Texas Fish & Game August 2018

August 2018 | $3.95

The Evolution of Deer Hunting Rough Water Reservoirs Crankbaits, Clunn & Redfish 1808-August-CoverDIG.indd 1

Dove in the Texas Burbs Camo & Green Co-Existing

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Inside FISH & GAME www.FishGame.com Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent, family-owned outdoor publication in America. Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.

by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

ROY NEVES

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PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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UR WEBSITE, FISHGAME.COM, RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A FIT OF HICCUPS and, unfortunately, it took us longer than we would have liked to realize that an important feature had stopped working. For reasons still unknown, the “Contact Us” page simply quit forwarding messages to the appropriate email inboxes within our system. The delay in catching on to the problem was a simple case of our not hearing a silent alarm—emails failing to arrive are not so easy to notice, especially in the everyday deluge of email volume in the @fishgame.com electronic post office. But it finally dawned on us that no one was “Contacting Us” and we marshalled the I.T. troops to figure out what had gone wrong.

Tending to the glitch allowed us to fine-tune this communications system, making sure that anyone with a question or problem, from subscriptions to editorial, will reach the correct set of eyes and ears to deal with it quickly—as quickly as technologically and humanly possible.

Keeping all the plates spinning on a website like ours can be a real pain in the keester. But there is no denying the appeal of using the technology to achieve near-realtime communication with our readers and site visitors. There are actually two routes for contacting us.

First, as you see at the bottom of most regular columns, such as this one, you can send an email to our staff writers and editors. In our case, and in the case of Chester Moore, our direct emails are listed. Our other editors share an inbox at ContactUs@fishgame.com. Email sent to our personal inboxes or to the shared contributor inbox are the most immediate connection.

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The website method of Contacting Us is reached by hitting the CONTACT link in the upper right corner (illustrated below). This link will take you to the aforementioned Contact Page, which lists our various phone numbers and also has a form.

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Contents August 2018 | Vol. 35 • No. 4

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COVER STORY GUADALUPE RAINBOWS

Texas bird hunters have access to nearly a million acres of prime public hunting land.

by Chester Moore

ALSO IN AUGUST ROUGH WATER RESERVOIRS Avoiding disaster when surf’s up on big Texas Lakes.

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CAMO & GREEN CO-EXISTING Environmentalists and hunters have a lot more in common than either side may realize.

by Chester Moore

by CHESTER MOORE

Pike on the Edge

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by DOUG PIKE

Bare Bones Hunting

by LOU MARULLO

Bass University

One outdoor writer’s perspective on the changes deer hunting has seen in the last hundred years.

by LENNY RUDOW

Texas Tactical

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Open Season

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM

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Coastal Focus Columns

by Chester Moore

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Texas Hotspots

News of the Nation + Texas HotShots

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Sportsman’s Daybook Tides & Prime Fishing Times

DEPARTMENTS

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Why these three nouns rarely seen together in the same sentence make perfect sense.

by Chester Moore

GAR ATTACKS: FACT OR FICTION?

by PETE ROBBINS

Texas Boating

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CLUNN, CRANKBAITS & REDFISH

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

COLUMNS Editor’s Notes

EVOLUTION OF DEER HUNTING

by Grady Allen

story by Matt Williams

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SUBURBAN DOVES

Texas flyfishers need travel no further than the Hill Country for rainbow trout as big and feisty as anything in Colorado.

story by Steve LaMascus

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FEATURE ARTICLES

61 69 70

Letters

by TFG Readers

Industry Insider

by TFG Staff

Special Section

by TFG Staff

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Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven

Outdoor Directory Fish & Game Photos

by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Copperhead Counterfeits

articles. Keep up the good work. Thanks Joe!

I AM A LONG TIME FAN OF JOE Doggett’s outdoor writings. He knocks another over the fence with this informative, well written, much needed article. All true and no one else is as likely to concur with his “sad outdoor behavior” comment than I. Also a “snake catcher” from an early age growing up in southwest Houston, I was given, by my father, a hard copy of “Field guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians” by Roger Conant for my 7th birthday. Included was the advice, “If you’re going to catch them, you need to learn to identify them.” I also thought guys like Ross Allen and John Werler were near gods or, at least, some of the luckiest dudes with the coolest jobs in the world.

I continue to be dismayed by the misinformed, misguided and downright untrue ‘information’ that is passed around especially by mainstream media. A few years ago I saw local station news promoting a sensationalistic ‘news story’ that read something like “Dangerous poisonous snakes invade Houston!” First picture shown was a Eastern hognose that a homeowner in the Tanglewood subdivision had found in their swimming pool strainer and smashed. He was quoted as saying he ‘knew’ it was deadly venomous by its triangular head and luckily he had spotted it first and killed it otherwise he would have surely been bitten. (Maybe so—if he was a gulf coast toad!). Annoyed at the ignorance of the near ‘victim’ and completely pissed off at the news station for running the story I subsequently hounded that poor reporter and their news editor with a thorough ‘bad journalist’ tongue lashing (no real need for verification before publication as long as people watch, right?). Eventually she conceded, sort of, but only after contacting the Houston zoo for proper I.D., at my insistence.

You may guess correctly though that there was never a correction much less a 5 pm retraction made.

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Robert Lewis Editor: Joe is an awesome outdoorsman and world-class writer. We are blessed to have him as a columnist. Your points are well taken and they certainly fit within my worldview of how to respect nature.

Teen Poaching I READ THE ARTICLE BY CHESTER Moore on teen poaching in the April issue and I was shocked. I was not aware there was such a problem with this and salute your publication for raising awareness to the issue.

Mary Helms CHESTER MOORE’S COLUMN ON teen poaching a couple of issues back really hit me. To see teens kill whooping cranes and eagles made me stop and think. I know it seemed like Chester was investigating why this was going on and may not have a full answer but what is his gut on why this has started to happen?

Christopher Ryan Editor: It is something I am investigating and it will be very much ongoing so I honestly don’t know. In the early stages I am leaning toward there is some kind of rebellion and a desire for fame. The reason I say that is on more than one occasion they have bragged about their kills on social media. At the end of the day it is their fault but I am concerned we have created an environment that is easy for troubled youth to find dark leeway in these situations.

Ray Sasser MATT WILLIAMS, THANKS FOR your article “R.I.P. Ray Sasser” (Texas Freshwater, May 2018) I had the good fortune to |

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hunt early teal with Ray and my dad, Fred Buxton, of Houston, back some 15 yrs. ago.

The hunt was with B’Wanna Outfitters on leased farm land. Didn’t have many birds, but what flew over went home with us.

I was not one of his friends but Ray treated me with respect on that teal hunt and I never forgot that.

Seems like the good guys lost another member.

Rick Buxton

Game Wardens MY EXPERIENCES WITH GAME wardens have always been received with some trepidation that I have “forgotten” something.

How easy is it for something to slip through the cracks?! However, it seems that having checked to get things right before going out has paid off and I have never received a ticket.

My oldest son had come in from out of state for a three day duck hunt and fishing trip in a marshy area off of the Northern access of Garcitas Creek several miles inland.

I had bought his out of state 3-Day fishing & hunting license and a duck stamp. We were standing on a rickety old wooden bridge crossing Garcitas Creek when the game warden showed up. Checked everything, including the specs we had been catching. As he began checking our licenses I said I had not bought him a Saltwater stamp because we were quite aways inland. Well, we were just inside the highway boundary separating the need for a saltwater stamp.

He said, “There is an old country store up the road that I frequent and they have Saltwater Stamps. I trust you will go up there when you leave and get one.” Absolutely! And I did and have been thankful ever since for his thoughtfulness!

Skipper Strong

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Email your comments to: editor@fishgame.com

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7/7/18 10:26 AM

EDITOR’S Notes

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

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WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN I learned that Aaron Rose of Orange went missing while kayaking off the coast of Honduras.

Rose and his family were taking a few days sabbatical before conducting mission work on the island of Roatan.

Rose, who had just graduated salutatorian at LCM High School and is a family friend.

Actually, he is more than that. Aaron is family. His little sisters are like nieces to me and my wife Lisa, his brother Nathan was in the first small group I led at church and we work hand in hand with his parents on everything from feeding the hungry to restoring the lost.

So, when I got the message on Facebook that Aaron went missing my heart sank.

Lisa and I were walking out of kid’s church around 8:30 on Wednesday night and just stopped dead in our tracks. Prayers went up and phone calls went out.

A few minutes later, the principle of Community Christian School (same building as church) Laurie Beard called me and asked if we could get a prayer vigil going.

After a few social media announcements people started filtering in.

As we began intercession, my mind could not help but think of the dire situation he was in.

Currents can move surprisingly fast and can catch those unaccustomed to them off guard.

Four years ago, I hooked a huge jack crevalle at the southern tip of the Sabine Jetties.

Two hours later, we were better than 10 miles out floating on an outgoing tide.

We however were in a 24 foot bay boat with a working motor. Aaron was in a kayak at night without a light.

He was also in rough waters with reports

“ People who love the outdoors love to push boundaries but sometimes the boundaries push back.

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Lost At Sea

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after he was lost, Aaron Rose was found. He was sunburned and a bit dehydrated but alive and well considering what he had been through.

I am sure there are things that he would have done different to avoid the situation happening in the first place since hindsight is always 20/20. However, sometimes stuff happens.

The question I am asking is, do you and I have what it takes to survive at sea alone and in the dark? What about getting lost in T E X A S

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a deep forest?

Many of the things we engage in the outdoors are solitary ventures. Aaron was wanting to get a good look at a beautiful sunset.

How many times have been out in the Gulf and said, “I wonder if the fish are biting at those rigs?” You know the ones just on the horizon.

Or maybe you were hunting elk or mule deer in Colorado and wondered about that valley just a few miles away. The big ones have to be there, right?

People who love the outdoors love to push boundaries but sometimes the boundaries push back. That is what makes it exciting, but it is also what can create tragedies.

Do we have what it takes to go it alone?

Young Aaron Rose sure did, and his story is inspiring.

We all make mistakes out there and over the years plenty of mine have been documented on these pages.

It is something to ponder as Aaron’s amazing story makes international headlines.

As someone who loves the Roses like family, having my friend Tracy Ellis call and say, “He’s been found alive and well” was the greatest feeling of relief I have had in a long, long time.

The helicopter rescue video that went viral around the globe was filmed in a plane

by Pastor Tristan Monterroso and when they started lifting Aaron him you hear him exclaim, “Thank you Jesus!”

Thank you indeed.

of 20 plus mile an hour winds making searching at night difficult.

And he was not in the good ole’ US of A. He was in a foreign land and anytime there is a language barrier or simply a poorer nation, emergency response can be challenging.

Another friend from church Frances Collins lived there for a number of years and started making calls. Then our friend Pastor Tristan Moterroso of Roatan got involved and the search was on. The people of that region did an amazing job of getting out and searching for Aaron and deserve full credit for all of their efforts.

United States officials eventually got involved with the search and some 18 hours

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7/6/18 1:55 PM

PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Changing Lines

up.

I’m more comfortable leaving braid on a real for longer, because braid is comprised of so many individual fibers. A nick or ding in braid isn’t as likely to result in catastrophic failure. As a test, I’ve had the same braid on one reel for nearly four years now. I wouldn’t use that reel in a tournament, but it sees plenty of recreational duty…and hasn’t failed yet—Yet. One of the keys to replacing line regularly is to remember when you last dumped your reels and refilled them. My radio listeners had several ideas to mark that date.

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HANGE IS INEVITABLE… except when it comes to the line on frugal anglers’ reels. Squeezing an extra month or year out of old “string” eventually will cost you a big fish.

Over a three-week period in late May and early June, I burned up a considerable amount of radio time talking about why and when to hang fresh line on fishing reels.

The “why” part is easy.

Older line, especially the monofilaments and fluorocarbons, react to sunlight and extreme temperature swings like Superman reacted to kryptonite. Both lines weaken, albeit gradually, over time, and no amount of time in a climate-controlled environment will stop the destruction.

Most unfortunate is that your degrading line doesn’t come with any indicators as to how weak it’s become or where along that footballfield’s length it is weakest. You’ll keep chunking, keep winding, keep catching your usual keepers even as the quality of the line flags.

Then, when you finally hook that big trout or red or bass or whatever, you’ll feel the line suddenly go slack. A break will have occurred for no apparent reason—except the most obvious one. You hadn’t changed that line since gasoline was two bucks a gallon.

I’ve never been one to follow my own advice, but even I take the time at least every year or so to dump the line on my reels and replace either all or most of it.

With mono and fluorocarbon, I’d be uncomfortable leaving that line on a reel longer than a year. It probably would function perfectly well for two years—unless it was pressed to its maximum.

That’s when you need it, that’s why you paid a little extra for premium line—big bite, chance of a lifetime. That’s not the time to be wondering whether your line’s going to hold

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That’s not the time to be wondering whether your line’s going to hold up.

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Mine was antiquated, but still reliable. Peel off a short piece of duct tape, affix it to the rod just above the butt, and use a waterproof marker to note the reel-fill date.

One man suggested refilling when you replace your fishing license, which is another annual event for most of us. Another, after hearing my duct-tape idea, went higher tech and suggested adding Outlook reminders to our mobile phones.

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see a piece of tape on the rod.

The most frequent obstacle to regular line changes—and it was—no surprise, was cost.

Braided lines are not inexpensive. Neither are premium single-filament lines. You can lighten the blow to your wallet, as many fishermen do, a couple of ways.

One that I’ve seen used with braid by many anglers is to peel aging line off a reel and onto a spool, then put it right back on the same reel in reverse order. The former front end becomes the back end, and the new front end probably hasn’t seen daylight since its original winding onto the spool.

So long as you don’t anticipate hooking big fish that make long runs, I wouldn’t be opposed to that practice. There’s a chance you might stick a real speedster, say a jack crevalle in the surf. So, remember as that fish unwinds your line on its initial run, the farther it goes, the weaker the line that’s coming into the game.

Another legitimate money-saving method is to partially fill the spool with monofilament, mostly as a placeholder, and then “top” the reel with 60-80 yards of fresh braid or whatever you consider your go-to fishing line.

Most inshore and freshwater fish we hook, if we’re using the correct rod/reel combinations and have our drags set correctly, are unlikely to go any deeper into a spool. If you have a measured length of mono backing, it can serve as a caution light of sorts. When you see mono, you know you’re down to your final 40 or 50 yards of line and need to adjust your fight accordingly.

Your line is the only connection you have to the fish. There’s no “second string” that can jump into the game if the connection fails. Invest in the best line you can afford in a quantity sufficient to fill however many reels you use.

Every cast we make could land on the nose of the biggest fish we’ll ever hook. Don’t risk that rare chance to old, tired line.

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Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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PHOTO:

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THE GUADALUPE RIVER RISES IN the Texas Hill Country west of Kerrville, fed by cool, clear limestone springs that spring from the Edwards Aquifer. From there it grows, gathers speed, and runs through Kerrville, New Braunfels, Seguin, and on to its mouth where in empties into the Gulf of Mexico at San Antonio

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Bay. Our state fish, the Guadalupe bass, was named for this river where it was, I assume, first identified.

Just outside New Braunfels the Guadalupe runs into Canyon Lake, a deep, rocky impoundment. Canyon Dam is a bottom draw dam and by some unknown to me physical oddity, the

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water that flows out of the dam is much cooler than the water that flows into the reservoir above. In fact, the water that flows into the Guadalupe below the dam is cold; cold enough to support trout for several miles down from the dam. This is a godsend for Texas fly-fishers who love trout and would otherwise have to travel

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Guide Greg Smith displays a Guadalupe River rainbow caught

by Todd Tate.

few weeks to sate my passion.

My fishing buddy, Todd Tate, and I, met our fishing guide, Greg Smith, at a small campground on the Guadalupe. I’m sorry I can’t tell you where it was. It isn’t that I don’t want to, I just can’t. You see, I was lost most of the time. The river road winds and twists and I am unfamiliar with it. We launched the raft and ferried his truck and trailer to another spot, then drove my SUV back to the raft.

It was a cool, gray, cloudy, wet day. It rained, lightly most of the time, but hard enough that a raincoat became a necessity. A perfect day to be fishing for trout.

Greg pushed the raft into the water and immediately began rigging our fly rods with his own leaders and flies. No guide trusts the client’s knots, and I certainly didn’t have any of the flies he tied to my line. He used an artificial egg and worm rig that I had never seen before. It was rigged below a strike indicator and fished like a weighted nymph. That is all I can tell you about it because he swore me to secrecy. He told us the fishing might be a bit slow, and I guess it was, but the size of the fish far outweighed the time between strikes. I was expecting trout between 12 and, maybe, 14 inches. I was to be surprised.

It was long enough before the first strike that I was beginning to think this was going to be a nice float on a pretty river. The giant cypress trees along the banks were scarred and broken for what seemed like an unbelievable distance above the water, a remembrance of the big flood that cut a new canyon below the dam and washed away boats, cars,

to Northern New Mexico or Colorado to practice their chosen sport.

Strangely enough, the Guadalupe River chapter of Trout Unlimited (GRTU) is the largest chapter of that august organization in the world, with over 5000 members.

Each winter the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and GRTU stock thousands of rainbow trout into the river below Canyon Dam. This, along with the resident trout that survive the hot Texas summers, make the Guadalupe, I recently read, one of the top 50 trout streams in the United States!

All the stocking takes place in the winter. Even with the effects of the bottom draw dam, the river gets hot enough in the summer so that many trout die and the survivors are sometimes hanging on by their finger nails. Fishing for them in the summer months is all but impossible, and any trout caught during the hot part of the year would probably die when released. The months of January, February, and March are best.

I am a gun writer by profession, but for more than 30 years I have been, as my old friend and former editor-in-chief of Texas Fish & Game magazine, the late Don Zaidle, once said, “a closet fly-fisherman.” The truth is I love fly-fishing every bit as much as I do shooting and hunting, and as I get older, and hunting gets more and more expensive, I think more and more about casting flies to rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout.

In fact, I generally manage to take a long trip to the mountains of Colorado, Montana, Idaho, or Washington every summer for a 10

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RVs, houses, and sadly, a few people. We saw a couple of bald eagles, an osprey, a kingfisher, and numerous other birds. Then Todd set up on a solid trout.

Todd is a novice fly fisherman, having been on only one trip to Colorado, but he fought the trout like an old pro. Greg was helpful, telling him to keep the rod up, let the trout run when it wanted to, and to reel in when the fish would let him. The old hands say: “When the trout does nothing, you do something. When the trout does something, you do nothing.” At times it seemed that the trout was destined to win the battle. Todd’s rod would bend into a tight arc and the drag on his reel would sing, but pretty soon the fish tired and Todd led it to Greg’s net. I was amazed when I saw it in the net. I guessed it at 20 inches. Greg said it was 19. Who cares?

What mattered to Todd was that it was the largest trout he had ever landed and would have been a trophy in any river.

We had fished on a fair distance when my indicator barely bobbled. I set the hook and was fast to a good trout. How good? I don’t know. I did something wrong and it broke a 5X leader like it was sewing thread. Greg got a good laugh out of that. Shortly before he had asked me if I had ever broken a 5X tippet playing a fish. I thought for a moment and told him truthfully that I couldn’t remember doing so. After that fish cleaned my clock I heard him snicker and say under his breath: “Yeah. Never broke a 5x.” Well, there is a first time for everything.

These fish were biting so softly that the little white bobber would just barely jiggle on the water, sort of a nervous jitter. I missed a few strikes before I figured it out, but I finally got it, I think. Greg wasn’t so sure.

The next trout bit, I set the hook, and was amazed at the power of the fish. It took off and I let the rod fight it until I could strip in a few feet of line. Then little by little I got the big rainbow close enough for Greg to net it. I am going to claim it was at least 20 inches. Since I caught it on a size 20 hook, I am claiming membership in the late Arnold Gringrich’s 20/20 Club -- a 20-inch trout caught on a size 20 fly. This was, also, at least as large as the biggest rainbow trout I ever caught and I have fished in some of the best water in the country.

