April 2018

April 2018

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ABOUT THE COVER Capt. Wayne Davis of Hook-Down Charters shared this great photo – fishing near Port Mansfield recently. Wayne says she taped 31-inches and pulled his Boga Grip to 8.25-pounds – CPR! Congrats to Wayne for landing a Lower Laguna trophy and conservation kudos on the release.

CONTENTS

APRIL 2018 VOL 27 NO 12

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

10 Nomadic Behavior 16 Emerald Anniversary Assertions 22 Bodie Goes To England: Part IX 26 Something for everyone on Sabine Lake 32 Prize Pompano

38 42 46 50 54 58 60 64 68 72 99

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard

10

Let’s Ask The Pro Shallow Water Fishing TPWD Field Notes Fly Fishing Kayak Fishing Chronicles TSFMag Conservation News Fishy Facts Inshore | Nearshore | Jetties | Passes Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks...

Plastic & Water Don’t Mix Science & the Sea

42

WHAT OUR GUIDES

HAVE TO SAY

76 78 80 82 84 86 88

Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene The Buzz on Galveston Bay The View from Matagorda Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Wayne’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene

6 | April 2018

Dickie Colburn Caleb Harp Bink Grimes Gary Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros

REGULARS

80

8 Editorial 74 New Tackle & Gear 90 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 94 Catch of the Month 98 Gulf Coast Kitchen

98

Jay Watkins Scott Null Joel Anderson Scott Sommerlatte Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Curtiss Cash Eric Ozolins Everett Johnson UT Marine Science Institute

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VINYL CARE

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STEP 1

Remove Dirt & Grime

STEP 2

Preserve & Protect

EDITORIAL

Are Galveston Anglers Ready?

The Galveston Bay Complex is truly an amazing body of water. Galveston Bay has always been the most biologically productive of Texas estuaries; thanks to inflow from the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers and excellent communication with the Gulf of Mexico.

Perhaps the most amazing facts about Galveston Bay are that it is also home to the second largest US port in total tonnage and one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the world; not to mention 4.5 million people living within the five counties that surround it.

Galveston is also the busiest of Texas bays in terms of recreational angling effort. A crowded day on any other system could hardly make a scratch in the number of anglers that ply Galveston.

Despite her long-standing reputation for great productivity and excellent fishing, many Galveston anglers are beginning to question whether we may have discovered the limit of the bay’s bounty – especially her seatrout fishery. To understand this, it helps to consider the ecology of the bay and the weather extremes of the most recent decade.

Unlike bays farther south, where estuarine ecology is based largely upon prolific seagrasses; Galveston’s bottom is comprised mostly of mud, with oyster reefs taking the place of seagrass.

In 2008, Hurricane Ike smothered more than eighty-percent of Galveston’s reefs in thick blankets of silt. Naturally, the oysters nearly all died, and much of the beneficial nursery habitat for other species also disappeared.

Then came the wicked drought of 2009-2014. Salinities soared and threatened the recruitment of many estuarine-dependent species –

including seatrout.

As if this double-whammy wasn’t enough, three successive spring flood events in 2015, 2016 and 2017 turned nearly all of Galveston and her satellite bays almost totally fresh.

Seatrout can tolerate a wide range of salinities, but they cannot live in fresh water. So, when the salinity does not suit them, they leave. Huge numbers of them took up residence on major reefs in the lower portion of the bay where daily gulf tides provided saltier habitat. Sounds good so far…

But what happened on those reefs has been likened to slaughter by many who witnessed – hundreds of thousands of specks stacked in a small area became the daily target of an armada of fishing boats. Many are convinced the fishery was seriously depleted.

Anglers all across Texas have witnessed firsthand or heard what has been heralded as a huge rebound of the seatrout fishery since the enactment of five-fish limits on the Mid-Coast and Lower Laguna.

Driven by genuine concern for the future of their own fishery, a growing legion of Galveston anglers are now petitioning Texas Parks and Wildlife, seeking more restrictive bag limits for their home waters. A great number of highly-respected fishing guides and seasoned anglers are among them.

But change doesn’t always come easily. TPW will reportedly begin soliciting angler input and may soon conduct scoping meetings to more accurately gauge whether such a change could satisfy a greater segment of the angling community. TPW listens and your participation is highly encouraged.

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8 | April 2018

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STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

I

t was early in April and we had been on a roll of catching very nice trout with relative ease, fairly close to home. A go-into-hibernation-type winter followed by a spring warm-up period had really triggered our bite. Rare for the season, light early-spring wind further aided in our success. I simply couldn’t do anything wrong and my customers were probably thinking I was really good at my profession. As the old saying goes, “Somebody pinch me…I must be dreaming.”

A late-appearing cold front made a couple of other phrases enter my mind. “Nothing lasts forever,” and “All good things must come to an end.” The northeast wind was brisk as we departed from the end of the Texas City Dike, but it felt even colder given that I had become somewhat acclimated to the recent warmer weather. The ride across the Houston Ship Channel wasn’t fun at all, even in my battleship Whaler, but we made it to the ICW with only a few loose screws (I’m talking about the ones in my boat). Our options were very limited as Galveston Bay doesn’t offer much in the way of seagrass or coarse sand bottom to promote water clarity. To the back of East Bay we went!

The cold wind made the 20-mile boat ride seem more like 40. At one point one of my clients asked if I was taking them to Sabine. I chuckled and said, “Ha! Maybe! I’ve got 77 gallons of gas, a lot of time, and I’m feeling pretty mad at ‘em today!”

Miles of options lie ahead…if you’re willing to burn the gas!

Not knowing what to expect with the sudden A slow bite in Galveston Bay prompted me to round up a few guys and head a few weather change, I perused a few areas that had miles south to Matagorda. It was worth it! been good to me under similar conditions in the past. Our third stop proved fruitful. Streaky water and small well-defined slicks over scattered oyster and clam shell near deep water showed me all I needed. The only thing missing was a big billboard screaming, “Fish Here!”

The action was sporadic but steady enough to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, the bites were subtle, resulting in many missed opportunities. The wind subsided after a few hours which enabled us to explore other options, only to find dead water at every stop. I told my clients that now would be a good time for them to eat whatever they brought for lunch because we were going on a little boat ride.

Thirty minutes later we were drifting color changes in the far reaches of Trinity Bay over structure similar to our first stop. I failed to mention that the tide movement had ceased at stop number one, which definitely had a negative Something tells me we might want to relocate. effect on the trout feed. There were also other boats at just about every stop I wanted to make along the way. The tide in the area we were now fishing was several hours behind the first locale we fished which further warranted the move. At the end of the trip everyone was satisfied and I was praying I didn’t have to perform similar maneuvers the next day. The bottom line is that we did what we had to do to have success.

There was another time in the early-2000s while fishing the Specktacular Tournament when my partner Aaron Wagner and I were greeted with an unexpected and very unwelcomed turn of events. Our morning began catching cookie cutter 3-pounders on topwaters in slick conditions along East Galveston Bay’s north shoreline. After about an hour, out of the blue came brutally stiff southwest winds that transformed the tranquil bait-filled shoreline into liquid mud covered with The serenity of a secluded shoreline was whitecaps. Waves crashed over our heads as we well worth the long waded back to the boat. distance traveled for Obviously needing heavier specks to compete, Eric Orril. The bonus was we made a “little run” to the far western end of catching dozens of trout and reds on topwater!

West Galveston Bay. Campbell’s and Chocolate Fish that are far removed were among the stops we made along the way. from popular areas tend We were able to upgrade a couple of our trout to be more cooperative but not enough to win first. It seems like we in my opinion. ended up around third or fourth. My old friend Judd Johnson was behind the mic at the weigh-in interviewing the top finishers. When he asked us what area of the bay we fished I said, “We caught our fish in East, West, Chocolate and Campbell’s.” I can still see the look on everyone’s faces as they thought I was joking. After all, who in their right mind would fish four different areas spanning more than 50 miles? Loose screws maybe? The funniest part is it was the truth.

There was another time I met my customers at a ramp in West Bay then had them follow me to the back of Trinity Bay due to unforeseen weather changes. My truck holds plenty of diesel too! I can go on forever about making long runs to far reaches of Galveston Bay and even completely different bay systems to increase our chances. There are no limits when Trout like this 6 pounder caught and released by Rex Richards have there are opportunities. probably never seen another lure due to its remote location. Knowing I used to think that staying in one area and the migration patterns and timing can put you in the right place at the right time. Just don’t let anyone else notice what you’re up to!

12 | April 2018

COOLER DUTY JUST GOT A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE. INTRODUCING THE HOPPER BACKFLIP. A cooler designed to take further, pack heavier and wear longer. The dry-hide shell keeps it water-proof, the Hydro-lock zipper keeps it leak-proof, and the ergonomic backpack strap system keeps it comfortable enough to go the extra mile. Because a cooler shouldn’t hold you back, it should help you carry on.

waiting out the bite was a smart plan but I’ve learned over time that bites may come more easily (for various reasons) miles away. I am personally willing to stay put and wait, especially if the quality of trout is there. Most paying clients, however, want more frequent action.

The pattern can change overnight and you better have a Plan B or even a Plan C. Late cool fronts, wind shifts and boat traffic can alter plans.

As cold fronts become less severe and less frequent, trout will begin to vacate their deeper, muddier haunts en route to foragefilled shallower and warmer water. Knowing the path they use to get there helps shorten the learning curve. The trout migration pattern is nearly the same every year in every bay system along the Texas coast. I believe trout are programed to return to the same areas each year. The timing of this instinctive return can be altered by water temperature, salinity, forage supply, habitat and fishing pressure. Aside from fishing pressure, the other factors are directly correlated to one another.

An astute angler will follow seasonal patterns while making mental notes of which factors trigger fish to be where and when.

For example: I can remember fishing a late-March Specktackular Tournament after an exceptionally cold winter with my buddy, Jake White. We pre-fished areas that historically produced but our findings were somewhat disappointing. A few days before the tourney we decided to try one of our winter spots as the conditions more closely resembled February than late-March.

After catching and releasing several trout to 6-pounds we now had a plan for tourney day. This area consisted of gooey, mudbottomed guts that tapered off into the Intracoastal Waterway and 25 feet of water. We waded along the guts and caught most of our fish before the sun came up on solid black Super Spooks.

There was never a boat near us because those fish weren’t supposed to be there.

So far, this spring, water temperatures seem to be on the rise earlier than expected and fish are showing up in places about a month early. It’s kind of crazy when we think about how frigid the past winter had been at times. Notwithstanding, April will still provide us with her own set of hurdles in the form of late fronts and extremely high wind. Boat traffic is a given these days.

It pays to be cognizant of every variable that will manipulate the migrations of our beloved trout. One day they will be on the shorelines and the next day they’ll pull out deep on nearby structure. Knowing the cause and effect will greatly increase your “luck” even if it means burning a little more gas.

CONTACT

STEVE HILLMAN

14 | April 2018

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

STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

O

nce a month, for the last twenty years, I’ve submitted a written article to this magazine. For nearly a decade now, I’ve also compiled the Fishing Reports and Forecasts section in each issue, conversing or otherwise communicating with professional anglers from one end of the Texas coast to the other. Through these processes and from these people, I’ve learned many things about saltwater fishing over the years.

In April of 1998, when I sent my first article to Gene Baker, then-owner of Gulf Coast Connections, I created the document on a typewriter, using those little pieces of white tape to correct any mistakes I made in execution, then folded the 8.5” x 11” paper into an envelope and mailed it to him via snail-mail. Those facts seem almost comical today; so many things have changed since the calendar figuratively leaped from an old millennium into the new.

In the last days of the twentieth century, the internet had only recently appeared on the scene. At the time, no one fully appreciated the influences the worldwide web would have on the Texas coastal fishing community. People had no smart phones back then; most of us still used dumb gadgets tethered to a wall by a wire. GPS technology did exist, but I didn’t have a unit on the helm of my boat, nor did many of my fishing buddies. We navigated by compass, with maps, memory and wits as our guides.

The carbureted outboard motors we used in those days spit and sputtered every morning when we turned the ignition key to start Joe Geer with a long our day. We often had to choke and restart them several times trout caught the day when the last of before leaving the dock. Today’s motors crank instantly and purr three big winter chills smoothly, without all the hassles and manipulation. moderated enough for No one had ever heard of a Power Pole in 1998; now, most of the fish to feed actively. us have one or two mounted on the transom, whether we prefer wading or fishing from the boat, recognizing the ways the devices facilitate our efforts and make our lives easier. We’ve experienced a similar evolution in the rods, reels and lines we use. Today’s rigs weigh a mere fraction of what they did twenty years ago, and they provide more sensitivity to detect strikes and to maintain control over the lures we throw.

Overall, we’ve experienced mostly positive changes in our fishing lives since I started publishing my thoughts and ideas on the pages of this rag. But taking the time to think about the sport as thoroughly as I have for such a long time leads me to conclude some things really don’t change. In essence, some truths related to coastal fishing remain the same, specifically those determining how the activity ideally fits into a generally busy lifestyle.

Best I can tell, most people who truly incorporate coastal angling into a healthy and rewarding lifestyle fully understand (either consciously or sub-consciously) three basic concepts. The first relates to their ability to clearly identify personal priorities related to the endeavor. This mantra affects not only to coastal fishing, but to any aspect of life worth pursuing. Self-help mentor Tony Robbins perhaps stated it best: “In order to get what you want, you must first identify exactly what you want.”

This assertion rings true in relation to coastal fishing because saltwater anglers can enjoy the sport in many different ways, at many different levels. Some prefer making forays to the edge of the ocean without a boat, backing a truck up to the water, casting out some kind of live or dead bait and waiting for any fish to swim by and start a fight. Others prefer wading into the water and chunking lures, preferring the challenges inherent to the The bite on sinking Paul Brown FatBoys proved steady for Captain Kev during the early months of 2018.

18 | April 2018

Chris Reeves with a photogenic flatfish, caught as a bonus while targeting trophy trout in Baffin on a warm day in February.

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TSFMAG.com | 19

20 | April 2018

Obviously, serious-minded anglers adjust the timing of their outings to coincide with perceived high potential for catching fish. This might mean fishing from late-afternoon into the first hours of night, getting up early and catching the moonset before sunrise, making a trek out to the Boat Cut in the middle of a summer afternoon to catch a turning tide, or hunkering down in the lee of a protected shoreline and grinding through a frontal passage. Hard-core anglers often adjust their schedules to place priority on the timing of their outings.

Casual anglers benefit from a different mindset, heading out at the most convenient times, cutting sessions short as soon as their motivation wanes. They go when they can and remain only as long as their enthusiasm sustains them. Once the play starts to feel like work, they pull the plug and move on to some other activity, since they have no serious purpose in mind anyway. In part, this chasm between the serious and the casual starts and ends with the types of equipment they purchase, maintain, carry and use.

People who most consistently enjoy coastal angling acquire specific types of equipment and learn and refine special techniques which consistently provide them the highest payoff, given the priorities they’ve established. For the most casual-minded anglers, this might mean a cooler which keeps the beer cold longer, a more comfortable folding chair and a rod-holder designed to keep the line tight for them. For the really serious crowd, it means many different things to different people, depending on their specific priorities.

Boating anglers can program smart trolling motors to keep the boat in place while they cast at a visible target, or seek out specific lenses on their sunglasses to facilitate their efforts. Some focus on learning how to read the water, recognizing subtle signs which indicate the presence of schools of trout or redfish, while others use their feet to inspect the bottom of the bays, gaining intimate knowledge of subtle drop-offs and places where the consistency of the bottom changes.

Some learn the details related to how best to hook a baitfish on a certain kind of hook to allow it to live longer and attract a predator, while others tweak the presentations made with floating plugs designed to trick a fish into taking a bite.

Regardless of their level of sophistication, seriousness or commitment to a single way of doing things, coastal anglers who extract maximum benefits from spending time at the edge, on or in the water, share these basic traits. They know exactly what they want to get out of the activity, they know when and where to try their luck at the given moment, they carry the right equipment to get the job done and they know how to use what they carry to maximize the potential for a positive outcome.

KEVIN COCHRAN CONTACT

attempt to draw strikes from predatory species.

Still others use boats to venture into relatively deep, open areas of the bays to target multiple species of schooling fish, while another group prefers targeting trophy trout by wading with artificial lures in remote, shallow portions of the estuaries.

Among these folks, a percentage participate in tournaments on a regular or semi-regular basis, testing their skills against a corps of accomplished angling celebrities.

