January 09, 2015 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting by Lone Star Outdoor News

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January 9, 2015

Good and bad

Tough December

Texas deer harvest down, but quality up

Flounder captains report good numbers of juvenile ﬁsh

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

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SLOWER HARVEST, BIGGER BUCKS: The general deer season in North and Central Texas ended Jan. 4, but South Texas hunters are still at it. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Many Texas deer hunters saw a somewhat unfamiliar sight this season — lots of cover due to solid amounts of rainfall and a biggerthan-expected acorn crop in East Texas. Those factors combined to make the overall deer harvest, at least from initial reports, lower than average this season. However, the bucks that were taken were fat, healthy and sported good-sized

racks. “Harvests were a little slower than we would like,” said Gary Calkins, the East Texas department leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “We had a little better acorn crop than we expected and the deer didn’t move to feeders as much. On the ﬂip side, some fantastic bucks were killed. “The lower harvest might actually have a helpful effect for next season because of the better age structure.” Please turn to page 6

Let science prevail By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS Hunters, both international and domestic, will gather January 15-18 at the Dallas Safari Club annual convention, and the club’s fundraising efforts include supporting science-based tools to both preserve lion populations across the African continent and preserve trophy hunting of older male lions. DSC President Chris Hudson recently returned from a trip to Africa, attending conferences for the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), the Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), the Zimbabwean Professional Hunters and Guides Association (ZPHGA) and meeting with wildlife officials from Tanzania at the Regional Summit to Stop Wildlife Crime and Advance Wildlife Conservation. He also met with Saviour Kasukuwere, the Minister of the Environment from Zimbabwe. “The professional hunters were very interested in our efforts on sustainable lion populations and being trained on aging lions in the field,” Hudson said. “The Tanzanian head of tourism has pledged their support, and even the Zimbabwean minister was very open to promoting tourism and sustainable use, saying they needed to make Zimbabwe open to the world’s hunters and end the specter of corruption in the nation.” Tanzanian officials, including Lazaro Nyalandu, the minister of Tanzania Natural Resources and Tourism, were in Dallas earlier in 2014 to solidify their country’s support for trophy hunting and the sustainability of the country’s wildlife resources. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in its proposal to list the African lion as a threatened species, acknowledged the importance of lawful hunting as a tool to help save the species. In its proposal to list the African lion as a threatened species, which could take effect by 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also is proposing a permitting process for the importation of sport-hunted lion trophies, provided they originate from countries with scientifically sound management plans. “I want to be clear that lions are not in trouble because of Please turn to page 7

INSIDE

The flounder limit changed back to five fish per angler on Dec. 15, and midcoast flounder gigging captains say the late fall run has ended. “Actually, it wasn’t all that great,” said Capt. David Dupnik, who guides around Rockport. “I expected a good run. We were only allowed two fish per person until Dec. 15, and it only took an hour or so to gig those.” Dupnik said he has been guiding a long time, and the 2-fish limit has hurt his business, to a point. “It did hurt my business because I ended up running a discounted or free trip,” he said. “Nobody is going to pay full price for two fish. The flip side is that flounder gigging is getting more popular in the summer. More people realize we can gig them during the summer months, so that helps.” Dupnik said the average size of the flounder was about the same as past years — 4 pounds. “Our biggest went 9 1/2 pounds,” he said. “We got a lot of 4-pound fish.” The captain also said he feels the stricter flounder regulations are having a positive impact on the fishery. “They have to be helping,” he said, “because I could go out right now and count hundreds of little fish under 10 inches.” Dupnik said the early cold snaps in November probably contributed to the bigger flounder being gone by mid-December. “I think a lot of those big fish left

Volume 11, Issue 10

HUNTING

VALUE MEANS SURVIVAL: Conservation groups and government ofﬁ cials agree that the hunting of mature, non-pride African lions contributes to the long-term survival of the species. Photo by Joﬁ e Lamprecht.

FISHING

Massive spike

More to spend

Hunter shoots one of the biggest spikes seen in Texas this season. Page 11

Anglers are seeing more money to spend on fishing trips this season thanks to lower gas prices. Page 8

Protein time

Fayette bass

If your season is over or harvest goals are met, now is the time to help your deer herd. Page 5

Anglers catching good numbers of cold-water largemouths at Fayette County Reservoir. Page 8

CONTENTS

Classiﬁeds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table . . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .

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HUNTING

Tale of the tape Tricky scoring for broken tines, bragging to friends By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

EIGHT, NINE OR TEN: Tines broken off at the main beam of a buck raise debates on how many points the deer’s antlers have. For scoring, points less than 1 inch are not counted. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

What does a hunter do when he harvests the buck he has been watching on trail cameras all season in the closing days, only to walk up to his trophy and notice a tine or two broken off clean at the main beam? Besides lamenting on what could have been, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department tells hunters to score and count what the deer legally has for recording purposes. “For Managed Land Deer Permits, the hunter has to record what the buck legally has,” said Steve Lange, head

biologist at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area. “Based on points, if a deer (that was originally an 8-pointer) broke off a point clean at the main beam, we’d have to call that a 7-pointer. If the point still has more than 1-inch coming off the main beam, then he would still be an 8-pointer.” Lange said hunters are the main management tool on the Chaparral and other WMAs, and Lange said he tells hunters to look hard for broken points. “We haven’t seen too many broken tines this year,” he said. “But we have had deer in the past that hunters brought in on

a management hunt (a mature buck with 7-points or less at Chaparral) that had broken tines and a hunter didn’t know it until after he killed the buck. We’d count that as their trophy. “We stand on the letter of the law.” But Lange said for unofﬁcial management purposes, when a hunter shoots a mature 10-pointer with three broken tines, they tend to look at what the buck grew originally. An ofﬁcial Boone and Crockett scorer said the tine doesn’t count on the score sheet, unless you have the broken tine in your possession.

“Basically, as a scorer, I’m just going to skip it,” said Justin Dreibelbis of Texas Big Game Awards and an ofﬁcial scorer. “If the buck has busted his G2 right at the beam, I skip the G2 measurement category and go right to the G3. If you know where the tine was, measuring the circumference is easy — just measure it as if the tine was there.” If the tine has more than one inch coming from the main beam, then it would count as a point in the scoring system. And a new rule change makes it easier for people to score bucks Please turn to page 7

A second chance at a buck

Christmas gift sends young man back to deer blind By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS The gift was more than a surprise. On Christmas morning, Italy hunter Isaac Garcia opened his last present. “It was a big box containing a large bag of sunﬂower seeds, some Big Red and a $25 Walmart gift card,” he said. “My mom said that, unlike the rest of my presents, this one had a theme.” Isaac looked up, without a clue what the gift meant. His father, Albert Garcia Jr., responded with a stern face. “Second chances,” he said. Isaac thought about being selected to hunt with the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation after receiving the top cadet award at last summer’s Bobwhite Brigades camp. Along with his brother, Elijah, who attended the Buckskin Brigades camp the summer before, both brothers had hunted before, but neither had a chance at a buck. He thought about the unsuccessful early December hunt that ended without a chance at a white-tailed buck, with the last morning of the hunt ruined when two immigrants walked past the South Texas feeder, scattering the nearby deer. Not necessarily making things better, his older brother Elijah had brought down a buck during the same weekend hunt. “It took me a few seconds,” Isaac said, “but I

MAKING GOOD: The last Christmas gift for Isaac Garcia was a mystery, even after it was opened. After an unsuccessful deer hunt, a second trip, beginning on Please turn to page 13 Christmas Day, brought better results. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Quail hunting on the upswing at the Chap

PLENTY BIRDY: Quail hunters have reported more success on recent hunts at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area. One hunter ﬂ ushed seven coveys on a half-day hunt. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

The three-day quail hunt at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area near Cotulla brought the best result in years, according to WMA officials. On Friday, January 2, cold and rainy weather conditions didn’t deter the 118 hunters, and they brought in 397 quail for an average of 3.4 birds per hunter. Saturday brought clearing skies, and 145 hunters bagged 451 birds, including two blue quail, for an average of 3.11 birds per hunter, and on Sunday, 75 hunters shot 191 quail, or 2.55 birds per hunter. One hunter reported attending the hunt with his dog the past several years without any success. This season, they saw seven coveys in a half-day of hunting Friday and three coveys on Saturday. — Staff report

Dove season still going

South Zone Dec. 19, 2014 - Jan. 25, 2015

Special White-winged Dove Area Dec. 19, 2014 - Jan. 21, 2015 Check TPWD for more info

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January 9, 2015

Time for protein By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

TIME TO RECOVER: Bucks coming out of the rut need extra protein and fat to combat the rigors of the past month. If your season is over, now is the time to ﬁ ll the feeders and give bucks a leg up to restoring their energy. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

The old buck came into the feeder looking worn down and tired. His big antlers stood atop a head that featured sagging skin, a graying forehead and a thick neck with several scars as evidence of battles during the previous months’ rut. His hipbones were showing and it was obvious the buck hadn’t eaten much in his lustful wanderings of the past four weeks. He needs to put on body fat quickly for the remainder of the winter. Many hunters, ranch managers and landowners see this sight often at the tail end of the rut. But when is the right time to start supplemental feeding for the postrut? Right now, according to wildlife biologists. “Once the rut is over, bucks lose such a large percentage of their body weight,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department South Texas biologist Blaise Korzekwa. “They need help recovering. Natural vegetation is great, but protein supplements with a minimum of 16-percent protein is good — 22 percent is optimal.” Korzekwa said if hunters have reached their harvest goal, put the protein out immediately, but hold off if they still need to harvest deer. “Those deer will become more nocturnal,” he said. “If harvest numbers are met, get it out now to help those deer.” Lance Cote, a wildlife consultant for Mumme’s, said this is the best time of year to get supplemental feed to your herd. “Those bucks get so run-down,” Cote said, “that ranchers want to go with something that has a 16-percent protein content and 3-percent fat. Feed that until antler growth begins in the spring, then switch over to 20-percent protein.” Bobby Deeds, a wildlife specialist for Record Rack, said don’t get enamored with protein percentages. “Protein-wise, a lot of people get locked in on percentages,” he said. “What we’ve found is 16-percent protein works year-round. We’ve got ranches that go back 40 years, and they were feeding 20 percent. We bumped them down to 16-percent protein with 4-percent fat. The fat level will put weight on the deer — it’s all about energy.” Deeds said the quicker bucks get weight back on, the faster their reserves can go toward antler size. “That 20 percent is ingrained in people’s minds,” he said. “You need one feeder per 25 deer on your property with digestible protein. Sixteen percent is ﬁne. Make sure it is a high-energy, low-starch feed. Some feed will have a high-grain content and that equals starch. “That is not good for postrut bucks.”

