Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com April 2015
TIDE PREDICTIONS & SOLUNAR FEED TIMES INSIDE!
about the Cover Carl Stringer is this month’s cover angler. Fishing the Lower Laguna Madre recently with Capt. Ernest Cisneros, Carl landed numerous trophyclass trout. In Ernest’s words, “Carl’s combined weight of five trout in one morning would have topped thirtynine pounds.” TSFMag Conservation Kudos to Carl for releasing them!
Contents
April 2015 VOL 24 NO 12
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 Learning to Like It! 18 Structural Similarities Between Two Activities 24 20th Running of the Big Shell Beach Cleanup 30 Tommy Has Some Trouble - Part V 36 Playing the Options 40 Ling!
48 Let’s Ask The Pro Jay Watkins 54 Shallow Water Fishing Scott Null 60 TPWD Field Notes Greg Purtle 64 Fly Fishing Scott Sommerlatte 68 Kayak Fishing Chronicles Cade Simpson 72 TSFMag Conservation News CCA Texas 76 Fishy Facts Stephanie Boyd 82 Inshore | Nearshore | Jetties | Passes Curtiss Cash 89 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks... Eric Ozolins 116 Science & the Sea UT Marine Science Institute 118 Boat Maintenance Tips Chris Mapp
Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Billy Sandifer Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard
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10
WHAT OUR GUIDES
HAVE TO SAy
94 96 98 100 102 104 106
Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene The Buzz on Galveston Bay The View from Matagorda Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene
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Dickie Colburn Caleb Harp Bink Grimes Gary Gray David Rowsey Capt. Tricia Ernest Cisneros
REGULARS 08 Editorial 92 New Tackle & Gear 108 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 112 Catch of the Month 114 Gulf Coast Kitchen
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Editor and Publisher Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 National sales representative Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net regional sales representative Patti Elkins Patti@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-649-2265 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Donna Boyd Donna@tsfmag.com Circulation Subscription – product sales Linda Curry Cir@tsfmag.com ADDRESS CHANGED? Email Store@tsfmag.com Design & Layout Stephanie Boyd Stephanie@tsfmag.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly. Subscription Rates: One Year (Free Emag with Hard Copy) Subscription $25.00 E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year. Order on-line: www.tsfmag.com Make checks payable to: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue. Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded. how to contact tsfmag: Phone: 361-785-3420 fax: 361-785-2844 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 Physical Address: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 Web: www.TSFMAG.com photo gallery: photos@tsfmag.com Printed in the USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at Victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.
EDITORIAL March 20 marks the official beginning of spring and coastal bay anglers across Texas are already getting into the swing of it. From an ecological perspective it is impossible not to be excited. Prolonged drought has been a nemesis of fishing success and, while I’m not ready to say the drought is over just yet, I will say that Mother Nature has been very generous lately. Rainfall of nearly thirty inches since last September along middle and lower coast regions has been a great blessing. Bay salinities have been running more toward historic averages since the rain started falling, versus hyper-saline or nearly hyper-saline conditions that prevailed for several years in several major bay systems. The general consensus of seasoned anglers and biologists is that fishing, trout fishing in particular, is always better in wetter than dry years. If indeed this is true we could be headed toward banner spring and summer seasons. Looking to the future of trout fishing, many anglers are also hopefully awaiting a rebound in the general availability of “keepersize” and trophy fish. It will require several years, about three to four years usually (half the normal lifespan) to see the full effect but, rather than seeing stocks dwindling by mid-summer, the new five-fish daily bag limit on the middle coast should also contribute to steadier season-long landings. Fishing enthusiasm is running high this year. Ask any exhibitor at
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Spring Swing the recent Houston Fishing Show. “Best show in many years,” was the resounding opinion. Sharing the water will become increasingly important as throngs of anglers head to the bays. We hear often how crowded it is getting out there. Sportsmanship and plain old-fashioned patience at launch ramps, along shorelines, and other popular locales will be needed in ever-growing amounts. When you find yourself wondering how close is too close, you probably need to idle away and find another spot. Drifting in, to get out and wade, or using a troll motor to reach a position is always a better idea than powering into an already busy stretch of shoreline. Ditto setting a drift that might carry your boat too near other drifters or anchored anglers fishing a reef. Drifting through a line of wading anglers is especially poor form and, likewise, crawling out of a boat to wade in the obvious path of drifters. We have a wondrous coast and literally hundreds of thousands of anxious anglers will be hitting the water soon. Whether your destination is bay or beach, practicing good citizenship will help insure that everybody can enjoy it equally. Conservation of coastal resources should also be at the top of the spring list. Take enough for a nice meal and respect the environment. Don’t be a litter bug and please do not chop up the sea grass!
STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN
Larger trout that we catch and release while unraveling the spring transition puzzle are a bonus!
I
received a call from Jeff who was coming into town with some co-workers for a conference on Galveston Island. It was early April and the forecast called for clear skies and light wind. When I rolled out of bed and checked the morning’s weather conditions, that little prop in my head started turning as I tried to determine what to tell Jeff. The forecasted 5-10 mph southeast wind had worked itself into a rage, gusting to 25. I tried feverishly to get him on the phone, but to no avail. Finally, I proceeded with my usual routine in route to meet clients. You know, stop at the convenience store for ice, coffee and a below-average kolache that’s only purpose was to fill a void in my growling stomach before greeting my new clients. As I made the drive to our predetermined launch site I couldn’t help but wonder if I was getting stood up. Honestly, I was kind of hoping I was. When I arrived, they greeted me with excitement and anticipation. “Good morning Captain! It sure is a beautiful morning isn’t it!” I was thinking to myself that a 25 mph wind on Galveston Bay during the toughest time of the year is a lot of things, but it damn sure ain’t “beautiful!” The next several minutes were spent telling them what the conditions meant with regards to our ability of having a successful day on the water. “You mean you don’t think we’ll catch anything?” My reply – “Well, Jeff, we may catch a few but not on this end of the bay. You guys will have to follow me to another ramp and we’ll need to wade to stand a chance at having any success at all.” Jeff - “Well, we’re here so we might as well give it a go.” I was afraid they’d say that. It was almost 9 O’clock by the time we found a stretch of shoreline that had “fishable” water. This particular area held scattered shell near the shoreline, a trough running parallel to the shore, then shallow reefs beyond the trough. The first hour was uninspiring with only a small red coming to hand. As we side-stepped down the shoreline I finally noticed a sign of life when a small slick burped on the other side of the gut. We threw just about everything, but still no takers. We could see trout rolling occasionally and it appeared that they were feeding on tiny shad. At my wit’s end, I walked back to the boat and grabbed some “James Plaag Specials” (1/16 ounce H & H Flutter Jigs). In guinea pig fashion, I started chunking a plum/chartreuse 5-inch Salt Water Assassin rigged on the flutter jig in the area where the slicks were popping. An erratic whipping action of the rod tip followed by a about a two second pause ended up being the magical presentation that these fish wanted. It seemed that with the concentrations of shad just below the surface, a worm hovering and wiggling long enough would eventually demand attention. After switching everyone over to the ultra-light worm rig we managed to peck out a dozen trout to almost seven pounds before the small feeding window closed. The trout never ate again and the entire shoreline was void of activity. This trip was a microcosm of that infamous three or four week period. The spring transitional period varies up and down the Texas Coast, but Galveston Bay’s tough fishing usually spans from late-March through the third or fourth week in April. Many local anglers travel further south during that stretch; some of us choose to gut it out and face the challenges head-on.
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It’s like when I was a little boy and my mother told me, “You’re going eat your Brussels sprouts and you’re going to like it!” It does require more patience, but there are benefits too! I’ve always said that uncooperative fish make you a better fisherman. Anyone can catch them when it’s easy, but tricking trout when they turn into snobs separates the schoolboys from the scholars. And, as a reward, there are plenty of above average size trout caught during this time. So what exactly is a transition? Webster’s definition: Transition (n) - Passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another: Change. My definition (as it relates to speckled trout): A period of time in which speckled trout are scattered and can be difficult to catch as they migrate from one particular type of habitat to another. The migration does not occur all at once, but in more of a ping pong fashion until variables responsible for the inconsistencies stabilize. What causes it? During winter, patterns are somewhat predictable as trout hold predominantly over mud and shell, usually not too far from deeper water. Their primary food source during this time is mullet. Mullet are fairly easy to replicate as evidenced by the many plugs from which we have to choose. As cold fronts become less frequent and bay water temperatures begin to rise, trout instinctively venture further away from winter’s thermal zones. Just when moderate numbers of trout begin to show over sand, grass and/or hard shell, a late cold front causes water temperatures to drop again. The scenario repeats itself over a four or five week period keeping trout scattered and discombobulated. As water temperatures reach the high-60s and low-70s for longer periods, tiny forage species such as brown shrimp and shad begin their exodus from bayous, marshes and rivers. These waves of juvenile forage flood the bays by the millions providing an endless food source for trout and redfish. 12 | April 2015
(top) The H&H series of Flutter Jigs help us keep the lure in the strike zone longer with a tantalizing baitfish action. (2nd) Super-sensitive fishing lines are strongly recommended when the bite is light. (left) The MirrOlure Soft-Dine and Soft-Dine XL Suspending Twitchbaits are excellent “transition period” baits that mimic juvenile baitfish perfectly. (bottom) Waterloo high-modulus rods, paired with the Shimano Chronarch filled with super-sensitive line, enable us to detect even the lightest strikes from finicky early-spring trout.
How do we increase our success? By no means am I saying that we can’t have fantastic days on the water during this stretch because we have and will continue to do so. We’ve all experienced exceptional days during this time especially when there’s a three or four day consistent weather pattern. And, as I mentioned earlier, the larger trout that we catch and release are a major bonus! It’s those days sandwiched between the good ones when we need to hone our skills and alter our approach. So what can we do? • Focus on areas with a mix of shell, mud and hard bottom • Fish near drains or any other type of outflow • Target good tidal flows and use solunar feeding periods to our advantage • Throw baits that stay in the strike zone longer (Salt Water Assassins rigged on light jig heads or flutter hooks, MirrOLure Catch 2000s, Soft-Dines or Paul Brown Originals) • Fish near points and in coves that hold favorable habitat (grass, oyster, clam shell, etc.) • Employ quality gear such as high-modulus Waterloo rods, lightweight Shimano reels and sensitive line. A soft bite with a stiff
14 | April 2015
spring wind can be a recipe for failure without superior equipment. • If all else fails and the trout just won’t bite, then target redfish in the back lakes and near marsh drains. This is the time of year on this part of the coast that requires a little more focus and waiting for the right time to capitalize on the limited opportunities. Be tenacious, have patience and, learn to like it. I’ve learned to like Brussels sprouts.
Steve Hillman
Contact
Very little effort is required for feeding. Trout and other predator fish simply swim through clouds of morsels with their mouths open without distinguishing one shad from another. It’s like being at an all-you-can-eat buffet and your table is closest to the buffet. They have a 16 ounce T-bone on the menu, but the buffet is so much easier and you don’t have to spend as much. There are other variables that have an effect on the timing of when the transition takes place, how exaggerated it is and how long it lasts. A mild winter usually results in an earlier transition period and vice versa. Rainfall and drought can minimize transitional behavior of trout. We observed this for the past five years when baywide salinities were so high that bait gravitated towards less salty areas near rivers and bayous. This particular scenario can give anglers the impression that there are more trout than imaginable when, in reality, the trout were condensed When all else fails…head for back lakes and target redfish. in smaller areas of the bay. Strong easterly winds coupled with spring equinox tides can spread fish over a larger area as well.
Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures. Phone 409-256-7937 Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com Web www.hillmanguideservice.com
S
STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN
O
ver the course of the last few years, I’ve developed quite a passion for going out into the wild with the express purpose of watching and filming birds. Some might refer to my enthusiasm for birding as an obsession! They would likely cite as evidence the fact I’ve shot over 10,000 video clips of birds since 2011. As I learn more about the vast array of winged creatures we have the opportunity to observe in South Texas, I also gain knowledge about the processes which best facilitate seeing and documenting them effectively. I’ve come to realize my birding obsession and my fishing one share several common aspects. Analyzing those structural similarities leads to some important conclusions. At a basic level, people participating in these two activities place highly variable degrees of importance on them. At one end of the spectrum, some view birding and/or fishing as purely a leisure activity. Most likely, they spend relatively small amounts of time participating, and do so casually, without much thought or planning. Conversely, others take these avocations much more seriously, placing them in the realm of “sport” or “artistic pursuit”. Such fanatics regularly participate, operating from a thoughtful and educated mindset. All experts in both these fields share common traits and
attributes, and they make choices which help them carve out a niche in the two “communities”. People who excel at these activities rely heavily on their knowledge and skills over the long term, though luck plays a huge role in their daily triumphs and failures. Both birding and fishing experts possess a thorough and accurate knowledge of the layout of the area in which they “work”. Topnotch birders not only know the location of all the acknowledged best sites for seeing birds in their city, county and region, they also find other, unknown spots which regularly produce opportunities for them. Similarly, expert coastal anglers know all the famous sweet spots and productive areas, but they work to develop a list of personal hot spots too. In both cases, the knowledge of the areas, spots and sites reaches well beyond the superficial level. These experts learn and remember specific details about the places, including where the micro sweetspots lie in each. Since vegetation, both in water and on land, varies in coverage seasonally, they also recognize the need to keep up with changes to the layouts of the sites. This extensive knowledge of the places where they find their birds and fish allows the experts to make
different choices, based on their priorities. Some people prefer an “eclectic” approach, tailoring their strategies to allow them to “capture” or “get” as many species or individuals as possible. The Groove-billed Ani looks quite Those who operate from this perspective similar to a Grackle at a distance, often select an area or areas based on their but is uncommon, and thus a prized perception of where lots of activity among sighting for avid Texas birders. various species will likely occur. They generally deploy catch-all methods to achieve their desired goal. Anglers often choose live bait and either fish out of the boat, or wade along steadily, covering water in attempt to encounter more action. Birders operating from this mindset also tend to stay mobile, driving along slowly, or taking a hike down a path through the place, continually scanning the area for signs of life with their binoculars as they go. Success for them is often measured in a list, in a count of total species and numbers of individuals seen. Other birders and anglers, however, use a detailed understanding of the topography of the places they Not only do these folks select parts of specific sites to improve their visit to target certain species more effectively. Anglers who know odds of getting the birds they want, they also use methods which where sweet spots in reefs lie, and how those spots funnel water increase the likelihood. during different phases of the turning tide sometimes stand and One who’s on a quest to photograph a Marsh Wren will likely sit grind for long sessions in small spaces. Similarly, those who target still and observe the shadows at the base of stands of canes without fish among sets of rocks or potholes lying in the grassbeds don’t moving around much, listening for the gurgling trill of the tiny bird attempt to cover long distances while trying to catch their fish. they seek. Those motivated to catch a trophy trout might plant their They won’t troll for a wahoo in a marsh drain, and would never target a flounder under a shrimp boat miles offshore. They recognize feet and make repeated casts to a proven, productive set of potholes tight to a grass mat, hoping to place a lure within a cruising sow’s exactly where to target the fish they prefer to catch, focusing on the sight in such a way to motivate her to take a bite. shallows atop a sand bar when trying to catch a trophy trout, for Once a birder or angler makes this type of decision, the need for instance, rather than casting into deeper waters off its edge. focus and a persistent attitude plays a prominent role in their ability Birders interested in documenting a particular species also recognize the need to focus their efforts in specific parts of the areas to succeed. While waiting for the Sora to come out of the shadows, motivated birders won’t become distracted by shooting footage they visit. They would never look for a Sora while driving down of the Coots crawling around under their feet. Similarly, the angler the beach, and they know they won’t see a Magnificent Frigatebird while looking down among the reeds in search of a Swamp Sparrow. who’s attempting to pull a big trout from the shallows atop the bar won’t cast at a redfish spotted cruising in the area. While making the often prolonged, focused effort, experts targeting particular species or A focused, patient and certain members of a species will benefit persistent effort eventually from high levels of readiness and grace rewarded Jerek Center with this under pressure. When plans pan out, things specimen on a chilly, rainy day. happen quickly; those anticipating the action best take advantage of their opportunities. Anglers will have their drags set properly and will remain ready to fight their fish accordingly. Birders do similar things while waiting for the objects of their obsession to reveal themselves. I sometimes find it necessary to point the camera at a particular part of the foliage in front of me, so I will know exactly what direction to move when scanning for the bird in the viewfinder once I see it. Otherwise, I often find myself confounded by an inability to locate the specimen with the camera once it appears. Strategies like these help one maintain composure and show grace under pressure. In cases where people have tried for many hours, days, or even years to “get” 20 | April 2015
22 | April 2015
Grackles and Cowbirds “bad birds”. With birders, negative attitudes normally spring from one of two things—either the widespread abundance of the species or some behavior it exhibits, one deemed undesirable by human beings. Cowbirds, for instance, practice nest parasitism, meaning they leave their eggs in other birds’ nests, abdicating the responsibility to raise their own young. Perhaps the most troubling similarity between birders and anglers is their tendency to think of the wild creatures which serve as the objects of their obsessions in human terms. People in both avocations tend to “humanize” or at least “mammalize” the fish and birds, giving them far more credit for having intelligence and for possessing a moral compass than what they have. Birds and fish, generally speaking, are animals with low levels of intelligence. Certainly, they cannot feel guilt or remorse like we humans do. People who become angry with a Seagull for leaving a mess on the hood of the pickup, or who cuss a Stingray for ingesting the dead shrimp they threw into its midst make a mockery of these two potentially noble pursuits. Such attitudes undermine what I perceive to be perhaps the most significant similarity shared between birding the fishing--the tendency of both activities to elevate the respect and admiration humans have for other species. Author’s Note: I’d like to correct a detail from last months’ feature. I mistakenly stated that Cliff Webb and Doug Pike’s now-famous outing occurred in February of 1996. I had the month right, but the year was 1994, two years before Jim Wallace caught his then-staterecord specimen.
