March 2010

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EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Everett Johnson

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Everett@tsfmag.co com Everett@tsfmag.com GENERAL M MANAGER Pam Johnson

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Pa Pam@tsfmag.com

10 Back to Basics 14 The Phantomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Take 18  Blessings and Problems 22  Bodie, Redfish & Cold Water Sharks 26 Dodging Bullets from Every Direction                Â

Mike McBride Kevin Cochran Billy Sandifer Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Â

,-8):<5-6<;

21 21 30 32 34 36 38 42 44 46 50

Coastal Birding Science and the Sea Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ask The Pro Fly Fishing Offshore Conservation TPWD Field Notes Kayak Fishing According to Scott Youth Fishing Every Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Offshore

Billy Sandifer UT-Marine Science Institute Jay Watkins  Casey Smartt    Bobby Byrd/John Cochrane CCA Texas Grubbs, Summers, & Fisher Scott Null Scott Sommerlatte Aaron Cisneros Ruben Villarreal

56 Dickie Colburnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sabine Scene 58 Mickey on Galveston 60 Capt. Billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fish Talk 64 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays 66 Hooked up with Rowsey 68 Capt. Triciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Port Mansfield Report 70 South Padre Fishing Scene          Â

Dickie Colburn Mickey Eastman Bill Pustejovsky Shellie Gray David Rowsey Capt. Tricia Ernest Cisneros

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06 52 54 72 74 76 80

Shirley Elliott Shirley@tsfmag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Pam Johnson Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 Ads@tsfmag.com

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Editorial TSFMag Spotlight New Tackle & Gear  Fishing Reports and Forecasts  Catch of the Month Photo Gallery Gulf Coast Kitchen Index of Advertisers

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)*7=< <0- +7>-: Sadly, Texas has lost another true fishing icon. Capt.

Chris Phillips passed into eternal peace recently following a long bout with cancer. Chris was a pioneer of fly-fishing on our coast and will be missed by many for his kind nature and exceptional willingness to assist others. See Scott Sommerlatteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story in this issue to learn what a fine man and fishermen he was.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 Š Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.

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Tide Prediction s & Solunar Feed

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 5

The Future of Recreational Fishing Spotted seatrout are the most popular saltwater gamefish in Texas. Last month I wrote vent for our spotted of what could have been a disastrous weather event seatrout fishery. Evidently most readers accepted it for the message even if they might not have fully agreed with all the words. A few objected loudly, some of whom were friends fearing I’d finally flipped my dipper.

We were lucky this time. Coastwide, the only significant fish kill occurred in the Matagorda Island lakes and the trout in major bay waters came through just fine. Mother Nature will get busy putting things back the way they were and these isolated populations will recover. While the best opportunity for local trophy seekers will be lost for a while, we’ll just have to wait for that portion of the fishery to mend.

Considering what the freeze could have done, I was reminded of something we published a few years ago. During the last year of his tenure as Director of Coastal Fisheries, Dr. Larry McKinney wrote a “State of Texas Fisheries” paper. According to Dr. McKinney, saltwater fishing participation in Texas had been growing at an astounding rate. During the period 20012005, license sales in Florida, California and Louisiana declined in double digits while Texas grew. Dr. McKinney cited our robust energy-based economy and excellent fisheries created through careful management.

Simply put; Texans can afford to go fishing and the fishing has been good.

Sustainable fisheries are the heart and soul of recreational fishing without fish there is no opportunity for fishermen. Along with sustainable fisheries, fishermen depend on a fragile infrastructure of goods and services providers intertwined with sound resource management. Each leans on the other. At the water line, these are boat launches, bait camps, restaurants, motels, and convenience stores. The next tier includes local boat builders, boat dealers, tackle shops and local tackle manufacturers.

Further up the chain we find larger businesses supplying similar goods and services on national and international levels, all dependent on people catching fish. Here in Texas, recreational saltwater angling contributes more than $2.0 billion annually to the state’s economy.

Fishing participation cannot continue to thrive without sound resource management. In the mid-70s TPWD shifted focus to redirect inshore fisheries from historic commercial utilization to primarily recreational use and the result was a huge rebound of recreationally important species.

TPWD depends on fishing license dollars. Without these dollars the programs that build and manage the fisheries will be lost and, eventually, so will the fisheries. So while we dream of bays with fewer boats, no waiting at restaurants and readily available motels, it is actually their combined impact that fuels the engine of recreational fishing.

Have you ever considered what might become of recreational fishing opportunity in Texas if we fail to recruit the next generation of fishermen or fund the next generation of fisheries management?

Sustainable fisheries will always drive fishing participation and fishing participation will always support the infrastructural elements of recreational fishing. Fishermen have responsibility in this. Here lies the reason I seek to encourage wise use of our fisheries.

6 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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Back to B A SIC S Someone once said, “Because things are

more closely; letting that tell-tale mullet

with a solunar period. Well, I’d be there. We

the way they are, things will never stay the

flip or subtle tap on your lure be enough

recently did all of these fundamental things

way they are.”

to continue grinding. If the area makes

and enjoyed the challenge.

I guess fishing, at least as we know it,

sense and you are seeing some movement

Matt Watson and Brian Cole came down

helps qualify that theory. We are having a

and getting a few bites, you are most likely

right after the big January freeze. They

different year down here in the Laguna, and

where you need to be for the moment.

drove all night to get here and brought

although we are still catching some serious

If you are confident in the area, having

all of the right stuff including the right

trout, we are just not as cocky as we were

total confidence in what you are throwing is

techniques, and most importantly, the

last season. What may have been taken for

also critical. Stay with it, adjust the retrieve

right confidence and determination. The

granted before is now taken more seriously.

to figure out the bite and do not waste time

question was how long would it take for big

But hey; that can be a good thing.

tying knot after knot looking for a magic

fish to recover and feed again after being

lure. However, too much confidence isn’t

dealt such a brutal blow. The water temp

only help make us better but hopefully

good either as it can lead to delusional

had dropped to forty degrees. Where would

more appreciative as well. Something has

hope. For example, continuing to throw a

they show up first, and what would it take to

changed, so we have been getting back to

topwater when it’s obvious they are not

catch them?

some of the basics of cold water fishing,

going to come up is about as productive as

something we haven’t had to do much of in

the air guitar.

A little extra challenge should not

a while.

Last year was warm enough that if you believed in the tooth fairy you might have

near the ICW, old school stuff we really

Using all of your timing tools has been very important, making sure you are in the highest opportunity area when

almost believed in global warming. Big fish were everywhere, fairly easy to catch, and the techniques used and areas fished varied little between fall and

Day one we chose a deep muddy draw haven’t had to do much of in several years, the old “low and slow” thing. It was surrounded by shallow, warming flats with a good path to deeper water. Very

figuring Brian Cole e out the bit

little life was moving and it was obvious that the

spring. They basically stayed shallow

water creatures had been

and hit topwaters the whole time. It’s

thermo-shocked and

still fun to believe in the tooth fairy, but

bailed to their safe houses.

we might need to start sticking our teeth

However, a little mullet

under some different pillows for now. The

swirl here and a little

bigger fish have just not been in the same

tap there gave us the

areas. One can only guess; that besides

confidence we needed,

having a real winter, last summer’s drought

so we stayed. Redfish

and lingering red tide may also have altered

were first to recover

some patterns. Whatever the reason, it has

and by the end of the

been back to the trenches for best results.

day it was hard to stay

Winter basics can mean a lot of things,

out of them. We had a

mostly it means just doing what many of

few decent trout with

us have learned before but doing them

Brian sticking two

with more dedication. It is all about finding

over six pounds. That

isolated pockets of fish rather than relying

was all we needed. If

on broader areas; sweet spots within sweet

the sixes are in there, you can bet fish

spots, if you will. It means working norther

you need to be

of a higher class are as well.

recoveries in greater depth, literally, staying

there. For example: a bait-filled shoreline near

deeper longer, and just plain staying longer,

deep water, late in the afternoon during the

pattern on day two. Going with what you

period. It’s watching those small signs

warmest part of the day that also coincides

know is rarely a bad thing. Conditions had

10 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

It made sense to roll with the same

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

© 2010 Pure Fishing, Inc.

With SPIDERWIRE...

Nothing Gets Away. Period

Matt Watson. Chall enge can make us more ap preciative.

Crank that inshore trophy from the jaws of this mangled, twisted mess with a line spun from Dyneema®, The World’s Strongest Fiber™ - 15 times stronger than quality steel.

moderated but the water was still upper forties and low fifties. The wind finally switched to the predicted easterly quadrant, which helped the barometer fall among other things, and we hoped the fish we thought were there would become more aggressive. They were

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and they did. The slot trout moved in and were fairly easy to catch, but those occasional strong thumps and crushed Corkys suggested there was more. They still identified with the deeper gut but moved higher in the water column as the day wore on. By gradually adjusting presentations higher and faster we started tangling with some better fish. The best ones fed right on the solunar cue, and had we left we would have missed them.

I know many still don’t subscribe to the moon as playing much of a role, but I can only comment on what we continue to see, barring other factors of course. Like a light switch, each day the best fish turned on right as the new moon was setting in the afternoons and it lasted about an hour. I caught two over seven, I think Brian had two and Matt stuck one among several others better than twenty-four.

Day three looked awesome in theory, another warming day and even closer to that mystical new moon.

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Capt. Tricia joined us Matt with a long one.

Never be afraid to stop on what you see.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

and we went back

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towards where we had been. It ended Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 11

I’d be there.

were literally hundreds of wakes

sorts of stuff, but keeping your head down

spanning more than one hundred

with fundamentals will always apply. For

yards. The delicate ripples said

now, just get out there in those trenches

they were all trout, not to be

and fish like you mean it before something

confused with bullish wakes made

else changes.

by football-headed redfish. We

Mike Mcbride

deep water. Always maintain a careful watch and never be afraid to stop when you are supposed to.

Tricia stuck two big ones out a little deeper, Matt threw a Corky up shallow for a fat twenty-five and

Contact

quickly bailed out into mostly knee

a long thirty, and I had a couple of solid fish as well. We agreed that over the three days we’d caught fourteen trout over twenty-five inches with

Mike McBride is a full time fishing guide based in Port Mansfield, TX, specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.

seven over seven pounds. up being the coolest part of the whole

Not bad considering, but the truth

trip, and was also another reminder to be

is many fishermen would never have caught

diligent to read nature’s signs while running

these fish. They either wouldn’t have stayed

to “your spot.” Sometimes what you know

long enough, or spent too much time

changes. The wind miraculously died and

changing lures to find the groove.

the water went to glass, and out of nowhere the surface suddenly changed. Before us

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12 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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The

Take

Author’s Note: The words that follow are expressed in the voice of

aluminum skiffs with modest, carbureted outboards. Today’s boats

The Phantom, a character who speaks to me to this day. Here, he gives

are bigger, faster, more complex and fuel efficient, and they run

his perspective on the qualities commonly shared by successful trophy

shallower too.

trout fishermen.

Modern experts use specialized equipment like jackplates, trolling motors and the Power Pole to make the fishing easier and

I’ve logged many miles hunting trophy trout, and made a

more productive. Of all the recently introduced gadgets, GPS

meandering trail of footprints on the bottom of the bays all the way

technology is probably the most useful and necessary tool. Old-

from the Lower Lagoon to the Louisiana shore. During the last half

school captains navigated with their wits and their eyes in creative

century, I’ve been privileged to meet and

triangulation, but most wouldn’t

know many fine fishermen

dream of doing it that way

who share my passion for this sport. Some of them

today, not with the magic of the

second Guy Morrison sizes up his . day the eight pound trout of

satellites shining on the path.

are prominent, recognized

GPS systems make navigating

and revered by the general

safer and easier. They also

fishing public; others are

allow for returning to precise

reclusive, virtually unknown.

spots time and again, and they

When I analyze and compare

provide a basic outline of the

these old salts and young

features of the bays, but they

pros, I realize that the best

really don’t help much when it

pluggers possess several

comes right down to actually

common characteristics. I’ll

catching fish. Crafty veterans

call this set of shared traits

know that their rods and reels

“the whole nine yards”.

are the most important fish-

All of the things on this list

catching tools they own.

are important, but one thing

All of them use

stands out above the others.

lightweight, super sensitive

The most important thing all

gear with the flex and feel

accomplished trophy trout

to match their fishing styles.

anglers have in common is a

Today, that means they hold

burning desire to catch big fish.

a graphite rod around seven

They’ll ignore other interests so

feet long, give or take a

they can spend more time on

few inches, and a bantam-

the water. They’ll travel long

weight reel easily cradled

distances, fish straight through

in the palm of the hand.

the night, work around nasty

None of these artisans

weather, whatever it takes to

would dream of using the

stay in the hunt. People without

thick, awkward fiberglass poles and heavy, high-capacity reels we

this hot desire simply won’t be able to keep up with those who

used decades ago. Those glass rods and round reels were durable,

have it, won’t ever develop the full set of skills necessary to catch

but they’d wear a guy out much quicker than the feather-light

big fish consistently.

products we have today.

The serious pursuit of wallhanger trout dictates a need to own

Forty or fifty years ago, there weren’t many lures available for

a boat. All of the top trophy hunters have a boat, because it’s just

saltwater fishing; most of the guys threw spoons, shrimp tails,

not possible to get to all the good fishing holes without one. In

maybe a hand-carved topwater or two. Most of them still have

the old days, the boats were slow and simple, mostly flat bottomed

some antique stuff lying around somewhere, and they carry a

14 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

few cherished, crusty old plugs in their wading box. These tackle technicians are generally stubborn; they operate from the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy when it comes to what they are willing to throw.

Some plugs, like the Jumping Minnow, 51 and 52 series MirrOlures, the Shifty Shiner and others, never go out of style with these guys.

But nowadays, the number and variety of fancy lures made for catching trout seems to outnumber the trout swimming around in the

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bays! Even the staunchest defenders of the old tools eventually pick up and use proven newer ones like the Corky, the Catch 5, the SheDog and the XRap. These collectors won’t toss out trusted lures every time something new and shiny hits the shelves, but they are willing to try things they think will work, especially when they believe a new lure fills a specific niche better than all the others.

They rely on their instincts that way; they also rely on their knowledge of the fish and of the bays and waterways. To a man, their ability to recall details from previous fishing trips, some of which happened many years ago, is incredible. Similarly, they possess and nurture an innate ability to learn and recall details about the features of the bay systems. In the past, they made and studied paper maps; today, they scrutinize clear, precise, regularly updated images of the bays shot by cameras in the sky. All of this critical homework allows them to find sweet spots wherever they go; their fish finding skills are based on extensive knowledge of the fish and the bodies of water in which they live.

Also, they demonstrate great judgment about when to stay on a spot and grind and when to move to a new area. Top producers consistently make the correct decision to stay or move The author se ems content up on the moment of re leasing this se ven pound tro ut.

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and tides affect

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all their senses to detect the presence of fish, to remember accurately the past history of the spots and to understand

the spots. They are blessed with ample instinct which expresses itself as a gut feeling;

Now they don’t.

that feeling tells them when fish are in a place, even if they aren‘t catching

© 2010 Pure Fishing, Inc.

anything.

Related to the ability Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 15

This long, thick trout has beau tiful color and sym metry of shap e.

the moment, as if pulled

yards back around in a full circle, because it’s

by preternatural powers.

made possible by the first thing on the list,

Often, their broad-based

the genuine desire to catch big fish.

skills allow them to catch fish when others can’t. consistently make fish bite provides them with better judgment about whether fish are in fact present in a place or not.

Kevin Cochran

Contact

Over time, the ability to

And last, they are persistent, almost freakishly so. Once they decide they‘ve found big fish, they are virtually tireless at trying to catch them. to predict the presence or absence of

This doesn’t mean they become

fish is their versatility in the use of lures

anxious, or rushed, just that they will

and presentation styles. Great trophy

exhaust every possible trick they know in

trout anglers work a fishing rod like a

order to get a bite. More like sled dogs than

wizard wields his wand. Each one relies

race horses, they understand that success

on a favored lure and style, but they show

in trophy fishing often involves thorough,

ample skills with many other lures and

tedious and determined effort over a long

techniques too. They seem to gravitate

haul, not a mad dash to a visible finish line.

toward the proper lure and presentation for

Their persistence brings the whole nine

THERE’S NEVER BEEN BAITS LIKE THIS BEFORE.

Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has authored two books on the subject. Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut. Trout Tracker Guide Service Telephone 361-688-3714 Email KCochran@stx.rr.com Website www.FishBaffinBay.com

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16 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

®

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 17

;\WZa Ja *QTTa ;IVLQNMZ

Blessings and Problems

We were blessed to have dodged the

be targeted by lots of hopeful anglers who

constantly working their way up a learning

bullet of a substantial fish kill in the Coastal

read the same report. I have been able

curve that has no end. We take mental note

Bend during the recent arctic blast. The

to stay on high-quality catches for some

of patterns we encounter on this journey

green sea turtles weren’t as lucky. The

extended periods by practicing an ages-

and they go into the data base we all carry

latest report says 435 were found in cold-

old and effective technique that seems

around in our heads. When we get bad

stunned condition and that 290 died.

to be disappearing. It’s called, “Keep your

data it corrupts all the good data we’ve

mouth shut.”

painstakingly gathered and distorts it.