Soon Todd was into another trout. This one fought just as well as the others, but again, Todd played it well and got it to the net. This one was “only” about 18 inches.

PHOTOS: STEVE LAMASCUS

7/6/18 2:03 PM

The author’s “20-20 Club” trout.

Wow! My next trout was a brown about 15 inches. Greg says that for some reason the brown trout on the Guadalupe are not as large as the rainbows. This may be because of the extensive rainbow-stocking program.

But I’ll bet that somewhere on the river is an old brown, probably a nocturnal old cannibal, cuddled up in a deep run or in a cutbank under a cypress root that is big enough to scare the pants off a fly fisherman.

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My last hookup was the most exciting of the day. I set the hook and the trout took off in a blistering run. The drag on my reel sang as the trout took line until I began to worry that he was going to take it all. Then something happened and the line parted. I reeled in and sat there sadly staring at a gnarled, naked leader blowing in the wind under a white strike indicator the size of a marble.

I really would like to have seen that fish. It felt much stronger than any of the others

we landed, but those we lose are always the biggest. Right?

That was the end. We had numerous strikes, several hookups that we couldn’t land, and landed 4 large trout that would have been good in any of the gold medal water that I have fished. Not once in 30 years have I had a day where the smallest trout caught was 15 inches and the average closer to twenty. I was well satisfied. I have travelled a lot farther and spent a lot more money for much poorer fishing. And all of this took place in Texas, a place known for its big lakes and bass fishing.

If you would like to book a trip to the Guadalupe or maybe the North Platte with Greg Smith, you can reach him at one of these addresses: River Hills Outfitters 512-577-9592, Greg@RiverHillsOutfitters.net NorthPlatteLodge.com 307-237-1182 The Reef Fly Shop, Northplatteflyfishing. com 307-232-9128

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7/6/18 2:03 PM

EXAS HUNTERS HAVE an incredible deal available to them.

For only $48, hunters can purchase an Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) and have an opportunity to pursue their outdoors passions on more than 900,000 acres of land.

That permit price has stayed at $48 for a very long time and has given many hunters good opportunities to venture afield thanks to the Texas Parks &

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Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Probably the best deal they have going are the public dove hunting tracts, many of which are located in or around suburban areas in key dove hunting regions of the states.

Five years ago, TPWD received a grant from the Farm Services Administration under USDA that expanded acreage in the program particularly in areas in close proximity to urban centers.

Doves in particular are an important

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part of the program.

“Our stats have shown hunters will drive about 70 miles to dove hunt. We try to get as many areas within that distance of urban centers with the idea a hunter can leave it noon, hunt until dark and then return home at a decent hour,” said TPWD biologist Terry Turney.

Dove (and small game) leases are distributed from South Texas (Brooks County) to the Panhandle (Hansford County) and from the Beaumont region

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PHOTO COMPOSITE: TF&G

7/7/18 10:38 AM

Texas Bird Hunters Have Access to Almost a Million Acres of Prime Hunting Within Short Drives from Urban Centers story by Chester Moore

(Orange County) to far West Texas (Hudspeth County).

Around 80 percent of the acreage are located in the Dallas/Ft Worth (Reg. 4), Austin/Waco (Reg. 6), Houston/ Beaumont (Reg. 7), and San Antonio/ Corpus Christi (Reg. 8) public hunting regions.

This aspect of the public hunting program began in 1994 as a pilot program to benefit both hunters and agricultural producers in Texas. Their short team

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public hunting lease program, sought to lease private lands during the dove season for use by purchasers of the APH permit.

• Youth hunts were added in 2002 TPWD now offers Youth Only and Youth Adult areas

It accomplishments are as follows:

• Numerous leases are available near

• Since the first year, the program has

San Antonio, Houston and the DallasFort Worth areas.

found acceptance from both hunters and participating landowners. Participants are

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enthusiastic.

The program has grown to from 10 units in six counties and 4,375 acres to many times that amount.

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ing the most memorable and exciting squirrel hunts of my life. It was fun and cheap.

It might be tempting to look at this program as something that benefits older and middle aged hunters resisting pressures to quit hunting altogether. And while that is undoubtedly a positive aspect, it is the youth that may benefit the most.

Young hunters can find places to hunt without breaking their budget and forge their own traditions. We can promote hunting to this generation until we are blue in the face but if they cannot afford to go, efforts are futile.

TPWD has hit a home run with the APH program and their entire public hunting program.

The results are an incredible amount of acreage to hunt for only $48, which is less than eating out these days. There is no greater value to be found in the outdoors market and this year in particular hunters are in for treat as the program moves onward and

“The white wings coming out of the city (San Antonio area) are amazing and the mourning doves are covering the properties up. We have leases within easy driving distance of all the major metropolitan areas and will continue looking for prime properties as the program goes along,” Turney said.

TPWD is using the funds to get more long-term leases on some of the properties which is a benefit to both landowners and hunters who can take advantage of intimately learning a location over the course of several seasons.

An APH permit is not just about dove hunting of course but gives dozens of options for deer, hogs, pheasant, waterfowl and a variety of small game. Having grown up in East Texas, the public hunting program was an important part of my hunting experience as Timber Company lands were leased in key areas and allowed for convenient access to deer and squirrel hunting.

I remember during my first year of college getting a permit and after class (and occasionally in lieu of class) driving up to a remote creek on a lightly pressured unit and enjoy-

White-winged dove in the public land just outside San Antonio are said to be “amazing.”

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leaving for the day.

• The check station will open one hour before legal shooting hours, except on waterfowl hunts when the station will open approximately two hours before legal shooting hours.

• The department reserves the right to limit the number of hunters, cancel or modify hunts or hunt dates, alter bag limits, or modify hunt procedures at any time to address resource and safety concerns.

• Refer to Prohibited Acts on Public Hunting Lands for additional information and restrictions.

Youth and Youth/Adult Hunts by Regu-

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upward.

Texas hunting access is getting harder to come by unless you are at least upper middle class.

With this program, all hunters can afford to hit the field in pursuit of our top game birds-the mourning dove and its beautiful white-winged cousin.

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Daily Dove Use Permits SOME PUBLIC LANDS OFFER DAILY USE permits and the bulk of them are for waterfowl and dove hunting.

A $20 fee is charged for each Regular Permit issued, however, the fee will be waived for youth hunters (under age 17) and for persons possessing an Annual Public Hunting Permit.

Requirements & limits • A valid hunting license and any required stamp endorsements are required to participate in these hunts.

• All participants must check in and out each day at the area check station before entering the hunt area and before

As a bonus, APH permits allow other types of hunting, from hogs to deer.

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lar Permit There is no minimum age to participate in these hunts. Youth must be accompanied by a supervising adult who is 18 years of age or older. Youth hunts are designated as either Youth Only or Youth/Adult. During Youth Only Hunts, only the youth is authorized to hunt.

During Youth/Adult Hunts, both youth and adults may hunt and require that each hunting party contain at least one hunting youth under 17 years of age.

Go to https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild// hunt/public/regular_daily_permits/ for a list of current areas offering permits.

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7/7/18 10:42 AM

IN THE BEGINNING MAN KILLED ANIMALS as a necessity for food, clothing and turning bones into tools. Sporting aspects crept in with Teddy Roosevelt.

He stimulated masses of Eastern hunters that could afford it to satisfy their urge for the outdoors and hunting, turning hunting into a sport; nearly eliminating the American Bison, a natural resource in the process.

About 80 years ago deer hunting was still done for meat using a 30-30 Winchester and a pocketknife. Eight hour work days and super markets increased the ability for the average man to hunt. The desire to eat the game he brought home is still with us.

In 1965, Leonel Garza of Freer Texas, recognizing the monetary value deer hunting brought to the communities, inaugurated the first big deer contest, called “Muy Grande”. Hunters throughout the State flocked to Freer to participate. It began

with only one category, “Widest Spread”, many others have been added since, Ladies, Youth, bow, and about 70 others. Nearly every town in an area that supports a deer processing facility and motels has a contest now. Muy Grande remains the most prestigious.

The Boone and Crockett Club, gold standard for scoring whitetail deer, began keeping records in 1932. For whitetail they have two categories, typical, focusing on symmetry with deductions for inches that were not symmetrical and non-typical, which focuses on total inches with no deductions. Points must exceed, one-eighth inch or more, strict rules are applied concerning fair chase, causing only those deer within low fences to be considered. Every hunter=s goal became getting his name in the Abook@. Pope and Young include a category for scoring deer enclosed in high fences. The contests began using B & C scoring as a guide, but were required to change that when Texas landowners began receiving aid from Texas Parks & Wildlife to raise highly managed deer, those genetically improved. An explanation of this is later in the piece.

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Beverly Hensley took this 69-point buck on managed land in Wharton County.

those deer, meeting certain Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing standards. All deer in the captive facility must be identified with proper markings (ear tags / tattoos). Deer breeder permits and all applicable reporting requirements, including release site registration, are managed through the TWIMS Deer Breeder online system. More information on deer breeding can be found at: https://tpwd. texas.gov/business/permits/land/wildlifemanagment/deerbreeder/.

People utilizing the deer breeder permit do so for many different reasons. Some raise captive deer to sell to other breeders, some raise deer to release on their own property, and others raise deer to sell to others who want to release deer on their property.

Some of the release sites are “put and take” operations where bucks are released and harvested in the same year while other properties release deer (bucks and does) with the intent to improve the “genetics” of the deer population on the ranch, ultimately with hopes of producing bucks with exceptional antler quality. It’s not uncommon for breeders to raise 200+ B&C bucks in the captive pens. For some hunters this is distasteful and they prefer to not hunt deer grown in pens and then released, while other hunters don’t mind the origin of the deer, but just enjoy the hunt.

With all the programs, parties had their criticisms but they have been overcome with the current positive effects for ranchers, TPWD, and the public. Quarantines have been imposed for several diseases, most recently CWD, an extremely contagious dis-

Previously to get in the “book” meant getting leases where the big racks are grown.

The majority in Texas are from the Golden Triangle; Webb, LaSalle, Duval, McMullen and Maverick Counties or those controlled by large ranches, consisting of huge tracts of pasture land laden with excellent natural nutrition from forbs, mesquite beans, etc., rain is the catalyst that prompts large antlered native bucks to demand the highest prices in Texas for leases or hunts. Gold is needed.

The drive from Houston is 200 miles but hunters come that far and farther to hunt South Texas and parts of Mexico with its added attractions. The coming of eight hour work days and super markets made it possible for the average person to fulfill his dream of hunting deer in South Texas, even missing football games.

When deer began to produce more revenue than cattle and goats the rancher was justified in building high fences and making the improvements necessary to acquire quality genetics.

TPWD continued aiding ranchers by creating several programs i.e. Deer Breeder Program—the deer breeder permit authorizes individuals to hold white-tailed and mule deer in captivity for the purpose of propagation. A Deer Breeder permit has an annual fee of $200. A person who possesses a valid deer breeder permit may buy, sell, trade, transfer, and release captive deer. Deer breeders are required to keep detailed inventories of deer in the pens and all activities associated with 18

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ease found only in the deer family, and anthrax, which has been with us for decades, (found in all mammals). Rules to transport deer have been changed to maximize protection needed in times of quarantines.

Programs also have given them latitude to manage their deer and harvest an overpopulated herd earlier. Extending the days to hunt has been accepted by everyone.

Enrollment deadlines and other information can be found on the Internet.

The big deer Beverly Hensley harvested this year was taken in Wharton County.

This scenario allows every county to surpass scores that had been available only to a chosen few.

Some purists say the sport is gone.

Management only gives a choice, there are several to choose from, try it before you make an opinion.

Hensley hunted two full days, she didn’t get a glimpse of this buck until late on the second day, and then it was trotting away at 75 yards. She’s an excellent shot, but still whispered “stop stop stop”, in very short breaths of excitement, just before the buck started out of the trail. Her 25-06 left no doubt of the merits of change. The deer showed a rough score of 474 inches and 69 total points. She still has to wait until certified official scorers have determined it.

Most deer hunters would rather know their lease has deer on it than pay big lease money and find out there are few deer to be found.

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PHOTO: GRADY ALLEN

7/6/18 2:12 PM

Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

Time for Last Minute Hunting Preparations GO time!

Your stands should have been checked for loose, noisy parts. You should have had time to scout out your lease to make sure there have been no major changes.

If you find a cooler day in August—and I know that is asking a lot—then you should put any remaining stands up and get them in place so whitetails can get used to the new trees in the woods.

One thing that some hunters do, is wait until the last minute to sight their bow or rifle in to ensure a humane shot.

Recently, a good friend of mine showed me how he fine tunes his sights every year. It makes so much sense that I am very surprised I had not heard of this before.

Get some duct tape and tape a vertical line on your target. Your only concern right now should be whether you are hitting right, left or center of that piece of tape. It does not matter whether you are shooting a bow or rifle, the concept is the same.

I prefer bow hunting so I will address how to adjust your pins so that you are spot-on for every shot. You should plan on shooting four arrows each time you try to adjust your pins.

This will give you a good idea whether you’re shooting correctly even if one arrow doesn’t fly true.

The important thing to remember is that for sighting in, you should be about 10 yards or closer to your target. If, at 10 yards, you find yourself shooting a little left of the tape, you may think that it is good enough to take a deer.

However, the farther you are from your target, the more your shot will go to the left.

By the time you shoot at 30 yards, you

could be 8 to 10 inches off target. That will result in a miss or worse yet, a wounded animal.

Also, remember that your muscles will become fatigued after a short while. That could be the reason you are not consistent with your shooting. Take plenty of rest. Then after a while, go back at it with rested muscles.

In my bow hunting classes, I can see distress on young faces when I try to explain which way to adjust your pin. The easiest explanation I can say is to simply follow the arrow (or bullet hole). If you shoot to the left, then adjust your

“ Take plenty of rest.

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RE YOU READY FOR A SUCcessful hunting season? If not, you still have some last minute things to take care of. So get to it! It’s

pin to the left. Conversely, if you shoot to the right, adjust your pin to the right.

You will not need to move your pins too far.

Just a few clicks on your sight might be enough.

If you are moving them manually, then just a small nudge here and there will do the trick.

Keep shooting those same four arrows until they are in the center of the vertical strip of tape. If you find that one arrow is always off target and the rest are perfect, I suggest marking the fletching with numbers. This will confirm that it’s the same arrow causing you trouble every time.

Once all your arrows are in the center of the tape, then remove the arrows and remove the tape. Now use a new piece of duct tape and T E X A S

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place it horizontally on your target.

You will need a range finder for the horizontal shots. If you shoot a bow, then get an exact range of 20 yards (which is where most of your shots at game will be). Shoot those same four arrows to see whether you’re high or low.

Again, simply follow the arrow (or bullet hole).

If you shoot high, raise you pin and if you shoot low, lower your pin. It will not take long before all four of your arrows will be aligned in the center of that piece of horizontal tape.

Of course, you will have to do that with every distance you shoot. 20, 30 or 40 yards will all have to be adjusted separately. That’s why I like to finalize my vertical shooting first and then work on the horizontal shots the following day. It does not take much to tire your muscles. You might not think you are getting tired; but believe me, it is better if you wait and come back to sight-in with well-rested muscles.

Now that your arrows are shooting at the center of both pieces of tape, it’s time to remove the tape and replace it with a very small piece of paper or cardboard. A matchbook cover works great. Remember the famous line in the movie “The Patriot.” “Aim small, miss small.” You will hit that matchbook cover almost every time, and that is what you want to accomplish.

For bow hunters, remember to only shoot your known accuracy range. If that is 20 yards, then stick to shooting only 20-yard shots. It might be only 10 yards, and that is fine. Trust me, you WILL have shots at 10 yards.

For rifle hunters, you will find it to be much easier to adjust your sights to be perfect. For one thing, you will not need to wait a day before adjusting the horizontal sight. Fatigue is out of the equation with a rifle. The concept is the same. If you follow the bullet hole and adjust accordingly, you will shoot bullseyes every time.

I wish my friend had told me about this years ago. It is so much easier now to be sighted in for that perfect shot.

Have fun and hunt safe.

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MAGINE WALKING INTO A TRENDY COFfee shop in Austin, Texas where an indie rock singer is set up with an acoustic guitar singing mournful tunes about how they can’t afford the latest iPhone and other horrors of modern society.

Gathered in a private room to the side is a group of “environmentalists” sipping on a mix of oddly flavored coffees and really expensive tea. The conversation gets heated about the exploits of the local Republican city councilman who puts out too many carbon emissions in his diesel.

They give a collective sigh when notes from the G20 Summit make no mention of shrinking polar icecaps.

Mention “climate change” (a phenomenon that no one has ever explained how to really do anything about) and you’ll experience the full power of virtually every “green group,” the American and European media, and many college students looking for a reason to vent.

A collection is taken, and the rich and privileged socialites of the community (who would normally not be caught dead in a place like this) sign checks that would astound the average person. But mention how tea plantations are causing the Asian elephant to spiral toward extinction by depleting habitat

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and increasing elephant kills and you get... crickets.

That tea they are drinking is too good, after all.

At the highest levels of the conservation world on divergent sides of the aisle, a handful of elites with great power do what elites tend to do. They hog the limelight and opportunity for themselves and forsake the most pressing issues. They’re too busy hobnobbing to get real conservation work done.

The cash cow of the “green movement” and its singular focus on climate change has birthed a monster that is bilking billions from the public. It’s also directly taking funds that might otherwise do things that can be tangibly measured.

Neglected are things such as purchasing South America rainforest to save it from commercial ranching or linking habitat corridors to establish safe travel ways for tigers in Asia.

Does anyone really think any of the money going toward “climate change” is making a difference or ever will? Even if America were to acquiesce to the strongest emissions standards, do you really think China and other developing countries will?

Really?!

When was the last time (other than two paragraphs ago) you heard anything about saving the rainforest? It was the thing to save in the 1990s.

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discussing their elite hunting exploits than dealing with a big problem here at home. They have influence and resources.

Yet they are silent. Why? In my opinion, it is because it does not involve any of the pet projects of industry leaders, and it sheds bad light on the hunting industry itself. Read press releases from hunting organizations, and you will get the idea their members actually go hunting to save wildlife.

The reality is they go hunting because they enjoy it. Saving wildlife is a side benefit. Many hunters work actively to raise funds for conservation, but when you have young men from hunting families actively killing protected species it looks bad. In fact, it looks really bad, and no one wants to touch it on the hunting side.

This has to change, and we must take off our blinders for not only the sake of wildlife, but the teens themselves.

Poaching is not hunting. It is the antithesis of legal, regulated hunting, and it damages wildlife populations in terrible ways. We need

Over the years waterfowl hunting conservation groups have come the closest to bridging the gap between straight environmental protection and hunting.

Equal hypocrisy exists on the hunting side, and I have covered it well on these pages. It’s easy to confront the animal rightists if you work in this industry, but not so easy to stand up against your own industry. Whether it’s the hook and bullet sector or the “green side” of things there is good work being done by well-intentioned people making a difference.

The hunting industry doesn’t have the guts to face the deep and serious poaching problem in the United States. At least I haven’t seen anything of the sort as mentioned in the July issue.

Programs such as Operation Game Thief do a great job of helping, as do our brave game wardens, park rangers and biologists in the field.

I am talking about the industry movers and shakers on the big committees. You know, the ones much more interested in

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A prime case of where hunting interests and non hook and bullet conservation groups can work together in North America is the jaguar.

This baby was photographed at the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin and many zoos like it are participating in a survival plan for the species. Jaguar poaching is increasing and major hunting groups with experience in anti-poaching efforts could make a big difference in the future of this species.

But will they?

