February 2024

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IT’S TROPHY TROUT TIME IN TEXAS TIDE PREDICTIONS & SOLUNAR FEED TIMES INSIDE!

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ABOUT THE COVER JC Cortez is this month’s cover angler.

Having experienced a relatively slow day, JC and his fishing partner decided to make one final stop before heading to the dock. Lucky, that they did. The fine four pound specimen JC is displaying just couldn’t resist JC’s KWigglers paddletail. Conservation kudos for letting her swim away!

FEBRUARY 2024 VOL 33 NO 10

CONTENTS

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

8 Post-Front Maneuvers 12 Turning the Page 18 Big Fish Step Up as Temperatures Climb 24 On to Flamingo!

30 World Class Peacock Bass Adventures 34 Are You Showing Your Reels the Love...

36 Let’s Ask The Pro 38 Shallow Water Fishing 40 TSFMag Conservation News 44 TPWD Field Notes 48 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks...

52 Mostly Sight-Fishing 65 Science & the Sea

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard Wayne Davis Warren Faulkner

Jay Watkins Dave Roberts CCA Texas Alyx Bradley Eric Ozolins Nathan Beabout UT Marine Science Institute

48

30 WHAT OUR GUIDES HAVE TO SAY

56 The View from Matagorda 58 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays 60 Hooked up with Rowsey 62 Wayne’s Port Mansfield Report 64 South Padre Fishing Scene

Bink Grimes Gary Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros

64

4 | February 2024

REGULARS 6 Editorial 54 New Tackle & Gear 66 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 68 Catch of the Month 70 Gulf Coast Kitchen

70

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 ADVERTISER REPRESENTATIVES Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net Pam Johnson | pam@tsfmag.com Office 361-785-3420 Cell 361-550-9918 Everett Johnson | everett@tsfmag.com Office 361-785-3420 Cell 361-550-3637

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EDITORIAL

TROPHY TROUT TIME IN TEXAS!

Diehard trout anglers can sometimes be as bad as a bunch of kids pestering parents from the backseat. All I can say about all of that is, “Well, Hallelujah!” February and trophy trout season have finally arrived. We wait all year for the weather and tides to work their magic.

Damn the cold; stuff as many layers as will fit in your waders and tie on a Fat Boy! Reports from the Laguna Madre are growing more encouraging by the day with impressive numbers of six and sevenpounders, and a sprinkling of eights.

Hopefully, as we get deeper into trophy season we’ll begin seeing some nines View The Video and maybe even a few tens. After the Open Camera & hover devastation wreaked by Uri back in over QR Code. When February ’21, we should all be thankful to link appears, tap to open in YouTube.

TPWD for the emergency regulations that most assuredly played a major role in the February Issue recovery of this fishery.

Highlights Speaking of recoveries, the majority of anglers I have spoken with are hoping for new coast wide speckled trout regulations coming out of Austin during the January 24-25 TPWD commission meetings. Middle coast anglers are especially hopeful,

given that trout populations in these bays are still lagging 30% behind the 10-year average. Three fish bag limits are expected, with retention slot of 15- to 20-inches. The proposed changes also include one fish per day greater than 25-inches, as part of the three fish bag. However, this does not sit well with many conservation-minded anglers. CCATexas, in particular, have requested that retention of fish longer than 25-inches be delayed until a trophy tag system, similar to redfish, can be implemented in the new license year beginning September 1, 2024.

While trout are definitely in the spotlight, there are certainly other species worth pursuing in February. Reefs, pier pilings, bulkheads and jetty rocks are prime habitat for finding sheepshead this time of year; and I’m talking big sheepshead. We dedicated several outings to this delectable species last year and had a blast. Sheepshead love shrimp and can be tricky in stealing your bait. So, do not discredit the sport involved in outwitting them, a surprising amount of angling skill is required. Load up the family, make a stop at the bait camp for a sack of frozen shrimp, and try your hand at it. Trust me, those tasty fillets will be worth the effort.

Mark your calendar for the Houston Fishing Show, February 14-18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This is the biggest and best show of its kind in Texas and makes for a fun family outing. There will be special events for youngsters and always plenty of great deals on tackle and other gear.

Take a kid fishing!

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Post-Front

Nolen Baker was able to trick some very solid trout under low light conditions while chunking a hot head MirrOlure Paul Brown Corky Fat Boy in gin clear water.

Maneuvers STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

A

s I type, our water temperatures have been cold enough for a long enough period to cause most of the algae and plankton in the water to die. This, along with that fact that we haven’t had much rain to this point has resulted in some areas within the Galveston Bay Complex becoming incredibly clear.

While gin clear bay water is pretty to observe it can certainly present some challenges when it comes to tricking fish with lures.

On a recent post-front trip we were faced with just about every obstacle imaginable. In addition to fishing in very clear water, the barometric pressure was through the roof, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it was dead calm.

Based on past experiences I knew that leaving the dock well before sunrise would make it much easier to fool our fish. Dark colored soft plastics such as Red Shad, Texas Roach and Morning Glory Bass Assassins offer an appealing contrast in low light conditions. In addition, I believe sound (vibration) gets elevated a tick in a trout’s sensory pecking order when there’s less light in the sky. It may sound like a minuscule detail but just the mere gentle slapping sound of our lures onto the water’s calm surface is instantly detected by our sought-after species, initiating the instinctive reaction strike that we’re trying to accomplish. Just think about the number of times we’ve immediately hooked up as our lure hit the water.

My two clients and I began our first drift of the morning tossing 5-inch Assassins rigged on 1/8 ounce Bass Assassin Pro Elite jigheads along the edge of a shell covered flat in about 4 feet of water. This particular flat offers an irregular drop-off into a mud-lined gut about 12 feet deep. The bites were subtle and the only way to even get a shot at getting bit was to let our jigs flutter down close to the bottom. The smaller design of the Pro Elite head dramatically improves our chances when using this on-the-bottom slow-rolling technique as it allows the buoyancy properties of our soft plastics to really have an impact as they slowly sink and hover in the strike zone.

I drew first blood with a typical Galveston Bay two-pound trout, then Marty and Rick chipped Marty Criswell had himself a good day Eric Ethridge with a solid Galveston Bay trout - CPR. in with a redfish and speck in Chamber of Commerce conditions. respectively. We were able to trick a few more trout and an over-sized red before the sun rose high enough while I grabbed a Slammin’ Chicken for mine. I’ve found that the more above the horizon to warrant a change in bait colors. We all have those natural or intermediate colors like these can be excellent choices at days when the bite is so good that color doesn’t seem to matter. Then the crack of dawn in clear water. Plum Assassins and Purple Demon there are days when it most certainly does. This day was the latter for MirrOlure Lil’ Johns are also very effective in these conditions. Our sure. I tied Chicken-On-A-Chain Assassins on Marty and Rick’s lines decision would prove to be correct as we milked our bite for another

Luis Ballin with one of many solid fish he caught while drifting a shell ledge near deep water.

10 | February 2024

Mark Fritz and the rest of his crew made the best of a tough day with a good mix of flounder, specks and reds. Staying in the area where we knew fish were and grinding it out yielded good results.

hour or so until a lull in the action forced us into changing things up a bit. There’s no doubt that the fish were still there but the brighter sky wasn’t allowing us to get close enough to the fish in the extremely clear water.

It was time to switch colors once again. We switched over to Laguna Shrimp, which is a light pink back with kind of a pearlclear, glitter-filled belly. This color has been a game changer for us this winter in similar conditions. I made a few other adjustments in an effort to bring back our bite.

I did something that I feel is very effective when drifting or wading in clear water. It’s yet another detail I think a lot of folks tend to overlook and that detail involves looking into the sun. I positioned my boat to where we Derek Slovacek caught this nice red along with some Long-time client Dave DeAtkine were facing the sun and therefore trout and flounder on a weak tide post-front day. Bass with another solid slot! greatly reducing the shadow of a Assassins twitched near bottom were the ticket.

22 foot Whaler with three grown along the deeper edge of the guts we were fishing. Our bite was men in it. This is obviously more difficult to accomplish when there is never hot and heavy but we managed to dupe another half dozen a breeze but this particular morning was dead calm. If you think that trout before heading to the marina. Overall, we were more than casting a shadow doesn’t affect fish just watch how mullet and other satisfied with the results on this Chamber of Commerce postcard baitfish react when a pelican flies through the sun. They scatter like day, when fishing this time of year can be challenging, even without crazy when the shadow hits them. the high-pressure blue bird skies.

Repositioning the boat actually helped us in another way as the This article described my approach for a specific area under the tide had shifted to where it was flowing toward us which meant all circumstances discussed for this particular time of year. It’s meant of the fish were facing away from us now. It creates a much more to give guidance based upon my own successful experiences and natural presentation when we can swim our baits toward the trout as is by no means the be-all and end-all strategy compilation. The key opposed to coming from behind. takeaway from this piece is having the cognitive awareness to know These aforementioned changes, however, were not quite enough what changes to make and when to make them, whether it’s deciding to get the job done. Changing to brighter colored tails wasn’t which color to choose or which direction to walk down a shoreline. enough in the negative feed situation in which we found ourselves.

To effectively do this one must be familiar with the characteristics of These were full-bellied post-front trout we were trying to catch. the area they are fishing, and then be able to use those characteristics They were more likely to eat a small morsel than a big meal, so we to their advantage as scenarios change. And remember, changes that downsized to 4” Assassin Sea Shads which also created that little seem very small to us can mean everything to a trout. bit of vibration caused by the paddle tail. Our adjustments worked

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STEVE HILLMAN

CONTACT

for the most part as we picked off scattered specks, reds, and an occasional flounder over the course of the next couple of hours… until the bite eventually faded again.

At this point the sun was much higher in the sky and the majority of these fish had found their way off the flat and down along the bottom of the drop-offs into deeper water. By now the tide level had dropped considerably which also contributed to these fish staging

Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures.

Phone 409-256-7937 Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com Web www.hillmanguideservice.com

TSFMAG.com | 11

STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

O

n those long and chilly boat rides north of Baffin Bay, I would listen to the engine droning out its one-tone song, and I’d think about the trout I caught or lost the trip before. There I was, on the boat again; there I was, out on the stage. There I’d go, playin’ the part again; there I’d go, to turn the page.

Obviously, the previous words pay homage to Bob Seger’s famous song.

I honor them here because I find the central concept of his tune relevant when considered in the context of the multi-faceted art-form we call angling. Regularly, inevitably, things don’t play out exactly as planned, and we’re forced to alter our methods in order to catch fish.

All accomplished lure chunkers make and execute plans, and all rely on proven principles to generate their plans and to make choices about changing them. The plan for a day of fishing in some ways resembles a song, or a book of scripted plays, like the ones coaches use to orchestrate the offense in a football game. At some point, circumstances and events will conspire to force the creator of the plan to deviate from the envisioned sequences and to metaphorically turn the page.

Turning the page in a day of fishing might involve scrapping the plan to fish somewhere because of sensory observations made on the way to the place. When a captain spots several slicks popping in a cove full of panicked, airborne mullet, pulling into the area often makes more sense than racing past it, toward a previously determined destination. Certainly, some anglers will use the steering wheel to change their planned course when they spot a tightly bunched flock of squawking gulls hovering and diving along the way to a new spot.

J.P. DaFonte caught this splendid 30-inch trout dangling a worm under a cork, verifying the value inherent to remaining ready to evolve with changing conditions.

Turning the page might also involve altering tactics, usually because the ones originally deemed most appropriate don’t work well enough.

Less often, when the first plan works really well, anglers might make a switch because they feel free to experiment, in the hopes some other play might produce even more bites, or bites from bigger fish. This sometimes applies in the area of lure-choice. I’ve used the concept of switching “up” to catch big trout many times in my career.

I did on the last day of October, in 1998, when I first made myself known to the top trout fishermen in the state. While competing in the inaugural Troutmasters Classic, I started the breezy, balmy day throwing a Spit’n Image, using the lure as a kind of fish-finder, also to prove the fish would blow up on floating plugs as I suspected they would, and as they had the day before. Once I succeeded in earning three or four strikes within the first eight or ten casts, I made a conscious decision to switch to a larger topwater, in hopes of attracting the attention of the biggest fish within my reach.

I selected a brand new bone Ghost, one I’d been given in my bag of goodies at the captain’s meeting the night before, then caught the tournament-winning trout on the first cast. The fat fish snatched the lure from the air as it jumped from the crest of one wave to another, while I employed what I call a skim and pause retrieve. I well understand my prize trout might have made the same kind of determined attempt to kill and eat the Spit’n Image had I left it on the end of the line, but no one can deny the events turned out precisely as I intended.

The same can be said about the events of the morning of the first day of February 2014. I and a customer started a wade right before daybreak on the west end of Cathead, in water reading a shade under 50 degrees. The value had risen from the low mark reached about a day earlier, in the wake of one in a long series of bitter cold fronts that raked across the Texas coast between December 2013 and March of ‘14. I instructed my customer to tie on an eighth-ounce jighead and work a soft plastic low and slow, dragging it on the bottom and hopping it up lightly every few feet or so.

“Be ready, though,” I said. “If we start catching easily enough, or if 14 | February 2024

This 30-inch trout snatched the captain’s hothead Spook Junior in dim light on April Fool’s Day.

the bites feel really aggressive, I’ll be switching up to a slow-sinking twitchbait.” About fifty yards into the session, having caught at least half a dozen trout on about ten bites, and as we approached one of the productive micro-spots related to the rock formations lying close to the famous sand bar, a fish attacked my Provoker with deadly intent. The message in the hard whack traveled down the braided line, through my hands and into the processing center in my mind; I knew the time had come to add a new riff to my solo in the song of the day.

