February 2019

February 2019

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ABOUT THE COVER J.P. Ramirez is our cover angler this month. Known for many great angling accomplishments, J.P. is showing off a beauty of a Lower Laguna speckled trout that measured 32-inches and weighed 10.5 pounds. J.P. says she fell for a MirrOlure Catch 5 hardbait and was release in great shape immediately after photos.

FEBRUARY 2019 VOL 28 NO 10

CONTENTS FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

10 16 22 26 32 38

42 46 50 54 56 60 64 68 95

Here’s Your Sign!

February’s Productive Aspects Bodie Heads Home Lures: Crossing the Line Catch Your Own Bait Rip-Off!

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard Joe Doggett

Let’s Ask The Pro Shallow Water Fishing TPWD Field Notes Kayak Fishing Chronicles TSFMag Conservation News Fishy Facts Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks...

Plastic & Water Don’t Mix Science & the Sea

Jay Watkins Scott Null Darin Topping Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Eric Ozolins Everett Johnson UT Marine Science Institute

46

32

WHAT OUR GUIDES

HAVE TO SAY

72 74 76 78 80 82 84

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

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

REGULARS 8 Editorial 70 New Tackle & Gear 86 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 90 Catch of the Month 92 Gulf Coast Kitchen

92

78 6 | February 2019

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net

VINYL CARE

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HOW TO CONTACT TSFMAG: PHONE: 361-785-3420 FAX: 361 792-4530 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 WEB: www.TSFMAG.com PHOTO GALLERY: photos@tsfmag.com PRINTED IN THE USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.

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STEP 1

Remove Dirt & Grime

STEP 2

Preserve & Protect

EDITORIAL

A NEW ERA OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT Recreational anglers have great reason to rejoice.

red snapper for a longer period during the summer, most likely targeting

Finally, after many years of what was perceived as very

weekends and holidays across the summer months, to include the Labor Day

one-sided and unfair fisheries management by federal

weekend, and possibly into early-fall when weather in the western Gulf of

regulators, we are entering a new era.

Mexico is more favorable to small-boat participants. Daily size and bag limit

The Modern Fish Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate

regulations are not expected to change in federally managed waters.

One of the primary sticking points in achieving longer seasons for

by Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and U.S. House

recreational anglers has been the inability of federal managers to accurately

of Representatives by Congressman Garret Graves (R-La.), enjoyed strong bipartisan support from a long list of cosponsors

gauge recreational harvest of red snapper, whereas the commercial side have

representing coastal and non-coastal states alike. On December 17, the

been practicing dockside reporting under the catch shares system that directs

Senate unanimously passed the Modern Fish Act (S. 1520) followed by

fishing effort and harvest.

In short, the regulators made what our side called “wild guesses” to estimate

overwhelming approval in the House (350-11) on December 19. President

the harvest. In the absence of reliable harvest data, we ended up in a situation

Trump signed it into law on December 31.

that presumed the only way to avoid overfishing by the recreational sector

Texas red snapper anglers are especially joyful. The ridiculously short seasons of recent years, as short as three days in 2016, were a bitter pill for the

was to reduce the number of days we could fish.

Enter iSnapper and other trip reporting systems. Finally, though not a

angling community while commercial operators took advantage of generous

mandate, a more accurate reporting system is available and anglers have been

allocations of the fishery and a protracted season during which to fish.

In 2018, under an experimental Exempted Fishing Permit, rec anglers were

participating voluntarily.

able to fish for red snapper during an 82 day season that ran continuously

It is heartily encouraged that all recreational red snapper anglers continue

beginning June 1, in federally managed waters (outside 9 nautical miles).

to participate in these voluntary reporting systems during the 2019 season. We

The season in Texas Territorial Waters (inside 9 nautical miles) remained

have been clamoring for years that management of reef fish and other species

unchanged, managed by TPWD as a year ‘round fishery, although only the

in the Gulf of Mexico should be entrusted to the individual state’s fisheries

southernmost portion of our coast has a viable year ‘round fishery.

management agencies. Now it’s time to do our part and report our landings.

Originally established as a two year management option, the Exempted Fishing Permit includes another 82 day season for 2019. It is hoped that under TPWD’s proposal, the 2019 season will allow fishing for the highly-sought

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This white ibis picks small crustaceans from live oysters that are exposed by a 3.5-foot post-front low tide. Areas like these are worth checking out once the water returns.

A

STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

few years back comedian and Galveston native Bill Engvall came out with a standup routine called Here’s Your Sign that poked fun at people who ask stupid questions. Engvall would fire back answers even sillier than the questions asked. He would finish by saying, “Here’s your sign.”

The sign said, “I’m Stupid.”

One of my favorites was when he and his buddy caught a bunch of fish and a guy at the dock asked them, “Hey! Did ya’ll catch all of those?” Engvall replied, “Nope! Talked ‘em into giving up. Here’s your sign!”

Or how about this one? He pulls into a gas station with a flat tire and the attendant says, “Tire go flat?” Bill answered, “Nope! I was driving around and those other three just swelled right up on me. Here’s your sign!”

I pulled into the convenience store on my way to the ramp one morning around 4:30 to get ice and coffee. A guy looked at my boat and asked, “You goin’ fishin’?” I replied, “No sir. I just thought I’d drag my boat around for a while before I go back to bed. Here’s your sign!”

We could sit here for hours discussing Here’s Your Sign moments but there are other types of signs I’d would rather talk about. They might not give you quite as good a chuckle but they might help you catch more fish over the next few months.

An obvious sign that rightfully gets mentioned most often is the presence of bait. This time of year such bait will most often be mullet. Mullet are typically much more active during warm-up periods ahead of cold fronts, which obviously enables us to locate them more easily. These pre-frontal days usually bring higher tides as southerly winds persist and barometric pressure drops. This is when we want to be wading near bayou outlets and coves as tides begin to fall. Whether flipping, fleeing or lazy jumping, mullet can easily be located during these situations. An occasional bonus during these scenarios are visible slicks which enable us to further pinpoint our target species.

I frequently hear fellow anglers say things like, “Man, the trout ought to eat like crazy tomorrow with that front coming in.” While I have indeed witnessed a solid feeding pattern during such scenarios, my best luck has almost always been within a couple of hours of and during the actual passage of the front. This is when the barometric pressure is about to rise and the fish instinctively sense a drastic change that can trigger an unbelievable feed.

We witnessed this just the other day as our bite started out kind of slow with us only catching 7 or 8 fish the first couple of hours. As the wind shifted around to the northeast and the light mist turned into

steady drizzle, bait came alive and the bite was on fire. Over the next two hours the four of us caught over 80 fish (trout and reds). While the conditions weren’t exactly pleasant we were dressed appropriately.

For the record, I’m not advocating fishing during the passage of a blue norther that’s bringing 40 mph winds and small craft advisories.

Those who would even launch their boat with such a forecast may need one of those signs we talked about earlier. The front we fished through was a weak Pacific front. Common sense for most, but still worth mentioning.

I’d say more than half of the time during the late winter months bait signs are not so obvious. Thankfully there are other living creatures we share our estuaries with that can see things we can’t. The ones that immediately come to mind show up along the Texas Coast around October then usually leave by March. In our bay systems, they primarily feed upon fish, crustaceans and small eels. They can stay underwater for up to 90 seconds then surprise you by popping up right beside your boat. On a recent calm foggy morning we couldn’t see them but we could hear their smooth and majestic signature yodels. The common loon has led us to more fish this time of year than I can count. Pay attention to the loons. They’re on bait!

There are certain circumstances that cause the entire bay to appear

7-year-old Lathan White with his 27-inch red caught while drifting windinduced color streaks.

12 | February 2019

Mike Williams caught this really nice trout in tough post-front conditions.

Knowing the bottom structure and being persistent paid off on this day.

Rolfe Schaumburger tricked this stud of a redfish while drifting over shell while keying on what few active mullet we could find that morning.

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completely lifeless. More often than not, these are bluebird, post-front, high pressure days. Before my clients learned the possible effects of such conditions I would routinely get comments like, “I just can’t understand why the fish aren’t biting. It’s such a beautiful day.” Back then I would give them my broken record answer which included every reason in minute detail why such conditions shut the fishing down. These days, if they make comments like that I want to just go ahead and give them their sign.

All is never lost, however, even when we face these dead water scenarios. Just last week I honestly thought I would experience my first skunk in almost two years. There was very little tide movement coupled with all of the conditions I mentioned above. After almost three hours with only a few throwbacks the guys (new customers) were getting restless. One guy even made the ole’ fish market comment.

You know, the one where they say, “Well, I guess we’ll have to stop off at the seafood market on the way home.”

Haley Matthews and his buddies Then I got hit with a much less ego-crushing comment: This pre-dawn loon led us right to caught well over 80 fish during the the fish on a calm winter morning.

“Well, a bad day of fishing beats a good day at work.” Of passage of a weak Pacific front! course there’s always the nice guy on the boat who’s afraid to formally declare his state of disappointment so he politely says, “It’s just nice being out here. After all, catching is only a bonus.” After three hours of my soul being partially ripped from my being and me questioning my ability as a professional fishing guide, I was finally able to make something happen.

I found one stretch of water that showed more promise than anything I’d seen all morning. The depth over the shellbottom flat was approximately 4.5 feet. This flat dropped off into a 6-foot mud-bottomed channel. There were no visible slicks in the glass-like water but I could smell trout in the air. Not a single mullet was jumping but there were literally hundreds of them swirling just below the surface all around the boat. We noticed that the mullet only swirled when I moved the boat with the trolling motor. Otherwise, they were inactive and difficult to see. At least we finally found something that offered some upside.

The bite wasn’t crazy but we managed to catch enough to justify the effort and I managed to not only save face with new clients but also salvaged enough dignity to get through the rest of the day.

Those who have the most success on the water are the ones I mention it quite frequently, but one of my favorite things to look for this time of year are color changes. Color changes (aka color streaks who are the most persistent and observant. They have separated themselves by their ability and determination to see, hear and smell or mud streaks) are caused primarily by wind and/or current. The every little sign that Mother Nature is willing to offer. murky water is a bait and predator fish magnet. Warmer water in the streaks and ambush points along the edges are the primary attributes of streaks. It’s really that simple.

Sometimes signs we see on a given day may not help us much until down the road when conditions are different. A recent cold front Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve brought northwest winds gusting to 45 mph. Most folks who fish fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, the Texas coast know what stiff winds from the northwest do to our wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and tide levels. Taking the time to venture out during extremely low tide flounder using artificial lures. periods can provide us with hidden secrets of the bay floor that would Phone 409-256-7937 otherwise go unseen. A couple of examples would be small unmarked Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com reefs and bottom undulations off the beaten paths. Such guts and Web www.hillmanguideservice.com structure can be targeted when tide levels return to normal.

CONTACT

STEVE HILLMAN

14 | February 2019

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STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

No matter what kind of weather prevails on a given February outing, suspending a soft plastic under a cork sometimes generates a faster bite rate.

S

everal aspects of February weather patterns and their associated effects on marine organisms contribute to the perception of the month as a prime one for lure-chunkers targeting trophy trout in Texas. A quick check of the climate data for two cities helps generate a starting point for the discussion. I’ve chosen Corpus Christi and Galveston as the locations, one to represent the Upper Coast, the other the Lower Coast of the state.

In the case of Corpus Christi, my home city, the month ranks as the third coldest, behind both January and December, with an average high around 70° F and an average low of approximately 51°. These values sit about 11 degrees below the yearly averages. The case in Galveston differs slightly; on the Upper Coast, February ranks as the second coldest month, behind only January, and the average daily highs and lows fall 13 or 14 degrees below the annual norms.

For the sake of this discussion, averages do matter, and these facts help clarify one way in which February weather, when thought of in a generic sense, using long-term averages, affects fishing for trophy trout. Though February weather isn’t the coldest in an average year, it does occur at the end of the cold season. Since this fact always rings true, a couple of related phenomena bear strong significance to anglers hoping to catch trophy trout during this timeframe. Biologists refer to one of these with the term acclimation.

Like humans, fish become accustomed, or acclimated, to various kinds of conditions over time, meaning they become more able to tolerate them without experiencing severe effects on their physical abilities. Certainly, fish become acclimated to cold water temperatures after the mercury dips low in the glass several times; by the time February rolls around each year, trout remain more active

in cold water than they did in the previous two months.

Early in the cold season, starting from some time in November and lasting until the early parts of the new year, water temperatures dipping below 60° for extended periods send trout scurrying for the relative safety and warmth of deep channels and basins. Catching them thus requires targeting them in those areas. The same truth does not apply nearly so well in the month of February, partly due to a second related fact about this month’s weather patterns and their effects on coastal bays and estuaries.

In autumn, when water temperatures first fall into the 50s and 40s, the deeper parts of the coastal waterways hold warmer water than the shallower parts, on average.

Temperature changes take longer to reach into the depths, so the water in open basins, deep holes and channels retains the warmth of summer longer than water on shallow flats and shorelines and atop structural elements. Somewhere in the middle part of the cold season, this situation reverses itself, and by February, on average, the water in deeper parts of coastal bays runs colder than water in shallower parts.

This causes trout, especially big ones, to prefer spending Cold February weather normally In most wading scenarios, favors wading water about waist light jigheads, either eighthmore time in shallow water in the next-to-last month of deep, close to shallow structures or sixteenth-ounce, work winter. Because they’re well-acclimated to cold temperatures lying close to deeper water. better than heavier ones. by this time, this truth applies even in a February with below average temperatures, but it applies more in a warm one. Obviously, weather patterns don’t play out in average scenarios much of the time. In fact, in the Lone Star State, Jack Frost overstays his welcome and lingers through February in some years, while the weather in the month feels much more like Spring Break in others.

On the Upper Coast, warm February weather generally proves more productive for anglers who wade. When the weather this month regularly feels like spring, trophy trout generally stay in shallow water almost all the time. Targeting them thus requires tactics which place anglers in their midst in places where most boats will barely float, and waders can walk around all day without wet knees. For people who know how to effectively execute strategies in these depths, this makes the fish easier to catch, as compared to targeting them in water too deep for wading.

In places like West Galveston and East Matagorda Bays, onshore winds associated with warm spells in February send tides rising and gushing into the shallow coves on the leeward shorelines. Particularly on the third or fourth day after the passage of a cold front, when water and bait fills these nooks and crannies, both anglers and the big trout they target will follow close behind.

In contrast, while colder weather prevails on the Upper Coast, targeting big trout in open basins remains a the trout to prefer certain places and situations over others. better choice. Any experienced, savvy Galveston angler knows the In areas with extremely clear water, trout will often favor the effectiveness of targeting trout around mud streaks in the open bay in dirtiest water around, feeding more actively in places where their prey winter. This relates partly to another aspect of the weather during this cannot easily see them. Big trout also tend to become more nocturnal time-frame which affects the efforts of anglers targeting big trout. in months like February, feeding best in low-light conditions or under The clarity of Texas coastal waters in February runs quite clear on average, affecting the feeding habits of large trout, which prefer eating a black blanket of darkness, especially in areas holding water of exceptional clarity. On the Upper Coast, this truth facilitates the efforts finfish over crustaceans. Catching and killing a live fish requires the of anglers willing to wade reefs, coves and shorelines at night. predators to employ different tactics than slurping up shrimp, causing 18 | February 2019

TSFMAG.com | 19

One of the prime scenarios for catching big trout on the Upper Coast in colder weather in February involves wading through dusk and into the night on a day when a strong incoming tide floods shallow flats and reefs for the first time after a front. On the Lower Coast, in a hypersaline estuary, where tidal influence has minimal effects, fishing at dusk in February for trophy specks can prove effective in cold weather too. In warmer weather, targeting giant trout in the shallows along shorelines from the end of the night into the early-morning hours also produces memorable catches.