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Still waiting USFWS urged to approve black rhino permit

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

When Texas hunter Corey Knowlton purchased the right to hunt a Namibian black rhino at the 2014 Dallas Safari Club convention, most assumed the hunt would have taken place by now. But the U.S. government is still deciding whether Knowlton should be allowed to bring home the taxidermy from the hunt. An import permit could be approved or denied any day. “The public comment period has closed and we are now analyzing the comments we received and gathering data from all available sources so we can make our decision based on the best available information,” said Gavin Shire, chief of Public Affairs for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We do not have a timetable for the decision at this time.” Dallas Safari Club is urging the feds to make their decision based on the best available science, not emotional rhetoric. DSC outlined its request in a formal letter submitted during Please turn to page 13

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Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Acorns, natural forage hurt hunters Continued from page 1

Calkins said the average size of buck’s antlers has increased over the past 10 years or so in East Texas. “It’s nice to see the average buck being brought in now is in the 120 to 130 class,” he said. “We didn’t use to see that.” In the Oak Prairie region, TPWD’s David Forrester said the season went well for hunters. “Overall, the harvest was average to below average,” he said. “There wasn’t a lot of movement to feeders because of a good acorn crop, decent rain and good native vegetation. The deer that were harvested had really good antler production. “With good carryover, good rain and good range conditions, it is setting up for a great year next year.” Forrester said antler restrictions in his area have made a difference over the past 15 years, with average score, inside spread and age classes of bucks harvested increasing. “Now, we are seeing bucks harvested throughout the season instead of just the ﬁrst two weeks like we used to see,” he said. In the Hill Country, harvest numbers were better because the acorn crop wasn’t as good as other areas. “Early in the year it was pretty average,” said TPWD biologist Johnny Arrendondo. “People were seeing and harvesting more

deer as the season went on — and the bucks were all very healthy.” Local deer processors throughout the Hill Country reported good numbers and good quality in the deer they were seeing brought in by hunters. In South Texas, the rut is winding down and, with abundant rain falling in many areas, there are plenty of forbs to keep the deer healthy. “It is going great so far,” said biologist Blaise Korzekwa in Pearsall. “The fawn crop was higher than usual, so hunters need to harvest more does this season. There is still lots of cover out there, and there are a lot of forbs coming up, which will help those bucks recover from the rut.” In the Rolling Plains region, TPWD biologist Kathy McGinty said her area saw a decent harvest, but nothing she would call spectacular. “We have better range conditions than we have had, but that isn’t saying too much,” she said. “After going around and talking with hunters and checking meat processors, it looks like this area had an average year. It was much better than 2011, but I still wouldn’t call it a great deer season. The general deer season in North Texas ended Jan. 4, while the season runs through Jan. 18 in South Texas.

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Conservation through hunting Continued from page 1

responsible sport hunting,” said agency Director Dan Ashe. “In fact, the evidence shows that scientifically sound conservation programs that include limited wellmanaged sport hunting can and do contribute to the long-term survival of the species.” “As with many species in Africa, hunting gives lions a tangible value that is irreplaceable in impoverished communities,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. “The precedent is clear: In Africa, when hunting goes away, so does the wildlife.” The agency identified three main threats currently facing African lions: habitat loss, loss of prey base and increased human-lion conflicts. In 2015, DSC is launching a series of special seminars to teach how to field-judge and age African lions. The first seminar, to be held in partnership with Tanzanian wildlife officials, will be in Arusha in April or May. In 2013, DSC began promoting the ideal huntable male lion as “at least 6 years of age and not known to head a pride or be part of

a coalition heading a pride with dependent cubs.” More than 70 major safari operators and industry leaders pledged support, as did the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation. Through education, the partners hope to encourage a more selective harvest. That, in turn, could bolster both the numbers of lions and lion hunters — as well as the overall economic benefits that legal hunting brings to Tanzania. “The first seminar will benefit the professional hunters and guides,” Hudson said. “They are the people in the field. It is similar to an expansion of how we age deer in Texas — what characteristics they have, etc. We want the PHs to have confidence it is a legal lion when making the decision for the client to pull the trigger or not.” Tanzania was the first country to implement a 6-year minimum age for exporting lion trophies. A 2013 amendment to that law allowed the export of younger specimens, but creates a graduated penalty system for shooting lions less than 6 years of age.

If more than one inch ... Continued from page 4

if they see the buck break a tine, or he breaks a tine after the shot and the hunter is able to locate the broken piece of antler. “Boone and Crockett used to not allow any of the broken antler to be counted,” Dreiblebis said. “But now, if you have the tine, and it ﬁts in perfectly on the broken antler, you can now measure it. I believe the change really came from sheep hunters, who shoot a sheep on the side of a mountain, the sheep falls and breaks its horn in a fall.” As far as how to describe the buck to your friends, that is a matter of personal choice. “I guess you tell your friends what you want,” Drieblebis said. “If you shoot an 8-pointer with two broken tines, you could call it a 6-pointer, but I would call it an 8-pointer with two broken tines.”

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FISHING

Bundle up for bass

Largemouths deep at Fayette County Reservoir By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS

CHILLY DAYS, HOT BITE: Anglers at Fayette County Reservoir are ﬁ nding bass in deeper water, and ﬁ shing has been best on the coldest, nastiest days. Photo by LSON.

Scott Eberhard traveled from California to Fayetteville, Texas to see his first grandson six years ago. After experiencing the bass fishing at Fayette County Reservoir, he came to Texas for good. “They literally chewed the paint off of my Lake Fork Tackle spoon this morning,” Eberhard said on January 5. “Then I lost it — I should have retied it. I caught about 30 bass in a few hours.” The 2,400-acre power plant lake near LaGrange is known for its wintertime bass fishing, but this year the deepwater bite is especially good. “I have to spend some time looking around,” said Eberhard, who spent 25 years in the charter fishing business out of San Diego, California. “Anytime you can find a good, steep drop, fish seem to be holding there.” The recent cold fronts have dropped water temperatures to around 57 degrees, sending the fish deeper.

“Most of my fish were between 18 and 23 feet,” Eberhard said. “I have friends fishing drop shots and doing well, but when it is this cold, I like to be moving. If you sit still you’ll freeze — the line guides on my reel kept freezing this morning until about 9 a.m.” Eberhard doesn’t guide much, but he rents his boat to fishermen. He will take people out for a few hours to show them the lake and help them with operating the boat and electronics. Mark Fransen guides on the lake, and said the cold weather has the bass going deep. “It’s touchy depending on the weather,” he said. “I haven’t started a trip before 9 in the past few weeks.” Fransen said the power plant stopped generating recently, and that, combined with cold weather, has dropped the water temperatures into the 50s. “We’re doing a lot of drop-shotting,” he said. “If they’ll eat a spoon, we’ll throw it.” Fishing the lake in these conditions requires two things, Fransen said.

Plenty of clothes and the ability to read a depth finder. “The fish are moving a lot,” he said. “You’ll mark some, but when you come back they’re gone. They aren’t holding steady.” Fransen has been catching fish up to 8 pounds, with the average fish between 3 1/2 and 4 pounds, and the nastiest weather seems to bring better fishing. “It’s a matter of how much clothes you want to wear and how much water you want in your lap,” he said. Although the lake experienced a fish kill in September of 2014 that officials attributed to lake turnover, Fransen doesn’t believe it affected the fishing. “It happened after the LRCA sprayed the reeds, so it affects the guys that only fished the reeds,” he said. “The fish are deep now, last Friday (January 2) I caught 30 fish in 45 minutes.” Scott Eberhard, (909) 744-0935 Mark Fransen, (713) 542-0466

Good for business Gas prices falling, helping guides and anglers By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

PAYING LESS, GETTING MORE: Anglers are fi nding it easier to come up with fi shing funds, and guides are also reaping the benefi ts of cheaper gas on the coast. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Tracker aluminums come with 5-year warranty Tracker Marine Group is announcing a new five-year, bow-to-stern factory warranty covering 2015 Tracker Boats. This 2015 Tracker Boats warranty coverage includes a three-year warranty on the powder-coat finish, factory-installed trolling motor and factory-installed depth finder, a limited lifetime structural and deck warranty, and full coverage during the warranty period with no prorating. In addition, the warranty has provisions for transfer to a second owner. The new five-year warranty coverage offers a one-stop solution, eliminating the need to pursue separate warranties with component manufacturers. The length and comprehensive nature of this coverage make this the best factory warranty in the

Longtime Rockport guide Jay Watkins isn’t changing what he charges on a guide trip just because the price of gasoline is coming down. He’s been around too long to do something like that. “I am probably one of the more expensive guides on the coast,” he said. “I’ve learned that you have to build your business on the guys who aren’t affected by a couple dollars more per gallon. Those are the guys, longterm, that will keep you in business.” Watkins said when a client gets on his boat, he has a full gas tank and will take them to where the fish are — or at least where he thinks they are. “Gas prices right now will allow a lot of Texans to vacation and recreate locally and also allow a larger portion of the population to fish and possibly hire a guide,” he said. “When you are saving $50 or $100 each month in fuel, it allows you to spend on things like fishing in Rockport or Port Mansfield. If those prices hold, you’ll see a big swing in travel and people fishing locally.” Watkins said some guides might be willing to run a little farther, or travel from a place like Corpus Christi and make a run to Baffin Bay, because of the easing of fuel costs. “I don’t adjust price for fuel,” he said. “When gas is low, I make more and save more for when prices go up. Is that going

aluminum fishing boat industry. The new warranty applies to Tracker boats beginning with the 2015 model year; those 2015 model year boats purchased before the new warranty announcement will receive the expanded warranty provisions. “From the early days when we started making aluminum fishing boats, we worked hard to make good quality boats that would provide our customers with years of fun on the water,” said Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine Group. “Now, 36 years later, the quality craftsmanship of every boat we build is at an all-time high. We are very thankful that our customers are satisfied with their boats and continue to reward us with their loyalty. To show how confident we are of the proven quality built into Tracker boats, they are now backed by the best warranty in the business.” — Tracker

on, where guides restrict where they go because of the fuel costs? Probably. (The lower prices) won’t have an adverse affect for the guides and it will have a positive effect for the clients.” Capt. Lee Wehring, president of the Coastal Bend Guides Association, said the lower gas prices won’t affect most of the guides he knows and works with. “Winter business is always slower,” he said. “Not a lot of guides are going out right now. The trips we do pick up, it does help.” Wehring said none of the guides he knows have lowered their rates, mainly because the volatility of the gasoline market won’t allow it. “If they lower their rates one week, and gas shoots back up, they just have to increase them a week later,” he said. “Typically, most guides that will run to the Land Cut or Baffin do it because the client wants to go, not because of gas prices. I’m not sure you’ll see more guides running farther down there, especially if they continue to catch fish near Rockport.” Houston angler Bob Phillips said he might make an extra trip down to the coast this year because of the fuel savings, and it might make him go farther south to Port Mansfield rather than Rockport. “It definitely helps to go a little bit longer for better fishing,” he said. “When it takes $100 to fill up a truck, and now it only takes $60, that is more money for my family to do things like head to the coast and hire a guide in a new area. It gives me a little more freedom, a few more options.”