So, I snipped the worm off my line and replaced it with a gold/ chartreuse Catch 5, then threw it past the spot where the bite occurred and walked my dog right into the scene. The fish didn’t strike the noisy, wobbling plug with any inspiring intensity, but the tap I felt turned into a slug-fest with a heavy fish, one that eventually pulled the springs on the Boga Grip far enough to reveal the tenpound line on the scale. I strongly felt the scene had more to give, and turned to my customer, hoping he would help me take the improvisation to another level.

I coaxed him to tie on a Paul Brown Fat Boy, and he did, while expressing his concern with the plan. “I’ve never caught a fish on one of these,” he admitted. Acknowledging the fact, I gave him some quick pointers and told him the moment had as much potential for learning how to use the lure as any we might imagine. Within no more than a half a dozen casts, he hooked, fought and landed a 29-inch, 8-pound trout, the biggest of his life, adding a whole new verse to a supremely satisfying set. The song of the day ended with a higher crescendo, when he caught an even bigger trout.

Years before, in quite different circumstances, on an April morning, I made a similar play to catch the heaviest trout of my career. While wading a normally productive stretch of shoreline in Alazan Bay, four customers and I struck out. I walked back to retrieve the boat, and when I pulled it into the shallows to pick up the crew, intending to move to a completely different section of the bay, I saw first one, then two, then a third long needlefish dancing on its tail, obviously in fear for its life. I can’t say I knew exactly what kind of predators might inspire such fear, but I knew enough to scrap the original plan and try to identify them.

TSFMAG.com | 15

So, rather than load up my customers and make a longer move, I told them what I’d seen and sent them in the direction of the meaningful action. I followed them, taking the inside, where the water seemed too shallow to even fully cover the back of a monster trout. A few minutes into the walk, I watched my giant come off a small grass bed and attack my floating Fat Boy from behind. I had to grit my teeth and force myself not to react until I felt her weight on the line. At a shade over 31 inches, weighing ten and a half pounds, she verified my prediction in a picture perfect way. Sometimes, the script reads “exit stage left,” but the door to the right becomes a better choice when it’s time to turn the page.

Keeping the head on a swivel and paying attention to everything in sight plays a role in opening the doors of perception and revealing the truth inherent to the unfolding scene. On the last day of March 2015, I’d just moved to the flat between Baldy and the bar lying to its south, fishing in bright sun and gusty winds in the midst of a browntide event. We’d been catching some trout, but no big ones, throwing soft plastics dangled under corks. Soon after we jumped out a bit west of Yarbrough Pass, I and a client caught twin trout measuring about 23 inches. These were better fish, but they didn’t distract me from all the frantic mullet I saw flying around between me and an old oil-field ditch running south to north, into the shallowest part of the area.

I told the guys I’d investigate, and caught a 30-inch trout within minutes of arriving in the midst of the melee. I waved the group into the skinny water, and not long after they joined me, I caught another of the most significant fish of my career, a ten pounder measuring about 31 and 1/2 inches. The memory of the strike, fight and landing

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Here, the captain states and explains what he calls Fishing Absolute Number 3 16 | February 2024

KEVIN COCHRAN CONTACT

Jeremy Rhodes holding the 30-inch trout he caught in February of 2014.

of such a splendid trout in water barely hiding my wading boots will remain indelibly etched in my memory until my dying day.

Respecting their obvious significance, I used the events of that afternoon to formulate a new plan for the next day.

Early the next morning, I knew exactly where I wanted to fish, but I didn’t start the day off throwing the cork and jig.

With lighter winds in play, and the light level low, I figured the big trout lurking over mooshy grass beds in our corner The captain with the giant trout he caught on a of the lagoon might have gold/chartreuse Catch 5 after turning the page. their eyes turned upward looking for breakfast, so I tied on a hothead Spook Junior. Around the time the sun peeked over the horizon to greet a new day, I caught another 30-incher, validating my new plan. But, we didn’t continue throwing topwaters all day; once the sun climbed high, we tweaked the script again and went back to dangling soft plastics a foot or so under corks, and one of my clients caught another picture-worthy fish, adding a productive play to our new book.

All these details document the value inherent to the combination of intelligent vigilance and a willingness to evolve in the moment.

As the clock ticks, situations change; players in a game should attempt to alter the script accordingly. In the fishing game, evolving sometimes means making a slight adjustment in lure-choice; sometimes it dictates moving to a new location, maybe one close by, maybe half a bay away.

Bob Seger used the famous phrase to describe an aspect of his life as a musician–the road required him to roll with the changes, like a tumbling dice. He referenced the emotions inherent to constantly moving from one town to the next, from gig to gig and stage to stage, out of the arms of one fan, into the eyes of another. For me, as a guide and angler, turning the page means keeping the senses alive, finding the way to the next big thing and fishing like a rock star.

Kevin Cochran is a long-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject.

Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.

TROUT TRACKER GUIDE SERVICE Phone Email Web

361-688-3714 kevincochran404@yahoo.com www.captainkevblogs.com

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TSFMAG.com | 17

Dow Gene Anderson tricked this beautiful oversize red with a ZMan plastic under a 4 Horsemen rattling cork.

BIG FISH STEP UP As Temperatures

B M I L C STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

A

s far as I am concerned, February and March have to be some of the best months on the calendar, and for a variety of reasons. Spring is closing in and everything starts to heat up, especially the fishing. Anglers all over the state look forward to these months with great anticipation every year because in just about any body of water you fish, fresh or salt, you stand an excellent chance of doing battle with a career fish.

Freshwater anglers have long known the magic that can happen on days when the winds lay and the temperature climbs. Big fish creep up from deeper water and make their home for the next few weeks on the inside grass lines where they will eventually spawn. Before too long they will be fighting for space as it seems like the crappie usually beat the bass to the punch as the warmer temperatures push these fish up shallow. That space between the grass and the bank is going to get crowded with fish really soon and that spells success for most fishermen.

Now the freshwater folks won’t be the only ones taking advantage of the warmer temperatures; saltwater anglers will be reaping the benefits as well. On the days when the water temperatures rise steadily throughout the daylight hours you can almost bank on a better bite. The warmer surface temps will trigger a feed that at times can be incredibly aggressive, especially on topwater plugs. Now, the mainstay throughout winter on Sabine has been the unbelievable redfish bite and that action continues on an almost daily rampage. The ridiculous numbers of redfish have diehard big trout hunters pulling their hair and cursing aloud as it seems those quality trout are nowhere to be found when the redfish show up.

This winter has thus far been one of the quietest I can remember in a long time, as far as big speckled trout are concerned. The norm during the winter months is to take advantage of the warmer days ahead of oncoming fronts and be on the water just prior to the weather change. Now, with the more consistent temperatures, the pattern should hinge on greater tide activity. So, if you are looking for an advantage, there you have it.

TSFMAG.com | 19

If there is any drawback to fishing in February and early spring it will be the wind, and you can bet there will be plenty of it. The stretch of shoreline from Blue Buck to Willow Bayou will get plenty of traffic due to the predominant winds coming from the southeast. On days when the wind decides to lay down it’s always a great idea to get back closer to deep water, the river and Intracoastal Waterway. The islands that border the deeper water will be a haven for these big fish as they move up on the flats to feed and I can’t think of a better place to start.

Strong tide movements and a little presence of bait should certainly get you in the game. If at all possible, when fishing with more than Examining stomach contents can reveal whether Drifting shallow flats that border deeper the fish are looking for a snack or a full meal deal. water can be a productive late winter strategy. one person in the boat, be sure to cover all the different portions of the water column. Use a topwater to help locate fish you can impart on these plugs make them perfect for just about any and probe the deeper water with a slower sinking plug or even a situation. Running one of these baits in the shallows near structure is soft plastic lure. My affinity for jerkbaits in this situation has been one of my favorite programs and you can bet I won’t leave the dock well documented in previous articles and this is one of those times without one tied on and ready. where they really shine. The wide variety of retrieves and actions There are plenty of classic late winter and early spring patterns to choose from and goodness knows they all get beat into our brains this time of year.

Many would have you believe there is no other way to catch a fish right now unless you are wading and throwing a slow sinking plug or topwater bait, but just like Prince said in his hit song “Let’s Go Crazy” – “I’m here to tell you there’s something else.” That something else is the tried and true rattling cork, because it just flat out works.

Throughout late fall and early winter, I had a stretch of water of about threequarters of a mile where the trout stayed stacked in great numbers and just refused to leave. On several occasions we made multiple drifts and steadily caught fish dangling a soft plastic under a Four Horsemen rattling cork. We could swap that offering for any other bait and the bites instantly dwindled to virtually nothing. As soon as we went back to the Four Horsemen cork rig the action immediately cranked back up and continued until the tide or Gorgeous winter sunrise that hints of great fishing opportunity. the bite finally shut down. As far as I’m 20 | February 2024

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potential for big trouble is certainly multiplied.

February on the coast is what dreams are made of for many fishermen and hopefully this year it will be all that we can hope for, and maybe more. I for one will be very happy to start seeing some of those upper-end trout start showing up, even if I’m not the one doing the catching. I’m sure all eyes will be on the weather this month as we are predicted to have another huge winter event.

I’m sure everyone on the coast will be more than happy to let that prediction be a big miss if it means protecting the fisheries that are just starting to rebound from the last one.

February is full of promise, and if you are fortunate enough to have all the factors fall into place, that next strike you get may be the best fish of your life. This is exactly what makes this time of year one of the best.

CHUCK UZZLE

CONTACT

concerned there aren’t many, if any, better ways to consistently locate fish than the rattling cork. So, in my opinion, putting it away during February would be a huge mistake.

One final recommendation I have to share with everybody is to be ever more cautious and aware of your surroundings and safety gear during this time of the year. Sudden weather and wind changes can make for some treacherous conditions, especially coupled with colder water temps. Having a plan that consists of letting someone know where you’ll be fishing and what time you plan to return is a good place to start. Always wearing a Personal Floatation Device goes without saying, but making sure that PFD has a signal device like an airhorn or whistle attached is another great idea that could potentially save your life in a bad situation. Another thing to keep handy is a spare set of dry clothes and maybe even a solar blanket in case someone falls overboard and needs to get out of their wet clothing.

I can attest to falling overboard in winter and being “over the moon” happy to put on dry clothes when I got back in the boat. Folks often underestimate the effects of cold water and even hypothermia, but they are nothing to be taken lightly. Be aware and be smart during the colder months because your margin for error is much smaller and the

Chuck fishes Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes from his home in Orange, TX. His specialties are light tackle and fly fishing for trout, reds, and flounder.

Phone Email Website

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

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TSFMAG.com | 23

On to

Flamingo!

STORY BY JOE RICHARD

F

ebruary has traditionally been the most miserable in Texas, weatherwise; though it now competes with our increasingly hot summers.

At any rate, this month is great for another road trip and getting out of Dodge, if you don’t mind towing a boat and trailer down IH-10. We made so many of those trips over the years that they became almost second nature, and we didn’t have nearly the luxury tow vehicles like we have today. (Try a Volkswagen in August).

Large goliath grouper are caught off Flamingo, using baits of 2-3 pounds.

Gag grouper move inshore during winter, and are caught under the trees at Shark River north of Flamingo.

I have friends in Arlington who, last summer, picked up a new boat in South Florida and then spent five days exploring Flamingo, at the southern tip of Florida. Brandon Pope reports they caught plenty of snook, and had sharks chase their fish onto the beach five times in one day, which was exciting action. The sharks there this past summer have become a problem, even dragging one angler out of his boat when he tried to rinse his hands…He didn’t even have time to scream.

Fortunately, the shark turned loose while the guy was underwater.

He came up sputtering, still wearing his sunglasses. He was flown to Miami and, combined with surgery, it probably cost him the proverbial arm and a leg, just because because he didn’t carry a fish towel on the boat that day. So, stick your hands in the water in this area, and never

Florida Bay in 12 feet of water, SW of Flamingo. Kingfish mixed with Spanish mackerel in 12 feet of water.

26 | February 2024

Flamingo in February. Sunny weather and goliath grouper caught in the shade of the trees.

get off the boat. The flats are waist-deep mud.

During February I’ve made several excellent trips to Flamingo, located in Everglades National Park. The water stays pretty murky around the “town” that has two boat ramps, plenty of fish, a campground, boat rentals and marina. The sturdy fish cleaning table hasn’t changed since I was a kid there in 1965, though it’s now screened in from mosquitoes. (Mostly absent in February). The water a mile or two south of town is greener, and then blacker up north in serious mangrove country. The area is speckled with islands offshore, and a maze of jungle to the north. The only hassle is the nearest town with motel and restaurants is 50 miles away. The marina is nice and they rent kayaks and outboard center consoles for a reasonable price.

The fishing there is very different from Texas during winter. Most cold fronts never reach Flamingo, and if one does and the wind blows, there are many square miles of sheltered, forested creeks and bays. I was amazed to see the grouper fishing there in February, where you tie the boat to a tree and drop down live pinfish. Fishing in the shade for grouper, that’s quite a rarity. We caught a dozen gag and goliath grouper, and this was the day after the guide had fished the same spots and broke off some big fish. It seems that gag grouper migrate inshore in winter, and they’re happy to sit in flat calm water under the trees.