In places along the west side of both the Upper and Lower Laguna Madres, this truth prevails strongly in years when the water clarity allows for reading a beer can on the bottom in depths If warm weather prevails in February, Bite continues steady for trout of three and four feet. Large trout use the advantage of fishing extremely shallow flats with water like this one caught by Pat Grant darkness to ambush their prey, becoming extremely difficult of marginal clarity can produce more bites during recent days spent fishing to seduce with a lure in the light of day, especially when from big trout, especially under bright skies. the Baffin/ULM complex. skies run clear for extended periods of time. If brown tide, strong winds and/or freshwater runoff create more turbidity menu, offering primarily large mullet and small trout. in the water, these same trout will bite readily during daylight hours, Because of the low levels of forage species, anglers can trick trout particularly when clouds obscure the sun for several days. more easily into taking artificial lures this month than in those when Generally, colder than average February weather favors fishing all manner of life forms swim around in the bays. Anglers who achieve on the Lower Coast, where several long shorelines protect deep mastery of plugs which effectively mimic mullet and other small fish basins from the chilling effects of bitter north winds. Anglers wading thus catch plenty of big trout in February, especially if they’ve put in shallow structural elements and shorelines close to those basins do consistent levels of effort leading into winter’s last full month. well when the weather first makes a turn for the better after a strong Normally, by this time of year, a fishing guide or trophy trout frontal passage. Since the fish have become well acclimated to the fanatic has developed a strong sense of where the big trout in his cold, they usually spend less time in a dormant state in response to or her local bays have spent the winter, so targeting them generally falling temperatures than they had earlier in the cold quarter, biting involves making minor adjustments to location, strategy and vigorously when conditions moderate. presentation, with high levels of confidence related to the presence All these facts turn the discussion back around to one of the of fish. For all these reasons, the Valentine’s Day month provides ripe central concepts introduced above—February weather often proves opportunity to those of us who treasure encounters with fat, female unpredictable, and rarely plays out in close proximity to the annual trout and who are willing to adjust our schedules and habits in order averages. Astute trophy trout anglers realize this and adjust their to increase the likelihood of posing for pictures with them. strategies and plans accordingly. In warm weather, in water with moderate levels of turbidity, making sustained efforts on shallow flats and around structural elements during daylight hours will produce handsome results. In cold weather, with stupid-clear water, fishing Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin structures and shorelines close to the edges of basins during low-light is a speckled trout fanatic and has created conditions or at night works better. several books and dvds on the subject.

Regardless of the type of weather a particular February Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus produces, another generalization about the month bears Christi Bay to the Land Cut. significance. Normally, the biomass present in a Texas bay stands TROUT TRACKER GUIDE SERVICE low at this time, both in terms of general abundance and variety Phone 361-688-3714 of organisms. In other words, trout don’t have much choice about Email kevxlr8@mygrande.net Web www.FishBaffinBay.com what they’ll eat this month. In a place like Alazan Bay, this creates the www.captainkevblogs.com most extreme scenario, one in which big specks choose from a short

CONTACT

KEVIN COCHRAN

20 | February 2019

TSFMAG.com | 21

STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP

I

need some fishing time, Bodie mused, staring out the window as the drab winter landscape flew by as he made the long drive from South Texas to Prasek’s Smokehouse. No sooner had that thought crossed his mind when his cell phone rang and a charming voice brought an ear-to-ear smile to his face.

“How are you Pamela?” he asked.

“I’m fine, Bodie, and I just found out that I will be in Texas for the New Year’s holiday instead of flying back to London. It looks as though I will be able to stop by your place.

“So you’ll be in town through the holidays?

“Yes, Mr. Sellers is having a small New Years Eve party at his home and I am supposed to somehow convince you to attend,” came Pamela’s sultry reply.

“Just tell me what time I need to be there…and I’ll be early!” Bodie teased.

The miles flew by as they chatted and Bodie realized how much he had missed talking with her. He hadn’t seen her since they returned from London and their phone conversations had been unfortunately brief. Suddenly realizing that he had passed Prasek’s, he signaled to take the main El Campo exit off US-59 at Highway 71 for a U-turn.

“What was that you said?” Pamela asked.

“Oh, nothing. I was so into our conversation that I missed my turn.

“Well, I’m certainly flattered that I had your undivided attention but you must be more careful when driving and talking,” she giggled.

Pamela said that she would most likely get to town on December 27 and the plans were to stay a week. They said goodbye and Bodie was excited that he was going to be able to show her around the ranch and, if the weather cooperated, maybe even take her fishing.

“Son! You haven’t had feelings like this in a coon’s age,” Bodie quipped aloud, slapping his thigh in excitement.

Bodie pulled up to the rear drop-off door where Prasek’s receives game animals and walked inside. An employee he didn’t recognize removed the quartered deer from his cooler and then searched the computer for Bodie’s order history.

“Just make everything into Czech-style link sausage like last time with cheese and jalapeno,” Bodie told the man.

A printer next to the computer spit out a couple of forms, one the man asked him to sign and another for Bodie to keep.

“Probably be at least a week or so; we’ll call you when it’s ready,” the man informed him.

Bodie was about to leave when he decided to grab some of Prasek’s famous ribeyes and TSFMAG.com | 23

24 | February 2019

“BODIE, BODIE, BODIE!” Tommy shouted as he ran up and crashed into the table, spilling both their mugs.

“You ignorant freak of nature,” Red shouted, reaching for a napkin.

But Tommy was too excited to hear or care, and just started jabbering to Bodie and everybody else within earshot.

“Man, I been missing you Bodie. The weather’s been terrible and I haven’t been able to go fishing. And, Red; he’s just been doing nothing and I’ve been waiting on you to get home so we can all go catch us some trout!

“It’s blowing about twenty-five knots out there right now, Tommy.

And I’m afraid I don’t see fishing in our immediate future,” Bodie offered, hoping to calm him down a bit. “And besides, I have to go to the ranch tomorrow and catch up on things and start earning my keep again before Mr. Connor runs me off.

“We heard Pamela’s coming to town!” Tommy blurted loud enough for all to hear. Which of course caused everybody in the joint to look straight at Bodie.

Bodie felt a blush climbing up his neck.

“Jeez, Tommy! Keep it down,” Bodie said softly but sternly. “Not everyone in here needs to know that she’s coming to town, or even who she is.

“Oh, heck Bodie, it’s all over town that she’s your girlfriend,” Tommy blurted again.

“Well, yes, she’s a girl and she’s my friend,” Bodie agreed. “But she’s not my girlfriend.

“Oh, but she surely will be once she gets down here and you show her around and take her fishing. She’ll never want to leave,” Tommy chortled.

Red was about to say something but Eloisa arrived at the table with their food and fresh beers, including one for Tommy.

“Who’s that you say is coming to town, Tommy?” she asked.

“Bodie’s new girlfriend, Pamela from London. That’s who!” Tommy bellowed again.

“So you’ve got you a girlfriend, huh Bodie?” Eloisa smirked.

Bodie wanted to crawl under the table. “Yes, I have a friend who happens to be a girl. And why must everybody be prying into my affairs, anyway,” he asked shyly.

“Right! You know a lot of girls, including me, but I didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” she shot back.

Bodie gave up and was putting ketchup on his fries when Tommy said, “Oh man, I can’t wait to go fishing with you and Pamela.”

Bodie froze. A bit of onion and some lettuce fell from Red’s mouth as Tommy beamed like a lighthouse.

“Yeah, I can’t wait either,” Bodie offered, still fooling with the ketchup jar.

Red just stared into space rolling his eyes.

MARTIN STRARUP

CONTACT

New York strips to grill when Pamela made it down. “I’ll show her what a real Texas steak tastes like, grilled over mesquite coals,” he muttered to himself as he viewed all the fine cuts in the butcher’s case. He also picked up several dozen cookies of various types and an assortment of fresh kalaches for Monroe, Mr. Connor, Red and Tommy.

Bodie stopped by the ranch to check in with Monroe and Mr. Connor and drop off their pastries before making his way to the house to unload his hunting gear. While unloading the truck and carrying his gear, he looked around and wondered what Pamela’s impression might be of the place he called home.

I know for a fact that she’s never been to a fishing cowboy’s house, he speculated. But it is what it is and I am who I am. She’ll either accept me and this house or she won’t.

Getting everything unloaded and put away, he jumped back in the truck and headed for Haddon’s for one of Eloisa’s chicken-fried steaks, a couple cold beers, and to catch up on the local gossip.

Red’s golf cart was parked out front and the bright yellow sign on the back made him chuckle. Yosemite Sam with his two six shooters drawn, warning anyone close enough to read that they needed to “Back Off!” Red was seated at the bar and noticing Bodie coming through the door gave his usual nod toward a table. “I’ve been wondering when you were going to come back and actually do some work,” Red greeted as he shoved a frosty mug across the table.

“Hellfire, Red, I worked the whole time,” Bodie answered, clinking mugs with his friend. “Been up every morning and in the deer stand before daylight. Hunted every evening, too!

Red laughed and assured Bodie he hadn’t missed anything around town. Except for Old Man Fowler’s house catching fire because he forgot he had bacon frying when he went outside for a smoke. It only got the kitchen though, and his wife had been hounding him for years for new cabinets and counters, anyway.

“Yeah, it’s either been raining or it’s been blowing, or it’s been doing both,” Red frowned as he took a big swig of suds. “I swear if I don’t get some fishing time in soon I’m going to lose my mind and take my wife to a casino or something.”

“Heaven forbid!” Bodie mocked with a false look of worry on his face.

“What’s Ol’ Tommy been up to? I’m surprised he isn’t here.

“Oh, he’s been around alright,” Red lamented. “He’s been run off from every bait camp in town. Since he can’t fish he’d rather just hang out there and talk the bank fishermen to death until they leave.

“So, how was the hunting?” Red asked.

“Well, Red, I shot an old cull buck and let a bona fide monster keep on walking. I dropped the meat at Prasek’s and we should have us some fresh sausage in a week or so.

“Oh, say Bodie, have you heard that Pamela is going to be in town next week?” Red taunted him.

“Now how on earth did you find out about that?” Bodie asked.

“Well, Tommy was bored so he called Doug to see when he was going to come down and I guess he told him,” Red replied.

Bodie broke out in a grin. “Yeah, she called me while I was driving up from South Texas. We talked on the phone all the way from Refugio to El Campo.

“I bet that made for a short trip,” Red teased.

They chatted until Eloisa came with fresh mugs and Bodie ordered a chicken-fried steak and Red ordered a cheese burger.

“I’m on a diet,” Red explained. Bodie and Eloisa just raised their eyebrows.

Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman.

Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas.

Email

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STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

F

or as long as I can remember the first few weeks of every new year have been an exciting period, and for many reasons. The most obvious is the hope and high expectation that arises from cracking open a new calendar and staring a brand new season in the face. For those of us fully enamored of the outdoor life, January and February are a fantastic buffet with endless options from one end of the spectrum to the other. Unless you are a diehard waterfowl hunter, you will have likely have just put away your hunting gear and begun to yearn for days on the water, staring out the window at the most unpredictable weather of the year.

February, for me, always meant trips to Toledo Bend, searching for big bass or crappie until I was shown what I had been missing right here on my home waters of Sabine Lake.

Marsh waters can often be brackish and murky...just right for redfish on spinnerbaits.

Chasing fish in the winter and early spring on Sabine usually meant probing shorelines along the river with a trusty Rat-L-Trap and catching my fair share of redfish. That crankbait pattern that worked so well on redfish was actually perfected by bass fishermen who made a living farming the grass flats and points of the freshwater lakes to our north.

Although this pattern was very successful it was only part of the overall puzzle and I had yet to find the other missing pieces that would introduce me to big winter speckled trout.

After many fruitless trips and empty casts, I was finally Savage Gear Double Wobble does a number on trout rewarded with one of those and redfish near structure like jetty rocks and oyster. unforgettable days on the water we all dream about, big One of the greatest fresh-to-salt crossover lures - the hungry trout stacked up across thump from that spinner blade is irresistible to redfish. a flat…and no other boats in sight all day.

The trip was epic in regard to the fish we caught but that paled in comparison to the other things I learned that day.

Previously, I’d had multiple conversations with some of the best big trout anglers I knew at several of the boat shows and, if they would let me I would pick their brains about all things associated with big trout in the winter, or big trout in general.

Each angler I spoke with was more than happy to share a few tips and I cherished all of them.

The common denominator in Vintage Corkys from when Paul Brown made them in his virtually all these conversations Catching a warm afternoon in February will garage - tough to beat the slow sink rate and suspending undoubtedly improve your odds of finding quality fish. was using a somewhat bigger qualities of these baits when wintertime fish feed slower. bait that mimicked a mullet. that moment that I decided I had to come up with a more user-friendly The overwhelming choice of lures for nearly all the anglers I talked with option and I reverted to my freshwater upbringing for a solution. was one of Paul Brown’s Corkys, the mysterious “super baits” that had A freshwater alternative to the Corky family that is quite a bit easier produced scores of double-digit trout and a state record. to master is what’s sometimes called a suspending jerkbait – the In the right hands, a Corky is about as good as it gets when it Smithwick Rogue and Rapala X-Rap being great examples. These plugs comes to catching these big fish in the winter months, but it requires are designed to be retrieved slowly down to a certain depth, (where presentation techniques that many have difficulty mastering. The fish are suspended in the water column), a technique that removes Corky really shines when big trout suspend or become sluggish in their much of the guesswork for the angler. I have had great success using feeding habits due to cool water temperatures and that’s usually what these plugs over the years and I still go to them on many occasions. It’s anglers are faced with in the winter and early spring.

I have seen my clients on more than one occasion just absolutely give just awesome to see folks who were frustrated with not catching on the Corky get fired up once they get that first bite and figure out the up on the Corky family of baits because they simply couldn’t develop technique. As a guide you can do no better than teaching your client a feel for the bait while others took to it like a duck to water. It was at 28 | February 2019

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When February turns balmy the jetty rocks are a perfect place to fish deep diving crankbaits.

a technique or method they can use later on down the road; for the guide it’s the greatest reward they can experience.

After seeing how well some of the freshwater plugs crossed over into saltwater, I started trying other lures and found similar success.

I’ve seen deep-diving crankbaits absolutely wreck trout and redfish along the jetties as they bounce down those submerged rock walls.

The spinnerbait is another saltwater convert and perhaps the most widely used of the “fresh to salt” crossover lures. Big single Colorado blade spinnerbaits dressed with your favorite paddletail soft plastics are a dynamite option for catching redfish, especially in dirty water.

The vibration given off by those big blades is often more than a hungry redfish can resist and the strikes are usually bone-jarring to say the least. That many professional redfish anglers rely on spinnerbaits to produce winning sacks of husky brackish water brutes speaks volumes.

I have always been a firm believer in the notion that a well-rounded angler is potentially more productive and has a better time on the water. By being open to new techniques and different approaches you can easily increase your odds, efficiency, and productivity each time you go out on the water. Also, don’t be afraid to try something new if you think it makes sense. You may surprise yourself how well crossover baits and presentations can get the job done.

CONTACT

CHUCK UZZLE

30 | February 2019

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.

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E RIC STORY BY JO

Rounding them up during the mullet run near Labor Day.

HAR D

W

hen it comes to catching bait, I’m old school.

While growing up in Port Arthur, we couldn’t buy live bait, even if we had the money, not even shrimp; we had to catch our own. A few locals owned 20-foot sport shrimp nets with wooden doors that had to be towed behind a boat, but we were stranded on shore. My brothers and I quickly realized that wading and pulling our bulky 20-foot minnow seine was for chumps—saltwater bait easily outran or jumped over the net. We noticed a nearby angler keeping dry while racking up plenty of bait with his castnet, so we bought one the next day. Our garage freezer was soon well stocked with shrimp and mullet.

Fast-forward a half century and it seems like 95 percent of bay anglers seeking live bait now simply drop cash on the counter, then dump croakers or shrimp in their boat’s live well, before taking off. Marinas can charge a handsome price and the cost of shrimp and especially croakers creeps ever higher. One of the guys working at Clark’s Marina in POC told me last summer they’d sold 800 dozen croaker the previous Saturday. At $8 dollars a dozen, that was $6,400 dollars.

(Marinas near Corpus have reportedly charged $10 a dozen). If small trout, ladyfish, gafftops, sharks and bait-robbing gulls and royal terns are present, or anglers are setting the hooks too soon, this can result in some very expensive keeper trout, like $10 dollars each.

Last summer, five of us POC guides sat around the steps of Clark’s Marina, chilling out after a long day. Only two of us carried castnets in the boat, though I was apparently the only one who used a net on a daily basis. Captain Curtiss was the other castnetter—he often uses live bait for tarpon and other big fish. Captain Pickle had a different philosophy; he said he didn’t have time to gather bait for four jetty anglers each day. He doesn’t mess with pinfish traps, either. Instead, he and several captains keep accounts at the marina and load up on live croakers each morning before taking off for their honey holes. However, their monthly bait bills can reach or exceed $800 dollars. (These are top guides with busy schedules). As for myself, I’ll fish most of the day before resorting to croakers. Run back in and maybe buy three dozen if we’re hard up for fish. There are days when even croakers won’t work, of course.

For me, catching bait is part of the fishing experience.

The Gulf provides a smorgasbord of bait for those willing to spend a little time harvesting it. It also gives my fishing companions a chance to learn more about Gulf waters and what’s in it. Certainly more than a bucket of croakers and (maybe) a limit of trout. The following are a few favorite baits: Pinfish. Find a decent bed of bottom grass and you find pinfish. Miss Amy catches them with a 4-foot ultra-light spin rod with bobber and 8-pound line, split shot and a tiny “hair hook.” Pinfish aren’t picky what they eat, while trout and redfish love them some pinfish. Give that “Pinny” a haircut with scissors (trim off the spiky dorsal fin) and set it out under a popping cork or on bottom. Almost every trip, we’ll latch on to several trout or redfish this way. My former neighbor in Port O’Connor, Jimmy Crouch, told me how back in the early 1960s, commercial trotliners in Baffin Bay were baiting up with pinfish each night. They must have had decent grass bottoms back then, to catch so many pinfish. One night the commercial guys became a bit incapacitated, and at midnight Jimmy offered to check their trotline. It was filled with huge trout and he piled them in a heap. Next morning they gave Jimmy one trout for his efforts, a fish that looked just like any other in the pile. Next day, back in town, it weighed 12 pounds. He took it to a taxidermist.