An activity which appeals to one angler, elevating their enjoyment of the sport, might ruin the endeavor for another. At one end of the spectrum, some view all fishing as a purely casual activity, one which provides escape from the house and from the workaday life, for relaxation. At the other end of the spectrum, serious anglers pursue the sport fanatically and/or professionally, competing with others either to achieve goals or earn money, or both. Between these two extremes stand a variety of other people, with lesser or greater degrees of seriousness underlying their motivations.

Some prefer to fish alone, perhaps at night instead of during the day. Others enjoy taking their friends and family along. Some relish the food-gathering aspect of the mission; for them, chasing working birds provides an appealing dual mix of anticipation and satisfaction in the end. For another group, catch and release angling makes much more sense; they enjoy the sport of angling and don’t really like eating fish anyway, so they’d rather not make a mess for themselves at a cleaning table.

The variety of options available to coastal anglers motivates some to pursue many different types of outings and multiple species as the temperatures, tides and seasons evolve. Less versatile folks pursue the same species every time out, some chasing redfish in clear water, looking for sight-casting opportunities on shallow flats, others hoping to tangle with a monster trout on every trip they take.

Whether versatile or single-minded, whether serious or not, people who benefit most from participating in the sport of coastal angling share an important trait—they honestly understand exactly what they want to gain from the activity. Beyond this, they also resemble each other in a second key way. All of them have useful knowledge of the areas or bays in which they spend their time.

Of course, for casual anglers, this aspect proves pretty simple.

These folks know where they can park the truck or boat and get maximum benefit for their purposes. The beach or shoreline might provide an ideal surface for the kids to frolic and play. The shallow cove or lake might allow one to anchor the boat out of the wind and avoid passing traffic, providing the desired combination of peace and quiet. Even for these folks, understanding how various weather and tidal elements influence these factors becomes important, since a shoreline providing protection from onshore winds can become wrecked after a frontal passage.

More serious-minded anglers surely benefit from extensive knowledge of the areas in which they make their efforts. They work to learn which parts of which bodies of water offer prime potential in various seasons, and with specific weather elements in play. For people in this category, fishing is fun, but catching is more fun. For some, catching big fish is more fun than catching small ones. In order to achieve consistent success and derive maximum benefits from their time out on the water, they study the topography of the bays thoroughly, including how different parts are affected by tides, winds and weather.

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 361-688-3714 Email kevxlr8@mygrande.net Web www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com

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Part IX STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP

The driver let Tommy off at the front entrance to the hotel and, crossing the lobby he bumped into Bodie exiting the elevator.

“Going fishing or coming back…?” Bodie asked.

“I already fished but didn’t even get a bite on my shrimp,” Tommy lamented.

Bodie chuckled and remarked that the shrimp being cooked might have had something to do with it. “Anyway,” he continued, “Go wash your shrimpy hands and meet us in the bar.”

“Bodie, are we going out somewhere tonight?” Tommy quizzed him.

“Yeah, Doug is taking us to some hoity-toity place for dinner and we thought we’d grab a beer before we get all dressed up. We’re supposed to dress for the occasion and I hope that jacket I bought for this trip will do,” Bodie responded.

Tommy headed up to his room. Giddy with the idea that he was going to surprise Bodie with the clothes, boots and hats he’d bought, all laid out on his bed. “Ol’ Bodie’s gonna be blown away when he sees those Miles crocodile boots!” he chuckled aloud.

Tommy called for a bellman and had him take all of Bodies things to his room and place them on the bed. Then he washed up and headed down to the bar.

Tommy joined Red and Bodie at their table and, noticing they both had full mugs in front of them, signaled the barmaid to bring him one as well.

“Go easy on that beer, Tommy,” Red warned.

“Oh, I can handle my beer alright,” Tommy assured him.

“Tommy Boy, what Red’s saying is that this stuff has a bit more kick than what we get at Haddon’s. Drink slowly just to be safe – OK?” “Ugh…I don’t care for the flavor of this brown beer at all,” Tommy winced.

Red and Bodie agreed, which prompted Bodie to approach the bartender.

“Excuse me, sir, but do you by chance have any American beer?”

“Certainly, what would you like?”

“Surprise us, and we’ll take three,” Bodie replied.

The barmaid brought three beers to the table and the trio each took a taste.

“Tastes like Miller Lite to me, but a bit fruity,” Red announced, taking another sip.

“I’m thinking more like Bud Lite with some kind of fruit flavor,” Bodie offered.

“Nah, you’re both wrong. It’s Blue Moon,” Tommy proclaimed to his friends.

Startled, and having never heard of it, Red and Bodie both asked what the hell he was talking about.

“I had it a few times on the River Walk, in San Antone. I think Coors owns it,” Tommy answered smugly.

The barmaid happened by and Red asked if she knew the name of the beer they were drinking.

“Yes sir, it’s an American beer, Blue Moon. Made by Coors Brewing,” she answered politely.

Tommy smirked. Bodie laughed. Red turned a little redder than

TSFMAG.com | 23

24 | April 2018

made him uncomfortable.

But, seeing Tommy beaming the way he was, and knowing that with him there were never any strings…Tommy bought the stuff because he could and because he wanted to. Bodie sighed and relented – sort of.

“Tommy, this is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me and I appreciate it very much. I’ll probably look right smart in these duds and I betcha I could dance all night in these boots. But – If you ever do anything like this again I’m going to be very angry.”

Tommy let out a sigh of relief just as Bodie picked up a necktie, “Now show me how to tie one of these things. It’s been a while.”

Tommy picked out a pair of slacks, and shirt and tie to match Bodie’s new blazer. Tying it around his own neck, making it longer than normal so it would look right on Bodie, he loosened the knot and slipped it over his head.

“Here you go, Bodie. Now I’ve got to hurry and get dressed myself.

I’ll meet you and Red in the lobby.”

Bodie sat for a minute, looking at all the things Tommy had bought for him. “You know, for a man that could mess up a county fair…

Tommy sure has a heart of gold,” he muttered aloud.

Tommy was happy that Bodie wasn’t mad at him, and proud that Bodie’s new outfit would make a great impression on Doug.

When Bodie, Red and Tommy met Doug in the lobby, Doug whistled approval and flashed two-thumbs up.

“You men look like you dress like this every day,” Doug said admiringly. “Bodie, that beautiful hat, the blazer and tie, and those slacks. And my word, those boots; you look stunning. Red, you and Tommy look like Manhattan bankers!”

“Bite your tongue, sir!” Red admonished politely.

“Speaking of bite, where are we eating?” Tommy asked.

“We’re going to Core, one of the best restaurants in London, with two Michelin stars,” Doug replied with excitement.

As the group was getting into the limo, Tommy whispered to Red that it was probably a good place to eat, since they run Michelin tires and all, but that he’d never heard of any of their tires being called Stars.

Red glared, started to explain, but let it go, “Yep. Steel belted radials, too!”

“Must be an English tire.” Tommy surmised.

To be continued...

MARTIN STRARUP

CONTACT

usual. But they all laughed about it later.

“Any chance you have Dos Equis?” Bodie asked.

“Certainly, we do. Would you all like one?”

“Yes, please, with lime!” Bodie answered her.

Now that they had a beer they all liked, Red asked where they were going for dinner.

“I don’t know the name of the place, but Doug said to dress nicely and that a car would be out front and take us there,” Bodie told him.

“I want to try some of that black pudding I hear about all the time,” Tommy told the others.

“What kind of pudding is black?” Bodie wanted to know.

“Not sure, Bodie, but it must be good because I have heard a lot about it,” Tommy responded.

“Well,” Bodie began. “We can certainly ask Doug about it. If he says its good we might as well all try it.”

Changing the subject, Red suggested, “What say we visit a few of the famous London gun shops in the morning and then get some authentic fish and chips for lunch. You know, just take our time and walk around a bit.”

Bodie liked the idea but Tommy had other plans. “I wanted to go fishing in the morning.”

Bodie interjected, “We fish all the time at home, Tommy. We’re in London…”

“I know that, but I want to catch at least one fish while I’m here,” Tommy insisted. “But I’ll have to get a fishing license first. Maybe we all get a license and check out one of those lakes Doug mentioned.”

“We might just do that, but let’s hit those famous gun places in the morning and worry about fishing later,” Bodie said. “Anyway, guys, right now we need to get up to our rooms and dress for dinner.”

“Time surely flies when you’re having fun,” Red laughed.

“And having cold beer,” Tommy agreed.

Red went into his suite and when Bodie was about to open his door, Tommy asked, “Uh…say Bodie, can I come in for a second?”

“Sure Tommy, but we need to get a move on.”

Bodie walked through the door and into the living area and asked Tommy what was up. “I think you should go and look on your bed,” Tommy answered sheepishly.

Bodie glanced at his friend for a second but went into his bedroom and noticed the hat, boot boxes and the garment bags. “What is all this, Tommy?”

“Well, Bodie, you remember those Miles crocodile boots that you said felt better on your feet than anything, and that Resistol hat you wanted but didn’t want to spend the money for two hats?”

“Yes, I remember. But they’re Nile crocodile,” Bodie corrected. “Not Miles.”

“And do you remember that Hart Schaffner Marx blazer, the Polo shirts, and other stuff I told you that you should get but wouldn’t spend the money?”

“Tommy, please tell me you didn’t buy all of this stuff for me.”

“Well those things and a few more, like slacks and ties and belts.

You’ll need all these things. And besides, it didn’t cost that much, and I can afford it. It’s what friends do; take care of each other, like you always take care of me.”

Bodie’s mind was racing. The boots, hat and blazer, along with the rest of the stuff, probably set Tommy back three thousand or more.

Bodie just wasn’t used to people doing things like this for him and it

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.

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Bottom grasses that help filter sediment and improve water clarity will be scarce during April. Finding it can be a great bonus!

STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

T

here are a hand full of constants in the world we live in and we can all recite some of the more common ones. The old saying about death and taxes would probably be high on most lists, along with a few more we have all heard from time to time. For those of us who live in the great state of Texas, there is a constant pride exhibited in just about everything we do, and we enjoy telling everyone who is not from Texas all about it. I think it’s called hubris.

Living on the border of Texas and Louisiana, I am blessed to have multiple opportunities to experience some of the best things the outdoor life has to offer; fishing, hunting, cooking, and a love for outdoor recreation in general. Few places I could name off the top of my head compare with the diversity of southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The month of April actually begins to highlight how incredibly vast the opportunities in this part of the world can be.

As spring takes control and puts winter in the rearview mirror, many anglers will be itching to find a cure for cabin fever. There’s nothing like hitting the water on a bright spring day, so blue it almost hurts your eyes. With an exponential increase in boat traffic, you can bet your last dollar that the waterways will be busy, so do yourself a favor and be prepared. Large expanses of water can feel as small as a bathtub with all the traffic and those can become even smaller when the wind blows.

April, and spring in general, will certainly give us plenty of wind so get ready for it. The wind doesn’t necessarily have to ruin your plans but it definitely has to be a consideration as you plan your fishing days. The fact that we have so many different options to choose from will be a blessing because you should always have somewhere to fish.

Under normal circumstances, speckled trout are by far the most frequently targeted species on Sabine Lake. During April however, specks take a temporary backseat as anglers throng to our border lake and estuary in search of southern flounder. The vast and virtually untouched marshlands that lie along the east side of the lake provide incredible habitat for flounder, and a host of other species.

The spring flounder migration – when mature fish return from their annual spawning run to the Gulf of Mexico – is highly-anticipated by many anglers and it differs significantly from the fall run. While total landings are usually more numerous, it seems the size of the fish is somewhat smaller on average.

TSFMAG.com | 27

Angling success is usually best in and near sloughs and marsh drains that are affected by tide movement or winddriven currents. Incoming flows nudge flounder up tight to shoreline grass where they gorge on clouds of small shad that comprise a major portion of the flatfish’s spring diet. Hungry flounder often give away their location as they blast those small shad out the water – anglers should take note.

During outgoing tide flows, flounder will back up to the first piece of structure they can find and gang up there as the baitfish and other forage rolls with the current toward open water. Depressions and guts carved by the tide are prime real estate for flounder anglers.

Scented soft plastics on light jigheads and live bait on Carolina rigs are preferred methods for targeting flounder near marsh drains. The sheer numbers of fish that will inhabit the shallow estuaries of Sabine will not only make a believer out of most anglers, it will also make them happy at the dinner table.

Speaking of happy anglers, a big trout will put a smile on virtually any fisherman’s face and there should be no shortage of good fish to be had in April. The spring trout bite usually centers around somewhat deeper water than during the fall and winter. Classic patterns such as drifting the big reef on the south end near the Causeway Bridge, and strolling the rocks at the jetties will produce Calm mornings are a the lion’s share of fish in spring, blessing in April - be sure and also some of the largest. to make the most of them.

Catching a big trout on the reef is a little more of a crap shoot than fishing the jetties but it’s also a little more weatherfriendly. Finding the perfect weight jighead that will allow targeting trout suspended over oyster shell is a daily puzzle, given the depth being fished and the strength of the currents in the area. I would hate to even guess how many jigheads have been donated to that big reef over the years, I know I have certainly contributed my share.

But, once you get a handle on it, and with the right combination of lure weight and tide flow, the fishing can get downright crazy.

The abundance of fish that will stack on that deep structure is (right) Lessons learned in the winter months will help out in springtime as well. Ask Jonah Lemoine. (far right) Largemouth bass have made an incredible comeback in the Sabine estuary following flood events in recent years.

28 | April 2018

Following the major flood releases from Toledo Bend in recent years, we have witnessed an absolute explosion in the bass population in the Sabine area. The numbers of fish and numbers of big fish are virtually unprecedented, and that trend will enable the B.A.S.S. guys to show off their skills as well as how amazing our part of the state can be. I am truly looking forward to seeing what happens when the tournament starts.

April is a month of opportunity and there are plenty of quality patterns to go around for every style of angling. Options abound and you can fish just about anywhere you want. Keep an eye on the weather, spring storms can kick up in the blink of an eye. Protected water can be profitable but attempting to reach it is not worth risking your safety.

CHUCK UZZLE

CONTACT

what keeps the local and visiting anglers coming back every spring.

Now, if the weather permits, and the water clarity is favorable, you can bet your last $20 that most serious trout anglers will be prowling the jetties before sunrise, hoping to run into a mega-trout. Topwaters and medium- to shallow-running crank baits will draw ferocious strikes when worked parallel to the rocks. Some of the biggest stringers of the year will come from the jetty area during April, and some of the heaviest trout, too.

I have no clue as to why, but it seems the trout we catch down there are just wired differently. They pull like crazy and act down right mean, compared to the fish we catch farther north in the lake. The quality of the trout and the overall size makes it worth the effort to chase trout at the jetties – not to mention the mystery fish that can spool a reel in seconds – leaving everyone on the boat wondering… “What the hell was that?”

Perhaps the most forgotten real estate in the whole area during April will be the Sabine River and the marshes on the north end of the lake. Typically, the river won’t see much fishing effort as runoff from Toledo Bend can often keep the water extremely fresh and muddy. Grasses that help filter sediment in the marsh will not have grown much either, so the backwaters will be muddier than most anglers prefer, especially those chasing redfish in shallow water.

One group who will more than take advantage of the river will be the pro-anglers from the B.A.S.S. circuit as they return to Sabine for a tournament in early-April. I’m going to make an official prediction in print, if the weather does not get crazy, there will be record weights posted this year.

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30 | April 2018

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 409-697-6111 Email wakesndrakes@yahoo.com Website wakesndrakes.com

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TSFMAG.com | 31

Probably most pompano are caught on the beach. Best method is long, 14-foot rods, reliable rod holders, and shrimp or sand fleas impaled on Kahle hooks.

STORY BY JOE RICHARD

I

’ve run into pompano, a fairly unknown fish on most of the the Texas coast, a number of times over the years. They’re always a bonus fish mixed with the day’s catch, and worth a great deal to connoisseurs of seafood who know what they’re dealing with. This is a fish so rarely caught, that Texas still has no daily bag limit. Yet, they’re out there if you know where to look, mostly in the surf or around Gulf platforms.

One of my fondest memories of pompano came the first day I ever took out a fishing charter. It was April and neighbor Capt. Lee Richter in Port O’Connor called at 6 a.m. to announce he was overbooked, and had 12 people standing around in his yard, ready to go fishing. Six too many. I’d just earned my captain’s license days before in Houston and hadn’t even prepped my 21-foot Mako for such a trip.