Kevin Cochran Contact
a particular species or specimen, excitement often leads to bumbling, fumbling and stumbling. Clumsy behaviors do not enhance the potential for a positive outcome. Mostly, trophy seekers benefit from quiet, slow and purposeful efforts. Hastily moving toward where a movement potentially indicates the presence of the target or carelessly flailing the equipment around inevitably reduces one’s chances to succeed. Whether fishing or birding, experts in these fields tailor the equipment they Generally, American Bitterns carry to suit their specific needs. prove difficult to find and Most birders carry binoculars and film, because their feathers many carry a camera of some sort. and habits provide them such effective camouflage. Those attempting to take close ups or shots of raptors at long range recognize the need for a strong, zooming lens and a tripod or similar device to steady the camera. Anglers also choose tools which allow them to target species effectively, using a wide range of things, from lanterns and gigs to long, whippy rods which allow them to serve tiny flies to finicky bonefish they see in clear water on shallow flats. Both anglers and birders know to use both their ears and eyes to maximize productivity. It’s often possible to find both fish and birds by hearing them first, then searching them out in the direction from which tell-tale sounds emerge. Sometimes, anglers use the sounds birds make when hovering over schools of feeding fish to locate those fish, for instance. At other times, birders use the songs of similar birds like the various Kingbirds to differentiate one species from another. Understanding the meanings of various, subtle sounds allows these experts to accomplish their tasks more consistently. Internet sources help these folks in their endeavors in several, related ways. Anglers on fishing websites and forums give each other information about where they are catching fish. Birders do the same on sites like eBird, which even allows members to sign up for alerts, so they can be sent emails when others spot a targeted species at some location close to them. Various sites and groups allow anglers to post pictures to show the world what they’ve captured and caught and seen. Ironically, birders almost always view these things positively, and seem to relish the idea of helping each other find and get new species and more birds, while at home or out in the field. It’s not unusual for one birder to call another over and move aside so they can both see the same bird. Anglers, on the other hand, tend to be more “territorial” and secretive, normally offering up more generic advice about locations on the web, or perhaps limiting their comments to a pattern that’s been working. When on the water, most fishermen would certainly not wave strangers into a spot to join in the catching! Birders and anglers share a tendency to develop both positive and negative attitudes towards particular species. Anglers use all sorts of endearing terms when speaking of their preferred species, but refer to inedible fish like hardheads, skipjacks and other species as “trash fish”. Some birders use the phrase “good bird” to refer to a species they deem unusual, or worthy of their attention, but call species like
Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject. Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.
Trout Tracker Guide Service Phone Email Web
361-688-3714 kevxlr8@mygrande.net www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com
STORY BY Billy Sandifer
David Ainsworth’s (Ainsworth Trucking) donation of trucks, trailers and manpower in support of the Big Shell Beach Cleanup have grown almost legendary. His Rolligon is an amazing pieces of machinery, perfect for towing heavy loads over loose sand. Friends of Padre and many others who love Padre Island National Seashore are awed by your generosity.
T
he past several months have been pretty rough for me and it sure feels good to be back on my feet again. I was very concerned I’d still be sick when it was time for the Big Shell Beach Cleanup and, miraculously, I began to show signs of life about two weeks prior to the event. As a veteran beach fisher, monitoring long-range weather forecasts has been part of my routine for many years. As the weeks dwindle toward the Big Shell Beach Cleanup, I go on high alert weather-wise as no matter how diligently we plan, the weather will be out of our control, and this then has the ability to confound even the best laid plans. The closer we got to this year’s cleanup the worse the weather forecast got. The evening before the cleanup, the forecast called for 50⁰ and steady rain through the night and all day Saturday. Certainly not the first time the cleanup has faced this type of forecasted conditions. But what really concerned me was the fact that the forecast also included 25 mph east wind. East winds like that are almost a sure bet to push the water up to and beyond the dunes. The cleanup has really grown up. In 2008, Stephen Naylor and I started Friends of Padre with the explicit purpose of seeing to the organization and management of the cleanup in years to come. A managing board was put in place. Section leaders were chosen with the same assignments yearly. Specific individuals were assigned specific tasks such as handling the event T shirts. So there’s not a lot of confusion and everyone knows their job in advance. But there is absolutely no way to beat the weather. After meeting and discussing the situation with Padre Island National Seashore personnel on Thursday, we all decided that if the National Weather Service decided to come out with a coastal flood watch for Saturday, we would cancel the event. Short of a coastal flood watch, the event would go on as planned. It rained hard and the wind blew really hard Friday evening and into the night but we were stunned to arise Saturday morning to a light north wind and very light drizzle. At Malaquite the wind was light from the north but tides were high, the seas were running 13 feet. We decided to play it on the side of prudence. We sent our section teams out in smaller groups than ever before and each section had radios. We sent our first group south down the beach with instructions to stop and turn around if the tide got too high. We got to the 22 mile before being forced to stop and turn around due to high water. Each group to the north stopped when the group at the 22 mile made their decision to stop and everybody started picking up trash, working back to the north. The tides did eventually get quite near the dunes but had we waited longer we would have really had a tough time getting back to the pavement at all. The finds of the day were a bale of marijuana and a Yellow-throated Warbler. Based on the weather forecast alone it was stunning that any volunteers showed up at all. And yet 400 volunteers showed up and stuck it out, and picked up 25 tons of trash. Certainly we’ve picked up far larger amounts of beach debris but we sure had a lot going against us this time. We’ve now removed 2,336,000 pounds during the various annual efforts of this event. I spoke a bit earlier about the planning and refining of the Big Shell Beach Cleanup operating plans and this process will be forever ongoing. For years, getting the section teams organized
One of many improvements to the organization and execution phases of the Big Shell Cleanup.
and formed up for down-island departure in the darkness of the Malaquite parking lot has always been a nightmare—organizationally and also from a safety standpoint. We made the decision to delay departure this year from 7:00 A. M. until 8:00 A. M. We emptied that parking lot faster than we ever have in the dark. But what stands out the most to me is the loyalty of the volunteers. Good weather or horrible weather years they just stand out there and fight it; as if it were a life or death battle. Such a contrast to what we see elsewhere, Close-up shot, just for folks that just seem intent on tearing size perspective, the up everything they can. Rolligon is a behemoth!
Hard at work
This was an unusual cleanup. Small beautifying our beach. groups and individual volunteers working in the middle of nowhere in the drizzle. Miles between smaller groups of volunteers with the next group barely to be seen in the distance. It had a surreal look and what a statement it made to the quality of individuals that come out for such an event. Well this little Yellow-throated Warbler is waiting out the storm. He is the first sign of the neo-tropical bird migration back north to nest. The fish won’t be far behind. And of course there are our sponsors, without whom this and similar events could not afford to go on. Big thanks to outdoor writer, David Sikes, of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Everett and Pam Johnson of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Padre Island Moon and all the other publications who put in a good word for us.
26 | April 2015
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I cannot say enough about the great folks at Padre Island National Seashore-National Park Service, Coastal Bend Audubon Society, Sharkathon, David Webb and Spooner Lures, artist Ben Beaty, Mr. David
Ainsworth and the continued invaluable help of Ainsworth Trucking Co, Mr. Leon McNinch of the Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation, CCA-Texas Corpus Christi Chapter, Daniel Dain and Domino Pizza, H. E. B. Grocery as well as Gambler Graphics, Citgo and Team Industrial Services. A big thanks also goes out to Michael Laskowski Sr. and Michael Jr. of Tracwork Inc. Railroad Maintenance of San Antonio, who again furnished volunteers with work gloves. Remember that the speed limit on PINS changed from 25 mph to 15 mph on March 1 and nesting turtles won’t be too long behind. Take care of yourself and each other, be safe and have a good season. “If we don’t leave any there won’t be any.” —Billy L. Sandifer A pristine seashore, Celebrating the harvest!
glistening in natural beauty, is what drives us.
Yellow-Throated Warbler Setophaga dominica
28 | April 2015
Billy Sandifer
Contact
A small migratory songbird, about 5 ½ inches in length. A neo-tropical wood warbler which migrates to Central and South America in winter and then nests in the wooded regions of Southeastern United States. Plain gray back; white patch on each side of its head and a striking yellow throat. Specimen in photo got caught in an exceptional norther on February 28, most likely during its northern migratory flight, and sought haven on a PINS beach. Feeds largely on insects. Spring migration through our area occurs during March and April.
Retired after 20+ years of guiding anglers in the Padre surf, Billy Sandifer (“Padre of Padre Island” to friends & admirers) is devoted to conserving the natural wonders of N. Padre Island & teaching all who will heed his lessons to enjoy the beauty of the Padre Island National Seashore responsibly. Website www.FriendsofPadre.com
Part V
STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP
B
odie walked to the Mexican café down the street from the sheriff’s office and ordered a plate of carne guisada. Waiting for his order and sipping sweet tea his mind was replaying the details of the note Tommy’s brother had supposedly placed on his truck. For whatever strange reason he was developing a feeling that Vince was telling the truth. “Maybe I’m getting soft-headed but, dang if I don’t think Vince is being square with me,” he muttered half aloud. “But—who was shooting at me in the parking lot?” “Madre de Dios,” cried the waiter carrying Bodie’s dinner, “Someone has been shooting at you Señor Bodie?” “No worries, Amadore,” Bodie replied with a wink to hide the seriousness of the matter. “He wasn’t a very good shot.” Bodie watched as Amadore walked into the kitchen and could hear him screaming in Spanish to his wife, Maria, as he told her someone had tried to shoot their friend. Finishing his meal, Bodie left money on the table and hurried back to the office. He wanted to speak to Vince, or whoever it was that would be answering at the number he’d been given. Bodie was happy to see that no one was manning the dispatch desk as he double-timed to Dale’s office. “We have the warrant to record the conversation for evidence, Bodie, so let’s get the recorder set up on the phone in the empty office down the hall,” Dale said. Bodie followed Dale to an empty office and watched as an IT guy named Riley hooked a laptop computer to the phone. When he was done, Riley said, “The recording starts when you pick up the handset and stops when you hang up.” And with that he scurried out the door. “He seems nervous,” Bodie said to Dale. Dale laughed and said, “Nah, he’s just a little jumpy because I let him know how important this is…everything better work!” Bodie and Dale watched the clock on the wall as the sweep hand ticked off the final seconds. At precisely 9:00 PM Bodie picked up the receiver and dialed the number from the note on his truck. It rang three times and a voice on the line said, “Bodie, this is Vince Meyers.” “Listen, Bodie, I had nothing to do with hurting Tommy. Nothing at all,” Vince said. “I’ve been working to straighten out my life and I’ve been doing pretty well so far,” he added. “Where did you get the money to pay cash for the new truck?” Bodie asked. “I’ve been working in the Eagle Ford down near the border, Bodie, and I’ve moved up the ladder pretty fast.” Vince replied. “I’ve got a TSFMAG.com | 31
nice girl friend and things are starting to turn around for me and I sure don’t want to mess up all that I’ve been working so hard to accomplish. And besides, what reason would I have for hurting Tommy in the first place?” “Oh I don’t know, Vince. Maybe a lot of cash Tommy kept at the house?” Bodie questioned. Vince snorted and said that any cash Tommy didn’t have in his wallet was kept in a safe hidden in a closet. “And dang, Bodie, he just never got around to giving me the combination.” Bodie’s tone turned stone cold and even Dale felt uneasy when Bodie said, “You tied Tommy to a chair and damn near beat him to death. Whipped him with his own damned pistol until he gave you the combination,” Bodie said—nearly choking at the memory of how he’d found his friend. “What? That’s what happened to Tommy? Oh hell no, Bodie! I haven’t been anywhere near his house or yall’s one-horse town since that fishing tournament years ago.” Vince protested. Silence for several seconds, and then Vince continued, “Look, Bodie, you can’t pin this on me because there’s a 99.9% chance that I was working when it happened. And if I was, there would be twenty other people on the crew with me,” Vince said, fear rising in his voice. Dale noticed how tightly Bodie was gripping the phone receiver. His knuckles turning white and his jaw clenched, his oversized biceps quivering. “Then you tell me, Vince, tell me how your fingerprints came to be found on Tommy’s pistol.” “If you’re talking about his old .38 Super, he and I shot it the last time I was there. I reloaded it and gave it back to him when we were through,” Vince answered sincerely. “Bodie, you can check with my supervisor. Give him the dates and times or whatever and if I wasn’t at work when Tommy was beaten then I was in Corpus with my girlfriend. We go out pretty much all the time I’m not working and I am sure I can produce witnesses to my whereabouts. I tell ya, Bodie, I had nothing to do with this, nothing at all, and Tommy will back me up as soon as he’s able to talk,” he pleaded. Bodie was trying to keep his cool but what made him madder than anything was that he believed him. “Vince, who besides you and Tommy knew that he had a wall safe in his bedroom closet?” “I have no idea, Bodie. Unless Tommy said something, I never told anybody.” “Do you own a .308 rifle?” Bodie asked suddenly. “No sir, I don’t own a .308,” Vince replied, and then it got very quiet. Bodie broke the silence, “What’s on your mind, Vince? You sure got quiet.” “I know someone who owns a .308, Bodie, but it’s one of those military rifles. I also just now thought of someone who knows that Tommy has a safe,” Vince said in a weak voice. Bodie’s eyebrows rose and he asked who that might be. Vince sighed audibly, “Remember the guy who was with me at that fishing tournament? He knows Tommy has a safe because we got
“
into a big pool game at Haddon’s after the tournament and Tommy had to get money from it to pay the bet I lost to him.” “What’s his name and where can we find him?” Bodie asked. “I haven’t seen him since right after that tournament, Bodie,” I swear. “He got into some trouble up in Dallas and they got him for parole violations and sent him back to prison, his name is Raymond Woodford.” Vince started telling Bodie about his old running buddy. Raymond Woodford had been a Ranger, who after being discharged dishonorably from the Army, had hired out to foreign governments as a combat sniper. Apparently Raymond was very good at what he did. Bodie filled Vince in on the shooting incident in the hospital parking lot and asked if Vince might know why Raymond would shoot at him. “I guess he figured you would blame me for robbing Tommy. And since you didn’t know his name or anything about him that would be the end of it. And, if you were dead, who would ever think about or connect him?” Vince offered. “We need to get together and talk more,” Bodie said. “I think we have a lot more to talk about and, besides, I want to be looking you in the eye when we talk,” Bodie added. “Am I wanted for anything right now, Bodie? Give it to me straight.” Bodie looked at Dale who nodded no, so Bodie replied, “Not by us you’re not.” “I go back to work tomorrow, Bodie. I work 7 days on and have 3 days off. So if it’s OK I will meet you on my first day off.” Bodie gave Vince his cell phone number and told him to call when he got back to Corpus. Vince agreed and they ended the call. Dale called for Riley. He came into the office and unhooked everything, then as he started to leave, Dale told him to put the conversation on a flash drive and an external drive and lock them both in the safe. Bodie looked at Dale and asked, “Well, what do you think?” Dale too believed Vince was on the up and up and that they needed to find this Raymond Woodford character. “Do you think a meeting with Vince is going to help,” Dale asked. “He’ll be thinking of nothing but what we talked about for seven days. I’m betting the more he thinks the more he’ll remember,” Bodie replied. Dale’s cell phone rang and as he was talking Bodie was thinking about this Raymond Woodford, trying to remember his facial features but it had been a while. He did remember though, the guy was in good shape and he didn’t talk much. “An ex-Army Ranger, ex-con and ex-sniper, now ain’t that a kick in the butt,” Bodie thought to himself. “That was the guard at Tommy’s hospital room. Tommy is awake and asking for you,” Dale said excitedly. “Lights and sirens?” Bodie joked as he slid his tall frame into Dale’s car.
Listen, Bodie, I had nothing to do with hurting Tommy. Nothing at all.
32 | April 2015
”
34 | April 2015
Bodie said to his best friend. Tommy pulled Bodie closer. “Not a bull, Bodie. It was Raymond Woodford.” “We know, Tommy. Vince told us he would be the only one to know you had money in a safe, and the only one who would harm you to get it. Vince is helping us, sort of, and he’s been here to see you.” “Vince came to see me and is helping you…Really?” “Yes, really. He’s trying to straighten out his life, Tommy. At least that’s what he says.” At that Tommy closed his eyes and fell asleep. But dang if he didn’t seem to have gotten some color back, and Bodie could swear he was trying to smile as he drifted off.
Martin Strarup
Contact
“Dang it, Dale, don’t kill us on the way to the hospital,” Bodie said noticing the speedometer registering ninety-five. “There are always deer on this road, you know.” Neither Dale nor Bodie had much to say during the quick ride to the hospital. The red and blue lights flashing through the grill of Dale’s unmarked car combined into an eerie light that ghosted on fence posts and electric poles they passed. Bodie was excited to see Tommy and get straight from him who had robbed and beaten him. Dale parked the car near the emergency room entrance and flashing their badges got them after-hours access to the second floor. There was a nurse checking vitals and messing with some tubes when they peeked in the door. Deputy Knox was in a chair nearby. “He was asking for you, Mr. Allen,” the Deputy said. Bodie nodded and thanked him. As soon as the nurse appeared in the doorway Bodie tried to enter but she placed a hand in his chest, stopping him. “Mr. Meyers has a long recovery ahead of him and I don’t want him to get excited or upset so you two fellows take it easy and make it short,” the nurse commanded. “Yes Ma’am,” they replied politely in unison. “Bodie; Oh Gee, Bodie! I was just asking about you buddy,” Tommy whispered through swollen lips. “I’m here now buddy and I haven’t been far away this whole time,” Bodie beamed. Tommy reached with his right hand and Bodie took it. “If I look as bad as I hurt, I must look really bad,” Tommy squeaked. “You look like you got run over by one of Mr. Connor’s big bulls,”
Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman. Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas. Email
Trouthunter@swbell.net
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STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE
Y
ou ever wonder what a Crayola 64-Pack, BaskinRobbins 31 Flavors, and Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Assortments have in common? The answer is, they offer something for everybody. If everyone did things exactly like everyone else, life would be ridiculously boring and mundane. It’s choices and options that give each individual the opportunity to succeed and sometimes those options and choices are a little different than what others consider the best or only way to go. Taking a quick glance at the calendar right now means different things to different people, especially fishermen. If you flip through the pages of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine it won’t be hard to figure out what the prevailing thought on most people’s minds is this month—big trout. More often than not, hardcores are thinking wade fishing and throwing artificial lures. I’ll be one of the first to raise my hand and say, “I’m all for that.” And, on the other hand, I will also be one of the first to say, “That’s not the only way to catch those big fish.” This is where choices and options come into play. One year I was at one the fishing shows conversing with a group of guides and tournament anglers having a great discussion and swapping stories on various subjects, and inevitably the style or different methods of fishing became the topic. I listened
intently and heard basically the same story over and over of how this group of anglers spent their time on the water. After several stories it was more than apparent that these guys took it for granted that everyone fished exactly like they do and the thought that someone wouldn’t was just borderline blasphemy. I can understand why they would think like this, especially when all the other fishermen they routinely hung out with did the same things they did. I can also remember the looks on their faces when I said, “You realize you are a small fraction of the fishing population and ten times as many people fish differently than you.” It was a Kodak moment to say the least. I invited them to go to their local sporting goods store and bait camps and watch carefully what other fishermen were buying. Contrary to their beliefs, there would be way more folks buying terminal tackle, cast nets, and “fresh dead”
(left) Equally adept at finding and catching fish from the boat as well as wading, veteran Sabine guide, Dickie Colburn, employs both strategies as conditions and client preferences dictate. (right) A quality trolling motor is a must-have tool for controlling the drift and maneuvering quietly into precise locations for anchored fishing.