Pinfish are voracious and also hang around marinas near fish cleaning tables. Bait a pinfish trap, let it soak for an hour, and see what’s inside. I caught a great many pinfish that way last summer until the trap, tied to a piling for three weeks, eventually vanished.

Mullet. No castnet, no mullet. At least live mullet. Learn to throw the castnet, and stock up on mullet and use them for bull redfish, tarpon, offshore bait, or even mullet fingerlings for flounder. The September mullet run is best for stocking up. Just about anything will eat mullet, but they can’t be kept alive in marina tanks because they bruise overnight. And what a bait; I’ve seen tournament-sized bayou redfish that would do anything for a small piece of fresh mullet. When I run out of bait I just keep throwing the net until I have enough for another go. Buying frozen mullet 34 | February 2019

Hardy “marsh minnow” is much tougher than mullet, and dearly loved by flounder. Easily caught from roadside ditches in summer.

Lively menhaden just caught with a castnet. They’re fragile, but a big variety of fish will eat them.

Anyone serious about catching tarpon on bait will need a castnet. Big, live mullet like this can’t be bought.

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seems inconceivable except in the dead of winter.

Menhaden. These summer baitfish are found off the beach and are great for tarpon, bull reds, sharks and big jacks. Lacking a castnet, all you can do is buy fresh “shad” sold in Galveston bait shops. At Sabine Pass we used to buy 50 pound crates of these baitfish, for overnight trips in the Gulf, where snapper and kingfish ate them up.

Marsh minnows. During the November flounder run, hearty marsh or “bull” minnows can be purchased mostly in Galveston bait shops. With a castnet, they’re easily caught in roadside bar ditches.

They can be chummed: pull a shell off a blue crab, toss it all out there and mark the spot. After several minutes, throw the castnet right on it.

Fiddler crabs. If you’ve walked the jetties at Port Aransas during winter, you’ve seen the snowbirds with their cane poles and bait containers holding fiddler crabs. Some of the crabs might have been hand-caught, but many are bought from marinas.

It’s hard to find fiddlers in winter, except during a real warm spell. They can be thick during summer, however. I’ve read they’re easily caught by burying a can flush with the sand, and leaving a scrap of bait in there. The crabs smell it, jump down there but can’t climb out. I’ve never tried it, but then I haven’t used fiddler crabs that much. A snapping live shrimp always seemed like a better offering at the jetties.

Blue crabs. While living in Port O’Connor I kept several crab traps set out in a sheltered, deep bayou where storms couldn’t blow them away. Baited up with fish heads, mostly. Each morning we’d pick up 1-2 dozen crabs, and use them for redfish and big drum at the big jetties. One March we caught our biggest sheepshead ever using one of those crabs that turned out to be a softshell. The sheepie weighed 10 pounds, 10 ounces. In colder February, don’t expect to fill a trap; crabs are mostly buried in soft bottom, very sluggish and waiting for warmer weather.

Oysters. Years ago in winter we were one of the first guys to camp at the Army Hole campground on Matagorda Island. The Feds were running it after the Air Force left. It was cold and gray and we shot limits of quality ducks. Tired of eating fresh, fried oysters on the Coleman stove, we wanted a few fish. I shucked a few small oysters, threaded them on hooks and fished around the harbor pilings. We

This pinfish likely has a short lease on life, when lowered deep at the jetties.

Right in front of Gaido’s restaurant on the Galveston seawall during July, this guy has two dozen prime shrimp after one castnet throw.

soon had a dozen small but legal sheepshead. Filleted and breaded in cornmeal, then fried in peanut oil, they were delicious.

Shrimp. These are easily caught with a castnet during summer and fall, though you want a clean bottom where the net won’t snag. We used to bait up white shrimp with a can of Kennel Ration dog food. Mark the spots along the seawall, and return 20 minutes later to throw the net. Shrimp can be caught at the beach in summer, off the rock groins along the Galveston seawall, and even out at the big jetties in 20 feet of water. You have to let the castnet hit bottom, before retrieving. Three summers ago friends did that and filled an Igloo with big brown shrimp—and forgot about fishing that day.

JOE RICHARD

CONTACT

Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast.

He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com

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TSFMAG.com | 37

STORY BY JOE DOGGETT

Rough surf might hide a rude awakening for jetty walkers returning to a parked vehicle marked by a calculating thief.

A

thief is a low-life. Indoors or outdoors, makes no difference. And, outdoors, anglers can be particularly vulnerable to rip-offs.

I learned this sad reality at a young age. I was 11 or 12 and participating in a Saturday morning fishing tournament at the old Hermann Park Lake in Houston. It was a kids-only event, with small prizes given for participating.

The small lake had a boardwalk and a wooden rod rack along the south end.

The youth event was staged on the boardwalk.

Several dozen kids were milling around at the conclusion of the event. I spied a small bluegill flopping in the sand. I placed my rod and reel in the rack and paced over and tossed the struggling sunfish back into the pond – my good deed for the day.

When I turned back, my rod and reel were gone.

It was a cheap rig, a no-name casting reel and a solid glass rod, but it was all I had. Summer vacation was beckoning and I was burning with the Fishing Fever. Measured on that scale, the loss was significant.

TSFMAG.com | 39

At least the theft provided a hard lesson – but one that apparently I new extended cab rig parked right over there looks like a much better did not heed too well. During the subsequent decades my unattended target for a big score. fishing vehicles have been victimized several times. The list of stolen That’s the upside to driving an old beater to the beach; the items includes several rods and reels, a tackle box, a camera bag, a downside is, it might break down. wallet, and a Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver.

Regardless of conveyance, once the preoccupied owner walks away Oh, yes, and an almost-new Chevrolet K5 Blazer (incidentally the the pro can monitor movements to insure the coast – literally – is clear. loss of the S&W and the SUV occurred on two separate occasions He waits until the occupants are well and truly removed, unable to about one year apart). abruptly return.

These are significant items that come to mind. The list is longer.

For example, several jetty walkers pulling a tackle wagon and The way I see it, thefts of fishing tackle and trip accessories fall into toting sun umbrellas are planning on a long vigil, and probably out two categories: opportunistic and premeditated. near the end of the long rocks. The practiced burglar calculating the The spontaneous scoundrel sees an unguarded moment and strikes (as illustrated by my Hermann Park experience). Briefly unattended trailers with boats loaded with gear especially are vulnerable.

Rigged-and-ready rods standing at attention in vertical holders are begging for a snatch during a pre-launch pit stop for ice or bait. So does the stop on way home, say, at a small restaurant.

Stopping for a lingering sit-down meal really puts parked equipment at risk. Most coastal cafes aren’t much on manned security and, once all hands are inside and pawing over menus, opportunity for mischief is ripe. For this reason, the savvy crew should pick a “table with a view.” At the very least, the vehicle should be parked out front and under good lighting. Nosing into the back corner of a poorly illuminated lot is a rookie mistake.

It takes only a few seconds for a determined thief to hop onto the trailer frame and pluck a visible rod or two. The burglary occurs before you have time to drop your napkin, much less get out the door. Worth note, a new top-end casting rod This unstaged photo shows a good way to lose a fine Crowded coastal parking lots may look and reel might cost $500 or $600. A comparable spinning outfit. The situation suggests the owner is in secure but a skilled thief can quickly 8-weight fly outfit might be worth twice that (it’s poor position to chase a quick-grab thief. and easily breach an empty vehicle. ridiculous what they get for big name rods and reels these days).

Even an old well-worn rod is worth something, most certainly if it has the sentimental value of reliable service over years of green tides. It doesn’t belong in the greedy hands of a crook.

Stowing all rods in locked compartments (or at least out of casual sight) is a wise precaution but I suspect many of us have been guilty of lapses, of leaving valuable gear within view of prowling eyes.

The opportunistic theft usually is the work of an amateur, maybe even a kid on a bicycle – a kid that no doubt could benefit from a bit more parental guidance on where to pedal the bike.

The premeditated theft is the worst. For example, waders and jetty walkers and pier anglers are vulnerable to the planning of an experienced parking-lot prowler.

The stealthy looter sits and watches, scouting all available vehicles based on the likelihood of “lowhanging fruit.” For this reason, a rusted, dented, dirty junker might be spared by default. That shiny 40 | February 2019

available for “easy pickings” were several tote bags, a pair of binoculars and our cell phones. Oh yes, and a holstered Walther PPK in the console.

We scurried toward the jetty, gabbling like a pair of geese about all the speckled trout and Spanish mackerel we were going to catch.

We returned to the busy lot about two hours later and I was horrified, absolutely aghast, to see the open hatch and dangling key.

Nothing was missing. Not one item. And surely during our absence several dozen people walked by the rear of the truck.

I do believe that, for the most part, anglers are good and honest individuals. Crooks are a part of tide-line society but I’m willing to bet that the next outdoor thief is not a fisherman; he is a low-life predator who recognizes a target-rich environment and understands the unprotected situations in which anglers often leave their gear.

Pay attention, think ahead, and don’t make things easier for him by being a chump.

JOE DOGGETT

CONTACT

odds considers these things.

The break-in artist is brazen, striding with a confident air to the target vehicle. He looks respectable, dressed accordingly, and random passersby pay no attention. It’s nobody’s concern if a stranger appears to be fumbling for keys.

A thief equipped with specialized tools can breach a vehicle door within moments and with no big drama even if an alarm is triggered.

They often go off in crowded parking areas, usually by legitimate owners mishandling “remote” keys. Mainly, people wish the damned beeping or honking will stop.

Valuables at risk usually are not fishing accessories, rather personal items such as wallets, purses, smart phones, tote bags and handguns (as we know, vehicles in Texas often are armed). The “wet” wader almost certainly has left behind keys and credentials – and a proper thief can quickly rifle through the typical hiding places.

Or, if time and opportunity are on his side, he might drive off with the whole rig.

Of course, these are worst-case situations. Most times, the great majority of times, nothing happens. This can be true even following absurd lapses in awareness and security.

For example, about 10 years ago on a “green to the beach” afternoon a friend and I drove my Tahoe to the Surfside Jetty County Park near Freeport. The well-maintained parking lot was crowded but I found an empty space about 50 yards from the granite breakwater.

I opened the rear hatch and we grabbed our rods and rock-walking accessories – and I left the hatch raised with the key dangling from the lock. Inside the truck, plainly visible, were two backup casting rods. Also

Joe Doggett was an outdoors columnist with the Houston Chronicle for thirty-five years. Retiring in 2007, Doggett writes occasional freelance pieces between hunting, fishing and surfing adventures.

Contact: DoggettJ@SBCGlobal.net

TSFMAG.com | 41

Jason Orlando with solid winter trout.

J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

FIND BAIT – PLANT FEET – LET BITE DEVELOP The end of 2018 and beginning of 2019 have proven to be cold and wet, more so than the previous few winters.

Our local weather forecasters have been exceptionally accurate with their predictions lately, so kudos to those guys and gals. I personally prefer the wet over the dry, believing that years with abundant rainfall provide better fishing than the drier ones.

I am now in Port Mansfield, my winter home away from home, enjoying the friends I have here and entertaining my fishing club members as they seek that one very special fish. Prior to leaving, fishing had been great at Rockport. No really big trout but solid fish on a very consistent basis. There were definitely days when we had to work harder, and also times when the larger fish avoided our efforts, but seldom were we unable to find good numbers of solid trout to 20 inches along shoreline drop-offs and areas of shallow, scattered shell.

I have greatly enjoyed the number of clients this winter whose primary goal was to learn to become better anglers. I sometimes get too focused on so-called trophy trout in winter and neglect the wants of some who book with me. The truth is that most anglers, myself 42 | February 2019

included, have zero problems catching two to threepound trout when the larger ones seem to have the feeding switch turned off. These gals eat in very small windows and are affected by weather changes to a large degree. It seems to me that the smaller trout can be coaxed into eating even when the feeding clock is not showing the proper time.

I have always believed that trout of all sizes will feed more readily when they’re grouped tightly together – and so it is with the smaller ones – there’s just so many of them. Call it greedy behavior or whatever, competition for food puts them in eating mode more hours of the day.

Likewise, I have always believed that I was good enough to create a feed, so long as the fish would give me some idea that they are present in decent number in the area I was fishing. A single bite here and there or a few mullet flipping in the area is usually enough for me to gain confidence to set up and start the grind.

Yesterday began with a super slow start. The wind and water conditions were not helping us. I just couldn’t get comfortable with the areas that had been holding both bait and fish. It is very true during winter that a

single mullet along a shoreline can show the way to extraordinary things. I’d get the guys out and start working but I could not get anything to happen that could sell me on the fish being present but not biting.

Hey, I know they don’t bite every day; truth is they might only feed strongly every other day. One of the guys asked me what I was looking for that would lead me to believe that fish were present but not biting. I didn’t think about the question long at all and just said I would know when I saw it and would tell them what it was as it developed.

Around mid-morning I suggested a run around the shorelines for a looksee. Zero boats on that Tuesday morning, so I got shallow and started looking for bait and game fish holding close to the bottom in the 50° water. My brown pelican buddies were no help – sleeping and loafing all morning. Very little bait or fish in the shallows for about a mile, which suggested they were holding deeper.

I don’t like long-tapering shoreline drop-offs when the water is air clear and the wind is dead calm. What I do like are areas where either wind or current combine to provide assistance to the fish when feeding. I also like areas of deeper water where these two factors can come into play.

In winter, I like slightly deeper and muddy areas that are influenced by wind-driven current, tide levels, water temperature changes, and actual tidal movements. Seems like a lot to ask for but there will almost be times during the day when we can find at least two of these factors working in concert.

Lots of folks get the idea that trout prefer mud in winter because it’s warmer, but I have come to believe it’s more about food availability. Mullet are filter feeders and mud holds a better food source for them.

And, of course, trout will always follow the mullet. I touched on this in an article a few months ago.

On our second of such stops, just as I eased over the side, I noticed a mullet flip right along the shoreline where the mud met the sand and grass bottom. Water was slightly sanded up due to the muddy bottom and the previous days higher winds. Air temperature was 64° and the water was 51° at that time. Winds were dead-calm and the tide was slack but we were entering a Moonrise Minor feeding period.

I had been using a 5” Bass Assassin but dropped down to a Lil John as soon as I realized the bites were very light and tentative. I quickly instructed the guys to downsize their lures. I prefer the rattail plastics way more than the paddletails for tough bite days.

I can’t really say why except that I personally catch more fish on them.

Once in the water I saw a mullet and then another on the same line as the first. Within a few casts I felt a very light tap on the lure. “Definitely a take,” I said to myself. “And right on the line where mullet appear to be active.” Stop! Don’t take another step!

Downsizing his lure paid a solid dividend for David Gonsoulin.

Jay Ray with healthy winter trout on my favorite color Fat Boy.

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44 | February 2019

caught at least thirty-plus solid slot trout and eight upper slot reds.

Through it all we never ranged more than 75 yards from the boat.

As the bite increased and the fish became more aggressive, we switched to the Custom Soft-Dine. I really wanted to try a Custom Corky Fat Boy but thinking back to that small profile concept that worked so well earlier we opted for the smaller Soft-Dine instead. That hunch was right on the money and several really solid trout to almost 4 pounds were landed.

Once the lure hit the water, I would allow the lure to sink on about a 5 or 6 second countdown. Then a quick but short rod tip twitch, almost a vibrating motion, followed by a quick turn and a half of the reel handle to gather slack. Let it fall again while lifting the rod slightly away from the falling lure. There will be a tiny bit of slack in the line but with braid you will still feel the thump.

This takes practice to master. As soon as you feel the fish take the lure, quickly reel down to the weight. Set the hook just as the rod begins to load. Take the fish off, release if you do not need fish, and repeat.

May your fishing always be catching! -Guide Jay Watkins

C O N TA C T

Some guys have trouble planting their feet. So, I ask this question to help them understand: If you were sitting in a boat and caught a fish, would you pull the anchor and move up ten feet before making another cast? No way! You’d throw right back to the same spot. The lightbulb usually comes on pretty quick.

It works most of the time, unless there’s track star in the group. He’s the guy that takes three or four steps forward with every cast – bite or no bite – fish or no fish.

I don’t get along with this type very well, and rather than let him screw it up for the whole group, I casually suggest he might want to scout the shallows along the shoreline for tailing reds. He’ll usually be happier doing that and so will the rest of us.

