the same anglers prioritize fishing in places best buffered from the effects of the conditions, sometimes ignoring their long-term productivity rates.
So far, this discussion has revolved around deciding where to fish at the start of a day or event. Because many anglers, especially fishing guides, fish frequently in their home waters, the mechanics by which they choose the place to start a day differ from those used by people less familiar with an area. In many cases, the choice of where to fish on a given day becomes simple, because it’s based on an obvious truth–the place with the highest potential to produce the desired fish is likely the last place some of them were caught.
This truth first became crystal clear to me during the years I fished against many of the top trout anglers in the state during Troutmasters events. Significantly, these events took place over two days. In many cases, the anglers who made big catches on day one decided to start off day two fishing where they’d caught their best fish on day one. This makes perfect sense to anyone with even a small amount of salt pulsing through their veins.
We can all agree on the wisdom of returning to the scene of a good catch within 24 hours of making the catch, and many guides do this on a daily basis. But wise anglers avoid a pitfall often associated with making such a clear choice. In many instances, certainly in lots of events in which I participated all those years ago, anglers who did well on day one crashed and burned on day two, because the good first-day catch blinded them to the truth about the next day’s situation.
If the weather and other celestial conditions remain much the same from day one to day two, standing and grinding in a spot, hoping for a repeat of the previous day’s events does make sense, to a point, especially if multiple signs indicate some of the right fish remain present and might well take a bite. But when weather conditions, tide cycles and signs change, smart anglers resist the urge to try and force events to repeat themselves, choosing instead to abandon the place in favor of one which makes better sense, given the evolving situation.
Analyzing the choices I made in competitive events helps clarify these concepts further. Take the March 2001 Rockport Troutmasters tournament, for instance. I did well in an established, productive part of Estes Flats on day one, placing third with a modest stringer of three solid fish on a tough day of fishing when cool northeast winds in the wake of a recent front created a difficult bite, and most of the contestants weighed just one or two fish. Showing commitment, determination and persistence, I used my Fat Boys to coax about a dozen fish to take a swipe in moderately clear water. Sadly, while sitting in the truck at the boat ramp the next morning,
I talked myself out of returning to the spot to start day two. Winds had increased overnight, and I figured they’d muddy the water in the place where I’d made the catch on day one. So, I chose to run around looking for a better place to try and win the event, without ever even checking the condition of the water on the flat, despite the fact it lay within less than a mile of the boat ramp I used to launch my boat. After I found a skunk in every spot I tried, a haunting hunch suddenly occupied my mind.
Realizing I should have at least tried the day-one spot for a little while to start day two, I raced back to it, arriving about 11 a.m.. The brisk winds had indeed negatively altered the water quality, but it still looked barely good enough to allow me to make things work and catch a fish. I hopped out and started trying desperately to earn some strikes, using the same lures and techniques I’d deployed successfully on day one. But within half an hour, the water quality went from marginal to royally wrecked, killing what little confidence I had left. I walked to the weigh station with an empty bag a few hours later and the magnitude of my mistake revealed itself.
The line at the scales was about as short as any I saw during my career fishing those events. The cratering conditions made catching a fish nearly impossible. If I’d headed directly to the spot on Estes Flats first thing on day two, I might well have caught and weighed one or more fish. Given the fact I fell just three places on the board despite the stink of the skunk, this really stung. Driving home, I promised myself I’d never make the mistake of abandoning a productive place on day two without at least giving it some chance to reproduce a good catch.
This scenario came up again at least two more times later the same year. In the August event, held in Matagorda, I made an excellent catch on day one and saw my name atop the leaderboard, weighing one trout close to seven pounds and losing her twin after she cut my monofilament main line on some sharp oyster shells in shin-deep water. Remembering what happened in Rockport, I knew I had to go back to
Fishing the shallows can produce bites from quality trout despite the July heat, as Andy McLeod proved on a summer outing with the captain.
Cassandra Quinn used a slender twitchbait which resembles a glass minnow to trick this trout in hot water.
the spot the second day and give it a chance to produce another big bite or two. I also had the good sense to realize two significant facts which would likely prevent such a thing from happening.
First of all, the weather changed dramatically overnight. Strong onshore winds replaced calm conditions, sending waves across the wide body of West Matagorda Bay, crashing onto the shoreline at Sand Point, where I’d caught my fish on day one. Secondly, the reef tight to the shore where I’d made my catch, not much bigger than a school bus, wouldn’t likely hold more than a few big trout, and I’d killed one and hooked another on Saturday. When my eyes confirmed my fears about ugly water quality and a few dozen empty casts further diminished my confidence, I abandoned the little reef and spent the remainder of Sunday fishing in a corner of Keller Bay protected from the strong winds.
I caught just one trout big enough to take to the scales and fell to third place, but I also realized I’d have fallen even farther if I’d refused to see the truth inherent to the situation after the weather changed, and given the diminutive size of the spot where I’d caught the big trout. I stand by my decision to at least check the reef on day two, also my choice to leave it fairly quickly, given the conditions. Similar events unfolded at the end of the next month, in another event held in Rockport.
In that one, I and four partners coaxed about 25 bites from handsome trout weighing between four and seven pounds in a tiny corner of a small cove. I beat all the anglers in the event outside our group by at least four pounds with my 16.5-pound stringer, and two others with me managed to weigh at least 15 pounds. But, we all knew we likely had few fish left to target in the spot on day two.
I told the pair of partners riding in my boat to remain ready to find somewhere else to fish if we didn’t have what we wanted by about 10
The captain uses Google Earth to show how Mother Nature can and will alter some fishing spots over time.
o’clock. Predictably, the five of us managed to land just one four-pounder by that time on Sunday morning, and we headed elsewhere to try and find three fish to bring to the scales. I did weigh three, but lost all my lead and fell to third. I believe the result would almost certainly have been worse if I’d stubbornly stood in the corner of that cove hoping Saturday’s fish would reappear with eager appetites.
In total, these experiences helped me draw several important conclusions about how best to choose a place to fish and how to adjust if and when, almost always when, things don’t go exactly as planned. First of all, it’s important to remember this–yesterday’s fish cannot be caught today. Each day puts its own unique set of variables in play. That said, the best place to start fishing today is often the last place a number of the right fish were recently caught. This is especially true with steady, predictable weather and celestial conditions in play.
In truth, most anglers who fish on a regular basis within a somewhat limited area make the decision of where to start a day of fishing by thinking about where they last experienced a hot, satisfying bite. They also realize the need to adjust plans thoughtfully when the bite at a spot becomes compromised either because the number of fish in it diminishes or because weather and other factors negatively alter its potential. In the end, the best anglers display a combination of skills when choosing locations, relying upon recent results appropriately without becoming stubbornly committed to trying to force events to repeat themselves.
KEVIN COCHRAN
Kevin Cochran is a long-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.
Phone 361-688-3714
kevincochran404@yahoo.com
www.captainkevblogs.com
Karen McLeod took advantage of a hot earlymorning topwater bite to catch this pretty trout.
During the mid-day doldrums in summer, soft plastics like this white MirrOlure Provoker often produce more strikes than other lures.
Extra care should be given during the release as water temps continue to climb.
S-O-S
. . .
Same Old Spots!
STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE
Routine, mundane, habitual – along with a host of other terms – would easily describe the fishing patterns of many anglers, including myself, from time to time. It’s so easy to fall into a rut and become comfortable or complacent, especially if you are catching a few fish. The old saying that familiarity breeds contempt comes to mind as we slowly become more predictable in our approach. I was asked by a client not too long ago about some historic tracks on my GPS screen, specifically about how they basically described a pattern in areas I frequent often. There it was, staring right back at me in clear digital display, an electronic representation of a rut.
I had become predictable and not really noticed it; my approach had been based more on comfort than on conditions without me realizing what was happening. When a situation like this arises it means it’s time for a mental reset; time to step back and take a look at some different water or techniques in order to get back into the mode where you read the conditions and act accordingly. We are all are guilty of fishing like a “mailman” so to speak, taking the same route to the same spots and hoping to run into the fish. Don’t let that happen to you this summer; break the cycle with some of these options.
If you have read this column from time to time over the years you have more than likely seen me use the term crossover in reference to baits, lures or techniques used in freshwater. I certainly have my favorites, such as plastic frogs, shallow running stickbaits and even the drop shot come to mind.
I have recently started toying with a technique that has been used in other locations to our east with great success over the years for speckled trout as well as redfish and that’s slow trolling soft plastics and crankbaits. In a venue such as Sabine or Calcasieu where structure is in short supply the fish tend to wander and are difficult to pin down at times much like they are on places like the Great Lakes where trolling for walleye, lake trout and others species is the preferred method.
Slow trolling is a great way to locate fish and this technique has been tested everywhere from offshore waters to freshwater inland lakes. For some strange reason this method never really was accepted by inshore saltwater anglers until several years ago in places like the Carolinas or even on Lake Pontchartrain over in Louisiana.
This simple technique of dragging soft plastics or crankbaits at low speed near ledges, drop-offs, jetties, or other areas of structure allows anglers to cover more water and pinpoint fish in spots where they can in turn be fished more thoroughly. So far I have been able find fish while trolling and then going back to the places where we had either caught fish or had several hookups, and fishing that spot with a more traditional approach, either by drifting or trollmotoring, with good success. I won’t lie to you, I felt like an idiot at first until that initial strike made me a believer. The technique is definitely worth a try.
Speaking of covering water, this month means longer boat rides as everything comes into play when the summer winds begin to fall slack. Leaving the dock in the morning from the Sabine River may have you in the Gulf before breakfast and running the beachfront. June, July and August invite anglers of all types but the traffic seems light as more water opens up with lighter winds. Last summer I spent more time down on the jetties than I had ever done and I’m sure that
will be the case again this year. The trout bite along the rocks when the water gets right is worth the effort and I say that begrudgingly. It seems like I always break something, scratch my boat, or have some other mishap when I do the jetty program but the fish are worth it.
Last summer we had quite a few tarpon show up and that was an unexpected treat. I saw several of these fish hooked and watched as wide-eyed trout fishermen got a lesson into why they call tarpon the silver king. I will at some point make it a priority to target those fish this year because nothing would be sweeter than catching one here at home.
More options for the summer include chasing the big bull redfish down the beachfront and taking a shot at the tripletail that will invade the surf at the same time. The redfish will announce their presence with a vengeance as they herd up pogies and start a feeding free-for-all that has to be witnessed to believe. If you decide to target these fish bring the big stuff because they will make highdollar splinters out of your favorite wading rod if you are not careful.
Topwater plugs and rattling corks will handle most of this duty and provide a surface show as well. Don’t be surprised if you run into some big jack crevalle running with the redfish, they’ll be in the mix when the dinner bell rings for sure. The tripletail will need a much more subtle approach like live shrimp or a smaller three-inch soft plastic on a light jighead or even under a cork. You can spot these
This gorgeous oversized redfish fell for a ZMan PrawnStarZ. Brodie Harrell took this nice slot redfish from a marsh drain during an outgoing tide.
fish sunning and sight-cast to them with good results. As the crowds head offshore many will stay behind in the main body of either Sabine or Calcasieu and take advantage of some schooling activity as both trout and redfish will be hustling shrimp and shad all over these lakes. Look for flocks of birds to lead the way to the schooling fish as they look for an easy meal. Once the birds leave, give the area a few minutes to see if the fish resurface and begin feeding again. Typically the trout will push the shrimp all the way to the surface making it easy to spot them while the redfish tend to stay a little deeper. There is nothing like finding these fish without any birds around because you will not draw a crowd from any other boats fishing the “bent rod” structure pattern; if you get my drift. With better conditions and more water to fish you have no excuse not to try some new water or perhaps a new technique in an attempt to break out of a self-imposed rut. Discovering alternate locations and styles of fishing only make you a more well-rounded angler and
significantly increase your odds of success. Minimal effort is required to try something new and the feeling of accomplishment when your new program pays off is like a shot in the arm. You can always go back to your same old haunts and be content or you could take the chance of trying something new and open up a whole new world that you never knew existed.
Take that chance this summer and, if you can, be sure and bring a kid along so they can experience it as well.
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
SeaSucker Rod Holders allow for greater flexibility on your trolling set up as they can be used almost anywhere.
Trolling along structure, such as jetty rocks or breaks in deep water, is a relatively new concept for inshore saltwater anglers.