TSFMAG.com | 37
38 | April 2015
them to fishing in saltwater. Subtle changes in depth or bottom contour can make all the difference and these guys certainly know how to find them. Once you locate an area that has all the right ingredients, it is paramount to your fishing success to be able to stay put and/or control your drift. A quality trolling motor is a must; that goes without saying. Having the ability to hold your location with either a manual anchor, Power Pole, Talon, or some sort of stake-out system is another factor to be considered. Once you get on a drift and locate fish, it’s much better to be able to sit in one position and see if there are more Whether Power-Pole, Talon or some type in the area of stake-out system, halting the drift rather than immediately and fishing a piece of structure continue on thoroughly is greatly preferred to attempting the drift and to recreate the scenario on another pass. come back to try and locate the same fish a second time. Many people are often surprised at how many more bites they are able to get in an area if they just take time to stop and thoroughly check it out. Waders and folks who fish from the boat will share common lure choices for the most part but there will be certain advantages for both camps. Waders will obviously be able to stealth-stalk their quarry while boat fishermen can cover more water. Both approaches have pros and cons and each offers anglers outstanding opportunity to catch fish. Neither method is right or wrong at this time of the year. Back to 64 colors, 31 flavors, and hard candy assortments; taking advantage of available options is the best way to catch more fish.
Chuck Uzzle
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shrimp than ultra-high-end gear. The percentage of anglers who exclusively hunt trophy fish with the latest and greatest gear pales in comparison to Joe Angler who just goes out to get a bite and maybe catch dinner. Just a little something to think about. Now, regardless of which end of the spectrum you may reside at, there are some outstanding options for you to choose from in order to catch both numbers of fish and better quality fish. For many readers of TSFM the thought of climbing out of a sleek bay boat to wade a pristine flat in search of a career fish is about as close to perfect as one can imagine. Yes, there will be plenty of good fish caught by waders during this time of the year and there will also be plenty of pages and print dedicated to that method as well. For others, the thought of crawling out of a perfectly good boat into cold water is about as foreign as ordering a bologna sandwich at a south Texas BBQ house. It doesn’t make any sense Boat fishing may lack some but, for some, it’s of the glamour of wading what they like. but, what’s an angler to do Personally, I can when fish are holding in six honestly say that I feet or greater depths? enjoy both fishing out of the boat and staying in, makes me no difference as long as I’m fishing. However, I must admit that in my career I have been fortunate to put my hands on several true 30 inch speckled trout—and every one of them was caught while the angler was still in the boat. Perhaps that’s because here on Sabine and Calcasieu we tend to spend a little more time in water that’s too deep to wade unlike other venues down the coast. Early spring is a fantastic time to locate those better fish in a little deeper water outside of the shallow flats. We spend much of our time in 4 to 6 feet of water making really long drifts that usually lie parallel to shorelines or other structure. Quite often we are in even deeper water as we probe the breaks along the Sabine River and ICW where some magnum trout and redfish stage up and avoid boat traffic and fishing pressure. Making the most of water that’s too deep to wade requires a certain set of skills, tools and a little bit of thought. Perhaps most important is good electronics and the ability to read them. Finding and interpreting bottom structure is an art that pays big dividends to those who understand how to do it. For years I’ve watched two of the best; Dickie Colburn and Johnny Cormier, take skills they learned locating fish on freshwater lakes early in their careers and apply
Chuck fishes Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes from his home in Orange, TX. His specialties are light tackle and fly fishing for trout, reds, and flounder.
Phone Email
409-697-6111 cuzzle@gt.rr.com
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The Difference Is Clear
STORY BY JOE RICHARD
L
ong-time Gulf anglers have heard the word Ling! screamed more than a few times over the years, when these fish boldly appeared on the surface, cruising around to inspect the boat. What often follows is a mad scramble to get a hook in front of the fish, before it loses interest and vanishes. Today that might only take a few seconds. Or it might last for an hour, which was more common 30 years ago. Regardless, April is always the first month we hope to hear that magic word. The chance of this happening during April and May are greater than any other time of year, because these fish likely haven’t seen a boat since last year. They’re hungry, as well. Why? The summer shrimpboat fleet isn’t on the horizon yet, dumping tons of bycatch overboard. Ling can always find something to eat in the Gulf, but for reasons unexplained, they always seem hungrier in late spring. In addition, there aren’t that many fishable days. For weeks on end, it might stay windier out there than a 50-pound bag of whistling lips. Early-season anglers also have a better hookup rate, because these fish aren’t so hook-shy. But where they’ve been during winter is a mystery. They’re fond of warm or almost hot water, at least 70 degrees and higher. Some might linger way off the Texas coast during winter, but I’ve never heard of it. Those that I tagged were often recaptured in winter, but down in Mexico. Way south in Vera Cruz or beyond, though not beyond the Yucatan peninsula in the Caribbean. April is our time for ling here, and May is even better. We were blessed to fish prime ling water off Port Arthur for many years, and we had a bonus, there wasn’t much fishing pressure. We saw ling out there that would make veteran anglers
Close-up of tired ling alongside the boat, after it bit a colorful jig.
today shiver like a hound dog passing peach pits. Ling were so land a 30-pounder with a snapper broomstick rod, which we did. common, we expected to see them every trip between April and Sometimes with the aid of a .22 rifle, to shorten the fight. The little September. Compare that with Port O’Connor, where in later years rifle was mostly employed so these fish wouldn’t wreck the small (the ‘90s) I’d fish sometimes an entire summer offshore without boats we fished from in those days. Boats today are so big, you can seeing one. It should be noted that some years are better for ling, let a ling flop around on deck until he gets tired, or drag him into than others. Obviously, Louisiana waters carry more ling and Port a box under the deck, and let him settle down in there before the Arthur is right there on the border. For us, it’s easy to steer a few hook is removed. degrees east on the compass, and fish in Louisiana waters. As a rookie I can remember the local hero, outdoor writer Ed Best weather: Just like us, ling have no desire to take a beating on Holder, returning with 16 big ling on a single day, and this was in the surface during a rough day and so they generally stay deeper April. A year or two later in early May, we saw schools of 50 big on choppy days. If you’re out there on a fairly rough day, chances ling on the surface at some small platforms not far beyond state are you won’t see a ling bouncing around on the surface, because waters. They created a brown patch on a blue-green Gulf. These they’re cruising at mid-depth. They will follow or chase an artificial were all 30- to 60-pounders, no little ones, but no giants. But they or hooked bottom fish to the surface on choppy days. Toss out a were hungry, and it was hard work fighting them for hours. two-ounce jig and let it settle deep before retrieving it, to cover The biggest ling we spotted out there was a little over six feet the water column. We’ve also caught ling smack on the bottom long with shocking girth, and we had no inclination to try and while fishing for snapper. hook it. It easily topped 100 pounds (left) Author tries to lift his 80-pound ling off the deck in 2004. and might have gone 120. We were Stay Versatile: This is a versatile fish, sitting on a platform on a calm day found from the grassflats in Florida (right-top) Author with a legal-sized ling. and it passed by with five other ling, out to 200 feet of water off Texas, or (right-bottom) Horsing a ling off Galveston. This was during a and I reeled in my line and thought: No deeper. They run the surf in Florida, tournament and we neglected to enter the ling pot. So we 10 way, dude. You see, it’s very difficult to sometimes in schools, and have been ling around one shrimpboat, releasing most of them them. land a ling from a platform. You might caught by the hundreds from pier
42 | April 2015
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anglers there. In Texas they’re caught offshore around shrimpboats, weedlines, buoys and platforms. Locate shade offshore, and wear polarized sunglasses while searching for these fish. Best Baits: Ling will eat almost anything they can wrap their lips around. But some days they can be very picky. One enterprising guy on a partyboat coaxed a 60-pounder into biting, by hiding a sharp hook inside a hardboiled egg he’d brought for lunch. Just 40-pound line and a hook with no leader. Try that with any other offshore fish. Another guy tossed out a dead sand trout with an Alka-Seltzer in its mouth. It fizzed away and the ling couldn’t stand it, gulping down the trout. More conventional ling baits include live hardhead catfish with spines removed, or almost any small fish for that matter. (If you need quick catfish, try under a marina’s bait cleaning table). Almost anything found in shrimp boat cull, or caught with a castnet. And then any frozen bait from marinas. The trick is to carry a variety of bait, and present it when a ling passes by. And preferably without backlashing the reel. It can turn ugly fast, when a big ling grabs the bait and runs up against a jammed reel. If you’re using 100-pound line and the deck is wet, somebody better hold on to your belt. Keep in mind if you’re fishing a tournament for ling, and they’re strict about state rules, you might be using an illegal bait. That (right) Dale Fontenot of Vidor grimaces while holding up a big ling off Sabine Pass. (left) Miss Amy with a ling caught on a top water Chugbug lure, in shallow Florida water on the grass flats.
would mean not using snapper, amberjack and various reef fish for bait. Check your bait’s status before using it offshore in tournaments. What if you catch a winning fish, and wind up in a polygraph test? Tackle: Almost any tackle will catch a cobia, but with lighter gear, you’d better hook one of these fish in open water. Why? They’re the devil to turn around if structure is close by. A hooked ling will charge right through a Gulf platform, running out the other side, so it’s difficult to stop a big one from cutting the line. They don’t always do this; some will cruise away, shaking their head, and an occasional ling will jump as it runs, which is rare treat to see. Ling are fond of buoys, and this is an easier venue for landing one on different types of tackle. They might run around the anchor chain, but quick handling with the boat can unravel the problem. 44 | April 2015
My biggest ling ever, weighing 80 pounds at the marina, still had the tips of his tail touching the ground. It was caught at a buoy, and wasn’t interested in the buoy’s chain. With a bent rod in one hand, I had to run to the bow and untie from the buoy, start the motor and back away quickly into open water. The reason for these added chores is because my buddy wouldn’t help at all, he was busy casting at more ling. Three times, he jerked the hook away from 40-pounders, and he just didn’t have the time to help. However, 10 minutes later on the ling’s first close pass, he leaned out and made a good gaff shot under the ling’s pectoral fin, evidently hitting it in the heart, and the huge fish just gave up. When it could have jerked him overboard.
John Milne releases a ling off Port O’Connor last summer.
Conservation: Ling are not as numerous as they were 40 years ago. But they persevere under today’s fishing pressure. The minimum size allowed is Last year we caught a tagged 33 inches at the fork of the ling off Port O’Connor. We tail, and some folks are mighty removed the tag, released the
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fish, but unfortunately lost the tag somewhere in the boat.
46 | April 2015
tempted to fudge on that, hoping they won’t get checked back at the dock. I’ve never weighed a 33-inch ling for some reason, but it can’t be much more than ten or 12 pounds. This is a fast-growing fish; a two-year-old female at 10 pounds will weigh 24 pounds by the following year. Males double from eight pounds to 16. So consider releasing those marginally legal fish. And be careful when handling undersize ling; they’ll thrash all over the deck and injure themselves. They can be wrapped in a wet towel and quickly unhooked, and shook out overboard. Releasing small ling will hopefully educate them before grabbing another baited hook. Maybe they’ll grow up to 60 pounds or so, spawning a few times, before they really make some angler’s day. We need all the ling we can get out there in the Gulf. Those curious about catching more ling might check out my older book The Cobia Bible, found online at Seafavorites.com.
Joe Richard Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast. He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com
Dark spot in distance is a floating grass mat. Water is off-color…don’t be afraid!
J AY WAT K I N S
A S K THE P R O
Taking Advantage of “Other” Structure A recent day of 50⁰ water and mid-calf mud got me to I appreciate the little things we have today that make wondering. What is it at age 57 that makes me so eager to my days on the water so much easier. The Haynie Cat that continue chasing winter trout and redfish? As much as I allows me to get shallow and then get up and get out if have pondered that question, the best I can come up with need be. The Power-Pole (that used to work from greater is true love of the chase and incredible passion for fishing. distance but now barely 25 yards, safety concerns of the My recent bout with skin cancer on my nose was a manufacturer, but definitely not dogging my current units) reminder that the sun has taken its toll. It will likely not still helps eliminate long wades to retrieve the boat. My be the last time I go under the knife. I will just have to Simms products; I have them all, have positively made continue to be diligent with my daily sunscreen and it possible for me to continue to fish at the high level in checkups every six months. It’s not like Beautiful trout for Dr. Cox could make me any uglier. Steve in poor clarity. When water temps drop to 50⁰ and below the old bones begin to ache. Forty-plus years of flat bottom boats have definitely taken the cushion out of my lower back and neck vertebrae. Did you know that when I was in high school I was almost 6 foot tall? Not really, but I was slightly taller than the 5’7” frame I walk around in these days. Advil and Ibuprofen save most days and even some nights. My feet cramp at night but my knees and hips have shown little signs of breaking down. So has all of this been worth it? You bet, I would not change a single thing even if I could. 48 | April 2015
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Floating grass formed into a row…where tiny crabs hide.
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which I do, and in relative comfort. Light-weight rod and reel combos save the shoulder on long days, so technology is definitely working towards keeping me out there for hopefully many years to come. Enough about your aging guide, let’s talk about something really cool that I have been able to observe the past several weeks. Winter has come in small doses along the Lower Coast this season. One day it’s 75⁰ and then a fresh front drops it to lower-40s, or lower. Prolonged north wind makes conditions difficult for a few days, but it eventually settles and fishing returns to catching. Fronts have been wet and the Middle to Lower Coast regions have received much needed rain, 22-plus inches to be exact here in Mansfield. The lake in my back yard in Rockport once again holds enough water for ducks and cranes to make daily visits. With fresh water comes better trout fishing for sure, but the rains also bring new life of many forms to the estuaries. Small crabs and tiny shrimp have already shown themselves in big numbers in some of the areas we are fishing. On several occasions, during periods of strong SSE wind, there have been days I would see dozens of small crabs floating close to the surface along floating grass lines. Fishing between these rows of grass can be extremely productive if you possess the ability to cast accurately enough to do so. Fine tuning fishing skill is something we should never stop doing. Good golfers never stop working on their swing and the best hitters in baseball spend the most time in batting cages. I pick a target for every cast, even imaginary. Redfish thrive on tiny crabs and will stage along rows of floating grass, cruising up and down, ambushing every one they can find in the clutter. We sometimes hear and see the fish suck the crabs off the surface. Now if you think big trout don’t eat crabs, you need to think again. The photos in this piece should prove my point. It is true that many days we caught more redfish, but when we did catch a trout, she was special.
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And after all, special is what my winter months in Port Mansfield are all about. Prior to the full moon in the first week of February, small crabs and shrimp seemed to be everywhere and where I found the most definitely made for better fishing. Winds were also very strong and tides low, so yet another advantage was created. Wind-generated Heavy slot red for author current tears grass from the bottom and from floating grass mat. floating grass becomes prevalent from the Upper Laguna all the way to South Padre. It causes problems with certain types of lures and we trade trebles for single hooks, though even this is not enough at times. As the wind blows, floating grass stacks along windward shorelines making them almost unfishable at times, but the grass also creates walls that aid gamefish in search of food. To me, the best floating grass mats are the ones that actually form out in the flats, away from shorelines. These mats will become crescent-shaped, due to currents, the same as reefs and sandbars. of the grass. Let the bait fall and then work it off the edge.” Just like fixed bottom structure, these floating/rolling grass mats create Within a few casts several slot and an oversized red were caught. It ambush points. On a recent late afternoon wade here in Port Mansfield slowed for a bit, so we camped and waited until the fish returned. They I pointed out one of these large areas of grass and had my group actually seem to mill from one end to the other, moving up to the edge approach just as we would have done a reef in Aransas Bay. out of the shadows and then back into the shadows. It is a good idea to One angler eased towards the east end, and the other to the west. I set back and let this floating structure show its full potential. Suddenly positioned myself in the middle and coached. “Try to hit the very edge the fish were back and this time several nice trout were in the mix. The next fish hooked was one we wanted; a solid 29-inch trout that bumped the Boga to 8 pounds. This tactic has long been something I have taken advantage of when Mother Nature deals the card. I think it is overlooked by lots of very good anglers that have bottom structure in their game plan but simply discount the potential of floating structure to similarly attract and hold bait and predators. So keying in on a food source that is not often associated with trophy trout has opened another pattern we can use to sneak up on a few more while enjoying some fabulous redfish action. It is fitting to close this month’s column bidding farewell to my dear friend, Tim Redden. Tim went to be with the Lord on February 3rd 2015. With Jay Ray and other dear friends at my side, we carried him to his final resting place. What an honor it was. Tim left me with so many fond memories of days in the field and on the water. His best gift to me was that throughout his illness and in his final days, he made me want to be a better man and a better Christian. I will pray more and I will ask that you help me become the man I should have been a long time ago. Sleep well dear friend. May your fishing always be catching. -Guide Jay Watkins
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Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Telephone Email Website
361-729-9596 Jay@jaywatkins.com www.jaywatkins.com
o t t l i Bu
e t a n i Dom of r goes out e v e n t e ll u r Grade A good M er Saltwate b m o B e h T style. eath for w-sinking d lo s is t e shore ll u M and other in s k c e p S , h Redfis e new . Look for th h s fi r to a d retailer. pre rea tackle a r u o y t a t Mulle
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Mark Nichols; fishing lure inventor, founder and president of DOA Lures.