So, the bite started slow with some really good reds on the line were the bait was jumping but we soon discovered there were trout just offshore that line in slightly deeper water. You literally had to let the bait get to the bottom and then lightly “dust” the bottom with the small rattail on the 1/16-ounce 2/0 jighead.

I’m a big believer in high-modulus rods with fast action for this type of fishing. Steve Henriksen with Henri Custom Rods makes mine and Jay Ray’s rods but, Waterloo, G-Loomis and Sarge also make quality sticks that I see coming aboard my boat on a regular basis.

Make sure your rod maker or tackle dealer knows what types of lures you are wanting to throw; it definitely makes a difference in your ability to make the lure perform at the level it needs to in order to get the most bites.

Back on the line with my group, one bite led to another, and then hookups and multiple hookups. Over a two hour period, three of us

Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Telephone Email Website

361-729-9596 Jay@jaywatkins.com www.jaywatkins.com

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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

YOU MUST FIRST LEARN

TO CAST!

With the exit of Mr. Sommerlatte, our editor asked if I would mind taking on the fly department. Since I have often strayed out of my lane and gone full-on fly with a few articles anyway, I’ll gladly take it on. So now I’ll be covering topics involving sightcasting, shallow water angling, fly fishing and conventional gear. All of these topics overlap anyway and I generally plan my day on the water about the same whether fly fishing or chunking lures. I hope to entertain and inform going forward as I have always tried to do on these pages for

46 | February 2019

the past decade-plus. I really appreciate those of you who regularly read my ramblings and occasionally send a kind note regarding my work.

The sport of saltwater fly fishing has grown more than I ever envisioned. Way back in the 80s when I hooked my first redfish on a small popper, wading alongside Captain Terry Neal, fly fishing on the Texas coast was more of an oddity practiced by only a handful of guys. I had spent a good many years prior to that day slinging deer hair popping bugs to bass on my granddaddy’s ponds but had never done it in the salt. Camille and I were fishing with Terry and had caught a whole bunch of reds on gold spoons throughout the morning.

It was one of those really easy days when every fish seemed to cooperate. As the trip drew to a close we spotted some tailing fish up against the spoils of the ICW. At that time you could probably count the number of fly guides on one hand and I knew Terry was among them. Conversation during the trip had wandered into some fly fishing topics as I was curious about maybe trying it sometime. As we watched those happy fish tailing just beyond the reach of our best cast, Terry pulled out a fly rod and asked if I wanted to wade over and give them a try. Sure. It certainly wasn’t pretty but I managed to plop that popper close enough to

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48 | February 2019

state with members who teach. I am a hardheaded self-taught caster.

My swing isn’t pretty, but I can get the job done. I went through a lot of frustration in those early years that could have been avoided if I had just gotten a few lessons.

Guys show up to fish with me all the time with no real clue what they’re doing. They want me to teach them how to cast while out on the water. They would also like to catch some fish. That generally makes for a pretty tough day. Learning to cast requires time and practice. Learning how to present a fly to a fish also takes some time and practice. It makes a lot more sense to invest a little money and time off the water to at least get the fundamentals down before you book a trip. Stepping onto the bow with confidence in your cast will do wonders. Then I can teach you how to fly fish.

The added bonus to starting off with lessons is having the opportunity to try out different gear. Rods vary greatly in speed and feel. If you take lessons at a good fly shop they can fit the rod to your stroke. Starting off with the right rod will save you money in the long run. I see it all the time on social media fly fishing groups, “What’s the best rod for me to buy?” Nobody can definitively answer that without knowing your casting stroke.

While you’re getting those lessons you can also pick their brain about the best reel, line, leader and flies for how you plan to fish. My fly fishing grew by leaps and bounds once I developed a relationship with the guys at my local shops in Houston. Chris Phillips, Andy Packmore, Ruben Garza, Cary Marcus, Marcos Enriquez, Mark Marmon and several others helped me immeasurably. And for that I owe them all a huge thank you.

C O N TA C T

draw a crushing strike followed by a powerful run. Unfortunately, the red was not hooked as deeply as I was.

Yeah, I trout set. Don’t do that. But the deed was done and I knew I wanted to figure this thing out.

Fast forward thirty or so years and here I am, still hooked on slinging a fly rod to all sorts of salty predators. All around me, fly fishing has grown and morphed into something I never imagined. Back then it was mostly older guys with solid bank accounts who were involved in the sport. Most ran bay boats and then waded to the fish.

Throwing flies made you a bit of an oddity.

Those older well-off dudes are still involved, but the driving force has been a much younger crowd. Saltwater fly fishing is cool now.

The equipment keeps getting better and more easily obtained.

Twenty years ago there were damn few poling skiffs on the Texas coast. Now there are days when I see a dozen or more on the flats around Port O’Connor.

Redfish have always been the number one target of Texas fly fishermen and likely always will be. They’re the most visible and obtainable species, suited perfectly to fly fishing. However, with the growth and maturing of the fly fishing community has come a desire to chase other species. Folks want to test their gear against bigger, meaner fish. Tarpon, jacks, kings, ling and even sharks fill the bill. Others want to test their skill trying to fool the more finicky species to eat their fly. Trophy-sized trout, sheepshead and black drum are all worthy targets available for sightcasting on the flats.

When I first started out all I carried was a trusty 8-wt for redfish. Now I might have everything from a 6-wt to 12-wt on the boat so I can cover all my bases.

All of that brings me to this; there has never been a better time to be a beginner to this sport than right now. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t get at least one email or phone call from someone looking for advice on getting started. My number one piece of advice is always to find the closest fly shop and get to know the folks who work there. These days there are plenty of shops scattered around the state. I’m pretty familiar with most of them and would say I have yet to meet anyone in that business who wasn’t friendly and helpful. I count quite a few of these guys and gals as good friends who I would have never met were it not for fly fishing. They genuinely want you to be successful.

My second piece of advice is to get some lessons. Those same people working in the fly shops are usually pretty dang good casters who offer lessons. There are also several fly fishing clubs around the

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

B y D r. D a r i n To p p i n g | C o m m e r c i a l L a n d i n g s Te a m Le a d e r, C o a s t a l Fi s h e r i e s D i v i s i o n , R o c k p o r t

FIELD NOTES

GOING VERTICAL FOR RED SNAPPER Honestly, it’s hard to drop a hook down on any of the natural or artificial reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) without catching a red snapper. Well, what happens when you drop 30 hooks down? How many red snapper do you catch? How big are they? Are there more on certain habitats? We are headed into the Gulf of Mexico off Texas to find answers to these questions on one of our vertical longline red snapper sampling trips (or VLLs).

Red snapper support an important, although highly regulated commercial and recreational fishery, and we need good data to continue to properly manage it. In both the federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ, from 9 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles off the gulf beach) and Texas Territorial Seas (TTS, from the gulf beach out to 9 nautical miles), the recreational fishery is managed through bag and size limits as well as seasonal closures.

In 2018, private recreational fishermen were able to enjoy extended red snapper fishing opportunities through an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP). This EFP was managed through an agreement between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and NOAA Fisheries, and allowed you to fish in the EEZ 82 days, and 365 days in the TTS and stay within our 2018 Texas quota of 241,245 lbs (or around 6% of the GOM private rec quota). In 2019 we will have another year of the EFP, putting us one step closer

50 | February 2019

to regional management. Our long-term creel program surveys (along with iSnapper - iSnapper.org) provide important data for red snapper management. However, TPWD also collects data from fishery independent surveys (using our own catches with standardized gear) to compliment creel surveys.

Over the last four years, we have conducted The Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) VLL survey. This is a state/federal program of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission that involves using commercial-style vertical long line equipment, in a standardized way, to census red snapper populations at natural and artificial reefs along the Texas coast (Figure 1). Three lines with 10 hooks (30 hooks total) each spaced at 2-foot intervals are dropped to the bottom near a chosen habitat. Three different sized hooks are used (8/0, 11/0, or 15/0 circle hooks baited with appropriately sized mackerel), so we can catch a wide size range of red snapper. The vertical lines are dropped for 5 minutes, retrieved, and all fish caught are measured and weighed.

Among the data yielded by this VLL method are catch rates and mean size of red snapper.

So far, we’ve sampled 186 sites (124 in federal and 62 in state waters) and deployed 5,030 hooks, which resulted in catching 879 red snapper in federal and 152 in state water on various habitats (Figure 2). These longlines definitely catch red snapper, which were 93% of the total catch. Of course there are other fish in the sea and we have caught twenty other species on this gear off Texas, but given the gear and bait we use, they mostly target red snapper.

We randomly select sites weighted by the percentage of habitat types (natural and artificial reefs, platforms) in three different depth zones (10-20, 20-40, 40+ meters). Not all habitats are created equal, so we need data from a variety of habitat types. Artificial reefs can vary from large cut-off/toppled platforms, to ships and wrecks, to smaller, numerous concrete pyramids (https://tpwd.texas. gov/gis/ris/artificialreefs/). We

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also sample large structures, such as standing platforms, as well as the much larger natural banks that have unique relief and complexity, which also hold large numbers of fish. Despite the differences and similarities between the reef types, after sampling for four years, catch patterns are starting to emerge.

One way to standardize and compare catches among the different areas and reef types is by looking at the catch per unit of effort (CPUE). Going back to answer our original question: we caught “X” number of fish with “X” number of hooks (effort). Occasionally, we drop down our baited hooks and catch nothing. It is still fishing, and you can’t catch them every time (or everywhere). More often, we will drop our hooks, get some bites, and catch some red snapper on each line, and sometimes every hook is attached to a fish.

So, how do our habitats compare in terms of CPUE? We definitely need more data to address the variability of catches across different habitats. Thus far, it appears that artificial reefs have statistically higher average catch rates (40 fish/100 hks) than natural reefs (24 fish/100 hks) in the EEZ, while the catches in TTS are generally lower (<10 fish/100 hks) and don’t significantly vary by habitat (Figure 3a). There can be a number of reasons why catch rates are greater at artificial reefs, but the main difference is reef size.

It would seem that a larger natural bank that is over 1 km wide would have more structure and more fish. That is most likely true, but those fish tend to be more spread out over that area. The

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smaller artificial reef may have fewer fish overall, but they are concentrated within a small area. So, when we drop the VLLs over an area of highly concentrated fish, we tend to catch more fish.

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And for each of the large natural banks, we sample multiple locations, so we can estimate the overall density of fish over those banks.

Interestingly, when we compare the mean total length of red snapper at those same habitats, we tend to see the opposite effect (Figure 3b). Of the sites we sampled, natural reef tended to have larger fish than either artificial or platform reef sites. This effect was evident in both the EEZ and TTS, although the average fish was larger in the EEZ as smaller fish are typically found around nearshore structures.

TPWD has been routinely monitoring our inshore fish populations in the bays for over 40 years, and we use this data to observe important trends. While the sampling timeline is much shorter for our offshore adult fish populations, this vertical longline survey is an important step towards better management of these offshore fisheries. Continuing to routinely sample these offshore waters will ensure we can identify and address any changes to these populations in the future.

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TSFMAG.com | 53

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

CHASING TEXAS’

OTHER WINTER TROUT

I wish I could start this article with stories about epic days of fishing I’ve enjoyed recently but I cannot. It never fails that your general duties in life will always find a way to catch up to you. No matter how hard I hope and pray it seems that it can’t always be fun and games. Between work and chores, I have only had time to make two trips to Sabine Lake and neither of them were anything to brag about.

However, I did have a weekend blocked off on my calendar for a trip to fish the Guadalupe River. If you did not know, Texas Parks and Wildlife, along with Trout Unlimited, stock the upper part of the river with rainbow and brown trout. The cooler wintertime water temperatures provide a suitable habitat for the trout and they do quite well in the river. So our plan was to launch the kayaks, float down the river, and get out around the rapids to try our luck. Most anglers on the river use fly gear for these trout, which was going to be relatively new to me.

When it comes to fly fishing for rainbow trout, the only experience I’ve had was on the Colorado River in Arizona last year. Luckily, my guide was a great teacher and I learned a little more than the basics. On top of that, the buddy I was going with used to spend summers fly fishing with his granddad on the Snake River in Idaho. Prior to this, the only experience on the Guadalupe we have had is probably the same as every other Texan – sitting in a 54 | February 2019

tube and floating downstream on a hot summer day. But, between us, we had enough knowledge to be about half a step above winging it.

We arrived to New Braunfels mid-morning and discussed on the drive up that we were going to launch at the Canyon Lake Dam. We gathered our gear and headed down below to assemble everything at the water’s edge.

After tying on flies we were ready to make our way downriver. We started off throwing a basic nymph rig which consists of a small nymph fly with a strike indicator (small cork) about 2’ above the first fly. From that fly, I fashioned a trailer rig with a fly about 16”-18” down, and then another heavier fly below that one. Three flies in a series topped with a strike indicator.

As we pushed away from the bank we caught ourselves just floating down the river and taking in the scenery. It is not often that anglers on the coast can go fishing and actually have a chance to hear nothing but nature – no boats, no refineries, no passing cars. Only thing that we heard was the sound of rushing water from the falls, the whining of wood ducks, and the subtle quacks from mallards swimming along the banks. On top of that, we were shrouded in large, overhanging cypress trees, and towering above these were the white limestone cliffs of the Texas Hill Country. Needless to say, we were captivated before we even started to fish.

Floating down a good ways, we ran into a good set of

pulled the hook on another fish and witnessed another angler lose his personal best trout at the net. At least the last day was a little more productive for us and the other anglers on the water. We ended the last night with a fire, a few cold beverages, and discussing our personal theories of these river fish.

After chasing these trout, I have become intrigued with them and their habits, and it raises a lot of questions for me. I know I can’t just go out in one weekend and have it mastered, but I dang sure want to learn it. Not only are the fish appealing but how you catch them is equally appealing as well – everything needs to be nearly perfect.

On top of that, the river and surrounding scenery is nothing short of awesome. I am counting down the days to when I can go back and learn more about this great Texas fishery!

C O N TA C T

rapids and decided to hop out of the kayaks and give it a shot. We fished it for an hour or so with no luck. We continued to move down the river and repeated the process several times with the same results. Around 4:00pm we paddled to the dock of the house we had rented and decided we’d call it a day and start fresh the next morning. We spent the evening grilling by the river and topped it off with a concert at Gruene Hall later that evening.

The next morning before launching, we decided to head up the road to a local fly shop that our host had suggested we visit. We went to ReelFly fly fishing shop and guide service and it was probably the best move we made all weekend. The staff there were incredibly friendly, very knowledgeable of the river and everything that was happening on it. They pointed us to a few flies that have been producing lately and, after explaining what we were doing, they assured us we were on the right path to land a few fish.

We headed back to our rental house, jumped in the kayaks and headed downstream with great expectations. Not far below we found a set of rapids and decided we’d start there. We spread out and fished our fair share of this section of the river. After a few hours, we decided to head down to the next set and we ran into another small group of anglers that were experiencing the same slow luck. At this point we decided to swap our nymph flies for an egg pattern.

We moved a little further downriver from the other group and still no luck. After it was all said and done, my buddy Jake pulled the hook on a feisty trout and that was the only bite we had all day.

While the fishing may have been disappointingly slow we never once got discouraged. That would be a hard thing to do when you’re in this kind of setting.

We headed back to the house and racked our brains for what me might do differently the next day. Both of us being avid anglers, we knew that we had to have passed over lots of fish, but there had to be a reason why they would not eat. Our only thought was that we may not have been fishing deep enough and our bottom flies were not getting low enough into the water column. So that night we added a little more weight and prayed it would do the trick.

The next morning we made the same drift and come across an angler who was hooked up – a promising sign. Jake got a strike after about 30 minutes but wasn’t quite quick enough to get a hookset.

After another hour or so, we decided to head down to the next set of rapids since the river was becoming rather busy and we were becoming surrounded by other anglers.

We got out as we typically do and went separate ways. I made my way upriver to a small set of falls with the feeling that there must surely be some trout lying in the eddy. After a few poor casts I finally make a good one and, sure enough, fish on. I pulled him out of the rapids and chased him around for a minute before I could get a grip on him. As I looked around there was nobody close enough to help make a photo so I decided to release him before keeping him out of the water too long. At least we’d finally landed a fish!

We eventually met back at the kayaks and I learned that Jake had

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

TSFMAG.com | 55

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

EGERY FLATS RESTORATION PROJECT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD

Construction for the restoration efforts to restore over 100 acres of estuarine marsh habitat in the Egery Flats area of Upper Copano Bay started in August 2018. Since that time, the first set of culverts have been replaced, and the replacement of the second set of culverts began in early December 2018. The replacement of these culvert sets is critical in the effort to restore this important estuarine marsh habitat. Once the replacement of these culverts is completed, additional efforts such as marsh grass plantings will help jump start the long term goal of a restored and healthy marsh.