Boat Noise
STORY BY JOE RICHARD
Texans know better than most that boat noise will spook shallow, saltwater fish. Our coastal anglers must lead the world in anchoring and jumping out of good boats, wading off a good ways to escape noisy boat hulls on our windy coast. For good reason: I’ve seen trout big enough to leave a v-wake while still 40 yards away, just out of casting range, leaving the South Padre shallows for deeper water. Somehow they could detect us even when quietly drifting broadside to the wind. And these were trout all right; this was in February when there were no sharks around. We finally caught one of them, a spotted beauty of 28 inches. It was impressive to see trout big enough to leave those wakes. Like many fish, they get wiser with age. As Bahamian guides will say, “That fish didn’t get big by bein’ no fool.”
While wading may be the best option for targeting trophy trout, it carries risks: One has to wade quietly while avoiding soft mud, oysters, stingrays, jellyfish and Vibrio. A few fishermen have paid the ultimate price for wading Texas bays, but for many the chance of hooking a lifetime trout of 30 inches or more is simply irresistible. Some anglers have traded wading for kayaks. But even kayaks aren’t always stealthy enough.
A fishing buddy, Al the kayaker, 78 years old, tells me that if you approach fish on the flats, even with a kayak upwind of shallow water fish, that tiny boat hull breaks the wave ripple pattern and alerts gamefish that are staged downwind. When he spots fish, he carefully paddles off to the side and as a result has caught all sorts of big trout, upper slot reds and even big flounder from his electric-powered kayak. The electric is used to run several miles from the boat ramp, and then he paddles near fish.
(Don’t tell Al, but his secret lure for this past year has been a gold, clear, three-inch Live Target Bait Ball plug. Price $17 this past spring but, with that’s going on in international trade this summer and fall, who knows what they will be worth).
He is an admirable angler, generous with his knowledge—and he knows what he’s talking about; leaves home in the dark and returns late. He fishes a kayak all day and when back at the marina, can knock back a round or two at the marina’s Tiki Bar while visiting. He’s a rare bird, for his age. From a quiet kayak he has observed many fish and understands their habits. He doesn’t care for bull sharks, after three of them attacked his kayak a mile from the boat ramp and chewed holes in it. Where’s a Luger when you need one?
As it turns out, Al is right: fish have all sorts of sensory detectors all over their bodies, though mainly in their lateral line. Sensors on their skin, too; not just for detecting a tasty meal nearby in murky water, but for detecting danger such as a sudden change in the wave patterns, underwater currents, tidal change, ripple patterns upwind, or wave pressure bouncing back from an object downwind. In shallow water they have to stay constantly alert. In deeper water, things are a little different: at the offshore platforms I’ve observed countless fish
while diving, and they don’t respond much to noise. Although I’ve seen dozens of fish flinch and bolt a couple of feet when a small boat overhead arrives and shifts in and out of reverse with a loud Clunk! After seeing that, when I arrive at the honey hole I now switch off the engine and coast in. According to Al, we should switch that engine off even further away.
All fish are different, though. Big trout seem smarter than redfish, and I know both are smarter than flounder, visible sometimes under the boat or at your feet while wading. A flounder will hit the same artificial or bait several times until finally hooked. Flounder must think they’re invisible and don’t worry about noise.
Boat hull noise varies with different models, and that noise also depends on how choppy the water might be. I’ve taken to anchoring by the stern, which is quiet but can slop a little water over the transom. With a jonboat, that aluminum bow pointing into the waves can be a real ordeal with a constant boom-boom. For example, I’ve spotted summer tripletail on the surface while cruising along in one-foot waves, and when I turned around to approach for a cast, each fish was always spooked and gone. Just yesterday, we spotted a big floating red gas can (algae-covered) with a tripletail underneath. We were in a 22-foot panga and the Gulf glassy but bumpy, and the bow went Slapslap! Ten feet away, the tripletail eyed our baits with a critical eye and then sulked back under his cover. We gave up, picked up the gas can for recycle, and left that tripletail homeless.
Back in shallow water, I’m fond of anchoring up against the shore and firing off a broadside of baits at fish 30-40 yards out there. If you can keep the boat quiet and make long casts, big trout and reds have no clue we’re there. Bring those 8-foot spinning outfits with 12-pound line, if you want to really lay a bait or spoon way out there without a backlash. Like almost anywhere, it’s better to fish calm water, especially a sheltered shoreline if the wind is blowing. With the opening picture of this story, we had an outgoing tide and had to tilt the motor, it was so shallow.
With that tide dropping fast, the other boats were long gone, but that big trout and a few upper slot reds were still there. I had to put
Last minute trout, released without weighing it, after anchoring quietly for two hours.
This low tide redfish was caught on a long cast.
both guys on the bow, just to idle out a good ways before jumping on plane. It was calm that afternoon without worrying about hull noise. On flat-out gusty days, a winding saltwater bayou will protect from any wind direction. We have a great many of those around Port Arthur, marshy saltwater ponds (where the big reds bite). In South Texas, sheltered bayous and ponds are rare. Like almost none.
Hydraulic stern anchors, commonly called Power Poles, will keep a boat’s bow pointing downwind, which is great for silencing wave-slap on the boat’s hull. On the windy coast of Texas, I still prefer setting an anchor and chain as insurance before leaving the boat to wade. Firm bottom and a strong gust of wind can set a boat drifting, and there have been fatalities when people unwisely swam after their boat.
Years ago, my family and I were in a boat with a malfunctioning stern pole that wouldn’t raise with a storm and lightning approaching, and I don’t care to repeat that. The owner had to crawl halfway inside his center console, unhook the hydraulics, and manually raise the pole before we could escape. Which took time as the wind and waves increased. Along with a few lightning hits. We finally raised that pole and “ran for daylight,” as Earl Campbell used to say.
As for deeper water, today’s quiet electric trolling motors are a nice innovation for moving around. A GPS-guided electric will keep the boat in one spot even when offshore in 200 feet of water, like we did last summer on a 41-foot Freeman boat. Electrics are mandatory for sneaking up on offshore tarpon. They’re also great for cruising up and down the jetties, where anglers can pummel nearby rocks with artificials without anchoring. No need to climb on the rocks like we once did. Both old-fashioned techniques were hard on anchors and various body parts.
A friend in Port Arthur, Mike Spencer, recently sent pictures of another surf-launch they made on the upper coast. He’s been launching in the surf, far from any boat ramps for decades, often fishing without seeing another boat. When the Gulf briefly flattened out and the water cleared up in May, he launched his 17-foot jonboat and found the baitfish schools a mile offshore. Accompanied by a surface school of big jacks. Bull redfish and tarpon weren’t around yet because May is a little early for both. Mike and his wife Julie crept up on the jacks and caught six, which is more than most people can
handle in a day. They threw 7-inch silver drone spoons with single hooks, skipped them back with 3-4 jacks competing for it. Mike says tarpon are shy of boat noise but bull reds are much easier to approach, and he’s driven the boat right inside their schools, having them all around the vessel only five feet away, hundreds of them swimming on top of the water; almost petting distance. I have advised Mike to go hookless and let those reds and jacks play with a big topwater lure, knock it around and grab on repeatedly without having to fight them. Says he will try it this summer.
It’s impractical to use what amounts to Micky Mouse tackle out there on stud jacks and bull reds. Mike uses heavier tackle; after all, a tarpon might show up. “We use Shimano 200G and GT casting reels (with level winds) and heavy 7-foot rods, spooled with 30-pound Trilene Big Game line,” says Mike. That line actually tests out at about 40-pounds.
“The jacks don’t really like it if I run the outboard closer than 50 yards from them, but they don’t just panic and break up, either. They don’t care about the boat or trolling motor, though. Jacks will swim right up to the boat and smash 12-inch mullet trying to hide against our boat. Bull redfish are different. We can drive the 25-horse outboard right up to big surface schools and it doesn’t bother them. It is so fine to ease into the middle of a school of bull reds and have them swimming around the boat.”
JOE RICHARD
CONTACT
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
Julie Spencer with one of six jacks. Their jonboat has a side-mounted electric motor for a quiet approach.
Mike Spencer’s jonboat, a longtime veteran of launching in the surf. Easily winched onto the trailer.
JAY WATKINS
ASK THE PRO
THE PRESENTATION I CALL DUSTING
As the title implies I am going to be talking about a soft plastic lure presentation I call dusting. It requires very little experience and no special skills; it does however require your attention and concentration. Now, before I go any further, anybody who knows me probably already knows that I am pretty much a diehard jerkbait/ rattail plastic type of angler. I love to be able to break up my retrieve and the action that I place on these types of lures as this is what “sells” them to the fish. Basically, what I’m seeing in my mind’s eye I am creating with my rod. Predators are triggered by such actions and react in aggressive mode.
I am often reminded of a video I saw many years ago of a young cheetah that stumbled on a newborn gazelle. The gazelle was struggling to learn to stand and walk, and the cheetah was intrigued by this. The cheetah played with the gazelle as it stumbled and fell, pawing it and even licking it from time to time. They seemingly played for an hour or more according to the narrator. The gazelle displayed no fear of the cheetah; likewise, the cheetah showed no sign of aggression toward the gazelle.
Upon gaining enough strength to begin to run at
one point, the gazelle broke into a short burst and instinctively the cheetah ran it down and grabbed it by the throat, killing it. Instinct kicked in when the cheetah saw the gazelle’s action as a reaction to her presence. A prime example of what I am seeing I am creating – so to speak. As humans, no other predator can take our place. We are at the top of the predatory hierarchy.
I think before I go any farther I need to talk about the type of rods that I prefer to use. I am of the school that would encourage you to spend 75% of your tackle budget on a rod and 25% on a reel. There are enough reels out there in the $150 price range that’ll cast far enough and with a smooth enough drag to get the job done. I personally use the Shimano Metanium DC 70XG and the Shimano SLX 70 HG. One is $500 and the other is $150, but I’ve had good luck with both. And, just so you know, I have no reel sponsor.
As far as gear ratios, I like reels with either the quick 7.3:1 or 8.1:1 ratio. It is not so much for general retrieval speeds but for quick line gather when a big fish takes the lure and kicks in the afterburner once she realizes she is hooked. Large trout are notorious for knocking slack in your line and then swimming at warp speed right at you. You must be able to gather enough line, quickly enough, to avoid losing contact with the fish. Survive this run and threequarters of the battle is over.
I use Suffix 832 8x30 braid as my main line and attach about 40-inches of 20-pound Osprey Premium Mono as my leader. Mono provides the stretch I want with the amount of drag I prefer to use, which is a lot compared to many. The combination of a heavy hookset against a heavy drag, a fast action medium power rod, and highspeed gear ratio reel, along with the stretch of a mono leader tilts the odds of success in our favor with a big fish.
Now for my personal rod choice – let me first say there are lots of high-quality rods on the market today – Waterloo, Sarge, and Laguna, just to name a few. I prefer the custom Henri Rods by Steve Henriksen. I have a long-standing relationship with Steve and he understands what we need in a soft plastic or tail rod, and these qualities are aggressively fast action with super high-modulus strength. The higher the modulus (rated in tons) the lighter and more responsive the rod can be without sacrificing strength.
Blair Donaldson shows off a solid shallow water redfish.
In between feeding periods it is common that trout will pull off the shallow water and stage in slightly deeper and darker water, which is natural as they are mostly resting when they are not feeding. So, I eased the group down the shoreline, inshore of an underwater grass point that ran out to about four feet of water, before reaching the secondary drop-off. This is where the dusting technique comes into play.
Now I want you to understand that I totally believed that the trout that fed earlier in the day were staging in and around the grass on the underwater point. Long casts offshore to that submerged grass allows us to let the lure fall to the bottom. Don’t click your reel into gear, let it fall in free spool. Clicking the reel in gear will change the angle of descent, which could mean the lure will land short of the grassy target area. Once on the bottom, I hold the rod straight up and begin a very slow vibrating of the rod tip. I don’t want full rod movement with this action, just the tip, and really not much of that. This allows the lure to lightly dust the bottom as it nears the grass.
Tickling the grass is a good thing and if there are trout present, they’ll take it. Not because they are hungry but because it is easy and requires little to no effort on their part. Low cost with high gains, I’m thinking. As I dusted the lure into the grass there was the slightest little tick on the line. “That’s her,” I said. Several turns of the 8.1:1 gear ratio reel and the rod loads towards the take. Hookset is followed by white water frothing the surface. Grins all around and that little laugh that I have when things are the best they can be. Over about an hour we caught trout after trout, some to nearly four pounds.
We never moved our feet, just planted them and concentrated on working the lure properly since this was a new presentation for the
Lauren Donaldson with a beautiful trout caught in muddy water.
girls. Another important thing to always consider is that if we had been fishing with live bait, croaker perhaps, would we have lifted the Power Pole after that first trout or would we rebait and throw right back to the same area?
Smart money would bet that you would rebait and throw back in the same area. Lure fishing is no different. Knowing this, understand that the fish don’t know that the lure is not real until they put it in their mouth. I hope you can gain some useful information from this article. Maybe I will see some of you around the docks or on the water.