C A P T. S COT T N U L L
S H A L L O W W ATER FI S HING
Learning from
the best in the business
I’m a fortunate man. I make my living in the fishing industry. I’ll never be monetarily rich, but my life feels rich in more important ways. I spend many days on the water guiding people to enjoyable memories. I spend other days on the water all alone, immersed in nature. I also get to spend time with a variety of like-minded folks. Some are regular working guys who just love fishing and the outdoors and then there are times when I get to meet people I’ve looked up to for years; icons of our industry. I’m not one to idolize sports figures or entertainers; I’m more likely to be drawn to those who have spent a lifetime experiencing outdoors adventures or followed their dream to carve out a living doing what they are passionate about. A while back I found myself sitting at a trade show 54 | April 2015
having an in-depth conversation about Texas redfish with Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot and Gary Loomis. It was almost surreal having these guys hit me up with questions about how I fish and the behaviors of our reds versus those in Florida and elsewhere. It was really interesting getting their thoughts on the hows and whys fish act or react the way they do. One evening I spent several hours over dinner talking knots, rigging, tarpon and snook with Jose Wejebe. The knot-talk alone was fascinating. Yeah, I’m geeky that way. Another wonderful dinner was spent talking flies and fly tying with Enrico Puglisi, one of the most innovative people in that realm. Later I wished I had scribbled some notes to help my aging mind remember all of those little nuggets of
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valuable information. I recalled the high points, but I know there are things that faded away before I could carve them into my brain. But it did get me to thinking about future articles for this column. I figured if I was that interested in what these guys had to say, most likely, you would be too. Sometimes it might be a new technique, maybe a new-to-me lure or even just looking at a situation through different eyes. You never know what it might be that flips a switch and gives you that “Aha” moment. With all that said, here goes my first attempt at such an article. At the recent Houston Fishing Show I had a chance to catch up with Mark Nichols, owner and founder of DOA Lures. We first met several years ago and run into each other at various shows from time to time. Mark grew up in Texas fishing all up and down the coast from Galveston to Corpus Christi. He moved to Stuart, Florida in 1980 and started the DOA Lure Company in the early 90s. His first lure was his now famous DOA shrimp. I’ve always been a big fan of Mark’s shrimp. It’s one of my go-to lures for sight-casting to redfish. It comes pre-rigged with a straight hook and a small belly weight. When cast it makes the perfect splat on the surface to get a red’s attention and then settles slowly just like a real shrimp. Redfish can’t resist. While that’s my favorite use of it, I’ll also blind-cast it across a current feeding out of a marsh bayou and let it ride the flow without any flicks of the rod tip. Reds, trout and flounder stationed at the mouth of a bayou are suckers for the freefloating presentation. As Mark and I talked about my use of his lure he broke out a few lures and a small box with a variety of hooks, weights and rattles. He
DOA Mullet rigged on weedless swimbait hook.
One of Mark’s tricks is to insert closed-cell foam into the hollow belly cavity of the Mullet to create a soft plastic topwater.
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The proven DOA Shrimp can be rigged to suit a variety of presentations; weedless, weightless, with rattles, frontward and backward.
then proceeded to demonstrate several ways he modifies the basic shrimp to fit different situations. To add a little weight for a slightly faster sink rate he inserts a glass rattle tube into the nose along the hook shank. For a slightly slower sink rate he removes the standard belly weight and replaces it with the glass rattle, which is approximately 25% lighter. When rigged from the nose it is important to either let the current move the lure or just swim it back to you without a lot of rod action. Watch a real shrimp in a bait tank and you’ll see that this is how they swim. When you feel the need to impart more action, Mark suggested reversing the hook to mimic a fleeing shrimp. Real shrimp kick in reverse to flee a predator and then sink into the mud to hide. Using either a swimbait or worm style hook you can clip off the fan tail and rig it backwards (see accompanying photo). These hooks can be weightless or weighted depending on depth and current. Turns out Mark loves to come up with all manner of tweaks and different ways to rig all of his lures. He’s a tinkerer, as most lure makers are. After the shrimp lesson he pulled out a few of his Swimmin’ Mullet lures (previously known as the Airhead). This is a deep-bodied soft plastic baitfish imitation with a wide, beaver-like tail and a hollow belly. I’ve thrown them with a swimbait style hook and the tail flaps quite a bit more than you would think. With the weighted swimbait hook the lure sinks horizontally and wobbles like a wounded baitfish. It’s a unique action that gets a predator’s attention. In certain situations Mark likes even more action out of the
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is called the Hot Head. I like using swimbait style hooks with a keel weight instead of a typical jighead. The lure swims and falls horizontally instead of diving nose first. Using the Hot Head will let me do this and get a contrasting colored head with eyes just like a colored jighead. Sometimes it’s the small details that turn a neutral fish into a feeder. After an hour or so watching Mark play around with these simple lure modifications it got my mind to working. Now I’m looking at my soft plastics box with new interest. And making a lot of casts into the pool testing out some of my own ideas. I hope it spurs the same in you.
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tail. To produce this he punches a small hole in the center of the tail and then cuts a slit, downward and angling toward the head. This substantially increases the flapping of the tail and makes it look a lot like a huge curly-tail style bait. Then with a little grin he asked, “Do you like topwater strikes? How about a weedless soft plastic topwater?” He had my attention. Mark then pulled out a length of closed-cell insulating foam, the kind you use around doors and windows. He cut a small piece, opened the lure’s hollow belly and slid the foam into the slot. He pinned it in place with a little piece of a broken toothpick and rigged it with a worm hook. I played with it Increased tail action can in my swimming be created in the Mullet by pool when I got punching a hole in the tail and home and can’t making a slit, like a curly-tail. wait to throw it in front of a fish. You can dog-walk it slow with all kinds of erratic action, straight reel it like a waker, or crank it fast like a buzz bait. Some of his other modifications have led to new products that he now offers. One is the Chug Head. This is a small soft plastic head that fits over a typical soft plastic lure. When rigged with a worm hook it turns your plastic into a weedless topwater chugger. Another product
Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading. Telephone Email Website
281-450-2206 scott@tsfmag.com www.captainscottnull.com
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By Greg Purtle | Upper Laguna Madre Coastal Fisheries Division Intern
FIE L D N O TE S
Benefits of Live-release Fishing Tournaments As a marine biology student at Texas A&M University and Corpus Christi resident for the last three years, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing the great recreational fishing that the Coastal Bend has to offer. Whether it’s going offshore to catch red snapper or fishing off a local pier, Texas waters provide great fishing opportunities for all skill levels. Despite the hours of fishing I had done as a student, I had never experienced a fishing tournament in person until I attended the Mr. and Ms. Big Trout tournament and truly enjoyed the experience. It was remarkable to see all of the fishermen bringing in their catch and waiting to see if they landed on the leaderboard. The greatest spectacle however, was watching these tournament winning spotted sea trout, red drum, and southern flounder being released back into the water. What a concept it was, to have a tournament for teams to compete for cash and bragging rights but to also see the fish going unharmed, back into their own ecosystem. This liverelease tournament helped to prove to me that fishing tournaments can be exciting and competitive while having a minimal impact on local waters. 60 | April 2015
Overall, fishing tournaments can be very beneficial to the local economy, bringing in revenue to local businesses. About 10% of saltwater angling activity is associated with tournament fishing while the other 90% is associated with non-tournament fishing as indicated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) fisheries dependent data. Large tournaments can gather hundreds of people to local areas, bringing in money not normally spent there. However, tournaments not only provide money to local areas, but provide an opportunity for advertising. In some cases businesses will help fund tournaments for advertising purposes, helping them get their brand out to a wider client base. With enough business sponsors and entry fees paid, tournaments can generate quite a bit of money. For the past seven years, the organizers of the Mr. and Ms. Big Trout tournament have been using the money generated from the tournament to fund scholarships for local marine biology students. Working as a summer intern with TPWD- Coastal Fisheries Division staff, these students gain an understanding and appreciation of
fisheries management practices. This provides students with real world experience in the field that they are studying. With increased knowledge about the local fisheries, students solidify what they’ve learned in the classroom, have a better understanding of the process involved with managing the state’s marine resources, and are better prepared for employment in the field. One of the benefits of live-release tournaments are that they encourage and foster responsible environmental stewardship. These tournaments provide an outlet to teach respect for the environment and to understand the impacts that our actions have on fisheries resources while still providing the excitement and fun that competitive fishing brings to the table. The benefits are on both sides, with fishermen still being able to fish in tournaments and local populations of fish going relatively unharmed. Combined with educational outreach, live-release tournaments can have positive impacts on our local communities and waters helping to keep our coastline healthy and pristine On a much larger scale, overfishing of the world’s oceans has started to concern some biologists about future sustainability, but this does not have to be the case on a local scale. Local policies and accountability measures can make a big impact in local waters. Better public understanding and education can help inform anglers about these impacts putting into motion more progressive conservation efforts leading to sustainable fishing practices. When talking about global and local ecosystem health, it may
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have you asking how you can make a difference. Live-release tournaments are one way to do just that. They provide a number of benefits to local fishermen and communities while assuring ecosystems remain healthy and intact. So the next time you are signing up for or organizing a fishing tournament, think about all the positives that a live-release tournament can bring to your local area. These benefits will allow you and others to keep tournament winning fish in the water. And who knows, maybe you will be hoisting the trophy next year because of these benefits.
Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.
S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E
F LY F I S H I N G
Gettin’ Jiggy
My guide buddy, Wright Taylor of Florida, always gives me a hard time about my old-school ways. No matter what it is that I do, he believes and regularly points out that I am too inflexible in my ways. I am ashamed to admit that this is not entirely untrue. One of the many things I have been hardheaded about is the use of jig hooks in fly-tying. The reason, and you are probably going to laugh at this, is that most of the flies that I have ever seen tied on jig hooks are just outright ugly. I like my flies to be as close to perfect as possible, not only in function but also aesthetically. Now to the point; I am really starting to get into fishing flies tied on jig hooks. You see, until just this past year, I knew of only two people who regularly fished flies tied on a jig hook, both of whom I hold in highest regard as anglers. The first, which many of you already know, was my predecessor in writing this column, Casey Smartt. Casey, if you do not know, is not only a talented angler and fly-tier but, he is 64 | April 2015
just stupid good at everything he does. In fact, he has more talent in his pinky-finger than I and many others have in our whole bodies. Anyway, Casey was fishing with me one day and he broke out one of his flashy-looking Clouser Minnows tied on a jig hook. Sorry Casey but, while it might be a fish catching son-of-a-gun, that thing was ugly by my standards of what a fly should look like. The other person I know that likes to fish jig hook flies is the legendary Steve Huff. Now I have never personally seen Mr. Huff’s fly box but I have spoken with him about flies and seen images of his jig flies. It is clear that he fishes a lot more than I do. Meaning, that by matter of necessity, he does not have time to sit at the vise and make all of his flies perfect as I always try. I would trade places with him any day of the week. Anyway, upon my arrival home from Florida early last summer, Wright called and asked whether I ever tied with jig hooks. My immediate response was, “No, I don’t like them because they look ugly.”
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tying with jig hooks. First, just imagine one of the finest redfish flies ever- the Borski’s Bonefish Slider. Now imagine that fly on steroids. Seriously, the fly that I did is nothing more than a large “slider” tied with slightly different materials. (Remember folks, there is no such thing as a new fly pattern anymore. All we can do is take someone else’s pattern and modify it to suit our needs). What I did was, instead of a craft fur tail, I utilized bucktail and saddle hackles, and then wound and trimmed the body with an EP Foxy Brush (Sommerlatte’s U/V Blend or Grizzly). Before winding on my brush, I tied in some eyes below the hook-shank which allowed me to then wind the brush around the eyes, somewhat burying them. Once that was done I trimmed the bottom of the fly leaving the brush full to fill the hookgap and to assist in righting the hook (hook up aspect). Then, to finish it off, I added a clump of deer hair with the bristles filling the hook-gap and trimmed. Viola!—the Borski Super Slider. The results of fishing with this fly have been spectacular so far. In my Texas home waters it has proved very effective on blind-casting for reds and trout (again, as it was originally tied, it was large and moved a lot of water). As for Florida, it has attracted snook, redfish and even tarpon. Well folks, despite of my latest revelation at the vise, I am still hardheaded and inflexible. However, I do recognize the need that I have for change. What is it that they say…the first step in recovery is recognizing that you have a problem?
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“Have you tried them?” he asked. Again, I replied, “No.” His response was of course along the lines of hardheadedness described above. Anyway, he sent a cell phone image of one that a friend had tied and I mumbled to myself, “He could have at least tried to make it look good.” Well, it just so happened that I had a boxful of jig hooks in assorted sizes and I sat down at the vise and a jar of rye and got to work. It took a couple attempts to come up with an “up-tosnuff” pattern but it did eventually happen. And, through a few iterations it turned out to be just outright sexy. Even better, my experiments turned one sexy fly into four sexy flies. So now let me tell you why a fly tied on a jig hook is so special. The reason for it is simple. If the weight (lead or bead-chain eyes) is below the eye of the hook, the fly will ride hook up. This is the basic principle behind many redfish and bonefish flies but, because of the extreme bend in the hook near the eye, this puts the center of gravity lower yet, making the fly run in even truer hook up fashion. This hook up attitude (of the fly) is enhanced even more by the placement or trimming of materials. By the way, a fly that always rides hook up is a great advantage when fishing shallow waters, especially over oysters and other bottom snags. Now for a brief description of the fly that changed my mind about
66 | April 2015
Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer. Telephone Email Website
979-415-4379 vssommerlatte@hotmail.com www.scottsommerlatte.com
CADE SIMPSON
K AYA K F I S H I N G C H R O N I C L E S
Farewell,
but not exactly goodbye Collecting my thoughts and preparing to write, there is a weight of sadness in my heart. You see, it is the case that this will be my final article as the author of the Kayak Fishing Chronicles for Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Much has changed in my life and my job; (supposedly) the level of success we all hope to one day achieve
when we launch into a career. Success does however come at a price. And, in this case, the afternoons of getting home early enough to sneak in a quick fishing or hunting excursion, and hunting being the only thing that competed seriously with fishing on weekends—all I can say is there have been a lot of changes.
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Three and a half years ago I reached out to Everett with an idea to present a column styled for the everyday kayak angler—some destination pieces highlighting where to fish, launch sites, eating places, campgrounds and motels, the kind of stuff that’s always nice to have figured out before hitting the road. I also pitched including some how-to pieces on kayak rigging, paddle selection and paddling technique, and of course lots of fishing related topics. Lo and behold, he thought it was a great idea and as they say, the rest is history.
My first column was a report and summary of a trip I made to Galveston-East Bay, fishing from Stingaree Marina. I have to give credit to my buddy, Mark, who really got me interested in kayak fishing and first suggested we fish there. Not long after the article printed I remember getting a call from Stingaree. They wanted my permission to hang a copy of the article on the wall in the restaurant. I was so proud. As the months started going by I began to get reader emails and text messages. People asking my opinion of this or that, from where to launch or what kind of kayak is best. Some of the fishing photos that readers have sent me are still on my computer because of how impressed I am by their achievements. Over these last few years it has been a blast sharing fishing stories and tips with everyone. Forty-two months and magazine issues later, I have met many great people through this little writing job and paddled many, many miles. I have greatly improved my knowledge of shallow water 70 | April 2015
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fishing and caught a lot of fish. The Texas outdoors folks and fishermen of all ages and occupations who enjoy this type of fishing have made a great impression and provided memories I will cherish forever. Having set out to hopefully encourage and educate newcomers to paddle fishing, I have to say that I also learned a lot. I also learned a lot about myself, another treasure to carry with me the rest of my life. Maybe someday, with a child or grandchild on my knee, I will reminisce and say, “Yeah, I used to write for a premier fishing magazine back in the day!” Ha-ha. With that said, even though this is the last official entry from me, the show must go on. I am certain the next kayak chronicler will take the column to an even greater level. And I won’t ever be far away. In some respects I will not have ever left. I will still be out on the water with you, doing what I can to find that next bite. Thank you Everett and TSFMag for the chance to be a part of the team. Thank you also to my pal and fishing partner, Cliff, for your support and encouragement in my writing. Most of all, I want to thank all the readers, you have been great. I truly appreciate all the emails, shared photos, fishing hints and tips. It has been a great run. Good luck on the water!