It was like fishing Toledo Bend in the old days. The goliaths live there all year long, and that place is the epicenter for the species. They’ve been protected since 1990, although a few kill tags were introduced last year. Goliaths have bounced back so well in Florida, they’ve become a problem, stealing people’s hooked fish. Including threefoot sharks, snook, snapper, permit, etc. They’re not picky.

For faster action, it seems every Spanish mackerel from there to Louisiana have arrived. They winter there and jam up in open waters south and west of the boat

TSFMAG.com | 27

Snook at the mouth of Shark River, where trees were damaged by rolling Gulf waves from a previous hurricane.

28 | February 2024

Flamingo. After catching a two-pound crevalle jack, we approached a day marker and anchored. I tossed out a handline with the jack pinned to a pair of black, 16/0 circle hooks. Before I could put on gloves, I got the biggest thump ever, and the line in my hands tightened. What followed was an epic battle as the monster tried to plow inside the channel marker’s girders. It was like fighting a manatee, what with the wallowing and splashing. Meanwhile, the guide couldn’t start his new outboard, so we could pull that fish away from structure. The motor finally caught and we dragged the fish 30 yards before re-anchoring for pictures and working the hooks loose. We didn’t measure it, but it was quite the monster. You’re not supposed to pull the big ones aboard for a picture, but keep them in the water. The brute was revived and promptly dove back down with a splash.

To check it out, one can fly to Miami, rent a car and drive to Flamingo less than two hours away, and then rent a boat or arrange a guide. A number of Islamorada guides drive their boats north to Flamingo when the weather is nice, and perhaps they pick up clients there. In February, the bugs are minimal and the sharks mostly thinned out. Mostly.

JOE RICHARD

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

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

CONTACT

ramp, stretching 22 miles down to Islamorada and then further to Marathon in the Keys. And “they hungry,” too; our guide spent an hour chum-blocking pinfish and pilchards near the boat while anchored in a grassy channel, catching them with a big castnet. We then ran a couple miles offshore to 12 feet of water, where there were several small sunken wrecks we couldn’t quite see in that green water. Live baiting with those pilchards, we caught three-pound mackerel until our arms were limp, and raised quite a sweat in doing so. It was a hot and glassy, calm day. We were, after all, a little south of Miami. We could have slayed the mackerel with gold spoons, but the guide didn’t even carry artificials; they don’t seem to want clients slinging treble hooks that far from the ER. We also caught kingfish of a dozen pounds or so, mixed in with their smaller mackerel cousins.

We then raced a little inshore to another wreck off Sand Key. Baited up with pinfish, we landed a half dozen ling, all hooked on bottom. It seems that ling migrate from Louisiana and all points in between, to winter down in Florida Bay where we were.

Up north at Shark River, the northern entrance to all of that mangrove country, our live pilchards came in handy with big snook.

With the tide coming in, they’d sling weightless, live pilchards and let them ride the current until, thump! Not a measly flounder thump, but a big snook thump that would soon take off, jumping all the while.

Very impressive.

We then headed into Shark River and drove around several bends, before anchoring again in 12 feet of water. It was a spot where bottom sand and mud has been peeled away down to bedrock, and that’s where the grouper hang out. The guides use a “knocker rig” where the sliding egg sinker knocks against the hook. Live pinfish were dropped to the bottom. In that black, tannin-stained water, it took grouper several minutes to find the bait, but they certainly did. We caught ten or so, from small up to three feet long. This inshore area is a nursery for these fish, and we didn’t see bigger ones, although one would need bigger tackle and bait to tempt a fish that can weigh 300 pounds.

The biggest goliaths we saw were out in Florida Bay, within sight of

Southwest of Flamingo in 12 feet of water.

Countless Spanish mackerel winter here.

TSFMAG.com | 29

WORLD CLASS

Peacock Bass

Adventures STORY BY WAYNE DAVIS

P

lanning more than a year in advance for a fishing trip to an exotic destination in a faraway country seems to take forever for the departure date to finally arrive.

However, once it does, the seven days of fishing goes by in the blink of an eye. Our group of eight were ready to make the long trek to Manaus, Brazil where we would spend a day touring the town, and the next day wrestling a 150-pound prehistoric fish that resembled something akin to a hybrid of a tarpon and alligator gar. The Arapaima is not a fish to be downplayed. It is adapted to breathe air as well as in water, rolls like a tarpon, and has more power and stamina than any fish I’ve ever battled.

We met The Pastor, as he is known, in the lobby of the TRYP hotel in Manaus where four of us embarked on an hour-long drive to his residence well outside the city. We rigged heavy-duty spinning reels with 100-pound braided line, paired with good old Ugly Stick fishing rods. It was quite the challenge casting topwater lures in big ponds where these beasts were actively rolling, but clearly ignoring our offerings. We fished the big plugs until well past midday without so much as a sniff.

After a short lunch break at the Pastor’s home, we traveled further back to other ponds where even larger Arapaima roamed. The Pastor took my topwater and rigged a fresh-dead sardine, as he called it, and pointed to a spot to make a cast. Within seconds I was hooked up and the battle was on.

The giant silver-armored fish tangled me around some old wooden pilings and I feared it was only seconds until the line would break. I did what any reasonable angler would do and jumped in the water, chasing the fish through the pilings. I loosened my drag and we maneuvered my line around the splintery lumber. Ten minutes later I had my arms wrapped around the enormous body of this trophy that was estimated to be more than 150 pounds. Believe me when I say it was one heck of an experience.

30 | February 2024

The rest of our group had arrived at the hotel and the next morning we boarded a small 8-seater float plane for a three-hour flight into the Amazon jungle that would be our home for six days. Shortly after we took flight the pilot was tapping his finger on the plane’s fuel gauge. Rather than trust the possibility of a faulty reading, he turned the plane around and had us back on the tarmac in short order to physically verify the fuel status. Fuel supply confirmed, we were once again airborne, this time reaching our destination and making a smooth landing on the Curi Curiari river.

I recognized these waters from the prior year’s trip, and also noted that the water level was low, the best possible conditions for hunting world-record the Peacock Bass for which the Curi Curiari is known. My partner for this trip was Terri Rushing-Hildreth. A petite lady who stands barely five-feet. Terri’s interest in fishing the Amazon region had been piqued when she attended our Texas Women Anglers Fish Camp in 2022.

I can reinforce that old adage to never judge a book by its cover, nor a woman by her physical stature. I was a little concerned that

she would be able to deal with the rigors inherent with fishing the Amazon jungle, but to her credit, when it was all said and done she had earned the title of Super Trooper!

I knew our guide, Eder Dossontos, from prior trips, and I knew he was going to push me to throw the largest topwaters in our arsenal – the incredibly effective and physically demanding Woodchoppers.

After only a few casts you know it’s going to be a long day because this beast of a surface lure will have muscles aching that you didn’t even know you have. It didn’t take long until the butt of the rod produced a bruise on my hip and I often found myself yearning for a lighter setup. That said, our group all landed nice fish the first several days, up to 21 pounds. The weather was great, with little to no rain in the forecast and we were optimistic for the days ahead.

The food and beverage onboard the Blackwater Adventurer are absolutely second to none. Each day the chef and kitchen crew prepared excellent meals, better than you could ever imagine, being as far off the grid as we were. Filet mignon and fresh fish, and everything in between.

TSFMAG.com | 31

If you recall my Amazon recap from last year, I managed to land a new world-record in the length category for Peacock Bass at 93+ centimeters. Unfortunately, due to an oversight, we failed to properly record the fish prior to release and the record was not certified. So, the world record for length of Peacock Bass continued to stand at 92 centimeters. But this was a new year and, hopefully, another shot at the record. This time though, if I might be so lucky, I was determined to follow the all rules to the letter while videoing the measurement of the fish with my iPhone.

We made a long run up the river on our fourth day and pulled into a familiar area. I can still hear Eder urging me, “Chop…Chop!” After three grueling days of the woodchopper, let’s just say I was a little less than anxious, but Eder insisted. He was holding the boat at the mouth of a lagoon as I reluctantly picked up that same stiff rod with the Shimano Curado 200…and that same obnoxious chunk of wood with huge treble hooks.

I laid a long cast and made two chops. The fish came out of nowhere and was air-borne as it absolutely crushed the lure that I love to hate. The fight was on!

I knew it was a big fish, and I also knew it was going to be hard to land. The shoreline was full of downed trees, limbs projecting at every angle in the water. It made a hard run toward the timber. Risky, for sure; but I thumbed the spool of 60lb braid anyway as insurance to prevent the fish getting into the brush. In the nick of time and within inches of tangling, the fish slowed and I was able to steer it back to open water.

I finally landed the beast. We wasted no time in breaking out an

32 | February 2024

official BGFA (Brazilian Game Fish Association) measuring board and, to our surprise, it taped at just a tad longer than 92 centimeters! We documented everything carefully with photos and videos. The fish was released healthy and strong and we were pumped to say the least.

Most anglers on our trip caught Peacocks well over 15 pounds with the largest weighing 24.25 pounds. Our group also caught tons of big Butterfly Bass, and Piranha. Terri landed a massive Shovelnose Catfish, along with a 20-pound Peacock. There is simply not enough space to fill in all the blanks and questions you may have about a trip like this.

That said, feel free to reach out and I can fill in those blanks.

The folks over at Acute Angling and Curi CuriariaBR do a great job in making a trip like this run smooth and seamless. This is not a trip for the timid or inexperienced, but is definitely a world-class trophy fishing trip. The weather is hot and humid; after all, it’s a tropical rainforest. There are plenty of annoying flies and other insects, but surprisingly, no mosquitos.

I submitted my Peacock to BGFA and received notification on November 17, 2023 that it was being accepted as an official record at 92cm length. I also submitted it to the IGFA. However, it will not be accepted as a new world record in the length category for Peacock Bass as we did not measure the fish on an official IGFA measuring device. That said, IGFA has accepted and entered my fish in their IGFA Trophy Club, given that photo and video documentation qualified for that award.

I have already booked to return in 2024 and 2025, and I can’t wait to go back.

TSFMAG.com | 33

Are You

Showing Your REELS the Love they

Deserve?

STORY BY TSFMag EDITORIAL STAFF & WARREN FAULKNER

T

oday’s fishing reels are highly-engineered and manufactured to precise tolerances. And the prices can certainly reflect this. Right out of the box they deliver incredibly long casts and the drag systems function as smooth as silk.

But, in the real world, and we’ve all been there; our favorite outfit that operated flawlessly the last time out sounds more like a coffee grinder than a precision instrument after a few weeks in the rod rack.

What it boils down to is the way you care for them after a fishing trip can make all the difference in how long they can continue to deliver that wonderful out-of-the-box performance, especially in saltwater.

So, rather than offer layman advice on how to care for your tackle, we decided to ask a professional.

Warren Faulkner heads up the Reel Service Department at Fishing Tackle Unlimited’s Katy Freeway Store, and he’s been doing it for a long time – 46 years, to be exact. We asked for Warren’s advice and here’s what he had to say. Hopefully his words will help our readers enjoy better performance from their reels…and greater success on the water.

TSFMag: How many years have you been working in the reel service trade…how long with FTU? Warren: I started in 1978 with White Plaza Sporting Goods. I became a general partner in the repair department at Bass & Bay in 1984 through April of 1992. I have been with Fishing Tackle Unlimited since May 1, 1992.

34 | February 2024

TSFMag: In general, how would you rate the quality and reliability of today’s fishing reels with those of the past?

Warren: The earlier reels were well-built, stronger construction but extremely heavy, and fairly reliable for the times. Today’s reels are lightweight construction, much faster retrieve, and manufactured to very close tolerances that require more maintenance.

TSFMag: What are the most common reasons or problems for customers bringing reels for service?

Warren: Lack of simple maintenance and the fact that Texas saltwater is brutal on reels, especially when they’ve been dunked.

TSFMag: What percentage of the business brought to you is saltwater related…what percentage is freshwater?

Warren: I would say an easy 80% or more of the reels that go through our shop are fished in saltwater.

TSFMag: In your opinion, do any reel brands or models stand out as superior in terms of resisting failure due to wear and tear under normal usage?

Warren: I would say that most name brand reels today are very good.

In the baitcasting category Shimano, Lew’s, 13 Fishing, Daiwa and Abu-Garcia have all made great improvements. As far as spinning reels I prefer the Shimano, Daiwa and Penn. But in the end it still comes down to maintenance, how the owners take care of them.

TSFMag: Which reel components seem most prone to failure in what you would term normal usage?

Warren: The most common failures we see on a continuing basis are ball bearings, drag systems, levelwind worm shafts and pawls, and the anti-reverse roller clutch.

TSFMag: How might you recommend anglers care for their reels between fishing trips?

Warren: There are several products on the market today such as Reel Wash by RBT, Lew’s Speed Cleanz, Rod and Reel Cleaner by Penn, and the Ardent line of reel products. Simply spray the exterior of both rods and reels and then wipe down. I prefer micro-fiber cloths for wiping both rods and reels.

TSFMag: In general, and in your opinion, is rinsing reels with water a good idea after fishing in saltwater?

Warren: The age old question of fresh water rinsing…only as a last resort. I’ve had a lot of people argue with me about rinsing reels.

Many of them have told me their dads and grandads used nothing but water. I usually jokingly reply, “Yep, and I worked on their reels as well because of it.”

TSFMag: Do you recommend reels to be opened, side plates and spools removed, to promote drying between fishing trips?

Warren: If the owner insists on using water to rinse the reels, then yes. Water’s going to get inside the reel and it needs to be allowed to air dry as much as possible, followed by a light oiling of the bearings.