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to confront it here in America before it becomes an epidemic. Unfortunately, this kind of contempt for wildlife can be contagious. Wise stewardship should be celebrated whether it’s enacted by Ducks Unlimited or the the National Wildlife Federation.

It must stop because numerous species they could be helping are in peril.

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CRANKBAITS ARE MY FAVORite lure for catching redfish when the fish get a little finicky.

Yes, crankbaits.

These highly versatile lures can allow anglers a level of precision crucial to catching spooky fish and offer an amazing ability to cover large tracts of water in short order. This has earned crankbaits a permanent place in my saltwater tackle box as a frequent tool in the pursuit of redfish.

A great option for big reds on crankbaits is in the Intracoastal from the just past the Gulf and upwards of two miles north. If you run this area on your depth finder, you will notice large pods of baitfish that sort of stack up. Most of the time it’s menhaden,

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but often it can be mullet. Both will draw in these big reds, which tend to suspend below the bait.

A deep diving crankbait is the key here as these reds will suspend as deep as 20 feet. You can cast smaller crankbaits or use trolling plugs run through the baitfish schools at a medium pace.

If you don’t want to troll for these fish, drifting is a viable option. Drop some marker buoys around the baitfish schools, then drift over them while throwing the diving crankbaits. Be very mindful of where you’re getting strikes and mark the depth. Most of the time, these reds will be in a very specific spot and might not deviate

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even a few feet.

Coastal river systems are also great for catching reds on crankbaits. Target the areas where these canals empty large marsh ponds or dump into a bay on outgoing tides.

Reds gather in the deepest holes and absolutely hammer the menhaden, shrimp and crabs coming out of the marsh. These canals typically range from three to six feet deep.

Where you have adjoining canals or the edge of a pond, tidal flow creates potholes. They can be as shallow as six inches or as deep as two feet, and they are like magnets for reds.

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recommended.

I never really learned how to catch river reds until I got to fish with my alltime fishing hero Rick Clunn.

I learned all about how to match a crankbait to a rod when I accompanied him on the Sabine River in 2013, before cut-off time for a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament.

“Super sensitive rods will actually work against you when fishing with crankbaits. A fish will actually ‘push’ the lure as it pursues it, and if you are fishing a super sensitive (graphite/ composite) rod you will set the hook before the fish actually has the lure,” Clunn said.

Clunn was speaking of bass when

he gave me this information, but I immediately transferred the concept to redfish—and it works.

Clunn collaborated with Wright & McGill to create the S-Glass Series of rods that use old fiberglass technology with modern flare. These are the rods I use for my crankbait action.

I’ve had serious success everywhere from the Mississippi River near Venice, Louisiana to the Sabine Jetties on the Texas/Louisiana border. There are numerous fiberglass crankbait rods on the market now, and they can make

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a huge difference in the pursuit of redfish.

Redfish are far from dumb fish that will hit anything. Anyone who has truly pursued them for any length of time knows they can be quite challenging, which is why crankbaits are crucial for the coastal angler.

Crankbaits allow a level of precision fishing not possible with any other kind of lure, and that makes a bull redfish-sized difference.

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Avoiding Disaster When Surf’s Up on Big

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EXAS WEATHER PATterns have a history of instability. Just because a day on the lake starts off nice is no guarantee it will stay that way. Calm water can turn into a nasty froth of rollers and whitecaps in a matter of minutes.

I’ve seen it happen more than once.

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ting into trouble is to stay off the water whenever foul weather is a possibility.

Watch or listen to the weather forecast before you go and plan your trips accordingly.

If the forecast calls for 15 to 20 mph winds with gusts to 30 mph, it’s a safe bet it will be ripping across unprotected water. Legitimate four- to six-footers are

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a distinct possibility on major reservoirs like Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Texoma, Livingston and Amistad when big winds are howling.

It’s worst when the wind blows in a single direction that maximizes the distance over water. This is sometimes referred to as “fetch length.”

It might be smart to boat another

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Texas Reservoirs | story & photos by Matt Williams day when big wind is in the picture.

Otherwise, adjust your launching and fishing locations to wind-protected areas so you can avoid the possibility of getting into a bind.

Operating a boat safely in rough water is almost an art form. You need calm nerves and precision touch when it comes to throttle and steering control.

One wrong move and you could wind up getting all wet, or worse.

Veteran Texas bass pro Tommy Martin of Hemphill knows a thing or two about navigating a boat in rough water. Martin, 78, has navigated big waters all over North America during a professional fishing career spanning half a century.

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He offered the following tips to help boaters get around better in rough water and ultimately get back to the bank safely: • Wear Your Lifejacket/Kill Switch: It’s always a good idea to wear your lifejacket with a kill switch attached any time the boat is underway. A lifejacket |

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The skies will usually tell you when it might be best to just get off the water.

will keep you afloat, while the kill switch causes the combustion engine to die and eliminates the risk of getting struck by the propeller should you fall overboard.

outboard is equipped with a propeller that provides plenty of bite. A propeller that blows out when climbing waves can get you into big trouble.

• Think it Through: Weather can change in an instant. If you’re uncomfortable with the forecast, don’t go.

• Play the Waves: It is never a good idea to run straight into or with large waves. Drive at an angle and zigzag back and forth. This reduces the chances of spearing or “stuffing” waves with the bow while resulting in a smoother ride.

• The Right Boat: Never attempt to navigate rough water in a boat that is too small for the task. A 14-foot flatbottom is much better suited for a lazy river than a big reservoir, especially when big winds are in the picture. Never exceed a boat’s carrying capacity.

• Trim It Down: Hydraulic jackplates should be placed on the lowest setting with the motor trimmed most of the way down.

This gives the prop the most bite and helps prevent it from blowing out. Use the trim switch to keep the bow elevated high enough that the boat will run fairly flat as it tops a wave, but not so flat it causes you to spear the next one.

• Rigged Right: Make sure all external components of the boat are snugged down tight before attempting to navigate rough water. This includes trolling motors, electronics, jackplates and outboard mounting bolts.

• Know Your Boat: No two-boat brands are the same. Performance can vary from one to the next.

• The Right Prop: Make sure your 26

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• Making Turns: When making a turn, approach the wave at an angle and begin the turn before you reach the top so you can surf down the opposite side at the same angle. Be sure to keep the bow up as you throttle into the turn. Follow through with every turn once you commit to it.

• Bank It: If you get caught on the water in nasty weather, it’s best to take shelter in a wind-protected pocket or cove and wait it out. Don’t try to navigate several miles of rough water to get back to the ramp. You might have to spend a night without food, but at least you’ll be alive.

• Stay Cool: Probably the most important bit of advice for navigating rough water is to slow down, take your time and use your head. By all means, don’t panic if you get into trouble.

« PHOTO: MATT WILLIAMS

7/6/18 2:15 PM

The BASS University

by PETE ROBBINS :: for TF&G and Bass University

How the Dean Catches Busting Bass

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S SUMMER ENDS IN HEATworn Texas and the kids go back to school, the bass start schooling too.

It’s a situation that Bass University founder Pete “The Dean” Gluszek has encountered in the Lone Star State around the country. While it occasionally presents an opportunity for easy pickings, more often it results in frustration.

Big fish will chase shad to the surface, often just out of casting range. By the time you get there, those fish are gone; and there are more schoolers in the area you just departed.

“When it seems random, it’s very, very challenging,” he said. “the key is to identify something that holds them. It could be a bottom change or a current rip, some piece of habitat that is congregating baitfish. The smaller the area, the better.”

His strategy is to hold his cast. It can be frustrating to sit there doing nothing when you know there are fish in the area. Yet, by keeping a lure 6 to 12 inches from your rod tip, you’re in the best position to capitalize when things start happening.

“There’s a very small window to catch those fish,” he explained. “If you’re casting, by the time it takes to reel in, the opportunity may go away, particularly if there are just one, two or three fish that are active. You’ve got to be in a position where you’re read to attack.

“The higher the water temperature is, the window is smallest. You need to be able to accurately put the bait there while the fish is catchable, with its gills flared and is dorsal fin up. Once that moment disappears and they chill out, you can’t trigger the strike.”

Frequently Gluszek tries to get a glimpse of the species, size and color of the key baitfish and then “match the hatch.” Topwater is an obvious choice, and he frequently utilizes both walk-the-dog and chugger style lures. He noted PHOTO: BASS UNIVERSITY

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Trago. “When bass are busting, lots of tools work,” he explained. “But when they go down, few of them work. Get on top of them and drop it straight down. It works in hot and cold weather and everything in between. Be sure to keep them in your tacklebox.”

that the bass can show a marked preference for one over the other from day to day or even from hour to hour.

On the other hand, there are days when “they’ll blast topwaters 12 inches out of the water, porpoise it, and not connect. That’s when I go to a fluke, which you can fire a mile on light, braided line.” When they’ve come up and injured their prey, a “do nothing” lure like a Senko can be the comeback ticket. As opposed to the fluke’s erratic action, it offers up an exceptionally easy meal.

He also likes lipless crankbaits, because “you can cast them so far, and maximizing distance can be so important in this situation.”

Lately, he’s relied heavily on Storm’s 360GT Searchbait, a matching head and swimbait that cast long distances and offer a high hookup percentage. The key, The Dean stressed, is to “cycle through all of them to figure out which one they’re hitting that day. If I throw into two schools and the fish don’t react, the next time around I’ll fire something else.”

When it comes time to cast on a hardcharging bass, he won’t throw right to the boil.

Instead he tries to figure out which way he’s going and fire ahead of him, like leading a duck with a shotgun.

If the intervals between boiling fish start to become longer, Gluszek examines whether he has a role in that delay. He’ll shut down his electronics, lower the speed of his trolling motor, and even reduce his own movement in the boat to prevent spooking them.

“As a last-ditch effort, I’ll run through them,” he said. “Idling aggressively often triggers the baitfish and can cause feeding activity.

However, definitely don’t drive through an active school.”

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Pete Gluszek

Keep an eye open for busting fish, a rod at the ready, and a foot on the trolling motor ready to chase them down. Going back to school can be a time of new beginnings and great success.

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Texas BOATING

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

The Hole Story

stainless-steel propeller and you’ll have both a better hole shot, and more or very similar top-end speed.

Wait a sec!

Don’t people say that if you hit a rock or other immobile object, an aluminum propeller is more likely to give while a stainless-steel prop is more likely to transfer damage to your lower unit? Yes, and they’re correct. My suggestion would be to get the stainless prop and stop running into rocks.

Another way you can improve your boat’s hole shot is by taking a look at the weightdistribution on your boat. In a nutshell, more weight forward usually translates into a better hole shot since it minimizes bowrise and helps the boat get onto plane faster.

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OLE-SHOT IS A MUCHmaligned performance trait. The matter of time it takes for your boat to transition from putt-putting along to being on plane is measured in seconds, often just a handful of seconds.

Some boat owners will ask why it even matters.

In reality, hole-shot can be very important.

When fishing inshore of backcountry waters and a low tide has you pushing draft as far as you dare, a fast hole shot can mean the difference between getting up and on plane, or running aground.

In a competitive situation it can make the difference between being the first boat to hit the hotspot, and the one that had to choose a different destination. In rough seas it can make the difference between the ability to get over the hump and plane the boat without getting your spine compressed, and bashing against multiple waves as the bow points absurdly high in the sky. So yeah—hole shot does matter.

The second question a lot of folks ask is how they can affect it. Short of throwing down the throttle faster, is there any way you can really control just how quickly your boat gets up and over the hump? Sure there is, starting with propeller choice.

The blades on aluminum propellers flex more than those made of stainless-steel, and it does make a slight difference when the boat’s coming onto plane. Added bonus: you’ll gain a couple mph at top end by going to a stainless prop.

You can make an even bigger difference by swapping out that three-bladed prop for a four-blade. True, this will cut top-end speed by a mph or two, but the difference it makes when you nail the throttle is huge.

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In reality, hole-shot can be very important.

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Any waterfowl hunter is used to dealing with this in aluminum boats. How many times have you had to ask someone to scramble into the bow, to get a duck boat to plane out? Yeah, we’ve been there too.

Although on larger fiberglass boats, neither the problem nor the effect is usually quite as extreme, shifting weight forward will make a difference. Sure, you can send someone forward. But you can also relocate batteries from the stern into the center console, shift gear in stowage compartments, and move drink coolers or tackleboxes.

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aground every time you try to plane and you need the boat to really jump out of the hole, try this. You can fill your forward livewell with water. Also fill any forward coolers or fish boxes to weight down the bow.

Note: Be careful if there are seas of any size, since the bow will act less buoyant than you’re used to. As soon as you’re on plane, the drainplugs should be pulled and the compartments should be evacuated.

In this situation, of course, there are other tactics you should apply as well. Start by trimming the motor all the way in, which helps shove the stern up and the bow down. One of the most effective ways to get up and running when you don’t have quite enough water is to “lean” the boat up onto plane.

Before you attempt this maneuver, warn everyone onboard to hold on tight—and secure any loose gear. Then, while just idling along, turn the wheel hard over. As the boat begins to go into the curve, hit the gas, which will provide forward thrust but also force the boat to lean hard into the turn.

As the boat leans, it effectively reduces draft because the lower unit is no longer pointing directly down, but is instead sideways. When the boat has enough momentum built up to break and remain on plane, crank the wheel back to straight. As the boat stops leaning and the turn is eliminated, you’ll have reduced the draft needed to get on plane by several inches.

The most basic way to improve hole-shot, of course, is simply to remember to trim that outboard all the way in before you hit the throttle. Don’t feel bad when you forget. Even pros sometimes try to take off, wonder why it’s happening so slowly, and look back over their shoulder only to notice that the engine’s trimmed up.

« Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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7/6/18 2:16 PM

Texas TACTICAL

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Sig P365 Micro 9mm

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IG SAUER INTRODUCED what could become one of the most popular concealed carry pistols with the P365 model. The P365 is one of the smallest sub-compact 9mms on the market, yet it has the capacity of 10+1 with the standard magazines and 12+1 with an optional extended magazine.

After my initial impression of “boy this thing is tiny” wore off, the first thing I realized is that it wasn’t that comfortable in my hand.

Perhaps in an effort to make the pistol microsized ergonomics weren’t completely thought out. The front of the grip feels good with the slight finger groves. However the short grip ends with an abrupt point and it actually gives a stabbing sensation at the base of my palm.

I had two other shooters, both with smaller hands, come to the same conclusion. This was with both the flush fit and slightly extended 10 round magazines. However Sig does offer a 12-round magazine that looks like it might also engulf the sharp portion that sharply pressed into my palm. Too bad I didn’t have that extra large magazine for testing.

The striker-fired trigger had around 3/16 inches of crunchy creep mimicking a first stage of a two-stage trigger. But it had a wall that broke consistently at 6.4 pounds.

The first time at the range the break caught me off guard. I thought it would be a little heavier after pressing through the five pounds of initial crunchy take up. Of course practice makes perfect. I imagine there will be a few after market parts that will take the creep away, leaving the nice break. And yes, I am a trigger snob, but there are better factory triggers on the market.

The P365 has a proprietary SIG rail for mounting their accessories. The slide is topped off with impressive XRAY3 day/night sights.

The rear night sights are serrated for glare

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The Sig P365 shot very well with the 365 ammunition, sub 1” group at 10 yards.

resistance while the The Sig P365 front night sight has looked small a much larger lumieven beside the nescent green outcompact S&W line for rapid low Shield. light acquisition.

The grip is factory stippled, I’m assuming by laser.

Although it might be a tad abrasive on bare sensitive skin, it wasn’t too aggressive and offered plenty of traction to never need a custom stipple job or grip tape.

Once again, the tiny micro size is what is impressive about the Sig P365. It actually made my S&W 9mm Shield look big in comparison, yet the P365 holds three more rounds in standard capacity. The P365 frame might be a tad thicker to utilize the double stack magazine, but not by much. Now I actually feel that my Shield’s grip is too thin.

The P365 shot flawlessly in my Angelfire 3-Gun 147 load as well as the Sig 365 FMJ and V-Crown defense loads specifically designed for compact defensive handguns.

I was very pleased with its accuracy and its ability to run a plate rack at 25 yards. It even hit smaller 4-inch plates at the same distance with no issue. My single five shot group at 10 |

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yards was less than one inch with the Sig 365 V-Crown ammo.

If you are looking for a ready to go subcompact 9mm the P365 is definitely worth a look. Just make sure you are comfortable with the feel of the grip and trigger.

I would dread using it in a weekend-long, hundreds-of-rounds training course, but with a bit of practice I’d feel plenty comfortable with it under my belt. It retails right at $599.99 and you can find out more at www.sigsauer.com.

« Email Dustin Ellermann at ContactUs@fishgame.com

PHOTOS: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

7/6/18 2:17 PM

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PHOTO: GRADY ALLEN

7/12/18 9:12 AM

ID YOU KNOW THAT GARFISH WERE ONCE considered “more dangerous to humans than sharks”?

An article written by garfish expert Keith Sutton notes that the May 7, 1884 edition of the “Arkansas Gazette,” states, “While a boy named Perry was fishing in Shoal Creek, Logan County, a gar fish caught his right leg, which was hanging over the side of the boat in the water, and pulled him overboard. His companions rescued him, but not before the leg was terribly lacerated.”

A few years ago, I found a reference to a 1922 article in the New Orleans Times Picayune that said garfish are, “more dangerous to humans than sharks”.

During that period, it was common to throw table scraps out around boat docks. Gar became conditioned to this So, any “attacks” were probably related to someone soaking their feet among the food scraps and not the result of human bloodlust on the gar’s part.

In fact, no verified human attacks by garfish have occurred in recent times. So, in my opinion, the garfish’s reputation as a killer is totally unfounded.

The reputation of gar as a game fish population destroyer is almost as unfounded as rumors of human attacks. In 1987, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist Paul Seidensticker conducted a study called Food Selection of Alligator Gar and Longnose Gar in a Texas Reservoir on Sam Rayburn.

By using jug lines and gillnets he and his team captured 209 alligator gar from September through October weighing from 18 to 156 pounds. Most of their stomachs were empty.

Of those that did have food in their bellies, gizzard shad made up 26.4 percent of their diet, channel catfish, 14.9, freshwater drum, 12.6, bluegill 7.9, spotted sucker, 6.8, white bass, 4.5, largemouth bass, 3.4, spotted gar, 3.4, crappie, 2.2, lake chubsucker, 2.2 and carp, 1.1. Other items include two coots, 11 fishhooks, an artificial lure and a plastic bag.

“Gar really are outcasts that are misunderstood. They have unlimited potential as sportfish but have unfortunately suffered in the court of public opinion,” said Craig Springer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Prime examples are the past gar tournaments that were held on lakes to help rid the waterways of them, to “save” game fish populations from their predatory wrath and sell them on the market. Author Smokey Crabtree used to win many of these tournaments by fishing in the Sulphur River bottoms in Arkansas.

“We would catch them six and seven feet long and have them all stacked like cordwood. It was a sight to behold,” he said.

Crabtree would use jug lines baited with live carp in the two- to five-pound range to catch gar sometimes in excess of 200 pounds.

Whether they’re killers or not, encountering one while wading into a river might be a bit scary. I, however, would be totally pumped, but I’m a little strange like that.

REPORT: NEWS 34 u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 36 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

38 u TEXAS COASTAL FORECAST

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Capt. Chris Martin, Capt. Mac Gable, Tom Behrens, Capt. Sally Black and Calixto Gonzales

48 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

54 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

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7/12/18 9:12 AM

The NATIONAL

News of TEXAS

Banded Bird Challenge Launched by the Texas Dove Hunters Association TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS WILL HAVE the opportunity this fall to become wildlife research assistants and maybe drive away in a new Polaris Ranger UTV next year, courtesy of the Texas Dove Hunters Association.

The Texas BB (Banded Bird) Challenge kicks off this year with a goal of conducting the first research project of its kind focusing on Eurasian Collared Doves – considered an invasive species found all over the state.