Jasper Trout Derby free for kids It has become quite a tradition for many kids and families to gather at the Jasper City Park for the annual Trout Derby tournament. Free to enter for kids under 16 years old, the fun for the whole family continues with this year’s event. In the 13 years that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been conducting the Youth Trout Derby, they have given roughly 3,400 children the opportunity to learn how much fun fishing can be. This event started out as an idea of Todd

Driscoll, a TPWD District Fisheries biologist in Jasper. Everybody gets to take five trout. “The first year 150 kids showed up to fish,” TPWD’s Ray Lenderman told the Beaumont Enterprise. “We did very little advertising and did not really know what to expect. It was a learning experience. The next year, I went out to the area schools, newspapers and radio stations and put the word out about this event, and it really paid off. Participation increased to 225 kids. This year’s event will be held Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Jasper City Park. — Beaumont Enterprise

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Coast Guard still catching Mexican poachers The Coast Guard interdicted a Mexican fishing crew poaching in South Texas Monday, December 29. At approximately 10 a.m. Monday, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi sighted a Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, 29 miles offshore of South Padre Island and one mile north of the United States/Mexico maritime border with fishing gear and baitfish on board. The aircrew notified Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders, who diverted a Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boatcrew aboard a 33-foot law enforcement boat. After a nine-mile pursuit, the boatcrew stopped the lancha with four people, baitfish and longline gear aboard. All persons and confiscated gear were turned over to Customs and Border Protection.

South Padre Island ﬁsh biting By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

The ﬁshing around South Padre Island has been good for many anglers recently, especially for black drum, sheepshead, snook and mangrove snapper. According to anglers on popular ﬁshing forums, the bite for sheepshead has been

good around pilings and ship channels on live shrimp, Fishbites and cut bait. Another popular winter species, mangrove snapper, are also being caught in the ship channel on shrimp. The glamour species, seatrout and redfish, have been fair, according to SPI angler Ron Jackson, who spends winters on the island. “It’s winter fishing, so you’re still fighting

the wind and cold water temps on some days,” Jackson said, “but on the nice days, we’ve been catching some nice snapper and lots of black drum, with the occasional redﬁsh and trout. You can deﬁnitely get out and catch enough for a meal, which is about all I really want these days.” Please turn to page 13

Since Oct. 1, the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have detected 78 lanchas, all of which were suspected of poaching in U.S. waters. The Coast Guard has interdicted eight of them. “All of our state and federal boats and aircraft work in a coordinated effort to combat illegal fishing along the United States/ Mexico maritime border,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Allen, chief of law enforcement for Sector Corpus Christi. — USCGS

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Nighttime cats LAKE DUNLAP — Anglers are reporting a good catfish bite at night on rod and reel on the 410-acre lake east of New Braunfels. The cold weather and water temperatures in the mid-50s didn’t deter one pair who ended the night with a 26- and 17-pound blue cat, a 23-pound yellow cat and several channel cats, using live perch, cut perch, cut shad and whole shad. Along with the solid catfish bite, crappie anglers are also catching slabs around 12 feet deep on small jigs and live minnows. The bass fishing has been fair, according to reports, with a few decent fish being caught, mostly while fishing for crappie.

Cold-weather crappie WRIGHT PATMAN — A few brave anglers are finding the crappie at the reservoir southwest of Texarkana. Water temperatures are hovering just below 50 degrees. According to posts on the Texas Fishing Forum, blue and white jigs have been producing near

ALAN HENRY: Water stained; 48–55 degrees; 10.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse jigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair. AMISTAD: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 29.49’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon crankbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on slabs, jigging spoons and lipless crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs, jigging spoons and lipless crankbaits. ATHENS: Water clear; 47–52 degrees; 1.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and jerkbaits in both hard and soft versions. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. BASTROP: Water stained; 62–66 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon and chartreuse soft plastics and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and green tube jigs. BELTON: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 12.58’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastics and lipless crankbaits in coves. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 48–52 degrees; 2.74’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs. White bass are fair. BONHAM: Water stained, 47–51 degrees; 3.26’ low. Largemouth bass are fair along creek channels on crankbaits, spinner baits, soft plastics and jerkbaits. BRAUNIG: Water stained. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Channel catfish are good on chicken livers, shrimp and cut shad. BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 58–62 degrees; 12.45’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on black/ blue jigs, crankbaits, and watermelon soft plastic worms around brush piles in 8–15 feet. Hybrid striper are fair on silver spoons. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies from lighted docks at night.

Crappie are good. BUCHANAN: Water murky; 59–63 degrees; 33.47’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged weightless watermelon/blue flake Whacky Sticks, pumpkin/chartreuse jigs, and smoke/red flake grubs in 4–10 feet. Striped bass are good on Spoiler Shads, jigging Pirk Minnows, and drifting or free lining live bait in 25–40 feet. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live goldfish. CADDO: Water stained; 50–53 degrees; 0.50 high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, bladed jigs and flipping jigs. CALAVERAS: Water stained. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Channel and blue catfish are good on chicken livers, shrimp, and cut shad. CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 12.32’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and stickbaits over flats in 2–10 feet, and on Texasrigged blue flake worms along bluffs. CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 49–52 degrees; 6.23’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and bladed jigs. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 63–67 degrees; 28.14’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon and pumpkinseed soft plastic worms in 12–20 feet. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies. Crappie are slow. COLEMAN: Water clear; 61–65 degrees; 19.17’ low. Largemouth bass are good on tequila sunrise soft plastics, and fair on spinner baits and crankbaits. Hybrid striper are good on blue/white Lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. COLETO CREEK: Water murky; 61 degrees in main lake, 75 degrees at hot water discharge; 4.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on perchcolored lipless crankbaits and spinner baits in 5–10 feet. Channel and blue catfish are fair on trotlines and droplines baited with live perch.

submerged trees in 10 to 15 feet of water. Slow periods, followed by short periods of frantic feeding were reported, and the fishing can be good at any time of day. The largemouth bass bite has been fair, with some coming on Texas-rigged craws and flipping jigs in shallow cover.

Warm-water bass SQUAW CREEK RESERVOIR — Reports from the lake near the nuclear power plant near Glen Rose are good for largemouth bass. The water temperatures at the outlet is 75 degrees, while upriver it drops to 62 degrees. Finding the larger fish is key, as one day they will be hitting top-waters upriver and the next, the fish will all be at depths of 25 feet. Angler David Welcher fishes the lake each weekend and has been finding fish all over the lake, depending on conditions. Patterns that have been working include Texas-rigged soft plastcs, drop-shot finesse rigs and lipless crankbaits. Along with bass, the crappie bite has been decent of late, with fish coming off of structure in 10 to 15 feet of water. Try chartreuse and white jigs and live minnows. — Craig Nyhus

CONROE: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 0.06’ low. Largemouth bass are good on pumpkinseed soft plastics, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits in 15–30 feet. Striped bass are good on green striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. FALCON: Water murky; 59–63 degrees; 27.92’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut bait, liver and shrimp upriver. FAYETTE: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon and plum Carolinarigged finesse worms, and on top-waters over grass. FORK: Water clear; 47–52 degrees; 7.56’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on drop-shot finesse worms, smaller spoons and Carolina rigs. Black and blue flipping jigs along creek channel bends with timber in 6–10’ working, as well. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 47–55 degrees; 17.79’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse Texas rigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on tequila sunrise soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. GRANBURY: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 10.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. Striped bass are fair on chartreuse striper jigs. GRANGER: Water clear; 61–65 degrees; 0.50’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Blue catfish are good on stinkbait in 6–15 feet. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 47–50 degrees; 12.66’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on shaky heads and Flick Shakes. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 57–61 degrees; 0.42’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on bream-colored jigs and metal flake

Brush Hogs around brush piles in 16 feet. HUBBARD CREEK: Water offcolor; 48–53 degrees; 29.61’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. JOE POOL: Water clear; 48–52 degrees; 2.01’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, weightless flukes and soft plastic jerkbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse jigs. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 49–53; degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, bladed jigs and green pumpkin Senkos. Crappie are good on minnows. LBJ: Water stained; 60–64 degrees; 0.32’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on 1/8-oz. buzzbaits, Bleeding Shad lipless crankbaits and wacky-rigged watermelon Whacky Sticks in 2–6 feet. Crappie are good on live minnows over brush piles in 12–15 feet. LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 47–52 degrees; 7.44’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on jerkbaits in Table Rock Shad and football jigs near isolated rocky points on main lake. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 61–65 degrees; 0.47’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on small crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows in creeks. Blue catfish are good on shad. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 49–70 degrees; 1.67’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits in bahama milk pattern along rocky banks and near bean bushes. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on minnows and small crankbaits. Catfish are good on trotlines. MONTICELLO: Water clear; 49–53 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on Texas rigs and finesse jigs. NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 61–65 degrees; 2.10’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White

bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 46–51 degrees; 42.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs and shaky heads. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 47–53 degrees; 25.47’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, drop-shot rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and live minnows. PALESTINE: Water clear; 47–51 degrees; 0.55’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads, weightless Senkos and drop shots around docks. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 48–55 degrees; 14.71’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on dropshot rigs, Texas rigs and jigs. PROCTOR: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 12.67’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/purple soft plastic worms and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on minnows, small lipless crankbaits, and roadrunners. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs in 15 feet. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 47–50 degrees; 10.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and tube jigs. White bass are slow on slabs. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 47–51 degrees; 8.11’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on umbrella rigs and heavy shaky heads near brush piles. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 47–50 degrees; 10.73’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin shaky heads, Senkos and finesse worms. White bass are slow on minnows. SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 2.83’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastics.