I say ‘light oiling’ because today’s bearings are very close tolerance.

This is one of those instances where less is better.

TSFMag: Which lubricants would you recommend anglers use on their reels when preforming their own maintenance?

Warren: On most baitcast reels we suggest a very light viscosity oil, such as Shimano’s reel oil or Remington’s Rem Oil. For spinning reels we suggest a heavier viscosity oil like those offered by Penn, Reel-X, Ardent and RBT Technologies. These companies offer kits featuring both a light and heavier viscosity oil, as well as a grease lube. Our preferred grease lubricant for most reels is the Shimano Drag Grease. There are many great products on the market today. The key is knowing which product to use and where to apply it. This is one of those questions you might ask ten different repair shops and get ten different answers.

TSFMag: In your opinion, what are the most harmful practices anglers are guilty of in caring (or not caring) for their reels?

Warren: Leaving their reels exposed to the Warren Faulkner - Fortyelements. Lack of maintenance of any kind. six years in the trade Submerging reels in saltwater is almost the kiss and still after it hammer of death if you don’t get something done within and tong every day. a short period of time. Most repair shops are very busy with long turnaround times, so be sure to mention to them that the reel has been under water. Most good shops will take the time to at least get some type of lubricant into the bearings or other areas to slow the effects of corrosion.

TSFMag: Any other ideas, comments, or topics not covered so far?

Warren: I will throw this out there as a PSA. Keep in mind that a good repair shop usually has a large work load, so turnaround times will take a while. Sometimes parts are hard to come by, especially for older reels. Before you get upset with the guys in the repair shop, remember they are not making money with your reel waiting in the shop. Parts have been much harder to get since the supply shortages of the Covid years, and it’s still not over. But, the better news is that things are improving. Please feel free to come by or call us anytime and we will do our best to help you out.

So, there you go, folks. Straight talk from a professional that’s been in the trade longer than any other technician we have ever met. Hoping this helps you get the most out of your tackle investment…and catch more fish!

-TSFMag Editorial Staff

TSFMAG.com | 35

J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

THE SUPER-CLEAR WATER DILEMMA The waters of the Aransas Bay complex have been exceptionally clear this winter, some of which I attribute to the absence of oyster boats. Speaking of the absence of oyster boats, with the local oyster season closed for the second year I am noticing significant re-growth of the reefs in northern Aransas, Mesquite and San Antonio Bays. As the reefs grow in height we should soon start seeing some reduction in shoreline erosion, which will be a very good thing. As I have written here many times, oyster reefs provide some of the best habitat and structure to target for both trout and redfish, no matter the season or water conditions.

So, as the title of this article implies, the theme of our discussion this month will be dealing with uncommon water clarity during the pursuit of bigger trout. The timing is right on the money as we are right now into the heart of our winter trophy trout season and some of what I have to say may enable you to land your bestever fish in the weeks ahead.

While it is true that we would all like to cherry pick the days when we could fish, but for most anglers that is simply not an option. We go when we can and we deal with whatever the conditions for that period might be.

I do a lot of little things that I believe swing the pendulum in my favor during periods when I have no choice but to fish super clear water. Such conditions often come in the days following frontal passages and are usually accompanied by high atmospheric pressure. Not ideal conditions by any standard but if that is the day you have to fish then you need to have a plan of attack.

When fishing super clear water I always increase the length of my monofilament leader. I am also very mindful of maintaining that length throughout the day as changing lures and retying will diminish your leader length. I spool my reels with braided line and use the new Osprey mono leader material. It comes in a small spool that fits right in your shirt pocket for replacing the leader on the fly. I use 20-pound test and have had no issues. I also employ the use of basically clear to lightcolored lures for clear water. I like a small amount of flash on bright days. I want the bait to look like something relatively small to eat. I say this even though I don’t always downsize, given that doing so sometimes limits my ability to make long accurate casts so necessary in clear water conditions.

I approach areas of structure from a reasonable distance, but I DO NOT drift my boat downwind with me. At 66 years old I probably should, but I believe the larger fish sense when a boat is near and simply go into a very aware state, becoming harder to trick. I have actually observed other groups in an area with me that are moving the boat as they wade and have literally seen trout moving to me from the noise of the water slapping the hull of their boat. True story!

I also try to drift out of the area when we decide to leave, so that we do not educate the residents as to our presence. I know that trout that make it to 6 or 7 years of age are already well-versed in their ability to detect our presence and avoid us. Drifting out of the area makes me feel good that I am not adding to their education.

Author with a nice one – CPR!

Mike Kuhn doing what he does so well – CPR.

36 | February 2024

View The Video

Open Camera and hover over QR Code. When link appears at top of screen tap to open in YouTube.

the best grass can be found during each season. So, having said that, it is important to continuously refamiliarize ourselves each season as to where the best areas of bottom grass can be found. Typically, in winter, all I need to find is mullet over good grass structure and I become confident that we will be able to find respectable trout in the area.

According to Dr. Greg Stunz of Harte Institute, the Texas Upper and Lower Laguna Madre systems have several factors that aid in the development of upper-slot trout. First is warmer water temperatures on average, and longer growing seasons. Second would be greater than average abundance of mullet as a high-energy food source, which is supported by higher than average year-round salinity regimes of the region.

Third is likely to be found in subtle genetic differences; think South Texas vs Hill Country deer. The fourth may not seem as likely to the average observer but fishing pressure in the Upper and Lower Laguna bay systems is considerably lower than the Upper and Middle coastal regions. To put it in its simplest terms, greater fishing pressure leads to fewer upper-class fish in the population.

Fishing pressure includes many components. I believe faster and more reliable boats, combined with vastly greater and more accurate fishing information available via social media have become primary drivers in the pressure equation. While I personally believe social media has been a good thing for the fishing industry in general, I also believe it has been a tragic thing for the fishery itself. Unfortunately, the demands of today’s industry require the use of these platforms. I try to use social media to educate anglers but I too am guilty of using it to promote my own fishing enterprise and the products I use. And there’s also the croaker thing. I will not dwell on this but targeting trout with live croakers puts a lot of pressure on the fishery…not to mention that the croaker population has been reduced to the lowest numbers ever, due in part to the demand for live bait.

Does all that we know guarantee that we will always be successful.

Not hardly, and that is what keeps us going back. If it was easy and if we caught huge ones every time we went there would be no challenge. When we are not challenged, we soon lose interest and move on to more challenging things. Please continue to release all the trout you can see your way to release. This is especially true with fish over 20 inches. Respect the fishery and your fellow fishermen and you will be rewarded many times over.

May your fishing always be catching! -Guide, Jay Watkins

C O N TA C T

I like to move slow and easy until someone Travis Young with gets a bite or someone sees something that a very nice Aransas indicates fish are present. Once a bite is Bay trout – CPR. received, I shift into slo-mo and concentrate on casting accurately to each individual piece of structure in front of me multiple times. Big trout not only set up on small individual pieces of structure, but I believe they mill around between multiple pieces of structure within small areas.

Proof of this came just yesterday as we stood in an area of less than 50 square yards for nearly two hours, catching fish here and there as they milled throughout the area of scattered grass and shell in front of us.

Nothing over five pounds, but a five-pounder in Rockport right now is a pretty good fish.

I also try to avoid hanging up on grass and then pulling clumps of it over the surface of the water we are fishing. Why create any unnecessary disturbance in an otherwise productive area? If fishing shell or scattered clump shell, DO NOT walk out into the area you are fishing to free a snagged lure. If you do, you’ll blow your chances and also those of any who are fishing with you. Losing a lure is part of the game, so be prepared and have plenty of spares in your wade box.

Right now, my wade box includes MirrOlure Lil John XLs in Opening Night, Red Gold Glitter and Watermelon Red Glitter. I am also carrying 5” Bass Assassins in Cajun Croaker and Bone Diamond, along with Custom Corky Fat Boys and Fat Boy Floaters. The Soft Dine in Pearl Harbor, Pistachio, Sea Grass, and Bay Mistress are also dependable producers. Texas Custom’s Double D Series is another I like to keep handy, with Pistachio, Plum Nasty, Sea Grass, Pinky and Grey Ghost seeing lots of water time.

So what is it that increases the odds of us finding and then catching that truly special trout? First of all we need to be able to spend enough time on that piece of real estate to become familiar with how the currents move through it, how tide levels affect it, how wind direction affects presentations, and how water temperatures influence feeding behavior. Most systems have multiple types of bottom structure that hold fish throughout the year. No matter what the bay system might be I feel that the cooler months will provide the best opportunity for the best fish.

The bay systems I spend the most time in are the Aransas complex, San Antonio Bay, and the Lower Laguna, in and around Port Mansfield.

All three have similarities that allow me to use what I have learned to help place my clients in the most productive areas. For me, it is all about defining what type of bottom structure is available and then finding a predictable and consistent food source.

I fish a ton of submerged grass beds and changes in weather patterns throughout the year can have significant influence on where

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 TSFMAG.com | 37

DAV E R O B E R T S

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

DEEP HOLES & SHALLOW FLATS I’m sure by now most Texas residents have acclimated to the cooler weather we’ve been experiencing. February is considered the middle of the Texas winter and so far it has been a proper one. No freezing temperatures yet but we’ve still several weeks to go before any really significant warming trends are likely to appear. Not to worry though, even if we get another cold spell or two, I doubt it’ll last long enough to deter hardcore anglers.

This time of the year always seems awkward, deer and duck seasons are winding down and all that’s left is conservation order goose hunting…if enough white geese ever make it down to Texas. So, unless you’re a diehard, odds are you are going to put the hunting gear away and wait for some warmer weather to get back on the water.

As far as wintertime angling prospects, the shrimp have all migrated to the gulf and the birds have stopped 38 | February 2024

working. The flounder have mostly left the bays for their annual spawning run. When I was growing up this was the part of the outdoor cycle we dreaded so much, the lull that seemed to last forever until springtime finally came and rescued us, long about spring break in March.

It wasn’t until years later when I could get out on my own that I learned there are plenty of fish to be caught during this time.

One of my first times finding fish during late winter was right around the last weekend of duck season. My buddy and I were back in the marsh duck hunting in our kayaks and decided to bring our fishing rods with us. The duck hunting was painfully slow, so we picked up our decoys and decided to try our luck at fishing. We decided to anchor where two channels that drained a big pond merged. Knowing there was a deep hole there, we were hoping that there might be a few fish seeking refuge

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Upper Coast Opportunities

advantage of sight-fishing opportunity. These days have come to be personal favorites, up on the casting platform, eyes peeled, with my rod at the ready. In my opinion, right now in the dead of winter is the best water clarity you will find on your favorite lake or bay. There’s not many days on this part of the upper coast when you can actually see the fish before you cast to them!

From what I have found, incoming tide will push fish into the backwater ponds, where the current delivers schools of baitfish and other forage. If the tide is outgoing and water level too low to access the backwater ponds, find a shoreline near some marsh drains and keep an eye out; fish this time of year are not going to travel too far from deep water.

One of my wintertime go-to lures is the Johnson weedless gold spoon. There is something about that flash that redfish find irresistible. If not that, then a swimbait or Zoom fluke on the lightest possible weedless hook or jighead you can cast accurately. The reasoning here is that you are able to keep the lure in the strike zone longer and give that somewhat sluggish fish a chance to eat it.

Typically, they don’t need a lot of persuasion, but there are also times when it will make a world of difference.

I know that the weather this time of the year may not be as favorable as the summer months, but if you dress properly, the fishing will more than make up for it. There are plenty of options to get out and keep you busy until the warm weather gets here. Don’t think that you have to wait until it warms up to find some fish. Stay warm, stay dry and enjoy your time on the water.

C O N TA C T

from the cooler temperatures. What a lucky discovery.

It didn’t take us long before we started catching redfish and the action never slowed. We sat there for at least two hours, catching redfish nonstop, until the tide slacked. We were amazed at the number of fish holding in that small area; it was as if they were stacked on top of one another. I call it on of my Aha! fishing moments. The day I discovered that there really was something special about fishing during the dead of winter.

Since that day I have learned many things, and certainly one of them has been that not every deep hole in the marsh is a wintertime honeyhole. For whatever reason, it seems that fish can be very selective in their choice of where they will stage in numbers this time of year. One consistent aspect of finding fish though, is that they are never far from shallow water to feed, and they always prefer to eat during a strong, moving tide. That being said, I like to focus on bayous and channels since these are the highways for delivering water and bait to the marsh.

My favorite places to focus my efforts are the mouths of the bayous located directly off a large marsh pond, or where they dump into the main body of Sabine Lake. I prefer outgoing tides for a couple of reasons; one of them being that it’s pulling all of the baitfish off the marsh flats and funneling them down into the channel. The other is the water coming off the marsh flats will be slightly warmer. I believe this warmer water getting mixed with colder lake water triggers the appetite of otherwise sluggish or even lethargic game fish.

Weather can be very temperamental this time of year, make no mistake about that. Some days are overcast, wet and nasty, while others can be downright gorgeous. For the days that the sun is out and shining, you need to be on a flat or backwater pond, taking

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 | 39

Volunteers from the Aransas Bay CCA Chapter held their first bay debris cleanup event in October 2023. Just a few volunteers made a big difference.

By John Blaha

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

CONSERVATION MINDSETS & ACTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE Writing about volunteers has been an annual endeavor for me since I began writing articles for Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine fourteen plus years ago. It’s an annual reminder that volunteers hold a special place in the conservation of our coastal resources. As a lifelong resident of the Texas gulf coast and a volunteer and employee of Coastal Conservation Association Texas (CCA Texas) for the past 34 years, I have always been struck by the incredible beauty and diversity of the natural resources that surround us.