May Your Fishing Always Be Catching! -Guide, Jay Watkins
CONTACT
Jay explains the lure presentation he calls dusting
Follow and Like us on YouTube!
Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 45 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 361-729-9596
Email Jay@jaywatkins.com Website www.jaywatkins.com
Alyson just being Alyson!
SALUTE TO THE SPOON
If you could pick one lure and only one lure to fish with for the rest of your life, what would it be? This is a question that seems to get brought up often in conversation between anglers. The younger generation of fishermen will often select a very diverse assortment of lures; an array of colorful soft plastics and topwaters would be considered before selecting just one. If you were to present this same question to the older generation; I can almost guarantee that their lure of choice would be a Johnson Silver Minnow Weedless Spoon.
The Silver Minnow part of the name is a bit of a misnomer, although it is certainly available in silver, the truth is that is also available in a veritable rainbow of colors and sizes, and can be found in tackle boxes all around the world. Some may have very lifelike painted color schemes while others are simply plated in the traditional silver or gold. The sizes vary from the tiny 1/16 ounce, suited to flyrod presentations in rivers and streams, all the way up to 1-1/8 ounce, large enough to jig for snapper and tuna. It is arguably the most versatile lure that can be used in any situation and I believe every angler should have one or several in their box at all times.
The Johnson Silver Minnow was created in 1920 by Louis Johnson of Chicago and awarded patent protection in 1923. Like most fisherman, his ingenious idea came out of necessity when fishing a lake that had more grass than fish in it. He took a common table spoon, cut the handle off and soldered a hook onto the concave underside. The rest is history. More than a hundred years later Johnson’s origin design has undergone but few design alterations and the “Weedless Wonder” is still as productive as it was the day he created it. Very noteworthy is that the U.S. Military included one of Johnson’s spoons in their survival kits for soldiers and sailors during the World War II era. It is without a doubt one of the first artificial lures ever made and certainly one of the most effective in both freshwater and saltwater applications.
Not long ago, I was having a conversation with an old-timer about one of my recent trips to the marsh. I was telling him that I found fish on the flats but I could never get them to bite. After telling him what lures I was using, he began to scold me (and my generation) for never tying on a gold spoon. He swore up and down, telling me that it is the only lure I need to be throwing for redfish. Taking his advice, I decided to put a full days
DAVE ROBERTS SHALLOW WATER FISHING
effort into throwing nothing but a gold spoon to see how productive it might be. All I can say is since that day, I always have one tied on or at least within grabbing distance on my boat. I have no idea what it is but a redfish just cannot resist that wobble and gold shimmer in the water!
Not only are gold spoons productive on the Texas coast but the silver version is equally productive as well. When it comes to fishing for trout in the surf or at the jetties, it really becomes a tough one to beat. I always keep one in the door panel of my truck for…just in case… reasons. Usually, once the topwater bite dies or begins to slow, I will tie on that spoon and it’s back to catching fish.
One of the other great aspects of the spoon is their durability. All you really need is one in your box or shirt pocket, and unless the hook breaks, you’re good. I can count on one hand how many times this has happened, so believe me it is not a common occurrence. It is a genuine blessing and a boost to efficiency that you don’t have to go rummaging around your bag or pockets every time a lure gets torn up, like you do with soft plastics. You also don’t have a lot of plastic waste that goes along with throwing soft baits. On top of all of this, if the gold or silver coating begins to chip off or dull, the spoon can be repurposed with a quick coat of paint. My buddy had taken some old spoons and painted them black or white followed by a clear coat, and they catch fish as well as one right out of the package.
The ease of fishing with a spoon is another reason why it is so great. A simple continuous slow to medium speed retrieve will suffice as it naturally flutters in the water due to its concave shape. The simplicity makes this a perfect and effective lure to give to a beginner or a kid. Even though reeling will suffice, I have found a few tricks that will help trigger a bite. I have noticed that when sight-casting to redfish, there are times where they will tend to simply follow it. When this happens, stop reeling and give the spoon a few slight twitches. What happens is the spoon will flutter more and almost do it in place right in front of the fish’s nose; in my experience they will hit it every time. Another trick I have learned for fishing in deeper water, like the surf or jetties, is to stop reeling and let that spoon free fall for a few seconds. Once you do that, give it a few big jerks and let it fall back down again. There are a lot of times that trout will hit that spoon on the free fall.
Summertime Patterns on Sabine
If you have read any of my articles then you already know that I am a fan of throwing spoons. Rightfully so, as it is simple, effective and efficient. The spoon has been around more than a hundred years and has earned its place as one of the most versatile lures ever. If you don’t already have any, do yourself a favor and pick up a few. I think you might be pleasantly surprised at what you’ve been missing. Stay safe, have fun and remember to enjoy life this summer.
CONTACT
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
By CCA Texas
HIGHLIGHTING CCA TEXAS PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION: THE IMPACT OF THE SINK YOUR SHUCKS™ PROGRAM
The Sink Your Shucks™ oyster shell recycling program was initiated by the Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and is part of the Coastal Conservation and Restoration lab. The program stands as a testament to community-driven coastal conservation. Since its inception in 2009, the program has transformed discarded oyster shells into vital components for restoring Texas’ oyster reefs, thereby enhancing marine biodiversity, water quality, and shoreline resilience.
CCA Texas has been a proud supporter of this effort for many years, both financially and by encouraging and rallying local volunteers to participate in this consequential effort. CCA Texas’s financial support includes a $152,000 grant spread across two years in 2022, a $200,000 grant spread across four years in 2024, and a $10,000 grant secured in partnership with James Avery Artisan Jewelry in 2022 to replace transport trailers.
Founded by Dr. Jennifer Pollack and Corpus Christi restaurateur Brad Lomax, Sink Your Shucks™ was the first program in Texas to reclaim oyster shells from local restaurants and return them to bay waters to form new reefs. This innovative approach addresses the critical need for oyster shell substrate, which is essential for the attachment and growth of juvenile oysters. Without such initiatives, harvested shells often end up in landfills, depriving marine ecosystems of a crucial building material.
As of 2025, the program collaborates with over 15 partner restaurants, 7 oyster farms and 4 festivals across the Coastal Bend and state, collecting shucked oyster shells that would otherwise be discarded. These shells are transported to a quarantined area provided by the Port of Corpus Christi, where they undergo a natural sanitization process over six months. Once sanitized, the shells are bagged in biodegradable beechwood bags and distributed to various reef restoration sites. Community volunteers play a pivotal role in this process, participating in shell-bagging events that contribute to the construction of new oyster reefs. In the recent volunteer bagging events held at Goose Island State Park in May 2025 and over the course of three days, more than 400 passionate volunteers packed 37 tons of reclaimed oyster shell into 2,973 biodegradable beechwood bags and ‘sunk’ them into St. Charles Bay.
As of 2024, Sink Your Shucks™ has collected over 3 million pounds of oyster shells and restored more than 45 acres of oyster reef habitat in the Mission-Aransas Estuary, encompassing Copano, Aransas, and St. Charles Bays. These restored reefs provide essential habitat for various marine species, including fish, crabs, and other organisms, thereby enhancing biodiversity. Additionally, oyster reefs play a crucial role in improving water quality by filtering phytoplankton and excess nutrients and act as natural barriers that protect shorelines from erosion.
The Sink Your Shucks™ events also include educational opportunities to discuss the ecosystem and benefits of oyster reefs and their restoration. Photo Credit: Kiese and Co.
“Oysters spawn from Spring through Fall, releasing sperm and eggs into bay waters. The young larval oysters have no shell and swim freely for about 3 weeks before seeking a hard surface to attach to and begin building their shell,” commented Stephanie DeWaters, Sink Your Shucks™ Oyster Recycling Program Coordinator. DeWaters continued “Oysters prefer to settle on the shells of other oysters, which is why every recycled shell truly matters. By returning shells to the bays, we are not just reducing waste, we are giving future oysters a place to grow and helping to restore the very reefs that support a healthy coastal ecosystem.”
The program’s innovative approach and significant contributions to coastal conservation have garnered widespread recognition. In 2025, Sink Your Shucks™ was designated a Texan by Nature Conservation Wrangler, a prestigious recognition celebrating the state’s most impactful and innovative conservation projects. This partnership aims to amplify the program’s impact by expanding oyster shell recycling, advancing reef restoration, and deepening community engagement across the Texas coast.
Furthermore, Sink Your Shucks™ has received support from various organizations, including H-E-B, which awarded a generous donation to support the program’s initiatives. This funding has enabled the program to expand its efforts and further its mission of coastal conservation and restoration.
Beyond its restoration efforts, Sink Your Shucks™ is committed to fostering environmental stewardship through education and community engagement. This hands-on involvement not only enhances public understanding of coastal ecosystems but also empowers individuals to contribute to conservation efforts. Educational materials and programs are designed to raise awareness about the importance of oyster reefs and the role they play in maintaining healthy coastal environments. Through these efforts, Sink Your Shucks is dedicated to helping the community understand the importance of our local waterways and oysters, the benefits they provide, and why conservation matters.
The Sink Your Shucks™ oyster shell recycling program exemplifies
Volunteers bagged and ‘sunk’ 2,973 biodegradable beechwood bags filled with 37 tons of reclaimed oyster shell over three days in recent volunteer
the power of community involvement in environmental conservation. By transforming discarded oyster shells into vital components for reef restoration, the program not only enhances marine biodiversity and water quality but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility for the health of coastal ecosystems. As the program continues to evolve, it serves as a model for innovative, community-driven conservation efforts that make a lasting impact on the environment and the communities that depend on it.
For more information or to get involved, visit SinkYourShucks.org.
CCA Texas and partners encourage you to be a part of this amazing effort by participating in community events and by asking for Texas Farmed Raised Oysters when you eat out in restaurants across the state.
Current oyster shell providers:
Restaurants:
Black Diamond Oyster Bar
Boiling Pot
Castaway’s Seafood & Grill
Copano’s
Corpus Christi Yacht Club
Dai Due
Doc’s Seafood
Dokyo Dauntaun
Hometown Seafood Company
KC’s Oyster Shack
Latitude 28°02’
Packery Bar
Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
Virginia’s on the Bay
Waterstreet Oyster Bar
Oyster Farmers:
Big Tree Oyster Company
Blackjack Point Oyster Company
Clearwater Oyster Gardens of Texas
Copano Oyster Company
Key Allegro Oyster Co.
Lone Star Oyster Company
Oyster Bros
Festivals:
Fulton Oyster Fest
St. Mary’s Fiesta Oyster Bake
Texas Indie Oyster Fest
Texas Oyster Round Up
The Sink Your Shucks™ events offer all ages the opportunity to participate in conservation efforts.
Photo Credit: Kiese and Co.
events. Photo Credit: Kiese and Co.
By Tyler Schacht and Joel Anderson, Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station
FIELD NOTES
THE PERRY R. BASS MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH STATION: A MONUMENT TO RESEARCH, STOCK ENHANCEMENT, & CONSERVATION ON THE COAST OF TEXAS
The property currently known as the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station, located outside Palacios, TX, was acquisitioned in 1967 for $10.00 and “other cash considerations” by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD); the original name was the Marine Fisheries Research Station (MFRS). With the help from federal grant funds, a main building (consisting of offices and research lab), two onsite residences, one maintenance shop, and 21 outdoor ponds were constructed on a former bombing range that was used by the US Army at the height of the Second World War (Figure 1). The facility was operational by 1969 with the initial purpose of developing protocols to culture shrimp for the commercial sector. In 1974 a fire broke out in the main building and the data from the shrimp research trials that year were lost. However, the data from the previous years were stored offsite, and these data were used to help the burgeoning commercial shrimp aquaculture industry develop culture protocols.
In the late 1970s, the recreational fishing community in Texas was very concerned about the degradation of the coastal red drum fishery. Through concerted political effort, regulations were implemented to help revitalize the fishery, but the need for coastal fish
hatcheries to help jump start the red drum efforts also became apparent. As part of this effort, the research team at MFRS set out to develop rearing protocols to raise red drum in outdoor ponds (Figure 2). Around the same time, researchers at the University of Texas, Marine Science Institute (UTMSI), developed the photothermal cycle necessary to spawn sexually mature red drum in captivity. The broodstock research at UTMSI and the outdoor culture protocols developed at MFRS were merged to create the Coastal Fisheries stock enhancement program that we know of today. As a testament to the importance of that early research, the modern stock enhancement program still uses the techniques developed all those years ago.
