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LoneOStar Outdoor News
November 23, 2012
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Fireback grouper Rare, colorful fish caught off coast.
Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper
November 23, 2012
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Volume 9, Issue 7
Rut is on in parts of Texas
Inside
Rolling Plains, North Texas seeing action By Conor Harrison
❘❚ FISHING
Lone Star outdoor newS
Cold water crappie Deep-water bite is on.
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Texas angler earns final Classic berth Lifelong dream fulfilled.
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❘❚ HUNTING
LOVE IN THE AIR: Deer in the northern portion of the state have been rutting for several weeks, with each cold front kicking off more activity. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Lone Star outdoor newS
Buck loses fight with swing.
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Quail opener Some bright spots across the state. Page 4
❘❚ CONTENTS
Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Outdoor Business . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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The challenge seemed simple enough. Nine guides, one boat, 24 decoys, four shotgun shells, three clay pigeons and may the best man win. That was the stage for the inaugural Port Bay Guide Cup presented by Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Port Bay Hunting and Fishing Club near Rockport. Guides are ultra-competitive, but their competition often revolves around their clients’ skills, not necessarily their own. This was a chance for a year’s worth of bragging rights in a competition encompassing all the elements of being a topnotch duck guide. The McBride blind, located several hundred yards from the main pier, was the target as the guides ran a course designed to test their skills in all things involved with taking duck hunters out for the daily hunt.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
See PORT BAY, Page 28
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
said. “They’ve been at it real hard the past five days with the cold front that blew in. I’ve seen quite a few nice deer this week.” See RUT, Page 15
Testing their skills By Conor Harrison
Unusual headgear
According to area biologists, Nov. 15 marks the kickoff for the white-tailed deer rut in Jack County. From what Texas
Game Warden Gary Hobbs has seen, that would be accurate this season. “I tell you what, this is probably as good a rut as I have seen in the past four or five years,” Hobbs
Duck men compete for first-ever Port Bay Guide Cup
STRONG FINISH: Port Bay guide Alan Brackett races to the finish in an effort to win the First Annual Port Bay Guide Cup. He won a new shotgun for beating out eight other guides on a course designed to test their skills in all things duck hunting. Photos by David J. Sams, LSON.
Redfish bite good after cold fronts Galveston Bay Capt. David Harris has been catching redfish every time he heads out — in between deer hunting, of course. “We’re picking up reds under birds, along with COMING ON: The redfish bite has been consistent on days between cold fronts. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for LSON.
some trout,” he said. “They are almost everywhere we are going right now along shorelines and in guts. Just about every trip we are catching reds, even when targeting flounder and trout.” Harris said he hasn’t bought live bait in months, and the fish are See REDFISH Page 18
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November 23, 2012
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HUNTING
Now that’s a nontypical Buck with tree swing photographed in Comal County By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Chad Heise received a surprise when he checked his trail cameras last month. A young buck sporting antlers that would garner serious attention in several years had an attachment of sorts — what appeared to be a tree swing, complete with ropes and all attached to its head. IS THAT A SWING? This young buck became entangled in a tree swing on a property in Comal County. Photo by Chad Heise.
“I have no idea where this buck came from,” Heise said. “He just showed up. I actually got a few more pictures of the buck and the rope has now, unfortunately, wrapped around his neck. It doesn’t seem to be choking him, yet.” Heise said he sent an email to neighboring landowners to see if anyone is missing a tree swing, but nobody claimed to have had one. “I have no idea where the swing came from,” he said. Heise said the deer has great potential, but he will harvest the young buck if he sees him, before the animal suffers. “I do have plans (to take him),” he said. “He’s such a nice young buck, but I imagine I will take him if I see him, before he wraps the rope around a tree or fence and dies a miserable death.”
COME ON DOWN: Most hunters have experienced a good first half of the season, with gadwall, wigeon, teal and redheads being the most commonly reported ducks. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for LSON.
Wings whistling across the state By John Keith
Bags have been mixed for hunters
Lone Star Outdoor News After what was an exceptional teal season for most waterfowlers, hunters have headed out hoping for a continuation of the early success. Even though a record number of ducks were reported in the breeding grounds, most hunters haven’t yet seen the above-
average push of birds that was expected. “Last year was the best year I ever had,” said Richard Pulvino, who guides on several North Texas lakes. “This year was supposed to be good and it’s just kind of an average
year, like any other year. I haven’t seen the hordes of ducks like they were talking about, but I did see hordes of bluewings.” Pulvino said the teal haven’t stuck around, but some bigger birds have moved in.
“It’s usually raining little ducks out on the lake, but I haven’t seen them,” he said. “I am seeing a lot of mallards in the dead timber and on one of the lakes I hunt, there’s pretty much nothing but shovelers. “The mallards were early and there are still mallards right now.” See WINGS, Page 15
Quail opener dim, few bright spots By John Keith
Lone Star Outdoor News The preseason quail outlook warned of low numbers of birds, and that’s what most hunters who have headed into the fields have found so far this season. But some areas of South Texas
Public opportunities hit or (mostly) miss
and the Panhandle that received timely rainfall have enjoyed some good shooting. “We started out on opening day with three trucks of hunters and had 10, nine and seven coveys,” said Mike Wyatt of First Shot Outfitters. See QUAIL OPENER, Page 20
FLUSHED: Multiple ranches reported low numbers of birds, but some areas have seen a rebound after last year’s drought. Photo by First Shot Outfitters.
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November 23, 2012
FENCES FOR ANIMALS: African fences are designed to permit the movement of large animals with even larger horns to pass underneath to the next pasture, without compromising cattle operations. John Jacobs, professional hunter at Makadi Safaris in Namibia, shows a raised area in the fence where large animals pass beneath the wire. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.
A lesson in fences
Africa, western states promote wildlife-friendly barriers By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News In pronghorn and desert bighorn country, West Texas ranches could learn a thing or two by looking at the fences from African “farms.” The fences allow wild, and very large, animals that aren’t jump-
ers to easily access the other side by going under the fence without injury. And some organizations are working to get more animalfriendly fencing installed in the U.S. The fencing at the property of Deithelm and Katja Metzger at
Makadi Safaris in Namibia uses high tensile galvanized steel wires with no barbs, Deithelm Metzger said. The wooden posts are about 18 meters apart, with usually five “spacers,” smaller wooden posts cut just beneath the bottom wire. “The bottom wire is a little higher
and a little more loose so the animals don’t have any problem going under the fence,” he said. “And along the game trails, we use holes by taking off the lowest two wires.” The holes occur about every 400 meters, and are used by larger animals like ostrich, gemsbok and even zebra and giraffe, Metzger said.
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Gemsbok and red hartebeest are regularly observed going under the fence with ease, even with their large bodies and long horns. “And most of the crossings are right in the middle between the two posts,” said professional hunter John Jacobs. “The animals figure out where it is easiest to cross.” But what about the cattle, since the African “farm” is synonymous with the Texas ranch, and most mix their cattle and hunting operations. “We haven’t had any trouble with the cattle at all,” said Katja Metzger. “The calves do go under the fence, but they just cross right back to be with their mother.” Diethelm Metzger, who attended graduate school at Texas A&M University, is at a loss why barbed wire remains so common in Texas. “It rusts, it sags, because you can’t pull it as tight, and it doesn’t last as long,” he said. Organizations that support the pronghorn and wild sheep are trying to change the reliance on the standard, barbed wire fencing in areas where these animals live to allow for movement throughout their corridors. In Wyoming, the Wyoming Land Trust, through its Corridor Conservation Campaign, is working through its partners, consisting of industry, governmental and conservation groups, to install 500 miles of wildlife- and livestock-friendly fencing. The campaign pays to modify the fences at no cost to the landowners if existing fences impede migration in key wildlife migration routes. So far, the campaign has modified hundreds of miles of fencing with a bare lowest wire set at 18 inches from the ground and an increased spread in the top two strands. Dr. Louis Harveson, Director of the Borderlands Research Institute See FENCES, Page 20
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DOWN AND OUT: Seven-year-old Lane Haworth harvested his first deer while hunting with his father in Stephens County. Lane was using a suppressed .223 M4. Photo by Chad Haworth.
First deer taken quietly
Seven-year-old bags spike with a suppressed rifle By John Keith
Lone Star Outdoor News It may not be the biggest deer harvested by a youth hunter this year, but it may be the one brought down with the least amount of noise. Lane Haworth, 7, went hunting with his father, Chad, in Stephens County, using a suppressed .223 M4 to shoot a spike for his first deer.
“The suppressor cuts down on recoil and muzzle blast, so I knew it wouldn’t scare him,” Chad said. “It was nice and quiet. He hunted last year but I never got him on a deer, and I don’t think he was quite ready; it was probably just more wishful thinking on my part.” Before this year’s deer season, the pair spent a lot of time shooting and getting ready for Lane’s first shot at
a deer. “I knew he was ready this year for sure,” Chad said. “At first light we saw a deer. I thought it was a doe at first, but right at enough light I could see it was a little buck.” Chad quickly realized the deer was a spike and knew it was time for Lane to put his practice to the test. See FIRST DEER, Page 20
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TPWD regulation changes By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News
Mule deer MLD season dates to change
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved an extension to the Managed Land Deer Program season dates for mule deer, beginning in the 2013 season. “The majority of respondents to our survey favored a January closing,” said TPWD Mule Deer Program Leader Shawn Gray. “And there is no biologic concern to extending the season.” The commission extended the season dates until the last Sunday in January.
Pronghorn hunting to go permitless in three Panhandle areas
In areas of the northwest Panhandle, the pronghorn population is expanding to the point that a permitless system can be established on an experimental basis, said Shawn Gray, mule deer and pronghorn leader with TPWD. “It’s a three-year pilot project with closely monitored populations in these three areas,” he said. “If it’s successful and has minimal or no decrease in the buck numbers or sex ratio or buck age structure, the areas could go to a permanent permitless system.” Reporting will still be required for the tags, just as is required in the permit system, Gray said. “And if after one year the harvest is too heavy, we’ll pull the plug on it,” he said. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the experimental project at its November meeting.
Two East Texas lakes’ bass regulations to change
Lake Jacksonville and Lake Kurth will see largemouth bass regulation changes beginning in 2013. Lake Jacksonville currently has an 18-inch minimum length rule. Under the new rules,
TPWD will allow the harvest of up to two fish measuring less than 18 inches, rules similar to those at lakes Alan Henry and O.H. Ivie that have increased tournament activity. At Lake Kurth near Lufkin, shocking surveys indicate that the lake has trophy bass potential. The current limits are the statewide, five-fish limit. The new rules include a 16-inch maximum length for the five-fish limit. A larger fish may be retained if it is going to be weighed for possible entry into the ShareLunker program.
Red drum tags made easier The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission removed a restriction on red drum tags at its November meeting. Current regulations allow for the purchase of a bonus tag for a large redfish only after the tag included on the fishing license has been used. The new rule permits the purchase of the bonus tag at the time of license purchase, and anglers may have both tags in their possession.
Federal red snapper violations to be enforced by state Red snapper and several other species have different regulations depending on whether anglers are in state or federal waters. However, the federal law enforcement officials occasionally do not pursue violations depending on their severity, said Brandi Reeder, a game warden with TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division. For example, if an angler lands four red snapper in federal waters and the federal officials choose not to pursue the case, the state is currently powerless to do anything — until now. The new regulation, approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, makes it a state violation to be in possession of aquatic products in violation of federal law.
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FISHING
Nacogdoches angler fulfills dream, earns Classic spot By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Albert Collins knew he had an advantage fishing his home waters of Sam Rayburn Reservoir on Nov. 7-10 at the Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship. Collins was throwing crankbaits and soft plastics to fish he knew were there. Luckily, the fish cooperated and Collins won the tournament, earning his first-ever trip to the 2013 Bassmaster Classic at Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Oklahoma. “I know (Rayburn) pretty well,” he said, “but I also had a really good tournament. The weights were a couple of pounds higher than I thought they would be. The tournament was still tough,
but not as tough as the lake had been fishing. “We had the right weather conditions and the fish got into places they normally go.” Covering a lot of water, Collins threw a deepdiving crankbait by 6th Sense Lures in threadfin-shad pattern, alternating with a Zoom Ol’ Monster worm in plum apple color. “I just had a really great tournament,” he said. “I was fortunate to be able to get the bites.” Along with winning $100,000, Collins fulfilled his lifelong dream of competing against the best bass anglers in the world at the Classic. “It is going to be the experience of a lifetime,” he said. “It has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and now I’m going.” Collins fishes a lot of the local Texas tournaments, including Bass Champs, the ABA Weekend
Series and Bass-N-Bucks Tournament Trail. He has never fished Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, but is planning on starting right after Thanksgiving. “I’m getting some information right now,” he said. “I just got some lake maps and I am going to go up after Thanksgiving and fish for several weeks, until they close it down.” Collins is confident headed into the Classic, where he expects to do well. “I want to win,” he said. “Obviously, everyone wants to win, but my plan is to go up there and compete for the win. I will be satisfied with a top five or even a top 10, but the goal is to win. I’d like to see all of the Texas boys do well.” Collins will join the Texas contingent of Alton Jones, Todd Faircloth, Yusuke Miyazaki and Takahiro Omori at the Classic.