From the sandy beaches and waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the sprawling wetlands and marshes of the inland bays that are home to an array of wildlife and habitat. The Texas gulf coast is truly a special place.

However, as with any natural ecosystem, the Texas coast is constantly facing challenges and threats that can put its beauty and biodiversity at risk. From the impacts of pollution and development to the effects of general recreational use and commercial fishing, the health of the Gulf Coast is something that requires our ongoing attention and care.

CCA Texas remains one organization that is doing important work to preserve and protect the Texas gulf coast. Founded in 1977, CCA is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to conserving the natural resources of the Gulf coast, with a particular focus on sound, science-based fisheries management and coastal habitat. CCA Texas is set apart from other organizations by a strong volunteer driven committee system that works with staff to help ensure healthy coastal resources for future generations.

40 | February 2024

Through a variety of programs and initiatives, CCA works to protect and enhance the coastal and marine environments of the Texas coast. This includes efforts to promote sustainable fishing practices, restore damaged habitats, and advocate for policies and regulations that support the conservation of marine resources.

One way that you can get involved and help support the work of CCA, or any similar organization, is by volunteering your time and resources. Whether you have a few hours to spare each week, or you’re looking for a more long-term commitment, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.

CCA Texas currently has 60 local chapters across the state. These chapters are the local connection and grassroots energy of the organization. Each chapter hosts an annual fundraising and membership banquet. The funds raised and membership generated at these events are vital in CCA Texas’s advocacy and habitat restoration and creation efforts. Local chapters are an excellent opportunity to volunteer your time and energy to make a difference in the conservation of Texas’s coastal resources.

Other volunteer opportunities you might consider are joining one of the local beach cleanups, bay cleanups, abandoned crab trap cleanups or habitat restoration projects that CCA Texas and other organizations support and execute. One example of a volunteer driven event is the bay debris cleanup hosted by the Aransas Bay Chapter in October of 2023. Although the turnout was light for the event, three boats of volunteers were able to

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TPWD’s public meetings are a great way to be involved whether you show up and simply indicate your support or non-support for an issue by filling out a questionnaire card, or sign up and speak your opinion. Subscribe to TPWD’s email list to know what these meetings will be held and where, and be an active participant in the process.

fill a large roll-off dumpster over half full. Imagine if there would have been ten boats. These programs give volunteers the opportunity to get hands-on experience conserving and protecting the Texas coast, while also learning about the importance of these ecosystems and the challenges they face.

Be sure to mark your calendar for two major upcoming events.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) 22nd Annual Abandoned Crab Trap Removal will take place February 16, 2024 through February 25, 2024, with the major volunteer effort slated to take place on February, 17, 2024. Also of great significance, Friends of Padre will host the 29th Annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup on February 24, 2024. CCA Texas is proud to continue its support of both events. Events where volunteers are making a difference and forging a legacy for the future.

Another way to volunteer is to get involved in CCA Texas’s conservation efforts. This might include things like participating in research and monitoring projects, advocating for policies and regulations that support the conservation of marine resources through public comment when afforded the opportunity, or helping to educate the public about the importance of conserving the Texas coast by sharing the efforts of CCA Texas and being the example for

42 | February 2024

The TPWD Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program has been in existence since 2002. CCA Texas member Ronnie “The Crab Man” Luster and TPWD Game Wardens were the pioneers in removing the first derelict traps near Port O’Connor.

conservation through your personal actions. TPWD publishes listings of pending regulatory proposals and encourages public comment through in-person attendance at meetings and/or online submissions.

Take the time and register your email for notifications and become part of the process.

Volunteering with CCA isn’t just about hard work and getting your hands dirty. It can also be a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people. And, by working alongside others who are also passionate about conserving Texas coastal resources, you can make new connections and friendships that will last a lifetime. One of the biggest satisfactions of being involved with CCA Texas for me personally is the long list of friendships and opportunities to work with dedicated conservationists from across the state, and I think I can speak the same for all the Assistant Directors at CCA Texas that work with local volunteers. CCA Texas volunteers are second to none and you are the energy of the organization.

So, if you’re looking for a way to make a difference in your community and give back to Texas’s coastal resources, consider volunteering with CCA Texas. You’ll be making a positive impact on Texas’s coastal resources and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re doing your part to protect this special place for future generations.

TSFMAG.com | 43

By Alyx Bradley | TPWD, Aransas Bay Ecosystem

FIELD NOTES

FLAT NOT FLOUNDER: THE MANY SPECIES OF FLATFISH THAT LIVE IN TEXAS BAYS AND HOW TO TELL THEM APART The sun begins to sink beneath the horizon as you pull up to the boat ramp. You watch as anglers from the day are hauling out their skiffs and throwing their freshly fileted fish carcasses to the pelicans standing close by in wait. As day turns to night, out of towners and new anglers watch in confusion as you launch your skiff into the bay. Longtime locals, however, know exactly what you’re doing and what you’re targeting. The sought-after missing element from their Texas grand slam, is the Southern Flounder. These flatfish play an important economic and cultural role here in Texas. The exhilaration of being able to harvest this species with its flaky white filets make it an irresistible catch for Texas anglers and gig fisherman alike.

For nearly 50 years, TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Management teams have been conducting fisheries monitoring of flatfish along the Gulf coast of Texas.

Unfortunately, sampling data has shown a steady decline in population trends for Southern Flounder since sampling began in the mid-seventies. Thus, effectively managing this population is crucial to ensure anglers have the opportunity to fish for flounder for generations to come. The sampling data collected by coastal fisheries biologists is used when considering management options or regulation changes. Thus, the accuracy of this data is of the utmost importance.

Southern Flounder are the most widely known flatfish species in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), largely due to their size and abundance in estuaries. However, flatfish species are incredibly diverse within the GOM and TPWD fisheries staff encounter a plethora of species that, to the untrained eye, can be nearly indistinguishable from the highly sought after Southern

Figure 1. A plot of flatfish trends in coastwide TPWD bag seine surveys.

44 | February 2024

Flounder at juvenile stages. Because of this, it is of great importance that fisheries management staff keep a keen and professionally trained eye when it comes to flatfish identification. Three of the most encountered flatfish in Texas include the Bay Whiff, Blackcheek Tonguefish, and Hogchoker (Figure 1).

Of these three species, the Bay Whiff is the most closely related to (and most difficult to distinguish from) Southern Flounder—both belonging to the family Paralichthyidae. This species is frequently captured in trawl and bag seine sampling gears and tends to be more than twice as abundant as juvenile Southern Flounder captured in the same sampling gears. While an adult Bay Whiff can only grow to about eight inches in length, they can be extremely difficult to discern from Southern Flounder at the juvenile stage (Figure 2). TPWD biologists discern these two species from one another by paying close attention to the lateral line. The lateral line on a Southern Flounder has a steep arch towards the head while that of the Bay Whiff is relatively flat in comparison. But don’t fret—given the Bay Whiff’s small maximum size, there is no need to worry about confusing these two species under the dim glow of a gigging lamp.

Tonguefish are another frequently encountered flatfish found here on the Texas coast. Tonguefish belong to the family Cynoglossidae, which consists of individuals that are elongate and oval in profile, with eyes on the left side of the head (similar to both Bay Whiff and Southern Flounder). Specifically, the Blackcheek Tonguefish is commonly captured in trawl and bag seine samples and rarely exceeds seven inches in length. As the name would imply, the Blackcheek

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Figure 2. Bay Whiff.

Figure 3. Blackcheek Tonguefish.

Tonguefish has a slender and elongated body closely resembling the shape of a human tongue and notably different from the body shape of the juvenile Southern Flounder (Figure 3). Also, as the name would imply, this species has a prominent dark spot on the ocular-side of its operculum, better known as its cheek.

Hogchoker belong to the sole family Achiridae, which are comprised of flatfish that have both eyes on their right side. The Hogchoker has an oval, almost egg-shaped profile, with light and dark spots and lines covering the entire ocular or frontal side of its body (Figure 4). Its name comes from a time (long ago) when these fish were included in the feed of farmed hogs. Farmers claimed that this species would suction to the pig’s mouth and cause them to choke. Although they are much easier to distinguish from the Southern Flounder than some of our other flatfish, TPWD biologist, nonetheless, are trained to correctly identify and record data on this species as well as their more sought-after cousins.

Overall, these “other” flatfish 46 | February 2024

Figure 4. Hogchoker (Photo credit: Jason Jaworski, TPWD).

species are just a few of the species found in the GOM along the coast of Texas. While these lesser-known species likely won’t ever reach a large enough size to warrant the attention of local anglers, they do play important roles within the estuarine food webs of the Texas coast. Properly identifying them and distinguishing them from southern flounder within our fisheries monitoring dataset is crucial to our ability to effectively manage the Southern Flounder we know and love. So, the next time you gaze into the dimly lit shallows beneath your gigging lantern, remember the many species of lesser-known flatfish that you may never see. For TPWD biologists, there’s no “floundering” around when it comes to their importance in our coastal ecosystems.

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

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The incredible fish that ignited my obsession.

ERIC OZOLINS

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

THE BEGINNING OF AN OBSESSION For roughly two and a half decades, I’ve played a part in the Texas shark fishing scene.

Over the years, I’ve been blessed with a number of unique catches and awe inspiring achievements, and I’ve learned the importance of the conservation of the various species we target. All this started with a singular, supremely significant catch.

On the unforgettable trip, I had the insane luck (peppered with moderate technical skill) to land and release a shark which rates as rare and iconic in the Texas surf. Until then, I’d describe myself as a young fishing enthusiast already heavily addicted to sharks and surf fishing. But, because of the catch of this one memorable fish, I immediately earned a positive image within the Texas sharking community. To say the landing of this shark transformed my life would truly be an understatement–I owe my current livelihood and status in the Texas coastal fishing community to the shortfin mako I landed in 2003.

This winter marks the 20th anniversary of this epic catch. Many aspects of our lives have changed over these two decades. Personally, I lacked focus back then, couldn’t figure out how I wanted to allocate my time, feeling a conflict 48 | February 2024

Incredibly strong and acrobatic; I’ve always called this photo…

The Money Shot!

TSFMAG.com | 49

between the urge to excel at the college life and the desire to spend all my time fishing. Eventually, my obsession with toothy critters won and became the controlling force in my life.

When I started seriously fishing for sharks, I was a mere pier rat and the internet was still in its infancy. Facebook, Instagram and YouTube didn’t even exist. Instead of today’s common, everyday Apps and sites with information related to every avocation, service and company, we only had slow-loading, high-traffic websites. One

Muscling the beast into the shallows for tagging and measurements.

50 | February 2024

day, while searching for various Texas shark-related information, my fingers clicked on an interesting source.

David Williams, a Corpus Christi resident then and still, had started a fishing website called Coast-Shark.com. I felt encouraged to see how much emphasis the site placed on conservation. In this forum, David introduced and educated recreational anglers like me on the tag and release aspect of the sport. His huge push of conservation practices, in conjunction with the efforts of other great figures like Captain Billy Sandifer, helped revolutionize the sport, protecting sharks while they swim in Texas waters. During this pivotal time, pioneers like these men set the trend and promoted the release of various kinds of sharks, after their numbers had been thinned out significantly, over decades of thoughtless, often unnecessary harvesting.

A key tool on David’s website was the message forum, Oz hooked up and battling the mako. which might be described as a somewhat crude version of Facebook. Anglers could register, log in and make posts, whether to share a report or simply to ask for help.

In those cyber chambers, I acquired an alias (Oz) that sticks with me to this day. I still have quite a few friends I originally met through David’s site.

To be sure, the sharking crowd can be crusty; we’re a sometimes ruthless group of people, mostly because serious sharkers will do just about anything to optimize their chances of catching a big shark. Truth be told, members of this breed have passed their habits and ideas down through the decades while roaming the Texas beaches. In the past, many of them killed what they caught, without really thinking. But things sometimes do change for the better.

In 2003, well immersed in the forum, and interacting with some of the jagged members of the Texas sharking community, I joined Curtis Mai on an odyssey which cemented my interest in land-based sharking. We spent some time working on a construction project in the Caribbean, where I was able to do plenty of fishing.

During a break at the start of December, when we had to leave the islands, I had time to relax for a couple weeks back home.

Back in Corpus, I began fishing more than I ever had while in college; the song of the surf had already captured me. Soon after we returned from the tropics, an awesome weather-window materialized. I convinced fellow sharking partner Scott Nelson to hit the beach with me. I’d been eager to try new sharking techniques I learned while fishing the reefs of the Caymans, and with confidence, I set out to target a mako. We headed to one of our favored spots on Padre Island National Seashore and set up in anticipation of the afternoon bite. By 2 pm, we had our array of baits soaking beyond the breakers.

When the hands of the clock turned past three, our world was magically transformed.

I hooked the first shark, on my old-school 12/0 Penn Senator. With a large section of jackfish out a few hundred yards, I figured it would be a solid fish of some kind.

The majestic shortfin Shortly after hookup, my excitement grew when I saw my mako just prior to release. monster thrashing on the surface. Honestly, it seemed a

Many things have changed through the years since I made that incredible catch. Through word of mouth and other avenues, the name Oz became firmly established in the Texas sharking community.

As part of this process, I wrote a special piece for this very magazine, a behind the scenes view of sharking, centered on the story behind the landing of the mako.