Seizing on that momentum, construction for the first large scale marine fish hatchery, the CCA Marine Development Center (MDC) in Corpus Christi, began in 1981 and the first crop of red drum fingerlings was stocked into San Antonio Bay in 1983. Following the success of the red drum rearing protocols, the research staff developed techniques to spawn and raise spotted seatrout. Those protocols were also successful and are also used currently by the Coastal Fisheries stock enhancement program.
A lesser-known function of the MFRS early on was experimental aquaculture research aimed at creating unique fisheries for inland and coastal anglers, centered on stocking warmwater reservoirs across the state. Some of this work bordered on mad science! For instance, researchers crossed red drum and black drum and were successful at producing hybrids (aka the “golden drum”).
The orangemouth corvina (a drum species endemic to the west coast) was also brought to the MFRS to develop rearing protocols and attempt to hybridize them with local species. The idea was that corvina could be stocked into freshwater lakes to diversify angler opportunities. This program never formally developed, and the nonnative corvina broodstock were released into freshwater lakes
Figure 1. An aerial photo of MFRS shortly after construction completion (circa 1969). The light circular marks in the foreground are remnant craters from the area’s previous use as a US Army bombing and strafing range, affiliated with Camp Hulen in Palacios, TX.
outside of San Antonio. The last corvina was observed in those lakes in 1992. The research staff also attempted to spawn other native Texas fish, such as the common snook and tarpon. Both species presented challenges; for instance, a sexually mature adult tarpon (~6-7 years in age and over 100 lbs.) was difficult to hold in captivity, due to their ability to jump out of the tanks!
In the early 80s, the research team slowly transitioned from aquaculture-based research to more life history studies (such as reproduction and age determination of various finfish). Age determination allowed the researchers to estimate growth rates, population age structure, and various biological parameters to understand fish populations in Texas coastal waters (Figure 3). The information from the life history work is used to help TPWD assess the overall health of populations of managed fish such as red drum and spotted seatrout.
To further expand the life history work at the MFRS, a research wetlab was constructed in the mid-80’s. The wetlab allowed the research staff to conduct controlled experiments to test a wide range of biological factors. One example was to study the temperature tolerances for hatchery fish such as the red drum, spotted seatrout and southern flounder so hatchery staff could better fine tune the outdoor rearing protocol. The funds to build the wetlab were generously donated by Perry Richardson Bass, the TPWD Chairman Emeritus at the time and a longtime benefactor to the agency. Shortly after, the facility was renamed the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station (PRB-MFRS) in honor of Mr. Bass’ contribution to conservation in Texas.
In 1987, the research team expanded to include genetics work. The goal of the genetics work was to address issues of fisheries management, stock enhancement, and regulations. One example of the genetics work was to understand genetic population structure of managed fishes, to ensure that hatchery-reared fingerlings are released into appropriate locations. For example, all three present day stock enhancement species (red drum, spotted seatrout, and southern flounder) have strict rules of where fingerlings can be released, based on the area where their parents were caught. These policies ensure that TPWD is placing fingerlings back into areas
where they are well adapted and allows for preservation of natural genetic diversity within the hatchery program.
In 1993, the Coastal Fisheries stock enhancement program took over the outdoor rearing ponds at the PRB-MFRS. By using the outdoor ponds for production rather than research, hatchery staff were able to increase production of red drum and spotted seatrout fingerlings and expand operations coast-wide in Texas. The hatchery program was further expanded in 1996 when the Sea Center Texas hatchery (Lake Jackson) became operational, and presently all three hatcheries work together to stock fingerlings into estuaries from Sabine Lake to the Lower Laguna every year.
Today, the research staff at the PRB-MFRS facility investigate numerous facets of biology of marine organisms to help inform management decisions and stock enhancement protocols. Broadly, the research team today studies age and growth, genetics, migration, population structure, spatial distribution, mortality and parasitology of marine species that have commercial and recreational importance. They also work closely with the hatchery team to address any aquaculture-related questions. To date, the research team has published over 100 articles to various scientific journals. Over the life of the stock enhancement program, the hatchery team at the PRB-MFRS facility have stocked over 302 million red drum and over 18 million spotted seatrout throughout the coastal waters of Texas. Overall, the work that started almost 60 years ago has had an outsized impact on the way that Texas manages, regulates and supplements its coastal fisheries. The Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station is a monument to conservation and management on the Texas coast. Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or tpwd.texas.gov for more info.
Figure 2. Hatchery personnel apply fertilizer to a grow out pond (circa 2011). Fertilizers are used to promote phytoplankton and zooplankton blooms to optimize the rearing environment for fingerlings.
Figure 3. A research biologist at the PRB-MFRS examines microstructures from otoliths (fish ear bone) to determine age. Think of counting rings on the otolith as the same as counting rings on a tree.
ERIC OZOLINS
EXTREME KAYAK FISHING & SHARKS FROM THE SAND
BRIGHT LIGHTS IN THE DEEP, DARK SKY
I love studying the scientific aspects of our favorite outdoor activity. One can only be amazed by our marine environment and the creatures it supports. For someone like me, living a life that involves interacting with a variety of marine creatures is uber cool. The dynamics that constantly change conditions on our beaches are certainly impressive to observe.
In addition to recording and studying the ways in which our ever-evolving weather and other environmental factors affect our fishing, I’ve become interested in another aspect of the natural world I see around me while out on the beach. My full-time dedication to surf fishing, with a priority on sharking, places me alongside the ocean at night, soaking big baits and waiting for a monster to make an appearance. While we wait, I’m alert for any signs of a bite, but often, something else grabs my attention.
During the long nights spent on the beachfront waiting for bites, I often find myself staring straight into the deep, dark skies, into the depths of the universe itself. While I’ve enjoyed stargazing for my entire life, I really didn’t participate in the personal “space exploration” facilitated by photographic technologies until recently. I started dabbling in astrophotography, or astronomical imaging, a few years ago and I’ve come to greatly enjoy it.
As time passes, new technologies allow for significant upgrades in cameras and gear. Today’s digital cameras have incredibly precise sensors capable of capturing
unreal amounts of data. More data means better, more detailed photos. In the realm of astrophotography, this allows for capturing images of things in the night sky which we can’t begin to see with our naked eyes.
These days, on every single trip down the beach, I pack an impressive array of camera gear, and if we have dark skies with little or no moonlight, I get excited at the chance to capture images of the many things above our heads. This habit started a few years ago, when one of the individuals coming on a charter asked if he could bring his telescope along on the trip. Of course, I told him he could, since I couldn’t think of a good reason not to do it, and also because I was curious. The man, an employee at NASA, brought along a large refractor telescope, one I didn’t really know how to use, so I had little or no expectations about what we might see with it.
That evening, when darkness fell, he set up his piece of equipment. After making various precise adjustments to calibrations and other settings, the gentlemen turned to me and said, “I think I have it now. Check this out.” Thinking I would see some stars merely amplified by the telescope’s lens, I was amazed when I looked through the viewfinder and saw Saturn, the recognizable planet with visible rings. In an instant, I gained greater appreciation for stargazing, looking at a clear image of another planet while standing on the sands of a Texas beach.
Recent advances in technology have spurred my interest in a new toy, now available on the market. Small
Andromeda Galaxy imaged from Padre Island National Seashore.
digital-tracking telescopes capable of producing outstanding images of objects in our dark skies are now more affordable than ever. These smart scopes have tracking features and can record exceptional longexposure photos of extraterrestrial objects. Among the popular brands are the Seestar and the Dwarf 3 My Seestar enhances our evenings on the beaches in the most entertaining ways.
Pulling up an app on a smartphone, one can set up the camera quickly and start gazing away, making both photographs and videos. Many objects can be viewed and recorded in digital images, including deep sky nebulae, distant galaxies, meteor showers and, of course, the moon and the other planets in our solar system. Using a stacking method, the device captures images continuously, in fifteen second intervals, then congeals the data
into a single, often mind-blowing image.
In the realms of stargazing and astrophotography, success relies on clear, dark skies. The Bortle Scale rates this on a scale from 1 to 9, with 1 being the darkest sky, best for stargazing and astrophotography, and 9 being fully lit, like the middle of a large metropolis. Luckily for those of us who love fishing the Texas beaches, the Padre Island National Seashore has an exceptionally low Bortle Scale rating, about a 2, on average. The crisp, dark skies over PINS are regularly perfect for using
Comet Tsuchinshan Atlas blazing across Padre Island evening sky.
Orion Nebula imaged from Padre Island.
Fantastic view of Lunar eclipse.
smart scopes and DSLR devices.
I’ve developed a pretty set routine for use on exciting nights with optimal conditions. I work hard right before sundown to get my shark baits out soaking for the night, then set up my astro gear. When using my Canon DSLR, I like to shoot a specific object, like the moon, a planet or the Milky Way. These shooting sessions require some of my attention. In order to capture clear long-exposure photos, a camera must remain really still. A strong wind is public enemy number one to this endeavor.
We all know winds blow regularly on our Texas beaches, and this creates problems for astrophotographers. But, the Seestar proves itself fully capable of coping with our steady breezes. Though the smart scope will be affected by wind, it’s programmed to drop blurred frames from the stacks to generate a clean, automated image of the framed object. Leaving the scope trained on an object for a longer period of time allows for capturing more data and creating a more detailed image.
Over the years, I’ve captured some amazing photos of objects in the night skies during my fishing adventures. Breathtaking images of something like the Orion Nebula or Andromeda Galaxy help us appreciate things which seem larger than life. For me, this activity has evolved into another cool hobby that complements our outings. The opportunities for gaining pleasure from astrophotography and stargazing are nearly as numerous as the stars in the sky. High-tech nerds can utilize fancy gear to capture satisfying images of all kinds of mysterious things, while others simply lie on their backs and gaze with wonder at the innumerable lights twinkling in the dark corridors of deep outer space.
Science Sea and the
Improving the World of Oysters
Sound travels farther in water than it does in the air, and acoustics are an important aspect of daily life for marine creatures ranging from whales to coral. In addition to communication, many marine animals rely on sound for navigation, hunting, avoiding predators, and choosing ideal places to live. Baby oysters are among the many species that depend on sound cues in their environment to determine where best to settle down. But researchers in Australia have discovered a growing challenge for oysters: the interference of human-created noise in the ocean.
Restoration efforts are underway for oysters, an important marine species that promotes biodiversity, coastline protection, food for humans and others, and more. Credit: Fumikas Sagisavas, CC0.
To counter declining oyster populations, the researchers conducted a study in which they set up speakers to broadcast sounds that would attract larval oysters. The strategy was successful—the sounds did recruit larvae to settle down in those areas—but only in areas without substantial noise from shipping, machinery, and construction. In areas with higher levels of human noise pollution, the extra noise appeared to have drowned out the acoustic signals that the baby oysters rely on to determine a safe place to make their home.
But there’s good news: not only did the speaker strategy work in areas without man-made noise pollution, but other strategies are also succeeding at building up oyster communities. In Chesapeake Bay, for example, oyster populations have shrunk to about 1% of what they once were. But officials have set up oyster sanctuaries where harvesting is banned. These sanctuaries have begun successfully restoring oyster populations—despite the simultaneous rise of two oyster parasites native to the area, the boring sponge and the mud blister worm. Neither of these parasites is dangerous to humans, and some evidence suggests that these oyster sanctuaries may even be helping the oysters become more resilient to parasites.
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 oz@oceanepics.com Websites oceanepics.com | catchsharks.com
Handheld camera image; Jupiter and moons.
JAKE HADDOCK MOSTLY SIGHT-FISHING
POLING SKIFFSCHANGING THE GAME
As a fisherman, one of the best attributes you can have is the ability to adapt to change. Growing up on the Texas coast as I did, wade fishing was the norm, and for lots of folks it still is. I have stomped many a mile in wading boots and caught tons of fish this way, but as the years went on fishing pressure increased and it seemed to be not as productive as it once was. Combine this with my love of sight-fishing and wade fishing was becoming increasingly difficult. For a while my strategy was to simply drift a flats boat while standing on top of the console for a better vantage point. While this is effective at times, it requires large areas of clean water and a fair amount of wind. Sure, you can use a trolling motor at times, but they can be noisy especially when trying to use them in 2 feet of water or less, where fish are their spookiest. My solution to all of these issues was to buy a poling skiff. I bought my first true poling skiff in 2015 and haven’t looked back.
A flat bottom poling skiff is perhaps the most versatile vessel for inshore fishing on the Texas coast. This type of boat allows you to fish upwind or downwind, shallow or deep, muddy or hard bottom. And, if all else fails, you can still get out and wade, but as you learn the abilities of this style of boat you’ll likely find yourself clambering over the gunwales less and less frequently. So, what makes a boat
a poling skiff, you might ask. Sure, you can throw a poling tower on any flats boat or even a jon boat, but it’s a far cry from an actual poling skiff. To me, a true poling skiff is a small v-hull boat that can be quietly propelled by a push pole in shallow water with very little or no hull slap.
