Texas Fish & Game December 2015

THE TEXAS OUTDOOR AUTHORITY SPECIAL: Christmas in the Texas Outdoors

December 2015 $3.95

‘Hogzillas’ Mythic Tales, or Just Myths?

Chain Gangs

Did You

Miss the Rut?

Texas Pickerel

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The Wild Kingdom of Jim Fowler

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BIGGER. BETTER. 60 FRESH & SALTWATER LOCATIONS OVER 2500 GPS FISHING SPOTS

2016 EDITION

NOW AVAILABLE

ACADEMY • WALMART • FISHANDGAMEGEAR.COM

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.

ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

C O N T R I B U T O R S JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE TED NUGENT LOU MARULLO MATT WILLIAMS CALIXTO GONZALES LENNY RUDOW STEVE LAMASCUS DUSTIN ELLERMANN KENDAL HEMPHILL WILL LESCHPER REAVIS WORTHAM TOM BEHRENS GREG BERLOCHER PAUL BRADSHAW CAPT. MIKE HOLMES DUSTIN WARNCKE STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE JOHN GISEL

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR CONSERVATION EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR STRATEGIC ADVISOR

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response.

Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Email change of address to: subscriptions@fishgame.com Email new orders to: subscriptions@ fishgame.com Email subscription questions to: subscriptions@fishgame.com.

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Table of

DECEMBER 2015 Volume 32 • NO. 8

Contents FEATURES

MONSTER HOGS

COVER STORY: Surf Santa

Hitting the beach with u an honest to goodness Father Christmas (plus, a video interview with “Surf Santa” in our digital edition).

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Stories of big hogs can reach mythic proportions, and are often about as grounded in reality as myths.

by Chester Moore

Story and photo by Chester Moore

BIG WATER DUCKS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

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East Texas offers some of the best late season waterfowl hunting, on the state’s biggest reservoirs.

by Matt Williams The Wild Kingdom of Jim Fowler

Take a walk through the past with a conservation icon from the early days of wildlife television.

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Story by Chester Moore

CHAIN GANG

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Chain pickerel, kin to beasts of northern waters such as pike and muskie, bring a tough, ugly fight to East Texas lakes.

by John N. Felsher

DID YOU MISS THE RUT? Christmas in the Texas Outdoors A look at what is going u on in the wilds as most sportsmen are indoors around the Christmas tree.

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In a state as big as Texas, the breeding season for whitetail deer spans all the way from September to February, depending on which region you hunt.

by Chester Moore

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Contents (continued)

Inside FISH & GAME

COLUMNS

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by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

Editor’s Notes

by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

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The Más the Merrier

Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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HEN IT COMES TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY season, no matter what language you celebrate it in, the old “More the Merrier” rule should always apply. Try to make it last as long as you can—if possible, from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until the clock runs out on the final bowl game on New Year’s Day. We are truly blessed here in Texas with a bounty of outdoor opportunities that just keep giving throughout the year. So the holidays—when many of you are able to cash in leftover vacation days or take advantage of slower workloads to sneak off for a day or half-day—provide a few bonus chances to get in a blind or out on the water.

Many of our hunting and fishing brethren and sisteren(?) live in areas that, although quite rich in wildlife and outdoor opportunities, are brutally hostile to those who venture out to enjoy those opportunities in December. But here, this season is quite accommodating to the Texas sportsman. On most days.

Whereas a hunter in Wisconsin has to do all his rifle hunting for the entire year in just nine days around Thanksgiving, a Texas deer hunter has three whole months—and can use time off surrounding both Thanksgiving and Christmas to augment the schedule of weekend hunting trips. And although you want there to be frost on the ground and enough chill in the air to make the campfire or camp house fireplace welcoming after a fruitful hunt, nobody could honestly say they would enjoy sitting in a tree stand in minus-twenty degree gloom waiting for a shot at a cheese-head whitetail.

The fishing is even a more drastic comparison.

First, there is no such thing as a fishing “season” in Texas. In most of the states with the highest outdoors activity, they actually have seasons for largemouth bass and other major gamefish species. And in most of these places, if you do venture out to pursue the walleye or pike that are fishable during the holidays, you need to drag a little house with you and an ice auger.

Here, even on the few days that if feels like winter, if you want to go catch a fish, you can go after any species you want—from anything swimming in a Texas lake, to any one of a long list of saltwater fish, including red snapper as long as you stay in Texas waters (added bonus—even our state waters are bigger... nine miles out instead of the standard three for every other state!).

So, not only should we be thankful for the conditions blessed upon us here in the Lone Star State, we should make an extra effort to enjoy them during the Christmas season. And while many other indulgences might take you away from the family, another blessing is that every experience in the outdoors can be made a family experience.

This Christmas, make sure you get más, mehr, encore, MORE out of the season. From all of us here at TEXAS FISH & GAME, to all of you, Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!

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Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

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Nugent in the Wild

by Ted Nugent

TF&G Editor At Large

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Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

TF&G Political Commentator

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Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales

TF&G Saltwater Editor

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Bare Bones Hunting

by Lou Marullo

TF&G Hunting Editor

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Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams

TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Open Season

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Texas Boating

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CATCHES

32 TEXAS

DEPT. OF DEFENSE

40 TRUE GREEN 68 INDUSTRY INSIDER

69 FISH AND GAME GEAR

70 HOTSPOT

Practical Angler

78 TEXAS

TF&G Contributing Editor

86 TIDES &

by Paul Bradshaw

Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus

TF&G Firearms Editor

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8 LETTERS 10 TF&G REPORT 10 BIG BAGS &

by Lenny Rudow

TF&G Boating Editor

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DEPARTMENTS

FOCUS

HOTSPOTS PRIME TIMES

94 TF&G PHOTOS

Texas Tasted

by Bryan Slaven

The Texas Gourmet

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LETTERS to the Editor Go Kendall!

the interview from that article.

Thanks to the Owner

MR. HEMPHILL, I SENT A copy of your article to a friend who was in Tanzania working during the time I was in Kenya. He responded with the following. Thought that you would like another informed comment.

Don Stader ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE I went to Tanzania, the army was sent out to get poachers and they killed about 60 in a two-week operation.

During my stay, they lost about 2-3 elephants a year. The GOT put several people in jail including an MP and a priest.

We had a project with AWF, and they said Kenya was the main outlet for illegal wildlife products like hides, skins and wild birds. A local man invited me to go hunting. He said they went at night and put a fish net in a water hole and tied it to their car. When animals came in they took off, rolling the animals up in the net and then got out and shot them with pistols. I didn’t go.

Austin Stevens with a large cottonmouth.

KENDALL, EXCELLENT JOB, SIR. Your common sense approach and clear writing leave no doubt as to the importance of proper management. Thank you.

Brian Robert

Snakemaster Rocks!

I ALMOST FELL OUT WHEN I SAW the article on Austin Stevens at fishgame. com. Great stuff. Keep this kind of stuff coming.

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CHESTER, GREAT ARTICLE AT fishgame.com about Austin Stevens, the snakemaster. What a cool guy and an informative article. Those of us who love wildlife and like to fish and hunt appreciate how much about wildlife conservation you have brought to the publication.

Editor: Thank you so much. Doing a story with Mr. Stevens is one of the great privileges I have had in my career. Be on the lookout in a coming Texas Fish and Game for an exclusive with him about rattlesnakes. Go to the digital issue of the magazine for this month for the full transcript of F I S H

Sally A. Blacksmith

Send Your Comments to:

Eli Jackson

T E X A S

ARDIA, I WANT TO THANK you for calling me back to change my husband’s subscription address.

You went above and beyond and we appreciate it.

I told my husband about the app he can download, and he was pleased to know that.

Also, thank you for telling me about the email you send out. We did not know. Our kids, in their mid ’30s, probably know about all of the media info you can get through apps, but we did not. So, we appreciate you telling us.

Jim LOVES your magazine and reads it front to back the day he gets it. He tears out certain pages, too.

Then he hands it down to our son-in-law who is an EMT with the city of Austin. Nathan then takes it to work, reads it when he has time, and shares it with the other EMTs. Again, thank you for your sweet phone call.

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Texas Fish & Game 1745 Greens Rd Houston TX 77032 editor@fishgame.com

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EDITOR’S Notes

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

Landbound for Christmas

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AM A BANK FISHERMAN. Throughout my life, I have always fished from the bank at certain levels, but there has not been a point in the last 23 years of my professional career when I did not own a boat.

Until now.

In the process of paying off medical bills and other things, I sold my aluminum boat; and right now, I have no plans to get a new one.

It might seem strange for an outdoor writer to be boatless but the fact is many of you are. For the next few years, at least, I plan to remain boatless and focus heavily on bank fishing.

The subject has always been important; and in my 18 years writing for Texas Fish & Game, I have arguably more information about bank fishing out there than anyone in the state or maybe the country.

People should have good fishing information whether they have a $60,000 bass boat, a $10,000 aluminum rig, a kayak or a lawn chair.

I am officially in the lawn chair category now.

To tell the truth there is some excitement to it. Challenges are the things in life that forge us into better people and take skills to new levels.

I am on a quest to become an extremely proficient bank fisherman. Beginning this month, I will chronicle bank fishing triumphs, failures and tips exclusively in the digital edition of our magazine.

Digital content editor Elliott Donnelly has done a great job putting together a super-cool, bonus content rich e-edition. My

column, entitled “Landbound” is something I look forward to crafting. I believe it will be ground-breaking in terms of the depth we will cover boatless fishing.

Having a nice bay boat or bass boat would be nice, but I believe in living below my means and right now, that does not include a boat-of any kind. With a daughter in private school what would pay for a boat note is going to something far more important-private Christian education.

The excitement going into this new venture is in great part because of the fact we know many of our readers fish in state parks, on the beach, along roadsides and other landbound locations.

It also appeals to the rebel in me.

I have no qualms about saying as an outdoor writer I have had opportunities to fish around the world other people have not had but have maintained an attitude of gratitude instead of entitlement.

There is a segment of people in this industry who are as elitist as the average politician. If you don’t have the right boat, tackle or…gasp…actually kill and eat a speckled trout for example, you are vermin in their eyes.

I remember getting so upset with part of the coastal fishing industry in the early 2000s over the speckled trout limits and live croaker issue I seriously considered announcing I was going live bait only.

In fact, it was tempting to go live croaker only but at the end of the day I did not want to give the elitists any more credit than necessary.

You see what I am talking about with this rebel thing?

The outdoors at its best is an experience, not a contest.

No one lives off what they catch.

Although it is nice to come home with something for the grill or frying pan, the reward is in the details.

Kicking back and relaxing while watching a bobber in a stream allows for personal reflection and a connection to nature.

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So does chunking topwaters in the surf when the water is running sandy green and the specks are prowling between the first and second sandbar.

There is true excitement when a rod doubles over and a big flathead took the live bream you threw out. Or a monster blacktip busts the surface as you set the hook on a beach fishing excursion.

Sign me up for that kind of fun!

Speaking of signing up, my friend Marcus Heflin of Christian Surf Fishing Adventures is doing some cool things out at Sea Rim State Park near Sabine Pass.

He is giving monthly surf fishing clinics with hands-on instruction and opportunities to catch everything from whiting to bull reds and bull sharks.

He is the Santa on this month’s cover and the subject of the feature “Surf Fishing Santa.” This feature details not only his instructional work, but talks about how he and his wife visit children during the Christmas season to spread joy and remind them of the real reason for celebration.

That is the part of this job I enjoy.

It is certainly not the trade shows, travel or politics that can come in various forms in this business.

It is the chance to educate people about wildlife, teach them to be good stewards and honor people like Heflin who help those less fortunate to connect with the great outdoors.

Christmas is about giving, and my gift to you this month is a new column in our digital edition focusing on bank fishing.

Enjoy “Landbound,” and most important, enjoy this special time of year.

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The TF G Report Game Wardens Bust Centerville Poaching, Burglary Ring A THREE-MONTH-LONG OUTLAW road hunting rampage in Leon County this summer has come to an end. State game wardens are categorizing it as one of the most egregious poaching cases on record in Texas Four adults and two juveniles are facing more than 175 state jail felony and Class A misdemeanor wildlife violations stemming from a surreal chain of poaching events between June 4 and

August 29. Although investigators suspect the toll on wildlife and property is probably greater, the suspects have been charged in the illegal killing of at least 68 white-tailed deer, numerous other wildlife species and livestock. They are also charged with the indiscriminate and widespread destruction of public and private property.

The group is alleged to have used various firearms at night to shoot wildlife, livestock and property from a motor vehicle on a public roadway and on private property without landowner consent. Game wardens confiscated nine firearms ranging from .17 HMR to .270, including a .22 rimfire rifle fitted with a homemade suppressor.

The majority of the deer were shot

illegally from Jewett, in northwestern Leon County, to Leona, located in southeastern Leon County. Centerville was a midpoint between the two outlying communities and was nearest to the majority of the wildlife violations, with more than a dozen deer shot from the feeder road along I-45, alone.

Although some of the deer killed had portions of the carcasses retained by the suspects for consumption—loins and hindquarters—most were simply left to rot in the field. In addition to deer, the suspects purportedly shot numerous other animals from a motor vehicle on a public road, including: vultures, squirrels, foxes, feral hogs, doves, ducks, cormorants, blue herons, alligators, white egrets, armadillos and raccoons.

“This investigation represents one of, if not the most egregious poaching cases I am aware of in my 41 years in law enforcement,” said Col.

BIG BAGS CATCHES

WHITETAIL

FRESHWATER REDFISH

South Texas

Lake Braunig

Adam Guidry with a South Texas 8 point buck taken while he was bowhunting in Freer.

Jimmy Hograves caught this 34-inch freshwater red while fishing at Lake Braunig last July. The hefty red weighed in at 18 pounds.

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killing spree has absolutely no resemblance to hunting, and I know sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere will be appalled to learn of this thoughtless waste of wildlife,” said Carter Smith, TPWD Executive Director. “It is fitting to see these violators brought to justice, thanks to an observant landowner who provided the initial tip and the diligent work of our Texas Game Wardens working with the sheriff’s office.”

Despite the atrocities committed over the course of the summer, investigators are baffled at how little attention the suspects’ actions drew. Had it not been for a phone call on September 1 from a concerned citizen who reported a deer had been poached, the investigation might not ever have gotten off the ground.

“It amazes me that over a three-month period these young men probably fired hundreds of rounds of ammo, most of which were at night and in various locations, and no one reported gunshots or suspicious activity until

WHITETAIL Live Oak County Thirteen-year-old John Moore III of Victoria killed this 13-point five-year-old deer that scored a 147. He was hunting with his dad in Live Oak County.

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September,” said supervising game warden Capt. Mike Hanson. “Not a single call.”

Some landowners interviewed during the investigation told game wardens they recalled hearing gunshots at night, but dismissed them as feral hog hunters. Hog hunting at night is legal year-round in Texas with landowner consent and a valid Texas hunting license. Deer hunting at night or from a vehicle on a public roadway is not legal at any time.

“ Investigators are baffled at how little attention the suspects’ actions drew.

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Craig Hunter, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Director.

“I am extremely proud of the strong relationship between our game wardens, the Leon County Sherriff’s Office, and local landowners. Simply put, open communication is the cornerstone of solid police work.

Without great interagency cooperation this investigation would not have been a success.”

In addition to poaching wildlife, the violators also allegedly were involved in more than a dozen burglaries, mostly hunting cabins, according to Sgt. Brian Stafford with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

They are also investigating numerous other illegal activities believed to be related.

Those acts include the shooting of a plate glass window at a service station, repeated shooting of a pickup parked at a residence, target shooting numerous road signs and residential mailboxes, along with several house cats. Additionally, they are being charged with shooting and killing five cows and hacking to death a sixth cow with a machete.

“This reprehensible and senseless

Shooting up road signs, storefront windows, pickup trucks and mailboxes, among other things, is also not legal. State game wardens worked closely in the investigation with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

They are also putting together penal code violations against the suspects, to piece together what was happening along the roadways at the hands of these individuals.

“The danger that the violators placed the public in, the sheer number of violations committed, and the fact that they had little or no fear of being caught really stands out in my mind,” said Hanson. “From a wildlife enforcement point of view, I hope this case raises public awareness and convinces people to work with and inform their local law enforcement to prevent situations like this from happening in the future.”

Hanson noted ironically, a sign on Highway 7 in downtown Centerville reads “REPORT POACHING—CALL GAME WARDEN.” Surprisingly, this group did not shoot that sign—one of the few things they did not shoot.

— From staff repots

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DOGGETT at Large

by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Stairway to Heaven

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NIVERSITY OF HOUSTON fraternity brother Ken Frazier and I once shared a deer lease near Gonzales. We were the only hunters on the 1,000-acre low-fenced property, and the annual fee was $100 each.

The reader familiar with the costs of private-land deer hunting in Texas should be able to deduce that this was a long time ago.

Our first season on the lease was during the fall of 1972.

The property amid the rolling terrain of oaks and mesquites and pecans bordered the Guadalupe River and hosted numerous white-tailed deer. Most were about the size of your average Labrador retriever, but we were thrilled to see the “big game” movements.

Anything better than a spike was regarded as a serious buck, and we agreed that the choice area was down by the river. Right in the middle of this prime river-bottom country was an old stand nailed in a high fork of a towering oak tree.

The rickety perch probably was 16 or 18 feet off the ground—maybe 20. I’ll be honest; I don’t like heights. I don’t think Frazier was much for them, either.

But we reckoned the high seat was the place to be. An hour before the cold dawn of opening day we unlocked the gate and flipped a coin for first choice.

I won. The disgruntled Frazier opted for Plan B, overseeing a small winter oat patch where we had observed a young five pointer during an earlier “scouting expedition.”

I parked several hundred yards from the tree and walked silently and craftily through the gloom of the river bottom. Hiawatha would have been proud. There, ahead, was the skeletal frame of the big oak. I risked an upward flick with an el cheapo flashlight and 12 |

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the yellow glow marked the rough steps of ancient 2x4s nailed to the gnarly trunk. Way up there were several planks jammed together in the prominent fork.

Jeez, I thought, only an idiot would try to climb up into that thing.

Before the proliferation of portable tree stands and tripods, many rough-and-tumble leases across Texas had similar sorry constructions, often with impressive names: “High Lonesome,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Old Widowmaker.”

My initial reaction was, in fact, a remarkably astute observation. But, despite serious misgivings about the shaky ascent, I really wanted to go deer hunting. If nothing else, I didn’t want to admit to Frazier that I chickened out.

I had the good sense to leave several unnecessary items on the ground and to tie a nylon rope to the unloaded Sako rifle to haul up after I was situated. This was assuming I ever got situated. I clutched the steps and started climbing. The rotting boards were nailed several feet apart, one above the next, maybe nine or ten of them.

One was loose, with considerable play, and another was split at the nails. Midway up, I got the binocular strap around my neck caught in a branch and almost overbalanced. Twisting around the tree trunk to claw and scrabble onto the flat planks was the sketchiest part of the entire climb.

Panting and shivering, I found a semicomfortable position with my legs dangling off the edge of the outside plank. In the graying light, the drab acorn-littered ground looked way down there.

I pulled hand-over-hand on the rope, raising the rifle. Naturally, I banged the scope, then almost fell as I reached out to grab the gun. I ran the bolt back and pushed four 130grain .270 cartridges from my jacket pocket into the magazine. The familiar click-clack was somehow reassuring, a return to normalcy.

I settled down and began to wait. For an hour, as chill light gathered across the bottoms, nothing stirred. Then I heard the sharp Boom! from a nearby rifle. Frazier had no doubt T E X A S

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“tipped over” the five pointer—or maybe something even better.

Great, I thought. He’s got a good deer down, and I’ve risked my life for nothing.

Then I saw the doe.

The trim deer was pacing smartly, following the bank of the river and heading straight for my tree. The doe looked back down the trail. The early-November rut was underway and, even as a rookie hunter, I realized that a buck might be following.

The thought had no sooner occurred when a second deer appeared from the brush.

I gasped.

The largest buck of my life was walking within chip-shot range. This was a mature warlord with heavy dark antlers and thick bristling neck. Cold steam puffed from his nostrils.

The buck trotted forward, and the wretched stand creaked and popped as I shifted and craned to raise the rifle. The deer stopped and looked up, poised for flight. I leaned forward, turning awkwardly to cover the shot. Balance was precarious, but danger was forgotten in the charged excitement of the moment.

The 4X Redfield scope found the deer, and I yanked the trigger. The frantic shot carried just under the brisket. The unscathed deer sprang forward and, within several bounds, vanished.

I exhaled a trembling breath and cursed—then realized that the drama had carried me within an inch or two of falling from the planks.

Fear set in. I snugged against the rough trunk and knotted the rifle to the rope and lowered it to the ground. Without looking below, I held the tree in both arms and started backing down the flimsy boards. About six or seven feet from the ground, a wobbly board moved, and I slipped and fell.

I landed hard, jamming my ankle and barking my elbow, but suffered no significant injury. I looked up at the weathered planks in the high fork and turned away, grateful that kind fate sometimes spares the young and the reckless.

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Live Life to the Fullest

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IME IS CRUEL AND INDIScriminate, and lots of stuff happens as it passes. Time eventually gives more than it takes, but you have to live a long, full life to recognize and reap that reward.

I’m in the stage that comes before the wheels fall off, but after the lug nuts start to loosen. Outdoor tasks I once took for granted now are laborious, and recovery from physical activity often takes longer than the activity itself.

Summer’s a good example (as is winter, which we’ll address in a second). For more than half my life, I couldn’t wait for summer’s boiling cauldron of heat and tropical weather systems.

Daytime highs at or near the tripledigit mark, I found, culled the lightweights.

Afternoon tee time at a favorite golf course?

No problem. Pretty stretch of fishy shoreline on a midday? Incoming tide in August? All to myself.

The hotter it got, the better, too. I recall a particularly nasty summer during which Houston, where I live, beat the century mark every day for nearly two weeks. Several old men actually dropped dead on local golf courses.

All the while, I kept chunking lures and hitting balls and taking advantage of light traffic around my favorite haunts. Other than sweat-stained shirts and darker-thanusual urine (because I was too busy to drink water), summers through young adulthood were just longer days with extra opportunity.

When summer dealt a tropical storm or hurricane, I shuttled an armload of valuables from downstairs to upstairs in my loft apartment, racked a board and raced to the beach. Bigger waves meant longer paddles, which meant nothing when my lung capacity

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was around that of Snoopy II and my shoulders were strong.

Everyone in the rough water questioned the sanity of everyone else in the rough water. None of us ever was more than one bad spill from drowning, but our thirst for big waves wouldn’t let us sit out that doubleoverhead dance.

The dead of winter, in real winters such as 1983 and 1989, was like summer, only colder. Even as a young guy, I was no fan of extreme cold. Rather than retreat from it, though, I just learned to dress for it.

Friends and I played a few rounds of golf back then on days when water hazards were iced (and courses “officially” were closed).

We hunted hard back then, too, back when I could eat two cheeseburgers, large fries and a gallon of Coke twice daily and not gain an ounce. So long as you stayed dry, you stayed comfortable, but we hardly ever stayed dry in the rice fields west of Houston.

Sub-freezing temperatures had the same impact on sissies as 100-degree days, and that was a problem on waterfowl hunts. It helped, on the prairie, to have enough guns in nearby pastures to keep the birds stirred.

Bays in winter were like courses in summer—nearly vacant. On the rare occasions when we ran into other fishermen, odds were good they’d be guys we knew. We were a fraternity, of sorts, our own brand of MENSA, Men Enjoying Not-Sensible Acts.

I’ve grown past the bravado now. Got nothing to prove to anyone. I go to bed early and catch a nap any chance I get. I wear sunscreen in summer and extra layers in winter.

There’s a little less hair to warm my head and a little more belly that serves no purpose. I have convinced myself that it aids balance by lowering my center of gravity.

As for those lug nuts…

My left knee acts up occasionally from a meniscus tear that happened during a deer-camp basketball game years ago, with a former Astros first-baseman and some of his buddies. All were half my age and twice

my size.

I went up (but not far in hunting boots) for a jump shot, and one of those guys slammed into me—hard. I landed “funny” on that knee and could barely walk for the rest of the trip. I did kill a big buck, a clean eight-pointer that scored nearly 150 points.

Whenever my knee hurts, I block the pain by thinking of that deer.

I broke my left humerus and ripped everything in the same-side shoulder trying to throw a guy out at home, from center field in a pickup softball game, on a cold arm (bad idea—worst pain ever for nearly two months). I broke a foot playing soccer and a hand flying off a dirt bike.

Both hips, I’m convinced, are working bone-on-bone, long ago having lost their cushiony stuff, whatever it is that cushions our joints. I’m like a car that’s years past its last lube job, out of alignment and needs new shocks—and has some rust.

I’m still roadworthy though, and can play golf or fish or hunt all day even in summer or winter. It just takes days now, not hours, to recover and repeat. Thank you, ibuprofen.

You’ll hear no whining from me except in humor, because I get the joke of my changing condition.

Life has not cheated me. I have a wonderful family that includes a devoted, beautiful wife and brilliant, athletic son. And I’m blessed to work in a profession that’s taken me to places I’d probably never have seen otherwise.

I’m grateful, too, for having done so much before this “old guy” stuff crept up and bit me.

Aging can take some things away, but it can’t un-ring bells. Here’s a little tip: Do all you can while you can—and one more: Take pictures, write down your stories, and keep your mind sharp.