More than any other event, the landing of this fish spawned opportunities in my life. It led me to many interesting things, like appearing on TV shows and assisting various organizations with research projects. Ultimately, my full-time gig built around guiding land-based shark charters would not have happened had I not poked around in cyber-space during the Stone Age of the internet and found a community of people with interests like mine. Because of the blessings these people bestowed on me, I’ve landed 2 (unofficially 3) of the 7 makos ever taken on Texas beaches.

Accordingly, I’m living proof of how the catching of a single, very special fish can act as a catalyst and spring an angler on to greater heights and more satisfying things.

C O N TA C T

compact car had fallen from the sky and crashed into the sea.

At that moment, I knew this shark was unlike any I’d ever hooked, much larger than any I ‘d previously landed. I strapped in with Scott’s good harness and battled the fish with all my might. When I succeeded in pulling the still green fish within about fifty yards of the sand, I still had no idea what it was. Scott grabbed the tail-rope and I followed him into the shallows, trying to muscle the beast closer. And then we had our moment–the shark came onto the bar and turned perpendicular to the beach. The sight is forever vividly etched in my mind; I saw the unmistakable silhouette of the rarest of the rare sharks on any Texas beach – my life-altering shortfin mako!

When Scott looped the rope around the tail of my shark, it nearly ripped his arms from their sockets. I ran over to help, and we wrestled our brute onto the beach. There, on the sandy strip I’ve come to call my second home, lay the largest land-based mako ever caught in Texas. Within moments, we agreed to tag and release the remarkable creature, not only because it was the right thing to do, but in the hopes of making an important statement in the Texas land-based sharking community.

We could have kept the fish, enjoyed its delicious meat, and made a stunning set of bleached jaws to commemorate the event. But my decision was to release it. We got our measurements, then tagged the impressive specimen before helping it swim back into the depths. At 9’6” and somewhere north of 400 pounds, this was the largest shark I’d ever caught. For the remainder of that day, Scott and I roamed around speechless, utterly amazed.

For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric is the owner of Catch Sharks Tackle Company.

Email Websites

oz@oceanepics.com oceanepics.com | catchsharks.com

TSFMAG.com | 51

N AT H A N B E A B O U T

M O S T LY S I G H T- F I S H I N G

FEBRUARY’S BIG TROUT PUZZLE Let’s talk about one of the trickiest months to find big trout in the Texas Lower Laguna Madre. I say this because I believe weather plays a huge role in whether these fish will be active and aggressive in their feeding habits, or slip into periods of what I term survival mode – mostly inactive, and not feeding. Traditionally speaking, on average, February can be the coldest month of the Texas winter season. However, the cold spells do not last the entire month. The coldest temps typically occur following the most severe of frontal passages; a week, perhaps ten days of bitter cold, with significant warming periods in between.

Now, for the lucky clients who schedule their trips leading up to or during these periods of declining temperatures, the bite can be phenomenal. The pattern for these fish is straight forward. We always try to target areas where they are likely to seek refuge, because usually during a front, we will see tide drops of up to two and sometimes even three feet. When you factor in that water temps can drop some 15 degrees in a day or two in this shallow water environment, fish can be forced to seek refuge in a deeper and more comfortable location, relying on the natural thermocline to avoid the chill.

My logbook over the years indicates that some of our best trout were caught during periods when water temps averaged between 55 and 65°F. I believe that when water temps decline lower than this range the fish will shift into survival mode. During this water temp range, fish begin to feed aggressively, almost as though they’re storing up for the days ahead. This usually means we are using bigger baits; beginning with the Down South Super Model plastics and/or

52 | February 2024

the Corky Fat Boy, not so much smaller ones like a Softdine. Fish can sense the approach of these fronts before the weatherman can tell you it’s coming.

This is accomplished through response to declining atmospheric pressure – we call it a pre-frontal bite. This aggressive feeding behavior will typically last until the barometer begins rising again, up to about a reading of 30 inches Hg or slightly higher. During the plateau period of pressure readings greater than 30-inches Hg, these fish will begin to feed less aggressively and live on their reserves. Typically, after maybe 3 to 4 days, as the winds shift back to east-southeast, we begin to notice atmospheric pressure declining again.

On a post-frontal bite, sometimes sleeping in an extra hour or so and letting the sun get well up can make all the difference. Sunny to partly sunny skies begin to warm the water and fish will once again return from their slumber and begin searching for food. This is when we have seen a steady bite on baits of every size.

Personally, when this is happening, I like the smaller baits, something you could term snack size. We will likely never understand the full nature of their feeding behavior; all I can tell you is they might take a bait of any size, so I offer the snack-size lure. But that’s just me.

Remember, I said February can be the trickiest month.

Well, let’s look at the flip side. We have seen times towards the end of February when wet wading was comfortable, with water temps in the upper 70s. This usually means that there is a lot of water in the bay, and for that our strategy changes. Usually under these conditions, it almost appears that the bigger trout begin to act as though they are feeding in preparation for

Whether it’s the trickiest, or most strategic month, it is always fun planning on how to outsmart these fish, giving our clients the best opportunity we can.

Captain Nathan Beabout; USCG/TPWD Licensed Full time guide since 2007 Seadrift, Port O’Connor, & Port Mansfield, TX. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (N&M Sportsman’s Adventures) Cell (210)452-9680 Email www.nmsaguide@gmail.com Website www.nmsportsmansadventures.com

C O N TA C T

spawning. With water temps up and the tides running higher than normal, it may well appear to them that spring has arrived. Of course, we humans know better, and the true arrival of spring is at least a full month away. But, when the weather and water conditions are springlike, savvy anglers don’t argue…they change strategies and take advantage.

Some of our best successes have come during early morning hours, even before sunrise. This is partly due to the fact that some of these bigger fish will pull up shallow when conditions allow, and we need the cover of pre-dawn darkness to get within casting range of them. On days like this, I believe overcast skies and a decent wind of 10-20mph helps conceal our presence and muffles the vibrations made when walking in the shallow water. Bait selections under these conditions can vary significantly; from topwaters to soft plastics of any size, and maybe even the occasional Corky floater. I think the reason the floater can work so well is because of the ability to keep it suspended longer or rip it through the water like a wounded bait fish.

Midday bites can often be slower, but early morning and late evening bites almost never disappoint.

With whatever this month throws at us, we will adjust to the conditions, trying to stay one step ahead of the fish of a lifetime.

Captain Nathan Beabout USCG/TPWD Licensed Full time guide since 2007 Seadrift, Port O’Connor, & Port Mansfield, TX Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn Phone Email

210.452.9680 www.nmsportsmansadventures.com

TSFMAG.com | 53

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BINK GRIMES

THE VIEW FROM Matagorda

February catches are often a patient play of methodically presenting a slow-sinker or tick-tocking a light jig and soft plastic across every inch of cold shell. That’s head-banging torture to folks who have cell phones in their M ata go r d a hands 24/7. Patience is not a universal virtue, you see. The texting generation wants it now and often, and are not willing to wait.

Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing Slow down. Enjoy a sunrise. Enjoy and hunting guide, freelance a thump on a winter Corky. Put the writer and photographer, and phone down, take a deep breath, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay. enjoy life. February fishing will make you do that.

Some of the lowest tides of the Telephone 979-241-1705 year occur this month, so you can Email quickly eliminate lots of water. binkgrimes@yahoo.com Concentrate on the areas that fall Website from waist to chest deep during matagordasunriselodge.com summer – those same areas are probably knee- to thigh-deep in February.

Find points of sloughs and bayous and work the troughs and guts.

These points normally hold the deepest water as incoming and ebbing tides carve depressions.

It’s often tough to establish presence of baitfish in winter. One mullet in February is like acres of them in June. Sometimes it’s hard to find even one, but that doesn’t mean pack up your tackle and go home. The best way to figure out February’s patterns is to keep fishing.

East Matagorda Bay’s mid-bay reefs is where we like to drift and wade, but you have to pick your days. A typical February sees a good bite about every three days. Chances are if the water is fishable in East Bay, and if they did not bite today, they are more likely to bite tomorrow. I have seen this pattern too many times to remember over the past twenty-five years. I still have no answer as to why.

If you would rather stay in the boat, the Colorado River and Diversion Channel are always players, no matter how hard the wind blows, provided the water is salty and green.

We have received more precipitation this year than last, but overall we remain below average in rainfall for the year. That means the Colorado River has been green for a long time. For years locals have fished the river at night from lighted piers and caught trout that would make most blush. Those fish are still there and fishing only gets better the colder it gets.

If you target oversized trout, treat them with respect. They are the prize of our estuaries. Do the same with redfish, especially the oversized breeders.

Treat our bays with respect. Think of the bay as your backyard pond. You wouldn’t throw trash in your pond and you wouldn’t keep everything you catch just to post it on social media.

We have a gem of an estuary in Matagorda. I have seen more pressure from anglers of advanced skill making better catches than I can remember in a decade. Without sounding like a crazy liberal, we must be aware and remind ourselves to keep only what we need.

Thankfully, limits and laws will be changing this spring, back to a more conservative stance for our speckled trout.

We have a chance to bring our bays back to the days before the 2021 freeze, back when 5-7 pound trout were cheap, and our estuaries were thriving. The weather and the Almighty have a huge hand in this.

However, man can do his part as well. Let’s be better stewards of the bay and of our country.

Come see us at the Sunrise Lodge and Properties booth at the Houston Fishing Show February 14-18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. We would love to shake your hand, talk a little fishing, and sign or sell a book or two.

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56 | February 2024

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TSFMAG.com | 57

CAPT. GARY GRAY

MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays

As of this mid-January writing, I would say we have thus far experienced a relatively mild winter season. Only one day back in December, we had a light frost as the temperature dipped to barely freezing in the early Port O'Connor morning hours. There have been Seadrift several hard-blowing northers when the temperature hovered in the high30s and low-40s for a few nights, but Captain Gary Gray is a full that is normal wintertime stuff on time guide, born and raised in our part of the coast. Between the Seadrift. He has been guiding stronger cold fronts there have been the Seadrift/Port O’Connor warm and calm stretches of nearly a region since 1986. Gary specializes in year ‘round wade week, during which we were able to fishing for speckled trout and fish nearly any part of our local bay redfish with artificial lures. systems we wanted. And you can bet we took advantage.

Telephone Fishing in February should be a lot 361-785-6708 like January has been, and I will likely Email bayrats@tisd.net be spending the majority of my time Website in the back-lakes of Matagorda Island. www.bayrat.com I like the back lakes during winter Facebook for a number of reasons. The muddy @captsgaryandshelliegray bottoms warm faster than main bay shorelines, at least when the sun decides to show itself. This warmer water attracts baitfish such as mullet, which are one of the primary food sources for larger trout. The back-lakes also offer some amount of protection from the hard winds associated with cold fronts.

During extreme cold snaps, when even back-lake opportunity dwindles, you can drift or troll-motor deep water areas such as the Victoria Barge Canal and the Army Hole, and fish the ledges along the drop-offs. Another plus for fishing the Barge Canal is the wind protection afforded by the high manmade embankments along the north side.

Something to remember when fishing the deeper waters of the Barge Canal and Army Hole is the need for heavier jigheads to allow your soft plastic lures to sink to the depth where fish Redfish save a lot of days for us during winter.

58 | February 2024

will likely be holding. My normal jighead weight for shallow water work is 1/16 ounce, but I recommend switching to 1/4 ounce in these deeper waters.

When targeting trout and redfish in the back-lake areas, my usual lure setup is 4-inch Bass Assassin Sea Shads on 1/16 ounce Assassin jigheads. However, when we experience an exceptional drop in air and water temperatures, you’ll likely see me switching to the Texas Custom Lures Double D in the Crown Royal color or one of their custom colored Corkys. I prefer the Crown Royal and Bay Mistress colors but, to be honest, all their colors are great.

When the weather allows, it is pretty tough for me to resist the urge to head out to San Antonio Bay’s mid-bay reefs. However, just because you’re on a reef doesn’t guarantee success. The first thing you need to establish is whether there is bait present. During colder periods, when the water temp is in the high-40s or low-50s, all the bait will be subsurface. This is when you look for swirls, ripples, or flashes beneath the surface. Pelicans resting on the exposed crown of the reef or on the water are another good indication there is bait in the area. Once you have established you have bait present, you will need to wade very slowly and concentrate on the drop-offs and any cuts through the reef that have flowing water. The trout will usually be found where the shell tapers down to mud bottom.

Another important aspect of wade fishing reefs is to stop and plant your feet immediately when you or a buddy gets the first strike or hook-up. If all members of the group will observe this one simple rule you should be able to stand in one spot and catch fish until you either catch all of them or they become spooked and move off. When this happens, start fan casting and moving slowly along the reef until you start catching again.

My favorite lure for reef trout is again the 4” Bass Assassin Sea Shad.

My preferred colors are Purple Chicken or Houdini, depending on the water clarity. And again, I’ll be rigging them on 1/16-ounce Assassin jigheads. If the little paddletail Sea Shad is not your go-to plastic, you might try the 5” Bass Assassin Saltwater Shad in the same colors.

No matter what lure you decide to throw this time of year, make sure you work it slowly along the bottom. As I always tell my customers, “If you’re not hanging up on shell, you’re fishing too fast.”

Fish hard, fish smart!

Jim and Tina Sholders enjoying some fast reef action.