But I scrambled in a timely fashion and soon drove the group down along the Matagorda Island beach a few miles. It was a perfect calm day with green water, real ice cream conditions. What could go wrong? I’d even scored a quart of live shrimp to avoid slinging artificials in that crowded boat.

Back then there were a number of surf wrecks along the island, great fishing spots, and we eased in close to one and dropped anchor. Everyone flung out shrimp under corks and the action started. There were a few trout and redfish but better yet, a number of hard-fighting pompano, the first we saw that year.

I think the group took it to heart when I counseled them on what a prize those pompano were. When the crowded boat made it back to POC, they unloaded and thanked me. It had been a satisfying day. But back in the neighborhood I ran into Richter, who was skeptical we’d actually caught pompano.

Pompano caught after Lee brooked no nonsense; he was this colorful climbing onto a Gulf platform, back in the old guy who’d flown B-26 bombers over Europe, day. Caught doodleand lost a lot of friends there because they were socking a small, often shot at. He had many wonderful stories home-made jig inside from later years, including racing boats with the platform.

John Wayne while parts of the movie Hellfighters was filmed near Houston. He’d been around the block a few times, so to speak. And he was pretty sure I’d kept a bunch of small jack crevalle and pawned them off on my charter. Jacks, compared to pompano, taste like horseflesh. He implied there was no way we’d caught pompano.

I advised him that I’d been selling pompano as long as 15 years before, back in Port Arthur, to Louisiana people who knew the fish quite well. Lee muttered and finally left, still unconvinced. Never did tell me what he caught that day. Since then, people have asked what’s it like being a fishing guide and now you know what happened on Day 1.

While the trout crowd lashes the water on almost a daily basis, the furtive pompano escapes notice Beach piers are except from accidental catches. And even then a reliable venue for pompano. they’re mistaken for jacks and often discarded.

Where does this happen? After hitting a small plug or gold spoon in surf or at the jetties, mostly. But there are ways to target these fish.

Pompano even hit >Pompano will stick around through mild topwater plugs on winters in the Padre Island surf, because the rare occasions. A midwater temps down there are warmer than the depth spoon or jig rest of Texas. And usually more clear, for that works much better. matter. The classic way to catch pompano is in the surf, of course, with long rods of 14 feet and more. You bait up a pair of Kahle hooks with shrimp and heave it way out there, hoping the pyramid weight will hold bottom if the current isn’t too strong.

Some spots are better than others, especially where surf water flows back out, what they call a riptide that swimmers should avoid. This is a technique so effective that there are guys on Florida’s Atlantic coast who make a living doing this. Selling their prized pompano either wholesale or to select customers.

And the fish are fairly numerous. They even named a town along that stretch called Pompano Beach. These guys are barefoot on the sand every day, dialed in with their buddies where the best action is. Reeling 34 | April 2018

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in fish that retail for something like $15 a pound.

Pompano jigs from Florida. These are made by James The bait is free, sand fleas (mole crabs) that live Warf in Fort Walton Beach and they work fine in Texas. I favor the middle one. They can be found at: in the wet sand. It must be a fairly stress-free life. www.cbcustomjigs.com/Pompano-jigs_c48.htm For the fishermen, that is. >From surf piers, serious anglers target the first gut in shallow water each morning during high tide. Pompano, sometimes schools of them, are rooting out small crustaceans—either crabs, shrimp or tiny clams. (Pompano prefer shellfish). Small pompano jigs, designed for long casts but carrying short tails, are a favorite weapon. During the retrieve these jigs kick up small puffs of sand and pompano follow. Florida has any number of people who tie their own pompano jigs, and sometimes sell them. My source is James Warf in Fort Walton Beach; he uses quality hooks and they cast like a bullet. I won’t even risk them when Spanish mackerel are around. Which makes them hard to use at Gulf platforms off Texas, where pompano and mackerel frequently mix.

My first reliable source of pompano, when fishing out of Port Arthur for decades, were Gulf platforms in 30-50 feet of water. (May and October were best). If our boat was tied up and we got bored, I’d climb up on the lower deck of the rig using a handy swing rope, while carrying a baitcaster rod and a few jigs. Also a five-gallon bucket to carry fish. Inside the rig if the water was clear, you could often see a dozen pompano down about 12 feet, circling slowly, swimming on their sides, reflecting the light. Ease a small jig or spoon down there and jiggle it around, and pompano would circle and bite. It was a short, furious battle keeping them out of the pilings.

Members of the jack family, these puppies are strong.

Then I’d lift them a dozen or so feet up to the catwalk, unhook and set them in the bucket. Otherwise, they’d flop back in the water. I’d generally catch three or four Author used this Florida-made jig to before the others wised up. These were saved for our catch a pile of Texas pompano during friend Dr. Ferguson, originally from Baton Rouge, who paid a tidy sum.

That same day, we called late summer. Photo by Pete Churton.

Enough for our next fishing trip, anyway. In those days gas was cheap in two other boats with and our boats were small. friends aboard, and they enjoyed the same action. One boat had been We still sling small jigs out there at the platforms if pompano are back at the marina and by phone we told them to buy a quart of live spotted, often during the May run of small blue crabs that pass by in shrimp and get out there, quick. Knowing nothing about small jigs, the current. Or by blind-casting gold spoons and letting them sink they anchored nearby and threw corks with shrimp underneath, and about 20 feet before the retrieve. I used to scrape barnacles off the landed eight pompano. Keeper whiting, that often mix with pompano pilings with a gaff or whatever was handy, expecting sheepshead in beach surf, were also caught by all three boats. to arrive, and sometimes pompano beat them to that fresh chum.

We had some fine seafood dinners after that day.

It seems pompano like barnacle meat too, though they don’t have teeth and are poorly equipped for nibbling on such hard growth.

They do have crushers at the back of their throats, good for grinding Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arup tiny surf clams and such. thur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast.

That’s what we found inside our pompano several years ago, after He was the editor of Tide magazine an epic morning anchored near the surf, landing 20 keeper pompano for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant without much effort. Two of the guys didn’t even fish, just took magazine editor. He began guiding pictures. We slung out small Warf jigs tipped with half a live shrimp. out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His All around us, pompano were jumping, spooked by the rolling boat. specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, Pompano bounced off the boat hull or flew into the motorwell and New Revelations. Available at then straight into the Igloo. So, if you’re cruising the beachfront (in a Seafavorites.com boat) and see these fish skipping away from the hull, that’s a sure sign to anchor up and start casting.

CONTACT

JOE RICHARD

36 | April 2018

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TSFMAG.com | 37

Hopefully you will be able to see the configuration of the potholes and floating grass beginning to form windrows.

J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

ONCE AGAIN –

THE WIND IS YOUR FRIEND! It seems that spring has arrived along the middle and lower Texas coast as fronts are becoming fewer and packing less punch. Overnight temperatures are running in the 50s and 60s; daytime temperatures are hedging toward the 80s on a regular basis. We will still receive the occasional front, some that will be shockingly cool, dropping overnight temps as much as 15 degrees or more.

I actually like seeing late-season frontal passages that prolong cooler water temperatures as we head into spring. I have discovered through my years of guiding that I like every season of the year and the unique challenges that come with each. I continue to be inspired to learn and pass what I learn along to anglers who are motivated to up their game.

I am still amazed how quickly seasonal weather patterns will change, like overnight at times. Our fish however cannot always be as quick to change and this can create some questions for all levels of anglers.

Something else I have come to realize is the fact that even though I am very aware of this fact I continue to become frustrated when it happens, wanting to force feed them at times, even though instinct tells me this is not what I need to do. We’re talking transitional period here, and 38 | April 2018

I know that I and others have already touched on this subject, so I won’t go into it too deeply. Let’s just say that transitional periods are simply the period of adjustment between major seasonal weather patterns and the impact they have on all marine life.

The other day while fishing on a charter with some really good guys, one of them asked why I was catching more fish than they were. We all had the same line of attack, same lures, same action and brand of rods, same reels and, possibly even the same braided line and leaders.

The bottom structure on the flat in front of each angler was identical except for water clarity. While the water we were fishing was generally clear despite the strong wind, some of it was what we would refer to as air-clear.

Large to medium-size potholes amid thick to intermittent seagrass were the primary targets in front of each wader in the line. Some of the potholes were connected by narrow strips of sand. I instructed the guys to cast at angles to the wind rather than straight downwind. This allows the line to “bend” during the retrieve and can be useful in that it presents the lure in somewhat angular fashion to the structure being targeted.

Fish feed into current, whether tidal or wind-driven.

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C O N TA C T

30-plus. The angled cast will naturally present the bait to more fish staged on any given structure. This is due to the fact that it can be directed to pass in front of more fish staged at different places in the current than a simple straight-downwind cast can provide.

I also instructed the anglers to try and focus on scattered grass within the circumference of the larger potholes. Bending your cast where the wind aids in bringing the lure at a slight angle across this grass will often draw a strike. The narrow strips of sand that lie between potholes are also prime targets to hit.

I said to the angler that asked why I was catching more, “See that little strip of sand between those potholes? Watch this!” A few twitches of the lure, bending on the current as it came into the strip, was met with a solid thump. He smiled and said that I Here’s a good example of was pretty lucky. what I call “rolling” grass Had the sand strip been in front of him I would mats. We frequently see fish hiding under and alongside. have let him take the shot, but he was on my right and it was well off to my left. So yeah, there was some luck involved, getting the strike on the first cast, but more than luck was the cast being made to a likely Results of proper approach piece of structure and allowing the current to bend it to likely structure and into a productive presentation. “bending” the cast.

Floating grass being formed into windrows by strong wind is another type of structure that can be very productive. Windrows of floating grass are a magnet for baitfish and small crabs. Between the windrows will be clean water that is tempting to work a lure through, but generally not as productive unless the windrows are only a few yards apart. Trout and reds will position under and along these windrows, using them as camouflage while they feed. I included a photo that I hope will demonstrate the windrow thing. More on floating grass: We sometimes see floating grass being driven by wind to form large mats on the surface. Savvy anglers will work the edges of these the same as windrows.

My lure selection for spring will be more focused on soft plastics most days. My 5-inch shad Bass Assassin, along with the 5-inch and 3-inch MirrOlure Provokers, Lil Johns and Lil John XLs, will get serious use. Custom MirrOlure Top Dog Jrs and She Pups, your trout so they could spawn and continue to pass on the terrific along with Custom MirrOdine XLs, will also see action when floating genes these fish seem to possess. Your bay system may be the last grass is not a problem. As is always the case, I will choose clear-bodied true trout mecca left on our coast and we want to do our part to help baits in clear water and on days with generally clear skies to slight overcast. In dirty water or on heavily overcast days, it’ll be a darker lure conserve it for future generations.

May your fishing always be catching! -Guide Jay Watkins for me, more times than not.

No matter what the color of the water or sky conditions might be, I recommend keeping plenty of Plum, Watermelon-Red Glitter, Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, Rootbeer, Magic Grass, Geaux Gleaux, Roach, and Bone Diamond on TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers hand. I like keeping my lure selections small and my confidence high the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. in my ability to get them to bite. Confidence still plays huge in my book no matter what the season or conditions.

Telephone 361-729-9596 Many thanks to all the fine residents of Port Mansfield for the Email Jay@jaywatkins.com hospitality and help many of you provide to me and Jay Ray during Website www.jaywatkins.com our winter stay in your small fishing community. We released most all 40 | April 2018

TSFMAG.com | 41

First impression might be that I used a fisheye lens but it’s just a really fat fish.

C A P T. S COT T N U L L

S H A L L O W W AT E R F I S H I N G

DEAD OF WINTER

SIGHT-FISHING – NO BULL! Sight fishing for big bull reds in shallow water is addicting.

For several years now, I’ve been spending my winters in the Louisiana marsh chasing these huge fish. I took a break from it last year in order to finish up my house and make the move to Port O’Connor, but I found myself missing the thrill and satisfaction of putting customers on the biggest reds they’d ever caught.

Nobody seems to know for sure why these mature, oversized redfish venture into the shallow bays and marshes of Louisiana during winter. I’ve seen a handful do it in Texas, but nowhere near the numbers or consistency as our neighbors to the east. Given the areas where we find them, I suspect it has to do with the lack of barrier islands. Once redfish reach maturity at around thirty inches they generally leave the bays and live out their lives along the nearshore waters of the open Gulf. But unlike Texas, many areas of Louisiana have little more than a few sandbars to differentiate the open Gulf from the bays and marshes. Whatever the reason, I’m glad it happens.

So, on January 1, I packed up my gear and headed back to Cajun country for a two month stay. As evidenced by 42 | April 2018

Got this one while scouting.

Five bulls fighting for a Top Dog in a foot of water can be pretty entertaining!

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44 | April 2018

Snow, ice, sleet, rain, and fog… bulls don’t care.

C O N TA C T

last month’s article, the first few weeks didn’t exactly go as planned. There was snow, there was ice, there was rain and there was wind. Not ideal for sight fishing, but I did get some fly boxes filled up while me and the dogs were stuck in the house. Once the weather broke, it was game on. I had rescheduled as many folks as possible from the weathered-out dates into my scheduled days off, so it was pretty much non-stop right up to the last day.

Following the ice storm, I ventured out on the water to do some scouting and found water temperatures varying a couple clicks either side of forty degrees. It was COLD. However, the bull reds really didn’t seem to mind. I was seeing plenty of fish and they appeared to be somewhat active. I don’t usually fish much when I’m scouting, but felt the need to see how these fish would react to flies and lures.

The first one that saw a fly inhaled it and put up a spirited fight. The next experiment involved seeing if they would put forth an effort to chase something.

Question answered when a big bruiser charged a gold spoon from several feet away. I was satisfied.

As the sun warmed things up a bit, the reds became even more active. While checking out a back lake I came upon a small school of five pushing through a few inches of water with their backs exposed. The Top Dog didn’t move more than a couple feet before they were fighting over who was going to eat it. A school of 15- to 20-pound redfish in less than a foot of water battling each other for your topwater plug will make you forget how cold it is in a hurry.

February wasn’t all sunny days and light winds by any means, but it was damn sure better than January.

My customers soldiered on, grinding through the days of high winds, clouds and even a few rain storms.

We caught plenty of fish under a variety of less than ideal conditions. But when things got right, it was incredible. There were several days of twenty-plus bulls anywhere from fifteen- to thirty-pounds with a sprinkling of fish beyond the thirty-pound mark thrown in. This is what pulls me back to Louisiana year after year.

If you would like to take a shot at this incredible fishery send me an email and I’ll put you on the list.

Sometime around October I’ll get my dates set and send out an announcement that the calendar is open.

Bookings are first come first served, and it fills up pretty fast with repeat customers who feel the same Talk about a bunch of bull… way about this place as I do.

In the meantime, I’ll be back home fishing the waters around Port O’Connor and Seadrift. I’m running two boats these days and can cover most any kind of fishing you’d like to try. I have the poling skiff for sneaking around in the shallow stuff, tossing flies or lures like I’ve done for years. And the addition of the Dargel 230 Kat has opened me up for wading trips as well as hitting the jetties or nearshore. Let me know what you have in mind and we’ll make it happen.

Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading.

Telephone Email Website

281-450-2206 captscottnull@gmail.com www.captainscottnull.com

TSFMAG.com | 45

By Joel Anderson | Perr y R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station | Palacios

FIELD NOTES

THE BOOMING TEXAS SNOOK POPULATION:

COMING SOON TO A BAY NEAR YOU?

If you’ve ever caught a snook in Texas, you’re among a select group of anglers. Fishes in the snook family (of which there are 12 recognized species) usually have a tropical distribution, occurring most commonly in South and Central America. However, three species of snook occur in Texas, including the common snook, the fat snook, and a third more rare species called the Mexican snook. In Texas, these species are encountered frequently in the Lower Laguna Madre, but are relatively rare elsewhere.

There are multiple unique features of snook biology that distinguish these species from other sport fish in Texas. First, they are equally tolerant of both fresh and saltwater, and are found commonly in rivers year round.

Second, snook species in general (including those in Texas) display a form of hermaphroditism in which males transition into females as they grow older. If you catch a very large snook, it is likely a female. Third, hybridization, which is otherwise rare in Texas’ marine fishes, is widespread in the snook family. In fact, a collaborative genetic study conducted by researchers at Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi has shown that most fat snook caught in Texas are actually hybrids with Mexican snook. Finally, despite being a

tropical family of fishes, there is evidence that snook populations in Texas are actually expanding. It is this last point that requires more examination, as the expansion of snook in Texas’ waters may present increased opportunities for Texas’ anglers.