One thing I always get a big kick out of is the overwhelming addiction folks seem to

When one looks at it logically, it makes

To me, fishing is divided up into three

have for fishing reports on internet forums.

you wonder why anyone would invest

steps. First step is you must find fish,

I’ll be the first to admit that I regularly

time and expense of getting on a good

second step is you must figure out what

utilize all information available and if I’m

bunch of fish and then telling the whole

lure selections and colors they will strike,

going into an area I haven’t fished for some

world. It doesn’t make much sense in my

best speed of retrieve, etc. (establishing

time I may well call a trusted pal for an

book unless they are trying to sell you

the pattern for the day) and number three

update. BUT it’s imperative that anglers

something.

is you catch them. To me, each of the steps

realize how extremely quickly conditions

From my perspective I’d much rather

is enjoyable within itself, and my favorite

change and any report over a few hours old

go with no recent reports to influence

is mastering the pattern for the day. Once

is actually yesterday’s news, not to mention

me, concentrating instead on current

you’ve succeeded in these first two steps

that unless the source is one you know and

water temperatures, recent changes in

the actual catching is often without as

trust it might be fiction.

water temperatures, direction of water

much challenge and personal satisfaction.

What I look for in reports are signs of a

movement, lunar majors and minors,

A well executed stalk followed by an

pattern; not a specific location or lure. You

barometric pressure, wind and weather

exceptionally well placed shot usually

can rest assured that any specific location

conditions and locating baitfish while

far outweighs the thrill of the kill itself.

you read about on a message board will

I’m on the water. To me, all fishermen are

Searching and finding the fish and making

18 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

that long, perfect cast with just the right

Within a month or so he’s actively and

lure outweighs the actual catch. Such is the

equally answering questions from later

life of a fisherman.

newcomers on all topics from proper

Guides attempt to teach customers to do

retrieve with a Top Dog to hook size for

these things on a regular basis and a guide

bridling bonito for black marlin. Within

can give attentive customers a jump start

three months he has “rock star” status

in their progress up the learning curve.

and has posted 1,222 times and is an

But for them to continue to climb higher

absolute expert on any and all types of

up that learning curve they still have to

saltwater fishing. He will challenge others

spend plenty of time doing the footwork.

who post concerning techniques, tackle,

It is not the destination drawing near as

etc., although they have been fishing the

much as it is the journey. It is the journey

Coastal Bend for forty years and he doesn’t

during which wonderful friendships are

know which highways to take from Kansas

made, lessons are learned and marvelous

to PINS. None-the-less he absolutely knows

sights are seen for the first time. So, while

it all and readily shares his wisdom and he

message boards may entertain when

knows he’s right because he learned it all

you’ve had no chance to fish for some time,

on message boards. In fact he really never

living vicariously through them comes in a

has had a chance to actually go fishing in

poor second place compared to a day on

his whole life but has always wanted to

the water.

so he really pays attention to every bit of

Be especially careful when reading

advise he has read on the various message

reports posted by folks you have never

boards and has a photographic memory.

heard of with internet handles like

Some of you may think I’m kidding but

“Lukewarm” and live in Kansas. I watch

others understand how commonplace this

the message boards as kind of a study of

has become. Mother Ocean has been my

my fellow man from time to time and it is

mentor for fifty-two years and I believe a

common for some newbie to pop up and

man would be better served to spend one

ask every question imaginable including

day in her classroom than a lifetime on

how to get to PINS from Kansas. Invariably

fishing message boards.

Ol’ Lukewarm will want to know what

Although we have had lots of high tides

does PINS stand for anyway just before he

and not a whole lot of traffic in the soft

embarks on his warp speed learning curve

areas of the Big Shell Beach area this winter

to becoming a message board guru.

the driving on high tides has remained

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 19

see y’all at the Big Shell Beach Cleanup on Saturday 20 March, 2010.

If we don’t leave any there won’t be any.

-Capt. Billy L. Sandifer

Contact

Capt. Billy Sandifer

unusually bad. There are

plowed field of loose, soft sand. The second

two reasons for this and it never changes

reason is high air pressure in tires. Regular

regardless how often I write about it or it is

beach travelers run 25 psi in their tires. The

discussed on the internet.

tread on tires inflated to 25 psi will spread

No one wants to drive in the established

across a wider footprint and do not dig as

Billy Sandifer operates Padre Island Safaris offering surf fishing for sharks to specks and nature tours of the Padre Island National Seashore. Billy also offers bay and near-shore fishing adventures in his 25 foot Panga for many big game and gamefish species.

track. If vehicles will stay in one track they’ll

deeply into soft sand as those with greater

shortly have the sand packed and we have

air pressure. Running on 25 pounds versus

Telephone

a good road. Instead, inexperienced beach

40 or more makes the same difference as

travelers avoid the track and make a new

shifting from two wheel drive into high-

one until the entire beach resembles a

range four wheel drive. REALLY! Hope to

361-937-8446 Website www.billysandifer.com

20 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

BILLY SANDIFERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Coastal Birding

Science and the Sea

TM

Whale Falls Yellow-Crowned Night Heron -Nyctanassa ViolaceaBlack head with white crown, crest and cheek patches, body is gray. Stout billed, chunky and long-necked, nocturnal.

Feeds on crabs and other crustaceans, aquatic insects and small fish in shallow ponds and marsh habitat. Breeds in our area. Greatest abundance occurs March â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May and again during August - October.

Length: 24â&#x20AC;?

Wingspan: 42â&#x20AC;?

Weight: 1.5 lbs

! "

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The University of Texas

Marine Science Institute Photo by Billy Sandifer

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org Š The University of Texas Marine Science Institute Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 21

;\WZa Ja 5IZ\QV ;\ZIZ]X

Redfish, & Cold Water Sharks An audible grunt caused Bodie to turn and look at his friend as

on the pit and that maybe he might want to mount one and hang it

Tommy’s rod bent and gave in to a strong fish that had been fooled

over the bar at Haddon’s. “You tried making that javelena taste good

by the plastic lure – the first hookup of the night. Bodie threw

on the pit once, too, remember? You invited everyone you knew to

another cast and almost as soon as his lure hit the water he felt

a free BBQ and nothing but the tater salad and beans Eloisa brought

the thump. He knew when he set the hook that it was a huge fish.

was edible. And do you really want to pay to mount one of them? I

Tommy was having some trouble standing in one spot while playing

thought you were saving money for a new boat?” Bodie reminded

the big red on the end of his line. “I don’t think this fish knows he’s hooked,” Tommy grunted. Bodie simply nodded his head as he was thinking the same thing. The fish he had hooked was oversized and very strong; Bodie was glad he had spooled up twenty-pound line for this night trip. Slowly, the fish started turning, allowing Bodie to gain line. Tommy was getting some of his line back, too, and was the first to hoist a large redfish into the moonlight. “She’s about thirty-five inches or so Bodie,” Tommy grinned.

Bodie’s fish still had fight left in it and began stripping more line. Bodie tightened the star drag just a hair and started forcing the fish back to him. When the tired red rolled over next to his left leg, Bodie found he couldn’t get his hand around its back to grip it and had to cradle his rod under his right arm and use two hands to lift the fish. “Forty-plus inches,” Bodie smiled triumphantly, “and more to be caught.”

Bodie released the tired red and watched it stir up sand as it swam to rejoin the school.

Tommy was fighting his second of the night, and it was proving more difficult than the first.

The fish was taking so much line that Tommy thought he might have to tighten the drag down to break it off and save line. But just then he felt the lure come tear loose from the fish’s mouth. Tommy reeled in as fast as he could and tied on a new lure. “Do we want to keep and tag any of these fish Bodie?” Tommy asked.

“Nah we don’t need them Tommy, and besides it’s more fun to catch and release them than to try and eat these big ones,” Bodie replied. Tommy started whining that maybe he could make one taste good if he slow cooked it 22 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

him. Tommy muttered something under his

just in case!” Tommy chattered with wild

breath and pretended to concentrate on his

excitement showing in his eyes.

fishing.

An hour passed and Bodie released

Bodie sighed and headed off to get

just remembering is all,” Bodie defended.

Bodie moved the log out into the current and, aiming it as best as he could,

another rod and reel. He just hoped his

set it moving forward towards Tommy.

what he decided would be his last fish of

friend would tire soon. As he started back to

Satisfied that it was going to produce the

the night. The drag on his Calcutta reel was

the shoreline, he noticed a large log just at

desired effect, Bodie yelled to his friend, “I

making a noise that told him it was dry and

the water’s edge with a protruding limb that

think I just saw a shark or a gator, Tommy!

probably burned, and although he hated

looked quite like a shark fin. With a devilish

You better get to shallower water!

to admit it, his arms were getting tired from

grin, Bodie set about putting his newly

fighting these powerful fish.

formed plan into motion.

He was about to tell Tommy to spool it up when Tommy hooked up with another of the strong fish. Bodie could hear the line peeling off of his friend’s reel. “Let’s

“Say Tommy,” Bodie said.

gators bury up with the cold and besides,

“What?” Tommy grunted as he set the

I made that up about cold water sharks

hook on another fish.

earlier cause I wanted to go home,” Tommy

“I was thinking about what you said

go when you get that fish in and released

earlier about cold water sharks, and I think

Tommy boy” Bodie said.

you’re right. They do exist. I remember a

“Heck no, Bodie! Let’s stay and catch these fish until they quit biting!” Tommy insisted.

“Our reels need attention, Tommy, and besides I know you’re tired” Bodie countered.

“You have more reels in the boat, Bodie; we can use them. I plan on catching a really

“Pfft… give it up Bodie. I ain’t gonna fall for that. Why, everyone knows that

snickered. Still, he scanned the water with a nervous sort of look.

“Okay, well I’m going to head back to the

game warden telling me about one once

fire and start getting our gear back to the

upon a time,” Bodie said quite seriously.

boat. You let me know when you’re ready to

Tommy stopped fighting the fish and

go, and we’ll head back, and for God’s sake

looked around, then realized what Bodie

watch out for sharks,” Bodie warned.

was up to.

Bodie was up on the bank watching the

“Bodie there ain’t no cold water sharks

log move towards his friend but lost sight of

big one and smoking him in my pit. I’ll invite

around here, and you should be ashamed of

it as it floated up towards Tommy. Tommy

everyone at Haddon’s to come over, and I’ll

yourself for even trying to fool me that way.”

let out a shriek and started running back

“Okay Tommy, whatever you say. I was

towards the bank, almost as if he were on

get Eloisa to make tater salad and beans,

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www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 23

top of the water. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What the heck is wrong

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I threw it at the shark when he almost got

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to really stir them up!â&#x20AC;? Tommy

with you, Tommy?!â&#x20AC;? Bodie yelled.

me Bodie. That rod saved my life for sure

exclaimed. Bodie bit a hole in his bottom lip.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shark! Big sharkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tryinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to get me, Bodie!â&#x20AC;? Tommy screamed as he thrashed through the water.

and certain when it hit the shark,â&#x20AC;? Tommy

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey, your lipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bleeding Bodie,â&#x20AC;? Tommy

replied with a look of horror still on his face. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was a five-hundred dollar rig,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh man, I see it Tommy; run boy, run!â&#x20AC;?

Bodie yelled back, barely holding back his laughter.

said with concern in his voice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yea I knowâ&#x20AC;? was all Bodie could say.

Tommy!â&#x20AC;? Bodie yelled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But it did save my life, Bodie, and

Be Safe.

without it, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be shark chum right nowâ&#x20AC;?

while Bodie watched the log drift up the

Tommy puffed.

Bodie looked for the rod in the clear

Martin Strarup

channel with the current. It does look like a

water for an hour while Tommy kept a look-

shark, thought Bodie as he watched the â&#x20AC;&#x153;finâ&#x20AC;?

out for sharks, holding Bodieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revolver just

in the moonlight.

in case, but he never did find it.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It almost got me!â&#x20AC;? Tommy gasped as

While loading their gear into the boat,

Bodie helped his friend to his feet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It hit

Tommy kept on talking about how much

me to see if I was edible and it was coming

he liked this night fishing now, but how it

back to chomp me with its cold-water shark

would be safer to do it out of a boat what

teeth, but I got away at the last moment!â&#x20AC;?

with the cold water sharks and all. Bodie just

Tommy cried. Bodie said nothing, trying his

bit his bottom lip in consternation.

best not to burst out laughing. Regaining

Bodie idled the boat away from the

his composure, he looked down on the sand

shoreline towards deeper water; then

for the rod that Tommy had borrowed but

Tommy said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to tell everyone

didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see it anywhere.

at Haddonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about how that cold water

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my rod and reel you were using Tommy?â&#x20AC;? Bodie asked.

Contact

Tommy finally collapsed onto the sand

Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman.

Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas.

Email Trouthunter@swbell.net

shark almost got me and how throwing your rod and reel at it saved my life, Bodie.

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24 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

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;\WZa Ja +P]KS =bbTM

Dodging Bullets from Every Direction “Easy on the throttle pal,” I said to my son

things stopped?” I added. “All that

marveled at the skill it must take to do this

Hunter, who at the time was much younger

weight and no brakes make for a tricky

without just burying one in the surrounding

and much less experienced at driving a

combination.”

shoreline. Same goes for the pilots who

boat. “These things don’t have brakes and

On January 24th the 807-foot tanker,

run the Houston Ship Channel; I just can’t

this little tunnel hull can have a mind of

Eagle Otome, collided with the towing

imagine their skill or the pressure they feel

its own in sharp turns,” I explained. Sure

vessel, Dixie Vengeance and her two barges,

when underway.

in the ICW on the northwest

Aerial view of tanker-barge collision (USCG photo).

Had this collision and spill taken place

side of Sabine Lake. Nearly a half

anywhere near the mouth of the Neches

million gallons of crude spilled

River, or farther up the Neches instead of

into the channel and put local

the protected waters of the channel, we

industry on lockdown as all

would have been in a world of trouble.

traffic along the busy waterway

Fragile areas of marsh that are the lifeblood

was halted and began to back

of Sabine Lake would have been devastated.

up all the way into the Gulf

I hate to even entertain those types of

where other ships waited to use

thoughts but when you see a situation like

the channel.

the one we just experienced, it really makes

During the following hours

you realize just how fortunate we are that it

and days, an incredibly massive cleanup

has not already happened.

enough, within seconds we found out just

effort was launched using twenty-seven

Now at this particular moment we don’t

exactly how fast you can get in trouble as a

skimming vessels and nearly 60,000 feet

know exactly how this spill will affect Sabine

tricky section of the canal ate his lunch and

of floating oil boom. Two crucial factors

but all indications so far are good. As of this

we beached the boat. No damage, nobody

played a major part in keeping this spill

writing nearly 300,000 gallons of the spilled

got hurt, and we ended up wiser for the

from wreaking serious destruction on

crude have been recovered and each day

experience. I did however file it away for

surrounding waterways and marshes.

that number grows. Hopefully all of the

future use and I must say it comes in handy

Most important was the location of the

oil will be removed real soon and the long

when he gets a little “big for his britches” so

collision and spill. If a spill had to happen

term impact will be nothing more than the

to speak.

on Sabine, this is probably one of the best

memory of a close call.

Just recently we discussed our little

places it could have occurred - in

incident while talking about the potentially

the channel away from the main

catastrophic ship and barge collision that

body of the lake and fragile estuary

took place in late January near Sabine Lake.

habitat. The other critical factor was

“I can only imagine what driving one of

the incredibly quick response by the

those big ships is like” said Hunter. “That has

local, state, and federal agencies. The

to be scary and awesome at the same time.”

amount of people and equipment

“Can you imagine trying to get one of

t could have laced with channels tha The Sabine marshes are e habitat. arin estu e sitiv sen rate into allowed the spill to mig

that descended on the spill in such a short time certainly kept it in check and prevented what could have been major damage.

I know many of you who read this

Close -up view of ruptured tanker (USCG photo).

26 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Speaking of close calls, Sabine Lake and Calcasieu (for the most part)

column have probably been on Sabine

dodged a major bullet from sub-freezing

Lake and witnessed these huge ships

temperatures recently. The extremely low

come and go where the Neches River

water temps caused major concern for folks

meets the ICW. The expansive flats

all along the Texas coast, especially our

near that area are favored haunts of

friends to the south who are lacking deep

winter wade fishermen. I have watched

water shelter that we are so fortunate to

these giant vessels navigate the big

have. The deep freeze finally subsided and

bend in the river countless times and

things appear to have returned to normal.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 27

The trophy trout guys have been ecstatic

passes and begin to probe the marsh drains

even if it’s short-lived. We always laughed

since the freeze as the fish have just gone

and shorelines as the flounder begin to

that the ladies at church got dressed up in

on a tear, eating up everything in sight. The

show up in full force. Likewise the folks

new Easter dresses only to have to cover

warm days following the fronts have really

with the heavy tackle and desire to pull on

them with an old winter coat. As far as the

produced some nice stringers of quality fish.

a bigger fish will head for the jetties and

weather goes; “Hang on, it’s Texas.”

soak cracked crab for monster black drum

Lake will begin to branch out a little from

and bull redfish. Still others will begin to

the single-minded pursuit of trophy trout

stroll, drift, and dredge the big reef at the

and add some flounder and black drum to

Causeway for speckled trout and redfish

their menu. The coming weeks are some

while enjoying a dry boat instead of wet

of the most anxiously awaited of the year

waders. The options for spring fishermen

for folks with more on the brain than big

will increase as fast as daylight savings time

trout. Flounder fishermen will set up in the

and only get better as the days warm up.