TSFMAG.com | 59

DAVID ROWSEY

HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey

The fabled month of February! If your made; Mark slipped the giant back into the livewell. The commercial toes aren’t continuously a bit too cold fisherman that snapped the photo asked, “I thought you were going this month and the hair isn’t standing to release it?” Mark replied, “I am.” And, with that, he turned his boat on the back of your neck…well, you around and drove back 17 miles to make the release in the exact might want to take up pickle ball spot where he caught her. That, my friends, is the ultimate display of instead of fishing. Previews of events sportsmanship and an example we all need to live by while chasing Upper soon to come have been flashing these giant trout. continuously through my mind. The I don’t know that it all took place in February, and whether you Laguna/ next few months are when the biggest know it or not, all you diehard Fat Boy fans have a connection to Baffin trout in the bay become their most…

Mark Holt. He and Mr. Brown were very close and Mark was his most shall we say, cooperative. trusted field tester. Mark spent countless hours catching innumerable I have so many grand memories of trout with the Fat Boy during the developmental stages. Catching February. Many of which involve my was good, but a little something was missing. Mark suggested that David Rowsey has 30 years old tournament partner, Mark Holt. it needed a rattle, specifically for dirtier water conditions. After many in Baffin and Upper Laguna Like what happened at the February trials, what you see in all Fat Boys today is the culmination of their Madre; trophy trout with 2011 Baffin Bash, when Mark brought efforts back in the early 2000s. artificial lures is his specialty. a nine-pounder to the scales and At the age of 62, Mark was involved in a freak accident while David has a great passion for conservation and encourages the tournament MC asked him what hunting this past December. A fall from a deer blind broke some catch and release of trophy fish. it is was like to catch ribs that severed an artery. A Mark’s dedication to chasing big the biggest trout of tragic event that took one of Telephone trout enabled him to land many his career during a God’s best children.

361-960-0340 great ones during his career. tournament. With the Mark lived life right. He Website www.DavidRowsey.com mic jammed in his face, didn’t drink, smoke, rarely Email Mark deadpanned, “Not cussed, was in great physical david.rowsey@yahoo.com even close.” Mind you shape. He was the best @captdavidrowsey now, Mark is of the rare Christian I knew, amazing talent and skill level father to Natalie, and loyal reserved for the 0.01%, husband to JoAnn. When I and has caught numerous trout over nine in a single tell you he was of the top day (or night in his case). He certainly didn’t offer .01% of fishermen on the that comment out of arrogance or cockiness as that Texas coast, it was probably just wasn’t his way. Anyway, I was real proud of him more like .001%. saying it the way he did as Mark is the most humble, Until the recent end he reserved, Christian man that ever made the first step stayed under the radar in a in Texas bay water. mid-80s 18’ Shoalwater flat Another time, in the February 2012 SCB tourney, a bottom, powered by a 90 front came screaming in with 35-40 mph sustained horse outboard. Many of wind and Mark managed to upgrade our four fish y’all probably saw him on stringer by two pounds with a six-pounder, to win the the water, but just thought two-day event by a scant .02 pounds. It was almost he was another commercial magical what we had to endure fisherman, and that was There probably should have been a separate rule for the win; how we found the exactly part of his plan. book regarding Mark Holt (L) as a tournament partner; winning fish, being plagued with Mark was a master at remaining incognito having him was almost an unfair advantage. RIP! reds, horrible weather, and more. and going about his fishing unnoticed. The One of my favorite stories of most inconspicuous legend that many never all is when in another February even knew existed, and the most lethal during the early 2000s, Mark trophy trout hunter to ever get his feet wet caught his largest trout ever in the on the Texas coast. An absolute hammer at far reaches of Baffin – a Goliath finding them, understanding why they were of almost 12 pounds. He placed there, when they would leave, when they it in a makeshift Igloo livewell would come back, and with unprecedented and drove his flat bottom boat skill in catching them. RIP My Brother!

17 miles, until he found someone Remember the buffalo! that could take a picture. Photo -Capt David Rowsey 60 | February 2024

TSFMAG.com | 61

WAYNE DAVIS

WAYNE’S Mansfield Report

Greetings from Port Mansfield! We are now into the heart of trophy trout season and things have shaped up nicely. I suspected and made mention Port this was likely to be an excellent season based on the last few years of stricter Mansfield regulations enacted by TPWD since the February ’21 freeze, and other observations while on the water. We’ve had some nice fish recently with a solid Captain Wayne Davis has 8-plus, along with multiple fish in the 6 been fishing the Lower to 7-pound range that same day.

Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes I’d like to point out that the days in wade fishing with lures. following a strong cold front that drops water temperatures 10 or more Telephone degrees might be the perfect time to 210-287-3877 consider a fishing trip, if you can get Email away during that period. Generally captwayne@kwigglers.com speaking, long about the second or third day after the front pushes through, the water begins to warm up and big trout will be staging within easy reach.

What happens is that the northers that create such drastic drops in water temperature also cause significant reductions in the water level, and the fish will stage in the deepest troughs, potholes, and along edges of channels in the areas they were inhabiting prior to the storm coming to the coast. So, if you know your bay system well enough, you can dial in on these areas and hopefully find and catch a few nice fish as the waters warm and the fish resume normal feeding activity.

Richard Kattman Now that we have a post-front trip planned, – Seven-pounder – CPR! it’s time to begin thinking about lures. My first inclination would be to start with a soft plastic, probably the one you have the most confidence using. I would lean toward one with a large profile that I can present in a slow, lazy fashion; rigged on a light jighead because I’m probably in water less than two feet deep.

The KWigglers Wig-A-Lo or Willow Tail Shad would both be good choices. If that doesn’t work, I may try downsizing for a few casts, if I’m confident fish are in the area.

This would be either a junior-size Wig-ALo or maybe a Ball Tail Shad. If this isn’t getting it done, I’ll reach for a floating Corky, to which I will dedicate some time. If this doesn’t get the love it deserves, I’ll likely opt for a suspending/slow-sinking twitchbait such as a Double D. I’ve also been experimenting with a lure Mansfield Knockers is tinkering with called the Darter, which is smaller than the Double D but doesn’t rise on the pause. This bait has produced the biggest fish of the season for us so far, so I’ve gained confidence in it.

One other option is reaching for a topwater, which can be an excellent choice in winter, but we need a few things in our favor. These 62 | February 2024

would be rising water temperatures, little to no floating grass, and declining barometric pressure. I like to see water temperatures around 63° before I have much confidence in tossing topwaters. However, you can certainly get them to strike with cooler temps, but that’s just my personal starting point.

Now, it may take a full day to work through all these options, but at some point, the fish will tell you what they want and there is no particular order for what you choose to throw. Just throw what you think the fish want first.

So far this season high barometric pressure has really got me trying to figure out how to overcome it and catch fish. This has been and always will be a challenge for any angler. Lately, the Darter I mentioned earlier seems to be helping solve the puzzle. That said, keeping whatever bait you choose close to the fish is key. Your bait needs to be in front of the fish as long as possible. They aren’t going to chase it down, and angler confidence and concentration are key elements to success in this situation. So, downsizing and keeping the bait in the zone of greatest opportunity is where your lure needs to be to overcome the high-pressure blues.

The Houston Fishing Show will be held February 14 - 18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. I will be there most of the show with my friends at Fishing Tackle Unlimited, KWigglers, and now Mansfield Knockers. I’ve heard rumor that FTU will have a few show discounts including their excellent G2 Green Rod. So, if you’ve been looking for a G2 Green Rod, you may consider coming by the booth.

Hope to see you there!

Until next time, remember fresh is better than frozen.

Larry Higgins – Eightpounder – CPR!

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TSFMAG.com | 63

CAPT. ERNEST CISNEROS

SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene

I am happy to report that fishing has than the deeper water during that day, and this temperature change been superb as we enter the month of made all the difference in finding a bite. If you do not have a device for February. In order to help explain my measuring water temperature, you need one.

February strategies, I want to compare Redfish action has been very steady. We are finding spots holding lots Arr o y o February and July. While very different of reds throughout the Laguna; from Port Mansfield all the way down C ol o ra d o in a number of ways, there are also to Port Isabel. Limits and more are easily attainable on flats averaging t o Po rt significant similarities. knee- to thigh-deep. The topwater bite has been generally slow, but if I sa bel Let’s begin with February. February is that’s your preference you would likely find them most willing during our coldest month. The days are shorter the day’s solunar feeding periods. and we probably have the fewest We are currently finding redfish on both sand and heavily-grassed A Brownsville-area native, number of fishable days, given the bottom with potholes, but I expect that will change in February.

Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from variability of the weather. Fish do not Look for areas of mud bottom near deeper water as the water temps Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. typically move as often or as far as other continue to decline.

Ernest specializes in wading months, due predominantly to colder Redfish will still frequent the shallows, but with colder water and poled skiff adventures for water temperatures. They tend to hold temperatures they will be less likely to chase their food, which means snook, trout, and redfish. in or near deeper water more than any we will need to slow our presentations. This is where the ZMan Texas other time of year.

This not to say they Eye Finesse jigheads really shine. You can literally drag your soft plastics Cell 956-266-6454 will not frequent the shallows, but their across the bottom without getting hung up. The four and five inch Website stay in shallow water will be shorter.

ZMan PaddlerZ work very well on this jighead. www.tightlinescharters.com July is a very hot month. The days If I had to pick only one month to target trophy trout, it would are longer, which affects trout behavior be February. The fish are heavier in March and April, but the colder similarly, but for different reasons. They tend to move in and out of the water temperatures and overall lower tides lend to making their shallows, mostly to feed, not staying long, due to the elevated water whereabouts more predictable. Already we are seeing significant temperatures and depleted oxygen content. numbers of trout in the four to six-pound class, a good number in the So, air and water temperatures significantly influence fish activity over-six to seven range, and a few in the eight-and-over category. This in these two months. July has the hottest time of the year, the bigger trout may be found in A ZMan PaddlerZ soft plastic temperatures and February has the coldest. One predictable haunts but the greatest challenge still fooled this hefty redfish. significant tip that could help you this winter is lies in getting them to bite. knowing that landmasses lend warmth to the I say study the solunar feeding periods, tidal water. With that said, portions of a water body movements, position of the moon, and the farther from land tend to be colder. Putting weather…then cast a couple thousand times. these facts together, fishing near land could Hopefully you can get a lure in front of one thinking make a big difference on colder days. with its belly and not survival instincts!

I believe strongly in continuously monitoring What will we be throwing at these speckled water temperature. Just recently I was fishing monsters? My choices will be Paul Brown’s Corkys near Brazos Santiago Pass and found the water and ZMan’s Mulletron, Paddlerz, and StreakZ. My temperature colder than I expected. I saw little favorite ZMan colors at present are Pearl, Sexy bait activity, no noticeable signs of fish, and Penny, and Space Guppy. zero bites. As I motored away, I noticed that If the temperatures take a big dive, focus your the further I got from the pass the warmer the efforts on the ICW, areas around the Queen Isabela water became. Miles away, in water six degrees Causeway, Brazos Santiago jetties, and Brownsville warmer, we found plenty of fish.

Ship Channel.

The shallower flats had warmed up faster Mark your calendar for the Houston Fishing Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center – February 14-18. I will be working the Fishing Tackle Unlimited booth. Stop by and ask I heartily recommend The FTU Green Rods! me why I use their G2 Green Rods.

Best fishing!

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64 | February 2024

Science and the

Sea

TM

Nursery of Mermaid’s Purses When researchers went exploring an ancient underwater volcano about a mile below the surface off Canada’s Pacific coast, they expected to find an extinct volcano in icy waters. Instead, they discovered that the volcano, rising more than a half mile from the ocean floor, is active— and in fact, the warm water it spews into the sea creates a utopia for the larger of two known nurseries of Pacific white skate eggs in the world. Scientists only recently learned that these skates, a relative of sharks and the second deepest dwelling skate in the world, live in these waters.

A deep-sea skate observed near a hydrothermal vent. Adults can reach five feet in length. Credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program But during their expedition to the seamount, the researchers’ video captured a Pacific white skate gliding through a garden of deep-sea corals and laying eggs. A closer look revealed that the seamount was covered in thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of large skate eggs. Until this discovery, the only other Pacific white skate nursery known to scientists was in the Galapagos Islands, also in the toasty waters of a volcano’s hydrothermal vents. But there, only a couple dozen eggs were observed.

The thousands of pouch-like eggs off Canada’s coast are about ten inches across, giving them the nickname “mermaid’s purses”, since they look like they could be handbags for the mythical creatures. It can take about four years for baby skates to develop in the cold, deep sea, but biologists suspect the warmth from the volcanic vent—about 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit above the surrounding water—speeds up the eggs’ incubation and increases the likelihood that more young skates will survive and eventually reach adulthood. The surrounding corals further protect the eggs, but the area is not protected by any human conservation, so scientists will continue monitoring it.

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org

© The University of Texas Marine Science Institute TSFMAG.com | 65

FISHING REPORTS

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 In February, James mentions two things which work well in his area, with the weather determining which is best on any given day. “The action picks up when we’re wading this month, if we have warm weather for a few days in a row. Normally, warm February weather is associated with southeast winds, which tend to push the tides to higher levels, filling the coves and putting the right amount of water on the shoreline flats.

Wading can be good for both trout and redfish in this kind of scenario, especially during the afternoon hours, with the tide moving in. The topwater bite and the bite on old-school hard baits like 51M MirrOlures are often good then. If we have colder weather, and more northerly winds, the tide level tends to be low. Cold water temperatures and low tides can dictate fishing out of the boat at times this month. When we’re fishing out of the boat, in the muddy streaks, we do throw 51 and 52M MirrOlures some of the time, but soft plastics like the Assassin Sea Shads work better for most people. They need to be rigged on jigheads which will keep them close to the bottom.”

