January 2014

Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com January 2014

TIDE PREDICTIONS & SOLUNAR FEED TIMES INSIDE!

www.hookspit.com Come see our NEW Hookspit store!

2800 W. Main St. Ste. G • League City, TX 77573

ABOUT THE COVER January’s focus will be trophy trout for hardcore wadefishers but bruiser redfish can add a lot of action.

Look for schools roaming shoreline flats during warming periods, eating everything in their path!

Sight-casting can be awesome this month.

CONTENTS Mike McBride Kevin Cochran Billy Sandifer Martin Strarup Chuck uzzle Joe Richard

JANUARY 2014 VOL 23 NO 9

10

44 Let’s Ask The Pro Jay Watkins 48 Shallow Water Fishing Scott Null 52 TPWD Field Notes Mark Lingo 54 Texas Nearshore & Offshore Mike Jennings 56 Fly Fishing Scott Sommerlatte 58 Youth Fishing Marcos Garza 60 Kayak Fishing Chronicles Cade Simpson 62 Fishy Facts Stephanie Boyd 64 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks...

Eric Ozolins 68 TSFMag Conservation News CCA Texas 102 Science & the Sea uT Marine Science Institute 104 Boat Maintenance Tips Chris Mapp

WHAT OUR GUIDES HAVE TO SAY

76 Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene 78 Mickey on Galveston 80 The view from Matagorda 82 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays 84 Hooked up with Rowsey 86 Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report 88 South Padre Fishing Scene

98 6 | January 2014

REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIvE Patti Elkins Patti@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-649-2265 PRODuCTION COORDINATOR Donna Boyd Donna@tsfmag.com

DEPARTMENTS

56

vICE PRESIDENT PRODuCTION & ADvERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIvE Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net

FEATURES 10 Do You Believe in Ghosts?

16 Revelations Regarding Lines...

22 Sharkathon and Lessons Learned 28 What About Courtesy?

32 Wintertime Comfort Zones 38 Winter’s Wahoo Smackdown

EDITOR AND PuBLISHER Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com

Dickie Colburn Mickey Eastman Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Capt. Tricia Ernest Cisneros

REGULARS 08 Editorial 74 New Tackle & Gear 90 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 94 Catch of the Month 98 Gulf Coast Kitchen

88

CIRCuLATION SuBSCRIPTION – PRODuCT SALES Linda Curry Cir@tsfmag.com ADDRESS CHANGED? Email Store@tsfmag.com DESIGN & LAYOuT Stephanie Boyd Stephanie@tsfmag.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly.

Subscription Rates: One Year (Free Emag with Hard Copy Subscription) $25.00, Two Year $45.00 E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year.

Order on-line: WWW.TSFMAG.COM MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue.

Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded.

HOW TO CONTACT TSFMAG: PHONE: 361-785-3420 FAX: 361-785-2844 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 WEB: www.TSFMAG.com PHOTO GALLERY: photos@tsfmag.com PRInTEd In THE uSA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.

Periodical class permit (uSPS# 024353) paid at victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.

EDITORIAL The TPWD commissioners meeting happened a little over a month ago and word travelled fast.

But if you haven’t heard, during their regular November meeting the commission instructed Coastal Fisheries staff to put spotted seatrout back on the scoping agenda and they’re going to talk to us about southern flounder too.

Scoping is a standard part of the process anytime a regulatory proposal is brought before the commission. Whether introduced by commission members, TPWD divisional staff or just folks who voice concern regarding any of Texas’ many fish and wildlife resources that may result in regulatory changes; before the commission will consider taking action they instruct divisional staff to discuss it with user groups in public meetings to gain input.

This is our chance to put in our two cents.

Spotted seatrout are the most popular species in Texas coastal waters, and given the diverse habitat from Sabine to the Lower Laguna, they are managed regionally. Several regulatory changes have been enacted over the past decade, the most significant being the five fish daily limit for the Lower Laguna.

The most recent round of regulatory proposals and scoping during December 2010 and January 2011 ended with Coastal Fisheries staff recommending the proposal be removed from the process. Concern of dwindling stocks in the middle-coast had been registered by anglers and confirmed by TPWD’s survey data. The caveat that reversed staff opinion was an encouraging bump in recruitment of juveniles to the

8 | January 2014

TROuT And flOundER

BAcK In THE cROSSHAIRS fishery. “We need to keep track of this for a couple years as this yearclass advances, before recommending a bag limit reduction,” they said.

Well it’s been two years and here we go again. The announcement of date, time and location for another scoping campaign should be released any day.

The middle-coast seatrout fishery, I’m told, is pretty much holding its own but the recruitment bounce is not registering in the anticipated amount. Fishing reports from the region echo this. We’ve seen a slight improvement and seasonal bounty created some bright spots, but in general, the fishing does not measure up compared to the late-90s and early-2000s years. Continued severe drought no doubt plays a big role in this.

Southern flounder management is also being revisited. The current regs reduced recreational bag limits from ten to five fish and commercial fishermen were cut from sixty to thirty per day coastwide for all months except November when the rod and reel limit is two per day and gig fishing is closed. Increases in landings and survey data indicates these changes produced the desired effect, but again, not quite to the level hoped.

The upcoming scoping sessions will introduce a proposal to expand the November regulations a week or two into October and also December to further aid the recovery of this popular fishery.

I encourage all TSFMag readers to participate in the scoping meetings and voice their opinions.

Fishing for the right vehicle at the right price?

Catch a great deal on a new F-series truck or Expedition!

Shop for your next truck at

 Roger Rodriguez General Sales Manager

Dan Wallace General Manager

Kyle Lesak Internet Sales Director

Kevin Janak New Vehicle Director

4506 N. Navarro • Victoria, Texas • 1-800-763-9024

STORY BY MIKE MCBRIDE

10 | January 2014

i’m sure anyone Who has fished

long enough has seen a ghost or two. By ghosts I mean black-backed silvery

creatures with a bunch of spots on them. Watery apparitions so large nobody would believe, unless perhaps a paranormal-type hippie or “otherwise induced” person. I have witnessed a few such shadowy illusions, and once upon a recent time I actually got to touch one with a hook.

It’s the haunting of the still unproven, save for a few disappointingly fuzzy images. For some of us it’s enough to keep us zipping those booties up, and of course everybody has their own personal vision of what fishing is supposed to be about. Some are motivated largely by the fried meat aspect while others focus on adventure. I guess I lean more toward the mysteriousness of it.

I basically use fishing as a socially acceptable excuse to try and make better sense of this world we occupy for such a short time. So just for the fun of it, here is the tale of one such encounter, though the only sense it might make pertains to one of those goals strived for and never actually meant to be met.

In short—I got canceled. I understand that living somewhere near “Hootersville” (as Jay Watkins would say) can present logistical problems for clients but, eight hours qualifies as quite short, no matter where you are. We take it in stride though; a full-time guide learns to live fast, love hard, and pull off a few practical jokes in-between. Being that I was on some big fish I figured I’d just go anyway. And hopefully send a few of those “shoulda been here” pics to the cancelling dude ranchers, the kind who take their clothes to the cleaner way too often instead of getting them really good and dirty.

I had seen this particularly huge carton of a fish three times in about the same number of weeks and was curious if the post-norther conditions would lend to me seeing her again. She was always in the same basic area, right on the edge of a small shallow bar, conveniently tucked behind some life-sucking mud, yet very close to a quick deeper-water vanishing act. Curious is that the area lay hard against a heavily traveled boat lane.

I slept in, waiting ‘til all the other boats dispersed to their secret spots, well away from where I intended to hide in plain sight. I can only imagine that survival DNA played a part in this animal wanting to hide in plain sight as well. The timing seemed perfect.

The sun had climbed enough for decent visibility and the other boats were by then a far distant roar.

TSFMAG.com | 11

It was relatively warm for January but chill enough for steam to rise from the wake I laid in colder water. I stayed on plane as far as I dared hoping to cheat at least some of the mud. Ridiculously shallow, the tabs went down as the jack plate went up to help the Haynie run flatter, like a duck cupping into decoys.

I waited for the prop wash to settle and then started to slip into my waders with one more critical decision. On which foot do I put on the only sock I managed to bring? Just for luck, I pulled the cotton up on the right. The left struggled for comfort in cold, mildewy neoprene – but comfort wasn’t what I was after.

I glassed the area with some seriously beat up binoculars, but hey, you have what you have. Through the foggy left lens and crooked right glass I watched several great blue herons dancing for their lunch.

Even more promising a couple of pelicans floated amid occasional tell-tale mullet flips. In my mind; if the baitfish had pulled back up, hopefully a few predators wouldn’t be far behind, one in particular.

My protected foot slipped into the water first, ballerina style, and the shuffle towards the sweet spot commenced.

12 | January 2014

It wasn’t a quiet shuffle. There was still plenty of lung sucking yardage left, and despite trying to be stealthy I got into a fight with a flattened crab trap. It was cleverly disguised as a grass bed and that stupid little hook meant to hold your Montana gravel guards to your boot laces tangled in the mesh. Occasional redfish boils said to keep going, you may get her yet. I was almost there but already calling that fish a bad female name for doing this to me.

Sure enough, about a half cast away, a watery mirage took shape, slowly turning from parallel to point. She seemed to be staring right at me with that “So what do you think you’re going to do about it?” look.

A sick feeling deep in the throat and visions of certified scales made me want to lunge, snag, just do whatever it took to confirm this Loch Ness illusion.

I hastily made a big cast with a small plastic. Of course she revolted, but of all things, went even shallower. She spun around almost on the bank just to sit there and stare at me again. Emotions can run wild, like wanting to throw your golf club, and then suddenly the only link to the real world doused even more cold water on the situation.

The freaking phone rang – talk about a buzz kill!

I turned the stupid human thing off, wiped the stress sweat from my brow and glasses, and fumbled for a non-existent lure that might bring Nessie home. I had that much time. She wasn’t going anywhere and neither was I. I slowly circled, making calculated shots, about one per minute I guess. By now she seemed used to me, evidently written me off as harmless. She didn’t even spook on a bad cast. I changed lures several times, my mind racing, if only I’d brought this or that. Yeah, it was like throwing at a ghost. Am I really seeing this?

Minutes passed like hours. A fine drizzle developed and turned wet enough to pull up the hood and tuck the stupid phone. An increasing east wind under low sky broke up the surface, but also my visibility. With nothing to do but wait and hope, I did a bunch of both. When the drizzle finally cleared that ghost of epic proportion was gone. The horror!

I wanted to throw the club again but figured I’d just have to settle for some of those “other fish” I’d seen, on the way back to the boat.

THE COOLER YOU’VE

ALWAYS

WANTED THE LAST YOU’LL

EVER NEED

™

From Homestead to Houston “If you put all the coolers that I’ve bought end to end, you’d have coolers from Homestead to Houston... Now why would YETI come along and ruin a perfectly good consumer like myself?”

– Flip Pallot, Legendary fisherman

Lifetime Investment “I used to buy coolers frequently as the lids would be destroyed and they would no longer hold ice. No more! I have a YETI now; a lifetime investment.”

Perfect Shape “I bought 3 YETI Coolers

– Tom T Rowland, Saltwater Experience

– Larry Dahlberg, Hunt for Big Fish

several years ago, and they’re still in perfect shape. Plus, they hold ice for days.

Sure wish they’d been around 20 years ago, it would’ve saved me a small fortune!”

WILDLY

Day In, Day Out “As hard and as much

as we fish in the Florida Keys, I need a cooler that performs day in and day out.