The TPWD long-term gill net data indicate a 3 to 5-fold increase in the number of adult snook present in Texas’ bays since the 1980s. Although abundance is episodic (meaning there are peaks and valleys in abundance through time), the long-term trend is upwards. Warmer summers and mild winters have likely resulted in resident snook, whereas in the past Texas may have harbored only a migrant population.

In addition to gill nets, TPWD uses shoreline seine nets to measure the abundance of small organisms (think smaller than 4 inches) in the bay. Recent seine samples also paint a fairly rosy picture regarding the snook trend.

In the years 1980 – 2004, 14 juvenile snook were observed in seine samples coast-wide. Since 2005, that number has skyrocketed, with 60 juveniles observed, including 12 in a single Laguna Madre sample in the fall of 2017.

Although these numbers may not seem overwhelming, the increasing presence of juvenile snook in Texas is significant because it suggests that adults are sticking

Figure 1. The abundance of snook in TPWD gill nets through time. The orange bars represent the annual catch of all three Texas species of snook combined.

46 | April 2018

TSFMAG.com | 47

Figure 2. Juvenile snook captured in a Laguna Madre bag seine in fall of 2017. The presence of juveniles implies that adult snook are spawning in Texas. Photo credit Andres Garcia.

around to spawn, rather than going elsewhere. This implies the potential for a future population boom, as juveniles that are spawned in Texas may themselves stick around and contribute to the local population when they mature.

As it turns out, the population boom may be upon us. The fall 2017 TPWD sampling season produced a record number of adult snook, which were observed further north than ever before. Record gill net catches occurred in almost every bay system in Texas, including the first ever encounter of a common snook in Texas’ northernmost bay, Sabine Lake. To give you an idea of just how extreme the numbers were in 2017, more snook were caught coast-wide last year in gill net samples (100, total) than were caught in the entire decade of the 1980s (93 total). Furthermore, the 25 juveniles encountered in 2017 bag seines more than tripled the previous single-year record of 7, which occurred in 2014.

Given the rapidly increasing abundance of snook in Texas, the pending question is whether we can expect this to continue into the future. One notable trend in that regard is that other tropical marine species, such as gray snapper, tarpon, and green sea turtles, have also increased significantly in abundance in Texas within the past 20-30 years, suggesting a tropical invasion, perhaps driven by a warming trend. In concert with an overall general increase in Gulf of Mexico water temperatures, average shoreline water temperatures in Texas bays have risen approximately 1-2 degrees (F) since 1980. This is very likely the driver of the range expansion of tropical species, and if water temperatures continue to increase, so will the likelihood 48 | April 2018

that these populations will continue to expand. One caveat to all of this is extreme cold winter temperatures, such as those experienced coast-wide in early January 2018. Extreme cold can negatively impact tropical species that are not well adapted to cold winter conditions, causing mortality or otherwise driving them southward where temperatures are more tolerable. Coast-wide fish kills associated with the January freeze may result in a temporary decrease in abundance of snook and other tropical species for the next few years.

So what’s the outlook going forward? Snook populations in Texas are larger than ever before, they’re growing, and the range of these species in Texas may slowly be expanding northward. Cold winter temperatures might occasionally stem the tide, as snook are famously intolerant of cold water. But each time this has happened over the last 30 years, the species seems to have recovered in record fashion. If the recent population boom is any indication, soon the Laguna Madre may not be the only place that anglers can target snook in Texas.

Next month intern Danielle de Vacque will answer some questions heard at boat ramps.

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or tpwd.texas.gov for more info.

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TSFMAG.com | 49

S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E

F LY F I S H I N G

MAINTAINING YOUR GEAR So, for years, you have been listening to me talk about preparing for your fly-fishing trip/excursion. From practicing and developing casting skills to packing for your trip of, hopefully, a lifetime. Whether it is a trip to the Texas coast for a trophy red or trout or to an exotic location for whatever species, it is important to have your equipment in top-notch condition.

Going forward, I’m going to share with you as many “tips” that my 22 years of full-time guiding and traveling have taught me about maintaining my equipment.

RodsWell, actually, rods are easy. First, wash and rinse in hot water every chance you get. You will see, there will be a theme that will be repeated (hot water) over and over.

There are few things that will cut/dissolve salt anywhere near as well as hot water.

Another thing to consider is buying only rods that are equipped with titanium guides. They will not corrode; therefore, less maintenance is required.

Two final thoughts in regard to rods- Wax your reel seat threads and rod ferrules with paraffin-based wax. And, every now and again, run a Q-tip through the guides to make sure that there are no burrs or cracks in the eyerings that will damage your line or leader. If there are 50 | April 2018

burrs, the fine cotton threads will snag the imperfection with a simple wipe.

ReelsIn regard to reels, this is one of the most complicated of them all. For years I came in from a fishing trip and sprayed my rods and reels with the water hose, and even started doing it with HOT water to cut the salt. Again, there are few things that will remove salt. Hot water is one of them.

The problem with spraying reels with water is that you drive the salt into cracks and crevices, possibly creating the opportunity for corrosion to occur inside. And while even a light misting with hot water does some good, it also can dissolve oils and greases that keep your reel operating to its full potential and can cause problems down the line by washing away essential lubrication for your drag and bearings. Firsthand experience, by the way.

Throughout my years, I have learned that to clean a reel, you should just wipe it down with a washcloth that has been run under hot tap water. However, I may have recently found a better way.

Rumor has it, at least until I discover otherwise - a solution of 90% water and 10% hydrogen peroxide will do an incredible job of cutting the salt from not only your

TSFMAG.com | 51

LinesLet’s face it- fly lines are expensive these days. All in and all done, I have found that Scientific Angler lines are the most durable (my opinion, again) however, just about every fly line can be made to last for years with a little TLC. First, wash your line after every fishing trip with soap and water.

A paper towel and some Dawn Dish Liquid will do the trick. Strip the line from the reel and then reel the line through the paper towel soaked with a diluted solution of Dawn. Follow with a thorough rinsing – on the ground, sink or in the shower. Again, do not spray water on your reel.

Next, clean your line with either a Cortland pad or a Rio line52 | April 2018

cleaning towelette. Afterwards, if you really want to enhance the performance of your fly line, I seriously suggest trying to get some medical grade silicone and wipe your lines with it. They will shoot further and float higher. This can sometimes be found through a pharmacy. If not, go by the local ACE Hardware store and get their branded silicone spray and saturate a paper towel with it and reel your line through it. The thicker medical grade stuff is better but the spray is better than nothing.

FliesThis is the simplest of them all. Drop your flies in your ice chest after changing or run them under some hot water in the kitchen sink. Or, better yet, do both and then dry them with a paper towel. Allow to air dry. You will ultimately spend fewer pesos on buying flies at the shop or less time at the vise. Either way, it will save you time and money.

Anyway, I hope this helps in keeping your gear at peak performance level. Coming soon, maybe…. Getting the Most from Your Fly Fishing Sled (skiff ).

Best of Tides…

C O N TA C T

fly reels, but also your baitcasters and spinning reels. I am currently testing this “information” and am ridiculously pleased with the results thus far. I am currently using this solution in a mist bottle that I warm before use (not heat) and then drying with paper towels. It seems to work well.

Moving on, I also want to talk about maintenance of the drags and bearing on your reels. First off, do not, and I repeat- DO NOT ever purposely dunk your reels in the water, even if you are about to take the most bad-ass photo you can dream up for insta-famous or whatever flavor of social media you prefer. Even if your reel has a sealed drag. It is highly unlikely that you will ever be able reverse the damage.

Next; I highly recommend that you buy reels with drags made only of cork. Again, my opinion, but every reel I have ever owned that was supposed to have a maintenance-free sealed drag has eventually failed.

Cork drags are easily maintained with a few dabs of Neatsfoot Oil.

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.mangrovefly.com

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DAV E R O B E R T S

K AYA K F I S H I N G C H R O N I C L E S

TOURNAMENT SEASON If there is one thing I have learned in my life, it is that being from Texas, we gauge our four seasons slightly different than others. We know that winter is over when the geese head back north and the pecan trees and blackberry bushes start to bloom. We also don’t need a groundhog to tell us if we are going to have six more weeks of winter – we have mosquitoes and they do a fine job of telling us that warmer weather will be here soon!

Along with the warmer, longer days, my internal switch begins to forget the cold, bitter days of scouring flats in search of trout and I start to focus on redfish in the backwaters. Now that my focus has shifted to a different species, it is time to start putting a mental log together and creating a pattern with the fish.

Tournament season has begun in the kayak world and my desk calendar is littered with upcoming dates and locations of series that are being held along the coast. It is finally that time of year again and I could not be more excited about it. I am already one tournament down and have several more to go.

One of the major factors when it comes to tournament fishing is preparation. You need to have all your reels in top working condition, a good stock of your favorite lures and, of course, a few fish pinpointed. Usually around this 54 | April 2018

time of year is when I sit down, tear my Diawas apart and clean them. When you have to make your days count on the water, you need your equipment to be in the best working condition.

Another necessary thing is to have a good stock of lures in your bag for that day. One thing I like to keep extras of are popping corks. I usually head to Fishing Tackle Unlimited and will clear the rack. These are one of the few items that will come in handy once you start to catch several fish on them. Redfish are true brutes and are really good at tearing things up; popping corks included. After catching a few, the wire on the cork will start to bend and, after a while, it will not pop correctly. Once they have been bent, I always just count it as a loss and I know it is better to grab a new one.

During the SETX Shootout last October, I had a really nice redfish break the wire on a cork I had been using for several trips. It was a hard lesson to learn but from here on out, I will be changing them regularly.

So far this year, I have fished one tournament and it was an awesome way to begin the tournament season. The Upper Coast Kayak Anglers held their first tournament back in February and is a great event for everyone. They hold a “One Fish Wonder” competition

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C O N TA C T

where all anglers bring in just one slot redfish. This is an easy way to start and all that it takes is one good bite and you can receive a check.

For the few weeks prior to the tournament, I spent several days on the water searching for the place I wanted to fish. As the day got closer, I was torn between my “A” spot and “B” spot and it was time to make a decision. At spot “A”, I have consistently found fish along a certain stretch of shoreline but the numbers where not there. However, the fish I did find there were the right shape and length. At spot “B”, I was finding plenty of fish but the tournament quality I was looking for was not quite there. Normally, for a two-fish event, I would stick with a spot like this and weed through the numbers in hopes to find the right fish, but with the style of “go big or go home” I decided to fish spot “A”. I figured that this would be the best spot to put me in a situation to be on the leader board.

Early that morning, I launched and was near where I wanted to start. I began to throw a Corky around some scattered shell and was not having much luck. After a few hours I began to start seeing some mullet jump and knew there had to be a few fish around.

I finally switched over to a popping cork and began to work the shoreline. Not much longer after that, I made a few pops and down my cork went. I landed a nice red and I was happy because I had my one fish to throw on the scales.

The rest of the day went by and that was my only bite.

I arrived at weigh-in and this is always where the true fun begins. Camaraderie is one of my favorite aspects of tournament fishing – the stories and the winding down after a long day on the water. There were some really nice fish brought in that day and 21 out of the 25 fish were alive and released! My one fish weighed a little over 6-pounds with a live bonus – good enough for the middle of the pack.

Regardless, it was a great day to be on the water and like always, a fun event to attend. I also plan on fishing a few of the Lone Star Kayak Series, the new Rudy’s Redfish circuit, and a few more in between. I am looking forward to the coming year of competition and hopefully we will see familiar faces and some new ones at the scales.

Dave Roberts is an avid kayak-fishing enthusiast fishing primarily the inshore Upper Coast region with occasional adventures to surf and nearshore Gulf of Mexico.

Email: TexasKayakChronicles@yahoo.com Website: www.TexasKayakChronicles.com

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Youth volunteers placing bagged oyster shell to enhance reef habitat.

Story by John Blaha - Photos by Lisa Laskowski

T S F M A G C O N S E R VAT I O N N E W S

CCA TEXAS AND BUILDING CONSERVATION TRUST COMMIT $895,000 TO HABITAT WORK IN 2018 CCA Texas’s habitat program, Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT), and Building Conservation Trust (BCT) recently met to layout the 2018 habitat work plan for 2018. The committee reviewed numerous projects and ultimately approved $895,000 in funding for nine projects that will create over $3.6 million in habitat work covering the Texas coast from Sabine to the Rio Grande Valley. Partnerships always play a vital role in habitat creation and restoration. CCA Texas and BCT are proud to continue working with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP), Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF), Friends of Rio Grande Valley Reef (FRGVR), and Harte Research Institute (HRI). $10,000 – Vancouver TPWD Nearshore Reefing Site (TPWD) Atlantis Marine Habitats has donated 40-plus reefing pyramids to be placed within TPWD’s Nearshore Reefing Program’s Vancouver site, located just off the Freeport jetties. These pyramids will be reefed within the site and coordinates designated by TPWD. The Vancouver site was one of CCA Texas’s first deployment sites for artificial reefing. Materials within this site include an old ship, concrete culverts and rip rap, large granite blocks and 800 concrete pyramids. CCA Texas and BCT will contract directly with Lil Mo Marine Services to deploy these reefing pyramids, and expect to have this project completed in March 2018. $25,000 – Dickinson Bayou Marsh Grass Planting (TPWD) CCA Texas and BCT continue to be committed to projects that have been supported in the past. This support 58 | April 2018

continues when project needs arise that need to be addressed in order to preserve the efforts initially set forth. TPWD’s Dickinson Bayou Marsh Restoration effort is one such project. The original project restored 10 acres of marsh and protected an additional 17 acres of existing marsh. Successful marsh grass plantings took place and the restored habitat was thriving. This effort will replant marsh grasses that were damaged by the historical flooding of 2017 and is expected to take place in the first half of 2018. $40,000 – Trinity Bay Discovery Center Living Shoreline (GBF) This Galveston Bay Foundation led project provides multiple purposes that restore and protect the area marsh and provides education opportunities to the local community. This project will create 1,200 linear feet of shoreline breakwater and provide the opportunity to restore up to two acres of estuarine intertidal marsh.

As part of the Trinity Bay Discovery Center, the project will provide educational opportunities to area teachers, students and the community. It is projected that 800 students, 80 teachers and 65 family members will visit this site in 2018. To date, 630 students and 65 teachers have already registered to visit the site. Other funding partners in this project include US Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS), and the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP). $60,000 – Nueces Bay Demonstration/Restoration Oyster Reef Project (CBBEP) Partnering with Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, a small two to three acre oyster reef project will be created for research, demonstration and community outreach. This effort will serve as a baseline indicator of

the ability to construct and enhance existing oyster reefs within the Nueces Bay system. In addition, it will provide community outreach through education by getting local students involved in oyster bagging events and placement of the shell. This project is expected to be completed in 2018 and monitoring of the site will continue into the next two to three years. $60,000 - Baffin Bay’s Unique Serpulid Reef Habitat: Science to Advance Understanding and Conservation (HRI) During recent studies in Baffin Bay, the serpulid reef habitat began to garner the interest of Harte Research Institute (HRI) scientists and researchers. This funding will support the following: Assessment of invertebrate reef communities including density, diversity, and biomass at several reef sites over time, Linking changes in reef communities to seasonal and/or water quality changes, Conducting dietary analyses of fisheries species to assess the importance of reef communities as prey resources.

The health of the Baffin Bay system may depend heavily on the success of its rare serpulid reefs. An understanding of the ecological role of serpulid reef communities, in particular as a prey resource, will improve fishery resource management and improve our ability to conserve these rare, naturally occurring, hard-substrate habitats. $100,000 Sabine Lake Restored Oyster Reef Expansion (TPWD) TPWD has taken broad steps in the last several years in oyster reef creation and restoration, and management of this critically important habitat. This project will create additional oyster habitat in the southwest corner of the remaining 27 acres in the lease area of Sabine Reef. This funding will provide 833 to 1,666 cubic yards of reef to be laid in Sabine Lake. Early deployments of material in this area have shown good success in oyster reef growth and other ecological services. This area has not been commercially harvested in 40 years, however Louisiana is considering commercial harvest in this area once again, and this step is a proactive step in offsetting any potential habitat loss on the Louisiana side of the border if it does come into play. $150,000 Rio Grande Valley Reef Material Deployment (FRGVR) Friends of Rio Grande Valley Reef continue to lead the way in supporting and reefing the Rio Grande Valley Nearshore Reef site.