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Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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11/11/15 10:06 AM

NUGENT in the Wild

by TED NUGENT :: TF&G Editor-at-Large

Nature is Not Politically Correct

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FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE CULture war freaks way back in the 1960s on rock-n-roll radio. During interviews about my frightening Amboy Dukes MotorCity Madhouse R&B&R&R funmusic, the DJs would feign shock and dismay when I articulated the source of my inspiration and high energy animal breeding soundtrack to my soul cleansing, magical time in nature as a bowhunter. Afterall, there is no more demanding scenario than stalking within arrow range of high-strung whitetail deer designed by God to evade sharp stick bearing BBQ addicts such as I. I am certain Chuck Berry and Bo Diddly had that truism cataloged solidly in their ancestral mental library as their ingenious sonic bombast erupted.

Of course, 99% of the interviewers in those days were stoned out of their minds on various self-inflicted brain-altering chemical warfare trends of the “drop out fade away” hippie era of disconnect and cowardly abandonment of individual responsibility. The Bambi cartoon syndrome made perfect sense to these fantasy driven dolts, and to witness them try to rationalize their big animal rights lie made for better comedy than the eventual catching fire of Richard Pryor’s afro.

Then we sat down to some sushi and ribs, as in dead sushi and ribs.

As a gung-ho disciplined hunter from the Fred Bear mystical flight of the arrow camp, I knew damn well what my wildlife stewardship responsibilities were and why we give thanks to God every November near the end of the natural annual season of harvest for

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His miraculous renewable bounty.

The dumbing down of America was already on the fast track, and witnessing the abject ignorance about sustain yield wildlife management, habitat carrying capacity and ultimate organic venison nutrition was hopelessly lost on the city kids and their suicidal “party” of ‘getting high, drooling, puking and dying’ make believe insanity.

And from this festering lie came the likes of PETA, the Humane Society of the United States, the so called Animal Welfare League, the brain-dead crazies and scam artists like Ingrid Newkirk, Peter Singer, Cleveland Amory, Cass Sunstein and Wayne Pacelle. You know, the hate filled “A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy” freaks.

Lovely, isn’t it? We clearly love our dogs, and cats, and horses and pet pigs, but who doesn’t know that our Asian and French friends and people around the world eat this stuff and sustain their human lives with animal protein? Have I struck onto something here? Is this a Ted thing?

Of course not. BBQ is BBQ is BBQ is BBQ. Kill ‘em and grill ‘em I always say, and so do a few billion fellow human beings, including the hypocritical animal rights freaks themselves. Even the tofu warriors pay out a portion of every salad they devour to farmers and ranchers waging total annihilation war on all living creatures interfering with their no kill tofu production with weapons of John Deere and Mansanto mass destruction. Nothing, not a single living thing gets out alive from the indiscriminate mass slaughter that is tofu production. It’s just that the rest of us don’t scam naïve people and make a dishonest living off of their embarrassing emotional denial.

I am not condemning Deere, Mansanto or the wonderful American farming/ranching families out there. To the contrary I salute and thank them for their incredible hard work and dedication to feeding the world and sustaining human lives around the globe.

I kill one deer per arrow, whereas a bowl of salad represents the mega-death of every T E X A S

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snake, vole, shrew, ground squirrel, quail, turtle, frog, pheasant, rabbit, ground nesting songbird and every other critter so unfortunate as to get in the way of the plow, the disc, the herbicide and pesticide jihad, all for vegetable production.

And be sure to enjoy a nice chalice of Red wine with that vegan meal, for every vineyard operator is more deadly than little ol’ Whackmaster me if I were to trade in my bow and arrow for a GE Mini-gun.

From death comes life. Vegans, there is blood on your hands. Know it. Anybody?

The vast majority of vegetarians and vegans of course know all too well the process by which their preferred cuisine ended up on the table. I do not disparage them.

But when the goofball scam artist at PETA sues the British wildlife photographer to administer the proceeds of selfies taken by a monkey, the president appoints a crazy animal rights dweeb to be Regulatory Czar, dangerous people-hating animal-lovers threaten to kill me and my family for eating venison and doves, and other assorted bizzarro shenanigans by gangs of loons, Verizon drops The Sportsman’s Channel while retaining Al Jezzera, the jury is not still out why Barak Obama was twice elected president. There are that many numbnuts out there.

Meanwhile, right now, tens of millions of American families celebrate the pure, perfect, essential natural season of harvest as hunting season 2015 throttles on, preparing for yet another glorious Thanksgiving of venison, fur, fin and fowl, balancing the amazing and unstoppable production of organic protein on the hoof, making room for next year’s new production in the thriving, healthy habitat that hunters, fishermen and trappers have always demanded, paid for and celebrated

Email Ted Nugent at TNugent@fishgame.com

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11/9/15 3:11 PM

TF&G COMMENTARY

by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

Real Change, Not Just ‘Janitorial’ Change

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NE OF THE FIRST THINGS that happens after some deranged soul goes to a school or mall or other gun-free zone and shoots a bunch of innocent victims is that a lot of people want to capitalize on the tragedy.

Those opposed to guns point and say we need more gun laws. Those who are pro-gun point and say we need to abolish gun-free zones. Both sides are often insensitive and callous, and the ones I appreciate the least are those who say, “The other side is trying to politicize this horrible event for its own gains,” while doing exactly the same thing.

This is pretty much what happened, as usual, after the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon. No one wins when everyone spends their time blaming others, and no one listens while they’re doing the blaming.

Meanwhile, the families of the victims, who are experiencing such terrible pain and loss, are caught in the middle. Both sides want to exploit them, and both sides embarrass themselves and do more harm than good.

The scary thing about the Umpqua shooting is that the murderer specifically targeted people because of their personal choice of religion, which is something that’s not supposed to happen in America. Matter of fact, I think that was one of the reasons people came here to begin with, before it was a nation, even, so they could worship God, or not, any way they wanted to, and be left alone about it.

But at Umpqua, the killer reportedly asked people if they were Christians, and if they said yes he shot them in the head. If they said no he shot them in a leg. If that’s not religious discrimination I have no idea

what it would be.

No matter what religion you adhere to, this should be a wake-up call. You may think that, because you’re a Buddhist, or a Hindu, or a Muslim, or Amish, or an atheist, or a Shao-Lin monk, you’re exempt. You’re not.

You could be next.

People who do this kind of thing are not right in the head. They just want to target someone, and your group is just as targetable as any other.

This is not fair, or logical, or understandable. It’s life—and sometimes it’s death. If you ask people, anywhere, if they think it will happen to them, they’ll usually say no, maybe someplace else, but not here. Not to us. Not in our town. Until it does.

It will keep happening. This is far from over. It’s become almost routine. True, mass killings are statistically down over the past decade, although the ones that happen are more publicized. You hear about them more, and it seems like they’re on the rise when they’re not. Yet they’re still happening, so changes need to be made. Real changes.

Making changes is about 180 degrees from passing laws. Everything these murderers have done in their attempts to make names for themselves has been against the law.

No law has ever protected anyone, and no law ever will. Laws only provide for punishment after the fact. Laws are similar to janitors. Once everything is over they make an attempt to clean up the mess—until the next mess.

This didn’t used to happen. When I was in high school, people drove their pickups to school, with guns in the gun racks in plain view. The guns were loaded, and they left T E X A S

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them in the parking lot all day with the doors unlocked. No one noticed. No one stole anything. And no one shot anyone.

Matter of fact, when I was a kid, pre1968, I remember seeing ads in the back of magazines like Guns & Ammo and American Rifleman offering guns for sale through the mail.

I could have bought semi-automatic rifles for less than I spend now on a steak dinner, and I could have had them mailed to my P.O. Box. I could have bought the ammo the same way.

I was seven years old.

Now you have to prove you’re not a criminal to buy a gun from a dealer. Of course, no one knows what you’re planning in the future, and just because someone has never broken a law doesn’t mean they won’t.

But this system isn’t making anyone safer, it’s just irritating the people who aren’t causing the problems.

Obviously, availability of guns isn’t the trouble. Otherwise, this would have been going on when I was a child, when guns were cheap and available to all and there were zero background checks.

This problem can be fixed, but laws won’t do it. Our nation is bleeding out, and we’re arguing over the brand of bandage to apply. No one, to date, has dialed 911.

I want to extend my most sincere condolences to those affected by the Umpqua murderer. You never asked for this, and you don’t deserve it. No one should have to bear the weight you must bear now. I can’t claim to know what you’re going through, but I know it’s not right.

The saddest thing is that it’s not necessary.

Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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11/9/15 3:02 PM

“C

ome to Santa you big, beautiful redfish!”

As my camera fired away, it was hard not to laugh as Marcus Heflin dressed in full Santa gear battled a bull redfish on a 15-foot surf rod at Sea Rim State Park near Sabine Pass.

It was not funny because of absurdity, but because I kept

envisioning some kids pulling up on the beach with their family seeing Santa with a rod doubled over.

Just for the record Heflin does not usually fish in a Santa costume but he fishes a lot. And he does wear a Santa suit during the Christmas season. In fact, he and his wife Debbie serve as Santa and Mrs. Claus for children throughout Southeast Texas.

As Heflin hauled in the 40-inch-plus inch bull you see him holding on the cover of this issue, he couldn’t help but laugh a bit himself. “Ho! Ho! Ho! Back to the surf you go,” he said as he handed the fish to his friend to release into the sandygreen waters of the Sea Rim surf.

Heflin is the founder of Christian Surf Fishing Adventures, a group he started to serve the Lord and his fellow fishermen.

“I proudly serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and I wanted to reach people for Him. I thought about how he told Peter he would be a fisher of men, so here we are,” Heflin said.

For nearly 10 years, Heflin has hauled his trailer full of fishing gear down to Southeast Texas area beaches and offered free fishing for anyone who shows up. He typically posts a message on social media, gets his friends to share, and is greeted with people ranging from teenagers to senior citizens and from greenhorns to experts.

“I think everyone should have access to fishing. That is one reason we do what we do. You can show up, and we provide bait and tackle and show you how to catch fish from the beach.

We catch everything from croakers to sharks, but we sort of specialize in bull redfish.”

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Hitting the Beach with an Honest to Goodness Father Christmas story and photos by Chester Moore T E X A S

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Marcus Heflin does not usually fish in a Santa suit. But he does fish a lot, and he does wear the suit a lot during the Christmas season.

When asked how many bull redfish he has caught and released Heflin said, “many hundreds if not thousands.” that’s not including the hundreds we have put other anglers on.”

Heflin has had many health challenges including diabetes, a series of strokes including a severe one. Instead of buckling under the pressure, he rose up and decided he needed to help those who needed some help.

“We’ve had powerful testimonies of how the Lord has helped people on our trips.

Even just from a practical standpoint, it has been amazing seeing people who have never fished get hooked. And a lot of people who maybe gave up on it because they thought it was too expensive get back into it,” he said.

At the request of park warden/superintendent Nathan Londenberg, he holds monthly surf fishing clinics for Sea Rim State Park. These clinics have been popular enough to extend into winter. “We were just going to do summer, but it looks like we’ll go beyond the fall into winter which is fine by me,” he said.

Fishing in state parks does not require a license and for those who maybe want to try out fishing for the first time or get back into it, it only costs $3 per adult (children 12 and under free) to get into Sea Rim for example.

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great places to fish whether you are after catfish in freshwater or bull sharks in the surf,” Heflin said. “Many people nowadays have trouble paying the bills so fishing often gets pushed to the side. We are honored to get to help them out.”

Heflin is not doing this out of abundance but at times scarcity, yet he always manages to keep a smile on his face. During the Christmas season, he and his wife Debbie put smiles on many children’s faces. “We just love doing the Santa thing. It is so wonderful to talk with children and see how pure and innocent they are,” Heflin said.

I have seen them greet dozens of kids at a low-income housing. “I always point them to the true reason for the reason and try to give them all an encouraging word,” Heflin said.

Whether it is visiting children in the hospital or making house calls, it is all part of the Heflin’s calling. “Helping people is important to us,” he said.

And so is teamwork. Not only are Marcus and Debbie a dedicated Christmastime team, but also he has a number of anglers who help him out with his surf fishing adventures. “I could not do it without my friends who help me out when I get tired and help make Christian Surf Fishing Adventures something positive,” he said.

The photo shoot for this story went unusually smooth as a cold front hit the area the night before, leaving a cool autumn breeze blowing against the surf. I did not expect Heflin to be fully adorned when I arrived, but upon seeing him watching the lines in his gear, there was no doubt he embodies the idea of Santa.

When my daughter Faith came home from school that day, I had one of the photos up on my computer screen.

“Dad, what’s Santa doing holding a fish?” she asked.

Heflin has been Santa for her since we adopted her from China and she eagerly awaits his annual visits.

“Well baby, Santa likes to fish and he is pretty good at catching the big one.”

“Cool!” she exclaimed.

Cool indeed.

To contact Marcus Heflin call 409-6599437 or email tcebs@yahoo.com.

DIGITAL EDITION VIDEO: Chester Moore interviews “Surf Santa.”

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PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE; VIDEO CLIP: ELLIOTT DONNELLEY

11/11/15 10:13 AM

Texas SALTWATER

by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

Bumbling Grumblings

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SPENT FOUR DAYS IN THE HOSpital back in October. A mean case of bronchitis quickly morphed into pneumonia in my right lung. Long story short, I was stuck in a hospital bed for four days, or until I was able to sweet talk my doctor into letting me convalesce at home.

Perhaps the worst part of the whole ordeal—aside from a corps of nurses that talked to me in scatological terms normally reserved for a two-year-old and the double dose of Colace thrice daily (really? It was my LUNGS that weren’t moving anything)— was the C-PAP machine I had to endure to help my breathing. This Darth Vader-esque device had to be conceived by a descendant of the Marquis de Sade himself. You are stuck in your bed, unable to move much because you’re attached to this infernal machine that pushes a steady stream of air into your lungs.

All you can do is lie there, scare the hell out of anyone who comes to visit you, and think.

Fortunately for me, thinking usually means writing. The end result was a series of those random ramblings I plague you with, Gentle Reader, every few months. So there are plenty of thoughts to write, including:

TEXAS DODGED a major bullet with the latest episode of Red Tide. Most estimates measure that between 1 and 2 million fish were killed by the bloom. That is far better than the 4 million that were claimed by the 2011 bloom.

By and large, the majority of the fish killed were mullet, menhaden, croaker, and other forage species. It still was heartbreaking to find the 44-inch redfish dead on the beach mixed in with the dead pogies.

The frustrating part of red tide is that fisheries biologists can do nothing about it.

There is no algaecide that can kill or mitigate the outbreaks. Even if there were, the blooms are too widespread for a poison to be effective.

As of right now, the only thing anyone can do is wait for the bloom to die off on its own, or for a big cold front to drop water temperatures enough to kill it off.

HEALTH TIP: everyone reading this should seriously consider getting both their flu shot and pneumococcal shot this winter. Doctors are predicting more intense than normal flu season with a pneumonia kicker lurking about and waiting for an especially weakened patient.

It would be a real shame for someone to have to cancel a big trip for that trophy trout from Baffin Bay because the ick got him or her, or, worse still, end up in the hospital getting Colace three times a day.

HERE’S A well-kept secret about the Lower Laguna Madre: the Arroyo Colorado is not only a hot spot for speckled trout, redfish, and flounder (plus the occasional snook and tarpon), it’s also loaded with alligator gars.

Up near the Rio Hondo Bridge and above it is always good for some great sport from four- to six-foot gars.

These gnarly suckers can put up quite the tussle on trout tackle. The prime time for the armored leviathans is summer into early fall, but they’ll take bait year-round. If other more “desirable” fish aren’t cooperating, it never hurts to save your day by getting some fresh mullet, a few wire leaders and 5/0 hooks and chasing alligator gar. Besides, they’re great eating. It takes a little work to get to the meat, but it’s more than worth the effort.

I’M GETTING a little paranoid here. I haven’t heard from any PETA twits in quite some time. They’re usually good for sending me e-mails about better, more exciting subjects to write about besides “torturing and killing your finny friends,” such as how to use monofilament line to hang dreamcatchers and other crafts, or using fishing lures as colorful and unique Christmas ornaments.

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There hasn’t been a peep from them in months. Could I have hurt their feelings?

Lord, I hope not. I need the entertainment, especially since WWE has gotten so frightfully dull.

SPEAKING OF WWE, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes passed away this past summer. I mention this because, along with being one of the most popular wrestlers of the past 50 years and being a true Texan, regardless of where he lived, Dream was also an ardent outdoorsman. I was fortunate enough to have met him a few times.

After our first meeting he always remembered me by name. Funny thing, in the times I visited with him, we never talked wrestling.

We talked a lot about hunting and fishing, which was fine with me. I just loved being around one of my all-time favorite wrestlers (along with Stan Hansen, Terry Funk, Ivan Putski, and Mr. Wrestling II). Like Don Zaidle and Bert Randolph Sugar, I will miss never getting to talk to Dusty ever again.

This past October, Dusty’s two sons, Dustin and Cody, spent a day deer hunting on their Texas lease and took some time to dedicate a monument beneath their father’s favorite deer blind. That was a nice touch.

I CAN’T be a fishing guide. A good friend of mine recounted taking a client out on the water one recent morning and having a devil of a time finding fish due to a frontal trough that had settled over the LLM. He worked hard to find a few fish, but the client behaved like a total ass, including loudly questioning the captain’s abilities and even saying he was going to Google the numbers of local captains.

Fishing guides have to put up with this kind of abuse all too often. I don’t think I could.

Colace…three times a day for four days.

Do you know what that does to a man’s body?

Email Calixto Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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11/9/15 3:11 PM

Stories of Big Hogs Can Reach Mythic Proportions (while based on about as much reality as a myth)

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COMPOSITE PHOTO: TF&G

11/11/15 10:19 AM

emember “Hogzilla?”

That’s the name bestowed upon a huge hog killed in 2004

by Chris Griffin on Ken Holyoak’s hunting preserve.

As the story goes, the hog was 12 feet long and weighed 1,000 pounds. This sensational story circulated on the Internet and become a media

*

sensation with about half of the interested parties screaming hoax and the others amazed that a wild boar would get so big.

This story became such a sensation the National Geographic Society filmed an investigative documentary about it and exhumed the body. Their verdict was the hog actually weighed 800 pounds and was between 7.5 and 8 feet long, which is still humongous by wild hog standards.

However, they also found through DNA testing the animal was a hybrid of a wild and domestic hogs, most likely

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a Hampshire.

“Monster Pig” was allegedly even bigger.

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That’s the name the media gave to an alleged 1,051-pound hog killed by 11-yearold Jamison Stone at Lost Creek Plantation near Anniston, Alabama. He killed the hog with a .50 caliber handgun shooting the animal eight times causing a Hogzilla-like media sensation.

The problem is there were holes in the story from the beginning. The scale used to weigh the animal goes in 10-pound increments so a weight of 1,051-pounds would be impossible. The fatal blow to the story came a few days later when an Associated Press story revealed the hog was not only domestic but was named Fred.

Phil Blissitt said he purchased the six-week-old pig in December 2004 as a Christmas gift for his wife, Rhonda, and they sold it to the owner of Lost Creek Plantation after deciding to get rid of all the pigs at their farm. He told The Anniston Star in a story Friday that the sale was four days before the hog was killed in a 150-acre fenced area of the plantation.

That “Monster Pig” was a purely domestic hog was not a surprise to me in any way. I suspected it, Hogzilla and most of the other giant hog photos circulating on the Internet hail from domestic stock.

I started to question the origins of some of the big hog photos I was getting from readers a decade ago. I received one photo of a hunter with a hog that was in the 700-pound range that looked like a pure Duroc.

Duroc is a domestic species that is a dark red in color, grows large tusks and gets way bigger than the hogs we have running around our deer leases. Although truly pure wild hogs rarely grow larger than 500 pounds, the domestic ones can get huge if fed constantly.

Sometimes however the lines are blurred such as the case of Hog Kong taken in August 2004 by Larry Earley of Lessburg, Florida. It weighed an alleged 1,140-pounds. Earley said he shot the pig after spotting it rooting around along the edge of a pond on his 22-acre farm.

An article in the Florida-Times Union, quoted Robert Bradow, who owns Smokin’ Oak Sausage Co. in Branford and processes meat for Suwannee River Ranch and other area hunting preserves. Bradow said he witnessed Earley’s hog before he processed it and was stunned by its size.

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Brandon Powell with a massive hog shot near Deweyville. In areas where domestic stock has bred with feral hogs gigantic hogs can appear. This seemed to be the case with this free-ranging beast.

450 pounds is the biggest we’ve ever seen.”

The article explained that Bradow used a meat-processing formula, to estimate the hog weighed between 1,100 and 1,200 pounds.

“There was more than 300 pounds of boneless meat,” he said. “We have a rule of thumb, the thirds rule—one-third for the head and hide, one-third for the internal viscera, one-third for the carcass. My math tells me you are looking at 1,140 pounds, almost 1,200 pounds. He was a beast.”

Frank “The Hawgfather” Moore of Killer Instinct Outdoors (409-454-6003) spends almost all of his hunting time in pursuit of hogs and additional time studying their habits.

He said that although the bulk of the porky media darlings have been domestic, there are some legit monsters out there.

“Any time you get a hog over say 400 pounds it is a legit monster. Five hundreds pounds is a giant and anything over that is a rarity but such hogs do exist,” he said.

He recounts one example on an isolated island deep in the swamps of Louisiana where a landowner kept Durocs and Yorkshires in an enclosed area. A storm loosed all of them.

“They got loose during the storm and mingled in with the feral hogs that were in the area, and you have this genetic of really big hogs that will show up. They tend to be bigger than average because that domestic strain really boosted their size.”

People need to remember that feral hogs are just that—“feral”. They are the descendants of domestic hogs gone wild. With some dating back to the original stock T E X A S

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brought over by early Spanish explorers to various domestic breeds and even Eurasian boars stocked on certain properties, our hogs are a mish mash of genetics.

With that said, there is a chance there are some legitimate, wild monster-sized hogs roaming parts of the country because of what I call the x-factor. Put simply it means in nature virtually anything is possible and some hogs of Hogzilla size and larger could spring up from wild stocks.

For years scientists thought that reports of giant peccaries roaming the rainforests of Brazil were bogus but in 2007, researchers confirmed a separate subspecies that grows much larger than the collared and whitelipped variety.

Science has been wrong time again about the size, range, life habits and even existence of certain wild creatures.

If there is a legitimate, wild successor to Hogzilla in my future, I hope I see it before it sees me. We hope you can help us in this search. If you have photos of giant hogs you have killed or captured images (or video) on game cameras email cmoore@fishgame. com. We will use them as part of a special new project.

In addition, beginning in this month’s digital issue, look for monthly videos from Frank “The Hawgfather” Moore and his Killer Instinct Outdoors crew. They will be all hog and go deep into a fascinating topic.

PHOTOS CHESTER MOORE

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THE FIRST SPLIT OF THE 2015-16 Texas duck season has come and gone in the North and South zones, and the second split is set to get underway on Dec. 12.

I don’t know how the season’s first

Waterfowl Hunting on the State’s Biggest Reservoirs

round (it ended Nov. 29) panned out where you hunt. But if it was anything like the early season hunting that takes place on the big reservoirs around eastern Texas where I live, spotty might be the most accurate term to summarize things.

In a normal year, East Texas duck hunting begins with a trickle then gradually gains steam once fall gives way to winter and cold fronts begin to increase.

That’s not saying you can’t have a profitable shoot in weather better suited for flip flops and shorts than neoprenes. Still, the odds are generally a lot better in December and January. That’s when the larger flights of mallards, canvasbacks, gadwall, shovers, pintail and other migrant waterfowl ride the year’s coldest weather southward.

Duck hunting guide Lance Vick of Mineola has spent the last 16 years guiding big water hunters on Lake Fork. Vick, who also guides bass fishing trips on the 27,000-acre reservoir, has enjoyed some good early season shoots over the years. However, he says,

story by Matt Williams

the hunting action is routinely better during the second split.

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Record duck numbers and more water have raised expectations for this season, from both hunters and the experts.

“Usually, the later it gets the better the hunting gets, because that’s when we typically see the larger flights of birds,” Vick said. “But it can vary from year to year, depending on the weather, availability of food, water level and other conditions.

“Last year, things kind of fizzled out early, and I was pretty much done with ducks by the time the second split was over.

But that’s normally not the case. Usually plenty of ducks are still hanging around late in the season, even after the second split is over.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how things work out this year. We’ve got more water than we have had in a long time. I’m looking forward to it,” Vick said.

So is Jared Laing. Laing is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s point man for East Texas waterfowl hunting. Duck numbers are at a record high, and populations for several species are well above their longtime averages. Laing says significantly more water in our reservoirs compared to the last few previous seasons means things 26 |

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are shaping up for an outstanding duck hunting season. “The key to bringing it all together is Jack Frost,” he said. “Cold weather up north is what pushes waves of ducks our way.”

Big Reservoirs = Big Water According to Laing, one of the main factors that lends itself to good duck hunting on big reservoirs is the vast amounts of water on the landscape.

“The more water, the more area waterfowl have to choose from and find something they like,” he said. “Going into duck season, many of our reservoirs are at or near capacity.”

Laing pointed out that what makes a reservoir attractive to migrating waterfowl hinges heavily on the availability of preferred forage, and that can vary depending on whether a lake’s water level has a tendency to fluctuate from year-to-year or remain fairly stable. Water level also can have a bearing T E X A S

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as to what types of ducks are more attracted to one reservoir than the next.

The Main Attraction “What makes a lake productive from a dabbling duck (mallard, gadwall, pintail, shoveler, widgeon and teal) perspective is fluctuating water levels,” Laing said. “Lakes that dry out as the summer progresses and re-flood in the fall/winter typically grow more desirable seed-producing plants than do lakes with more stable water levels.