Bob Thornton, founder of the TDHA, said the research project involves volunteer trappers attaching numbered leg bands on 300 Eurasian Collared Doves that have been captured and then released across the state.

Hunters and outfitters entered in the TDHA contest who bag any of the banded birds from Sept. 1, 2018 through Jan. 31, 2019, will be eligible for a prize drawing including a Polaris Ranger UTV

by Hoffpauir Outdoors of Goldthwaite; shotguns by CZ-USA; TDHA Frio coolers; Chippewa snake boots and TDHA memberships including lifetime and 3 year membership packages.

There is also a First Flight high school division (14-years-old and older) featuring a prize of a $1,000 scholarship; a First Flight youth division (10-13 years old) with a prize of an overnight guided dove hunt for two; and a guide/outfitter division with a prize of a guided trophy trout fishing trip for two on Baffin Bay. The banded birds will have a band on their left leg stating “Winner! Call 210-7641189 or go to www.texasdovehunters.com.”

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be imprinted on each band.

Any registered hunter who harvests a TDHA banded Eurasian Collared Dove and reports the number to TDHA will receive a TDHA membership pack if they are not drawn for a top prize, if they are registered in the BB Challenge prior to harvesting the bird. They are also entered in to a drawing to win one of the many fabulous prizes, insuring that the research effort will be a win-win situation for everyone.

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recorded using the same methods as a current federal project conducted on white-winged and mourning doves.

Unlike the heavily researched migratory mourning and white-winged doves that attract nearly 300,000 hunters to hunting fields each season, very limited information is available on the Eurasian Collared dove that can be hunted year round with no bag limit.

Entry forms and a complete set of guidelines for the Texas BB Challenge are available on the TDHA website at texasdovehunters.com.

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PHOTO: TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOC.

7/12/18 9:12 AM

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The TF&G Report Hunting Regs Change This Fall

closing date of May 14. The Commission also approved closing the Eastern turkey season in Upshur and San Augustine counties.

• Open in Lynn County a 9-day buck-only mule deer season with no special archery season.

• Set a 20-inch minimum outside antler spread of the main beams restriction on mule deer bucks in Briscoe, Childress, Cottle, Floyd, Motley, and Hall counties.

• Clarify that deer antler restriction regulations that state in each county where antler restrictions are imposed, a person who takes a buck in violation of antler restrictions is prohibited from subsequently harvesting any buck deer with branched antlers on both main beams in that county during that current deer season.

• Lastly, The Commission adopted changes that simplified archery regulations by remove requirements for broadhead hunting points to have two cutting edges and a cutting width of 7/8 of an inch. Also removed were the minimum pull requirement of 125 pounds and the minimum crossbow stock length of 25 inches.

HUNTERS WILL SEE SEVERAL hunting regulation changes this fall, including an early opener for dove season in the South Zone, a mule deer season in Lynn County, experimental mule deer antler restrictions, an increase to the northern pintail bag limit, and a one week reduction to the spring Eastern turkey season for 2019 in 13 counties.

The following modifications and clarifications to the 2018-19 Statewide Hunting Proclamation, details of which will be incorporated into this year’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual, have been approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission: • Open the general dove season in the South Zone on Sept. 14; earliest starting date for the region since 1950.

• Shorten the Eastern spring turkey hunting season in Bowie, Cass, Fannin, Grayson, Jasper, Lamar, Marion, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Red River, and Sabine by one week while retaining the current

After re-evaluating a proposal that would permit the use of air guns and arrow guns to take certain game animals, game birds, alligators, and furbearers, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has rescinded the previous rule they adopted in March and has requested staff to modify their recommendations and propose new rules to be considered by the Commission at their next scheduled meeting in August.

• • • Game Wardens Encounter Wild Situations ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BLACK market online shopping occurred on June 2 when a game warden found a post on the trading app OfferUp advertising “fresh caught” fish for sale in the Houston area. The picture on the post was taken at night and showed a man holding two bull red drum.

The warden contacted the seller and found

STRIPED BASS

SPECKLED TROUT

Lake Amistad

Matagorda

Cole Saathoff caught this great striper fishing on Lake Amistad.

He could not get a good weight on her, as the scale clamp was not strong enough to hold the giant. “She gave one wild ride!”

Noah Bridges hooked up with this 29-inch monster on a soft plastic in less than perfect conditions. Drifting East Matagorda with Mike Hamilton and Jason Barber.

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out he had three redfish for sale and was asking $10 per pound. The seller claimed the fish weighed 80 pounds total and that he had caught them on two separate trips during the week. Wardens made contact with the seller and the seller’s father, who had come along to help close the deal, in a pharmacy store parking lot. In the trunk of their car, wardens found the three redfish, which measured 36, 42, and 45 inches in length, respectively. The father admitted to catching one of the fish and the son claimed the other two. Neither of them had a current fishing license nor any type of commercial license. Charges and restitution are pending.

South Texas game wardens recently wrapped up a six-month multistate investigation of an illegal commercial hunting operation on a ranch in Live Oak County.

The wardens were contacted by a landowner regarding his ranch manager selling hunts under the table and hunting without consent.

The landowner learned of the illegal activities when contacted by a taxidermist regarding an unpaid balance for several mounts belonging to the ranch manager. The landowner did not give the ranch manager or his family permission to harvest any animals on the ranch. During an extensive investigation, wardens determined the ranch manager had been selling trophy hunts to out of state

set up surveillance in the general vicinity.

While investigating signs of trespassing into municipal properties, the officers heard pellet gunshots on the other side of a steep drainage ditch. While one of the officers engaged the individual from a distance, the other game warden crossed the drainage ditch to meet with the subject. The man immediately explained that he had been hunting “all kinds of birds,” as well as rabbits, but was unaware a hunting license was necessary. He subsequently admitted to shooting protected birds, including a stork on the water body adjacent to the Edinburg World Birding Center. The officers addressed various violations, including hunting without a license, no hunter’s education, and hunting protected birds.

On June 9 while on patrol, Cameron County game wardens responded to a distress call in the bay near South Padre Island. The victim was found shortly after arriving to his last known location and was brought aboard the game warden’s vessel.

He stated he had been paddling into a strong wind. His kayak became swamped and, before he realized what was happening, it capsized. The kayaker also mentioned had he not been wearing his life jacket he would not have been able to tread water for the 15-20 minutes it took for his friends to realize he was in trouble and for help to arrive.

A Travis County man was arrested recently on a warrant charging him with hunting from a vehicle for an incident back in January in Blanco County. A Blanco County warden had received a call regarding a shot fired from a roadway and with assistance from local law enforcement caught up to the suspect. The warden discovered a dead whitetailed deer in a trash bag in the bed of the subject’s truck, and observed a small bullet wound to the deer’s head. The subject stated he had picked up the deer from the roadway after it was hit by a car. The warden saw no evidence that the animal had been struck by a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was cited for possession of white-tailed deer in closed season and released. The warden then spent the next three hours on foot searching the area where he believed the deer was shot, and found a single shot .22 rifle lying in the ditch.

An arrest warrant was issued for a Travis County resident for hunting from a vehicle.

The charges are pending.

clients, pocketing their money, and falsifying the ranch harvest records. The ranch manager was responsible for brokering illegal hunts for 14 white-tailed deer (with scores ranging from 245 B&C to under 100 B&C) and numerous exotic game animals. The ranch manager and his daughter also unlawfully appropriated $17,450 from the ranch owner.

Hunters paid for their hunts by check made out to the ranch manager or daughter instead of to the ranch. The wardens obtained arrest warrants for the ranch manager for hunting without consent for white-tailed deer and exotic animals. He was arrested without incident.

On June 5, a Bell County game warden was alerted to a person who had stopped at a gas station with a fawn in her vehicle. The complainant sent pictures and a license plate number, which showed the vehicle registered to a woman in Rogers. The warden also learned the woman had an arrest warrant for assault with bodily injury. The warden contacted the suspect, who admitted to driving the deer around in her car; however, she couldn’t find it now on her 10-acre property. The woman was placed under arrest for the warrant and for illegal possession of the white-tailed deer.

After receiving a number of reports related to birds that had been found shot dead in northeast Edinburg, game wardens

WHITETAIL Gregg County Tayler Campbell killed her first 8-point buck, a 144-4/8 inch score, in Gregg County on property that is MLD Level 3. She shot the deer at approximately 100 yards with a 6.8mm Thompson Center rifle.

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt.

EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Some Like It Hot!

Locating and staying on these schools is relatively easy when the lake is like a mirror and the lack of any breeze whatsoever makes it seem more like you’re fishing in a vacuum.

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ELCOME TO SABINE Lake in August. I hope you like it hot.

If you do, you’ll be just fine.

If not, you might be better off booking an Alaska cruise. For those who can take the heat, I can’t think of a better place to be than right here when the mercury is threatening to burst out of the top of the thermometer.

The entire Sabine ecosystem should be invaded by giant schools of shad. When coupled with the midday slick-offs of late summer, the rod bending action can be just as hot as the temperature.

Fishing in the main lake can be red hot during these slick-offs, as not only hoards of shad, but also shrimp and ladyfish can lead you to giant schools of trout and redfish.

The entire Sabine ecosystem should be invaded by giant schools of shad.

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It’s not uncommon to stay with a school of fish for very long periods of time. Sometimes we’ll leave for a while to take a cool-off ride, and then return to the same school with the same hot action.

One of the coolest things about fishing these giant schools is you can expect to get bit no matter what you have tied on the end of your line. From dead shad to topwaters, it doesn’t matter; these fish are feeding aggressively and will gladly accept your offering.

We do most of our damage with topwaters, or soft plastics rigged on 1/8-ounce lead heads, lots of times under a popping cork. Baits like Old Bayside’s Shadlyn, with its little forked tail, as well as Assassins and Gulp! Shrimp can be deadly. The shorelines of both the Texas and Louisiana sides should also produce real nice boxes of trout, reds, and flounders, especially early. With the abundance of baitfish, if there’s any tidal movement, you should have little problem filling the ice chest.

Throwing topwaters for about the first two hours of daylight will usually result in some better trout, but plastics and jerk baits can definitely hold their own. If it’s flounder you’re looking for, you won’t need to go any farther than the mouths of the bayous on the Louisiana shoreline. Try to hit it on an incoming tide and work it over good with curl tail grubs tipped with shrimp or finger mullet and mud minnows.

If you love to fish and can take the heat, I’ll see you here on Sabine in August.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Walter Umphrey State Park (Pleasure Island).

BAITS/LURES: Speck rigs, soft plastics, live shrimp, shad and finger mullet.

SPECIES: Speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and black drum.

BEST TIMES: Nights under the lights from the pier with moving tides.

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7/12/18 9:12 AM

Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt.

MIKE HOLMES

Try to Stay Cool in ‘Hot’ August Fishing

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UGUST IS INDEED A “HOT” month for fishing on the upper Texas coast.

Of course, this comes in both literal and realistic terms. It’s usually best to fish nights or the cooler portions of the day both for comfort and for health. Also, there is the matter of productivity to consider, as fish also prefer to feed during the hours of somewhat cooler water temps.

Obviously, these conditions are variable, as an overcast day with a decent breeze will be cooler than a still one with little, or no cloud cover. Early morning, of course, is the waning period of “night” for the fish that have been active while the sun was not beating down. Late evening signals the beginning of a new period of movement and feeding for marine denizens.

These conditions, of course, have more effect on shallow bay systems and the surf.

In the bays, even during these cooler times, best fish action will likely be found fairly near deeper, cooler water. This is where fish either coming or leaving these sheltered areas might be intercepted.

Speckled trout probably move more seeking favored water temperature than redfish or flounder, – which might just find a suitable spot to “hunker down.” Panfish such as sand trout and croaker will also be more active in cooler water.

In the Galveston Bay system, the ICW is the main conduit for cooler water to connect the various regions of the water body. This offers at least some respite from the heat for most residents.

Fishing shallow reefs or bars in really hot weather in the open bay might be uncomfortable, as well as a waste of time.

All things considered, bay fishing in August except during a cooling rain shower—or

immediately before or following—is much better spent during cooler times of the 24-hour clock.

When cooler air and water does arrive, bait species come with it. Surface-feeding activity can be seen from some distance then —especially with binoculars. Shrimp are a main food source during summer months, but smaller baitfish such as shad also attract the interest of predator species.

Live bait fished under a cork, or freelined when actively over feeding fish, is normally most productive, especially with bait captured “on the grounds”. If live bait – or “fresh dead” if reds are on the menu – is not available, soft plastic jog tails, either gold or silver spoons, and sometimes various top water lures might be productive. Sometimes, even fresh water spinnerbaits might be a good bet. Fly-fishing with streamers can also pay off in the calm waters before or after dark.

In the surf, the same time periods are best, although the quarry might run a bit larger.

Bull reds are found in summer surf, along with many species—and sizes—of shark.

I have personally taken king mackerel and hooked tarpon in the summer surf. Also large rod-bending stingrays are prowling around.

Except when you’re “monster” shark fishing, it’s always a good idea to use bait caught on the grounds— the fresher the better.

A live finger mullet will tempt about anything that swims in the summer surf, although fresh chunks of cut mullet can be almost as good at times, depending of the species of fish sought. The largest speckled trout I ever caught was in the surf on a strip of cut shark.

Some fish that might be caught in the summer surf are more popular to some of us than others. Big rays are one of those, and of course large sharks, but we also have jack T E X A S

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crevalle that are pretty much NOT edible to most folks, but are a hard fighting gamefish much prized by “sport” anglers.

For those fishing from boats, whether surf-launched or heading out through a pass or jettied channel, a tremendous amount of sport is available. Fishing just outside the surf zone can be very good early and late.

However, moving a bit farther out—especially when the sun is higher and hotter—can be VERY good.

Outside the surf zone, hunt around structure such as oil production platforms, marker buoys, and natural bottom formations such as “reefs” or holes. Currents come into play a lot here, and will have an effect on water clarity and temperature.

Drifting or trolling will usually be a “cooler” form of recreation than anchoring over a drop-off or tying to a rig, and it can be very productive, Water temps will be cooler even in the fairly shallow nearshore regions than in the bays because of depth and current.

When you fish natural baits around structure, live bait of about any type is good.

However, fresh dead, cut to allow juices to escape and attract your quarry is also good.

Chumming with small chunks of bait, or whole small fish such as the tiny shad we often catch in large quantities will attract almost anything from sharks and kings to billfish. Offshore gamefish more often found in deep water are not out of the question.

I have hooked small billfish and wahoos within 30 miles of shore under these conditions, and “bull” dolphins will also show up occasionally. Around rigs and structure, snappers, ling (cobia), and a few other offshore fish might be found—especially when the water depth nears 100 feet.

Of course, for those with enough boat, the normally calmer offshore conditions in late summer can provide avenues of access to species such as wahoo, several species of tuna, some billfish, and other exotic and desirable species.

Such pursuits, of course, should only be attempted in dependable, seaworthy boats

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7/12/18 9:12 AM

Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Action Despite Warm Water in Matagorda

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N THE MONTH OF AUGUST, IT IS essential that you start fishing when the water temperature is at its coolest.

When the water gets close to 90°F, fish find the deepest spot around and settle on the bottom, with no interest in feeding. My brother James and I arrived at the southwest shore of West Matagorda Bay at sunrise, 6:40 a.m. The water temperature on that day started at 86°F and by late afternoon was 90°F. The incoming tide was pushing water into the coves and bayous, and we each caught a couple of undersized redfish and one keeper by quietly working the shorelines and guts in the bayous.

At about 8:30 a.m. we moved to a sandbar that runs parallel to the shore about 150 yards into the bay. The sandbar attracts baitfish because they use the shallow spots, holes, and grass to hide from predators, and the baitfish feed on small fish, shrimp, crabs and larvae in the grass.

Trout move along the sandbar busting these schools of mullet, menhaden, and

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in the clouds. While I was enjoying the pretty sunrise a dozen brown pelicans came over me in a V formation. A little later, dolphins were feeding and jumping out by the third bar—a fine morning indeed.

Offshore

sardines. We wade fished both on the top and the sides of the sandbar, using pumpkinseed/ chartreuse Bass Assassins with a little piece of scented Fishbite attached to the 1/16-ounce jig head hooks.

Trout were more cooperative than the redfish, and we caught six keepers between us.

But the bite stopped at 9:30 a.m. Regardless of the lure used or change of technique in working the lure, we could not get anything going, so it was time to head for the dock.

The Surf If the surf is calm, even though the water temperature may be 87°F, fish will probably be there and be feeding. Last year in early August the wind was out of the northeast at five to eight mph, the surf was breaking on the first sandbar with a light roll at the second sand bar, and the water visibility allowed me to see my boots while standing waist deep.

I went 1.5 miles down the beach, just a little past Three Mile Lake, parked and proceeded out to the second bar. Fishing with an H&H white/chartreuse soft plastic lure with a rattle bead, I caught six trout and three gafftop sailfish. Only one trout was a keeper, it was 15 and ½ inches.

That’s how it goes in the surf. Some days the trout are big and some days they are little. The Juvenile sunrise was spectacular laughing gull with the sun shooting trying to eat orange rays from a six-inch behind a grey/black mullet cloud and then making its appearance in a hole |

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August is one of the best months to fish offshore. I went offshore with Steve Garza on August 12, an extremely hot day with the water temperature reading 88.5°F. We had to go around a lightning storm on the way out.

We attached the boat to a rig 21 miles out, where I went scuba diving and spearfishing.

Five curious ling came up to me, but they were less than the legal keeper size of 33 inches.

Then I went to the bottom at 80 feet, and saw hundreds of red snappers measuring 15 to 20 inches. I shot an 18-inch snapper and surfaced. Even though all those snappers were on the bottom, the guys on the boat did not catch any.

Next we headed for a wreck 50 miles out and stopped on the way to fish behind three shrimp boats. Near one of the shrimp boats, we caught two kingfish and two of my favorite offshore fish, dorado.

On the wreck, red snappers between 22 and 29 inches were biting. On the way home we dropped bait next to a large floating log, and caught a 17¼ inch tripletail (keeper size is 17 inches).

Of course last year we were hit by Hurricane Harvey on August 26 and were drenched for days after the hurricane came ashore. On September 3, I went offshore with Brian Tulloch.

When I arrived at Matagorda Harbor at 6 a.m. to wait for Brian, it was deserted with the exception of five work boat crewmen standing around a truck—no boats, people, trucks… nothing. It was like I was the only person left in the world.

Most people were either still suffering the devastation dealt by Hurricane Harvey, or like Jose Rivera, they could not get to the harbor because of flooded roads. But Brian, Robert Bourland and I pulled out of the harbor and proceeded down PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

7/12/18 9:12 AM

the Old Colorado River, dodging many logs in the dirty brown water, to the jetties where there was still nasty brown water.

About two miles offshore, the water change was abrupt, with mud brown giving way to dark green. We caught red snapper, kingfish, and barracuda, but no ling, dorado, tripletail, or kingfish.

A juvenile laughing gull landed on the boat, tired and hungry, possibly blown offshore by the storm. We gave it a six-inch mullet, which it tried to eat all at once, but the mullet would not go down so the juvenile gull had to work it back out and peck at it.

The bird was pooping all over the deck, so we decided to get it off of our boat and send it to a nearby shrimp boat. To do that, we covered its head with a towel, tossed it up in the air, and it flew off. This post-Harvey offshore trip was not as fish-productive as our usual August trips. Hopefully we will not have to deal with a hurricane this August.

THE BANK BITE THE SURF: Whether you are fishing with live

Focus: GALVESTON t CONTINUED FROM PAGE

SPECIES: Just about all-common bay species will be available, when temps are to their liking.

equipped with good radios and navigational equipment and with enough fuel range for safety. Cell phones are not perfect offshore, but certainly worth a try when needed.