Other coolers would only last one season.

My YETI is on its third season - it still looks and works like new.”

– Steve Rodger, Into The Blue

T-Rex ™

Lid Latches

STRONGER! KEEP ICE LONGER!

ColdLock™ Gasket

®

PermaFrost™ Insulation

YETI Coolers are roto-molded, ded, the same process used to make ke kayaks.

So, they’re tough! With thicker cker walls, tion more than twice the insulation and a full-frame gasket, YETI’s ice retention is unmatched! ®

NeverFail™ Hinge System

DoubleHaul™ Handles

Vortex™

YETI Coolers are certified bear-proof by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee! ®

Drain System

BearFoot ™ Non-Slip Feet

The YETI “Don’t Worry” 5-year Warranty ®

If any part of your YETI malfunctions or breaks, simply contact us for prompt repair or replacement. Don’t worry, it’s a YETI ! ®

®

www.yeticoolers.com

I put a loop knot on a new Corky Fat Boy and trudged out a little deeper towards the tendonpulling mud.

The ghost miraculously reappeared just off the little ridge, slowly moving towards its evident escape route, perfect angle for a good shot. I took it and the lure plopped with a flat entry about four feet in front of the massive shadow.

As in yet another dream, the fish actually moved up and sucked the lure down, and then just sat there. When it finally registered to snap the rod tip back, the whitewater confirmed the image was real, and that it was also real big.

I got a couple of good runs out of the beast, even got her close enough to point and shoot a nervous camera, and then both the line and I went suddenly limp. I saw her one more time, easing closer to the drop-off, once again mocking me with one of those “what are you going to do about it” deals.

My shot at immortality was gone but that particular ghost still lives. If anybody ever actually caught her we would have surely heard about it. All I had was a fuzzy photo and a sharp memory.

Morals here are several. One is that things tend to happen for a reason and this one just wasn’t meant to be. Another is that just like us, animals are creatures of habit. She lives because she is programmed that way, and hiding in plain sight may be something we all should consider more often. Yet another touches back to the reasons all of us have for fishing in the first place. For me, I’ve never shot a buck over a kernel of corn and neither will I try to catch a ghost that way. Some say the state record will never again be broken, too much pressure these days and all that.

I disagree and I’ll keep going back for my own reasons. By the way, as bad as this picture is, it still clearly shows a Corky for an accurate scale. I did several calculations, and yes, those blackbacked ghosts still truly exist. Next time I’ll try to remember to bring two socks.

Contact

Mike McBride

14 | January 2014

Mike McBride is a full time fishing guide based in Port Mansfield, TX, specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.

Skinny Water Adventures Phone Email Web

956-746-6041 McTrout@Granderiver.net Skinnywateradventures.com/ Three_MudSkateers.wmv

Custom Slip Resistant Boat Flooring Main Office 12008 Hwy 146 Dickinson, TX 77539 Dickinson, TX Office

832-837-4818 281-435-5904

South Texas/Coastal Bend

361-799-9151 956-497-4602 Dallas/Ft. Worth

972-897-5094

If your boat deck is worn out and ugly you need Safefloor

- Extreme Non-Slip - Increase Resale Value

- Hundreds of Colors - Easy Clean up

Chuck Holloway caught this beautiful trout on a calm day last January, during a slow bite. Because braided lines best facilitate the perception of light bites, they become most important during such times.

16 | January 2014

STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

While watching a

fishing show recently,

I heard world champion B.A.S.S. angler Kevin Van Dam make some interesting comments about fishing line. The accomplished pro said, “I’m often asked the question: ‘What’s the best fishing line?’” His answer piqued my interest in a couple of different ways. “More and more, I find myself using fluorocarbon line,” KVD proclaimed.

Mr. Van Dam correctly credited the low stretch and high sensitivity of fluorocarbon line as two of the attributes which make it such a good choice. The line also becomes nearly invisible when placed in the fishes’ environment. Van Dam knows, “The fish won’t see it and become reluctant to strike in clear water.”

He went on to clarify his answer further by saying he much prefers braided line over the fluorocarbon when he’s pitching jigs into deep water and/or heavy cover. He noted the nearly unbreakable braided lines have the lowest elasticity and highest sensitivity. All these attributes prove advantageous when anglers hook fish amidst gnarled vegetation and need to wrestle them through tangled limbs. Mostly, bass anglers use heavy braid for this drill, often 40 or even 50 lb. test.

Last, he identified a specific application where mono-filament becomes most useful. “When throwing topwaters, you must use mono, because it’s the only line that floats. Sinking lines like fluorocarbon and braid drag the nose of floating lures downward, inhibiting presentations.”

Several thoughts came to mind as I mulled over the expert’s comments. These thoughts made me question the lines and rigging methods I and most other veteran coastal anglers use, one which incorporates a braided main line and a leader of less visible line, either mono-filament or fluorocarbon. First of all, I wondered if we shouldn’t consider switching to fluorocarbon as our main line and eliminate the need for a leader.

Quickly, I realized our lightweight reels lack the capacity to hold enough fluorocarbon line of appropriate strength to work correctly. I simply can’t advocate going back to tying lures directly onto lines with strengths in the 10 or 12 lb. test range, nor can I recommend using reels which will hold plenty of 20 lb. test fluorocarbon. Lines in the 14 to 16 lb. test range would perhaps provide enough protection against the sharp teeth of trout and abrasive lips of redfish, but even lines of those diameters will quickly fill the spools of reels weighing less than

seven ounces, which work best for me.

I suppose one could use a lighter fluorocarbon main line and attach a heavier leader to it, similar to the way we now use braid with a leader. But fluorocarbon has less sensitivity than braid, a consequence I see no reason to accept, given no concurrent advantage. So braided lines clearly should remain spooled on our reels as our main lines.

His comments also caused me to mull over one other major issue, the idea that braided lines, because they sink, inhibit creative and effective presentations with topwaters. When thinking about this, I recalled several instances I’ve observed when people tied their plugs directly onto braided line or used a twist-on swivel and had trouble with the noses of their topwaters digging down under the surface when retrieved.

Bass pros probably perceive a bigger problem associated with the use of braid in this way because they generally use thicker, heavier braided line than coastal anglers use. 50 lb. test braid surely creates more of an issue than 20 lb. Adding the extra weight of a swivel to the end of a sinking line to facilitate changing plugs more easily can only exacerbate the problem. Furthermore, tying plugs with multiple treble hooks directly onto braided line causes the line to become tangled repeatedly in the front hook, providing another reason not to rig up in this manner.

Anglers tying their lures directly onto braided line or using swivels to attach them not only fail to acknowledge the useful role of the clear leader in preventing fish in clear water from striking, they also cause problems for themselves when using floating plugs. All these consequences render the idea of tying braided line directly onto a lure or using it in conjunction with a swivel and without a length of clear leader unacceptable to me.

For the record, I experienced no reduced capacity to work topwaters properly (meaning effectively and creatively) when I switched from mono to braid several years ago. KVD’s comments helped me reach a couple more important conclusions about this. One relates to differences between mine and the typical bass angler’s reality.

For one thing, I wade almost all the time, so I work my lures back to me while holding my rodtip upwards, at an angle. This reduces the amount of line touching the water, minimizing the effect the sinking TSFMAG.com | 17

line would have on the presentation of a floating plug. Bass anglers largely fish from a boat, often pointing their rodtip down at the water while working a topwater, placing more of the line in the water.

Additionally, the lighter braided line I use, as compared to what a bass angler typically would, further minimizes the effect of the sinking line, since the lighter line sinks slower than a heavier one would.

While talking to my friend Jason King about all these things, I reached another epiphany of sorts.

He said he observes a big difference in the way his lures (Spook Juniors and even Corkys) work when he uses a fluorocarbon leader of 25 lb. test as compared to when he uses 15 lb. His preference for tying his braided main line directly to the leader without the aid of a swivel allows him to use a leader which starts off at about 5 or 6 feet, before cutting and retying reduce its length. He says a long 25 lb. fluorocarbon leader noticeably pulls down on the heads of the plugs, making small floating plugs harder to work “correctly” and causing Corkys to sink more quickly.

I now realize my preference for a monofilament leader, albeit one shorter than what Jason and many other coastal angler’s use, might actually benefit my presentations in a way I hadn’t considered previously. I typically use green 20 lb.

Berkley Big Game as a leader, and attach it to the braided main line through the use of a size-10, black barrel swivel. The buoyancy of the mono-

18 | January 2014

filament probably offsets the sinking effect of the light braided line, rendering the whole issue of braided lines inhibiting the effectiveness of topwaters obsolete.

Taken as a whole, the conclusions I reached verify what I already believed about my choice of lines and rigging method. They work best for me. I can’t justify using fluorocarbon as a main line without a Terry Sandlin caught this pretty trout on a Super Spook Junior under bright skies in the middle of the day, defying a stereotype about when such plugs will work.

Jason intends to stick with fluorocarbon for use as a leader, citing the line’s lower visibility level in clear waters as the reason he prefers it over mono. I contend the ever so slightly lower visibility of fluorocarbon as compared to green mono probably makes no difference in the number of strikes we get, and cannot offset these other issues.

I will continue to rig up the way I have for years, because I know using a clear leader improves the chances for getting strikes some of the time. For leader line, mono works best for me, because I find it easier to tie in foolproof knots when compared to fluorocarbon. Additionally, I now believe it allows my Corkys to sink at their intended slow rate and keeps the noses of my topwaters riding high, helping me make them bob and weave more enticingly.

Lance Abel with one of several solid trout caught on the same day near the end of last January.

Big trout can often be found in schools during the dead of winter.

leader, because doing so would require me to use a larger, heavier reel, and I can’t do that. I now believe more than ever in the usefulness of mono-filament as a leader in place of the more widely-preferred fluorocarbon; since mono floats, it helps offset the potentially negative effects the sinking braided lines exert on topwaters and slow-sinking twitch baits.

20 | January 2014

CONTACT

KEvIN COCHRAN

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

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

TROuT TRACKER GuIDE SERvICE Phone Email Web

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

2014 RAM 1500 ECODIESEL

$15,000

*

NEW RAM TRUCKS HIGHER STANDARDS, LOWER DRIVEOUT PRICES!

Outdealin’ the Other Guys...EVERY DAY...in EVERY WAY *Trade assistance towards purchase of new 2013 RAM 3500 stock # 13-1173. Includes $11,500 dealer discount off total vehicle price and $2,500 factory rebate with Chrysler Capitol Financing. Must qualify for $1,000 Trade Bonus Cash. Offers not combinable.

I distinctly remember

coming in off a shark fishing trip down the beach and being quite depressed as I listened to the weather on the television while my wife cooked supper.

She asked why I was so gloomy and I replied, “Well, I always figured on being a shark fisherman ‘til I died but it never occurred to me that I’d be the last one left on the beach, and it’s almost down to me being the last one. It’s not as much fun when you’re the only one and you actually get kinda lonesome.”

There were a small handful of occasional weekend shark fisherman but there really weren’t any hard chargers. Within two years David Williams (AKA Beach Bum) had started a shark fishing message board on the internet and the days of feeling lonesome became history as hundreds of shark addicts appeared overnight. It’s been that way ever since and I anticipate it will remain that way from now on.

Sharkathon’s tenth annual tournament took place in horrible fishing conditions recently with 850 participants. My God, that’s a lot of people and they are tough and fish hard. These folks will kayak baits off the beach in almost any conditions.