■ Saltwater reports: Please turn to

Page 14 White bass are fair on minnows and white striper jigs. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 0.12’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 61–65 degrees; 14.37’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow. SWEETWATER: Water murky; 43–52 degrees; 28.35’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on flutter spoons, Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait. TEXOMA: Water clear; 47–51 degrees; 5.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on suspending jerkbaits and shaky-head worms in green pumpkin and redbug. Crappie are fair on minnows near brush piles. TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 3.50’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red and watermelon gold soft plastics, spinner baits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are fair on chartreuse striper jigs. White bass are slow on minnows, shrimp and stinkbait. TRAVIS: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 57.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crawfish crankbaits, watermelon worms and jigs in 15–40 feet. — TPWD

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January 9, 2015

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The longest spike South Texas hunter connects on an unusual buck

HOW DO YOU SCORE HIM? Wes Wyreck shows off what is likely the biggest spike in the state of Texas this year. Photo by Wes Wyrick.

By Jillian Mock

For Lone Star Outdoor News In Val Verde County in early December, South Texas hunter Wes Wyrick shot the most unusual spike whitetailed deer he has ever seen. The antlers, each approximately 24 inches long, curve gracefully above the deer’s head to form a towering, smooth semicircle. If the length and symmetry weren’t impressive enough, Wyrick estimates the deer to be about 8 years old. All of this adds up to a once-ina-lifetime kill. The buck was considered a spike because

the brow tines were less than one inch, according to official scorers. “I knew I would never see another deer like that,” Wyrick said of the first time he saw the buck’s image captured on a game camera. “I was like, ‘Holy crap, I need to shoot that deer.’” Wyrick has “been hunting since he could walk” and, when he isn’t hunting recreationally with buddy Cody Garrett and loyal dog Newt, he is either studying wildlife at Texas A&M University-Kingsville or working as a gunner for Southwest Texas Helicopters shooting pigs. Needless to say, Wyrick knows a good deer when he

sees one. This particular spike was no easy prize. For one thing, the buck seemed to be completely nocturnal. The game camera regularly snapped pictures of him near a particular feeder but only long after dark — never when Wyrick and Garrett were sitting in the blind. The two friends made trips to the lease whenever they could, but the old deer remained elusive. At one point, trail camera photos showed the spike switched from his regular feeder, throwing off the hunters even more. Regular trips to check the trail cameras plus the ongoing rut was the spike’s undoing. On December 12, the two drove out to the feeder in the middle of the day to check the cameras for the deer’s latest night movements. As he pulled the truck around corner and into full view of the feeder, Wyrick spotted two deer — one female and one male with an unusual antler formation. “Is that him?” Wyrick asked and Garrett quickly pulled out his binoculars to confirm. “Oh man, that’s him!” Garrett said and the two leapt out of the car. By this time, the spike had bounded up a nearby hillside following his fleeing female companion. Wyrick watched as the female moved from the cover of one thicket to another. Anticipating that the male would follow, Wyrick grabbed his gun out of the truck and aimed for the open space. As soon as he lined up the shot, the spike leapt into view and Wyrick squeezed the trigger. “He grew before I got to him!” Wyrick said, as he recalled the excitement after finally shooting the mysterious spike. From the trail camera photos, Wyrick thought the antlers would be about 18 inches long. The actual 24-inch length (totaling 48 2/8) of each beam currently has Wyrick in the lead in three different deer contest’s “Longest Spike” competition. According to the Muy Grande Deer Contest in Freer, the previous longest spike entered in the contest was in 2011, and totaled 32 inches. Most years, the winner is in the 19-inch range for both antlers. While Wyrick won’t know the final outcome until spike season ends on January 18, he likely doesn’t have much to worry about — this will be one tough deer to beat.

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER WARDEN CHASES DRIVER WITH A FAMILIAR FACE Comanche County Game Warden Mike Alexander was checking the park at Lake Proctor where he had seen several large white-tailed bucks the day before. A truck was driving slowly through the park with the windows down but fled at a high rate of speed, running several stop signs, when he saw the warden’s truck. Alexander pursued the suspect down dusty county roads until he lost him at an intersection. However, he recognized the suspect from previous encounters and the judge issued a felony warrant for evading arrest. FISH SELLER STUNG Cameron County Game Warden David Stokes received notification of an individual offering protected fish and shrimp for sale. Stokes made contact with the seller and arranged the purchase of some fish. Cameron County Sgt. Luis Sosa met with the seller at a public parking lot and negotiated the buy of several spotted seatrout and a couple of bags of Gulf shrimp for $100. Shortly after the sale, Stokes and Hidalgo County Game Warden Oscar Jaimez were on scene and apprehended the subject. The wardens seized 29 spotted seatrout (26 undersized), 20 black drum, 28 one-gallon bags of Gulf shrimp and two one-gallon bags of squid. Multiple charges were filed. FORMER EMPLOYEE OF LANDOWNER WOUNDS, LEAVES BUCK A landowner’s former employee was suspected of shooting and wounding a buck from a public roadway. Gregg County Game Warden Todd Long responded and received assistance from the landowner, rancher and neighbors. Long

TRESPASSING FISHERMAN FOUND BY K9; DOG RETRIEVES HIS RODS AND SHIRT Travis County Game Wardens Jeff Hill and Natali Mejia were checking a known fishing area that has issues with trespassers. As they approached the fishing tank, a male subject saw their truck, which he later said he thought was the landowner, and took off running into the wooded area. Hill requested assistance from Travis County Game Warden Christy Vales and K9 partner Ruger to track the evading trespasser. Travis located the subject, who confessed to shooting the deer from the roadway and left the wounded buck in the field when he saw the neighbor approaching and couldn’t get the gate opened. A firearm was seized and charges and restitution are pending. ANTLER RESTRICTIONS IGNORED AT THIS DEER CAMP Limestone County Game Warden Trent Marker was checking deer camps when he discovered four deer that had been shot. None of the deer had been tagged and no harvest logs had been filled out. Three of the deer did not meet the 13-inch required spread. Citations were issued, three deer were seized and restitution was filed. TRAIL THROUGH WOODS LEADS WARDENS TO FEEDER, CLEANING STATION Tyler County Game Wardens Roy Eddins and Brandon Mosley received information that a felon with a firearm killed several deer. The wardens found an ATV trail in the woods behind the subject’s residence and followed the trail onto another piece of property where they observed a corn pile and a

County Game Warden Chris Sanchez was positioned at the subject’s most probable path of escape. Ruger tracked the man and assisted with flushing him out of the wooded area, where Sanchez watched him cross the river and took him into custody. The man said he placed his shirt along the river and hid his fishing rods. Ruger recovered the items and the man was cited for trespassing and fishing without a license.

feeder. The trail also led to a gamecleaning pole directly behind the subject’s house where they found a freshly cleaned carcass and a cooler of meat near the area. After a brief investigation, the resident admitted the deer was his. The wardens also discovered an 8-point buck head near an outbuilding that the subject admitted was his as well. The subject was unable to produce a hunting license and was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, drug paraphernalia and possession of illegally taken whitetailed deer. NOT A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR TODDLER IN VEHICLE After hearing two shots while on patrol, Angelina County Game Warden Tim Walker found a Suburban stopped in the road and a subject walking with a flashlight. The Suburban was occupied by two men, two women and a toddler. Walker and fellow warden Phillip Wood obtained confirmation from each person that the male passenger shot a doe with a pistol belonging to one of the females. In addition, one of the female subjects had an outstanding theft by

check warrant from 1997. Cases pending. SOCIAL MEDIA POST STRIKES AGAIN A tip was received by Grimes County Game Warden Jake Cawthon regarding two illegally taken deer. A group of individuals placed a photo of the deer on a social media site. Cawthon eventually tracked down one of individuals involved in the incident. Cawthon secured a full confession from the individual who shot the two deer and also the names of the other people in the vehicle. Numerous charges are pending. TWO STOLEN RIFLES FOUND, RETURNED TO OWNER A landowner contacted Smith County Game Warden Dustin Dockery after finding two gun cases and clothing on the highline rightof-way. The landowner suspected possible trespassing/hunting may have taken place. After investigating the area and gun cases, two rifles that had been reported stolen in a burglary on October 28 were recovered. The rifles were returned to the rightful owner.

THEY CAN CHECK IF I HAD A LICENSE LAST YEAR? Wood County Game Warden Derek Spitzer caught a subject deer hunting without landowner consent. While questioning the subject, it was learned that he shot an 8-point buck last year. A hunting license check revealed that the subject had not purchased a hunting license since 2002. Cases pending. GROUP JUST TARGET SHOOTING HAS RIFLE, DEAD BUCK The Harris County Sheriff’s Office contacted Harris County Game Wardens Gregg Johnson and Jennifer Weaver for assistance regarding a group of people trespassing with a bow and pellet gun on private property. When the wardens arrived, they interviewed the subjects who said they were just taking the kids in the group to target shoot. After searching the area, the wardens discovered a shotgun, additional pellet gun, rifle and ammo hidden in pine needles. In addition, the wardens found a freshly killed 6-point white-tailed buck. The suspects admitted to hunting without landowner consent and criminal trespassing. Cases pending. SCOUTING WITH A RIFLE IS STILL HUNTING A 6-point buck was found dumped in a ditch. Angelina County Game Warden Tim Walker received a vehicle description of the suspected violator and where he hunted. There, Walker observed a subject dressed in camo with a rifle. Walker requested to see the subject’s hunting license, however, the subject stated he wasn’t hunting; he was scouting. The subject was cited for hunting without a license and no proof of Hunter Education.

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January 9, 2015

Page 13

A big Christmas surprise

No decision

replayed the whole scene in my mind, and replied, ‘Carrizo Springs?’” His father pointed at the box and said, “That’s your travel pack; we leave tonight with your Pops (grandfather Albert Sr.). “Go get packed.” Isaac threw his camo clothes and necessities in his bag and put it in the truck. A few hours later, they were on the road for the six-hour Christmas Day drive. It turned out to be the Christmas gift of the 13-year-old’s lifetime, as the next evening, with his grandfather seated next to him in the deer blind, he made a perfect shot on a buck in the final minutes of daylight.

a public comment period. The letter reiterates the hunt is for a single, aged, nonbreeding male known to charge and kill younger bulls, cows and even calves. This behavior, well-documented in scientific literature, jeopardizes the future of the herd. Since black rhinos are critically endangered, all forms of additive mortality “must be addressed in a manner that adds to stabilization and growth” of remaining populations, wrote Ben Carter, DSC executive director. Carter wrote, “CITES, the leading international scientific authority on trade in endangered species, supports limited rhino hunting as an acceptable conservation tool, as does Photo by Lili Sams the IUCN, the United Nations environmental body that hosts the greatest scientific and management expertise for this species. CITES has granted Namibia an annual export quota of up to five hunter-taken black rhinos, explicitly acknowledging the validity and conservation benefits of limited and regulated hunting, even of a rare species.” On behalf of the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, DSC at its January convention auctioned one of these rhino-hunting licenses. It sold for a record $350,000. If the U.S. government approves the import permit, 100 percent of proceeds will go to Namibia for rhino conservation, research and organized protection from poaching cartels. If the permit is denied, the hunt can be canceled without obligation. In that case, Namibian conservation officials would simply re-sell the rhino-hunting license to a hunter from a different country. Carter said DSC appreciates that some groups oppose sustainableuse approaches to conservation, but added, “However, philosophical sentiment and goodwill are not sufficient to deal with the perilous state of black rhino populations today. The threats to these animals will not disappear should legal hunting be prohibited. But what certainly would disappear is an effective means of raising critical funds for conservation science and law enforcement — as well as an instrument for legally removing individual animals that are limiting growth in rhino numbers.”