ALBERT COLLINS
Need a bigger fishbowl
STATE RECORD, FOR A WHILE: John Wiseman caught this 7.24-pound butterfly koi while fishing one night on Lake Tawakoni. The fish was accepted as the state record goldfish until it was recently decertified after further review. Photo by John Wiseman.
By John Keith
Lone Star Outdoor News Fishing records are broken all the time. But it’s the way one angler lost his record that is unusual. For six months, Metroplex angler John Wiseman held the state record for largest goldfish; then officials retracted their verification of the fish’s identification, deeming it a butterfly koi. Wiseman was having a slow night of fishing on Lake Tawakoni this summer when he brought in the unexpected catch. “I had been going to Tawakoni a couple of times for crappie and catfish,” he said. “I had caught a couple of nice mixed bags fishing overnight and I started bringing my stuff to make dough bait with, so that if the fishing started slowing down at night I’d have something to stretch the line out.” Wiseman said the fishing slowed down as he had anticipated one night at Uncle Rick’s Duck Cove Marina, and his dough bait consisting of Big Red and Wheaties started attracting bigmouth buffalo. “I caught a 41-pound bigmouth buffalo, which is the lake record,” he said. “Three days after that I went back again. I hadn’t caught a fish for about three hours when he hit and I didn’t think much of it — he felt like another 6- or 7-pound carp, until he came up and I saw his fins. “I knew he was different.” Wiseman’s catch quickly drew a crowd. He told everybody to finish taking their pictures because he was going to put the fish back, but Liz from the marina said she thought it was a record. “I took it down and got it weighed,” he said. “It was 7.24 pounds, while the previous (goldfish) record was like 5 pounds. The game wardens came out and took a look at it a couple of days later and confirmed that it was a goldfish.” See FISHBOWL, Page 11
A little bit of everything And a whole lot of snapper By John Keith
Lone Star Outdoor News Anglers who want to search for fish away from the beach should find consistent, though not outstanding, fishing the next several weeks. Reports indicate a smorgasbord of fish, with no one species as the star of the show. “I’d give the fishing a fair; it’s not great,” said Mona Murphy of Capt. Murphy’s Charter Fishing in South Padre Island. “We haven’t been setting the world on fire, and we’ve had some current, which
hasn’t helped.” But Murphy said the action has been good enough for anglers to stay satisfied. “When we go, we’re getting some sharks, amberjack, kingfish, dorado and some tuna,” she said. “Once the norther blows in, that’ll be the end of the kingfish. We were catching a bunch of blacktip sharks, but they have dropped off, too.” Murphy said they have been fishing with squid on wrecks and rocks in depths from 60 to 120 feet, 15 to 20 miles out.
Nancy Groening of Dolphin Dock, Inc. in Port Aransas also mentioned sharks on the list. “We’ve been going out and doing really good,” she said. “Here in the last week we’ve caught a couple of big sharks, lots of vermillion snapper, some kingfish, grouper and amberjack.” Groening also listed African pompano, dog snapper, ling and a few dorado. “About two weeks ago we had a few wahoos and a week ago we caught some blackfin tuna,” she said. “It’s a big variety.” Groening said she
SEEKING STRUCTURE: Offshore fishing hasn’t been exceptional for anglers, but it has been consistent. Shark and blackfin tuna have been reported, when anglers can avoid the red snapper. Photo by Conor Harrison.
thought the cold weather would bring the mako sharks in closer, which she said happened last year. Most of their fish are being caught on squid and sardines, but they use ribbonfish for the kingfish and bonita to target big sharks. On the upper coast, Capt. Marc Wilkerson has had some success going 50 to 60 miles out of Freeport when the wind and waves will allow it. “When I can get around the weather I’ve been getting out,” he said. “We’ve done pretty good on mahi-
mahi. We’re catching blackfin tuna and wahoo, with a few kingfish thrown in there.” Wilkerson said he uses both live and dead baits, fishing underwater structure, reefs and grasslines when he can find them. Both Groening and Murphy reported difficulty avoiding red snapper. Mona Murphy, (956) 761-2764 Nancy Groening, (800) 393-3474 Capt. Marc Wilkerson, (979) 236-8368
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Rare fireback grouper hauled in
FIRED UP: Capt. Bill Platt of Galveston caught this fireback grouper on a live blue runner while fishing 100 miles out of Galveston. Photo by Bill Platt.
By John Keith
Lone Star Outdoor News It’s true that you never know what you might catch when you go fishing. And
sometimes, it may be a fish you aren’t even familiar with. Capt. Bill Platt of Galveston is no exception, having caught a lot of fish
in his years of fishing recreationally as well as in tournaments. But this summer, he pulled in something even he had never seen before. “We were fishing in about 300 feet of water, out of Galveston about 100 miles,” he said. “We were bottomfishing, catching grouper and some warsaw. Then I hooked into a fish, but got hung up in the bottom.” Platt could have easily lost the fish, but managed to free the line and bring the fireback grouper up to the surface. He said he didn’t immediately know what he had caught. “It was quite something,” he said. “Those things are pretty rare and I had never caught one, even though I’ve been fishing the Gulf my whole life.” The fireback grouper was caught using a small blue runner. “You can see the colors really well and that’s why I like it so much,” he said. “I saw all the colors and was like ‘Wow, he’s all lit up.’ It’s a fluorescent, bright color. “I’ve caught 500-pound blue marlin, and yeah they’re pretty, but this was the best-looking fish I’ve ever caught.”
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Crappie is king CADDO LAKE — The cooler weather has helped the crappie fishing on the lake, according to area guide Slim Quinn. “The crappie have started biting good the last couple of days,” he said. “We caught about 75 today.” Quinn said he has been focusing on crappie, but has seen bass staying active. “I’ve seen them schooling in the channels,” he said. When he is fishing for bass, anything in a shad pattern is getting the bites, including soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are biting on both shiners and jigs, with the best fishing on the edge of the river channel. To contact Slim Quinn, call (318) 402-9493.
Worms for sunfish COMAL RIVER — The sunfish bite has been good in southeast Comal County, according to area anglers. Anglers utilizing a bottom-fishing technique with live worms are pulling the fish in, including bluegills, redbreasts and big rios. Bass have been
ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 62–69 degrees; 9.45’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on dropshot rigs, shaky heads, Texas rigs, jigs and medium-running shad pattern crankbaits. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait. AMISTAD: Water clear; 72–76 degrees; 33.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, frogs, crankbaits and soft plastics. Catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp over baited holes. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch. ATHENS: Water clear, 64–68 degrees; 3.50’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics and spinner baits around shallow cover. Some action reported on lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad. BASTROP: Water lightly stained; 71–75 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on live minnows and white tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers and stinkbait. BELTON: Water clear; 70–74 degrees; 5.42’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon crankbaits and lipless crankbaits in coves. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 65–69 degrees; 5.32’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits and dark soft plastic worms. Striped bass are good on green striper jigs and shad. Redfish are good on crawfish, shad and shrimp. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 62–67 degrees; 14.53’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on shad-patterned crankbaits on main lake. White bass are good on slabs. BROWNWOOD: Water lightly stained; 70–73 degrees; 10.16’ low. Largemouth bass to 3 pounds are fair on chartreuse jigs, dark spinner baits and perch-colored crankbaits. White bass are good on soft plastics and shad-colored crankbaits off lighted docks at night. Crappie are good on
minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles under lights at night. Channel catfish are good on live bait over baited holes. BUCHANAN: Water stained; 70–74 degrees; 27.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits, lipless crankbaits and crankbaits early and late. Striped bass are good on swim baits and silver striper jigs early. CADDO: Water stained; 65–69 degrees; 1.05’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on Texas-rigged soft plastics in green pumpkin. White and yellow bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad. CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on blue soft plastic worms with gold flakes. Channel and blue catfish are good on cheesebait and shad in 181 Cove. CANYON LAKE: Water lightly stained; 71–75 degrees; 7.97’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shadcolored crankbaits, white spinner baits and Texas-rigged watermelon green worms and watermelon plastics over brush piles early. Striped bass are good on artificial minnows and chartreuse striper jigs over humps at daylight. Smallmouth bass are good on pumpkin jigs, green pumpkin tubes and smoke curl tail grubs. Crappie are good on minnows and green tube jigs upriver. Yellow and blue catfish are good on juglines baited with live perch. CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 64–68 degrees; 3.39’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits around any shallow cover and docks. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait. CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 73–77 degrees; 16.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and soft plastics in 5 to 15 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver, nightcrawlers, and stinkbait. COLEMAN: Water lightly stained; 70–74 degrees; 12.82’ low. Largemouth bass are good on small spinner baits and crankbaits. CONROE: Water clear; 69–73 degrees; 3.10’ low. Largemouth bass are good on pumpkinseed soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits early and late. Catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.
COOPER: Water clear; 64–69 degrees; 5.98’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut bait. FALCON: Water murky; 77–81 degrees; 34.48’ low. Largemouth bass are good on perch-colored plastics and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut bait and stinkbait upriver. FAYETTE: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms, top-waters and shad-colored crankbaits. FORK: Water clear; 63–68 degrees; 4.21’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad. GRANBURY: Water stained; 70–74 degrees; 5.08’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. White bass are good on hellbenders and pet spoons. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 63–67 degrees; 6.67’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on crankbaits around main lake points. Texasrigged soft plastics and finesse jigs are effective around marina docks later in the day. White bass are good on slabs and jigs. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 69–73 degrees; 0.35’ high. Largemouth bass to 4 pounds are good on blue soft plastic worms, top-waters and shad-colored deepdiving crankbaits in 20 feet. Crappie are good on live minnows in 20 feet. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with shad and perch in 20 feet. HUBBARD CREEK: Water off-color; 64–69 degrees; 19.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters, shad-patterned crankbaits, Texas rigs and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. JOE POOL: Water clear; 64–68 degrees; 2.35’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastic creature baits in watermelon red. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits.
a little harder to come by, though one angler said he has seen largemouth that would go over 10 pounds in the river. One benefit to fishing the river this time of year is the temperature in the river stays consistent, meaning the fish stay more active throughout the cooler months, he said. Fish have been biting in 4 to 7 feet of water.