I owned the third kayak I ever saw on Padre Island and now they are as common place as rod racks on beach vehicles.

BTW (Beyond the Breakers) game fishing from kayaks is a fast growing sport in addition to everyone hauling shark baits offshore in them. As the numbers of users increase more accidents are bound to happen and actually I am totally clueless as to why people haven’t been killed while using them on PINS already.

There were rough seas during Sharkathon and Steve Schubert got knocked out of his kayak on the second bar while taking out a shark bait and ended up with a 20/0 circle hook

2013 Shark 1st Place Peter Burgess.

STORY BY Billy Sandifer 22 | January 2014

Cris Happel and sailfish.

TSFMAG.com | 23

Steve Schubert with 20/0 circle hook in his neck. Photos courtesY of Stan Gordon.

Surgery to remove the hook took 3 hours and he was in the hospital 3 days.

American Bittern -Botaurus lenliginosusMottled brown upper parts with brownish neck streaks. Stands with its beak pointing skyward, well camouflaged among reeds. Present in Texas September through April. One of our most unusual birds, its numbers are declining due to loss of marsh habitat.

Length: 28 inches Wingspan: 42” 24 | January 2014

stuck in his neck one centimeter from his jugular. Other members of his fishing team kayaked out and helped him in but Lady Luck sure favored him as well. If that had been a traditional J-style hook, my bet is it would have punctured his jugular and he would have bled out very quickly.

We always cut squares out of old flip flops and used them as hook plugs covering the points of our hooks to avoid such situations. A piece of Styrofoam or even a popping cork will also work but just doesn’t hold together as well. Stick the point in past the barb and then twist it a half turn to hold it in place. Steven turned down a Coast Guard helicopter ride and drove back to town and to the hospital with that hook still stuck in his neck, the point deeply imbedded. Man, if that isn’t a fish story to tell for a long time it will certainly be hard to beat.

I am well aware that at times some of what I write is repetitious but the honest truth is that it’s important enough it needs to be heard more than once. I admire Brother Jay Watkins reputation as “the teacher” and maybe I envy it a bit as well because I see myself as a teacher as well but it seems like folks fail to mention that concerning me. Maybe it’s because Brother Jay is a gentleman and I’m often accused of being a cross between a badger and a jack crevalle.

The surf is dangerous. It is savage and it does NOT care if you live or die. Then when you take into account the many added dangers of shark fishing and hauling baits through rough surf, you are literally taking your life in your hands every time you go fishing. Make sure you engage your brain as well because your hands can do little to help you unless your brain is making good decisions for them. No place,

26 | January 2014

even though it’s located in Kleberg County. The local National Park Service says they have not been contacted by anyone concerning the matter so it is impossible for them to have commented on any intentions for the property. There are obviously a lot of smoke and mirrors in play concerning all of this and I just hope the citizens don’t come up the loser on the deal. It’s hard to evaluate who to trust.

Nueces County has attempted to close sections of beach in the past and, to tell you the truth; I personally do not trust ANY of them.

Eight hundred fifty participants in Sharkathon…Wow! Now if I can just figure out how to get them to show up for the Big Shell Beach Cleanup - 22 February, 2014. Updates will be posted regularly on our web site www.friendsofpadre.com.

Happy New Year! -Capt. Billy

Billy Sandifer

Contact

anywhere, no time and no how, is there any fishing half as tough as shark fishing in the surf.

Sharkathon is the only tournament in the world that I endorse and I hope it fathers likeminded catch and release tournaments, just as the Big Shell Beach Cleanup has fathered any number of other cleanups on various beaches and lakes. This year; in conjunction with the Guy Harvey Research Institute, thirty-three fin clips were turned in for research from the forty-five sharks landed during the event. Mike Shindle of Granite Ranch and David Mata of Bimini Rods donated a three-speed AVET 80-Wide reel on a custom rod as a prize drawn from the names of those turning in fin clips.

Definitely a weekend of high adventure for the Sharkathon participants, Cris Happel’s team looked up to see a sailfish swimming in the wade gut in front of them and walked out and billed the fish, made photographs, resuscitated it, and returned it to the roaring surf.

The OFFICIAL winner of the shark division was Peter Burgess with a 6’ 2” bull shark. Curtis Mai and Todd Neahr organized and carried out this event by themselves and that is an unbelievable feat within itself. My greatest congratulations go out to them on a massive job well done.

There is a lot of interest currently concerning the 3,860 acres of land located between the Nueces County line and the National Seashore.

Plans recently surfaced that the General Land Office had intended to sell the property to the Nature Conservancy, which in turn was going to sell it to the feds. Then it was rumored the feds intended to limit access from the north end of the beach and the General Land Office stopped those plans. Now we are told, plans are underway to sell it to group with the intentions of turning that land over to Nueces County,

Retired after 20+ years of guiding anglers in the Padre surf, Billy Sandifer (“Padre of Padre Island” to friends & admirers) is devoted to conserving the natural wonders of N. Padre Island & teaching all who will heed his lessons to enjoy the beauty of the Padre Island National Seashore responsibly.

Website www.billysandifer.com

28 | January 2014

STORY BY Martin Strarup

Okay so you’re in the middle of nowhere with no café, store or rest area in sight and nature

calls. It’s really not that big a problem; you get out of the car or truck and discreetly take care of business. Guys have it a little easier than women in this instance, but what might happen sometimes does…a car comes out of nowhere and you’re busted.

Oh come on now, you can laugh or pretend this is in bad taste; but you know it’s true.

Where did that car come from? Flat ground, nothing but highway in front and behind, and darn it, here comes a vehicle. It’s just another example of the fact that there are more of us out there than ever before and it’s not going to get any better.

The same holds true of the bays.

Not long ago I was fishing with my son in an area where we saw no boat traffic and not another human save the two of us. It was really an eerie feeling, not seeing other boats and fishermen, just doesn’t happen often these days.

We had just stopped the boat and set up for a drift through a small lake a short piece off the bayfront. I doubt we’d made more than three or four casts when we hooked up simultaneously – Sterling on a big red and me on a nice trout. Our backs were turned fighting the fish so we heard it before we saw it; the high-pitched whine of a shallowrunning boat blasting its way through the slough, headed in our direction.

Here come these three guys in a boat that came out of nowhere and the first thing they see are our rods bending to the fish we were playing. They altered course immediately and headed straight towards us on plane. When they got just barely past us, maybe 50 yards, they cut into our drift and shut down.

Amazing!

For a moment at least, we thought we were the only fishermen around, but it wasn’t meant to be and unfortunately it will never be that way.

Seriously people, I know there are lots of folks on the water these days, some brandnew to fishing with lots yet to learn, but not these guys. Believe it or not I recognized one of them and he is a seasoned fisherman. I could tell he was embarrassed with the situation the boat’s captain had placed him in. Fact is, they made only a dozen casts then stowed their rods and jumped back up on plane right in front of us and left. Hoping the spot wasn’t totally wrecked I cranked up and idled about a hundred yards further downwind and we found some more fish.

This past October as I idled into an empty shoreline, I had a boat approach on plane from my port side at wide open throttle. I know they saw me because they veered to port and then continued on plane to the cove I was planning to wade. I just continued idling in and parked right beside their boat as though they were not there. It was two late-teen boys and I guessed perhaps their grandfather. The older gentleman apologized for the boy running right in front of me then took the controls and idled away from us.

When they were a good distance off he jumped up on plane and headed back the way that they came.

So in that instance someone who didn’t know any better made a mistake and another apologized for it. I appreciated the apology and maybe it was a lesson learned but I had to wonder why he was letting someone run a boat that obviously had no clue. I have no way of knowing if he tried to correct the boy while underway but by their sudden stop and driver switch it made me believe the older gent finally had enough and took the helm from the youngster.

TSFMAG.com | 29

30 | January 2014

I said as much to a friend who laughed heartily and then said it was I who was clueless. His opinion – these are the same people who never signal a turn, dart across lanes on the freeway, stay in the passing lane, and wait until the last second to merge at a lane closure and cause traffic jams. They’re the same clowns that steal parking spaces you’re about to pull into and park in the handicapped slots as though they never saw the sign. They care about nobody other than themselves and no one is going to change them or their attitude.

I’d sure hope that’s not true but, deep down inside, I fear that he might be right. Maybe the error of their ways comes natural – having never been taught self-respect and therefore incapable of respecting their fellow man. Sometimes I wonder if perhaps in some twisted logic they actually believe they own the bay. Surely not!

Be Safe!

Martin

MARTIN STRARuP

CONTACT

No doubt, nobody likes having another boat run across the line they’re drifting, and even less, another boat joining the drift so close you could flip a lure and hook anybody aboard. Sadly, it happens with such regularity in some places that we’ve almost learned to shrug it off. When a boat blasted through our drift line this past summer down at Port Mansfield, I looked at my friend and uttered something our editor would never allow in this magazine. To my surprise my companion just laughed and said, “Martin, it happens so often down here on weekends nowadays that it doesn’t even bother me anymore.

I have to wonder whether the fish might be so accustomed to it they don’t even scatter anymore.”

No one individual or class of fishermen owns our bay systems.

That’s a true statement.

But is it not also true that this statement is the first thing to come from a rude fisherman’s mouth the second you call him on the carpet for his rude behavior? Seems to me it has become the auto-defense statement they throw at you to distract you from dishing out the manners lesson they need so desperately.

It’s not my water and neither is it yours…it’s ours to share and enjoy. And this brings me to a question; what has become of the fishing public’s common sense and common courtesy?

I have an idea and I would sincerely hope that those who cut our drifts, pull up and begin fishing within casting distance, or somehow think it’s OK to idle alongside a group of wading fishermen to inquire whether you’ve caught anything and what they’re biting on, (actually happened to my son and a friend) are totally innocent, clueless newbies.

Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman.

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

Email

Trouthunter@swbell.net

TSFMAG.com | 31

32 | January 2014

Comfortable, content, at ease

with your surroundings; these are all things or conditions that we do our deadlevel best to attain. A perfect example of this is the very basic act of adjusting the thermostat in your house to make it more comfortable.

Humans have the ability to influence their surroundings and control them in order to gain comfort. Fish have no such luxury. When their environment does not suit them they have no choice except to move to a place that does.

Imagine if we had to do the same thing. There would probably be a steady stream of cars headed to California where it stays sunny and 70-something degrees year round. Or perhaps we’d all be like the snow birds that travel south for the winter and back up north in summer.

During the winter months it really pays to think about finding fish the same way humans seek comfort. Picture if you will that perfect recliner or sofa that sits in the best spot in the living room, the exact distance from the big screen TV to provide optimal viewing enjoyment. This seat is positioned under an air vent that, depending on outside temperature, is blowing either cool air-conditioning or soothing warmth. A short distance from this comfy seat is a wellstocked refrigerator, all the comforts in one compact little area. With plenty of food, football, and other refreshments on hand, you never have to leave the sanctuary of your favorite spot.

Now let’s look at this situation through the eyes of a fish. Let’s say a big trout wants to find safety, comfort, food, more favorable temperature or even salinity; they have no choice but to move during a flood, the water becomes too hot or too cold, or their preferred forage becomes scarce. I’m quite sure none of the trout or redfish we catch ever live the life of luxury that enables them to manipulate all the conditions around them like we do.

Finding food or more comfortable surroundings are easily the highest priorities on their list and those should also be top factors we use as fishermen to find them.

Temperature is easily one of the most critical of all the factors used by fishermen to locate and catch fish. Both air and water temperatures are constantly monitored and are given priority during the colder winter months.