BAIT: Summer is a prime time for live bait when it can be obtained and kept alive. Fresh dead bait works under most conditions, and artificial lures geared to the expected quarry will produce.

THE BANK BITE

BEST TIME: Early or late, or at night, unless during a cooling period brought on by rain or other forms of cloud cover.

LOCATION: Bay fishing close to the shelter (from the sun’s heat) of deep water, especially early and late in the day, or at night, can be good.

The surf and offshore also run under the same time frames during periods of extreme August

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Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@fishgame.com

shrimp, artificial lures, or bait that you catch with a cast net, the chances of a good day in the surf are high in August, especially if blue water is up to the beach and the tide is incoming. However, you should use a four-wheel-drive vehicle on the beach and be sure to stop at CJ’s or Stanley’s in

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Matagorda and buy a beach permit before going on the beach.

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Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt.

CHRIS MARTIN

August May Mean Adjustments

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ECAUSE THINGS CAN change quickly along our coastal region, spells of varying wind conditions can often mean anglers have to make some rapid adjustments to previous plans.

During periods of unstable wind patterns, you may find yourself heading to the surf to toss top waters, or to a south shoreline to wade in chest deep water over deep sand guts. You might have to go to the Intracoastal

Waterway (ICW) just to find some clear water and some protection from the wind.

However, the wind direction and speed may not be the only things you’ll need to think about when changing your plans for August conditions. As we progress further into the month the water temperatures in area bays will grow to be even warmer than they were in July.

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Once you’ve located a sand bar, focus on the lower water column.

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If you’re unable to get out atop shell due to strong winds, you should locate a sand bar first thing in the morning that is surrounded by deeper water. The bait and the fish often congregate atop shallow spots during the night and the early morning before the sun heats the water to an uncomfortable level.

Once the water becomes too hot, chances are that both the bait and the fish tend to retreat to the cooler deeper water nearby.

Follow the bait out to deeper water, and you can often locate a strong bite.

Some of the sand bars can be rather large, but you should look for ones parallel to a shoreline. However, you won’t always find a sand bar set just the way you’d like it to be.

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your GPS and depth finder (i.e., aluminum push-pole) to find sand bars in water too deep to wade out to.

Once you’ve located a sand bar, focus on the lower water column. That’s where you’ll most likely be successful when water temperatures are at an all-time high.

If the action slows a bit, try dragging one of your plastic baits across the floor of the sand bar, giving the end of the rod tip a slight jerk every few seconds. This style of retrieve results in a “cloud” of sand trailing the bait.

That’s sometimes all you need to entice a strike.

You might also notice that when you do get a bite, it’s not like one you’d normally get from a trout. You might find August trout to be lackadaisical. They might appear to “sit” on the lure—almost as if they’re skeptical.

Another factor is that August sometimes has extremely low tides. When this happens, many anglers are completely unable to fish in the back lakes at all.

When the wind won’t let you get out to open-water shell, and the tide is too low to let you into the back lakes, you’ll probably need to work the secondary sand guts along protected shorelines of the open bay.

You’ll need to start your morning wade sessions in water deeper than you would normally start in. Sometimes you’ll do better by setting up right out in front of bayous and guts that lead directly into some of the back lakes.

August coastal fishing can be some of the best you’ll see all year for speckled trout and redfish. However, you might need to alter the way you normally do things.

Don’t worry about making adjustments if things don’t work for you, especially if conditions throw you a curve ball at the very last minute. Stay abreast of the situation, and make changes as needed. Good luck out there, and have fun.

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Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayflatslodge@gmail.com or visit bayflatslodge.com

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7/12/18 9:13 AM

Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt.

MAC GABLE

Do You Have the Rhythm?

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S THE YEARS HAVE SET IN with the baby boomer generation, and those even much younger, I see as well as hear more grunts and more groans and get emails that allude to the fact “Father Time” is taking its toll on mature anglers.

This is not limited to us older folks though, as even young anglers now tell me a day on the water (and in some cases a half day) seems to be about all they can handle. I too feel my energy waning as I approach the end of a fishing day, especially since my lack of fishing because of Harvey.

I was off the water for the most part for about five months having higher priorities which demanded my attention. My first several trips back into our beloved bays were nothing short of eye opening. After about four hours I was flat worn out!

What the devil was wrong with me? It wasn’t like I was glued to a Lazy Boy Recliner for God’s sake! I was hitting it every day, putting our lives back together here in Rockport.

I venture to say with much confidence I worked harder those past five months than any time in the last eight years, so what gives?

The answer was something I learned as a youngster, but time allowed me to forget, or so it seems. I was reminded in a casual conversation I had with a veteran while drinking a cup of coffee.

I had arrived early for breakfast at a favorite hangout. An old man with a limp wearing a USS Hornet cap sat at another table.

“Catching any fish?” he asked.

“Yes sir,” I responded, “mostly trout and black drum.”

“Well,” he half grinned, “my son and I got

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Cruise liners have done their best to eliminate the sea legs adjustment period from their ultra-luxurious floating Taj Mahals.

However, those with inner ear sensitivities still must adjust to the pitch and yaw movement, which is impossible to completely eliminate.

For those who are fortunate enough not to get seasick, a fatigue factor still accompanies one’s lack of sea legs. Within the scope of a bay boat: it’s all about constant movement.

Once you step onto a boat your brain compensates for the movement the water applies to the craft. Most don’t realize this until they step foot on land again. Not only is this condition energy consuming it also can be mentally draining.

Some believe sitting will eliminate this phenomenon. Although it helps a bit, your body is constantly balancing itself—even sitting.

Seasickness and sea legs are two different conditions with the common source being a boat in motion. The fatigue I speak of may or may not be accompanied by seasick-

skunked, and I found out I have lost my “sea legs” for sure ’cuz I am flat worn out from yesterday’s fishing.”

Sea legs!!

Hmmm, I thought, is it possible that was my problem?

“I was on the USS Hornet” the veteran said. “It was a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier.

During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo,” he stated proudly. “I was at sea for more than two years pretty much non-stop, but you couldn’t tell it yesterday on my son’s boat.”

He grimaced and shook his head.

“Thank you for your service” I said.

“It was my duty” he replied, as he stared into his cup of coffee like its black water was a portal to a view of the past.

The term “sea legs” is the ability to adjust one’s sense of balance to the motion of a ship at sea. That all sounds well and fine but how does it work? It’s not just about large ships and it’s not limited to the open sea. It applies to any boat from the smallest dingy to even cruise liners.

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Forecast: ROCKPORT well as your out-of-shape buddies. When you wake up the next morning, your body will say thank you as well.

We old timers need to heed this advice, ten fold. We do not need to be on the water 8 to 10 hours a day. If we Ironman it like that, we will be visiting the local drug store for painkillers.

There truly is a tempo to the wind, the waves, and our boats. For those who have never experienced this, I truly hope someday you will.

It is going with the motion, not against it, stay in rhythm with the tempo and you’re going be more comfortable. Being comfortable means you will fish better, more productively and longer.

“I’m looking forward to some good old Texas heat,” one angler jokingly remarked to me at a local bait stand.

“It’s rare” I quipped back, “but I do believe you’ll get your wish today.” We both laughed.

All but a few bait stands are back and running, but the heat does take its toll on their bait. This goes double for the live wells on an angler’s boat. Anglers should be refueling themselves with mostly water during these really hot months and keep their bait cool as well.

ness. Fortunately, I’ve never been seasick or motion sick, although I have seen my share of this debilitating condition. I’m darned happy it has not paid a visit to me.

How does a boat angler avoid this thief of fishing time? To start, be in good physical condition. Those who suffer the most are those who are way out of shape and carry a lot of excess weight.

Watch someone who just seems to be in tune with the water, the boat, and the wind.

They may as well be standing in their living room, they seem so at home.

When you see it, you will know it. They are truly in a rhythmic dance with the elements. They don’t waste motion and are efficient with most angling and boating tasks.

Also notice the sides, the front, and the aft of the boat is where most of the movement occurs.

Seasoned seamen will hang close to the centerline of the boat, meaning the helm or console. It’s not by accident that most coastal boats are center console. That’s where the Captain hangs out, and it’s known as the soft spot on most boats.

Watch The Deadliest Catch just once and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Those grunts working the traps are getting beat to hell while Capt. King Crab is sipping coffee and talking to the camera. The reason? He is in the centerline, the soft spot, the area of least yaw and pitch.

Weekend guides suffer the most from this.

They have an off-the-water day job during the week and have bought into the glamour of guiding during the weekends. By the end of the day Sunday they look like they were rode hard and put up wet.

Most people having never had sea legs, wouldn’t know a sea leg if they were to grow one. I do applaud these guys and gals though, most are tough as woodpecker lips.

So, what’s the answer? There isn’t one really, no one solution fits all. The Ironman approach is to fish about 15 to 20 days straight. Usually by the end, you will acquire a pretty good set of sea legs.

The best approach is to start slow and not marathon your first day of the year on the water. Two or three hours is plenty of time.

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for trout, especially where cuts in the island occur. Croaker free-lined here is the right approach.

CARLOS BAY: The mouth of Spalding Bight is holding some keeper reds using mud minnows on a light Carolina rig. These are best fished on a falling tide. The southeast shoreline of Ballou Island is a great wade for reds and trout using soft plastics in anchovy and root beer colors. Stealth here is important, and it’s best fished on high tide.

MESQUITE BAY: The mouth of Cedar Bayou is a good wade for trout using freelined croaker. The Gulf trout will egress Cedar Bayou and hang out in this area. Still some black drums on the east shoreline; fresh dead shrimp under a silent cork is best here.

AYRES BAY: Wades from Second Chain Islands to Ayres Point is a great spot for trout using mud minnows or croaker freelined. It can get boggy here, so place your steps cautiously. The west shoreline just off Rattlesnake Island is still a good spot for some black drums and sheepsheads. Cut squid or fresh dead shrimp on a light Carolina rig works well here.

• • • COPANO BAY: Early mornings the red bite is good at Copano Creek with live finger mullet the best choice. Free-lined is best here or a very light Carolina rig. Wades on the northwest shoreline with croaker on late evenings is good for some keeper trout. High tide is best here.

ST. CHARLES BAY: Drifts across Cow Chip are producing keeper reds. A weedless-rigged Berkley Gulp shad in new penny color works well here. Some trout and black drum are hanging in the area at the mouth of St. Charles Bay adjacent to Aransas Bay. Live shrimp under a rattle cork works well here.

ARANSAS BAY: The north shoreline of Mud Island is a good spot for reds using finger mullet or cut mullet on a medium heavy Carolina rig. Traylor Island is a good spot |

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THE BANK BITE THE OLD LBJ FISHING PIER is closed, but the pilings that support the old bridge are a good spot for reds and sheepsheads. Some really large black drums hang here as well. Braided line works best. Short wades to the pilings can produce some good action. Free-lined live shrimp is hard to beat here. Be very careful in this area as it’s got a lot of old fishing line tangled on the old pilings. Here’s Wishing You Tight Lines Bent Poles and Plenty of Bait!

« Contact Capt. Mac Gable at Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601 captmac@macattackguideservice.com

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7/12/18 9:13 AM

Coastal Focus: ARANSAS/CORPUS :: by Contributing Editor TOM BEHRENS

Recipe for August: Slow Down and Keep Cool “The fish will be in the grass beds more so than feeding around in the upper water column. You see the grass beds as big dark spots in clear water. I’ll fish each individual bed. A lot of times you will pick up some good fish.”

If you’re fishing from a boat, Countz recommends looking for deeper reefs, especially early in the morning. “Drift the reef. If no fish bites circle back around and

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You don’t want to move around too much when it’s blistering hot.

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ACK IN EARLY SPRING anglers and fish were looking for water a couple of degrees warmer.

In August, flip that last sentence.

Anglers and fish are looking for water a couple of degrees cooler.

No matter what bay complex you are targeting, you should climb out of the boat, or prowl the surf wading, looking for fish.

“I love wade fishing in August because it’s a lot cooler,” says guide Tommy Countz.

“The fish are hot too. They don’t move around as fast, don’t strike like it’s spring.”

If you work with lures, go small and slow your presentation way down. You don’t want to move around too much when it’s blistering hot. Trout probably aren’t going to savagely inhale your presentation. It’s going to be more like they are softly checking it out.

The successful saltwater angler needs to learn how to feel a fish on the line.

“You have to be able to feel the fish pick the bait up, feel that he’s there,” explained Countz. “I’ve never been a bass fisherman, but I have heard bass people talking about watching the line move. That’s the technique I use in August—looking for line movement, feeling the fish on the other end.

“Once I see the line moving, I’ll slowly crank the line down until I feel the fish. If I feel the fish, I’ll pop him. Normally, if you wait a little bit and don’t get in a big rush, you’re going to have more hook-ups than using the old bass fishing technique where you try to cross their eyes on the hook set.”

One of the structures Countz checks out in August is grass beds, submerged grass beds. He throws a 1/16-ounce jig head because it allows him to feel the soft bite, and he can work a soft plastic slowly through the grass beds with fewer hang-ups.

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Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@fishgame.com

make another drift. Don’t try to run through the middle of the reef.

“It’s pretty tough catching fish out of the boat in August. You’ve have to cover a lot of ground to get some fish, my least favorite way of fishing.”

Downsize the choice of baits for August.

The smaller topwaters such as the three-inch Zara Spook Puppy seems to work much

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better. In soft plastics the straight-tailed MirrOlure Li’l Jon, 3 ¾ inches, fished with a 1/16-ounce lead head is a good choice. “They seem to work better than the paddle-tailed bait,” said Countz.

“You can throw the heck out of it, like a bullet going through the air. You can throw a long distance. It’s real erratic as you work it through the water.”

Color choice in MirrOlure or your favorite soft plastic is whatever you have confidence in. As guide Bill Watkins always says, if you get the bait in front of the fish and he’s hungry, it doesn’t matter what color it might be. Countz goes along with that reasoning.

“I think 90 percent of the time, the fish don’t care what color the bait is, as long as they are hungry. The other 10 percent of the time they won’t eat anything but a certain action bait, or certain color. You have to be ready for that. I normally will fish the same color of bait the entire day.”

If Countz has to choose a color, glow/ chartreuse tail is one that he ties on, but he adds the fish also seem to like the watermelon color. If he wants to go with a darker lure he goes with a purple demon/chartreuse tail.

His “go to” color is black. In clear water it shows up good; in dirty water it shows up good. “Day in and day out it’s hard to beat a black bait with a chartreuse tail.”

The biggest takeaway for August is slow down the retrieve on whatever bait or lure you toss. “Feel the fish before you set the hook.” Wading is one way to help to dampen the heat.

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Coastal Focus: BAFFIN BAY :: by Capt.

SALLY BLACK

Cool Summer Mornings in Baffin Bay

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UST BEFORE THE SUN comes up, it’s surprising how cool the morning air can be, launching the boat for a fine summer trip out onto Baffin Bay. Being there at that magical time of the day really sets the tone for what’s about to happen at the first fishing spot of the day. The anticipation is high for everyone and that super early start to an August fishing day brings a ton of excitement.

There’s really nothing much better than tossing a top water lure along a knee-deep or less shoreline and waiting for that first giant blow-up, or stalking up to a big, tailing redfish with the fly rod.

Trout fishing early in the morning along the grassy edges and rocks is almost a sure thing. Whether drifting in a boat, tossing Cajun Thunder popping corks with 4-inch Gulp curlytailed “Swimming Mullet” on a leader underneath it, or wade fishing, chunking top waters or Saltwater Assassin 4-inch Sea Shad paddle tail plastic in shades of white, the trout bite can be outstanding. Finding the bait and/or watching for slicks, then fishing with them and underneath them is the key to catching a nice stringer of trout.

On Baffin Bay, the north shoreline is a great place to wade, when the winds allow. The same thing holds true for the massive Alazan Bay. Fish these places when the winds are blowing lightly. Alazan Bay is beautiful this year and is covered in grass. There are a few large, deeper rock structures there, but the majority of the bay is grass and sand.

Small drains and guts are good targets for fishermen, along both the east and the west shorelines. There are a few giant sand bars with grass growing on top of them and these are big trout hangouts. |

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Alazan Bay is beautiful this year and is covered in grass.

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There are very few boats in Alazan, and the atmosphere feels almost like it was 100 years ago. It’s remote and pristine. Take some time to learn Alazan Bay and the payoff will be huge.

Shallow water is where the real game is in the summer. After that early morning trout action, change gears and get up skinny. The south shoreline of Baffin Bay is about as good as it gets for all sight casting with conventional tackle or the fly rod.

The shoreline behind the Tide Gauge Bar is untouched. This can be a fantastic wade along the sandy strip that begins at East Kleberg Point and heads west all the way to and beyond Cat Head.

Depending on the winds, pick a spot to begin. Bait is still a key, even up shallow. At this time of the year, the super shallow water is filled with finger mullet of all sizes. Tiny glass minnows, shrimp and small crabs bring all of the big predators up for an easy meal.

Move quietly and watch for the big, football shape of the redfish or the coppery colors of their bodies and the blue edges of their tails.

Big fish up shallow are usually there for just one purpose—to eat. |

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Put your lure or fly in the “dinner plate zone” (about two feet in front of their mouth and eyes), and watch as the redfish keys in on the sound and action of a tiny prey. It never gets old watching a big red or black drum pin the fly or lure down to the bottom and suck it in.

Summertime fishing is really a family affair.

Anyone can catch fish using these techniques.

Kids, beginners, or families looking to spend quality time in the outdoors together can be assured of a quality adventure on so many levels.

Just the fact that the bay is surrounded by the King and Kenedy Ranches, almost like it was hundreds of years ago, is so enriching. The beauty of the water, the grass and the entire atmosphere makes it such a special experience. Catching fish is really icing on the cake if you spend a lot of time on Baffin Bay. The birds, wildlife, fish and fun will create memories that last a lifetime.

Summertime on Baffin Bay is great for families. Then after the day of fishing, jumping in the swimming pool to chill down a little, hang out and relive the experience is truly priceless!

Capt. Black and I look forward to hosting your corporate group, a family fishing trip or a group of buds or gals wanting to hang out together. From top to bottom, we are pleased to provide a five star adventure for everyone here at BBR&G. You will feel the difference when you walk into our lodge.

We are dog friendly, family friendly and want to include anyone, woman or man, who wants to learn about fishing. There’s no better place than Baffin Bay Rod and Gun. We can sleep 20 guests and hope that you are planning a trip to see us this summer.

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Contact Capt. Sally Black at 361-205-0624 Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com Web: www.BaffinBayRodandGun.com Facebook: Baffin Bay Rod and Gun Twitter: @CaptainSally Instagram: baffin_bay_rod_and_gun

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7/12/18 9:13 AM

Coastal Focus: LOWER COAST :: by Saltwater Editor CALIXTO GONZALES

August Rocks

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T’S BEEN A TYPICAL SOUTH Texas summer. It’s hot, the winds have either disappeared altogether or make you feel like you’re in a bamboo steamer.

Laguna Madre water temperature has been in the mid-80s since mid-May, and trout and redfish have disappeared from the flats. There doesn’t seem much an angler can do in August except get up at early thirty to try and get a few fish and head back to the dock for the teeth of the day. August fishing can be tough sometimes.

Fishermen can take heart, however. The jetty systems of both Brazos Santiago and Mansfield passes provide some excellent (and sometimes better) fishing for a variety of fish, including some that are highly desirable among even the most discriminating anglers.

Some of the most underrated summer fishing in South Texas takes place along both sides of the Brazos Santiago Jetties. These jetties book-end the pass by the same name, which feeds in and out of Lower Laguna Madre.

These jetty systems are accessible from land—the north jetties from South Padre Island, and the south jetties from Brownsville via SH 4, then left onto Brazos Island (known locally as Boca Chica Beach).