CCA Texas and BCT have been partners in this project since day one and, to date, have contributed $255,000 to the effort. This additional contribution of $150,000 will help FRGVR continue to deploy low and high relief materials to the site. Plans are currently in progress to deploy more low relief concrete rubble and 7,000 tons of concrete railroad ties, that will provide high relief complex reef area that will attract many species of fish. Reefing is expected to begin in the spring of 2018. The Rio Grande Valley reef continues to show the results of grassroots efforts of driven volunteers. $200,000 Sabine Pass HI20 Nearshore Reefing Project (TPWD) CCA Texas and BCT will work with TPWD and local volunteer groups to

Concrete blocks being deployed for lowrelief habitat at offshore reefing site.

Pre-cast concrete pyramids awaiting deployment to offshore reefing site.

reef the newly permitted HI20 nearshore reefing site. The first phase of reefing will include 200 granite blocks, which will be reefed in the northwest quadrant of the site and the barge will be deployed in the center of the 160 acre site. An ongoing effort is in place to garner support of local industry to put the funds in place to continue reefing this nearshore site as materials become available. $250,000 Big Man Nearshore Reefing Site (TPWD) With this $250,000 commitment to the Big Man Nearshore site, CCA Texas and BCT have now committed and funded over $1.5 million to nearshore reefing along the Texas coast. In addition, another $250,000 has been contributed to the research of these reefs to determine the best configurations and the ecological and economic value of these sites.

The Big Man Reef is a new 160 acre site off of the Galveston coast line. This site along with its sister site, Kate’s Reef, will provide easy access for Galveston area anglers to nearshore species and angling opportunities. Kate’s Reef is expected to be permitted by the year’s end and reefing will then begin in that site.

The first phase of reefing in this site will be concrete railroad ties which will provide complex low and mid-relief habitat. Reefing is expected to take place in 2018.

--------------------------CCA Texas and BCT are excited to continue their Natural Partnership and work with partners along the entire Texas coast to restore and create vital habitat. For funding opportunities and project questions, we encourage you to contact Sean Stone, Building Conservation Trust Executive Director, or John Blaha, CCA Texas Habitat Director, at (713) 626-4222 with any questions you might have.

TSFMAG.com | 59

Photo by NOAA.

STEPHANIE BOYD

F I S H Y FA C T S

TRIPLETAIL Tripletail are flat, almond-shaped fish with large, round dorsal and anal fins that are set well back near the tail fin (and rather resemble it). This tri-lobed appearance gives it both its common name and its genus, Lobotes (from the Latin lobus, meaning lobe). The species name, surinamensis, comes from the discovery origin, Surinam, in northern South America. Adult tripletails have various mottled color patterns, ranging from almost black to reddish-brown, yellow, or gray. They also have the ability to change color to mimic their surroundings. The body is laterally compressed and deep with a triangular head, similar to freshwater crappie. The concave profile of the forehead becomes more pronounced as the fish ages. Tripletail eyes are relatively small and located far forward on the head, giving the head a deceptively small appearance for housing such a large, diagonal mouth.

Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are scaled at the base, and pectoral fins are shorter than pelvic fins. The gill covers are sharply serrated. Adults often appear sluggish, lounging near the surface, floating on their sides near other floating objects (pilings, navigation markers, etc). They are frequently mistaken for debris. Their coloration and movements simulate a dead leaf – a very large dead leaf, since they can reach over forty pounds.

60 | April 2018

Though they are found world wide in most tropical and subtropical seas, tripletail are not very abundant in any particular location, and they are the only member of their family found in the Atlantic Ocean. In the Americas, they occur from Massachusetts south along the Atlantic coast and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, down through the Caribbean Sea all the way to Argentina. In the northern Gulf, tripletail are somewhat migratory, moving between the ocean in winter and inshore waters in summer. While on the Gulf Coast (approximately April through October), tripletail can be found in bays, sounds, and estuaries around the barrier islands, often in water less than twenty feet deep. They also haunt the mouths of rivers and passes, displaying some indifference to salinity. Though usually solitary, they congregate around shipwrecks, pilings, jetties, buoys, boats, beacons, and other floating objects, usually in the shadows. One Mississippi angler reported catching a tripletail that was loitering under a tennis ball. A little shade is better than none, I suppose.

Juveniles are often found under patches of Sargassum.

These seemingly lazy fish are a curious mixture of looks and habits from other species. Shaped like a crappie, colored like a warmouth or a rock bass, swims like a flounder, but lounges at the surface like a gar.

TSFMAG.com | 61

Although, “floats listlessly near the surface like a clump of leaves” might be a better description. But it’s all a deception. Tripletail are well-camouflaged ambush predators with a rapid strike. They are opportunistic feeders, taking an assortment of fish, including menhaden, bumper, minnows, and anchovies, in addition to swimming red crabs, blue crabs, shrimp, squid, and a variety of benthic crustaceans. The primary predators of tripletail are sharks and other large toothy fish.

As the popularity of tripletail increases, the life history and reproductive biology are becoming a more common subject of research, though still very little is known, comparatively. Spawning occurs primarily June through August, with a peak in July, along both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. It is thought that tripletail spawn offshore in deeper water, and the young drift into shallow areas to feed and grow. Larvae are usually found in waters more than 230 feet deep; they are rare in inshore waters. In the Gulf, females will spawn eighteen to thirty-one times per season, categorizing them as a multiple spawner species. A typical 24-inch female might produce 4.5 to 8 million eggs in a season. Larger females would produce more.

Some anglers have reported seeing tripletail daisy-chaining. Usually associated with tarpon, ‘daisy-chaining’ is a colloquialism for when a group of fish bump, rub against, and follow each other around in a circle. Many believe this to be a courtship dance, but studies of tarpon have turned up no roe or milt nearby these rituals.

The larval forms of tripletail resemble those of boar fishes, jacks, spade fishes, and bigeyes, not that these species share much resemblance as adults. At four millimeters, tripletail larvae have large

62 | April 2018

eyes and the beginnings of a concave forehead. They grow fastest in their first year, probably an adaptation to the high predation rate of small fishes. Juveniles are mottled yellow, brown, and black with white pectoral fins and a white margin on the tail. They resemble a mangrove leaf, and are practically invisible in floating debris.

A Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) study of tripletail in Mississippi found that fifty percent of female tripletail are sexually mature at 17.6 inches and one year old. One-hundred percent are mature at 19.7 inches. Males mature earlier. Fifty percent are sexually mature at only 10.6 inches. Females are typically somewhat larger than males, but there is no other dimorphism between the sexes. Adults reach a length of more than three feet and over forty pounds, but specimens encountered by anglers are usually two to sixteen pounds.

They are believed to live up to ten years.

The IUCN Red List classifies Lobotes surinamensis as Least Concern.

As tripletail have become a popular sport fish, regulations have been enacted by Gulf Coast states. Little data exists on population statuses in the Gulf, but the high recapture rate from ongoing tagging research indicates the possibility that this species may be more susceptible to harvest than some other sport fishes. The tripletail’s fondness for lounging at the surface makes it a good sight-fishing target, and they are vigorous when hooked. They are not the most skittish fish – you can often get within a few feet while they pretend to be a dead leaf – but they can be quite motor-shy. Cutting the outboard motor when nearing a likely structure or using an electric motor is recommended when fishing for this species. Also beware the serrated gill cover and sharp dorsal spines when claiming your prize. Tripletail filets are a firm

white meat, often compared to grouper and snapper. In cooking, they are usually treated like specks. The meat isn’t great for a grill (unless skin and scales are left on) as it flakes easily.

The GCRL has maintained a tripletail tag and release program since 2001. In the first thirteen years, 3400 fish were tagged and released, mostly by volunteer anglers. 352 of those were recaptured, a rate of 10.4 percent. The data showed that most tripletail on the northern Gulf are recaptured within twenty-five miles of their tag site. Tagging kits are free through GCRL’s Sport Fish Tag & Release Program. The kit includes dart tags, tag cards, a tag applicator, an instruction booklet, and a pencil. Properly inserted tags leave no long-term injury and can remain firmly implanted for years. Anglers who target tripletail are encourage to participate in this tagging program.

Where I learned about tripletail, and you can too!

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory gcrl.usm.edu/fisheries_center/tag.and.release.program.php University of Southern Mississippi gcrl.usm.edu/public/fish/tripletail.php gcrl.usm.edu/public/fish/docs/reproductive.biology.tripletail.brownpeterson. franks.pdf gcrl.usm.edu/public/fish/docs/diet.of.tripletail.in.mississippi.waters.franks.et.al. pdf gcrl.usm.edu/fisheries_center/docs/biological.aspects.of.tripletail.hossfly.read.

hendon.pdf Texas Marine Species txmarspecies.tamug.edu/fishdetails.cfm?scinameID=Lobotes%20surinamensis Texas Parks & Wildlife Department tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/tripletail/ FishBase www.fishbase.se/summary/1077 IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/198670/0 Fishes of the Texas Laguna Madre

By David A. McKee Florida Museum of Natural History www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/species-profiles/lobotessurinamensis/ Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/tripletail/ The Jump www.thejump.net/fishlist/tripletail.htm Bass Pro Shops 1source.basspro.com/index.php/component/k2/74-saltwater-fishing/1623-thetrick-tripletail

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TSFMAG.com | 63

Redfish sandwich – scaled mullet fillet wrapped around a chunk of fresh blue crab.

CURTISS CASH

I N S H O R E | N E A R S H O R E | J E T T I E S | PA S S E S

THE GOOD OLD DAYS Not long ago, I was visiting with an old friend, fittingly catching up. We both fish often and compare notes on what we see on the water. In the last 35-years our ideas and experiences have been shared many hundreds of times.

Many of our discussions turn to comparing the good old days we have heard about. The great fishing fortunes or tales passed on from other generations. Fishing accounts from our fathers, uncles and their friends of all the fish they caught. Back in the day when the sheer quantities of fish were staggering, and bountiful catches were the norm.

Eric brought up a good point that we possibly experienced some of our own best days on the water twenty-plus years ago. That is when I realized we have lived our own series of the good old days. Not just from the days of yore, but since we have begun our own fishing memories. Sharing these memories from on the water is good testament that there is more to fishing than just catching. I hope to continue adding to our tales until our time is up.

64 | April 2018

Fishing the Bays With the warmer bay water temperatures this month we will have a surge of bait showing up. As usual, the seasonal change is quickly approaching, and variety is once again upon us. The flooding tides will bring abundant glass minnows, finger mullet and menhaden schools as the month matures.

I’ll be taking advantage of the higher water level and fishing shallower points at the ends of coves. When selecting a point, I look for bait of course. Either finger mullet or glass minnows will concentrate reds and trout.

On incoming tides slot reds will be more available on the shallow shorelines. They will tend to fall back toward the drop-offs around sand pockets on outgoing tides.

We should have some stout springtime winds this month. I use them to my advantage every time when fishing on a flat or nearby primary drop-off. A stiff wind will build a stronger current across some areas of a flat, I look for the wind-slicks and follow them until they all have curvature in them. This is where the bait will

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be and hopefully a mud streak telling where to concentrate efforts. When fishing the primary drop-off from the flat I position the wind behind us, an east wind carries current very good down our mid-coast shorelines.

Redfish will be my main target, but trout and slot drum swim the same areas. Live pinfish baits get the bigger fish, but frozen sardines, fresh cut mullet and shrimp get the most bites.

Fresh cracked blue crab works great, but pinfish and other pesky thieves make short work of the exposed sweet meat. A great way to increase staying power with these baits is by making a “redfish sandwich” out of them. Scale and fillet a large mullet and wrap the fillet around a crab chunk. Hook the fillet skin side down once, then attach the crab body through a leg hole and wrap the remainder of the fillet. Use a hook with a larger gap, like a Mustad 39941 6/O circle or a similar sized 9174 O’Shaughnessy to pin the bait down.

Martin Ray caught this nice red while free-lining live shrimp.

Early season kingfish often run less than 10-pounds and make surprisingly tasty table fare.

Brown Pelicans These big birds of the bay show us where the action is this month.

When diving in open water they are most likely over schools of menhaden or mullet, both very sought after by me for bait. It’s a different game when pelicans are found bombing the spoil island drops, deep bay shorelines and bay passes. These areas hold an abundance of glass minnows on strong tidal flows. Trout and redfish will be right in there with them, as well as a few slimers (gafftop catfish) to trick you into thinking you’ve hooked a big one.

66 | April 2018

if the weather conditions are favorable. For sure, there is no time better than the present to begin or add to your personal volume of the “Good Old Days.”

C O N TA C T

Nearshore Fishing If conditions allow, the nearshore action should include red snapper, sand trout, black drum, redfish and large sheepshead at the short rigs.

Fishing on the bottom near the platform legs is very good for a mixed bag catch. I use a single drop rig with 2- to 4-ounces of lead on the lower section and the same hooks used with the redfish sandwiches.

The sheepshead will linger near the surface, most often nipping at floating sargassum weed or barnacle growth on the structure. Freelining a weightless live shrimp rig nearby gets their attention.

Live shrimp are good for all, as well as cut mullet, sardines or live pinfish. It is a great idea to have a heavier live bait pitch rig at the ready in case of a cobia encounter. Last year we caught some nice ones in April that appeared completely unannounced. Ditto on the tripletail, they will surprise and delight you as well. We duped several on the same free-lined live shrimp rigs used while targeting the sheepshead. The bigger cobia rigs may be needed to keep 10-plus pound fish out of the rig.

While traveling around the structure it is a good opportunity to try for some kingfish. Trolling deep diving lures like a Rapala CD7 or a #17 Pet Spoon may get attention early in the season. The earliest I have caught kings was on April 1 – No Fooling!

April is a great time to get out on the water while it is less crowded.

Run around the bay fishing for a variety of species and even nearshore

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

361-564-7032

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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

THE REAL SCALLOPS OF THE SEA The glare of the early morning sun reflects from the rolling surf as the salty aroma of the sea, borne on the spring breeze, lends a surreal quality to the adventure that lies ahead. Wading to Padre’s first bar, you heave a mighty cast, launching a whole whiting into the gut farther offshore. Anticipation runs high that it will soon be demolished by a large predator.

All around, the atmosphere is filled with energy and life. Birds, animals, and marine life are all active along this stretch of beach. Your senses are on full alert as you shuffle gingerly through the waist-deep water to avoid stepping on a hidden stingray.

Back on the sand, the waiting begins and your mind wanders, drinking in the beauty of the setting. The closest camp is miles away. Solitude can be overwhelming. Your thoughts stray from your rod standing in its holder as you become immersed in nature.

Suddenly the clicker screams and line hisses from the spool. The Zen of the moment is replaced with the reason you are here. A springtime hammerhead has taken the bait!

Hammerhead sharks are some of the most impressive and uniquely designed predators swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Here in Texas, we have an annual spring migration of scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). While not enormous giants, like their great hammerhead cousins, this species attains a respectable length, pushing 9-feet and up to 300 pounds.

68 | April 2018

In the surf zone, hammerheads cruise the shallow guts chasing a variety of finfish and rays. Interestingly, the greatest majority of scalloped hammerheads are male.

The scientific community has yet to determine where the females remain, but data suggests far offshore - with many hanging along the continental shelf.

In south Texas, we have about a six-month period where we regularly have the chance to hook into one of these sharks from the beach. However, the absolute best time to encounter this speed demon is during the month of April.

A combination of water temperature, currents, and bait activity brings the largest concentration of this species inshore, from late March into early May. All species of hammerheads have small mouths compared to the size of their bodies. Presumably an evolutionary adaptation to accommodate their alien-like hammer. The advantage of this for the species is that their electro-receptors, spread across the hammer, are afforded greater surface area. Enabling them to detect stationary prey, such as partially buried stingrays.

Think of it as a metal detector with a 2- to 3-foot wide wand scanning the sea floor. Far more efficient than the sensory capacity of a shark with barely 1/3 the surface area.

The only downfall for the hammerheads are the smaller than usual size of their mouths. Because of this, they are unable to gulp down large prey as bull and tiger sharks are capable of doing. But don’t be mistaken, hammerheads

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have a huge appetite.

When they manage to hunt down a large stingray, they simply chomp at it piece by piece, until the entire fish is consumed. Given the size of their mouths, the majority of their prey is rather small. An 8-foot scalloped hammer may feed exclusively on whiting or injured pompano less than 12-inches long.

The incredible thing about this species of hammer is that they readily feed so close to shore, making them an ideal target for beach anglers.