My first true poling skiff was a 2003 Maverick HPX-T. It was in fairly rough shape and had around 900 hours on the Yamaha 70 2-stroke outboard motor when I bought it, but I was proud as could be. I pushed that boat many miles around Port O’ Connor and Galveston areas, and it built my shoulders up quickly. But after a couple years the engine gave out and I had to repower with a newer 4-stroke. Stupidly, I added a large jackplate which compounded the weight gain on the transom for a total sum of an additional 70 pounds. This may not sound like much but in the world of poling skiffs weight is everything, especially on the transom.
These boats are carefully engineered to displace certain amounts of weight in specific areas on the boat to give the desired amount of draft. So, my shallow floating skiff wasn’t quite as shallow as when I first got it. This is a common issue with skiffs that were designed during the 2-stroke outboard era. They simply don’t displace enough weight at the transom, and with the weight of a 4-stroke engine and jackplate your draft is definitely
The Sabine Carbon on plane.
(Photo by Brandon Fox)
compromised. Which, here in Texas, we often like to fish extremely shallow to get away from the crowd, so this is not good. It was around this same time when I started guiding and one day after receiving some photos a client made of me poling my boat for my website, I realized how much the stern of my skiff was squatting. I then began a journey to find a better-suited poling skiff for my home waters. The biggest single thing on my shopping list was shallow draft. My shoulders were begging for relief of pushing that Maverick around, rubbing the bottom.
Then one night at a fly fishing film tour event in Houston I met Brian Little. Who at the time had already been operating Sabine Skiffs for a few years and was producing some pretty darn good looking boats. He was debuting the Sabine Micro at this event, and after some conversation back and forth we set up a time and place for a demo.
Right off the bat I was surprised how well a fully flat bottom skiff rode across chop, as compared to mine, and was dryriding to boot. But the true selling point for me was when we went into the back of Greens Lake in Galveston and I got to pole the boat. I pushed into a cove where I was constantly bottoming out my skiff and headed straight for a known mud bar. When I pushed up to the bar covered by a few inches of water you could feel the boat start to bottom out. But that wasn’t enough for me, I then leaned into the push pole like I would have on my boat and to my amazement, the boat kept going and there seemed to be nothing but wet mud behind the transom as we continued going forward.
Wow, I was grinning from ear to ear knowing I had found what I was after. I have been a Sabine customer and family member ever since.
Fast forward seven years and I’m on my second Sabine Skiff, and getting ready to receive my third. Previously my Sabines were of 100% aluminum construction and what these aluminum skiffs can do performance wise is extremely impressive. But I’m not one to settle, and thankfully neither is Mr. Little. The last several years he has been perfecting a skiff constructed of a certain material that is all the buzz in the world of boat building – carbon fiber.
Why carbon fiber you may ask? Well, on a scale of strength to weight ratio for materials to laminate a boat, it’s at the top of the list. What this has allowed him to do is build a poling skiff in a very desirable size that poles very shallow with less strain on your shoulders. This boat also has enough extra displacement for a 24volt trolling motor and battery without sacrificing draft! For me this is a true game changer, as it allows me and my customers the ability to go shallow and pole for
backing redfish in the morning and then shoot out to deeper water for things like jacks and bull redfish all in the same day – without having to change boats.
Poling skiffs are a changing face of shallow water fishing in Texas, with more and more showing up every year. I believe people are starting to discover the capabilities of these boats in our waters. If you’re curious about what these boats can do, I would encourage you to book a local guide that’s running one for a day. Don’t be surprised if it changes your entire outlook on how to fish our coast.
CONTACT
Jake Haddock grew up in the back bays of Port O’ Connor where he developed a great passion for saltwater fishing. In his younger years he was a youth writer for this publication. In present day he enjoys guiding light tackle and fly clients in Galveston and occasionally Port O’ Connor.
Phone 713-261-4084
Email frigatebirdfishing@gmail.com
Website www.frigatebirdfishing.com
Sabine Carbon skiff on the hunt. (Photo by Owen Gayler)
Stern squatting low on Maverick skiff after 4-stroke repower. (Photo by Stephen Peters)
My first Sabine skiff; simple, clean, and shallow.
JAMES KOSUB
SKINNY WATER OBSESSION
HOW TO GUIDE WHEN YOU’RE NOT A GUIDE
At gatherings and parties, whenever I’m asked the proverbial – “So, what do you like to do?” – my answer is usually about doing jiu-jitsu, hunting, or fishing. Surprisingly, fishing generates the most significant reaction, considering that I fish almost exclusively from a kayak. The expected questions are focused on sharks, alligators, or getting lost at sea. Of course, if you have spent any time on the water, you know most of these concerns are a bit outlandish.
After the initial barrage of concerns, most people either express interest or share their own fishing stories. Those who express interest, especially those who have never fished before, are my favorite. People who have never fished on the Texas coast, or any coast for that matter, seem to find it mystical. Even the simplest things seem fascinating, particularly the fan favorite – the popping cork.
Of those interested, about half commit to the date and the early time. Even then, I still have those who cancel on the day of because 3:00 a.m. is a lot harder on your days off. However, the people who show up end up being some of the most dedicated and ambitious fishermen and women you will ever meet. I always credit my two brothers-in-law for paddling nearly the entire Texas coast
with me. I have taken them on some real “journeys.” The joke in our families spawns from a mapping miscalculation that caused us to overshoot our creek by about a mile. They always say, “Oh, we missed it another mile.”
In my lifetime, I have taken friends, siblings, coworkers, some kid who wanted to fish, neighbors, girlfriends, and my wife. Each of them has had a vastly different trip. On some trips, we were skunked, while on others we left with several good fish before 10:00 a.m.
Typically, I give the rundown when taking someone new: “Hey, this might be terrible, but maybe it won’t be.”
Fortunately, I stumbled into four very nice Hobie Revolutions with pedal drives, but I never take more than two people who haven’t fished before. I also have a strict, “stay where you can hear me,” rule. And while not actually a rule, I typically prefer to be ahead of them to look for signs of fish.
When taking newbies, I substantially change my loadouts. I bring extra rods in my kayak; I only place one in theirs. This limits tangles and snags. I also never place any other type of fishing tackle in their kayaks; I have seen too many flips. I give a brief rundown on the drive, explaining how the Mirage system works and how they can better utilize their rudder. For those who have never
Chris Kosub, with one of many reds he caught this day.
Emma Morgan with her first slot redfish.
seen a Mirage drive, picture an Orca whale and their front flippers.
Then, while we unload, I show them the specifics. A common point of confusion is how to remove their drive system. Therefore, we practice before we get started.
While sharks and getting lost at sea are not a common threat where I fish, there are some inherent risks. Heat, capsizing, powerboats, sometimes alligators, high winds, and stingrays (if we wade) are all real concerns. However, all of these are easily avoidable.
Heat:
The summer heat in Texas is no joke. Therefore, I strongly believe in hitting the water early and getting off by 2:00 p.m. Normally, that window of 4:00 p.m. and later, and on is unbearable during our endless summers. Also, consider who you’re taking; their age, exposure to heat, and physical fitness level, as these factors all contribute to how long you should be on the water. Bring and consume plenty of water.
Capsizing:
Luckily, I am yet to sink a kayak. However, I have flipped and taken on water multiple times. I always encourage adults to wear a PFD. I show them where their whistle is and how to use the emergency beacon on my Garmin watch. Furthermore, I teach them to use the nose of their kayak to take on oncoming waves.
Powerboats:
Powerboats can be tricky and are often very dangerous. I tell my partners to stay together and be sure that the captain of the boat sees you. I also listen for boats when I am fishing around blind corners. Finally, I specifically target areas where I expect to see fewer boats.
Wind:
Taking first-timers can be a real challenge when combating the wind, as both their kayaks and their casting ability are severely affected. I
will often get them to take a few casts on the shore to better judge their skill before hitting the water. The most common issue is the lofty, high-arching cast. With the wind, they end up casting way too far, and against the wind, they leave a ton of slack in the line and create a bird’s nest. Oh, slack, I could write an entire book on how many times slack has created some real problems.
I explain and demonstrate what a tight line should look like, even though I’m certain my wife still doesn’t know what I’m saying (haha). I prefer a low and direct cast; they are more accurate, make less disturbance in the water, and reduce the chance of slack.
I have canceled trips due to high winds. Whenever the gusts exceed 16 MPH, I let them know that our trip is at risk.
I genuinely enjoy introducing newcomers to the Texas coast and all it has to offer.
I’ll never forget taking my good friend Ethan on a rush trip before he deployed in 2024. We caught multiple great redfish and black drum. We were headed home by 10:30 a.m. About halfway home, Ethan said, “Man, I would do that all the time.” I laughed and agreed; this was one of the rare trips of not fishing but catching.
Gear, winds, and fish all cooperated into three and a half hours of the best time that money can buy. My 11-year-old nephew still reminds me regularly how his first cast ever landed a slot red. Carson explained it best: “It is pretty easy; you just cast and wait.”
CONTACT
James Kosub James Kosub says, “I fell in love with fishing as a child and my passion deepened when I discover the Texas coast. Shallow water redfish have become an obsession.”
Email Jammmeskosub@gmail.com
I told him if he caught a keeper I would buy him a new rod; we went to Tackle Town later that day!
Ethan Chaney with a solid slot red, right before deploying for military service.
A Lot of Stingray . . . AND A LITTLE CROW
STORY BY MIKE MCBRIDE
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in our July 2009 issue of this magazine and is reprinted here as a Public Service Announcement. Two major takeaways; 1) Wear stingray protection, 2) Seek medical attention as immediately as possible if you incur a stingray wound or other significant injury while fishing in saltwater.
In my last writing I touched on the wonders of wearing modern stingray protection. Actually, we wondered which might be worse; perhaps taking a hit once every ten years without them or perhaps surviving the oppressive mud and gnarly grass with them. Upon this writing I can safely say that a decision has been reached. No matter how uncomfortable stingray boots may be for some, trust me, they will cover your rear end considerably better than a hospital gown. Yes, I was recently tagged by a healthy stingray. No, I wasn’t wearing protective gear. Yes, I can eat some crow if I want to, and it actually doesn’t taste all that bad with a little habanera sauce on it, which is, I think, the same stuff smeared on that ray’s tail by the way it burned into my ankle.
Much was learned during this ordeal, but ironically, the most impressive lessons were older ones passed down from the ancients. We all might do well to occasionally reflect upon such wisdoms, especially those most prophetic. Two come to mind; “What goes around comes around.” And; “Always remember to wear clean underwear.” I thought I’d share the consequences of breaching both. The bottom line is that if you wade fish in Texas; you are wading amongst stingrays. If you are not, then you are probably not wading amongst fish either. It’s just part of the experience, but according to published studies, the good news is that relatively few encounters go beyond the “Hey, gimme another beer,” stage. Supposedly, of the 75O “stings” per year nationwide, few require follow up after initial treatment. Well, let’s publish another study of our own, an updated one straight from our own backyard, but first let’s review this experience… just for sensationalism if nothing else.
I suppose the setting could have been worse. I might have gotten hit while trying to push a boatload of overweight lawyers off a
sandbar, yet fate was merciful this time, and I was actually trying to photograph one of Capt. Tricia’s clients with yet another 28-inch trout. Curiously I was standing still at the moment of impact, but obviously there was enough wallowing going on to spook the critter into slinging its barb deep into the top dead center of my ankle joint. It was a good hit, delivered with enough force to actually move my foot back.
This is the third time I’ve been blessed, and each time the stick never felt “clean.” Perhaps because of the serrations along the barb, the feeling has been more rasp-like, as though a tiny round bastard file was being hastily jerked through stringy muscle tissue. Can you feel it?
The next sensation is predictable, which is total muscle lockup on the order of the worst Charlie Horse you can imagine. This, followed
hours
Thirty-six
poststingray strike.
by nauseously sharp pain, followed immediately by a quick suck of the thumb and a sharp yelp for mommy. I took the standard action back at the house and soaked it in the hottest water I could stand for as long as I could stand, with a measure of bleach splashed in for effect. The pain relief was instant, the swelling appeared normal, and it did not look like anything worthy of a holiday weekend road trip. I let it ride, “… to be evaluated mañana.” All was good until the next afternoon, and that’s when the swelling went show time. Black and blue flesh erupted with explosive blisters laced with red streaks. Thanks to Capt Tricia, it was a twisted-ear trip to the ER.