Telephone Email
936-776-7028 Cademan11@sbcglobal.net
Find me on Facebook to follow along in my outdoor adventures
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S t o r y b y J o h n B l a h a I A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r I C C A Te x a s
T S F M ag C ons e r v a t ion N e w s
Bird Island Marsh Restoration Project Completed Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recently completed the Bird Island Cove Marsh Restoration Project located along the south shoreline of West Galveston Bay. CCA Texas funded $50,000 to this project in May of 2011 and these funds were used in the construction of the project and as matching funds for a Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) grant application in the amount of $1,000,000. CCA Texas’s
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matching funds are an important part of federally issued grants and are used as local matching dollars. Texas coastal wetlands are one of the most important parts of the ecosystems up and down the Texas coast. These wetlands serve over 95% of fish species found in the Gulf of Mexico and the intertidal marshes serve as nursery areas for fishery species such as brown and white shrimp, blue crab, sand seatrout, Gulf menhaden, southern flounder, red drum, bay anchovy and many other marine organisms. Coastal wetland loss in Texas and in the Galveston Bay system in particular is significant and an ongoing concern because of the important and necessary roles that the wetlands perform. TPWD, CCA Texas and other organizations recognize the importance of these wetlands and are working continuously to protect and restore these resources. TPWD takes the lead in this effort and CCA Texas is there to provide community matching dollars for federal and state grants, outreach about the importance and roles of these resources, and
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volunteers for marsh grass planting events and other types of habitat events when volunteers are needed. This project will directly benefit approximately 114 acres of existing coastal wetlands in the Bird Island Cove area. This project includes approximately 4,000 linear-foot of segmented breakwater that protects existing estuarine marsh. In addition, hydraulic dredging was used to pump sediments from a nearby designated borrow area to restore the site to intertidal marsh elevations. These materials and elevations are suitable elevation for restoring salt flat marsh/sand flat habitat in addition to intertidal Spartina alterniflora marsh and allow for the migration of intertidal marsh to higher elevations in response to sea level rise. This method of restoration has been successfully used at six other projects (Jumbile Cove, J-Cove, Delehide Cove, Starvation Cove, Carancahua Cove and McAllis Point) in the West Galveston Bay system and CCA Texas looks forward to seeing more success in this project. Since the completion of the construction and as of mid February 2015, 9,700 sprigs of Spartina alterniflora have been planted and once completed a minimum of 32,000 sprigs will be planted within the project. Louisiana Joins Texas in the Abandoned Crab Trap Clean up on Sabine Lake The State of Louisiana joined Texas in the crab trap clean up on Sabine Lake and the success was measurable and volunteers were in action. CCA Texas chapters from the Sabine-Neches, Orange County, Trinity Valley and Golden Triangle Chapters were on hand, as well as members of the CCA Texas staff, to help remove traps and it was a great success despite the weather the volunteers faced. Sabine Lake, Galveston Bay System and San Antonio Bay System were once again
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hot spots for derelict traps. CCA Texas has sponsored this event since its inception and is proud to continue the support in the on going effort to remove the forgotten traps from the local bays. CCA Texas Banquet Season Begins to Kick into Full Speed CCA Texas is excited about the early success of the banquets held to date and looks forward to a busy spring. Be sure to check out the CCA Texas calendar and attend the banquets of your choice in your local area and across the state. • April 2, 2015 – Prairie Chapter – Cat Springs Hall • April 2, 2015 – West Texas Chapter – Midland Country Club • April 3, 2015 – San Antonio Chapter 2nd Annual Hooked on Clays Shoot – National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. • April 9, 2015 – Greater Sugarland Chapter – Stafford Centre • April 10, 2015 – Texas State University Chapter – Hill Country Events Center • April 11, 2015 – Northeast Houston Chapter – Humble Civic Expo Center • April 16, 2015 – Dallas Chapter – Frontiers of Flight Museum • April 17, 2015 – Bay Area Chapter – Bay Area Community Center • April 18, 2015 – Redfish Bay Chapter – Port Aransas Civic Center • April 23, 2015 – Rio Grande Valley Chapter – Boggus Ford Event Center – Pharr • April 23, 2015 – Fort Bend Chapter – Fort Bend County Fairgrounds • April, 23, 2015 – Brenham Chapter – Silver Wings Ballroom • April 24, 2015 – Tri County Chapter – Atascosa County Show Barn • April 30, 2015 – Central Houston Chapter – Bayou Events Center • April 30, 2015 – Ft. Worth Chapter – Joe T’s
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STEPHANIE BOYD
F I S H Y FA C T S
SPONGES How many of you realize that the sponge you use in the shower is actually an animal skeleton? Of course, living sponges look quite different from the common shower sponge, which is the skeleton of only a select few species of sponge. Early Europeans found a variety of uses for these skeletons, including helmet padding, water filters, cleaning tools, paint brushes, and even contraceptives. Eventually, this popularity brought some species, and the industry, close to extinction. Nowadays, your bathroom sponge is often just synthetic foam. The authentic, organic skeletons are less commonly sold. There are over 8600 species of sponges worldwide. They are found in all marine environments, from shallow pools to the deep ocean, and are common in reef, mangrove, and seagrass ecosystems. Though they are primarily marine, about 250 species live in freshwater habitats. Fossil sponges are among the oldest known animal fossils, dating from the Late Precambrian, over 600 million years ago. A sponge is, in essence, a multicellular cooperative in the form of a perforated sac. Though not typically considered a colonial organism, the cells are often so loosely associated that if you run some sponges through a filter and scramble the cells, they will re-associate to form another sponge. However, though the cells exhibit considerable independence, they have become specialized enough that we no longer think of sponges as cellular co-ops. If separated, they must reassemble; not every cell can live alone. Sponges have no organs. Organs, such as hearts, kidneys, and digestive tracts are unnecessary simply because most of the sponge’s cells are exposed to circulating water (provider of oxygen and food, remover of wastes, praise unto thee, etc.). Sponges are composed of three layers: 1) the outer layer (sac), consisting of thin, often leathery, tightly-packed polygonal cells, called pinacocytes; 2) the middle layer (mesohyl), consisting of a gelatinous protein/carbohydrate material, a range of mobile cells running around on various errands, and a skeleton of spicules (minute, sharp-pointed mineral structures) or spongin (elastic protein fibers); and 3) the inner layer, consisting of flagellated cells called choanocytes. The sac (the outer layer) is not solid. It is perforated by a system of pores, through which the sponge draws water. Special cells, called myocytes and porocytes, surround these pores and can contract the openings, 76 | April 2015
similar to muscle cells. This allows the sponge to “hold its breath” in dirty water, such as from pollution or sediment influx. They also allow some species to creep very, very ... very slowly across the substrate. The mobile cells in the mesohyl are called archaeocytes, or amoebocytes. Amoebocytes are multitaskers; they can change into all the other types of sponge cells. They are constantly working – digesting food particles, carrying nutrients and oxygen to other cells, disposing of waste products, and maintaining the structure of the sponge. Also in the mesohyl are the sclerocytes and spongocytes, whose job it is to secrete the skeleton, which may be calcareous (made of calcium carbonate) or siliceous (made of silica, a white crystalline compound), depending on the class. On the interior wall, choanocytes also have their hands, or rather, flagella, full. These cells create the active pumping of water through the sponge, drawing water in through the pores and sending it out through one or more main openings, the osculae. Sponge bodies come in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, arborescent (tree-like), flabellate (fanshaped), caliculate (cup-shaped), tubular (tube-shaped), globular (ball-shaped), and amorphous (shapeless). For all of the many, diverse forms, there are only three major types of body construction (which have little to do with the taxonomic classification of sponges): 1) Asconoid: a simple tube perforated by pores with a single osculum; 2) Syconoid: also a tubular body with a single osculum, but generally larger and with a thicker body wall (requiring canals in addition to simple pores) than the asconoids; and 3) Leuconoid: the largest and most complex sponges, containing not only pores and canals, but chambers, through which to move water; infolding of the body wall allows many more shapes to be achieved. The vast majority of sponges have the leuconoid organization. Size is limited by the rate at which water can flow in and out. Sponges with the smallest surface area, the asconoids, are typically the smallest in the phylum. Leuconoid sponges, with the most surface area, claim some of the largest members. Time for taxonomy! Sponges belong to the phylum Porifera, from Latin, meaning “pore bearing.” They are subdivided by their skeletal structures into four classes: Calcarea, Hexactinellida, Homoscleromorpha, and Demospongiae. Calcarea (calcareous sponges) skeletons consist mainly of calcium carbonate; individual
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spicules can be straight or composed of 3 to 4 pointed rays and often protrude through the outer layer, giving the sponge a rough texture. These sponges are small, usually only a few inches high, often dull in appearance (though some species are brightly colored), and are the simplest sponges, with representatives from all three major morphologies (asconoid, syconoid, and leuconoid). Hexactinellida (glass sponges) skeletons consist of silica; individual spicules are composed of 6 or more intersecting rays and often form a latticework. These are deep-sea sponges. They are pale in color and often cup- or basket-shaped, having a body plan between syconoid and leuconoid. Their cylindrical skeletons often have the appearance of spun glass. Homoscleromorpha used to be a part of Demospongiae but was reclassified, on the basis of molecular and morphological evidence, in the early 2000s. They have a simple anatomy and are often small and delicate with few (or zero) spicules. Usually encrusting-type sponges, many resemble a dense sprinkle of candle drippings. Demospongiae skeletons consist of spongin and/or silica. This is the most diverse group; species vary in size from small, encrusting forms to very large, irregular masses. All are leuconoid; many are brightly colored. The freshwater sponges all belong to this class, as do the common bath sponges and the boring sponges (not boring as in How much longer can she possibly talk about sponge shapes?? – boring as in drilling). As you may have guessed, (most) sponges are filter feeders. They strain the water for oxygen and nutrients. Food particles that bump into the choanocytes stick to them and are digested or picked up by passing amoebocytes who get the job done. The volume of water passing through a sponge can be enormous; one cubic centimeter of a sponge can filter more than 20 liters of water a day. Some sponges are symbiotic with algae and get a little extra energy on the side with that relationship. A few deep-sea sponges are carnivorous; they don’t even have all the equipment to filter water anymore.
The sheer abundance and variety of sponges make them an obvious meal target. The fact that they move so slowly (like 6 mm a day), if at all (because most are sessile), means that they can hardly avoid being eaten. A mix of sea turtles, crustaceans, fish, and echinoderms all prey on sponges. They’re almost a free meal if you have the right utensils. Luckily, sponges have more than one means to replenish the population. Sponges are hermaphroditic (having both male and female sexual characteristics) and reproduce both sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction is achieved through budding and gemmules. In budding, the parent releases a specialized mass of cells that can develop into another, genetically identical, adult sponge. Gemmules are small buds that are encapsulated within the parent and are capable of surviving extremely unfavorable conditions, such as drying or cold, that cause the rest of the sponge to die. Sexual reproduction takes place in the mesohyl. Sperm, fashioned from choanocytes, are broadcast into the water, sometimes in masses so dense that the sponges appear to be smoking. Once the choanocyte-turned-sperm is inhaled by a sponge of the same species, it is trapped and fused with a local choanocyte. This choanocyte-sperm fusion then metamorphoses into a specialized amoeba-like cell and crawls toward an egg. The egg forms when an amoebocyte engulfs special cells to form a yolk. The choanocytesperm-amoeba fuses with the egg, and presto chango! A zygote. In some species, the sponge releases the eggs right after fertilization; in others, the sponge retains the eggs, and some development takes place within the parent. Some larvae settle directly after release and transform into adult sponges; some are planktonic for a while, tooling about looking for a suitable substrate to set up shop. Sponges are competitors for space, and many secrete chemicals to ensure themselves a place in the neighborhood. Many species contain toxic substances, probably to discourage predators. Certain
Pictured left is the boring sponge, Cliona celata…or is it? This species has been documented all over the world, even on continental coastlines with no connection. This photo, for example, was taken in New Zealand at the Hahei Marine Reserve, but it could easily have been from the Gulf. Most documentations of C. celata are based purely on appearance and traditional taxonomy, but like many other sponges, this species is difficult to differentiate by these means alone, due to the lack of distinct morphological features. In most cases, there is no attempt to verify whether or not the sponge is a separate species, so every boring sponge that looks like Cliona celata is documented as such. In doing so, it may be that some species – which are actually genetically distinct, despite the fact that they look the same and have the same basic ecology – have been overlooked. Only recently have scientists started to identify species that are geographically restricted. Some populations have been found to be much more distinct than originally thought. Within the MediterraneanNorth Atlantic, four distinct clades of the Cliona species have been identified, strongly supporting the existence of a species complex. A species complex is a group of virtually identical species without clear boundaries to distinguish each from the others (common in sponges). Ergo, this may be Cliona celata, or it may be a new species hiding under the veil of Cliona morphology. Photo by Tracey Bates
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other marine creatures take advantage of this characteristic by placing adult sponges on their bodies, where the sponges then attach and grow. Despite being stingy with surface area, sponges provide homes for a number of small marine plants, which live in and around their pores and canals. Symbiotic relationships with bacteria and algae also exist. Humans have jumped on the spongewagon, too. Some of the chemicals that sponges produce have beneficial pharmaceutical effects in respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antibiotic treatments. In the Gulf of Mexico, sponges are one of the dominant sessile invertebrates. The Gulf has a rich sponge fauna, with over 300 documented species. However, very few sponges live in the bays and estuaries, especially in Texas and Louisiana. Low winter temperatures and reduced salinities discourage many species common in the Caribbean, southern Florida, and Yucatan. Rivers deposit sediments that smother sponges growing too near the bottom. Rapid summer algal growth smothers sponges growing too near the surface. Consequently, the northern Gulf’s sponges thrive best on submerged reefs far from shore, where the water is clearer. The bays usually have mostly encrusting forms of the genera Haliclona and Microciona, and boring sponges of the genus Cliona. Haliclona (class Demospongiae, family Chalinidae) spreads over the substrate in a mat, ranging from a little over 1 mm to nearly 20 mm (3/4 inch) in thickness, but it is easily overlooked because of its encrusting form and general lack of color. Their morphology varies considerably. Some individuals have their osculae raised on pinnacles resembling tiny volcanos. Other individuals are so smooth that they are easily mistaken underwater for a coat of paint. Color is also variable, ranging from brick red to yellowish-green to lavender and deep purple, but is most often tan, cream, or dingy gray. Obviously, sponges cannot be reliably identified solely on shape or color. Microscopic examination of the spicules is usually required. Microciona (class Demospongiae, family Microcionidae) extends well up into Texas bays in years of low rainfall; it was seen in Copano Bay in 1949 (when the salinity was between 18 and 23 parts per thousand). This family, which includes encrusting, massive, lobate, fanshaped, and branching growth forms, is possibly the most abundant and diverse of any family of Porifera and is widely distributed in all the world’s oceans. Boring sponges (class Demospongiae, family Clionidae) excavate the surface of corals and mollusks, sometimes causing significant degradation or death to the mollusk. They begin their boring as larvae and spend their lives in the tunnels they form, seeking protection by sinking into the hard structures they erode. Even this process has some beneficial effects, however (not that any oyster would agree), in that it is an important part of the process by which calcium is recycled. Sponge-eroded calcareous chips may compose up to 30 or 40 percent of sediments in low-energy reef environments. Cliona celata (from Latin, meaning “concealed or hidden”), one of the sulfur sponges, is the most conspicuous of the boring sponges. The large dome-shaped or vase-like forms which occur in the open Gulf aren’t found in the bays, but encrusting forms of C. celata are fairly common and bright yellow boring forms can be found in old oysters and dead shells. Happily, there are too many species in the bays to cover in one article. So for now, no more boring sponges!
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Where I learned about sponges, and you can too! Beachcomber’s Guide to Gulf Coast Marine Life: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida By Susan B. Rothschild Houston Advanced Research Center Gulf Coast gulfcoast.harc.edu/Biodiversity/GulfofMexicoBiodiversity/Sponges/tabid/2302/ Default.aspx Marine Species Identification Portal species-identification.org/search.php?search_mode=basic&search_ for=kuekenthali&search_texts=no&show_what=form World Porifera Database www.marinespecies.org/porifera/porifera.php?p=search “Notes on the Boring Sponges in Gulf Coast Estuaries and Their Relation to Salinity” By Sewell H. Hopkins Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and Texas A&M Research Foundation The Nature Conservancy www.conservationgateway.org/ConservationPlanning/SettingPriorities/ EcoregionalReports/Documents/gulf.pdf Scientific American blogs.scientificamerican.com/artful-amoeba/2011/11/17/sponges-the-originalanimal-house/ Earthlife Web www.earthlife.net/inverts/porifera.html Tree of Life Web Project tolweb.org/Porifera/ SeaLifeBase www.sealifebase.fisheries.ubc.ca/summary/Scypha-barbadensis.html Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org/accounts/Porifera/ A-Z Animals a-z-animals.com/animals/sponge/ Department of Zoology at ANDC wikieducator.org/Department_of_Zoology_at_ANDC/Zoology_Museum/ Museum_specimens/Porifera University of California Museum of Paleontology www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/porifera/porifera.html Infoplease http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/porifera.html Geneseo www.geneseo.edu/~bosch/Sponges.pdf Kennesaw University science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/InvertZoo/LecPorifera/Porif.html Sidwell Friends School classic.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb5/Labs/Classification_Lab/Eukarya/Animalia/ Porifera/ *Special thanks to Allen Collins (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History) & Tracey Bates for helping with this article
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The tried and true method of popping cork and live shrimp duped this nice speck.
CURTISS CASH
I N S H O R E | N E A R S H O R E | J ETT I E S | P A S S E S
Making the Most of
April Opportunities Years ago I learned a valuable tip while fishing with Captain Billy Sandifer. We were traveling Packery Channel headed offshore for the day in his 25’ Panga. As Billy motored parallel to the channel drop, I readied myself on the bow for the one cast we needed. They swam right at us, the only finger mullet school within hundreds of yards and I missed my mark. Not just by a little, I threw at least 10 feet over and past the school! Embarrassed and dumbfounded, I handed the net to Billy for the save. Fully expecting the worst, all he said was, “That’s a light net. Didn’t you notice?” In the early morning haste and excitement I did not realize his modification. He had painstakingly removed every other weight on that 4½-foot cast net with a flat bastard
file. Doing this allowed the net to be thrown easier in shallow guts in the surf. I realized then while watching Billy walking barefoot to fill the bucket with mullet, light nets excel around scattered oysters. This is a modification I now use to help me catch mud minnows.
Making bait In a perfect world, having the option to purchase any live or fresh dead bait would be ideal. Most bait camps will have a good selections of frozen bait on hand to choose from. Live or fresh-dead gets the bite more often than not over frozen. Sometimes, the only way to get what you want is to catch it yourself. If seeking shrimp live or dead, croaker, grunts or crab, purchasing them is normally the best option. I’ve attempted to catch them fresh myself with limited success. Bait trawls, or sportsman’s nets as they are known, are cumbersome, messy and very time consuming to use. Setting traps for crabs or finfish can be very effective at times. Personally I have rarely enjoyed the benefits of ownership for an extended period once set Bull red hanging under and unattended. Often people help menhaden school themselves to my catch or borrow ended up in cast net. my traps indefinitely.
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STUNT DOUBLE 3DS Minnow F1157-HBS
Yo-Zuri.com
Capt. Jimmy Nelson Yo-Zuri Pro Staff Extreme Fishing Adventures
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www.power-pole.com
84 | April 2015
Cast netting for success For catching finger mullet, big “cutter” mullet and ballyhoo, the Betts “Old Salt” 5-foot net is my preferred tool. The best place to locate bait is on a channel edge or shallow drain that has good water flow or tidal movement. To catch menhaden, I use a heavy, 6-foot net. Lee Fisher makes the best I’ve thrown, marketed as the Bait Buster menhaden net. This net is not normally used to cast blind because of the size and heft of the weights. A good net for menhaden has one-and-a-half times the normal lead weight and a 5/8-inch square mesh panel. When combined, these features allow for faster sink rate and a flat opened net in deep water. I look for menhaden schooling across open water in the bays and also on the calmer sides of fast moving tidal flow. Menhaden are filter feeders and prefer turbid water, wind-blown shoreline drop-offs and spoil areas near ship channel edges. Often flocks of brown pelicans can be seen from a long distance diving into the water from high above, alerting us to the bait locations. I prefer to toss the net on top of a concentrated school that pinpoints their location with light flicks of water thrown 3 to 6 inches into the air. They school and feed in a diamond-shaped pattern with the bulk of the school located directly on bottom. Oftentimes, they rub their bodies in the silt to dislodge particles, which they then feed upon. The net needs to fall with a semi-slack line, undisturbed, until bottom is reached or when telltale pulls are felt from frantic fish pushing into the mesh. Caution should be exercised when throwing a large net in water 8 to 12 feet deep. Sometimes, predators are mixed in feeding on what you are targeting. I regularly see sharks and rays, and I almost always net way too many gafftop. Several times, I have netted large jack crevalle and bull reds that made me consider cutting the rope. For stability, I bend my knees slightly and space my feet at shoulders width, allowing for a good stance while centered on the bow. It is best not to double the loop to form a hitch around your wrist. If this cinches tight with a large tangled predator, you may not recover unscathed. If you want to catch big fish, hook a live menhaden through the nose and toss it behind the boat. Continue drifting the area fishing and throwing the net. A nice trout for Marco Cruz.
Hook and line baiting A great way to gather pinfish, sand trout, and sometimes croaker or grunts for bait is by using a Sabiki rig. These rigs are very effective on catching finfish of all sizes and many of them simultaneously. My go-to is the Mustad Piscator in size #8 or #10. These have five small gold hooks adorned with an imitation shrimp or shiny fish-like skin and colored beads. These catch baitfish with and without bait on the hooks, but some small pieces of shrimp can increase your odds of success. I have been using a dedicated Sabiki fishing rod to decrease tangles and have this bait catching tool ready always. Mashing the barbs down on the hooks help get the baitfish unhooked easier as well as your skin or clothing in case of a mishap. What to catch and use this month With the warming water and increased forage, topwater lures are much fun and very effective. Trout and reds pounce on them regularly. D.O.A. shrimp rigged in tandem TSFMAG.com | 85
are hard to beat fished while drifting shell reefs. I like to remove the included hook and thread the body onto a 1/8-ounce jighead. Rigging the modified shrimp on the trailing hook gives an original shrimp plenty of action in the lead position. Live shrimp catch just about all fish swimming the bays this month. Rigged under a popping cork, the splash and fish feeding noise emitted bring fish in from a distance. D.O.A. shrimp with shrimp scented Smelly Jelly applied to it work almost as good. Possibly better than live, considering that you don’t have to replace a bait after each bite.
