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January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
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Just Keep Five
January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Ja nua ry 2008 Volume 17 No.9
Editor and Publisher Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com Executive vp Pam Johnson
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Pam@tsfmag.com
10 Old Friends and Fishy Grins
Mike McBride
16 The Corpus Christi Cornucopia
Kevin Cochran
22 The Ghosts of Green’s Bayou – Part 1
Martin Strarup
26 Becoming a better fisherman
Billy Sandifer
30 Change in latitude brings…
Chuck Uzzle
Business Manager Shirley Elliott Shirley@tsfmag.com inside sales - Advertising coordinator Tracey Johnson Tracey@tsfmag.com
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27 Coastal Birding 34 Let’s Ask The Pro 38 Fly Fishing
86
Regional Sales Representative Scott Null Scott@tsfmag.com
Jay Watkins
42 Tournament Trails
60
Billy Sandifer Casey Smartt
Brandon Jenewein
National Sales Representative Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net
46 Offshore
Bobby Byrd/John Cochrane
52 Conservation
CCA Texas
54 Science and the Sea
UT-Marine Science Institute
56 TPWD Field Notes
Ed Hegen
Design, Layout & Web Maintenance GRAPHICS BY DESIGN Jasmine and Jackson Gordon Phone: 361-785-4282
60 Kayak Fishing
Scott Null
Jasmine@graphicsbydesign.biz
66 According To Scott
Scott Sommerlatte
Jackson@graphicsbydesign.biz
70 Youth Fishing
Aaron Cisneros
76 Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene
Dickie Colburn
78 Mickey on Galveston
Mickey Eastman
80 Capt. Bill’s Fish Talk
Bill Pustejovsky
82 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays
Shellie Gray
84 Catching up with Cliff
Cliff Webb
86 Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report
Capt. Tricia
88 South Padre Fishing Scene
Ernest Cisneros
Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly. Subscriptions available for $25.00 per year. Two year subscriptions available for $45.00 E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year. Order on-line: www.tsfmag.com Subscription – product sales Michelle White Store@tsfmag.com Make checks payable to: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 15th of the prior month’s issue. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded.
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Editorial
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Letters to the Editor
how to contact tsfmag: Phone: 361-785-3420 Fax: 361-785-2844 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983
74 New Tackle & Gear
Physical Address: 58 Fisherman’s Lane,
90 Fishing Reports and Forecasts
Seadrift, TX 77983 Web: www.TSFMAG.COM
92 Photo Gallery–Catch of the Month 94 Gulf Coast Kitchen
Printed in the USA.
99 Index of Advertisers
Shawn Brooks was drifting shell reefs in East Matagorda Bay with friend Steve Hamilton. Shawn’s trophy took a Norton Sand Eel and was estimated at 28-inches plus and near 8.0 pounds. The release was made immediately w/o weighing or measuring. Congrats on the catch, Shawn, and kudos on the release!
Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at Victoria, TX 77901. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
Hunters and fishermen display a noticeable penchant for naming the species and trophies they seek. Some are silly and others fairly serious. Deer and elk hunters engage in this almost universally and for the most part the monikers they bestow bespeak lifelong respect; sometimes awe and reverence. Those who live for deer hunting are heard to speak of Ol’ Mossy in reference to a buck so wise and old and that has evaded hunters for so long as to sprout moss on his back and antlers. Of course anybody who has hunted anywhere near South Texas knows you might get away with disparaging comments about a buddy’s wife or mother before you’d expect to get away with the same about Muy Grande. Elk hunters take things even further; monarch, royal, and regal are but a few of the endearing terms you’ll hear passed among worshippers of the mighty wapiti. Sometimes the names we give are not exactly correct from a taxonomy or anatomical viewpoint, however they are sufficiently descriptive to convey meaning and therefore earn a pass into the outdoorsman’s lexicon. The term “bull red” definitely qualifies here. In this application “bull” is conferred to denote size and temperament. And unlike doe deer and cow elk, a female “bull” redfish is coveted every bit as highly as any male of the species. The term “bull” is used in other ways too; see also — bull tide and bull norther. Spotted seatrout, or specks as we commonly refer to them, are the undisputed top prize among Texas inshore salts. Fish that fit the trophy requirements of most anglers probably come fewer than one in a million. If thirty inches or ten pounds are the barriers for qualification you might be talking one in ten million. Only a tiny fraction of fishermen who spend a lifetime in the chase ever get one. A speck that lives long enough to attain trophy proportions has eluded tons of hooks and predators to get there. Hence, the uncommon value placed on these great fish. So now for the naming of them… trout inspire us, so we naturally conjure a host of names to apply to them. Many a tale has been spun about Ol’ Yellow Mouth, which is easy to understand. Lots of fishermen refer to them as “sows” which is also easy to understand in that the sow is the distaff member of the swine family and trophy trout often grow as fat as pigs. Other names I’ve heard are lunker, gorilla, and mule. The mule designation being more common in Louisiana than Texas and descriptively conferred the same as bull red and horse mullet. Now all of this is good and acceptable to me so far, but there are some names and terminology used to describe big trout that just absolutely make the hair stand on the back of my neck. Lately, it has evidently become fashionable in some circles to refer to big trout, especially trophy trout, as “big girls”… or worse… “fat girls.” The next time I read or hear somebody crowing about their upcoming trip to Baffin as, “going down to chase the fat girls,” I think I’ll just go ahead and puke. That’s how bad it irritates me. So if the coming of a New Year is the time for making changes, I am asking for one. I’m asking all the fishermen, the guides and the writers to become more creative and selective in their terminologies. I’m asking that we put the “big girls” and “fat girls” to bed. And before anybody starts jumping up and down yapping that I’ve yielded to political correctness, forget it — it ain’t gonna happen that easy. I just don’t like those two names being applied to trophy trout. And while you’re at it, you can throw “Susie” in there with them.
Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
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Dear Mr. Johnson, We were sitting in the waiting room of a tire store in Marble Falls, TX when we picked up a copy of your magazine. My husband said, “Wow! I sure would like to get this magazine.” I said I thought that could be arranged. We have been to Seadrift a couple of times, checking out the area for our camper and fishing. We really like the area and your magazine will be a great tool. Thanks, Mrs. Bryan Chambers Dear Mrs. Chambers, We are pleased that you have found us… tire stores are actually great places to read fishing magazines! Feel welcome to call on us anytime if you need help settling in on the coast; that’s why we’re here! Everett Johnson
Dear Editor, This is my son, Harrison Phillips. He’s four years old. My dad, Bob Phillips, me, and my son (Harrison) were invited by a friend to join in some of the hot fall action going on in Trinity Bay. We fished Friday, November 2nd. This was my son’s first trip from College Station to the saltwater environment. He slept most of the way to Baytown. The first question he asked when we woke up was, “Which pond are we going to fish today?” He had no idea that we were fishing in an environment that was totally different than our church pond stocked with one pound black bass. He had a blast. He loved having the wind rip through his hair on my buddy’s JH Performance boat. He caught and released his first speckled trout in this picture on a purple/chartreuse Texas Trout Killer II. Ironically he caught his first speck approximately one half mile from where I caught my first speck while fishing with my dad in Trinity Bay some 32 years ago. There’s no doubt he is hooked on speckled trout. Heck, he even had a blast helping me clean them once we got back to College Station. Jeff Phillips, College Station, TX. Dear Jeff and Harrison, All I can say is, “Awesome.” And to Grandpa Bob… “Look what you have started.” Keep up the good work and keep those photos coming. Everett Johnson-Editor
Dear TSFMag, As much as I hate to do this I need you to stop sending mags to me in Iraq, I am set to head home in a little over a month. I really appreciate the
mags as do others in my unit. Fishing is my number one thing to do and you have kept me close to my favorite pastime. I really love every issue and every article from every guide; when I get home there are a couple that will get a phone call from me so we can go trout chasing. Thank you for your support and for sending me a piece of home every month, you guys are the best. SPC Jason Parish aka “junapescado” Dear Jason – You’re headed home… well now, that is truly great news! Please advise whether anybody who will remain there or replacements coming in would like to receive the magazine and we’ll keep it headed over there. Godspeed – hope your first fishing trip when you back to Texas is a dandy. Everett Johnson Editor
Mr. Everett Johnson, My name is Thomas Plant and I am currently in deployment to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Brag, NC. My brother Stephen Plant arranged through you guys to send me your monthly magazine over here. I just wanted to say thank you and your magazine is being well represented here in Afghanistan. Several of my fellow paratroopers are saltwater enthusiasts. We have a great time discussing your magazine articles, then telling our own fishing stories. It definitely makes us feel closer to home and your magazine is a real morale booster to those of us who love Texas fishing. Sincerely, Thomas Plant Dear Thomas, Good hearing from you. We are pleased that you and your fellow soldiers are enjoying the magazine. Please do not hesitate to send names of any others over there who would like to receive a personal copy. Thanks for your service — and we look forward to hearing of your safe return! Godspeed! Everett Johnson Editor
Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, I would like to thank you guys for all the support to myself and all the other troops here in my unit that were privileged to receive and read your magazine. It’s a great feeling to know that people support us at home. You would not believe how many people would ask me when the next shipment was coming in so they could be sure to get a copy of your great magazine. We are about to pack up and head home here in the near future; Thank God! I will no longer be at this address. Again we thank you for all the support and believe me I am so ready to do some saltwater fishing when I get home! SPC LaCapra, James US Army 1-82FA 1sst Calvary Division
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
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ey man, that front line is starting to look pretty bad… I think it’s on us.” I discounted my buddy’s admonishment
but there was one guy who continuously stayed bowed up on bigger fish while everybody else either watched, mumbled insults, or tried to get closer. I was one who tried to sneak closer. After a few unsuccessful attempts at small talk, J.O.
as old woman speak. Yes, the blackness was
finally spat in an almost accusing tone, “Well, do
hanging low on the horizon, but the fish in front
you have one of these or not?”
of us demanded more attention than any distant weather threat. My plug went off again; sounding somewhat
“One of these,” was a chartreuse gold-side 51-MirrOlure. There were a host of colors hanging from the old foam “bwana”
like an automobile striking a galvanized trash
hat but not that one, and it was one
can. My partner, J.O., glared a hole in me like the
of those times where color made
competitive cigar-chomping grump that he was.
the difference. We have-nots shook
He had kicked by butt on many occasions, and
our heads as he dragged out ten of the best fish
norther approaching or not, I was in a groove and
we saw that day. We would cross wading paths
it was my turn to put on the clinic. I fully intended
again in a few weeks, many miles to the north.
to wreak every bit of payback I could. J.O. and I go back to the mid-eighties. I first
The next encounter was under absolutely miserable conditions. Anything exposed got
crossed him in the “MirrOlure Line-up” on a
gnawed raw by winter rain and northwest wind,
Corpus Christi Bay shoreline just north of the
tough on a body but perfect for a winter honey
drizzle we stood squarely and kept casting to
Indian Point pier. It was during the Thanksgiving
hole in Offatt’s Bayou. We considered it a good
see who would wimp out first. We were both
holidays and back then hardnosed hopefuls
enough trade as back then it wasn’t unusual to
protectively bristled as neither was supposed
would park in a neat row and line up in equally
pull ten good trout out of this little sanctum with
to know about this spot… much less be there. I
gentleman-like order to throw plugs at winter trout.
ten good casts. It was for naught this time though,
should have recognized that peculiar casting
Most everybody had good stringers that day,
and peering through ski masks and eye-stinging
arc, but it wasn’t till in the parking lot while trying
Another fine memory stowed for the rocking chair.
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January 2008
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Is it really going to be about all the fish we caught, or will it be more about who we shared them with?
to peel enough gear to fit through the truck door when it came to me in that same, almost accusing, tone — “Didn’t I see you a couple of weeks ago?” Heck, if this guy was going to show up on me like this we might as well hammer out some sort of treaty. We exchanged shivering phone numbers and ended up sharing many lure probing assaults along the entire coast. We eventually racked up plenty of stories, some of which may even go into a magazine one day (insert small grin). Each session retained that undeclared battle for daily bragging rights. Win some, loose
error. Although we always agreed on meeting times, it was funny how he would already be well
some, but the underlying combative tone was
in the water when I got there, and had already
always there driving each of us to try harder.
swept most of the sweet spots. In one particular
As written before, it’s male ego in the arena,
area, we had to sneak through a subdivision. The
and there are many reasons why we fish besides
acquired skill was stealing through the bushes
the fish.
without alerting the local, high-pitched, obnoxious
During one spring-time episode in the Upper
little dock dog. If you did, you’d not hear your plug
Laguna, I, being the impatient young one, caught
nor brain for the rest of the day or night. There
three fair trout on topwaters from the submerged
were times I considered poisoning both J.O. and
wreckage of an ancient houseboat. Five minutes
the dog, especially that foggy evening I arrived to
of blank casts moved me forward in search of
the already protesting mutt and discovered J.O.
another quick fix. J.O. slowly chewed on a cigar
had already stuck the best fish from each piling
stub, stood flatfooted, and proceeded to coax
with a red shad Corky, leaving me, besides no
a full stringer of pig-bellied trout off of the same
sleep, with an ear ache and empty water.
structure with a weightless, weedless Bass
That was near the old pier where the crazy
J.O.’s Lower Coast STAR winner.
inspiring, especially when the only other thing to
Assassin. Of course he kept his rod down so
lady lived. At times, usually late on a spooky
as not to tip me off. He still gloats about it, but
night, she would run to the end of the boards butt-
Night wades behind San Luis Pass were
I learned to be more diligent when working
naked, bouncing, flailing and chanting. She called
also interesting, and when we got separated by
small areas and also to look over my shoulder
us “demons” and demanded that we “get thee
oppressive darkness, it was never clear whether
more often. While working shell and pilings in Upper
look at chewed cigars.
behind me Satan!” We did temporarily get behind
the distant crashes were shark frenzies or your
her, not only out of Exorcist-like head-spinning
buddy scrambling for the safety of a shin-skinny
Galveston Bay, that same 51 MirrOlure would
fear, but also so we could get a little better
bar. The old Rebel “G-Finish” pearl Jumping
often pull strong head shaking dividends from
look. Possessed as she might have been, the
Minnow ruled back there while they lasted.
sweet spots we had learned through trial and
stark white form in the dark mist could be quite
Unfortunately it got cheapened and changed,
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
11
rendering it totally worthless; I have one left.
that would take us safely to the ICW, but a non-
Those productive years still incite giggles for
working compass and no GPS sent us due west
both of us when we hear the newer philosophy of,
into the blow with little more than hope that our
“you have to throw black at night.” Well — O.K. Anyway, between bringing bananas on your
direction was right. That little bay can get angry and it was certainly baring its white-watered
boat and one-upping you with stories of tiger
teeth, not to mention dozens of small reefs
fish caught in Africa and corvina from Baja, J.O.
waiting for us at the entrances. Long story short,
did lay claim to the highly-coveted Lower Coast
by pure luck, we bisected a cut and bow-plunged
STAR trout one year. That’s another chapter, but
home, freezing with no jackets, but with another
for now, let’s go back to the opening story.
fine memory stowed for the rocking chair.
It was classic East Matagorda at its
The meaning of all of this? — When our lives
wintertime best. Standing on the edge of a well-
become history, when the grim reaper appears
known reef, thick fish came up to slam topwaters
with scythe in one hand and our final stringer in
worked hard in a pre-norther frenzy. Not much
the other, is it really going to be about the fish, or
had happened all day, but as usual, an entire
will it be more about who we shared them with?
trip can be made in one short hour. For whatever reason only one retrieve worked and I had found
Let’s get out there and make some more of those memories. Call an old buddy and go
it. Hard-rocked Super Spooks spanked a full 180
fishing, even if he is an old school, anal, rack
degree’s back and forth were getting attacked
‘em and kill ‘em, yellow dog, by no other term,
violently during long in-between pauses. Fat
Democrat. The friends you meet on the water
winter fish to twenty-six inches came steadily
are usually forever; you can count them on one
to hand until the wind swapped hard over, way
hand, and shared passions can overcome
ahead of that distantly innocent cloud line.
much. See you there, and don’t think I won’t
The old Mako swung to and started pounding
be keeping score.