70 | April 2018

C O N TA C T

We have caught them in extremely shallow water, on small baits such as whole mullet when pursuing jack crevalle and large red drum. Many anglers accidently hook into scalloped hammers on lighter tackle, only for the gear to get vaporized in a few seconds.

I always tell people that it is essential to have at least one casted shark bait in the camp. You could kayak baits out as far as 500 yards, but that could be completely pointless if the majority of the sharks are running the first and second gut, targeting easier prey.

Hands down, in my experience, the best baits for catching scalloped hammerheads (of any size) are whiting. The bigger the whiting, the better the chance of a larger scalloped hammer. Another trick I have developed for times when the whiting are running small, is attaching two or three with zip ties to a single circle hook. You might be surprised how well it works. The only disadvantage to using fresh whiting is that blacktip sharks greatly outnumber the hammerheads. Thus, you will likely have to weed through a few. In the end though, if you want a scalloped hammer, this is what I recommend.

I have been very fortunate to work in partnership with the Harte Research Institute out of Corpus Christi during recent years, and have participated in extensive shark tagging studies. In my volunteer efforts, I have tagged several scalloped hammerheads with SPOT satellite tags - (Smart Position and Temperature Transmitting). The data collected has been invaluable to the scientific community.

It seems the majority of tagged specimens cruise up and down, just off the Texas coast. On occasion, some will venture down towards Mexico, which has been labeled the danger zone. A specimen dubbed Einstein, tagged by Harte and tracked through Ocearch, repeatedly pinged location to tracking satellites (occurs whenever the dorsal fin and SPOT tag breach the surface of the water). This particular shark was transmitting actively just off South Padre Island, with numerous pings from within the same region. Einstein’s final ping was recorded nearly two hundred miles away in a Mexican port, presumed to have been captured and transported by a lancha fleet that been fishing illegally for sharks and other species in U.S. waters.

Despite the unfortunate demise of Einstein, we would have never known this shark had been illegally harvested without the aid of today’s technology. Tagging of sharks, and in this case satellite tagging, can provide a great deal of information to help us better understand and enhance the future of the species.

More about my personal contribution; we release all hammerheads landed on my shark fishing charters and, thankfully, many of the younger generation of shark anglers are doing the same. Unbelievably, social media is indirectly responsible for such acts of conservation.

Individuals who might have otherwise killed their sharks and paraded them through town for notoriety are now sharing tales and photos on Facebook and Instagram and releasing incredible catches. The ability to share man versus beast videos on social media may end up becoming a wonderful and unexpected conservation tool.

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 is the owner of Catch Sharks Tackle Company.

Email Websites

oz@oceanepics.com oceanepics.com | catchsharks.com TSFMAG.com | 71

Last month we introduced TSFMag’s campaign to encourage Texas anglers to join our anti-plastic initiative by pitching in to remove litter, especially plastic litter, from the shorelines of our waterways.

Everybody’s seen it; ice sacks, shopping bags, drink bottles, six-pack rings, fishing line, all kinds of unsightly stuff.

Litter is an eyesore! Some of it will biodegrade soon enough, like paper bags and food wrappers. But plastic is a whole other problem.

Plastic is going to remain in the environment for a very long time.

Birds and other animals get wrapped in fishing line to suffer a slow death. Sea turtles take bites out of plastic bottles, because they think it’s a jellyfish, and it clogs their digestive system. A while back we ran a photo here in the magazine of a small plastic bottle that a reader found wadded up in a redfish’s stomach. I once caught a redfish that had swallowed an empty shotgun shell. Why not…they hit topwaters, don’t they?

So, even gamefish eat plastic. I have no idea what long term effect a wad of plastic in a fish’s stomach might be but I know it doesn’t belong there.

The effects of plastic litter in the marine environment are not always so obvious, though. Even when wind, sun, sand and wave action go to work on it, it might seem to disappear, but it’s still there.

It breaks down into microscopic particles called micro-plastic, and finds its way up the aquatic food chain. How it might eventually impact fisheries and other wildlife is yet to be discovered.

To hopefully incentivize our readers, we made a simple offer: Pitch in to remove litter from Texas waterways – document your effort with photos – and win prizes. How hard could that be?

Brennan Larson is our first winner!

Brennan decided he’d seen enough litter scattered along the shoreline of a popular bank fishing spot and did something about it.

He says it took him a little over an hour to gather eight large trash bags of “stuff” left behind by careless fishermen. Lots of plastic items amid beer cans and bottles, a hunk of old 72 | April 2018

carpet, broken lawn chairs, and several balls of discarded fishing line.

TSFMag conservation kudos to young Brennan!

In recognition of his excellent work he will receive; two TSFMag t-shirts, two TSFMag fishing caps, one ForEverlast Trash Sack, and one 30-ounce Yeti Rambler Tumbler!

Who’s our next winner?

Email photos and a few words to describe your own efforts to rid Texas shorelines of unsightly litter to: Everett@TSFMag.com

Before

After

Recapping...

The 23rd Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup STORY BY BILLY SANDIFER AND TSFMAG STAFF

“Get ‘Er Done!”

The Big Shell motto has always been that the show goes on, no matter the weather. Note the vehicle tracks in the soft sand – just to keep everybody on their toes!

Onward…into the fog! (left and middle photos by Captain Colin Davis-Padre Island Expeditions LLC

Saturday, February 24, 2018 marked the twenty-third running of the Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup – biggest and best in a long string of success stories.

“The 2017 event drew an impressive 20% growth in participation and we topped that number by an additional 30% this year,” Billy Sandifer reported. Sandifer went on to say the 2018 event drew some 1200 volunteers showing up to clean an impressive 22.5 miles of Padre Island National Seashore beaches – both are new Big Shell records.

The “haul” totaled more than 85 tons, second highest for the event.

All manner of debris that had washed ashore; including the rescue of a very weak stranded sea turtle and a kilo of cocaine. More than 20 tons of plastic was sent for recycling.

Any event of this size faces complexity in organization and execution, Mother Nature notwithstanding. Heavy fog blanketed North Padre Island as volunteers began to arrive at the Malaquite Pavilion parking area and receive assignment to Section Teams and collect supplies for the workday ahead.

“On and on came the volunteers – a seeming never-ending line of vehicle headlights – as far as we could see in the haze and mist,” according to Sandifer. “We were very concerned with the high tides and soft sand complicating beach driving.”

Never able to work below the 30-Mile Marker in prior events, event planners had originally hoped to target the area lying between the 20-Mile and 40-Mile, during the 2018 cleanup. However, last minute communication via satellite phone from Sean Curless and his hardy band of cleanup volunteers who were encamped at the 40-Mile (planning to anchor the southern end of the target region and work their way north) called for a quick change of plans. Attempting to transport workers and haul out trash from the beach below the 30-Mile would be impossible, due to the soft sand conditions. And Sean’s advice was accurate, the trash they collected and bagged at the 40-Mile could not be hauled out until later in the week, when driving

That’s a 30-yard roll-off, nearly 20 tons of plastic headed to recycling!

Photo by Tyler Thorsen.

conditions improved.

“We immediately changed our plans and decided to begin at the 30-Mile beach and work north,” Sandifer said. “LOTS of moving parts and lots going on in that parking lot as we scrambled to reorganize the event. Jeff Wolda was realigning Section Leaders and reassigning teams; everybody was throwing questions at him. Over and over I heard him say…’Don’t worry; we’ll get ‘er done. Just a little change of plans, folks.’”

Jeff’s, “Get ‘er done,” became the battle cry of the event throughout the day. When pulling up to a work group and asking how they were doing, section leaders and volunteers would yell in unison, “We’re gettin’ ‘er done!”

Sandifer also said, “The spirit and camaraderie of the volunteers were overwhelming, and I’ve noticed another very positive thing these past few years. We’ve always had some amount of participation from local schools, but I see more and more kids coming out with their families and in small groups and they aren’t messing around – these kids are really pitching in and getting the job done. What a wonderful and encouraging thing to see. These kids truly are the future of conservation and coastal fishing and it gives me a great feeling.”

The Big Shell Cleanup is not possible without wonderful sponsors and we certainly thank God for ours: Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation, Sharkathon, Stephen and Donna Gregory, CCA-TX, Texas State Aquarium, Trac-work Inc., Domino’s Pizza, Brian McKinsey, Federal Steel, Aug Art & Design, HEB, The Bait Bucket, Gambler Specialties, Graf Plumbing, Enbridge, Smart Shield, 1360 News Radio, KIII-3 News Radio, Padre Island Moon, Coastal Bend Audubon Society, Corpusfishing.com., Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Saltwater Angler, and Padre Island National Seashore staff and employees.

“A very sincere thank you to all who helped make this event a great success. And don’t worry too much about us not getting down to the 40-Mile. There’s always next year and, who knows…with your help we just might “Get ‘Er Done.” – Billy Sandifer TSFMAG.com | 73

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TSFMAG.com | 75

DICKIE COLBURN

DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene

S ab i n e

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

Well…so much for having to deal with gin clear water on Sabine. Thanks to daily rains locally and monsoons to the north of us that forced the Sabine River Authority to once again open the gates at Toledo Bend, we are back in our comfort zone as far as water clarity is concerned. Twelve to eighteen inches is considered to be perfect stuff, so the only concern short term is the quantity of unwanted fresh water yet to run downhill.

There is no point in wasting words on the “what if” factor, so let’s just deal with what is going on right now.

The catching has been good and getting better for the big three. The redfish bite has been phenomenal, the trout bite has improved drastically, and a consistent flounder bite is just getting started.

Not unlike the past two years, we are not only seeing better numbers of flounder, but bigger fish as well. I still don’t understand how you can force anglers to basically keep only the female fish and expect numbers to improve, but they have done just that. Kudos to the folks that knew that approach would work!

The ship channel is producing the largest flatfish right now, but that will change very shortly as they continue to make their way into the lake and bayous.

Hands down, the best choice of baits for the larger fish has been mud minnows and finger mullet, but a GULP!

curly-tail grub easily produces the best numbers.

Rigged on a jighead heavy enough to compensate for the current, the GULP! baits are deadly in two to twelve feet of water. Chartreuse is the number one color, but white, pink and smoke are hard to beat as Lots of wind and lots of reds!

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Nice trout on a nasty day!

well. When the fish are holding tight to the shoreline, a horsehead jig with a small blade works even better than a conventional jig.

The redfish are everywhere so you can pick your favorite method of catching them. They are stacked around drains, schooling in the open lake, and running the shorelines flushing small shrimp, crabs and finger mullet out of the flooded grass.

The schooling action is absolutely a visual thing when it comes to locating them. Any bird activity, including terns, should be investigated with a long cast. If pelicans and gulls are working the same small area together, it is all but a guarantee that the reds are beneath them.

Should you choose to exploit the shoreline bite, I would still make an

effort to start near the closest drain. That may prove to be as far as you need to go, and that bite is a bonus. Everything from tails to a crankbait will work. Topwaters, spoons, swimbaits, and single-spin spinnerbaits are deadly as well. An unexpected blow-up on a topwater is to kill for, but that is a little slower option for hunting the fish.

When you find these bank runners, plant the Talon or Power Pole as they seldom travel alone. It is easy to stay ahead of them by simply watching the wakes once they decide to move. If you are randomly trying to decide where to start, look for multiple egrets parked on the shoreline as well as redwing blackbirds nervously changing vantage points on the low hanging reeds. They are quick to take advantage of small shad that get blown out of the water by the red marauders.

I am both relieved and encouraged by the improved numbers of four- to six-pound trout that we have caught over the past two months.

We are yet to consistently see the seven-pound-plus specks that we once took for granted, but the present bite is significantly better than we experienced the last two years.

Everything has been text book from lures to the most productive areas. I don’t personally throw as many topwaters as I once did, but both the She Dog and Spook have fooled some very good fish when I do. We are catching a lot of our fish with mullet imitations like the Fat Boy, Softdine XL and Catch V as well.

When opting to fish plastics, we are catching very good numbers of 16- to 20-inch fish on five-inch rat tail Assassins and Usual Suspects. We have also done very well, especially when hunting fish, with four-inch Sea Shads and Lil’ Johns fished under a popping cork.

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TSFMAG.com | 77

CAPT. CALEB HARP

THE BUZZ on Galveston Bay

Galve s t o n

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 yeararound pursuit for trophy trout and redfish with artificial lures

Telephone 281-753-3378 Website harpsguideservice.com

2018-TX-c20mr-trout.pdf

April can be a sign of relief for us as we overcome the dreaded spring transition and frustrating feeding times. March can be a fabulous time to wade fish for trout in the Galveston Bay complex but it is often a very difficult month for us. The glass minnow hatch, inconsistent weather patterns, fish moving around a lot, and light feeding patterns make March a challenge for fishermen. Approaching April, things will become a little easier for us and we will be able to see more fish activity.

Although the wind and weather may not cooperate exactly how we would like, the feeding pattern will become much more predictable during the month of April. Traditionally, April comes with rain and hard southerly blows. Wade fishing on protected shorelines is generally going to your best bet whenever the wind is blowing. As the water temperature warms, drifting will become a more consistent option when the wind allows.

Fishing tight to a shoreline is a great game plan this time of year to target a trophy fish. April is typically when the trout begin to spawn and the first event is quite often the largest of all the spawning that follows through spring and into summer. Excited male trout

will roll into a flat first and start to drum. Drumming is their mating call for females and this is the croaking sound they make when you lift them from the water.

Once the females arrive and the time gets right they begin to release eggs.

Trout do not bed like bass and there is no effort to guard eggs or parent larvae and fry. This disproves the theory that trout eat croaker because croaker try to eat eggs and baby trout.

Typically, around the full moon in April is when spawning will occur. Favored spawning areas are over sandy bottoms with some amount of grass, near a marsh drain or bayou with lots of current. On an incoming tide, she will dump her eggs and the males will fertilize them as they drift on the current, deep into the grassy safety of the estuary.

Trout feed aggressively when spawning and it is believed a large mullet in the belly of a female helps push the eggs out while she is digesting it. Given that spawning trout are known to gorge on mullet, it would be a good idea to throw a big topwater plug. Chances are that an egg-laden sow will take a swipe at it.

Redfish will become more active in marshes and around the shorelines as their metabolism increases

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Thomas Francis lands an East Bay speck; wade fishing will be a great April option.

with the water temperature. Forage species will become more available, which seems to trigger them to feed throughout the day. A popping cork or Mauler style float combined with a GULP, spinner bait, or gold spoon is always hard to beat whenever targeting redfish in the marsh. The jetties and rocks along the channels will also come to life during this time. Most all of the early spring redfish tournaments will be won at the Sabine or Galveston jetties. A good jetty tactic is to jig a Texas-rigged GULP shrimp in the washouts or throwing a deep-diving crankbait down the ledges or around the rock piles.

East Bay is normally always a good area to work in April. Wade fishing the south shoreline can be great whenever the wind is really stiff. The famous oyster reefs in East Bay will to begin to attract schools of trout during April as well. Your reefs closer to the south shoreline such as Pepper Grove Reef and the Elm Reefs will turn on first and they will allow you to fish with a little more forgiveness from the wind.

West Bay can still be good for wade fishermen around the south shoreline and towards the San Luis pass. Redfish will become thick in most corners of that bay complex. North shoreline grass and sand pockets will be more and more consistent, too. Just be careful of all the stingrays. Using a MirrOlure Provoker rigged on a very light jighead can be dynamite for West Bay trout and reds during April any time the topwater bite dies off.

Trinity Bay is a still a little fresh right now from the runoff coming out of the river. Should we continue to receive mostly easterly wind and we do not get too much rain, we could see a rebound of wade fishing action along the east shoreline and some slicking action around Smith Point.

TSFMAG.com | 79

BINK GRIMES

THE VIEW FROM Matagorda

M ata go r d a

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 matagordasunriselodge.com

80 | April 2018

More people will attend church in April than any other month of the year; more people will eat hardboiled eggs in April than any other month of the year; and, more shades of green from Easter dresses and stringy plastic grass will be seen in April than any other month of the year.

Green symbolizes new life, rebirth, a rejuvenation of the soul – all that is spring. April officially rolls away the cold stone of winter.

Trees are blossoming, water temperatures are rising, and bait is active. Spring equinox tides invigorate the shallows and back lakes, so every spot in the bay is a player. Oyster Lake, Crab Lake, Boggy and Lake Austin are great locales to find redfish and black drum on live shrimp under a popping cork. Scattered speckled trout can be found in the lakes with rising spring tides.