Russell White and his favorite topwater lure!
C ontact
Large, solitary jacks that entered the bays in March will be running together in small packs later in April. Look for them on outside shorelines busting mullet. Try to maneuver in front of them and drag a large Super Spook across their path at a fast rate. Hold on, and be prepared to give chase if hooked on light tackle. Large black drum will still be schooled up completing their spawn through mid-month. Expect to catch a few bull reds mixed in with the schools found in the same areas. Cracked crab, and better yet, live mullet or fresh-cut menhaden will better fool the reds. On incoming tides slot reds will be more predictable by feeding near the water’s edge on windward shorelines. They will tend to fall back toward the drop-offs bayside around sand pockets on ebbing flow. Working drop-offs on the trolling motor or drifting with lures and live bait mentioned previously work well. Anchoring and fishing cut mullet or menhaden in same areas may be just as effective or better on windier days. If conditions allow, the nearshore action should include migrating cobia schools, red snapper, Gulf trout and large sheepshead at the short rigs. Live shrimp are good for all, while slow-trolling deep-diving Russell Lures around structure may get a king mackerel’s attention early in the season. April is a great month to become proficient at cast netting if you are not already. Throwing the net always makes me hungry from the hard work, especially if I’m constantly throwing tostadas instead of tacos. Let me know which one catches more bait for you.
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Capt. Curtiss Cash offers charters in the Port O’Connor area; specializing in fishing the bays, passes, jetties, surf and nearshore waters. Species targeted include speckled trout, redfish, flounder, tripletail, black drum, bull reds, sharks, snapper, kingfish, ling and tarpon, when seasonally available. Phone Website
361-564-7032 www.captlowtide.com
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Nighttime bull shark caught on casted bait.
E X T R E M E K AYA K F I S H I N G & S H A R K S F R O M T H E S A N D
ERIC OZOLINS
Launching Bait at
Big Targets
Before the advent of modern sit-on-top kayaks, big game surf fisherman resorted to an unusual array of methods for bait deployment. In Texas’ golden era of shark fishing, determined and crusty anglers would dangerously paddle surf boards, generic rafts, or even automobile inner-tubes, tirelessly dragging baits beyond most folk’s physical limits. If conditions were too treacherous (for small and sometimes homemade flotation devices), relentless anglers would even result to Olympic-style hammer throws from the second sandbar. There was a mixture of humor and amazement for witnesses as baits were slung into the next available gut. Nearly every contraption possible has been tested (and failed) in quest to get shark baits into deeper water, yet one of the most overlooked facts in surf fishing is that many of the shark species often swim and hunt in very shallow waters. Simply put, the traditional method, casting bait with rod and reel, has long proved extremely efficient even though many continue to believe farther is better. From antique bamboo sticks to modern graphite long-rods, casting is and will always remain king for consistency. The thought of lobbing a two-pound bait along with a weight seems a little excessive to some, and yet hardly adequate to others. Nonetheless, it is a method that 88 | April 2015
will always allow you get to get baits out regardless of constantly changing water conditions. While advances in rod and reel technology have helped maximize casting distance, the goal itself is just to get the bait out, if only lobbing it a mere 25 feet. With springtime warming coastal waters, bait and predatory action begins to take shape. April is one of my favorite times for inshore sharks. Casting out in a raging gut perhaps only 4 feet in depth could result in a shark beyond your expectations. There is a stereotypical label and myth that sharks can only be caught in deep water. If only the general public knew how close these creatures really do come to the sand, especially on a quiet stretch of beach. If conditions are calm, it is not uncommon to see a shark swimming knee-deep surf at sunrise. While cruising the beach in my 4WD, I often see sharks swimming knee-deep in the first gut, dorsal above water stalking prey from small whiting to large jackfish. Occasions like this are the reason I travel with a rod ready for sight-casting. A technique I employ often is playing hop-scotch, getting out on the bar before they swim past me. Then I make sure I have my bait out in front of me and ready. I will repeat this procedure until the shark hits or disappears to deeper water. There are actually several advantages to fishing in close.
Sargassum is a constant threat to surf anglers this time of year. Getting your lines wiped out by this menacing vegetation is heartbreaking, especially if you have to take the time and energy to paddle your baits out 400 yards. An advantage of casting baits during times of heavy sargassum is the ability to quickly relocated and get a bait back out. The time and energy saved by simply casting could mean the difference between good morale, or packing it up in frustration.
Blacktip freeswimming on sandbar.
April historically has been known for the inshore migration of several shark species. There have been many respectable catches of scalloped hammerheads and bull sharks via casted baits, to mention two. In addition, the highly abundant blacktip sharks will often destroy baits all day long providing hours of never-ending fun! As with kayaking baits unfathomable distances, the unknown of catching virtually any shark species still holds true. When it comes to terminal tackle, the choices may be as varied as the anglers themselves. Personally, I have always tried to keep my gear as natural and practical as possible. Along with many things in life, you can overdo it, resulting in degraded results. The age old principle “keep it simple stupid� should be exercised in many areas of fishing, shark fishing in particular. Too much bling, whether leader beads or other items, can dissuade a potential fish from hitting. The majority of my casting leaders are between 8-10 feet in length. I have my weight in a fixed position via crimps to prevent the snap swivel from sliding. Having the weight in the middle of the leader allows you to hang up the bait/ hook on the weight itself making it seem like you are casting a 4 foot leader instead of a seemingly impossible 8 foot mess. My preference of 300-550 pound mono and 14/0-
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Author with sight-casted bull.
18/0 circle hooks have provided stellar results. As with any saltwater interaction within the surf-zone, there are dangers you must be aware of. If standing on a bar to cast your bait, keep your eyes open. I’ve had blacktips and bulls swim the bar and not notice me until less than 10 feet away. Fortunately, in almost every circumstance, the second they detect you they become startled and veer off into the deeper water of the gut. In addition to sharks, there are also stingrays. Rays love shallow guts 90 | April 2015
C ontact
Keep a bait out at all times; even if only lobbed a short distance from the sand.
where they can suck up crabs, ghost shrimp, and other small creatures. No water is too shallow for a stingray. The most common procedure is to slowly shuffle in a straight line to your destination. In doing so, you are more likely to alert a ray of your presence without stepping on it and obtaining a painful stabbing and possible infection. It is all about getting out to the sandbar safely to cast your bait. If you make it back to shore safe, you’ve already won. While I try to kayak the largest baits possible for the most monstrous of sharks in our waters, there is a certain appeal to casting baits that I thoroughly enjoy and I will always attempt to have a casted bait out as an option. There have been years when I have seen more big spring-time lemon sharks caught on casted baits than on kayak-deployed baits. I have also been outfished by individuals exclusively casting baits when I would only kayak. Do not underestimate the desire of sharks to cruise the shallows seeking a quick meal. If you have yet to do it, have a shark bait out in the first gut after dark, you might be amazed. One of the great pieces of advice my mentor, Capt. Billy Sandifer, preached to me was to keep a casted bait out as often as possible. Even if conditions or logic do not seem right; you never know when your next big catch will happen!
For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric runs Kayak Wars; one of the largest kayak fishing tournaments in the world. Email Websites
oz@oceanepics.com extremecoast.com | oceanepics.com | kayakwars.com
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Mind Your Line Presenting a fly to a fish is tricky enough on its own, and it’s even more difficult when the wind is blowing your fly line all over the place. For this reason, line storage devices have become a necessity for many saltwater fly-anglers. Traditionally these units have been in the form of a bucket or basket of sorts, but NewWater BoatWorks has developed its own unique system. Using foredeck templates from various skiff manufacturers, NewWater can custom-fit several models of its Line Minder on the deck of most crafts. The Line Minder not only looks good but also steadies the angler while casting. Systems are available in fixed or removable models. Starting price is $595.00. www.newwaterboatworks.com
LIVETARGET “Match-the-Hatch” Rigged Shrimp When the inshore shrimp bite gets active this season, there is a new soft lure from
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Famous for its mullet, pinfish, and sardine look-alikes in hard lures, LIVETARGET has now developed a pre-rigged soft shrimp with the amazing anatomy and color details only seen in LIVETARGET products. Available in 3” and 4” sizes, the LIVETARGET Rigged Shrimp is available in eight color variations to match to water color and light conditions. The Rigged Shrimp is packaged in 4-packs with each lure pre-rigged with a single saltwater hook and internal weighting system to provide a horizontal, natural swimming action. Retail priced around $10-$12 per 4-pack. www.livetargetlures.com
92 | April 2015
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Chad’s Tackle Tote ForEverlast Hunting and Fishing Products has announced a new concept in wade-fishing tackle management—Chad’s Tackle Tote. In collaboration with ForEverlast Pro-Staffer, Capt. Chad Peterek, who brings 20 years wade-guiding experience, we have designed what we believe is the perfect tackle tote system for wading anglers. Features include hard tubes for surface plugs, compartments for organizing soft plastics and a convenient jig-head pouch. The “front and back design” provides equal weight distribution that, without traditional hard-shell boxes, lies compactly for a sleeker profile—comfortable to wear and out of the way during casting and landing fish. MSRP: $29.95 www.foreverlast.com TSFMAG.com | 93
Dickie Colburn
DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene
Sabine
Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.
Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com
I cannot recall the last time every guide from Baffin to Sabine I talked with at the Houston Fishing Show was not only pleased with their current bite, but anticipating a more consistent year as well. I visit with several of the Calcasieu guides on a regular basis and they are no less optimistic as only the brief cold snaps have slowed a very good trout bite. I didn’t personally catch the number of trout over the seven pound mark that I usually do January through early March, but that has been more a case of my being at the wrong place at the wrong time than any presumed shortage of bragging size trout in the lake. Hardly a week goes by that someone doesn’t send me a photo of another big trout and several of them have exceeded the nine pound mark. The most common thread in their reports has been that the majority of these fish were caught in water a little too deep for wade fishermen, adjacent to flats, in four to six feet of water. They have been caught on everything from topwaters to tails. When fishing tails such as the
Assassin Die Dapper or rat tail Sea Shad, we are doing much better rigging on 1/16 or 1/8 heads. The benefits of the slower fall are undeniable when it comes to duping the larger trout. For that same reason, we have also opted for the Fat Boy Floater and the slow sink Maniac Mullet. With water clarity averaging less than a foot most days due to the wind, we are relying on pink or day-glow most of the time. Don’t be afraid to tie on a darker color, however, as I haven’t been the one Another fresh cold front didn’t bother the Maloys!
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Hughes Andry cashed in on the Sabine redfish bite.
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catching those big trout of late! The bulging incoming tides are not only ushering in saltier and clearer water but more baitfish and predators as well. The flounder can be found patrolling the shoreline pounding away at massive rafts of tiny shad and that action will only improve this month. Don’t expect quality trout to tap into this nomadic buffet, but it is not unusual to find small schools of slot reds blowing showers of shad all the way up into the marsh grass. There is probably no more dependable choice of baits to take advantage of this bite with than the four inch Gulp swimming mullet rigged on a quarter ounce jig head, but I prefer to at least start with a three or four inch Usual Suspect swimbait. The trout like it as well as the reds and flounder. The wild card this month is dependent on how much rain we get and how long the trout and redfish hold on the deeper Causeway reefs. It is a very unreliable bite, but it can just be stupid good when conditions are right. The redfish will usually school and feed on the surface some time during the day, but the trout tend to stack in the guts in the shell anywhere from 10 to 22 feet deep. Every fisherman on the water knows he can bounce a tail off the bottom and catch these trout at the beginning or end of a good tide change, but those anglers that consistently catch more fish target the trout suspended higher in the water column as well. Any of the mullet imitations from Catch 5s to Corkys as well as a four inch Usual Suspect work well when the trout are feeding 2 to 10 feet deep over much deeper shell. Flats behind the north-end islands and the revetment walls will deservedly also attract a lot of attention this month. Tide changes are the name of the game as the trout tend to move in and out of the deeper ICW to feed on shad and finger mullet. I guess the Heddon Swimming Image will forever be popular when probing the revetment wall rocks, but trout on the flats will eat a wide variety of lures and a large percentage of these will be five pounds-plus! With each passing year, and they seem to be passing much faster of late, I grow even more appreciative of the folks that took the time to introduce me to fishing as a boy. Their kindness changed my life forever for the better and I encourage each of you to do the same starting tomorrow. You can’t help but feel more special and, more importantly, so will that youngster!
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TSFMAG.com | 95
Capt. Caleb Harp
The Buzz on Galveston Bay
Galveston
Capt. Caleb Harp has fished the Galveston Bay System since childhood and, now a charter captain and fishing guide, he uses his knowledge to enable clients to enjoy the excellent fishing the area offers. His specialty is the year-around pursuit for trophy trout and redfish with artificial lures
Telephone 281-753-3378 Website harpsguideservice.com
Welcome to spring on Galveston Bay! As soon as it gets warm and sunny with hope of a stable spring pattern, Ol’ Man Winter shows up and throws us back into the cold-dreary winter we are so ready to be done with. As a whole, the Galveston Complex is shaping up nicely. Freshwater isn’t such a big deal anymore. Fishing has been good on good weather days. The fresh inflows of January and February has really set us up for an amazing spring. For the last few years we haven’t gotten much freshwater through our upper bay regions. The lack of freshwater made for a great year-round fishery but in the grand scheme of things, it hurt us at the same time. A large portion of the fish populations held in the upper bay regions and marshes seeking lower salinity, no reason to come out Kyle Holmes with a solid into the main bays. 7 on a Soft-Dine XL. For example; the Trinity
marsh; Reds, Cross and Long Island Bayous, average about 11-15 feet depth. That depth is very sustainable for trout and redfish to live in and with enough bait flourishing, they stay content. This winter we had a lot of freshwater being dumped from Lake Livingston so it flushed the marsh and therefore pushed the fish into the bay. Since most of our fish are now in the bays, we are in store for an abundant spring. Mid-winter patterns remain important this time of year, until the water temp stabilizes around 65-68 degrees. Once we get into a true spring pattern, the fish will transition from mud to a sandier bottom. Think of this like wearing a black shirt (mud) versus a white shirt (sand) in the summer. April makes me think of stiff south wind, but an opportunity to catch a trout of a lifetime in Galveston Bay. April is when trout begin to spawn—and
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96 | April 2015
BOATS MOTORS TRAILERS SALES SERVICE PARTS & ACCESSORIES
Zack Green with his personal-best trout on a Soft-Dine.
feed very aggressively. Think of a mature sow trout in April like a mean and fired up pregnant woman. While Big Momma trout is getting ready to spawn, she gorges on large mullet—think big topwaters! Trinity Bay isn’t yet 100% recovered but it is close. Drifting deep mud/ shell has been productive. Tidal Surge’s Split Tail Mullets and MirrOlure Lil John’s are great lures for locating the school. Then you can switch to a Maniac Mullet or MirrOlure 52MR for a bigger bite. Redfish have been plentiful in large schools in the middle of the bay. Wading in Trinity has been spotty on the north end but improving on the east shoreline. You cannot go wrong with a Corky Soft-Dine this time of year. The Soft-Dine imitates smaller bait fish that are starting to make their comeback into the bay during the spring, such as glass-minnows. East Bay has been pretty consistent. Bayou drains on the south shoreline are go-to spots in spring. Wading with Fat Boys and Soft-Dines can be dynamite here. The south shoreline can also get exciting with topwaters at first light and sundown. Don’t be afraid to try slicks popping out deeper. East Bay trout begin moving to the deeper oyster reefs later in April, setting up fun-filled drift fishing. West Bay fish are still in mid-winter pattern, over deep shell on colder days. As soon as the water temperature reaches 60⁰ they start to move to shallower mud and shell combinations. Action is currently steady when the weather calms and we are beginning to see some topwater bites when the surface hits 60⁰. Redfish have been abundant over thick shell piles adjacent to deep water and have been caught as shallow as 1-ft over grass and shell on warmer days. South shoreline coves are producing mixed bags of trout, flounder and reds during warmups. Coming up on April, the bait should start moving in heavily as the temperatures rise. You can count on the trout and reds to start congregating in the traditional wading spots, as well as the shallower reefs and shorelines that dot the entire West Bay area. The coves on both north and south shore of West Bay traditionally produce consistently good catches with warmer spring weather. Chocolate Bay starts to heat up at the same time. Once we hit 70⁰ reliably, the fish will spread out and be found mostly on shorelines, still adjacent to deep water, but ranging much shallower as they follow bait schools. All in all, fishing is good and should only get better and better. Be safe out there and be respectful to your fellow fishermen. Stay tight! – Capt. Caleb Harp
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TSFMAG.com | 97
Bink Grimes
The View from Matagorda
Matagorda
Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing and hunting guide, freelance writer and photographer, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay.
Telephone 979-241-1705 Email binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net Website www.matagordasunriselodge.com
98 | April 2015
In the “good ol’ days” fishers wanted to catch a big trout and didn’t mind wading for hours for the big bite. Now, time is more precious. The texting generation has lost patience. It’s about let’s go out for a good time, catch a few fish, then get back to the dock so we/they can return emails and make a few calls. Change is a hard pill to swallow for a salty captain; however, a new version of customers has emerged, so I acquiesce. The first five years I owned my boat, I never knew if my live well even worked. Now, in my home waters of Matagorda, beginning in April, I rarely leave the dock without at least a quart of live shrimp ready to be rigged under a popping cork, unless of course my charter is arranged to solely throw lures. Mid Coast Product’s line of popping corks and Capt. Robert Sirvello’s Guide’s Choice cork are both favorites of Matagorda captains. The castability
of the corks allows anglers to cover more water, and more water covered results in more fish caught. My favorite method of fishing from the boat for trout is drifting. Pick a piece of scattered shell, start upwind, then gingerly work the area as anglers fan-cast in every direction. When we hit a fish, I mark it. When we hit another fish, I stab the Power-Pole down and work the area more soundly. When the action slows, I pull the pole and keep drifting until I mark another school. A solid sonar with water temperature and mapping capabilities is a reliable friend when traversing the estuaries. The sonar shows bottom undulations and what we call “towheads,” or protruding clumps of shell. Often, trout are found tight to towheads, since shrimp, mullet and shad use the oyster clumps as refuge. We break out the topwaters in April. The myth that surface plugs only work in shallow water is just that, a myth. My largest speck of all time, a 31-incher, was fooled on a chartreuse-headed, blackbodied, prototype MirrOlure Top Dog in seven feet of water out of a boat at high noon. One of my most memorable days with a topwater came at the Sabine Pass jetty as I consistently duped five-pounders against the granite in 14 feet of water. I can still picture the nine-pounder that followed my dad’s plug to the boat. Topwater plugs only work when you throw them. The weather will dictate which bay we fish in April. Light winds and green tides are conducive for finding heavy trout over deep shell in East Bay. Southerly winds and an incoming afternoon tide coincides with fishing over schools of glass minnows in West Bay. Any way you choose, Mama’s Chicken, Chicken on a Chain and Red Shad Bass Assassins should do the trick. MirrOlure Soft-Dines and Down South Lures are also good choices. Pluggers choose floating She Pups and Super Spook Jrs. If the past two Aprils hold to form, I expect to release multiple 30inch trout from my boat. And that’s no April Fool’s joke.