hard against the anchor. Visibility went to hell in hurry and there we stood once again in cold driving rain. There were only a couple of cuts
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January 2008
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I moved to Corpus Christi for a reason. Years ago, I made a list of every bay, lake, cove, bayou, jetty, flat, shoreline or other named saltwater fishing hole I could find on maps of the coast of Texas; to date, I’ve visited almost all of them. In the process, I learned that what appeals to me most is the awe-inspiring versatility of the area in which I now reside. By planting roots on North Padre Island, I have placed myself squarely in the middle of a virtual cornucopia of saltwater fishing options. While I won’t pretend I regularly take advantage of all the possibilities within easy reach, I am delighted to be in the midst of such variety. Starting at the northeast end of Corpus Christi Bay, it’s easy to document why so many anglers consider this region a kind of mecca. From the docks in the charming harbor town of Port Aransas, captains behind the helms of stretched out, sleek sportfishing cruisers find relatively easy access to some of the most productive billfish grounds within reach of the Texas fleet. The East Breaks, Aransas Bank, Baker’s Rock and other spots lie within range of the end of the granite jetties protecting this
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
sandy hamlet where on any summer night, it feels like one might glimpse the ghosts of Ted Williams and Ernest Hemingway clinking glasses to celebrate the day‘s catch. Here, the ten-fathom curve lies close to town when compared with its proximity to upper coast ports like Galveston and Port Arthur, bringing species like king mackerel, red snapper, dolphin and ling within the scope of most any seaworthy craft. Also, because of the warm climate in south Texas, the season for seeking pelagic species is long. Even in winter, the heartiest souls venture offshore to take advantage of what can be ridiculously easy fishing for wahoo and sow snapper. The old Aransas Jetties and the new ones at the Packery Channel, though not nearly as long as those at Galveston and Sabine, are the scene of many productive outings for everything from panfish and sheepshead to school trout, bull reds and black drum, even the occasional smoker king. In recent years, a few whopper snook have been taken too, and given a reprieve from future freezes, catches of “linesiders” should only become more common. Fishing for trout along the many miles of beachfront in this area is another of the tantalizing options available to anglers. The surf clears up easily and stays that way even under moderate breezes, because the water here carries much less river-deposited silt than the waves washing onto upper coast beaches. All the way from Cedar Bayou to the Mansfield Jetties, ravenous schools of trout frequent the shallows fronting the narrow strip of sand seaward of the dunes. It’s even
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possible to find and catch specks in the Padre Island Surf in the dead of winter, when other surf zones are virtually void of the species. Of course, trout fishing is not what makes PINS famous. Nor is it the search for centuriesold artifacts stranded with shipwrecked Spanish sailors who met bloody fates at the hands of the Karankawa Indians. It’s not even the staggering number of species available on this remote beach, including tarpon, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, little tunny, pompano, bull reds and the acrobatic ladyfish. Really, it’s the shark fishing that beckons four-wheeling longrodders who dunk large baits well beyond the bars, hoping to attract the attention of some of the apex predators of the sea. Numerous leathery critters with serrated teeth have been caught from the steeply-sloping, shell-crusted beachfront south of Malaquite. Inshore diehards like me don’t really desire to do battle with such creatures, but the options for our favorite species are numerous indeed. On the northern fringe of Corpus Christi Bay lies the La Quinta Channel, a fifty foot deep ditch leading to the docks in Ingleside. Along both sides of this trench, shallow sand and grass flats are available for wading, drifting and fishing at anchor. It’s the longest stretch of deep water in Texas bordered by such shallow flats. In the west end of Corpus Bay, the silty satellite of Nueces Bay sits. River-fed like an upper coast estuary, its brackish shallows are studded with numerous fish-holding oyster reefs. Those who know how to navigate this treacherous maze of shell banks and discarded oil field junk find trophy trout, herds of reds and both puppy and bull black drum when salinities are high and winds are light. In the middle of Corpus Christi Bay, as in most other deep, open bays, many oil and gas platforms rise above the waves; the barnacled
legs of these attract schools of speckled trout and their cousins, the sand trout. Those who like to fish with live bait at anchor take a share of this bounty on serene, emerald waters during the doldrums of summer. But the majority of people who come to this area to fish inshore prefer to do so in shallower waters. The miles and miles of grassy flats starting in the northeast end of Corpus Bay behind Port A and running all the way to Nine Mile Hole are a scenic and revered state treasure. Many locals and visitors find thrills by burning, poling and power-drifting the shimmering flats aboard tall tower boats in search of redfish. Like the Lower Laguna Madre, the ULM has many acres of this type of terrain, divided down the middle by the intracoastal waterway. The one real hole in the Upper Lagoon, just west of Yarbrough Pass, has depths that reach seven feet, providing fish a refreshing break from temperature extremes, especially under the searing summer sun. Just south of Yarbrough, the Land Cut, with its fish-holding ledges and the legend of the tide runners, is a place where skilled operators of trolling motors paired with drift anchors can experience the fishing trip of a lifetime. And though the spoil banks and shorelines of the Laguna Madre from Nine Mile Hole to the Boat Hole are consistently productive and among the best places in the Corpus area to catch trout and redfish, there’s one other place available to us that is unlike all others in the state. It is, of course, Baffin Bay, with its sprawling sand bars, miles of grass flats and ancient, rare rock formations. Several factors make Baffin a world-class
haven for trophy trout. The salinity level is high and relatively constant when compared with upper coast bays. Since resident trout don’t often have to adjust their swim bladders to compensate for regular changes in salinity level, they convert more ingested energy to growth. Secondly, since it’s warmer here than farther north and east along the coast, more days in the year allow the fish to grow rather than go dormant. Furthermore, Baffin is a vast, deep and treacherous bay that’s hard to access easily, protected by miles of undeveloped shorelines on virtually all of its sides. There’s simply less fishing pressure per acre in Baffin than in many other
Baffin’s rocks aren’t the only places where Corpus area big trout hang out; this 8 1/2 pounder came from waist deep potholes in the grass. www.TSFMAG.com
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Catching big trout this shallow is often harder than finding them. But the difficulty of the challenge is addictive to some anglers.
bays, especially on the deep rock piles where some magnum trout spend much of their time. All these things help define Baffin and its satellites as the premium place to find bragging sized trout. Back when Pluggin’ Shorty and Chatter Allen were still chunkin’ and windin’, ten pounders were more common than they are now, but in this famous hypersaline estuary, it’s still possible to catch numbers of trout over seven and eight pounds on the same day. That just doesn’t happen much at all in the rest of the state. For trophy trout nuts like me, Corpus Christi is truly the best place in the world to be. Here, I encounter some of the biggest members of the species, and they are available throughout the calendar year. Yes, the Lower Laguna has giant trout too, and when the fishing’s good there, it’s equal to the fishing anywhere. But without Baffin’s deep structures and protective shorelines, and the added advantage of access to Corpus Bay and its satellites, the other end of the Lagoon will never be as productive for big trout in all seasons as are the waters up here.
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
All coastal bay systems have their beachfronts, jetties, back bays and open waters. But none in Texas can compare to the Corpus/ Laguna Madre/Baffin system in sheer size, beauty and variability of structures, types of terrain and options for fishing opportunity. Even the names resonate with pregnant possibility. Fishing in destinations like The Graveyard, Rocky Slough, The Badlands, Cathead, Dead Man’s Hole, the King Ranch Shoreline, Shamrock Cove and The Devil’s Elbow creates a sense of anticipation that exceeds any I‘ve felt elsewhere. These are but a select few of the famous places that put the Corpus area on the map as perhaps the premiere saltwater fishing destination in the Lone Star State.
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Bodie and his friend Tommy Meyers stood belly deep in the second gut off Green’s Bayou on the south shoreline of West Matagorda Bay. Rafts of mullet milled about and would suddenly burst out of the water to avoid the sharp teeth of the trout Bodie and Tommy were catching. Retying his leader to a 1/8-ounce leadhead Bodie looked over at his friend and nodded in appreciation of the fat speck Tommy was stringing. “I told you Bodie, didn’t I? I told you the trout would be thick over here after that last little front, didn’t I? And it was my idea to come here, and I knew that these Brown Lure Devil Eyes would do the trick, didn’t I Bodie, didn’t I?” “You did just that Tommy Boy and these are sure enough some of the fattest trout I’ve caught in quite a spell,” Bodie said with a grin as he cast to a large swirl about 20 yards in front of him. Bodie felt the tap as the fish took the soft plastic bait and paused a second before setting the hook. The hookset felt like it was against a stout oak tree and immediately the fish pulled drag as it ran parallel to the gut Bodie had cast into. As Bodie guided the fish to his left hand he saw Tommy wading back to the shoreline. Bodie watched as Tommy bent over and moved something back and forth in the clear water. “What are you doing Tommy… trying to revive a trout?” “Found me one of those big 40mm shells Bodie!” Tommy yelled. “I haven’t seen one much less found one since I was a boy Bodie.” Bodie had enough trout to last him and headed up to see what Tommy had found. Sure enough it was an empty 40mm anti-aircraft shell and it was in pretty good shape seeing as how the thing had been lying on the bay floor since the 1940s. “Did I ever tell you about the bad accident they had over here during the war?” Bodie asked. “What accident?… Look at this shell Bodie, it’s going to look good up above the bar at Haddon’s Place next to the Haddon’s Cup I won,” Tommy said.
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“Some soldiers were killed over here Tommy, you should have a little respect for that.” Bodie said as he took the shell casing from Tommy. “Four soldiers from Camp Hulen had an ambulance over here doing a drill and they got killed.” “Well how’d they get killed Bodie?” Tommy asked. Bodie thought for a minute and said, “They were just on maneuvers Tommy and somehow one of the soldiers got hold of one of those 40mm anti-aircraft shells that had its timer intact and it went off inside of the ambulance and killed the whole crew,” Bodie said with a grim look. “Heck, it could have even been that very shell you’re holding that did the deed,” Bodie added as he tried to keep from laughing. Tommy didn’t say much for a few minutes as he kept looking at the big shell. “But Bodie, if the shell went off, wouldn’t it have blown up the casing that I’ve got here?” Tommy asked. “Not necessarily Tommy,” Bodie said. “You never know about live shells like that… you just never know,” Bodie said with a straight face. “Well, you know I remember when I was a kid there was an old ambulance over there in the dunes, you remember that Bodie?” Tommy asked. “Sure, I remember that Tommy… it was over there about 300 yards, sat there for years… some folks said it was haunted,” Bodie told Tommy as he stared into the distance. “Haunted?” Tommy asked... “We still planning on staying over here tonight Bodie? I don’t think that there’s going to be many flounder tonight, and anyway I betcha that Eloisa has a good crowd back at Haddon’s. Maybe we should just go back and you know, hang out for a while. I don’t think I brought my gig, and we don’t have a lot of beer and food,” Tommy babbled. “You brought your gig Tommy Boy and we’ve got plenty of summer sausage, cheese and crackers and I’m not really in the mood for drinking beer tonight anyway,” Bodie said, his back to Tommy with tears rolling down his cheeks. Bodie put the trout into the cooler and took the
January 2008
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Coleman lanterns out of their cases. He checked the fuel level in each of the 202-Professional lanterns and then tied new mantels on them. He looked up and saw Tommy who was staring intently out into the dunes. “Let’s have a bite to eat and a cold beer before we start floundering,” Bodie said. Tommy waded back to the boat and climbed in and without a word and started slicing summer sausage as Bodie whittled some cheese. “I’m telling you what Bodie, I betcha Eloisa has some of those really big round steaks that she’s battering up right now to chicken fry, and
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that pretty little Sellers girl might be back in town and we might be missing out on some stuff,” Tommy said with tremble in his voice. “We’ll have lunch there tomorrow, I’d like to do a little wade fishing after sun up and then we’ll head back in,” Bodie replied. Tommy stared at the lights of Port O’Connor across West Matagorda Bay and thought of how nice and safe he’d be if he was at Haddon’s right now. He looked towards Port Lavaca and saw the lights at Point Comfort and thought about all of the people that were working at the Alcoa Plant there and how they had a lot of light
January 2008
around them. “Bodie I just don’t think we’re going to do any good and besides it’s really dark and I think I’ve got a stomach ache,” Tommy whined. “Suck it up buttercup,” Bodie snapped, “there’s a passel of flat fish out there waiting for us and we need to go and get some of them.” Bodie lit the old lanterns and when he was satisfied with the glow of the mantel he handed one to Tommy. He picked up both gigs, handed Tommy his and together they started away from the boat. Bodie gigged a flounder not 10 yards from the boat and saw one right in Tommy’s path
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but Tommy was looking behind him and stepped right on the spotted fish. “Tommy pay attention to what you’re doing!” Bodie growled. “What in the heck are you doing looking behind you when the fish are in front of you in your light?” “I heard something back there Bodie… it sounded like something hitting metal… you didn’t hear that?” Tommy asked. Bodie shook his head and smiled to himself as he moved forward a few feet and stuck another flounder with his threeprong gig. Tommy ran into him and almost burned Bodie with his lantern. “Tommy watch where you’re going dad-gummit, you almost caught me on fire boy!” Bodie snarled. Tommy skulked off a ways and saw a flounder lying on the sandy bottom. He stuck the fish in the head and reaching down under it to lift it up he forgot what he was doing and stuck his thumb into the mouth of the sharp-toothed flat fish. “Owwww Bodie, I got bit, my thumb got bit off,” and with relief he added, “we HAVE to go back to town now Bodie, I think I need a doctor,” Tommy cried.
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ometimes I hate my daily log book. Just when I had about justified inconsistent daily catches and the lack of a pattern during the unusually warm temperatures we have experienced since mid-August, I check back a few years and find that the water temperature is 7-degrees colder than last year and 9-degrees colder than the year before. Then just to make matters worse I find that water temperatures have actually been about average for the entire period. I study any and all available reference materials on the coastal eco-system continuously when not fishing or doing necessary maintenance or writing these articles and have done so for many years. But the more I study and research and the more time I spend on the water the more convinced I become that we homo sapiens don’t genuinely understand nearly as much as we’d like to think we do. I’ve been accused of being a field biologist who figured out how to study subjects of personal interest while getting paid for it as a fishing guide. That’s totally acceptable to me because obviously the more I learn and understand the better service I can provide my customers. I enjoy many different types of angling using a wide variety of tackle and techniques. One real bonus I consistently see from becoming involved in a type of angling that is new to me is that I pick up new tricks common to that particular type of fishing that I had never previously considered but that will work well in my other angling endeavors. New tools to utilize and I am a better all around angler for it. When I undertake a method of fishing that is new to me I buy instructional videos and books produced by experts at that type of fishing rather than just going into it without any background on the subject and without expecting long term fishing experience in other types of fishing to work for me here as well. This practice saves me from lots of unnecessary heartaches, expense and mistakes. It also dramatically shortens my learning curve at this new undertaking. All this sounds as if I’ve got it all figured out and maybe I do but all of the above efforts alone
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won’t make a fella as successful an angler as most of us would lie to be without a whole lot of time on the water practicing this art we call fishing. I dearly love it when Brother McBride starts talking about “thinking outside of the box” because personally I think “the box” is a self-imposed and counterproductive trap that keeps a whole lot of high potential anglers at a mediocre skill and productivity level. See, to me, it’s not about how good you are at something nearly as much as it is about constantly getting better at it. That’s the challenge and the thrill, and to accomplish that goal there are no quick fixes and no substitute for continuous study combined with lots of time on the water. So first we learn to fish like others do and then we experiment and stay openminded and don’t be afraid to try new places and techniques and the end result is that we devise tactics that work best for us personally. It would probably amaze you to know how many people have been fishing for lengthy periods of time with very little success, yet they continue to fish with the same baits in the same locations during the same time frames, year after year. Just doesn’t make any sense, does it? I anticipate this coming year being the most diverse of my life as far as angling agendas are concerned. From the beach to various bay systems to the nearshore gulf — winter through fall with a large variety of species being sought. Keeps things fresh and new and exciting and heck, I might learn something. Small Green Sea Turtles are the most commonly seen turtles in coastal Texas. And unlike some of the other species they are “home boys” and live nearshore and in the bay systems of our area throughout the year. As late
January 2008
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Photo courtesy of Troy Allen Fowler
as the 1930s they were raised commercially in pens in areas of Copano Bay and butchered for meat and other product. Their numbers are currently increasing dramatically. When our weather turns extremely cold many of these turtles become “cold stunned” and wash up on shorelines. Basically they are suffering from acute hypothermia and in many cases they will die unless biologists are called so they can pick them up and take them to rehab. Do not pick up these turtles and take them somewhere yourself as a Texas state and U.S. Federal turtle handling permit is required to transport any sea turtle. When one of these “cold stunned” turtles is encountered it very often gives the impression of being dead and the only way to know for sure is to approach the turtle and gently touch it. If it’s alive you will see subdued movement or it will open it’s eyes. On PINS call 361-949-8173 ext. 226-228 to report cold stunned turtles. Other numbers are 1-866-887-853 and your local TPWD office. This is prime sea shell collecting time; especially behind cold fronts that dramatically decrease water temperatures. During the warm months many pin shells, goose-necked barnacles, sand dollars and a variety of other mollusks will move into shallow nearshore waters and these are often killed by sharp drops in water temperature and become available on the beaches of PINS. Remember that it is illegal to remove live specimens. This year is going to be filled with opportunities to experience the wonder and adventure of coastal Texas. Take the time to get out there and get you some. It’s a hoot for sure and it’s also an undisputable fact that the days of our lives are “slip sliding away.” Be Careful, Be Courteous, Be Kind
Also known as fish hawk – Body length: 22 to 25” Wingspan: up to 72”. Dark brown above, white below, with a white head and a prominent dark eye stripe. Dark wrist patches on underwing.
CAPT. BILLY SANDIFER
Eats fish almost exclusively. Hovers over water, dives toward prey, plunges feet first to snatch fish with talons. Wide spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere and Australia. Nests and perches atop high structures. Less common Top: Steve Altheibe with a surf red that bottomed out the 30 lb. scales on 14 lb. test line.
in our area during summer months. Choice of prey in our area appears to be larger mullet.
Middle: Pamela Mitchell with her 10 yr old son, Kyle, and his redfish on a bay Panga trip 21 November 2007.
Billy operates Padre Island Safaris. His specialties are fishing for sharks to specks in the Padre Island surf and bayfishing for trout and redfish from a poled skiff.
Bottom: Joseph, Kyle and Jeffrey Jibiden and John with their largest catches of the day surf fishing PINS on 17 November 2007.
Contact Billy Sandifer Telephone 361-937-8446 Website www.billysandifer.com
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Nickie Savoie of Cajun Resorts in Golden Meadow Louisiana headed out for another day in Sportsmans Paradise.