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Look for structure Continued from page 9

Capt. Dewitt Thomas said the fishing around the island has been good for this time of year, but the weather has been tough to figure out. “The weather has been variable at best,” Thomas said. “We have had 10 to 15 degree swings in water temperature from one day to the next, and it will be flat calm one minute and blowing a gale the next. However, when we aren’t getting beaten to death, the fishing has been good.” Thomas said he has been targeting snook on the riprap on the south side of the Brownsville Ship Channel. “We have been catching a lot of nice snook,” he said. “And out on PLENTY OF SHEEPSHEAD: Anglers are catching good numbers of the piling-loving sheepsthe little reefs and humps, off to head this month on South Padre Island. Photo by LSON. the side, we have also been picking areas for black and red drum and the occasional trout. up some trout. The sheepshead and mangrove snap“We don’t seem to have as many boats out for this per are also very good on structure and pilings.” time of year that we normally do,” he added. “I don’t Thomas said the winter Texans have descended on know what the reason for that is, but traffic has been the surf, and the action has been good with shrimp very light — unless you want to go fish the surf. Then and cut bait for whiting. you have to deal with the crowds.” “They are pulling in hundreds of pounds of whitThe pier report from Pirates Landing on the island ing,” he said. said anglers were catching good numbers of whiting, Thomas said he has also targeted the Cullen Flats sheepshead and snapper.

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January 9, 2015

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Look for the sun KING RANCH SHORELINE — Trout and redfish are biting, when the sun is out, that is. Guide Ruben Garza said as soon as the sun disappears, the bite slows down. A recent group landed a limit of nice reds along with some good-sized speckled trout using a Kelley Wiggler Ball Tail shad in margarita color on 1/8-ounce jig heads. To contact guide Ruben Garza, call (832) 385-1431.

Reds in the fog SABINE LAKE — The water is a little dirtier than usual in Sabine Lake, but the redfish don’t seem to mind, according to guide Dickie Colburn. “We caught solid slot redfish all morning long and switched to catch-and-release after the first hour or two,” Colburn said, “but while it was fun, they apparently ran the trout off of two spots that had been very good for me lately. We never caught the

NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell. Waders have taken better trout on the Louisiana shoreline on slow–sinking plugs. SOUTH SABINE: Redfish are fair on the edge of the channel on mullet. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on slow–sinking plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on the east shoreline. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. Trout are good while drifting deep bayous in the marsh. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the north shoreline on Corkies and MirrOlures. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair in the mud and shell on MirrOlures and Corkies. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. TEXAS CITY: Redfish are good in Moses Lake on fresh shrimp. Black drum, sheepshead and redfish are fair on the edge of the channel and on shell in shrimp. FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Redfish are fair to good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. Redfish are fair to good at the mouths of drains on scented plastics and shrimp. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on plastics over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal and at the mouths of drains on scented plastics and jigs tipped with shrimp. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the south shoreline in the guts and

Flounder tough Continued from page 1

during the November cold fronts when the water temperature dropped off,” he said. Capt. Rick Hammond, of Nightstalker Guide Service, said his clients have been working hard for their fish. “We worked hard for several more hours, only finding a handful of widely scattered fish,” he said. “We ended with seven nice flounder and two sheepshead by 10:30 p.m. It looks like the flounder run is over for this year, with only a few stragglers left on the flats and fish numbers decreasing by the day. I was hoping that this last cold front would bring a new push of fish, but it looks like almost all the fish have left for the winter. “The weather forecast for the next week looks brutal, with high winds and several strong cold fronts, effectively ending the last of the flounder run.”

New eye in the sky for TPWD game wardens The Texas Game Warden’s unveiled its new Airbus AS350B3e helicopter that will enhance the department’s statewide law enforcement apparatus and assist with its search and rescue and disaster response efforts. The aircraft is outfitted with the latest law enforcement technology and emergency response equipment including a rescue hoist, thermal imager, searchlight, public address system, satellite communication and night vision. Funding for the new aircraft, which was approximately $5 million, was made possible through legislative appropriation during the 83rd Texas Legislative session. “This helicopter is going to be a tremendous asset and force multiplier for the Texas game wardens,” said Col. Craig Hunter, TPWD Law Enforcement director. “We will not only be able to more efficiently move personnel and equipment across the state, but with the addition of the new hoist system, we will be able to better leverage our marine and ground assets to enhance our search and rescue capabilities during times of disaster.” — TPWD

first big trout, but we caught some very decent fish in 5 feet of water and 15 feet of water on usual suspects — Corkys, Maniac Mullets, Softdine XL’s and Tidal Surge split tail mullets. We even found gulls working in the fog.” Water temperatures reached 53.4 degrees. The best colors in the mullet imitation lures were dayglow and pearl chartreuse. To contact guide Dickie Colburn, call (409) 883-0723.

Black drum on the ﬂ ats FLATS AROUND ROCKPORT — Black and red drum are on the move and biting baits that are put in front of them, according to Capt. Jay Nichols. “We have been sight-casting to them both from the boat,” he reported on fishrockport.com. Artificial and dead shrimp have been the best for drum, while wading in 3-4 feet of water has been best for trout. To contact Capt. Jay Nichols, call (361) 813-4120. — Craig Nyhus

bayous. Trout are fair on shell on soft plastics and finger mullet. PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on top-waters over soft mud in waist–deep water in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp and top-waters. Redfish are good at the mouths of drains. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow DOA Shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in California Hole and the Lydia Ann Channel on mullet and shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good on the ledges of the channel on mullet. Sand trout are good on shrimp in the channel. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good in for waders tossing scented baits and Corkies. Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies, Gamblers and soft plas-

tics. Trout are fair to good in the guts along the King Ranch shoreline on Corkies. PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics under a popping cork around grass holes. Trout are fair to good on mud along the edge of the channel on top-waters and twitchbaits. SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. Redfish, black drum and mangrove snapper are fair to good in the channel on shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on soft plastics under popping corks. Redfish are good in the holes and guts on scented plastics and scented baits. — TPWD

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

January 9, 2015

Page 15

TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases Houston 2015 Jan.

A.M. Minor Major

P.M. Minor Major

09 Fri 10Sat 11Sun 12Mon 13Tue 14Wed 15Thu 16Fri 17Sat 18Sun 19Mon 20Tue 21Wed 22Thu 23Fri 24Sat 25Sun 26Mon 27Tue 28Wed

9:15 3:04 10:02 3:52 10:49 4:38 11:34 5:23 ----- 6:08 12:41 6:53 1:25 7:38 2:11 8:24 2:59 9:13 3:50 10:04 4:44 10:58 5:41 11:55 6:40 12:26 7:42 1:28 8:44 2:30 9:44 3:31 10:43 4:30 11:39 5:26 12:08 6:19 12:56 7:09

9:36 3:26 10:24 4:13 11:10 4:59 11:56 5:45 12:19 6:31 1:05 7:16 1:50 8:03 2:38 8:51 3:27 9:41 4:19 10:33 5:13 11:28 6:10 12:25 7:09 12:55 8:10 1:56 9:11 2:57 10:11 3:58 11:09 4:56 ----- 5:52 12:32 6:45 1:22 7:35

Last

Full

First

New

Jan. 13

Jan. 27

Jan. 20

Feb. 3

Solunar Sun times Moon times SUN Rises Sets

8:17 8:17 8:17 8:17 8:17 8:17 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:15 8:15 8:15 8:15 8:14 8:14 8:13 8:13 8:13

6:37 6:38 6:39 6:40 6:41 6:41 6:42 6:43 6:44 6:45 6:46 6:47 6:47 6:48 6:49 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54

MOON Rises Sets

10:54p 10:53a 11:45p 11:26a NoMoon 12:00p 12:36a 12:34p 1:29a 1:10p 2:23a 1:49p 3:19a 2:32p 4:17a 3:20p 5:16a 4:13p 6:14a 5:11p 7:11a 6:14p 8:04a 7:21p 8:53a 8:28p 9:40a 9:35p 10:24a 10:41p 11:07a 11:45p 11:49a NoMoon 12:32p 12:48a 1:15p 1:50a 2:01p 2:49a

Dallas 2015 Jan.