Chuck Uzzle

Contact

In the meantime other anglers on Sabine

I’m still not sold on the idea that we will We were lucky; a big slug of crude oil would devastate the marsh.

not get another bad cold spell this winter; it’s just how we roll in Texas. Historically, February brings some of the nastiest weather of the year and after an exceptionally cold December along with dodging that fish-kill bullet in January; all bets are off until we have winter in the rearview. It

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 cuzzle@gt.rr.com Website www.chucksguideservice.net

seems we always get at least one more cold one just before Easter,

28 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 29

Ask the Pro JAY WATKINS

As all of you are

strong wind turns that same water

clear water-I am throwing baits that

aware it has been a

murky. These conditions require

are mainly clear in color with 1/16-oz

colder than normal

constant tweaking of my bait and

jigheads or simply a Mustad 3/0 worm

winter along the Middle

rigging strategies. As a rule, I favor dark

hook. With a 5-inch Assassin this rig

and Lower Coast. El

colors such as plum and red shad under

chunks like a small topwater and can

Niño is to blame and weather experts

overcast skies and especially when

be slowly worked over both long grass

expect this to last through March. The

clarity turns murky.

El Niño rain is a good thing; ill effects

I believe the darker

are felt only short term while the

silhouette of these

benefit is long lasting.

lure colors offers

Luckily we dodged a huge bullet

greater contrast

and short grassy

“I’d be better off with a pair of computer hands right now, just don’t stick one down a trout’s mouth.”

potholes. Likewise my topwaters are clear, small and quiet. Corkys

during the recent arctic blast. I

and visibility and

personally saw no trout or redfish killed

this improves your

when local water temperatures dropped

chances of getting

below 40º January 8-10. There was

bit. Topwaters

some kill in remote shallow water areas

and suspending baits with rattles are

present clear-water conditions. Third

but overall I think this was limited. The

also excellent baits in low visibility

on the list is long casts. This is easily

last thing we needed after the intense

conditions. Trying to force feed clear-

accomplished with strong wind at your

drought of 2009 was to start 2010 with a

water fish can be frustrating if you stay

back but little to no wind you’ll need to

killing freeze. Even dodging the bullet,

with the standard seasonal pattern.

adjust your reel’s casting brake and/or

I think we still need to cut limits back

Conditions change and we need to be

consider a slightly longer but still fast

on trout to insure a healthier fishery but

able to adjust and do it quickly.

action tapered rod in the 6’9” to 7’0”

that has proven to be out of our hands.

Winter anglers face widely varying

are the same. A floating, clear Corky can be extremely effective under our

Over the past month or so I have been employing four things that I

range. Fourth and by no means last in importance, I drift or troll into the area that we are going to fish looking for the EXACT location of greatest bait activity. In the clear water

Cold, clear and calm water trout eruption.

the larger trout truly seem to use the pods of larger mullet as camouflage. By pinpointing bait location we can ease in quietly and fish around and in the bait as the bait slowly moves along the shoreline or across the flat.

By employing these four things all together we have been able to catch some of the fish we might not have in seasons past.

March will bring higher winds and warming temperatures that will allow us to go back to some of our old standby patterns but until then we need to learn to play a slightly different game. believe have aided

I had the occasion to spend a few

conditions. Cold temperatures produce

me and my clients catch more trout.

days with three of Texas’ best Upper

exceptional water clarity in protected

First I have insisted that all of them use

Coast fishing guides in early January;

areas while just around the corner

a clear fluorocarbon leader. Secondly–in

Mickey Eastman, Blaine Friermood and

30 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

days and to the smell of the morning

all that have ever fished and chunked a

coffee. Tylenol Extra-Strength pain

lure in the waters around the Galveston

relievers are never in short supply,

area. For over thirty years I have in this

especially when the mercury drops to 40º

business I have respected and learned

and below.

from these guys. (Funny how one’s life

Our energy reserves aren’t what they

passes by so quickly when we are doing

once were but focus remains just as sharp

what we truly love.)

as ever. We agreed we’re not ready to pass

Sitting around the fire I could not help

the torch to the next generation just yet-

but notice that the years of abuse from

although they may try to take it-we still

the sun and pounding waves had taken its

have a few things we want to finish up in

toll. Mickey, the big guy in our group, has

our fishing lives.

the worn knees of a pro football player.

ASK TH E PRO

James Plagg. These names are known to

Guys, I loved spending a few days with you not worrying

Slick- Calm-Clear, tough but do-able with the right approach.

about the next wade or drift. It was great talking of nice bucks we let walk and laughing about times gone by. It is nice to be able to reflect once in awhile and remember times and events that made us happy even if only

Wading deep mud in the head of Trinity

for a moment. I’ll hold the middle section

Bay can certainly take a toll and it looks

of the coast down and let you guys handle

like a knee replacement might be in the

the upper end until we meet again in the

mix. I hope the surgeons use saltwater-

South Texas brush.

grade hardware because I don’t think they’ll keep him out of the water too long.

Plagg has a bum eye due to a boat trailer winch mishap that happened a few years back, and his slower movements

Life is a beautiful thing when you have such family and friends as I do. I am certainly blessed.

May Your Fishing Always Be Catching Guide Jay Watkins

up by the rough chop of thousands of days on Galveston Bay. Friermood and Watkins; we’re a pair no doubt. Our face, hands and neck show signs of aging thanks to countless summer days, sun and salt. “They’re trout hands” says Friermood, “not computer hands.”

I had to laugh. Not a thing wrong with computer hands; I’d be better off with a pair right now, just don’t stick one down a trout’s mouth.

CONTAC T

show all the signs of being literally beaten Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading year-round for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Phone 361-729-9596 Email Jay@jaywatkins.com Website www.jaywatkins.com

All of us still rise before the sun most Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 31

F LY F I S H I N G D E PA R T M E N T

Lessons from Striped Bass I love to fly fish for striped bass. Although my

warm sunny ones.

go with it. I gradually gained confidence

One of the first lessons I learned on Canyon was that stripers are mostly a

and got pretty good at hitting the right

is a very long way from

deep-water fish and the floating fly lines

depths with it, picking off stripers here

the ravaging stripers

and there.

h Eastern Seaboard, it is a short off the

C ASE Y SMART T

in casting and fishing the heavy line

home in New Braunfels

As crazy as it sounds, learning to

drive from Canyon Lake which boasts

use a sinking line was a turning point

a tidy population of these powerful

in my fly fishing career. I realized

fish. Years ago, the rumor of stripers

it made a powerful addition to my

on Canyon Lake lured me in. At the

fly tackle arsenal and I began using

time, I had never seen or caught one,

sinking lines in saltwater to tag

and I could not have predicted the

specks and redfish in channels, over

ways they would test my patience and

deep structure, and in the surf. My

perseverance as an angler. Nor would

productivity went way up.

Searching for striped bass at sunset

I have guessed that stripers would ultimately become one of my favorite fish to catch with fly tackle.

The second windfall of my passion for stripers was a fly that has become my absolute number

From a landscape perspective, fishing

I had been using to catch redfish, trout,

one fly for any deep water fishing. The

for striped bass in reservoirs like Canyon

and largemouth bass at the top of the

fly is a version of a Clouser Minnow

Lake is fundamentally different than

water column were seriously limited

called a “Chrome Clouser.” Now… let

pursuing them in their native waters off

for striper fishing. The idea of throwing

me preface these next few paragraphs

the East Coast. The scenic lighthouses

poppers at blitzing stripers seemed

by stating I did not invent the Clouser

and treacherous beachfronts of the

pretty cool, but it was not practical

Minnow. Nor do I claim to have made

Atlantic shore are traded for deep

because I usually located them at depths

any revolutionary improvement to Bob

inundated river channels, submerged

of 20 feet or more. These deep schools

Clouser’s wonderful fly… I didn’t.

rock piles, and gently winding shorelines.

were often suspended, and making

Although the scenery in a reservoir

an adequate fly presentation to them

is different, the striper’s behavior as

required a fast sinking line, a heavy fly,

a predator is essentially unchanged.

and a lot of imagination.

Stripers have a high metabolic rate and

Initially, the prospect of using sinking lines was a little daunting

Jon Fisher with a doubledigit Canyon Lake striper

for me. At the time, my only experience with a sinking

The Chrome Clouser

fly line had been when I accidentally bought one

All I did was change the materials. I

and didn’t realize it until I

wanted a deep diving silver fly to mimic a

opened the box on my way

threadfin shad, so I replaced the bucktail

to the flats. By the time the

belly and body of the standard Clouser

weekend was over, I was so

Minnow with a fat tapered clump of

frustrated with that line I

silver Krystal Flash. The result was a

stripped it off my reel and

big juicy solid silver fly that sank like a

threw it away.

rock. It still had lead eyes, still had an

But this deepwater scenario was different and I was willing

upturned hook point, and was still no doubt a Clouser Minnow. But it was

a big appetite. They roam in schools and

to try again, especially if it meant I might

the brightest, flashiest, fishiest looking

aggressively feed on shad or anything

hook into a big angry striped bass. So, I

Clouser Minnow I had ever used. And it

else they can corner. Stripers generally

purchased a type 6 sinking line and a few

worked… man did it work. This fly has

prefer to stay in cool dark places over

weeks later I made a stripping basket to

nailed stripers, smallmouth, trout, reds,

32 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

in both fresh and saltwater. It is a great fly

have endured chasing striped bass, they

when they will show again. Fly fishing for

have somehow kept me coming back for

reservoir stripers is truly a 3-dimensional

more. And I have to say, like no other fish,

game. They can surface, dive, circle, and

stripers have taught me valuable lessons

head for the horizon in a startlingly short

about patience, problem solving, and

amount of time. I can’t tell you how many

perseverance in angling. The things I have

times I have had my confidence rattled

learned from them have helped me almost

from large schools of feeding stripers that

every other place I have fished. And that’s

have completely vanished, and by those

why I’ll keep chasing the elusive, reckless,

that failed to appear when everything

utterly wonderful striped bass.

seemed perfect.

By nature, stripers are vampires. They

and every time I tie one on to my leader my

have insatiable appetites and prefer to

confidence goes way up.

work under the cover of darkness. But,

The third lesson the striped bass has

they’ll bluff you into fishing in cold, nasty,

taught me is humility. Striped bass will

raw weather and then decide to show up

put you in your place. They are short-

a few days later when it’s warm and sunny.

strikers, line-breakers, hook-throwers, and

Just when you think you have them figured

notorious no-shows. Their movements

out, stripers will change their minds.

and habits in a reservoir follow patterns, but their position last

O

VIDE

But the funny thing is that even after all

CONTAC T

and every other fish I have ever thrown it to

utter head-scratching disappointments I

ago often has little bearing on if and

Casey Smartt has been fly fishing and tying flies for 30 years. When he cannot make it to the coast he is happy chasing fish on Texas inland lakes and rivers.

Phone 830-237-6886 Email caseysmartt@att.net Website www.caseysmartt.com

the bad weather, crazy fly fishing rigs and

Check out Casey’s Fly Fishing Video Library at www.TSFMag.com

Hard to say which is sturdier.

The name on the outside or the 30 lbs of drag on the inside.

The new Fin-Nor Marquesa delivers heavyweight performance in a sleek, speedy package. With a machined

©2009 Fin-Nor, a W.C. Bradley Co.

aluminum frame, double shielded stainless bearings,

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

stainless gears and a carbon fiber drag. finnorfishing.com.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 33

FLY FIS H I N G D E PAR TM E NT

Striped bass feeding between 15-30 feet

month, last night, or even ten minutes

O FFSH O R E

BLUEWATER JOURNAL

Fishing the Gulf of Mexico’s Islands of Steel BOBBY BYRD & C APT. JOHN COCHR ANE

Texas is blessed

attached to the top. The entire structure is attached to the

with an abundance of oil and natural gas. Drilling rigs, pump

sea floor with heavy chains. Used in very deep water, these

jacks, compressor stations and oil refineries are all part of the

structures attract schools of tuna, billfish, dolphin and wahoo,

landscape and most of the fishermen here are familiar with

as well as many species of bait fish. Along our coast there are

oil rigs both on land and in

five of these rigs. Starting

the water. There are over

with the newest and most

4000 platforms in the

southern spar, Perdido is

gulf waters, mainly off

located about 120 miles

Texas and Louisiana. This

east of Port Isabel. Perdido

concentration of so many

attracted many boats this

manmade structures in our

past summer and produced

waters is a unique situation

several tournament

that we as anglers can take

winners. Hoover/Diana

great advantage of. Bay

is another spar located

fishermen know all about

in almost 5000 ft. of

catching trout in the bays

water, nearly equidistant

around rigs and coastal

between Port O’Connor

fishermen target snapper,

and Freeport. From either

grouper and amberjack

port the run is about 125

around these structures.

miles. Always a favorite,

Bluewater fishermen take

this rig has produced several winning fish in the

advantage of deepwater rigs for catching bait and large

Poco Bueno Tournament, one of the top big-money tournaments

gamefish that are attracted to the habitat these “islands of steel”

in the Gulf. About 25 miles north of Hoover/Diana are Boomvang

provide. An offshore oil rig is easily seen from miles away, so

and Nansen, twin rigs separated by about 8 miles. Freeport is

it provides a visual reference for navigating and while trolling.

the closest port at 100 miles and the water around these rigs is

Manned rigs, standby boats, crew boats and helicopters that

near 3000 ft. Given their proximity to each other and being the

service these platforms also provide a degree of safety should

closest deepwater rigs to land, this is one of the most popular

you have an emergency onboard.

spots for night-time tuna fishing and billfish during

The continental shelf extends out from our coast at a gentile slope until it reaches about 500 ft. then drops off rapidly.

Many rigs on the shelf and along the edge of it can be fixed platforms, sitting on the seafloor. Once you get beyond the shelf the water gets deep very quickly and floating rigs and drill ships take over in this area. Some floating rigs (referred to simply as “floaters”) are temporary drilling platforms that move from one location to another, punching holes in the sea floor, looking for oil and gas. Other floating rigs are more permanent in nature and are attached to the seafloor with flexible connectors and chains. All of these structures can provide great fishing and have enhanced the bluewater fishing in our waters for years.

At the moment some of the most popular rigs along the coast are a type known as a “spar.” They are essentially a 600-ft cylindrical tube floating vertically with an oil platform 34 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

For information on the location of

O FFSH O R E

offshore oil rig.

The Record Setters ®

movable “floaters” and other rigs, as

and weather, go to Hilton’s Offshore website; http:// realtime-navigator. com. This website is a real asset to the bluewater fisherman and the information will help you save time, money and catch more fish.

To find out more about fishing at the rigs, visit us at our Fox Yacht Sales office at the day. On calm summer weekends,

Tops-N-Towers or see us at the Houston

especially during a tournament, this

Fishing Show, March 3-7, at the George R.

area can look like a parking lot with all

Brown Convention Center. At Fox we have

the boats fishing there. Last but not

an extensive inventory of brokerage boats

least is Gunnison, located 135 miles from

and we are the exclusive Texas dealer

Freeport, again the closest port. A favorite

for CABO Yachts. For more information

for fishermen wanting to get away from

go to www.foxyachtsales.com or e-mail

the crowd, this rig is more remote and

captjohn@foxyachtsales.com.

it, so if you go here, you are pretty much committed to fish it for the day.

As of this writing, the first blue marlin off Texas this year was caught on an outboard fishing out of Port O’Connor at Boomvang on January 17, so the New Year is getting off to a great start! The wahoo bite is going strong near the Flower Gardens with Dan Logan’s Cazadora reporting five big wahoo, a huge kingfish and some grouper. Swordfish specialists Shayne Babich and Mark Glassmeyer also teamed up one weekend to catch four swordfish in one night!

Texas has some great fishing and we

CONTAC T

does not have many other structures near Born in Galveston, Capt. John Cochrane has been a professional captain for over 25 years. He concentrates his fishing efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, promoting big game fishing and billfish research.

A native Texan, Bobby Byrd has fished the Gulf of Mexico since he was eight.

In 1995, Bobby combined his love of fishing and boating into a business when he opened Tops-N-Towers in Seabrook, Texas.