Deep in the heart of the marsh sits Cajun Resorts lodge.
any of us along the Texas coast who love the outdoors have long held the notion that there is Texas and 49 other states that are just along for the ride. The pride we show in our state is readily apparent as the Texas flag is probably the most recognizable state flag of all. Now for folks like me who live and fish is the shadows of two states it’s a little bit different, I have a place in my heart that is near and dear to Louisiana and that will never change. Louisiana is the self-proclaimed “Sportsman’s Paradise” and it is just that, a virtual paradise for any outdoor-minded person. On Sabine Lake we spend a lot of time in Louisiana water as it’s difficult to go anywhere without crossing the border. In recent years we have even taken to venturing farther east and enjoying what Calcasieu has to offer. For years I have entertained going even deeper into the “Bayou State” after reading stories that told how incredible the fishing and hunting could be. I finally got my chance. I left the house loaded up with high expectations and one eye on the weather as an approaching cold front somewhat held my attention. The journey down IH-10 was familiar until I jumped off on Hwy-90 at Lafayette and drove southeast through one of the most gorgeous places on earth, the Atchafalaya Basin. Majestic gum and cypress trees lined the vast low area and everything seemed so ancient that one might believe they had stepped back in time. The swamp soon gave way to acres and acres of sugarcane fields and dark rich soil that just begged to be planted; I was mesmerized. Soon came Morgan City and other towns that line the many rivers and the Intracoastal, places like Lockport, Larose and Cut Off. My
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final destination would be just outside Golden Meadow which is just outside of nowhere. This small town revolves around the fishing industry and it seems everyone has something to do with working on the water. I pulled into Baison’s Marina and waited on my ride to come pick me up . I walked around the parking lot listening to the local folks and I may as well have been in another country as the Cajun – French language flowed like the tide and all I could do was smile. The Cajun culture is really special because these folks are very passionate about life, family and enjoying your time on this earth. It didn’t take long to strike up a conversation with a local fisherman and before too long it seemed like we were old friends, people like this make places like Golden Meadow special. After about a 15 minute wait a shiny new 22foot Century center console slid up to the dock and Nickie Savoie stepped out and held out his hand with a warm greeting. Nickie is the head guide at Cajun Resorts and a former tight-end for the New Orleans Saints. Cajun Resorts is an amazing lodge nestled deep in the marsh and only accessible by boat so we loaded my gear and took off through a maze of canals and bayous that looked like you could catch a fish any place you stopped. The marsh looked very similar to Sabine only without the tall rosseau cane to block your view. The unobstructed view really gives you an idea of just how expansive this place is, it seemed to go on forever. The folks at Cajun Resorts lease 15,000 acres of pristine saltwater marsh that is just swarming with speckled trout, redfish and ducks. I felt like I had found a second home. As we idled up to the lodge I got acquainted with some of the other guides and took a look around. My whole purpose here was for a Century Boat Company writers event where
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John McParland with a big redfish. This 14 pound brute patrol the Louisiana waters and will eat a variety of offerings.
guides like myself would take various media folks out to fish and have a good time. Upon entering the lodge it was evident that a good time would be had by all as Poppy Duet and Miss Dollie were cooking up some wonderful Cajun cuisine. After storing my gear I sat down with Nickie and some of the other guides and asked them a couple of questions concerning the fishing and I was pleasantly surprised at some of the things they told me. Many Texas anglers believe the Louisiana anglers keep way too many fish and that they are not interested in protecting their fishery, this is terribly false. Each guide told me they have their own self-imposed limits on most fish because they think it’s better on the population. Even though it’s completely legal to keep 12 inch trout in Louisiana, the Cajun Resort guides try to maintain a 14-inch minimum. Many of these guides spoke out in favor of some sort of limit change in the neighborhood of 15 fish at 14 inches. I must admit I was very impressed at the level of concern these guys showed for the resource, it was a far cry from how Louisiana guides are normally portrayed. As a matter of fact during one outing I had a big gill net become tangled in my prop and I had to cut it out in order to run. Once the guides found out about the gill net on their property you could tell they were not happy. “We have been trying to catch all these illegal netters for some time” said Savoie, “these guys just can’t be satisfied with catching fish, they get greedy and that’s not good for anyone.” For the next several days we caught redfish and speckled trout on just about any imaginable pattern. Most of the guides throw live bait and that’s usually cocahoe minnows under a small rattling cork. Mr. Gary, Wade, Toby, and Al can flat out fish and are super nice guys to be in a
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boat with. The guys on the Century Pro Staff including myself caught fish on everything from soft plastics and spoons to topwater plugs, it was incredible. The water clarity is much the same as Sabine or even Trinity for that matter because it’s much clearer than you might think. The lack of bright sand or anything on the bottom to give you contrast leads you to believe that the clarity is minimal. Once you get to a place where there is shell on the bottom you get a better idea of just how fine the water really is. Going to a new area is always an adventure and Golden Meadow certainly qualifies as an adventure. The hospitality and genuine goodwill is what makes the Louisiana lifestyle so wonderful and there is definitely something to be said about enjoying life that keeps these folks living long happy lives. The thought of waking every day to an unspoiled paradise would probably make me smile too. Besides the fact that the fishing was so good I was really glad to be able to share with the readers of Texas Saltwater Fishing the sentiments of these people and maybe help bust some of the myths and stereotypes that Louisiana fishing guides often get labeled with. These folks are just as interested in doing the right thing as anyone in Texas and they let their actions speak. I left Golden Meadow and Cajun Resorts with a bunch of new friends and good memories as well as a new-found respect for some really good people.
January 2008
Gill nets still give anglers a fit as they kill too many fish and often cause motor problems when they tangle in the prop.
Good food is always at hand when you enter Cajun country.
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I loved the lion in the Wizard of Oz and while working on this article I was reminded
cloud cover and visibility is often limited.
With staging areas and feeding patterns
Fog and periods of slick-calm can be just as
covered, it is time to consider signs to look for
common as days with 30-plus mph winds. Poor
when the WELL-KNOWN signs are absent.
of him. At the beginning of the movie he was
water clarity is another problem. Under any of
Enter grebes, ospreys and loons. Notice I have
not what he appeared to be, kind of like the
these conditions we can find it difficult to locate
left out the pelicans; those guys are obvious.
wintertime pattern I’m going to present here.
that precise spot we need to be casting to.
My goal here each month is discuss topics
I am of the belief that once water
The grebes, loons and ospreys go largely unnoticed by many fishermen. Heck, some
that are new and different. I get tired of hearing
temperatures drop into the upper-50s trout will
people don’t even know what a grebe is. By the
those same old worn out lines that have been
stage in areas that are consistently warmer and
way, I love birds and notice all of them - majestic
used over and over and I don’t want anybody
these areas have common denominators. All
whooping cranes, great blue herons, rails,
feeling that way about mine. So with this in
have soft dark bottoms. Most are situated in
gallinules, oyster catchers… even the funky little
mind, let me begin by saying that the stuff I’ve
coves or pockets along shorelines in back bays
grebes. Have you ever seen a grebe fly? It’s
got for you this month is not widely understood
and lakes. All have bottom structure that affords
hard for me to figure how they ever get down
and you’re not likely to read it anywhere else.
gamefish some type of ambush point. All have
here with that spit and sputter flying technique.
Before we get to it, though, we’ll need some
some type of deeper gut that allows for coming
background. Where I’m taking you is beyond
and going without notice. And most definitely,
will surely make you think of Henry Fonda and
the obvious, it might be a little boring at first but
all of these spots consistently harbor large
Audrey Hepburn in the classic film, On Golden
please bear with me.
numbers of baitfish.
Pond; but their call can also be one of the clues
Most of you have heard more times than
During warming trends our fish may move to
The cry of a winter loon on a foggy morning
we need to find fish. The majestic osprey with
you care to remember how important it is to find
the shallowest areas in the general region and
it’s shrill cry and graceful swoop to catch a fish
soft, dark, muddy bottom to find winter fish. Well
during the coldest of times they will drop to the
is awesome to watch, it can also tell us where
— in case you haven’t noticed — all soft mud is
deeper quadrants of that same area. Winter run
we need to be. These are smart birds, great
dark. I have never seen soft white mud unless it
fish do not feed all day long. In fact, it has been
predators all, and very helpful to those of us
was in a Halliburton mud tank many years ago.
observed that winter fish may feed only once
who take notice.
You probably have also been told many
every two or three days; but when they do it is
I think of the grebe and the loon as
times that a single mullet flipping in the
an all-out gorge, eating enough to sustain them
gardeners as they love to work the grass. They
appropriate area is as good a sign as you will
for days at a time.
can lead us to grassbeds and other useful
need for that day. While this may be true, let’s face it; when you can see the bait you don’t need me to tell you where to fish.
The results of hard grinding along drop-offs, watching grebes and loons.
You have heard me speak many times about sight-casting; sometimes to fish, sometimes to bait, sometimes to structure. The key to sightcasting is our ability to actually see things. I love it when I get to fish with someone like Cliff Webb. He punches his lure toward every mullet and every rock, pothole, or grassbed that is visible. Like I said, when the signs are obvious confidence typically runs high. However it’s the day when NOTHING can be seen that drives many to throw their hands in disgust. So let’s head into the real world — during the winter months we often encounter heavy
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What a redfish! This brute bottomed a 15pound Boga before releasing. Slick-calm conditions prevented us seeing the grassbeds, but a few grebes told us that grass and bait were present.
Here’s Red with a beautiful trout caught while watching an osprey working bait in a shallow lake off San Antonio Bay a few weeks ago.
Gary Clouse, my friend and excellent guide,
has e-mailed about my articles here in Texas
had his eye on her the entire day as well.
Saltwater Fishing, even the few who did not
On two occasions recently the weather
understand or get the points I’ve tried to make.
and water conditions made it hard to locate
It has been a fun year for me even though
where the fish were holding. Both times grebes
fishing was not nearly as good as it can be
and loons showed us the whereabouts of
in my area. Things are looking much better
our quarry. In the 2007 Texas Trout Series
now and soon the floods of 2007 will be only
tournament that Lowell Odom and I took
a memory. Hopefully through the articles I’ve
second in, (who says nobody remembers who
written you have learned how to better cope
came in second), as we eased into our area an
with such conditions and next time around you’ll
osprey hovered above the gut that I was looking
have a better game plan.
to fish. On my first cast a 5-pound trout fell to a slow sinking Corky. Throughout the morning the
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the entire Watkins family.
osprey showed us bait we could not see. Time after time, 7M MirrOlures and Corky’s produced structure. These birds are fish eaters. So not
solid trout to 6 pounds. So you see, we do not
only do they provide information about structure
actually have to be able to see bait or bottom
we cannot see, they also tell of the presence of
structure if we implement signals from our
baitfish we cannot see. You have to watch the
feathered friends.
loons, though. They are aggressive and have
I have honestly used and trusted this
been known to take a soft plastic or a Corky.
winter pattern all up and down the Texas
I’ve not had one take a topwater, yet. Many
Coast. Osprey in the Upper Laguna and Baffin
years ago down in Estes Flats I made notice
are terrific indicators of baitfish and a diving
that when I found grebes or loons diving and
loon or small group of grebes working the
working we would usually find trout and redfish.
swag offshore of your wade should never be
My first osprey experience was in the East
pattern that works for us on our home waters
accepting that I have grown this old. That bird
and use it elsewhere it starts to qualify as a
called and circled repeatedly over a school of
predictable seasonal pattern, one we should
redfish; no doubt knowing they were too big, but
become very familiar with and use whenever
hoping, I guess, for something smaller to show
we can.
itself as the school worked the edges of the flat. 36
overlooked. I think when we are able to take a
Flats so many years ago that I have trouble
Texas Saltwater Fishing
In closing I want to thank everyone that January 2008
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January 2008
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Paints and Markers from L to R- Tulip fabric paint, Prismacolor permanent marker, Painter’s paint pen, Krylon gold leafing pen, Sharpie permanent marker.
No matter where you are in your fly tying career, whether you are just learning or have years of experience, the question of where to get suitable materials for your craft will plague you. The first choice is a fly shop. The great thing about a fly shop is that it allows you to run your fingers through bins of quality tying materials and pick out exactly what you need. There are a handful of very good fly shops still around — places like Fishing Tackle Unlimited in Houston, The Tackle Box in San Antonio, and Sportsman’s Finest in Austin. But maintaining a suitable selection of tying materials is an inventory nightmare for most shops and many have closed their doors or discontinued their tying materials, unable to compete with the selection and prices available through internet outlets. Online shopping is great if you know exactly what you want and exactly what you are getting. But I like to browse the aisles… look at and feel the materials. It fuels my creativity. And because there is not a fly shop close to my home, for years I have purchased many of my tying materials from local craft and hardware stores where I can pick through odd-ball stuff and select items with potential as tying materials. There has been a large learning curve doing it this way because most of these materials were not intended to be dunked in saltwater, slammed against rocks, exposed to the sun, and put up wet. I have thrown away handfuls of flies and sacks of stuff over the years that could not hold up to the rigors of saltwater fishing. But in that time, I have also found some great materials that were as good, if not better, than anything I could buy elsewhere. Here are a few. Reflective Tapes, Tubing, Glitter and Mylar Saltwater fish love shiny flies and many patterns incorporate reflective materials to achieve a lifelike appearance. If you are shopping for these materials locally, the trick is avoiding those that tarnish or de-laminate when they get wet. I have had very good luck with both polyester prismatic ribbons and holographic cellophanes. These materials will have a plastic 38
Texas Saltwater Fishing
(not paper) feel, and are generally located in the gift wrapping sections of stores in a staggering selection of colors and sheens. The ribbons can be used to build inexpensive spoon flies and the holographic cellophanes or glitters can be used on Crease Flies and poppers. Another option is Mylar tubing and woven pearlescent Christmas ribbons. These tubular materials can be used to form part or all of streamer bodies or as a reflective sheath on poppers.
Reflective ribbons and tapes, mylar tubing, and holographic cellophanes purchased from a local craft store.
Bead Chain Bead chain is a staple ingredient in many fly patterns. Need bead chain? Look no farther than your local hardware or craft store. Most hardware stores stock rolls of bead chain in the plumbing department. They often carry brass, stainless, and nickel plated bead chain in a variety of sizes. When you can get it, go with stainless. If you need something lighter, go with plastic bead chain. Plastic bead chain is cheap and comes in all sorts of metallic and primary colors. It is usually located in the fabric department of department stores and craft shops.
Selection of bead chain from topstainless steel, nickel plated steel, silver plastic, pearlescent plastic, black plastic. January 2008
Thread The thread I use for Clear nylon nearly every pattern I tie mono quilter’s is a .005” diameter clear thread- an nylon mono quilter’s thread excellent manufactured by Coats and choice for many saltwater Clark. This thread can be patterns. found either hanging on the rack in the sewing aisle or located on the thread bin of department stores. The spool is large and will require you to either buy a large bobbin or bend out the legs on your existing bobbin to fit smoothly, but it is worth it. Another thread I use is Coats and Clark upholstery thread. This stuff is unbreakable. The diameter of the thread is on the fat side, but you will cut your fingers before you even come close to snapping it. I use this thread as a glue base around the shank of the hook on poppers or when tying large patterns that require high thread tension. If you need a super tough thread, get upholstery thread. Furs, Fibers and Feathers Here is where you can run into trouble. DO NOT select any natural feathers or furs that have been died bright colors. If you do, you will turn your fly box and everything in it that color. The dies on these materials just aren’t adequate for repeated dunkings in saltwater. Natural colored or white feathers and furs are usually fine, but synthetics are a safer bet. Colored felt, acrylic yarn, chenille, craft fur, frilly yarn, rug yarn and even wig hair all make great tying materials. Craft stores are full of them and your creativity can bring out remarkable results with these fibers. Yes… strolling down the yarn aisle is emasculating, but when you see the selection you’ll get over it. Glues and Adhesives Every fly you tie is going to require some form of glue or cement to protect the thread wraps. The glue I use frequently is Sally Hansen’s Hard-as-Nails. It’s cheap, tough, and available everywhere. Though it is not the best choice for use as a protective body coating, Hard-as-Nails is perfect for head cement/ www.TSFMAG.com
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lacquer over thread wraps. Another glue I use frequently is Dap Kwik Seal Plus. This is a clear water-based caulking that dries to a flexible finish that is stunningly tough. It can be used as a body coating for Surf Candies and poppers, or as an adhesive to glue on eyes and secure body parts to flies. If epoxy flies are your thing, Devcon brand epoxy is a good choice. Devcon 2-part epoxy is available in both 5-minute and 2-ton formulas, and will provide a hard glass-like finish to flies. A fourth variety of glue is the “super glue” or CA adhesive. The best one I have found is Loctite’s Gel Superglue. The gel version will not run like the old low viscosity formulas and it is less likely to stick your fingers together. These glues are available at hardware stores, pharmacies, and even grocery stores.
Glues from L to R- Dap Kwik Seal Plus, GE silicone adhesive, Sally Hansen’s Hard-as-Nails, and Loctite Gel Superglue.
Foam Because of its durability, EVA foam is the material most commonly used on popper bodies. You can find this foam in all sorts of colors, textures, and densities. I often use the 2mm adhesive-backed sheet foam for building Crease Flies, Gurglers, and other types of surface patterns. For patterns like the VIP popper, use the thicker foam doorhangers. If you need something even thicker, pick up some cheap flip-flops and use a sharp knife to cut out the shapes you want. You can even make a punch from brass tubing or a rifle cartridge to crank out consistent cylindrical popper bodies. …Cont’d on page 40
Durable adhesive-backed sheet foam and flip-flop foam. www.TSFMAG.com
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Angler Nick Curcione is one of the elders of saltwater fly fishing. He has been tossing flies at saltwater targets for decades and has written numerous books and contributed many articles on the subject. His book TugO-War, A Fly-Fisher’s Game caught my eye recently while I was thumbing through a used bookstore catalogue and I wondered how I had previously missed it. At first, what I noticed were the unusual and beautiful illustrations by Crease Fly creator Captain Joe Blados. Nick Curcione and Joe Blados sounded to me like a deadly combination, so I ordered a copy. When it arrived I was not disappointed. Like many instructional books, Tug-O-War is designed to teach saltwater fly fishermen how to improve their skills. To that end, the scope of the book is thorough, covering tackle, knots, flies, and angling strategies for a wide variety of saltwater species and destinations. But what I really liked about Tug-O-War were the stories and examples Curcione used to illustrate his points. Rather than just stating, “Do it this way,” Curcione says, “I have learned this way works best… and here are some experiences that taught me why it works best.” It is a patient style of teaching that answers the questions it creates. Curcione also focuses plenty of attention on certain subjects other authors pass over, like why you need a stripping basket. Tug-O-War is full of great photographs and Captain Joe Blados’ illustrations are indeed beautiful. I found myself looking at them with the same sense of bewilderment his Crease Flies inspired years ago. Curcione and Blados click, and their collaboration makes Tug-O-War a highly enjoyable piece of work. I wish there were more angling books like it. Tug-O-War, A Fly-Fisher’s Game By Nick Curcione ISBN: 1-57188-250-2 111 pp. Frank Amato Publications, Inc. January 2008
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6
7 Florida angler Patrick Dorsy is credited with creating the unusual Kwan Fly. Dorsy’s Kwan Fly was originally tied to imitate the small bottom-dwelling baitfish and crustaceans targeted by bonefish on the Florida flats. It combines the features of two very effective flats patterns- Del Brown’s Merkin and Tim Borski’s Shrimp. The Kwan Fly seems to be a universally effective pattern, catching nearly all types of flats species. It will flutter like a fleeing crustacean or minnow when retrieved quickly but will also dive to the bottom just like a crab when the retrieve is stalled. One of the tricks to tying the Kwan fly is learning how to position and secure strips of yarn across the hookshank using criss-cross thread wraps. It is not a difficult technique to master, but it is somewhat unconventional and takes a bit of practice. Kwan Flies ride with the hook oriented in the upright position and a mono loop tied above the tail prevents it from fouling on the hook shank. A double mono weed guard tied ahead of the eyes provides additional protection against snags. Equipped with lead eyes, a Kwan fly will sink quickly and have a lot of vertical action. It is a good combination for hard sand or smooth-bottomed flats and will leave a trail of sand puffs that attract the attention of predators. Kwan flies tied with bead chain eyes are somewhat lighter, and can be fished over more perilous bottoms or grass flats. Kwan flies can be tied in a variety of color combinations, but the most popular incorporate tans, browns, and chartreuse. Don’t be fooled by its whacky appearance- the Kwan Fly looks great in the water and is a good pattern to cast when redfish are targeting crabs on the flats.