A.M. Minor Major

P.M. Minor Major

09Fri 10Sat 11Sun 12Mon 13Tue 14Wed 15Thu 16Fri 17Sat 18Sun 19Mon 20Tue 21Wed 22Thu 23Fri 24Sat 25Sun 26Mon 27Tue 28Wed

9:21 3:10 10:08 3:58 10:55 4:44 11:40 5:29 12:01 6:14 12:47 6:58 1:31 7:44 2:17 8:30 3:05 9:19 3:55 10:10 4:49 11:04 5:47 ----6:46 12:32 7:48 1:31 8:49 2:36 9:05 3:37 10:49 4:36 11:45 5:32 12:14 6:25 1:02 7:15

9:42 3:31 10:29 4:19 11:16 5:05 ----- 5:51 12:25 6:36 1:10 7:22 1:56 8:09 2:44 8:57 3:33 9:47 4:25 10:39 5:19 11:34 6:16 12:31 7:15 1:01 8:16 2:02 9:17 3:03 10:17 4:04 11:15 5:02 ----- 5:58 12:38 6:51 1:28 7:40

SUN Rises Sets

8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:26 8:25 8:25 8:24 8:24 8:24

6:36 6:37 6:38 6:39 6:40 6:40 6:41 6:42 6:43 6:44 6:45 6:46 6:47 6:48 6:49 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54

MOON Rises Sets

10:58p 11:00a 11:51p 11:33a NoMoon 12:05p 12:43a 12:38p 1:37a 1:13p 2:33a 1:51p 3:30a 2:33p 4:28a 3:20p 5:28a 4:13p 6:26a 5:11p 7:22a 6:15p 8:14a 7:22p 9:03a 8:31p 9:48a 9:39p 10:31a 10:46p 11:12a 11:52p 11:53a NoMoon 12:35p 12:57a 1:17p 1:59a 2:02p 3:00a

San Antonio 2015 Jan. 09Fri 10Sat 11Sun 12Mon 13Tue 14Wed 15Thu 16Fri 17Sat 18Sun 19Mon 20Tue 21Wed 22Thu 23Fri 24Sat 25Sun 26Mon 27Tue 28Wed

A.M. Minor Major 9:27 3:17 10:15 4:04 11:01 4:51 11:47 5:36 12:08 6:21 12:53 7:05 1:38 7:50 2:23 8:37 3:11 9:25 4:02 10:17 4:56 11:11 5:53 ----6:53 12:38 7:54 1:40 8:56 2:42 9:57 3:43 10:56 4:42 11:51 5:38 12:20 6:31 1:08 7:21

P.M. Minor Major 9:49 3:38 10:36 4:25 11:23 5:12 ----- 5:58 12:32 6:43 1:17 7:29 2:03 8:16 2:50 9:04 3:40 9:54 4:31 10:46 5:26 11:40 6:23 12:37 7:22 1:07 8:22 2:08 9:23 3:10 10:24 4:10 11:22 5:09 ----- 6:05 12:44 6:57 1:34 7:47

SUN Rises Sets 8:28 6:50 8:28 6:51 8:28 6:52 8:28 6:53 8:28 6:54 8:28 6:55 8:28 6:55 8:28 6:56 8:28 6:57 8:28 6:58 8:27 6:59 8:27 7:00 8:27 7:00 8:27 7:01 8:26 7:02 8:26 7:03 8:26 7:04 8:25 7:05 8:25 7:06 8:24 7:07

MOON Rises Sets 11:07p 11:05a NoMoon 11:39a NoMoon 12:13p 12:49a 12:47p 1:42a 1:23p 2:36a 2:02p 3:22a 2:45p 4:30a 3:33p 5:28a 4:26p 6:27a 5:25p 7:23a 6:28p 8:16a 7:34p 9:06a 8:41p 9:53a 9:48p 10:37a 10:54p 11:20a NoMoon 12:02p NoMoon 12:45p 1:01a 1:29p 2:02a 2:14p 3:02a

Amarillo 2015 Jan.

09Fri 10Sat 11Sun 12Mon 13Tue 14Wed 15Thu 16Fri 17Sat 18Sun 19Mon 20Tue 21Wed 22Thu 23Fri 24Sat 25Sun 26Mon 27Tue 28Wed

A.M. Minor Major

P.M. Minor Major

9:41 3:30 10:28 4:18 11:15 5:04 ----- 5:49 12:21 6:34 1:07 7:18 1:51 8:04 2:37 8:50 3:25 9:39 4:16 10:30 5:09 11:24 6:07 ----7:06 12:52 8:08 1:54 9:09 2:56 10:10 3:57 11:09 4:56 ----- 5:52 12:34 6:45 1:22 7:35

10:02 3:51 10:49 4:39 11:36 5:25 12:00 6:11 12:45 6:57 1:30 7:42 2:16 8:29 3:04 9:17 3:53 10:07 4:45 10:59 5:39 11:54 6:36 12:51 7:35 1:21 8:36 2:22 9:37 3:23 10:37 4:24 11:35 5:22 12:05 6:18 12:58 7:11 1:48 8:01

SUN Rises Sets

8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:54 8:54 8:54 8:53 8:53 8:53 8:52 8:52 8:51 8:51 8:50 8:49 8:49

6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:55 6:56 6:57 6:58 6:59 7:00 7:01 7:02 7:03 7:04 7:05 7:06 7:07 7:08 7:09

MOON Rises Sets

11:18p 11:22a NoMoon11:54a 12:12a 12:25p 1:05a 12:57p 2:00a 1:32p 2:56a 2:09p 3:54a 2:50p 4:54a 3:36p 5:54a 4:29p 6:52a 5:27p 7:48a 6:31p 8:39a 7:40p 9:27a 8:49p 10:11a 9:59p 10:53a 11:07p 11:33aNoMoon 12:12p 12:14a 12:53p 1:20a 1:34p 2:24a 2:18p 3:25a

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

Sabine Pass, north Date Time Jan 09 12:01 AM Jan 10 1:00 AM Jan 11 2:02 AM Jan 12 2:59 AM Jan 13 3:50 AM Jan 14 4:36 AM Jan 15 5:19 AM Jan 16 6:02 AM Jan 17 6:45 AM Jan 18 7:29 AM Jan 19 12:36 AM Jan 20 1:29 AM Jan 21 2:25 AM Jan 22 3:26 AM Jan 23 4:34 AM

Height 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L 0.2L 0.0L -0.2L -0.4L -0.6L -0.8L -0.9L 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H

Time 4:02 AM 5:06 AM 6:50 AM 9:16 AM 11:11 AM 12:26 PM 1:18 PM 1:59 PM 2:36 PM 3:13 PM 8:14 AM 9:00 AM 9:47 AM 10:35 AM 11:24 AM

Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty

San Luis Pass

Date Time Jan 09 2:16 AM Jan 10 2:57 AM Jan 11 3:41 AM Jan 12 4:29 AM Jan 13 5:17 AM Jan 14 5:58 AM Jan 15 6:32 AM Jan 16 7:03 AM Jan 17 7:37 AM Jan 18 8:17 AM Jan 19 9:05 AM Jan 20 9:57 AM Jan 21 2:23 AM Jan 22 12:09 AM Jan 23 12:48 AM

Freeport Harbor Date Time Jan 09 1:46 AM Jan 10 2:20 AM Jan 11 2:53 AM Jan 12 3:24 AM Jan 13 3:53 AM Jan 14 4:20 AM Jan 15 4:53 AM Jan 16 5:31 AM Jan 17 6:13 AM Jan 18 6:58 AM Jan 19 7:45 AM Jan 20 8:34 AM Jan 21 1:40 AM Jan 22 2:50 AM Jan 23 12:04 AM

Rollover Pass Date Jan 09 Jan 10 Jan 11 Jan 12 Jan 13 Jan 14 Jan 15 Jan 16 Jan 17 Jan 18 Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21 Jan 22 Jan 23

Time 2:49 PM 3:13 PM 7:24 AM 7:54 AM 12:05 AM 12:30 AM 12:58 AM 1:28 AM 2:02 AM 12:24 AM 1:17 AM 2:03 AM 2:45 AM 3:26 AM 4:09 AM

Time Height 11:42 AM -0.2L 12:21 PM 0.0L 1:04 PM 0.2L 1:55 PM 0.4L 3:02 PM 0.5L 4:22 PM 0.7L 5:35 PM 0.8L 6:31 PM 0.8L 7:16 PM 0.8L 7:56 PM 0.8L 3:49 PM 1.3H 4:27 PM 1.3H 5:04 PM 1.2H 5:43 PM 1.2H 6:22 PM 1.1H

Time 7:17 PM 7:51 PM 8:23 PM 8:54 PM 9:22 PM 9:49 PM 10:21 PM 11:01 PM 11:46 PM

Height 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 1.0H 1.1H

8:38 PM 9:23 PM 10:13 PM 11:08 PM

0.8L 0.7L 0.5L 0.4L

Height 0.6L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L 0.0L -0.1L -0.3L -0.6L -0.7L -0.8L 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1H

Time 4:28 AM 5:16 AM 8:04 AM 9:28 AM 11:05 AM 12:14 PM 1:16 PM 2:23 PM 3:09 PM 3:44 PM 8:24 AM 9:17 AM 10:05 AM 10:50 AM 11:38 AM

Height 0.8H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.9H 1H 1.1H 1.3H 1.4H -0.9L -0.9L -0.8L -0.6L -0.4L

Time 12:01 PM 12:39 PM 1:12 PM 1:35 PM 1:50 PM 2:16 PM 5:52 PM 6:36 PM 7:25 PM 8:35 PM 4:17 PM 4:51 PM 5:28 PM 6:09 PM 6:51 PM

Height -0.1L 0L 0.2L 0.4L 0.6L 0.8L 0.9L 0.9L 1.0L 0.9L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H

Time 7:50 PM 8:13 PM 8:16 PM 8:08 PM 8:23 PM 8:45 PM 9:12 PM 10:01 PM 11:16 PM

Height 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.1H

9:32 PM 10:14 PM 10:57 PM 11:46 PM

0.9L 0.7L 0.5L 0.3L

Height 0.4L 0.3L 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L 0.7H 0.5L 0.4L

Time 5:09 AM 6:29 AM 8:32 AM 10:05 AM 9:14 PM 9:04 PM 3:22 PM 4:05 PM 4:36 PM 5:03 PM 5:25 PM 5:43 PM 10:45 AM 3:48 AM 5:01 AM

Height 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H -0.6L 0.7H 0.6 H

Time 12:11 PM 12:45 PM 1:23 PM 2:04 PM

Height 0.0L 0.1L 0.2L 0.3L

Time 8:08 PM 8:32 PM 8:56 PM 9:14 PM

11:40 PM 6:05 PM 11:31 AM 12:19 PM

0.6L 0.8H -0.4L -0.2L

Height 0.7L 0.6L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L 0.0L -0.1L -0.3L -0.5L -0.6L -0.7L -0.8L 1.1H 1.1H 0.7L

Time 4:01 AM 5:07 AM 7:04 AM 9:17 AM 11:02 AM 12:20 PM 1:21 PM 2:11 PM 2:54 PM 3:32 PM 4:07 PM 4:40 PM 9:24 AM 10:16 AM 4:03 AM

Height 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 1.0H 1.2H 1.3H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H 1.6H -0.7L -0.5L 1.0H

Time 11:09 AM 11:51 AM 12:38 PM 1:30 PM 2:31 PM 3:54 PM

Height 0.0L 0.2L 0.4L 0.6L 0.7L 0.9L

11:12 PM 5:13 PM 5:45 PM 11:12 AM

1.0L 1.5H 1.4H -0.3L

Height -0.2L -0.1L 0.2L 0.1L 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7L 0.7L 0.7L 0.7L 0.6L 0.4L

Time 11:15 PM 11:23 PM 9:49 AM 11:51 AM 8:27 AM 9:03 AM 9:41 AM 10:23 AM 11:07 AM 2:41 AM 3:26 AM 4:17 AM 5:15 AM 6:19 AM 7:33 AM