Contact Fox Yacht Sales / Seabrook 281-291-0656 Tops-N-Towers 281-474-4000 Capt. John Cochrane 409-739-4817 Websites www.byrd-cochrane.com www.topsntowers.com www.foxyachtsales.com

can attribute a lot of our success to the Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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ONLINE CATALOG AVAILABLE

CONSERVATION PAGE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

;\WZa Ja 2WPV *TIPI

Habitat Importance and Losses Habitat is defined as an area that provides the food, water,

nearshore reefs in Texas state waters, the restoration of lost

cover and space that a living organism needs to survive and

marshes in Aransas Bay, West Galveston Bay and Nueces Bay

reproduce. This definition found on GulfBase.org describes

and past participation in projects such as the Bahia Grande

what every one of us looks for when we target our desired

restoration in the Rio Grande Valley. The loss of oyster reefs is

sport fishes up and down the Texas coast. We know by our own

also on the forefront for HTFT and the organization is currently

fishing experience that fish need food, obviously water, and that

investigating how it can put its best foot forward to help restore

they use cover and space to lie in ambush for their next meal

these vital habitats.

and also to evade predators that may be after them. Habitat is

Moving forward into 2010, volunteer involvement, sponsors

the key to continued sustainability of Texas’s coastal resources

and supporters are more important than ever as CCA Texas

and we must strive to protect, restore and create the vital

HTFT works to raise funds and support to complete these

habitats needed for a healthy fishery.

projects. Dollars raised in Texas stay in Texas for the benefit of all

The loss of marine habitat throughout the world is staggering

Texas recreational fishermen so be sure to check CCATexas.org

- 20% of coral reefs, 35% of mangroves, 50% of wetlands and

for upcoming events and banquets where you can step in and

85% of oyster reefs have been lost in the last 50 to 100 years.

help make a difference.

These numbers are known for developed countries only and leave many questions for undeveloped countries where the losses could be even greater. In Texas alone, it is estimated that

Other Conservation News Belaire Environmental recently completed the planting of

over one-third of approximately one million acres of coastal

marsh grasses in the eastern cell of the Goose Island State Park

marshes may have been lost between the mid-1950s and the

marsh restoration project. CCA Texas provided $25,000 to

mid-1970s.

complete this portion of the job. This planting, along with the

Natural events take a toll. During Hurricane Ike, oyster reefs

fall 2009 volunteer planting day sponsored by CCA Texas and

in Galveston Bay sustained major damage from tidal surge and

TPWD, has completed the planting in this cell and TPWD is now

deposition of sediment. Losses are believed to be near 50%

tackling the western cell of the project. When finished, this

in general and close to 80% in some places. Further south,

project will have restored twenty four acres of lost marsh and

oyster reefs in Texas’ middle coast bays struggle from reduced

estuary habitat.

freshwater inflow and over-fishing. Losses caused by natural events such as hurricane and drought cannot be controlled, however they are amplified through increases in residential, commercial, agriculture and other development along the coast. Other contributing factors are over-fishing, pollution and in some cases hypoxia. Playing in concert, these forces not only affect the ecosystems, they also affect local economies and the way of life for many.

Upcoming events - March 4th Bay Area Chapter Annual Banquet – Bay Area Community Center, Clear Lake Corpus Christi Chapter Annual Banquet – American Bank Center, Selena Auditorium Sabine-Neches Chapter Annual Banquet – IBEW, Beaumont March 11th

The loss of essential habitat all across the Gulf of Mexico region is a reality and CCA Texas and CCA in the other Gulf States is working to help stem the tide of the daily destruction of habitat. CCA Texas initiated HTFT (Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow) in November of 2008 to help protect, restore and create critical habitat in our Texas coastal waters. By working with other conservation organizations, academia, state agencies and private and public corporations, HTFT hopes to accelerate its efforts in the protection, enhancement and restoration of

Brazos Valley Chapter Annual Banquet – Brazos Center, Bryan March 20th Crab Trap Cleanup – various sites on the Texas coast March 25th Brazoria County Chapter Annual Banquet – Civic Center, Lake Jackson Colorado Valley Chapter Annual Banquet – Knight of Columbus, LaGrange Texas A&M Chapter Annual Banquet – Brazos Center, Bryan

Texas’ coastal habitat.

HTFT currently has an active role in the establishment of 36 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

...Cont’d on page 62 Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 37

FI ELD

N OT ES

Change In Seagrass Bed Scarring (2007-2009) Using GIS

By Faye Grubbs, Ashley Summers, & Mark Fisher

INTRODUCTION

within one year. There was no change in overall vegetative

In the 1990s, it was recognized that propeller scars left by

coverage between 2007-2009.

boaters were causing significant damage to seagrass beds in the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area (RBSSA) located in Aransas and

For maps and additional information please visit:

Corpus Christi Bays. Initial efforts by Texas Parks and Wildlife

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/

Department (TPWD) to address the problem through education,

seagrass/

outreach, and the establishment of voluntary no-prop zones, were largely unsuccessful. As a result, the TPWD enacted a law in 2006 prohibiting the up-rooting of seagrass with boat propellers within RBSSA. Seagrasses provide many beneficial services for the ecosystem such as protection for mollusks and fish, erosion control, nutrient cycling, and forage for fish, water fowl, and sea turtles. To aid in the assessment of the regulation, aerial imagery was acquired for north Redfish Bay (7,800 acres) in March of 2007 and January 2009 at 1:4,800 resolution (0.10 meter) to determine total scarred area.

METHODS Scars from the 2007 imagery were extracted using automated feature extraction software (Feature Analyst ©). The automated product was split into three groups according to the level of scarring present: low, medium, and high to make the estimates more accurate. The entire study area was split into 75 X 75 meter grids and a stratified random sample was selected, based on the scarring-intensity groups.

This resulted in 300 grids in which a GIS analyst digitized “linear

Propeller scar in turtle grass

disturbances.” Linear disturbances

The map is a visual illustration of changes in scarred area in north Redfish Bay between 2007and 2009. No claims are made to the accuracy of these data nor to the suitability of these data to a particular use.

for 2007 and 2009 were digitized and the difference in scarred area was found between years for each grid. Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation was used to estimate the remainder of the study area.

CONCLUSIONS A significant decrease in scarring was observed between 2007 and 2009. Areas of increased scarring were observed along the perimeter of RBSSA primarily in Estes Flats. Areas of decreased scarring were observed in the interior of RBSSA, north and south of the Terminal Causeway. On average, 88% of scars healed

38 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

“No Change” refers to areas that experienced ± 12.5m2 of change between 2007 and 2009.

“Non-scarrable area” refers to areas where seagrass is either traditionally not present or if present, cannot be scarred due to depth or limited boat access.

Excluded areas include deep water, land, or habitat types such as mangroves and oyster reefs.

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Women in the Wild 2010 2nd Annual Outdoors Event May 1-2, 2010 * Rockport, Texas Mission Statement: To provide women who participate with a safe and fun environment in

and Sunday the long day.

Equipment – Sensible shoes are a must,

which to familiarize themselves with some of

this event is on a ranch not on pavement, and

the many outdoor recreational opportunities

walking will be required. Long pants are a good

in the Coastal Bend.

idea to combat mosquitoes. Please bring a lawn

This is a Rockport T.O.W.N. event- please email brandi.reeder@tpwd.state.tx.us if you are

chair, jacket, sunglasses, etc. weather especially if participating in the

the local chapter. To join the Rockport T.OW.N.

kayaking. The water may still be cool and the

Chapter visit our website at townrockport.org

weather may be as well. This event will not be canceled unless the weather is severe and we

entries received prior to March 15 and $150.00

will shift events as needed to accommodate the

after (entries must be postmarked by April 15,

weather.

2010-limited to ladies 21 and up and to the first 75 women). If you need to cancel your

Courses Offered:

registration you must do so prior to April 15th

t

Basic Shotgun/skeet

to receive your refund, no refunds after this

t

Intermediate Shotgun

date. Event location is The Lodge 3620 FM 1069,

t

B.B. Guns

Rockport, Texas 78382 and mixer at Poorman’s

t

Archery

Country Club 1009 Hwy 35 North, Rockport,

t

Self Defense

Texas 78382.

t

Fly Fishing

t

Fishing

***First five women registered will have an

t

Boat Equipment & Operation

opportunity, if they wish, to ride in our Game

t

Kayaks

Warden Airboat****

t

Outdoor Photography

t

Habitat / Species Identification

t

First Aid and Safety

t

Dutch Oven Cooking

Entry fee includes participation in 4 of the listed events, t-shirt, SEA membership, dinner on Saturday night at the mixer, light breakfast (ex: doughnuts and muffins) and lunch (sandwiches)

Please mail or deliver all entries to:

Saturday and Sunday and non-alcoholic beverages throughout.

This is a day camp situation and lodging is not provided. If you need overnight lodging there

TPWD Law Enforcement Office 715 South HWY 35 Rockport, Texas 78382

are many great hotels and cottages that you may reserve in Rockport.

Saturday 8am event at The Lodge will begin

Saturday, March 27th, 2010 9 am - 6 pm

Weather - Please be sure to dress for the

interested in joining or want information on

Entry fees- $125.00 per participant for

3rd Annual Rod Builder’s Show & S ALE

Make Checks payable to: T.O.W.N. Rockport any questions call Brandi Reeder (361)790-2611

FREE Rod Building Seminars Factory Representatives Custom Rod Builders Tips and Technigue Demos A Huge Selection of components all under one roof!

10% off

Rod Components All Day We have over 20,000 blanks in stock, our product selection includes Fuji Guides, Flex Coat, vast assortment of cork and EVA grips, Gudebrod threads, tools, wrappers and much more!

Fishing Tackle Unlimited is a proud sponsor of

with a meeting, group photo, and delivery of schedules. Please be on time so that you are included in the group photo. Then disperse to scheduled stations with an outdoor lunch break including sandwiches 1pm to 2pm and will end at approximately at 3 pm. There will be a gun dog seminar after lunch.

Sunday 8am will meet at scheduled stations at The Lodge and finish after lunch. If inclement weather then will make Saturday a short day Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

T.O.W.N. Rockport Chapter 110 Sante Fe Rockport, Texas 78382 Phone (361) 790-2611

Watch our website for more updates.

WWW.FISHINGTACKLEUNLIMITED.COM Contact Terry Jones or Danny Meyer at 281-481-6838 or terry@fishingtackleunlimited.com for more information .

www.townrockport.org Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 39

Letter to the Editor Greetings from Tikrit, Iraq, I deployed from Fort Bliss Texas last year and am an avid skinny water fisherman. I picked up a copy of your magazine in El Paso and then ran across another copy here in Iraq! I am due to return to the US in the fall but in the meantime I pass the long days thinking about when I will get to trick that next “red”.

Although I am not a Texas resident, how we do business on Tampa Bay is not much different from how you all play on Laguna Madre. Your magazine is awesome and I was wondering if you’d be willing to send me a Dear Captain Harris, is, copy of December and January edition?

Thank you for your great work, and your First I want to thank you for your military service. We at TSFMag feel greatly indebted to continued support of our troops. the members of our military who dedicate themselves to securing our continued freedom.

As you may already know, we mail magazines to many service personnel in Iraq and CPT Ivy J. Harris Sr. Afghanistan each month and we will be happy to add you to the list. Keep an eye on your mailbox; we’ll be sending copies of December, January, February and March magazines along with each new issue as it rolls off the press.

Godspeed and a safe return, hope those skinny water reds are biting when you get home!

Everett Johnson Editor and Publisher

40 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

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www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 41

K AYAK

FISH I N G

Pelican Elite Series Strike 150 and Hummingbird’s 385ci Combo Kayak unit…Sweet!

C APT. SCOT T NULL

Like most outdoorsmen, I like new toys. Over

unit is then seated into the grease and secured with a hook

the dreary winter months I managed to collect a couple things

and loop strap. Once that step is complete it is simply a matter

that I’ve been itching to try out. Between hunting season,

of securing the unit base and running the wiring. The unit

weather and work, the windows for fishing have been pretty

itself snaps into place on the base and is easily removable for

scarce but, with a story deadline looming and predicted brief

transport. They even included a soft plastic boot to cover and

break in the weather, it was time. Before I could hit the water,

protect the connections when the unit is not installed. The

though, I needed to get the new kayak rigged up with the new

battery is stored inside a waterproof roll-top bag supplied with

GPS/Fishfinder combo.

the kit. I went a step further and mounted a foam block to the

The kayak is the new Elite Series Strike 150 from Pelican. Yes, I said Pelican. In the past they’ve had a reputation among serious kayak fishermen as “starter” boats and experienced anglers

inside the hull with a cut-out area to seat the battery and keep it from sliding around.

With all of the

often discouraged newbies from going in that direction. And

work completed

with many of their previous models they were probably correct.

I headed out

Most of their sit-on-tops were designed more for general

to one of my

recreation and didn’t paddle all that well and they had stability

favorite cold-

issues. However, all that changed when Kelley Woolsey came

weather spots. It

on board. Kelley was at the helm of Wilderness Systems when

is protected from

the kayak fishing craze took off and he understands what kayak

most winds, has

fishermen want.

deep water with The new

structure and,

Pelicans are

best of all, it is only accessible via kayak. I’ve been fishing this

made of thicker

place for several years and I’ve got a pretty good handle on it,

plastic and have

but I’ve always wanted to know exactly what was down there

a better “feel”

and see if there was anything I was missing. I figured this was a

than previous

great place to give the new fishfinder a workout.

offerings. The

I started out by paddling some fairly shallow water where

upper deck

I could see the bottom to get a feel for how the unit would

has been

respond. When crossing hard sand I got a moderately wide and

designed with

bright yellow/orange reading. Soft mud produced a thicker blue

a comfortable

line. Scattered shell in the mud showed as yellow dots while a

cockpit and

slab of concrete was a thin red/orange line. Most of my kayak

large tankwell. It also comes standard with rudder, oversized

fishing is in shallow marshes searching for reds so I’ve never

footpegs, two flush mount rod holders and a Scotty rod holder

really been a

in the forward cockpit. They’ve also placed a convenient

big advocate

console area at the front of the cockpit for mounting accessories

of sonars on

such as my new Hummingbird 385ci Combo Kayak unit.

kayaks, but

This little jewel is a combination GPS and sonar with an

I think I’m

installation kit specifically designed for kayaks. It comes with

changing my

everything you need to get on the water including a small 12-

mind. This

volt battery and charger. I was able to complete the installation

thing is cool.

in about an hour with minimal fuss. The transducer is mounted

I spent the

inside the hull using a small rubber dam that is glued to the hull

next hour

and then filled with a special marine grease. The transducer

just cruising

42 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

I was totally satisfied with the “fishability” of the new kayak. It

bottom. There are places

is a bit tippy on initial stability, but has solid secondary stability. I

in there where I can almost

never felt the least bit uncomfortable turning around to access

always count on picking

gear in the tankwell or reaching out to land a fish. It also drifted

up a couple fish. And

quite well at a slight angle and didn’t pivot back and forth. Once I

while I had a pretty good

decided that the fish were done playing I went about running the

idea, I never knew exactly

kayak through some serious paddling to check out the hull design.

why these areas were so

Using the GPS I found that I could comfortably maintain a 3.8 to

productive. Now I have a

4 mph pace, in a sprint I pushed it as high as 5.2. Once I stopped

picture of all the fish-holding structure, drop-offs and holes. And

paddling the boat would glide nicely. The kayak tracked extremely

as a bonus I even marked a few fish along the way. Awesome.

well without using the rudder. It also responded well to turning

Once my curiosity was satisfied I settled into fishing mode and

K AYAK FISHING

around checking out the

sweep strokes. Overall I’d say the performance was pretty close to

started targeting the specific structure that was holding fish-

my Tarpon 160.

concrete rubble in 6 to 8 feet of water. Forty-five minutes later I

While having success in my deeper winter spot was fun, hopefully by the time you read this we’ll be well on our way into

making me wonder if this was such a good idea. A change to a 6

spring and some shallow

inch paddletail Bass Assassin in red shad crawled along the bottom

water sightcasting. And

was the ticket. Within a few casts I got a solid thump which

while that will always be

resulted in a swing and a miss. The follow-up cast drew another

my preferred mode of

bump and a hook-up. The deep water red gave me a good sleigh

fishing, I’ll be watching

ride and several hard dives before giving up. I’m always amazed at

the new Hummingbird

how hard redfish can pull in fifty degree water. The bite was on for

as I travel looking for

the next hour and a half giving me several more reds before they

some hidden gems for

shut down.

next winter.

CONTAC T

was starting to doubt my strategy and the cold north wind was

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

Phone 281-450-2206 Website www.letsgofishing.net

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 43

ACCORDING TO SCOT T

Capt. Chris Phillips 1947-2010 The fishing community of the Texas Gulf Coast

C APT. SCOT T SOMMERL AT TE

was saddened earlier this year at the news of the passing of

tackle pioneers as Flip Pallot, Jimmy Albright and big tarpon guru Billy Pate.

As the first president to the Texas Fly Fishers, a chapter of

Capt. Chris Phillips.

