Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
April 10, 2020
Governor declares hunting, fishing essential
Volume 16, Issue 16
Coastal fish spring into action By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Closes state parks By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Yes, you can still go hunting and fishing, but things are changing daily. On April 7, Gov. Greg Abbott closed state parks, and other public access points have been shut down, although many private boat ramps are still available. While previous orders and guidelines likely allowed the favorite pastimes, many Texas hunters and anglers wondered if they could still head out. Abbott made it more clear in his executive order on March 31. Abbott included fishing and hunting in his executive order implementing essential services and activities protocol. The order reads, in part: “This executive order does not prohibit people from accessing essential services or engaging in essential daily activities, such as going to the grocery store or gas station, providing or obtaining other essential services, visiting parks, hunting or fishing, or engaging in physical activity like jogging or bicycling, so long as the necessary precautions are maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and to minimize inperson contact with people who are not in the same household.” Joey Parks, a lobbyist for the Texas Wildlife Association, said the order helped clarify the issue for those with questions.
Capt. Joey Farah dances with a speckled trout hooked on a red D.O.A. Shrimp while wading in the Lower Laguna Madre. Fishing action has been good in the region. Photo by David Teran.
The month of April finds us in some strange and tough times; however, below the surface of bay waters along the middle and lower coast, speckled trout and redfish don’t seem to know the difference. Their aggression is increasing as weather patterns become more consistent by the day. Water temperatures are climbing, and the bite is springing into action. In East Matagorda Bay, Capt. Kevin Diehl, also a Houston firefighter, said the redfish have been thick in open bay waters. “When the wind allows, midbay areas in 4 to 6 feet of water have been loaded with schools of reds,” Diehl said. “The key is finding patches of green water, because spring winds can destroy water clarity in a hurry.” Diehl has been making long drifts over scattered shell with live shrimp rigged under a popping cork or soft plastics rigged on a 1/4-ounce jig head to produce limits of upper slot reds. “The trout are mixed in with the redfish as well, the reds have just been so thick, that we’ve actually been catching just as many or more of them while drifting in open water,” Diehl explained. “All of the bigger trout we’ve been landing lately have been more willing to strike soft plastics than live bait. Most of the specks have been in the 18- to 23-inch range.” On windy days, drains and coves along protected shorelines have been holding redfish, but anglers will have to weed through the smaller fish to find the bigger ones. “For whatever reason, afternoons and evenings have been better for catching keeper-sized reds along the shoreline,” Diehl said. He said the smallest patches of greenlooking water can be dynamite when the Please turn to page 13
Please turn to page 15 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Turkey outfitters hit hard By Craig Nyhus
Turkey outfitters and guides have been asking the question. How do the coronavirus restrictions apply to them? Jim Roche, the owner of Magnum Guide Service in Eldorado,
had dozens of hunters from across the country planning to come. But when Gov. Abbott’s essential services and activities-only order came on March 31, he shut down. “The game warden here told us the guide services are considered nonessential,” Roche
said. “We were booked full, but we shut the door and we’re done until April 30.” Roche did have hunters for a short time, though, as some of the ranches they hunt are in the South Zone. Ken Meyer at All American Outfitter,
Hunt the Texas Panhandle said he has been seeing a lot of turkeys, but they will have no hunters at Please turn to page 14 Turkey hunters are in the field, but outfitters are struggling after being forced to close operations. Photo by Lili Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12
Cold, jakes hamper opener (P. 4)
Spawn on in West, East (P. 8)
Mature toms off by themselves.
Postspawn bite in Hill Country.
No bear hunting (P. 5)
Snapper season set (P. 9)
Alaska calls off season for nonresidents.
Federal waters open for 63 days.
Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 13 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 18
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