On the other hand, divers (canvasbacks, ring necks, redheads and scaup) tend to focus more on stable level reservoirs, or deeper areas of widely fluctuating water levels and lakes with good beds of submerged aquatic vegetation.”

10 Tips for Big Reservoir Hunting AS EARLIER MENTIONED, THE SECPHOTO: BIGSTOCK

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Top 10 East Texas Duck Hunting Lakes

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voirs where you see multiple species. Match your decoys to what you see while scouting, or what you know is in the area.

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1 Toledo Bend: 181,600 acres

5. STAY OFF THE CALL: Resist the urge to call too much. Many folks think the more and harder they blow, the more birds they will attract. The truth is actually quite the opposite. The more you call the less they may want to come in.

A good indication is that if the birds are talking and are vocal, then you can call.

If not, then nothing you’re going to say anything with a call is going to change the birds’ minds.

2 Sam Rayburn: 114,500 acres

6. MIND YOUR MANNERS: Be courteous tto other hunters, they have the same right to be there as you do. A good example of this is not calling while birds are working an adjacent hunting party. Also, get there early to claim your spot, and don’t be angry if someone beats you to it. Reservoir hunting is on a first come-first served basis.

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3 Lake Fork: 27,264 acres 4 Lake Tawakoni, 38,879 acres 5 Wright Patman, 18,994 acres 6 Cedar Creek, 32,623 acres 7 Caddo Lake, 26,800 acres 8 Richland Chambers 41,356 acres 9 Lake of the Pines, 16,919 acres

Texas for duck hunting. Here is what he had to say:

10 Cooper, 19,305 acres

1. SCOUTING: There is nothing I can say that can improve hunter success on reservoirs more than finding birds.

Get out and scout.

2. HUNT WHERE YOU FIND THEM: After you ffind birds, figure out how to get right where they are, then hunt right there.

Not 50 yards away.

ond split of the Texas duck season is typically the best when it comes to producing consistently good shoots on big lakes across eastern Texas. To help give newcomers to the sport a little insight, I asked Laing to provide a few hunting tips gleaned through years of hunting experience.

I also asked him to provide a list of what he sees as the Top 10 big reservoirs in East MAP GRAPHIC: TF&G

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3. BE MOBILE: If lots of bbirds are going down somewhere else and you’re not having success, move to them. Don’t be idle by sitting and watching birds pour in somewhere else, move to where they are going. There is nothing you can do to call, decoy, or otherwise lure birds to you, if they want to be somewhere else.

4. THE RIGHT SPREAD: Use appropriate decoy set-ups. The typical East Texas hunter uses two dozen mallard decoys and two spinning-wing decoys. Use something different from that, especially on the reserT E X A S

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7. KEEP DECOYS MOVING: Although there are many gadgets for maintaining motion in the decoys, I like to keep things simple and prefer the jerk-string to many of the more technological methods.

8. STAY HID: Hide well and keep movement to a minimum with incoming birds.

Waterfowl can see movement and off-color items very well. Conceal yourself with as natural-looking substances as possible. Use a headnet or facepaint to conceal your shiny face and don’t look directly up at incoming ducks.

9. STAY QUIET: Keep sound to a minimum with incoming birds. Waterfowl can hear fairly well, that’s why it works sometimes to call them, so keep noises to a minimum while birds are working.

10. DON’T SKYBLAST: Know your effective range with the choke and load you will be shooting that day. For most shooters it is less than 35 yards. However, many shooters routinely take shots at birds farther than 60 yards!

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Chain Pickerel, Kin to Beasts from Northern Waters, Bring a Tough, Ugly

Story and Photos by John N. Felsher

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ARELY RIPPLING THE SURFACE, THE WHITE spinnerbait pushed a bulge of water, creating a vee-shaped wake with its chrome blades as it sputtered over submerged grass. Instantly, the bait disappeared in a cloud of mist and fury as a large predator annihilated the temptation.

“This is a good one! To win this tournament, we just need one big kicker bass and this one is fighting like a sea monster. I see green in the water. It must be over 25 inches long,” the angler exclaimed.

“Nuts! It’s another pickerel.”

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These aggressive predators hit almost any type of bass bait, such as a spinnerbait.

Chain pickerel resemble northern pike and muskie, but unlike their monster cousins of the north, they rarely exceed 30 inches.

Southern anglers often consider the chain pickerel nothing more than a nuisance to avoid when trying to catch other species, but the toothy predators can provide extremely exciting, hard-hitting sport. Sometimes erroneously called pike, chain pickerel share many traits with their family members, northern pike and muskellunge, but they don’t grow nearly as large.

These toothy predators rarely exceed 30 inches long or weigh more than three pounds. The world record pickerel, caught near Homerville, Ga., weighed 9.38 pounds.

Also called grass pickerel, southern pike or eastern pickerel, chain pickerel occur abundantly across the South where they find very little fishing pressure. They range from southern Canada to Florida and west to the Mississippi River valley west to Texas.

According to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials, the chain pickerel is equipped with a large mouth, well adapted for piscivory, like its close relatives, northern pike and muskellunge.

“The lower jaw, which extends farther forward than the upper jaw, is equipped with four sensory pores on the underside.

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The dorsal and anal fins are set well back on the body.

Chain pickerel are usually olive-green or yellowish-brown on the back and sides, shading to a creamy yellow underneath.

There is a distinctive pattern of interlocking dark bands on the back and sides that is reminiscent of a chain-link fence—hence their name.”

“Not too many people specifically target them, but they catch pickerel incidental to bass fishing,” said noted fisheries biologist Bob Wattendorf.

“Many bass anglers consider them bait thieves and avoid areas with lots of pickerel.

Pickerel compete with bass for food, but they have existed side by side with bass for millions of years.”

Pickerel love vegetation and prefer sluggish systems and backwaters with little current. Using their excellent camouflaged coloration, they hide in thick matted grass, lily pads, hydrilla and other vegetation. When they see something they like, they flash out from their lair with incredible quickness.

“I’ve always caught pickerel in the backwaters and up the creeks around weeds,” advised Cliff “JR” Mundinger, Jr., a Florida-based fishing guide who actually targets pickerel along with largemouth.

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he said. “They don’t get nearly as big as pike, but when they hit a bait, you know it.

A three-pound chain pickerel will put up a great fight.”

Pickerel often prey upon the same species as largemouth bass. Being highly aggressive predators, pickerel primarily feed upon fish including threadfin shad, wild shiners, panfish, minnows and other succulent morsels.

These vicious and opportunistic predators occasionally eat crawfish, snakes, frogs and even mice or small birds that venture too close to the water.

Almost any lure or bait that might tempt largemouth bass might provoke a vicious strike from a chain pickerel. Many bass anglers catch pickerel on spinnerbaits, weedless spoons, shad-, bream- or bass-colored crankbaits, and similar lures.

The elongated green torpedoes occasionally hit topwater baits and especially like weedless frogs buzzed across grass mats.

Pickerel hit with considerable violence and aggressively pursue anything that might look like food. When hooked, they put up a great fight with spirited runs, powerful lunges and sometimes even jump like a largemouth.

“My two favorite baits to catch pickerel are spinnerbaits and jerkbaits,” Mundinger advised. “Pickerel absolutely love a jerkbait because they are primarily fish feeders. I PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

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Matt Bergantino takes care to unhook a toothy chain pickerel.

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also like to catch them on topwater frogs run through the lily pads.”

Live baits work particularly well for attracting pickerel. Any baitfish might provoke a strike. Pickerel particularly love river shiners, a popular bass bait. Crappie anglers also catch them when fishing weedy edges with minnows or threadfin shad. When intentionally fishing for these fish, many anglers use short steel leaders to prevent them from biting the line in half with their razor teeth.

These abundant fish can provide exhilarating sport on light tackle. Seldom pressured, they almost always hit any tempting morsel that crosses their duck-like noses.

Anglers just need to penetrate through their vegetated lairs to get at to them.

According to TPWD, In Texas chain pickerel spawn between December and February. Strings of sticky eggs are deposited on aquatic vegetation and are subsequently fertilized.

“There is no parental care. When the young hatch, they feed on plankton, aquatic insects or even their own siblings. When they reach about three inches, their diet becomes

almost exclusively other fish. Individuals that shift to a diet of fish earliest tend to grow faster. The species prefers cover and is most often found in patches of aquatic vegetation.

In general, they lie in wait and strike when unsuspecting prey swims their way.”

“Fishing for chain pickerel is basically a winter-time activity in Texas. It begins with the first real cold front in the fall and continues until March or April when water temperatures begin to warm. Like northern pike, chain pickerel are bony, but are usually considered tasty. Although the national record is more than nine pounds, the Texas state record is 4.75 pounds and measures 23.75 inches.”

Several guides will occasionally put clients on pickerel, but we could only find one that advertises it. Check out Fly Fishing Fork’s webpage at www.flyfishingfork.com/ texas.html for information on their trips on various East Texas water bodies.

For best pike action check out Lake O’ the Pines, Caddo, Bob Sandlin, Cypress Springs and Daingerfield State Park.

11/9/15 2:39 PM

TEXAS Dept. of DEFENSE

by STEVE LAMASCUS & DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Self Defense Tactical :: Concealed Carry

.45 Versus 9mm

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HE ARGUMENT ABOUT whether the .45 ACP is better than the 9mm Luger has been going on for more than a century now. I guess almost every gun writer who writes about handguns and their cartridges has taken a swing at the issue, at one time or another.

So,—just because—here is my take on the subject.

The .45 ACP was introduced along with the Colt Model 1911. It was the replacement for the military .38 Long Colt revolver and the .45 Colt caliber Colt New Service revolver. The reason for the change was that during the Philippine insurrection (1898 to 1902) the .38 had proved totally inadequate as a manstopper.

Running on Empty OCCASIONALLY I RUN ACROSS an armed citizen who prefers to carry his handgun with an empty chamber.

Usually the reason is that he does not feel comfortable carrying a loaded gun. However, if you carry your firearm with a defensive mindset, I believe empty-chamber carry puts you at a great disadvantage.

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A soldier could shoot a Moro juramentado fighter full of .38 caliber holes and he would just keep coming. The situation was so bad that still-serviceable Colt singleaction Army 1873 revolvers in .45 Colt were brought out of mothballs and rushed to the Philippines to give soldiers a handgun that had the power to get the job done.

The Colt 1911 was the U.S. Army’s issue sidearm from the date of introduction until 1985 when the U.S. military adopted the Beretta 9mm as a replacement, primarily to fit in with the rest of NATO, which used the 9mm rather than the .45 ACP. As an outsider looking in, I cannot fathom the reasons for this change. We learned in combat that a .38 caliber was inadequate and replaced our .38 Colts with 45s.

The 9mm is actually a .355 caliber, almost exactly the same as the .357 or .358 diameter .38 calibers, so it looks to me like a backward step. This is especially true since the military cartridges are required to be loaded with full metal jacket, or “hardball,” bullets that do not expand on impact.

The 9mm Parabellum hardball is as renowned for penetration as it is for lack of knockdown power. I personally believe it is better to have a caliber that will put an opponent down with one well- placed round as opposed to having to shoot him several times.

It is true that the Berettas hold a lot more ammunition than the 1911s.

However, the ammunition capacity is offset by the frequent necessity to shoot an opponent a number of times.

With hardball ammo, the .45 is far better than the 9mm. Our soldiers in the Middle East are very dissatisfied with the 9mm handgun as a combat weapon. That is why many of the Special Forces operators are now carrying 1911s in the old .45 ACP. So are a lot of the civilian SWAT teams and other police officers who are not bound by restrictive policies.

Civilian needs are very different from military requirements. For one thing, we can carry ammunition that expands on impact, giving our firearms greater stopping

don’t have an external safety on your pistol, modern firearms have several internal safety mechanisms.

For instance, a Glock, XD, or M&P all have integrated trigger lever safeties that prevent the trigger body from moving unless the lever is pressed. In case the gun is dropped, the drop safety will not allow the striker to fall unless the trigger is depressed. Finally, most have a firing pin block actuated by pressing the trigger so the striker won’t hit the cartridge primer unless the trigger is depressed for the entire strike sequence. So long story short, if you don’t press the trigger, the gun shouldn’t fire.

This isn’t to say “Everyone should always keep your gun fully loaded

and topped off.” But if you have to use your handgun defensively, you are already at a disadvantage if your chamber is empty. The attacker gets to choose the time and place of the attack. Will you have the time and ability to rack a round into the chamber?

Many self-defense scenarios happen at short distances, and if you have to rack the slide on your draw you will need both hands. But if your support arm is fending off an assailant or blocking violent blows, you may not be able to do it.

If you still do not feel comfortable carrying a loaded firearm, you must train with the chamber empty for each and every draw stroke. When training for defense, I only put about

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ability. With this expanding ammunition the 9mm has proved to be a good manstopper, especially if used with +P or +P+ hollow point ammunition.

I carried a Glock 17 in 9mm as my duty weapon for several years. It was loaded with 18 rounds of +P+ hollow point ammunition. I never had to use it in anger, but from the reports I read on other’s armed encounters, this ammunition performed very well, indeed.

However, I chose the Glock 9mm because the Border Patrol did not authorize the 1911 for duty carry. Had it been allowed, I would have carried a 1911 rather than the Glock. I would have loaded it with +P hollow points, and it would have been at least as effective as the 9mm ammunition that the Border Patrol issued.

The BP did authorize the .45 ACP in some guns, but I did not like any of the

weapons so authorized. Today the BP is carrying guns chambered for the new .40 Smith & Wesson, which is a fine round, probably equal to the .45 in stopping power.

For concealed carry by civilians, there is really very little difference in the two rounds when using premium, high-velocity hollow points, or the soft-tipped bullets such as those made by Hornady.

Either the .45 ACP or 9mm Parabellum will get the job done. But the 9mm is generally offered in smaller, lighter weapons than the .45, which can be a consideration for some people.

Also, the smaller 1911-type weapons in .45 caliber are not, in my experience, as durable as the little double-action-only 9mm guns. When I carry a 9mm these days, it is generally a polymer-framed model PM 9 Kahr. When I carry a .45 it will be

either a Colt Lightweight Commander or a Kimber Pro Carry. I prefer the 1911s, but sometimes circumstances require a smaller weapon, and that’s where the little Kahr is best.

The ammo I use in the .45 is almost always Federal 230-grain Hydra-Shok, and in the 9mm is Federal 9BPLE, the 115grain, high velocity, +P+ hollow points that were developed especially for the Border Patrol.

The .45 Hydra-Shoks can be had almost anywhere, but the 9BPLE is not generally available on the open market.

However, they can be special-ordered by a dealer. Although these are the loads I consider best, a number of very good +P loads are on the market today, and almost any of them will get the job done if they are placed in the right spot.

The choice of either 9mm or .45 ACP is generally decided by what type of weapon the user likes best. As I said, with good ammo, either is a good stopper. Just buy the gun you like best and learn to shoot it well and quickly.

—Steve LaMascus

four to five rounds in each magazine so it prompts me to reload four to five times more than if I had fully loaded magazines.

I also train my entire draw stroke and presentation to further engrain muscle memory more than just pointing the pistol forward and emp-

We do this by using the sights or even the ejection port recess to rack the slide on our holster, belt, desk, steering wheel, or whatever is If you choose to carry on an empty chamavailable to get that gun ber, charging your gun one-handed is a must in the fight. for your training regimen. This Walther PPS Single-handed slide has just enough rear sight to allow this manipulation is not a method. bad drill for everyone to use for malfunction tying a 15-plus round magazine. manipulations as well. Think of the If you choose to carry with your worse case scenario where you would chamber empty, you should practice have to defend yourself, and train to charging your weapon every draw overcome it. stroke—not just with both hands, but with ONE hand, because you —Dustin Ellermann cannot guarantee you will have both hands available in a fight.

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issing the rut is a big concern for busy hunters who may not get an opportunity to hit the woods when their friends shoot big bucks chasing does.

The fact is there are many mysteries and misconceptions involving the rut, particularly in regard to when it happens in various ecological regions of the state. I always refer to a study titled, The Rut in Whitetail Deer put out by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. It sheds some light on timing and issues involving the mysterious phenomenon

known as the rut.

According to the study, a doe may be attractive to bucks for about five days, but may be willing to breed only for a period of about 24 hours. If the doe is not bred during her first cycle, she will generally come into heat again about 28 days later.

“In areas where there are few bucks, a doe may not encounter a buck when she is first receptive and may not be bred until one of her later cycles,” the study says. “A hunter, landowner or biologist who sees the late breeding

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by Chester Moore activity may be convinced that there was a late rut. On the other hand, those who see does attended by bucks in the early part of the season believe there was an early rut. This helps explain the wide variety of opinions on the timing of the rut during a particular year.”

TPWD also reported that “Hunter chronology” has a lot to do with the perceived timing of the rut.

“Traditionally, hunters are more likely to be afield during cool weather. They will usually be out in force with the onset of the first weekend norther during the deer season.

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When there are many observers spending time in the field it is more likely that breeding activity will be noticed.

“Bucks, like hunters, have a tendency to move around during cool weather. Bucks with hardened antlers are ready to breed and are looking for a willing doe. More movement means more opportunity to encounter a receptive doe. This increased movement helps give rise to the idea that cold weather causes the rut. However, this theory is disproved by white-tailed deer breeding in tropical climates.” &

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Breeding season for Texas whitetails runs from late September to February, depending on the region.

The following are rut dates as detailed in TPWD’s study.

South Texas Plains

“South Texas had the latest rut in the state. Breeding dates ranged from November 9 to February 1 during the three years. In the eastern part of the area the peak breeding date was December 16, while in the west it was December 24.”

Pineywoods

“Most breeding activity happened from October 21 to January 5. Peak breeding dates were November 22 in the northern portion and November 12 in the southern part of the Pineywoods.”

Gulf Prairies and Marshes

“The earliest whitetail breeding in the state occurred in this ecological region.

Breeding occurred in the period August 24 to November 25. There were two study areas. The northern study area had a peak date of September 30, while the southern area was a month later with an October 31 peak breeding date.”

Post Oak Savannah

“The conception dates for does in this

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region ranged from September 30 to January 16 during the study period. Two study areas were used. The peak breeding dates for the central and southern portions were almost identical. The peak dates were November 10 and 11, respectively.”

Rolling Plains

“Most does were bred from October 8 to December 30 in the three years studied. Study areas showed a peak date of December 3 in the north and November 20 in the south. The Rolling Plains had the highest incidence of pregnancy, with 97 percent. Biologists found an average of 1.7 fawns per doe.”

Edwards Plateau

“Conception dates for this region ranged from as early as October 9 to a late date of January 30. The Edwards Plateau, Texas’s highest deer production region was divided into three areas for the study. The eastern part had a peak breeding date of November 7. Peak breeding for the central portion was November 24, and the western area had a peak date of December 5.”

Cross Timbers

Representing the north-central part of the state, conception dates in the Cross Timbers and Prairies were as early as October 13 and extended to December 17. In the northern portion of the region, the average breeding date was November 15. The averT E X A S

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age breeding date in the southern part was November 17.”

Trans-Pecos

“Conception dates in the Trans-Pecos ranged from as early as November 4 to as late as January 4 during the three-year study.

The peak date of the breeding season was December 8.”

It is interesting that there are so many varying peaks in rut dates in Texas. We are as big as several states, but I have seen areas along the coast where bucks are rutting in early September and just 50 miles up the road there is little or no breeding action until the middle of October.

The rut is an important period to hunt areas where you tend to see many does because the bucks will be after them. The bucks themselves usually turn their attention away from feeders during this period although they may still show up to find a doe in estrus.

The fact is very few areas of the state are completely out of the rut by the time this issues arrives. There are still opportunities out there and in places like South Texas, the peak hunting is yet to come.

The rut is a complex issue, and we are thankful our state biologists have done a great job identifying the key breeding periods throughout the state.

PHOTO: DPC

11/9/15 3:01 PM

Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas I was finally allowed to wake my parents to see what Santa left us.

For many hunters, those sleepless nights return to haunt us as we wait for the alarm to go off to signal it is finally time to get up and get ready for a great hunt.

Every hunting season and, to be honest, every time I am able to go hunting, I anticipate a successful hunt. Of course, most days I return only with memories of the many

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That is why they call it hunting and not shopping.

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HRISTMAS COMES JUST once a year, and so does hunting season in most states.

Not true here in Texas!

As hunters, Texans are blessed as one of the only states in the Union that allows hunting year-round. Oh it is true that whitetail deer hunting has definite dates that we need to follow, but if we choose to, we can hunt pigs or exotics year-round.

I do not know about you, but for me, hunting a wild pig gives me just as much excitement as the first deer I ever killed.

To a child, both young and “not so young,” the Christmas season brings with it, a magical feeling. It is not only excitement, but also anticipation of what could happen at any time.

Parents try their very best to surprise children with an unexpected gift. For me, that excitement and anticipation is with me every time I take to the field. I never know when that “unexpected gift” of a huge buck offers me a humane shot.

I suspect I am not alone here. Most readers of this column would agree that they still get excited when the chance of a lifetime comes their way. I, for one, hope I never lose that feeling of a little buck fever every time I see the game I am hunting turn in my direction. It is not just a whitetail deer that excites me, but my heart will start beating faster no matter what animal I am after.

I have many childhood memories of sleepless nights on Christmas Eve. I can still remember tossing and turning in my bed trying to get comfortable so I could get some sleep.

As far as I was concerned, the earlier I fell asleep, the sooner morning would arrive.

I could not wait until the morning light when

different things I’ve witnessed in the woods.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t have a successful hunt. On the contrary, every time I go hunting and come home safe and filled with good memories, it is a great hunt. We cannot expect to bring home venison every time we hunt deer. That is why they call it hunting and not shopping.

One of the many things I love about this sport is that while I’m hunting, I can get that “excited” feeling again and again.

Every time we hear an animal walking in the woods, it might be that big buck we are after.

You just never know.

How many times have you veteran hunters heard a squirrel in the woods and wondered whether it was a deer? I realize that sounds ridiculous, but for some reason, you simply cannot help yourself.

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Even though your brain is screaming … it’s only a squirrel, your curiosity will win, and you will slowly move your head to find out what’s making those footsteps.

While you are picturing in your mind a huge whitetail heading your way, your heartbeat starts to quicken, and that familiar ‘buck fever” will overwhelm you.

At the end of the day, what is so bad about that?

I don’t want to lose that feeling of buck fever when I am hunting. For me, it is a huge part of what makes me decide to get up out of bed at oh-dark-thirty to hunt these critters.

For most hunters, the night before opening day is much like the night before Christmas. The anticipation, the excitement, the sleepless nights are all part of what the hunting experience is all about.

I hope and pray that I never lose that or get tired of it. As a matter of fact, Chester Moore and I are planning a hunt for later this month, and I am already losing sleep!

Before I close this column I have to tell you about an idea I had.

As my wife was writing her Christmas cards, I thought it would be a good idea for her to take a picture of me. I asked her to wait while I dressed in my camo clothing and grabbed my bow. I wanted to have her take a picture of me waving to her as I walked out the front door.

Why you ask?

Well, I thought it would be fun to send Christmas cards to all of my hunting buddies with the message ”Seasons Greetings” under the picture. She thought it was a pretty good idea, but maybe I should send it just before hunting season begins. Hmmm.

Too late for this year, but maybe next year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. I hope Santa is good to all of you and you can find the Christmas spirit that makes us all a little happier this time of year.

Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com |

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True GREEN TF&G Conservation Editor

Edited by WILL LESCHPER

Red Tide

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ED TIDE IS A NASTY occurrence, no matter which waters become infested with the microscopic algae known as Karenia brevis, which can become dense enough to cause a massive fish-killing bloom.

However, it’s good news that state scientists are on the case and have conducted research on the large-scale events dating back nearly 75 years. In fact, the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas was founded in large part because of a red tide occurrence.

According to the Institute’s published history In summer 1935, the founding director, Dr. Elmer J. Lund, came to the coast to investigate a massive fish kill, noting “escape of irritating gas dissolved in sea water” and that the main species of fish killed were those

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residing in surface waters.

In a report to the Texas Game, Fish & Oyster Commission, Lund documented his observations and lingering questions about the kills pushed him to persuade the University of Texas in Austin to create and support a marine lab on the coast. It later opened what has now become a world-class research facility in 1941.

The Institute has been working tirelessly on the most recent red tide event. Back in September and through October, scientists confirmed the bloom as the cause for a big stink in Corpus Christi Bay, along the Padre Island National Seashore and San Jose Island, and in the Port Aransas Ship Channel. The bloom was responsible for killing huge numbers of bait fish and even some trophy sized game fish, including speckled trout, redfish and snapper.

Fish aren’t the only creatures affected by a red tide event. The algae produce brevetoxins, which can cause irritation to the eyes, noses and throats of humans and pets.

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In addition, when bays have high counts of the algae, the Department of State Health Services will close them to shellfish harvesting.

Karenia brevis is a fragile algae. In rough conditions such as surf, it will break into small pieces, which releases noxious particles and chemicals into the air in wind-blown aerosols. This is to blame for irritation, especially along Gulf beaches.

Red tides also move and change shape with ocean tides, currents and winds, which in the case of the most recent outbreak, pushed a noxious smell over large portions of the city of Corpus Christi. It’s also not uncommon for windswept red tide concentrations to linger for long periods around jetties and other outcroppings, harbor and cove areas.

The brevetoxins can have more than a foul impact, causing severe illness if consumed. Pets that consume dead fish or other creatures with high concentrations of brevetoxins possibly could die as a result. Shellfish such as oysters also concentrate brevetoxins from red tides. Because the cooking process doesn’t deactivate or kill brevetoxins, this can cause illness if eaten.