Forever, we have been hearing, “Sixty degrees is the magic temperature to get winter fish to eat a topwater.” While that may be a good place to start it’s not a hard and fast rule. When big trout decide to eat it doesn’t matter if it’s 46, 66, or 86; they are going to eat. And sometimes, that STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE means they’ll eat a topwater plug regardless of where the mercury is staged. When those fish get hungry and bait is either near the surface or near the bottom, they are going to eat it. Period.

Finding warmer water in the winter months will certainly increase your odds but it won’t guarantee you fish. Being in an area where fish are present and feeding is much more important than simply relying on temperature as your only indicator. This is why the TSFMAG.com | 33

majority of the really good fishermen also consult the tide-current charts and solunar tables on a daily basis.

For years, guys like Mike McBride and Jay Watkins have been preaching, “When you know you’re on fish, you’re way better off to sit tight and wait for them to feed rather than racing all over the bay looking for fish when the water is moving during a major or minor

34 | January 2014

feeding period.” Please remember that current can be the product of wind as well as tide.

So by now you’re probably asking; “If they’re not biting; how would I know whether I’m on fish?” Fair question. The answer can vary a bit, but it will always include reference to being in a place that is also a comfort for the fish you hope to catch.

36 | January 2014

Chuck Uzzle

Contact

Now having established that the comfort zone for fish includes temperature, salinity, food, and sometimes current, it’s important to note that the zone often moves – especially when there’s deeper water located nearby.

As defined by Webster, a thermocline is a distinct temperature gradient in a body of water such as a bay, marked by a layer above and below in which the water is at different temperatures. Now most of us have experienced a thermocline either while swimming or diving, usually in the summer when you discover cooler water as you swim deeper.

By visualizing how a thermocline works, one can better understand why fish in the winter act like they do. Here on Sabine Lake we have some really nice flats that sit very near some really deep water, close to 40 feet deep in some areas. Our big trout will find a comfortable temperature in that deep water and suspend there until it’s time to eat, and then they will venture out for a meal and return to their comfortable spot. The thermocline stays more constant during the harsh winter months, unlike the shallow flats, where the temperatures

fluctuate greatly due to sunlight, wind, tide, and other variables.

There are times and situations when these fluctuations can be used to the fisherman’s advantage during the winter months. Ultra-low tides that expose rocks, shell, mud, or sand to the warmth of the sun will be productive areas once they are covered back up by the tides because the heat energy they have absorbed will be transferred to the water. The warmer water will become a magnet to baitfish and predators alike, often stimulating the urge to feed.

The same can be said about water in the marshes that drains out into open bays. This water sits in a protected, almost insulated, marsh until the low tide draws it out into the bay. When this warm water meets the bay it usually does a couple of things that are beneficial to the angler. One being that it usually ushers bait toward the bay. Two, it generally provides a color change and helps predators ambush their prey. This combination is hard to beat when you find it because the numbers of fish that will stack up in areas like this will boggle your mind. It’s like sitting back in that comfortable chair and having someone bring a buffet to you. Why on earth would you ever move?

Finding a spot that has all the comforts of home for a fish is a task. Long hours of searching without finding anything come with the territory. But in the event you do find that one spot that holds a concentration of big fish, I’ll assure you that you will no longer be cold, tired, miserable, or wondering what in the hell you are doing out in weather like that. That one 30 or 45 minute window of opportunity can open and give you a glimpse of what a fisherman’s dreams are made of…that’s the only reason an otherwise sane individual would brave winter weather.

The only thing I know that could be categorized as absolute within the realm of wintertime fishing is that you cannot learn anything and you for darn sure cannot catch them if stay at home. Get out there and find that comfort zone and hold on; it can be a wild ride.

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

Phone 409-697-6111 Email cuzzle@gt.rr.com Website www.chucksguideservice.net

Capt. Bryan Cardwell with a 9/0 just straightened by a huge wahoo at the Flower Gardens.

38 | January 2014

STORY BY JOE RICHARD

the floWer gardens

reef off teXas very likely offers the best

wahoo action in the country, right off Galveston, and these speedy gamesters arrive in early January. Why is difficult to say, but captains who have experienced Texas’ annual winter wahoo bite know it’s something special.

Captain Bryan Cardwell in Freeport says it may be the best wahoo action in the world, but that covers a lot of ground for this worldwide fish. But Bryan also draws a lot of water among Texas wahoo anglers, so to speak. He’s fished the Gardens during winter for 10 seasons, and this new year will make 11.

Two winters ago on Jan. 13, Bryan decked a 142-pound wahoo at the Gardens, a fish now recognized as a record for the entire Gulf of Mexico. He’s seen bigger wahoo out there, one of which straightened a 9/0 hook. Monsters out there, that can spool a Penn-50 marlin reel. Catch a fickle weather window and reach this spot by boat, and you could easily have an epic day.

The Gardens are big-fish rich because they’re so hard to

reach, which means little fishing pressure. It’s true wahoo are found off venice, Louisiana, but a number of guides can reach those platforms on easy day trips, and on many fishable days. Off Texas, you’re looking at an overnighter, if you want a decent number of fishing hours. The Garden’s isolation and weather “protection” from anglers makes this place a gold mine, but the big snag is actually getting there. And know what you’re doing, when you get there…

Fast, modern boats certainly improve the odds. “We’ve been running 36 and 42-foot center consoles out there. We don’t have a set departure schedule, it all depends on finding weather windows.

Wahoo are well-known for biting during the first two hours of sunrise, but I prefer not to run out there at night, in preparation for a morning bite. I’ve found it’s better to arrive and fish the evening, enjoy some bottom fishing at night, maybe a drift for swordfish, then hit the morning wahoo bite. That 140-pound wahoo we caught was actually landed in the evening. But it’s a long run out there, and you might as well have some fishing time. You also don’t have to run as fast as during a day trip, it’s just easier on the crew.

“Action out there is really something. We’re not sure why these fish visit here each winter. We seldom find anything in their stomachs, or even eggs. Our 140-pounder was empty inside. Makes you wonder what she would have weighed, when completely full.”

A new all-tackle world record, perhaps.

Running out there and back in one day requires a ton of fuel, versus scant fishing time. During winter, when the days are short and wahoo are daytime-feeders.

Bryan says he didn’t pioneer the wahoo fishing out there, by any means. “There are guys who have been hitting these winter wahoo longer than me. We see a few other boats out there each winter and some great people; we share information and have a lot in common, as it turns out.

“One thing that’s really necessary out there is rigging up right,” Bryan says. “We pretty much use 50-size reels [such as the Penn 50 International] because these are powerful fish, a big enough wahoo TSFMAG.com | 39

saltwater

Bryan with a keeper wahoo, during a nice winter day at the Flower Gardens.

Latin for “Unvanquished in Battle”, the new Invicta series from CastAway is invincible on the water. Whether battling your favorite species or for Angler Of The Year, Invicta is the ultimate weapon to have in your arsenal.

is thoef fishing!

Thistio n n u l omaso o ev lie Th r a h C –

True 40-Ton, 12-Toe Carbon Fiber blank construction for maximum balance and sensitivity Carbon Intruded Resins increase strength while reducing overall weight ALPS Bronze SS316 Stainless Guides / Bronze Zirconium Rings offer unsurpassed hardness & less friction ALPS Tec-Touch Triple-Exposed Reel Seat for the ultimate in blank exposure, feel & amplified sensitivity Double Locking Hood ensures that reels stay connected Custom Winn Non-Slip Floating SplitGrips perform in both wet and dry conditions for better feel, increased casting accuracy and comfort

could actually spool one of these reels. However, the 50 is a good allaround size.”

With a 50 reel, one can actually stand up and crank without too much exertion. Wearing strap-in stand-up gear of course, so you won’t drop this fairly heavy rig. We’re not talking about trout tackle here.

“Another important item is attaching a 25-foot wind-on mono leader that cranks right onto the reel,” he says. “That way, the mate can leader the fish close enough to gaff. Beyond that, past the mono

CastAway Static Zoned Guide Spacing for maximum casting distance and stress distribution

THE EVOLUTION OF FISHING For more information visit us at:

www.castawayrods.com 40 | January 2014

Wahoo almost ready for the gaff.

saltwater

No Bones about it... Light, Strong & Sensitive! Others talk about it, CastAway does it. Cutting away every ounce of excess weight makes the Skeleton rods some of the lightest on the market. most The lightest, d I’ve sensitive ro y hand! m ever had in

–Todd

Bryan with a 142-pound wahoo at the Flower Gardens in midJanuary. This one was empty of food or eggs.

Multi-Modulus Blended Carbon Fiber for the ultimate balance of weight and sensitivity

leader, and running through the lure itself, is three to five feet of steel cable, from 125 to 400-pound test. I prefer the lighter test.”

“Putting a crimp in the wire cable is a very good idea, because with

Balance Induced Resins provide superior strength and consistent actions ALPS SS316 Stainless Black / Black Aluminum Oxide Rings stand up to all of the newest “Super Braids” with strong and corrosion resistant frames Portuguese Grade-A Custom Cork / Composite Ring Split Grips look good and feel even better Proprietary CastAway Double Exposed Blank-Thru Reel Seat puts you in contact with more of the rod blank for superior feel and sensitivity CastAway Static Zoned Guide Spacing for maximum casting distance and stress distribution

Smaller wahoo snatched through a tuna door, about to be released.

THE EVOLUTION OF FISHING For more information visit us at:

www.castawayrods.com TSFMAG.com | 41

Wahoo fresh on deck, with a very popular wahoo lure that can be fasttrolled. Or slowed down and sweetened with a large, frozen ballyhoo bait.

Thick steaks cut from a wahoo.

These fillets will turn turkeywhite when they’re cooked.

a hooked fish, the plastic skirt bait will slide down along the cable to the swivel, and you don’t want a second wahoo attacking that, easily cutting the mono leader at the swivel. Wahoo will sometimes even attack the four-pound streamlined, lead trolling weights some anglers use on their cable leaders, resulting in slits bit into the lead. Wahoo have small, but lots of extremely sharp teeth.

“I don’t use lead weights. I’m not knocking those who do, however.

A lead weight tends to wear a bigger hook-hole in the wahoo’s mouth, as he dashes around at high speed. If you want to troll deeper when the fish are lower in the water column, you can slow down and set out dive plugs [usually seven-inch Yozuris and Stretch-30’s] that will dive down 30 feet. The only problem is that you’re dealing with huge fish that can break the baits. Our wahoo are mostly 50- to 100-pound fish, they’re pretty rough. There are also disadvantages to using treble hooks with those plugs; you might hook a wahoo in the top of the head, and have it pull loose. Or someone in the boat could get slammed by a loose treblehook still attached to a thrashing wahoo.”

Which isn’t as much fun, as it sounds.

“Another important item: I only troll three lines. A pod or small group of wahoo are well-known for attacking every passing bait in the spread, and five wahoo hookups at the same time can turn into 42 | January 2014

a fiasco. Better to hook three at a time, get them all landed, and return for more action. If they’re not biting, five lures aren’t going to help.

“With these bigger wahoo, boat-handling is key to landing them,” Bryan says. “They’ll typically dump half the spool on a Penn 50, then double back on you.

Anglers often think they’re lost the fish. But the captain should keep the boat moving forward in gear, keep driving, and let the wahoo make its long runs, then you can adjust the boat’s course when the fish makes shorter runs.