The jetties offer excellent fishing for everything from the four parts of the “Texas Slam” (trout, redfish, flounder, and snook), mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, and even kingfish for the properly equipped.

Certainly, the most sought-after fish are speckled trout and redfish. Both can be caught from the jetties on the same trip. However, different techniques are called for.

Speckled trout usually will hold closer to the rocks and cruise up and down the gut that

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The question always comes up about the sort of tackle needed for the jetties. Honestly, your traditional inshore 10- to 12-pound tackle is enough, but if you hook into a big red or snook, you are going to be in trouble. Upping slightly with 14- to 17-pound tackle is a safer bet to handle just about anything that swims the suds around the pink granite. Also, it gives you a little more power in reserve if Mister Big comes calling. My preferred rig is a 7½-foot medium action casting rod with a Curado 300-e, loaded with 10/40 Power Pro braid.

This outfit will tackle pretty much any fish you might run into on the rocks, unless a 150 pound tarpon grabs your plug; then, all bets are off.

If you feel ambitious, walk all the way to the end of the jetties to take a shot at a kingfish or tarpon. Tarpon prowl the currents and eddies on the channel side of the jetties when the tide is running.

Mullet-imitators such as a large Rapala, Bomber Long A, or a Berkley Power Mullet are the best bets to get a poon’s attention. Fly fishermen can use a large Tarpon Bunny or Chicken Feather-type fly on an 8- or 9-weight fly rod.

Calm days bring blue water right up into the rocks, and kingfish follow bait into casting range. Use a Magnum Rat-L-Trap in Chrome/ blue or a fresh ribbonfish on a classic kingfish rig. Large menhaden (pogies) are best if you can get some that are fresh. Upgrade to a surf rod and high-capacity reel.

You never know what may show up and rock your world.

runs parallel to the jetties. This is especially true on the north jetties, where prevailing currents create gentler eddies and currents that push water and bait against the surf-side of the rocks on an outgoing tide. Redfish will prowl the surf away from the jetties and in the guts that intersect them.

An incoming tide sends fresh water in from the Gulf to lay swells down, making early mornings magical off the rocks. A fisherman can do well throwing live bait under a popping cork near the rocks for trout and mangrove snappers, which almost become a nuisance with their abundance. A Carolina rig out in the surf for redfish is also good. The bait bucket, however, isn’t necessary.

All you need is a box filled with chugging topwaters such as the Storm Chug Bug, PopA-Dog,or similar such poppers, a couple of pink/polka-dot Rat-L-Traps, a ½ silver spoon or two, and a collection of your favorite plastic tails in red/white, or chartreuse patterns and some 1/8 ounce jigheads (the lighter heads are less apt to snag up).

If the wind is straight from the south, you can still fling topwaters parallel to the rocks. In fact, the trout seem a little more aggressive in the more active water.

Start an early morning expedition on the jetties by casting back towards the corner where the rocks meet the beach and work the lure back along the bottom. Trout should be there, but a few big flounders may also be waiting in ambush. From those casts, expand out into the guts and cast parallel to the beach to see whether there are redfish.

It doesn’t hurt to take a few wire leaders in your tackle box. This time of year, schools of Spanish mackerel tear into bait balls in front of the jetties. They aren’t discriminating and can clean you out of tackle in a hurry.

On the South jetties, the surf is a bit rougher, and the rocks are not laid as smoothly, but the presence of snook in the suds more than makes up for the tougher work. These fish will also attack the same trout and redfish lures with abandon., Plus, they offer some gill-rattling jumps for your thrills.

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Coast Guard Station SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Flounder TIPS: Wade fishing with live shrimp/soft plastics under a Mauler.

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Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Saltwater: n Upper Coast n Mid Coast n Lower Coast Freshwater: n Piney Woods

Half Moon Full of Speckled Trout

Freshwater: n Prairies & Lakes n Panhandle n Big Bend n Hill Country n South Texas

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes).

Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Half Moon Shoal GPS: N 28 43.371, W 95 46.228 (28.7229, -95.7705)

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Sun Gas Wells GPS: N 29 38.932, W 94 48.436 (29.6489, -94.8073)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails & topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountzsbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: Drift the shell that is on the west end of the bay.

“It’s tough catching fish from a boat in August; you have to cover a lot of water.

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Exxon C Lease Wells GPS: N 29 40.446, W 94 45.579 (29.6741, -94.7597)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails & topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountzsbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: Throw a topwater early in the morning and then switch off to a small soft plastic tail on a 1/16 oz jig head.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “If you demonstrate patience you can probably fish 20 gas wells and pick up 10 fish in a morning.”

Capt. Marcaccio

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Get there as early as possible, looking for any tide movement, drift with 10-15 feet of the well.” Capt.

Marcaccio

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Half Moon Reef GPS: N 29 23.98, W 94 50.9 (29.3997, -94.8483)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “If you get a bite, or catch a fish, just keep drifting, and then come back around and start another drift.

Work all sides.” Capt. Marcaccio

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LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Gas Wells GPS: N 29 42.984, W 94 43.14 (29.7164, -94.7190)

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Confederate Reef GPS: N 29 15.755, W 94 55.177 (29.2626, -94.9196)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “If you start your day wade fishing the shoreline, quit by 8 a.m. As the sun increases the heat, the water oxygen will be depleted, and the fish will move to deeper water.” Capt. Marcaccio

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Carancaua Reef GPS: N 29 12.694, W 94 59.788 (29.2116, -94.9965)

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Shell Island Reef GPS: N 29 11.983, W 95 0.932 (29.1997, -95.0155)

LOCATION: Matagorda Shoreline HOTSPOT: Surf GPS: N 28 35.569, W 95 59.268 (28.5928, -95.9878)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Drift open water over reefs and drains, water 5-6 feet deep.” Capt. Marcaccio

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Look water that has streaks. The trout will lie in the off-color water and ambush bait in the clear water.”

Capt. Marcaccio

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails & topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountzsbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Normally by late July, early August, the winds are a lot lighter. You have chances for the surf to be right for some surf fishing.” Capt. Countz

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FISHING HOTSPOTS tcountzsbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “Watch for line movement…feeling the fish on your line before you pop him.” Capt. Countz

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Sabine Channel GPS: N 29 59.87, W 93 46.171 (29.9978, -93.7695)

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove GPS: N 27 45.437, W 97 9.717 (27.7573, -97.1620)

LOCATION: Sabine Coast HOTSPOT: Short Rigs GPS: N 29 39.236, W 93 48.289 (29.6539, -93.8048)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish Best Baits: MirrOlure Lil Jon soft plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 97862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: “Pogey are in the lake in August, the prime food for the fish. The small Lil Jons imitate the Pogey.”

Capt. Watkins

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish Best Baits: MirrOlure Lil Jon soft plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 97862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Favorite soft plastic colors … glow/chartreuse, Dirty Tequila or White Ice.

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cottons Bayou GPS: N 28 30.552, W 96 12.453 (28.5092, -96.2076)

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Drill for Trout at Corpus Wells

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails & topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountzsbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “You need braided line on your reel and real sensitive rod,” said Capt. Countz. “The fish could pick up your lure and you might not even know it when it gets hot.”

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Corpus Christi Bay Wells GPS: N 27 44.764, W 97 11.141 (27.7461, -97.1857)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com www.sightcast1.com TIPS: Capt. Mendez says start your day early with topwaters.” He likes small Zara Spooks and MirrOlure Top Dogs in bone or chartreuse.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Soft Plastic tails & topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 |

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LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Brown & Root Flats GPS: N 27 51.236, W 0 6.172 (27.8539, -97.1029)

SPECIES: Redfish Best Baits: Clouser Minnow CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com www.sightcast1.com TIPS: Capt. Mendez also guides fly fishing trips in the shallow waters around Port Aransas. “The Clouser Minnow is easy for my clients to cast.” Capt. Mendez LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: East Shore GPS: N 27 51.695, W 97 6.6 (27.8616, -97.1100)

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N 28 29.738, W 96 13.565 (28.4956, -96.2261)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Kelly Wigglers soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com www.sightcast1.com TIPS: By mid-morning he’ll switch off to Kelly Wigglers in strawberry/white, limetreuse, or white.

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SPECIES: Redfish Best Baits: Clouser Minnow CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com

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FISHING HOTSPOTS www.sightcast1.com TIPS: “We use an 8-weight fly rod, weight forward fly line. It’s a floating line; we don’t want anything sinking because of the shallow water we are fishing.” Capt.

Mendez LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Intracoastal Spoils GPS: N 27 33.684, W 97 16.759 (27.5614, -97.2793)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Kelly Wigglers soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com www.sightcast1.com TIPS: He uses a 1/8 oz. jig head with Kelly Wiggler tail. “I fish a lot of shallow water, and the lighter jig head helps keep the bait out of the grass.” Capt.

Mendez

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Spoiler Alert for Baffin Reds

by Tom Behrens

TIPS: “I use the plain shrimp tail, but there is also a willow, flat tail that works really good,” said Capt.

Mendez.

on jigs and minnows. I am fishing the deeper brush piles I have put out on the lake and we start early and are off the lake by noon. The best places to look for the deeper bite will be at the mouth of Ray Branch, mouth of Little Caney and the mouth of Chaney. This is the deeper end of the lake and you will find the crappie in the 24- to 27-foot range. My best color of jig will be blue ice using the Bobby Garland jig bodies.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Slough Rocks GPS: N 27 18.651, W 97 33.465 (27.3109, -97.5578)

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Deep Points, Humps and Road Beds GPS: N 32 49.764, W 95 35.892 (32.8294, -95.5982)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Baits: Kelly Wigglers soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com www.sightcast1.com TIPS: “Around the rocks, fishing water 5-6 feet deep, I will use a 1/4 oz. jig head with a 15-20 lb. test shock tippet that I tie to the line on my reel.” Capt. Mendez

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass Best Baits: “Top water poppers and frogs, Vicktory Jig from Finch Nasty Bait Company Football head Jig this time of year green pumpkin Orange and peanut butter jelly colors with Grandebass Mega Craw trailer, deep diving crankbaits in shad colors” CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “Look for shad activities shallow around grass early. Catch them with topwater poppers and frogs.

Then head out to deep points, humps and road beds.

The Vicktory Jig from Finch Nasty Bait Company is the go to football head jig this time of year with green pumpkin orange and peanut butter jelly being great colors to use. Use Grandebass Mega Claws in green pumpkin as a trailer. Fish on 14 lb. fluorocarbon slow on the bottom, 15-25 foot deep. If it is windy throw a deep diving crank bait in shad colors tied on 12-pound monofilament. Fishing can be best during the heat of the day. Good fishing to all! “

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Branch Out for Fork Crappie

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Ray Branch GPS: N 32 48.6059, W 95 34.296 (32.8101, -95.5716)

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Spoils GPS: N 27 14.655, W 97 24.843 (27.2443, -97.4141)

SPECIES: Redfish Best Baits: Kelly Wigglers soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Joe Mendez 361-877-1230 mendez@stx.rr.com www.sightcast1.com

SPECIES: Crappie Best Baits: Minnows, jigs in blue ice color with Bobby Garland jig bodies CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: With the dog days of summer here, it’s hard to believe the fish will be biting in this heat! But they are biting! That is why I love crappie fishing on Lake Fork because the fish are always active and very catchable T E X A S

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LOCATION: Sam Rayburn Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Offshore River Ledges GPS: N 31 6.9539, W 94 14.64 (31.1159, -94.2440)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS water electronics and if he can stand the summer heat.

The best bites will be along the old river ledges and offshore humps in 25 to 30-foot depths. Look for the south 1/3 of the lake with the clearest water to be the best producing area. Crappie fishing will remain strong on man-made brush piles in 25 to 30 feet.

CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: Sam Rayburn in August should be fabulous all over this giant lake. There should be a great topwater frog bite over the pepper grass mats. If the lake stays at about the same level, there should be good early/ late action on the outside edges of the hay grass on plastics and spinnerbaits for solid 2 to 5 lb. fish. Look for bigger trophy size lunkers on offshore river ledges, creek bends, junctions and humps.

LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: Martinez Bayou GPS: N 31 35.406, W 93 50.5679 (31.5901, -93.8428)

LOCATION: Toledo Bend Lake HOTSPOT: Lower 1/3 of Main Lake GPS: N 31 12.174, W 93 36.6419 (31.2029, -93.6107) SPECIES: Black Bass Best Baits: Top water lures, crankbaits, soft plastics CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: Early morning and late evening we’re working shallow grass flats, lily pads and pepper grass close to deep water with top water plugs, stick baits, frogs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, shallow diving and lipless crank baits and finesse plastics (Senkos, Flukes, and Trick worms). When the sun gets overhead, or the bite slows down, back out to deeper water along creek channel drops, river ledges, timberlines, main lake

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass & Crappie Best Baits: Bass: spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics Crappie: jigs and minnows CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: August at Toledo Bend can be great for a bass fisherman with a big “IF”. IF he understands deep

ridges and humps, secondary and main lake points with mid to deep diving crank baits, slab spoons, tail spinners and Texas or Carolina rigged soft plastics.

Watch for schooling bass and keep a lipless crankbait, shallow diving crankbait and top water plug handy.

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Gibbons Trees Take in the Cats

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by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Trees at Intake Channel GPS: N 30 36.8999, W 96 4.29 (30.6150, -96.0715)

SPECIES: Catfish Best Baits: CJ’s Punch bait, cut shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Plant is up and running now and producing a slight current. Chum and allow 15 minutes for chum to work, drift a slip cork set right off the bottom through the chum.

LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.02 (32.8531, -96.8670)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass Best Baits: Bass: spinnerbaits and chatterbaits CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com

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FISHING HOTSPOTS TIPS: This time of year, bass will usually always be in 1 to 5 feet of water until August then they move out a little deeper in the middle of the lake. Spinnerbaits seem to work the best along with chatterbaits. When It gets warmer and it’s super bright out, fish the bridges or the rip rap where there is access to deeper water.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 14.154, W 96 5.97 (32.2359, -96.0995)

SPECIES: Catfish Best Baits: Cut shad or other cut bait CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: This month we are drifting bobbers. Set out several rods with floating rigs anywhere from 2’ to 6’ below the surface in 12’ to 35’ of water and drift with shad or other cut bait. Use a drift sock if wind is blowing. Cover long stretches and you’ll find the fish.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Old Walnut Creek Bed GPS: N 32 53.74, W 97 29.907 (32.8957, -97.4985)

SPECIES: White bass Best Baits: Hell Pet CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnysguideservice.com johnnystevens@1scom.net TIPS: This area is the old walnut creek bed. Troll the hell pet rig in this area. Sandbass love this area as the water reaches summertime temperature. The hell pet rig is a hell bender with the hooks removed. Put a 1/2 oz bell sinker on the front screw. In the back screw put a 2ft. leader with a pet spoon attached to it.

SPECIES: Catfish Best Baits: CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Water is 20-foot-deep here off the point.

Anchor and chum straight down. Use a tight line fishing just off from the bottom.

SPECIES: Striped bass Best Baits: Live Shad and Perch. White or Chartreuse

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Standing Timber and San Gabriel River GPS: N 30 39.894, W 97 23.094 (30.6649, -97.3849)

SPECIES: Crappie & Largemouth Bass Best Baits: Crappie: jigs and minnows | Largemouth Bass: crankbaits, worms, spinnerbaits CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Now is a good time to catch crappie in standing timber at the mouth of the river and creek. They are many times suspended at about 6 feet deep over 8 to 12 feet of water. However, you need to try different depths to locate the active crappie. This pattern is better than other times of year because the water clears up with light winds during August. Jigs or minnows will work for this pattern. | The black bass are schooling up river where large concentrations of shad are located.

The best bite is mid-day. All of the standard bass baits will work but I like to use a Bomber Model A crankbait in shad color. The black bass fishing is better now than it has been in 20 years so get out there and catch some. Good luck and good fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Lower Ends GPS: N 32 22.659, W 97 42.009 (32.3777, -97.7002)

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Point Off Third Boat Ramp GPS: N 29 55.878, W 96 43.368 (29.9313, -96.7228) T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Curly Tail trailers on large pony head jigs for downrigging.

CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters TIPS: Work channel ledges near feeding flats. Fish large live baits behind the boat under a balloon for the bigger stripers to 12 pounds. If possible let the bait drift under the balloon near shallow points/flats where top water action is taking place. Granbury water temperatures continue in the upper 80’s and summertime is in full force. Thermocline is present, and all fish are in the top layer of water.

on a 1/4 oz jig head. They will hit just about anything when they’re schooling but using the single hook makes for a quicker release and more time catching vs a treble hook on a hard plastic. The crappie bite has been good, still catching quite a few smaller fish.

Summer fishing pressure has the ratio of keepers to throwbacks at about 1:3 but with an occasional big fish. Look for these fish holding close to brush piles in 25-35 foot of water. Jigs are working but the quality of fish seem to be better on minnows.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Rock Island Brush GPS: N 30 18.486, W 96 31.4339 (30.3081, -96.5239)

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: County Line Area GPS: N 32 11.1419, W 95 27.306 (32.1857, -95.4551)

LOCATION: Ft. Phantom Hill Reservoir HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 34.074, W 99 40.902 (32.5679, -99.6817)

SPECIES: Crappie Best Baits: Minnows, jigs CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Water is pretty deep here. Tight line minnows straight down or use a 1/16 oz jig in grey or black chartreuse. Let jig free fall from time to time.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie Best Baits: Bass: Indian swim jig w/ Mister Twister Hawg Frog as trailer | Crappie: jigs CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 RICKY@RICKYSGUIDESERVICE.COM www.RICKYSGUIDESERVICE.COM TIPS: Bass fishing is good around boat docks and along the creek in the county line area. Concentrate on stumps and other structure. For crappie action, fish brush piles in 15 feet of water and under bridges.

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LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Dam - Deep Water Area GPS: N 33 3.6959, W 101 3.1229 (33.0616, -101.0521)

SPECIES: Crappie, white bass Best Baits: Minnows, swimbaits CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 justinwilson371@yahoo.com TIPS: White bass are still really good on topwaters early in the morning and should continue throughout the month. The shad spawn was a few weeks later than normal this year, so I look to see the topwater bite last a little bit longer than usual. When you find them on top, I recommend small swimbaits, white or chartreuse

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Go Deep for Dam Bass at Henry

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Brush Pile GPS: N 33 24.127, W 97 5.314 (33.4021, -97.0886)

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806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/fishing-guides.html TIPS: “August is the perfect month to try to fish at night to beat the heat. At night you have the lake to yourself. It’s cool and the fish usually bite. At night, I fish mostly the clear water area on Alan Henry with big worms. The clear water will mostly be found near the dam area. If fishing in the day time, you will need to use your depth finder to locate the schools of shad. If you find the shad, you will find the bass. The bass this time of year will be schooled up in the channels of the creeks and in the mouths of the creeks. The shad schools can be anywhere, and it changes from day to day. Here today, gone tomorrow. Fish fun-Fish safe!”

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass Best Baits: Spoons, jigs, spinner jigs CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass Best Baits: spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, soft plastics CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, TPWD 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Ft. Phantom Hill has been producing many catches of quality largemouth bass and hybrid stripers.

This hotspot is primarily for largemouth bass, but many anglers have also caught hybrids incidentally while targeting the “toads.” Consider throwing flashy lures such as 1/8-1/2 oz. spinner baits, chrome or white RatLtraps, and Texas rigged soft plastics. Live shad will also work well for catching hybrids. See what is happening in the Abilene District on our Facebook page.

Check out the TPWD Catfish Management Plan.

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Stump Patch GPS: N 32 52.516, W 98 29.427 (32.8753, -98.4905)

SPECIES: Striped bass, hybrids Best Baits: Live bait, jigs, topwaters CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036

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FISHING HOTSPOTS fav7734@acweb.com TIPS: Dog days of August mean fish early, under cloud cover and at dark. We are still trolling bucktail jigs with Mister Twister Curly Tails and doing well. But if you can get live bait and keep it alive, that’s best.