It also should be noted that fish spines, bones and other pieces left on the beach after a red tide event can cause puncture wounds and pass off dangerous infections from high levels of bacteria in the decomposing fish.

Although red tide has become am annual certainty during summer and into fall, cooler temperatures typically dissipate the outbreaks, providing some relief to coastal residents. Let’s hope that’s the case again this year.

For more information about red tide, visit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s website at www.tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/ water/environconcerns/hab/redtide/faq.phtml and visit the Department of State Health Services’ website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/ seafood/harmful-algal-blooms.aspx.

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Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

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CWD Test Options HUNTERS WHO WANT TO assist with the statewide chronic wasting disease monitoring effort can do so by voluntarily taking their deer (or the head of the animal) to a location where Texas Parks & Wildlife

Playa Lakes Redo Push

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ONSERVATION WORK IN the Playa Lakes region of Texas continues to gain momentum.

Playas are the most important ecological feature in the Southern Great Plains. They are ephemeral wetlands that are typically small and circular.

Playas are numerous across the region.

Approximately 80,000 have been mapped, the majority of which occur in the Texas Panhandle.

Because playas are the lowest point in the watershed, farmers commonly dig a deep

Department biologists will collect tissue samples for testing. A list of collection sites and times is available online at www.tpwd. texas.gov/cwd.

In addition to those established collection locations, biologists will conduct localized sampling at various sites throughout the season to meet sampling objectives.

TPWD has conducted CWD surveillance on hunter-killed deer and road-kill deer since 2002, and

has a goal to collect tissue samples from at least 8,000 hunter-killed deer throughout the state during this season. TPWD prefers to collect tissue samples within 24 hours of harvest, but the appropriate tissue samples will remain viable for a few days if the head is chilled soon after the kill, and remains chilled until the samples can be collected. It is important that the deer head not be frozen.

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pit to concentrate the water and increase the farmable acreage. In rangeland areas, pits were dug within playa basins to provide for livestock watering. Whether in a farmed or rangeland setting, these deeper pits disrupt or eliminate naturally hydrologic function, aquifer recharge, and habitat values of these important wetlands.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has received funding that will be combined with DU license plate funding to provide for a pilot project effort to restore playa lake basins impacted by the construction of pits. The initial effort will focus on filling the pits in playa lakes in Floyd and Castro counties in the Texas Panhandle, two counties with the highest density of playas.

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Super Fossils A MEGA SHARK THAT LIVED 300 million years ago would have made today’s great whites look like shrimp, according to fossils of the beast unearthed in Jacksboro.

Scientists have dubbed the newfound fossils the “Texas supershark,” according to a news release, and the name is fitting: These supersharks were enormous: more than 26 feet long.

That’s 25 percent larger than the modern great white shark and more than three times as long as other fossil sharks, including the Goodrichthys eskdalensis shark discovered in Scotland and another newfound shark specimen from New Mexico, both of which measure between 6.5 feet and 8.2 feet from head to tail, according to the release.

Supershark lived before the age of the dinosaurs, which emerged about 230 million years ago. Until now, the oldest giant shark was found in rocks dating to 130 million years ago.

—Andi Cooper

Landsat image of Floyd County, Texas during a wet period. Playas appear in shades of blue and black depending on water clarity.

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UNDAY EVENINGS were a sspecial time in the Moore household in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

We would all gather around the television and eagerly await my favorite television program of all time—Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.

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Featuring cutting-edge human-animal interaction and a powerful wildlife conservation message, the program drew me in to a love for wildlife like no other.

To this day, I can sing the Mutual of Omaha jingle on command. That’s how powerful this program was and continues to be in my life.

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Center: a 1963 episode of Kingdom.

Left: Jim Fowler and a harpy eagle in the early days.

Right: Fowler today.

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Hosted by enormously knowledgeable Marlin Perkins and his younger and equally tuned-in partner Jim Fowler, the duo traveled the earth encountering everything from elephant seals to charging Africa elephants.

Fowler, the action star of the program, started his career in the 1950s. “Back in

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of Jim Fowler profile by Chester Moore

those days after the war you could follow your dreams. Anything was possible if you set your mind to it and no one ever told me I couldn’t so I pursued this wildlife thing with full abandon,” he said.

Fowler earned a degree in zoology from Earlham College in Indiana and decided to dedicate his career to studying birds of PHOTOS COURTESY JIM FOWLER

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prey. He ended up working at a raptor sanctuary in Ocala, Fla. where he met Perkins who at the time was starting to wind down a very successful run as host of television’s Zoo Parade.

“Marlin did a show from the facility and my boss said, ‘Have the boy get the eagle.’ I was in my twenties and still being T E X A S

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called a boy.”

The next couple of years saw Fowler travel to Africa. “We came back on a freightliner with all kinds of animals. It was a very interesting experience to say the least,” he said.

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Jim Fowler and Marlin Perkins check out a gila monster on an early episode of Wild Kingdom.

time in South America where he worked with harpy eagles, the world’s largest species and brought back an 18-foot-long anaconda.

“Going back to Africa and South America early on gave me a great foundation,” he said. In 1961, Fowler was asked to appear on The Today Show in New York.

That appearance jogged Perkin’s memory because shortly afterward, Fowler got a call to go to Chicago to work on what would become the pilot for Wild Kingdom.

“I packed up an old French automobile I had and loaded it with animals,” he said.

“I had a big anaconda, two giant anteaters named Lawrence and Florence, a falcon and two harpy eagles and headed up to see Marlin.”

Fowler said a photographer with the Associated Press was there and requested images of the eagle. “I let her fly down from a tree,” Fowler said. “I figured maybe after that I could let her totally loose from the light line I had attached to her. The photographer was all set and ready to go and here comes the eagle.”

“I had the line laid out on the ground and sure enough the eagle veered to the left.

I looked over and a little old lady with a white, fluffy poodle had broken through the security line.”

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Fowler jumped on the line stopping the eagle from advancing and hurting himself in the process. “I don’t know which the eagle was going for, the little old lady or the poodle because she had a hairdo just like the poodle,” he said. “I can just see her at the local women’s meeting next month recalling how a giant pterodactyl swooped down and grabbed her poor poodle.”

After that Fowler found himself cohosting the new Wild Kingdom, a gig he would retain until Perkins’ death in 1986.

Fowler continued the program for a couple of years and has since worked on numerous other television projects.

The most famous of those however was working with late night television icon Johnny Carson. He did more than 100 guest spots on the Tonight show, many of which fans recall as the shows best bits.

“People say I had a good rapport with Johnny and I did,” Fowler said. “He knew the fact that the animals were unpredictable was funny and never tried to do anything to force it. It just worked.”

Fowler said his biggest challenge was combining his scientific endeavors with experience. “I could have gone ahead and gotten a PhD. But I was getting so many experiences that were really pretty unique that over T E X A S

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the years, I sort of leaned more toward experience although I certainly worked toward giving people a scientific understanding of the animals.”

On Wild Kingdom, Fowler was known for taking the bulk of the action, but says Perkins was just as much in on it. People also do not realize Fowler helped with production.

“I had experience with cinematography,” he said. I had already been to Africa and South America and recorded a lot down there, so I knew how things worked. That certainly helped when we went to these locations for Wild Kingdom.”

Fowler has dedicated his life to wildlife conservation and says now is a crucial time to conserve wildlife and its habitat. “We are pushing out many species and we really don’t seem to care,” he said. “It’s time we realize we are the stewards of wildlife and do something about it.”

I can’t say with certainty I would be writing this story if it were not for Fowler and Perkins. I know many of the wildlife hosts of today would not have had such a clear template that so beautifully mixed education and entertainment.

We can no longer watch Wild Kingdom on Sundays, but I have had a great time watching the DVD sets available and clips on Youtube. There is something about seeing grown men tangling with an anaconda in the swamps of South America that inspires me.

Venturing beyond the pavement is crucial to pointing people in the direction of wildlife conservation. Without the encounter, many people don’t care. Although most can’t travel to the rainforest to do it in person, they can encounter wildlife vicariously through television and the Internet.

We would not even know what wildlife programming would look like without Fowler, Perkins and Wild Kingdom.

Here’s to keeping their vision alive.

PHOTO COURTESY JIM FOWLER

11/9/15 2:59 PM

Texas FRESHWATER

by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

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OTS OF THINGS ABOUT BASS fishing I will probably never fully understand.

Perhaps the most perplexing of all is how a guy can go strutting into a tournament weigh-in with a fish he didn’t catch, or one that has been altered to make it weigh heavier or, in some cases, appear smaller than it really is—all in the name of beating a bunch of other fisherman out of a few bucks.

It takes a pretty crooked individual with a warped conscience to commit such a selfish and deviant act. It also takes a pretty dumb one—especially to try it in Texas. Here, toothy laws meant to deter such fraudulent acts can cost you a bundle and even land you behind bars for a spell if you happen to get caught.

I can’t say cheating in bass tournaments occurs a lot more often that you might think, because it doesn’t. Or at least that’s the way I prefer to think.

I work closely with a bunch of anglers who compete on the professional level and have dozens of friends and acquaintances who are regulars at weekend and Tuesday night derbies. As a whole, guys who fish tournaments are an honorable group who live by a distinct code of ethics. They despise those who attempt to skirt the rules every bit as much as I do.

But there are always going to be a few bad apples out there. When one of them rises to the surface in a weigh-in line, it comes as a slap in the face and an attack on the integrity of anyone with ties to the sport.

That’s how I felt when word surfaced that another “tail trimmer” had been nabbed at Lake Fork, this one during the Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash held last September. This amateur derby, which drew

“ But there are always going to be a few bad apples out there.

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Cheaters Never Win

about 2,400 entries, advertised a guaranteed pay back of $500,000, including $160,650 in hourly payouts for the 15 biggest bass of each hour, each day.

The top prize for the event’s heaviest bass included a boat, truck and cash valued at close to $100,000. There also was a $2,500 cash prize on the table for the angler who weighed-in the heaviest fish under the slot over the course of the event.

Fork has a 16- to 24-inch slot limit on bass; it is not legal to retain any fish

that measures between 16 and 24 inches.

Tournament anglers at Fork routinely target fish on the bottom side of the slot, because big fish are much harder to come by.

During the tournament’s final hour on the final day, an angler presented a fish at weigh-in that caught the watchful eyes of Texas game wardens. That’s because its tail looked a little odd. When wardens confronted the angler, he admitted to trimming the bass’s tail in order to make it appear as a legal catch under the lake’s restrictive slot limit.

Bizarre as it sounds, this isn’t the first cheating case filed at Fork for tail trimming.

“We’ve had them like that before,” said Wood County game warden Kurt Kelley.

“It seems like it is a pretty regular occurrence.”

Lake Fork isn’t the only lake where T E X A S

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cheaters have been nabbed in fishing tournaments. It happens on lakes all over the country in all sorts of derbies ranging from small jackpots to larger events with lucrative prizes and big cash on the line.

Tail trimming to alter the length of a fish is just one path to fishing’s dark side that cheaters have ventured down over the years.

They have also shoved lead weights into the bellies of fish to make them weigh heavier than they really are. In some cases, cheaters have even gone so far as to stake out fish in cages and crates or tie them to stumps before a tournament. The cheaters could then retrieve them while they were supposed to be fishing and then take the fish to the weigh-in.

As earlier mentioned, an angler who crosses over into the dark side of tournament fishing runs a high risk of losing way more than his or her reputation.

In 2011, Texas lawmakers passed legislation (HB 1806) aimed at cracking down on tournament cheats with a new law that packs some very sharp teeth. The law broadened the scope of existing fraudulent violations in fresh and saltwater fishing tournaments to include altering the length or weight of a fish and other deceptive acts.

As a result, anglers who commit tournament fraud in minor tournaments with small jackpots can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. They face up to a year in jail and fines up to $4,000.

The violation escalates to a third-degree felony if it takes place during a tournament offering a top prize worth $10,000 or more.

A conviction packs a maximum fine of $10,000 and two to ten years in prison.

Cheating just isn’t worth it, any way you trim it.

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Open SEASON

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

False Dawn

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STEPPED OUT OF THE POP-UP camper into the frigid darkness. Coyotes yipped in the distance. Stars twinkled overhead in the clear sky, and my breath fogged.

No, really, it wasn’t like that. I stepped out of the camper and nearly fell flat on my face. Dogs barked in the distance, trapped in the backyards of the neighborhood surrounding our conservancy deer lease that was being swallowed by urban growth.

We couldn’t see the twinkling stars overhead, because of the light pollution from Austin to the east. What I took for false dawn was the shopping mall two miles from my camp, as the crow flies.

Wrong Willie was squatting beside the campfire. I wanted to tell him that I loved the outdoors, the solitude, and the opportunity to hunt.

Hummmm.

An eighteen-wheeler downshifted on the highway, the engine echoing across the Barton Creek bottoms.

Willie poked at the fire. “Coffee’s ready.”

“How long have you been up?”

“You should ask if I’ve been asleep.”

I squatted beside him and held my hands toward the flames. “Fine. Did you get any sleep?”

“I slept like a baby from ten to twelve. Then the train went past somewhere to the east and the whistle woke me up. After that, I heard the trash truck out at the shopping mall emptying giant steel bins and slamming them back down on the concrete. I didn’t know sound traveled so well through this little valley.”

I gripped the handle of the coffee pot and poured a cup, feeling the heat through my glove.

Wondering why we’d begged our way back onto the lease, I studied the horizon. “Have you wondered how we can have a fire here on this strange little deer lease?”

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“You mean you wonder why they allow fire.”

“Yes. With all the rules, I’m surprised they let us burn anything here.”

He blew across the steaming cup. “Doc. Coffee’s ready.”

A voice came from inside the camper. “Bring me a cup.”

“Can you guys be a little quieter?” Jerry Wayne’s voice came from the opposite end of the trailer. “I didn’t get any sleep because Willie tossed and turned all night.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Doc grunted. “I was doing fine until that wreck out by the gate.”

I blew and sipped. “How’d you know the wreck was by the gate?”

“I heard the bang, and figured it came from that direction. Then the fire trucks and ambulance were dead giveaways.”

“You’re right,” I said, remembering. “I thought it was probably from the Mexican restaurant across the road from the barn. I figured someone got food poisoning again.”

Jerry Wayne flopped around, getting dressed.

“Are you making fun of the last time we ate there? It’s not my fault I’m the only one who got sick.”

Doc stepped out, pulling a toboggan down around his ears. “You guys remember the last lease we had? It was quiet. There weren’t any traffic noises. We could see the stars and hear real coyotes howling.”

A pair of headlights appeared over the ridge, leading down to our campsite. We watched them grow larger until they winked out beside my truck.

“Howdy.”

Ranch Manager stepped up to our fire and squatted. “Mind if I have a cup?”

Wrong Willie poured one and handed it over.

“What brings you out so early?”

“Just checking on everyone. I saw on the signin sheet that you guys came in a couple of days ago, but didn’t sign out when y’all went to town.”

“How’d you know that?” Jerry Wayne asked, stepping outside, his flashlight beam picking out a pair of eyes in the darkness beyond.

“Saw you on the highway. Y’all remember you’re supposed to sign in and out every time you go through the gate. Y’all need to clear that up T E X A S

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this morning.”

Ever the intermediary, Willie nodded in agreement. “I’ll go up and sign us all in when I get back from my stand.”

Ranch Manager shook his head. “Sorry, no can do. The boss lady insists on up-to-date paperwork.”

“You want us all to drive up there to the gate and put our names on a piece of paper before we go to our stands this morning?”

“Yep. But y’all need to get going, because you know the rules. We don’t want anyone on the roads in and out of their parts of the lease while others are hunting. It’s discourteous.”

“Like driving out before dawn to someone’s camp and….”

Willie stepped in before I could finish.

“There’s no one on the ranch today but us.”

“Wrong, Willie. Others arrived after midnight, once they made sure their guy that went to the hospital was going to be all right, and they were able to bend their bumper back out so the tire would roll. They asked me to tell you they were sorry for waking everyone up. They figured the noise would reach down here, because they hunted this part of the lease a few years ago.”

None of the Hunting Club members said a word. We simply drank hot coffee.

“Well,” Ranch Manager pitched his dregs into the fire, and then kicked dirt on the coals.

“You guys remember the rules. Oh, by the way, I’d like the first half of next year’s payment before turkey season, and remember, you can only hunt turkey only two weekends this spring. See you later.”

Doc looked at the guys gathered around the smoking coals. “I haven’t pulled the trigger in two years. Do you think we’ll ever get to hunt on this lease?”

I finished my coffee and thought about going back to bed. “I’ve given up all hope.”

Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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eace and quiet.

That is what you will find in the woods and on the water on Christmas Day. It is probably the day when the fewest hunters and anglers will be in the field

across the state and that is probably a good thing. The great outdoors is important but family and the celebration of faith is far more important.

When I am not in the woods, marsh or on the bay, I am wondering what is going

by Chester Moore

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on out there. What is beyond the treeline?

What is happening past the horizon?

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Let’s take a trip through the Texas outdoors and find out just what is happening during Christmas.

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Deer Whitetails around Texas are in a state of flux.

In the South Texas Brush Country, bucks are heavily on the trail of willing does and harassing the nonwilling. The senderos cutting through the thick thorn and cactus are alive with activity as deer crisscross them in their annual display of mating.

South Texas has the latest rutting period in the United States with activity verified into the first week of February. The heaviest activity happens in mid to late December with some areas picking in early January.

In the Hill Country and Pineywoods

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Texas deer are in ux during the holiday season.

the rutting period is winding down. Virtually all of the East Texas does are bred

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while a small percentage in the Hill Country will come into estrus.

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For free-ranging exotic deer in Texas, like the large axis herd in the southeastern corner of the Edwards Plateau, some does will others heavily pregnant. The peak of rut for axis is summer although these exotic deer can potentially breed throughout the year.

Turkey Texas’ large Rio Grande turkey population is enjoying kernels of corn from the tens of thousands of feeders scattered throughout their range. More turkeys are killed in Texas during deer season than during the spring breeding periods so the birds are feeling the pressure.

The creek and river bottoms are their

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hideaways as they roost in small to large concentrations to maximize their security.

With incredible vision and hearing they are able to locate predators from extremely long distances.

Over in East Texas, the remnant east-

Creek and river bottoms are prime hideaways for Texas turkeys.

ern turkey population is enjoying a peaceful time. No hunting is allowed during fall so the birds respond to hunting pressure

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in the woods by slipping into remote areas and staying out of sight. Our easterns are extremely elusive.

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gadwall, green-winged teal and pintails feed on abundant forage left behind by agriculture and that remaining in the natural wetlands.

The creek and river bottoms of East Texas are home to large numbers of migrant mallards mixed with native wood ducks and scattered hooded mergansers.

December brings ducks and geese to all parts of Texas.

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Waterfowl

Saltwater Fish

The marshes, bottomlands and lakes across the state are loaded with large numbers of ducks and geese.

The playa lake country in the Panhandle has concentrations of Canada geese, snows, specklebellies and huge sandhill cranes.

Along the coast rafts of redheads, scaup and canvasbacks sit on the open water of the bays. Boats crisscrossing the bays push them from location to location with scattered pockets of hunters benefitting from the pressure.

In the coastal marshes and rice fields

Beneath the water’s surface there is plenty of interesting activity as well.

Gigantic bull black drum begin beating their ways into the bays right about now.

With a chin full of barbels and a face that is not exactly what most anglers would consider attractive they look as much sea monster as sportfish. From the jetties and surf and in deep channels, these beasts await anglers looking for something that pulls extremely hard.

Most flounder have made their way into the Gulf of Mexico to spawn in deep waters but not all of them. With a health-

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ier flounder population than we have had in years, there are a good portion of fish that stay behind throughout winter. They dwell the deep water channels and move onto nearby flats to feed.

Freshwater Fish On the lakes across the state the biggest bass in the state are starting to bite.

The Toyota Sharelunker Program opens Oct. 1 and for good reason. A fair portion of the 13-pound plus fish are caught during December and January. Cool waters and low fishing pressure seem to get monster bass active Crappie are congregating in deep river channels across the state. Suspending in deep water, they thrill thousands of anglers

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who spend much time on lakes like Toledo Bend and Lake Fork in their pursuit.

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E OFTEN TALK about taking kids our hunting or fishing to spark their interest in the outdoors and that is important, but simply

A childhood encounter with wolves was a formative event in the author’s life.

allowing them to encounter wild things is equally important.

Truly the most impactful gifts are the gifts of experience. The outdoors provides an amazing place to give people, especially our children, the gift of experience.

I’ll give you an example from my life…

It was pitch black and extremely cold as my father and I walked to our deer blind in the Gilbert Woods near Fannett.

This was back in the early 1980s and I was just around nine years old as we made the long trek to his stand.

Even thought it was 5:30 a.m., which was much earlier than my normal Saturday wake up time, I could not have been more excited. Images of monster whitetail bucks raced through my head, as this was one of my first deer hunts.

A couple of hundred yards from the stand, the early morning silence was shattered by the sounds of wolves. An entire pack of wolves sounded off in all of their mournful glory. And they were close. Real close.

Looking back I realize the pack was probably less than 100 yards from us in the swampy thicket. Dad stopped and 58 |

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asked if I was scared, and I was a tad bit, but I was more fascinated and enthused.

Wolves were among my favorite ani-

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mals and although I had seen and heard them a hundred times on television this was my first chance to encounter them in the wild and I was blown away.

We never did see a deer that day which is not surprising since a pack of wolves was roaming the area but I will remember it my whole life because of the those lonely howls.

There have been many times that I have never taken a shot or even seen a deer, hog or other game animal I was pursuing, but I have always seen something wild, beautiful and untamed.

With Christmas upon us in a year with a down economy, some of you might feel guilty for the inability to buy expensive gifts or any gifts at all. We certainly hope

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you can but we are realists.

Don’t feel guilty.

If you are reading this story, you obviously have an interest in the outdoors and that alone allows you to give the gift of encounters.

Take your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other children in your life fishing, and hunting or simply on a hike through one of our national forests or state parks.

Approach it from the perspective that you are in a truly wild place and anything you encounter is a blessing. Whether it is a majestic red cardinal or a coyote, you are getting a glimpse at Creation’s best and instilling a love for the outdoors in a young person.

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Sometimes the best opportunities for encounters for really young children come in places like zoos and aquariums. They do not always have the patience for long hikes but a place like a zoo for example has many different things to see so they can keep moving.

My wife Lisa and I take our daughter to every zoo, aquarium and other outdoors related venue we can. If there is a wildlife drive-through park or nature center wherever we travel, we stop and let her experience nature in a close, personal way.

I will never forget her watching dolphins through the glass at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. I was fortunate to capture a really great photo of this that I share with you today, which leads me to my final suggestion.

Taking kids or other loved ones on fishing and hunting trips is a wonderful gift. Whether it is a surprise or a gift that causes a child to mark days off their calendar, fishing and hunting trips are always a big hit.

And it does not have to be fancy.

Before outdoors television brainwashed viewers into thinking the only hunts worth going on were for Boone & Crockett qualifying bucks, people enjoyed squirrel and rabbit hunting. And they still do.

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incredible origin and meaning and a great way to honor our family and friends is with gifts they truly enjoy. If they like the outdoors at all, I guarantee you some of the gifts above will make this special day

even more special.

This is especially true of those gift options that meantime spent in the outdoors with you.

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The author’s daughter, Faith, enjoying dolphins at the Texas State Aquarium.

Taking a kid on their first rabbit hunt or bring them on a late season waterfowl excursion can be life changing.

So can a trip down to the farm pond to catch catfish or to the beach to catch whiting and croaker. Simply encountering the hunting and fishing lifestyle for the first time can be a gift that truly keeps on giving. People do not play football for life, but they can fish and hunt at any age.

Photograph all of these excursions.

You can get prints made from digital photos for just a few cents apiece and buy photo albums for a couple of dollars.

A great way to top off an opportunity to encounter wild things is giving them photos of their trip. These will help build powerful memories they will one-day share with their own children.

The next time you bring a kid into the woods or take them out on the water, you could very well be changing their lives by bringing forth a deep love for wildlife that can only benefit them. They may hear the howl of a coyote, catch a glimpse of a bobcat or see a dolphin jumping in the ship channel.

Never discount the power of giving those kinds of gifts because most of the time they are the best of all.

Christmas is a wonderful time, has an

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Texas BOATING

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

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ORE AND MORE ELECtric or hybrid cars are hitting the road, but what about boat engines? Will we soon enjoy the silent hum of a battery-powered outboard?

Truth be told, many of our fishing boats already have electric trolling motors, and plenty of anglers also use electrics on cartoppers, canoes, or kayaks. But when you go beyond three or four horsepower, battery demands become overwhelming. And yes, electric outboards do go well beyond three or four horses.

In the past year or so, for example, we’ve seen the introduction of an 80 horsepower outboard from Torqeedo, a 180 hp engine from ReGen Nautic (they say a 300 hp model is also on the way), and even a

38-foot Cigarette go-fast boat packing 2,200 electric stallions.

So, if all these electric engines already exist, what’s the problem? You might guess it’s cost, and yes, some of these motors are quite pricey. But the motor alone is not so much more than a gasoline-powered outboard of equivalent size that the savings in fuel costs wouldn’t eventually make up for it. The 180 hp ReGen, for example, lists at about $25,500. Compare that to a Yamaha 175 four-stroke, which will run you about $17,000. The real problem lies in the batteries. In order to jam-pack enough juice into a boat to feed a primary propulsion system for more than a few minutes, that boat needs to be loaded down with batteries. And not just your garden-variety deep-cycles, either.

“ Boats are just too different from cars for the effective adoption of hybrid technology.

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Electric Outboard In Your Future?

We’re talking about cutting-edge lithium-ion power cells that cost an arm and a leg.