Chris, who is often credited as being one of the first, if not

the Federation of Fly Fishers in Houston, Chris shared what he

the first to popularize saltwater fly fishing in Texas, was born in

learned and told countless stories that fueled the passions of

Port Arthur, TX on August 17, 1947 to Charles and Helen Phillips.

many soon to be dedicated salt water fly fisherman. And, he

After graduating high school, he then attended LSU in Baton

often credited his affiliation with the group in his decision to

Rouge, LA. He then resided in the Houston-Galveston area for

become a fly fishing guide, a career change that prevented him

the remainder of his life working as a home builder first and

from taking his annual trips to the Florida Keys yet benefitted

then as a fly fishing guide.

countless Texas anglers as he became available to share his love

Throughout his guiding career, Chris could be found

and knowledge of the sport.

working three days of every week in one of the local fly shops,

At a great loss to the saltwater fishing community, Chris

starting out first at Anglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Edge, then Westbank Anglers and

lost his battle with cancer on January 7, 2010. He was in the

Fishing Tackle Unlimited where he ran the fly department. It

company of his loving companion Iva Doyle, his family and a

was in this capacity that Chris left his biggest legacy in that he

great number of friends who diligently sat by his bedside in his

introduced hundreds upon hundreds of anglers to his love of

final days.

On a more personal note, I can still remember the first

saltwater fly fishing.

Chris fell in love with saltwater fly fishing in the early 70s when

time I had the chance to fish with Chris. I had known him for

he started going to the Florida Keys to chase tarpon. It was there

a few years and we had always talked about getting together

that he learned his skills along side such fly fishing and light

to fish but, there was always something getting in the way.

It was August of 1998 when I received a call from a friend, Jay Hoffman, asking me if I would

Chris and Mike Barbee on the last outing we were lucky to share.

like to accompany him on a trip that he had booked with Chris. I graciously accepted and a couple of days later we were meeting the good Captain at the Texas City Dike to head offshore for a day of fishing.

Luckily it was one of those perfect days that we all hear about. In fact, the roughest part of the entire boat ride was crossing other boats wakes as we departed the Galveston Ship Channel.

The day was a huge success. We caught cobia, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, red snapper and more dorado than a person could shake a stick at or, in our case, a fly rod. It was a special day to say the least.

Not only did we catch a boat-load

44 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

ACCO R D I N G TO SCOT T Capt. Chris Phillips hooked into a solid Matagorda Island red.

of fish but, it helped solidify a friendship

suspect no more so than anybody who has

that would last until the end. Sadly, it was

lost a dear friend.

not until he was diagnosed with cancer that we had the opportunity to fish again.

When, I heard of Chris’s ailment I knew

Well, I consider myself very lucky to have known Chris. He shared his stories and his knowledge with me and more

there was only one thing to do and that

importantly, we shared a lot of great

was to get him out on the water so, I gave

friends. These friends, who remained by

Andy Packmore, a mutual friend and co-

his side until the very end, are the finest

worker of Chris’s at Fishing Tackle Unlimited

of people and not only share a love of

a call only to learn that everyone was three

fishing, but of friendship as well. We often

steps ahead of me and that a weekend

talk about the legacy a person leaves

escape had already been planned.

behind. Well I am going to have to say

Needless to say, I was only available to

that Chris’s legacy, at least from my point

fish the first day but what a magnificent day

of view, is that he not only taught people

it turned out to be. Chris, Cory Hawryluk and

how to fish and how to love fishing but, he

I had the chance to share my skiff for the day

also brought so many of us together and

and not only caught up on all the stories and

created friendships that will last forever.

things that good friends talk about but, we caught the hell out of the reds.

We will miss you my Friend!

Then again, a year later, I had my last chance to spend a day on the water with

A celebration of Chris’s life and legacy

Chris. In fact, in retrospect, I wish the

was held at Fishing Tackle Unlimited on the

fishing had not been so damn good. You

Gulf Freeway on January 23, 2010.

see, on that day, another one of our many from FTU joined us. So, not only did I have two great anglers on the boat, but the fish were ridiculously cooperative. By noon, we had landed close to 30 reds and had all decided to call it a day. Damn, if only the fishing would have been a little slower, that last day on the water with my friend might

CONTAC T

mutual and great friends, Mike Barbee

Capt. Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer.

Telephone 979-415-4379 Email vssommerlatte@hotmail.com Website www.scottsommerlatte.com

have lasted a bit longer. How selfish am I? I Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 45

YOU T H

FISH I N G

TEXAS SALTWATER THROUGH

A ARON CISNEROS

Being a Spectator is No Fun My high school football career has ended and I have been

freshman year in high school. I remember as a freshman that

attending my school’s basketball games in support of my close

among my friends I was the only one that talked constantly

friends that play. At one of the games a phrase dawned on me,

about fishing. I would share all my experiences and maybe even

“Being a spectator is no fun.”

exaggerated my catch more than once as fishermen are known

I was sitting on the bleachers watching all the fun while

to do. They listened to my stories and always had this look on

experiencing all the nerves that a close game brings. I was

their face like they wished they were there. It must have been

wishing I could jump in there to help my classmates. Fortunately,

the same look I get during their basketball games.

all I could do was watch and sit on the edge of my seat. I say

In our group of high school friends it has gotten to the point

fortunately because with my basketball skills I probably would

that the most talked about subject is fishing. As we walk down

have hurt the team instead of helped. However, being just a

the hall to our next class, the talk is about fishing. When we go

spectator was not enough for me, which brought to mind my

to lunch, it’s fishing. I have seen the topic of fishing amongst us grow over my years in high school. I have seen my friends evolve from spectators to actual

Get in the game, being a spectator is no fun.

fishermen. What we have acquired is what you would call a “lifetime sport.” When the whistles of football, the buzzers of basketball, and the school bells are gone, and the next stage of life begins (college), we will all have something in common, love for the sport of fishing.

Some of my friends and I discussed making a trip to the Arroyo Colorado and doing some night fishing under the lights. The trip became a reality when one of our friend’s parents provided a house on the Arroyo that had a lighted pier. We all arrived at the place as the night fell upon us. We have a sort of Academy Awards for funny characters in our group, so things out of the ordinary were bound to happen. It all started with our friend Javi who always seems to have a cloud of bad luck hanging over him. His smack talk of how he was going to catch the biggest fish got mixed up with his usual luck and once again he did not fail in bringing us a barrel of laughter. Yes, indeed he did get the biggest bite of the night, but landing the fish was another story.

Javi fought the fish for a long while as we all watched and cheered him on. Even in the darkness you could see his eyes light up with excitement. You most likely can visualize his support group yelling all kinds of tips on how to land the fish. If I would have taped all of the

46 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

tips that were being yelled out I could have written and published

It was a special night among friends as our high school days

a book on “How to Land a Fish from a Pier.” It was a funny scene

together are numbered. Not only did we fish together but

with all the commotion going on. Like I mentioned before he

also talked about our plans for the future. It seems everyone is

did not fail in the making us laugh department. Before he even

headed in different directions after high school, but one thing

brought it in, he was bragging on himself. He reminded us on what

is for sure, we all share the passion of fishing. I hope that as we

he had said earlier, “I’m going to catch the biggest fish.”

all go our separate ways, the passion that we share will bring us

By now everyone was outside and hoping to see this fish that

YOUTH FISHING

YOUTHFUL EYES

together again.

was destined to become a legend, at least in Javi’s mind. Just as

It’s a great feeling to know that my passion for fishing has

he was bringing it up to the dock, the line snapped before anyone

spread among my closest friends. To know that I made an impact

was able to see it. With all the laughter that ensued you would

in their lives is something to remember. That night was the

have thought that a pack of coyotes were running around loose. He

beginning of something good because after that trip we made

went from World’s Greatest Fisherman (in his own mind) to being

several other trips that were just as fun. And you guessed it;

Bad Luck Javi again. We could not stop laughing, and his actions

Javi unwillingly kept the funny moments alive with each trip we

were replayed again and again until it was time to eat. We all ate

took. I can only imagine ten or twenty years from now how many

a delicious barbeque and headed out to the pier for round two of

of us will carry on the passion and how many other lives will

fishing. The funny thing was that Javi no longer had a great desire

be impacted by a sport we grew to love as we shared our high

to fish; he was a little quiet after his ordeal. Late into the night the

school moments together. Don’t be a spectator. Pick up a fishing

trout bite really turned on; everyone was catching trout. Everyone

pole and cast in the right direction. I promise it will be a blast no

was involved in the catching, unhooking, and releasing of fish.

matter which way you throw.

There was no time to be a spectator.

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EVERY MAN’S OFFSHORE

Striking Yellow Gold – Part 2 A quick review of

good with this

without the jump

setup are Tuna

When chunking for

and chatter of

Hunters, Halco

yellowfin, keep your

lesser design.

h k rig i constantly moving. Let it chunk

RUBEN VILL ARRE AL

drag performance

February’s article:

Rasta poppers,

Very few of these

and OTI

drift out for about a minute; then reel

spinning reels

poppers. What’s

back up and try the same method

offer sufficient

interesting is

again, dropping more chunks into

capacity with

that at one time,

the established chunk line. Hiding

mono, so super

there were only

your hook, either circle or live-bait

braid line (gel spun

a few stand-up,

style, increases your odds of hooking

polyethylene) is

short spinning

up since the yellowfin tuna have

used because of

rods and only

great eyesight. With jigging, I do not

its small diameter,

seven-foot

recommend only one size or type

strength, and

lighter-action

of jig because you never know what

no-stretch

rods for kingfish

the fish want. A little variety is more

design meant

and ling. Recent

helpful. Now, it’s time to discuss

for landing big

improvements

the other two methods of attack:

yellowfin tuna. I

in material and

topwaters and sliders/stick baits.

recommend both

Topwater baits are quickly

design bring us

65# and 80# spectra line, depending

rods that are extremely strong and

becoming popular due to fact that

on the size of topwater you use. The

very light-weight. These new rods

they imitate flying fish so well. Once

right action of spinning rods coupled

are taking the spinning topwater rod

again, I don’t recommend just one size

with the good reels completes the

market to the next level and helping

topwater gear equation. For

to usher in the fourth dimension in

example, the Daiwa Surf 6000,

yellowfin tuna fishing: slide/stick

Shimano Saragosa 18000, and

baits. The newest rod in this line of

Accurate Twin Spin 30 spin reels

development is the eight-foot Black

make good models for holding

Magic Ahi popper rod. It has Fugi

plenty of 65# super braid line.

SIC guides, is rated both for 65# and

A rod with a stiff backbone but

80# braided line, and has plenty of

soft tip increases your casting

backbone to take down yellowfin.

distance due to how the guides

Now let’s shift gears and discuss

are spaced and also the way

slider/stick baits for tuna fishing. This

the rod loads during the cast.

isn’t really a

Too soft tips are easily overloaded by large lures and do not cast well. of topwater because I’ve seen both

Likewise, if the tip is too stiff,

big and small baits do very well. The

the lure fails to load the rod tip

best size depends on the size of the

which makes long casts very

flying fish that are in the area that

unlikely. The Shimano Stella

particular night. In order to be able

20000sw and Daiwa Dogfight

to land fish from far out in the night,

6500 are great for the 80#

specialized gear was developed and

spectra applications as they can

tested to handle long fights. Thus

be adjusted to deliver surprising

was born spinning reels on steroids

drag tension.

that can maintain steady and smooth 50 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

The bigger topwaters that are Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Yo-Zuri makes one with what they

catching fish, just new for our

call chameleon finish in that it

area. In a nutshell, a stick bait is

changes color depending how it is

a wooden bait that can vary in

being pulled through the water and

size from three to nine inches in

how light is hitting it. One bait that

length and can weigh up to nine

I consider a slider (even though

ounces, perfect for making a long

it isn’t a true offshore bait) is the

cast for yellowfin busting way out

Rapala XBSB15 Sub-walk. This bait

there on the surface. Stick baits

was really designed for stripers

vary in colors and rigging methods,

and for imitating mullet to lure

such as a single assist hook in 11/0

big winter trout in south Texas,

size on the front with a 9/0 Owner

but it has proven to be a killer

Jobo hook on the back. This stick

bait for catching yellowfin tuna.

bait looks like an extreme High

The Rapala Sub-walk is a good lure to use on an 80# spectra

Roller wooden bait used for peacock bass; even blue marlin

spin outfit. Another good bait for yellow fin tuna, especially

have been taken on these baits. One of the best places I know

on 65# braid outfits, is the Rapala XWR11 topwater, which was

of that carries these baits is Nomad Tackle in Australia. What

originally designed for redfish and big trout in the wintertime.

makes these baits so different from what we have now is how

All in all, having some variety in your lure assortment is an

an angler can change the hook configurations to not only cast

important key to increasing your chances in taking home some

at surface busting fish but troll for deeper fish also. Since stick

yellowfin. I didn’t spend any time on live bait in this article,

baits vary in both color and weight, they can be used with both

but sending out some live flying fish on fluorocarbon leader of

spinning and conventional types of tackle.

either 60# or 80# test, about five feet in length, will also prove

Finally, a slider or glide bait is a lipless plug that stays below the surface to imitate a darting and fast swimming flying fish.

FISH THE EDGE

irresistible for yellowfin tuna. Good luck everyone and be safe.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 51

E V E RY M AN ’S O FFSH O R E

very new type of application for

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Anchor Marine of Texas TSF MAGA ZINE SPOTLIGHT

Anchor Marine of Texas is conveniently located in San Antonio at 5560 North Loop 1604 East to provide top rate service and sales to South Central Texas fishermen and boaters.

anglers and also general recreation. Brands include; Shallow Sport, Hewes, Maverick, Pathfinder, Majek, Skeeter, Blackjack, Frontier, Bennington and Crownline.

Now under new ownership and management, Tony Alvarez

Anchor Marine is a full service dealer for Yamaha

President and COO, is very excited about the future.

outboards and also offers service for Mercury, Johnson

“We have completely renovated our showroom and

and Evinrude motors and outdrive systems.

service department,” Tony says,

Their service department

“And the makeover doesn’t stop there. We are striving to

staff are factory trained and include Certified Master

achieve a level of excellence not

Technician Ruben Gonzales,

commonly seen in this industry.

The whole presentation needs to be sterile, unlike any other, in every aspect.”

two outboard technicians, a marine electrical/electronics technician and two custom rigging technicians.

Some of Tony’s words to describe his business plan

In addition to boats and motors, Anchor offers a wide

include, professionalism, competitive prices, fast and dependable service, and exceptional customer relations.

“You would be amazed at the surprise in customer’s voices

selection of accessories to equip and customize fishing boats. The list includes Power Pole, Minn-Kota, Lowrance and Humminbird, to name but a few.

on the telephone when I call our customers and say, ‘I just wanted to follow-up and make sure my team did a good job for you.’ Some customers pause for lack of words, they’re just not used to receiving calls like this.”

Tony says Anchor’s continued success will hinge on pro-active business strategies. “In this day and in these economic conditions you cannot afford to wait for something to happen and then react to it. It takes a special focused effort in every aspect of the business – the general appearance of the showroom and shop, competitive rates and prices, the staff must be bright and well-trained, anxious to provide the very best buying and service experience the customer has ever received.”

Anchor Marine offers an extensive line of boats for coastal 52 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Customer service is enhanced through the opportunity to schedule service appointments online via Anchor’s website www. anchormarineoftexas.com and clicking the Service Request tab under Dealer Services. This feature enables customers to not only set an appointment but also select general maintenance options and provide information regarding problems they may be experiencing along with prior service history. Parts can be ordered by clicking the Part Request tab.

Stop by for a visit, check them out online, or call 210-599-1415. Be sure to ask about their Red Carpet Policy and the “WIT” program. Learn how Anchor Marine is striving to be, “More than just a boat store.”

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 53

6-? <IKSTM /MIZ www.academy.com

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The new Gatun and Lago sunglasses

has designed a monofilament line that captures UV rays to physically change

are part of Costaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Voyager collection. Like

color, hi-vis gold above the water and transparent below the surface. Anglers see the line, fish donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

all Costa performance sunglass styles, the no-slip Hydroliteâ&#x201E;˘ nose pads and flexible spring hinge with sturdy nylon construction ensure ultimate comfort.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This line is for anglers tired of squinting to see their line,â&#x20AC;? said Berkley Product Manager, Clay Norris. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anglers can see the line twitch and set the hook before the fish can spit the bait.â&#x20AC;?

With superior knot strength, tough abrasion resistance and extra shock resistance, Berkley Trilene TransOptic is perfect for flipping, pitching, jigging and any application that calls for a hard hook set.

Available in pound tests ranging from 4 to 25 pounds on 220-yard spools.

The Magellan Sportswear Fishing Sling Pack uses a cross-shoulder strap design that will not slip down your waist while you wade. It easily swings from back to front and it works great for a left or a right hand. It features three main storage compartments: a leak-resistant worm bag pocket, a tackle box pocket that includes two lure boxes, and an accessory pocket that has a spool pocket for leader line and a waterproof pouch with wipe cloth.

Find more information at academy.com.

54 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Lago features a bigger eye and double-bridge frame for a classic, retro look. Available in tortoise, black and the new combination black and white frames. Lago has a medium to large frame fit.