Tip of the Spear
In getting down to business, the real story here is not about an individual encounter with a bumpy-eyed bottom dweller sporting a sharp stick on its tail. It is about a changing world, and perhaps how we may be forced to change with it. In reality, the stingray barb was just the tip of the spear for the real threat, which is an extremely aggressive bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis; more commonly known as “flesh-eating disease.” That’s what bought me that unexpected hospital trip, and also where the clean underwear comes into play. I didn’t leave for eleven days.
Surgical treatment to open the wound for debridement of necrotic tissue.
In the marine environment this stuff is still relatively new, but we are hearing more about it each year. Supposedly around 25% of those who get it end up dying from it. The main reason could be that the early symptoms look like so many other minor afflictions; a great number of cases are misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late. This stuff is bad, way bad, in fact. Had I been immune compromised or waited much longer, the outcome may have been quite different. If the infection goes systemic, i.e. into the blood system, you are in deep trouble. It can only take a few short hours after inoculation to become life threatening.
There are several types of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis, the most common being variations of streptococcus, staphylococcus, the widely infamous Vibrio vulnificus, or perhaps a combination. They probably always exist but thrive mostly in warm, brackish water, with salinities between 15 and 25 ppt seemingly ideal.
I was wading the mouth of a muddy, brackish slough south of town. And indeed, most cases we have heard of were contracted in areas experiencing freshwater runoff. We don’t know the exact bacteria in this case, but what we do know is that warm brackish water and open wounds are not something to fool around with these days, especially if immune compromised.
That the world is changing is fact. With more people living inland, more organisms flow seaward. Whatever happened to “Saltwater cures what ails ya?” This stuff does seem to be on the increase, so awareness and prevention certainly seem more important.
Don’t let this stuff freak you out; and certainly, don’t let it stop you from wading if that’s what you enjoy. You can get this from a shrimp spine prick in a bait bucket, so you don’t even have to be in the water. What we should do is upgrade our first aid kits to include antimicrobial solutions such as HIBICLENS® to immediately flush any skin breaks occurring on the water. What we should do is cover any open breaks with a type of liquid bandage or even breathable waders no matter what time of year, especially if wading in high-risk areas such as in the influence of freshwater runoff, and especially if immune compromised with diabetes or liver issues.
As far as gear goes, what we should do is shut up and wear it. Unfortunately, ill-fitting boots and guards can quickly cause chafing and blisters, which can be bacteria catchers as good as any stingray hit, so tall neoprene socks are recommended. Above all, if there is any question at all, just go to the darn doctor. Timing is of the essence, and according to available literature, mortality risk increases five-fold for patients who are hospitalized more than two days after symptoms develop. Once the infection takes hold, antibiotics are not enough, and surgical intervention is the only way.
Take proper precautions, make good and timely decisions, and continue to enjoy the wonders we are privileged to enjoy on the water. Just keep that water off any skin breaks and don’t wonder about stingray protection any longer – wear it and be done with at least one tip of the spear.
Closeup of surgical incisions prior to skin grafting.
PRODUCT
Suzuki Marine Re-Launches 200 V6 With New Features
Suzuki Marine USA is bringing back a popular model for anglers who want the torque, powerful hole shot, and strong acceleration of Suzuki’s 3.6-liter, 24-valve V6 powerhead in a 200-horsepower motor for single and multiple engine installations. This 2025 model is an ideal power match for today’s heavy center consoles, large pontoon boats, and other popular vessels that can benefit from a little extra “kick in the rear.”
Suzuki’s V6 200 is packed with proven technology, along with some new features not previously found on earlier V6 models, including easy integration with Suzuki’s new CANbus system for easier and more reliable rigging, Suzuki’s easy start system, automatic trim, keyless starting and troll mode. Learn more at your Suzuki Marine dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com.
www.SuzukiMarine.com
Fishing Tackle Unlimited – Landers Fish Grip
Mud Hole All-In-One Rod Building Kit
With Mud Hole All-In-One Rod Building Kits, we’ve put everything you need to build a custom fishing rod in one convenient package!
Whether Spinning, Casting, Fly, or Ice, each All-In-One Kit contains all the components, tools, supplies, and instructions to build your own custom fishing rod! And with Mud Hole’s FREE online rod building content, it’s never been easier to get started in rod building.
Mud Hole Rod Kits are the perfect way to get started in custom rod building and make a great gift for anglers who want to feel what it’s like to catch a fish on a rod they built!
www. MudHole.com
Landers Trigger Fish Lip Grip Tool is trigger activated to open the gripper jaw, which clamps onto a fish’s lower jaw and holds tight while the angler removes hooks and takes photos. The built-in scale weighs fish up to 30-pounds accurately, via the graduated scale engraved on the shaft. Includes a flexible leash for attaching to the wade belt, so it’s close at hand when the need arises.
www.FishingTackleUnlimited.com
HIGHLIGHTS
LER Lure Co.
Kicking off a one-of-a-kind engineered lineup of lures is the LER Lures Co. MONEY SHRIMP. It’s a brand-new design based upon an old favorite that features a perfectly segmented body and uniquely designed head. The shape helps it both swim and flee effortlessly with a steady retrieve and simple pop of your rod. The action is right on the MONEY! Garlic scent locked in high-quality plastic, specially designed hook slot to aid fast and easy rigging (best fished with a twist lock hook). Please visit us at LERlures.BigCartel.com
Turtlebox
Born on the bayou in Houston, TX, Turtlebox was the answer to a call for something that didn’t exist, a speaker that could match the intensity of our Texas spirit and the volume of our adventures. Turtlebox speakers are fully waterproof, drop-proof, and built to handle the harshest environments. Designed to project loud, powerful sound over wind, water, and engine noise, Turtlebox provides a premium audio experience without compromise. Features include impressive battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, left/right stereo pairing, and Party Mode for syncing an unlimited number of speakers. Rugged and durable, Turtlebox is built to handle any adventure and keep the music going no matter the conditions. TurtleboxAudio.com
OluKai Water-Friendly Boat Shoes
The Ahi by OluKai is designed for the waterman in your life. Its lightweight mesh upper sheds water quickly, while strategically placed drainage windows help keep your feet dry. Made for barefoot wear, the cushioned EVA footbed delivers all-day comfort, and the Wet Grip Rubber® outsole provides steady footing on slick surfaces. Inspired by Hawaiian Wa‘a (voyaging canoes), the Ahi blends function, comfort, and OluKai craftsmanship making it the perfect choice for any fisherman. Olukai.com
Matagorda
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@yahoo.com Website matagordasunriselodge.com
THE VIEW FROM Matagorda
It has been a great summer thus far. Optimism for our fishery continues to run high, validated by our catches during the most recent winter and spring seasons. The big trout fishery Matagorda was once famous for is now being restored, thanks to wide-spread conservative attitudes and more people practicing catch and release. My personal take on the whole situation is that it should only get better from here. It gets hot in July, but we beat the heat by leaving the dock well before sunrise and returning to the shade of the cleaning table before the sun begins to melt.
It’s a great month for topwaters. We look forward to calm days; we love wading mid-bay reefs in East Matagorda with topwaters, Bass Assassins, Down South Lures and MirrOlure Lil’ Johns. We like to get waist- to chest-deep and fire plugs off the drop-offs of the reefs. It is a patience game, but then a slick pops here and a slick pops there. Before long we get a steady bite of 5- to 7-pound trout going with the occasional 8 and 9-pounder showing on those glorious days.
Halfmoon Reef in West Matagorda Bay has been on fire when the wind allows. The 54-acre project built by the Nature Conservancy is an absolute trout magnet. It’s like fishing a 6-7 foot underwater jetty. It’s a great piece of habitat and we appreciate the conservation effort it took to revive the reef.
For redfish in July, fish the incoming high tides in spots like Cut Off Flats, Zipperian Bayou, Oyster Lake and
Crab Lake. Work the mouths of these lakes and bayous as the tide begins to fall.
Tides seem to always fall below normal levels this month after any amount of westerly wind. East Matagorda Bay can sometimes lose two feet of water. When this happens, most all of the redfish pull off the shorelines and congregate in the middle of the bay. The reds give themselves away by producing big slicks and we drift right through them.
These reds are not small ones either – mostly upper-slot fish with serious attitudes. When the reds start slicking you can literally make one drift and have all the fish you need. When tides get low due to nagging southwest winds, the middle of East Matagorda Bay is a major player. Look for slicks and make long drifts.
We have good early morning incoming tides that usher fish over the expanses of sand and grass flats in West Matagorda Bay during July. We run well off the shorelines so not to burn potential wading areas and look for slicks, then slide in behind the slicks and wade through the fish.
For those who choose to stay in the boat those same deep reefs will hold fish in July. The bait of choice is Berkley GULP!, Vudu Shrimp, Bass Assassins, and live shrimp under a Mid-Coast popping cork.
As always, the surf can be a player in July. Lots of hearty 3- to 5-pound trout are caught on topwaters, and 51MR and 52MR
MirrOlures. Early surf efforts in June were fair to good, but July’s high atmospheric pressure days really flatten the Gulf. We typically get anywhere from six to ten great days on the beach this month.
Never discount the granite! Our jetty holds quality trout this month. July’s green tides are also known to produce the occasional snook, which are a true summertime bonus.
Never discount our pools at the lodge and rental properties. A cannonball after a morning of fishing is a July mandate. Fish early, stay hydrated, always be conservation-minded and please be good stewards of our bays and oceans.
July Plans: Early Starts - Drifting East Bay - Praying for Calm Surf
Follow and Like us on YouTube!
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 22 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
MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays
Imagine waking early for your fishing trip. Instead of gusty winds it’s quiet outside, with only the muffled sounds of night creatures. There is no wind at the moment, allowing sounds that are usually drowned out by the wind to be heard clearly. Summertime fishing patterns are now in full swing on the Mid-Coast. While the spring winds provided relief from rising temperatures they also caused physical exhaustion and limited the areas we could fish. Early summer days are appreciated for their calm conditions on the open waters.
Characterized by its diverse estuary systems, tidal flats and rich marine ecosystems stretching from the Matagorda bays to Corpus Christi, the Texas Mid-Coast offers some of the finest shallow water fishing opportunities in the state. Even with all the Mid-Coast has to offer, San Antonio Bay outshines all others due to the myriad oyster reefs that stretch across its expanses of open water. These natural structures are fish magnets, providing ample forage and shelter for hundreds of marine species as well as ambush points for predators such as redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. The reefs themselves are living structure teeming with life.
Fishing oyster reefs and adjacent spoils areas requires an ever-mindful approach. They can be unforgiving with sharp edges and potentially steep drop-offs. Navigational tools such as printed maps and GPS devices are essential for exploring. While most of the reefs are shown on up-to-date GPS programs; the size, depth and shape of reefs can change from year to year due to powerful storms that sweep the region. Use caution if venturing to an area that you are not familiar with. Trolling motors and depth finders are great tools for learning an unfamiliar reef.
Wading allows anglers to get close to fish on shallow reefs. Although reefs may host many schools of trout, wading often works better for finding scattered fish. Dangling live shrimp from popping corks just above the reef often yields great results. Artificial lures worked along the edges of humps and drop-offs can also entice strikes.
I prefer lightweight tackle setups; Waterloo’s HP Lite and Bass Assassin soft plastics for redfish and speckled trout. The HP Lite is designed for the avid artificial anger whose lure selection includes soft plastics, small to medium topwaters and spoons. Built on high-modulus graphite blanks, the HP Lite is suitable for 1/8- to 1/2-ounce lure weights.
The Bass Assassin 3.5-inch Lit’l P&V soft plastics have lately become a top choice due to being scent-infused and their excellent imitation of smaller bait fish and shrimp. Always wade slowly and try to minimize noise. On numerous occasions, steady bites have ceased due to anglers approaching too hastily and causing disturbances through excessive movement and the crunching of shells underfoot.
Wading the reefs in San Antonio Bay is one method, while others may prefer to stay in the boat. Drifting over the reefs and focusing on dropoffs allows anglers to cover a wide area quietly.
Sandy, main bay shorelines are currently producing good catches, particularly larger trout and redfish in sand pockets of solid grassy areas. While these pockets can provide excellent ambush points for game fish, they can also be challenging to fish, because of the surrounding grass. Try a 1/2-ounce weedless spoon or Texas-rigged plastics to negate the grass problem.
July brings long, sunny days and warm waters to the Mid-Coast. Fish tend to seek cooler spots like edges of deeper water during the heat of the day. Early mornings and late evenings are usually the best times as cooler temperatures encourage active feeding.