As for line on his reels, Bryan doesn’t care for the piano wire spooled onto big reels, like they use on wahoo in the Bahamas. “150-pound braid line is a favorite of mine. You don’t want a lot of stretch like mono line offers. Braid is thin, it cuts through the water better. It will break if it hits something, but out where we are, there’s nothing to hit. But you have to make sure the braid is packed on the reel properly, where it won’t bury into itself on the spool.”

Sticking a gaff into a big wahoo can be a daunting task; some of these wahoo can make a 40-pound kingfish look easy.

“We’ve had to put two gaffs into plenty of wahoo,” Bryan says. “For a 150-pounder, you’re going to need two big gaffs. If you’re picking gaffs I recommend four on each boat, sized from three to eight inches at the curve.”

It’s easy to lose a gaff on a wahoo. I was on board one boat when a gaffer sunk a long, slim gaff into a 42-pounder. It dove under the hull, and the guy holding it, however briefly, had a problem: he’d lost his thumb a month ago in his carpentry shop, though a surgeon reattached it. Apparently, there is no way to hold onto a gaffed wahoo when your thumb was recently sewed back on. The gaff was ripped from his hand. But that episode had a happy ending: the anodized gaff floated, and the wahoo was patiently leadered back within range of a second gaff. There were no losses, though the gaffer required Advil soon after.

These fish don’t come easy. But when they do, they’re a special treat.

“There’s no wahoo bag limit in Texas, but at 50 to 100 pounds each, we can only carry so many back to the dock,” says Cardwell. “And how many wahoo does a guy need? That’s a whole ‘nother process, icing and cleaning that many pounds of fish properly, treating right what is the finest-eating fish Mother Nature has to offer.”

Turkey breast of the sea, that’s what I call wahoo fillets fresh off the grill. Except wahoo has a much-better favor than some warehouseraised turkey that escaped the soup can. We’ve grilled wahoo steaks only a day after they were caught, and one bite was enough to make your eyes roll back in your head.

But getting your hands on a winter-caught Texas wahoo isn’t easy, without a fine weather window that somehow never seems to arrive on weekends. To get them, you’ll need a flexible work schedule, your name on a list of go-to anglers when conditions are right, and the fortitude to face the Gulf during a long boat run, that is certainly different from summer’s warm embrace.

Ellen with very nice Carlos Bay winter trout. CPR!

J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

Identifying and executing

the winter game plan

With winter setting in I have settled into a comfortable fishing pattern. I have big trout on the brain from about Thanksgiving through May anyway but, during the coldest of times I settle in to doing everyday what I believe I do best. It’s not fishing. It’s the evaluation of the conditions for the day and these include my weather forecast, solunar feed periods, and especially the areas of the bay holding a consistent supply of bait close to a productive structure.

Many in the fishing world just want to know where to go, totally convinced that this is bit of information is all you need. My fishing club members would tell you that in eleven years I have never mentioned a GPS number. I don’t believe in limiting my members to learning only a specific spot at a specific time. I want them to learn how to recognize what makes a spot good.

I start each morning with an area in mind that qualifies for providing me and my clients the best chances of fishing where the best fish will be. There are 44 | January 2014

many factors that can change from one day to the next and each can affect the presence or the activity of the fish residing in the area. Minor drops in tide and/or water temperature absolutely cause me grief on a regular basis.

Even though I know what the effects are, they still strain what I call my knowledge base and my confidence.

By this I simply mean that I go to an area knowing that today’s conditions are different than my previous day but I want to reconfirm that my knowledge is still right. Most of the time I am right and I work past the area without ever mentioning to the folks onboard that this was my primary goal. I then revert to my original game plan, the one that matches the conditions of the day we are fishing.

Water temperature is a biggie in the winter. If you own a boat and fish in winter you need a water temperature gauge. Most GPS units are equipped with them today.

Many years ago I developed wintertime patterns based on water temperature and bottom structure alone. Of

Example of what waits for us when we wait for the right time. CPR!

course locating bait in winter has always been our primary task but the patterns were developed after fish were being caught in one are on a certain type of structure and then a move to similar areas provided poor results. What was different?

Eventually I discovered that it was slight differences in water temperature. I could not have known this had I not had the proper device on my boat to measure accurately. When water temperature and bottom structure matching the areas where I had previously found fish were located, we were rewarded with similar results. Planning each day now leads to going through the same thought process, which has often times led me to locating fish in areas I normally would not have thought to fish. I learned that when water temperatures fell or increased the pattern also changed. One of the most significant things I learned about wintertime trout is that as water temperatures rise, the size of the fish usually goes in the opposite direction. Understand that I am talking about normal wintertime conditions here, not to be confused with a string of sub-freezing days followed by a sudden warming trend.

Fish acclimate to the cold and they do it rather quickly, so the theory of cold water causing lethargic fish can be pretty much tossed overboard. I do find however that trout slow down somewhat once the water temperature drops below 52째 and naturally this is the mark where I begin to slow my presentations. Let me also say my best-ever trout day started with water at 47째 and 29째 air temperature.

TSFMAG.com | 45

C O N TA C T

I wonder if Cliff Webb thinks back to that day as often as I do. It was the day following a major arctic front and not a single boat on the entire bay. We were both very much in our prime and the fishing was just unbelievable. I have a three fish stringer mount in my office and it’s good that I ran out of money for taxidermist John Glenn or there would have been more. The trout were so large that I swore they were oversize reds when I hooked them.

My entire body ached all day but Cliff ’s confidence that the big fish were there and would eventually eat for us somehow warmed the soul. Cliff knew the water temperature was bumping between 47 and 52 degrees, and when the midday sun warmed the shallow water inside the dropoff they came alive. The mullet showed first and became increasingly active as the water warmed. Then came the trout.

As the moon started to rise, the trout began to feed and the rest is in the history books.

Cliff understood the pattern and long years of suffering in like conditions instilled the confidence necessary to take advantage of it.

There is simply no other way to obtain this type of knowledge, and on that day he passed it to me. Water temperature, structure and bait all came together as he had seen many times before and it happened exactly where he had us. Luck? I don’t think so.

I plan my days based on established patterns and conditions.

Good feeds tend to string together during winter with predictable daytime warming, and I cannot stress enough the importance of the solunar table. I prefer the minor periods of moon rising and setting.

Major feeding periods are of course good too, and they’re longer, but the shorter minor in my opinion concentrates the more aggressive feeding. This is especially true when good concentrations of fish have been located and water is being stirred by moderate wind. The wind not only aids in stacking bait but it also adds the color of stirred sediment to the too often, too-clear shallows. Perfect camouflage for prey and predator alike.

When we are able to put all these together we can have shots at the best of the best. I had this happen last Saturday. We waited almost four hours on a moonrise minor scheduled to go at 12:35 PM before penetrating the active zone. From 12:30 to almost 2:00 we caught trout from 20 to 25 ½ inches in an area that up until then showed all the signs of being a great spot – except trout! Patience and persistence wins the day.

With the passage of each front and the warming trends to follow; your pattern will change. You have to be able to record the changes and relocate to areas that are productive. To me, this is what makes fishing so exciting and this is also what makes it so rewarding.

Honestly, it’s hardly ever luck, no matter what anybody says.

So there you have it, a winter game plan. All that is left to do is execute and that’s where you come in.

May your fishing always be catching. -Guide Jay Watkins

46 | January 2014

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

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

EXPERIENCE ALUMACRAFT 2020 BAY

1860 BAY

MV 1860 CC

WHATEVER YOU nEEd, AlUmAcRAfT HAs THE pERfEcT bOAT TO mAkE YOUR TimE On THE WATER THE bEsT iT cAn bE.

Visit www.alumacraft.com for a dealer near you.

ASK YOUR DEALER ABOUT OUR

ALUMACA$H

P R O M OTI O N GET BIG SAVINGS ON OUR MOST POPULAR BOATS

PLOT YOUR COURSE째

www.alumacraft.com /alumacraft

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

S H A LL O W W AT E R F I S H I NG

drain days Sitting in the office trying to figure out what the heck to write about this month. Three days of cold rain have left me somewhat less than inspired. My mind began to wander through the fall trips and how strange they had been. High winds, high water, weird fronts that swung the winds from hard southeast to hard northeast and then back to honking southeast with no lay-down. One day the reds would school like crazy and the next they’d scatter to singles. In short, it hasn’t been my best fall.

I should have known it was going to be off when my typical mid-August redfish schools failed to show up until a couple weeks into September. And when they did show they were sporadic at best. Every time I thought it was going to kick off full bore I’d have a few days where they went MIA. No matter how long I do this I still end up scratching my head at times. How can hundreds of reds simply vanish overnight and then reappear a couple days later?

That’s okay, October would surely bring its typical consistent action with big schools patrolling the marsh shorelines. Well, it sorta happened. Any time the tides dropped out even a little bit the schools would go nuts. Simple fishing with plenty of easy shots for customers. Then the southeast would crank and push the water up flooding the saltgrass. With that the redfish would disperse and go roaming new territory.

We still found eager feeding fish, but it was far from typical October redfishing.

November is typically the month of stronger fronts, 48 | January 2014

cooler water and huge schools feeding on hordes of shrimp as they exit the marshes. These large schools roaming the open water off the shorelines are easy targets. Every day I patrolled the shorelines picking off fish from the small schools busting shrimp against the grass, but I kept eyeballing the open water. Then one day they were there, a huge school of a couple hundred hungry fish pushing shrimp to the surface. My guys had a ball as we chased that school in circles picking off upper-slot fish on the fly. The next day they were gone and I was back to poling the shorelines. Never saw another open water school.

November is also the month of “drain days”, one of my favorite fishing situations. The strong southeast ahead of the fronts briefly pushes the water a bit higher just before the wind turns out of the northwest forcing tides below normal in a matter of hours. It isn’t unusual to loose a couple feet of water on a single falling tide, completely draining many of the back lakes. The accelerated outflow forces every shrimp, mullet and crab into the marsh bayous with hungry reds hot on their trail. The fishing plan is pretty simple, setup on a bayou leading out of the area with the best concentration of fish and wait for them to come. I think about those events throughout the year and wait impatiently for the first one to go off.

The key ingredient is the westerly angle to that north wind. So far every approaching front has turned northwest to north and then northeast so fast that the water hasn’t fallen. In fact, that eastern swing has driven

the tides even higher above normal. The repeated teasing has been totally unacceptable.

So it is with this melancholy mood that I sit at this desk yearning for a sign while flipping around the various fishing forums looking for an inspiration and checking the weather report for the twentieth time. Wait just a dadgum minute, the winds have shifted to the northwest and the big blob of green and yellow on the radar is slowly moving off to the east. I already know there’s a scheduled falling tide throughout the afternoon.

Could this be it? I’ve been teased too many times to get too excited, but I couldn’t help myself. I flipped over to the NOAA site for real-time tide levels and sure enough, the water really was falling.

Straight to the closet to don my full array of Simms foul weather garments. It took a little rooting around, but I finally located my Windstopper, gloves and beanie cap. Good to go. As I walked through the living room towards the garage my wife and daughter gave me that look. You know, the one that says, “What kind of crazy idea have you gotten now?” I’m used to it. “Yes, I’m going fishing. The drain day is finally here and I’m not going to miss it. Anybody wanna join me?” All I got in return was the rolling of eyes and a “be careful out there” before they snuggled deeper under their blankets to continue watching whatever

100% Carbon fiber

REPLACEABLE STAINLESS STEEL TIP

TSFMAG.com | 49

THE INSHORE LETHAL WEAPON! THE CRYSTAL 3D SHRIMP The 3D Shrimp’s looks and action are so realistic, fish find it irresistible!