Big blues, smaller channels LAKE CONROE — The whiskered fish are still biting good, according to area guide Carl Bostick. “We’re catching a bunch of catfish and large bream,” he said. “Everything else is in a pretty slow mode.” Bostick said live bait and shad around baited holes near brush anywhere from 14 to 25 feet is working well, with most channel cats between 1 and 5 pounds. Blue cats are averaging 5 to 10 pounds and are best drifting the main lake around humps with cut bait. “The white bass are gone completely,” he said. “But, we’re getting some hybrids trolling.” Largemouth aren’t great but are holding steady, he said. Crankbaits and soft plastics are working the best for the bass. To contact Carl Bostick, call (9360 718-7983. — John Keith
LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 64–68 degrees; 4.06’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits around grass and shallow cover. Catfish are good on cut trotlines. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 64– 69 degrees; 8.67’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged creature baits around shallow cover. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad. LBJ: Water clear; 72–76 degrees; 0.28’ low. Largemouth bass are very good on watermelon red plastics, chartreuse lipless crankbaits and plastic swimbaits on creek points. White bass are very good on minnows and soft plastics at night. Crappie are good on live minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles. LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 63–67 degrees; 5.77’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on weightless crankbaits and shaky heads around marinas. White bass are good on slabs and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 73–77 degrees; 0.46’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon/chartreuse soft plastics and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad, shrimp, and prepared baits. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 63–68 degrees; 5.08’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits and crankbaits around shallow cover, midday switching to soft plastics in the same areas. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad. MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 82–88 degrees; 0.88’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics and black and blue jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait. NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 71–75 degrees; 2.33’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs at the fishing docks in Liberty Hill Park. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 62–68 degrees; 33.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on lipless crankbaits, Texas rigs, chatterbaits and shaky heads. Catfish are fair
to good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 63–68 degrees; 16.77’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on chrome lipless crankbaits, Texas rigs, shadpatterned crankbaits and shaky heads. Crappie are good on jigs and live minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on chartreuse nightcrawlers. PALESTINE: Water clear; 63–68 degrees; 1.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on black/blue jigs and Texas-rigged soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 63–68 degrees; 8.55’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on shallow-running crankbaits, Texas rigs, jigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are good on minnows. PROCTOR: Water lightly stained; 72–76 degrees; 4.73’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red soft plastic worms and lipless crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are very good on stinkbait and frozen shrimp. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 63–67 degrees; 3.61’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged plastics around shallow docks and rocks. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared baits. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 63–68 degrees; 3.43’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastic baits along edges of grass. Lipless crankbaits are effective at times. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait or live shad. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 63–68 degrees; 4.15’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on flipping jigs around the docks. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and live shad. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 70–74 degrees; 2.12’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striper are fair on silver striper jigs. White
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n Saltwater fishing reports: Page 14 bass are good on small watermelon spinner baits. Channel and blue catfish are good on chicken livers and doughbait. STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 71–75 degrees; 4.31’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon soft plastics, crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp, hot dogs and nightcrawlers. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 65–69 degrees; 4.06’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on white, bladed jigs and flipping jigs around docks. White bass are good on slabs. Striped bass and hybrid striper are good on white or shad-patterned artificials in the deeper water when suspending during the day. Drifting live bait is also producing. Catfish are good on cut bait and trotlines. TEXOMA: Water clear; 63–67 degrees; 4.31’ low. Largemouth bass are good on medium-diving crankbaits along main lake points. Striped bass are good on slabs. TOLEDO BEND: Water lightly stained; 69–74 degrees; 4.00’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms, top-waters, and shallow-running crankbaits. White bass are good on minnows and hellbenders. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on minnows and prepared bait. TRAVIS: Water clear; 71–75 degrees; 47.83’ low. Largemouth bass to 4 pounds are good on pumpkinseed soft plastic worms and top-waters in 10 to 25 feet. Crappie are good on minnows. WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 71–75 degrees; 8.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red soft plastic worms with chartreuse tails. Catfish are good on frozen shrimp and stinkbait. — TPWD
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Fishbowl Continued From Page 8
Wiseman said he was amused to learn his “goldfish” was a record. “While it’s prestigious, it’s hilarious,” he said. “You live your whole life wanting to catch a record and then you catch a damn goldfish.” But after this story was first published on LSONews.com, the “goldfish” drew interest and speculation from biologists. And after a reevaluation of the fish, Wiseman lost his spot in the record book, said Ron Smith of the Inland Fisheries Division for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “There have been some news releases that came out just recently and in the process our biologists questioned the game warden’s field identification of the fish,” he said. “We sent it to an ichthyologist for visual identification and it came back as not a goldfish. It’s a butterly koi.” Smith said some changes are being implemented as the result of this accident.
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“From now on every state record and any unusual fish that comes through will be sent automatically to our district biologist,” he said. “We realize that some of our game wardens may not have biological training. I’m taking the situation as a learning experience and seeing a program change that we needed to make.” Smith said that photo documentation will still be accepted, there will just be the additional level of verification. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries Biologist Rafe Brock, of Fort Worth, said it isn’t unheard of for anglers to occasionally catch koi or goldfish. “Especially in urban environments, you get all these pet stores and pseudo-pet owners, and when they get tired of the family pet, instead of flushing it down the toilet or throwing it in the backyard, they’ll release it into a pond,” he said. “We don’t see too many of them, but you’ll see one or two every now and then. “They don’t have a spawn around here and they’re pretty vulnerable to predation.”
HRI, CCA partner for research center The Harte Research Support Foundation and the Coastal Conservation Association have committed more than $800,000 to establish, within the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the first research center for the study of sport fish in the Western Gulf of Mexico. “Whether the challenges are catastrophic or ongoing, the HRI is at the forefront in creating solutions that protect and preserve the vast resources of the Gulf of Mexico,” said University President Flavius Killebrew. “The waters off the Texas coast have long been famous for attracting recreational anglers from throughout the world, and this partnership with CCA will ensure that the sport fishing industry will continue to thrive for many years.” CCA Texas has pledged $500,000 in support of the center and the Harte Research Support Foundation is committing more than $300,000 to build a special purpose research vessel and to purchase supporting equipment. “This partnership creates an exciting opportunity to focus on science that supports the multi-billion dollar recreational fishing industry on the Texas coast and the Gulf of Mexico,” said Dr. Larry McKinney, HRI’s executive director. “I could not think of a better partner than CCA Texas to make this dream a reality.” CCA Texas and HRI will immediately begin to build the framework that will support the center’s research activities and will include provisions to bring additional partners into the center. Like-minded conservation organizations, business and industry are anticipated as potential members. Other research orga-
November 23, 2012
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Corpus pier action solid
FLOUNDER ARE ABUNDANT: Pier action has been good along the midcoast the past week. Photo by LSON.
By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Pier anglers along the midcoast are having good luck this month,
nizations will also be able to participate and contribute to the center’s efforts to build the science base for conservation of sport fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. — HRI
Record fish now easier to weigh Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Angler Recognition Program is building a statewide network of official weigh stations that have certified scales and are willing to weigh angler’s catches in their local service areas. The new initiative is designed to make it easier for Texas anglers to find certified scales and submit their record catches. Official weigh stations will receive official signage, application forms and a listing on the TPWD Angler Recognition Program website. The initiative is voluntary, and there is no fee or contract. In December 2012, the Official Weigh Station system will replace the current method of listing certified scales with an automated system that is updated monthly. — TPWD
Emergency zebra mussels order made permanent The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted recently to make permanent an emergency order adding Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Lewisville and the section of the Elm Fork of the Trinity that connects the two reservoirs to the list of water bodies under special regulations intended to control the spread of zebra mussels.
with reported catches of bull reds, big black drum, nice-sized flounder, trout and croaker making up the majority of the bag. At the Red Dot Pier, Randy Doud reported solid catches of flounder and trout under the lights, along with several big drum and croaker. “Lots of flounder being caught right now,” Doud said. “I had a guy catch two this morning. I weighed them both and they combined to go 6 pounds. I’d say the average size of the flounder right now is about 3 pounds each. “They are catching those on white soft plastics and live perch.” Doud said the good numbers of slot-sized trout are going home with anglers from the pier, especially at night under the lights. “If you want dinner, you can get it here right now pretty easily at night,” he said. Most of the redfish caught recently have been of the slot-sized variety, with 26 inches being the biggest for the past week. “There aren’t too many of the bull reds being caught anymore,”
The emergency order had been signed by TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith at the end of July following the discovery earlier that month of the destructive invasive species in Lake Ray Roberts, which is north of Denton. The rule approved by the commission does allow a person to travel on a public roadway via the most direct route to another access point located on the same body of water without draining water from their boat. — TPWD
Recommendations made for seagrass An advisory group of fishing, boating and conservation interests has made nine recommendations to protect seagrass and five to reduce user conflicts along the Texas coast, Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners were told in a briefing last week. The 19-member Coastal User Working Group was created by TPW Commission Chairman Dan Friedkin and led by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Director Robin Riechers, with representatives from the fishing, guiding, paddling, airboating, and birding communities, TPWD Law Enforcement and various conservation organizations. The working group’s highest priority recommendation, with near unanimous agreement, was for the state to develop a coastwide seagrass protection regulation. While TPWD does not currently have authority to create such a regulation, the working group said the department should collaborate and communicate with outside organizations and the Texas Legislature to create one. The group had other seagrass protection recommendations, including creating detailed maps depicting seagrass locations, developing tide indicators and promoting a seagrass awareness campaign.
he said. “Those kind of ended in late October.” Just north at the Marker 37 Pier, Kyle Breen reported flounder is the number one fish being caught the past few days. “We’ve had a lot of flounder and a few black drum,” Breen said. “Last night, a guy caught a 20-pound black drum. That has been the biggest so far, but we expect the really big ones in another few weeks. There are a lot of flounder right now.” Breen said live shrimp and cut bait were eliciting the most bites. “It’s mostly live shrimp,” he said. “We haven’t caught too many reds lately, but several weeks ago a guy caught a 40-incher. I think that was the biggest we have seen this year.” Internet reports farther south have anglers catching big redfish at the piers, especially when it is too rough to fish the jetties. One angler reported seeing 15 bull redfish caught at the end of the Horace Caldwell Pier, along with some big black drum, sand trout and croaker.
In an effort to reduce current and potential future user conflict between increasing and diversifying recreational activities, the working group developed five recommendations, including the development of a code of ethics, lowering the minimum age required for boater education, and working with other agencies to allow for more effective rookery signage to be placed near bird nesting islands. “Everyone who loves the Texas coast can appreciate the work of the Coastal User Working Group, and we at Texas Parks and Wildlife will be taking a hard look at their recommendations,” Riechers said. “Some of these, such as public education and signage, are an expansion of things we’re already doing. Many will require outside help. But their report gives us a thoughtful base of support to move forward.” — TPWD
Nominations sought for Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Individuals or organizations that have made a lasting contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas may be nominated through Dec. 31 for induction into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. Nominations may be made in the categories of industry, angler or media. The nominee must be a Texan or Texas organization. Individuals may be either living or deceased. Selection will be made by an independent committee; induction will take place during the annual Hall of Fame banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. — TPWD
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November 23, 2012
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER MOWING FOR NEIGHBOR WASN’T KIND GESTURE Trespassers mowed the fence line in a very large area of an adjacent landowner’s property in a heavily wooded area. The landowner found an abandoned tractor with a flat tire, along with deer feeders placed along the fence line. Titus County Game Warden Jerry Ash responded and caught two men trespassing to repair the tractor tire. At the landowner’s request, both subjects were cited for criminal trespass and warned for criminal mischief for mowing down the property owner’s brush. USING CHILD’S DEER TAG IS NOT YOUTH HUNTING During the youth hunting weekend, Wood County Game Warden Derek Spitzer received a call from a landowner who heard several shots from a nearby sweet potato field. Spitzer found a truck exiting the field and made contact with the hunters. A man said his 10-year-old daughter had killed a deer and that they were going to get some help getting it out of the field. The dad later confessed to shooting the 7-point buck and said he did not have enough money to buy his daughter a gun that she could shoot, so he shot the deer himself and used her license to tag the deer. Cases pending. FOOTPRINTS GIVE AWAY TRESPASSING HOG HUNTERS Guadalupe County Game Warden Kevin Frazier received a call from a local landowner stating that someone had been on his ranch and left a bucket full of corn, milk and flour at one of his deer feeders. For three hours, Frazier tracked three sets of footprints that appeared to be hunting all three deer blinds. Later that day, the landowner had just finished putting up some game cameras when the poachers came back onto his property. The landowner sent Frazier a text stating, “They are back.” Frazier called the landowner but
SHENANIGANS ON RIVERBED LEADS TO MEETING AT JAIL After midnight, Palo Pinto County Game Warden Matt Waggoner observed a truck driving in a closed portion of the Brazos River riverbed. Waggoner made contact with the occupants of the vehicle and found them to be intoxicated. Waggoner then obtained consent to search the vehicle and found blood, hair, and half of a quartered doe in the bed of the truck. A Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived on the scene to help. The subjects admitted to shooting a small doe with a pistol, quartering the deer and dumping the remainder of the carcass on a county road. Palo Pinto County Game Warden David Pellizzari arrived to help process the scene and follow up on the investigation. As the wardens were leaving the scene to recover the deer parts and to transport the subjects to could tell from the landowner’s voice that something was not right, and that there was a standoff occurring. Frazier told the landowner to talk to the illegal hunters and buy some time while he called the sheriff’s office to send some deputies. Frazier was 45 minutes away, but was able to direct the deputies by cell phone to find the two illegal hunters. Frazier arrived shortly thereafter, and after telling the two men that their footprints matched those he had been tracking earlier in the day, the two men stated that they had been on the ranch hunting hogs. Cases pending. A BUSY WEEKEND FOR THESE WARDENS A landowner contacted Hardeman/ Ford County Game Warden Matt Thompson and Wilbarger County Game Warden Dyke McMahen about a subject on his game camera who appeared to be rattling and using a grunt call on Halloween night. The wardens were able to locate and arrest the individual for hunting deer at night and hunting without landowner consent. The subject is also a convicted felon. The subject’s partner killed a 130-class whitetail
jail, Pellizzari observed a vehicle cross the river, stop for a minute, and then back up into the river and begin spinning his tires. The vehicle was throwing gravel onto Pellizzari’s truck and skidding sideways at a high rate of speed. Pellizzari stopped the vehicle for driving in a closed riverbed and made contact with the driver. This driver also was intoxicated, and was arrested for felony DWI 3rd or more. Waggoner seized the meat from the doe and arrested the first subject for multiple charges ranging from public intoxication to illegal possession of a white-tailed deer. On the way to the jail, the DWI subject told Pellizzari that he was coming to pull out some of his friends who were stuck in the river. Pellizzari explained to him that Waggoner had already found them and that they would all be reunited at the Palo Pinto County Jail.
with his bow earlier in the year and is under investigation for current residency. Thompson also received a call regarding two deer carcasses dumped on the side of the road. Three interviews later, a 160-class buck was discovered, along with a 130-class buck hidden under plywood. The subject had killed the smaller buck and then later saw the larger one. He took the tag off the smaller buck and put it on the bigger buck in a one-buck county. STORIES GET CROSSED, STEPSON GOES TO JAIL On opening weekend of deer season at 9 p.m., Williamson County Game Wardens Turk Jones and Joel Campos noticed what appeared to be a deer camp. At the camp, they observed five trailers with 12 hunters. Campos checked a hunter who stated his stepdad shot one buck. Jones checked the stepdad who said his stepson shot the buck. Finally, the wardens got a confession from the stepdad that he used his tag because he didn’t want to get his stepson in trouble and that the stepson shot the deer early that morning.