Gatun, available in tortoise, black and the new white and tortoise combination, features a wrap frame with a large fit. Like Lago, Gatun is available in Costa 400 or Costa 580 lens; gray, amber, vermillion, sunrise, copper, and blue, green and silver mirror.

Available now at Costa dealer retail outlets or online at costadelmar.com.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

www.pennreels.com

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Completely redesigned for 2010, the

Not many reels are good enough to carry the Penn name. But the new Conquer™ spinning reel from Penn® is built with all the quality and workmanship the brand has delivered for over 75 years. Designed for inshore and nearshore species, this reel is built for saltwater angling.

Simms Flats Boot provides protection and support for anglers jumping in and out of the boat and casting on the flats.

Perfect for the most demanding wading conditions, anglers won’t have to worry about shells, rays or other distractions in and around their feet.

Features include a non-marking Vibram outsole for superior traction, ample drainage ports and SuperFabric

Texas Tackle Factory and StingMate have joined forces in the development of the new Stingray and Jellyfish Sting First Aid Kit. This kit includes everything you need to treat a stingray hit or jellyfish sting until you can reach the doctor for further medical attention.

Each kit contains: For stingray hits: Pair of gloves, sanitary towelette, gauze pad, hydrogen peroxide, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, adhesive bandages, heat pack

panels on the outside of the boot and tongue that offer extreme puncture protection. $149.95.

Exclusive to the Conquer reel is the EAS™ (Easy Access System). A single screw secures a rear hatch that when open provides full access to the gearbox for lubricating gears and bearings without worry of any parts falling out.

Available in four sizes. Features include one-piece machined aluminum gear box, Superline Spool™ eliminating the need for backing, 10+1 shielded stainless steel bearings, HT-100™ drag washers, Techno-Balanced™ rotor and Leveline® oscillation.

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Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

to alleviate pain and elastic wrap for holding pack in place.

For jellyfish stings: 1-oz. spray bottle of Jellyfish Sting Relief Gel*, wooden scraper for removing gel and stinging nematocysts, hydrocortisone cream to relieve irritation.

Easily stowed in boat or kayak, package is completely waterproof and re-sealable. Learn more at TexasTackleFactory.com *Gel is also available separately in 4-oz. spray bottle.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 55

DICKIE COLBURNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Sabine Scene DICKIE COLBURN

The most important news of

that has been affected.

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

late was not what happened,

Had the collision

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

but what did not happen. An oil

occurred just a little

tanker and a tug pushing two

further north at the

barges collided in the Sabine-

intersection of the

Neches ship channel across from

Neches and ICW,

Pleasure Island resulting in a spill

however, the spill

of 462,000 gallons of crude oil.

would have been much

Quick response, the location of

harder to contain and

the spill and favorable weather

not only the lake, but

conditions were all factors that

surrounding marshes from Bessie Heights

contributed to avoiding an ecological nightmare.

The response was both immediate and aggressive as some 650

to the Game Reserve

workers representing federal, state, and local agencies worked

would have been

round the clock to quickly contain and clean up the spill. Only time

compromised. While

will tell how much oil escaped beneath the booms due to tide

the economic impact

changes and wind, but at this point Keith Lake is the only marsh area

has been bad enough, we were spared the devastation of a

Rusty Frederick sends another nice red on its way.

unique ecosystem!

We are still fishing around cold fronts while

keeping our fingers crossed that the damage from the oil spill was as minimal as it first appeared and each warm-up has yielded excellent fishing. Because a southeast wind ushers in most of the warmer days, the Louisiana shoreline has produced the more consistent catches.

Both wade fishermen and those preferring to drift flats in two to four feet of water continue to score well on redfish and trout. Tide changes, more especially incoming tides, stack mullet up against the shoreline and the fish are not far behind them. The better bite on an outgoing tide, as expected, is taking place around marsh drains and the mouths of the major bayous.

We have been absolutely covered up with slot reds and the trout fishermen refuse to have the last of their Corkys mauled by the bullies until they are sure they can get more. I think that is one reason that we have not seen more trout over seven pounds caught thus far this year.

We have caught a substantial number of trout in the five to six pound class on both the Catch V and 5-inch tails like the Assassin Shads and MirrOlure mullets, but it seems that the reds are forever crashing the party and they like the same lures as well. Our most productive colors in the Corky have been pink and dayglow while electric chicken and bone-black back are very good in the Catch 56 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

SABIN E V. Red Shad, pumpkin-

Brad Deslatte’s big red ate a dayglow Corky.

chartreuse, and morning glory are hard colors to

time on the flats behind the islands on the north end of the lake. The fish up eat there have not seen a great

beat in the plastics.

deal of pressure thus far and there is

Toledo Bend is low right now so we might

already a great deal of bait trading through the passes

not get hit too hard with

on tide changes.

runoff this month. Because

I also look for our flounder bite to be better than

we have experienced a

it has been in years based on what we have seen over

colder winter this year,

the past two months. Virtually every good trout outing

I look for very little to

has yielded several flounder and more importantly,

change in the patterns. We

they have been fish in the three to four pound class.

should see a little more

They are out hustling the reds and trout for the same

topwater action, but the

tails and suspending hard baits.

same lures along with the

Drifting the Causeway reefs or running the

MirrOdine and various swim

protected bayous will be Plan A for some folks, but

baits are going to account

they are great backup plans at the very least. Don’t

for most of the fish.

forget that you will need a Louisiana license to fish

As the winds become

the bayous on the east side of the lake and that you

more variable and

can only legally return to a Texas launch with Texas

undoubtedly stronger, we

legal fish.

will be able to spend more

Paul Brown’s Original Paul Brown’s Floating Original

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What has always been the Brown’s dream is now coming to reality, the ability to supply Paul’s special line of lures to every angler from Texas to North Carolina.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

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www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 57

MICKEY

On Galveston Mickey Eastman is a full-time fishing guide out of Baytown, TX. Mickey has 26 years guiding experience on the Galveston area bays and is the founder of Gulf Coast Troutmasters, the largest speckled trout tournament series of all time

Contact Mickey Eastman’s Guide Service Telephone 409-883-0723

Howdy folks, Mickey here again and we’re back on the

but it didn’t hold for long and we have been steadily going up and down ever since.

rollercoaster. Like it or not,

There are lots of trout being caught in West Galveston Bay, lots

when it comes to winter fishing,

of small fish, and for sheer number of bites this bay would have to

the weatherman deals the cards

get the nod right now. Lots of folks are drifting shell just west of

and they haven’t been all that

North and South Deer Islands, working the streaks and bait lines

good of late. Pretty much all of

and things like that. There are a lot of throw-back pencils hanging

January and early February was

on that shell. I haven’t bothered with it as sifting ten or twenty to

on the slow side, some decent

find a legal-sized fish among that crowd of boats just isn’t my thing.

days here and there but in

The plus side is that they’re getting them on plastics and with the

general I’d call it fair at best.

cold water temp I believe the survival rate on the throwbacks will

Fishing success is being controlled by water temperature

be very high. There are reports of some decent catches of reds from Meacom’s Cut down towards Carancahua Reef all down that north side of the Intracoastal banks. Surprisingly the West Bay

front forecast for later this week that could drop it even lower.

coves haven’t really kicked off like they normally do. A few days of

Following the January 8-9-10 blast we caught some decent

pumping south wind might change that though, steady north and

sunshine and got up close to the 60º mark which got things moving

east winds just don’t fit the pattern in those coves.

Dealersow! wanted n

58 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

saltwatersoul.net Shop Online! Get a FREE sticker with every online purchase.

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and as I write this we’re back down to 49º and we have another

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

GALVESTO ON There’s been some action in Christmas Bay when the tides get up. Waders have been catching some decent trout on the north shoreline of Christmas Bay and drifters working deeper guts behind

naturally more fish so this should come as no surprise.

Reports from Seabrook Flats and

San Luis Pass toward Christmas and Chocolate have been doing

the Sylvan Beach area indicate fair troutt

fairly well on two to four pounders, not much mention of anything

uantity but action, nothing great weight-wise or quantity

heavier. Confederate Reef has been fair to good for waders

you can certainly catch a few if you get in there and

throwing Corkys.

work out the pattern.

East Bay has been real hit or miss but I know this area can light up like a Christmas tree when you get the right conditions. In my

“Be sure to mark your calendar for the Houston Fishing Show, March 3 through 7 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.”

opinion this bay is like a ticking time bomb. The Anahuac Refuge shoreline should just explode for waders and kayakers working the sloughs and guts once the water temperature stabilizes in the mid-to-upper 50’s. I am predicting East Bay will light up and be the hot spot in March for quality as well as numbers of trout.

We’ve seen it happen many times so have your favorite Corkys and MirrOlures ready.

Moving back up my way, Trinity Bay has just been ice cold all

All we need right now is a break from winter weather. We have

winter. We really need about two weeks of warm weather and

lots of fish and the water is in great shape. Barring anything like an

some south winds. The only consistent bite has been up in the

early spring flood, we should see some solid results real soon.

northern end near the Trinity River and over by the HL&P spillway;

Be sure to mark your calendar for the Houston Fishing Show

there’s been some goods schools of reds in there, trout action has

March 3 through 7 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. I

been slim. Burnet Bay, being protected from cold wind, has fared

will be there doing the emcee thing again and look forward to

better than the larger bays; that mud bottom holds more heat and

seeing everybody.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 59

CAPT. BILLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Fish Talk I cannot believe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March

Bill Pustejovsky is a full-time guide at Matagorda, TX. Bill fishes year-round for trout and redfish in all the Matagorda Bays. Wading and drifting for trophy trout and reds are his specialty.

January was a fairly decent month

already. Time sure flies. Any who

for fishing if you count in between

have fished the Matagorda Bays

cold fronts with a few limit days on

at this time of year understands

trout and reds. Some local fishing

the potential March holds for

buddies reported catching trout

great fishing. Dodging the

in the 25-29â&#x20AC;? range on Corkys late

freeze bullet over the weekend

January while fishing mud.

of January 9-10 was a godsend.

Telephone 979-863-7353 Email CaptBill@GoldTipGuideService.com Website www.goldtipguideservice.com

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk the reality of current

David Reagan catching reds with Capt. Bill on the Colorado River at Matagorda.

Here locally it seems our fisheries

and possible future factors that

came through in good shape.

can influence fishing. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s say our

Down south between Port

present fishery is acceptable for

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor and Rockport there

now. What if we venture into the future a bit? Take into consideration

was a fish kill in the back lakes

that we currently see a greater increase in fishing pressure than five

but not in the major bay waters.

years ago. Will this continue? Where does that leave us and what will

Concerns regarding our

the future bring? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t discount the twenty years of unusually warm

fishery sent me on a scouting mission as soon as the weather broke,

winter water temperatures (except this year) and the way this seems

hoping to find some decent catches of trout and reds in both East

to have brought increased numbers of sharks and dolphins that feed

and West Matagorda Bays. What a relief to find that we had been

heavily on our trout. Please also include the other elements of nature,

pardoned once again from the treacherous elements we all fear.

namely freezes and red tides, and the impacts they can have on a

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

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M ATAG O R DA fishery. If I could snap my fingers

and whether that recommendation

and change what I see, I wouldn’t

affects me in a negative way or not;

be writing this now.

this is the position I have chosen. If we

Recent Texas Parks & Wildlife

expect someone else to fix the problem our hands

disheartening as I view them,

may stay clean but the issues will remain. The defining

depicting a downward trend in

mark of lunacy is expecting something to change while at the same

our trout fishery. I don’t have the

time continuing to do the very thing that got you where you are.

answers. Yes, I spend much of

o drif ting East John and Robin Desimi t and reds trou of lots , Bay a ord Matag assin lures.

Ass ain -Ch on Chicken-on-a

all refuse to leave our comfort zone and

(TPW) surveys have been

As a fishing guide I can ask my clients to stop at five but, when

my time on the water and have

the law allows a ten fish limit, my words do not always have the

a heartfelt desire to protect

desired impact.

what I care about. Many look at

March fishing will bring little change to my fishing plans and I will

a fishing industry in technical

spend the majority of my time in East Bay. The same tactics used last

terms but I have come to know

month will continue such as fishing mud and shell, keying on mullet,

it as part of who I am. Whether

and fishing slow. I’ll still be throwing Bass Assassins and Corkys.

or not that makes a difference is a personal matter.

Drift fishing will be a must out on the mid-bay reefs while keying on

What I find in the TPW survey reports is akin to the 1989 freeze

jumping mullet, slicks, and off-colored streaks in clear water. Plastics

level which is extremely disturbing. Ask any guide or angler that has

may be your best bet but I also like 52M Mirrolures in the 808 color.

been fishing the Matagorda area for the past twenty years whether

Either of these could be the ticket to a big girl while drifting. If the

they believe our spotted seatrout populations have declined.

weather allows I may even head over to West Matagorda Bay to fish

What is the answer and who will take the initiative? I personally

for a few reds. Your best success here will likely come on low tide

recommend a five fish limit on trout, upping the minimum size to

around shoreline guts and sandbars.

16 inches, with one trout over 25 inches. Fishing is my livelihood

Take care and God Bless - Capt. Bill

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 61

Conservation Page ...Cont’d from page 36

Volunteers are advised to avoid picking up broken glass and flammables; report them to your section leaders. Volunteers will

Fifteenth Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup

receive event t-shirts. This is a worthy event and it’s only possible

(Dedicated in memory of Ryan Gregory and Larry Flak)

because of volunteer participation. Won’t you please come and join us. -Capt. Billy Sandifer

The Big Shell Beach Cleanup will be held Saturday, 20 March, 2010.

Volunteers will meet at Malaquite Pavilion on PINS and the event

Clean Shores Event - POC

will commence at 7:00 a.m. Park admission fee will be waived for Big Shell Beach Cleanup volunteers. All volunteers will be back at

Clean Shores Association announces their Spring Clean Event - Port

the pavilion by 2:00 p.m. Four-wheel-drive vehicles and trailers

O’Connor, to be held Saturday March 27, 2010. This is an all-volunteer

for hauling trash in and out of the work area and also transporting

bay and estuary shoreline clean-up event that will be hosted at

volunteers to work sites are needed.

Froggie’s Bait Dock.

All volunteers are welcome and those without four-wheel-drive will

Please bring your boat and lend a hand as we rid our bay

be provided transportation to and from the work area. Those unable

shorelines of unsightly litter. Heavy duty plastic trash sacks will be

to walk and pick-up trash but have four-wheel-drive vehicles are most

provided. We will have volunteers dockside to assist boat captains

welcome to join us and aid in hauling volunteers to work sites.

unload their “catch of the day.”

This event has no re-schedule date for inclement weather; the show goes on rain or shine.

Barbecue and refreshments will be provided starting at 10:00 am.

Snacks, water and soft drinks will be available in the work area

Contact: Curtiss Cash 361-564-7032, email captlowtide@airmail.net

and refreshments will be available at Malaquite Pavilion following the event, courtesy CCA Texas Corpus Christi Chapter and Dominos Pizza.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE- DONATE A DAY FOR THE BAY

Long trousers and sturdy footwear are recommended as are slickers and warm jackets – please check weather forecast and outfit yourself appropriately.

62 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

(K]HUJLK ;YVWO` ;YV\[ ;HJ[PJZ PZ H TPU\[L PUZ[Y\J[PVUHS +=+ ^OPJO VMMLYZ KL[HPSLK HK]PJL VU OV^ [V JH[JO IPN [YV\[ VU HY[PÃ&#x201E;JPHS S\YLZ ;V WYL]PL^ HUK VY W\YJOHZL ]PZP[ ^^^ Ã&#x201E;ZOIHMÃ&#x201E;UIH` JVT VY JHSS

¸0 YLJLP]LK [OL +=+ HUK NP]L `V\ HU ( VU HSS ZLNTLU[Z ¹ e:[L]LU *VWLSHUK Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 63

MID-COAST BAYS

With the Grays March weather can be

CAPT. SHELLIE GRAY Captain Gary and Captain Shellie Gray fish year-round for trout and redfish in the Port O’Connor/ Seadrift area. Gary started his Bay Rat Guide Service 20 years ago.

The Grays specialize in wade and drift fishing with artificial lures.

Gary and Shellie also team up to fish many tournaments.

Telephone 361-785-6708 Email Gary@BayRat.com Website www.bayratguideservice.com

choose just a handful and be

fickle. March is usually dismal

satisfied. Just in case you might be

in the beginning but by the

a beginner, I would like to mention

end of the month vegetation

a few of my favorites to help you get

is greener and wildflowers

started.

are blooming. Average

But before we get into lure

temperatures range from lows

selection we need to discuss knots,

of 52º to highs of 74º which

rods and presentation. The Loop

is a welcome change from

Knot is the very best for attaching a surface plug. The Loop Knot allows

February. This warming trend

the plug to swing freely providing the action the lure maker designed

makes for awesome topwater

it to deliver. If you are not familiar with this knot, a Google search will

fishing and, no matter your skill

provide many informative sites with illustrations. Learn to tie it.

level, explosive surface strikes

In the rod department I prefer a medium action stick such as my

are thrillers. Even “blow ups”

signature series rods by American Rodsmiths; model SG-WM 6-6. This

are exciting.

rod has enough backbone to help you “walk the dog” easily.