Fish on days with cloud cover for topwater action and live bait and trolling in the dark and early morning. This is the time of year perch work best because it’s hard to keep your water cool and you have to drop baits down and slowly acclimate them, 10 feet at a time or the cooker depths will kill them. The formula is 10 feet = 10 degrees and if I don’t like 10 I will use 8 with better results to get bait in the 20- to 30-foot depths alive.

This end of the lake is back to crystal clear like 25 years ago, so if they can see you, you probably won’t get bit unless they are schooling.

••

in 10-15 feet. If the water temps start off above 84 degrees or there’s a lot of boat traffic, I’ll go from the topwater bite to throwing Picasso Shake E Football with a Wild Thang or a Pacemaker Jig in 15 feet of water.

The keys to August fishing at Lake Austin are to fish top waters at dawn and dusk then deeper water with jigs, T-rig, and C-rig during the day and night. You can get the the V&M and Picasso baits at Fisherman’s Corner

by Canyon Lake, Tightlines Premium Fishing Tackle in Killeen, and Marine Outlet in Temple.

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Scuba Diver’s Point GPS: N 29 51.8879, W 98 12.8399 (29.8648, -98.2140)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 46.104, W 98 26.9879 (30.7684, -98.4498)

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Pencil Point Sharpened for Bass

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Pencil Point GPS: N29 36.35118, W100 58.4484 (29.605853, -100.974140)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Carolina-rigged worms, jigs, deepdiving crankbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish the under-water ledges and end of the narrow point with a deep-diving crankbait early, slowly working the lure across the end of the point for feeding fish. After the sun rises, work the under-water brush and stumps with Carolina-rigged worms.

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Scuba Do for Canyon Stripers

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SPECIES: Striped Bass Best Baits: Rapala Snap Rap in gold orange color CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com http://www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Fish this area from 40 to 60 feet deep and look for schools of striped bass on your fishfinder. When located, I hold the boat in place with my trolling motor and vary presentation with the Snap Rap until we get a strike. The west side of the point seems to produce best. Tight lines and fish on!

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 19.464, W 97 50.316 (30.3244, -97.8386)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: River Channel and Dam Area GPS: N 30 45.612, W 98 25.488 (30.7602, -98.4248)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Wild Thang 8.5, V&M Chopsticks, Picasso Shake E Football, Picasso Shad Walker, V&M Pacemaker Jigs mated with V&M Twin Tail Trailer or Split Tail Beaver CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: This is the time of year to start working the Picasso Shad Walker and V&M Bayou Frog early in the morning as the fish are up feeding around the bank edges. Once the top water bite ends, I start working the Chopstick and Wild Thang with a T-rig and C-rig T E X A S

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SPECIES: Catfish Best Baits: Stripers: Live shad | Catfish: Cut shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: “Concentrate your fishing efforts on the lower half of lake in the early morning and late afternoon.

Fish live shad for stripers drifting or anchored in 25’40’ of water.

Also drift tops of trees in 60’ of water. Catfish are good to catch this time of year with live bait in 30’-40’ of water on ridge drop offs. Anchor and fish with rod and reel or fish juglines with cut shad in 15’-28’ of water.”

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FISHING HOTSPOTS ers in August. Fish along the river channel and down around the dam especially if LCRA is generating hard.

White bass can be found along the ridges and humps anywhere along the river channel.

barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Bass and crappie are settled into their summer patters of holding near the thermocline, along deep water ledges and points. They prefer cover near these areas or around grass edges. For bass, work topwaters, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits before the sun comes up and just before dark. During the day, go deeper with soft plastics, umbrella rigs and spinnerbaits around grass edges. Find brush piles and you should find crappie. For this Hotspot there is plenty of vegetation in water less than 14’ plus it has fast break lines off the hump. There is also deep water close by to hold some big bass during the hot days.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Jacobs Creek Point Area GPS: N 29 52.788, W 98 13.5299 (29.8798, -98.2255)

LOCATION: Travis HOTSPOT: Arrowhead Point GPS: N30 25.54074 W97 53.70624 (30.425679, -97.895104)

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: Drop-shots, Shaky Head jigs, crankbaits, buzz baits, and flukes; Crappie: Minnows and jigs under slip bobbers.

CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Bass and crappie are settled into their summer patters of holding near the thermocline, along deep water ledges, points and cover. For bass, spend most of your time fishing points with deep diving crank baits and soft plastics. For crappie, look for channels bends or points with brush piles. There are some brush piles on this point and some pretty good break lines near deeper water. If you’re on the water right at daylight just before dark, throw a topwater or buzzbait for some fun action and remember to always look for fish breaking the surface in a feeding frenzy. When crappie fishing, start with the brush piles found on the point. Use minnows or jigs under slip bobbers.

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Lures: 1/8-1/4 oz. jigheads rigged with grubs or shad shaped soft plastics and small jigging spoons for Largemouth, Guadalupe White & Striped Bass as well as Crappie CONTACT: Mike Hastings 512-773-7401 gitbit@austin.rr.com www.gitbitguideservice.com TIPS: Isolated boat docks (with bright lights aimed at the water) located on the main lake and in the mouths of major creeks: Briarcliff, Bee Creek, Hurst Creek, Sandy Creek, and Cypress Creek.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Honeymoon Hump Area GPS: N 30 34.35, W 98 21.474 (30.5725, -98.3579)

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Sulpher Creek Smells Like Bass

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: Top water lures, buzzbaits, soft plastics, umbrella rigs, and lipless crankbaits; Crappie: jigs and minnows under slip bobbers.

CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123

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by Dustin Warncke

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass Best Baits: Soft plastics, CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: August is hot, hot, hot! It’s that time of year where metabolisms are high, and the bass stay hungry.

Bigger baits always work better this time of year. Why waste time on a lot of little fry when you can get it done in one bite? That’s what the bass are thinking, so to speak. The reason we have a bigger population of bigger bass in the south is because we have longer stretches of warmer weather. And the fish feed more year around. This time of year, fish are feeding more so any bait that looks handicapped or chunky looks great to fish. Early morning and late evening are always good and cooler. Always remember to keep extra water and if you feel like you are overheating, run for shade or just dip your hat or shirt in the water. No fish is worth a stroke or worse. As always, remember to have fun. May your bites be big and your fish be healthy.

LOCATION: Choke Canyon Res. HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 29.274, W 98 22.8239 (28.4879, -98.3804)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, cut bait CONTACT: Charlie Brown 830-780-2162 TIPS: Expect to find catfish in shallow and in deep water this time of year. Use a float rigged to 3 feet and move to another spot if you don’t get a bite within 10-15 minutes. For deeper water, fish on the bottom.

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK AUGUST 2018

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T4

T11

T10 T9

TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the upper white boxes on the Calendar Pages. Use the Correction Table below, which is keyed to 23 other tide stations, to adjust low and high tide times.

T8 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

T13 T6

T7

T3 T2 T1

T5

T14

AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.

T18

AM & PM MAJOR phases occur when the moon reaches its highest point overhead as well as when it is “underfoot” or at its highest point on the exact opposite side of the earth from your positoin (or literally under your feet). Most days have two Major Feeding Phases, each lasting about 2 hours.

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass Jetty Sabine Pass Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty Port Bolivar

HIGH -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14

LOW -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06

KEY PLACE HIGH Galveston Channel/Bays T7 Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +3:54 T8 Eagle Point +6:05 T9 Clear Lake +10:21 T10 Morgans Point T11 Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39

LOW +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

PLACE Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay Alligator Point, W. Bay Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

HIGH +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -1:06

LOW +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:33 +2:31 -1:06

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE HIGH San Luis Pass -0.09 Freeport Harbor -0:44 Pass Cavallo 0:00 Aransas Pass -0:03 Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 Port Isabel +1:02

LOW -0.09 -1:02 -1:20 -1:31 -1:45 -0:42

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

READING THE GRAPH

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Moon Overhead

Fishing Score Graph

Moon Underfoot

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

n

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 58

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Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

TUESDAY

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High Tide: 7:53 AM 1.32 ft.

Low Tide: 12:57 PM 1.00 ft.

High Tide: 5:07 PM 1.10 ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

FEET

12:28 AM 8:18 AM 1:36 PM 6:07 PM

0.10 ft.

1.30 ft.

0.90 ft.

1.03 ft.

WEDNESDAY

Aug 1 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:59 AM 8:40 AM 2:19 PM 7:28 PM

0.25 ft.

1.26 ft.

0.79 ft.

0.97 ft.

THURSDAY

2

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:32 AM 8:58 AM 3:05 PM 9:11 PM

0.42 ft.

1.22 ft.

0.64 ft.

0.94 ft.

FRIDAY

3

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

2:08 AM 9:11 AM 3:54 PM 11:06 PM

0.62 ft.

1.20 ft.

0.47 ft.

0.98 ft.

SATURDAY

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Low Tide: 2:50 AM 0.84 ft.

High Tide: 9:16 AM 1.20 ft.

Low Tide: 4:47 PM 0.27 ft.

SUNDAY

5

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:58 AM 3:46 AM 9:14 AM 5:43 PM

1.11 ft.

1.05 ft.

1.23 ft.

0.05 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

8:00 — 10:00 PM Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 8:12p Moonrise: 10:12p Moon Set: 9:01a

AM Minor: 7:53a AM Major: 1:42a PM Minor: 8:16p PM Major: 2:05p

Moon Overhead: 3:17a Moon Underfoot: 3:39p

12p

6p

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 AM Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 10:46p Moon Set: 9:54a

AM Minor: 8:42a AM Major: 2:32a PM Minor: 9:04p PM Major: 2:53p

Moon Overhead: 4:01a Moon Underfoot: 4:23p

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12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 AM Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 11:19p Moon Set: 10:48a

AM Minor: 9:31a AM Major: 3:20a PM Minor: 9:53p PM Major: 3:42p

Moon Overhead: 4:44a Moon Underfoot: 5:06p

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

4:30 — 6:30 AM Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 8:10p Moonrise: 11:52p Moon Set: 11:42a

AM Minor: 10:20a AM Major: 4:09a PM Minor: 10:42p PM Major: 4:31p

Moon Overhead: 5:28a Moon Underfoot: 5:50p

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 8:09p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 12:37p

AM Minor: 11:08a AM Major: 4:57a PM Minor: 11:31p PM Major: 5:19p Moon Overhead: 6:12a Moon Underfoot: 6:35p

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 8:08p Moonrise: 12:28a Moon Set: 1:35p

AM Minor: 11:56a AM Major: 5:44a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:08p

Moon Overhead: 6:59a Moon Underfoot: 7:23p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 8:08p Moonrise: 1:06a Moon Set: 2:36p

AM Minor: 12:20a AM Major: 6:33a PM Minor: 12:46p PM Major: 6:59p Moon Overhead: 7:48a Moon Underfoot: 8:15p

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

6 FEET

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:29 AM 5:16 AM 9:12 AM 6:39 PM

1.28 ft.

1.24 ft.

1.29 ft.

-0.16 ft.

TUESDAY

7

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:32 AM 7:41 AM 9:26 AM 7:36 PM

WEDNESDAY

8

1.44 ft.

1.35 ft.

1.36 ft.

-0.34 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:20 AM 9:16 AM 11:09 AM 8:31 PM

THURSDAY

9

1.55 ft.

1.39 ft.

1.40 ft.

-0.48 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:01 AM 9:47 AM 12:52 PM 9:24 PM

FRIDAY

10 «

1.61 ft.

1.38 ft.

1.43 ft.

-0.54 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:38 AM 10:21 AM 2:15 PM 10:16 PM

SATURDAY

11 l

1.61 ft.

1.31 ft.

1.45 ft.

-0.52 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:13 AM 11:01 AM 3:30 PM 11:07 PM

1.57 ft.

1.18 ft.

1.44 ft.

-0.40 ft.

SUNDAY

12 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:46 AM 11:46 AM 4:44 PM 11:56 PM

1.50 ft.

1.02 ft.

1.40 ft.

-0.20 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 8:07p Moonrise: 1:49a Moon Set: 3:39p

AM Minor: 1:09a AM Major: 7:22a PM Minor: 1:36p PM Major: 7:50p

2:30 — 4:30 PM

6p

13 «

High Tide: 7:16 AM 1.42 ft.

Low Tide: 12:36 PM 0.83 ft.

High Tide: 5:59 PM 1.33 ft.

FEET

14 « Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:44 AM 7:45 AM 1:29 PM 7:20 PM

0.06 ft.

1.35 ft.

0.65 ft.

1.24 ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:32 AM 8:13 AM 2:27 PM 8:49 PM

6a

0.36 ft.

1.29 ft.

0.47 ft.

1.18 ft.

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P

Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 8:03p Moonrise: 6:54a Moon Set: 8:34p

AM Minor: 4:46a AM Major: 11:02a PM Minor: 5:17p PM Major: 11:33p

AM Minor: 5:46a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:16p PM Major: 12:31p

Moon Overhead: 12:46p Moon Underfoot: 12:15a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 8:04p Moonrise: 5:44a Moon Set: 7:43p

Moon Overhead: 11:43a Moon Underfoot: None

1:30 — 3:30 PM Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 8:02p Moonrise: 8:03a Moon Set: 9:19p

AM Minor: 6:47a AM Major: 12:33a PM Minor: 7:16p PM Major: 1:01p

Moon Overhead: 1:47p Moon Underfoot: 1:17a

Moon Overhead: 2:44p Moon Underfoot: 2:16a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

15

12a

AM Minor: 3:48a AM Major: 10:03a PM Minor: 4:19p PM Major: 10:35p

Moon Overhead: 10:40a Moon Underfoot: 11:11p

TUESDAY

6p

Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 8:04p Moonrise: 4:37a Moon Set: 6:47p

AM Minor: 2:52a AM Major: 9:07a PM Minor: 3:23p PM Major: 9:38p

Moon Overhead: 9:39a Moon Underfoot: 10:09p

12p

10:30A — 12:30P

Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 8:05p Moonrise: 3:35a Moon Set: 5:47p

AM Minor: 1:59a AM Major: 8:14a PM Minor: 2:29p PM Major: 8:43p

MONDAY

6a

BEST TIME

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Fishing Score Moon Moon Graph Overhead Underfoot

READING THE GRAPH

12a

3:30 — 5:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 8:06p Moonrise: 2:39a Moon Set: 4:43p

Moon Overhead: 8:42a Moon Underfoot: 9:10p

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

16

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

n

2:21 AM 8:39 AM 3:29 PM 10:31 PM

0.66 ft.

1.25 ft.

0.32 ft.

1.17 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

17

Low Tide: 3:18 AM 0.93 ft.

High Tide: 9:03 AM 1.23 ft.

Low Tide: 4:33 PM 0.21 ft.

SATURDAY

18 º High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:27 AM 5:08 AM 9:23 AM 5:37 PM

1.23 ft.

1.14 ft.

1.22 ft.

0.12 ft.

SUNDAY

19

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:28 AM 8:31 AM 9:32 AM 6:37 PM

1.34 ft.

1.23 ft.

1.23 ft.

0.06 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 PM Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 8:01p Moonrise: 9:10a Moon Set: 10:01p

AM Minor: 7:47a AM Major: 1:34a PM Minor: 8:14p PM Major: 2:01p

Moon Overhead: 3:38p Moon Underfoot: 3:12a

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12p

6p

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 PM Sunrise: 6:46a Sunset: 8:00p Moonrise: 10:14a Moon Set: 10:40p

AM Minor: 8:46a AM Major: 2:34a PM Minor: 9:12p PM Major: 2:59p

Moon Overhead: 4:30p Moon Underfoot: 4:04a

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12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 9:43a AM Major: 3:31a PM Minor: 10:07p PM Major: 3:55p

6p

12a

5:00 — 7:00 AM

AM Minor: 10:37a AM Major: 4:25a PM Minor: 11:01p PM Major: 4:49p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 6:07p Moon Underfoot: 5:43a

F I S H

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:58p Moonrise: 12:15p Moon Set: 11:54p

Moon Overhead: 5:19p Moon Underfoot: 4:55a

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12p

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 PM Sunrise: 6:46a Sunset: 7:59p Moonrise: 11:15a Moon Set: 11:17p

6a

&

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:57p Moonrise: 1:13p Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 11:27a AM Major: 5:16a PM Minor: 11:51p PM Major: 5:39p Moon Overhead: 6:54p Moon Underfoot: 6:31a

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:48a Sunset: 7:56p Moonrise: 2:09p Moon Set: 12:32a

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:04a PM Minor: 12:16p PM Major: 6:28p Moon Overhead: 7:42p Moon Underfoot: 7:18a

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:49a Sunset: 7:55p Moonrise: 3:03p Moon Set: 1:12a

AM Minor: 12:38a AM Major: 6:50a PM Minor: 1:02p PM Major: 7:14p Moon Overhead: 8:30p Moon Underfoot: 8:06a

G A M E ®

7/25/18 9:37 AM

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7/25/18 9:37 AM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

20

High Tide: 3:42 AM 1.43 ft.

Low Tide: 7:31 PM 0.03 ft.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

21

22

High Tide: 4:23 AM 1.48 ft.

Low Tide: 8:17 PM 0.02 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

FEET

4:50 AM 10:47 AM 12:30 PM 8:58 PM

THURSDAY

23

1.49 ft.

1.28 ft.

1.30 ft.

0.02 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:10 AM 10:45 AM 1:33 PM 9:34 PM

FRIDAY

24 «

1.48 ft.

1.28 ft.

1.33 ft.

0.05 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:28 AM 10:41 AM 2:27 PM 10:05 PM

SATURDAY

25 «

1.47 ft.

1.25 ft.

1.36 ft.

0.10 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:46 AM 10:46 AM 3:16 PM 10:35 PM

SUNDAY

26 l

1.46 ft.

1.19 ft.

1.37 ft.

0.16 ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:05 AM 11:04 AM 4:04 PM 11:04 PM

1.46 ft.

1.11 ft.

1.37 ft.

0.25 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 PM Sunrise: 6:49a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 3:56p Moon Set: 1:54a

AM Minor: 1:22a AM Major: 7:34a PM Minor: 1:46p PM Major: 7:58p

Moon Overhead: 9:18p Moon Underfoot: 8:54a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 PM Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 4:46p Moon Set: 2:39a

AM Minor: 2:06a AM Major: 8:18a PM Minor: 2:30p PM Major: 8:42p

Moon Overhead: 10:06p Moon Underfoot: 9:42a

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6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 PM Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 5:33p Moon Set: 3:26a

AM Minor: 2:49a AM Major: 9:01a PM Minor: 3:13p PM Major: 9:25p

Moon Overhead: 10:54p Moon Underfoot: 10:30a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 6:17p Moon Set: 4:17a

AM Minor: 3:32a AM Major: 9:44a PM Minor: 3:56p PM Major: 10:08p Moon Overhead: 11:42p Moon Underfoot: 11:18a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 7:50p Moonrise: 6:59p Moon Set: 5:09a

AM Minor: 4:16a AM Major: 10:28a PM Minor: 4:39p PM Major: 10:51p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:06p

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 7:38p Moon Set: 6:02a

AM Minor: 5:00a AM Major: 11:11a PM Minor: 5:23p PM Major: 11:35p Moon Overhead: 12:29a Moon Underfoot: 12:52p

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 PM Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 8:14p Moon Set: 6:56a

AM Minor: 5:45a AM Major: 11:56a PM Minor: 6:07p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:15a Moon Underfoot: 1:37p

7/25/18 9:37 AM

AUGUST 2018

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

27 « FEET

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:26 AM 11:32 AM 4:53 PM 11:32 PM

1.45 ft.

1.02 ft.

1.35 ft.

0.36 ft.