The stepson admitted to using a 25.06-caliber rifle to shoot the deer. He stated he wasn’t on the lease, so he didn’t want to get in trouble. Campos conducted a criminal history and the stepson had been convicted on a felony theft charge. The stepdad received a citation, and the stepson was taken to jail for felon in possession of a firearm. STARTING DEER SEASON A LITTLE EARLY On Oct. 27, a Bell County trooper, while working an accident scene, noticed a deer in the back of the truck and notified Bell County Game Warden Chris Wilson. The subject had left the scene but was located the next day. He told Wilson that he had shot the deer last year and was taking it to a friend’s home to cook the next day. Wilson continued his investigation to try and confirm when the deer had been killed. On Nov. 1, Bell County Game Warden Justin Valchar and Wilson again interviewed the subject, who then admitted shooting the deer on Oct. 26 at his lease. The deer had not been tagged and there was no proof of sex. The wardens also discov-
ered that the person watching over the ranch had no rights to lease the property for hunting. Valchar had caught four hunters hunting deer at night on the same ranch last year. DOVE SEASON ENDED EARLIER THIS YEAR Mason County Game Warden Randall Brown heard a few shots but could not find the shooters. Later, when it was nearly dark, a pickup came out of a ranch, so Brown stopped them and asked if they had any luck. They said every year they come out the weekend before deer season, get feeders set up and then hunt dove. They said one subject had killed four dove and the other had not shot. Randall informed them dove season had ended three days earlier. ILLEGAL BUCKS AND TOM Burleson County Game Warden Sophia Hiatt received a call concerning some hunters who had illegally killed a doe. At the ranch, Hiatt noticed that it was not a doe, but rather an illegal buck deer (under 13 inches). As she talked to the hunters and looked around the camp, she found another illegal buck in the bed of a truck along with a turkey. Hiatt seized the two illegal deer as well as the gobbler, since Burleson County does not have an open turkey season. Cases pending. RAISING TILAPIA IN POOLS MORE THAN JUST FOR HOME COOKING Harris County Game Warden Jennifer Inkster received a tip from the Houston Police Department that an individual was housing live tilapia in a kiddie pool in his backyard. The officers believed the fish were for the owners’ private consumption. When Inkster arrived, the suspect had an Olympic-sized swimming pool filled with Mozambique tilapia, and five other pools filled with various tilapia species. The individual admitted to selling to friends and neighbors. Case pending.
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November 23, 2012
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November 23, 2012
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by
Slammed in the wind
PORT ARTHUR — Flounder, redfish and trout have all been hungry, but the fish aren’t necessarily huge, according to Capt. Randy Foreman. “I’m doing good over here,” he said, “but we have a lot of small fish and not a lot of Texassized fish.” Foreman said the wind has been a factor, but even when it makes fishing tough, he has still been able to box out. The fish he has opened have been full of shrimp, he said. “We still have tons and tons of bait coming in,” he said. “The salinity is still really high here; we haven’t had any rain.” Foreman has been throwing artificials, including white shrimp and glow shrimp with a chartreuse tail. To contact Capt. Randy Foreman, call (409) 719-6067.
Redfish action receding PORT O’CONNOR — The redfish have been hungry, just not for anything on the end of a line, according to area anglers. A fishing guide in Calhoun County said the fishing has slowed down in the past week, with the bull red run mostly over. There are some good-sized reds, however, that have made their
NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under the birds when the wind allows on soft plastics. Redfish are good in the marsh on small top-waters and plastic frogs. SOUTH SABINE: Trout are good under the birds. Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are good under the bird and while working pods of shad and mullet on soft plastics.
Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet.
are fair on scented plastics around the Flood Gates.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good under the birds. Trout are good on the south shoreline on top-waters and soft plastics. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp.
FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Bull redfish are good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. Flounder are good around the pass on jigs tipped with shrimp and finger mullet.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Flounder are fair to good on the edge of the channel on scented plastics and jigs tipped with shrimp.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are good in the middle of the bay under diving gulls.
TEXAS CITY: Redfish are good in Moses Lake on mullet and dead shrimp. Flounder
WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the edge of Oyster Lake on shrimp. Trout are fair on shell and grass on soft plastics.
way into the marshes to find live bait. Many fish are shallow and will occasionally hit a top-water early, but are spending a lot of their time chasing mullet. The angler said Dec. 1 was shaping up to be an exceptionally good start of flounder gigging.
Liking live bait TEXAS CITY — Anglers have been having more and more success around Texas City, according to Cody Sintos of Boyd’s One Stop. “It’s really been pretty good fishing,” he said. “The flounder are starting to really run and there are lots of reds being caught.” Sintos said shrimp and mullet have been the popular choice for anglers. “The fishing is starting to get better,” he said. “We’re starting to see more black drum coming, too.” Anglers targeting speckled trout under the lights at night are also catching good fish. To contact Boyd’s One Stop, call (409) 945-4001. — John Keith
Flounder are fair to good on soft plastics over muddy bottoms at the locks. PORT O'CONNOR: Black drum are good on the reefs in San Antonio Bay on live shrimp. 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. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. Redfish are fair to good on the Estes Flats on mullet and shrimp. Flounder are fair to good on the edge of the channel on scented plastics.
PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good on the East Flats on top-waters and scented plastics. Flounder are fair around Pelican Island on scented plastics and jigs tipped with shrimp. CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are fair to good around Shamrock Cove on small top-waters and spoons. Black drum and redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on top-waters. Redfish are good in the Land Cut on natural baits. PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on top-waters
around sand and grass holes. Redfish are fair to good while drifting potholes and sightcasting to the shallows. Bull redfish are good at East Cut on crabs and mullet. SOUTH PADRE: Trout, flounder and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. Redfish are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. PORT ISABEL: Trout are good at Airport Cove and Laguna Vista on small top-waters. Redfish and flounder are fair on the edge of the ICW on scented plastics and shrimp. — TPWD
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Rut Continued From Page 1
Hobbs said the majority of the deer killed in his area the first few weeks of the season were does and young bucks, but several nice deer have been killed this week. “I’ve seen two big bucks behind low fences,” he said. “They were both big old deer with swollen necks. There have been a good many deer killed here the past few weeks, but the big boys are just starting to show up.” In Young County, 3 Amigos Ranch owner Frank Marino said the rut has started there, as well. “The rut has definitely kicked off,” Marino said. “We killed a 178 1/2-inch buck this week and the season has been going really well. The deer are coming to feeders better than they were early in the season, but still not great. “But every time we sit, we are seeing deer at the feeders.” Farther south in the Hill Country, Game Warden Scott Holly in Edwards County said the deer hunting has been kind of slow the past few weeks. “There are a lot of young bucks running around right now,” he said. “There are still a lot of acorns on the ground and a lot of natural foliage right now, so the deer have been tough to see. I think with this cold front that we just got, it should bring some of the bigger deer out.” The rut has not kicked off in deep South Texas, although good bucks have been seen and shot, and hunters are expecting an exciting rut in about a month. Mason County biologist Kory Perlichek said the rut
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has kicked off in a big way across the northern portion of the Hill Country. “I’ve heard from multiple landowners that the bucks are hot and heavy after the does,” Perlichek said. “And they’re pretty serious about it — noses to the ground and panting. I don’t believe we have hit peak rut yet, but I expect that in the next week or two. “The recent cold spell really got them moving.” Perlichek said he saw rutting activity this season as early as the last weekend of October, earlier than normal. However, despite good rutting activity, good bucks have been hard to come by for some hunters. “There is still a really good acorn crop on the ground,” he said. “It has been hard hunting, because the bucks would rather eat those acorns than corn. But a lot of people are seeing some good bucks.” In East Texas, some good deer have been shot chasing does. According to one hunter around Jasper who talked to LSON, he shot a doe that was being trailed by a young buck. After the doe had been shot, the buck tried to breed her. “They aren’t really coming to the feeders,” the hunter said. “We did shoot the biggest buck that has been killed on our lease in 20 years, according to the landowner. The 13-inch rule is really paying off in this part of the state. But the deer are getting harder to see as the hunting pressure gets higher. “We aren’t seeing many deer in the fields.” Internet reports have rutting activity going on in Montague, Comanche, Grayson and Erath counties.
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BARREL BURNER: While the action hasn’t been as hot as the early teal season, hunters on area lakes and private water bodies are shooting good mixed bags, with plenty of redheads and bluebills being reported along the coast. Photo by John Keith.
Wings Continued From Page 4
Pulvino said, in addition to low numbers of teal, he hasn’t seen many gadwall, but the hunting has been steady with nice numbers of birds overall. He keeps his decoy strategies consistent during the first half of the season. “Since I hunt public water, I always go overboard on the decoys on open water, putting out a minimum of nine dozen decoys,” he said. “When I hunt in the dead timber, I usually put out no more than two dozen for the first split.” Along the coast, hunters are seeing ducks of a different color. Capt. Rob Peel has been seeing red hunting between Matagorda and Port O’ Connor.
“I bet we saw 10,000 redheads — they were in droves,” said Peel of a recent trip. “We had about 10 or 12 guys and everybody had a limit by 7 a.m. of redheads and pintails.” When the redheads aren’t bombing the decoys, Peel said a few bluebills, wigeon and teal have been brought down. “The redheads are just phenomenal and there are quite a few pintails,” he said. “If you can get off the beaten path somewhere, you can do good. We’re using airboats to get back in the fingers of the marsh, and we all use laydown blinds.” Hunters in the Panhandle are not only seeing ducks, but large groups of geese as well. “There are lots of geese here right now,” said Terry Cook of Straight Line Outfitters in Amarillo. “Cactus
Lake had no water last year and it got water in it this year, so the birds have their old roost pond back. We’re real excited.” The waterfowl estimate on Cactus Lake is 30,000 snow geese and 10,000 Canada geese. For ducks, Cook said wigeon and green-winged teal are the most numerous, along with pintail and some redheads. He hasn’t seen many mallards yet. “It’s a good mixed bag,” he said. “I think it’ll just get better.” Reports around Waco have touted solid numbers of birds, including pintail, gadwall, wigeon and redheads. Lesser numbers of ringneck and canvasback ducks have also been seen. Richard Pulvino, (214) 317-1492 Capt. Rob Peel, (972) 897-3478 Terry Cook, (806) 355-5929
Page 16
November 23, 2012
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Win Nikon 10x42 PROSTAFF 7 binoculars See a full selection of Nikon products at
Victoria All-Sports Center 1902 Houston Hwy. Victoria, TX 77901
(361) 575-0655 www.victoriaallsports.com
CALEB KORCZY NSKI, 8, of Vict oria had a succ ful youth weeke essnd hunt. While hunting with hi dad, big brothe s r and little sist er, he harveste first buck at 18 d his 0 yards. He was hunting on the family’s deer le ase in Refugio County. The de was aged at 7. er 5 years old, w as 20 1/2-inch wide and gros es s scored 124 3/ 8. Caleb used dad's first deer his rifle to harvest the deer.