Jimmy West | Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Jim said the fishing had been decent over recent days and weeks when we talked, but that things were changing somewhat, due to a series of rain events. “We’ve got freshwater running down all the bayous right now.

There have been plenty of trout in those places, but they’ll probably be pushed out by all this runoff. Most likely, the fishing will fall apart in the backwater areas and along the shorelines in the backs of the bays, but it should pick up out in the middle and in the parts of the bays closer to where the salty water comes in through the ship channel. I expect the wading on both the south and north shorelines of East Bay to be good in February, especially if we have relatively high tide levels. And the catching should be good around the main reefs out in the middle too, when winds are not blowing too hard. February is one of those months when the bite is often best late in the afternoon, or even in the first couple of hours after the sun sets. People who know how to get around safely can maximize the catching by being on the water during these timeframes.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves | Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 When Randall submitted this report, the weather had put a damper on the fishing at times. “It’s been a little tough lately. We’ve had some really low tides, which has basically taken wading out of the mix. We have been catching good boxes of fish at times, working areas out in the middle of the bay, where the bottom is a mix of mud and shell. Best bite has been on Norton Sand Eels rigged on 3/8-ounce screw-lock jigheads, worked close to the bottom, short-hopping them and ticking the shell at times. We’ve had lots of rain and runoff, so the water’s somewhat dirty and stained. In this situation, darker colors tend to work best. Black Magic has been a good one lately. If the weather continues to be cold, and we have low tides lingering into February, fishing out of the boat on soft plastics will continue to be the best option. But, if the weather warms up, and we start to get more southeast winds to push the tide back in, wading will become a better option, especially if catching some of the bigger trout is the goal. Normally, wading around reefs and on back-bay shorelines is good in February.”

66 | February 2024

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

Matagorda Bays | Capt. Glenn Ging Glenn’s Guide Service - 979.479.1460 www.glennsguideservice.com The fishing in Matagorda has stayed pretty consistent and productive, and I look for February to provide some really good days of catching, if historic trends hold. East Matagorda Bay should cough up some big speckled trout this month, especially for waders, but some will be caught out of boats too. Wading with suspending plugs and soft plastics is the name of the game, focusing in places with a bottom consisting of a mix of mud and shell. Drifting deeper areas with shell on the bottom should also continue to produce, mostly for people throwing soft plastics. There have been some good catches of redfish recently over in West Matagorda Bay by folks fishing the deeper guts and drains along the south shoreline. Mostly, they’re throwing paddletails rigged on light jigheads and focusing on small grass beds along the edges of the guts, sometimes tight to shorelines and around points in the coves. The Colorado River continues to produce some nice catches of trout, with a few redfish mixed in. Soft plastic jerkbaits rigged on heavier jigheads like quarter-ounce have produced quite a few limits of both trout and redfish along the drop-offs lately.

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Fishing has remained consistent in our area lately, with all our focus being in and close to some of the deeper water. The harbor and turning basins have been the best areas for trout in these cooler months. Trout up to 18-inches have been holding in the deep holes and have been eating Norton Bull Minnows in pearl/chartreuse and Down South Lures in White Ice rigged on 3/8-ounce jigheads. The Tres Palacios, Colorado and Lavaca rivers have been good producers as well. We’re doing best in those places slow-rolling Down South Lures rigged on 3/8-ounce jigheads in Magic Grass and Avocado along the deep drop-offs. Deep bayous intersecting the rivers have been holding good numbers of redfish on falling tides. Fresh dead shrimp fished in the deeper holes have accounted for most of the bites. Once the sun comes up and warms the mud flats around the river mouths, the redfish have been cruising in small schools, chasing bait on the falling tides. Gold spoons cast out in front of these schools have scored lots of bites. As in all the colder months, locating bait, even a small amount, is usually the key to catching trout and redfish.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.935.6833 With deer hunting season over, Lynn will be back to fishing hard again.

“This is a prime month to target some of the biggest trout in the area.

Just like in December and January, we like to leave the dock late in the mornings and fish through the afternoon hours, while the sun’s warmth heats up the water to its highest point. Normally, we catch our big trout on slow-sinking twitchbaits like Fat Boys and the Catch 5, sometimes on topwaters. We focus on areas where we find small concentrations of bait below the surface if it’s cold, and lots of jumping mullet if it’s warmer. Most of the best spots this time of year have a muddy bottom, with some mix of grass and shell scattered around. The fish often bite in shallow

water, sometimes knee-deep and shallower, but the deep water usually isn’t far from where we are catching. If the tide falls out to really low levels, we wind up fishing the edges of the drop-offs more, focusing on the transition between the shallow water and the depths.

Soft plastics rigged on light jigheads usually work best on those days, at least to locate the fish.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Cast-n-Blast season ends this month, and Blake goes back to fishing full time. In most years, he makes the transition easily, able to return to targeting schools of fish he found in the air boat after hunting ducks.

“Fishing is good in the coves and back-lakes this month, in the shallow parts if the tide is higher, in the guts and drains if it’s lower. We mostly catch reds in these places, but there are almost always a few big trout mixed in with them, or close to them. The fishing can be really good on main-bay shorelines too, especially if tide levels are low and an outgoing afternoon tide pulls warm water out of a back-lake or cove and dumps it into the bay. The bite is most often best on soft plastics like Norton Sand Eels this time of year, but on the best days, the bite on chrome and other topwaters can be great too. If the tide is low and the weather is calm for at least a couple days, fishing the mid-bay reefs can turn on. Out there, it’s important to fish the tide rips around the structures.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata | rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 With the arrival of February, most of the hunting seasons are just about over, and more people will start to get serious about hunting for the trout of a lifetime, since this month is a great time to do just that.

Usually, the water temperatures are pretty cold, so the trout will usually move into deep water during the night. Because of this, I normally start my days fishing along shorelines where flats about two to three feet deep lie close to drop-offs where the water is at least five feet or deeper. I like to fish with Bass Assassin Die Dappers in colors like Plum/ Chartreuse, Trickster, Chicken on a Chain or Salt & Pepper rigged on an eighth or quarter-ounce Spring-Lock jighead. I will work these along the drop-offs and retrieve the lures very slowly along the edges and in the deeper water. Especially on sunny days, the shallow part of these areas will warm up and the fish will move up into the shallower water.

Remember to retrieve the lures very slowly. Most of the bites will come in the form of a very light tap and this is where sensitive braided lines will help detect the bites.

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez - www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230 The fishing in and around Corpus Christi can be fabulous in February, as historic events have shown. “We generally have great fishing for both trout and redfish this month,” Joe says. “If it’s warmer than normal, the fish usually show up in the shallows and stay there, making for some really consistent sight-casting opportunities. We see some of the biggest trout of the year in these situations, and with recent trends, that should be the case again this year, if we get long lulls between fronts and some relatively calm weather. If it’s colder, we’ll continue to target our fish in the vicinity of the ditches, including the ICW, and in deeper water along the north shoreline of Baffin and a ways off the west shoreline of the Laguna Madre. Fishing is usually best on soft plastics when it’s colder, and they work well for sight-casting too. If it’s warmer, the bite on twitchbaits and topwaters can be phenomenal at times. The boat traffic does pick up this month, so we’ll be looking for areas with relatively small crowds, where we can use stealth to our advantage. Overall, it’s a wonderful month to fish our area of the coast.”

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins 361.877.3583 - Oceanepics.com Rather mild winter weather has prevailed in Texas so far. With the up and down temperatures and possibility of fog, beach drivers will need to exercise caution and be especially alert when approaching beach camps. Surf water conditions remain favorable for pompano on warm, calm days. Traditional Fish-Bites and/ or freshly peeled shrimp will be the ticket to catching them. Red drum should be in abundance, with increased numbers of slot-sized fish.

Shrimp, mullet, and cut whiting will work well for reds. Trout fishing can be hit or miss, but any that are available in the surf will likely be large and healthy. Slot and oversized black drum should also be fairly abundant. Like with the pompano, shrimp and Fish-Bites will work well for this species. Large sandbar sharks can be very abundant, depending on water conditions. Sandbars are suckers for large whole whiting and sheepshead. Sandbar sharks are federally protected and must be released. If the water is warm, it will be possible to target large pregnant blacktip sharks and medium-sized bulls. Lower than normal winter tides typically provide nice driving conditions on most stretches of Texas beaches. The second and third days following cold fronts are usually quite productive for a variety of species.

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com - 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge - 956.944.4000 February is one of the months when we layer-up under our waders.

Typically, we get fronts passing through without many days between them. So, the water temperatures will fluctuate accordingly. That said, keying on areas where at least some signs of baitfish are found is usually the key to catching. When in the boat, it pays to watch for areas with wading birds like herons and egrets concentrated in a stretch close to shore, or where gulls are loafing on the surface or hovering over the shallows. Using a device to measure water temperatures and fishing in the warmest water around is also helpful during cold snaps. Areas south of Port Mansfield that are dependable this month are West Bay and the Saucer area. Lures like Floating Fat Boys, Double Ds, MirrOdines and KWigglers Wig-A-Lo or Willow Tail are all proven producers in the cold.

Up north, the west shoreline should be good, as will the submerged and exposed spoil dumps just south of the entrance to the Land Cut, especially on the east side of the ICW. The mid-thigh to waist-deep potholes from Dubbs Island to the old game warden shack can also be productive.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com - 956.639.1941 Fishing in the Lower Laguna has been very good, thanks to warmer than average winter weather thus far. Trout up to 20 inches have been steady, holding over grass and sand pockets on deeper flats. ZMan 4-inch StreakZ plastics in Sexy Mullet on 1/8-ounce Eye Strike Trout Eye jigs has been our go-to lure. Bait presence has been the major key to finding fish. Quite often we see both redfish and larger trout hanging right with the larger schools of mullet. Redfish action has also remained very steady for us on most trips. Good numbers of redfish have been holding on grassy flats in depths averaging one to three feet when the weather is warm. They tend to stage a little deeper along drop-offs on colder days following a front. The 4-inch ZMan StreakZ in Creole Croaker has been a reliable bait choice in clear water. Fast retrieves over sand pockets have helped entice reaction strikes. I expect these patterns will hold until colder weather arrives. If and when that happens, keep your head on a swivel for even the slightest signs of bait activity.

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Crystal Slafka Chocolate Bay - first trout! CPR

Rambo White Matagorda Beach- first fish!

Gilda Miller Shoalwater Bay- 28” red 68 | February 2024

Vicki Chrysler redfish

Angelica Troutt Shoalwater Bay- 32” red

Austin “Dink” Coan POC jetties - 27” trout

Gavin Turner - Matagorda Bay 24.5” personal best flounder!

Robert Rodriguez Offatts Bayou- 5’ bull shark

Anna Strzelczyk Copano Bay- 44” personal best red! CPR

Myra Spurgin redfish

Brodey Brawner Dewberry Island- 28” red

Shane Schlemeyer San Luis Pass- bull red CPR

Manny Morgan 5.5 lb 26”trout CPR

Gerardo Ocañas Peyton’s Bay- redfish

Boogie Schroeder Dewberry Island- 32” redfish

Mike Gartner Galveston Bay - 35” 20 lb black drum CPR

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Photos are judged on artistic merit and sporting ethic displayed.

No stringer, cleaning table, or hanging board images allowed.

Digital images only. Adjust camera to high or best quality. All images become property of TSFMag. Email to: Photos@TSFMag.com Include short description of your catch with name, date, bay system, etc.

Greg Willaby Matagorda Beach- 43” red CPR

Jacob Esquivel Corpus Christi Bay- 24” 12 lbtripletail TSFMAG.com | 69

PAM JOHNSON

Gulf Coast

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

Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361 792-4530

Creamy Crab Bisque INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1 cup celery finely chopped 1/3 cup yellow onion grated 4 garlic cloves minced 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground white pepper 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 2 Tbsp flour 1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice 1 1/2 cups half-and-half 1 cup heavy cream 1 pound lump crabmeat 1/2 tsp hot sauce; Tabasco or Louisiana 1/2 tsp lemon zest 1 Tbsp fresh parsley 2 Tbsp dry sherry

Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add celery, onion, garlic, salt, white pepper, and ground nutmeg. Cook slowly until celery is opaque but not browned, about 5 minutes.

Add flour and stir constantly until flour coats vegetables evenly. Add clam juice and stir to combine, add half-and-half, heavy cream, and hot sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking often, until thickens, about 8-10 minutes. Fold in crab carefully and continue simmer one to two minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat. Add lemon zest and dry sherry, stir to combine.

Season to taste with more salt and white pepper.

Divide evenly into four serving bowls.

Garnish with parsley and serve with hot bread and more hot sauce if desired.

Yield – 4 Servings

70 | February 2024

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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING HOLES M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish

Fin Tastic Coastal Charters

USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan

832.693.4292 www.fishfcc.com

Home of the & USE COUPON CODE TSFM15 FOR 15% OFF OF CFG ONLINE ORDERS www.CoastalFishingGear.com | 281-736-6670 • Bay Fishing, Offshore, Floundering, Waterfowl, Dove • Night Fishing off Lighted Pier • Right On The Water • Lodging with/without Meals www.matagordasunriselodge.com 979-241-1705 ON THE WATER

Saltwater Fishing Clinics WITH

Capt. Robert Zapata

If you are having difficulty catching fish on a consistent basis, the clinic is designed for you. Learn Capt.Robert Zapata’s secrets to finding and catching more fish from his 25 years of experience as a professional fishing guide.

For Information Call 361-563-1160

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