TUESDAY

28 «

High Tide: 6:46 AM 1.43 ft.

Low Tide: 12:04 PM 0.92 ft.

High Tide: 5:47 PM 1.33 ft.

WEDNESDAY

29

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:03 AM 7:05 AM 12:40 PM 6:49 PM

0.50 ft.

1.40 ft.

0.81 ft.

1.30 ft.

THURSDAY

30

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:35 AM 7:20 AM 1:20 PM 8:03 PM

0.67 ft.

1.38 ft.

0.68 ft.

1.28 ft.

FRIDAY

31

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:10 AM 7:28 AM 2:05 PM 9:34 PM

0.87 ft.

1.36 ft.

0.54 ft.

1.30 ft.

SATURDAY

Sep 1 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:48 AM 7:25 AM 2:58 PM 11:19 PM

1.08 ft.

1.37 ft.

0.40 ft.

1.37 ft.

SUNDAY

2»

Low Tide: 2:33 AM 1.28 ft.

High Tide: 7:10 AM 1.42 ft.

Low Tide: 3:59 PM 0.25 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 PM Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 8:48p Moon Set: 7:50a

AM Minor: 6:31a AM Major: 12:20a PM Minor: 6:53p PM Major: 12:42p Moon Overhead: 2:00a Moon Underfoot: 2:22p

12p

6p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 9:22p Moon Set: 8:44a

AM Minor: 7:18a AM Major: 1:07a PM Minor: 7:40p PM Major: 1:29p

Moon Overhead: 2:44a Moon Underfoot: 3:05p

TexasOutdoorNationISSU-1808.indd 63

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 9:55p Moon Set: 9:38a

AM Minor: 8:06a AM Major: 1:55a PM Minor: 8:28p PM Major: 2:17p

Moon Overhead: 3:27a Moon Underfoot: 3:49p

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 AM Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 10:29p Moon Set: 10:33a

AM Minor: 8:56a AM Major: 2:44a PM Minor: 9:18p PM Major: 3:07p

Moon Overhead: 4:11a Moon Underfoot: 4:34p

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 AM Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 11:06p Moon Set: 11:29a

AM Minor: 9:46a AM Major: 3:35a PM Minor: 10:10p PM Major: 3:58p

Moon Overhead: 4:57a Moon Underfoot: 5:20p

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 11:46p Moon Set: 12:28p

AM Minor: 10:39a AM Major: 4:27a PM Minor: 11:04p PM Major: 4:51p

Moon Overhead: 5:44a Moon Underfoot: 6:09p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 1:29p

AM Minor: 11:33a AM Major: 5:19a PM Minor: 11:59p PM Major: 5:46p Moon Overhead: 6:35a Moon Underfoot: 7:02p

7/25/18 9:37 AM

Industry INSIDER Inaugural Aguila Cup

of support and camaraderie we saw this past weekend,” explains Kristi Heuring, Director of Marketing for Aguila Ammo, and Tournament Director for the Aguila Cup. “We wanted to host a family-friendly shooting event that highlighted the positive attributes and fun nature of our shooting sports. The caliber of sponsors, shooters and families that joined us in doing that is truly gratifying.”

“For three years we’ve hosted the Copa Aguila in Mexico, and wanted to bring the same excitement to our home here in Texas,” states TxAT/Aguila Ammunition President Leon Brener. “The shooting sports are an exciting yet challenging industry to be a part of. It’s events like this that bring us all together to promote liberty and celebrate our freedoms, while inspiring new and youth shooters to join this lifetime, sovereign expression, training and responsibility. We look forward to an even bigger Aguila Cup next year.”

Aguila Cup sponsors include: Midwest Gun Works, CZ-USA, Lucas Oil, Strategic Match Design, Rimfire Challenge Shooting Association, NRA, NSSF, Blaser, Briley, American Tactical, Bangers, White Flyer, Brownell’s, Westside Sporting Grounds, Able’s Ammo, Rocky Creek Sporting Clays, Tandemkross, Lone Star Outdoor News, Promatic, eRicher, Hunters HD Gold, Midsouth Shooter’s Supply, Williams Shooting Supply, Rovel Construction and DeCrosta Construction, Aimpoint, ORCA, and Sun Optics.

For a full list of Rimfire and 3-Gun scores, visit www.practiscore.com. All Sporting Clays scores can be found at www.winscoreonline.com.The Aguila Cup is returning to Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds for its’ second year June 20 - 23, 2019.

Aguila Ammunition, founded in 1961, is manufactured in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico by Industrias Tecnos, S.A. de C.V. As one of the largest rimfire manufacturers in the world, Aguila utilizes cutting-edge technology to manufacture quality rimfire,

T

HE INAUGURAL AGUILA CUP has successfully concluded at Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds with 400 shooters in attendance.

Gebben Miles has been named High Overall Champion for the CZ-USA Main Event of the monumental competition with a 2-day total score of 197 out of 200. Rob Romero was named the Brownell’s Triple Threat winner, being awarded a $5,000 prize pack with a combined 3-event score of 254.

The Triple Threat winner was determined by a combined score, based on time and points in the Rimfire Challenge, 3-Gun Challenge and Blaser Five-Stand. Aguila Ammunition is also proud to name Miles the High Overall Champion for the Promatic Prelim with a score of 99 and High Overall Champion for the Blaser Five-Stand with a score of 88. Team Aguila shooter Corey Kruse was named High Overall Champion for FITASC with a 2 day score of 96.

Other top finishers of the Aguila Cup are Mark Itzstein, taking home first place in the Tandemkross Rimfire Challenge Open, Jack Copeland, first place in the Tandemkross Rimfire Challenge Limited, and Keith Garcia, first place in the Lucas Oil 3-Gun Challenge presented by Strategic Match Design.

The 3-day multidiscipline-shooting tournament ran from June 14th-17th and consisted of Sporting Clays, Five Stand, FITASC, 3-Gun, and Rimfire categories. Each category was broken into various shooting divisions and cash and prize packages totaling $65,000 were awarded. The Aguila Cup also featured NSSF First Shots programs for new shooters and a private A Thousand Horses concert on Saturday night.

“We are so proud of all the Aguila Cup shooters and are humbled by the outpouring 64

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High Overall Winner: Gebben Miles.

centerfire and shotshell ammunition. Aguila offers a complete range of products for the self-defense, sport shooting, hunting, law enforcement and military markets. Texas Armament & Technology is the exclusive North American distributor for Aguila Ammunition.

For more information on Aguila Ammunition, visit the company website at www.aguilaammo.com or contact: Kristi Heuring Texas Armament & Technology/ Aguila Ammunition kristi@tx-at.com.

—TFG Staff

« PHOTO: ERIC POOLE

7/6/18 2:20 PM

Texas TASTED

by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Crabmeat Stuffed Chicken With Prosciutto

W

E LOVE CRABMEAT AND wanted to incorporate it with other ingredients for a meal. This turned into a great tailgating appetizer but it can be served as a main course as well.

Ingredients 3 tablespoons = Extra Virgin olive oil 1/3 cup finely chopped celery 1/3 cup finely chopped green onion 1 (12 ounce) can lump crabmeat, drained or fresh lump crabmeat 16 thin slices of prosciutto, each carefully separated after slicing with a sheet of wax paper (or whatever they use} 2 tablespoons dry sherry 1 teaspoon Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice 1/4-teaspoon ground black pepper 1- 8-ounce cake of cream cheese 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic 8 boneless and skinless chicken thighs, 2 fresh cloves of garlic= diced 1- seeded and chopped jalapeno, fresh if available {optional}

Preparation Prepare and start a medium sized charcoal fire, and arrange the coals toward the back of the grill, soak a few applewood PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

1808 Tasted Recipe.indd 61

Perfect for grilling this summer!

round natural toothpicks Place the stuffed thighs seam side down onto the grill, and season with The Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice Baste with Texas Gourmet’s Lemon Rosemary Habanero Grilling Sauce liberally and grill for 5 to 7 minutes, turn and baste again, Check the thighs after about 18 to 20 minutes Digital meat thermometer should read 160 degrees internally to be considered done, Remove the rolls, carefully remove all toothpicks while wearing gloves Rest the rolls for 10 to 15 minutes under a sheet of foil, while you get your other sides ready for the table.

Serve with your favorite sides.

Bon Appetit!

or cherrywood chips and have them ready to go shortly.

Sauté the celery, the green onion and jalapeno in a skillet with the olive oil. Cook and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and season with Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice. Stir in the crabmeat, sherry, cream cheese, and black pepper until everything is well blended.

Preheat a grill for medium heat.

Lay the chicken thighs out skin side down on a clean surface. Spread a small leaf of Swiss chard on the pounded chicken thigh and an even layer of the crab mixture onto each one.

Carefully roll the chicken meat around the mixture and then lay the roll down on a thin slice of prosciutto laid vertically, wrap it firm and then lay it down on to another thin slice of prosciutto and secure tightly with T E X A S

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Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com |

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7/6/18 2:21 PM

UNTING SEASON seems like it is right around the corner. I know that according to the calendar, there is still some time to get ready but time moves swiftly and before you know it, it is right at your doorstep!

A month away means its basically right here!

That is why you should take the time right now to prepare so I will start first with bowhunters. Not only should you make sure your bow is perfectly tuned, but you also have to do so much more to make sure that all of your hunting gear is ready to go.

Starting with your bow, do not forget to wax down your bow string. Check

by LOU MARULLO

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and replace all the rubber

T E X A S

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silencers if needed. Go over every inch of your bow and tighten any bolts down.

I also like to place a drop of gun oil on the tiny bolts and protect them from rust. You will thank me later when you try to unscrew one of them. Your bow is like anything else. You need to do regular maintenance on it to keep it in top performance shape.

Do an inventory on your hunting arrows. Do any of them need fletching COMPOSITE PHOTO: TFG

7/6/18 2:22 PM

1808-SpecSec.indd 63

7/6/18 2:22 PM

Special SECTION replaced? How are the inserts? Do you even have enough arrows for the coming season? I like to mark the fletching of each arrow with a number. Then, while I am practicing, if one arrow is always off the mark and it is the same arrow every time, then that one goes back in the box to be looked at at a later date.

Make sure you have razor sharp broadheads. Do not use the same blades as the year before without checking them for sharpness. A razor-sharp blade that sits in a quiver during the off season has probably oxidized and is no longer considered sharp enough for a humane harvest.

Check your stands as well. Tighten down any lose bolts that could make a

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Now is also the time bucks are getting ready for their own rutting season.

little noise at the wrong time! Make sure you get the stands up and ready to go long before the season begins. The whitetails

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have to get used to that new tree limb that was not there before!

With a new hunting season fast

PHOTO: CANSTOCK

7/7/18 11:36 AM

approaching, I spend any free time that I may have going through my gear and getting things all prepared for another successful year in the field. That does not necessarily mean that I will bring home game and fill my freezer, but I sure do plan on having fun trying! And for me, that is a successful year.

Dove season begins next month followed by early teal. I will admit to all those bird hunters out there that when I go bird hunting, the doves that fly above sunflowers and the ducks that head for open water are safe around me! My friends love to take me bird hunting with them. Not only because of the constant humor that I provide, but also because of the number of shells I carry with me!

Believe me, I have enough for many other hunters.

I confess that I am not the best shot

when it comes to flying birds. I just cannot stop aiming directly at the bird rather

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than ahead of it. Oh, I know that I am “supposed� to aim ahead of the bird while

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7/6/18 2:22 PM

Special SECTION swinging my gun as I shoot, but when the moment of truth comes, for some reason I never pay attention to what I am “supposed” to do. Consequently, there are no wild birds in my freezer except for one or two turkeys. I am more of a hog

hunting, varmint killing, turkey and deer hunting kind of guy.

August, for me, is the month to start scouting for deer. Not everyone likes to get out in the blazing sun and take a hot walk through a scorching field looking for

It’s a good idea to review a topo map of any prospective lease.

deer sign. I hear you! Me either! But I do spend some precious scouting time in an air-conditioned room with my laptop. It is a great way to check out possible new areas to hunt. If you are not doing well on your lease and you want to try your luck elsewhere, your computer is a good place to start.

Looking at a topographical map of a prospective deer lease will give you a great idea as to whether or not it can hold a nice whitetail. Whitetails, like any other mammal out there, need food, water, and shelter to survive. So, if you have located an area that has a food source nearby, a lake or stream on the property and a thick area used for a sanctuary for the deer to feel safe in, then you have located your own little “honey hole” for deer. Take a closer look and see if you can find a bottleneck on the property. A place where the woods gets narrow and then opens up again is an outstanding place to find 70

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

7/6/18 2:22 PM

deer movement. The big boys prefer to stay hidden in the woodlot and rarely show themselves in the open fields once hunting season begins.

Once you have found your ideal hunting spot, it is time to take the next step and find the owner of the property.

Approach him with the same attitude as if you are applying for a job. You only get one chance to leave a good first impression, so do your best at it. That does not mean you have to show up at his door wearing a 3-piece suit, but on the same token, you do not want to show up with dirty ripped clothes either. You get the point.

be enjoyable but fruitful.

And you just might bring home some

venison for the frying pan.

ÂŤ

Hopefully, you have now secured a new hunting area for this season and now it is time to really scout the area. I like to start from the comfort of my car in the early mornings and just before sunset. I will drive to the spot and check the area to see if I can see any deer in the food plot. Are there any big bucks? Are there enough does in the area? Do the deer enter and exit the food plot in the same spot every morning and every evening?

These questions and many more will be soon answered while you sip your coffee in your air-conditioned vehicle!

If you plan to hunt out of a tree stand, then time is a wasting and it is important to pick your ambush spot and place your tree stands up so that the deer will get used to seeing them. Remember, you are hunting in their living room and any sudden changes could alarm the deer of your presence. It is also very important to remember to only clear any branches or brush that is absolutely necessary for a clean humane shot.

If you get prepared for hunting season now, the chance of success is much higher and that means your time afield won’t just

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Open SEASON

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

Countdown

kids to torture.”

“Owww!” Cousin slapped at the angry insect that dropped off the limb. “Hey!” Mama met us on the porch. “What happened?”

“Yellowjacket stung him.”

Mouth pursed, she put some wet baking soda on the sting. “Now, y’all get gone.”

We wandered across the hot pasture, through two fences, and into an adjacent pasture. A decaying sharecropper’s shack acted like a magnet to two boys with air guns.

Cousin stopped at a distance. “Watch out for snakes.”

“It’s too hot for them to be out.” I looked down and froze at the sight of a copperhead disappearing under the rotting porch.

“How do you know so much?”

I gave Cousin a knowing grin. He’d been looking the other way. “I read a lot.”

We crept up on the warped porch and stuck our heads inside what looked to have been the kitchen. There was nothing but a few sagging cabinets and a dusty table with cracked dishes.

Cousin took one step closer. “It looks like they just up and left.”

“Probably did. It could have been an Indian war party that scared ‘em off a long time ago, or one of those dust bowl storms.

They called them that because the dust was so bad you could scrape a whole bowl of it off the table every time one came through.”

His eyes widened at my encyclopedic knowledge. “Let’s go shoot some frogs.”

“Okay.” I threw a shot at a particularly large wasp nest on the ceiling and we barely outran them. We would have made it, except Cousin cut himself on the bobwire.

Mama sighed as she washed the blood off his hand. “It doesn’t look too bad.”

I leaned forward. “I can see bone.”

Cousin wilted, and Mama shot me a look.

“That’s not bone. It’s a tendon, and get your head out of the way.”

She poured coal oil on the cut and wrapped his finger with a Band-Aid. “Y’all are gonna be the death of me. Out, and be careful. Leave those guns on the porch.”

C

OUSIN AND I HEARD MAMA and my grandmother talking in the kitchen. Their voices came through the screen door as if they were on the porch with us.

Dishes rattled and Mama whistled. “I almost dropped that platter. These kids’ve made me a nervous wreck. School starts next week, and I’m counting the days.”

Granny passed the screen with her hands full of plates. “They’re just kids. They’ll grow up before you know it.”

“They’ve been a handful this summer.

It’s been so hot at home you can’t breathe, and they’ve stayed inside under the air conditioner.”

“Well, I hear the city stays hotter than out here in the country. They’re busy when y’all are here.”

Mama nudged the door open with a shoulder and stepped onto the porch with a dishpan of water. Two steps across the porch and she stumbled over the BB gun lying on the boards. She was already planning to pitch the dirty water into the yard, but she threw it with even more force.

“If y’all don’t get out from underfoot I’m gonna wear you both out!”

We grabbed our BB guns and left the shade for the mimosa tree in the yard.

“And y’all don’t shoot back toward this house. Your Daddy’ll wear you out if you shoot out another window-light.”

Cousin frowned. “Why’s she mad?”

“That’s adults for you. They get cranky in August. I’ve watched them over the past few years and noticed that the older they get, the crankier they are at the end of the summer. It must be the heat.”

He sighed. “I don’t want to go back to school.”

“Nobody does but the teachers.” I cocked the lever and shot at a yellow jacket that landed on a limb above. “They love the first of the year because they get a new crop of

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“But…” Her eyebrow rose and I knew the argument, what there was of it, was gone.

“Fine.”

We grabbed a couple of cane poles from the dusty smokehouse and went fishing in Granddad’s muddy pool. Grasshoppers were so thick it was nothing to catch some for bait.

Not a leaf moved. The water was perfectly smooth, and you couldn’t tell if there was any current or not. Without weights, the grasshoppers flicked their legs, causing tiny ripples to spread out on the muddy water.

Something rose with a bulge and the bait disappeared.

I yanked hard on the pole and jerked the hook out of a fish’s mouth. The hook, without the grasshopper, flew upward and thocked against my hand.

Mama looked like she was gonna cry at the sight of my newest wound. I gave her a pat on the shoulder. “It’s all right. It doesn’t hurt much.”

My uncle came by and showed her how to get a hook out of a kid’s hand. The adults talked in the kitchen while Cousin and I sat in the living room under the water cooler.

“It’ll be all right,” Granny said.

Mama’s voice broke. “It’s another week until school starts.”

I gave Cousin a grin. “See, this time of the year is hard on ‘em. I think old people can’t take the heat like we can.”

He nodded. “You know everything. I think I need to read more.”

I agreed. “Read Tom Sawyer. It’s about guys like us who just try to stay out of trouble.

You’ll learn a lot.”

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REDFISH Baffin Bay

SPECKLED TROUT

Rachel Richardson caught a limit of reds on Baffin Bay, while waiting in the boat for her wadefishing fiancé and his fellow waders (who didn’t fare nearly as well). It was Rachel’s first time to catch redfish, and she caught and netted them all alone.

Trinity Bay Elijah Schmadl of Baytown pulled his personal best fish out of Trinity Bay, a 24.5-inch speckled trout.

BASS Douglassville Sambo Butler caught this 9.8-pound beauty while demonstrating a particular soft plastic for his dad, Larry.

They were fishing at Douglassville.

SPECKLED TROUT

BASS

West Matagorda Bay

Undisclosed

Blake Wolf caught his first trout while fishing in West Matagorda Bay with his uncle, Jim Wolf.

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Anakin Cervantes shows off his first fish, a nice bass.

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SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

Also Enter our PHOTO CONTEST: FishGame.com/texas-hotsots-upload No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

REDFISH

REDFISH

Rockport

Arroyo City

J.T. Womack caught his first redfish while fishing in Rockport with friends and family.

Verna Garza caught and tagged this 28.5-inch red on her first cast of the day at Arroyo City.

She used a Chicken Fried Trout trick lure.

BLUEGILL Grand Prairie Three-year-old Bella Law caught her first fish while fishing at Mike Lewis Park in Grand Prairie.

FLOUNDER Sabine Pass Ashley Stanley caught her first flounder while fishing at Sabine Pass.

BASS La Porte Jose Quintanilla caught this 4.2-pound largemouth in a bayou in La Porte.

T E X A S

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