Habitat within eco-systems along the Gulf coast, and all the coastal regions of the United States and the rest of the world, has declined for decades due to development, transportation infrastructure, oil and gas operations, natural causes, and much more. CCA Texas and Building Conservation Trust (BCT), CCA National’s Habitat Program, have both played key roles in helping restore degraded habitat. These efforts are often through partnerships with organizations such as Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP), Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and other similar non-profit organizations and government entities. These projects have included marsh restoration efforts through the 56 | February 2019

use of breakwaters, beneficial use dredge spoil, grass plantings, and floating island methods. Phase One of one such restoration effort was recently completed in Egery Flats, located on the upper end of Copano Bay. Egery Flats sits on the western edge of Copano Bay near the mouth of the Aransas River. In 1945, when Farm to Market Road 136 was constructed, two culvert systems, each consisting of two 30” round culverts, were installed to allow water to flow in and out of Egery Flats. Over time, the water flow through these culverts has become restricted enough to impact water quality and habitat, which has resulted in the conversion of over 100 acres of estuarine marsh and habitat to open water since the 1950s. While FM 136 connects local communities and is a favorite spot for roadside fishermen, crabbers, and birders, Egery Flats has deteriorated greatly since its construction.

“This hydrological restoration project will lead to reduced salinities in Egery Flats and will improve conditions for over 600 acres of marsh, submerged aquatic vegetation, and tidal flats,” commented Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program Project Manager, Rae Mooney. Mooney continued, “This will lead to overall increased ecological productivity in this area as these habitats serve as a critical nursery for finfish and

TSFMAG.com | 57

shellfish and important feeding grounds for waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds.”

CBBEP received a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund for the project. The project will replace the two 30” culverts with three 3’ x 6’ concrete box culverts at each location.

These new culverts will not only increase water flow greatly, but they will restore critical hydrology which will lower salinity levels in the area and enhance over 600 acres of emergent marsh, submerged vegetation, and tidal flats at Egery Flats. Prior to the start of construction, CBBEP worked with Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (MANEER) at the University of Texas Marine Science institute and TPWD to collect valuable preconstruction data, including porewater salinity and vegetation monitoring. This data will be valuable in the evaluation of future projects. Once completed, monitoring will continue and will help determine the effectiveness of the culvert replacement and success of the restoration effort.

Successful projects are often successful because of a strong partnership base that works together hand in hand.

The Egery Flats project has several partners including: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Texas Parks & Wildlife, US Fish & Wildlife Services, Building Conservation Trust, Coastal Conservation Association Texas, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, and Texas Department of Transportation.

All of these partners have and will continue to play a vital role through the completion and post-monitoring effort of the project. CCA Texas and BCT contributed $70,000 to this project. These funds will be used primarily to plant approximately eight acres of emergent marsh, to help enhance the re-vegetation of the flats.

“Partnerships are a key and critical component in

58 | February 2019

completing projects such as Egery Flats,” commented Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow committee chairman Jay Gardner. Gardner continued, “CCA Texas and HTFT are excited to see the outcome of this important project, and we look forward to continuing to work with Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program and other partners in the future.”

Habitat restoration and creation is a vital component to insuring healthy and bountiful coastal resources for the future. CCA Texas and BCT are committed to continuing their support to projects along the Texas coast for generations to come. This support would never be possible without the continued success of the grassroots efforts of CCA Texas volunteers across the state and supporters within the communities in which CCA Texas chapters exist. CCA Texas and BCT are continuously seeking project and funding partners for habitat efforts. For more information about CCA Texas or BCT, please contact John Blaha at (713) 626-4222 or jdblaha@ccatexas.org.

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STEPHANIE BOYD

F I S H Y FA C T S

DOLPHINFISH They don’t look alike and aren’t in the same taxonomic group, yet they share a name and cause plenty of confusion. The dolphinfish is a brightly colored teleost (ray-finned fish) – much smaller than the typical dolphin mammal – and sports a blunt, flat forehead in contrast to the dolphin’s beaked face. Dolphins are protected from capture under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but dolphinfish are heavily harvested and marketed.

While restaurants may have formerly referred to them as “dolphin” or “dolphinfish” on menus, many have switched to mahi-mahi or dorado to avoid confusion and outrage among guests. Mahi-Mahi comes from the Hawaiian language and literally means strong-strong, but is normally interpreted as “very strong.” Dorado is Spanish for golden, referring to the fish’s characteristic color. Few answers exist about how and why the term dolphin became attached to this fish. In fact, “dolphin” has roots in the Greek delphis (related to delphys) meaning “womb,” possibly since they give birth to live young. But dolphinfish don’t have wombs. They do, however, make similar high-pitched noises to communicate, so the 60 | February 2019

dolphinfish may be named for this dolphin-like trait.

There are only two species of dolphinfish: the common dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus, and the pompano dolphin, Coryphaena equiselis. Pompano dolphins do not grow to the sizes that common dolphinfish do, and they are often mistaken for juvenile or female common dolphinfish. Besides size, they can be differentiated by the shape of a tooth patch on their tongue (the pompano has a square patch, and the common has a round patch) and the shape of the anal fin (the pompano has a convex, rounded anterior end, and the common’s is concave).

Common dolphinfish can reach seven feet in length and weigh about ninety pounds, though they more commonly reach just over three feet. The all-tackle game fish record is 87 pounds, caught in Papagayo Gulf, Costa Rica, in 1976. Individuals can live up to four years, but generally live less than two. Their coloration is striking with golden hues on the sides, irregular blotches of metallic blue and greens on the back and sides, and white and yellow on the underside. Small individuals and juveniles have well-defined alternating light and dark

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vertical bars on their sides. These brilliant colors fade to silvery grey with black spots and dark fins soon after death. Mature males (6+ months old) have a prominent bony crest at the front of the head and are physically larger and heavier than females of the same age.

Both species are widespread in tropical and temperate waters and occur in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and the Mediterranean, most commonly in waters between 70 and 86°F. They are abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Current, and throughout the Caribbean. Though occasionally found near the coast or caught from an ocean pier, dolphinfish are basically a pelagic species, inhabiting the surface of the open ocean down to about 280 feet. They have a particular affinity for swimming beneath floating objects: buoys, seaweed, logs, ships, etc. Due to their oxygen needs, dolphinfish must swim continuously to ventilate their gills, and thus have gills with a larger surface area than most other teleosts, which also contributes to a higher energy expenditure.

Dolphinfish are generalists, feeding on all forms of fish, zooplankton, crustaceans, and squid. With their speed, agility, and a large mouth equipped with many bands of fine teeth, they are able to overcome most prey items. They are a top predator in the Atlantic Sargassum, where they prey mostly upon smaller fishes and invertebrates. Though they are not selective in their feeding habits, their diets do change with growth. Larvae and juveniles feed primarily on crustaceans, especially copepods. Adults feed mostly on bony fishes, with a special taste for flying fish. Sargassum is frequently found in the stomachs, but this is probably just a side effect of foraging in the sargassum communities. Dolphinfish usually hunt in pairs or small packs during the day, as they rely upon vision (as well as their lateral line system) to detect prey. (The lateral line is a system of tactile sense organs that detect movements and pressure changes in the surrounding water.) Males are apparently more active feeders than females, evidenced by the larger amounts of food found in their stomachs. Predators of the dolphinfish include swordfish, sailfish, sharks, porpoises, albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, and even seabirds when they’re young. They are sometimes observed with holes pierced through them by marlin bills.

Spawning is probably year-round at water temperatures greater than 70°F and occurs in the open water when temperatures rise.

Dolphinfish spawn in pairs, rather than communally, and will spawn two or three times during each spawning period (those that live where spawning isn’t year-round). Eggs and larvae are pelagic. Larvae hatch at approximately 4 mm total length, and reach a length of 5.7 mm

62 | February 2019

within four days. At fifteen days, the larvae are approximately 15 mm long. Vague adult characteristics are visible at this size, and the eyes and mouth are fully developed. In the Gulf of Mexico, sexual maturity is reached at three to four months, between sixteen and nineteen inches. These fish live life in the fast lane, in more ways than one.

They are extremely fast swimmers, reaching speeds up to 50 mph in short bursts. Small dolphinfish often travel in schools from just a few fish to over fifty individuals. Larger adults can be seen traveling alone or in pairs. Dolphinfish are considered a highly migratory species, and as such are accorded special protection under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, UNCLOS is “an international agreement that sets forth a comprehensive legal framework for the use and protection of the sea, the seabed and subsoil, and the marine environment, including both natural and cultural resources. Through a wide range of provisions, UNCLOS establishes clear guidelines with respect to states’ navigational rights, maritime zones and boundaries, and economic jurisdiction, while also providing member states a mechanism for international cooperation and dispute resolution.” (NOAA) The convention replaces four 1958 treaties and has been ratified by over 150 countries. Though the U.S. complies with the Convention’s provisions and even invokes UNCLOS to assert freedom of navigation and challenge excessive maritime claims, the treaty has yet to gather the Congressional support necessary for U.S. accession.

Dolphinfish are harvested throughout their circumglobal range.

There are some localized declines that may be related to overfishing.

However, there is no indication that this species is undergoing significant population declines. Because they can be locally abundant and are fast-growing, early-maturing, and short-lived, they are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. A popular fishing method is to troll surface baits. If the first dolphin caught is kept in the water, it will sometimes hold the school, and often others will come near enough to be caught by casting. Researchers at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies are waiting on returns from tagged dolphinfish, so if you catch one, you can report the tag at sportfishcenter.org.

Tagging studies have already provided information on feeding ecology, as well as age and growth rates, but there’s still a lot to learn about this wide-ranging species. Participation of recreational anglers in fisheries science is a significant advantage in the management of gamefish populations.

In addition to being a highly rated game fish, they are also a delicious food fish, though there are reports of ciguatera poisoning from consumption. Ciguatera poisoning is caused by the bioaccumulation of ciguatoxins in the flesh of tropical marine fishes. Ciguatoxins are produced by marine dinoflagellates that grow attached to marine algae. Apex reef predators concentrate the ciguatoxin by feeding on other members of the reef community who fed on the contaminated algae. Unfortunately, there’s no sure-fire method to avoid ciguatera poisoning. It’s not related to inadequate food handling, storage, preparation, or procurement methods for contaminated fish – it’s heat-stable, so cooking, boiling, freezing, baking, and/or frying does not eliminate or destroy the toxin.

Contaminated fish might taste peppery, sharp, metallic, or bitter, but could just as easily look and taste normal. Really the only way to avoid it is to avoid eating large pelagic and tropical reef fish, though it’s also been suggested that you can limit the risk by eating only small

portions of any one fish, and avoiding the same fish over successive days. The toxin is also more concentrated in the liver, roe, head, and viscera, so those should also be avoided in high-risk fish. Luckily, dolphinfish arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t usually on the high-risk lists.

When you see a fish, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of its scales, do you? You think of its speed, its floating, flashing body seen through the water...the flash of its spirit. ~ Constantin Brancusi, Romanian sculptor (1876-1957)

Where I learned about dolphinfish, and you can too!

World Register of Marine Species www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126846 FishBase www.fishbase.de/summary/coryphaena-hippurus.html Texas Marine Species txmarspecies.tamug.edu/fishdetails.cfm?scinameID=Coryphaena%20hippurus TPWD tpwd.texas.gov/fishing/sea-center-texas/flora-fauna-guide/gulf-waters/ animals-of-the-gulf-waters/dolphin-fish Center for Sportfish Science & Conservation www.sportfishcenter.org/sites/default/files/2018-07/young_thesis.pdf Florida Fish & Wildlife Conseravation Commission myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/dolphin/

University of Florida Museum www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/species-profiles/coryphaenahippurus/ Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/356300/overview Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coryphaena_hippurus/ IGFA World Records Database wrec.igfa.org/WRecordsList.aspx?lc=AllTackle&cn=Dolphinfish Sciencing sciencing.com/difference-dolphin-fish-dolphin-mammal-8393806.html sciencing.com/mahi-mahi-called-dolphin-12036934.html Online Etymology Dictionary www.etymonline.com/word/dolphin US National Library of Medicine www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2579736/ United Nations www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_ convention.htm NOAA www.gc.noaa.gov/gcil_los.html The Diplomat thediplomat.com/2017/05/u-s-ratification-of-the-law-of-the-sea-convention/

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Pompano landed from kayak.

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 FLORIDA POMPANO

OF TEXAS

Walking the sandy beaches of Padre Island National Seashore on a cold winter morning can trick the casual observer into believing nearly all the marine species commonly found in the surf zone have moved offshore to warmer depths. But just because the surf is chilly does not necessarily mean all the fish have left. Take the Florida pompano for example, even its name suggests warmer water. Truth is though, to the delight of year-round anglers, this gem of a wintertime surf inhabitant can be present and even abundant in 60° water.

A distant cousin of the jack cravelle, pompano from our surf average about two pounds and are regarded as one of the tastiest fish that swims in the Gulf of Mexico. Being both commercially fished and farmed, their fillets are always in great demand among seafood dealers and restaurant operators. Fortunately, they have a very rapid growth rate and are very sustainable. While present in Texas waters all year, the winter months mark their greatest abundance in the surf as they congregate to feed on ghost shrimp, sand fleas, and coquina clams. And don’t let that tiny mouth fool you, pompano have voracious appetites, and can sometimes be seen to feed continuously for hours.

64 | February 2019

Fishing for pompano is relatively easy. Tidal movement seems to trigger the bite although the feeding pattern can also occur randomly some days. The key ingredients to achieving a successful pompano outing are cool water temps, calm wind, and gently moving surf. Most importantly, green or clear water seems to be their favorite.

Two to three days after a strong front usually provides a calm period. High atmospheric pressure and sunny skies immediately behind the front will help warm the surf.

Personal experience shows that pompano will be most active when the water temperatures run in the 62°-70° range. I call this the “pomp zone.” Of course we target this optimal window with great expectations but I have also caught them when the water was as cold as 55° and as warm as 85°F. So there are exceptions to every rule. Usually though, when you fall outside that optimal temperature range, you can expect solitary fish more often than schools.

The most effective way of catching pompano is simply fishing on bottom with shrimp or Fishbites, or a combination of both. Fishbites is a synthetic bait that includes natural scent ingredients. I prefer small circle hooks in 2/0 to 4/0 size. I make my own leaders out of

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fluorocarbon material of 40 to 60 pound strength.

Some people add beads or “bling” for added visual appeal but I keep it simple, relying on the bright hues of the Fishbites to do the trick.

My typical pompano rig includes two or three hooks and multiple hookups are not uncommon when the bite is on. I will often start out using a strip of Fishbites tipped with a small piece of shrimp. The only downside to adding the shrimp occurs when the hardhead catfish are abundant. And speaking of hardheads – while nobody keeps them for bait or table fare – they are still important members of the ecosystem and food chain and deserve to be released the same as any highly-prized game fish. So, a word the wise, ditch the shrimp when the hardheads are thick and stick with the Fishbites.

Pompano tend to come in very shallow, especially if they are feeding on the small coquina clams. However, the higher concentrations tend to hang more reliably on either side of the second sandbar. There are occasions when long-casted baits will work to your advantage. While not necessary, matching up a good rod and reel for long-casting may give you an edge and perhaps let you find the fish when you normally may not with a closer cast.

My pompano setups are a combination of spinning and conventional reels, paired with an ideal rod such as a Breakaway LDX or GDX. These ultra-lightweight surf blanks are a dream to cast. The length of the rods also helps maximize casting distance when the pomps are lying on the far side of that second bar. These are my personal preferences in tackle but I see many other setups being used successfully.

So, you have a nice mess of delicious pompano, what is the best way to prepare them for dinner? There is basically no wrong way – some prefer fried fillets but I think they are much better suited to baking in the oven or slow-cooked in the smoker. Smoked pompano is my favorite of all smoked fish. If you want to go the extra step, use smoked pompano fillets to prepare a dip and you will be the star of the party!

Another popular method is to cook your pompano whole as you would a flounder. I’ve also stuffed or bacon-wrapped pompano which is out of this world.

Anytime I ever get into quite a few, I tend to go the smoker route. I then vacuum seal them after they are cooked so they are ready to eat anytime in the future.

Due to being quite tasty, they don’t last long in the freezer, thus the continual hunt for more!

Pompano are also a great wintertime shark bait.

Being a hardcore sharker, it is often a toss-up whether to harvest for food or bait. If shark action is slow, I will certainly choose to harvest for food. If the water conditions are prime and sharky, I will not hesitate to set one or two aside for bait. They are the perfect size to rig whole with a 20/0 circle hook. While the blacktip sharks will destroy these if they are present, you’ll 66 | February 2019

Typical size of pompano taken on wintertime surf trip.

Large sandbar shark that took a whole pompano bait.

Coquina clams are a staple part of the pompano diet.