Height 0.7H 0.7H 0.3H 0.2H -0.1L -0.2L -0.4L -0.5L -0.6L 0.8H 0.8 H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H

Time

Height

3:42 PM 4:12 PM 2:16 PM

0.0L 0.1L 0.3H

11:42 PM

0.7H

4:19 PM

0.3L

8:55 PM 9:12 PM 11:51 AM 12:35 PM 1:18 PM 2:01 PM 2:43 PM 3:25 PM

0.7H 0.8H -0.7L -0.7L -0.7L -0.6L -0.5L -0.3L

11:21 PM

0.7L

9:46 PM 10:15 PM 10:33 PM 10:40 PM 10:34 PM 10:32 PM

0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.5H

6:33 PM 7:05 PM

Time 7:11 PM 9:50 PM 7:49 PM 7:57 PM 8:04 PM 8:21 PM

Height 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H

0.8H 0.7H

Height 1.2H 1.6H 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H

11:37 PM

0.9L

6:18 PM

1.2H

Time

Height

Port O’Connor

Date Time Jan 09 1:49 PM Jan 10 2:21 PM Jan 11 2:52 PM Jan 12 5:38 AM Jan 13 6:11 AM Jan 14 6:52 AM Jan 15 7:37 AM Jan 16 8:23 AM Jan 17 9:10 AM Jan 18 9:57 AM Jan 19 10:42 AM Jan 20 11:26 AM Jan 21 1:13 AM Jan 22 2:40 AM Jan 23 4:09 AM

Rockport

Date Time Jan 09 5:32 AM Jan 10 6:25 AM Jan 11 5:14 AM Jan 12 6:31 AM Jan 13 7:19 AM Jan 14 8:01 AM Jan 15 8:44 AM Jan 16 9:29 AM Jan 17 12:00 AM Jan 18 12:36 AM Jan 19 1:18 AM Jan 20 2:05 AM Jan 21 2:57 AM Jan 22 3:52 AM Jan 23 4:56 AM

Port Aransas

Date Time Jan 09 3:35 AM Jan 10 1:18 AM Jan 11 2:27 AM Jan 12 3:21 AM Jan 13 4:06 AM Jan 14 4:45 AM Jan 15 5:21 AM Jan 16 5:55 AM Jan 17 6:31 AM Jan 18 7:09 AM Jan 19 7:49 AM Jan 20 12:06 AM Jan 21 1:13 AM Jan 22 2:22 AM Jan 23 3:35 AM

Height -0.4L -0.3L -0.3L -0.1L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.6L -0.7L -0.7L -0.7L 0.2H 0.1H 0.1H

Time 11:57 PM 11:54 PM 10:21 PM 8:23 AM 8:56 PM 8:42 PM 8:23 PM 8:44 PM 9:32 PM 10:32 PM 11:46 PM

Height 0.1H 0.0H 0.0H -0.1H 0.0H 0.1H 0.1H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H

12:10 PM 12:53 PM 1:34 PM

-0.7L -0.6L -0.5L

Height -0.1H -0.1H -0.2L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.2H

Time 3:02 PM 3:20 PM 7:54 AM 10:33 AM 11:03 PM 11:14 PM 11:33 PM

Height -0.3L -0.3L -0.2H -0.2H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H

10:16 AM 11:05 AM 11:55 AM 12:42 PM 1:26 PM 2:04 PM 2:31 PM

-0.4L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.4L -0.4L -0.4L

Height 0.5H 0.3L 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.2L -0.4L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H

Time 10:46 AM 4:42 AM 6:06 AM 7:46 AM 8:07 PM 8:19 PM 4:23 PM 4:53 PM 4:37 PM 4:38 PM 4:55 PM 8:32 AM 9:16 AM 10:01 AM 10:46 AM

Height -0.2L 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.5H 0.5H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H -0.6L -0.6L -0.5L -0.3L

Time 7:24 PM 7:38 PM 6:00 AM 8:28 AM 7:49 PM 7:33 PM 3:17 PM 3:50 PM 4:26 PM 5:00 PM 5:28 PM 5:49 PM 6:04 PM 10:24 AM 11:14 AM

Height 1.1H 1.1H 0.8H 0.8H 1.0H 1.0H 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H -0.1L 0.1L

South Padre Island Date Time Jan 09 11:14 AM Jan 10 11:45 AM Jan 11 2:40 AM Jan 12 3:13 AM Jan 13 3:47 AM Jan 14 4:21 AM Jan 15 4:59 AM Jan 16 5:39 AM Jan 17 6:23 AM Jan 18 7:09 AM Jan 19 7:57 AM Jan 20 8:45 AM Jan 21 9:34 AM Jan 22 1:54 AM Jan 23 3:30 AM

East Matagorda Date Jan 09 Jan 10 Jan 11 Jan 12 Jan 13 Jan 14 Jan 15 Jan 16 Jan 17 Jan 18 Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21 Jan 22 Jan 23

Time 02:14 PM 12:00 AM 12:25 AM 12:36 AM 06:13 AM 06:28 AM 06:35 AM 07:07 AM 09:05 AM 12:08 AM 12:38 AM 01:08 AM 02:26 AM 03:39 AM 02:20 AM

Height 0.2L 0.3L 0.7L 0.6L 0.4L 0.3L 0.1 0.0L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L 1.2H 1.1H

Height 0.1L 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.3L

Time 03:31 AM 05:08 AM 05:46 AM 03:02 PM 03:55 PM 10:57 PM 11:37 PM 06:24 PM 09:28 AM 09:50 AM 10:17 AM 10:48 AM 11:30 AM 04:25 AM

Height 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.0L -0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.4H

Time

Height

3:08 PM

-0.2L

10:44 PM

-0.1H

Time

Height

11:19 PM 3:28 PM 3:17 PM

-0.1H -0.3L -0.2L

Time 6:22 PM 11:18 AM 11:50 AM 12:18 PM

Height 0.5H -0.1L 0L 0.2L

Time

9:51 PM

Time

Height

0.0H

Height

11:01 PM -0.1H 10:58 PM -0.1H

Time

Height

6:50 PM 7:18 PM 7:45 PM

0.5H 0.5H 0.5H

8:15 PM 9:15 PM 10:26 PM 11:47 PM

0.6L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L

7:24 PM 5:08 PM 5:15 PM 5:27 PM 5:47 PM

0.6L 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.5H

Time

Height

Time

12:16 PM 12:46 PM

0.5L 0.7L

7:51 PM 7:57 PM

1H 1H

10:57 PM 6:18 PM 6:31 PM

1.1L 1.2H 1.1H

11:33 PM

Time

Height

Time

Height

05:41 AM 07:16 AM 01:20 PM 06:20 PM 06:11 PM

0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3L 0.3L

02:29 PM 02:56 PM 05:50 PM 11:46 PM 11:57 PM

0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.3H 0.3H

10:06 PM 07:26 PM

0.4L 0.4H

10:03 PM

0.4L

11:01 PM 01:40 PM

0.4H 0.1L

11:27 PM

0.3H

Texas Coast Tides

Date Time Jan 09 12:54 AM Jan 10 1:27 AM Jan 11 1:59 AM Jan 12 2:35 AM Jan 13 3:24 AM Jan 14 4:33 AM Jan 15 5:24 AM Jan 16 6:04 AM Jan 17 6:44 AM Jan 18 7:30 AM Jan 19 12:15 AM Jan 20 1:21 AM Jan 21 2:40 AM Jan 22 3:43 AM Jan 23 4:41 AM

Height 0.8H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.8H 1.0H 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H -1.0L -1.0L -0.9L -0.7L -0.5L

Page 16

January 9, 2015

LoneOStar Outdoor News

HEROES

Josh Powers harvested a pair of hogs in November.

John Kelley landed this redfish in Port Mansfield with guide Ruben Garza. Austin hunter Bob Ernst shot this buck on Nov. 8 with his .30-06 in Kendall County.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE ■ Want to share hunting and ﬁ shing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com. Highresolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Alex Kimmel, 12, took this javelina at Los Palomas WMA on a TPWD youth draw hunt.

Audrey Koepp took her first aoudad ram on the Twisters Ranch with Nick Steffek.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

January 9, 2015

OUTDOOR PUZZLER ACROSS 1. Fish skin cover 3. A trout species 7. Oxidation on gun parts 8. An animal hideaway 9. An ocean dweller 11. Deer stand locale 13. Anything that attracts fish 15. Pack a day’s catch in this 17. A male Dall 19. Small game 20. The ___ snapper 23. Fish eggs 25. A bear food source 27. A camp stove fuel 28. A valued commercial catch 30. A quail species 33. An aid to the bowman 36. A fish to be

FOR THE TABLE

*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Page 17

By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen Solution on Page 19

37. Part of an antler 39. A wildfowl home 41. Scanning an area for game 43. A saltwater fish 47. To shed feathers 48. A part of this is the pedal 49. Protects the shooting hand DOWN 1. A turkey’s mating walk 2. A batch of newborn 3. A fish basket 4. The male turkey 5. Albino deer are ____ 6. To treat a hide 10. A valued commercial catch 12. A deer lure, scent 14. A shore bird

16. A salmon 18. A game track condition 19. This brings in the catch 21. The female deer 22. Pulls in a fish 24. A very valuable furbearer 26. A type lure 29. Checking freshness of tracks 31. A good breed of gundog 32. A predator 34. Trapped for the pelt 35. A feature of the wild boar 38. A type of tent 40. A fish gill 42. A shooter’s protection, ____ pad 44. To construct a fly lure 45. Letters for a shell grain measurement 46. Code for a type of bullet

Crappie casserole

Chicken-fried duck

Fresh crappie fillets Italian salad dressing Ruffles Potato Chips Shredded cheese Onion Salt Pepper

Filleted duck breasts, no skin Water Milk Flour Garlic salt and pepper Your favorite seasoning Oil Soak duck breasts in fresh water for three days in the refrigerator. Change water several times. After three days, meat should look gray instead of dark red. Beat the breasts with a meat hammer as you would beef. Season flour with garlic salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning to taste. Soak breasts in milk then roll in the flour. Add to heated oil and fry like chicken-fried steak. — backwoodsbound.com

Take your fillets and wash them off, then add salt and pepper. Put them in a 9x13 dish and pour Italian dressing over them. Cut a little onion and place on the fish and crumble some Ruffles and make a layer over the fish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Take the fish out, uncover and put on a layer of shredded cheese. Put back in the oven and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately. — crappieusa.com

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NATIONAL Louisiana hunters busted Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited four Louisiana residents for alleged migratory game bird violations on Dec. 29 in Acadia Parish. Agents cited August Guillory, 30, of Morse, Tyler Boone, 21, of Mermentau, Jason Myers, 35, of Morse, and Trevor Myers, 21, of Morse, with hunting across a public road, wanton waste and intentional concealment of wildlife. Jason and Trevor Myers were also cited for hunting without a residence license. On the evening of Dec. 29, agents received a complaint about shots being fired near a residential area in Morse. Senior Agent Derek Logan responded to the scene and observed Boone and Guillory on an allterrain vehicle in a field with four wounded light geese. The men said they had left other birds and their licenses at their house. When the agent went with the men to retrieve their licenses there were five more light geese at the camp. Upon further investigation, Guillory and Boone admitted that Jason and Trevor Myers were hunting from across a subdivision road earlier in the evening. Agent Logan and the men were able to retrieve an addition two birds from the field the men had been hunting. — LDWF

A CWD vaccine?