8
4
9
5
Done!
Egg Sac: Pink pom pon or Estaz Hook: Mustad 34007 or equivalent
#1 to #4 Thread: Monocord colored to match …Cont’d from page 39
If you can’t reach a fly shop to get what you need, you still have options. The items I have listed here are only a small percentage of the materials available locally. If you take the time to look and experiment you’ll find many more, and who knows… maybe you’ll discover the next great fly tying material hiding at the dime store down the street.
body or clear nylon mono
Flash: Polar flash or Krystal Flash Body: Aunt Lydia’s rug yarn Eyes: Lead barbell or bead chain Loop tail guard: 30 lb mono
Tail: Craft fur
Weed guard: 20 lb mono
1. Tie eyes on top of hook shank, then
adding alternate colored strips of yarn,
move thread to rear of hook and tie on
working toward eye of hook. 6. When
a slender clump of craft fur. 2. Tie on
the body strands are complete, move
a mono loop with the legs of the loop
the thread ahead of the eyes and add
on the outside edges of the craft fur.
a two-pronged mono weed guard.
3. Overlay a small button of orange or
7. Comb out yarn strands. 8. Trim yarn
pink Cactus chenille at base of craft
strands to form a small elliptical body.
fur. 4. Rotate hook and add several
9. Use permanent marker to color
strands of flash on top of craft fur and
segments on tail, and color eyes if
then use criss-cross wraps to secure
desired. Done!
the first strand of yarn. 5. Continue 40
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Ok, I admit it; I am an official member of the Fishing Gizmo and Gadget Junkie Club. Now this is not an exclusive club and there are many admitted and closet members within the tournament and angling ranks. Not sure if you are a junkie? Let me ask one question — “Has there ever been a time when you went to Academy, Bass Pro Shop or Fishing Tackle Unlimited and did not spend money on anything?” If you can honestly answer, “Yes,” then you might not be a junkie. For me, it is a constant battle; it seems there is always something that I just have to try or test. There always seems to be an item that I can purchase to perform a critical or perceived critical task in the pursuit of tournament wins. The constant search for the one little thing that costs very little and will take me over the wall and put me on the road to success. Well, after spending thousands of dollars, the wall remains in front of me, but I have weeded through plenty of gadgets that did not work out and found several low cost items (less than $20) that truly work well in a saltwater fishing and tournament environment. Most tournament anglers fish with braided line such as Power Pro for the quicker hook sets and incredible feel that braid provides. If you have not tried braided line, you are missing out and a test drive needs to be on the 2008 to do list. One downside of braided line is that it is so tough, it is very difficult to cut. The best way to cut the line has been a pair of Fiskars. I used to carry a pair of child’s Fiskars around my
neck to handle all line clipping duties. Well no more, the Aussie Clippers ($7.95) manufactured by Fishpond (www.fishpondusa.com) are the only pair of clippers I have found to cut braided line effectively. Most clippers require multiple clips and sawing to get through the line, but the Aussie Clippers quickly and efficiently cut braid with one easy snip. The secret is the stainless steel blade design that cuts braid and mono up to 150 lbs. The clipper is lightweight plastic and easily threads on a neck lanyard. Another product from Fishpond is the Dry Bag ($19.00). The Dry Bag is a see-through, roll-top closure bag. The bag is heavy-duty and provides a puncture and abrasion resistant bottom. Although not fully waterproof, this bag is great for those not so dry storage areas on your boat. The roll-top closure allows it to adjust to various sizes and it easily opens and closes. On my boat, I keep one Dry Bag that is packed with my foul weather gear, both a set of Frogg Toggs and my heavier raingear for true deluges. Another separate bag holds my digital camera and tournament shirts. Every angler has a quality pair of sunglasses, but salt spray, sunscreen and sweat can reduce the effectiveness of glasses throughout the day. Keeping a box of Premoistened Lens cleaning cloths, such as Bausch and Lomb Sight-Savers ($3.50 for a pack of 50) will quickly restore vital clarity when needed. The packets
are similar to the little wipes that Kentucky Fried Chicken gives out to clean your finger lickin’ fingers after a bucket of sticks. The wipes are anti-static, anti-fog and clean glass or plastic. I typically use 2 or 3 per day. Another item that needs to be on your 2008 to do list if not done already is trying circle hooks. Circle hooks work great with scented baits under rattle corks, which should be a standard setup for redfish anglers in off-colored water. Both Gamakatsu’s (www.gamakatsu. com) Octopus Circle Hook in red and the New Gamakatsu Daiichi (www. circlehooks and a daiichihooks. well worn hook com) Bleeding Bait Circle Chunk Light are great hooks. It takes
Aussie Clippers, most lightweight cheapest clippers I have found to cut braid. 42
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A well used hook sharperner should always be in your pocket.
Gamakatsu circlehook and a proven dirty water rig, Rattlecork, 30# flourocarbon leader and circle hook
a little getting used to circle hooks, because when a fish strikes no hookset is required. All that a circle hook takes is reeling in the slack and putting pressure on the fish. The hook is designed to turn and hook the fish in the corner of the jaw. Many people don’t believe that they can work, but they work great and the chances of gut hooking a fish are small. I fish with circle hooks all the time when I can rig one, as I truly believe it greatly improves the chances of releasing fish to fight another day. Speaking of hooks, there is no hook that should not be sharpened throughout a day of fishing. There are several hooks that are sharp enough to use when purchased (i.e. Gamakatsu and Daiichi), but many need sharpening right out of the package. Every angler should be carrying a good hook sharpener at all times. When a tournament is on the line, a single strike can be the difference between winning and losing and a sharp hook gives the best odds of a hookup. There are many good pocketsized diamond files and sharpeners for under $10. Any time you feel a bump while retrieving a bait, make it a habit to check the hook sharpness when the bait is reeled in. Any little 44
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oyster shell or debris can roll the hook point and if a sharpener is in your pocket, the hook can quickly be re-sharpened. Keep it handy in your pocket or you may not be inclined to use it as often as you should. Not specifically for fishing, but critical to tournament success, is your boat. Think about what has kept you from starting a boat motor or using a piece of electronic equipment. It is usually a corroded electrical connection, something small that has corroded over time. They are usually easy to fix, but making repairs on tournament day wastes valuable time. An anti-corrosion spray such as Evinrude (www. evinrude.com) Anti-Corrosion Spray ($6.45) is cheap insurance against corrosion. Anticorrosion sprays usually provide a heavy waxy coating to protect metal surfaces from rust and corrosion caused by saltwater and salt spray. I will spray battery connections, the engine, power trim and tilt components and trailer parts to stop or slow the corrosion process. There are many types of anti-corrosion sprays, just make sure that what you use is intended for what it is used on. Another item not specifically for fishing, but January 2008
that works great on early morning blast offs in the rain, is a paintball mask. There are some expensive paintball masks and there are some masks made specifically for boating, but for less than $20 a good mask can be purchased at Wal-Mart. The mask will have a pair of goggles and a face guard. Coat the goggle lens with anti-fog or Rain-X and you will be ready to stare directly into rain at 40, 50, 60 or more mph. It is a cheap price to pay to avoid hiding behind the windscreen and getting stung by raindrops at speed. I wish I could name all of the other low cost gizmos and gadgets that work great, like LED keychain lights, Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Stick for lips, neoprene reel covers to prevent reel rash, neoprene wading socks, Abec 5 bearings from Boca Bearing (www. bocabearings.com), but there just isn’t room. So all I can say is hopefully I have given enough information to pique your interest into joining the junkie club. Not so much to have you enjoy these great products, but at least it will assure that I will not be in the club alone.
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The allure of big game fishing draws many anglers to the deep waters off the Texas coast. Some of these fishermen have learned from others how to catch and handle big fish, but many have not. In this article we would like to focus on handling big fish at the boat, particularly large billfish. It’s important to understand how to handle these fish for several reasons. The first and most important reason is safety. Whether you are in a tournament or just fun fishing, you don’t want anyone getting hurt. Big fish can put a lot of pressure on you and your equipment, so being careful is important and sometimes difficult, especially when the seas kick up. Secondly, if you are not going to boat the fish, you want to release it in good condition; so it can live to fight another day. Lastly, if you are boating the fish in a tournament; you want to do it right, so you get the qualifying fish in the boat and win. When going after big fish, one of the first things to think about is leader. With a traditional big game leader setup, you have a snap swivel on the end of your line, then the leader. For large blue marlin this leader needs to be at least 15 ft. or more. You don’t want a 500 lb. fish to get the leader around him and then be beating on your line with his tail. When “leadering” the fish, the leader man or “wire man” must grab the leader and take wraps around his hands to pull the fish toward him. Taking these wraps keeps the leader from slipping through his hands as he pulls. Leadering smoothly and properly takes a lot of strength and finesse. Many professional mates prefer this method and really enjoy the challenge. However, if done improperly it can cause safety problems and a good chance you may lose the fish. The danger lies in getting tangled in the loose leader on deck or not being 46
Texas Saltwater Fishing
able to release your hand from one of the wraps you have taken. Some mates have even been lost – jerked overboard by the fish they were helping land. It’s pretty difficult to explain in words how
fish require a considerable amount of leader and using a wind-on leader can make the task of handling a leader of this length easier and a whole lot safer. They do take up line capacity on your reel, but the trade-off is worth it.
to take these wraps, it’s much easier to show someone in person, but it is important you remember to take double wraps. Not one, not three – Two. By taking double wraps you can keep the leader from slipping through your hands and still get untangled if the fish surges away from the boat. With three wraps or more (we call them death wraps) you’re not letting go of anything and there’s a good chance either you are going in the water or the leader will break. Either way you will lose the fish. If you are using 500 lb. leader or higher and take too many wraps, you are probably going to go swimming. Take double wraps… or you might want to consider using a wind-on leader. Larger
We’re not going to try and explain how to rig your big game leaders but most major bluewater tackle stores sell them and can show you how to put them on your line. The advantage is that instead of the leader man having to handle the entire leader by himself, he can assist the angler by just pulling on the leader while the angler takes up slack. At the end of the wind-on is a short detachable leader around 6-8 ft. long that goes to the bait or lure. When the wind on is completely on the reel the fish is very close and there is much less leader left to deal with for releasing, tagging or gaffing the fish. We’re going to assume that you have hooked your fish and fought it, have the leader
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to the boat and are now ready to do something with it. Try to position the boat where the fish is angled off of the corner of the transom, it doesn’t matter which side. Avoid allowing the fish to get directly behind the boat because you don’t want to cut the line on a prop and the prop wash makes it difficult to control the fish. Get the fish coming up on one side or the other and do your best to keep it there. When the leader man can grab the leader, he should try to do it as smoothly as possible and avoid pulling hard too abruptly. Jerking on the leader may cause the fish to react violently with another long run or come up jumping. Continue bringing the fish up alongside the boat until it can be gaffed, the leader cut or the hook removed. When gaffing, the gaff man should come in between the wire man and the transom where he will have the best chance for correct placement. Try to gaff the fish behind the dorsal, in the back, where there’s plenty of muscle. Always have a second gaff ready. Realistically, blue marlin are the only billfish that should be gaffed and then only during a tournament, if they are large enough. It’s much more satisfying to take pictures and let them go to fight another day. If you are tagging the fish, try to place the tag about halfway down the fish in its back. Avoid hitting the lateral line. When releasing, either cut the leader as short as possible or remove the hook. Removing the hook(s) from live billfish thrashing around alongside a boat is not for the faint of heart and can also be fairly dangerous, so if the fish is not cooperating, just cut the leader. Try to avoid handling the fish too long at the boat if you are going to release it. It’s a pretty traumatic experience for the fish and it can die from shock alone. We have found that instead of trying to pull the fish along side the boat to help revive it or anything like that, it is better to just let it go as quickly as you can. We have put satellite tags in fish that looked like they had very little life left and they have recovered just fine. There are several types of specialized gloves 48
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on the market for leadering fish. Our favorite gloves are made by Bluewater and come in different sizes. You can also double up a pair of cotton gloves or use leather gloves. Try different kinds and combinations at your local tackle shop and see what works best for you. By the way, the term “wire man” comes from the early days of big game fishing when the only leader material used was wire. Hence, the leader man was the “wire man”. Wire is still in use today, but its popularity has dwindled since the creation of Monofilament leader. However, wire is still the leader of choice for “toothy” fish. Mono is much softer, so it’s easier to handle and feels more natural to the fish. It also allows your bait to run better and it won’t kink. Catching big fish is the goal of most bluewater fishermen, but handling these fish at the boat safely and successfully takes knowledge and skill. We hope the techniques we have discussed will help you the next time you get a big one up to the boat. If you have any questions on big game fishing and especially handling big fish at the boat, give us a at Byrd & Cochrane or come by and see us at Tops-NTowers and we will be glad to help you. Our Fox Yacht Sales office can also help you find a boat or sell yours. We specialize in sportfishing boats and motor yachts. Come by and get a great deal on your next boat. For more information call our office at 281-291-0656 or check out our website at www.byrd-cochrane.com or www.foxyachtsales.com.
January 2008
Born in Galveston, graduate of Texas A&M, Capt. John grew up fishing and diving the Gulf of Mexico. A professional captain for over 25 years, he runs a 46’ sportfishing boat out of Freeport, Texas. Capt. John is also partners with Bobby in Byrd & Cochrane, specializing in yacht brokerage and sportfishing consulting. For more information go to www.byrd-cochrane.com or contact John at captjohn@ foxyachtsales.com. A native Texan, Bobby Byrd began fishing at the young age of eight, when he was a deck hand on his Dad’s boat. He fished with his father in the Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas and Mexico for many years of his life. In 1995, Bobby combined his love of the water and boating into a business when he opened Tops-N-Towers, a custom aluminum fabrication business in Seabrook, Texas. For more information you can contact Bobby at www.topsntowers.com.
Contact Byrd & Cochrane 281-291-0656 Tops-N-Towers 281-474-4000 Website www.byrd-cochrane.com www.topsntowers.com www.foxyachtsales.com www.stingercustomlures.com
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CCA Texas Executive Board recently funded a $30,500 snook study that will take place at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas. This study will
Recreational fisheries represent a $1.3 billion/year industry to Texas. The life cycles for the majority of fishery species (e.g., red drum, southern flounder)
be conducted in the recently completed CCA Texas Marine Larviculture
are directly tied to migrations between spawning grounds in the Gulf of
Laboratory and will focus on brood stock collection and induced spawning
Mexico and estuarine nursery habitats. The Port Mansfield Channel (“East
of common snook. Izhar Khan, Ph.D. and Rick Kline, Ph.D. candidate will be
Cut”), located in lower Laguna Madre, has historically provided water
the researchers in this project.
exchange between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna. However, there
In the early to mid 1900’s, there was a viable snook fishery in South
has been much recent concern over the rapid closure of this inlet due to
Texas with yearly landings of 10,000 and a maximum of 200,000 lbs. in 1928
sedimentation, as access to “nursery” habitats is critical for sustainable
in the commercial fishery. The snook population today is growing slowly,
fish populations. A reduction in flow and/or closure of Port Mansfield
but it could use further assistance in the process. Snook populations are
Channel could potentially lead to lower recruitment and ultimately
susceptible to freezes and red tide blooms, thus leading to an interest in stock
a decrease in fisheries productivity. To address this problem, more
enhancement efforts that have been so successful with red drum. A successful
information is needed on fisheries abundance, migration, and nursery
enhancement program would be a great benefit for the snook population and
habitat use in this area of the lower Laguna Madre. Additionally, there is
add to an already great fishery in South Texas that is enjoyed by many anglers.
anecdotal evidence that adult spotted seatrout known as “tide-runners”
“CCA is excited about the possibilities of this new snook research,” said CCA
migrate from near shore Gulf waters through Port Mansfield Channel and
Texas Executive Director Robby Byers. “We could only hope that one day CCA
populate the Laguna. Closure of this inlet could potentially impact this
Texas could be part of the first snook restocking program in Texas. Think of it,
world-class spotted seatrout fishery along the lower Texas Coast.