C O N TA C T

ideally target the larger sandbar sharks. The sandbars are our biggest of the usually encountered cold water shark species. Normally I wouldn’t sacrifice a tasty pomp for shark, but these bold and energetic sharks have a winter window that only a few people take advantage of. If using a prized dinner fish for bait (and please know that it is legal) increases my odds of hooking a big sandbar, I’ll take that chance.

We are very fortunate here in Texas to have a great variety of saltwater fish to play with. And even more fortunate that most of the species are not just edible, but downright excellent in the food category. And with all that said, the Florida pompano are among the best of the best.

Whenever clients catch pompano on my charters and take them home to cook, I usually get a call soon afterwards to let me know how much they enjoyed them.

Pompano are not the largest of gamefish, but on semi-light tackle they’re a blast to catch and are a perfect treat for kids to reel in. During the winter months when everything seems slow and desolate, I always set a few rods for pompano and you may be very surprised at the results.

And if you really start getting into them thick, the excitement can quickly turn a cold day on the beach into something fun and rewarding.

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

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P L A S T I C & WAT E R D O N ' T M I X

Ty l e r T h o r s e n , Fr i e n d s o f Pa d r e

24TH ANNUAL BILLY SANDIFER BIG SHELL BEACH CLEANUP The 24th Billy Sandifer Big Shell Cleanup will be held Saturday morning February 23, 2019.

Billy formed the Friends of Padre non-profit group in 2008 to insure the continuance of the Big Shell Cleanup long after all those currently involved “had assumed room temperature, or until such time that Homo sapiens quit dumping trash into the sea.”

“Ha!” Billy would grunt. “Good luck with that!”

Billy never sought accolades or attention. The Big Shell Cleanup was never about him. When interviewed for a Legends of Rod and Reel segment in which he was featured, he said, “Someday, when it’s time, I’m just gonna walk up on one of those sand dunes, sit just like I am right now, hold this old hat down and disappear. Then you guys can all scratch your heads. Not about where I went, but was he ever actually there?”

Billy walked up on that dune the morning of March 30, 2018. But he didn’t disappear.

Billy was a mentor and great friend to many. I personally felt bad that I wasn’t as sad as I thought I should have been.

God knows, I and all of his other “sons” as he called us, missed that old man terribly. The reason I was holding it

68 | February 2019

together was that I could still feel his presence.

When we held a Friends of Padre director’s meeting to plan a celebration of his life, it was as if Billy had taken his usual place in that folding chair in Aaron Baxter’s shop in Flour Bluff – carefully watching and listening. He wanted no big fuss and certainly nothing from Judeo-Christian land.

Mother Ocean was always Billy’s church.

On Sunday May 20, 2018 at Briscoe King Pavilion near Bob Hall Pier, Billy’s closest friends, relatives and admirers gathered to celebrate, not mourn, the Life and Times of Captain Billy Sandifer.

As we sat watching the Legends of Rod and Reel, as if on cue, one of our beach friends, Cork, tapped me on the shoulder and asked that I hurry to the big door that was open to the boardwalk that leads over the dunes to the beach.

Cork said, “Look, it’s Sandy coming to pay us a visit.”

A lone coyote was perched on a dune as though observing the event. David Sikes was able to capture one quick photo. Many in attendance knew of Billy’s spiritual relationship to the coyote through his many articles in Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, so it was no surprise that the Captain would pay us a visit.

Billy made his presence known again in July as we gathered many of his items; his trademark shark tooth necklace and other memorabilia, to display in a custom-built shadowbox at the PINS Malaquite Visitor’s Center during the Ridley Rendezvous event.

Nothing about his many angling achievements. It was all about the Big Shell Cleanup and Billy’s lesson to us that “One person can make a difference.”

Later in the fall, another Friends of Padre board member, Troy Adler, who sits on the Nueces County Coastal Parks Board with me, floated the idea of renaming the entrance to Padre Balli Park and Bob Hall Pier, from Access Road 6, to honor Billy Sandifer. The motion passed and very soon that roadway will be renamed Capt. Billy Sandifer Way. Billy’s grandfather, Papa, as he called him, would drop Billy off at Bob Hall Pier every June and July when Billy was a young teen where he would spend weeks at a time. Billy always said that’s where he learned to fish.

Fast forward to early December. I was totally fine with Billy’s passing until the first big cold front of the season dropped the surf temperature below 59°. Surf fishing for winter trout was always Billy’s and my own truest passion. I suddenly realized there would no gruff voice on the phone telling me, “Tomorrow’s the day. Be at my house at 6:30. Bye.” That and the dark weather brought the cold reality that my friend, second Dad and mentor, may have truly disappeared.

As I was beginning to feel sorry for myself, finally mourning the man I had so loved and admired, something truly wonderful happened. You all may not realize it but the Friends of Padre spends months planning and preparing each cleanup so it can go as smoothly as possible. The first order of business is rounding up artwork for the event’s T-shirts and sponsors. Getting the shirts ordered well in advance is one of the biggest chores. First came the design. We didn’t want any sad tributes or memorial lines, but what would be fitting?

At our first meeting in December, our friend and artist, Jacob Augsberger, Augs as we call him, of Augsart and Design, brought in a few sketches of what he was thinking for the shirts.

You could have heard a pin drop. No timeline of Billy’s life, 1947 – 2018.

No RIPs. Just a charcoal sketch of a coyote looking over the cleanup from the crest of a dune. The design was so subtle that some in the room didn’t notice immediately. The coyote’s shadow is Billy. Still up on that dune looking over his playground and Mother Ocean. Subtle but perfect!

Since the inception of Big Shell Cleanup, 8575 volunteers have removed 2,726,000 pounds of trash from the remote four-wheel-drive-

only region of Padre Island National Seashore known as Big Shell Beach.

The all-time cleanup record was established last year just prior to Billy’s passing – 1175 volunteers removed 85 tons of trash, 17 tons of which were recyclable. How fitting?

The 2019 Billy Sander Big Shell Cleanup will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at the Padre Island National Seashore. Volunteers will meet at the Malaquite Visitor’s Center no later than 8:00am. Park admission fee will be waived for cleanup volunteers. Volunteers can expect to be back at the Visitor’s Center Parking lot no later than 2:00pm.

Volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles are and have always been the backbone of this event. However, those without four-wheeldrive are welcome and will be transported down the beach as space becomes available in other vehicles. Volunteers with four-wheel-drive willing to accept riders should notify team leaders during registration.

Trailers for hauling trash are much needed but must be in good condition due to the rough terrain.

Volunteers are advised to check weather forecasts and dress appropriately as the event has historically included some adverse weather conditions. Long trousers, long sleeved shirts, windbreaker jackets or slicker tops, suitable headwear and sturdy work shoes are recommended. Lumber holding rusty nails can and should be expected under piles of dead sargassum. Sandals and bare feet are not recommended.

Food will be available at the Malaquite Pavilion at the conclusion of the event with Corpus Christi Area Domino’s Pizza and the CCA Corpus Christi Chapter Wienerschnitzel Wagon. Drinking water and light snacks will be available in the work area but feel free to bring something to eat during the event if you feel it necessary. Volunteers will receive those wonderful Augsart commemorative coyote T-shirts while supplies last.

For the very first time, we are honored to offer up to 1200 volunteers Yeti Rambler Tumblers in various sizes. That’s over $30,000 in promotional items from our first-time sponsor. Yeti is one of the most respected outdoor lifestyle manufacturers in the world and greatly supports conservation efforts. Special recognition is due our friend, cleanup volunteer, and Yeti employee, Kurt Obersteller for bringing Yeti to the Big Shell Cleanup.

Space prohibits a complete sponsor list in this announcement article but Friends of Padre cherishes each and every one of you. I will endeavor to include a full sponsor listing in our Big Shell Cleanup wrapup piece next month.

Please join us on February 23. As Brother Billy often said, “Life’s a hoot!

Get you some of it!”

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NEW Costa’s® New Slack Tide and Bayside Frames Combine Performance with Style Named for tidal movements and the beauty of the shore, Costa’s® new Slack Tide and Bayside frames combine the performance features Costa is known for with a relaxed, laidback, modern style. Stemming from the company’s deep history on the water, all Costa sunglasses, including Slack Tide and Bayside, bear reference to the water, its movement or locations. These new styles offer a sporty, yet stylish look for adventures on and off the water. The ventilation ports and Hydrolite® nose and temple pads help manage perspiration and heat while preventing slippage, www.CostaDelMar.com

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Ergonomic design provides increased use of finger strength with minimal effort. The result is "Slip Control" upon hookset and when fighting strong fish.

Plus – these new grips do not age and discolor the way traditional cork grips do.

Available on Waterloo Slam Mag, Ultra Mag, HP Lite, and Bait Runner series rods. www.WaterlooRods.com #mightaswellfishthebest 70 | February 2019

P R O D U C T S

LiveTarget’s Fleeing Shrimp Raises the Bar for Shrimp Imitators Recognizing the innate, evolutionary link between shrimp and the predators that consume them, the master lurecrafters at LIVETARGET have designed a unique softbodied lure, exceptionally lifelike in both form and function, that sets a new standard in shrimp imitations.

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the bottom or swimming it beneath the surface. The Fleeing Shrimp’s proprietary skirt masterfully emulates the motions of a living shrimp’s front legs, both in motion and at rest.

Pop it under a cork, freeline it in shallow water currents, bounce it across a pothole.

Impregnated with natural shrimp, the internal glass rattle makes it even more irresistible to trout, redfish and snook. Available in two sizes and eight ultra-realistic colors. www.LiveTargetLures.com

Starbrite Instant Hull Cleaner – Gel Formula Starbrite Instant Hull Cleaner - Gel Formula is the fastest and easiest way to remove unsightly waterline stains, dried fish blood, rust stains or even brown stains caused by blown-in leaves. The new spray version gel formula “sticks” where it is applied to completely cover and dissolve stains, even on vertical surfaces.

Because Instant Hull Cleaner does not contain harsh caustic acids or bleach, it won’t harm gelcoat or painted surfaces. In addition to removing tough stains, Instant Hull Cleaner also removes old wax or polish, making it the ideal way to prepare the boat for annual polishing.

For more information, go to www.Starbrite.com or call (800) 327-8583. | MSRP: $21.49

Raymarine Element Series Raymarine recently announced the Raymarine Element™, a new generation of advanced, combination sonar and GPS displays. Featuring the acclaimed Raymarine RealVision™ 3D and new HyperVision™ sonar technology, the Element delivers lifelike imaging and helps meet the demands of coastal fishermen with advanced sonar, versatile mapping capabilities, and a highly intuitive user experience.

Building on the success of the Raymarine Axiom® navigation displays, the Element incorporates integrated patent-pending RealVision

3D sonar technology, improving anglers’ underwater view with 3D bottom imagery and more precise location of fish targets. Element also introduces patent-pending HyperVision 1.2-megahertz sonar technology, featuring ultra-high Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse (CHIRP) sonar frequencies. HyperVision enhances the DownVision®, SideVision®, and RealVision 3D sonar, allowing anglers to see structure, vegetation, and fish with lifelike detail. www.RayMarine.com/element

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

72 | February 2019

Thus far, we have yet to experience the bone chilling days of last winter, but aside from that, everything has pretty much started out the way it did in 2018. We are once again catching a few large trout and even the numbers of 16 to 20 inch fish has improved.

We still have a long way to go, but the majority of our cold weather grinders continue to release their trout in an effort to shorten the recovery process. I haven’t kept a trout in the past six months, but my impact has not been that significant as I have not caught a helluva lot of fish. Any little bit, however, has to help!

If you talk with only those anglers that choose to drift fish out of the boat, they will undoubtedly tell you that our trout bite has not improved at all, but they would have probably told you much the same thing in the more productive years. Having said that, putting on the waders and staying put has truly made a bigger difference thus far than it has in years past.

The keys to consistently catching trout on even the toughest days have been to cast rather than cruise during the majors and fish incoming afternoon tides whenever possible. If you can combine the two your odds of catching go up significantly.

Small exposed patches of shell in two to four feet of water are prime locations to homestead, but for the most part locating them requires a lot of exploring in lieu of actually fishing. Following Harvey we spent a lot of time drifting with nothing more than an egg sinker tied on searching out shell that had not been buried in silt.

For years the game plan for anglers with little free time on their hands was to target shallow water less than a cast away from deeper water. If that is your plan and you elect to take your chances on the north end of the lake, I would recommend staking out a point on the tip of any of the islands bordering the ICW. The south end of Pleasure Island, the north tip of Stewts and either end of Sidney and Rabbit are excellent places to start.

The point between East Pass and Coffee Ground also draws a crowd for good reason as well. Not only is the bottom easy to walk, but thousands of acres of marsh drain into Black’s Bayou and enter the lake less than a short cast off that point. The immediate impact of a tide change is amplified in all of these small areas.

If there is a traditionally dependable stretch of shoreline slow to come around thus far it would have

Reds like this haven’t been the least bit shy in crashing the party as we’re looking for trout.

to be the flats just south of Madam Johnson’s. We have enjoyed a few very good afternoons with the redfish, but the trout have been slow to return.

If catching redfish is OK with you, take heart in the fact that you don’t have to allow them to demolish your Corkys and Soft-Dines in order to catch them when they unexpectedly disrupt your trout bite.

We are not passing on that bite either and have done very well with everything from a four inch Lil’ John to a five-inch rattail Assassin.

The silver lining to canceling eighty-four trips in 2018, other than less tax money owed the government, was that it afforded me more time to fish with youngsters and first time anglers. The look in their eyes conjures up memories of a time when every trip was an eagerly anticipated adventure that required nothing more than my presence to be a huge success.

I read every page of every secondhand Sports Afield or Field & Stream magazine I could get my hands on and, without ever leaving the den, caught everything from steelhead to sailfish. The perch I would catch the following day with a cane pole and small ball of bread were no less exciting. It was and still is…magic!

If you would like to immediately attain hero status, outfit a youngster from six to sixty with a seven-foot Laguna medium action spinning rod coupled with a 1500 or 2500 series reel spooled with 20 pound braid or 12-pound mono and take them fishing. That combination is easy to learn to cast and will handle everything from croaker to redfish.

Sharing your passion with a youngster does not require catching fish!

TSFMAG.com | 73

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

Rainfall has been no stranger around these parts!

Beginning in 2015, and every year since, the Galveston Bay region and Trinity River watershed have been absolutely inundated with local rain and incredible runoff reaching the bay system. Although what we’re experiencing right now isn’t near what we have seen in the past, these timely flushes are still keeping us on our toes.

Fishing in Trinity Bay proper has been on hold for some time now and it doesn’t look like we will be back in there anytime soon. However, fishing around Baytown and the northern stretches of the Ship Channel has been fairly consistent for much of the fall and winter. Although each slug of rain will dirty the surface water, the Ship Channels current brings in saltier waters from the gulf daily – enough to clean it up in fairly short order. As a whole, Galveston Bay is salty in most places, so rebounds don’t take too long.

The back of East Galveston Bay has been another good player for most of the fall and winter. Each rain event will mix things up a little bit but with some good tide movement and enough wind, the salinity recovers in due time. West Galveston Bay has been the most consistent as far as catching numbers and quality,

which is not abnormal for this time of year.

The February pattern is most always going to be focusing around mud flats that are adjacent to deepwater getaways. The cold fronts are far from being over and in all honesty; February is still a very cold month for us. These fish are going to need to be somewhere close to a deep hole, channel or inlet that will keep them warm and safe whenever the tide drops out behind a front. The rule of thumb is always to wait two days after a front to allow the high barometric pressure dome to pass and the fish to get hungry enough to feed predictably. Once the tide comes back up on the flats, it will generally take 12 hours for the bait to fully make their way back. When that happens the predator fish we seek will be there too.

Lure selection can be more important in February than other months. This time of year the fish are feeding mostly on mullet as the shad and shrimp are all long gone, which means that your best mullet imitators will likely outperform other lure types. For me, it’s Corkys and suspending hardbaits.

Angler confidence becomes a significant piece of the fishing puzzle with these baits. A lot of guys ask me how to work a Corky and I find that question

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Tyler struggles to show off his dinosaur of a redfish that inhaled a Corky.

difficult to answer because most everyone I know works them a little differently. The best piece of advice I can give you is to experiment each day and discover how long it takes your Corky to get to the bottom and how long it takes to slowly sink back near bottom after each twitch. When you get out of the boat, let the Corky sink right beside you and count it down until it reaches bottom. Then, with each cast, continue the counting and pay attention to how hard you’re twitching it. The harder you twitch the longer it takes to settle. I usually get more bites when I’m running it near the bottom.

Also remember that twitching a Corky effectively does not necessarily mean vigorous vertical motion with the rod tip. Try a series of short hops or swoops with the rod lying almost parallel to the water’s surface.

Imagine trying to jiggle the bait enough to get the internal rattles clicking but not rising more than a foot or so above bottom.