THANKSGIVING WHILE

EEK OF IS NICE 8-POINTER THE W KYLE GINSEL, 9, KILLED TH TRINITY COUNTY. , IN URT D, K DA HIS ITH HUNTING W

Nikon will send your 10x42 ProStaff 7 binoculars. You can check out the entire line at the nearest dealer:

See a full selection of Nikon products at:

Porters Sporting Goods 21973 Texas 155, Flint, Texas 75762 (903) 825-7467

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and elsewhere say that a vaccination they have developed to fight a brain-based, wasting syndrome among deer and other animals may hold promise on two additional fronts: protecting U.S. livestock from contracting the disease, and preventing similar brain infections in humans. The study, published online in Vaccine Dec. 21, documents a scientific milestone: The first successful vaccination of deer against chronic wasting disease, a fatal brain disorder caused by unusual infectious proteins known as prions. Prions propagate by converting otherwise healthy proteins into a disease state. Equally important, the researchers say, this study may hold promise against human diseases suspected to be caused by prion infections, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, familial insomnia, and variably protease-sensitive prionopathy. Some studies also have associated prion-like infections with Alzheimer’s disease. “Now that we have found that preventing prion infection is possible in animals, it’s likely feasible in humans as well,” says senior study investigator and neurologist Thomas Wisniewski, M.D., a professor at NYU Langone. According to Dr. Wisniewski and his research team, if further vaccine experiments prove successful, a relatively small number of animals (as few as 10 percent) could be inoculated to induce herd immunity, in which disease transmission is essentially stopped in a much larger group. For the study, five deer were given the vaccine; another six were given a placebo. All of the deer were exposed to prioninfected brain tissue; they also were housed together, engaging in group activities similar to those in the wild. Scientists say this kept them in constant exposure to the infectious prions. The animals receiving the vaccine were given eight boosters over 11 months until key immune antibodies were detectable in blood, saliva and feces. The deer also were monitored daily for signs of illness, and investigators performed biopsies of the animals’ tonsils and gut tissue every three months to search for signs of CWD infection. — NYU Langone

Striped bass poachers get jail A Tilghman Island fisherman will have to serve time in federal prison for his role in a striped-bass poaching ring that spanned four years and netted 185,000 pounds of stolen fish valued at close to half a million dollars. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced William J. Lednum, 41, to one

year and one day in jail, followed by six months home detention and three years probation. Lednum, along with his codefendant in the case, Michael D. Hayden, will have to pay $498,923 in restitution to the Department of Natural Resources for the theft. Lednum also must pay a $40,000 fine. Lednum and Hayden both pleaded guilty last summer to violating the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits the sale of illegally caught fish. Between 2007 and 2011, the pair — both captains of commercial fishing vessels — engaged in a conspiracy to take a public resource from the Chesapeake Bay and cover their crimes. — VDNR

Oregon highway covered in salmon The truck crash that dumped young Chinook salmon across a state highway is the talk of an Oregon town. “The whole highway was covered with fish just flopping around everywhere,” Jesse Anderson of Walterville said. The 11,000 spring Chinook smolt lost in the crash are part of the 227,000 fish being moved from the McKenzie Fish Hatchery due to problems with Leaburg Dam. The fish landed in Steve Robinson’s yard. The veteran trucker said this isn’t the first time a truck has crashed in his yard. “I knew immediately what it was,” he said. “So did my daughter, so she takes control of the dogs, keeps them in the house. And I come out to try to attend to the injury. The fish were obviously flopping all over the place, trees breaking, power poles breaking, dirt flying everywhere.” Oregon State Police said the hatchery truck driver is under investigation after registering a .29 blood alcohol level. — KVAL.com

California boating safety ed now law On January 1, Senate Bill 941, better known as California’s boating safety education requirement, became law. SB941 requires that vessel operators pass a boating education test and obtain a Vessel Operator Card in order to operate a vessel that is propelled by an engine on California waterways. California joins a list of other other states with similar boating safety education requirements already in place. The program will be phased in over the next several years, with the first mandatory requirement for card carrying compliance to begin on Jan. 1, 2018 for certain age groups (20 years of age and younger). By 2025, all persons operating engine propelled vessels in California will be required to have a VOC. There will be some exemptions to the VOC requirement including: • Nonresidents temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 60 days who meet the boating requirements, if any, of their state; • A person operating a vessel while under the direct supervision of a person 18 years of age or older who is in possession of a California VOC issued by the Department of Boating and Waterways. — CDBW

Federal judge makes killing wolves illegal in three states On Dec. 19, 2014, a federal judge immediately reinstated Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, placing the animals under protection of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wolves now revert to the federal protection status they had prior to being removed from the endangered species list in the Great Lakes region in January 2012. Wolves are now federally classified as threatened in Minnesota and endangered elsewhere in the Great Lakes region. Only agents of the government are authorized to take wolves if depredation occurs. —MDNR

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LONE STAR MARKET

Puzzle solution from Page 17

January 9, 2015

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January 9, 2015

DATEBOOK JANUARY 2-11

JANUARY 14

JANUARY 22

JANUARY 31

JANUARY 8-11

JANUARY 15-18

JANUARY 23-25

FEBRUARY 4-7

Houston Boat Show NRG Center (713) 526-6361 houstonboatshows.com

Austin Boat and Travel Trailer Show Austin Convention Center (512) 494-1128 austinboatshow.com

JANUARY 9-11

Dallas Woods and Waters Club Youth Doe Hunt, Albany (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org

JANUARY 10-11

Texas Gun & Knife Show Abilene Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

For home or ofﬁ ce delivery, go to LSONews.com, or call (214) 361-2276, or send a check or money order to the address below. Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 21628300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2015 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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Advertising: Call (214) 361-2276 or email editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com • (214) 361-2276

Weatherby Foundation Awards Dinner, Dallas (480) 209-1561 weatherbyfoundation.com

Dallas Safari Club DSC 2015 Convention Dallas Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

JANUARY 16-17

Deer Breeders Corp. 7th Annual New Year’s Auction Horseshoe Bay Resort (972) 289-3100 bdbcdeer.com

Safari Club International Brush Country Chapter 2nd Annual Banquet American Bank Center, Corpus Christi brushcountrysci.com

Texas Tackle, Hunting and Boat Show Big Town Event Center, Mesquite montgomeryproductions.com

JANUARY 23-28

Houston Safari Club Hunting Expo and Convention The Woodlands (713) 623-8844 houstonsafariclub.org

JANUARY 28

Ducks Unlimited Night with the San Antonio Spurs AT&T Center, San Antonio (830) 221-8046 ducks.org/texas

Texas Team Trail Sam Rayburn Tournament (210) 788-4143 texasteamtrail.com

Safari Club International SCI Convention Las Vegas, Nevada (888) 746-9724 showsci.org

FEBRUARY 7

Bass Champs Central Region fishing tournament Lake LBJ basschamps.com

FEBRUARY 21

Texas Team Trail Fishing tournament Toledo Bend Reservoir (210) 788-4143 texasteamtrail.com

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CLASSIFIEDS AKC REGISTERED LABRADOR PUPS Blacks & Chocolates Superior Bloodline Ready for new homes in mid January Call Steve (817) 832-8078

WINTER DOVE HUNTING Starting Dec. 19. Over Sesame Seed Fields in Uvalde County. Contact Mark Roberts. www.MarkRoberts DoveHunting.com (830) 261-9467

SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses. Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com. CustomSportsAnglers.com (956) 551-1965

TROPHY WHITETAIL BUCK HUNTS Intensive Management Program. Lodging included. (940) 362-4219

TROPHY BASS AND BIRD HUNTING Fish famous Lake Guerrero. Hunt Dove, Quail, Ducks. Please contact Lago Vista Lodge today! dickyn@ lagovistalodge.com (713) 376-3938 or (281) 495-9296

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS & MAPPING RANCH & HUNTING, AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, 2014 IMAGERY AVAILABLE BalboaMapCompany.com (806) 777-8840

ARROWHEADS AND ARTIFACTS I buy and sell authentic Texas artifacts. Please call Nick. (210) 557-9478

TDHA - JOIN TODAY TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOC. TexasDoveHunters.com (210) 764-1189

DEER HUNT-SOUTH TEXAS Trophy Deer-$695 for 2 days. Wife or child 1/2 price. Uvalde, Texas. b-jranch.com (830) 313-3555 PROFESSIONAL GUIDE SERVICE CEDAR BAYOU OUTFITTERS Capt. Jeff Sims (361) 403-7510

BRING MORE DEER TO YOUR FEEDER CALL ‘EM IN FEEDER PLATES – THE DINNER BELL FOR DEER Take advantage of the deer season special — 3 plates with universal u-bolts only $32.50. Go to BuckCanyonWelding.com Call (575) 390-6200

COMPLETE TEXAS DUCK STAMP PRINT COLLECTION Signed and numbered. Call Steve. (817) 832-8078

DECOYS WANTED WOODEN Duck and Goose. Top prices paid. Ask for David. (214) 361-2276

HUNTING EXOTICS $100/DAY GUIDE FEE, Plus trophy fee. Non-trophy $250-$350. Whitetail — High Fence $1,000-$1,500. Near Junction. Owner. (325) 475-2100

POETRY SHOOTING CLUB 700-yard range, range target camera, quail hunting preserve, dog training, shooting classes, day leases Dove, duck & deer Poetryshootingclub.com (214) 728-2755

ONLY $1 PER WORD LSON CLASSIFIEDS Advertise your business or merchandise in Texas’ largest outdoor newspaper. (214) 361-2276

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