TSFMAG.com | 99
Capt. Gary Gray
MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays
Port O'Connor Seadrift
Captain Gary Gray is a full time guide born and raised in Seadrift. He has been guiding in the Seadrift/ Port O’Connor area for 28 years. Gary specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.
Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com
100 | April 2015
We have had approximately 4.75� of rain since January here in the Seadrift area. This is a little more normal rain pattern than the drought we have been stuck in the last few years. I am expecting good things between normal precipitation, the opening of Cedar Bayou and the reduction of trout limits. I have been running reconnaissance in the area bays and refining my list of locations I will be targeting with my trophy trout guys that come every year. I was happy to see how many different locations were holding quality fish of all species, not just trout. Now granted, fish have tails and use them. Reconnaissance is always valuable though, to understand the structure type fish are relating to and also a great way to keep an eye on bait movements from back lakes to bays and vice-versa, along reefs and shorelines, etc. When I see upper-class trout hanging on a ginclear shoreline in six to eight inches of water with bait nowhere near, I will presume these fish are just sunning or maybe just resting where they will not be disturbed before dropping off to a deeper feeding area. Now if I see upper-class trout hanging with a school of black drum (very common in my stomping grounds) or a few redfish, or even running with some
larger mullet; I call this game on! These fish will feed aggressively, and it is possibly more of a competition thing with the reds and drum. During April we often find large schools of smaller Hard to beat sight casting to shallow reds.
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Al Gilliland getting in on some redfish action.
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specks. I would encourage that you swap treble hooks for singles on your plugs to avoid injuring them. Better yet, if they are super aggressive, move to another spot. That is really the best answer because even jigs are often inhaled deeply enough to wound mortally. They’ll be solid keepers next year. For the most part I will be bouncing between Mesquite and San Antonio Bays during April and early May. When the glass minnows show in strong numbers you might see me cutting across West Matty to meet afternoon incoming tides. Trout action can be exciting when the tide sweeps glass minnows along guts and bars of this sprawling bay’s south shoreline. Currently, the larger trout I have been catching have been in the back lake entrances, on an incoming tide. I am finding them where the deeper parts of the channels flatten out inside the lakes. If the tide is weak or current is wind-generated, you can catch them by wading the channel itself but be cautious of boat traffic if it is a popular lake entrance. The go-to lure lately for me has been the Bass Assassin 4” Sea Shad in Green Moon rigged on 1/16 ounce Assassin jigheads. I don’t really think color is a huge factor or let’s just say color is not as important as the action of the lure you choose. The reason I like the smaller 4” inch paddle tail versus the straight tails is you do not have to work the lure as aggressively as the straight tails to achieve enticing action. As a matter of fact you could just reel it and the tail will do the work for you, but I prefer to jerk and pop the lure depending on what the fish like any given day. During the extreme temperature drops we were depending on the Paul Brown Fat Boys as much as my Assassins. But during April we normally stick with either the 5” rat tail Assassins or the 4” Sea Shad, when we’re not throwing topwaters. I received my Shallow Sport X3 and I want to offer a hearty THANK YOU to Wes Hudson and his team at Shallow Sport and also Wade, Lorraine, Cole and Chad at Coastline Marine. This boat enables me to run safely across any bay under adverse conditions comfortably, and still fish the ultra-shallow waters I call home a lot of the time. I don’t have very many things nowadays that make me say wow…but, wow! I know there are some naysayers and I can understand their skepticism. However, I invite them to meet me at Charlie’s when I get in from a trip. Or even better, let’s schedule a test drive. I already have a lot of interested boat owners on the books for test drives. Wes has always been legitimate with his numbers at Shallow Sport as far as draft, and I have found it drafts the same as my 24’ Sport did.
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ZM15_TX_Saltwater_Half_Page_Vertical.indd 1
TSFMAG.com | 101
2/26/15 11:36 AM
david rowsey
HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey A late cold front that dropped the water temperatures into the forties has put me in front of a keyboard instead of my Quantum Smoke today. I had the same clients the day before, and it made for a brutal bite while still in the low fifties. The crazy weather patterns of 2015 Upper seem to prevail, and April should not disappoint, as it is Laguna/ one of the windiest of any given year. The big difference between April and March is the wind direction is almost Baffin always reliable during the fool’s month, i.e., southerly. Before I get into the when, how and where of fishing the Laguna and Baffin, I would like to share my perspective on the water quality issues we face down David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/Baffin here. I have read numerous thoughts in print, fishing region; trophy trout with artificial forums, and social media that there is no brown tide lures is his specialty. David has a (algal bloom) to speak of down here. False! great passion for conservation Many have stated that the water is just dirty from and encourages catch and the gusty winds. I wish that were the case, but we have release of trophy fish. had water quality issues for more than three years now due to the affects of brown tide. Short of a hurricane Telephone to flush the system, it is most likely going to be around 361-960-0340 Website for a while. Even at that, a tropical flushing would most www.DavidRowsey.com likely only be a temporary fix to the real problem. Email A study by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi david.rowsey@yahoo.com researchers, was established in Baffin Bay in early 2013.
102 | April 2015
My fingers are crossed that this study will, scientifically, get to the root of the problem and its causes. I long for the day that I will be able to see every rock on Baffin’s floor, and tall widgeon grass dancing in the waves on the Tide Gauge Bar again. Starting with the new moon on April 18, and the full moon of May 4, something special will take place in Baffin and the Laguna Madre. This is the time of the year that we get our long-awaited spring tide. Strong tides will pull green water into the bay from down south. This tidal surge will help offset the brown tide in the heart of Baffin, and will also bring new life into the bay in the form of baitfish, and predators of all shapes and size. This two month time period can be some of the fastest action of the year for quality trout. It is a time of year that I always look forward to—big fish and lots of bites. Travel corridors throughout the bodies of water south of Baffin will be the first to see hot action. The spoil islands east of the ICW and the shoreline of the Kennedy Ranch to Penescal Point should make for some great fishing as the new water comes in from the Mansfield cut. Many fishermen will get a jump on the action and choose to intercept the fish in the Gladys Hole area and
My Winnie boys strike again! Royce Spencer (boat) and Brant Charpiot stuck these pigs during the middle of a cold front. Bass Assassins did the trick on both. Released!
the Land Cut as they make their northern migration. It’s a long run, but can certainly be worth it. Word of caution: the Land Cut can be tough on the wade fishermen, and does have an element of danger to it; i.e. fast boats running in a confined area, barge traffic, strong tides, and tons of stingrays. Be careful! Late winter and spring provided for some really slow action on topwater plugs. I look for this to change immensely as the water warms and all of the new finfish flood the system. Spring tides will produce an all-out aggression as it relates to trout feeding. Loud, noisy topwater plugs like the MirrOlure She Dog or He Dog will be dangling from the tip of my Waterloo Ultra Mag for many hours throughout the day. Something else to keep in mind is that the topwater action can take
place throughout the day during April. Regardless of where the sun and moon are in the sky, large rafts of nervous mullet will be all that it takes to produce great action on top. As the spring tide rolls in, I expect the water to clear up pretty darn fast behind hit. The 5” Bass Assassin will be the number one tool for locating the fish, in combination with topwater plugs. Natural colors with lots of flashy silver and gold flake have always been a favorite for this time of year. A new color that I cannot get away from throwing is the Mississippi Hippie. This Assassin color scheme has just been awesome for me, quickly finding its way onto the favorites list. “Remember the buffalo!” -Capt. David Rowsey
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TSFMAG.com | 103
Capt. Tricia
TRICIA’S Mansfield Report Despite an often cold and dreary winter, fishing During the clement non-grinding days, limits of remained on a high note down here on the magical trout were found consistently in the areas mentioned Lower Laguna. Predicting spring weather and water above. Tails and Corkys were our top producing baits, conditions is risky business at best, and we’ll never and even though we tried often, the surface bite never really know until it arrives, but chances seem high that happened with any real consistency. our good fortune will continue through April. LateThe annual ICE tournament was held in Port Port February through early-March, significant northers, with Mansfield the last of February and these poor guys Mansfield most occurring back to back, had even the toughest of fished during some very ugly conditions. “Dirty-thirty” us canceling charters. Between the frigid events some due south winds prevailed both days, and I had one stellar days were had, and solid catches find us very friend who compared the water color to a Yoo-hoo optimistic for a solid spring. Early April, with a few late Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water Our trout fishing was mostly northers still coming through, Adventures operates out of concentrated on ICW spoil edges can find us in waders and Port Mansfield, specializing in and flats that tapered to the deeper jackets. But still having a ball! wadefishing with artificial lures. water of the channel. Following a cold spell they were typically deeper for several days and then Telephone 956-642-7298 working shallower as the warm ups Email progressed. The joy of seeing the shell@granderiver.net number of very large trout cruising Website www.SkinnyWaterAdventures.com shallow over light-colored sand, and almost zero fishing pressure to disturb them, certainly ups my expectations for what is to come.
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104 | April 2015
chocolate drink in a blender. Despite the awful wind the fellas were faced with, some really great trout were brought in, and more than two trout were knocking on nine pounds. I prefer not fishing these sort of conditions anymore unless I just have to, but its great knowing it can be done. As we have always said... “We ain’t scared of no stinking wind!” When faced with slow periods during the past month we naturally sifted through an assortment of lure types and colors. But in the end, the way you presented the lure was more important than type or color by a wide margin. Even in varying clarity conditions, when they were down and not feeding aggressively, you could throw whatever you wanted as long as you worked it down to them, and dragged it across their nose. When they were holding on grass beds or at the edges of potholes, the best presentation was hopping a soft plastic just enough
The way things are shaping up, April promises many happy anglers.
to keep it running across the top of the grass blades. However, when it was finally “time” everybody caught fish on mostly what they wanted to throw, except as I said earlier they have been very reluctant to strike on the surface. It seemed that when they were down and sulking they were on solid grass and when they finally decided to feed they moved to knee-deep grassy potholes surrounding large depressions. What was reinforced is that even when you know you are on fish it is not always going to be easy, and rather than move it is always better to fish smarter. Also confirmed was that those who show up with realistic expectations and properly working equipment prevailed. Many thanks to my sponsors keeping me and clients ahead in the sport. Predictions for future months, especially April, include new water, and continued opportunity for heavy trout and legions of redfish. Besides trout, redfish have been numerous when they invade the flats, but we all know they can disappear for days as well. Moving with the fish is the biggest factor in springtime and it is especially important to remember the “wave in the bathtub” effect. Significant southeast winds late in the day move water one way, and diminished winds in the mornings allow it to flow back the other way. As levels change fish move with it and so should we. One thing’s certain; it’s going to be windy, so do pray for southeast. At least with the Laguna’s famous sea grasses rebounding we have the promise of better clarity, even during really strong winds. In conclusion, fishing has been great and should continue to be so. There is no reason for that to change as far as I can tell, and I look forward to seeing y’all down here in paradise.
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TSFMAG.com | 105
Capt. Ernest cisneros
SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene
A rr oyo C olorado t o Port I sabel
A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.
Cell 956-266-6454 Website www.tightlinescharters.com
106 | April 2015
A few weeks back I represented JL Marine Systems/ March has been a cold and rainy month so far but, Power-Pole at the Bass Pro Shops Spring Fishing as we get closer to April I expect that will change. The Classic in Harlingen. The warm welcome from all the northers will be much fewer and farther between, which Bass Pro staff and the visitors to the event made it very will be a nice change, but April’s southerly winds can be enjoyable for me. To all the people I met and friends some of the strongest of the year—25 mph by midday who stopped by, I want to say a hearty, “Thank You.” and early afternoon is usually the average. This can be a Your kind words and well-wishes confirm that I have the best job in the world. In my last article I reported that we were seeing lots of big trout on the flats but having difficulty getting them to bite—no matter what we threw. All I can say is what a difference a couple of weeks can make. Like the proverbial light switch; they have turned on—big time. And we haven’t needed to throw the kitchen sink to catch them. Right now, a weedless K-Wiggler Ball Tail Shad twitched close to bottom over turtle grass and along the edges of potholes is as deadly as dynamite. I can only pray that it continues as so many of my clients have been scoring personal best fish—multiple times per angler on some charters. One wade alone Dave’s personal best produced three “over 30s” last weekend, along with 31 inches 9 1/4 lbs. a bunch of solid 6 to 7-1/2 pounders.
Futch’s personal best came right after Dave’s. 30 1/2 inches 9 lbs.
challenge but you just cannot let a little off-colored water spoil your day when you know the fish are there. They have to eat just the same and water color is always a bigger problem for fishermen than for fish. My first choice in dirty water is usually a paddle-tail bait due to the thump and vibration the tail creates. Fish can sense this and they will definitely zero in on it, even when they cannot see it. Another option might be adding scent, especially if it gives you greater confidence when the water turns murky. Throwing a topwater like the MirrOlure She-Dog with its high-pitched rattle is another solid choice in stained to murky water. Though we haven’t had much topwater action yet, that will change as the water warms and fish feed more aggressively. April is the month when mature trout hit their heaviest weights, full of ripening roe, plus still being winter-fat for the most part. Known peak periods to catch these sly monsters will be around the days preceding the new and full moon. Tidal flows are consistently strong at these times and the biologists tell us spawning reaches peaks when the currents reach their greatest strength on two tide days. Many fishermen, and even some hardcores, shy away from full moon fishing believing the bite is too unpredictable. I agree with this to a point, but I have also seen some exceptional specimens landed over the years during late-afternoon and evening hours as that full moon is rising. Being shy of the full moon is one thing, but never be shy about waiting for them to turn on. Our redfish population looks to be in good shape as we are catching lots of little ones. Not only are there lots of little ones, but also good numbers of wide-shouldered brutes that amaze me how shallow and stealthy they can lay in mere inches of water. Our best catches have been made in less than knee-deep lately and they seem to prefer pink. FloMingo K-Wigglers have been the go-to plastic and small topwaters have been effective after a three- to four day warming period. During April, backwater areas that were too shallow on winter tides will come into play. Back bays such as Payton’s Bay and flats near the Arroyo Colorado should offer excellent chances for solid redfish action. Last month I credited my sponsors for much of the success I enjoy and just recently I received one of Castaway Rods’ Invicta series, the INVMLC67F to be exact. I have used many rods over the years but this one is exceptional in my opinion. It is super light with great sensitivity, and has plenty of backbone. The Winn-Grip makes it very comfortable on the hands, and it looks great too. So far it has handled soft plastics, Corkys and medium topwaters equally well. And, I have landed some great fish. Checkout their web site www.castawayrods.com.
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FISHING REPORTS
ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica
AND
Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 April is a transitional month for coastal anglers. Trout will be on the move toward waters of higher salinity. If you’re interested in catching lots of trout, focus your attention on finding working birds. Late April leading into May is a great time to catch them in a frenzy under birds. If you’re looking to catch big trout, try throwing topwaters on the flats. Oyster reefs in three to five feet of water are good places as well. Fish these areas with topwaters and suspending baits; this will give you the best opportunity at larger fish. Redfish will continue to be stacked up at the weirs on both the lake side (outgoing tide) and marsh side (incoming tide). MirrOlure Lil’ Johns and Gulp! work best. They will also be making their annual appearance under birds in the middle of the lake. These fish will be under birds, slicks, and mud boils. Flounder will be in the marsh, so the most consistent opportunity will be behind the weirs at Grand and Lambert Bayous on incoming tides. White Gulp! swimming mullet are the ticket for the flat fish. Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James says he’s been wadefishing almost all the time, in various bays. “We’ve been catching lots of five and six pound trout, with plenty of sevens. Biggest has been an ounce over 8 pounds. Even when the water is at its coldest, we are catching big trout on chartreuse and
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gold MirrOlures in forty something degree water. Overall, our most productive lures have been Paul Brown Fat Boys in pearl with black back and Glo. Also catching on MirrOdines. Chartreuse has been a really good color this year for some reason. We are playing the winds and tides and fishing different bays depending on the conditions. Redfishing has been crazy easy. If you want to, you can catch limits of reds every day. As of right now, Trinity Bay is getting kind of trashed by freshwater runoff, but that might be a blessing for other areas as we head into April. We should have an even better bite on the shorelines once the weather heats up a bit. Big trout catching should continue to be good for people who are willing to wade and throw the twitch baits.” Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Jim says the fishing has been really hit or miss lately for him, and as usual, the weather is the key to the better catching. “We have had some really good days when it’s warmer, catching seven pound trout wading and throwing MirrOlures and soft plastics. I’m still fishing in the afternoons and into the first part of the night. Of course, when the weather turns for the worse, and water temperatures plummet rapidly, things get tougher again. Right now, we’re seeing a lot of freshwater dumping into the bays. That may run the fish out of the back corners, but it might also stack them up in other places. We are in a wait and see mode about all that. What we really need is a warming trend to make the fish bite better on a day to day basis. By April, we should
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see exactly that, and we’ll likely start catching the big trout more consistently. I’ll try and focus on wading area shorelines in shallow water, keying on slicks and bait. Lure choice won’t matter nearly as much as locating the big schools of fish.” West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 As of the time of this report, Randall says he’s been fishing the same old winter patterns, because, “Old Man Winter just won’t let it go. I have been working shallow flats which have some shell on them, throwing Norton Sand Eel Juniors in trick or treat rigged on a three-eighths ounce Norton shad style jighead. On windier days, I’ve been throwing red magic Bull Minnows, and fishing areas in the open bay. As long as we continue to have the cold weather, this will be the drill. It’s been producing pretty well, but I expect the catching to get even better as we start to see species migrating out of the Gulf into the bays. In particular, we look for menhaden, glass minnows and ribbon fish. Once we start seeing significant amounts of bait moving through the pass and into the bays, we’ll focus most of our efforts in that area, trying to catch the bigger trout and redfish that prey on those critters. April is one of the best months of all, if it’s not too windy. I look forward to casting Skitterwalks around herds of bait and waiting for those big blow ups.” Matagorda | Charlie Paradoski Bay Guide Service - 713.725.2401 Charlie believes two factors will contribute to an exceptional spring of fishing. “For one thing, we’ve had a colder, harsher than normal winter. Both bays are basically untapped. People haven’t been able to get out on the water much, and the fish haven’t fed up too much either. For another thing, the river is running fresh and high, after being low and
salty for a long time. So many of our fish have been huddled up in the salty water up the river, and now they will be flushed out into the bays by all this runoff. We will look for the fish to show up on the shorelines and around the mid-bay reefs once they get pushed out of the river and into the bays. We’ll target them on protected shorelines by wading on the windier days, and wade the mid-bay reefs when it’s calmer. We’ll also drift some of the areas with scattered shell on the bottom around the main reefs when conditions allow. Overall, I look for things to blast off like crazy once this weather warms up some and we are able to get on the water more consistently.” Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Winter weather continues to keep our fish in our local deep waterholes. The tides have been as low as I have seen in many moons, and fish have ganged up in the local rivers and harbor. Cajun Pepper VuDu shrimp covered in VuDu shrimp sauce continues to be the best lure for me this winter. We have been working the Colorado/Tres Palacios/Lavaca Rivers, throwing down the ledges on the banks and catching decent slot-size trout form 15-20 inches. Redfish continue to be in the deeper creeks and channels off local rivers and the best lures for us recently have been paddletails in pearl and pumpkseed/chartreuse. April will hopefully bring warmer weather, so we can get back to fishing our local bays. We should have an outstanding spring with all the rain we received this winter. Shrimp, mullet and shad ought have a good hatch, and that should bode well for fishing. The glass minnow run usually takes place during the full moon of April and is a sight to see, as brown pelicans and gulls lead you to the feeding fish on strong incoming spring tides.