Texas anglers would have the ability to consistently catch a Texas Grand Slam; snook, redfish, speckled trout and flounder.” Florida researchers have a considerable amount of information on the
The sportfish research team located at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi (see www.fisheries.tamucc.edu ) in the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (www.harteresearchinstitute.org) has
timing and locations of snook spawning for Florida stocks, however very little is
recently initiated a CCA-Texas funded study to assess the impact of East
known about the snook population in Texas. To date there has been only one
Cut on sport fishes in the Lower Laguna Madre. Students involved in
snook captured in spawning condition by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
the project include HRI Ph.D. student John Froeschke, who will be the
(TPWD). This project will focus on the collection of mature male and female
project’s student leader. The project will be a major component of his
snook for captive spawning trials and gather information about the spawning
dissertation research. We will use field collections to assess distribution
season and spawning locations in Lower Laguna Madre.
and abundance of newly recruiting sport fishes using the Port Mansfield
The Lower Laguna Madre holds the largest population of snook in Texas and thus has been determined to be the best location for this data collection.
Channel and adjacent nursery habitats. We will also use otolith — and genetic-based techniques to characterize the geographic stock structure
Researchers in Florida have had success in hormone-induced spawning of
of the adult spotted seatrout along the lower Texas coast to examine if
snook; however these offspring from Florida stocks can not be released in
the closure of Port Mansfield Channel will affect migration patterns of
Texas because of genetic differences. This project will develop techniques for induced spawning of snook in Texas and will be transferred to TPWD for potential stock enhancement of the species in Texas waters. CCA Texas will remain committed to science-based fisheries management as it continues to move forward to ensure the great coastal resources of Texas for future generations to come. For more information about CCA Texas, be sure to visit www.ccatexas.org.
spotted seatrout. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to: (1) assess distribution and abundance of newly recruiting sport fishes using the Port Mansfield Channel and adjacent nursery habitats; and (2) characterize the geographic stock structure of adult spotted seatrout along the lower Texas coast to examine if the closure of Port Mansfield Channel will affect potential migration patterns of spotted seatrout from the surf to the lower coast bays. Ultimately, this impacts of the closure of Port Mansfield Channel to recreational fisheries by examining juvenile sport fish habitat use and adult migration patterns in the Port Mansfield Channel vicinity. We look forward to reporting on the results of this study in the near future.
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Field notes
Surf fishing, jetty fishing, kayaking the back waters of a barrier island, offshore fishing: The diversity
mean shoreline tidewater distance is over 600
as the western/southern portion. The Texas-
miles, detail shoreline perimeter is nearly 2400
Louisiana border receives an average annual
miles and the estuarine waters from Sabine to
precipitation of 52-56 inches while the Texas-
Brownsville cover almost 4200 square miles. In
Mexico border near Brownsville receives 26-28
and expanse of Texas’ coastal geography
fact, it is about 215 miles (longitudinally) from
inches per year. This rainfall difference directly
has provided anglers with a variety of fishing
Texas’ eastern-most coastal point, East Bayou
influences the salinity within the bays and the
opportunities suited for all ages and levels of
at the Intracoastal Waterway at Sabine Lake, to
variety of fish available to be caught. Also,
experience or knowledge. Study a map of Texas
the western coastal landmark of the mouth of
sedentary organisms within the bays, ranging
and the adjacent Gulf of Mexico and you will
the Rio Grande. There is a latitudinal difference
from oysters to rooted vegetation, are affected
quickly see that Texas’ vast coastal geography
north and south of 270 miles between these
by the water salinity.
is what drives the fishing seasons, techniques
two points. This wide expanse certainly drives
and species caught by the coastal angler.
the regional weather conditions that determine
the eastern portion the state has a large number
fishable days, water salinity, habitat, and many
of rivers and streams entering into the bays
other fishing factors.
or directly into the Gulf of Mexico. From the
Texas is big. Everett Johnson, in last month’s edition, provided some impressive numbers. He estimated that the arc of the Texas coast covers approximately 367 miles,
For instance, the eastern half of the coast receives almost twice the annual average rain
A glance at the map will quickly reveal that
mid-coast, excluding the Nueces River entering Corpus Christi Bay, the freshwater inflow from rivers and streams is greatly reduced. In recent years, the Rio Grande, has had reduced flows and at one time entirely ceased to flow into the
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elongated system Photo by Scott Null
oriented almost north-south. The predominant southeast winds affect the system, and the boaters, differently than they do in the more openbasin type of bay systems such as Corpus Christ Bay. With the exception of Sabine Lake, each Texas bay system is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by one or more barrier islands or other land masses. The passes between the barrier islands or peninsulas greatly affect the fisheries within each bay system. Gulf. Annual average evaporation rates range
part of the coast. Again, the sedentary
from 46 inches per year on the upper coast to
organisms, such as seagrasses, are directly
trip has come to a close. Each of the eight
61 inches per year on the lower coast.
affected by the bay water temperature. The
bay systems on the Texas coast is unique in
relatively high abundance and diversity of
its own way. Look for future articles in which
temperature only differs by 5 째F from
submerged aquatic vegetation in the lower
the Coastal Fisheries Division ecosystem
upper coast to lower coast (69 째F to 74 째F,
half of the coast may be a result of warmer
management teams provide greater details
respectively), it is the monthly extremes that
temperatures, as well as other factors.
about the unique characteristics of their
Although the average annual air
more directly affect the waters. There is an
58
A final glance at our map reveals different
average of about 10 째F higher monthly air
bay system shapes, sizes, and general
temperature in the south than in the eastern
orientation. The Laguna Madre is a narrow
Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
Our quick geography and cartography
bay systems.
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The Texas Trout Series, sponsored by Cabela’s, has announced its new format and schedule for 2008. The new format is designed to meet the needs of the elite, competitive trout anglers on the Texas coast. The 2008 Texas Trout Series will feature only 50 teams, increase the payout by guaranteeing a $10,000.00 first place prize and paying one in five boats. With fields of 50 teams, the tournaments will pay-out over $70,000.00 in cash and prizes in just three events. The series will begin in January with three tournaments taking place on waters along the Texas Gulf Coast, including Port Aransas, Ingleside and Bluff’s Landing in Corpus Christi. In the Texas Trout Series, teams of two have the opportunity to win prize money in addition to earning points to qualify for the Team of the Year. “There was a need for professional-level trout events so we decided to create a series for Texas’ elite trout anglers,” said Scot Simmons, one of the founders. “We have found that the top Trout anglers in the state want a tour in which they can compete against the best.” The series will fish only 50 teams to give more exposure to the participants and their sponsors. “With television coverage over four states and fewer teams to focus on, the anglers fishing the series will really have a great opportunity to round-up sponsors.” The format for the tournament includes a live weigh-in with three fish, artificial lures only and participants are allowed to wade-fish. The entry fee per team is set at $500.00, and one-in-five teams will earn prize money. First place is guaranteed $10,000.00. The top three teams in the point’s race at the end of the year will receive cash and prize packages with the first place prize valued at over $5,000.00. Teams will receive more exposure than ever before with all of the tournaments televised on the Texas Saltwater Series television show, which currently airs Thursday mornings at 6:00 AM on Fox Sports Southwest. Fox Sports Southwest reaches over 9 million viewers in five states. In addition, every event will be featured on the Texas Saltwater Series websites which have more than 3 million hits per year, and events will be covered by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Dates and locations for the 2008 Texas Trout Series, sponsored by Cabela’s, are January 12 in Port Aransas, February 2 at Bluff’s Landing in Corpus Christi and May 17 in Ingleside. The 50 spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until the tournaments are sold-out. The Texas Trout Series is part of the Texas Saltwater Series tournament trail and is produced by Simrod Outdoors. Simrod Outdoors is one of the fastest-growing production companies for saltwater fishing tournaments. In 2008 Simrod Outdoors will bring you the Texas Trout Series, the Texas Redfish Series, the Texas Kayak Series and the Texas Kid’s Series. In 2008, the Texas Saltwater Series tournament trail is predicted to pay-out over a quarter-million dollars in tournament prizes. For more information about the Texas Trout Series or to sign-up, please call 210.385.3333 or visit www.saltwaterseries.com www.TSFMAG.com
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Raising two teenage daughters sure has been an experience. I’ve learned so many things about young ladies that I never knew. Some of it I never wanted to know. Some of it would’ve been damned handy as I navigated through those weird high school years. Apparently there are more shades of eye shadow than there are models of MirrOlures and they’re pickier than a winter trout about which one is right on any given day. Having three women in one house has been trying at times, but overall it has been a fun ride that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Life became much easier when I finally accepted that I should never get comfortable assuming I fully understand what is going on under my roof. I’m afraid they all get a sense of joy throwing poor old dad completely off track. A few weeks ago my wife approached me with, “How would you feel about spending a week in the Everglades for the Holidays?” First thought, “Is this a trick question?” Before I could process that thought and check out all the possible angles she continued, “I was thinking that we could all go see Captain Charles while the girls are out of school. It’d be a fun family trip. I already talked to the girls and they’re all for it.” Really? My girls have been raised around the outdoors so it wasn’t all that surprising that they would want to go. I just wasn’t sure they had all the information. This was a paddling 60
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trip in the Everglades. There is no connection to My Space. What about that near-constant activity of texting? And Erin really has an issue with alligators. She does realize there are more than a few of those down there… right? I really wanted to be happy about this trip, however my mind kept running through the mine field of tripdeflating problems. I was repeatedly assured that everything would be fine. Well — allrighty then — let’s call Chuck! Captain Charles Wright owns and operates Everglades Kayak Tours as well as Chokoloskee Charters. I’ve been down there to fish with him a couple times over the past three years. He runs a first class operation and is excellent at tailoring a trip to fit your needs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with an operation as versatile. From his base in Everglades City there is a huge variety of fishing opportunity within easy reach. With four boats and a couple dozen kayaks at his disposal I don’t think you can throw him a pitch he can’t hit. He can run you offshore, pole you across the flats or get you lost in the mangrove jungle. Charles can also take you far into the backcountry using one of his twenty-eight foot Carolina skiffs loaded down with kayaks for a paddling trip like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Take your pick from fishing, birding, photography and nature viewing trips via boat or kayak. There are so many options that it can be tough for some folks to narrow it down. Due January 2008
to my serious addiction to backcountry snook fishing I don’t have much of a problem deciding. Nothing gets my blood pumping like a big snook busting a topwater under the mangroves. But this one wasn’t about me. I wanted the girls to enjoy the trip. With the eldest headed off to college and the youngster getting heavily involved in high school activities, the reality is that this could be our last big family adventure for a while. Chuck managed to come up with an itinerary that would provide plenty of variety and let the family experience the beauty and magic of the Everglades. With packing and logistics planning that would make a military unit jealous we set off. Leaving a cold and rainy Texas, our sights were set on the southern tip of the big sandbar state looking for a few days in the sunshine. The long ride was a grind, but it went off without a hitch. And I did learn something as I drove. My wife and youngest daughter can sleep more than I thought was humanly possible. I started referring to www.TSFMAG.com
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Beachcombing on a small island.
Charles with a creek snook.
A beachcombing find.
Erin as my puppy. Eat, potty break, and sleep for two hours. Repeat. Randi wasn’t too far behind them, but near constant texting with her boyfriend kept her awake more than she slept. We arrived in Everglades City and found eighty degree temperatures and sunshine. Chuck had arranged for us to stay in his cabin located right on a small canal. Civilization is on one side and the Everglades jungle is on the other. As soon as the truck was unpacked I headed over to a small pier. The current was ripping with a falling tide exposing a small oyster reef on the far side of the canal. On past trips I’ve stood there a dozen times watching the current flow, but this was the first time I’d seen the reef. Just as I was turning to head back to the cabin I heard the unmistakable smack of a snook busting the surface. The swirl was still evident in the eddy behind the little reef. Game on. Within a few minutes my whole crew was out there pounding the canal with a variety of lures. Several snook fed in the canal but we couldn’t entice any solid strikes. Erin was the only one to score by catching a cool little grouper. The current slowed and the no-see-ums arrived in force to drive us inside. The next morning we met up with Charles at the dock. It was a leisurely exercise as we were going out for a nature paddling tour through the mangrove tunnels south of town. Every excursion down there is heavily dependent on the tides. During our trip the differences between the high and low was around six feet. 62
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Erin’s grouper.
That’s hard for a Texas boy to get used to. The currents through the creeks and rivers can be unbelievable. Chuck wanted to wait about an hour until the tide turned so that our crew would be able to ride the falling tide instead of battling the incoming flow. Fine by me, I’ve already tried paddling against the flow down there. Besides, it gave us a chance to have breakfast overlooking the town harbor and watch the tarpon roll. Yes, I said watch the tarpon roll. I love this place. Back at the boat Chuck introduced us to a young couple visiting from Spain and Jason Sine, our guide for the tour. We loaded our gear into the boat and motored away from the harbor. Within minutes we were cruising through the wilds of the Everglades. It was fun watching the girls’ faces as they were soaking it all in. Every once in a while Charles would slow the boat to point out an interesting bird or a longabandoned Calusa Indian settlement. He and Jason pointed out and explained the differences between the red, black, and white mangroves. Then there were the dozens of osprey and innumerable other birds lifting out of the trees around every corner. The girls were completely drawn in. A good thirty minutes into the run Chuck slowed the boat to a stop in a small lake. He and Jason off-loaded the kayaks while everyone fitted themselves with PFDs and grabbed a paddle. Once everyone was settled in and comfortable, Charles fired up the big engine and headed off to our rendezvous point. Jason January 2008
led the expedition towards the mouth of a small creek with a solid canopy of mangroves. What a cool place. We eased along with the falling tide while ducking the low limbs and listening to Jason as he talked of everything from how the Calusa Indians lived and thrived in this harsh environment to stories of the Spanish explorers who searched the area for the Fountain of Youth. The guy is a wealth of information regarding the flora and fauna of the region and how it all intertwines to make this place so special. As testimony to his ability to deliver the information in an interesting and entertaining manner, my girls were right by his side through the three hour paddle listening to every word. It’s fun to watch your kids learn anything useful, but it was special to see them getting so much out of this little paddling trip. The creek meandered through the jungle and eventually dumped out into a large shallow mud flat. And of course, redfish spooked in every direction as we paddled across the flat without a single rod among us. We met up with Charles out in the deeper water and loaded the kayaks for a short trip to one of the outer keys for a little beachcombing and exploring of the adjacent sand flat. Again, Jason was spot on with the kids as he went along naming all the shells and flipping things over to reveal all of the cool creatures. The biggest hit was when he showed them the baby horseshoe crabs burrowing along just under the sand. A contest to find the smallest crab broke out with the www.TSFMAG.com
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winner being just under an inch across. The water was still falling and Charles announced that we needed to leave unless we wanted to spend the night on the island waiting for the tide to return. I must admit that I started the day a little bit disappointed that we weren’t going fishing, but I wouldn’t change anything. It was a special day that I think the girls will be talking about for many years. The next morning we were back at the dock and geared up for fishing. The plan was to run far into the backcountry and then paddle a tidal creek known to hold snook and baby tarpon. After many miles of winding through a maze of rivers, bays, and small lakes we shut down in a protected cove rimmed with mangroves. Chuck announced we had arrived at our fishing destination. As he started to unload the kayaks Erin was eyeballing a gator cruising along the surface. “Are we really fishing here?” “Yep.” “You do see that alligator, right?” “Yep.” It took a bit of convincing, but she eventually trusted us enough to get into her kayak. She made a beeline for the mouth of the creek while keeping an eye on the gator. Mom and Randi weren’t far behind, but the whole crew came to a screeching halt at the mouth of the creek as they were met by the big brother of the gator by the boat. Chuck assured everyone that he’s never had a problem with them and eventually convinced them it was okay to enter the river of no return. By the time they had passed a dozen or so everyone settled down and concentrated on fishing. I must admit that it was pretty entertaining to listen to them talking to the
needed to rest up for all the sleeping they were going to do on the ride back to Texas. Before daylight we were standing on Chuck’s back porch. We loaded into the big skiff and headed for the harbor. The tide would be pushing us back to the house so he was going to drop us off a mile or so away allowing us to fish our way home without having to do a bunch of paddling. It’s nice to have enough tidal movement to plan a drift using these currents. We weren’t far from the house, and nowhere near our destination, when all hell broke loose. The jacks were ripping the surface in typical blitzing fashion. I was hoping for tarpon, but eager jacks on the surface would fill the bill for a quick fix. We off-loaded the kayaks and headed into the fray. I had Randi throwing a slow sink MirrOlure while I chunked a topwater. Two fish and multiple strikes on top made it pretty clear what these guys wanted. They were the perfect size jacks. Five to ten pounds is about right in my book. Not so big that they wear you out, yet big enough to put up a good fight. I tied a Spook Jr. onto Randi’s rig and gave her a quick lesson on walking the dog. We spent the next hour chasing the roving schools all over the harbor. We’d see them bust up and by the time we got within casting distance they’d show up a hundred yards away. I was on stand-by with my camera at the ready. Time was running out and Randi was looking pretty disappointed. Then it happened. She spotted a big swirl and dropped a good cast into the zone. The baby jack slammed the lure and the fight was on. She got a sleigh ride around in circles all across the harbor before the fish finally gave up. That was about as big of a smile as I’ve seen on her face in quite The trophy. a while. Too cool.
various gators that came and went. The fishing wasn’t spectacular. Heck, it wasn’t even very good. Chuck caught a few snook and I think I picked up three or four, but it wasn’t easy. The fish were there and they were feeding. The problem was they were keyed in on clouds of tiny minnows and we couldn’t match the hatch. The fish were just opening their mouths and rushing into the schools to get their fill. The only bites we could coax came by slowly drifting a DOA shrimp or lightly-weighted jig through some of the deeper holes at the bends in the creek. Even those bites were very light and tough to feel. The girls hung in there and fished hard all morning. It just wasn’t happening. That afternoon we followed Chuck’s directions to a dirt road north of town to do a little exploring and fishing in a freshwater canal. Talk about gators! Wow! And these guys weren’t the least bit shy about swimming over to see if you might toss them a chicken or something. I assume that these guys are pretty used to getting handouts from the tourists. Again, we saw fish feeding on the surface and couldn’t buy a bite. On the ride back to town I announced I was going fishing in the morning for a couple hours before we had to pack up and leave. I had talked to Charles and he was going to let me borrow kayaks to fish the harbor area. Randi was my only taker. She said she had come all this way to catch a fish and didn’t want to go back without catching something… anything. Erin and Camille were going to sleep in. I guess they
Randi hooked up.