For all fishing trips this summer I encourage quality, lightweight and breathable clothing, like that from Southerly Fishing Gear. Jellyfish are plentiful, so long pants are advised for wading. Quality eyewear like Costa Del Mar provides enhanced visibility for spotting fish in the shallows. Stay hydrated with plenty of non-alcoholic beverages while on the water. There’ll be plenty of time for a celebratory cold one back at the dock. I would also like to offer a few words on conservation. The reduction in the trout daily bag limit from five fish to three several years ago is aimed at insuring the sustainability of the fishery for the future. Anglers are encouraged to practice catch and release, especially if you already have fillets in the freezer.
The Texas Mid-Coast is a treasure trove of shallow saltwater fishing opportunity. Whether you’re an experienced fisher or a newcomer to the pastime, come see what the Mid-Coast can offer you.
Bill Patrick with a nice San Antonio Bay trout that was safely released after a few photos.
Lucky lady angler, Carol Browder, landed this beautiful flounder on a recent charter.
Upper Laguna/ Baffin
David Rowsey has 30 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
HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey
Calm winds, mosquitos imploding on foreheads during predawn boat rides, and clients bringing more bags on the boat than a single mom dropping off three kids at summer camp. We are in the full grasp of summer and if it seems like I’m complaining I’m really not. The consistent nature of the bite far outweighs any of my pet peeves.
To the untrained eye all seems pretty normal as we head into July, but as mentioned earlier everything seems to be running a little behind schedule this year. Early summer gave us lots of bites and some big trout. Usually, by this time we would be seeing a bit of a slow down due to oppressive heat that blesses us every year. However, this hasn’t happened yet and I see no reason to believe it will happen soon.
The greatest evidence of a bait migration appeared in early June, about a month later than normal. Currently, just about every shoreline in Baffin is flooded with forage and trout are taking advantage. We are witnessing a bite pattern that runs deeper into the morning hours and I believe that is because there are just more fish here on this delayed migration of both bait fish and trout. For me, this is a much-welcomed sight as we are getting far more quality trout action later in the day than we are accustomed this time of year. I’m loving it and the smiles on client’s faces is all the reassurance necessary to keep eating mosquitoes on dark boat rides.
Deep grass lines and sharp bottom contour lines throughout the bays have been the tried and true pattern that keeps on giving. It’s hard to pass up a shallow morning start, and I rarely do, but the deeper structure has been producing not only numbers but quality to boot. Many of these wades are responsible for one hundred hookups, albeit most of them are 14- to 17-inch fish. Just about the time you think there is nothing larger in the area someone in the wade line will pop a trout over 27” and sometimes one over 30”. That’s just the nature of the beast down here and I have witnessed it a thousand times.
I firmly believe that trout are just like us when they get their belly full. Find a quiet and comfortable spot where there is not too much activity and only eat if it is served up in my face; where I don’t have to expend much energy to get my hand around the cookie. I also believe that deep breaks are where they do this, especially in the summer when water temperatures can easily exceed 90°. When I feel like the day has progressed to this point, I tie on a heavier jighead and my trusty Bass Assassin to glide my presentation across the bottom,
hoping to entice laid-up, midday fish into taking one more bite. There are so many good lures on the market today; from twitchbaits to topwaters to suspending and even vibrating, and they all have their place and time. But a fish with a full belly, resting in 4- to 5-feet of cool water will rarely get off of her plump rump to chase it down. One of the biggest mistakes I see clients continually making is trying to make fish eat a type of lure that is not relevant to their mood. I get it, as it’s hard to have all of those beautiful and expensive new plugs in the box and not throw them. I’ve been very guilty of that myself, but the pressure cooker of keeping clients on a bite will keep you humble, and force your hand at catching them their way. When it’s tough, go back to basics and keep it simple.
In closing, our numbers of trout are rebounding at a phenomenal pace. The sheer numbers of trout my boat is catching speaks volumes for the effectiveness of our currently more conservative limits. Considering the number of boats on the water and number of lines with lures or live bait, this move by TPWD has had its doubters, but the truth is it had to happen to maintain anything like our historic fishery. Mother Nature is pretty good at taking care of herself, but the human affect was not built into her resupply equation. I’m applauding all of y’all and Coastal Fisheries for helping right the ship before it sank. Still a work in progress but the trout are finally gaining some serious traction.
Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey
Catching Big Trout with David
Follow
Mr. Don Thrasher with a 28-plus that fell for a Bass Assassin while targeting potholes on a large flat. Appropriate presentation with specific targets spells success.
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
WAYNE’S Mansfield Report
Greetings from Port Mansfield! Well, I’m sure by now you’re aware that we are in full-blown summertime mode and it seemed to get underway a bit early this year. I cannot recall seeing water temperatures this warm this early in the season. Mid-May I documented 90° water temperatures on our flats, which launched summer feeding patterns earlier than normal. What I mean is we did not have the gradual springtime warming trend leading into summer; we just jumped right into summer. I noted fish already holding deeper in May, which we usually don’t see until late-June. This had me frowning somewhat, since I love to stay shallow, but this heat forced me to the waist deep stuff. Sure, we had some good stuff going on in the shallows, but about 70% of the better fish were consistently deeper.
As of this writing, and speaking of shallow water stuff, I’ve been on some good schools of redfish in the back-lakes. We had a little drop in the tide lately and this put those big reds in the deeper regions of the lakes where they were easy to find. I was recently explaining how to approach schooling reds should you happen to run past a school on plane. If you bust right through the middle it’s hard to get on them as they’re likely scattered in all directions. However, if you’re lucky to only cruise along the edge, your wake and prop wash simply pushes them away from your track. I have been fortunate to just swing wide and wade back down, just off your propwash line by 20-40 yards. We did just that recently and it worked out perfectly, topwater action at its finest – see photo.
Moving farther into summer, I am confident that our trout fishery will continue to provide consistent action with plenty of fish in the 20- to 24-inch range. Fish of twenty-eight inches and longer are still pretty rare but not unheard of. Knowing one could come on any cast keeps us focused for sure.
July kicks off the opportunity to land a Texas snook. We haven’t run across any yet but I suspect it will happen soon enough. Last year was a little disappointing for big snook but we did stumble upon quite a few in the 16– to 20-inch range. Last year was my first experience with so many small ones; in years past they were almost all longer than 20 inches. Hopefully this year will be better. In addition to snook, July also delivers a chance at a tarpon. Not a common occurrence but it certainly can and has happened. Now,
you may not land a tarpon, but jumping one definitely gets the blood flowing. I would like to point out to those who might be wondering what gear can manage big snook or even tarpon in the bay; I have landed tarpon up to fifteen pounds and snook up to thirteen pounds on my Fishing Tackle Unlimited Green Rod rigged with both Shimano baitcast and spinning reels spooled with 20lb braid. The key to landing big fish like this is not necessarily the line weight or rod and reel combo, it’s more about the strength (30-pound) and quality of the leader material you are using. Try not to get too excited, take your time and play the fish carefully. Simply put, do not rush it!
Judging by May and June weather thus far, I’m thinking we will have to get out a little earlier during July. That said, I will be setting up on bars and troughs that lie parallel to shorelines, especially those with deep water access and submerged points, as much as the wind will allow. This is a perfect summertime setup as this type of structure typically provides plenty of current. You could be working a big spoil island along the ICW or any zone on the west shoreline of the Laguna. Anglers can start shallow and ease deeper as the water temperatures rise and the fish start to transition to deep grass beds or fall off into the ICW.
Wrapping up, I would like to point out this year is the 50th anniversary for the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce Fishing Tournament and they are guaranteeing a $10,000.00 payout ($5k for bay and $5k for offshore). It is a fun-filled two-day event, so if you want a shot at a trophy and a little cash consider coming down and joining the fun on July 24-26, 2025.
Remember, fresh is better than frozen.
Dave
and Denton
Wayne will show you the improvements made to the new drainage system on the SCB
Follow and Like us on YouTube!
Randy Pettus with a dandy trout he landed on a recent charter.
Brysch
Pettus had a lot of fun with back-lake redfish.
Arroyo Colorado to Port Isabel
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
SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene
Are you tired of the wind yet? Don’t be too quick with your answer as we are about to enter what I call the July Doldrums. Yes, I too was weary of the spring winds, but isn’t it funny how in just a few short weeks we’ll be begging for even a slight breeze? July is usually our hottest month and for that reason fishing can be tough; that’s why I like to hit it at first light and again toward evening when the water temperature will be a bit cooler.
Regarding the catching, I wish it was as hot as the weather. But honestly, it can get tough when the water temperature reaches into the high-90s. In mid-summer, by 11:00 a.m. or so, fish head to deeper water and often become reluctant to chase down a lure or feed very aggressively.
This is when fishing along the ICW becomes popular. Ditto old oilfield cuts or deeper guts with good tidal flow; these can also hold good numbers of fish in the hotter months. Four- to five-feet and deeper is what to look for, and using a heavier jighead is a must to get your lure down lower in the water column.
There is an upside to July’s near-windless conditions, though. Calm surface conditions make it super easy to spot wakes and boils as fish cruise the flats and explode on bait. However, fish in shallow water are always wary, which makes getting into casting range more difficult than days when a breeze ripples the surface. Here again, low-light conditions at dawn and dusk can be the most productive times of the day.
I like to plan my fishing in July this way: I fish shallow in the early morning or late evening. And, any time in between, I fish deeper water with a heavier jighead and I slow down my retrieve.
I liken fishing the hottest months to the coldest months. Think deep, as the fish find protection from both winter’s cold and summer’s heat in similar environments.
For two months redfish under flocks of screeching gulls have been easy targets, especially when the wind has really been howling. However, that will change this month as the wind diminishes and boat traffic reaches seasonal highs. My suggestion is to focus on ICW spoil islands, eastside sand flats, and back-bays where traffic will be lighter. One thing to remember is that redfish numbers in back-bays is highly dependent on tide levels. Fish move with the tide and primary travel lanes such as sloughs, cuts, and other narrow passes will become great places to target.
Activity level of bait and game fish are highest during morning hours this time of year. Mullet will be seen jumping and swirling at the surface. I suggest targeting redfish up shallow early in the morning when everything is active. And then moving to deeper water as the sun gets higher in the sky and the water warms up.
In July, redfish will school up in deeper troughs. I have found them using sandy bottoms around midday when most of the boat traffic has dispersed. Keep in mind that redfish are more tolerant of heat than trout but will still seek shelter in deeper water as temperatures rise.
Trout at this time of year are very susceptible to the effects of elevated water temperature. If you do not intend to retain it you should release it as soon as possible to increase the chance of survival. So, given this fact, where should you go to find trout in July? Well, the easiest way is to fish the edges of the ICW. Trout will stack up along the drop-off but are also often staged right in the middle.
In the middle of the day I may find myself chest-deep throwing heavier jigheads – quarter ounce or even three-eights – with ZMan plastics like Big Ballerz or 5-inch Paddlerz.
Trout slicks will be seen throughout summer, but more prominently in morning and evening. Trout become significantly less active during the hottest part of the day.
Snook fishing is off to a good start and should only get better during July. The new and full moon periods of July are prime spawning times. Three days before and three days following these moon phases are the best days to target the linesiders.
So, for best success in July follow the ELD method: Fish Early, Fish Late, Fish Deep. Welcome to the doldrums of summer!
ZMan Big BallerZ for Catching Big Fish
Follow and Like us on YouTube!
Zach Scariano with a nice summer snook.
Trevor Moore caught this redfish while working the birds.
FISHING REPORTS AND FORECASTS from Big Lake to Boca Chica
Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag
Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242
James looks forward to the hottest time of the year, because he enjoys fishing around some of the deep structures in the bay for trout, also starting the yearly quest to locate and catch some of the silver kings. “Wading has been good lately in the bays. We’ve had a good topwater bite when the weather has been cooperative. Not catching any big trout, but numbers are really good, and it’s been fun catching them on top. As we get into July and the heat wave settles in, we start to do better out around the ship channel on lots of days. Out there, it’s necessary to have the underwater structures and humps well marked on the GPS, because catching depends on setting the boat up properly to allow for casting and retrieving lures properly, given the wind and current directions. When we get it right, the catching can be fantastic and sometimes the average size of the trout is much better than we find when we’re working other patterns. Of course, when winds fall silent and the waves offshore fall to low levels, we’ll be heading out into the Gulf, searching for pods of tarpon.”
Jimmy West | Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054
With lots of freshwater flowing down the Trinity River, Jim says the fishing has really perked up in other places. “The fish are stacked up pretty good in upper parts of our bay system. Lots of guys are catching plenty around some of the spoil islands up that way, also along some of the rocky shorelines. Fishing has been good in East Bay too, since some of the fish that would normally be in Trinity have moved around the corner. Mostly, we’re catching best out in the middle, working slicks and rafts of bait around the mid-bay reefs. This is also a classic pattern for July. Wading can be great this time of year, especially in the surf. We’ve had a couple good runs along the beachfront already, and we usually have about as many or more fishable surf days in July as in any other month. People fishing the surf should remember a rule about the Bolivar Pocket; it will be good, as long as there’s NO EAST in the wind. Another rule to remember when there’s lots of freshwater flowing in is this: If the freshwater runs ‘em out of one place, it’ll stack ‘em up in another.”