There are 13 color schemes for any water condition, including UV and Glow Patterns. Save time and money, one Yo-Zuri Crystal 3D Shrimp with the new patented 3D Prism Finish, outperforms buckets of shrimp and outlasts soft baits!

Available at

Yo-Zuri.com 50 | January 2014

C O N TA C T

W !

NE ORS L CO

movie was on Lifetime.

A quick look around the garage led to the selection of a couple fly rods and a baitcaster, just in case the wind was still crazy. Another look at the weather and tide on my phone confirmed that the conditions were still headed in the right direction. I pulled out of the driveway with the rain still falling and the thermometer on the dash reading 39 very cold degrees. Was this really a crazy idea after all? Nah. While pumping a little gas into the skiff the guy at the next pump is staring. “Did you really go fishing this morning?” “Nope, I’m headed out now.” The headshake said exactly what he was thinking. But he doesn’t know about drain days.

As expected, the launch parking lot was void of trailers. The water was already lower than it’s been since last winter and the flow around the pilings said it was going to get a lot lower. As I shoved the skiff off the trailer the camp owner poked his head out the door, “Scott, are you crazy?”

“Nah, it’s gonna be good. You wanna join me?” I took the laugh followed by the door closing as a no.

As I puttered through the neighborhood I couldn’t help but smile. It really was going to be good. And it was.

Then on the ride home with the heater blasting came the real kicker. A message on my phone from Mr. Editor, “Where’s my story? I know you aren’t crazy enough to be out fishing in this mess.”

Given the laugh I let out, perhaps I am.

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

Telephone Email Website

281-450-2206 scott@tsfmag.com www.captainscottnull.com

Figure 4. October 2008‌First evidence that this invader was making southern Texas its home.

By Mark Lingo | Ecosystem Leader Lower Laguna | Brownsville

FIELD NOTES

Plecostomus amongst us Back in the summer of 2010 the lower Laguna Madre was inundated with freshwater from a combination of three tropical systems. A goodly portion of the bay was turned into a freshwater lake for a couple of months and weird things started showing up in our fall gill nets. Some of what we encountered was not totally out of the ordinary for Texas freshwater systems.

Alligator gar, common carp, grass carp, tilapia, channel catfish and gizzard shad are what you would expect to see in almost any Texas lake and river. However, we also encountered a prehistoric looking unwanted invader from South America, the southern sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys anisitsi. Sailfin suckermouth catfishes are actually in the genus Pterygoplichthys, but older literature had them in the genus Plecostomus (or plecos) and that is what they are commonly called in the aquarium trade.

Sailfin catfish are native to the Amazon River basin of South America and most likely found their way up to Texas via the aquarium trade. Warm waters, lots of food, and no natural predators greeted them here, and like a lot of us from out-of-state, they decided to make Texas home. At first there were only a couple of isolated sightings from up around the Buffalo Bayou drainage in Harris County Texas, but since then they have made their 52 | January 2014

way into a lot of our waterways and can be found in almost all of the Rio Grande Valleys resacas and in the San Antonio River.

The first recorded instance of this species in TPWD Coastal Fisheries data occurred in 2007 and was collected

Figure 2. Close-up of the sailfin catfishes sucker like mouth.

from a gill net set in Guadalupe Bay which is in the San Antonio Bay System. All other records come from the lower Laguna Made, and since 2008 there have been 15 of southern sailfin catfish collected in their gill nets. But this does not tell the whole story; numerous others have been collected from local drainage ditches, drying up resacas, and given to TPWD from anglers that have caught them. Additionally, Coastal Fisheries’ Brownsville Field office routinely fields questions from concerned anglers that have caught these fish and are trying to find out what they have caught.

Members of the genus Pterygoplichthys (suckered mouth catfish) share many of the same attributes that have allowed other invasive fish species to thrive in the southern US. They have medium to large bodies, parental care of their eggs and young, a generalized diet, ability to breathe air, and a tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions including salinities of up to 10 parts per thousand which enable them to inhabit and spread through Texas’ estuaries.

The environmental impact that these invasive fish are having is largely unknown. Because it grazes and removes attached algae and also feeds on benthic organisms and detritus, this introduced catfish may be having a significant impact on the aquatic food base and, therefore, negatively affecting native invertebrate and vertebrate species. Additionally, male sailfin catfish are known to dig out river banks to create burrows in which an attracted female will

lay and guard her eggs. In large numbers, this burrowing behavior contributes to problems with siltation. These burrows can also potentially destabilize river, irrigation canal, and resaca banks, leading to an increased rate of erosion.

On a bright note, these fish are reportedly very good eating and grow to over 2 feet in length. They are voracious feeders, so catching them in the waters where they occur is no problem. They are grazing animals, or scavengers, as opposed to predators. Use cut bait fished on the bottom under a cork just like you were fishing for any other

Figure 1. U.S. distribution of Southern Sailfin Catfish.

catfish. These have a very hard (armored) skin, but once cut through you can peel the skin back and expose the white flesh underneath.

As with many invasive species once the cat is out of the bag it is very hard to put back in. Prevention is the key to controlling invasive species so never release any aquarium fish, plant, or invertebrate in to the wild. And if you catch one of these sailfin catfish never return it back to the water. Remove it from the area and dispose of the carcass appropriately.

For more information on suckered mouth catfish in Texas see: Exotic Suckermouth Catfishes (Family Loricariidae) in Texas Waters, Robert G. Howells – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – August 2005 (http://www.eahcp.org/files/adminrecords/EARIP-HCP-docs/Howells,%202005.pdf ).

Figure 3. Seven southern sailfin catfish caught in one lower Laguna Madre gill net during the fall of 2010.

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.

TSFMAG.com | 53

MIKE JENNINGS

TEXAS NEARSHORE & OFFSHORE

Federal Management of

Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Red snapper are enormously popular all across the Gulf of Mexico. Over the past several years any discussion you’re likely to have engaged in with avid offshore fishermen, the topic no doubt eventually turned to red snapper. Depending who was involved, the conversation might have become heated when the management of the snapper resource surfaced; or perhaps it was termed “mismanagement” as a growing majority are fighting-mad.

Blame has been levied against the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Some blame the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Some point (or wave) the finger at the commercial fishermen. Still others have

Fighting mad about red snapper and asleep at the wheel on beeliners.

54 | January 2014

concocted longwinded conspiracy theories involving federal resource managers and certain environmental organizations. Last but not least is a group that’s been banging a drum for better data.

While all these issues may or may not have merit, I personally see much of the mismanagement of our Gulf of Mexico fisheries arising from a combination of factors.

First, I believe the Magnuson–Stevens Act has some serious flaws; i.e. unreasonable and unrealistic stock rebuilding timeframes, that work very well for fish but not so well for fishermen.

Second is the so-called data the managers reference during decision making. The extrapolation process they use to formulate stock assessments and actual landings has been challenged to no end. As a matter of fact, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recently offered hard numbers gathered during dockside surveys that showed the feds were overestimating the number of fish landed by somewhere around 70%. How’s that for over-guessing?

As you delve into the Fishery Management Council you find that the internal politics along with the personal and individual state agendas render them all but incapable of making much headway when it comes to better managing your fisheries.

And before you throw your hands up in disgust and decide to play golf instead, you need to stop and consider a very important fact.

Beginning in the late 80s and early 90s we all realized red snapper were in trouble. I doubt you could find a single veteran recreational angler of the mid-70s to 1990 era who would not agree totally or in some part. The scientific data of the time showed it and the recreational fishermen saw it in their catches. All things scientific as well as anecdotal pointed to the fact that something had to be done to help the fishery recover. Thus the recreational and commercial fishermen’s access to red snapper began to be restricted.

I have a feeling that when the majority of recreational anglers can clearly see that we are taking more fish than a fishery can sustain, we are all for laying off them. But

commercial fishermen and fish house operators. This small group succeeded in having your limit slashed by a whopping 50% while they will continue to operate unregulated. All by simply claiming that the fishery must be hurting because they have been struggling to catch them off the Florida coast.

It strikes me as greatly unfair that the minority player in the fishery, recreational anglers and charter boats, will face Draconian restrictions while the other side is allowed to fish on as they historically have.

Remember what I said about recreational anglers being willing to back off when the data says a fishery is in trouble? Well – there is no such data and the recs and charter boats have been having no problem catching them.

So the next time someone brings up the so-called “mismanagement” of red snapper, kindly remind them that while we were all focused on red snapper, the recreational fishermen lost a huge piece of our historic vermillion snapper fishery. Asleep at the wheel. Sabotaged by the commercial fleet and a few Florida fish house owners.

C O N TA C T

where are the commercial fishermen in this…what should they be doing? And if restrictions are to be imposed, should they not be imposed equally?

The vermillion snapper (beeliner) fishery comes to mind here.

The recreational limit on beeliners was just recently slashed from 20 per day to 10. You might say 10 is still a lot of fish but let’s look a little deeper.

The Gulf of Mexico vermillion snapper fishery has long had an annual recreational quota of three million pounds and it has never been exceeded. The recreational average has been about 800,000 pounds. In 2010, the year of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, recreational landings exceeded one million pounds, but only that one time.

To add fuel to the fire; there is no current stock assessment of this fishery and no scientific data I can access that would point to a decline.

Yet the management council felt it necessary to cut your limit by half.

And you, the recreational fisherman, are the minority user by far in this fishery that is shared with commercial interests.

Now you’re probably curious as to whether the commercial users were treated similarly. The answer to that is no. They will continue to operate under no annual quota, no trip limits, and no seasons. The commercial fisherman may fish for vermillion snapper any day they wish and legally take as many as their boat can hold.

As I watched this fiasco unfold over many months and multiple Gulf Council meetings, something struck me as very odd.

The recreational regulations were changed based on anecdotal information and public testimony provided by a small number of

H T I W G A M E !

E S G E T F R E EP Y A H C R U P H AR D CO r $25.00. subscription fo same rate! th on -m 12 a e d receiv nds at the Order today an mily members and/or frie fa up gn si d Hurry an

Captain Mike Jennings is a professional charter captain with more than 25 years offshore experience. Mike is the owner/operator of Cowboy Charters in Freeport TX and is known locally for running further and fishing harder for his clients.

Telephone Email website

979-864-9439 texassportfishing@gmail.com www.cowboycharters.com

SUBSCRIPTION

FORM

SUB0114

To order subscriptions simply fill this form out below and mail it to the address below, fax, email or go online.

361-785-3420 Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

FREE E-mag wITH HaRDcOPY PuRcHaSE E-mail required

Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com February 2011

Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com

IONS TIDE PREDICT

January 2011

TIDE

INSIDE! R FEED TIMES & SOLUNA

INSIDE! FEED TIMES & SOLUNAR PREDICTIONS

www.tsfmag.com December 2010

Only $3.95

IONS TIDE PREDICT

INSIDE! R FEED TIMES & SOLUNA

Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com May 2011

Only $3.95

IONS TIDE PREDICT

www.tsfmag.com

INSIDE! R FEED TIMES & SOLUNA

April 2011

IONS TIDE PREDICT

Only $3.95

INSIDE! FEED TIMES & SOLUNAR

www.tsfmag.com March 2011

IONS TIDE PREDICT

INSIDE! R FEED TIMES & SOLUNA

AM EX

K SNOOAS? IN TEX

ght at You bet…rirn tip! the southe

Sun Protection Got it covered?

Joe Richard’s tips on page 32.

Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com August 2011

IONS TIDE PREDICT

Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com July 2011

IONS TIDE PREDICT

Only $3.95 www.tsfmag.com June 2011

TIDE

INSIDE! FEED TIMES & SOLUNAR PREDICTIONS

INSIDE! R FEED TIMES & SOLUNA

INSIDE! R FEED TIMES & SOLUNA

12 months for $25.00 or two years for $45.00 Subscribing for more than yourself? Please write additional information on a separate sheet of paper.

TSFMAG.com | 55

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

F LY F I S H I N G

cast & blast

part 1 of 2

Twenty-five years ago this month I started my career as a guide. Granted, I was guiding waterfowl hunters from an airboat whereas nowadays I guide fly-fisherman from a technical polling skiff. Of course it started out as a part-time gig because back then duck season was only thirty-nine days. A couple of years later I joined the Coast Guard and I was stationed back home here in Texas. This allowed me to continue to guide waterfowl hunters and eventually started running what a lot of people call cast and blast trips during duck season.

Shortly after leaving the Coast Guard, I began guiding full-time and not too long after that I picked up a camera.

Before long I was selling images to just about every magazine that covered saltwater fishing. Over the years of dealing with editors and art directors I quickly learned that sending images of camo-clad anglers was a big no56 | January 2014

no. Especially to a fly-fishing publication.

I never really understood that considering that a great number of fishermen out there are in fact also hunters. I guess there is some sort of redneck stigma that is attached to the concept of some dude standing on a fancy flats skiff wearing camo overalls or something like that.

Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that I am quite certain I would never have picked up a fly rod had it not been for my obsession with duck hunting in my teens.

The funny thing is, my obsession with ducks quickly waned the moment I saw that first redfish tailing inside the decoy spread. My love for waterfowl hunting of course never died, it just became secondary to chunking gold spoons in the shallows for redfish which quickly morphed into tossing feathers and fur.

shoot that ended in an afternoon of redfishing or even a dove shoot that ended with a tarpon landed. However, none truly compare to the purity of walking over to the boat and exchanging a shotgun for a fly rod or even better yet, stepping out of the duck blind with rod in hand to cast to a redfish cruising through the decoys.

There is another aspect of the cast and blast that can make them even more special and that is to tie flies with material collected from your harvest. From the feathers of the ducks you shoot to the tanned hide and bucktail from a bow-killed whitetail, the sky is the limit... More on this next month.

Until then, be gude and stuff like that!

C ontact

One of the most memorable cast and blast trips of my life happened in September of ’94. I was still in the Coast Guard and I had arrived home late on a Friday night from a three month deployment in the Florida Keys. It just so happened that particular weekend happened to be the last weekend of teal season. I was desperate to squeeze in a little shooting before the season closed so I went home and exchanged my uniforms and boat gear for a shotgun, fly rod and a camo jacket and was off. I still remember how excited I was on the drive down and remember vividly getting a speeding ticket in Palacios for doing 75 in a 55.

Arriving at the camp late and not wanting to wake my buddies, I chose to sleep in my truck.

The next morning an early season cool front blew through and cleared the skies and put a chill in the air. The day was going to be perfect. And it was.

After making quick work of several flights of teal we picked up our decoys and ran the airboat out into the bay to pick and clean our birds. While we sat on the bow of the boat we could see off in the distance several pods of tailing fish. When we were done, I strung up my fly rod and bailed off of the boat. Covering the distance between me and the first group of tails as quickly as possible without spooking them, I readied myself to deliver the little burnt-orange bunny fly I had chosen for my bait (I still have that fly). After several attempts at delivering the fly, I finally dropped close enough to the group to get notices and they all charged the bait. The line came tight and it was the first of nine fish that I brought to hand that day which was, at the time, a personal best for me.

The following day was just as spectacular.

Limits of teal early and a half-dozen reds and a drum or two before noon. What more could a man ask for? Well, I could tell you of a quail

Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer.

Telephone Email Website

979-415-4379 vssommerlatte@hotmail.com www.scottsommerlatte.com TSFMAG.com | 57

Ken posing with his jack after a long fight.

MARCOS GARZA

YO U T H F I S H I N G

the bet The morning was cool and fresh. My dad, Daniel, Aaron, and I waited on the dock for the guys to show up. My dad and brother were going out on a duck hunting trip while Aaron and I were off to hunt some trout. Mike and Ken were the guys we were fishing with that day. Mike had recently visited Getaway in July. He’s wanted to fish with me since my dad told him pretty much everything about me. My reason for not fishing with him and Ken was that I was in Port Aransas working at the Outdoor Texas Saltwater camp at the time. Now we had the chance to finally meet and fish together.

We left the harbor a little after the sun had started rising and before we left, Mike and I made a bet. The bet was that whoever had the longest total length of their two largest trout would win $50. It seemed to me a reasonable bet, so I accepted. I love to have any kind of challenge while fishing because it makes it more interesting and fun.

We ran east of port and stopped at a spot that Aaron 58 | January 2014

had recently fished. The water was a milky green and there was lots of floating grass. The floating grass hindered our use of the topwater, but we used them still. It started off slow, real slow. We had a few blow ups here and there. Ken caught a rat red or two on Gulp early in the wade.

We walked and walked and then finally, Mike hooked up. He was far ahead of me and apparently in the hot zone too. He had a caught a few trout up there and one of them was a decent 16-17 inch fish. Mike was in the lead with only one fish, but I didn’t sweat it. It was only one trout and were there’s one, there are plenty more.

I kept my hopes up and the blow-ups helped too. I thought, maybe, I might have one get on my hook the next cast. It went on and on. I was soon getting discouraged slowly and then, from up ahead I hear Mike holler up in front at about 100 yards. Mike had landed a nice trout. It was about 25” and the destroyer of my chances of winning.

Not having caught a fish yet, my hopes of winning the

bet came crashing down. But there was still some light at the end of the tunnel. If I caught two decent trout over 20” each, then I might still be able to win. It was time to start working at it. I walked slow, fished every spot around me that I could. I casted behind me, to the left, to the right straight down ahead of me, but nothing worked. Until finally, I set the hook on a trout. I knew right away, that this trout wasn’t going to do me any good for this bet.

We started getting closer to a drop-off so Aaron decided that we should load back up on the boat. We saw plenty of fish on the first wade, so Aaron dropped Mike and I off where we started. We worked our way back up again. And like the first wade, it was slow with little activity.

Mike and I saw Aaron and Ken, moving up and down the Intracoastal in front of us. We didn’t know what they were doing until they came and picked us up. They were chasing jacks.

So we got on the boat and rigged

Mike’s trout that killed my chance to win the bet.

up the rods with topwaters to catch jacks. I lost the bet and fifty dollars, but it’s just a bet.

We were in the Intracoastal, searching for the big school of jacks that Aaron and Ken were just on. The tide was coming in and so was the water from the gulf. The water was a very beautiful blue. We passed right over the school and immediately Aaron turned around and put us on top of them.

Mike and I got to the bow and casted. We “purposely” crossed lines and reeled in quickly as to imitate bait fish rushing and scattering to bring up the jacks. We both hooked up and the fight was on. Mike handed his rod to Ken and I lost my jack not soon after. Ken fought the jack for about 35-45 minutes and then I was finally able to grab its tail to call it a catch. We took pictures and then we released it back into that beautiful, blue water that we all consider home.

TSFMAG.com | 59

CADE SIMPSON

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

A year in review And just like that, another year has notched itself into the history books. I feel almost as if I went to sleep yesterday, it being a cold day in January 2013, only to wake up and find it is an entirely new year. Time sure flies when you are fishing!

Looking back, 2013 was a decent year on the water.

Cliff and I zeroed in on some Galveston area spots, really learning them in detail via numerous trips throughout the year. The year began with Cliff landing a monster that I failed to document. The summer brought super-skinny water and a lot of mucking through the marsh chasing redfish, flashing their backs and tails. The fall brought with it the always fun-to-watch schooling reds along grass lines and a few young anglers catching milestone fish.

This past year also completed my second full year of being a part of the TSFMag team. What a fun ride it has been thus far. Reader feedback has increased greatly and I have really been enjoying receiving fishing tales, photos and questions from our readers; so please keep ‘em coming. I hope to bring y’all plenty of (at least eleven) good reports and photos of kayak fishing adventures this year.

As we kick off 2014, I can’t help but ponder what adventures will present themselves. Maybe I will venture across the Louisiana border for a trip or two into Cajun country. Maybe I work harder on finding that trophy trout that has eluded me up to this point. What is for certain is that whatever it may be; I will be ready for it 60 | January 2014

with a kayak and a fishing rod. Good luck to everyone on the water this year!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the past year. Maybe they will encourage more readers to pick up a paddle and a fishing rod.

C O N TA C T

Telephone Email

936-776-7028 Cademan11@sbcglobal.net

Find me on Facebook to follow along in my outdoor adventures

EL CAMPO BOATING CENTER 3598 W. BU 59S Hwy, El Campo, Tx, 77437

Toll Free: 1-800-843-2201 or 979-543-2201/www.elcampoboating.com

• • • • • •

BOATS MOTORS TRAILERS SALES SERVICE PARTS & ACCESSORIES

TSFMAG.com | 61

Acorn barnacles in Aransas County.

Photo by Daniel Feeser.

STEPHANIE BOYD

F I S H Y F AC T S

Barnacles

a Beginning

“I hate a barnacle as no man ever did before.” ~Charles Darwin Imagine spending all your adult life standing on your head and eating with your feet! Sound challenging? Welcome to the world of barnacles. Of all the sea life visible to the naked eye, barnacles are among the most abundant and the most overlooked. They gradually build up on almost any submerged object, briny footprints of the sea.

The word “barnacle” originally referred to a species of waterfowl, now clarified as the barnacle goose. The connection might not be apparent nowadays, but in the 13th century, it was widely believed that some animals were born spontaneously from particular substances (maggots from rotting meat, for example). Wood that spent any time in the ocean would often be covered in barnacles, so people assumed they were born of the wood; barnacles have feathery feet tucked inside their shells, reminiscent of actual feathers. Well, the barnacle 62 | January 2014

goose breeds in the Arctic. Since no one back then ever witnessed the goose breeding, and since these barnacles seemed to have baby birds inside them… you see the connection. Monks of that era even claimed that the barnacle goose was simply an adult barnacle and argued that, being a fish, the barnacle goose could be eaten during Lent. It would be a good 300 years before the term would be used to refer to what we know now as barnacles.

While they may look like mollusks with their hard outer shell, barnacles are actually crustaceans, related to lobsters, crabs, and shrimp. The taxonomy of the barnacle family, in addition to classifying them in the phylum Arthropoda (“jointed foot”) also puts them in the class Crustacea and the order Cirripedia, which roughly translates into slender, wispy feet (like cirrus clouds).

Cirripedia is the only group of sessile crustaceans. There are more than 1,000 known species spread out in virtually all marine habitats, on all levels of the shore, often in vast numbers. Though some have evolved as parasitic forms,

unrecognizable as crustaceans except for their larval stages, most have a typical marine life cycle, making them model study organisms.

Consequently, we know a lot about barnacle biology.

As with all crustaceans, a barnacle’s body is encased by a hard exoskeleton made of chitin. What distinguishes this group from other crustaceans, however, is their outer calcareous shell, which they secrete as adults. This shell is composed of six neatly fitted plates that form a circle around the barnacle’s body. Four more plates make up a “door,” which the barnacle opens and closes, mostly depending on the tide. Most barnacles are free-living filter feeders. Since the legs no longer have any locomotive purpose, they have evolved into jointed, feathery, net-like structures, collectively called a cirral net. When under water, this net sifts out plankton for the barnacle to eat, and as barnacles have no gills, the legs are also in charge of gas exchange.