Remember that 80 horsepower Torqeedo? Try pricing it out with four Power 26-104 LNMC batteries, which are necessary to get a reasonably full “fuel tank” of 10,740 watt-hours—which isn’t exactly as full a fuel tank as one might hope for (you can count on an hour of full-tilt running, or

two to three hours at around a ¾ throttle cruise). Then add in the costs of chargers and controls. In total, you’ll be spending nearly $100,000 on the power system. That is not a misprint—$100,000. For an 80 horse rig. Boat not included.

Now let’s look at the long-term economic view as compared to a gas-burner in the 70 to 80 hp range. The gasoline outboard will cost you just under $10,000. Figure gas at a cost of three bucks a gallon—high for now, but in the future who knows—and you’d have to chug down 30,000 gallons before the electric rig so much as breaks even.

Forgive me tree huggers, but unless you’re as rich as Al Gore, that just doesn’t make electric very appealing. Now add in the second problem with putting all this bat64 |

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tery power aboard a boat—it’s heavy, and it eats up space.

You already know, of course, that both weight capacity and space are at a premium on all kinds of boats. Remember that Cigarette? It’s quite literally stuffed with batteries, to the tune of two tons. Yet that reportedly gets the boat a whopping 30 minutes at 70 mph with “a few blasts” up to 110 mph. Again, that’s not exactly what we’d hope for in a “full” fuel tank.

But these problems are nothing new.

The electric boat has actually been around since a Frenchman named Gustave Trouve invented the world’s first electric outboard, and cruised a 17-footer down the River Seine in 1880. But he couldn’t cruise it very far. Even back then, battery power and range were major limiting factors.

Well over 100 years later, the engines themselves may well be ready for prime-time.

But until we come up with a power-pack that’s radically better than even the best of the lithium-ions, we have today—and which carry reasonable price-tags, as well—using an outboard for primary propulsion on a

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boat will mean a radical loss of range and an epic jump in price. The bottom line? Unless you’re a bazillionaire, at least for the time being, running an all-electric boat is not a realistic option.

Wait a sec—what about hybrids? They actually seem to work pretty well on dry land, and cars like the Prius have proved that hybrid technology is cost-effective, right?

Um… nope.

Boats are just too different from cars for the effective adoption of hybrid technology.

We’ve seen plenty of sorta-kinda-maybes in this department, in the form of inboard boats like the Greenline models.

Yet the technology combination that works so well on dry land really doesn’t get very far on the water. As in, it’ll get you maybe 20 miles. Then, you’re out of juice and have to run on diesel power again. Even worse, it’ll only get you those 20 miles at jogging speeds—with a tail-wind.

Why is hybrid so much harder on the water? You can’t coast after getting up to speed, and you don’t get to generate power while braking. In fact, the entire concept of

hybrid energy on a boat really doesn’t make much sense at all. The dynamics of moving over a solid surface versus moving through a liquid are simply too different.

If going all-electric is beyond our current ability, are there other options? Sure. Lehr has proved that propane is a viable option, with its line of 2.5 to 25 HP outboards.

And an outfit called BlueGas Marine has modified a pair of 275 hp Mercury Verados to run on natural gas, and claims zero performance penalties. They’ve been running the modified Mercs on an Intrepid for over a year now, and the results seem quite promising.

And… and… well, that’s about it, folks.

Truth be told, despite all the hoo-hah over alternative power sources, if you plan to run a powerboat with anything over a handful of horsepower, at least for the foreseeable future it’ll be powered by a gasoline outboard.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

11/9/15 1:31 PM

The Practical ANGLER

by PAUL BRADSHAW | TF&G Contributing Editor

Catching December Bass in Short Water

W

HEN I SET THE HOOK and the fish barely moved, I knew I had a decent one on the line. A few seconds later this assumption was confirmed as I pulled a seven-pound largemouth into our little johnboat. Catching the fish in just one foot of water wouldn’t raise any eyebrows if it was early spring, but this was the middle of December. We weren’t sitting around in shorts and tank tops, but were bundled up against the cold; and we were still catching fish in water shallow enough to wade in without getting your knees wet.

I know the conventional wisdom is to go deep when the weather gets cold.

I’ve even written about it a few times myself; but even as the temperature dips, bass are still there—some of them large— hanging out in shallow water. You just need to know where to look and what to use.

Let’s start with the where to look part.

The fish in the first paragraph was caught off a section of a dam where the concrete spillway met the rip-rap that lined the remainder of the dam. This area was a good spot for a few different reasons: First, the rip-rap provided plenty of small pockets for game fish to hide, which in turn attracted the bass that feed on them. Second, because part of the concrete from the spillway was above the water line, it was warmed by the sun. This made the water in that area slightly warmer than the surrounding water.

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on warmer days.

Most lakes have something similar somewhere on them. Bridges, where major roadways cross the lake, typically have a concrete section that leads to rip rap to prevent erosion. Don’t overlook these as potential bass hot spots in the winter.

Don’t have many of these on your local

lake?

How about an old creek bed that runs through a flat with standing timber?

The timber provides places for the bass to ambush bait while still being near the sanctuary of deeper water in the creek. These spots are hot in the fall and will still hold fish when the temperatures start to drop.

As far as baits for winter shallow water fishing are concerned, don’t over-think it.

Go with the tried and true basics. The fish I referenced earlier was caught on a black and blue jig with a black crawfish trailer. It was nothing elaborate at all, just your basic cold water rig.

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ing more than eight pounds—but all were decent fish so cut me some slack) all came on jigs. So if you don’t currently fish a jig you need to start, now. Go tie one on, and leave it on the rod all the time.

Another bait to try is a crankbait. Fishing crankbaits in the fall is a very productive way to cover a lot of water and put some fish in the boat. Keep doing it in the winter, and you will still catch fish. I’m a fan of small square billed crankbaits reeled slowly along rip-rap and timber. Use a suspending crankbait and you can stop it next to a likely fish holding spot and wait for the bass to hit.

I know some people who throw spinnerbaits all year long; I’m not one of those people. However, during the winter they can be outstanding baits. Slow rolling them (reeling very very slow), bouncing them off rocks, or bounce them off the bottom and let them flutter back down are all great ways to catch shallow winter bass.

You can use any color spinner bait you want, as long as it is white. Well, that’s my preference anyway.

Match the spinner bait to the size of the baitfish in your lake and don’t be afraid to get away from the standard spinner and go really big or really small. Put a grub body on the hook to add buoyancy and you’re good to go.

I know you have been told your whole life that to catch bass in winter, you need to hit some of the deepest water on the lake.

But keep in mind that this is Texas. We have one week of winter in February. In December, you can still catch a lot of big bass up shallow if you just give it a try.

Email Paul Bradshaw at ContactUs@fishgame.com ILLUSTRATION: PAUL BRADSHAW

11/11/15 10:41 AM

Texas GUNS

by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

Gunning for Deer

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ERE IS A THOUGHT FOR you to ponder: More than half of the deer hunting I have done over the last 40-plus years could easily have been accomplished with an opensighted .30-30.

I have killed deer from as close as 15 yards to as far as 350 yards, possibly farther.

But looking back and trying to remember, I would guess that I have shot far more deer under 150 yards than beyond. A lot of them were shot at a hundred yards or less. That includes the 20 years I hunted on a ranch, which had no feeders or deer stands. One 10-point buck I shot was just 15 yards from the muzzle of my .25-06. H e had responded to a varmint call while my brother and I were calling bobcats.

The heaviest deer I ever shot was an old brute, past breeding age. His antlers were massive, but were knotty, stubby, and had eight points. Even at that he was still a trophy to be admired. His antlers are currently hanging by my front door. The interesting part was that this deer probably weighed more than 300 pounds live weight. I have always regretted that I didn’t weigh it, but it was by far the heaviest deer I have ever shot, and I weighed one deer I shot that tipped the scales at 207 pounds.

What did I shoot him with, a .300 magnum? Nope. A .270 Winchester or a .3006? Nope. I killed that monster with one shot through the chest with a 150-grain Hornady soft point out of a .300 Savage, fired from an old Remington Model 722 that I was having an affair with. And again, this buck was close enough that I could have taken it easily with an open-sighted .30-30 or my old Winchester Model 71 .348. In fact, I could have killed it with a .44 Magnum revolver.

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Now that said, I do not believe that any of us are best served by using a rifle that does not provide the range and power for almost any possible hunting situation. By that I mean that we should have a rig that is capable of shooting flat enough to make any reasonable shot at up to around 400 yards, and with enough power to get it done.

Just having a gun that will shoot to 400 yards does not mean it’s a long-range deer rifle. The location I was hunting the day I shot the big deer with the .300 Savage was very brushy, and at no place was a shot of over 200 yards possible. The .300 Savage is a fine deer cartridge, but 300 yards is really pushing it, and I would never consider trying to make a 400-yard shot with it. I n many of those instances where I could have taken my deer with a .30-30, I could just as easily have been faced with a shot that was far beyond the capability of the old Winchester cartridge.

Up front, this rules out the .22 centerfires, because they lack the power to kill effectively at long range. It also rules out the so-called brush busters like the .35 Remington and .45-70. Both of those old timers will still kill deer quite effectively, but are limited to ranges of less than 150 yards.

I have hunted deer from the thickest brush in South Texas to the high mountains of far West Texas, as well as in several western states. On one of those hunts to West Texas I bought and had tuned a tack-driving 7mm Remington Magnum. As fate would have it, one of the other hunters’ rifles went on the fritz, so I loaned him my 7mm Magnum and I hunted with a very accurate Savage .25-06.

The shot I got was precisely what I bought that 7mm Magnum for, but alas, it was in other hands, and the .25-06 was in mine. It was the longest shot I have ever actually measured. At the time I did not know how far it was. However, my guess was right on, and I killed a nice desert mule deer at what we later measured with a laser range finder as 346 yards. I may have made one or two longer shots, but that was the longest I can swear to, so I call it the longest. And may I say that the

.25-06, shooting hot handloads of 100-grain Barnes X-Bullets, did just as well as the 7mm Magnum would have.

It is a fact that I have killed more deer and varmints with a .25-06 than with any other caliber, and I have never felt I was undergunned. In fact, I probably made some shots with a .25-06 that I could not have made with a magnum for the simple reason that I was not afraid of getting pounded by recoil.

When long range and large animals are in the offing, one of the .300 magnums is called for, or at least a 7mm Remington or Weatherby Magnum. The 7mm Weatherby Magnum is one of the flattest shooting and hardest hitting of the smaller magnums and is certainly worth your consideration. In fact, if you can take the recoil, it may be the pick of the litter. I recently shot a large cow elk at between 300 and 325 yards with my 7mm Weatherby, shooting handloads using 160grain Nosler AccuBonds at 3,100 fps. One shot did the trick.

For almost all Texas deer hunting a .270, .280, or 30-06, is all the gun you need. For most of it a 7mm/08, .308, .260 Remington, or even a .243 will suffice. This is especially true for those who have a problem with recoil.

The old 7mm Mauser with good handloads is one of the finest deer rifles ever invented, as is the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. I have shot a lot of deer with the 7mm Mauser and can attest that it is as effective as just about anything you can name. For many years my younger brother, David, has used almost nothing but a .243 Winchester for deer, and he has killed a truckload, with not one lost deer.

I guess the moral of this rambling story is that if you have a magnum and can shoot it well, it will surely get the job done. But if you have one of the milder calibers there is no reason I can think of to run out and spend your hard-earned rupees on something that roars on one end and kicks on the other.

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Industry INSIDER 2016 Nissan Titan XD Crowned Truck of Texas WHEN A TRUCKMAKER PUTS A 5.0L Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine in its full-size pickup truck, no one doubts that they mean business. That is what Nissan had done with its 2016 Titan XD, the company’s first new truck in more than a decade.

While I had the opportunity to drive the robust new entry to the pickup wars, impressions were embargoed until now, and it has

cabin was quiet and a driver would be hard pressed to identify this as a diesel without knowing beforehand.

While official numbers were not yet it in, Nissan expects to have a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy when compared with a gas-powered V8 while towing full loads. Tow capacity is 12,000 lbs. and payload max is 2,000 lbs. when the XD

been really tough to keep them under wraps.

Out of respect for Texas tradition of trucks, journalists were the first to drive the XD at the Texas Auto Writers annual Truck Rodeo in October, and were impressed enough to award it the highly coveted Truck of Texas award. It also received honors for Best Powertrain and Luxury Truck of Texas. The recognition is well deserved. Driven both off-road and on at the historic Knibbe Ranch, the XD is a top-notch competitor in the crowded full-size pickup category.

The heart of the truck is the new Cummins Turbo Diesel power plant with 310 hp and 555 lb.-ft of torque. A cylinder block of compacted graphite iron provides more strength and reduced weight, and the reduction of engine noise is exceptional. The

is properly equipped. Because it is actually positioned between a traditional half-ton pickup and a heavy duty, there is no mpg reporting requirement so I will be estimating mine when I have the new truck for a full week.

The engine is mated to a heavy-duty six-speed Aisin automatic transmission specifically developed for the new truck. The promise of both off-road and tow performance is addressed with a range of features aimed at the active outdoorsman. There is hill descent control and hill start assist, as well as brake limited-slip differential; and a new off-road gauge uses accelerometer date to calculate pitch and roll angles. Towing aids are an integrated trailer brake controller, trailer sway control, tow/haul mode with downhill speed control. A trailer light check

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system allows single-person hookup by facilitating checks on turn signals, brake lights and running/clearance lights from inside the cab.

Available rear view monitor with trailer guides and around view monitor provide an all-around view to make parking easier and help with pulling in and out of tight spaces.

Available hitches include an easily accessible integrated gooseneck engineered into the frame. For best control, the gooseneck puts the load in front of the rear axle.

From an appearance standpoint, both inside and out, the Titan has been made more robust and more refined. From grille to tailgate, the XD looks the part of a serious truck with new lighting and storage packaged into sculpted high-energy styling.

The large cabin offers considerably more storage – 33 percent more in the front and 28 percent in the rear – in the crew cab (which is the only model currently available.)

There are all the bells and whistles for luxury, infotainment, safety and performance that an owner could want.

Pricing wasn’t available when we drove, but casual conversation hints at the Titan XD being under the major competitors in a field that includes only one other diesel pickup in its class. When the introduction is complete in 2016, there will be crew cab, extended cab and regular cab configurations with a choice of three bed lengths. Gasolinepowered V6 and V8 engines will also be part of the mix at that time.

My initial driving impression is that the 2016 Titan XD has brought Nissan back into competition with the trucks that define the market. While I have not had the chance to tow with it yet, the engine and features make me confident that it will perform as advertised and exceed expectations. If I was in the market for a powerful new truck, I would definitely drive this before making any decision. This baby has come a long way.

—by Linda Water Nelson

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11/9/15 1:31 PM

Fish and Game GEAR iBobber

THE FIRST FISH-FINDING DEVICE to utilize Bluetooth Smart and sonar technology, a perfect gift for the fishing enthusiast in your life, or as a stocking-stuffer for yourself. Unlike boat-mounted fish finders that only show what’s directly

under the craft, iBobber can be cast up to 100-feet away with sonar pings 135feet deep.

The iBobber turns on upon contact with the water, then syncs with a smart device (iOS and Android) to show fish location, size (over/under 15”), water temperature and more. iBobber also includes a Waterbed Mapping mode, illustrating the contour and structure of the waterbed, helping anglers avoid potential snags underwater, target fish more efficiently and see where that “bruiser” may be hiding.

The iBobber retails for $99.99 and is available at www.ReelSonar.com. Use promo code “FG1215” before December 31 to get $15 off. iBobber is lighter, smaller and has a longer battery life compared to other related products on the market.

Colt ‘Defender’

DKG TRADING, INC., SPARTA, IL, proudly announces the introduction of the NEW Colt “Defender” series of solid copper, hollow-point center-fire pistol ammuni-

tion. Colt “Defender” features an all-copper bullet which provides exceptional penetration and expansion, while maintaining nearly 100% bullet weight retention. Premium ammunition at a most affordable price.

Colt “Defender” ammunition incorporates specially blended powders, matched with highest-quality primers, to assure consistent reliability along with managed recoil.

Only virgin brass cases are used in the loading process to allow trouble free feeding and extraction. Plus, every component used in the manufacturing process for Colt “Defender” ammunition is made right here in the United States.

With the introduction of the highestquality Colt “Defender” handgun ammuni-

tion line, shooters will benefit from an extremely accurate load delivering maximum on-target energy and penetration—so necessary in home defense situations.

Initial pistol calibers are: Bullet Caliber Weight .380 Auto 80 gr.

9mm Luger 115 gr. .40 S&W 155 gr. .45 ACP 185 gr.

Muzzle Velocity 1,200 ft./sec.

1,200 ft./sec.

1,150 ft./sec.

1,100 ft./sec.

Visit www.dkgtrading.com, or e-mail sales@dkgtrading.com.

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Pork Revolution

UNCLE JOSH, THE ORIGINAL manufacturer of Pork baits is offering a new Pork Minnow that has been refined and offers better hook placement.

The new three-inch profile not only has better looks and action, but also rigs up the hook shaft better so when used in a vertical-jigging presentation it stays perfectly horizontal in the water column.

A few of the benefits include: • Spend more time fishing and less time rebating hooks • No need to worry about crawlers, minnows, or leeches dying. Pork bait is the “live bait” that never dies yet tastes and fishes like live bait.

• One pork bait can catch dozens of fish, saving time and money for the angler • Pork Bait takes up less space than live bait • Pork bait can be transported into Canada • Dirt won’t get into your boat carpet • 100 percent biodegradable • Made in USA • Pork baits can be cut to “match the hatch” • Because Pork baits stay on the hook longer, anglers have less “down time.”

There is no more trolling with the end of a live crawler bitten off. This leads to more productive time on the water.

• Pork Baits are easy to rig, so the kids can bait their own hook, with no “icky” worm slime For more information, visit their website, www.unclejosh.com..

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SABINE Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

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HOPE YOU’VE ALL BEEN ABLE to put a big dent in your Christmas shopping already because this holiday season is gearing up to be a stellar one.

If the last few months are any indication of how the fishing is going to be here on Sabine in December, we should be in for a nice treat. If you haven’t got your shopping done yet, I would recommend hitting the malls on the tough days and taking full advantage of the more prevalent, mild days that Texas’s upper coast offers this month.

Historically, December is a relatively mild month on the upper coast, and if that holds true, this holiday season should

“ Look for the hottest action to be on the north end of the lake.

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Sabine in for a Nice Treat

bring a little extra cheer. Barring any major weather changes, the fish should be on the same patterns as they were in September, October and November.

Schools of trout and reds will push the still plentiful shrimp to the surface where picking seagulls will show you the way.

Anglers should have little problem staying with these schools when weather conditions are favorable.

Look for the hottest action to be on the north end of the lake. The area between the north revetment, Bridge Bayou, Coffee Ground Cove and Stutes Island should hold lots of shrimp and fish.

Good bait choices are soft plastics in Morning Glory, Root beer, Red Shad and Glow. Put them on a 1/4 oz. lead head and you should be good to go. Topwaters like Skitterwalks and Tops Dog Jr. in bone and black with chartreuse as well as rattle traps and Hoginars will also get the job done.

Expect to find hungry trout and reds cruising the eastern bank of the bay when the water is clear and the tide is moving. Coffee Ground Cove is a good place to start. Work the shoreline over good with topwaters early as you head south toward Willow Bayou.

Pay special attention to the mouths of the bayous and key on areas that are holding bait. Plastics rigged on 1/8 oz. lead heads, gold spoons and Catch 2000s are also good bait choices.

Trout, reds and some nice bonus flounders also tend to pile up in East and Middle Pass at times this month. These passes are definitely worth devoting some time and attention to because when the fish are there, they are usually stacked pretty thick.

Shrimp and baitfish will move in and out with the tide and the fish will be hot on their heels. If you haven’t got your shopping done yet, you might want to get on that pretty quick, especially on the tough days.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Keith Lake Fish Pass SPECIES: Redfish, Black Drum, and Croaker BAITS/LURES: Soft Plastics, fresh dead shrimp BEST TIMES: Mornings and evenings

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GALVESTON Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

Galveston Holidays

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ITH CHRISTMAS nearly upon us, things should have settled down along the shore somewhat.

Always an interesting place to live or visit, the Texas coast saw some things even we don’t usually see toward the end of summer. While other parts of the country had numerous shark attacks along their beaches, Texas saw our first fatal alligator attack on a human in many years. This happened near Orange, not in the Galveston/Freeport area, but not long afterwards a ‘gator was spotted swimming in the surf at Bryan Beach. Alligators do sometimes find their way out of the Brazos River, but they are not a common sight in the surf.

The spring of 2015 was a very wet one, leading to flooding along the Brazos and San Bernard that spilled over into Oyster Creek and the surrounding bottomlands. ’Gators were among the many animal species pushed out of their usual haunts by the high water and strong currents. Although there have been no reports, blue catfish might have been in the surf, also.

The situation in the San Bernard River continues to be bleak. Janice Edwards reported in July that water testing had been unable to measure any salinity in the river for the previous three months, and it has been well below normal for more than seven months.

Redfish, speckled trout, and flounder were not being caught at all in the river, there are very few crabs, and what oysters have been seen on pilings and docks were dead. Cattle are drinking in the normally salty water near the ICW, and water birds have been few. The cause of this is the river mouth being blocked again, and the backflow from the flooded Brazos going down the ICW to the San Bernard. This is a serious condition that will continue to affect the whole upper Texas coast if the river is not re-opened— and nature does not seem to be able to do so.

In more normal years, my good friend “Wimpy” Lowe used to fish for specks in the Brazos on nights so cold he could not talk me into going with him. Using silver spoons and practicing strict catch and release, he had fine sport with amazing numbers of trout. This, too, was taken away for 2015 by the spring rains.

Coastal bayous are in not much better shape, and even the bays will be below normal in salinity—if more heavy rains come with the fall.

Texas weather being what it is, however, our summer has been dry enough to have folks cringing at the fear of another long period of drought.

Should this happen, of course, salinity will rise, fish will return, and catching them resume.

Until the winter weather reveals itself, the Galveston jetties should be the one bright spot for area fishermen. Unlike Freeport jetties, the Galveston system extends far enough into the Gulf to mostly overcome inshore conditions.

Trout and redfish, both, should be in residence. Flounders should stage their annual migration to deeper Gulf waters, and big black drum will be coming the other direction to spawning areas in the bay.

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Trinity and Galveston bays suffer when the Trinity River runs high—and this also happened in the spring, but the Bolivar and High Island beachfront is somewhat protected from fresh water intrusion. “Close” rigs not far from the beach should have Gulf trout, and possibly some Texas snapper, with bluefish always a possibility.

Hard core offshore fishermen might want to use December to plan a trip for early 2016 to Venice, Louisiana, to try the Midnight Lump for tuna and wahoo.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Galveston jetties, Bolivar beachfront SPECIES: Speckled trout, redfish, flounder, black drum BEST BAITS: “Fresh dead,” live bait, selected lures BEST TIMES: Plan trips around the weather, and mostly the tidal movement.

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MATAGORDA Area Hotspot Focus :: by MIKE PRICE

December, a Time of Transition

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T WAS EARLY MORNING IN MIDDecember, and I was quietly fishing the shoreline at Brown Cedar Flats on the east end of East Matagorda Bay, when two problems got between me and fish catching: I heard talking and looked around, and there were two guys in a boat right behind me going to their duck blind.

I had chosen a spot to fish that was in front of their blind. This was my error. Duck hunting season opens this year on December 12, so make sure you don’t pick a place to fish near a blind.

The second problem was super clear water. As the bay water cools, algae drops

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to the bottom, and Janet Price with a hard fought on a calm day (when 27-inch redfish. wind isn’t stirring it up) this makes for very clear water. So the fish see better and consequently, they spook more readily.

I moved away from the duck hunters to the shoreline behind Oyster Reef Farms, and soon I spotted a school of redfish. But when I threw my lure over them, they saw it, or its shadow, and took off.

On clear water days, a better way of casting without disturbing the fish is to cast from a long distance, avoid going over the fish, and place your lure well in front of the fish so that your lure is swimming perpendicular to the direction the fish are swimming.

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hefty side, drift the mid-bay reefs in East Matagorda Bay or fish the Colorado River.

In the bay, live shrimp fished under a popping cork are your best bet. In the river, trout go deep in order to be in slightly warmer water, so try live shrimp at depth. If you can’t get live shrimp, try scented soft plastics, like Gulp.

In December, the tidal movement and wind from the north move water out of the bays, creating low water conditions. Keep this in mind when you go through the Diversion Channel, which only averages about 18 inches of water. Also think about low water and tidal movement when you anchor.

I was fishing near Cotton’s Bayou in West Matagorda Bay when a group of fishermen anchored in shallow water and went wade fishing. They had a great day because the fish were hitting, but when they waded back to their boat to go home, its v-hull was hopelessly buried in the sand. While they were fishing the tide had gone out, so they had to wait until the water level rose enough to get unstuck before heading home.

A transition takes place as the water temperature drops in the month of December.

Early in the month with water temperatures around 65°F, redfish are aggressively feeding on the shorelines, but late in the month PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

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when water temperatures fall close to 50°F, you’ll find the fish in or near deeper water.

Some of the places where I have had good action in late December are the oyster reefs in East Matagorda Bay and on the south side of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) near Live Oak Bayou. I drift fish these reefs in a kayak, but you can also drift them in a boat.

Wade fishing works as well on the sand bottom. Of course when the water is 52°F you have to layer under breathable waders or wear neoprene waders to be comfortable.