Topwaters can also be deadly during warm ups between fronts, but mostly during short windows of the warmer afternoons. Here again lure selection and the cadence of the retrieve is very important. Under calm February conditions, I like a slow-walked Top Dog Jr or Pup. If you have enough wind to put some chop on the surface, try a full-size Top Dog or maybe a She Dog, but keep the rhythm tight and speed slow.

All in all, the fishing hasn’t been too bad lately and it seems most everybody is catching a few fish on good weather days. Back-to-back fronts hardly allow enough of a warming period for everything to settle down before the next one hits. But keep an eye on the long range weather forecast. Anytime you see at least four to five days between fronts being forecast, you can pretty near bank on several days of decent opportunity. Get out there and enjoy it!

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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

76 | February 2019

I’m going to be honest and get right to the point – February is not my favorite month. It’s not the best fishing month, either. It can be, but fishing success is at the mercy of the bitter weather.

The best part is one cast can put you on the largest trout of your life in Matagorda.

February finally gives me a bit of a break from the past 11 months of daylight to dark. It’s a chance to catch a breather from duck season and to do business taxes. Sounds like a blast, right?

Blusters blowing 20-25 knots are not what I call conducive fishing conditions, however, 10-15 knots, which is the average wind speed this time of year, gives anglers at least a fighting chance.

Tides fall so low you can’t get back to the back lakes. But, you don’t have to, because those fish in the back lakes are pouring out with the water. We make a living in the winter waiting for redfish in the mouths of those lakes and bayous.

Calmer days allow anglers a chance at the reefs in the middle of East Matagorda Bay. Bass Assassins are my best baits for speckled trout and redfish, and when we wade we also toss Corkys, Soft Dines, Down South Lures and five-inch Bass Assassin Sea

Shad for bigger specks.

Mid-bay reefs in East Matagorda Bay are not always “trout green,” but that is not a reason to write off drifting deep shell and mud. When water clarity is stained, it helps to go with something with added scent under a popping cork.

Rig a Gulp on a jig head and pop it hard or bathe your soft plastics in garlic. The fish find them in the off-colored water by the sound and scent. Sometimes Gulps are better than live shrimp because the trout can see it better in the stained water.

The last half of 2018 we used DOA Shrimp under corks and found excellent results while drifting. The slow fall of the shrimp really sparks a bite. DOA owner Mark Nichols embarrassed me 20 years ago in Florida when he continually caught fish after fish on his patented shrimp. He told me time and time again the shrimp would work in Texas; and, it has, just took me 19

years to figure it out.

Don’t be surprised if temperatures reach the 70s this month. When winds switch to a southeasterly flow, water rises about a foot, covering recently exposed reefs, and the redfish and trout show on that shell.

It’s all weather-dependent this time of year. Some of our best catches of the year come in February in East Bay. You just have to pick your days and be ready to go when the weather stabilizes.

Stay patient.

Again, February is not my favorite month, but it beats sitting in an easy chair and mixing it up with your accountant.

We will be at the Houston Fishing Show March 6-10 in the George R Brown Convention Center. Come by and see us in the Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay booth and talk with our guides.

Follow our catches daily on Facebook and Instagram.

TSFMAG.com | 77

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 the Seadrift/Port O’Connor region since 1986. Gary specializes in year ‘round wade fishing for speckled trout and redfish with artificial lures.

Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com Facebook @captsgaryandshelliegray

78 | February 2019

So far this winter we have been lucky that Middle Coast temperatures dipped below freezing only a couple of times, and by only a few degrees when it did. Writing this in mid-January, I certainly hope not to jinx this weather pattern, but over the last several years you may recall that I began my February columns discussing fish kills and reminding readers that it is illegal to gather freezekilled or cold-stunned fish.

February will no doubt bring more below-freezing temperatures and extreme low tides in the wake of strong back-to-back northers. We’ve already seen some very low tides but they only lasted a couple of days. The kind of low water days I’m talking about here are the ones that last a week or more.

Some anglers become discouraged by low tides in the bays; I on the other hand would rather fish lower than normal tides than the higher tides we encounter other times of the year.

Consider this; fishing an extreme low tide narrows your hunting area as parts of the bay will simply be too shallow for fish to inhabit. If the air temperature is cold, let’s say in the 40s with overcast skies and water temps in the 50s, the trout and redfish will have little

Redfish are reliable players even during the coldest of weather periods.

Tony Dugue getting in on some shallow wintertime wade action.

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choice except to vacate and avoid most of the traditional flats habitat. They do this mostly because of the lack of something to eat more than the fact that shallow water remains so cold during overcast periods. But, as soon as the sun begins to show, it’s a completely different ball game.

Extreme low tides complicate navigation. Quite often my clients and I will stop to help another group get their boat off a shallow section of a boat lane that is used regularly with normal tides. The hapless captain will invariably say, “I don’t get it. I ran through here last week with no problems.” Another classic is, “The tide chart said we would be at high tide right now.”

February anglers would do well to observe the water level at the boat ramp before launching.

But unless you launch at the same ramp often and can accurately gauge the height of the tide, how could you know what is normal for that area?

My best advice is to scan the pilings and bulkheads. You will see barnacles above the waterline but these can be evident in some amount even on “safe” tides. During winter, though, if you can see eight to ten inches of green algae exposed, you’re probably launching into an extremely low tide. And guess what, the routes you navigated last week may land you high and dry today. It’s not rocket science.

And about that tide chart comment; after several days of north wind blowing the water out of the bay, the last thing I would trust would be a tide chart when deciding whether to attempt running across a shallow flat. There is no substitute for paying attention and using common sense.

When I encounter extreme low tide days with overcast skies, I begin thinking about heading to deeper water areas that are protected from wind. I think about deeper drains leading to back lake areas – the old north cut into Pringle Lake, the old cut into Contee Lake, or the new center cut into Contee that Hurricane Harvey carved to an eight foot depth. These are but a few; there are myriad possibilities down along the south shoreline of San Antonio Bay. I concentrate on these deeper cuts and sloughs to take advantage of the warmer waters down low in the deepest sections. It may be only a few degrees but it can make a huge difference.

So on this cold and overcast day, once I’ve made a decision to fish a certain drain or slough, it will be difficult to detect presence of bait because they too will be snuggled into the warmer thermocline near bottom with the trout and reds.

I will generally start with my all-time coldwater confidence bait, MirrOlure’s Paul Brown Original Corky. You will likely have your own confidence bait and that’s what you should throw. I will say this though, if you are not getting strikes, do not be shy in switching to another bait.

Absent any reasonable action on the Corky, the next lure on my list will be the 4” Bass Assassin Sea Shad rigged on a 1/16 ounce Jighead, worked slowly and methodically along bottom.

Another good choice would be the MirrOlure SoftDine XL. If this doesn’t produce, I’m headed to the next deep slough.

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TSFMAG.com | 79

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

80 | February 2019

Nearly every phone call and email I receive regarding charters includes this question: What is the best month to catch a big trout? I reply very honestly that it is hard to name just one month, each year is different, but February is tough to beat.

The truth is that any day from December through May can produce legitimate giants that sport not only length but impressive girth as well. February, being in the approximate middle of that timeframe, traditionally produces some of the most consistent big catches we see each year. With hunting season in the rear view mirror, the trophy hunters come out of the woods, so to speak, and their determined focus turns to the wiliest of all Texas trophies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; giant speckled trout. The only trophy that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be bought. Time and persistence is all that will prevail in this quest.

My preferred method for seeking out the best trout February has to offer, typically begins with a muddy flat that contains both grass and slick/sandy areas, near a drop-off into deeper water. These areas abound throughout Baffin and the Upper Laguna; however, they do change annually due to new grass growing in and covering up areas that may have

been ideal a year earlier.

The flats themselves are a constant, for the most part, so they are always a good starting point if you find yourself down here for the first time since last spring with no clue where to start. Once you have established the flat has all of the right ingredients; bottom structure, etc., just add a food supply, mullet or perch, to the recipe, and you should be on your way toward some top shelf trout fishing.

I always start my days with clients where I know big fish are hanging out. If I do not have too many sinners on the boat, the good Lord usually blesses us with quality bites and opportunities to get the day started on a positive note. As the day rolls on, and more boats start running around, my charter will invariably migrate toward areas that have a great history of catching big for me, without boat traffic and prying eyes. Regardless of how many areas I have up my sleeve for this poker play, they are useless if there is no activity in the area; i.e. baitfish supply.

Some of the flats are small and close to the shoreline. Others extend a couple hundred yards into the bay and break off gradually, some sharply. There

Catch and release works. If you want a viable trophy fishery, there comes a time when we must police ourselves.

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are too many of these sweet spots to try and fish in a month, much less in a day. To save time, I use the “wait and watch” method when pulling into what I think might be a productive area. I always shut down 100-plus yards from the area I intend to fish, switch off the big Mercury, and start looking for bait. The clients get involved in this, the more eyes the better in this situation.

Inside of five minutes, a decision will be made whether to stay or leave. With a little luck mixed with experience, it’s usually the correct choice.

A major key to daily success, and one that so many have a tough time grasping, is to slow your wade and fish the area properly. When you are trying to catch a trout that makes up less than 1% of the total population, it is very easy to walk right past them. In the right conditions, these big trout will be hanging out on a very specific type of structure, be it a point, windward side of a pothole, or something similar. The times are countless in my career when a “Sea Biscuit” client darted out past everyone, only to have his buddies hand him his katoosh on big fish he just blew past. Patience, good casts, and stealth, will deliver results on these big, skittish girls way faster than any race horse can get to the finish line.

With all of the dead grass on the bottom of the bay floor, I am using the lightest jig heads possible to work my trusty Bass Assassins through big trout water. The Bass Assassin 2/0 Pro Elite Series Jighead in 1/16-ounce is the bomb for doing this. It looks small but has a lot of attitude and can handle anything in our bays. If there is any surface activity, MirrOlure’s Floating Fat Boys (Paul Brown Original Series) have been great over areas of dead grass. If I’m fishing in an area that has live grass and more potholes, the original slow-sinking Corky and Fat Boy are the ticket.

Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey

TSFMAG.com | 81

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

Howdy from Port Mansfield! With hunting seasons winding down and February upon us, you can bet lots of anglers will be hitting the chilly flats looking for “the one” that we all know exists, at least in our dreams. I’m referring to double-digit speckled trout, of course.

You imagine yourself wading in slightly stained water with scattered potholes and lots of six-inch mullet flickering. The water temperature is 60° with a slowly falling barometer. The sky is overcast with intermittent mist and a light north breeze. You came prepared though – Simms and AFTCO gear from head to toe keep you warm and dry.

Your cast lands perfectly, just beyond a pothole, you work the lure up to the edge and pause for a second.

You feel a light tap and set the hook. It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. She comes out of the water, but only half of her – she’s that big. Her gills are flared and her gaping yellow mouth is the size of a bucket.

Your buddy is capturing the action on his cell phone as you handle her like a pro.

No luck involved – preparation just met opportunity.

I envision this nearly every day.

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way, especially with trophy trout (over 30 inches) accounting for only a tiny Mike McDaniel landed this fraction of the trout population. beautiful Lower As of this writing, I and a guide Laguna speck buddy, along with a videographer, on a recent are documenting all that is required warming day. in planning, strategy, weather, perseverance, dedication, timing, etc. to connect with “the one.” Stay tuned.

Our fishing here in Port continues to be good. We are having to work around some strong fronts that blow the water out and can dirty the flats in a hurry.

On a recent trip we were in an area where we were catching some nice trout and reds when a northwesterly front arrived. Standing thigh deep, I watched as the water began turning dirty brown. Shortly we were standing in calf to knee deep water. The bite we were on shut down instantly.

It was amazing to watch the water fall off that large flat in the matter of an hour. We hopped on my 24-foot Shallow Sport Classic and were lucky enough to slip out of there and readjust our game plan. We stopped along a flat with a sloping edge toward deeper water and battled the windy, cold, drizzly conditions for another hour or so, hoping the gamefish would stage along the drop. With just a few bites we decided to call it a day. Heck, it was nearly 4:00pm anyway.

Generally, we have been targeting large flats with an abundance of thick grass and potholes – the potholes that are holding the best fish are the ones that are about six to eight inches deeper than that grass that surrounds them. They also have more of a muddy, almost boggy bottom. I believe fish prefer these potholes over others for whatever reason.

I know this because when I’ve seen those larger fish while cruising the flats and circle back around to make a wade, I’ve noticed this kind of bottom. When we’ve worked areas like this thoroughly, we have been successful with some large trout (up to seven pounds) and even heavier redfish. It’s important to have just a little bait present, it does not take a lot. If I see bait while running the flats but not necessarily seeing it jumping, that’s OK. I know it’s there and that’s good enough.

Best baits have been KWigglers Willow Tail Shad and Long Tall Sally. Quite often when the bottom grass is really thick we find it necessary to rig on the Willow Maker weedless jighead in either 1/16 or 1/8 ounce (the 1/8 will be available soon). If there are larger potholes with less grass, a regular 2/0 jighead of 1/16 or 1/8 ounce works fine. Not a lot of topwater action recently but when opportunity presents itself we’ve been pulling a few good fish. The steadiest action though has been with plastics by far.

Another consideration would be to periodically check deeper ledges or flats that taper off quickly, bigger fish seem to prefer those drop-offs. Toss a plastic and work the deeper area slowly and thoroughly. Best colors have been Mansfield Margarita, Plum Chartreuse, Flo Mingo and Turtle Grass.

As we move into February and beyond, expect fish to be more aggressive on warming days.

This is when you might find yourself fighting the fish of a lifetime.

If you plan to attend the Houston Fishing Show – March 6 to 10, 2019 – swing by the Fishing Tackle Unlimited booth and say hello. We would love to visit with everybody.

TSFMAG.com | 83

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 new year has already been good to us on the Lower Laguna Madre and I am excited to be headed into the much-anticipated wintertime big trout season. I can’t say enough about the condition of our water from Port Mansfield down to South Padre, clarity has been excellent, even on some of the windiest days.

February is our coldest month in South Texas, and thus far the water temperatures have dipped to a chilly 45° several times. Given the generally shallow nature of the Laguna, our fish and other sea life are vulnerable in these cold water temps. Luckily though, the shallow waters warm up very quickly as soon as the fronts pass through.

Timing is everything and this is never more evident than during winter down here. February weather can turn ugly in the blink of an eye, so keeping an eye on the marine forecast is critical for fishing success as well as your own safety.

Water temperature will determine where fish will stage and a moving tide will sometimes trigger a bite even if the water temp is below their comfort level. Finding bait in the colder

months is more important than any other time of the year. Fish might not feed as often but will feed for extended periods during optimal weather conditions.

Paul Scheurer was very happy to land this shallow water 8 1/2 pounder.

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When Preston Beck is not hitting baseballs, he is looking for trout like this one.

Waiting for the sun to warm the shallow flats can sometimes be the best part of your game plan.

I have found that our fish will seldom bite when the water temp falls below 54°. As soon as it rises above 55° and edges toward 60° you can find a few bites, nothing aggressive at first, soft bites that many mistake for hanging their lure on grass. The magic happens above 60°. Fish become more active and begin to chase bait and lures. One of the most valuable tools on my boat is the water temperature gauge and you can bet that I keep an eye on it throughout the fishing day.

Winter fish patterns are easy to decipher if you can keep an eye on water temperatures, tide levels, and bait availability. There are many more factors, but I feel if you can master these three you can stay on fish consistently.

Bigger trout have been showing in normal haunts since mid-December and have become more numerous lately. We are catching some but not nearly as many as I believe are available. As I said earlier, timing is everything and we haven’t been so lucky fitting our fishing efforts into the timing of the conditions. We will continue to grind it out, and at the right time and place, someone is going to have a smiling face holding a personal best trout.

Grass flats with scattered potholes continue to be hot spots for both trophy trout and keepers.

The key in getting them to bite has been rigging KWiggler Willow Tails (Turtle Grass) on the KWiggler weedless hooks and dragging them just above the grass. The Barboleta LeLe has also produced well for us. The LeLe tends to sink as you twitch it and floats toward the surface on the pause. Most bites come as it begins to rise. MirrOlure’s Corky lures in both floating and slowsinking versions have been working in 2 to 4 feet of water. From what I’ve seen thus far we could be in for a banner big trout season.

Redfish action improved significantly as soon as the cooler temperatures arrived. When the trout bite has been slow the reds have helped us maintain focus. The KWiggler Ball Tail Shads (Plum/Chart) bumped along mud/shell bottom in 2 to 3 feet of water have been keeping our lines stretched.

Gorge feeding during prolonged warming periods has been a delight to experience. Finding mullet and small crabs scurrying along bottom is the place to be.