As finger mullet show en masse on shorelines, look for the topwater bite to get even better. March was a great topwater month with water temps in the upper-60s to lower-70s on most days. Longer days and swelling incoming tides prompt glass minnows (bay anchovies) to move on grassy shorelines anytime. Look for gaggles of diving brown pelicans to point the way.

The minnows usually show in West Matagorda

Bay in the afternoon; and, incoming tides over sand and grass are a recipe for success.

Glow, pearl, or clear soft plastics most resemble a glass minnow.

Darting and swimming baits like Down South Lures, Norton Bull Minnows, Bass Assassins and the new Chickenboy Whippin Chicken are good choices. Chicken on a Chain, Bone Diamond and Magic Grass are popular colors these days and perfect for mimicking a minnow.

As tides bloat, knee and thigh-deep shorelines in East Matagorda Bay become favored habitat for large specks. Brown Cedar Flats, Half-Moon Reef and Catch-All Basin are big trout havens. Corkys, MirrOlures, Super Spooks and She Dogs are all players.

Never discount deep shell in East Bay. Trout use it year ‘round and miles of scattered towheads of shell can be slowly drifted with soft plastics, topwaters or live shrimp under a popping cork. Really, the fact of the matter is that some of the largest specks in East Bay come from the middle of the bay while drifting.

April is never too early for the Gulf of Mexico. The warming trend of spring wakes up the jetty. There are some big ol’ trout out there and a warm incoming ocean tide is all that is needed. The magic number is normally 72- to 75-degree water temperature. That shouldn’t be a problem - heck, water temperatures reached 73-degrees during the last three days of February. As unpredictable as the weather has been in 2018, if it stays warm in March, we might be wading wet by April.

Follow our catches on Instagram and Facebook and watch my weekly Middle Coast Report on the Texas Insider Fishing Report on Fox Sports Southwest.

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Texas Insider Fishing Report TSFMAG.com | 81

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

If there was any doubt about our fishery recovering from the freezes and subsequent fish kills, we can put that doubt to rest right now. Proof that what my dad always said about Mother Nature taking care of herself was true. We have been catching quality trout and reds here in Espiritu Santo and San Antonio bays all through February and March, and all signs indicate

it will continue in April.

Bay water temps are currently running 64- to 66-degrees, depending cloud cover. Our flats and back lake areas have been running 65- to 75-degrees, again depending on the cloud cover. This is a very comfortable water temperature for the trout and reds we are stalking, and also for their forage species.

The largest concentrations of fish continue to hold over soft bottoms; our better catches have been made along shorelines that lie in close proximity to drains that connect to backwater areas.

The water temperatures we are experiencing at present put us very close to that magical transition that occurs every spring when the majority of the bait begins to stage along main bay shorelines. Which means the majority of the gamefish we seek will be there, too.

Spring is when we begin You’ve likely heard me mention to see trout “slicking” along time and again, the schools of shorelines and reefs. menhaden and mullet that cruise up

“We contracted the construction of the TSFMag office building with Farrell Jackson. Jackson also built my son’s bay house here in Seadrift. We were completely satisfied with both projects…a professional and trustworthy contractor.” ~ Everett Johnson Editor/Publisher, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine

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Young Trey Reese tricked this early-spring trout with his topwater.

and down main bay shorelines. This is the beginning of that pattern.

But until that transition occurs, you will see my new Shallow Sport X3 heading to the many drains and back lake regions of San Antonio and Espiritu Santo bays. My crew and I will be wading back lakes, concentrating on windward shorelines. We target these shorelines because the wind that we curse so much this time of the year will be creating slightly off-colored water conditions (stirred up). Baitfish congregate here and subsequently the gamefish we are targeting will be there with them.

Speaking of springtime wind, I’ll go ahead and make a prediction for the rest of March and all of April. It’s going to blow! It doesn’t matter how early you leave the dock because the wind is going to blow all night. It does back off to some degree overnight but not enough to call it calm.

My favorite lure for this springtime back lake fishing will be the MirrOdine XL in the 18-color pattern – green back, white belly, silver luminescent sides. Another good one is the CH – chartreuse back and belly, silver luminescent sides. For the guy in my group that loves to throw a topwater, it is hard to beat the MirrOlure She Dog in GCRRH - red head, chartreuse back, chrome belly. The red head on this lure makes it easier for the angler to see and will help in keeping track of the action.

I cannot mention any kind of fishing in any bay system without mentioning the tried and true Bass Assassin 4” Sea Shad. This lure has always been a staple in my wading box and will continue to be. I will always have this lure in the Magic Grass and Slammin Chicken colors close at hand. I choose these colors because it covers both the lighter-colored shades (Slammin Chicken) and the more solid-colored shades (Magic Grass). I always tell my fishermen to throw whatever color they have the most confidence in; try not to turn your lure color selection into a “think tank” situation.

Just saying; some anglers get carried completely away when it comes to lure colors.

As we head into this spring fishing season, I want to give a big shout out to Coastline Marine in Seabrook for another perfectly rigged X3. I am on my fifth Shallow Sport boat from Cole and Chad Starr and I have yet to be disappointed.

Coastline Marine’s custom aluminum work is second to none and, as they are also anglers and use what they sell, I value their input greatly. There have been numerous times when I thought up something new for a change in my aluminum work and they weren’t afraid to tell me, “That’ll look like crap,” or “That’s not going to work at all like you think it will.” And, after they finish with my Shallow Sport the way they want to do it, it is always rigged better than I had imagined it would be. I have had many of my clients become new Shallow Sport owners or have upgraded their Shallow Sports because of the quality of the rigging on my boats from Coastline Marine.

Fish hard, fish smart!

TSFMAG.com | 83

DAVID ROWSEY

HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey

Upper Laguna/ Ba f f i n

David Rowsey has over 25 years in Baffin and Upper Laguna Madre; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty.

David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.

Telephone 361-960-0340 Website www.DavidRowsey.com Email david.rowsey@yahoo.com @captdavidrowsey

84 | April 2018

The month of April brings a lot to the table – literally and figuratively. Brown shrimp and baitfish are heading up and down the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) recently, and their numbers will only grow larger throughout this month as the tides of spring begin showing themselves. Most years, the full moon of April will send a surge of “fresh” seawater into the system, and it serves as a lifeline for the predators that call Baffin and the Upper Laguna home.

The full moon hits on April 29 (Pink Moon).

Experience has taught me the that the biggest push of water usually comes with the full moon closest to the end of April and beginning of May. Leading up to that moon, and following it, there will be some fantastic fishing and catching to be had. April and May still produce very fat trout, and are great months to catch a trophy fish. The even larger upside is the quantity of fish that will be caught to go along with the quality.

Can y’all remember the day you became hooked on fishing? I can easily remember mine from early childhood, and although a story worth hearing, I’ll

tell you about it another time as it is a freshwater fishing tale. Instead, I’ll tell you the one that caused me to become a Corky fanatic.

It was April 1996. Jim Wallace (RIP) had just set the new state record on a Corky that previous February.

I was fortunate enough to have a few in my box that a friend had brought down to me from Houston. My longtime salty fishing buddy, David A. Murray, and I were in the back of Baffin after the spring tide had come in, and having a decent morning on topwaters – but the bite had just spiraled downward miserably.

I was on my way to get the boat and noticed David A. bowed up on a good trout. I got the boat a little closer and asked him what he caught it on and he held up a Corky.

Now, we had been throwing these things for a while over the previous months but were just not having the luck on them, so I was a bit surprised that he had gone to that lure. Not convinced the fish were still there, I rudely brought the boat in on a drift, and dang if he didn’t do it again – only this one was bigger.

Chad Hurta's grinding paid off to catch this awesome trout in less than ideal conditions.

MirrOlure Corky Devil.

I set the anchor and tied on an amber with chartreuse tail, and then moved off to the side of David A. Best I can remember, David’s first trout on the Corky came around 10:30 in the morning, and mine soon after. We stayed on that flat all day long, dang near ‘til dark, and must have caught two hundred solid fish until our four Corkys were rendered useless. I’ll never forget that day; the thought of it always brings a smile to my face when April rolls around.

As we push into April there will be an influx of new gamefish coming through the Land Cut, north toward Baffin. With Port Mansfield’s trout population benefitting from the five-trout limit passed years ago, we should see a great increase in catching as compared to what the winter and early spring has given us.

Don’t get me wrong, we have caught a lot of great fish this year, but trout that qualify for the giant category have been fewer in number. My money is on April bringing us back into the trophy circle, being one of the best months of 2018, and May coming in a close second or possibly even topping it.

Exposed spoil islands along the ICW, north and south of Baffin, are going to be hot spots throughout the next two months for these migratory fish. Resident fish will be making their final push to spawn and will be scattered throughout areas holding lots of grass. These will be the fish that will make your jaw drop in awe of their size - the class of fish most of my clients will want to focus on.

One little hint for you is to not walk away from grunting-croaking male trout this month.

If you are catching a bunch of them, one after the other, it is most likely because they are shadowing a big female trout and waiting for the opportunity to procreate. Sore mouth enough of the dink males and you might have a chance of getting your Bass Assassin or MirrOdine in front of the trout of your dreams.

Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey

TSFMAG.com | 85

WAYNE DAVIS

WAYNE’S Mansfield Report

Port Mansfield

Captain Wayne Davis has been fishing the Lower Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes in wade fishing with lures.

Telephone 210-287-3877 Email captwayne@kwigglers.com

86 | April 2018

Greetings from Port Mansfield. What a winter! Now spring has sprung and it’s coming on fast. It only takes a couple of sunny days to get folks motivated and out on the water. We have already seen an uptick in boat traffic and I bet it is not going to lighten up anytime soon. We are coming off boat and fishing show season and, from what I have heard, the shows were all better than expected.

As many of you know, this is the time of year Mother Nature greases the bearings in her fan and uses quite a good lubricant. I’m unsure what kind it is but I would love some for my reels; just joking. Years ago, I frowned harder on windy days than I do now.

Not to say that high winds are not frustrating, but it just doesn’t take the wind out of my sails as badly as it once did. I have learned to deal with it because I have to, and I’ve even learned to work the wind to my advantage…some days.

Let’s take a quick look into the positives and negatives of strong wind. On the positive side, it creates current, which can influence the movement of bait and gamefish. A point jutting from shore, coupled with high winds, can cause a stacking effect for bait

Mark O’Malley had a great day with the reds.

The owner of Diamond J, James Rosalis, was a partner in Circle J Enterprises at the time our office and son’s home were built by Circle J. Workmanship and attention to detail were both excellent!

– Everett Johnson, Editor/Publisher, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine

Jack Frazier with career best speck – almost seven pounds!

and gamefish, as they are pushed by the wind against the point. Next is a cove that can provide a lull or slack current for bait and gamefish. Let’s consider all three scenarios.

Your approach to the positives - Set up on the windward side of a point, approach slowly making long casts (another benefit of wind), and work your bait slowly at first and increase speed and rod tip action if you do not get strikes. From there, work over and on top of the point and then into the cove or leeward side. By approaching in this manner you have covered three key areas in fishing a point during high wind. The windward side, the point itself, and the leeward side.

Now the negatives – It’s just too windy, and the bay looks like chocolate milk. Or your anchor doesn’t hold, your Power Pole(s) do not stick, or three drift socks will not slow you down. Well folks, there’s your sign; call it a day.

In Port Mansfield, once we get over 35mph the bay starts to fall apart. We can deal with 2030mph winds most of the time (depending on direction). But 35mph-plus, not so much. One other thing that comes with high winds is what I call fisherman frustration. Anglers simply get frustrated with the wind and give up and go home. For the record, I too get frustrated, but it usually takes wind above 35mph.

The most important piece of advice in this article, dealing with high winds, is boating safety. If it’s windy enough to rattle your confidence in your ability to navigate safely, it might be best to wait for a calmer day. Only you know this.

So, what kind of lures to use in high winds? I rarely use a finesse lure, I need something that can get the fish’s attention. If floating grass is not a big problem I will try a loud topwater – She Dog, One Knocker, or full-size Spook. I will be using a KWigglers 4-inch paddletail, without a doubt. This plastic puts off such a vibration you can feel it in the reel seat of your rod. I know if I can feel it thumping along the fish can pick up on it – even in muddy water.

From there I will try the Willow Tail in darker colors and make short twitches with the rod tip to really get the tail flip-flopping. This also draws a good response from fish in muddy water conditions. Since we are already dealing with higher spring winds, we have been throwing Plum-Blue Metal Flake with Cool Tip, Electric Grape with Chartreuse, and Pumpkinseed Chartreuse in the 4-inch paddletails.

In closing I want to thank everyone who came out to the recent seminars, boat shows and fishing shows. I enjoyed visiting and am truly thankful for every one of you. Other honorable mentions go to Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Simms Fishing, AFTCO, Costa Sunglasses, Shallow Sport Boats, Power Pole, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, and especially my wife who doesn’t give me one ounce of a hard time for fishing so much.

Until next time, good fishing and be safe and courteous on the water.

TSFMAG.com | 87

CAPT. ERNEST CISNEROS

SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene Arr o y o C ol o ra d o t o Po rt I sa bel

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

The six-week period of late-March through April is when trophy trout attain their heaviest weights of the year. Large female trout will be full of eggs prior to spawning and, if they just happen to have swallowed a sizeable mullet, between the roe and their recent meal they could easily be packing an extra pound or two more than normal.

Understanding spawning behavior can be useful in directing angling effort toward target-rich areas.

Springtime brings increasing hours of daylight, which triggers the whole spawning process. Water conditions and habitat define where it will most likely take place.

Biologists say Laguna Madre trout spawn primarily over submerged seagrass beds when the water temperature reaches 70⁰ to 80⁰ and the ideal salinity for spawning is within the range of 18- to 25-parts per thousand. New and full moon periods provide optimal current flow for mixing eggs with milt and transporting fertilized eggs deep into the estuary, where larvae and fry thrive in rich backwaters.

Beginning in April, I don’t mind fishing late into the evening. Many anglers shy away from a full moon, but during spring I find the increased tidal

Cory Johnson pulled this sleek 8-pounder from water less than a foot deep.

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88 | April 2018

JP Ramirez, winner of last year's CCA-STAR Lower Coast Trout Division is no stranger to trout like this current catch; 32-inches 10-lbs!

flows and the light of the bright moon very helpful. Plus – I’m fishing during dusk when much of the spawning activity occurs.

Position yourself on a grass flat with potholes that also has good tidal flow. Focus on the solunar feed periods in the days leading into new and full moon. Add a dab of luck and you just might land a career-best trout.

Fishermen often complain about catching lots of small male fish that croak when taking them off the hook. But, I do not see it as a negative during spawning season. It tells me there are probably large spawning females present as well. Be patient!

We are currently either seeing or catching trout over twenty-five inches on every outing. During a recent four-day stretch, we landed twenty-nine trout between five and eight pounds, along with many other keeper-size fish.

I had been around this school of trout more than two months but never succeeded in getting them to eat very well. Finally, the tide came up, the wind started to blow, and we have been getting them to take soft plastics over potholes. The wind has added some color to water that had been almost too clear and the new moon triggered more aggressive feeding.

KWiggler’s Willow Tail in the Turtle Grass color pattern (brand new) has made a believer out of me. Fish that spooked or refused other colors in clear water are absolutely eating it up. The results speak for themselves.

Redfish seem to be plentiful and very healthy. We are currently finding them in most places we fish – from murky to bathtub clear. We are keying mostly on active mullet and the best numbers have been coming from knee to thigh deep water. Small topwaters have been catching a few but the majority have come on the KWiggler Ball Tail Shad in Mansfield Margarita. The Willow Tail Shad in Texas Roach has been a good producer in off-colored water. Do not let the murky water put you off, just switch to darker lure that produces a bit of vibration.

Keep in mind that we will soon begin seeing lots of shrimp in the shallows. On windier days, especially in late-afternoon, look for redfish schools to be tailing under flocks of seagulls. Let me tell you, the windier and muddier the better and easier it gets.

Incidental flounder landings have increased considerably in recent weeks, which is very encouraging considering that last year was slower than the recent average. I do not consider myself a good flounder fisherman, but I do know that working drop-offs and channels with a lot of patience is usually required. If taking one home for dinner is a priority, I heartily suggest carrying a landing net when you wade.

In closing, I am happy to announce that we have recently concluded our second full year since implementing the Empty Stringers Catch and Release Program. I am proud to be associated with a great bunch of clients that believe in catch and release to help create a better fishery for tomorrow.