Another good place is the diversion channel, just north of the entrance to West Matagorda Bay, which has several cuts that funnel water between the bay and the channel. If you anchor or drift near these cuts, you have the advantage of deep water adjacent to shallow water. This is the kind of terrain that redfish and trout like. They can hunt the shallows when the sun warms the water later in the day, and go back to the deep water when air and water temperatures go down.

Crab Lake, west of Matagorda on the

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north side of the ICW, has a bayou going from the ICW to the lake. This bayou holds fish when the water is cold because it is about four feet deep, and because of its proximity to the ICW. Last December, my wife Janet and I were fishing in a bayou next to a lake, when the air temperature was 50 to 60°F with overcast skies. We started when the tide was outgoing, making the water color brown with only six-inches of visibility, and didn’t get any bites.

Then the tide changed and started coming in strong. Soon the water color changed to green and the visibility changed to 12-inches. I was running my pumpkinseed/ chartreuse Bass Assassin on a 1/16-ounce jig head over a shallow oyster reef when a 30-inch redfish came up from a hole and took the lure. I enjoyed the fight and released the fish.

Janet hooked a 27-inch redfish while fishing from her kayak. She had to do all kinds of twisting and turning to keep up with the fish as it dashed around her, but she landed it, and we kept it for dinner.

Early in December you’ll find redfish on the shorelines and trout over oyster reefs.

Late in the month after the water cools, the best bite will be in or near deep water.

THE BANK BITE FM 521 RIVER PARK: The Colorado River intersects with FM 521 two miles west of Hwy 60. It is a good place to fish for speckled trout in the winter, especially at night under lights. Trout gather in the river when water temperatures drop because at depth the water will be a little warmer.

There are two fishing docks (one of them is wheelchair accessible), picnic tables, and portable rest rooms. The best bait to use is live shrimp if you can find it, but when lights shine on the river at night, small fish are attracted. This brings in the trout and under these circumstances, soft plastic lures work well.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

11/9/15 1:31 PM

UPPER MID Coast Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. CHRIS MARTIN

Behind the Front

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ECAUSE TIDE AND WATER conditions can be ideal this month, it’s not uncommon for anglers to experience several beautiful days of Texas coastal fishing in December.

In fact, a lot of coastal anglers plan to spend time on the water this month because of time-off scheduled to coincide with December’s holiday season. Probably all of us realize at some point that scheduled vacation time means that we’re only going to

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be out on the water on certain days.

These days might be prior to, during, or following the passage of the latest frontal system. Being productive during any of these periods means you need to know what you will face in each situation. Only then will you be able to plan for the worst, and (with luck) experience the best.

Many coastal anglers have had exceptional catches just ahead of strengthening frontal passages. However, fat these times often means facing very strong southerly winds sucked in just ahead of the front. These southerly winds often gust unpredictably, so it is good to be able to position yourself against a protected shoreline in the hours leading up to the arrival of the front.

Whenever fishing during this period, anglers should find out what time of the day the front is expected to roll through their area. That way they can plan accordingly and can be off the water in time for the actual passage of the approaching storm.

Many anglers will choose not to be out in the elements during the actual passage of a frontal system for a number of reasons.

Safety is probably number one on everyone’s list.

Strong fronts this month can present treacherous conditions during the course of their passing. We hear of people losing their boats, as well as their lives as they attempt to make their way home across the open bay during one of these approaching frontal systems. If at all possible, anglers should simply avoid fishing this phase of a frontal passage altogether.

Historically, it has been quite effective for anglers to wait until the front has passed completely before any more fishing.

Are the fish interested immediately following a strong front? Yes, of course. The fish are probably always interested, but not like they are once everything has settled down a bit.

Many old salts prefer fishing the second and third days following a frontal passage— with the third day afterwards being their favorite day. Waiting this long following the T E X A S

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front allows strong winds to subside and will give the sky plenty of time to clear.

Barometric pressure and water temperature changes tell the trout to look for places that offer protection from danger and cover from weather. So, when beginning to search for trout, always look toward leeward shorelines that hold deep green water.

Anglers have had some really nice postfrontal trout catches by concentrating their efforts in some of the natural fish passes found between open-bay reefs and islands.

Other likely spots are in some of the back lake areas where cuts and passes are between four and eight feet deep.

These areas tend to have great water conditions in the calming period that follows the passing of a front. The structure of the bay bottom at these places tends to mostly be mud and silt which is another prime objective of the trout during times of colder weather. Mud is capable of absorbing impressive amounts of warmth from the sunlight and is able to hold that warmth much longer than sand or shell.

Anglers should also look for post-frontal trout and red fish in some of the slightly deeper guts that weave into and out of some of the small coves just adjacent to the main bay systems. These coves can be spectacular target areas for post-frontal trout in December. But, just as soon as the morning sun begins to warm the shallows of these coves, move out of the cove and on to the surrounding area flats that are mostly comprised of grass and mud.

Use a slower than usual retrieve, especially on a deep presentation, regardless of your chosen lure. You may also like to use very lightweight jig heads in December, as well as the rest of the cold-water months to prevent snags. Until next time, tight lines to all!

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

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ROCKPORT Area Hotspot Focus :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

The Gray Wonder of our Texas Bays They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning, No-one you see, is smarter than he, And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder, Flying there—under, under the sea!

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F YOU KNOW THE WORDS TO the above song—and the melody as well, then more than likely you are, shall we say, annually challenged, much like myself. Of course the name “Flipper” ,is well-recognized by most of us and conjures pleasant memories of the bottle-nosed dolphin whose real name was Mitzi, rushing through the water to save the day in whatever harrowing situation the producers of the series Flipper, which aired in the mid 1960s, could conjure up.

It was in fact my mom’s favorite show and God help the person who interrupted her seldom-enjoyed leisure viewing time, for as we all learned, though she be small, she be fierce.

She would sip her iced tea and in her eyes she became a happy little girl as she watched her favorite actor, Mitzi the Dolphin. Mitzi was actually a she not a he and created much fame for herself. She endeared millions to love her species, and the deep affection carries to this day.

Mitzi died at the age of 14 and was buried at the Dolphin Research Center located at mile 59 on the Gulf of Mexico side of the Florida Keys.

Fantastic, great, good, etc. What you ask, does this have to do with fishing? Fast forward to just a few days ago. I found myself with clients drift fishing in one of my favorite trout haunts. The trout were hitting just about anything we would throw in the water. After about eight or so trout in the ice chest one client hollered “Whoa! What the heck just

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happened?”

Turning quickly I anticipated I was going to be performing boat surgery on one of the three gentlemen, fishing for an embedded hook, but that was not the case.

The angler explained “I had a real nice trout on and all of a sudden there was a tremendous pull, and my fish was gone.”

“Hmm,” I said, and I shook my head.

Suddenly off the front of the boat, another angler hollered “And it happened again!

What the hell Capt. Mac?” “We have been discovered!” I said.

“What???” All three anglers looked at me with a VERY unknowing look.

“Flipper is here” I grinned.

“Porpoises are getting our fish off the hook?” asked one of the guys.

“Not exactly,” I said, “but you are close, Bottle-nosed dolphins have in fact set up a dining room and are feeding now at our expense.”

“Oh come on!” was the answer. “You’re telling us it’s a dolphin that’s getting the fish?”

“Yes, I am. Put your rods up guys, and let’s make a move.”

“No way Capt. Mac! I have never had fish bite like this in my life, we can put up with the dolphins, and actually it’s kinda fun.”

“Okay, but I’m not real sure you understand what you’re dealing with here. It will be 10 to 1 for the dolphins.”

“Man, there goes another!” exclaimed the third angler. “Dad gum, that was a REALLY good trout!” He almost tossed his rod in the water, disgusted.

“Capt. Mac,” the spokesperson for the trio said, “I have a plan, let’s all three cast at the same time, that way at least two of us will get a fish in the boat.”

“I don’t think so sir, but if you want to give

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Focus: ROCKPORT it a go, have at it! At the very least it will be a learning experience.”

In perfect harmony, the trio cast, and like clockwork all three baits seemed to be engulfed by the ravenous trout. Reeling like their hair was on fire and their britches were catching, all three were working up a sweat. “!@#$%!” the first said.

Then shortly “!@#$%^&&&*” from the second, followed by “Oh man, he got it (my trout) right here at the boat!” said the third.

Not being a group of guys to be out-done by a cerebrally superior mammal, I had to admire their tenacity. Plan two began.

“Okay,” the spokesperson said. “This time only one will cast, hook the fish and reel as fast as he can.”

“You think you can reel faster than a dolphin which can swim close to 25 mph?”

I asked.

“Just watch!” the angler said.

The trout hammered the live shrimp, and even I was amazed at how fast this guy was reeling. The closer the trout got the more excited he became.

“Get the net! Get the net!” he hollered, laughing.

It was a nice trout, its big old yellow mouth open as the angler made the last move to swing the trout into boat. Then, literally three feet from the edge of the boat, a smiling faced dolphin simply swam out from underneath the boat, grabbed the 23-inch trout and with one swish of its tail was gone.

So far, no fish in the box since the dolphin’s set their dining table here.

“How about it guys, would you like to continue to play against a stacked deck or move on?” I asked.

“For God sakes, that dolphin was waiting under the boat!”

“Yeah, he adjusted his tactic so as not to expend so much energy.”

“Well, what he’s saving I’m losing!” said the amazed and beaten angler. “Let’s get out of here!” he grunted.

Truth is, its almost always more than one dolphin. I have counted, on average, a pod of 5 to 10 when their feasting seems to cause an angler’s fishing famine.

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these wonders of our waters. Most guides will simply move on. Some declare they scare fish away.

Many have tried to beat them at their own game and most have failed. More and more anglers are asking a valid question: “Are there too many dolphins in our Texas bays?”

Pressed for an answer I would say no, but it’s an unsubstantiated answer which needs more data. At the time of this writing, the data seems to be nonexistent.

I have talked to most of the experts, and they all agree more research is needed before we go off halfcocked and make a declaration.

The dolphin population in our coastal waters is not known; there are studies underway but they will need time. Here are a few of the facts I did learn: A captive dolphin weighing 260 lbs. can eat 33 lbs. of fish without gaining weight.

That means a dolphin of that weight will need to consume 10 to 15 trout a day in the 2 to 3 lb. range, just to maintain its weight A dolphin’s sonar is far superior to that of a bat or man’s sonar. They can distinguish, very accurately, shapes, density, movement, texture types of fish/prey as well as the difference between aluminum, brass and steel.

Dolphins communicate via clicks and whistles, which if paralleled is like a human speaking in two voices in two different pitches holding two different conversations all at the same time. Some scientists believe they can stun fish via their high pitched sounds. (I have witnessed these very phenomena in Mesquite Bay.) A single tablespoon of water in a dolphin’s lungs can drown them.

They can and do understand in excess of 60 words, which equates to potentially thousands of sentences.

Folds in the brain, human and otherwise are often an indication of intelligence. The dolphin’s brain folds exceed that of man.

They can distinguish between sweet, sour, bitter and salty tastes.

Dolphins have been used by the Navy for military purposes, trained to hunt humans in the water.

They can’t seem to distinguish the fine fabric and weaving of fishing nets so many are entangled and drown. They also seem to be drawn to the only real threat they have, T E X A S

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which is man. It has been shown they are particularly drawn to children.

In our bays the dolphin has no known predator; their biggest nemesis is of course man. An unfortunate opinion is that boaters need not concern themselves with dolphins, for they are such fantastic swimmers they can get out of the way of motorized boats.

This is absolutely NOT TRUE. Many dolphins are maimed by boat hulls and props; steering away from them is always wise.

Although feeding dolphins can and do scare fish from an area, I believe this is due to the use of their sonar or clicking. Fish that are prey have evolved to flee when they detect this. However, I have had dolphins in the area while fishing and have had pods of them within 10 feet of my boat, and I have still caught fish.

I have also keyed on dolphins to show me where exactly the fish are. If dolphins are feeding, anglers can position themselves fifty to 100 yards away, down-wind and downcurrent of the feeding. Many times you can intercept fleeing game fish. This has worked for me on numerous occasions!

Again are there too many? Do we need to be concerned? The data as of yet is just not there to draw any conclusion. Further, in some areas along our coast, the reverse is true as dolphins are all but nonexistent.

Motivated anglers can get frustrated by them, but I for one still marvel at them. They keep me humble because this fishing guide knows another fishing mammal is in our bays, and he or she is a lot better at catching fish than I ever will be!

Merry Christmas to all!

• • • WE ARE IN OUR FULL WINTER PATterns now and a word of caution: water levels are much lower now, so places you could go just 40 days ago can now be two feet lower.

The average water temperature is between 50 and 60 degrees; which can cause hypothermia within one to two hours. So go slow and know the water depth.

COPANO BAY — Early morning work the edges around Turtle Pen with super spooks in bone and red colors for red fish.

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LOWER Coast Hotspot Focus :: by CALIXTO GONZALES

Snappy Holidays

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INTER IS USUALLY downtime for most offshore fishermen. Few have the resources or the gumption to make the long runs for pelagic fish during a window of fair winter weather.

Not only that, there is no telling how quickly that window will slam shut and leave a boat miles offshore with seas building that promise a rough, harrowing ride home.

Most anglers will either stay inshore and chase redfish and trout, or just go hunting instead. Leave the blue water fishing for spring and summer and into fall. Forget winter.

Fact of the matter is, offshore fishing isn’t dead just because the leaves are. Nor does it mean that you can’t have some truly remarkable fishing. There are plenty of big, stout red snappers for fishermen to chase when seas lie down.

It also doesn’t mean that you have to prepare for an expedition. The thirty-mile, trips out into the Gulf of Mexico, where you fish in depths up to 200-300 feet aren’t necessary to find the crimson reef fish.

Let’s face it, running three hours to get a couple of hours of fishing in before you run three hours back to port—which, late in the summer, as fish move farther and farther off shore, becomes the norm—isn’t always fun.

In this day of Federal limits of two snappers per person, it also becomes impractical for even private boat owners to spent the gas or diesel necessary to get to some of the better reefs and wrecks.

Besides, the pointy-heads in Washington close snapper season for all but a short stretch just after MLB’s All Star Game, so it makes the whole point of a long trip offshore moot.

There is plenty of good fishing for red snapper within Texas’s state waters (within

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nine nautical miles of shore) in December.

The combination near-shore oil and gas drilling rigs, rock piles, wrecks, and holes, plus the rapid slope to deeper water, combine to create a red snapper fishery that is within easy access of both large boats and the “Mosquito Fleet.”

On a calm day, in fact, it isn’t that uncommon to find several bay and flats boats out as far as five miles offshore.

“The great thing about (snapper) fishing in Texas,” said Danny Leal, who has been a hand on a variety of privately owned boats in Port Mansfield, “is that you can make a morning run out to one of a couple of dozen spots north or south of the jetties, catch your state limit of snapper, and be back at the dock before noon. Or, you can catch your snappers to keep the skunk off the boat, if the tuna and kings aren‘t biting. It’s nice to have options like that.”

“A lot of people aren’t even aware of these fish,” said Captain Frank Vazquez (956-642-7040). “They just run right over them headed offshore. We have a lot of good snappers nearby, in shallower water (less than 100 feet).”

“These are fish that are there year around,” Vasquez continued. “Especially in the winter. (Winter) is the best time to fish for them. You have to pick your days, because of the weather, but when you get out there, you’re going to find lots of nice snappers.”

“Nice snappers” usually means fish in the 18-22 inch range, with a few getting even bigger. You won’t find any of the 30 pound sows that inhabit wrecks and reefs farther out in federal waters, but you will get an occasional 20, according to Vasquez.

“That’s plenty big for my clients,” he added.

It may not be as simple as finding a calm day, running three miles out of the Mansfield or Brazos Santiago jetties, and catching a cooler full of snappers, but it isn’t prohibitive for the recreational angler with a good set of electronics to locate some fish.

Many of the local maps that you can find at tackle shops and big box sporting goods outlets list the GPS numbers for some of the

more popular near-offshore spots from the mouth of the Rio Grande to the Padre Island National Seashore. Many of these spots are in between 50 and 70 feet of water and easily within sight of the beach.

The shallower water allows fishermen to shelve the Penn Senator reels and white fiberglass rods and use tackle more reserved for redfish. Vazquez prefers using 20-pound class tackle for these beach-combing snapper. My go-to rigs are usually a seven-foot Shimano Teramar SE casting rod and a Shimano Calcutta 400 loaded with 50-pound Power Pro (another excellent braid is Spiderline’s new Camo Blue braid).

Terminal tackle includes 50-pound leaders, egg sinkers, and 5/0 circle hooks. The sinkers range from one ounce to four ounces if the current is on the strong side.

On one winter trip with Vazquez, my friends Anibal Gorena and David Rutledge, my wife Sandie, and I battled snappers to 22 pounds on trout tackle. In an ambitious moment, I used a seven-foot Joe’s Tackle Custom Rod and a Curado 300 EJ, and those snappers wore me out!

Any finfish will work as bait for up-close snappers. Menhaden is the most available bait this time of year, but you can also use pinfish, whiting, sand trout, or yellowtail perch (those pesky littlie bait stealers that look like white bass). I also had a great deal of success with a six-inch Gulp Curlytail grub pinned on a three-ounce Spro Bucktail, both in chartreuse. Typically, these snappers will be suspended from the bottom to within 20 feet of the surface, so work your bait or lure from the bottom up. If nothing happens, send your rig back down to the bottom and start over.

Chances are, however, if you locate the fish, something will happen before you work for too long.

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Texas HOTSPOTS

UPPER COAST

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.

West Reds Keep Up with Jones

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Jones Bay Shoreline GPS: N 29 18.525, W 94 56.3999 (29.3088, -94.9400)

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CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com TIPS: “The bite is a lot slower in the wintertime.

You may have to grind for them. When it starts cooling down I throw Corkys or MirrOlures.” Capt.

Madsen

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or curly tail Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: “The flounder will be following the ship channel, headed toward the Gulf, heading to the jetty.” Capt. Madswn

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Galveston Ship Channel GPS: N 29 27.814, W 94 50.6149 (29.4636, -94.8436)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Corkys or MirrOlures

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The mouth of Mission Bay on a changing tide is good for reds and black drum using free-lined shrimp. The LBJ fishing pier is good for sheepsheads using cut squid and small kahle hooks.

ARANSAS BAY — The mouth of Turtle Bayou is a good place for trout using soft plastics in new penny and morning glory colors. The jerk shad works well here. The deep water transition edges off Traylor Island are a good place for reds using finger mullet on a light Carolina rig. The pot holes off Mud Island are a good place for trout using live shrimp free-lined.

ST CHARLES BAY — The spoil area between Little Sharp Point and Big Sharp Point is a good place for reds using Berkley 78 |

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Gulp shrimp in new penny and new penny fleck colors. The deep water transition at the mouth of Cavasso Creek is a good place for trout using free-lined live shrimp.

CARLOS BAY — Carlos Trench is the place to be on those cold days. The deeper water affords protection from varying temperatures. Ply the deep water with rattle traps in red chrome and chrome shad colors. Late day as the water temperatures, rise work the shell edges in this same area with free lined shrimp.

MESQUITE BAY — There are still some flounder in Brays Cove. Jig heads in white and chartreuse tipped with shrimp or cut squid work well here. Wades next to Bludworth Island are good for reds using finger mullet free-lined. The new spoil area just off Roddy Island is a good place for sheepshead using peeled free lined shrimp.

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AYERS BAY — The black drum bite is good on the shoreline of Rattlesnake Island.

Peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig works well here. Ayers Reef with a north wind is good for reds and trout using shrimp under a silent cork.

THE BANK BITE AIRPORT: This time of year the shoreline behind the airport on Copano Bay is hard to beat. Bottom rigs like fish finders or Carolina rigs are good here using cut mullet or menhaden. For black drum use peeled shrimp.

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

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Galveston Ship Channel GPS: N 29 30.22, W 94 52.5469 (29.5037, -94.8758)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or curly tail Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: “If you prefer to use lures for flounder, rig up a tandem rig with two curly tail Gulps, or just a Gulp with a lead head.” Capt. Madsen LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal GPS: N 28 40.4519, W 95 53.898 (28.6742, -95.8983)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin and MirrOlure soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Charlie Paradoski 713-725-2401 CharliePGuideService@gmail.com www.captcharlieparadoski.com TIPS: “On the east end of the bay we will be doing a lot of drifting around Raymond Shoals and the Tripod looking for bird action.” Capt Paradoski LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Tripod GPS: N 28 40.392, W 95 55.8 (28.6732, -95.9300)

713-725-2401 CharliePGuideService@gmail.com www.captcharlieparadoski.com TIPS: “Whether the birds will still be working depends on how cold it is in Decmber. Last year we had birds working through Christmas.” Capt.

Paradoski LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Eidelbach Flats GPS: N 28 47.875, W 95 47.37 (28.7979, -95.7895)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Norton Juniors under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com Captaintreyprye.com TIPS: “In the colder months it’s strictly East Matagorda Bay. I have clientele that are soley after the big trout.” Capt. Prye LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Hog Island GPS: N 28 39.16, W 95 52.791

(28.6527, -95.8799)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Norton Juniors with a 1/4 to 3/8 oz. lead head CONTACT: Capt. Trey Prye 281-702-0490 treyscharters@gmail.com Captaintreyprye.com TIPS: “In the deeper water throw a 1/4 to 3/8 oz jig head with your soft plastic. You will be just jigging it up and down.” His biggest trout in December was 10.06 lbs.

LOCATION: Freeport HOTSPOT: San Barnard River GPS: N 29 6.7207, W 95 40.5332 (29.1120, -95.6756)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Small Flies

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin and MirrOlure soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Charlie Paradoski T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS CONTACT: Capt. Leonard Beasley 832-785-8307 lebeasley93@yahoo.com TIPS: Beasley uses a flyrod for redfish. He likes small flies, many that he ties himself. The Bumble and May Flies are favorites, something flashy.

LOCATION: Freeport HOTSPOT: Redfish Bayou GPS: N 28 53.6149, W 95 26.7297 (28.8936, -95.4455)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Small Flies CONTACT: Capt. Leonard Beasley 832-785-8307 lebeasley93@yahoo.com TIPS: From Sargeant to Freeport, there are several marsh areas along the intercoastal which always hold redfish.

LOCATION: Freeport HOTSPOT: Swan Lake GPS: N 28 58.0981, W 95 16.446 (28.9683, -95.2741)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Saltwater Assassins in Texas Roach CONTACT: Capt. Jared Esley 210-508-6470 esley_jared@yahoo.com TIPS: Capt. Esley fishes from a kayak because of the quiet approach he can make. If not using the Saltwater Assassins, he uses Gulp under a popping cork, with an open face spinning reel and rod.

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 21.2719, W 94 43.0909 (29.3545, -94.7182)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or curly tail Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: Madsen uses live finger mullet, rigged Carolina style fishing for flounder.

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: South Jetty GPS: N 29 19.6699, W 94 41.4109 (29.3278, -94.6902)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or curly tail Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: “Boat docks … the flounder will come inside the boat docks and follow the walls.” Capt.

Madsen LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 23.074, W 94 46.194 (29.3846, -94.7699)

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SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet or curly tail Gulp CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: “Look for flats also. Flounder will stack up on flats and scatter out. They can move in and out of deeper water.” Capt. Madsen LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Chocolate Bay Shoreline GPS: N 29 7.797, W 95 9.54 (29.1300, -95.1590)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corky or MirrOlure baits CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-690-6960 joe.madsen18@gmail.com www.facebook.com/joe.madsen.7 TIPS: “I will spend a lot of time wading mud or shell banks. The fish might be holding one side of the reef or top of it, but most of the time when the tide drops, fish will be on one side where there is current.” Capt. Madsen LOCATION: Matagorda HOTSPOT: Colorado River GPS: N 28 40.5419, W 95 58.08 (28.6757, -95.9680)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin and MirrOlure soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Charlie Paradoski 713-725-2401 CharliePGuideService@gmail.com www.captcharlieparadoski.com TIPS: “If we have a lot of rain, it will drive the fish out of the river down into West Matagorda Bay. Run off will not affect East Matagorda Bay.” Capt.

Paradowski LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: East Pass GPS: N 29 59.0269, W 93 46.5619 (29.9838, -93.7760)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics or crab, live shad or mullet CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins

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Texas HOTSPOTS 409-673-9211 9782018@sbcglobal.net www.fshsabinelake.com TIPS: Beisdes the East Pass area, the East Pass Rig is also a good location to find trout.

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Intercoastal Canal GPS: N 28 39.9529, W 96 0.6739 (28.6659, -96.0112)

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Port Aransas Jetties GPS: N 27 51.1099, W 97 3.28 (27.8518, -97.0547)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin and MirrOlure soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Charlie Paradoski 713-725-2401 CharliePGuideService@gmail.com www.captcharlieparadoski.com TIPS: Best colors: Bass Assassin..Roach, plum/ chartreuse and pumpkin seed/green tail. MirrOlure: #808, #21, #28

SPECIES: Bull Redfish BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Go with a live mullet using a 3/8 oz. weight, Caroline rigged.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove GPS: N 27 44.017, W 97 9.747 (27.7336, -97.1625)

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MIDDLE COAST

Can’t Beat Dagger Drum

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Spoons and soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Color and size of spoons: “I only throw copper color which can be hard to find. It’s not really the size and color of spoons, but more the area where they are going to be used. Super grassy, a lighter sppon so it doesn’t sink as fast. Sand pocket and less grass, go with a little heavier spoon.”

Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Wells GPS: N 27 44.764, W 97 11.1409 (27.7461, -97.1857)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Piggy Perch or Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If perch are not available, try free lining live shrimp or pumpkin seed colored plastics. Work around the rigs.” Capt. McPartland

by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Dagger Island GPS: N 27 50.217, W 97 9.967 (27.8370, -97.1661)

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SPECIES: Drum BEST BAITS: Live Finger Mullet or dead shirmp CONTACT: Capt. James Sabo 361-726-5255 tailsupguideservice@gmail.com www.tailsupguideservice.com TIPS: For drum fish edges and channels, sand holes up against wind blown shorelines.

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: South Lake GPS: N 27 53.4589, W 97 5.7889 (27.8910, -97.0965)

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www.tailsupguideservice.com TIPS: Capt. Sabo likes the Jumping Minnow in chartreuse and the Skitter Walk in chartreuse/silver.

In soft plastics, he prefers Down South Lures in chartreuse glitter or Candy Apple with a 1/16 oz. lead head jig.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 95 GPS: N 26 4.08, W 97 9.221 (26.0680, -97.1537)

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LOWER COAST SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live mullet and mud minnows CONTACT: Capt. Levi Price 830.613.1865 captlevi@tstar.net www.thefishtx.com TIPS: “South Bay is a good place because all of the lakes that drain into it. I’m using a pretty small bait with a 3/0 or 4/0 Kahle hook.” Capt. Price LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Morris & Cummins Cut GPS: N 27 53.2851, W 97 6.661 (27.8881, -97.1110)

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Long Bar GPS: N 26 12.164, W 97 15.957 (26.2027, -97.2660)

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SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Live shirmp, Shirmp tail/popping cork, soft plastics in red/white, Tequila Gold.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: If the tide is down, or cooler weather is prevailing, then fish the edges and deeper water. The slower, more methodical retrieve keeps the bait in the fish’s face longer LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Queen Isabela Causeway GPS: N 26 4.97, W 97 12.06 (26.0828, -97.2010)

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SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, crab chunks CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fishing the edges of the Intercoastal Waterway with either live shrimp, or fresh crab, shrimp, or sea lice on a dropper or Carolina Rig works.

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters or soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. James Sabo 361-726-5255 tailsupguideservice@gmail.com

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by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Levi Price 830.613.1865 captlevi@tstar.net www.thefishtx.com TIPS: “If you get a sunny day and can do a lot sight casting, the redfish will come up and lay on the sand,” said Price. He likes the salt/pepper color.

LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Inside Ransom GPS: N 27 52.468, W 97 8.5 (27.8745, -97.1417)

Longing for Laguna Trout

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SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live shirmp, fresh shrimp.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Watch for pods of drum cruising and grubbing akong the bottom. They’re easy to spot because they can really murk up the water. Fish shrimp on a 1/4 ounce jighead and hop it on the bottom.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Bowie Park GPS: N 26 11.541, W 97 10.327 (26.1924, -97.1721)

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SPECIES: Pompano BEST BAITS: Live shirmp, fresh shrimp.

CONTACT: Quick Stop 956-943-1159 TIPS: . Fish two hook rigs with 1 to 2 ounce sinkers (spider weights are best if the surf is sloppy) in the first or second gut (the latter on an outgoing tide) to target all them.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Brownsvile Ship Channel GPS: N 26 2.302, W 97 12.799 (26.0384, -97.2133)

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SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper BEST BAITS: Live bait, cut squid, White bucktails.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581

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Texas HOTSPOTS TIPS: Locate the edges and dropoffs along points in the Ship Channel and fish them with live or dead shrimp on a free-line rig.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Three Islands GPS: N 26 16.95, W 97 14.194 (26.2825, -97.2366)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live bait, gold spoons, soft plastics.

CONTACT: Captain Jimmy Martinez 956-551-9581 TIPS: Fish sof plastics on 1/8 ounce or 1/16 once jigs. If you are having a problem with floating grass try a weedless gold spoon.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Marker 67 GPS: N 26 13.877, W 97 16.178 (26.2313, -97.2696)

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BEST BAITS: Gold Spoons, soft plastics in LSU CONTACT: Captain Jeff Neu 979-942-0164 TIPS: Wade or drift the deep potholes in the area with topwaters, soft plastics, spoons, or your favorite redfish lures to find pods of reds cruising the flats in this area LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N 26 28.149, W 97 23.874 (26.4692, -97.3979)

940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: “December fishing on Lake Fork is normally very good. You can find bass shallow and in deeper water. The shallow water (10 feet or less) can be caught on a white buzz bait where you find lily pad stems still in the water. The Glade and Running Creek areas will be places to find old pads and the

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwaters, soft plastics in LSU, Black/Chartreuse, Gold spoons.

CONTACT: Catpain Jeff Neu 979-942-0164 TIPS: Redfish will be pushing bulges of water in front of them as they cruise around and scaring up small fish and crabs. A live shrimp or finger mullet can be fished under a popping cork, or sightcast into the holes themselves.

PINEY WOODS

SPECIES: Flounder BEST BAITS: Live bait, soft plastics in pearl, Smoke.

CONTACT: Captain Mike Knox 956-243-0039 TIPS: Fish the weedline along the edge of the ICW. Look for cuts into the weeks and sharpshoot into them. Use a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jighead and fish slowly.

Dale Creek Forks Over its Bass

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Dale Creek GPS: N 32 49.932, W 95 33.312 (32.8322, -95.5552)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre @ Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: Marker 151 GPS: N 26 31.89, W 97 23.26 u TAP FOR (26.5315, -97.3877)

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SPECIES: Redfish

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White buzzbait, Texas rigged watermelon red baby brush hog, black/blue jig and trailer, shallow diving shad colored crankbait, chrome Rat-L-Trap, jigging spoon in chrome or white CONTACT: Doug Shampine T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS stems still standing. Once the top water bite has stopped throw a Texas rigged watermelon red baby brush hog in the same areas. As for the deeper areas look for a creek channel like the Running creek area or Burch creek and throw a black/blue jig and trailer along the channel and target the bigger stumps. If you can find grass in the lake (hydrilla) a spinner bait or shallow running shad colored crank bait and or a chrome rattle trap will catch quality bass. The north end or the lake both east side and west side you will find grass growing. Another great area for the deeper bass will be the 515 east and west old road beds that cross the lake. A jigging spoon in chrome or white will work in these areas. Other areas to check will be the end of the long ridge in the mouth of Dale Creek, and the creek channel in Chaney Creek.”

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Creeks and River Channels GPS: N 32 41.844, W 94 5.6159 (32.6974, -94.0936)

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LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake River Channel at the Old 190 Bridge GPS: N 30 48.984, W 95 5.112 u TAP FOR (30.8164, -95.0852)

SPECIES: catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shrimp CONTACT: Sony Kopech 903-592-8221 SKopech@hotmail.com TIPS: Chum as close to the bridge pilings as possible. It is best to chum at least two to three pilings so you can move from one to another and still be fishing over fresh chum. Use a No. 4 treble hook on punch bait or a 3-0 circle hook on large shrimp.

Fish vertically over the chum, keeping your bait about one half one foot off the bottom. Re-chum the area when the action slows.

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Fresh dead shad or live perch CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Carolina rig off the bottom near drop offs in the old river channel.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Main channel GPS: N32 49.6386 W94 40.2366 (32.82731, -94.670610)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, lizards, crank baits CONTACT: Sonny Kopech 903-592-8221 SKopech@hotmail.com TIPS: Use plastic worms or lizards on a Carolina rig and fish the stumps along the edges of the river channel eastward to the long point. Black-Blue,

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch

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Watermelon-Red and Red Shad are good colors to use. Fish deep-diving crank baits around the timber on cloudy mornings.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, umbrella rigs, V&M Pork Shad, V&M Pulse Swim Jigs CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: Bass are usually still on solid feeding/ schooling pattern as they are in November. Usually the colder it gets this time of the year the numbers will decrease a little but the size of bass usually increase. Stick with shad colored baits and fish them in or near the creeks and river channel where you find bunched up shad.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 30 22.974, W 95 34.9259 (30.3829, -95.5821)

(936)291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “The hybrid stripers are in full swing now and this is the time to catch trophy fish and possibly lake record Hybrids. They will be all around the lake on main lake points and humps. The use of electronics is a necessity. Find the schools of shad and you will find the Hybrids. This time of year they will range in the water column from 15 foot to 30 feet. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. Live shad will be the bait of choice but the swim shad will work if you can control the depth.

Good luck and good fishing. Bank Access: Stowaway Marina”

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LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: McDonald’s Area GPS: N 31 45.81, W 93 49.6979 (31.7635, -93.8283)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Slab spoons & Rat-L-Traps for White Bass and shiners and jigs for Crappie.

CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: “My annual Christmas gift to you: two “Hotspot” species in one location. Catch both Crappie and White Bass. December is the time to kill two birds with one stone, or I should say two limits of fish with one rod and two baits in the same relative location. December is a prime month to be fishing on the north-end of the lake for both Crappie and White Bass. The Crappie will be bunched up

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Texas HOTSPOTS on the main lake river channel ledges over planted and natural brush. And, the White bass will be on the channel sandbars. It’s not uncommon to be able to limit out in the same location on both Crappie and White bass by only moving a 100 yards.”

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 18.3359, W 96 10.722 (32.3056, -96.1787)

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LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Pond near discharge GPS: N 29 55.662, W 96 45.054 (29.9277, -96.7509)

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PRAIRIES & LAKES

Liberate Some Palestine Bass

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Flat Creek GPS: N 32 11.7959, W 95 31.0439 (32.1966, -95.5174)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shimmy Shaker in a Blue Herron color, white Top Shelf spinnerbaits, The Big Eye Jig, and Mister new 5” magnum Sin-Sation worm in the Hematoma color CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: At the time of this report, Bass were slow on the North end of the lake due to the dirty water.

Down south, fishing is better. Bass can be found in most of your main lake pockets below the Villages marina. You can find fish in the back of Flat Creek near the Dogwood Ridge point. Fish the pockets early and then move on back into the creek fishing all the drainages and the stumps along the drainages. Purchase any of our lures by e-mailing or calling us.

SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad or rough fish CONTACT: Jason Barber (903) 603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Fish in deep water 25” to 40’ deep and cover lots of water, drifting with big baits and big tackle. Use a drift sock to slow your drift.

LOCATION: Cooper/Chapman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 18.318, W 95 41.13 (33.3053, -95.6855)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Zoom Super Fluke in shad color rigged on a 1 1/2oz jig head CONTACT: Tony Parker’s Guide Service (903)348-1619 tawakonifishing@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/tonyparker.fishingguide TIPS: I will be using a technique called “dead sticking.” This is fishing an artificial lure like you would live bait. I will locate schools of hybrids and white bass in the deepest part of the lake around schools of bait. The fish and baitfish will be suspended in the deeper sections of the lake. Once I find what I am looking for on my electronics I will drop my lure down to the depth where I located the schools of fish. Once I get it down to the right depth I will drift over these schools of fish. The bite will usually be just a thump. Set the hook on any thump you feel. This is one of the best times of the year for big numbers of large fish.

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cj’s Punch bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Old pond right of discharge. Rocks under surface and sandy bottom. Fish 10 foot deep water, near rocks. Tight line here at or near the bottom. Water is cooling this time of year.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Troy’s Ridge GPS: N 30 38.412, W 96 3.2279 (30.6402, -96.0538)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: This water is close to the discharge.

Warmer water for the winter. Also under water stumps. Use tight line on the bottom due to the current.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main lake open flats GPS: N 30 41.598, W 97 21.408 (30.6933, -97.3568)

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SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad on baited jug lines CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell T E X A S

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Texas HOTSPOTS (512) 365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Now is a good time to use jug lines to load up on blue cat fillets. They are biting good out in the open lake areas where shad are concentrated.

Cold rainy weather make for some of the best fishing. Blue cats seem to turn on when miserable weather is going on. They will congregate on windy banks where the shad are being blown in. Find these places and set your jug lines to get some really good catches. I use a #11/0 Mustad Tuna circle hook. When a blue gets one these, they do not get off. The circle hooks rotate to the corner of the mouth of a catfish and easily set into the soft tissue. Good luck and good fishing.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 32 23.014, W 97 42.55 (32.3836, -97.7092)

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SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Jerk baits fished on 3/4 to 1oz jigs in 20 to 30 feet of water.

CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 www.unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Look for bird action to point you to active fish early. Later, look for schools of bait around 20 to 30 feet down on humps and ridges near access to deeper water. Be patient and work your jigs real slow through bait fish schools.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 3.5939, W 96 27.2999 (33.0599, -96.4550)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Crappie: Jigs in black or white and chartreuse or salt and pepper color/White Bass: Slabs and live shad.

CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210

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thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Crappie can be found in 7-18 feet of water around timber or brush. White bass are traveling in groups of 15-25 fish. Concentrate on fishing in 4 - 15 feet of water.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: West Arm GPS: N 33 3.534, W 96 31.3019 (33.0589, -96.5217)

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LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 52.4339, W 95 59.832 (32.8739, -95.9972)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad CONTACT: Rick Koonce 214-551-2304 rkoonce34@gmail.com www.rickslavonfishing.com TIPS: Use your electronics to find large schools of shad in the standing timber in 15’ to 20’ of water.

Anchor both ends of the boat - this is very important. The bite can be very soft at times or bone jariing at other times. I have personally caught 50# plus Blue cats in this area on rod and reel. So, hold on and good luck.

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Zoom Super fluke in shad color rigged on a 1 1/2oz jig head CONTACT: Tony Parker’s Guide Service (903)348-1619 tawakonifishing@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/tonyparker.fishingguide TIPS: I will be using a technique called “dead sticking.” This is fishing an artificial lure like you would live bait. I will locate schools of hybrids and white bass in the deepest part of the lake around schools of bait. The fish and baitfish will be suspended in the deeper sections of the lake. Once I find what I am looking for on my electronics I will drop my lure down to the depth where I located the schools of fish. Once I get it down to the right depth I will drift over these schools of fish. The bite will usually be just a thump. Set the hook on any thump you feel. This is one of the best times of the year for big numbers of large fish.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Rocky Creek Road bed GPS: N 30 18.522, W 96 33.39 (30.3087, -96.5565)

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East GPS: N 33 51.888, W 96 49.83 (33.8648, -96.8305)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait, Liver CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: 15-18 foot water. Fish frequent this area during the winter. Fish tight lines, putting out more than one rod. White bass as well as catfish are here in winter months.

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Road Runner and Sassy Shad jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “Few anglers know how good fishing is in December. Cool water temperatures make the fish go into a feeding frenzy. Large fish up to 20 pounds will be on the prowl.

4 to 6 inch Sassy Shad on a 1-ounce jighead will work the best. Texoma’s stripers prefer white glow and chartreuse colors. Road Runner 1 ounce jigs with a 7-inch worm are deadly on the big fish holding on structure. Fish the main lake points, mouths

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Texas HOTSPOTS of creeks and humps near deep water. Always keep your eyes on the seagulls. Large schools of stripers can be under the birds. Bank Access: Juniper Point East LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Big Rock Ledge GPS: N 31 53.52, W 97 22.794 (31.8920, -97.3799)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: 2 OZ Flutter jigs or slabs and 1/2 oz Stripaholic lead heads with chartreuse swim baits, white or chartreuse from www.rsrlures.com.

CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: The flood has left lake Whitney in great shape. We had an awesome spawn on everything and there is bait fish all over the lake. High survival rates on the striper stockings have us in great shape. I am using 2” flutter jigs most days on ledges and edges from 18’ to 30’ of water bouncing them off the bottom or suspended off the bottom.

After the sun comes up, I’m switching to lead heads and swim baits making long casts behind the boat and slow trolling with trolling motor giving a short twitch with the rod tip. Keep a pair of binoculars handy and watch for the Gulls diving pointing the way to fish pushing bait to the surface. When that happens we are making long cast to the bird throwing swim baits to the diving birds and making a medium retrieve back. Now is a great time to be on Lake Whitney.

LOCATION: Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Isle du Bois GPS: N 33 21.9625, W 97 1.4433 (33.3660, -97.0241)

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, jerkbaits, Alabama rigs CONTACT: Dannie Golden - Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999

www.get-bit.com TIPS: December is a month on Ray Roberts where early in the month you can still get some numbers, but as the month goes it will start to slow down.

December is a good month to look for some big fish on Ray Roberts. As in November, there will not be a ton of pressure on the lake. Early in the month a Square bill crankbait is still a good bait to work around the main lake and secondary points. A suspending jerkbait is a must this time of year as well.

I will focus it out a little deeper on the same points.

Make sure you fish it slow, the pause between jerks is very important. Most bites tend to come when the bait is sitting still. The Alabama rig is a good bait to use as well in December, especially later in the month. Points, humps, ridges and brush piles are a good place to work these baits over.

LOCATION: Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 21.3766, W 97 3.2975 (33.3563, -97.0550)

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Bird Hunting for Possum Whites

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Live bait, jigs, slabs CONTACT: Dannie Golden - Get Bit Guide Service 817-228-5999 www.get-bit.com TIPS: December the white bass will still be on a lot of the same spots as in November. They will still be on their deep humps/ridges on the main lake.

Look for them in 30 35 feet of water to start. Out in front of the West side of the dam, there are some good drop offs and ridges. Some big sand bass will set up on these during the winter.

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Windsock Point GPS: N 31 56.586, W 96 7.452 (31.9431, -96.1242)

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SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: 1 oz. RSR Silver Glitter Slab or even a 2oz. Chartruese Jigging Spoon CONTACT: Royce Simmons T E X A S

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903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: “Every December and normally for the remainder of the Winter, Windsock Point will hold quality White Bass and often great big Hybrid Stripers. Fish will relate to the deeper sides ( 30’35’ depths) of the Windsock Point and will normally be on or near the bottom. However, sometimes if you move out into the 50’ water depth, you’ll find hugh schools of suspended fish. I use a 1 oz. RSR Silver Glitter Slab or even a 2oz. Chartruese Jigging Spoon and jig it slowly off the bottom. If the fish are suspended, reel up to the depth they are at and then move the slab very slowly or even just hold it in place. (This is called “”deadsticking””) Keep the drag set loosely on your reel as this is a prime time to hook into a large Hybrid Striper.”

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LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 32 56.337, W 98 25.987 (32.9390, -98.4331)

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, slabs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: The fish have migrated to the north end, waiting for any water flow to com in so they can start their journey up-river. Also, they are fattening up for the run. White bass and hybrids will be mixed together. Watch the gulls, as they will usually put you on fish. Watch from a distance to see if there are cormorant heads popping up in front of the gulls. If we continue to have a warm winter, don’t hesitate to back up mid-lake and look for fish that didn’t migrate to the north end.

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Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Main Lake Creek Banks GPS: N 33 1.71, W 101 6.4619 (33.0285, -101.1077)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shad and crawldad colored crankbaits, green or blue Jigs, shaky heads, jerkbaits CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net http://www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: In December the bass fishing starts to get tough. Some of the bass will still be up the major creeks, such as Gobbler, Ince, Little Grape, Rocky, and Big Grape where crank baits and jerk baits with be the bait of choice. On warm days the bass will hit the shallow steep banks, which Alan Henry has many, many steep banks. Chose the ones where the sun is hitting them directly. It is the time to have a jig or shaky head head on for those steep banks.

Fish slow and maybe you will get one of the big girls to bite.

jjburkeen@gmail.com amistadfishin.com TIPS: Fish the plastic worms and lizards on a Carolina rig with an 18-inch leader and one-quarter ounce weight. Fish the deep pockets in the middle of the draws and creek channels. Fish very slowly and look for a light bite. During the middle of the day, a deep-diving crank bait worked atop the grass in the deeper cuts will work. Let the lures tick the top of the grass beds for best results.

December Hot for Austin Bass

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 21.03, W 97 47.826 (30.3505, -97.7971)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Picasso Double Underspin, Picasso Flashback Rig, V&M Pacemaker Jigs, V&M Wild Lizzie 6.5, V&M Thunder Shad Jr, V&M Ledge Blade, Bass Mafia Boxes, Custom Angle Rods, StormR Cold Weather Gear CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: I consider December bass fishing in Texas the best month and the best weather to catch giants. Picasso Lures have 2 new baits, the Double Underspin and the Flashback. Use a V&M Thunder Shad and Thunder Shad Jr trailer. If there’s wind on the water, I will throw the Picasso Flashback loaded with V&M Thunder Shad Jr’s or The Picasso Double Underspin with a V&M Thunder Shad trailer.

Cloudy or low light conditions I like using non glitter colors and sunny conditions I use some glitter trailers. If there’s no wind, I will go to deeper water and throw a V&M Pacemaker jig or a Texas rigged V&M Wild Lizzie 6.5. I work them very slowly or crawl it to entice those big girls to eat. If I feel the

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Box Canyon GPS: N 29 31.55466, W 101 9.9786 (29.525911, -101.16631)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, lizards, jigs CONTACT: James Burkeen 830-734-9652

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LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Point at Potters Creek GPS: N 29 54.0779, W 98 17.034 (29.9013, -98.2839)

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HILL COUNTRY

BIG BEND

Play Amistad’s Bass in the Box

big fish want a moving bait deep I will tie on a V&M 1oz Ledge Blade with a Thunder Shad trailer and slow roll it across breaks.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “Senko type plastics , Drop Shot, Jewel jigs w/ Net Bait Trailers, Picasso Spinner baits in white/chart 3/8oz, and finesse type presentations. Baby Brush hogs in Red Bug or pumpkin with Charteuse dipped tail.”

CONTACT: KC’S Bassin’ Guide Service 210-823-2153 kandie@gvtc.com www.kcbassinguide.com TIPS: Be sure and fish the point and down the bank line on the left., (Mystic Shore area) and the shore line to the right of the ramp. Weightless senko type plastics work well as well as square billed cranks against the trees and bushes. A great spinning rod is a must this time of year and if you currently do not own a Denali Kovert or Lithium spinning rod, be sure and ask “Santa”” for one.

Cast after cast you will be impressed with the distance and the “non-line twist” issues.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Cranes Mill Point GPS: N 29 54.1679, W 98 17.6879 (29.9028, -98.2948)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Bass Assassin 5’’ Shad Assassin CONTACT: Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: You can find the fish close to the river channel and around the point. Dead sticking the Shad Assassin close to the river channel on a slow drift produces some good catches this time of year.

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11/12/15 3:30 PM

Texas HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: 1st Guadalupe Bend Area GPS: N 29 53.562, W 98 19.35 (29.8927, -98.3225)

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LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Upper end of the Lake GPS: N 30 52.1759, W 98 26.13 (30.8696, -98.4355)

SOUTH TEXAS

Cranks & Spins Take Falcon Bass

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Top water lures, spinnerbaits, square-billed crankbaits, and wacky-rigged worms CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide ServiceBarry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Both bass and crappie are still chasing schools of baitfish, so they are in one place today and another place tomorrow. The cool fronts are becoming more influential on the surface water temperature and can drop several degrees overnight. Game fish respond to prefrontal conditions with feeding frenzies but have lock-jaw with postfrontal conditions. This river bend area has lots of cover and shallows adjacent to deep water.

Crappie, largemouth bass, white bass and stripers frequent this area.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake Coves and Ridges GPS: N 30 48.732, W 98 26.2739 (30.8122, -98.4379)

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad/perch, cut bait, jigs and slabs CONTACT: Ken Miliam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: “Stripers will be on the upper end of the lake. The best bait is live shad or perch or even cut bait. But if you’re into fooling the stripers, jigs and slabs would be best.

White bass will also be in this area thinking about the spawn. So every thing will be looking for something to eat.”

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Colorado Arm Area GPS: N 30 40.53, W 98 24.738 (30.6755, -98.4123)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, small shad-colored topwater lures, small spinnerbaits CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: “Fish top water lures early in mornings scattered all over the lake. This action doesn’t last long so be prepared with small shad colored topwaters and small spinners.

Drift live bait on downwind side of the lake in coves and over ridges as well as near trees later in the morning and afternoon.”

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Top water lures, spinnerbaits, square-billed crankbaits, and wacky-rigged worms CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide ServiceBarry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Both bass and crappie are still chasing schools of baitfish, so they are in one place today and another place tomorrow. The cool fronts are becoming more influential on the surface water temperature and can drop several degrees overnight. Game fish respond to prefrontal conditions with feeding frenzies but have lock-jaw with postfrontal conditions. This area has a good break lines and convenient to shallow water for crowding baitfish against the break. Work slowly moving up and down the break lines while watching for cover and schools of fish holding over the cover on your electronics.

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LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 26 41.166, W 99 10.7759 (26.6861, -99.1796)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, spinner baits and plastics CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-274-4899 outfitterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: Water temperature will be cooling down and the fishing should really improve. Crank baits and spinners should be players but plastics will still be your best bet.

LOCATION: Choke Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 28.518, W 98 21.7739 (28.4753, -98.3629)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits in chartreuse and black patterns CONTACT: Scott Springer 361-274-4899 outfitterscott@yahoo.com TIPS: A few areas have shallow hydrilla, most of it being in the Mason Point area. With the water cooling down more now, fish should be moving into these areas. Also fish secondary points in the Four Fingers area.

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK DECEMBER 2015

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

T13 T7

T6 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

T5

T14 T18

T19

T20

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

T3 T2 T1

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.

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

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.

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.

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

KEYS TO USING THE TIDE AND SOLUNAR GRAPHS TIDE GRAPH:

Yellow: Daylight

Tab: Peak Fishing Period Green: Falling Tide

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

AM/PM Timeline

Light Blue: Nighttime

BEST:

5:30 — 7:30 AM

Gold Fish: Best Time

Blue: Rising Tide Red Graph: Fishing Score

Blue Fish: Good Time

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY:

AM PM MINOR Minor: 1:20a Minor: 1:45p Feeding Periods AM PM (+/- 1.5 Hrs.) Major: 7:32a Major: 7:57p Time Moon is at its Moon Overhead: 8:50a Highest Point in the Sky 12a

AM/PM Timeline

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6a

12p

6p

Moon Underfoot: 9:15p

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MAJOR Feeding Periods (+/- 2 Hrs.)