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November 23, 2012
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November 23, 2012
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Redfish
The LSON cover curse You’ve probably heard of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx, or the Madden curse for athletes on the cover of the popular video game. Often, the next season, those same athletes get injured or have a down year. But here at LSON, we seem to have our own cover jinx involving big bucks. But this goes a little farther than a bad game or a minor injury. The previous two issue of LSON have featured big bucks on the cover. Within 48 hours of each issue coming out, both bucks were harvested by hunters. The buck on the cover of the Oct. 26 issue was taken at the Rafter W Ranch near Sonora. The buck on the Nov. 9 cover was harvested at a ranch in Frio County. We hope this doesn’t carryover to any hunters who make the
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Continued From Page 1
cover, but any deer for the rest of the season better head for the thickets if they make it onto the front page of Lone Star Outdoor News. If any hunter gets a good trail camera
Game Warden named Texas Wildlife Officer of the Year Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Danny Kelso has been recognized as Texas Wildlife Officer of the Year by the ShikarSafari Club International. TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith presented Kelso with the prestigious award at this month’s meeting of the Parks and Wildlife Commission at the Austin headquarters. This marks the 32nd year this award has been presented to a Texas game warden. “During Danny’s career, he has built a reputation as being a ‘go-to’ person in his community,” said Smith. “In addition to his game warden duties, he frequently assists local entities with law enforcement, firefighting, and community events.” Kelso was a member of the 42nd Texas Game Warden Training Academy graduating class in April 1991. In his 22 years of service as a state game warden, Kelso has been stationed in Aransas and Refugio counties. — TPWD
picture of a nice buck that has eluded them this season, send it to us. Who knows? We might put it on the cover and see if the jinx holds true. — Staff report
Ruger receives award Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has been presented with the Firearms Manufacturer of the Year award by the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers for the sixth consecutive year during the association’s 39th Annual Meeting in Orlando. The award was presented to Chris Killoy, Ruger vice president of sales and marketing, by NASGW Chairman of the Board Jack Baumler. “We are extremely pleased and grateful to receive this award once again,” said Killoy. “We continue to strive to meet the needs of independent wholesalers and the demands of their customers, the retailers and consumers, through development and timely delivery of innovative new products.” NASGW Wholesaler members evaluate the performance of manufacturers on distribution policy, marketing, sales and promotion, logistics and operations and NASGW and industry support. The NASGW Awards recognize top manufacturers who best demonstrate a commitment to two-step distribution and who provide outstanding value and service. — Ruger
hammering 3-inch, white soft plastic shrimp on a 1/4-ounce jighead or under a popping cork. “We are catching a few in the 16- to 18-inch range, but a lot of them are at the 25- to 26-inch limit,” he said. “We’ve also caught one or two oversized reds, but they just made it — around 28 inches. This cold front should have them bronzing up really good in the next week or so.” Harris predicts the weather will turn warm again after the last major cold air blew into the region. “There are lots of birds right now, and I think the weather is going to warm back up,” he said. “If it does, the fishing will be really good.” Near Rockport on the Estes Flats, guide Charles Newton said the redfish bite has been outstanding when you can get out without being blown off the water due to high winds that have plagued the area the past few weeks. “It was terrific last week after the cold front,” Newton said. “The fishing has been just plenty good for us. We are only using finger mullet and pin perch right now. I caught five fish myself this past Sunday and released four — all on the Estes Flats.” Newton said while it is still fishing, if you target redfish specifically, it is almost hard not to catch them right now. “If you just need an excuse to get out of the house and can stand the cold wind, some days it is really terrific out there,” he said. “Everything we are catching is slot size. The bigger ones can be caught, but they are in a different area than the flats right now, and they are tough to get to because of the wind.” Farther south, the redfish action has been good as the fish head into the area from up north. According to Capt. Cliff Fleming’s fishing report on spadre.com, the fish are migrating south in good numbers and the Laguna Madre is holding good groups of redfish. Good bites were also reported in the South Bay and Ship Channel on live shrimp and mullet. Redfish are also good at Airport Cove near Port Isabel. Capt. David Harris, (281) 923-1440 Capt. Charles Newton, (361) 729-8220
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November 23, 2012
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Fences
Quail opener
Continued From Page 5
Continued From Page 4
at Sul Ross State University in Alpine said wildlife-friendly fencing has been installed in increasing numbers in Texas’ pronghorn country, especially in the Trans-Pecos region. “NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service, a division of USDA) has a good program for improving pronghorn habitat, and it includes funding assistance for landowners to switch out their fences,” he said. “After the wildfires last year, several landowners used it to put in fences more favorable to pronghorns.” At the institute, other fencing options also are being studied. “We’re trying to associate visual cues for the animals,” Harveson said. “We use PVC pipe as a cue to where the pronghorn can cross under the fence. We’re putting these in the areas where the relocation of pronghorn from the Panhandle to the Trans Pecos will take place in January.” In the desert bighorn country in Texas, the Texas Bighorn Society has established its Big Bend Conservation Corridor Initiative, which director Robert Joseph of Lubbock said will include issues relating to fencing. “At one of our work projects, a landowner asked if we could help modify the current fence, and we created 21-inch spaces at the bottom to allow the sheep to move through,” he said. Kai Buckert, ranch manager at the Lado Ranch in Big Bend, said their fencing modifications were less complex. “We are removing a lot of the old sheep fencing that was installed in the ’40s,” he said. “The old sheep panels held the wild sheep in and they couldn’t escape from predators. We cut the wire in 50- to 100foot sections and rolled it up — we didn’t want to pack it down the mountain.” The rolled-up wires had an added benefit. “We left it in piles to create habitat for the smaller animals,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe the number of nests of quail and other small animals in the piles.”
“The covey counts the next hunt were nine, eight and six. There were 25-plus birds in every covey.” Wyatt said good rainfall in certain areas of his property, which includes areas from Childress to San Angelo, made the difference this year. “I feel like it’s going to get better when the frost hits, but it was a good opening weekend hunt, anyway” he said. “I think we could have a 10- to 15-covey year.” The hunters harvested about 30 to 35 birds on the opener, he said. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist Stephen Lange, some hunters had success on Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, though some went home empty-handed. “We had pretty decent numbers,” he said. “Some
hunters came away with 10 birds apiece and they were working anywhere from six to eight coveys a hunt. But we had a lot of hunters come away without seeing a covey, or only seeing one or two.” Lange said that when you compare the numbers to last year when the WMA had to be closed, the opener was a good one. “If you worked it out to a covey per mile, it was half-a-covey per mile last year and as much as 3.5 coveys per mile this year,” he said. “However, that’s still way below what a longterm average would be in this area of the state.” Lange said Chaparral saw multiple quail hatches, which made all the difference. But in many areas of the state, quail are still having problems
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rebounding. “We aren’t going to hunt for them this year,” said James Stephens of the Pitchfork Ranch in Idalou. “We probably do have pockets of birds that are huntable, but we aren’t going to go after them. We are broadcasting milo to keep them in good shape and hoping for more rain for the birds to recover.” Stephens said he has still been walking into coveys. “The smallest has been seven and the largest 16,” he said. “I’d say probably two months ago the larger coveys would have 18, but there has been some mortality on a few of those for whatever reason.” The birds that are around are in good shape, but the ranch would rather play it safe, he said.
HERE AND THERE: Some private ranches have had a much better start to quail season compared to last year, but some of the public lands are still trying to recover. Chaparral WMA has had some good hunts, while Matador WMA has experienced very low numbers of birds. Photo by First Shot Outfitters.
Other ranches near San Angelo are reporting as many as 10 coveys a hunt. Matador WMA in
Cottle County had 37 hunters try their luck so far this season, with a total of only six quail harvested.
First deer Continued From Page 6
“We got the gun out of the window and the deer turned broadside twice and turned away twice,” he said. “(Lane) started to squeeze and I said ‘No, no, no.’” The anticipation of his first deer started to take its toll on the young hunter. “Lane kind of started shak-
ing and his left leg was shaking because he had buck fever bad,” Chad said. “I told him to sit in my lap and get off those shaky legs. The second time he was going to take the shot he got really nervous, so I told him to take three deep breaths.” Right on cue, the spike moved into a good position.
“I told him not to jerk the shot and the next thing we know the shot goes off,” he said. “He was down 35 yards away. Lane made a perfect shoulder shot.” Harvesting his first deer was exciting for Lane. “I felt happy,” Lane said. “I was a little bit nervous shooting at the deer. I thought I was
going to miss him.” Chad said he had to force him out of bed the morning of the hunt, but that probably won’t be a problem in the future. When Lane was asked what kind of deer he wanted to go after next, he was quick in his answer. “A big buck,” he said.
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Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, jetty Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
Time 5:47 AM 6:16 AM 6:43 AM 7:09 AM 7:34 AM 8:02 AM 12:11 AM 12:30 AM 12:45 AM 12:56 AM 10:49 AM 11:29 AM 12:15 PM 4:01 AM 3:51 AM
Height 0.6L 0.3L 0.0L -0.1L -0.3L -0.3L 2.4H 2.4H 2.3H 2.3H 0.0L 0.2L 0.5L 1.3L 0.8L
Time 12:46 PM 1:49 PM 2:37 PM 3:15 PM 3:49 PM 4:21 PM 8:32 AM 9:03 AM 9:37 AM 10:12 AM 7:41 PM 8:13 PM 8:38 PM 7:47 AM 10:10 AM
Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
Time 6:13 AM 6:42 AM 7:09 AM 12:08 AM 12:22 AM 12:39 AM 12:58 AM 1:17 AM 1:32 AM 1:43 AM 11:15 AM 11:55 AM 12:41 PM 4:27 AM 4:17 AM
San Luis Pass Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
Time 7:09 AM 12:09 AM 12:24 AM 12:38 AM 12:52 AM 1:09 AM 1:28 AM 1:47 AM 2:02 AM 2:13 AM 12:11 PM 12:51 PM 1:37 PM 5:23 AM 5:13 AM
Freeport Harbor Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
Time 6:00 AM 6:31 AM 7:03 AM 7:33 AM 8:03 AM 8:32 AM 9:01 AM 9:31 AM 10:01 AM 10:34 AM 11:09 AM 11:50 AM 12:40 PM 4:37 AM 4:33 AM
Height 0.5L 0.2L 0.0L 1.8H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.8H 0.0L 0.1L 0.4L 1.0L 0.7L
Time 1:33 PM 2:36 PM 3:24 PM 7:35 AM 8:00 AM 8:28 AM 8:58 AM 9:29 AM 10:03 AM 10:38 AM 8:28 PM 9:00 PM 9:25 PM 8:34 AM 10:57 AM
Height 2.3H 2.5H 2.6H 2.6H 2.6H 2.6H -0.4L -0.4L -0.3L -0.2L 2.3H 2.2H 2.1H 1.4H 1.6H Height 1.8H 2.0H 2.1H -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2L 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.1H 1.2H
Time 6:16 PM 7:16 PM 8:02 PM 8:34 PM 8:46 PM 8:47 PM 4:57 PM 5:35 PM 6:18 PM 7:01 PM
Height 1.8L 2.0L 2.1L 2.2L 2.3L 2.3L 2.6H 2.5H 2.4H 2.4H
1:11 PM 2:24 PM
0.8L 1.2L
Time 6:42 PM 7:42 PM 8:28 PM 4:02 PM 4:36 PM 5:08 PM 5:44 PM 6:22 PM 7:05 PM 7:48 PM
Height 1.4L 1.6L 1.7L 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H 2.0H 1.9H 1.9H
1:37 PM 2:50 PM
0.7L 1.0L Height 0.9L 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H
Time 10:52 PM 11:07 PM 11:21 PM 11:35 PM 11:52 PM
Height 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.4H
8:59 PM 9:25 PM 10:04 PM
2.3L 2.2L 2.2L
8:57 PM 9:12 PM
2.0H 2.0H
Time 11:39 PM 11:54 PM
Height 1.8H 1.8H
9:00 PM 9:12 PM 9:13 PM 9:25 PM 9:51 PM 10:30 PM
1.8L 1.8L 1.8L 1.8L 1.8L 1.8L
9:44 PM 9:59 PM
1.6H 1.6H
Height 0.3L 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 0.0L 0.1L 0.2L 0.6L 0.4L
Time 2:03 PM 7:38 AM 8:05 AM 8:31 AM 8:56 AM 9:24 AM 9:54 AM 10:25 AM 10:59 AM 11:34 AM 8:58 PM 9:30 PM 9:55 PM 9:04 AM 11:27 AM
Height 1.1H 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L -0.1L 1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 0.7H 0.7H
Time 7:38 PM 3:06 PM 3:54 PM 4:32 PM 5:06 PM 5:38 PM 6:14 PM 6:52 PM 7:35 PM 8:18 PM
Time
Height
8:38 PM 9:24 PM 9:56 PM 10:08 PM 10:09 PM 10:21 PM 10:47 PM 11:26 PM
1.0L 1.0L 1.1L 1.1L 1.1L 1.1L 1.1L 1.1L
2:33 PM 3:46 PM
0.4L 0.6L
10:14 PM 10:29 PM
1.0H 0.9H
Height 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L 0.0L -0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.8L 0.6L
Time 1:15 PM 2:18 PM 3:08 PM 3:50 PM 4:29 PM 5:05 PM 5:41 PM 6:17 PM 6:52 PM 7:27 PM 7:59 PM 8:28 PM 8:54 PM 8:39 AM 10:36 AM
Height 1.6H 1.8H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H 1.0H 1.2H
Time 7:17 PM 8:34 PM
Height 1.2L 1.3L
Time 10:59 PM 11:12 PM
Height 1.4H 1.4H
1:46 PM 3:26 PM
0.7L 0.9L
9:18 PM 9:40 PM
1.5H 1.4H
Solunar | Sun times | Moon times
Moon Phases Full
Port O’Connor Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
Time 12:08 AM 9:11 AM 9:40 AM 10:08 AM 10:36 AM 11:06 AM 11:41 AM 12:01 AM 12:29 AM 12:49 AM 12:58 AM 1:08 AM 1:19 AM 1:09 AM 7:33 AM
Rockport Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
Time 12:13 AM 12:12 AM 12:25 AM 12:46 AM 1:16 AM 1:52 AM 2:33 AM 3:15 AM 3:54 AM 4:28 AM 4:53 AM 4:52 AM 2:01 AM 12:57 AM 12:20 AM Time 5:20 AM 5:53 AM 6:27 AM 7:01 AM 7:35 AM 8:09 AM 8:43 AM 9:16 AM 9:50 AM 10:24 AM 11:00 AM 11:39 AM 12:24 PM 4:01 AM 4:09 AM
Time 5:20 AM 5:56 AM 6:32 AM 7:06 AM 7:40 AM 8:12 AM 8:44 AM 9:15 AM 9:46 AM 10:19 AM 10:54 AM 11:33 AM 12:18 PM 4:15 AM 4:05 AM
Dec. 20
Houston Height 0.9H 0.4L 0.3L 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.1L 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.4L
Time 8:43 AM 10:42 PM 10:48 PM 10:57 PM 11:09 PM 11:32 PM
Height 0.5L 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H
12:21 PM 1:04 PM 1:47 PM 2:28 PM 3:05 PM 3:38 PM 3:57 PM 10:14 PM
0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.3L 0.4L 0.6H
Height 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H
Time 8:49 AM 9:33 AM 10:14 AM 10:55 AM 11:37 AM 12:21 PM 1:05 PM 1:49 PM 2:29 PM 3:05 PM 3:37 PM 4:05 PM 4:25 PM 4:31 PM 8:28 AM
Height 0.3L 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L
Height 0.5L 0.3L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.7L 0.5L
South Padre Island Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.