I want also to give a hearty thanks to all the sponsors that share this conservation ethic and have jumped onboard to support Empty Stringers. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Simms Fishing, Costa Del Mar, AFTCO, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, Yeti, The Sportsman, K-Wiggler Lures, Power Pole, Shallow Sport Boats, and 13-Fishing.

Practice CPR and help make our fisheries even better.

TSFMAG.com | 89

FISHING REPORTS

Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 April can be a very rewarding month for speckled trout. Traditionally, April produces our heaviest boxes of trout all year, but it can also be very frustrating. Weather patterns will be unpredictable, and forecasts often call for strong southerly winds. Taking that into account, most of our fishing will be done on the south end of Calcasieu Lake. Our most productive baits for numbers of fish will be soft plastics fished on quarter-ounce jigheads. MirrOlure Lil' Johns and Marsh Minnows will be excellent choices. Best colors are completely dependent on water clarity.

In prettier water, translucent colors like opening night or watermelon red work well. If the water is dirty, colors like black/chartreuse or lemon head work better. Trophy trout will be present at this time as well. We will target them on sand flats and oyster reefs in five feet of water or less.

Topwaters will be productive, but the slow-sinkers like Paul Brown lures work more consistently. Color choices with these lures work much the same as with the soft plastics.

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 Best options for fishing the Galveston area in the near future depend on the wind strength and direction, and the amount of freshwater flowing into various areas. These things always exert influence, but will be especially critical this spring. “Trinity is pretty fresh right now, so the fishing is good over this way, meaning toward West Bay. We've got good wading and boat fishing on this side of the bay now, all the way from San Luis Pass up to Eagle Point and northward. Historically, river water flowing strong enough sends fish this way. Wading is working best along the shorelines, especially when the wind gets up. Fishing out of the boat in water barely too deep to wade works best in calmer conditions. The trout bite has been steady on small topwaters lately, and on twitch baits like the old school 51 and 52 MirrOlures and their newer stuff too, like Catch 5s and 2000s. Spring is a great time to throw all the lures that look like small fish. At the end of this period, we should see the shallow flats close to the passes produce plenty of big trout.”

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 “Fishing has been really good on given days. We're catching plenty of two- to five-pound trout on the better trips. Some days are tougher, not so much just catching fish, but we are having to cull through a lot of dinks on the slower days. Lots of freshwater is flowing into Trinity Bay over the last few weeks, so the fishing on the east side has been pretty good for a while now, everywhere from Texas City north into the upper parts of the bay. Fishing in East Bay has been good too, with the waders catching best on most days. Best trout lately have weighed in the seven- to seven-and-a-half pounds. Lots of solid trout have been caught at Rollover Pass, but no monsters. Tails are working best there, in short windows on the turn of the tide. It will be sad to see all this end when they close the pass. It's been possible to troll around in the bayous and catch a combination of smaller trout and redfish on tails too, but the wading has been more productive for the bigger fish. Topwaters have been working consistently for those willing to throw 'em.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Fishing productively in April around San Luis Pass means staying in tune 90 | April 2018

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

with the species of forage migrating into the bays. “Ribbon fish, shrimp, glass minnows and other food species make their way into the bays this time of year, and the predators follow close on their tails. Normally our bite kicks off on Spanish mackerel before the trout bite kicks in a little later. Particularly when the ribbon fish are running thick, topwaters like the full-sized Skitterwalks work well, also the large Norton Sand Eels.

If we are throwing around the schools of glass minnows, down-sizing works better on average, so we throw junior versions of topwaters and the shorter soft-plastics. Wading works best on most days this time of year, since the wind normally blows pretty hard almost every day. We do find the pattern of fishing out of the boat in about four feet of water over a bottom with a mix of mud and shell to be productive too. It's a great time of year to fish close to a passageway from the bay to the ocean, with lots of potential for fishing different patterns.”

Matagorda | Tommy Countz Bay Guide Service - 979.863.7553 cell 281.450.4037 As usual, Tommy mentions multiple patterns available to anglers in the Matagorda area in April. “Waders can work the shorelines on the south side of West Bay and various parts of East Bay when it's windy, or just as a choice. Early in the morning, this makes for a good plan, while the bait is concentrated in the coves and over the shallow grass beds.

Throwing topwaters at daybreak is a wise choice. Switching over to dark soft plastics on light jigheads later in the day makes more sense. If winds are light, or if someone just prefers fishing out of the boat instead of wading, good options include working the drop offs in the river if it isn't running too fresh and making long drifts over a muddy bottom with a mix of mud and shell in East Bay. Over there, the best areas are generally around the large humps in the west end, and over the large mud flats in the east end. Tying on heavier jigheads to maintain contact with the bottom improves the consistency of catching out of the boat, as will marking the spots where bites happen.”

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Spring is in the air, and warmer water temperatures have the fish feeding like crazy! Our redfish bite has been fantastic. We've been trolling area shorelines throwing small topwaters such as ShePups and Spook Juniors and have been having a blast! The reds have been in big pods out in front of drains and bayous in about a foot of water over sand and have been waylaying our topwaters. They have averaged about twenty-four inches. The trout bite has finally taken off on area shorelines over shell in about three to five feet of water. White Skitterwalks and white Gulp! shrimp under popping corks have accounted for the best bites. We've caught some solid fish up to twenty four inches, with most between sixteen and twenty. April is one of the best months to fish the Palacios area with several options available. The south shoreline has a great afternoon bite when the glass minnows show up. The mid-bay reefs and shell pads produce trout when winds are light. The back lakes usually hold plenty of schooling redfish.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 Lynn loves the fishing in various bays in the middle of spring in the Port O'Connor area. “I like wading shorelines with a mix of mud, sand and grass this time of year, from Mesquite Bay all the way east toward Matagorda. Fishing is definitely best when tides are higher in spring,

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TSFMAG.com | 91

which they are most of the time. I will fish some areas which have mostly shell on the bottom, but I tend to stay away from the reefs most of the time in April. One of the main keys to locating fish this time of year is finding big concentrations of bait. I won't spend much time in a area which doesn't have plenty of visible bait sign, preferably multiple types of food for the trout and reds to eat. Topwaters work great this time of year, and I throw them on a daily basis, but I won't hesitate to switch over to soft plastics if the bite is sluggish. We will be targeting the bigger trout as much as we can, since it usually gets harder and harder to catch them once the big heat wave settles in. April weather is typically cool and conducive to catching the big trout.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 In April, Blake expects to be fishing by wading most of the time. “We've been wading in water over a sandy, grassy bottom between knee and waist-deep and catching plenty of fish on most every trip. Small topwaters like Super Spook Juniors have been working well, and on the days when it's been harder to catch on those, slow-sinking lures like Paul Brown Lures have attracted plenty of attention. I expect more of the same in April. Of course, on the tougher days, we will be throwing Sand Eels and Gulp! split-tails but they aren't necessary most of the time.

I do like to focus my efforts around the mouths of drains this time of year, in bays like St. Charles, Aransas, Mesquite and San Antonio. Water flowing into and out of the backwater areas sets up a good scenario for a strong bite in the spring. I might also try the surf in the area around Cedar Bayou some this month, if winds are light. Getting out there can be tricky these days, as the storm changed the pass connecting it to Mesquite Bay, creating some really shallow sand bars.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 The month of April is a great month to hunt for the trophy trout. The trout are ready to spawn, so they are loaded with roe and they will be feeding very aggressively. This is an ideal month to fish with your favorite topwaters. I like the MirrOlure TopDogs and SheDogs in natural colors. Make sure the hooks are sharp and change up the speed of the retrieve until you start getting blow ups. Texas Assassins and Bass Assassin Die Dappers in colors like bone diamond, plum/chartreuse, salt & pepper/chartreuse and chartreuse dog rigged on sixteenth-ounce Spring-Lock jigheads will also attract plenty of attention. I will be looking for and following the bait I can spot on the surface, also fish slicks and working gulls in less than three feet of water. Target areas will have potholes, shallow grass lines, drop-offs and rocks. On sunny days, when the wind is not blowing too hard, sight-casting with shrimp-flavored Fish Bites rigged on sixteenth-ounce jigheads will produce many reds, black drum and a few big trout in twelve inches of water or less.

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230 Anglers fishing the Baffin Bay/ULM area in April can target trout and redfish various ways and find success, Joe says. “The vast, shallow flats in the ULM hold plenty of trout and redfish this time of year. People running shallow-draft boats can ride around looking for fish making wakes and can have good success catching both trout and redfish on soft plastics like paddletails rigged on light jigheads. Sight-casting them will certainly be possible if the sun is out and there's enough wind to make waves without muddying the water. Strong winds will make this difficult, of course. Fishing out of the boat in protected waters like the Land Cut, Summer House and Rocky Slough generally works better when onshore winds crank up some. Using a trolling motor with fresh batteries to keep the boat a distance away from the edges of the channels or the lines of rocks lying adjacent to deeper water will allow 92 | April 2018

for making long casts to these structures, which usually hold fish. On the better days, topwater plugs draw a lot of strikes from big fish in these places.”

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins Spring is finally here and the surf is once again alive with a range of the smallest bait to the largest predators. Jackfish should be storming the beach in great numbers. Calm mornings will offer great sight-fishing opportunity as they ambush mullet in the shallows.

Topwaters and large spoons are winners. Anglers looking for red drum will also get jacks on live and cut mullet. Pompano will also be possible on fresh-peeled shrimp and Fishbites. Whiting, black drum and sheepshead will also hit pompano rigs. Sharks are also invading the shallows. Scalloped hammerheads should be in close and blacktips will be plentiful. Closer to May, large bull sharks will start showing up on a regular basis. The scalloped hammers will take smaller baits such as whiting; occasional sandbar sharks remaining in the surf and arriving bull sharks will take larger baits. We are expecting excellent fishing in April, given the rather harsh winter we experienced. The only significant unknown at present is the amount of sargassum that might impact our beaches. It comes every spring; let’s pray it doesn’t ruin what many have predicted to be an epic spring season.

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 The warming weather approaching holds promise of a fantastic summer ahead. Fishing has been very steady when the wind is not blowing gale-force and this should continue through spring. Some days we find tons of small trout at just about every stop but be patient; we’re finding lots of really solid fish, too. Wading is my favorite approach but, if you prefer drifting, I recommend concentrating on the deeper grassbeds.

Good areas to target are the north side of the Pipeline, the Weather Station, and the areas around Butcher’s Island. Soft plastics have been getting lots of strikes; adding a Mansfield Mauler to your line can liven up a slow trout bite. Sometimes a little surface noise can really motivate sluggish feeders. Seems I say this every month but a 1/4-ounce weedless gold spoon is an awesome redfish lure, especially on the sand flats over on the east side. Topwaters, too, early in the morning. Sight-fishing has been great when the sky brightens enough to see small pods and singles cruising the sand. We are also finding steady redfish action on the oyster beds south of East Cut. Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty | www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 Everything is lining up for another windy season of spring fishing on the Lower Laguna Madre, and it’s time for all of us Shallow Sport owners to preregister (participation is limited) for the annual tournament on May 19. This is the first big event of the year for anglers from all over the country! Every weekend from here until late October, we will see high boat traffic, and this is why we prefer fishing weekdays. Freddy says, “Redfish are our specialty and normally a reasonably predictable species; the only thing that changes their patterns is boat traffic. In the old days, you could stay on a school for about four or five days, and find them easily, but these days, not so much! Heavy traffic creates more of a challenge trying to locate limits of reds on a daily basis.” The trout bite continues to be good, throwing Berkley Gulp! Live three-inch shrimp on eighth-ounce screw-tight jigheads with a sixteen to eighteen-inch leader under the FP3 cork in shallow potholes, or drop offs, adjusting length of leader accordingly. Let’s stop open bay dredge disposal!

TSFMAG.com | 93

Ashton Conner Matagorda - 21” trout

Blayden Brown first trout on a lure

Carson Mullins and daddy Port Aransas - first trout! CPR

Patrick Robertson Galveston - redfish 94 | April 2018

Carlos Rios Port Mansfield - 26.5” 5.75 lb trout

Jessica Seller Matagorda - first keepers

Wilsie Hanzik Matagorda - 23” black drum

Scott Blanchard Matagorda Bay - 30” red drum CPR

Carson Montgomery POC - 25” snook

Elyssa Edmonds Sam Rayburn - first bass!

Andrew McKay Matagorda - mackerel

Oliver Banda Port Mansfield - 24” red drum

Braxton Garcia Matagorda - blue crab

Albert Garcia Matagorda - 23” trout

Mackenzie Silvasy Galveston Bay - trout

Debby Brady North jetty - 34” blacktip

Sherry Montgomery Sunday “Pass” - snook CPR

Sule Welpy Big Cove - 37” 18 lb redfish

Brad Lodde Corpus - 24” trout

Darlene Hanson Baffin Bay - 26.75” first red!

Eric Pena Arroyo City - 29” personal best red!

DeAnna Saenger Port O'Connor - redfish Ricky Roberts Bob Hall Pier - trout CPR

Megan Vrana Crystal Beach - 24” redfish

Please do not write on the back of photos.

Email photos with a description of your Catch of the Month to: Photos@tsfmag.com

Steve Timmerman Upper Laguna 44” 26 lb bull red CPR

Morgan Sellers 7.22 lb flounder

Jeff Rakunas Galveston - 40” 24 lb red

Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 TSFMAG.com | 95

Mckenzie Mouton Brazos River, Freeport - 26” redfish

Ethan Okruhlik Chris Thomas Galveston - first keeper trout! CPR Kemah Channel - 24” black drum

Miranda Maddox Rockport - first drum! CPR

Jarrett Finger Boat Hole - 26” red drum 96 | April 2018

Steve Matagorda - 27.75” 6.75lb trout CPR

William Adams, Trey Mattingly, & Harris Adams Freeport, first boating trip! - snapper

Flynn Kenney Louisiana - 20 lb first redfish on fly!

Gage Fowlkes Dickinson Bayou - redfish

Victoria Boyd Big Shell - first big catch!

Yvonne Rocha Matagorda - 27” 6lb trout

Joshua Kenney Louisiana - first redfish on fly!

Michael Durham 5+ lb flounder

Benjamin Conwell Aransas Pass - black drum

Kay Purifoy Trinity Bay - 25” red, first keeper fish

Tommy Larue Roach San Luis Pass - first red!

Sophia Harris Stingaree Canal - black drum

Mindy Rodriguez Arroyo City - 32” red CPR

Olivia Harris Stingaree Canal - redfish

Annie Quysner 27” 7lb 8oz first keeper trout on artificials

Marisol DeLaGarza - Port Mansfield Jimmy Gilmer Scott Gore 4lb trout / 3lb flounder Port Aransas - 37” 24 lb red Port Aransas - personal best red!

Japheth Garcia Nueces Bay - 23” redfish

Please do not write on the back of photos.

Email photos with a description of your Catch of the Month to: Photos@tsfmag.com

Israel Peña Port Aransas - 41” bull red

Cathy Gore Port Aransas - personal best red!

Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 TSFMAG.com | 97

PAM JOHNSON

Gulf Coast

Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share?

Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844

Seared Scallops with Grapefruit Beurre Blanc INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

For the Grapefruit Beurre Banc

1. For the sauce, combine the shallot, white wine, white wine vinegar, grapefruit juice and lemon juice in a pot. Over high heat, reduce this mixture until about 2 tablespoons of syrupy liquid remain. Now over low heat, vigorously whisk in 1 cube of cold butter at a time. It will take about 5-8 minutes to incorporate all the butter. Finish by whisking in the cream and season with kosher salt.

Keep warm before serving.

1 shallot, diced ½ cup white wine ¼ cup white wine vinegar ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 1 cup very cold unsalted butter, chopped into 1 inch cubes 1 tablespoon cream Kosher salt For the Scallops: 16 bay scallops 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 1 sprig thyme Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

98 | April 2018

2. To cook the scallops, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Season the scallops with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the scallops to the hot skillet and allow them to brown on one side, undisturbed, for about 2 minutes. Flip the scallops and add the butter and thyme. Cook for another 2 minutes. Discard the thyme.

3. Serve seared scallops alongside beurre blanc sauce.

Serves 4

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IF WE SAVE THE SEAGRASS,

WE SAVE THE FISH. Seagrass is critical to good fishing. Marine organisms depend on it for survival—for food, shelter, and oxygen. But boat propellers are destroying Texas seagrass, which is seriously impacting saltwater fishing in the coastal shallows. When boaters do not lift their propeller in shallow water, the prop cuts and uproots the seagrass beds—leaving long barren trenches or “scars” that may take years to heal ... if ever.

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