12a

Time Moon is Directly Underfoot (at its peak on opposite side of the earth)

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SYMBOL KEY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day n = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

Dec 1

WEDNESDAY

2

Sunrise: 6:54a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:55a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:56a Moonrise: 10:15p Set: 10:54a Moonrise: 11:09p Set: 11:35a Moonrise: None

4

3»

FRIDAY

5

SATURDAY

6

Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:57a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:58a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 6:59a Set: 5:20p Set: 12:12p Moonrise: 12:02a Set: 12:48p Moonrise: 12:54a Set: 1:22p Moonrise: 1:45a Set: 1:55p Moonrise: 2:36a Set: 2:30p

AM Minor: 8:58a

PM Minor: 9:23p

AM Minor: 9:51a

PM Minor: 10:15p

AM Minor: 10:40a

PM Minor: 11:02p

AM Minor: 11:25a

PM Minor: 11:46p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:06p

AM Minor: 12:24a

PM Minor: 12:45p

AM Minor: 1:02a

PM Minor: 1:24p

AM Major: 2:45a

PM Major: 3:10p

AM Major: 3:39a

PM Major: 4:03p

AM Major: 4:29a

PM Major: 4:51p

AM Major: 5:14a

PM Major: 5:35p

AM Major: 5:56a

PM Major: 6:17p

AM Major: 6:35a

PM Major: 6:56p

AM Major: 7:13a

PM Major: 7:34p

Moon Overhead: 4:08a 12a

THURSDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:43a

Moon Overhead: 4:57a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 6:27a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:52a

Moon Overhead: 7:10a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Nov 30

TUESDAY

DECEMBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times

Moon Overhead: 8:35a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 4:33p

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 10:00A — 12:00P

Moon Underfoot: 6:49p BEST: 11:00A — 1:00P

Moon Underfoot: 7:31p BEST: 7:30 — 9:30 PM

Moon Underfoot: 8:13p

Moon Underfoot: 8:56p

+2.0

BEST: BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 PM 1:00 — 3:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:05p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:20p

Low Tide 3:27 AM High Tide 4:13 AM Low Tide 1:07 PM High Tide 9:27 PM

1.18 ft Low Tide 1:57 PM 0.12 ft Low Tide 5:38 AM 1.18 ft High Tide 10:07 PM 1.31 ft High Tide 7:52 AM -0.06 ft Low Tide 2:50 PM 1.38 ft High Tide 10:41 PM

0.90 ft 0.93 ft 0.32 ft 1.24 ft

T E X A S

1512 Almanac-DIG.indd 91

Low Tide 6:04 AM High Tide 9:52 AM Low Tide 3:49 PM High Tide 11:09 PM

F I S H

0.75 ft 0.87 ft 0.50 ft 1.19 ft

&

Low Tide 6:29 AM High Tide 11:35 AM Low Tide 4:52 PM High Tide 11:33 PM

G A M E ®

0.59 ft 0.90 ft 0.66 ft 1.16 ft

|

Low Tide 6:52 AM High Tide 1:00 PM Low Tide 5:57 PM High Tide 11:54 PM

0.43 ft Low Tide 7:14 AM 0.98 ft High Tide 2:07 PM 0.79 ft Low Tide 6:55 PM 1.15 ft

D E C E M B E R

2 0 1 5

|

0.28 ft 1.07 ft 0.89 ft

+1.0

0

-1.0

91

11/12/15 3:30 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

SYMBOL KEY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day n = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

7

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

8

DECEMBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

9«

FRIDAY

10 «

SATURDAY

11 l

12 «

13 «

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 1:40a

PM Minor: 2:02p

AM Minor: 2:19a

PM Minor: 2:42p

AM Minor: 3:01a

PM Minor: 3:25p

AM Minor: 3:46a

PM Minor: 4:11p

AM Minor: 4:35a

PM Minor: 5:01p

AM Minor: 5:28a

PM Minor: 5:54p

AM Minor: 6:24a

PM Minor: 6:51p

AM Major: 7:51a

PM Major: 8:13p

AM Major: 8:31a

PM Major: 8:54p

AM Major: 9:13a

PM Major: 9:37p

AM Major: 9:59a

PM Major: 10:24p

AM Major: 10:48a

PM Major: 11:14p

AM Major: 11:11a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 12:11a

PM Major: 12:38p

Moon Overhead: 9:18a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 10:51a

Moon Overhead: 10:04a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 11:40a 12a

6a

12p

Moon Overhead: 1:23p

Moon Overhead: 12:31p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

Sunrise: 7:00a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:00a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:01a Set: 5:20p Sunrise: 7:02a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:02a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:03a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 5:21p Moonrise: 3:28a Set: 3:06p Moonrise: 4:20a Set: 3:44p Moonrise: 5:14a Set: 4:25p Moonrise: 6:08a Set: 5:10p Moonrise: 7:02a Set: 5:59p Moonrise: 7:55a Set: 6:52p Moonrise: 8:46a Set: 7:48p

Moon Overhead: 2:16p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 9:41p

+2.0

BEST: 3:00 — 5:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: None

Moon Underfoot: 12:05a

BEST: BEST: 4:00 — 6:00 AM 5:00 — 7:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 12:57a

BEST: 5:30 — 7:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 1:50a

BEST: 6:00 — 8:00 AM

+2.0

BEST: 6:30 — 8:30 AM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST: 2:30 — 4:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 11:15p

-1.0

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

Moon Underfoot: 10:27p

High Tide 12:14 AM Low Tide 7:38 AM High Tide 3:00 PM Low Tide 7:43 PM

1.15 ft 0.13 ft 1.15 ft 0.97 ft

MONDAY

14

High Tide 12:33 AM Low Tide 8:04 AM High Tide 3:45 PM Low Tide 8:23 PM

1.16 ft 0.00 ft 1.23 ft 1.04 ft

TUESDAY

High Tide 12:53 AM Low Tide 8:32 AM High Tide 4:26 PM Low Tide 8:59 PM

1.18 ft -0.12 ft 1.29 ft 1.08 ft

WEDNESDAY

15

High Tide 1:12 AM Low Tide 9:03 AM High Tide 5:07 PM Low Tide 9:36 PM

1.19 ft -0.22 ft 1.34 ft 1.11 ft

THURSDAY

16

High Tide 1:31 AM Low Tide 9:36 AM High Tide 5:49 PM Low Tide 10:16 PM

1.21 ft -0.30 ft 1.37 ft 1.13 ft

FRIDAY

17

High Tide 1:51 AM Low Tide 10:12 AM High Tide 6:32 PM Low Tide 11:00 PM

1.21 ft -0.36 ft 1.38 ft 1.14 ft

SATURDAY

20

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

PM Minor: 7:49p

AM Minor: 8:22a

PM Minor: 8:48p

AM Minor: 9:20a

PM Minor: 9:46p

AM Minor: 10:16a

PM Minor: 10:42p

AM Minor: 11:10a

PM Minor: 11:36p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:01p

AM Minor: 12:24a

PM Minor: 12:50p

AM Major: 1:09a

PM Major: 1:36p

AM Major: 2:08a

PM Major: 2:35p

AM Major: 3:07a

PM Major: 3:33p

AM Major: 4:03a

PM Major: 4:29p

AM Major: 4:57a

PM Major: 5:23p

AM Major: 5:48a

PM Major: 6:14p

AM Major: 6:37a

PM Major: 7:04p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:55p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 7:31p

Moon Overhead: 6:38p

Moon Overhead: 5:46p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

AM Minor: 7:23a

Moon Overhead: 4:02p

-1.0

1.20 ft -0.38 ft 1.37 ft 1.12 ft

Sunrise: 7:04a Set: 5:21p Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 5:22p Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 5:22p Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 5:22p Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 5:23p Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 5:23p Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 5:24p Moonrise: 9:34a Set: 8:47p Moonrise: 10:20a Set: 9:48p Moonrise: 11:04a Set: 10:50p Moonrise: 11:46a Set: 11:52p Moonrise: 12:28p Set: None Moonrise: 1:10p Set: 12:54a Moonrise: 1:52p Set: 1:57a

Moon Overhead: 3:09p

Moon Overhead: 8:24p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 2:43a

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 4:29a

Moon Underfoot: 5:21a

BEST: 9:00 — 11:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:12a

BEST: 10:00A — 12:00P

Moon Underfoot: 7:04a

BEST: 11:00A — 1:00P

Moon Underfoot: 7:57a

BEST: 11:30P — 1:30A

BEST: 12:00 — 2:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST: 7:00 — 9:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:36a

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

0

SUNDAY

19

18 º

High Tide 2:14 AM Low Tide 10:51 AM High Tide 7:15 PM Low Tide 11:52 PM

+1.0

High Tide 2:44 AM 1.16 ft Low Tide 12:53 AM Low Tide 11:33 AM -0.35 ft High Tide 3:25 AM High Tide 7:57 PM 1.34 ft Low Tide 12:17 PM High Tide 8:36 PM

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

1.05 ft 1.08 ft -0.27 ft 1.29 ft

Low Tide 2:09 AM High Tide 4:38 AM Low Tide 1:04 PM High Tide 9:12 PM

0.93 ft 0.95 ft -0.12 ft 1.22 ft

Low Tide 3:22 AM High Tide 7:05 AM Low Tide 1:56 PM High Tide 9:43 PM

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

KEY

T1

Sabine Bank Lighthouse -1:46

-1:31

Galveston Channel/Bays

T2

Sabine Pass Jetty

-1:26

-1:31

T7

T3

Sabine Pass

-1:00

-1:15

T8

Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass -0:04

-0:25

Galveston Bay, S. Jetty -0:39

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the T4 Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine T5 the adjustment from the time shown for GALVES- T6 TON CHANNEL in the calendars.

Port Bolivar

PLACE

0.75 ft 0.81 ft 0.07 ft 1.16 ft

HIGH

LOW

Low Tide 4:19 AM High Tide 9:28 AM Low Tide 2:54 PM High Tide 10:12 PM

0.51 ft 0.75 ft 0.30 ft 1.10 ft

Low Tide 5:08 AM High Tide 11:27 AM Low Tide 4:04 PM High Tide 10:39 PM

HIGH

LOW

0.23 ft 0.80 ft 0.53 ft 1.07 ft

Low Tide 5:55 AM High Tide 1:05 PM Low Tide 5:27 PM High Tide 11:07 PM

KEY

PLACE

KEY

PLACE

HIGH

LOW

T12

Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay +5:48 +4:43

T18

San Luis Pass

-0.09

-0.09

Texas City Turning Basin+0:33 +0:41

T13

Gilchrist, East Bay

+3:16 +4:18

T19

Freeport Harbor

-0:44

-1:02

Eagle Point

+3:54 +4:15

T14

Jamaica Beach, W. Bay+2:38 +3:31

T20

Pass Cavallo

0:00

-1:20

T9

Clear Lake

+6:05 +6:40

T15

Alligator Point, W. Bay +2:39 +2:33

T21

Aransas Pass

-0:03

-1:31

-1:05

T10

Morgans Point

+10:21 +5:19

T16

Christmas Pt

T22

Padre Island (So. End) -0:24

-1:45

+0:14 -0:06

T11

Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39 +5:15

T17

Galveston Pleasure Pier -1:06

T23

Port Isabel

+2:32 +2:31 -1:06

-0.05 ft 0.94 ft 0.73 ft 1.07 ft

+2.0

+1.0

0

-1.0

+1:02 -0:42

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION 92 |

D E C E M B E R

1512 Almanac-DIG.indd 92

2 0 1 5

|

T E X A S

F I S H

&

G A M E ®

11/12/15 3:30 PM

1512 Almanac-DIG.indd 93

11/12/15 3:30 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

SYMBOL KEY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day n = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

22

THURSDAY

23

FRIDAY

24 «

SATURDAY

25 «

26 ¡

27 «

Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 5:24p Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 5:25p Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 5:25p Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:26p Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:26p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:27p Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 2:37p Set: 3:01a Moonrise: 3:25p Set: 4:04a Moonrise: 4:16p Set: 5:07a Moonrise: 5:10p Set: 6:08a Moonrise: 6:06p Set: 7:05a Moonrise: 7:03p Set: 7:58a Moonrise: 8:01p Set: 8:45a AM Minor: 1:11a

PM Minor: 1:39p

AM Minor: 2:00a

PM Minor: 2:28p

AM Minor: 2:50a

PM Minor: 3:18p

AM Minor: 3:42a

PM Minor: 4:11p

AM Minor: 4:37a

PM Minor: 5:05p

AM Minor: 5:34a

PM Minor: 6:01p

AM Minor: 6:31a

PM Minor: 6:57p

AM Major: 7:25a

PM Major: 7:52p

AM Major: 8:14a

PM Major: 8:42p

AM Major: 9:04a

PM Major: 9:32p

AM Major: 9:57a

PM Major: 10:25p

AM Major: 10:51a

PM Major: 11:19p

AM Major: 11:47a

PM Major: -----

AM Major: 12:18a

PM Major: 12:44p

Moon Overhead: 9:19p 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 11:11p

Moon Overhead: 10:14p 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: None

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 1:03a

Moon Overhead: 12:08a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

21

DECEMBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times

Moon Overhead: 1:56a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 8:51a

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 9:30 — 11:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 11:39a

Moon Underfoot: 12:35p

BEST: 10:30A — 12:30P

BEST: 11:00A — 1:00P

Moon Underfoot: 1:30p BEST: 12:00 — 2:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 2:22p

+2.0

BEST: 1:00 — 3:00 AM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST: 8:30 — 10:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 10:43a

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST: 8:00 — 10:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 9:46a

Low Tide 6:42 AM High Tide 2:24 PM Low Tide 6:56 PM High Tide 11:38 PM

94 |

-0.32 ft Low Tide 7:28 AM 1.08 ft High Tide 3:28 PM 0.87 ft Low Tide 8:13 PM 1.09 ft

D E C E M B E R

1512 Almanac-DIG.indd 94

-0.54 ft High Tide 12:13 AM 1.19 ft Low Tide 8:15 AM 0.96 ft High Tide 4:22 PM Low Tide 9:14 PM

2 0 1 5

|

1.11 ft -0.69 ft 1.26 ft 1.01 ft

T E X A S

High Tide 12:53 AM Low Tide 9:01 AM High Tide 5:11 PM Low Tide 10:03 PM

F I S H

&

1.12 ft -0.78 ft 1.27 ft 1.01 ft

High Tide 1:37 AM Low Tide 9:45 AM High Tide 5:55 PM Low Tide 10:47 PM

1.12 ft -0.78 ft 1.25 ft 0.98 ft

High Tide 2:24 AM Low Tide 10:29 AM High Tide 6:36 PM Low Tide 11:31 PM

1.09 ft High Tide 3:12 AM 1.03 ft -0.72 ft Low Tide 11:12 AM -0.61 ft 1.20 ft High Tide 7:14 PM 1.13 ft 0.93 ft

+1.0

0

-1.0

G A M E ®

11/12/15 3:30 PM

SYMBOL KEY

l = New Moon º = First Quarter l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter « = Good Day n = Best Day SUNDAY

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION BEST:

7:45-9:40 AM

= Peak Fishing Period

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

Fishing Day’s Best 2nd Score Graph Score Best

MONDAY

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

30

FRIDAY

Dec 31

Jan 1

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:28p Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:28p Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:29p Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:30p Sunrise: 7:13a Moonrise: 8:57p Set: 9:29a Moonrise: 9:51p Set: 10:09a Moonrise: 10:44p Set: 10:45a Moonrise: 11:36p Set: 11:20a Moonrise: None

3

Set: 5:30p Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:31p Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:32p Set: 11:54a Moonrise: 12:27a Set: 12:28p Moonrise: 1:18a Set: 1:03p

AM Minor: 7:27a

PM Minor: 7:51p

AM Minor: 8:20a

PM Minor: 8:44p

AM Minor: 9:11a

PM Minor: 9:34p

AM Minor: 9:59a

PM Minor: 10:21p

AM Minor: 10:45a

PM Minor: 11:06p

AM Minor: 11:27a

PM Minor: 11:49p

AM Minor: -----

PM Minor: 12:09p

AM Major: 1:14a

PM Major: 1:39p

AM Major: 2:09a

PM Major: 2:32p

AM Major: 3:00a

PM Major: 3:23p

AM Major: 3:49a

PM Major: 4:10p

AM Major: 4:34a

PM Major: 4:55p

AM Major: 5:17a

PM Major: 5:38p

AM Major: 5:58a

PM Major: 6:20p

Moon Overhead: 2:47a 12a

2

SATURDAY

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 4:21a

Moon Overhead: 3:35a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 5:05a 12a

6a

12p

6p

Moon Overhead: 6:30a

Moon Overhead: 5:47a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY

WEDNESDAY

29

28 «

DECEMBER 2015

Tides and Prime Times

Moon Overhead: 7:13a 12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

FEET

FEET

Moon Underfoot: 3:11p

+2.0

-1.0

BEST: 4:00 — 6:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 5:26p BEST: 4:30 — 6:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 6:09p BEST: 5:00 — 6:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 6:51p BEST: 6:00 — 8:00 PM

Moon Underfoot: 7:35p

+2.0

BEST: 7:00 — 9:00 PM

TIDE LEVELS

0

BEST: 3:30 — 5:30 AM

Moon Underfoot: 4:43p

TIDE LEVELS

+1.0

BEST: 3:00 — 5:00 AM

Moon Underfoot: 3:58p

Low Tide 12:20 AM High Tide 4:03 AM Low Tide 11:52 AM High Tide 7:51 PM

1512 Almanac-DIG.indd 95

0.85 ft 0.94 ft -0.45 ft 1.06 ft

Low Tide 1:19 AM High Tide 5:00 AM Low Tide 12:31 PM High Tide 8:24 PM

0.75 ft 0.83 ft -0.27 ft 0.99 ft

Low Tide 2:28 AM High Tide 6:12 AM Low Tide 1:08 PM High Tide 8:55 PM

0.64 ft 0.71 ft -0.07 ft 0.93 ft

Low Tide 3:40 AM High Tide 7:44 AM Low Tide 1:44 PM High Tide 9:32 PM

0.50 ft 0.60 ft 0.13 ft 0.89 ft

Low Tide 4:47 AM High Tide 9:27 AM Low Tide 2:27 PM High Tide 9:58 PM

0.38 ft 0.55 ft 0.29 ft 0.85 ft

Low Tide 5:28 AM High Tide 11:18 AM Low Tide 3:09 PM High Tide 10:22 PM

0.22 ft 0.58 ft 0.47 ft 0.84 ft

Low Tide 6:01 AM High Tide 12:59 PM Low Tide 4:06 PM High Tide 10:44 PM

0.07 ft 0.66 ft 0.62 ft 0.84 ft

+1.0

0

-1.0

11/12/15 3:30 PM

Texas TASTED

by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Venison Chili

T

HERE ARE MANY WAYS TO cook venison. This chili recipe will warm you up on a cold winter day and makes for great football game day food as well. This is great on the day you prepare it, but I think it’s twice as good the next day, it freezes well too.

Ingredients 2 lbs. “chili grind ” beef chuck roast 1 lb. backstrap- cubed in 3/4 inch pieces, you can use top of round instead if so desired.

Bag #1 4 tbs chili powder-(Dark Ancho, It’s rich in flavor)*Substitution shown at bottom 3 cloves of garlic 1 medium white onion 1/2 tsp-black pepper 1/2 tsp-salt 1/2 tsp-Cayenne pepper For a milder flavor use 2 dried ancho peppers and 1 dried New Mexico Red instead of the powder .Remove The stems and seeds, chop coarsely and boil for 15 to 20 minutes in 3/4 cup of water, then transfer all to food processor and blend into a paste.

Then add to recipe.

Bag #2 3 tbs Texas Gourmet’s Sweet Chipotle Season All 3 tbs-cumin 2 tsp-garlic powder 1/16th tsp-cinnamon 1/2 tsp-oregano leaf 2 Fresh jalapenos—seeded and chopped 96 |

D E C E M B E R

1512 Almanac-DIG.indd 96

2 0 1 5

|

Other Ingredients: 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Swanson Chicken Broth 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Swanson Beef Broth 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) stewed tomatoes 1 can (8 oz.) Hunts “No Salt Added” tomato 1 Knorr Beef Bouillon Cube 1 Tsp light brown sugar 1 beer (bock-style)

Ready to eat – Better next day!

Bon appétit!

Preparation Add “room temperature” meat to a hot cast-iron skillet, brown it until it starts to make its own juice.

Stir continuously, add both cans of broth, and Bag #1. Cook covered at a medium boil for 45 minutes.

T E X A S

F I S H

Uncover and stir every 10 minutes. Add water and beer as needed. Add tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes and add Bag #2.

Add 1 beef bouillon cube. Add 1/2 tsp light brown sugar.

Use the following to season to taste: salt Cayenne pepper – for hot front taste white pepper – for hot front taste brown sugar – for a sweeter taste

&

G A M E ®

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

PHOTO: DPC

11/12/15 3:30 PM

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

LAKE AMISTAD

UPPER TEXAS COAST

MIDDLE TEXAS COAST

DFW METROPLEX

LAKE TEXOMA

HUNTING SOUTH TEXAS

Merry Christmas!

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Statement of ownership, management and circulation 1. Publication title: Texas Fish & Game. 2. Publication number: 7577-70. 3. Filing Date: 10/01/2015. 4. Issue freq: Monthly. 5. No. Issues Annually: 12. 6. Annual subscr. price: $19. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication (not printer): 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032; Contact Person, Roy Neves; Tel, 281-227-3001. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher (not printer): Same.

9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor and managing editor: Publisher, Roy Neves, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032; editor: Chester Moore, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032; managing editor: n/a. 10. Owner: Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co. LLC; Full Name, Ronald A. Ward, Complete Address 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032; Full Name Roy C. Neves, Complete Address 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. 11. Known bondholders, Mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1% or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages of other securities: none. 12. Tax status has not changed during preceding 12 months. 13. Publication title: Texas Fish & Game. 14. Issue date for circulation data below: October 2015. 15. Extent and nature of circulation: Total published Avg. no. copies each issue during preceding 12 mos., 85,004; No. copies of single Issue published nearest to filing date, 103,359. a. Total number of copies (net press run): Avg. no. copies each issue during preceding 12 mos., 50348; No. copies of single Issue published nearest to filing date, 32,912. b. Paid Circulation (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 43,208; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 25,257. (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies): 0. (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS®, Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 6,509; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 7,205; (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS®: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0. c. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 49,864; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 32,602. d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside County Copies included on PS Form 3541: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 147; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 140 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS®: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0. (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 0. e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), and (4)): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 147; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 140. f. Total Distribution (sum 15c and 15e): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 50,011; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 32,912. g. Copies not Distributed: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 337; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 170. h. Total (sum 15f and g): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 50,348; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 32,912. i. Percent paid: (15c divided by 15f times 100) Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 99.82%; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 99.86%. 16. Electronic Copy Circulation a.

Paid Electronic Copies: Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 35,151; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 70,757. b. Total Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 85,004; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 103,499. c. Total Print Distribution (Line 15f) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 85,151; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 103,499. d. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16 b divided by 16c x 100): Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 99.82%; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing, 99.82%. 17. Publication of statement of ownership required. Will be printed in December 2015 issue of this publication 18. Signature and title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner: Roy Neves, publisher, Date 10/1/15

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BASS

FALLOW DEER

San Jacinto County

Bracketville

Raiden Boney, 14, caught this bass in a private pond near Coldspring. The fish is bigger than it looks—Raiden is 6 feet, 6 inches tall!

Christy and Mike Ogles show off Christy’s fallow deer, shot at A.J. Foyt’s ranch at Bracketville.

WHITETAIL McMullen County Eight-year-old Jacob Kraatz shot his first buck, a 6-pointer, with a Remington 7mm-08. He was hunting with his dad Clint Kraatz in McMullen County.

CATFISH Garwood Kassidy Ramirez caught this catfish on a crappie rig while fishing at a private lake in Garwood.

WHITETAIL Shelby County Jamie Denby killed this free ranging 10-point trophy buck in the Sabine National Forest in Shelby County. He was shooting 125-grain NAP Spitfires out of his wife’s Barnett Raptor crossbow.

REDFISH Lower Laguna Madre Juan Barrientos with a 33-1/4 inch and a 32-inch redfish double play caught while fishing the lower Laguna Madre.

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MAIL TO: TFG PHOTOS 1745 Greens Rd, Houston TX 77032 NOTE: Print photos can not be returned.

EMAIL: photos@FishGame.com

For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

WHITETAIL

No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

REDFISH

Blanco County

Bolivar

Ten-year-old Travis Gully shot this buck on opening weekend of the youth hunting season in Blanco County.

Mark Abbott caught this 27-inch redfish while fishing in the Bolivar Pocket.

REDFISH Seabrook Seven-year-old Khloe Christopher was assisted by her nine-year-old big brother Kaison Christopher with catching her first redfish. Keep your eyes out for this dynamic duo in the waters around Clear Lake.

REDFISH Port O’Connor Kevin Fishbeck and his dad, Harvey Fishbeck, caught this 38-inch redfish while fishing in Port O’Connor.

BLACK DRUM JAVELINA

Arroyo City

Eagle Pass Five-year-old Boek Duffy with his first kill, a javelina he shot while hunting with his dad at the family’s deer lease at Eagle Pass.

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Hector G. Guerra caught and released this black drum while fishing near Arroyo City.

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