Open any tackle catalog and the array of plug styles and

Topwaters draw more strikes when they are “walked” in a choppy, left-right-left cadence. The technique is not terribly hard to master

colors offered is amazing. Every time I thumb through those pages

but does require practice. A good way to start is by copying someone

I cannot help but wonder how the average angler could possibly

who has already learned it or simply by trial and error. The idea is

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64 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

P O R T O ’CO N N O R / SE AD R I F T to have the lure dance left-to-right repeatedly with as little forward

the fish. That’s right; most fish hook

motion as possible. This means you slowly retrieve the slack created.

themselves. If you are not getting the

I recommend small plugs such as the Super Spook Jr or one of the

attention you hoped for, try varying the

smaller Skitter Walks to get started as they require less forearm and

speed and the pause. And by all means, if

wrist motion and seem to “walk” with the slightest twitches compared

you are getting plenty of blow ups and near misses

with larger plugs.

but no hook ups, this is probably the time to try a soft

A careful eye on the bait will tell you if you need to adjust retrieve and can also alert you when a fish “zeroes in” on it. You will soon learn

plastic. There will be days when topwaters are good fish locators and little more.

the importance of the right amount of slack that should be left in the

As I’ve already mentioned, the smaller topwaters like the Super

line. A little slack improves the action of the lure but too much is not

Spook Jr. and/or a Skitter Walk are not only easier to use but are also

good. Frequent pauses of two or three seconds during the retrieve can

the plugs I prefer when conditions are calm. I prefer the quiet “tic, tic,

help draw strikes. Depending upon the fish’s mood they may hit it at

tic” of these smaller ones compared to the larger and noisier lures.

rest and sometimes they want it moving

However, if there is enough wind to produce chop I opt for larger

slowly, sometimes faster. At first you may

plugs like the MirrOlure Top Dog or She Dog in hopes of gaining more

feel awkward and be tempted to give up

attention.

but remember it is only through practice that you will get better.

Now back to that dazzling array of colors; if you were to look in my tackle box you would find mostly natural colors that mimic baitfish

There will be times when you will only

and also a few bone. I choose my baits based on size, action, and

get “blow ups” which means the fish

sound they produce. I often wonder if the wild colors were created to

struck at the lure but did not get hooked.

hook fish or the fishermen who buy them.

It is crucial to resist setting the hook too

Gary and I will be in booth 528 at the Houston Fishing Show at the

early as you usually only succeed in taking

George R. Brown Convention Center, March 3-7. Feel free to stop by

away. Wait until you feel the weight of

and ask any questions you may have, talk fishing, or just say, “Hi!”

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 65

HOOKED UP WITH

Rowsey DAVID ROWSEY

Since last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s article,

conditions for catching large trout. With a little luck, the trout gods

David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/Baffin region; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty. David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.

fishing has really taken a turn

will allow a few bites during the tournament to boot.

Telephone 361-960-0430 Website www.DavidRowsey.com

for the better. The big arctic

College basketball coined the term March Madness. On the

blast that killed trout to our

Coastal Bend we borrow their term and apply it to what we have to

north seemed to have had

look forward to during March days on the water. No doubt, March is

a surprisingly positive effect

a killer month for landing big fish, but it is also our most challenging

on fishing down here in the

month when you include Mother Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s input. Wind can and will

Coastal Bend. We dodged a

be downright nasty at times. Having confidence to catch fish with a

bullet, no doubt, with local

25-30 mph wind on your back is definitely a learned trait, something

losses limited to baitfish,

you have to acquire to be successful this time of year.

turtles, and even a few snook and tarpon that were found in the Upper Laguna Madre.

Following the blast, we were blessed to have days of sunshine

Something you need to understand about the relationship between Laguna-Baffin trout fishing and wind is that wind actually works to your favor and can help in many cases. We have very little tide-driven water movement down here. So little in fact that I cannot

and southerly breezes. As predicted, the trout took to the shorelines

tell you the last time I checked a tide chart for this area (Bird Island

and shallows like hungry stray dogs. Fishing was, almost, easy for

and south). The larger mover of these waters is wind. Wind-driven

a change. Clients were blessed with numerous hookups that

water movement adds enough color to normally gin-clear water that

Anxiety and triumph are the stuff of great contests and healthy releases.

brought to hand trout in the six to nine pound range, not to mention others between 20-25 inches.

As I sit here and try and meet deadline, I am watching the palms sway as another cold norther blows into the area. I am optimistic

trout will move and feed more comfortably. Their meals will be mullet, perch and shrimp that have been forced onto windward shorelines and we have miles of shorelines between the spoil islands, Baffin and the King Ranch.

that the bite will come back but first I have a tournament to fish

On these windward shores are points, small coves (some deep,

over the next two days, and am now questioning why I let a buddy

some shallow), potholes, and troughs that run parallel to the bank.

talk me into it. Post front conditions, highs in the 40s, winds out of

We also find mounds of dead grass that resemble small towhead

the north - what was I thinking? If there is any good to come out of

reefs. The trout will use all of these natural ambush spots to their

it my charters during the coming week will be met with awesome

advantage during this windy season. The trick to catching is using

66 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

UPPE R L AGUNA / BAFFI N what part of the trout will the lure Dr Tim Rudolph is all smiles with his eight and a half pounder.

approach first? Hopefully, you said the tail. If not, you might do best to pick up windsurfing instead of fishing during March.

Seriously, you will have much better luck if you cast at a quartering angle allowing the wind to build a bow in your line which allows the lure to be brought into the structure in a more natural presentation. Jay Watkins discussed this very thing a while back in this magazine and he was right on the money with his thoughts.

Now before you say it, I know what you are thinking, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well if there is a bow in my line, I will not be able to feel the bite.â&#x20AC;? My rebuttal would be to use a high-quality fast action rod (my preference is the Waterloo HP Slam Mag in 6-6 length), braided 30lb line and, of equal importance, anticipate the bite as the lure approaches the sweet

a confidence lure. My top choices will be a 5â&#x20AC;? Bass Assassin and the

spot in the structure. Pulling this together in stiff wind with a light

MirrOlure She Dog. Both are great in their own element, but need to

action rod and mono line is not easily done.

be used with a little savvy.

What I mean is - when the wind is blowing, whether light or

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is

strong, the trout are going to be facing into it. When hanging

not fish they are after.â&#x20AC;? -Henry David Thoreau

on a pothole or other structure they are waiting for a meal to be pushed into their face. Now if you are casting straight downwind,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Set â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em loose,â&#x20AC;? -Capt. David Rowsey

Roys Bait & Tackle - Corpus Christi - 361-992-2960

Endorse d By

3RUW 0DQVĂ&#x20AC;HOG $QQXDO )LVKLQJ7RXUQDPHQW -XO\

Mailing Address: Event Center:

P.O. Box 75 Port TX 78598 101 E. Port Drive Port TX 78598

Phone Number: Fax Number:

Address:

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

956-944-2354 956-944-2515 pmft@granderiver.net

www.reactionstrike.com / kris@reactionstrike.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 67

TRICIA’S

Mansfield Report What a rock-n-roll fall and

rewards were great when it happened.

Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water

winter we’ve had. Red tide,

Adventures operates out of

colder than expected water

have been doing fairly well too. The topwater bite of late has been

Port Mansfield, specializing in

temps, a hard freeze, an

nil. As for me, the trusty 1/8 oz jighead still gets most things done.

wadefishing with artificial lures.

extended visit from an ICW

Fishing was so slow for a while that I began experimenting with lures

dredging operation; what else

and colors hoping to make something happen; the best have been

could you ask for? We’re still

darker Devil Eyes and Hogie or Kelly Wiggler paddle tails.

Telephone 956-642-7298 Email shell@granderiver.net Website www.SkinnyWaterAdventures.com

For the most part it has been all about plastics but the Corky guys

As for the freeze; we saw The Corky guys have been doing well!

very few dead fish but sadly there were hundreds of dead and cold-stunned green

catching them though, but with

sea turtles. I never knew

much more appreciation for those

there were so many here

“easier” days that will hopefully

during winter and there are

return soon. Everybody looks

certainly fewer now.

forward to the magic of March.

The ICW dredging

Cold weather has dictated

operation mentioned has

cold-water fishing tactics and

been busy from the Land

thankfully the bigger fish have been

Cut south to Port and

“reasonably” predictable when the

will continue. According

weather lets us go. Most action has

to reliable sources, it is

been closer to the Intracoastal after

the largest maintenance

fronts and small depressions in the

commitment here since

flats near deeper water have been

the waterway first opened.

holding the most fish overall. Finding

The dredge disposal, for

baitfish has been the key, and then

the most part, is being

you just have to grind it low on all but

slurried into several new

the perfect days. I must admit that we

spoil areas adjacent to the

struggled on several occasions, even

ditch. There may be some

with good signs showing. Even so, the

newly created areas which

68 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

POR T MANSFI E LD

will pay off in the future, but most recently the turbidity has been bothersome at best. In fact, at times, the suspended silts are horrible

get along much better.

Another thing March will surely bring is the wrath

and we can’t wait for this job to move on. In the meantime the

of spring wind. Wind doesn’t bother us near as much as it does

operation is still underway and we will have to learn how to navigate

on the upper and middle coast and in fact can help, especially if

the newly created spoil banks so be careful while running in low light conditions.

We are all waiting for March’s

the direction is sweet and consistent. Wind moves water,

Big redfish should be on the flats gorging on small crabs and shrimp.

creates color changes, and encourages fish to move and

magic. March means a new push

feed. Loud topwaters such as

of water on strong tides and the

the She Dog will work great in

trout will be feeding aggressively

the chop.

in preparation to begin

Also in March we can expect

spawning. Big redfish should be

our stingray friends to begin

on the flats gorging on small

showing in shallower water.

crabs and shrimp. It will be a time

In clear water they are not

of jackets in the mornings, short

much of a problem because

sleeves in the afternoons, and

we see them and they see us,

fish moving all throughout the

but wading in murky water

day. After Spring Break we can

will become more “interactive”

expect to see more fishermen

whether we like it or not. There

as well. Common sense and

are several products that offer

courtesy on the water will

stingray protection and it is

become very important.

advised to wear them. I am

A word about wading

excited about the new Flats Boot

etiquette: It is good form,

by Simms that offers excellent

especially for guides, to keep

protection yet still light in weight

everybody in reasonable order.

and comfortable. The coverage

When people spread out in all

is great, but if you are worried

directions it becomes difficult

about higher protection just slip

for other waders and drifters to

on a pair of the wrap-around

share an area and also difficult to navigate around the group. In this

guards and you are probably as protected as one can get. Be safe,

day and time we just can’t be that selfish. Stay tight and we can all

watch your baitfish, and get in there with the wind at your back.

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 69

SOUTH PADRE

Fishing Scene 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

I can honestly say that I am not ready to see the

pounds has been increasing steadily, and barring any future catastrophe it should only get better.

cold weather leave us so soon; it seems just yesterday I went to the attic for my Simms waders.

No doubt this winter was

colder and wetter than years past. We dealt with red tide and soon after brown tide came in and then came the freeze. Luckily, between all these, we experienced only a handful of truly slow days and for the most part the Lower Laguna gave us some outstanding catches.

I have said this many times and I will say it again; I believe lowering the bag limit on speckled trout in the Lower Laguna has had a positive impact on the size and number of trout we have been able

This angler enjoyed an awesome winter redfish bite.

to catch. The number of trout caught over seven

The only regret I have for the past two months is that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had zero topwater bite. All our fish have been caught on plastics or suspending lures like the Corky Devil and Corky Fat Boy. Due to cooler water temperatures the fish have been low in the water column and refused to rise for topwaters. I am hoping this will change soon.

Water temperatures will start to climb and March wind will have to be factored into our fishing plans, but seeing the flats filling again with abundant bait will bring Along with the redfish we have been finding trout in the eight pound range.

many options. We will not completely abandon our muddy holes with Marchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrival, however we will begin scouting missions to the flats during warmer days.

As the baitfish move back onto the

70 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

AR ROYO CO LO R AD O TO P O R T I SABE L

flats the trout and redfish will begin to station themselves around and near sandy potholes. The signal to begin investing serious fishing effort will be mullet, piggy perch and pinfish appearing over the nearby grassy bottoms and becoming increasingly active on the surface. Mr. Stingray will also be making more frequent appearances in shallow water. Wear stingray protection, shuffle your feet, and don’t get in too big a hurry when wading.

Long about the middle of March we should begin to notice the tide levels rising, assuming of course that we do not have a norther blowing. Areas nearly void of water through the winter will now become spring feeding grounds. If there is a downside to the higher water level it would be the fish having more places to roam and hide from us on the flats.

When trying to identify an emerging spring pattern, or any seasonal pattern for that matter, look for the highways the baitfish use to enter and exit the region. Locating these guts and troughs will also help you locate the gamefish. Do your homework!

Rather than spending unproductive time fishing, take a day to learn how the tides move through some of your favorite fishing areas. If you can do both at the same time, more fishing luck to you. Understanding these currents can make all the difference, especially here in the Lower Laguna.

I did mention that the wind will increase this month so getting an early start will aid you in finding prime fishable water before the wind kicks up and stirs things up. If we have a repeat of last year, look for the wind to persist throughout the spring and into the summer months. With that said, I can say that I have never been so frustrated with the amount of floating grass we had over the summer, fall, and winter of 2009 and the windiest days were the worst. Our solution was rigging our topwaters with 1/0 and 2/0 Gamakatsu Live Bait Single Hooks with rings.

Working topwaters with treble hooks under these conditions was impossible and our single hooked plugs saved many a day.

In addition, if you are having trouble with bottom grass, I highly recommend the weedless Gamakatsu Weighted Superline Spring Lock hooks. They will make fishing the grass much easier.

In closing, I would like to thank all the readers for supporting the best fishing magazine on the Texas Coast, and a big thanks to all of you that email those big words of encouragement throughout the year. Those words mean a lot to me. I will be at the Houston Fishing Show, March 3 thru 7 and hope to see you there. Come by the Fishing Tackle Unlimited Booth and say hello.

Let me show you why you should be the next proud owner of their “Green Rod.”

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 71

Fishing Reports and Forecasts From Big Lake to Boca Chica BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

Lake Calcasieu - Louisiana +Fò BOE .BSZ 1PF #JH -BLF (VJEF 4FSWJDF t

of the bay. Once you locate fish, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to catch them on whatever you want to.â&#x20AC;?

Redfish have been the big story for the last couple of weeks. The east bank has been our most productive area. We have been catching reds on most stretches of bank south of Commissary Point. Our best baits have been smoke colored Salty Grubs, glow Salty Grubs, and all the Gulps. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to focus on the flats and target the big trout with a purpose. March is a great time to catch these monsters. What flat you should fish will always depend on the salinity levels. The higher the salinities, the farther north in the estuary you should fish, while lower salinities will favor fishing further south. Good baits to try are suspending lures. Corkys, Catch 2000s, Catch 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Thundersticks, and MirrOdines are usually what we stick to. Another option is the soft plastics rigged on light leadheads, meaning eighth ounce or less. Big Norton Sand Eels and various MirrOlure soft plastics are all excellent choices. Flounder will be at their peak and coming back into the lake in March. Fish for them in cuts around the lake on incoming tides using Gulps.

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay James Plaag - www.silverkingadventures.com - 409 935 7242 James says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rate the January fishing in Galveston as good, not great. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The boat fishing has been productive. There are lots of small fish in the mud streaks in West Bay, but you can cull through them for limits most days. The reds are consistent too, especially in the back lakes. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m throwing a lot of soft plastics when fishing out of the boat, using sixteenth ounce jigheads and MirrOlure baits. They have one called the Little John thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been working good. The wading isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite as good as the drifting, in terms of numbers, but the fish are a little bigger. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re catching a handful of trout up to about five pounds when we wade, mostly on pink/gold MirrOlures. Things are bound to change as the weather gets warmer. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see the productivity of the wading improve. I look for good fishing in March if the wind doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get up too bad. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll concentrate on the south shorelines of East and West Bay and the east shoreline of Trinity. The average size of the fish should go up if we can get that pattern to fire up in those places.â&#x20AC;?

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409 996 3054 As usual, Jim connects the potential for good fishing in the Galveston area to the weather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we get the warm ups, the fishing has been great. People wading around the Refuge and in the vicinity of the marsh drains have been catching some big trout. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing well in those areas myself, still focusing on the late afternoon bite primarily. That pattern will likely hold through February, especially if it continues to be colder than normal. Once it warms up in March, it will be easier to catch fish in the morning too. In fact, during the long warm spells, it pays to go out in the morning, especially if you have good tide movement. The fishing does shut down for a while after these really harsh fronts, so timing the outings to coincide with the warmer weather and water temps is wise. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be doing a lot of wading in March. It can be a great month to catch some of the biggest trout of the year in East Bay. They like the muddy, shallow areas on both sides

72 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service - 979 849 7019 - 979 864 9323 Randall says the wintry, wet weather has taken some things away and made other things better. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Normally, when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really cold, we are able to go into the bayous and catch our fish huddled up in the deep holes. This year, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much fresh water that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not possible to do that. The other side of that coin is that it concentrates the fish in the open water of West Bay. So, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing a lot of drift fishing, keying on areas with a muddy bottom and some scattered shell. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using light jigheads, meaning quarter ounce down to the sixteenth ounce and working them real slow to stay in contact with the bottom. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re liking the Sand Eel Juniors. The windier days are best because the wind stirs up the snot grass and all the little critters that live in it are released and it starts a feeding process among the trout and redfish.