The wintertime snook bite continues to be the best I have ever witnessed as large schools are roaming deeper channels. Tide movement, coming or going, is a must when targeting these feisty and tricky fish. Twitchbaits cranked down 3 to 5 feet have been effective and we have even enjoyed some sightcasting success. No doubt this colder weather has them schooled up for now in the deeper habitat.

In closing, I would like to say that we’re off to a good start and hopefully 2019 will continue to be filled with lots of tight lines and screaming drags. Keep in mind that it’s our fishery that feeds our passion, not the number of fish we kill for a stringer shot to prove we’re better fisherman. Keep a few fresh fillets for dinner and let the rest swim for another day.

TSFMAG.com | 85

FISHING REPORTS

Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 We enjoy fishing in the month of February because it offers many opportunities on our estuary. For big trout, lots of trout, also redfish and flounder, February is a great month. Many big trout will be caught throughout the estuary this month, most of them by folks wading in less than three feet of water. Slow-sinking lures like Paul Brown Originals and MirrOdines work well when targeting larger trout. If you’re looking for lots of trout, hit the reefs in depths of about five feet. Work the area thoroughly with soft plastics on light jigheads (like sixteenth-ounce) as well as MirrOdines. A slower sink rate triggers more bites in the last parts of winter. Redfish will still be present along the banks and at the weirs, with tide movement becoming more of a factor due to rising water temperatures. Outgoing tides will become imperative for catching reds.

Flounder usually start their spring migration back to the marshes around Valentines Day. When fishing for them, remember to maintain contact with the bottom. Gulp! is always a good choice for the flat fish.

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James says the time for wading is now. “I did quite a bit of boat fishing in December and early-January. We were catching limits, but having to cull through lots of little fish to get 'em on most days. We did have some real nice fish in some of the canals when it was cold. We caught 'em in depths from twelve to about fourteen feet, lots of three and four pound trout. Lately, we're wading almost all the time, and the average size of the fish we're catching has been really good. We're throwing slow-sinking lures like Paul Brown FatBoys, MirrOlure Catch 5s and SoftDines, also doing really well on the white Bass Assassin Sea Shads, on light jigheads. On the colder days, we're fishing everything low and slow. When it warms up like the past couple days, and water temps hit the 60-degree mark, we're also catching pretty good on topwaters like SheDogs and ShePups. These things will continue to work throughout February and into the early part of the spring. Wading is the way to go, especially if you want to catch some of the bigger trout.”

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Monitoring the weather buoys has given Jim plenty of information about the freshwater flowing into the Galveston Bay System. “Much of the bay is fresh right now. We do have some salty water in parts of East Bay, and we get some into the bays when the tide comes in, but overall, it's fresh and fresher. This makes for tough fishing in some places, and easy fishing in others. I'll be cranking the fishing back up in earnest when February rolls around, after winding down a busy hunting season.

I will be wanting to wade as often as possible, keying on shorelines adjacent to the mouths of bayous leading into the open bay, and also in the bayous themselves. A really effective plan this time of year is heading out late in the afternoon and fishing through the sunset and into the early parts of the night. The fish are more active when the water temperatures are up, and this effect lingers a while after nightfall. When we're fishing this way, we mostly like to throw lures which look like small fish, either twitch baits or topwaters, since big trout eat little fish.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Freshwater runoff has made things tough in some parts of Randall's 86 | February 2019

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

area, but he's still been having good days on the water. “We've been catching best on Norton Sand Shads in lime green on most days. When the fish are acting kinda finicky, we're doing better on the Sand Shad Juniors in clear with silver glitter. We're rigging these on three-eighths ounce jigheads. When the tide is high, we're catching our best fish on Brown Lures, unless the water warms up to about 65 degrees or more.

Then the topwater bite goes off pretty good. Best topwater lately has been the old standby chrome/blue Super Spook. In February, I'll be doing some of these same things, wading and throwing twitch baits and topwaters, but I'll also be working the deed reefs, throwing Norton Bull Minnows on quarter-ounce heads. Color depends on the water and the sky, but chicken on a chain works almost all the time. The key to making that pattern work is to find concentrations of mullet. Once you locate the rafted bait, the bites follow close behind.”

Matagorda | Tommy Countz Bay Guide Service - 979.863.7553 cell 281.450.4037 Two main options work well for trout anglers in the Matagorda area this month. “In February, our big trout bite really kicks off. When we're targeting them, we like to key on areas on the south shoreline of East Bay, well up in the coves if the tide is high, in the backs of the drains. If the tide is lower, we'll move further out, around areas where the drains empty into the open bay. This time of year, the trout will often move into really shallow water. We key on mullet, searching hard for them; they don't move around too much in the cold water. We throw Paul Brown Lures mostly, since they work so well in the depths where we normally find the fish. If we're not wading, we usually drift areas near Raymond's Shoal. When doing this, we like to throw 51 and 52M MirrOlures, or soft plastics on relatively heavy jigheads, either three-eighths or quarterounce, since the fish often stay right close to the bottom. When tides get really low, we'll head to West Bay and throw soft plastics on light jigheads at the redfish stacked in guts on the south side.”

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Extreme low tides and windy conditions have us scrambling to find a good bite. Trout and reds have been stacked in deep guts exiting the marshes and back lakes. We've been walking way into the back of these guts and fishing along the way until we find the fish. The best bite lately usually comes when the lure is barely picked up off the bottom, then you feel a good thump and fish on. DSL in chicken of the sea in clear water has been working great and Gulp! three-inch shrimp in root beer/ chartreuse has been awesome in dirty water. The few days we've been able to drift and cover water, we've found a good bite over shell in three to five-foot depths, drifting Cajun thunder corks and white Gulp! shrimp.

Night fishing has been spotty due to all the runoff from the river. The harbor and turning basins have held a few keeper fish, but percentages are low. February should give us a shot at some bigger fish. FatBoys in pearl/black are always good in our area in the winter months worked on relatively warm mud flats close to deep water.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 Lynn expects excellent fishing for some of the bigger trout in areas with a muddy bottom and lots of grass in February. “The back lakes in Espiritu Santo and San Antonio Bays offer good potential for catching big trout this month. We'll key on some of the deeper areas in them,

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places where water flows into and out of the really shallow parts, especially where we find thick grass beds and a soft, muddy bottom. One of the keys is to locate rafts of mullet. If we see plenty of them in an area, we'll be persistent and make lots of casts around them, experimenting with depth of presentation and speed of presentation. For the most part, slow-sinking twitch baits work best this time of year, lures like the Paul Brown Lures, also the MirrOdines and SoftDines. On most days, the big trout will hit those. If the weather warms up, and we see lots of mullet jumping, we'll throw Super Spooks and other topwaters. Of course, we catch quite a few slot and oversized reds working these patterns, but the goal will be to catch some of the biggest trout of the year.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 With cast-and-blast season over, Blake expects to spend all his on-thewater time fishing. “I'll be looking for trout mostly. If it gets cold, we'll key on areas with a soft mud bottom mixed with some scattered shell and a few dark grass beds. When it's warmer, we fish the sandy, grassy shorelines more of the time. So, we like bays with some of both of these kinds of areas, like Mesquite, St. Charles and Aransas. I've been seeing lots of quality trout while running the shallows in my air boat this duck season, so I expect some excellent fishing in February. Those big trout can be hard to catch soon after you see 'em, but sometimes, they stay in the same areas for a pretty long time, so it's possible to go back later and catch 'em. Of course, there are lots of redfish in some of those same areas, and they provide plenty of action when the trout aren't biting. Lately, we've been doing really well on Brown Lures. I had stopped throwing them for a while there, but it didn't take me long to remember how effective they can be this winter.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 History shows that the month of February is a great month for catching big trout. Because of the colder water temperatures we typically experience at this time of the year, I’ll be looking for bottoms with a mixture of mud and gravel. Drifting in depths of three to five feet will work, but wading is going to yield greater success because the strategy allows for working the areas more thoroughly. If you will be wading, do not forget to wear ForEverlast RayGuards to prevent hits from stingrays. Rig natural-colored Bass Assassin Die Dappers on eighth-ounce Spring Lock jigheads and work the baits with a very slow retrieve, bouncing them repeatedly along the bottom with short hops. When fishing with a slow-sinking twitch bait, I will fish with the MirrOlure Catch 5 in colors like CHBL or BNSBO because of their flashy, attractive hues and their noisy characteristics. Look for signs of fish being present by watching for mullet swirling, flipping or jumping and then work the areas slowly and thoroughly, making lots of casts.

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230 Fishing for big trout and redfish in February is about as good as it gets for a lure fisherman in the Baffin/ULM system, Joe says. “When the weather is cold, and strong winds make controlling the boat difficult, wading is a much better option, especially along shorelines which offer protection from the wind. On these days, fishing lures low and slow is the ticket to a few bites from big fish. When conditions improve, working shallower areas of the lagoon and in more open parts of Baffin will also produce big fish. On the warmer days, the fish will often stay in really shallow water, especially if clouds obscure the sun. Catching them on slow-sinking twitch baits can be pretty easy on some of these days.

If lots of mullet are seen milling around on the surface and jumping, topwaters work well too. Some of the areas where many big trout

88 | February 2019

have been caught over the years hold lots of reds too.

This makes for exciting action, catching upper-slot and oversized reds mixed with trout reaching up to thirty inches or more.”

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins 361-877-3583 | Oceanepics.com Warm winter weather has delivered above average surf fishing through the first of January. Water clarity has been favorable. Pompano fishing has been good nearly every day. Freshly peeled shrimp and Fish-bites are all you need. Fish-bites reduce the number of pesky hardheads. This time of year also brings abundant red and black drum, both slot and oversized. Black drum will hit your pompano baits, while redfish have been preferring cut bait. Speckled trout have been available on calmer days on MirrOlures, with some impressive specimens showing occasionally. In the shark department, expect sandbar sharks up to seven feet and maybe a bit longer. We will also likely have the smaller Atlantic sharpnose and bonnetheads. Winter surf water temps of 60° and warmer usually provide the best shark opportunity, as most will retreat further offshore during northers. A prolonged warming period in February has certainly been known to liven up the surf zone. Enjoy the uncrowded beaches, and if the conditions are just right, the surf bite may be on!

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 Historically, February enjoys a reputation as a big trout month, but measured on the whole, I see it as more of a hit and miss situation for the average angler. Wade fishermen do well on slick-calm days between fronts, but the guys who prefer to remain in the boat and drift for bites tend to struggle with lack of wind. On days when wind is favorable, drifting the deeper water can be very productive.

Whether wading or drifting, the best areas to target will hold lots of sandy potholes in the bottom grass. These can be found in West Bay, along the Pipeline, and also in the Saucer and Weather Station areas.

Ideal soft plastics will be any of the KWigglers in bone diamond, pink flomingo, Lagunaflauge, and Mansfield Margarita on eighth-ounce jigheads. We sometimes see action on topwaters and floating Brown Lures when the wind is light to moderate. I prefer bone, pink, orange and black, in just about any combination. Finding bait isn’t always easy, so remain vigilant at all times. A single mullet flipping or a diving bird might be the only clue you get.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com – 956-639-1941 Fishing in the first half of January has remained very steady for us, even with chilly water temperatures from recent cold fronts. We’ve been sticking with soft plastics mostly, my current go-to bait is the KWiggler Ball Tail Shad on 1/8-ounce jigs and my best color has been Plum/ Chartreuse. Our focus on most trips has been muddy shorelines with scattered grass and shell. Overall, the fish are preferring a slow-moving bait presentation. Trout running in the 3 to 4-pound range have been common. Redfish have been mixing with the trout along those mud and shell bottomed shorelines. The best redfish action is usually found a couple of days after a front when the southeast wind begins to blow steadily. Tides are running well below normal most days. Bigger trout have been holding in deeper guts as tides fall and usually the best ones can be found amid schools of redfish. Deep water east of the ICW has proven to hold a consistent trout bite no matter the conditions. I expect February to be more of the same as regards fishing patterns, hopefully getting even better for bigger trout. Come on out and see for yourself!

TSFMAG.com | 89

Rhett Strauss Upper Laguna - 20” first redfish!

Sonia Arguijo 24.5” trout

Shilo Young Texas City Dyke - hammerhead

Louise “Weeza” Rhode Surfsie Beach - 28” speckled trout

Howard Brown 27” redfish CPR

Bonnie Kemnitz Welders Flats - 30” redfish 90 | February 2019

Brad Korzekwa Laguna Madre - 26” trout

Seth LaHaye 30.5" 7.5 lb personal best speck! CPR

Cinco Stolte Laguna Madre - 26” redfish

Cody Fite Port Aransas - first Texas snook!

Brayden Benard Galveston - 42” personal best bull red! CPR

Gage Goebel Rockport - speck

Michael Castillo Galveston - 21” redfish

Fourdam Matey 23 mles off the coast of POC - 35 lb 55” kingfish

Rosa Young Texas City Dyke - 30” first blacktip!

Kristen Millon Port Isabel - 42” black drum

Layven James Hernandez Freeport - 22” speckled trout

Faith Roberson Shoalwater Bay - 25” redfish

Luis Rocha 43” bull red, CPR - caught off the jetty

Kelly Waldon Galveston - 30” personal best speck!

Samantha Pruitt Shoalwater Bay - 26” redfish

Thomas Friesenhahn Corpus Christi - 29 lb jack CPR

Please do not write on the back of photos.

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

Zach Thomas Galveston - 27.5” 7 lb trout

Margaret Casillas Estes Flats, Rockport - 23” redfish

Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 TSFMAG.com | 91

PAM JOHNSON

Gulf Coast

Got ideas, hints or recipes youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to share?

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

Smoked Salmon Spread INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

8oz smoked salmon (peppered or plain) 8 oz softened cream cheese 8 oz sour cream 1 to 2 Tbs powdered Ranch Dressing Mix (to taste) 1 Tbs dried dill 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 Tbs fresh lemon juice Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and serve with fresh veggies and crackers.

92 | February 2019

Thank you Patti Elkins for sharing this recipe!

we’re fishing for your input!

Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine – Reader Survey 2019 Hello Readers,

We need to hear from you! Your input is very important and helps us deliver more of what you want in each issue of TSFMag! You are invited to participate in a survey. You may do so by simply clipping this survey form, answering the questions, and mailing it to us at P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983. You may also participate electronically at www.tsfmag.com.

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I am Male ___ Female ___ Married ___ Single ___ Age ____ Working ___ Retired ___ Education: High School ___ Some College ___ College ___ Beyond college ___ Household Income: $50-75K ___ $75-100K ___ $100-150K ___ $150-200K ___ +$200K ___ Years of saltwater fishing experience? ____ How many days per year do you fish saltwater? ____ Do you own a fishing boat? ____ Number of boats in household? ____ How many people typically read your copy of TSFMag? ____ Do you read other outdoor magazines? ____ Do you prefer print or digital magazines? ____________ How do you rate TSFMag to other mags you read? (1 to 10 – 10 meaning TSFMag is best) ______ Where do you prefer to shop for fishing tackle and related gear? Tackle store ____ Online ____ Major outdoor retailer ____ Annual fishing expenditure; tackle and gear, travel, lodging, boats, charter fees, etc.? _______________________________ Tell us what you would prefer to see more or less of in TSFMag: _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you a hunter/wingshooter? Yes ____ No ____ Would you welcome hunting content in TSFMag on a seasonal basis – wingshooting and cast-blast mostly – dove, duck, goose, quail, turkey, etc.? Yes____ No____ Annual hunting expenditure; guns, ammo, related gear, leases, guide fees, etc.? _________________________

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TSFMAG.com | 93

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Science and the

Sea

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Purple, Pink and Blue—and They’re All New One is purple, one is pink, and one is blue, and it took 40 scientists from 17 countries to find them, more than 4 miles below the ocean’s surface.

They are three new species of snailfish discovered in one of the deepest places on earth, the bottom of the Atacama Trench off the coast of Peru and Chile.

Kyle Nethery

Atacama snailfish live in the deepest parts of the ocean. Credit: Newcastle University A team led by researchers at Newcastle University in England has been exploring the deepest parts of the ocean with specialized landers fitted with HD cameras and traps. The landers free-fall to the ocean floor, in this case 24,600 feet below the surface, take photographic and video images, and collect samples. The devices collect data for up to 24 hours before the researchers send an acoustic signal that releases weights in the lander, allowing it to float to the surface so the researchers can collect their scientific booty.

This research group has already deployed such devices more than 250 times and discovered new snailfish species at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The Atacama snailfish they found are translucent, eellike fish that lack scales and feed on invertebrates in the trench. Their body tissue is almost entirely gelatinous, well adapted for the extreme conditions at such depths.

But since they depend on the high pressure and low temperature to stay in one piece, it is extremely difficult for scientists to bring these fragile fish to the surface without them nearly melting away. Nevertheless, researchers managed to bring a live purple Atacama snailfish safely aboard, giving scientists the opportunity to observe and learn from this new species.

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute

TSFMAG.com | 95

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