West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays
Randall Groves | Groves Guide Service
979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323
Randall says things are shaping up nicely for a good run of summer fishing in the San Luis Pass area. “We have tons of bait in the bays right now, all kinds of food for the predators to key on. Lately, we’ve had a good topwater bite on a number of trips. I like to throw white ones and shiny ones, depending on what kinds of forage fish I see around me. A bunch of ribbonfish jumping around makes me want to get out a pearl Skitter Walk. The wading will probably be really good well into July, especially early in the mornings, with an incoming tide. We do well in the surf and on some of the main-bay shorelines in situations like that. Once we get into the real dog days of summer, the fishing is often better out of the boat, especially after mid-morning and/or when the tide is low or moving out. When we’re fishing deeper areas, we use slicks, rafts of bait and birds to figure out the best areas to fish. On some occasions, it’s possible to catch trout on topwaters from the deck of the boat, but Sand Eels work much better on average when we’re working that kind of pattern.”
Matagorda Bays | Capt. Glenn Ging - Glenn’s Guide Service 979.479.1460 - www.glennsguideservice.com
The fishing in Matagorda has been pretty good lately with the winds calming somewhat and the summer sun beginning to warm things up. This time of year I spend a bunch of time fishing deeper water out of the boat. Drifting deep shell and fishing other deeper structures are my main strategies in July. I’ll be drifting the deeper areas in East Matagorda Bay with soft plastics like Bass Assassin 5” Sea Shads and Down South Lures Southern Shads in natural colors, like Chicken On A Chain, Bone Diamond, Salt and Pepper, and Roach. I typically rig them on eighthounce heads this time of year. Live shrimp under Coastal Corks are a good option as well, since they attract the attention of all kinds of fish. Wading in West Matagorda Bay is always a good summertime plan for trout and redfish. We do best in the shallows around small shell reefs early in the mornings, better on the outer bars as the day heats up. Natural-colored soft plastics and smaller topwaters in chrome or bone are good bets during the summer heat wave. We’re hoping the winds will be light so we can get in the surf some more this month.
Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204
Fishing has been great lately in our local bays and rivers. Trout fishing has been really good as the fish have moved into their summer patterns. Wading early and throwing topwaters over grass and sand in waist-deep water has been consistent, and as the sun moves higher, throwing Down South Lures soft plastics has been more productive. MirrOlure She Pups in green/chrome have been producing lots of blowups. Live shrimp fished three to four feet under popping corks are still producing well when winds allow us to work open water areas. The action for red and black drum has been good as well. On big tides, we’ve caught good numbers in the back-lakes over shell on live and/ or fresh dead shrimp. The Tres Palacios River has been holding some good fish as well; we’ve been trolling the upper reaches of the river throwing three-inch white Gulp! shrimp under popping corks, focusing on any structures, like logs, rip rap and bulkheads. The surf should be productive soon, but we just haven’t had the right weather for it yet. After the first front, we should do well out there, starting off in the first gut, then moving out to deeper water as day wears on.
Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith
Back Bay Guide Service - 361.935.6833
Lynn says the fishing has been good lately in the Port O’Connor area, and he expects things to improve even more as summer settles in.
“We’ve done well in the surf a few times already and should be able to get out there more consistently after about the 4th of July, when winds historically settle down quite a bit. Few things are more fun than running out into the surf and walking in with a topwater tied on the end of the line. We normally get plenty of blowups in the first gut and around the first bar early in the morning out there, then do better a bit farther from the sand as the sun climbs and temperatures rise. This month is also a good time to start targeting trout on some of the spoil islands near Indianola. The fishing can be great up there on some of the same days as it is in the surf, since light winds allow the water out in the middle of West Matagorda Bay to run clear.
You don’t really need the same level of calm up that
way as you do in the surf, though. Fishing around those humps can be really good when it’s moderately windy.”
Rockport | Blake Muirhead
Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894
Blake said the fishing had been excellent in the Rockport area on trips he ran prior to giving this report. “We have been targeting redfish for the most part and, in the process of doing that, catching trout most everywhere we stop. I have been catching trout in places with good historical track histories, but which haven’t really been much good for the last few years. For me, this is encouraging. Seems our trout numbers have rebounded nicely after the low numbers following the freeze of ‘21. We’ve had a really good topwater bite on lots of trips recently. I’ve been throwing black and silver Skitter Walks mostly, but other guys are doing well on pink and silver ones, also on Spook Juniors. The reds have been liking soft plastics better. We’re catching them better on dark soft plastics than on bait, in fact. I look forward to a productive summer, using live croakers when we have to, catching plenty of fish on lures the rest of the time. It’s a good thing the trout are biting all over the bays. The area close to Cedar Bayou is closed to boats again, making it more of a hassle to fish over there.”
Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay
Captain James Sanchez Guide Service - 210.260.7454
In July, hot temperatures and light winds will dominate the forecast, but fishing will remain productive for folks who account for the weather and adjust strategies and lure choices appropriately. With water temperatures reaching 90° by afternoon, the best bite will usually take place at sunrise on the edges of flats, shorelines and around spoil islands lying adjacent to deep drop-offs. In the morning, I like to target trout feeding over shallow potholes using a Mansfield Knocker or Texas Custom Double D. Redfish can be found staging along shorelines on the edges of grass flats, around some potholes or depressions. As water temperatures rise, fish will gradually move to areas closer to the dropoffs. Higher winds work in favor of anglers during the hot afternoons. Wind-driven currents help moderate water temperatures and increase oxygen levels. Such conditions create excellent feeding opportunities, as baitfish are pushed into deeper potholes found in waist- to bellydeep water. Soft plastics rigged on eighth-ounce jigheads work best in these places at times. KWigglers Ball-Tail Shads and Ball-Tail Shad Juniors both work well, as do Wig-A-Los, in colors like Bone Diamond, Mansfield Margarita and Plum/Chartreuse.
Corpus Christi & Baffin Bay
Capt. Chris Elliott’s Guide Service captchriselliott@yahoo.com - 361.834.7262
When summer is in full swing on the Texas coast, it’s a great time to get out on the water. We’re starting out our days lately throwing a topwater up shallow on the flats, focusing our efforts in areas that have abundant signs on nervous bait. When the fish stop committing fully to the floating plugs, we often switch to slow-sinking twitchbaits like Custom Corkys, Double Ds and/or KWigglers Darters. We continue to work them like topwaters, walking the dog just under the surface. This is a great time of year to target redfish in super shallow water by sight-casting. Look for the redfish tailing or pushing wakes as they wander around on the flats searching for a meal. The best lures to throw at them are ones which can be cast a great distance without much effort, but which don’t make big splashes when they hit the water. I prefer to use a small paddletail rigged on a quarter-ounce jighead for this drill. Best bet is to key in on which way the fish is facing and make a cast just beyond its head, then drag the lure right in front of its face, as close as possible.
P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins
361.877.3583 - Oceanepics.com
Surf fishing with good water clarity has been on fire lately. The speckled trout bite is in full force, with many biting topwaters and others caught on soft plastics or slowsinking twitchbaits. This is the time of the year when the bait-balls really start to materialize offshore, and on some afternoons they make it all the way to the beaches. The frenzies associated with the bait can involve jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, skipjacks and tarpon. Throwing spoons or topwaters into the frays usually works well. Redfish are around in small numbers, but generally being replaced by skipjacks. Shrimp and Fish-bites thrown out mostly attract whiting or hardhead catfish, but pompano and drum can be caught on them as well. With shrimp season ongoing, many of the smaller blacktip sharks make their way offshore to chase the boats. Meanwhile, the hot stagnant nights will produce bites from some monster tiger, bull, and hammerhead sharks. This time of year our mantra is typically “go big or go home.” Smaller shark baits such as whiting will normally attract a scalloped hammerhead or a large ray. The mature southern and roughtail rays are in abundance in the shallows, feeding on crustaceans and small fish, also creating danger for wading anglers.
Port Mansfield, Texas | Ruben Garza | Snookdudecharters.com832.385.1431 | GetAway Lodge - 956.944.4000
Hot days and light winds are upon us. This means the jetty fishing is producing great results. Redfish, tarpon, king mackerel and jack crevalle are all cruising the shallows lying along the beachfront. When targeting any of these fish around the rocks, it’s important to rig with wire leaders, a must for dealing with the sharp teeth of these critters. Out beyond the jetties, smart anglers look for pelicans and gulls diving over bait, usually being hassled by jacks, sharks and kings. When fishing the LLM, most of us like to work the west shoreline this time of year. We find good numbers of small pods of tailing reds tight to the bank. They readily take weedless spoons and KWiggler paddletails on light heads. Mansfield Knockers in Sweet Heat and Ruby Tuesday work great to attract the attention of trout in water between knee and waist-deep. When they’re not blowing up, the trout like Ball-Tail Shads in colors like Mansfield Margarita, 801, and Plum/ Chartreuse rigged on eighth-ounce jigheads. On the other side of the lagoon, plenty of redfish schools will be found in the Saucer area east of the cabins. Pods of mullet usually lead us to them.
Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com - 956.639.1941
Fishing has been good so far this summer in the Lower Laguna Madre. Grass flats and sand bars lying along the Intracoastal Waterway in about three to four feet of water have held plenty of trout, and they’ve been pretty easy to catch. Z-man four-inch Big BallerZ in Troutcicle rigged with an Eye-Strike eighth-ounce Trout-Eye jighead jigged slowly along the bottom has been the most productive lure on most of our recent trips. Topwaters have been drawing lots of blowups early in the mornings when the bait is active and jumping. Single hooks are necessary to combat the grass floating on the surface. The redfish bite has been hot on shorelines, atop spoil islands, and on shallow flats with less than two-foot depths. Early in the mornings, the redfish bite small topwaters best, while small plastics rigged weedless have typically worked better during mid-morning. Z-Man MinnowZ in Bloodworm rigged on Texas-Eye Finesse eighthounce weedless jigheads retrieved with ample speed work best once temperatures rise with the sun. Gold spoons always work well to attract the attention of the reds. We look for tide levels to fall as temperatures rise, creating a need for anglers to be careful when navigating the bays.
Briggs Bullock Redfish Bay - 25” first sight-casted red!
Ray Bohuslav Matagorda - 7 lb trout
Eric Orr & JC Weitinger Matagorda surf - 42” bull red CPR
Chris Baccaro West Bay - 20” first flounder!
Abigail Hagar Galveston North Jetty - 42” bull red
John Vann Galveston Bay - oversized drum CPR
Ross Halter & Joe Salazar Sabine Pass - 32” & 36” bull reds
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.
Photo
Aidan Aramburo Bayside - 17” trout
Hoke Bullock Redfish Bay - 20” personal best red!
Rich Gonzales Sabine Pass - 28.5” redfish
Diane Agrella Galveston West Bay - 17” pompano
Adam Davis Sabine Lake - 26” redfish
Heather Rowe Stedman Reef - 31” redfish
Meagan Young East Bay - 3 lb flounder
Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share?
Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361 792-4530
Seared Scallops with Grapefruit Beurre Blanc
INGREDIENTS
For the Grapefruit Beurre Banc
1 shallot, diced
½ cup white wine
¼ cup white wine vinegar
¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup very cold unsalted butter, chopped into 1 inch cubes
1 tablespoon cream
Kosher salt
For the Scallops:
16 bay scallops
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 sprig thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
PREPARATION
1. For the sauce, combine the shallot, white wine, white wine vinegar, grapefruit juice and lemon juice in a pot. Over high heat, reduce this mixture until about 2 tablespoons of syrupy liquid remain. Now over low heat, vigorously whisk in 1 cube of cold butter at a time. It will take about 5-8 minutes to incorporate all the butter. Finish by whisking in the cream and season with kosher salt. Keep warm before serving.
2. To cook the scallops, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Season the scallops with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the scallops to the hot skillet and allow them to brown on one side, undisturbed, for about 2 minutes. Flip the scallops and add the butter and thyme. Cook for another 2 minutes. Discard the thyme.
3. Serve seared scallops alongside beurre blanc sauce.
Serves 4
(cell
lynn@tisd.net (tswf.com/lynnsmith)
SERIOUS BRAGGING RIGHTS
Stylish rigging, impressive floor layout, increased speed, and a n improved ride. Whether you run southern bays or midwest lakes and rivers, our bay boat can do it all.
Brought to you by