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To book a trip with Captain Charles you can contact him through his website, www.evergladesareatours.com or call him at 239-695-9107.
January 2008
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As with just about any adventure, it all started with a simple phone call. “Scott, I do not know if you would be interested, but I have a boat down in Cabo San Lucas and we would love it if you would join us for a couple of days of marlin fishing,” said Lee Skipper on the other end of the line. I had yet to visit Cabo and so the adventure began… Last week I drove up to the airport and hooked up with Skipper and two of his buddies, Steve Lyons and Brad Jackson and boarded the plane headed for Baja. While on the plane Skipper told me about how he ended up getting his boat down to Cabo and how he ended up in the fishing business. It was no surprise to me that the cost of keeping a boat down there was steep and that it would be only logical to hire out a crew to run and charter the boat to offset that expense. Throughout the remainder of the flight he filled me in about his boat, El Bandito, and his crew and all of the stories about setting up his operation and about the fishing. I had always known that Cabo had a sizable sportfishing fleet but I never realized how great the fishing was off of Baja. Once on the ground we decided to rent a Jeep to get around in which, incidentally, came in very handy on night number two of this adventure, but that is almost a whole other story in itself. Once we arrived in Cabo, we quickly checked into our hotel which I was pleased to find out was just a hundred yards away from a place that I have wanted to visit for years — The Cabo Wabo Cantina. For those who are big Van Halen and/or Sammy Hagar fans, 66
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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Capt. Rygo landing a fish.
Displaying success.
Frigate Looking for a marlin.
this is a place that you have either visited or at least know about. In 1988, Van Halen recorded a song called Cabo Wabo that basically glamorized life in Cabo. The song then inspired singer Sammy Hagar to open up a bar and create his own brand of tequila. Anyway, the next morning we met Capitan Rygo Acevedo at the docks and were quickly underway. We had a comfortable ride out on the 29’ Blackfin under a beautiful morning sky and an hour or so later we were fishing. And, it did not take long before we had the first fish on and beside the boat. Immediately thereafter, we had a double on and… since a picture is worth a thousand words… I will let them do the talking! Rock and roll and fishing — what more could someone ask for in a trip. For those who have not made the trip down to Lands End, I highly recommend it. It is an inexpensive trip to take and it is a blast! And yes, I did sample the Cabo Wabo. Lee Skipper and his crew.
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Fresh fish dinner. Ceviche.
To fish El Bandito Lee Skipper- (281) 628-3094 Doug Roe- 0115216243552422 (624) 355-2422
January 2008 January 2008
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It had been a long forthcoming event but the weekend was finally here. On this particular weekend I was graciously invited by our good friend Capt. Eddie Arenas to spend the weekend at his cabin on the water. I remember the last time I stayed on the water was at the age of ten. I am currently fifteen years old, but I still remember staying at Mr. Payton’s cabin back then; many wonderful memories of those overnight stays still remain. Watching the number of trout that hung out at night under the lights was amazing. The sunrise and sunsets were always a sight to enjoy. To again connect and enjoy nature with an overnight stay on the water was a welcome opportunity that I had been waiting for. Just the very thought of not having any household chores for the weekend made me relax and enjoy the moment. Because of prior commitments, my dad would only be able to join us in the evening. Capt. Eddie and I loaded all of the equipment and supplies, including a stack of juicy steaks that would be served for dinner. It did not take long for us to get on the water, and off we were to Capt. Eddie’s cozy little cabin north of 70
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the Arroyo, or as Capt. Eddie called it, “Home away from Home.” As soon as we arrived, we unloaded everything into the cabin and immediately went for an afternoon of fishing. Since the wind was howling over thirty miles an hour, it was hard to find fishable water. When we did find semi-clear water, we found loads of redfish stacked up in potholes. We decided to pull a few drifts over the area and soon we had a few redfish for dinner. Heading back to the cabin to prepare for the night’s dinner, I couldn’t help to think about how good dinner was going to be. Capt. Eddie went all the way for us; he prepared steaks on the grill, redfish on a half-shell, ranch-style beans, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob, as well as our choice of flour or corn tortillas. It was a meal fit for a King. As dark fell, my dad arrived just in time to have this awesome dinner. I could see my dad’s eyes grow big the minute he set eyes on the grilled steaks. After having this great meal, we sat around the table and shared some fishing stories. Afterwards, we decided to go outside and enjoy the cloudless night. It’s here where our interest and conversation grew towards the January 2008
Capt. Eddie displays a nice winter trout.
stars. My dad having a science background began to teach us about the stars and pointed out several constellations in the night sky. The night view of the stars out in the middle of nowhere was breathtaking and a humbling www.TSFMAG.com
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Author with a Texas Slam.
A good day of fishing starts the night before.
experience. You could say that I learned a bit of science that evening. The evening was getting late so we hit the sack anticipating a great day on the water the next day. As I lay on the bunk, I could hear the waves slapping on the hull of the boat that brought to mind my previous experiences of staying in a cabin on the water. The noise of the waves was very soothing. I began to think back when I was ten years old staying at the Payton’s cabin and realized that then I was too young to appreciate what a great opportunity this was. This time around I realized how relaxing an overnight on the water experience could be. The next morning we were up early and ready to go. I guess everybody was excited to get on the water because no one wanted to eat breakfast. Perhaps we were still full from the previous evening’s meal. We got dressed in our waders, and off we were for a fun day of fishing. 72
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We waded not far from the cabin in the very spot where we caught some nice reds the day before. I must have chosen the magic spot because my topwater was the only one at the receiving end of a consistent bite. I managed to land a nice redfish and few trout on a Spook Jr on our first wade. Then it was off to another area. As we headed to the next spot I asked my dad if I could wade an area that I have always wanted to try. He agreed and dropped me off. I saw a few redfish with their backs out of the water, but they were hard to catch. On one lucky cast, I threw into a sand pocket and got a bite unlike a redfish or a trout bite. I set the hook and realized it was a flounder. As soon as it came into my grasp, I was happy to score a Texas Slam. I knew then I had bragging rights for the remainder of the day. As Capt. Eddie and my dad came to pick me up, I made sure to display a big smile and a few smack talking words. All this fun and relaxation was starting January 2008
to feel better as noon time arrived. By then we developed an appetite and decided to head back to the cabin. When we arrived at the cabin, I still had the urge to fish. I asked my dad if I could take the boat and drift somewhere near by. He agreed, and while I fished, they cooked up a breakfast of champions. I pulled a long drift and then headed back to the cabin for breakfast. After breakfast we all relaxed and took a nap under a cool breeze. Our supposed ten minute nap turned out to last two hours. By then it was time to head back to reality. I was saddened that this trip was about to end. However, it ended on a good note because Capt. Eddie invited us again to come out and join him. Believe me I am going to talk my dad into taking his offer soon. I loved everything about this trip. It most certainly was a “Home away from Home” as Capt. Eddie calls it, especially without chores to be done just fishing, eating great food, and enjoying the great outdoors. Ah, I’ve got to close because I hear my parents calling me to go throw the trash and pick up my room. Hope you too can experience your own “Home away from Home” wherever it may be. Have a Happy New Year! www.TSFMAG.com
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AM EX
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New Tackle & Gear American Rodsmiths H3 Titanium Ultra The new H3 Titanium Ultra® from American Rodsmiths is the ULTIMATE FISHING ROD. This rod features American Rodsmiths newly patented 92-million modulus hybrid titanium blank, with titanium Recoil® guides. This new super light-weight rod also features an exposed blank handle system and Comfort Set™ rear
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grip. Add the new Comfort Touch™ locking fore grip and you have the best fishing rod money can buy. The H3 Titanium Ultra® has all the features of the original H3 Titanium™ including Maximum Contact™ handle
Costa Del Mar
Costa Del Mar introduces three new sunglass styles to its women’s performance line, the Cin, the Daphnes and the Isabela,. Featuring larger-eye design and inlaid
D.O.A. Lures
Improvements to C.A.L. Jig Heads In response to D.O.A. Guides and many anglers looking for an edge, D.O.A. has redesigned the C.A. L. Jig Heads. We’ve added an extra prong on the shaft of the hook with a ring at the top to keep the lure from coming off. With line entry at the front of the nose, the C.A.L. jig head allows for snag-free presentation
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Bob and Stephen Dougherty’s obsession to build the best boats on the water has become a reality. They were awarded the NMMA Innovation Award in 1999 for their “RAMCAP” construction that makes the boats unsinkable. They also received the award in Texas Saltwater Fishing
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or glass COSTA 400™ or COSTA 580™, providing the ultimate level of polarized visual acuity available today. Like others in the Costa Del Mar line, these new styles feature Megol® nose pads to prevent slippage on the face and are made of resilient TR-90 nylon material. The Omega® spring hinge makes each pair fit like it was made just for the one wearing it.
in heavy grass and oysters. The wide gap hook allows for excellent hook exposure while being used in soft plastic bodies. The large reflective eye offers an excellent target for striking fish. D.O.A. C.A.L. series jig heads are available in five colors: Red, White, Chartreuse, Black & Natural. They are available in seven sizes: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 oz.
Gulf Coast Marine – Everglades Boats
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system, ARS1™ reel seat, and built in hook keepers, but with the above added features and the new blue titanium blank, it is truly the LIGHTEST, STRONGEST, MOST SENSITIVE, and now the MOST BEAUTIFUL fishing rod ever developed.
stainless steel watermarks on frames, the three new sunglasses offer the latest contemporary look, combined with the functionality of world-class polarized lens technology and a more narrow, comfort fit designed to complement women’s faces. Available in black, tortoise and mahogany fade, the Cin, Daphnes and Isabela sunglasses retail between $139 and $239. Lens material options include the CR-39
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2002 for their V-hull boats and in 2005 for the Everglades 290 Pilot in the fishing boats category. Their highly successful Everglades 243 blends performance and comfort in to a stylish yet functional Bay boat. Ideally designed for the bays as well as rough seas in the Gulf,
the 243 is packed with more standard features than any other 24’ boat on the market. Stop by Gulf Coast Marine’s New “Mega” facility in Corpus Christi and their satellite location in Hitchcock, Texas to check out the new Everglades.
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Rapala
www.rapala.com
800-874-4451
This walk-the-dog-style lure has no boundaries and will change the way you fish. “The SubWalk 9 is similar in action to the famed Skitter Walk® except that now you can walk-the-dog three to six inches below the surface,” says Rick Murphy of the Rapala pro staff. “Now you’re able to bring the lure to the fish and walk the dog like never before.”
WALK’N THE DOG IN STYLE
Cast it out, let it sink and get ready to see the X-Rap come to life. Begin twitching your rod tip and watch the X-Rap Subwalk 9 dive into subsurface hunting mode but don’t relax, because you’re in for one exciting day on the water. “The unique lateral tail fin provides stability and a smooth gliding motion that
Shimano Core 100MG
Shimano
makes this lure ideal for any species of fish,” said Murphy. “Hold on tight, this dog’s about to bust loose.”
www.fish.shimano.com
The new CORE® reels are designed to be the ultimate, lightweight baitcasting reels. The CORE 100 MG is made with magnesium frames and sideplates, and MagnumliteTM spool construction. Weighs only 6.1oz! Features Ultra-Lightweight Magnesium Frame
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Texas Tackle Factory Killer Baits
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The Innovation Leaders Strike Again! Introducing the newest member of TTF’s Killer Baits - the newly released scented Killer Shrimp. The new TTF Killer Shrimp, which contains TTF’s proprietary RTX scent formulation, is designed to entice reds, trout, and flounder in all habitats and conditions… From skinny flats, working slicks beneath a Texas Thunder Brass
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January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
75
SABINE
Dickie Colburn
Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 35 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes. Contact Colburn’s Sabine Connection Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com
I had no sooner started on this column than the thought occurred, “Of what value is it to the reader when I begin every report with a recap of what has already happened the previous month?” Sufficiently stymied at that point, I shut down the computer and went fishing. I later decided that if the weather conditions were included for comparison’s sake, the column would be of even more value next
year than it is right now. While my expectations for the upcoming month are based on years of experience fishing Sabine Lake, the weather alone Oversized reds dominated the fishing on Sabine all fall.
could ship wreck the forecast. The recap is admittedly old news, but if you are wise enough to save these magazines, you will have a record of the patterns and lures that actually worked for the guides each month. Due to all of the flooding last spring and the early summer, every
We enjoyed a phenomenal fall season splitting time between drifting the flats on the north end of the lake and taking advantage of the big trout
seasonal pattern has been late in developing. We saw very little rain from
that showed up in the river. It was a hard choice to make each day and
mid-October through the end of the year and that is a good thing for the
only got harder when the birds started working over acres of slot redfish
saltwater angler on the upper coast.
and trout in early December. We caught more trout over six pounds in the river in November and early December than I had caught in the past three years. Ironically enough, we would find the fish each day in 3-5 feet of water or 15-22 feet of water… nothing in between. When they were deep, we had best success with vertically jigged Assassin Sea Shads in pumpkin, Texas roach, or glow-chartreuse bounced off the bottom. When we would find them in the shallow moss, we used the same Sea Shad rigged on 1/16th or 1/8th ounce heads as well as MirrOLure’s new Mirromullet. It is on the smallish side as topwaters go, but it behaves more like a finger mullet upon retrieve than the real thing. The big trout were more skittish when they were in the shallow grass and the subtle presentation of this mullet imitation was just the ticket. I was beginning to think that the bite on the shallow flats was not going to play out, but it finally slowed down last month. We caught a world of very solid trout, drifting 3-5 foot flats with longer plastics like the Assassin eel rigged on 1/8th ounce heads, Catch Fives, and She Dogs. I have never fished so much bone-chrome in my life, but you could not go wrong with that combination. We also had a better than average flounder run that I all but missed. We caught some big flounder fishing for trout and reds, but the folks that targeted flounder did very well this year. The average size fish
Mike Cooley released this nice redfish.
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Texas Saltwater Fishing
was better and the fishing on the shoreline of the main lake was much more consistent. January 2008
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One of many big trout taken in the river this fall
I don’t know if everything being late the year before magically becomes early when you move into a new year, but it looks like there will be as many fishermen still chasing gulls as there will be wading for trophy trout this month. You can expect a hiccup or two in the weather, but do not let that slow you down if you have big trout on the mind. While most of the Texas coast has trout-green water, we are more accustomed to trout-brown water on Sabine… especially in January and February. We will catch big fish in 48- degree water that is so muddy your She Dog will leave ruts on the surface! Expect a more consistent bite on the flats on the north end of the lake only because the trout have such easy access to deeper water should the conditions go to pot overnight. The short trip between safe haven and the next easy meal will keep them there all winter long. The flats between Johnson’s Bayou and Blue Buck will also produce their share of big fish as well. The combination of the warmer mud, which can make wading a chore, and the deeper water of the bayous will attract both predator and prey on the coldest of days. Both the Catch Five and the Catch 2000 have earned their stripes on these flats as well as the Corky and Crazy Croaker. On some really tough days last year, I downsized with a MirrOdine and caught big fish when nothing else would work for me. The lure mimics an injured shad in the water and in spite of its diminutive size; you can still throw it a mile. Rapala recently released a lure that may well dominate the winter scene if you can make yourself tie it on. They are almost too pretty to let a fish chew on and that will happen with this lure. The new X-Rap Sub-Walk resembles a Corky with a bucktail. If you can cast and wind your line back on the reel, you can “walk the dog” with this new lure. The catch is that you will be “walking the dog” beneath the surface. The Sub-Walk suspends so that you can more efficiently probe that narrow column of water covering shallow grass, but we have already caught fish on it over all types of bottom and structure in 2-8 feet of water. Do not forget that extra change of dry clothes when winter fishing. They could save your life, your partner’s life, or both! www.TSFMAG.com
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January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
77
We’ve got it good in the Galveston Bays right now. If anything has changed since my last report I’d say the fishing may have improved, especially for big trout. Trinity Bay Fishing on Trinity is still wide open. The bird action has slowed down a little bit, probably because the northers have finally flushed what was left of the white shrimp crop from our area marshes. Deep water structure is still yielding big numbers of trout, but not necessarily big fish. We are beginning to see some reds mixing with school trout and also a few stripers and some hybrid stripers. We are catching about four or five stripers per day with our trout and reds. The key right now is that things are changing. A lot of bigger trout are beginning to show on mud and muddy oyster beds in two to four feet of water. Some days you find them shallow but for the most part they are hanging in water too deep to wade and drifting is tough because some of the reefs are pretty shallow in this end of the bay. Trout in the 23” – 25” class are becoming more common; ten to twelve a day mixed in with our limits of other fish is what we’ve been seeing. There are some reports of trout to seven pounds, but we have not been able to pop any monsters. That will come as it gets cooler. The water conditions are perfect from shore to shore and front to back in Trinity and we’re seeing fish everywhere. We went upstream into Tabbs, Scott and Burnett bays and everything is looking good up there too. The redfish are starting to gather on reefs situated close to deep water, a sure sign of the winter pattern coming together. Soft plastics are the best baits right now. Pretty much any type of soft plastic you want to throw will work. We are getting some action on topwater
but it is just not consistent. One day we are whacking them and then you may go three or four days and not get a topwater bite. Drift fisherman working deep structure are doing well with MirrOlures. We are catching almost all of our bigger trout on MirrOlures. Everything is working right now and we’re having a great winter fishing season so far; we certainly paid our dues earlier in the year with all the rain and freshwater in the bays. East Bay We have pretty much the same patterns happening over here as we are seeing in Trinity. Mid-bay shell reefs are holding lots of trout. Drifting the reefs with MirrOlures and soft plastic has been very productive. Shoreline wading has also been good, so I guess you could say everything is wide open just like in Trinity. Also like Trinity, East Bay has not yet been giving up her biggest trout. We think this is only another cold front or two away though as all the signs are beginning to come together. Those soft mud and shell bottoms in East Bay will produce bigger fish as soon as we can get that water down into the fifties. Upper Galveston Upper Galveston Bay is on too. Sylvan Beach has been producing nice fish, so are Seabrook Flats and Clear Lake. Clear Lake trout have been on the small side but there are just a ton of them right now. West Bay West Bay has been coming around pretty strong too. Especially during and right after cold fronts, that seems to be the pattern for West Bay this time of year. Trinity and East Bays may not produce well during a front but West Bay always does when you get that big tide drop. Lots fish come out of the canals and the bayous. They follow all the shrimp out into the middle of the bay over the shell, from North and South Deer Island on down to Carancahua Reef; there has been a lot of good drift fishing and bird action. Flounder Run The annual fall flounder run is always of great interest to Galveston area anglers so let’s talk about it. Back on October 22 we had our really first big norther of the season and it put everything in motion. Each successive front just adds to it and strengthens the pattern. There are presently a lot of flounder being caught in the Galveston System and there seems to be a greater than average number of three to six pound fish. It has been a long time since I have seen that quality of fish being caught. The biggest catches are coming in from the Galveston Yacht Basin, the Old Coast Guard Station, Sea Wolf Park and at the Barge Graveyard on the Bolivar side. Believe it or not, lure fishermen seem to be having a better year than the live bait crowd. The Berkley Gulp and Gulp Alive have been working exceptionally well and are playing a role in this success. The magic water temperature for getting those flounder to really bite is about 60-64 degrees. Once you start to get into the 50’s the numbers break off but the big quality flounder are still there. All is alive and well in the Galveston Bay System. The whole complex is brimming with good action. Barring any severe fronts we are going to have a great second-half for December and January should be great too. Keep your eye on the wind, tide and weather and always remember to pick your days carefully between fronts.