Later in March, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll start looking to key on the glass minnows and throwing glass minnow and red magic Sand Eels. I look for this spring to be a good one coming off this cold winter weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having, especially for the reds.â&#x20AC;?

Matagorda Charlie Paradoski - Bay Guide Service - 713 725 2401 March is a great time to catch big trout in the Matagorda area, Charlie says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to give yourself the best shot at catching the big trout, it pays to stay in East Bay and work the shallow, muddy areas on the shorelines. We like to throw topwaters and Corkys mostly. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catch some big trout out in the middle around the reefs at times on soft plastics, but the percentages are in your favor if you are willing to wade the shorelines.

Focusing on the afternoon bite can be another way to increase your odds.

Many of the biggest trout caught in March will be caught in the last two hours of the day. Redfish can get in the way when you are fishing with this plan. Just yesterday, we made a concentrated effort at catching a big trout and caught mostly reds. But the reds do keep you a little warmer on a cold day and help keep your confidence up while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re waiting for a big trout bite. Towards the end of the month, the glass minnows may show up. Then the drill will be to locate the schools and try to stay in them.â&#x20AC;?

Palacios - Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979 240 8204 Fishing has been very slow in the area since the recent cold snap. There have been very limited days that we have been able to get out. The few fish that we have caught have been coming from the Palacios Turning Basins. We have been fishing the deep holes using three inch Gulp Shrimp rigged on quarter ounce jigheads and slow rolling them along the bottom. The best depths have been between ten and fourteen feet. The best colors have been pearl and new penny. On a positive note, we did not have a major fish kill in the Palacios Bays, we just found a few dead mullet and hardheads. Recent

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

rains should give the bays a good flushing and make this one heck of a spring. March is a good month to find big trout in our area. Area bays such as Turtle and Keller hold good fish on shorelines with scattered shell and mud.

Finding bait that should be migrating back into the bays will still be the key for a late-winter bite.

Port O’Connor Lynn Smith - Back Bay Guide Service - 361 983 4434 Lynn’s plan for March will include a focus on soft, muddy bottoms with scattered shell. “I like to focus on the old mud and shell this time of year, staying on flats with plenty of that kind of terrain, also close to deep water.

On the warmer, sunny days, the fish will get up on the shallow flats next to the shoreline, but on the cooler days, it pays to stay closer to the drop offs. I throw a lot of Corkys this time of year, especially the dark colored ones like red shad, morning glory/chartreuse and purple/chartreuse. I also fish a lot with soft plastics when working the mud and shell in search of big trout.

I’ve had plenty of luck with the same colors as the Corkys. I do like to dip the tails of my red shad Bass Assassins, first in white, then in chartreuse. I’ve found that to be extremely effective in off-color water like we see in Baffin sometimes or on windblown shorelines. Seems the fish can find that bright tail better than the dark one. The topwaters will also get plenty of use this month, especially when lots of jumping bait is found on the flats.”

Rockport - Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361 790 5203 - 361 441 3894 Blake is anticipating a colder than normal March, given the type of winter we’re having, but he also will keep his eyes open for the inevitable coming changes. “If we get a cold March, I’ll stick with the winter patterns, working muddy areas close to deep water with soft plastics and twitch baits like Corkys and Catch 2000s. But if it warms up, I’ll head for other shorelines with hard sand and grass. The trout and reds normally make a switch from the softer bottoms to the firmer ones this time of year. I almost always see an improvement in the bite on topwaters this month too, so I’ll be watching for signs that indicate an upswing in the aggressive mood of the fish. One of the real keys in the spring, starting this month, is to pay attention to the bait. You want to stay in close proximity to plenty of mullet or other forage species. In most years, we get an influx of menhaden sometime in March, and when they come in, you’ll want to stay close to the migrating schools for the best action. That means fishing areas that are relatively close to the passes mostly.”

Padre Island National Seashore Billy Sandifer - Padre Island Safaris - 361 937 8446 March marks the beginning of the return of many summer species in the PINS surf. Large schools of large jack crevalle usually arrive early in the month and are most readily available in the Big Shell area between the 18 and 30-mile markers. Watch for brown pelicans and other birds diving over the jackfish. Jacks will hit most artificials. The biggest blacktipped sharks of the year are usually available in March and various other shark species move inshore. Spring sharks are often in shallow water and can be caught on cast baits with whiting being the bait of choice. Bonito are possible. Birds will be working over the large shoals of bonito and small silver lures and flies work well as they feed on small fry. Whiting, redfish, black drum, sheepshead and some pompano are the main targets for bottom fishers using peeled, fresh, dead shrimp and Fishbites combos. Tides are usually high and large swells and high SE winds are common. Avoid traveling on high tides. Sargassum can be bad and is usually present in some amount.

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata - rz1528@grandecom.net - 563 1160 With the air temperatures going up, so are the water temperatures. The rising temperatures translate into the fish becoming more active and more aggressive when they are in the mood for feeding. Actually, in the Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

last few weeks, there have been several periods of warm days and warm temperatures during which I have found fish in less than eighteen inches of water. The warmer water temperatures of March will make drift fishing productive, but I think that wadefishing is still a little more advantageous because of the quiet approach it allows and because you are able to cover the area being fished more thoroughly. If you are staying on the boat, it is time to bring out the Saltwater Kwik Corks and rig them with Spring Lock jigheads and smelly baits like the Bass Assassin Blurps and Berkley Gulps. If you are wade fishing, look for three feet of water or less and rig the natural colored baits like good penny, pearl, molting and bone diamond on sixteenth or eighth ounce Spring Lock jigheads.

Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361 937 5961 Joe expects to be making lots of runs down south in March. “It’s a little early for the Land Cut to turn on really good, but you never know. In some years, the second half of March is awesome down there. I’ll be keying on the west edge of the ditch mostly, throwing soft plastics and working them off the ledge. The size of the jighead will depend on the wind and current.

I’ll use heavier ones when it’s really ripping, sometimes up to half ounce.

Lighter ones of course when it’s calmer. I also like to throw some topwaters too, slinging them up onto the shelf and working them over the edge. Seems like smaller lures work better most of the time. I will throw the full-sized TopDogs and SheDogs, but won’t hesitate to try the smaller Junior version of the TopDog and also the Super Spook Jr.. Mainly, I expect to be fishing south, some in the Land Cut and also along the outside of the rocks in Rocky Slough and also on the flats in Yarbrough. All of those areas are potentially great for numbers of trout and reds and big trout too in the early spring.”

Port Mansfield Terry Neal – www.terrynealcharters.com – (956) 944 2559 Once again, Mother Nature humbles those of us who think we know it all by showing us how little we actually do know. Off-colored water, red tide and cold water have changed fishing conditions drastically compared to the glory days we knew only a year ago. All is not lost though; different conditions only mean different techniques for the artificial purists, particularly the popping cork and Gulp, or maybe the Livingston Lures. On the other hand, you can always to the popping cork with live shrimp, finger mullet or ballyhoo.

All these methods will produce on the slow days. Having survived several episodes of off-colored water, I know that fish might move but they still have to eat. One of my most memorable days was back in the eighties with brown water stretching from the Landcut to far south of the Arroyo. I had Bill Kinney and his brother Ben. We fished Mansfield Maulers with Norton shrimp tails.

Best we could remember, we released twelve trout over twenty eight inches and lost count of the reds we caught and released.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty www.fishingwithpettys.com – (956) 943 2747 Winter weather has made 2010 alternately warm and wet with temps in the high seventies and low eighties to near freezing. The water has not been cold enough to completely drive fish out of the LLM and into the Gulf.

However, trout especially, will move to deeper areas to avoid being coldstunned in the shallows when the barometer drops. We’ve been catching trout with the Cajun Thunder cigar corks trailing Berkley Gulp three inch shrimp in a large range of colors from nuclear chicken to pearl white when the winds are light, and the heavier, oval CT corks and a little longer leaders when it turns colder or the wind picks up. The reds are hitting the cork rigs also, but we’ve had good luck with Precision Tackle weedless gold spoons and the eight inch Berkley Eels in the natural colors when they’re schooled over sand or in very shallow, clear water. Freddy says, “When you’re having trouble getting redfish to bite in the cloudy, brown water, try rigging an eel on a quarter ounce jighead and bounce it in potholes or toss it into the middle of a herd.”

Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 73

Catch of the Month!

All upcoming Photo Galleries are now online! Check out when your photo will appear in the magazine.

Rick Vandel Port O’Connor - redfi sh

John Hamm Port Aransas

Travis Wetze Texas Sleigh Ride - 34” redfi sh Robert Shimek Port O’Connor - 33” bull red

Janene Jones Port Aransas - 35” 14lb redfi sh

Thanh Tran 18” drum

Adam Lane Laguna Madre - 31 1/2” redfi sh

Kristi Rosett e Port Aransas - 29 1/2” 8lb redfi sh

Jim Haidinyak Land Cut - 29 1/2” fi rst black drum!

Laurie Mayne Baffin Bay - 24 1/4” speckled trout 74 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Laura Ledbett er Rockport - 27.8” redfi sh

Ralph Donaho, Jason, Gage, & Atlee Homann Loyola Beach, Baffin Bay - 41” 40lb black drum Texas Saltwater Fishing

Devon Kehoe 27” trout

Braden Pichon Port O’Connor - 48” 48lb black drum

Justin Davis Laguna Madre - 25 1/2” redfi sh

Omar Ledezma Arroyo City - 26” speckled trout Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

BROUG H T TO YOU B Y. . .

James Londenberg Rockport - 28” redfi sh

Elizabeth Wallace Corpus Christi - 30” trout

Jerry Watkins Packery Channel - twin snappers

Happy Birthday Trey Allen!

Born to fi sh; forced to go to school. Teaching litt le brother Spencer how to fi sh.

Bayfront - Seadrift , Tx

Rob Chapman Port O’Connor - 27” redfi sh

Clayton Chadwick Upper Laguna Madre - 26” trout

Cayce& Cayden Causey Seadrift - first trip

Ally Walters 30 Miles Off shore - 9# red snapper

Jaden Callaway Th ree Islands - 16” trout

Chase Chappell Matagorda Beach - redfi sh

Sophia Cabrera Galveston Bay - 22” trout

Sergio Canales Galveston N Jett y - 32” redfi sh

Please do not write on the back of photos.

Email photos with a description of your Catch of the Month to: Photos@tsfmag.com

Kent Pruett Abigail Fischer with dad, Randy John Ortmann Pass Cavallo - 40” redfi sh Marker 37 - first trout!

Matagorda Penin - 27 1/2” trout Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 75

GULF COAST

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

Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844

Oyster Soup Super Quick and Easy!

1 can of Pillsbury Italian Bread Dough

8 to 10 mushrooms

1 quart shucked oysters 2 cans (15 oz size) chicken broth

white pepper to taste ½ cup heavy whipping cream

1 bunch green onions

¼ cup of Romano cheese Bake bread according to instructions and place on rack to cool.

Drain and rinse oysters, set aside.

In large frying pan, combine chicken broth, green onions, and white pepper. Bring to mild boil and hold 3 minutes, then add oysters.

Cook 3-4 minutes or until oysters begin to curl. Reduce heat, add heavy cream and cheese, simmer 3 minutes, stirring often.

Slice bread 2” thick and remove part of the center to form a boat, place in soup bowl. Spoon several oysters into the hollow formed in each slice, using ladle, surround with remaining oysters and soup.

Easy Oysters Rockefeller Oysters Rockefeller was created in1899 by Jules Alciatore at Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans. Jules named his creation in honor of Nelson D. Rockefeller, richest man in America at the time, reflecting the green color (money) and rich nature of the sauce. According to legend, 1 box frozen spinach ¼ cup finely chopped shallots 24 oysters in shells 2 Tbs melted butter, divided 3 Tbs chopped parsley 3 cloves garlic, minced

Several drops Tabasco sauce dash of black pepper ¼ cup fine, dry seasoned bread crumbs Grated Romano Cheese rock salt

1. Place frozen spinach in glass bowl and cook in microwave 4 minutes.

Drain and press out excess moisture. Place spinach back in bowl, add 1 tablespoon melted butter, shallots, parsley and garlic. Return to microwave and cook 2 minutes.

2. Shuck oysters and rinse. Scrub deep half of shells very carefully.

3. In separate bowl, mix oysters with several drops of Tabasco sauce and a dash of pepper. Place oysters in cleaned shells and arrange in.

4. Fill shallow baking trays with rock salt to 1/2-inch depth (this helps hold the oyster shells level) nestle the shells into the salt and place one oyster covered in Tabasco-black pepper into each shell.

76 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

Jules carried the original recipe to his grave and all used today are attempts to copy. This quick and easy version is very delicious and a snap to fix. Oysters Rockefeller are great as a hors d’oeuvre and oyster lovers will probably jump at the chance to make a full meal of them.

5. Toss together bread crumbs and remaining tablespoon of butter melted.

6. Cover each oyster equally with spinach mixture, grated cheese and breadcrumbs.

7. Bake at 425º for 10 to 12 minutes, or until oysters begin to curl.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

Oysters Bienville

The story goes that Oyster’s Bienville was first created over 75 years ago at Arnaud’s Restaurant in New Orleans. This version was sent by Melinda Scheps…Thanks!

2/3 cup finely chopped mushrooms 1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 tablespoons finely chopped shallots 1 teaspoon salt

1/2 pound boiled shrimp, finely diced 1/4 cup parsley, finely diced

4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup brandy

1/2 cup heavy cream 6 tablespoons grated Romano cheese

24 oysters on the half shell, drained 4 pans rock salt

1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1 tablespoon flour 4 tablespoons dry bread crumbs

In large, heavy saucepan, sauté the 2/3 cup chopped mushrooms quickly in a small amount of vegetable oil. Remove from pan and set aside. In

Find great seafood for your soups, casseroles, gumbos, and other dishes at HIllman’s Seafood!

the same pan, melt the 4 tablespoons unsalted butter and render the garlic and shallots, stirring frequently until soft. Add the diced shrimp, then sprinkle in the flour. Stir all together, add the reserved mushrooms. Deglaze pan with the brandy while stirring constantly. Stir in the heavy cream, cook until smooth before adding Romano cheese, dry bread crumbs and parsley, salt, pepper and cayenne. A small amount of milk may be added if the mixture is too thick.

Remove from heat, allow to cool, and then refrigerate for about 1 1/2 hours.

Half an hour before you plan to bake the oysters, place the pans of rock salt in a preheated 500-degree F oven.

Wash oyster shells well, pat dry. Put oysters on shells, place six in each pan of rock salt. Spoon one heaping tablespoon of sauce over each oyster.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until well browned. Serves 4.

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www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 77

TE X AS SALT WATE R FISHING HOLES GALVESTO N YOUR AD COULD BE HERE for rates call 361.785.3420 or email ads@tsfmag.com

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CO R PUS TO POR T ISABE L P O R T O CO N N O R / RO CK P O R T

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

www.TSFMAG.com / March 2010 79

INDE X OF ADVE RTISE R S For more information about these advertisers visit: http://www.texassaltwaterfishingmagazine.com/contact_advertisers_product.html

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BUILDER AND BUILDER PRODUCTS 80 March 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com

71

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

TOURNAMENT / EVENTS

37

40

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67

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Texas International Boat Show 561-842-8808

53

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The Oaks at Bentwater 361-790-0001

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(none)

Floating Cabin Rentals 361-937-0868

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79

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63

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PLACES TO STAY Baffin on the Rocks 361-592-3474

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317-938-5414

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69 www.luresafetywrap.com

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TSFMag Subscription Form 361-785-3420

39

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Hillman’s Seafood 281-339-2897

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4

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Fishing Tackle Unlimited Rod Builder’s 281-481-6838

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FISHING RETAIL LOCATIONS

Academy Sports + Outdoors Inside Back Cover 281-646-5000

Fishing Tackle Unlimited Green Rod

51 www.yo-zuri.com

64 www.egonets.com

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Yo-Zuri 772-336-2280

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9 www.wileyx.com

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12 www.WaterlooRods.com

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15 www.berkley-fishing.com

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Heavy Duty Pro Stringer

Heavy duty 15’ stringer with Stainless steel pin (FTU312)

reg. $24.99

19.99 SALE

Sale prices good through March 31, 2010.

Sale good on in-stock items only, no rainchecks, substitutions or special orders.

Now Available!! Shop with us online at

www.fishingtackleunlimited.com Lay-A-Way and Gift Certificates Available

8933 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77024 713-827-7762