7 minute read
Game Warden Blotter
COAST GUARD LAND RESCUE
The Coast Guard medevaced an injured hunter from the woods in Crosby. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Command Center watchstanders received notification from Crosby Fire Department personnel that a 17-year-old male had fallen approximately 20 feet from a hunting stand and injured his back. On-scene emergency medical services personnel were unable to transport the individual through the heavily wooded area. A helicopter crew was launched, hoisted the man from 130 feet, and transported the injured man to a Houston hospital
Advertisement
BOAT HITS SAND BAR IN PORT ISABEL
A 15-foot boat ran aground on a sand bar near Port Isabel with three individuals aboard. A 68-year-old man had fallen and was experiencing chest pains. TowBoatUS was notified and contacted the Coast Guard, who responded and medevaced the injured man and one other boater. The injured man was transported by EMS to a local hospital.
DRUGS AT THE MARINA
Denton County game wardens received a call for assistance from a local police department concerning drugs found at a marina belonging to patrons who left in a boat. Shortly after wardens arrived, the boat returned. Consent was granted to search the boat, and cocaine was found. One person was arrested and taken to the Denton County Jail.
MISSING HUNTER RESCUED FROM MARSH
The Coast Guard rescued a missing hunter from the marsh near Freeport. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a notification of a missing 34-year-old male in the marsh area between the mouth of the Brazos River and the San Bernard River. The man had become separated from two other hunters who made it back to their boat and truck. A helicopter crew and airboat responded and was signaled by the man, who had a flashlight. The crew hoisted and transported him to the boat ramp. No injuries were reported.
EXOTIC FIGHT, NOT POACHING
On an Anderson County ranch, a game warden investigated a possible poaching incident. The caller stated that there were large amounts of blood present on the property. It was discovered that an exotic animal was wounded by another animal. However, the warden did discover several alligators that were taken illegally by one of the workers.
MORE THAN A FEW BEERS WHILE FISHING
A call came in for an attempt to locate a reckless driver to a Polk County game warden. The warden was in the area and advised dispatch he would wait for the vehicle to pass by. The vehicle turned onto a county road directly across from where the warden was located. The warden attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver continued down the road at a high rate of speed. The warden initiated his siren, and the vehicle pulled over. Upon contact with the driver, the warden could smell alcohol. The driver said he and his son were heading home from Louisiana after a day of fishing and that he consumed four to five beers. Field sobriety tests were performed, after which the man was arrested and charged with DWI w/ Child Under 15 years of age. The driver was booked into the Polk County jail. The vehicle and child were released to the child’s mother.
WARDEN’S SUSPICIONS COME TRUE
A truck ran a red light and was stopped by a Montgomery County game warden. The driver seemed overly nervous, was dressed in black from head to toe, soaking wet, and could not give a reason for being out so late. He claimed the truck belonged to his uncle but could not remember the uncle’s first or last name. The warden made several attempts to call the registered owner of the vehicle with no success, and was unsuccessful in making contact when driving to the owner’s residence. The driver was identified, issued a citation and released. Later that morning, the vehicle was reported as stolen.
DRONE FINDS MISSING GIRL
A request was made for a game warden to operate a drone to assist in searching for a 15-year-old female who had gone missing the prior evening. After flying the drone around the area, the warden spotted a figure appearing to be a human walking in some brush with the thermal camera on the drone. When the female noticed the drone, she tried to hide in some thicker brush. Another game warden went into the brush and spotted the female with his flashlight. The female was returned safely to her parents.
REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263
AN AMERICAN LEGEND
Plenty of reds
Continued from page 1
sized redfish roaming the marsh.
Sumney has been throwing soft plastics in natural color patterns made by KDen lures.
“The midday and early afternoon hours have held the best action as the rising sun heats up the shallow mud flats along the marsh,” Sumney explained.
Capt. Chris Phillips has been finding protection from breezy conditions in the Neches River, where plenty of redfish have been stacked up.
Phillips also has been finding some reds along ditches leading into many of the marshes surrounding Sabine Lake.
Capt. Randy Foreman said Middle Pass and East Pass are also good areas to find protection from the wind and find redfish.
“Any stretch of water where there are protected ditches and channels that drain shallow flats will definitely have reds lurking nearby,” he said.
Gabi Molina, of League City, caught this redfish in the Neches River while fishing with Sabine guide Capt. Chris Phillips on a cold day. Photo by Chris Phillips.
RUGER.COM/AMERICANRIFLE
Roaming stripers
Continued from page 1
in order to stay hooked up. Trolling umbrella rigs, dead-sticking flukes and jigging with spoons all seem to be working.
Lake Buchanan guide Fermin Fernandez said the bite has been consistent, especially while trolling umbrella rigs.
“We’ve also been catching quite a few fish on jigging spoons once we find a large school of them,” he said.
Most of the stripers on Buchanan are suspended over the trees in 48-55 feet of water.
“Our best success has been covering water while trolling, and then setting up on a school once we find a good concentration on the sonar,” he explained. “It’s kind of a no-brainer. We fish while we are looking for them by trolling. Then if an opportunity presents itself where we are able to sit right on top of them and catch them with spoons at some point, we take advantage of it.”
Fernandez said the stripers haven’t been holding in specific locations for very long.
“They have constantly been on the move and staging in certain stretches of the lake according to the wind and weather,” he said.
Most of the stripers Fernandez and his anglers are catching are in the 3-7 pound range, with a lot of undersized hybrid stripers mixed in.
On Lake Texoma, guide Stephen Andre said the striper action has been steady.
Andre has been seeing stripers from as small of 14 inches in length up to about 9 pounds in weight.
“An average day has been about 40-50 stripers,” he said. “It’s about as good as it gets for a late win-
Kim Snell landed this striped bass on Lake Texoma while dead-sticking a fluke in 25 feet of water over structure. Photo by Stephen Andre. ter, early spring pattern.” According to Andre, there aren’t any birds working over the fish, and anglers have to cover water and find the stripers by using their electronics. Lake Whitney guide, Blake Stritz of Fellowship Fishing Guide Service, said there seem to be an abundance of schools with healthy stripers roaming the lake. “Dead-sticking and trolling umbrella rigs have been the two best tactics for catching quality stripers lately,” Stritz said. “1-ounce jig heads with chartreuse, pink, or white and chartreuse flukes have been dynamite, and 4-inch paddle tails also been the ticket.” Stritz has been focusing on areas in and around deep channels and old, deep creek beds. Twelve-year-old Ledger Fortner recently landed the unofficial youth state record striper for Lake Tawakoni while fishing for catfish with guide, James Evans. The fish measured 33.5 inches and weighed 18.70 pounds. The current official youth state record for striper on Tawakoni is 18 pounds.