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Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 During April, Lynn says he’ll be targeting trout on sandy flats which have grassy guts in them. “When we are targeting the big trout on flats adjacent to the passes this time of year, we’ll key on sandy pockets in the grass beds, and throw topwaters like Super Spook Juniors in white/chartreuse head and also soft plastics. We’ll try to time our efforts to coincide with the incoming tides when fishing this pattern. When the tide is standing high, we will often try drifting the back lakes for both trout and redfish, throwing the same lures. Sometimes, when it gets a bit windy, those back lakes are the best places to find clean water, along with the leeward shorelines. When we are experiencing outgoing tides, we usually target our fish around the mouths of drains which connect the shallower coves and back lakes to the open bays. We’ll wade and cast around the current rips which form when the water is dumping out of the shallow areas into the deeper basins. Topwaters work best when cast upcurrent and worked with the current.” Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake expects to focus his efforts in bays with relatively close access to the Gulf during April. “I like to stay fairly close to passes which connect the bays to the Gulf during the middle part of spring. I will fish flat with water depths around two to three feet, looking for areas with lots of menhaden shad. When the trout are eating the shad, they throw a lot of slicks, so we’ll be looking for those. Topwaters tend to work well to catch the trout this time of year. We catch some of our biggest trout on topwaters during April. Of course, if the topwaters aren’t working, we’ll switch over to the Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shads and Norton Sand Eels. Those lures work well around the shell reefs too. When not fishing flats around the passes, I like to spend some time working the schools of baitfish
110 | April 2015
on the mid-bay reefs. They produces a lot of fish this time of year too. Lighter winds make it easier to get on the reefs and catch fish, whereas some of the flats close to the major passes hold up better when the spring winds are cranking.” Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 Yahoo! Spring is here. Many things change during April. For one, we have fewer depressing, cloudy and windy days. We enjoy more sunshine, higher air temperatures and the winds will slow down. These changes will bring the fish into shallower water according to my fishing logs. The trout are now spawning, so they are loaded with eggs and this is evident by the bruises on the trout’s bellies and bottom fins. According to the Parks and Wildlife’s gill net surveys this is also when the average weight of trout is the heaviest, making it a good time to break the state record or catch a trophy trout. I will be looking for trout along shallow, grassy shorelines, around rock formations and in potholes. I’ll be looking for signs that trout are in the area by looking for jumping or flipping mullet, shad, working sea gulls or fish slicks. Make sure that the hooks are sharp on the bone and natural-colored MirrOlure She Dogs. I will also have my Bass Assassin Die Dappers in sand trout, chartreuse dog and plum/ chartreuse on a sixteenth ounce jighead. Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961 Joe is excited about the prospects of fishing in April, given the large area of clear water that’s moved into the Upper Laguna Madre. “Fishing has been really good lately in shallow water. The water is clear throughout most of the northern half of the Laguna Madre, and the catching has been good on most days. We are catching both trout and redfish in water ranging from about two to three feet, keying on stretches where the bottom has a mix of sand and grass. This year, there are numerous areas meeting this description along area shorelines. Over the last
couple of years, we had so much grass on the bottom. In some places, just finding any kind of sandy spots on the bottom was difficult. But this year, lots of areas have a good mix of sand and grass on the bottom, and the fishing in those areas is consistent. In April, when we tend to have more warm days, we’ll start having more sight-casting opportunities. Generally, in April, we have a lot of warm days with not too much wind, which is perfect for seeing fish in the water.” Padre Island National Seashore Billy Sandifer - Padre Island Safaris - 361.937.8446 Fishing on PINS beaches during April is usually predicated on weather, tides and presence of sargassum. When conditions are conducive, bottom fishing with natural bait can be very good for sheepshead, black drum, whiting, and redfish. Freshly peeled shrimp is the best bet; Fishbites is also very effective. Jack crevalle are commonly found in the April surf and make great sight-fishing with artificial lures and large streamer flies. Spanish mackerel, bluefish and bonito are also possible. Several species of sharks can be expected, sometimes patrolling the shallower guts with dorsal fin exposed. This a great month for casting baits from the sand, given their shallow feeding tendency at this time. April is a wonderful month for naturalists and birders on PINS, many avian species and seashells present. April marks the beginning of the Kemp’s ridley nesting season, keep an eye out for turtles and please drive with extra caution. Monitor marine forecasts carefully, north and east wind can cause water to rise to the dunes, damaging vehicles and stranding motorists. The PINS speed limit is 15 MPH during April!
Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty – www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 The weather has been a big factor in our fishing this past month. This time of the year is tricky, debating whether to cancel or go, despite high winds, rain and cold. Having said that, we’ve had some great days for reds, including a bunch of oversized. We’ve also boated large trout, just not on artificial. Cajun Thunder round cork with Berkley Gulp! is working when the water warms up some, but only on trout. We will continue to use cut bait until spring winds muddy the bay and warm the water, which will mean lots of hardhead catfish, and that will signal the time to change to artificial. Freddy says, “After thirty five years, it’s hard for us to switch from all artificial to using bait, but conditions in the bay have changed, unfortunately. Clear water has been hard to come by with the influx of brown tide from up north, contributing to the muddy conditions from dredge silt, so we’ve adapted our approach accordingly; at least until a little later in the year.” This winter, the worse the weather, the better the fishing. Help stop open bay dredge disposal.
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Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 The trout bite has been fantastic. The west shoreline has been on fire with fish averaging 2- to 4 lbs. I normally have clients work shallow
for bigger trout but here lately they’ve been running waist deep on average. There are always exceptions; last week my wife, Sandra, left the waist-deep bite and found a 9-1/4 that measured a bit over 30 inches in a shoreline gut. That puts her in the Thirty Inch Club and suddenly none of her hats fit. The Corky bite is still good but larger, slow-worked plastics on light jigheads are the best bet. Redfish have not been prevalent on my charters but to be fair we’ve been focusing more on trout. Water temps are still running cold so consider the flip of one or two mullet or occasional surface swirl a solid sign for locating feeding fish. One bite, even if you miss it, is enough to plant your feet and fish carefully before moving forward. Be patient, stay warm and good luck. Until next time; tight lines and calm seas.
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Davis Powell Seabrook Flats - first flounder!
Terry Dophied redfish
Joe Anthony Garcia Bolivar Peninsula - 3’ alligator gar
Ryan Henn - South Padre blacktip shark, tagged & released 112 | April 2015
Libbie Cruz Palacios - 40” redfish
Janice Lancello 35” 24lb personal best black drum!
Granger Nguyen Quintana - 45” bull red
Juan Avalos, Jr. Matagorda - speckled trout
Casey Galveston - red snapper
Susan Blackie Galveston - redfish
Madison Masek Copano Bay - first keeper!
Jason Durant South Padre - 25” trout
Angie Nyquist Rockport - redfish
Lilith Mizzles Palacios - gafftop
Alex Salinas Port Mansfield - 36” red
Frank Pardo Holly Beach - 27” personal best! CPR
Graham Reid Galveston - trout
Gracie Stamps Rockport - first trout!
Jeremiah Taylor Sabine Pass - personal best red!
Molly Stamps Rockport - first trout!
Dawn Stumfoll Corpus Christi - 27” personal best!
Julius Taylor Sabine Pass - personal best drum!
Sierra Melass Freeport - first black drum!
Lindsey Tupa East Bay - 25” first red!
Chuck Abbott Rockport - trout PCR
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Dawn Warren POC - 30” redfish
David Woods - Boca Chica blacktip shark, tagged & released
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Pam Johnson
Gulf Coast Kitchen
Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share? Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844
114 | April 2015
Friends + Fishing = Net Results
More food, festivals & fun. www.rockport-fulton.org @ visitrockportfulton 1-800-242-0071 Photography by Maria Nesbit
Designer & Manufacturer of Specialized High Performance Fishing Rods Office: 361.573.0300
805 B. South Bridge Victoria, TX 77901
Fax: 361.573.0304
TSFMAG.com | 115
Science and the Sea
TM
When Oceans Shifted Earth’s Ice Ages Just under a million years ago, a major pattern in Earth’s climate suddenly changed. Instead of having an ice age about every 41,000 years, the cycle switched to about every 100,000 years – and the cold periods had even lower average temperatures than the previous ones. What caused the interval between ice ages to double?
Almost one million years ago, North Atlantic currents and northern hemisphere ice sheets underwent changes. Credit: NASA
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The answer appears to be under the world’s waves – and probably in your pocket. A trace element from Earth’s crust called neodymium, which is used in cell phones, headphones, and computers, erodes off continents and enters the sea. But it carries the “signature” of its homeland, which scientists can find in the shells of ancient plankton found in deep-sea sediment. By studying this sediment, researchers can look into the ocean’s past and learn how quickly ancient ocean currents moved, based on how much neodymium moved from one part of the world to another during different eras. When scientists sampled the sediments off South Africa’s coast, they calculated the speed of deep ocean currents 950,000 years ago based on the amount of neodymium found in the North Atlantic, and they discovered that the currents had slowed dramatically. Why the slowdown? One possibility is that advancing glaciers in North America scraped off Canadian soil and allowed thicker ice to build up. So instead of melting and exiting the ice age, the ice sheets grew larger, and this may have weakened ocean currents, thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from the sea. With less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, temperatures stayed low and dropped further, extending the ice age. The very same element that lets you talk to someone on the other side of the world is helping scientists solve a mystery about the world’s climate history.
The University of Texas
Marine Science Institute www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute 116 | April 2015
texas saltwater fishing holes ON THE WATER
Saltwater Fishing Clinics
matagorda to corpus
WITH
Capt. Robert Zapata
If you are having difficulty catching fish on a consistent basis, the clinic is designed for you. Learn Capt.Robert Zapata’s secrets to finding and catching more fish from his 25 years of experience as a professional fishing guide.
For Information Call 361-563-1160
M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish
Galveston
Capt. Billy Penick III
USCG & TP&W Licensed • Galveston Bay System • Full and Half Day Trips • Trout, Redfish, Flounder
281-415-6586 www.gypsyguideservice.com penickbilly@yahoo.com
USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan
832.693.4292 fintasticcoastalcharters.com TSFMAG.com | 117
CHRIS MAPP
B O AT M A I N TE N A N C E T I P S
Water in Boat Fuel Not Always Due to Ethanol Chris Mapp, owner Coastal Bend Marine. Yamaha, Evinrude, Suzuki, Mercury, Honda, BlueWave, SilverWave, Haynie, El Pescador Service, Parts and Sales.
Badly corroded fuel gauge/ sending unit fitting, removed from fuel tank in customer’s boat recently.
Water in your boat’s fuel tank and fuel system can be costly to remove and can damage an engine beyond repair if not caught in time. There are basically three ways for water get into fuel and all are preventable. 1). A clean fuel source is critical and knowing the quality of the fuel you’re buying sounds obvious but…how do you know? The answer is you don’t know but, here’s a great tip. Modern fuel pumps register the amount of fuel dispensed on a digital screen; the one that goes so fast you can hardly read it. A clean and well-filtered pump will deliver one gallon of gasoline in 8 seconds, on average. A pump that runs noticeably slower could be either delivering fuel saturated with moisture or the filter is dirty and contaminated with moisture. STOP PUMPING! Do not be timid in asking how often the pump’s filters are changed where you buy your fuel. 2). Ethanol is highly hygroscopic, meaning that it can readily absorb moisture (water) from the atmosphere and this process can begin during fuel transport and storage, before you even purchase it. Once water is in the fuel in any amount it saturates all the fuel rapidly. Using fuel treatment additives is a must… every time, every tank! 3). Perhaps the most
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overlooked point of moisture entry to fuel systems is the boat’s fuel tank itself and this is not always obvious. But a fuel tank with a hole would leak fuel externally and the smell would be obvious, wouldn’t it? Not always! Many boats are built with fuel tanks below decks or under consoles and these are difficult or nearly impossible to inspect visually. Some builders install access ports for inspection and cleaning, but not all. Tanks made with a top surface that is flat will often sag over time, forming a shallow basin. Water from boat cleaning, rain and also condensation from the underside of decks will collect here. Fuel line connections and also fuel gauge sending units are commonly mounted to the tops of fuel tanks, sealed with gaskets, and this is where problems can arise. Prolonged contact with water, especially water with salt content, causes gaskets to degrade and fittings to corrode. Aluminum fuel tanks are often the worst for this type of failure. We often find tiny holes in the tank itself. With the “basin” catching water, it’s a cinch that it’ll drain directly into the tank. Never underestimate the power of salt or mineral build up. Inspect this area regularly or take it to your dealer, especially if you experience frequent clogging of fuel/ water separator filters, power loss or rough running, or any fuel related issues. Preventive maintenance is your boat’s best friend. Have a great spring season! Chris Mapp Coastal Bend Marine | Port O’Connor, TX 361.983.4841 | coastalbendmarine.com
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• Bay Fishing, Offshore, Floundering, Waterfowl, Dove • Night Fishing off Lighted Pier • Right On The Water • Lodging with/without Meals www.matagordasunriselodge.com 979-241-1705
TROUT REDFISH FLOUNDER
Capt. Lynn Smith’s Back Bay Guide Service Port O’Connor Area
Wade & Drifting the Back Bays & Surf
Call 361.983.4434 (cell 361.935.6833) Email lynn@tisd.net (tswf.com/lynnsmith)
corpus to port isabel
fishing retreats
classifieds BENTLEY’S INTERCOASTALS HOUSE RENTALS Port O’Connor, Texas: 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6, Fully Furnished. Great Location between the little Jetties & Clark’s Restaurant. Boat Slip upon availability. Guide service available with Capt Keith Gregory. Call Steve or Lydia at 361-983-4660 or 361-482-9095. Special winter rates available.
TSFMAG.com | 119
STAYING DRY IS EASY The Magellan Outdoors Men’s MagProof Paragon Breathable Waders are made of 100% polyester with a 3 -ply MagProof fabric technology upper that is lightweight and mobile and a 5 - ply MagProof fabric technology in the seat and legs for breathability and durability. The patented Waist Lock System provides a secure fit to keep you dry. TM
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For that cold, unexpected plunge or taking that water shot under the arm. STEPS FOR WHEN OVERSPILL OCCURS:
1
Unbuckle the quick-release suspender buckles
2
Unzip the side gusset zippers
3
Fold down wader upper portion
4
Release any internal overspill water
5
Buckle back up……FISH ON
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www.sportsmanboats.com San Benito, TX 800.503.4044
www.coastlinemarine.net Seabrook, TX 281.291.0101
www.gcmboats.com Corpus Christi, TX 800.622.2449
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www.southaustinmarine.com Austin, TX 512.892.2432
The BEST Choice… Any Place, Anytime!
Introducing Shimano’s latest in comfortable and light weight footwear - the Shimano Evair Marine/Fishing shoes. The Evair are an ‘open’ style shoe, meaning they’re quick drying and allow your feet to breathe even in the hottest day time conditions. A non slip sole gives the wearer added confidence when navigating slippery decks.
Utilizing the new CI4+ material for construction, Stradic CI4+ is the ultimate in lightweight reels designed for the ultrafinesse angler using lightweight fluorocarbon, braided or monofilament lines. From drop shotting to shakey heads and small texas rigs, this reel has you covered.
The Shimano Curado I Series Low-Profile Baitcast Reel features an aluminum frame that is lightweight and durable. X-Ship technology ensures great gear durability and a high gear ratio allows for fast retrieves, while the SVS Infinity centrifugal brake system provides smooth control. S3D Shimano spool design for stability.
7613 SPID Corpus Christi, TX 78412 www.roysbait-tackle.com
361-992-2960
The Shimano Chronarch 200-E7 Baitcast Reel features 7 bearings for precise, smooth casts. The Super Free bearingsupported pinion gear system helps prevent friction on the spool shaft for increased freespool. Super Stopper II antireverse with a 1-way roller bearing helps eliminate backplay for instant hook-setting power.
ROY’S Bait and Tackle Outfitters
To find a location near you, please visit us at www.speedystop.com
Tidal Corrections Location Calcasieu Pass, La. Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass (jetty) Sabine Pass Mesquite Point Galveston Bay (S. jetty) Port Bolivar Texas City, Turning Basin Eagle Point Clear Lake Morgans Point Round Point, Trinity Bay Point Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, Trinity Bay Christmas Point Galveston Pleasure Pier San Luis Pass Freeport Harbor
High -2:14 -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14 +0:33 +3:54 +6:05 +10:21 +10:39 +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -0:09 -0:44
Low -1:24 -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06 +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15 +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:38 +2:33 +2:31 -0:09
For other locations, i.e. Port O’Connor, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and Port Isabel please refer to the charts displayed below.
Please note that the tides listed in this table are for the Galveston Channel. The Tidal Corrections can be applied to the areas affected by the Galveston tide.
Minor Feeding Periods coincide with the moon on the horizon, and the last from 1.0 to 1.5 hrs after the moon rise or before moon set. Major Feeding Periods are about 1.0 to 1.5 hrs either side of the moon directly overhead or underfoot. Many variables encourage active feeding current flow (whether wind or tidal driven), changes in water temp & weather, moon phases, etc. Combine as many as possible for a better chance at an exceptional day. Find concentrations of bait set up during a good time frame, and enjoy the results.
Te x a s S a l t w a t e r F i s h i n g M a g a z i n e l
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