First
Dec. 13
Dec. 6
Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Date Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 01 Dec 02 Dec 03 Dec 04 Dec 05 Dec 06 Dec 07
New
Last
Nov. 28
Height 0.6L 0.4L 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.4L 0.6L 1.0L 0.7L
Time 1:08 PM 2:17 PM 3:11 PM 3:59 PM 4:44 PM 5:27 PM 6:08 PM 6:45 PM 7:18 PM 7:45 PM 8:07 PM 8:24 PM 8:36 PM 8:15 AM 11:11 AM
Height 1.6H 1.8H 2.0H 2.0H 2.1H 2.0H 1.9H 1.8H 1.7H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.4H 0.9H 1.1H
Time 1:19 PM 2:34 PM 3:33 PM 4:23 PM 5:10 PM 5:54 PM 6:35 PM 7:12 PM 7:42 PM 8:05 PM 8:20 PM 8:31 PM 8:37 PM 7:06 AM 10:35 AM
Height 1.6H 1.8H 1.8H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.8H 1.7H 1.6H 1.1H 1.1H
Time 11:12 PM
Height 0.9H
11:31 PM
0.6H
Time
Height
Time
Height
Time
Height
2012 Nov-Dec 23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue > 28 Wed > 29 Thu F 30 Fri > 01 Sat > 02 Sun 03 Mon 04 Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu Q 07 Fri 08 Sat 09 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue > 12 Wed >
A.M. Minor Major 12:55 7:06 1:33 7:44 2:12 8:24 2:53 9:05 3:37 9:49 4:23 10:35 5:12 11:24 6:03 ----6:55 12:44 7:48 1:36 8:39 2:28 9:30 3:18 10:18 4:07 11:06 4:54 11:52 5:40 12:13 6:26 12:59 7:12 1:47 8:02 2:40 8:56 3:38 9:54
Dallas
1:07 PM
0.2H
Time 6:15 PM
Height 1.3L
3:30 PM Time 9:57 PM
0.2L Height 1.4H
2012 Nov-Dec 23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue > 28 Wed > 29 Thu F 30 Fri > 01 Sat > 02 Sun 03 Mon 04 Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu Q 07 Fri 08 Sat 09 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue > 12 Wed >
A.M. Minor Major 1:00 7:11 1:39 7:50 2:18 8:29 2:59 9:10 3:42 9:54 4:29 10:41 5:18 11:30 6:09 ----7:01 12:49 7:53 1:42 8:45 2:33 9:35 3:24 10:24 4:13 11:11 5:00 11:57 5:45 12:18 6:31 1:04 7:18 1:53 8:07 2:46 9:01 3:43 9:59
San Antonio 1:21 PM 2:48 PM
0.7L 1.0L
8:45 PM 8:47 PM
1.4H 1.4H
Time 5:57 PM
Height 1.5L
Time 9:34 PM
Height 1.6H
1:14 PM 2:31 PM
0.8L 1.1L
8:39 PM 8:34 PM
1.5H 1.4H
2012 A.M. Nov-Dec Minor Major 23 Fri 1:07 7:18 24 Sat 1:46 7:57 25 Sun 2:25 8:36 26 Mon 3:06 9:17 27 Tue > 3:49 10:01 28 Wed > 4:36 10:48 29 Thu F 5:25 11:37 30 Fri > 6:16 12:04 01 Sat > 7:08 12:56 02 Sun 8:00 1:49 03 Mon 8:52 2:40 04 Tue 9:42 3:31 05 Wed 10:31 4:20 06 Thu Q 11:18 5:07 07 Fri ----- 5:52 08 Sat 12:25 6:38 09 Sun 1:11 7:25 10 Mon 2:00 8:14 11 Tue > 2:53 9:08 12 Wed > 3:50 10:06
Amarillo
2012 A.M. Nov-Dec Minor 23 Fri 1:21 24 Sat 1:59 25 Sun 2:38 26 Mon 3:19 27 Tue > 4:03 28 Wed > 4:49 29 Thu F 5:38 30 Fri > 6:29 01 Sat > 7:21 02 Sun 8:14 03 Mon 9:05 04 Tue 9:56 05 Wed 10:44 06 Thu Q 11:31 07 Fri ----08 Sat 12:39 09 Sun 1:25 10 Mon 2:13 11 Tue > 3:06 12 Wed > 4:04
OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. A rare species of any game 5. A popular fish catch 9. Dorsal fin acts like this to a fish 10. A certain fishing method 12. Name for the Whitetail of the North 14. A quick-to-erect type tent 15. A wingshooter’s quarry 16. The lamprey 17. A dropped antler 19. Another name for a largemouth 21. A term for a flock of pheasants 23. A bear hideaway 24. Name for the wild boar 25. A game pathway 26. A wild boar 28. A buck’s collection of does 29. Term for a hookless lure 31. Common name for the brook trout
35. Good wood for arrow shafts 37. A tasty northern saltwater flat fish 38. Large appendage on a muley 39. A good bluegill bait 40. Largest fin on a fish
Solution on Page 30
32. 33. 34. 36.
Page 21
November 23, 2012
DOWN 1. The bowman’s ammo 2. Might be in a hunter’s backpack 3. Part of fishing gear 4. A shedded antler 6. Anything that attracts fish, game, wildfowl 7. Classed as a rodent 8. A lake bird 10. Furs, hides 11. A breed of retriever 13. Field area for quail 17. A breed of gundog 18. Name for an in-hole fireplace 19. Propels the scow 20. He checks for your right to fish 22. The _____ Walton League 23. Angler considers this for some fish 27. Worn to keep pebbles out of shoes 30. The hunting area 31. A female elk A bait placed in the water to lure fish Part of a fishline The quest for prey Bear young
Major 7:32 8:10 8:50 9:31 10:14 11:01 11:50 12:17 1:09 2:02 2:54 3:44 4:33 5:20 6:06 6:52 7:38 8:28 9:21 10:20
P.M. Minor 1:17 1:55 2:35 3:16 4:00 4:47 5:36 6:27 7:19 8:11 9:02 9:52 10:41 11:29 ----12:38 1:26 2:17 3:11 4:09
MOON Rises 2:22p 2:56p 3:33p 4:12p 4:54p 5:39p 6:27p 7:17p 8:09p 9:03p 9:57p 10:53p 11:49p NoMoon 12:47a 1:48a 2:51a 3:58a 5:06a 6:14a
Sets 2:28a 3:22a 4:16a 5:10a 6:03a 6:55a 7:45a 8:32a 9:16a 9:57a 10:35a 11:11a 11:46a 12:21p 12:57p 1:36p 2:19p 3:07p 4:01p 5:01p
P.M. Minor Major 1:22 7:33 2:01 8:12 2:40 8:52 3:22 9:33 4:06 10:18 4:53 11:05 5:42 ----6:33 12:21 7:25 1:13 8:17 2:05 9:08 2:56 9:58 3:46 10:46 4:35 11:34 5:23 ----- 6:09 12:44 6:57 1:32 7:45 2:22 8:37 3:16 9:32 4:15 10:31
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises 07:04 05:21 2:25p 07:05 05:21 2:59p 07:06 05:20 3:34p 07:07 05:20 4:12p 07:08 05:20 4:53p 07:09 05:20 5:37p 07:09 05:20 6:25p 07:10 05:19 7:16p 07:11 05:19 8:09p 07:12 05:19 9:04p 07:13 05:19 9:59p 07:14 05:19 10:56p 07:14 05:19 11:54p 07:15 05:19 NoMoon 07:16 05:19 12:53a 07:17 05:19 1:55a 07:17 05:19 3:01a 07:18 05:20 4:09a 07:19 05:20 5:18a 07:20 05:20 6:27a
Sets 2:36a 3:31a 4:26a 5:21a 6:15a 7:07a 7:57a 8:45a 9:28a 10:08a 10:45a 11:20a 11:54a 12:27p 1:02p 1:39p 2:20p 3:07p 4:00p 5:00p
P.M. Minor Major 1:29 7:40 2:08 8:19 2:47 8:59 3:29 9:40 4:13 10:25 5:00 11:12 5:49 ----6:40 12:28 7:32 1:20 8:24 2:12 9:15 3:03 10:05 3:53 10:53 4:42 11:41 5:30 12:04 6:16 12:51 7:04 1:39 7:52 2:29 8:44 3:23 9:39 4:22 10:38
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 07:04 05:35 2:35p 2:41a 07:05 05:35 3:10p 3:35a 07:05 05:35 3:46p 4:28a 07:06 05:35 4:25p 5:22a 07:07 05:34 5:07p 6:15a 07:08 05:34 5:52p 7:07a 07:09 05:34 6:40p 7:57a 07:09 05:34 7:31p 8:44a 07:10 05:34 8:23p 9:29a 07:11 05:34 9:16p 10:10a 07:12 05:34 10:11p 10:48a 07:13 05:34 11:06p 11:24a 07:13 05:34 NoMoon 11:59a 07:14 05:34 12:02a 12:34p 07:15 05:34 1:00a 1:10p 07:16 05:34 2:00a 1:49p 07:16 05:35 3:04a 2:32p 07:17 05:35 4:10a 3:20p 07:18 05:35 5:19a 4:15p 07:18 05:35 6:27a 5:15p
P.M. Minor 1:43 2:21 3:01 3:42 4:26 5:13 6:02 6:53 7:45 8:37 9:28 10:18 11:07 11:55 12:18 1:04 1:52 2:42 3:37 4:35
SUN Rises 07:29 07:30 07:31 07:32 07:33 07:34 07:35 07:36 07:37 07:38 07:39 07:40 07:40 07:41 07:42 07:43 07:44 07:44 07:45 07:46
Major 7:28 8:06 8:46 9:28 10:12 10:59 11:54 12:15 1:07 1:59 2:51 3:41 4:30 5:17 6:04 6:51 7:40 8:31 9:26 10:25
Major 7:54 8:32 9:12 9:54 10:38 11:25 ----12:41 1:33 2:25 3:17 4:07 4:56 5:43 6:30 7:17 8:06 8:57 9:52 10:51
SUN Rises Sets 06:52 05:22 06:53 05:22 06:54 05:22 06:54 05:21 06:55 05:21 06:56 05:21 06:57 05:21 06:58 05:21 06:58 05:21 06:59 05:21 07:00 05:21 07:01 05:21 07:02 05:21 07:02 05:21 07:03 05:21 07:04 05:21 07:04 05:21 07:05 05:22 07:06 05:22 07:07 05:22
Sets 05:36 05:36 05:36 05:35 05:35 05:35 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34 05:34
MOON Rises 2:45p 3:17p 3:51p 4:28p 5:09p 5:53p 6:41p 7:32p 8:26p 9:21p 10:17p 11:15p NoMoon 12:14a 1:15a 2:18a 3:25a 4:34a 5:45a 6:54a
Sets 2:58a 3:54a 4:50a 5:46a 6:41a 7:34a 8:24a 9:11a 9:54a 10:34a 11:10a 11:43a 12:16p 12:48p 1:22p 1:58p 2:38p 3:24p 4:16p 5:16p
FOR THE TABLE Catfish fajitas 6 catfish fillets, cut into 1/2-inch strips Juice of 1 lime 1 package fajita seasoning mix 2 tbsps. flour 2 bell peppers, cut in strips 1 medium onion, sliced thick 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed 1/2 cup salsa Tortillas Shredded cheese and salsa for toppings Drizzle the lime juice over the fillets. Then combine the fish,
fajita seasoning and flour, set aside. Mix the peppers, onion, beans and salsa together. Place 1/4 of the pepper mixture on a sheet of aluminum foil and top with 1/4 of the catfish fillets. Fold and seal the foil into a packet. Leave room for the heat to circulate. Make four packets. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 450 degrees or grill for nine to 11 minutes on a covered grill over medium-high heat. Serve on the tortillas and top with shredded cheese and salsa. — Easyfishrecipes.com
Duck chili 2 pounds duck breast, cubed 1 can red kidney beans, drained 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 can white beans, drained 6 medium onions, chopped 5 green peppers, chopped In a large skillet or dutch oven, 2 cans (16 oz.) tomato sauce cook the duck with the garlic, 8 red peppers, 4 or 5 chili onions and green peppers until peppers, jalapeno, etc., chopped done. Add the remaining ingredi1 1/2 tsps. Tabasco sauce ents except the beans. Simmer for 2 tbsps. chili powder at least one hour stirring occasion1 tbsp. cumin ally. Add the beans and simmer 20 1 tsp. cayenne pepper minutes longer. 1 tsp. salt — Backwoodsbound.com *email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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November 23, 2012
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HEROES DONNIE BERG took this big brown bear earlier this year on Kodiak Island.