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January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
79
Happy New Year! Already 2008, now that’s hard to believe. It seems only a few years ago that I was carrying a .22 single shot in one hand and a red Ambassador pearl handled reel on a Shakespeare Wonder Rod in the other while jumping from pond to pond, shooting squirrels and rabbits along with catching bass on Hula Poppers and Lucky-13’s. That was the life at the age of eight on a farm in Nelsonville, Texas. There were no POSTED or KEEP OUT signs because back then the farmers and ranchers weren’t opposed to a youngster spending time harvesting their lakes and game. Those days are over with and only memories of the past remain. I can’t turn back the hands of time or relive those peaceful days so I’ll be content to be true to my roots and never forget where I came from. January is usually a frigid month and we can almost always expect a big cold front during the Houston Boat Show. You’ll see me at the show again this year with some big trout mounts from previous years on display. My plan is to do some fishing in January but, of course, that will depend on the conditions. I will be having a small surgery on my left shoulder and you may see me in a sling at the show so don’t be surprised. It won’t keep me down for long though and with a little R&R I’ll be good as new. Last year in January we were able to catch some quality trout in East Matagorda Bay but given the cold water conditions expect the
Wayne Brueggen and Al Menconi III waded with Capt. Bill throwing pearl chartreuse Corkies. 80
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Larry Gerdes with a 27 inch trout and Ralph Aulds with a 29 incher from East Matagorda Bay.
Lowell Everitt - 28” trout caught and released while wading mud in East Matagorda Bay with Capt. Bill.
trout eating habits to taper off and then become like vacuum cleaners when they finish their hunger strike. Make sure to slow down your presentation of any lure you are using. Mud and shell in knee deep to waist deep water will be ideal settings with focus on finger mullet if you can find them. Remember this, fish have to eat to survive and they will be around mullet. Drifting the Capt. Bill holding a 29” trout middle of the bay over scattered shell that was caught and released while checking out jumping mullet and while wading mud and looking for slicks or streaky clear and chunking Corkies. off-colored water has paid off in past years. If you decide to drift be sure to make long drifts sometimes up to 3/4 or even a full mile if the wind direction will let you stay on the right structure. mile. If you catch 2 or 3 fish in a row be sure to mark it on your GPS and come back over the same drift. Over in West Matagorda Bay, I’m sure the reds will be around Oil Field Cut, Cotton’s, Green’s, and the Middle Grounds. On a low tide fish the sandbars and guts. You might even be able to sight-cast to some of them and if lucky could possibly catch a monster trout. This is not uncommon as many fishermen while fishing for redfish have lost big trout because they were not expecting them to be in the mix of reds they had been pulling in. So when that drag starts to sing and your rod is bent over, it could be a huge trout so implant that in your noggin because it could be an element in landing a trout of a lifetime. My baits for January won’t change all that much with pink and pearl chartreuse gold-sided Corkies, 51 and 52 series Mirrolures in TTR-CH, TTR-808, and TTR-28. Saltwater Assassins to pick from can include morning glory, roach, chicken on a chain, 10w40, and chicken bone. Slurp Assassins in drunk monkey and good penny will also be prime picks. Another bait that I also throw a lot is the Eddie Douglas Broken Back, a very good winter bait for big trout. See you at the Houston Boat Show and until next time God Bless.
January 2008
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January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
81
The month of January is typically
Texas Shad in the salt and pepper silver phantom and pumpkinseed with a
not the time of year when your
chartreuse tail. These two colors almost always produce for me so I make
average anglers are keen to venture
sure to keep them on hand at all times.
finicky about their meals. I have had good success with Bass Assassin’s
When it comes to fishing in January I usually target back lakes. These
out due to the less than desirable weather conditions; however,
back lakes offer protection from the blistering winds for anglers and fish.
there can be many advantages to
The muddier bottoms that tend to cover these lakes absorb more sun
fishing during this first month of the
because of their darker coloration. You will notice that these backwaters
year. Not only will there be fewer
tend to be anywhere from 1 to 5 degrees warmer than the sandier
fishermen on the water, but another
shorelines. This may not sound like much of a difference to us, but to fish
advantage to fishing this time of
this is substantial when they have no other means of warming their bodies. Wading the muddier bottoms can be somewhat exhausting and down
year is the lack of bait due to the colder climate. Most baitfish can’t survive the
right impossible for some anglers. If you are not able to wade these areas drifting can be just as productive and a lot easier on the back. Even
colder water temperatures, unlike
though these back lakes offer some protection from the wind there are
redfish, trout and flounder, so
times when it is blowing so hard that even protected areas are not so
they are forced to deeper water
protected. In this situation I highly recommend investing in a drift anchor to
in the winter months leaving their
help slow down the speed of your drifting boat. When the water temperature hovers in the fifties fish move slowly and
predators to feed on what is readily obtainable. This means if you haven’t fished with artificial lures in the past this is a good time to start. With the lack of bait in the colder water I find that feeding fish aren’t too
feed the same way as well. Not only is it key to move through these areas at a slow pace, but you also need to be able to fish the area thoroughly. Most of our lakes are not large in size so you want your drift to be as productive as possible and using a drift anchor can help you achieve that stealthy pace. My lures of choice are soft plastics and spoons. Like I said earlier I prefer Bass Assassin’s Texas shad in the salt and pepper silver phantom and pumpkinseed with a chartreuse tail, and I want to stress this. These two colors have always produced for me no matter the color of water. I rig them on a 1/16 oz assassin jighead and work them in a slow yo-yo fashion, sometimes letting them fall to the bottom before retrieving them back up. This yo-yo method works particularly well, because it allows the lure to travel through the entire water column. The 1/16 oz jig gives it the slow fall the fish prefer in cold water. When fishing for winter redfish my first lure choice is a spoon. I prefer to throw a 1/2 oz gold weedless. I rig a split ring through the eye of the spoon and then add a size-10 or smaller barrel swivel. The swivel prevents the line from twisting as the spoon flutters through the water. The spoon is a great choice of bait this time of year because it makes a favorable presentation in the water for the somewhat lethargic cold redfish. It works best if it is retrieved at a
Steve Whisenant and Judith Turlington strike a pose with a couple of nice redfish they caught. Notice the huge bellies on these two redfish. Judith’s specimen measured in at 27 inches and weighed in at a whopping 9.5 pounds. 82
Texas Saltwater Fishing
January 2008
slow pace allowing it to brush the bottom from time to time. Since redfish tend to sit still during the colder weather it is important to present your bait at a slower rate so as to not www.TSFMAG.com
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This is a snapshot of Judith’s redfish before we looked inside the stomach.
Here is what Big Boy Bob (as Judith says) was gorging on the morning he was caught. Talk about a holiday feast!
spook them and the spoon allows this with almost little effort. Using a spoon is practically foolproof in that there is really no wrong way to retrieve it. A nice slow retrieve, bumping it off the bottom occasionally, usually works best. The weight of the spoon also allows for easier and longer casting. Not only is a spoon easy to use it but is lethal for redfish. There is no other shallow water fish that comes close to the strength and beauty than that of a redfish. I choose to fish for reds when fishing with beginners for this reason. If you are not a believer in the productivity of a spoon I challenge you to try one your next shallow water trip. I have sent many customers racing out to the local tackle stores to buy spoons after showing them what they have been missing by not using them. Good luck and Happy New Years to all!
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January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
83
Some like it hot, and some like it cold. Cold weather means big trout and I’m liking that. The colder the weather, the better the fishing. The water temperature is staying in the low sixties and upper fifties, which I really like for trout fishing. The consistent north winds have pushed clear water in along the west shore and south. In Baffin Bay, the water is still dingy and offcolor, making a day of fishing down there difficult. But, the fishing on the north end of Laguna Madre has turned on recently. I had a unique trip with a longtime friend, Steve Pollard, along with his young son Alan. I met Steve about twenty-five years ago in Mexico. Every year I travel to the Pacific coast of Mexico and look up Steve to get all the info on fishing. He’s taken us to some great river mouths and beach fishing all along the coast that we definitely wouldn’t have found without him. It’s great to have a knowledgeable guide. The first trip he took me on was offshore in a twenty-four-foot panga. I caught my largest fish ever; a seven-hundred pound black marlin. There were no fighting chair and no fighting belt. All I had was a towel for the butt of the rod. After about three and a half hours I finally had the fish alongside and she was almost as long as the boat. What were we going to do with this fish? Steve was ready to go overboard and tail rope the monster. No, no, I said, don’t do that. I’m happy just to release her. It was an unforgettable experience. And I have it on video, thanks to Steve and friends. So, when he came up to visit his family and called to go fishing I was
Steve and Alan Pollard with 33” red. 84
Texas Saltwater Fishing
glad to take him and his eightyear-old son out for the day. The prior week the fishing had been slow, it had been warm and the southeast wind was blowing hard as it does before the cold fronts. The water was really stirred up and the visibility was terrible. I could see only a couple of inches, but Carol’s six pound trout. I had something we could try. I rigged our rods with the Saltwater Assassin Kwik Cork, along with a leader about eighteen inches long and then tied on the secret weapon worm, the Texas Assassin 5-inch Shad in Avocado. This lure had been working all month, whether tied direct or under the cork. We began drift fishing in dirty water about three feet deep. The first fish we caught was a twenty nine-inch redfish. Steve tagged it and they were happy that they were going to have it for dinner. They were looking forward to BBQ-ing it whole. That is the way they do it in Mexico, nothing goes to a waste. We were drifting along at a very good pace; the wind was relentless. Then, I stuck a heavy weight. It bent the rod and took out drag. I let Alan reel this one in. He had a long fight on his hands with his biggest redfish ever. It was thirty-three inches long. We took a picture and let her go. You could tell by the look on Alan’s face that he was not really happy to release this huge redfish. He didn’t quite understand; in Mexico a fish that big would feed a lot of people. Catch and release is not very popular in Mexico. So, he got a lesson in conservation, he’s a great kid and speaks fluently in both English and Spanish. Who knows, maybe someday he’ll be a leader in conservation. The next day the cold front came in blowing hard north winds. The weather changed from hot to cold in just a few hours. The cool weather felt good and the sun was shining bright. I knew the fishing would be good. I didn’t have a trip so I asked my wife to go. There was such a temperature change that I felt the fish would go deep to the channel of the Intra-coastal. We worked the trolling motor along the edge and the action was good. We caught about fifteen trout in an hour. Then, Carol showed that she had been taught well, and sticks this twentyseven-inch trout that weighed six pounds. She worked it
A rare specimen for the Upper Laguna that we removed from a speckled trout’s stomach – a look down fish. January 2008
to the boat perfectly using her favorite Waterloo HP Slam Mag rod. She was thrilled. She is always showing off by catching the biggest fish. We were using the Saltwater Assassins’ five-inch Shad in limetreuse. This lure works like a charm on bright, sunny days and cold water. I saw the Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist the other day he said that all the net samples were in and the trout numbers were way down due to all the rain. But, for the first time ever in the Laguna Madre they caught several small tarpon that weighed ten to fifteen pounds and www.TSFMAG.com
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also caught a couple of snook. Since the opening of Packery Channel we’re seeing different species in the Laguna. The other day while cleaning a trout, I found something that I’ve never seen in a trout before. I took a picture of it. It is a lookdown fish. They are in the jack family. Packery Channel is bringing in unusual things and helping with the water exchange from the gulf. The cold fronts are coming in Cliff Webb Jr.’s client, Tom Laurence caught this trout consistently now and it has helped to Nov. 28, 2007 - 6 pounder. keep the water clear and the fishing good in the upper Laguna Madre. I’m hoping more cold fronts will eventually wrap the clear water around the north shore of Baffin Bay. I’m looking forward to some cold water wade fishing, anticipating fat winter trout. It’s 2008! I’m proud to announce the twenty-fifth anniversary of Cliff Webb’s Guide Service. That’s a milestone, twenty-five years in the fishing business! When I think back, I am very grateful. I wouldn’t have made it without the great clients that I’ve had. We’ve gone through some tough conditions through the years. Like the brown tide, red tide, two fish-killing freezes and these people would continue to support me through bad fishing as well as the good. I am very fortunate. We should celebrate. Let’s go fishing!
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January 2008
Texas Saltwater Fishing
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Everything has really turned on down here in the Lower Laguna. As of this writing we are already beginning to see what we had hoped for in January and February. Fish are stacking in traditional wintertime places and we’re seeing some really nice ones; boat traffic has been very
I have been using Fishing Tackle Unlimited’s (FTU) All Pro rods for well over a year now and they have performed flawlessly for me.
light. What else could you want? During late November and early December, both the tides and water temperatures dropped as predicted. Fish that had been living secretly in deeper places during the hotter months came closer to the shorelines. We encountered several stack-up situations throughout the past month, especially during the recovery days following northers. One recent trip was a prime example of December’s potential. It came two days after a good front and the water fell from 77 to
The Sea Devils and Devil Eyes from Brown Lures have earned go-to status in our wading boxes.
54 in the shallows. When the sun came back out, herds of big redfish immediately moved up shallow. Early morning wind was light and hundreds of wakes and mud boils could be seen across several acres as we approached in the boat. Although they were there in force, they were extremely spooky and well fed. It took a slow hopping retrieve with a dark tail on a 1/8th oz. jig head to fool them. You had to be meticulously alert to feel the pick-up, but once hooked, the fish went berserk and tested drags, knots, and especially heart rates. It was flats fishing at it’s near finest and all indications are that scenes like this will continue. The trout did what they were supposed to as well. Moving from the skinny flat we found winter-shouldered trout in good numbers holding amid thigh-deep grass beds. For the first few hours their bite was delicate as well, but that changed as the winds picked up and the sun leaned to the west. The best retrieve went from a slow rocking motion just above the grass tips to a faster presentation in the middle of the water column. Later in the day they began feeding aggressively just below the surface. These trout ended up feeding so well that most hook-ups resulted in violent headshakes on the surface, a clear sign of a deeply imbedded lure. This is when we want to take extreme care in removing the hook and releasing them. Our new five fish limit will do us little good if we end up killing many of the ones we can’t retain. As far as fishing during January and February, the only thing that should change much will be the overall size of the trout and the frequency of the fronts. We had an excellent big trout year last winter, and it will soon be time for those 28’s and above to show themselves more consistently. It 86
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Our main focus during January will be on our trophy class trout.
January 2008
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an d n the upper to hiding o ! in re e a n o ew g b waders may have wn here… Stingrays o d t o n t u st b middle coa Some of our best redfish battles occur during winter
is encouraging to see how healthy and fat these fish already are.
Water conditions here remain mixed. We still have areas of less than
Lure selection will be secondary to finding concentrations of fish. I favor
desirable clarity. It seems to move around with the winds; one day will be air
soft plastics because of their simplicity and versatility, but your favorite lure
clear and the next day you can’t see a lure past a few inches. A general rule is
will work if presented at the right depth and speed. I will still rely heavily on the
darker colors for darker water.
Devils from Brown Lure Co. As was featured in December’s Tackle Tips, I use
There are two myths about winter fishing that need to be dispelled. One
a split ring and swivel attached directly to the jig head. I prefer it to an in-line
is that most of the bigger redfish move out to the gulf. In fact, we do battle
swivel where you have several inches of leader hanging from your rod tip, plus
with some of our best and heaviest reds during winter. Another assumption is
the vulnerability of two additional knots.
that all stingrays are gone. Although not as numerous, we still see plenty and standard precautions always need to be taken; such as shuffling your feet and never stepping backwards into your mud trail. Although our redfishing will be excellent, the main focus from now through March will be on our trophy class trout. Although they can feed very aggressively between northers, the bite is often softer than we would have it. Good equipment is extremely critical if you are serious about this, especially a highly sensitive rod. I have been using Fishing Tackle Unlimited’s (FTU) All Pro rods for well over a year now and they have performed flawlessly for me. I’m sure by now you have seen them but in case you haven’t; they are a classy green color and as far as I’m concerned, the nicest stick out there. Although they offer a “no questions” lifetime guarantee, I have personally fished these rods hard enough and loaned them to enough customers to feel safe in saying that if you break one of these you probably did something wrong. A lot of people don’t know that all of the components are of the absolute highest quality available, and the best part is that they are offered for about one-hundred dollars less than any comparable high-end rod. Winter is where it’s at for high potential adventures and this year looks like it’s going to be a good one here in the Lower Laguna. Looking forward to seeing you, and may your personal best trophy fish come in 2008.
