Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
June 12, 2020
Volume 16, Issue 20
Hot and cold rocks
TPWD shutters printed Outdoor Annual By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News The Texas Outdoor Annual Hunting, Fishing and Boating Regulations will go digital-only for the upcoming hunting and fishing license season, starting Aug. 15. Texas Monthly had produced the annual for 27 years as part of a public-private partnership with TPWD. According to the contract between Texas Monthly and TPWD, the printing and distribution costs were paid by sponsors and advertisers, and profits would be shared by the two entities. Dwindling advertising sales may have led to the decision, as the contract also indicates that if sales aren’t enough to pay for the costs, the parties may step away from the deal. “We are well aware that this change may be disappointing to some of our long-time outdoorsmen and women that have become accustomed to bringing the Outdoor Annual booklets on their hunting and fishing trips,” said Carter Smith, TPWD’s executive director. “It is not going away and will still be accessible via the web and our special Outdoor Annual Mobile app.” TPWD said more than 2.8 million users visited the Outdoor Annual website last year, compared with 2.3 million
A fly angler casts for kingfish on the jetties at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island. When the bait balls move in close to the jetties many fly anglers are catching kings, jacks, Spanish mackerel and reds. Photo by Erich Schlegel, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
By Lili Sams
Lone Star Outdoor News If you are looking to get out, fishing the coastal jetties could provide an excellent opportunity for catching a variety of inshore and offshore species. Brandon Fox, of Austin, fished the Port Aransas jetties last week with little action. Although he re-
ported consistent redfish, jacks and some tarpon in the last couple of weeks as a tropical storm, the full moon moved the tides and bait out of reach out of the rocks. Those fishing from a boat like fly-fishing guide Tom Horbey, of Port O’Connor, have found success by being mobile. “In the mornings, the
jack crevalle and bull reds push the baitfish schools into the current,” he said. What follows is a feeding frenzy for birds and fish alike. The technique is to fish in front of the birds to bring the jacks to you. “If you are in front of the bait schools, all the fish will come right at your fly in a natural way,”
Horbey said. Horbey has been using a 4/0 hook and a bucktail menhaden-imitation fly on his recent trips and they have been catching an average of 17- to 20-pounders. He suggested using a fast retrieve with a sinking tip fly line. Fly Fishing Manager at Gordy and Sons Outfitters, Marcos Enriquez, also
suggested using a sinking tip line to get down to the “strike zone.” He reported people catching Spanish mackerel, redfish and speckled trout off the Surfside and Bolivar jetties. If the bait is busted up, Enriquez said you are going to need a good cast. He recommends a 9-foot rod with at least
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Boat sales spike during pandemic By Craig Nyhus
Boat dealers are making record sales, but supplies of new inventory are tough to come by. Photo from G3 Boats.
Boat dealers are seeing a surge in sales during a time when other businesses are struggling to keep afloat. According to BoatTest.com, 70 percent of dealers nationwide reported retail growth in May, up from about 20 percent in prior months, making May the strongest growth recorded since July
2018. Dealers also reported lean inventories, though, in both new and used boats. “I’m selling everything I have,” said Brian Hughes, who sells Skeeter, Phoenix and other boat brands at Fun-N-Sun Boats in Hurst. “But we’re not getting everything we need.” Hughes said there had been an uptick in sales over the last eight weeks, but nothing like the month of May. Please turn to page 18
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 11
Urine-containing products (P. 4)
Red snapper opens (P. 8)
Banning use by hunters debated.
Limits easy, winds not.
Relocated quail take hold (P. 4)
License sales increase (P. 9)
Erath County project promising.
Numbers jump in Texas, nationwide.
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 15 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 19
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