Fort Worth angler MICHAEL SOWARDS caught this big bull redfish near Freeport. Dallas hunter LEE PARIS watched this buck on the Standing Rock Ranch in Atoka, Okla., for two years before taking him at 23 yards with his bow this season.
JEFF MOORE was fishing with his best friend Stuart Young on Oct. 20 when he caught this 41-inch bull red near Port O’Connor. Jeff was fishing on Stuart’s boat. “He owes me,” said Stuart.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to news@lonestaroutdoornews. com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
Angler MIKE PARKS fought this Crevalle jack for more than 30 minutes at the Port Aransas jetty on Oct. 27. Jack County was the destination for 16-year-old DYLAN DEAN. Dylan harvested this great 14-point buck during the youth weekend.
CLAIRE STARCHER, along with her guide, shows off the 47-inch northern pike she caught on a fly rod while fishing at Wollaston Lake Lodge in Canada.
OUTDOOR BUSINESS
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Crappie bite strong in deep water
HEAD DEEP: The crappie bite is going strong in deeper water near structure. Guides suggest trying both minnows and jigs to solicit bites. Photo by LSON.
By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
The temperatures are dropping and the deep-water crappie bite is on, according to guides in North Texas. “It’s been good and it is getting better with it getting colder,” said Lake Fork guide Brad Williams. “We are catching them in about 25 to 32 feet of water on deep main lake points. They are starting to get on the winter bite, where they hang around balls of bait in deeper water.” Williams said he was catching fish on live bait and artificials, depending on what the crappie wanted that day. “A little bit of both,” he said. “Jigs and minnows are both good. Some days it would be one or the other. Anything in chartreuse is working, but pink and pearl have been working really good lately.” Williams said the winter bite came a little earlier this year, but his numbers have remained about the same. On Lake Ray Roberts, guide Cliff Spindle reported an excellent bite over COE brush piles in 24 to 35 feet of water. “We have been doing really good,” Spindle said. “We are hitting limits on almost every trip, including many half-days. The live bait is probably working the best, but the jig bite has been good, also. Chartreuse and white are the best right now.” Spindle said the bite should remain consistent until about mid-December. “Good days can still be had after that,” he said,” but the bite will get more inconsistent.” Farther south, Crappie Anglers of Texas Vice President Doug Broadway reported a good bite on Lake Livingston. “They have been catching them really good in White Rock Creek,” he said. “There have been good numbers and some really good size to them, as well.” On Lake Conroe, Broadway said he talked to several club members this week and reports of a strong bite near the 1096 bridge surfaced. “They are catching them under the bridge and catching them well,” he said. “Minnows and jigs are both working.” Brad Williams, (903) 355-1464 Cliff Spindle, (940) 727-3493
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Trout stockings announced For an inexpensive, entry-level fishing experience the entire family can enjoy, it doesn’t get much easier than winter rainbow trout fishing in Texas. Beginning in December and continuing through March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock upward of 250,000 hatchery-reared rainbow trout at more than 100 sites across the state. Many of the fish stockings will be conducted at small community fishing lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces offering easy angling access. Locations such as Beal Park Lake in Midland, Eisenhower Park Pond in Houston, and Waldron Park in Corpus Christi will be stocked this winter. Catching these hungry fish can be easy, making the experience ideal for both novice anglers and kids. The fish will bite almost immediately after stocking and typically will take a variety of baits, from whole kernel canned corn or commercial soft bait to artificial flies and even small spinner baits. For more information about the winter trout fishing program, including tips and the 20122013 trout stocking schedule listed by city or county visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/ fish/management/stocking/trout_stocking.phtml. — TPWD
November 23, 2012
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PRODUCTS
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(877) 502-6482 www.fishmitchell.com
>>
AVOCET IV GOLD COMBO: Mitchell’s rod-and-reel combo features a reel with super-smooth ball bearings and a quick-stop anti-reverse for smooth operation that the company says will stop a fish in its tracks. The reel features a dual bearing-supported pinion gear for perfect gear alignment and a multi-disc drag system for consistent drag pressure. An aluminum handle and spool add strength while its “NeverFail Bail Spring System” promises consistent trouble-free action. The combo is available in four models, with rod lengths ranging from 5-feet, 6-inches long to 7 feet long. The combos sell for just under $50.
SURVIVOR TURKEY CALL: Brothers in Arms Game Calls and Mossy Oak have teamed up to offer the Survivor Turkey Call, with a portion of the sales going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The special Mossy Oak Pink double-sided slate makes the same sound on both sides. It includes an all-weather striker (that will work in any wet weather condition) and a wood striker. Also included is a sanding pad. The Survivor Turkey Call was named in honor of those who have battled breast cancer. The pink call sells for just under $30.
(503) 224-0168 www.linekeeper.net
>>
LINE KEEPER: This fully adjustable elastic band will help anglers control 1- to 300-pound line and leader spools to minimize tangles. The elastic band is joined together by an abrasion-resistant plastic coupler that has a center hole for mono or braided line to pass through without abrading or grooving. The weather-resistant, ultraviolet-stable Line Keeper can be used in freshwater or saltwater. It sells for $7 for a three-pack.
>>
BLACK LED TRAIL CAMERA: The Simmons ProHunter black LED trail camera allows hunters to covertly monitor game and land activity around the clock. Utilizing black LED night vision technology, the 6 MP trail camera captures game activity up to 45 feet away, with full-color daytime images and high-quality black and white nighttime images. It also captures five- to 60-second video clips complete with audio. With a nine-month battery life and a trigger speed of less than one second, the ProHunter’s timelapse technology allows users to configure the camera to capture images or video at preset time intervals (from one minute to one hour) and record game activity not within range of the camera’s sensor. The trail camera also features date, time and moon stamps on every image. It sells for about $190.
www.brothersinarmsgamecalls.com
CANNED HEAT: At Fiocchi, innovation extends beyond its ammo right to the packaging. Canned Heat refers to ammo packed in an oxygen-free nitrogen gas atmosphere to slow deterioration. An enamel coating inside and out insulates against electrolysis and prevents rust and corrosion. The specially designed can protects ammo from the harshest of environments. The cans, which have resealable plastic lids, stack and store easily. A variety of ammo is available in this packaging including Fiochhi’s .223 Remington caliber full metal jacket 62-grain bullets. A round of 50 sells for about $25.