Please remove hooks and release with care; our new five trout limit will work much better if we do. www.TSFMAG.com
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January 2008
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November and December have passed and for the most part they were everything that we had been anticipating. As of this
Fishing the spoils in the winter can bring loads of fun.
writing we have been seeing lots of solid 22-25 inch trout with a few trophy-sized fish mixed in to keep everybody smiling. Right before the first good northers hit we were doing well with topwaters, but as our water started to cool down the soft plastics took over as top producer. This is not to say that surface plugs won’t work in winter, but it does pay to be selective. Warm winter afternoons will bring baitfish to the shallows and they will also become more active on the surface. You might even hear some tail slapping as bait is trying to scurry away from hungry predators. If I begin to hear and see enough bait on the surface, I will be quick to slip on a topwater. Absent these signs, I am more apt to be found with a
Wading the drop off a spoil is a good call on a low tide.
plastic tail, Corky or Corky Devil at the end of my line. Regardless of the bait used, the slower presentations get rewarded most when fishing cold water. Think back to when you jumped in the shower on a cold morning only to find the hot water had been used up. How would you describe the feeling of cold water running down your back? I mention this because fish are quick to notice a change in their environment too. The drop in water temperature causes a fish’s metabolism to slow down. For this reason, during a post cold frontal period, I like to target areas where the water will be a few degrees warmer — muddy shell bottoms, muddy depressions where the water is slightly deeper, muddy points that lie close to muddy drop-offs. In general, I would say our most productive depths in winter range from thigh to belly deep. Having an eagle eye for even the slightest sign of bait activity can be the key to the entire hunt. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open because the signals are sometimes few and for some reason they tend to occur the moment you relax. A few days after the front goes through and things begin to warm again I usually leave the mud and head toward shallow flats that contain potholes. Fish have a tendency to lie on the bottom of these sand pockets and soak up the sun on
This is not to say that surface plugs won’t work in winter, but it does pay to be selective.
Bruce Miller got a taste of being spoiled near a spoil bank.
The shallow end of spoils can be productive on a high tide
a warm afternoon waiting for their next meal to swim by. Hopefully, it’s your
Well, I was wrong. My next bite came a full two hours later, but it was the fish
bait they find.
I was after. Working a soft plastic along a spoil ledge where the water went
I have already mentioned several types of structure and water depths in
from waist to chest deep within a matter of a few feet was the ticket. The trout
which you might be able to find fish during the varying conditions of the winter
measured in the twenty-seven to twenty-eight inch class. After releasing her
season. Now we’re going to jump into a discussion of dredge spoils. I would
and grinding for another hour, I called it a day. Some days you have be ready
have to say that my greatest winter wading experiences have been earned
to grind it out. The fun part of fishing is you just never know when the dividend
while working the spoils that dot the edges of the Intracoastal Waterway and
will come. I like to put it this way, “You’re one cast away from the fish of a
there is good reason for this.
lifetime all day long!”
Spoils lie near deep water that fish like to use during cold weather periods.
Before I close I would
Spoils attract and hold lots of baitfish. All species, bait and predators alike,
like to mention a product
will slide up and down the drop-offs as the water temperatures change. Many
called Quickswirl. For
of our spoils offer easy wading, but you’ve got to know which ones; pick the
many years I have tried
wrong and you could sink to your knees, maybe deeper. There is only one way
every device
to find out which spoils have a good bottom and that is to get off the boat and
I could find
get your feet wet.
that would
Spending time on your feet helps you discover drops, points, grass lines and
Quickswirl is a quick, easy, and durable way to change lures.
make it easier
guts that could hold big fish. On incoming or flood tides, I like to concentrate
and faster to
my efforts right against or very near the spoil banks. On falling tides I usually
change lures. Using
retreat to grass lines, slight drops in depth, hooks and points that lead to
the Quickswirl I have
deeper holes, or even guts where the tides tend to move faster. With the right
landed redfish, trout, snook,
conditions, any of these patterns can bring some hefty dividends.
and even a twenty-five pound
I’d like to share a little tale of the way winter sometimes works. Recently,
tarpon with no fish lost due
I did a little bit of scouting for some upcoming trips. The weather was not all
to product malfunction. The
that great; drizzling off and on and fog rolling in most of the day. The water
design of the Quickswirl has two
was a chilly sixty-five degrees; down 10 degrees during the past 48 hours and
and a half twists around the shaft which makes losing a lure
it seemed that every creature in the bay had relocated to deep water. I had
very unlikely. I have tested them with topwaters and plastic tails and have not
jumped off the boat a little after 8:00am and fished hard by myself all day long.
noticed any problems with the Quickswirl altering the action of the lure. Go to
I saw very little bait activity and my first of only two bites came at noon time. It
www.quickswirl.com and see for yourself.
was a twelve inch trout that brought hope that a bite might just start to occur.
Fishing Calcasieu Lake in January can be quite frustrating at times due to weather conditions, but some serious sow speckled trout are here to be caught for those willing to go. Cold fronts streaming into the area with rainy and windy conditions can make fishing miserable. The clue is to watch the weather closely before venturing out. Generally, the second or third day after the front passes is the best bet. Trout will be located up on the flats in 18 inches to 3 feet of water, over oyster reefs or anywhere there’s a hard bottom. Stealth is the main objective when entering an area to fish; trolling motors should be used as little as possible. Keep the noise to a bare minimum. The key to finding big speckled trout is to look for mullet. Now is the time for those twitch baits we all love to throw: Catch 2000s, Thundersticks, Corkies and Corky Devils will all be productive. Our favorite colors are silver with a black back, green/silver and green/gold. Soft plastics in glow, avocado and black will also work well on an eighth ounce jighead.
“Fishing is fantastic lately,” Randall says. “Limits of trout are the norm and the redfishing on topwaters is out of this world. I had a 37 inch beast on a Skitterwalk yesterday. We are catching our trout mostly out of the boat. When the water is low, we are working scattered shell in three feet of water and throwing a quarter ounce jighead. When the tide comes in, we switch over to a three eighths ounce head. The red magic Sand Eel has been the ticket to the trout for the most part. In fact, I had a fish on seventeen casts in a row with it the other day! After the fronts, with colder water, the wading has been better. We’ve seen some big trout already, with several fives and one eight pounder. That pattern should remain steady in January, when we usually have some of our coldest weather.” He also puts in a plug for his favorite fishing product, his Evinrude Etec motor. “I finally had my first minor problem with it after 1,400 hours of service without a hitch. I bet you I have started that rascal three thousand times and it never missed a beat!”
James says that he’s been in various corners of the Galveston Bay system lately, and caught both numbers and quality fish in all of them. “In one week, I caught ‘em in Trinity, East and West Bays and Chocolate Bay. I get tired of looking at the same stuff, so I move around a lot. This fishing in Chocolate was probably the best for average size of trout; we had limits running about three and a half pounds over there. In Trinity, I sat on one little spot and caught limits of both trout and reds in no time flat, even threw in a striper as a bonus. Closer to my house, right out here in West Bay, I and one other guy caught a mess of nice trout too. Biggest ones that day were about 27 inches, and we had a mix of twos, threes and fours. These fish have been biting a little of everything, from 51 Mirrolures to She Dogs and Corkies. I also caught some fish real easy the first time I tried Rapala’s new slow sinking lure. It’s going to work great. Basically, the way the fishing is right now, we should be in for one of the best winters in a long long time.”
Don reports a good run of fishing for trout and redfish in Matagorda lately. “I’ve been drifting mostly in East Bay. There are still a lot of shrimp out there, and I’ve been catching my fish on shrimptails. Limits have been the norm. As long as the fish keep biting them, I’ll keep throwing them. Some others are catching some nice fish by wading. Charlie Paradoski had a 27 1/2 inch trout yesterday on a Skitterwalk, but he didn’t spend all day wading either. We have actually been catching our fish over plain old mud out in the middle. Of course, historically, a mix of shell and mud is good in the winter.” He plans on fishing both East and West Bays in the coming month. “We like to wade over in West Bay this time of year. The redfish can be really easy over there, and of course we’ll be wading East Bay too when we can. There are reports of some really big trout coming out of East Bay already this winter. Of course, I don’t put much stock in reports of released thirty inchers unless they take a picture!”
Jim was excited about the fishing and the duck hunting when I talked to him. “We are still on the water,” he said. It was well after dark. “Our bite has been best right at daylight or right around dark. The tide is real low during the day, just turning at dusk. The fish are shallow, and if it’s calm, we’ve been catching them out of the boat, but when it gets windy, we are wading to get at ‘em. Today we had about 20 trout, all solid. Best fish are right around 27 inches, with the rest threes fours and fives. It’s just super fishing. We’re throwing mostly Catch 2000s; they are working better than topwaters. As tides begin to move during daytime hours, I’ll be back to fishing more conventional times. There are just a bunch of trout over here in East Bay this year. Winter should be outstanding.” Then he said this about the duck hunting. “I actually thought I had lost all the water in one of my ponds today. We went over there to check it and it looked like there was no water. Then we realized it was absolutely blanketed with ducks. It’s gonna be a skillet shoot in the morning.”
Fishing has been consistent in the colder water. Bigger trout are starting to show up over mud/shell and in deep guts and drains with soft mud bottoms. Recent trips to area shorelines have produced several fish in the 25 to 27 inch class on slowsinking Corky Fatboys in pearl/black and Texas chicken. Smaller trout in the 15 to 18 inch class have been plentiful along the seawalls and in the Harbor. These fish have been biting the Texas Trout Killers in plum/green and plumkin. The redfish bite has slowed quite a bit, with the schools mostly broken up. Scattered small slot fish from 20 to 23 inches have been found on some local mud flats on gold spoons and small topwaters such as Baby Skitterwalks in blue/orange and Spook Jrs in bone/flash. The night fishing has really taken off here lately with several good reports coming from 1st street pier and the Pavilion. Hot lures at night have been salt/pepper Berkley mullet and bone diamond Trout Killers. Finding any bait along with good mud/shell mix will be the key to finding better fish this month.
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The weather in November and December was fair, not too cold, not too warm. The water temperatures did go down and continue to go downward. During periods in which the sun was out and air temperatures were high, the water temperature came up and so did the fish. On some of those days we found very good numbers of redfish and trout in two to three feet of water in the Upper Laguna. Natural colored soft plastics like Bass Assassin Slurps and Berkley Gulp shrimp rigged on sixteenth ounce jig heads were working. Five to ten pound black drum have also been schooling up in several areas, and free lined live shrimp has been the ticket for catching the drum. With the water temperatures heading downward in January, I’m looking to start fishing in three to five feet of water with mud and shell bottoms, and the drop off along the intracoastal on colder days. I’ll be using smelly soft plastics rigged on eighth or quarter ounce heads and working them very slowly along the bottom. This is also the time to fish with flashy MirroLure Catch 5 lures. Lynn was in a deer blind when I talked to him, but he’ll be back on the water soon! “I like to focus on shallow, grassy flats in mid-winter, especially those that are adjacent to deep water, depths of over four or five feet. We start and stay late on most days this time of year. On the brighter days, I like to stay up on the flat itself most of the time, and on the cloudier days, I’ll focus more on the edge of the flat where it tapers off into the deeper water. I use a progression of lures this time of year. Of course, I throw purple/chartreuse and red shad worms most every day, kind of as a fish finder. If I’m catching them pretty easy on the worm, I like to try my Corkies. Some days, the bait gets more active and topwaters work well too. Colors on those is pretty much the same for me in winter as at other times. I love chrome ones and the old black/chartreuse SheDog is hard to beat too. The key to catching fish this time of year is to stay close to the deep water access and remain keyed in on the bait activity and what it’s telling you about the mood of the fish.”
With the duck season extending throughout the month of January, Blake expects to be doing lots of cast and blast outings. “We’ll be using the airboat most days in January, starting out in the blinds early, then chasing redfish and trout after the shooting is over. There are lots of ducks in area marshes this year, and a good variety too. Redfish are just everywhere, especially since the tide fell out behind the recent cold fronts. Big trout are mixed in with them in some places.” He plans on fishing soft muddy, grassy bottoms and some scattered shell in the mid-winter month. “I will be throwing a mixture of lures. Of course, I love my Sand Eels in purple and pumpkinseed/chartreuse. Corkies come out a lot too in the cold weather. Then when it warms up, we actually have good topwater action in January. When the bait is jumping, the fish will usually blow up.” Carlos, St. Charles, Mesquite and Aransas Bays have the right combination of marshy areas and soft bottoms for the outings Blake runs in winter.
The cold winter months are prime time for pompano, whiting, slot and oversized redfish, black drum and sheepshead on the beaches of Padre Island National Seashore. Peeled, fresh, dead shrimp will work well for all species; cut mullet and cut whiting make effective winter baits for redfish. Usually sandbar, bull and blacktipped sharks are present in varying numbers and all three documented landings of mako sharks on the Padre Island beach occurred during the winter months. Grinders will be seeking large surf-run speckled trout with a variety of 51M and 52M Mirrolure twitch-baits, as well as topwaters and soft plastics. Cold fronts will make beach conditions unfavorable and travel impossible upon arrival and as they pass. The wise will make sure to plan trips around the second day following a front when conditions have had a chance to moderate some. When winter surf waters clear up after fronts, it makes for fairly easy “reading” of the guts near shore. www.TSFMAG.com
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“Lately, the water in the Laguna Madre has been clear on the north end, but the brown tide comes and goes as the tide level rises and falls,” Joe says. “I learned long ago that it’s tough to catch fish in brown tide, and I just don’t really like fishing in it, so I try to stay in the clear water as much as possible. Since the intracoastal is one of the main avenues of the current, it is often clear. I like to fish the edges of the main channel and the other channels that connect with it in winter. I try to position the boat to where we can throw relatively close to the edge. Sometimes, heavier jigheads are necessary, depending on the wind and tide. The channel edges are most productive when the water temperatures are in the mid-fifties and lower. As the water warms, less fish will stay on the edges. Then, the potholes a short distance away are more productive. Don’t hesitate to visit Corpus Christi Bay either. The area inside Shamrock Cove often has big trout during the warm-up periods in the winter. They will go in there to bask in the sun after the fronts.”
“Warmer than normal conditions have the patterns a little backed up around Port Mansfield lately,” says Bruce. “The good news is that the high water temperatures make for easier fishing in terms of just getting bites. You can pretty much catch fish on topwaters, twitch baits and soft plastics, whatever you want to throw. Most of the trout are normal-sized keepers though. We have seen some bigger fish, but the consistency in catching them is not quite as good as it is when it gets cold. Once water temperatures dip into the fifties more regularly, the big trout will bite better more of the time. We’ll be targeting drains that move shallow water onto flats adjacent to deep water, especially the muddier drains. After a couple of warm up days following the fronts, dropping tides will send warm water onto the muddy flats, and that’s a great time to be chunking twitch baits like Corkies, Catch Vs and Catch 2000s for the big trout. Topwaters will still work too; look for the warmest days and the highest levels of bait activity to indicate that they will.”
This is the season we look forward to all year. Our biggest concern is dressing for success in colder weather. We suggest wearing multiple layers; be sure your outer layer of clothing and footgear are waterproof as well as warm and don’t forget, you’ll still need sunglasses. We’re catching some nice trout, as expected this time of year, throwing the Mauler with a 15 inch leader of 30 lb. test and a quarter ounce jighead with a Gulp three inch shrimp in new penny, pearl or nuclear chicken. Working the Mauler fast like a topwater super shallow works great on reds, but a slower retrieve will bring more trout, which have been hanging out with the reds early. Cold water means slower, deeper patterns and we adjust accordingly, targeting the sand holes where outgoing tides funnel bait and predators towards dropoffs on either side of the Intracoastal. Freddy says, “South Texas has beautiful weather in winter, just ask the snowbirds. When conditions gets tougher, fishing gets better. It has to get really nasty (30 mph winds and/or lightning) to keep us off the water.” Texas Saltwater Fishing
91
Kaylin Winther shows off her monster drum landed while wading in East Bay. Pierce Ledet proudly shows off his first 16� trout. Patti Jeansonne displays her 24� red caught while fishing West Matagorda.
Dwight Clifton of Point Comfort tackled his first trout in Rockport.
Marci Radke displays her award winning trout from a CCA Tournament. Wendy Seybold of Pasadena hooked this red while in Bastrop Bay.
Jimmy Thompson landed his first keeper trout while out in Trinity Bay. 92
Texas Saltwater Fishing
Jared Jansen landed this Sabine red on a Morning Glory Saltwater Assassin. January 2008
Luke and Noah McIvor both snag their first red fish while out in POC.
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Erik Moller tackled this 38” bull red while wading in Matagorda. Anna Lord snagged this 18# jack crevalle on a fly rod while fishing in POC.
Paige Sitterle and her dad, Matt show off her first redfish. Way to go!
Dennis Gau tricked this 29” trout in Port Mansfield.
James Garner landed this nice 27” 7# trout while fishing in Rockport. Ari Schwartz and daughter Allison snagged her first redfish.
Vicki Sorensen boated this nice bull red while fishing in Trinity Bay.
Jorge Cruze III of Edinburg tricked his first keeper trout measuring 20 1/2” while fishing in Arroyo City.
Thomas Shavlan proudly shows off his first keeper red.
Josh Smith of Lake Jackson landed this East Matagorda red on a Texas Trout Killer Red/White.
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