(800) 423-3537 www.simmonsoptics.com
(417) 725-4118 www.fiocchi.usa.com
>>
CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING PACKAGES AT LAKE FORK Hunt for wild hogs, quail, pheasant, chukar and ducks at one of the top fishing lodges in North America. Lake Fork Lodge (903) 473-7236 TEXASARCHERY.INFO LOOKING FOR DEER? Great Deal Native Whitetail Trophy and Management Hunts near Brady. Meals and lodging at Highpoint Ranch and exotics hunts are also still available. Brand new lodge and some of the best home cooking you will ever have. I’ll send you some game cam photos of our bucks. Like us on Facebook. Call Sawyer Wright. (254) 485-7069 DEER LEASE WANTED Lone Star Outdoor News is looking for a hunting and fishing lease with all hunt and fish rights. Central or Northwest Texas. Camphouse is needed. (214) 361-2276
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HUNTING PROPERTY WITH AN INCOME STREAM! 1,140 acres for sale in Bailey County, Texas. This is a great opportunity to own a recreational property that has a C.R.P. payment. There is a healthy Mule Deer population as well as pheasant, quail, and dove. Call Vic Coker Land Company, Broker. Ask for Barry (806) 272-3100 (806) 787-0917 TEXAS DUCK STAMP COLLECTION FOR SALE 1981 thru 2011. Call Steve Barber at (817) 832-8078 LEARN TO FLY FISH CASTING LESSONS Lessons by a certified casting instructor in Dallas. Group lessons available. (214) 677-6307 SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN Smith & Wesson Elite Gold 20-gauge, 26” BBL, English stock. In box, never fired. (214) 361-2276 x 201
DEER HUNTING IN CALDWELL COUNTY, TX $600 covers Friday evening through Sunday evening. Up to a 130 Boone and Crockett buck included. Primitive camping and fishing available. Call (512) 689-5297 UNIQUE CHRISTMAS GIFTS For the fisherman who has it all---except these: AERIAL VIEW FISHING ATLASES of the best fishing spots near Corpus Christi. Check them out at LanmonAerial.com or call (361) 289-1120 STATE WATERFOWL STAMP/PRINT COLLECTION FOR SALE 32 total signed and numbered state prints and stamps from around the country 12 state first; Louisiana, Vermont, Arizona,Kansas, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Connecticut, Idaho, Virginia, Nebraska, Canada, Australia. 10 from South Carolina. All unframed. Great art work for any water fowlers office wall or hunting camp. Call and ask for David. (214) 361-2276
PER WORD
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NATIONAL Hurricane Sandy damages more than 65,000 recreational boats The Boat Owner's Association of The United States estimates that more than 65,000 recreational boats were damaged or lost as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The dollar damage to all recreational boats (only) is an estimated $650 million, making the late October storm the single-largest industry loss since the association began keeping track in 1966. “We are all reeling from the huge impact this storm has had on communities and people’s lives,” said Scott Croft, BoatUS assistant vice president of Public Affairs. “The scope of the damage to boats is unprecedented, affecting large areas from the Atlantic seaboard as far inland as the Great Lakes, with the majority of damage in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. The combination of boats stored ashore at low elevations and record high surge levels caused hundreds, if not thousands, of boats to float away into neighborhoods, parks and marshes. The tri-state coastline left no place for the surge to go, but up. While some boats that stayed in the slips did fine, other boats tied to floating docks simply lifted off tooshort pilings and floated away, still tied to the dock. Some vessels never made it out of their slip and rest on the bottom.” — BoatUs
Permanent hunting blinds not allowed on Arkansas WMAs In August, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission amended its regulations that had once allowed leaving decoys overnight and hunting or attempting to hunt from permanent blinds on Big Lake, St. Francis Sunken Lands and Dave Donaldson Black River WMAs. These amended regulations are in
effect for the 2012-13 waterfowl season. Individuals may not hunt from or attempt to hunt from permanent blinds or leave decoys overnight on WMAs, including Big Lake, St. Francis Sunken Lands and Dave Donaldson Black River WMAs. Any person found in a permanent blind on a WMA in possession of hunting gear or equipment during waterfowl season will be considered by the commission to be hunting or attempting to hunt in violation of AGFC Codes 20.06 and 24.06. Any person leaving decoys out overnight during waterfowl season will be in violation of AGFC 24.05. — AGFC
Authorities locate missing Louisiana hunter Search and rescue personnel located a missing hunter alive Nov. 13 at 12:45 p.m., on the bank of Grand Lake in St. Bernard Parish. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies and the U.S. Coast Guard found Daniel Madere, 25, of Metairie, after searching for him most of the morning. According to Madere and his hunting partners, they were crossing Grand Lake on their way to their duck blinds at 5:15 a.m. Madere’s duck blind partner noticed that Madere was not at the blind when he was supposed to be there and doubled back to see if he was having trouble. After a brief search of the area, Madere’s duck blind partner called authorities to assist in the search. Madere’s 16-foot flat-bottom boat sank in Grand Lake in rough water. Madere was wearing a personal flotation device and was able to grab another PFD to hold as he made his way to the bank. Search and rescue personnel were able to get dry clothes for Madere and transported him back to the launch near Delacroix where a medical staff was waiting to check his condition. — LDWF
NM arrests poacher who fled state A suspected pronghorn poacher who fled New Mexico, avoiding prosecution, was arrested this month in Rio Rancho by conservation officers of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish who had tracked him across the country. Michael Yarbrough, 22, was indicted in June by a Sandoval County Grand Jury for his role in a February pronghorn poaching case that occurred on the King Ranch west of Rio Rancho. He faces charges of illegal killing of antelope, illegal possession of antelope, criminal trespassing and a felony charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Only two buck antelope heads were taken during the crimes and the meat was left to rot on the King Ranch. The Department of Game and Fish became aware of the crimes due to an Operation Game Thief call that reported the poached animals. “This was an egregious series of crimes,” said Game and Fish Director Jim Lane. Yarbrough failed to appear for arraignment and the Sandoval County District Court in Bernalillo issued a nationwide felony arrest warrant in September. The warrant allowed for extradition, and Yarbrough was believed to have fled to South Carolina. — NMGF
Medical helicopter pilot cited for harassing wildlife Colorado Parks and Wildlife has cited a medical helicopter pilot from Arizona for harassing wildlife after a group of hunters observed him flying his ship very low over an elk herd in a canyon near the headwaters of Granite Creek, southwest of Grand Junction. Owen Park, 35, of Page, Ariz., a pilot for Classic Lifeguard Air Medical in Page, was assessed 10 penalty points against his hunting and fishing privileges and issued a fine of $200, which he paid. A medical crew was also on board but only Park received a cita-
tion. The aircraft was not carrying a patient at the time of the incident. On Sept. 23, Park and the ship's crew were returning to their home base in Arizona after delivering a patient to a hospital in Grand Junction. It was during the return trip that the witnesses say they observed the helicopter drop into the canyon and begin harassing the elk. “The people that saw this told me that the pilot ruined their hunt,” said Ty Smith, district wildlife officer in Grand Junction. “When I mentioned this to Park, he agreed that his actions may have done that.” According to the witnesses, Park flew erratically, making several passes below the rim of the canyon and at treetop level, causing several groups of elk to scatter in multiple directions. At times, it appeared Park was herding the elk, the witnesses said. — CPW
Young hunters check 19,277 deer Hunters age 6 through 15 checked 19,277 deer during the first weekend of Missouri’s youth deer hunt Nov. 3 and 4 — a 17.6-percent increase over last year’s figure. “Increasing participation is probably the number one cause of the continued increases in youth harvests,” said Resource Scientist Jason Sumners. “We have had a youth hunt for more than a decade now, and we have seen fairly steady growth in the harvest since then. That’s partly because we have doubled the length of the season. But it’s also about the growth of a youth-hunting tradition. That, combined with very good weather conditions and a lack of acorns in southern Missouri, contributed to a nice bump up this year.” Missouri held its first youth hunt in 2001. The season was two days long, and the harvest that year was 6,277. For the first seven years, the youth hunt consisted of a Saturday and Sunday before the November firearms deer season, and the harvest averaged around 10,000 deer. Starting with the 2008-2009 hunting season, MDC added a two-day late portion in January. — MDC
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Port Bay Continued From Page 1
Starting at the main pier, the guides had to jump into a skiff, fire up the motor, ride to the blind, jump out of the skiff and throw 24 decoys, shoot three clay pigeons thrown by LSON Intern John Keith, shoot a decoy on the water designated as “the cripple,” run through knee-deep water to retrieve the cripple, run back to the skiff, load the 24 decoys, jump back into the boat and, finally, motor back to the main pier. The timed event penalized the guides one minute for each clay pigeon missed, with additional penalties for safety violations such as removing the motor kill switch while in the boat or running with a loaded shotgun. Guide Dillon Ramdinsky drew the number one spot and had the unenviable position of leading off the event. The other guides watched intently to pick up pointers as Dillon started. Kill switch issues, a runaway decoy and three missed shots doomed Dillon, and he made it back to the dock with a time of 15:46 after penalties. “Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong,” Dillon said back at the dock. Next up was 15-year-old James Griffis, who forgot to untie the skiff before heading to the blind. James also missed all three of his shots, resulting in a threeminute penalty and knocking his time to 16:02. Nick Frenchak was third to go, and he had taken notes on how to improve his time. After untying the skiff and starting the engine, he moved the gas tank from the back of the boat to the front, making the skiff plane earlier and increase speed. He also threw the decoys closer to the boat to hasten the pick-up time. He made it back to the dock in 11:44, but didn’t hold the lead for long. Alan Brackett went next after watching the action with binoculars to make mental notes. Alan was the first guide to hit all three clays, and his workout regime and eating habits came in handy as he ran back and forth to retrieve his cripple. He finished with a strong time of 9:45, with no penalties. Tim Arditt was up next, and he came up with the idea of tying a string to the kill switch, allowing him to get in the front of the skiff to pick up speed. Tim missed one clay and attempted to mess up the next competitor by tying the decoys in a knot — a good idea and well within the rules of “if you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying.” Tim posted the fastest raw time, but his one-minute penalty landed him in second place with a time of 9:59. He also shot the “banded” cripple, earning a $50 gift certificate donated by the club. Veteran guide Jeremy Griffis was up next, and got off to a poor start when the engine would not crank up. Jeremy’s luck went from bad to worse after his good idea to throw five decoys at a time, but the 14-year guiding veteran huffed and puffed to his cripple. After a one-minute penalty for missing a clay, Jeremy finished with a time of 11:53. Greg “Hodge” Hodson took a wide turn around the pier while attempting to steer his skiff from the front, but made up the time by throwing 12 decoys at one time. Hodge hit all three clays, with Alan muttering under his breath after each successful shot. Instead of running to his cripple, Hodge took his skiff, which saved time. However, it was relayed to the judges on the dock that Hodge had removed his kill switch, thereby adding a one-minute penalty onto his time. It proved costly, as Hodge would have had the fastest time, but settled for 10:25 and third place. Guide John “Duck Commander” Korkos went next. His time took a hit when he threw the decoys too far, costing time on the retrieve. He made a good shot on his cripple, and saved time by running with his gun over his shoulder. John finished with a time of 11:30 after missing two clays. The final competitor, and the odds-on favorite at the beginning of the competition, was Travis “Spiderman” Wilcox. Travis was the fastest to the blind, but accidently left the safety on his shotgun for the first clay, costing him one minute. He would have had the fastest running time, but inexplicably slowed down 10 yards before the finish line, costing valuable time. He finished with a time of 10:04, making Alan the winner. “That was fun,” Hodge said. “I even left the motor flooded for the next guy.” Alan won a new shotgun for his efforts, and was happy about the other’s miscues, especially Hodge’s kill switch penalty that cost him the cup. “I only feel half-bad (to win like this),” he said. The event was a great success. There will be tweaks to the format next year, with a few more surprises. LSONF Executive Director Craig Nyhus presented the winners with their awards at dinner, and gave a quick speech about the importance of providing opportunities for others — a main focus of the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation. To learn more about the foundation, call Nyhus at (214) 361-2276.
Photos by Scott Sommerlatte, for LSON
Dillon Ramdinsky scatters a group of decoys as LSON’s John Keith looks on, ready to throw three clay pigeons for Ramdinsky to shoot. He went 0 for 3.
Travis “Spiderman” Wilcox bails from his boat at a dead sprint, ready to unload 24 decoys. Tim Arditt leans forward and gains speed as he heads to the blind. Tim had the fastest pure time, but penalties cost him the cup.
John Korkos muscles decoys back into the boat after a grueling run.
Veteran guide Jeremy Griffis powers through the water to retrieve his “cripple.”
From left, Nick Frenchak, winner Alan Brackett, Travis Wilcox, Jeremy Griffis, Dillon Ramdinsky, Greg Hodson, and Tim Arditt stand after the competition. Several of the other competitors were already headed to the duck blind for the afternoon hunt.
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LONE STAR MARKET
To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
November 23, 2012
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DATEBOOK
Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Managing Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Intern John Keith Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau
National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Founder & CEO David J. Sams
Contributors Kyle Carter David Draper Shannon Drawe Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham
Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.
November 24
December 4
December 10-14
November 29
December 5
December 13
Junction Chamber of Commerce 28th Junction Annual Wild Game Dinner Stevenson Center (325) 446-3190 junctiontexas.net
Delta Waterfowl Fort Worth Dinner 809 West Vickery Blvd (817) 475-9796 deltawaterfowl.org
Ducks Unlimited Lamar University Waterfowl Hunt Party, Beaumont (409) 782-6657 ducks.org/Texas
Austin Woods and Water Club Monthly Luncheon Elks Lodge, Austin austinwoodsandwaters.com
December 6
November 30
Quail Coalition Rita Blanca Banquet Rita Blanca Coliseum, Dalhart (214) 534-4122 quailcoalition.org Coastal Conservation Association 4th Annual CCA Redfish Shootout Rio Brazos Hunting Preserve (713) 884-8100 ccatexas.org
Delta Waterfowl Brazos Valley Dinner Brazos Expo, Bryan (979) 575-8257 deltawaterfowl.org
December 8-9
Texas Knife and Gun Shows Amarillo Show Amarillo Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
Puzzle solution from Page 21
Archery Trade Association 2012 Archery and Bowhunting Summit Gaylord Texas Resort, Grapevine (507) 233-8130 archerytrade.org
Dallas Woods and Waters Club Christmas Party Orvis Sporting Goods Store (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting DSC office (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
December 31
Dallas Safari Club New Year's Eve Party Ballroom, Dallas Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
January 3
Dallas Safari Club 2013 Convention Dallas Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com (214) 361-2276
January 10-13
Houston Safari Club Worldwide Sporting Expo and Convention The Woodlands Waterway Marriott (713) 623-8844 houstonsafari.org
Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 2162-8300, 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 2012 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 e-mail them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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November 23, 2012
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November 23, 2012
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