Barnacles can grow rapidly in size, but how they enlarge the inside of their shell is a mystery. It’s supposed that they secrete a chemical that simultaneously dissolves the inside and builds up the outside. Barnacle cement, the substance they use to glue themselves in place, is one of the strongest known natural adhesives. It is stronger even than epoxy cement and does not readily dissolve. If man could learn to synthesize this cement, which barnacles have been producing for millions of years, it could be used to mend bones and hold fillings in teeth.

The two most common types of barnacle are gooseneck barnacles and acorn barnacles, named for their shapes. Gooseneck barnacles have a muscular, flexible stalk for attaching themselves to substrate; this type tends to settle on free floating structures, such as buoys and ropes. Acorn barnacles have no stalk and attach themselves directly onto a surface; this type tends to settle on fixed structures.

The majority of barnacles fall into one of these two types of sessile, commensalistic filter feeders. There are a few, however, harboring unique quirks and lifestyles.

Not content using random floating junk, “buoy” barnacles secrete a buoyant foam-like cement puff, cruising the sea surface like a Portuguese man o’ war. And just as the man o’ war is a communal raft of organisms, buoy barnacles will sometimes band together, becoming a settlement area for yet other species of barnacles. Just when you thought escape from the relatives was imminent…

Next up: boring barnacles (as in tunneling, usually through flesh).

These barnacles are extremely tiny and have given up the hard outer shell of their cousins to, instead, burrow into snails, clams, or even other barnacle species and live parasitically.

Speaking of parasitic, there’s a wonderfully invasive superorder within the barnacles, the Rhizocephalans (“root heads”). It’s not unusual for barnacles to settle on other living creatures (whales, turtles, manatees, etc), and we’ve already talked about barnacles that settle inside other creatures, but these barnacles not only settle inside another creature (specifically, a living crab), they manipulate their host’s behavior. Once the pre-adult female Rhizocephalan locates a suitable host, she injects a tiny clump of her own cells through the crab’s armor and discards the entire leftover portion of her body. From here, she grows like a cancer throughout the crab’s interior, wrapping fungus-like tendrils around organs, muscles, even eyes. When the parasitism is complete, the Rhizocephalan appears to the outside as a bulging sac located where the host crab would normally carry an egg cluster. What if the host crab is male? No problem, the parasite simply alters her host’s hormones until the crab is shaped, and acts, like an egg-carrying female. After fertilization, the female barnacle releases all

parental duties to her host crab; the crab will spend the rest of its life rearing the offspring of its parasitic invader over and over and over… never reproducing any of its own species.

Now, if you’re having trouble relating to the crab, how about one of your vertebrate cousins: the shark. The barnacle Anelasma squalicola looks like a goose barnacle, but it has no feathery feeding legs and buries its thick stem inside the shark’s back, drawing nutrients through a network of filamentary “roots.” A. squalicola is one of the few parasites on Earth to castrate a vertebrate, just like Rhizocephalan does to the crab. The entire reproductive developmental system is inhibited by this life-draining hitchhiker.

The rest of the barnacle family, those non-parasitic filter feeders, strain minute planktonic organisms and particles of detritus out of the tides. Despite their peaceful existence (or perhaps because of it), these barnacles are preyed upon by myriad predators including sea stars, flatworms, predatory snails, fish such as sheepsheads, and even shore birds. The barnacles aren’t completely defenseless, though. Most predatory snails, such as our own lightning whelk, attack barnacles by drilling through the barnacle’s shell. This can take several hours, the amount of time required increasing with the size of the barnacle.

Beyond a certain size, the snail would require so much time that it would have to drill through low tide. Since being out of the water too long is dangerous to the snail, they usually don’t attack barnacles beyond a certain size. Thus, the barnacle’s defense is to grow rapidly and reach this formidable size. Some species can reach a whopping seven centimeters in diameter! (And a few even larger.) They can live three to ten years on average, though some larger species are known to be much older.

Like all crustaceans, barnacles begin their lives as microscopic plankton. The first stage, characterized by a single eye, is called the nauplius and is a form shared by virtually all crustaceans at some point in their development. This stage is the start of the mobile and dispersing larval period (they start their life at the college level, apparently). While in this stage, the larva feed voraciously and build up their fat reserves because during their next stage of life, there’s no dining out. Following the nauplius stage is the cyprid stage. During this stage, the larvae is enclosed in a clam-like set of hinged shells, and it exists only to seek out a resting place: a rock, a seashell, a whale… really anything solid will do. They pull themselves along by the adhesive tips of their antennae. It may takes days to find a suitable spot, letting the currents carry them from one possibility to the next.

Because adults are sessile, choosing the spot it will reside in for the rest of its life is very critical. To make this life-settling decision, cyprids use both chemo- and nuero-receptors to detect environmental cues and distinguish good settlement sites from bad. One good cue is the presence of other individuals of the same species; if a site already has barnacles, then survivorship and mating opportunities are probably good. Some other cues that seem to influence settling cyprids are bacterial films, surface textures, and the presence of predators. Once a suitable location is found, the cyprid secures itself head-first to the surface with a brown glue so strong that the barnacle’s cone base is left behind long after the creature has died. On the outside, the barnacle will quickly grow into the armored fortress we spend hours scraping off the boat, but on the inside, it still follows a shrimp-like body plan. It won’t be long before a newly settled barnacle will be ready to make little nauplii of its own.

~Stay tuned next month for the stunning sessile conclusion!~ TSFMAG.com | 63

E X T R E M E K AYA K F I S H I N G & S H A R K S F R O M T H E S A N D

ERIC OZOLINS

Young Thrills and

Everlasting Memories

The spirit of youth renders an extremely captivating essence bringing back vividly my own early quests for adventure. In the eyes of a youngster, delightful surprises in the outdoors are as magical as they are real. Translated to angling, these are displayed with colorful enthusiasm and awe. Now an adult, seeing an excited kid triumphant with a superb catch, I am filled with same hypnotic awe they are experiencing.

The fall of 2013 has been a tough one for South Texas surf anglers. The budget fight and eventual shutdown of certain government services had the Padre Island National Seashore locked up. The few pristine days that came during the closure relegated anglers to fishing more populated pubic beaches. When the government opened back up I was finally able to continue with my surf/shark charters on the National Seashore beach. Ironically, by then, the beach conditions were generally poor with dirty water and copious sargassum. We kept at it, though. Mr. John Nicolau and his eight year old son, Reid, booked an overnight charter shortly after the closure was lifted and Reid would be my youngest angler since beginning my guiding service this past September.

Reid was a surprise to me, very reserved and respectful toward elders in his presence. When I learned he was already an accomplished baseball player with ambition 64 | January 2014

to push his love for the game to fullest, I knew we were bound to be friends. In addition, it was rumored Reid was becoming quite the angler. At the tender age of eight his knowledge of the local fishery still amazes me. While it was evident Reid loves to fish, my only question was how would he fare down the beach?

It pleased me to learn they were not rookies, having already made several beach outings and fishing trips on their own. I just hoped I could entertain and excite them enough to provide a fun and enjoyable experience. I too was excited for this trip as we had many species available, including sharks, and my expectation of getting Reid on a good fish or two was running high.

Our adventure began with top-notch weather although the tides were running extremely high.

Originally wanting to make a 40-50 mile journey to a stretch of beach where jack crevalle had been wreaking pure havoc, this would not be possible with tides pushing to the dunes. Restricted to the northern section of the PINS beach, we made the best of it and found a promising location and organized camp. A couple of John’s buddies had also planned a beach trip, so they would be nearby to join in the fun. Our focus at this point became taking it easy and doing a variety of things.

I thawed several shark baits and kayaked them out.

Oz looks on while Reid does battle with bull atop custom surf truck platform

by Bluestreak Fabrication.

Meanwhile, we would put out some mullet rigs in hope of jacks and reds. It was not long until we were bombarded by gafftopsail catfish.

With the crew bringing them in upwards of two at a time, I knew we had to do better.

Mid-morning brought our first shark action when a kayaked bait was picked up. Reid was atop the truck platform before I could even blink. This was HIS fish. His excitement reminded me of my own experiences a couple decades ago.

I recognized instantly that we had a shark and also that it was wellhooked. Carefully guiding the youngster, Reid settled in to do battle.

This was a solid fish for any kid to fight by themselves, which was exactly how he wanted it. After a well-fought tug-of-war the dorsal fin appeared on top of the first sandbar and I got down to leader the fish while John took over the final coaching. Grabbing the leader I gently pulled the shark to edge of the water. In a matter of seconds Reid was beside me admiring the catch – his first bull shark. Eyes the size of saucers and smiling widely, he stared in awe at the apex predator he had just conquered.

We worked quickly to tag and release the 5’3” bull with Reid eagerly assisting and memorizing the length and girth data for us. Not his first-ever shark landing, but by far his largest, and overall largest fish of his young career. He was still grinning long after the release.

But Reid was only getting started. After weeding through gafftop for a couple of hours he hooked another solid fish on one of the mullet rigs. Duking it out in his mini-waders, he was doing light-tackle battle, pounded by oncoming waves, all by his choice!

TSFMAG.com | 65

66 | January 2014

C ontact

Completely unassisted, the way he prefers it, he conquered another beast. This time a bull red that taped thirty-nine inches and produced another all-day smile that radiated enthusiasm as he raced from rod to rod. The redfish action increased with approaching darkness and Reid banged out several more oversized fish.

By nightfall the young angler’s adrenalin gave out and he was soon out like a light, nestled in his cozy tent cot . The next morning brought windy conditions, yet the water color had cleared slightly.

I ran a couple baits out early but the wind had generated a current that brought enough sargassum weed to all but ruin our shark fishing. Undaunted, and after dozens more gafftop, Reid succeeded in hooking another solid fish. Before we could reach him he had a three

foot blacknose shark on the sand; one of the least common species we encounter. Yet another very cool catch!

Another successful tag and release marked Reid’s second shark for the trip. As conditions continued to deteriorate and we brought in the shark gear the reds began to bite. Reid succeeded in landing several more bulls before all was said and done.

After much “fill of the thrill” camaraderie, the crew which now included several other great individuals, slowly packed up and made our way off the beach. We were content in the fact that we were able to hit a brief but perfect window, which as I said earlier, has been quite rare this entire season.

Peering in the rear-view mirror, Reid was passed out cold in the backseat with a smile still glued to his face. To me, this was a very successful trip. Any trip when you can keep a person, whether 8 or 88 smiling the whole time, you know you’ve won. I have to give John credit for raising such a fine young man and firmly believe one day his ability and commitment to baseball could very well land him in the major leagues. After many more great fishing adventures, of course!

For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric runs Kayak Wars; one of the largest kayak fishing tournaments in the world.

Email Websites

oz@oceanepics.com extremecoast.com | oceanepics.com | kayakwars.com

You can visit any of our stocking dealers for more information today: Mt Houston Marine 203 W Mt Houston Rd, Houston, TX 77037 281-447-7689 Waypoint Marine 3033 S.Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX. 78415 361-651-2628 Sail & Ski Center 141 Balcones North San Antonio, TX. 78201 210-734-8199 12971 U.S. 183 Austin, TX 78750 512-258-0733

MAKE SURE TO COME CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR MODELS AT THE SPRING BOAT SHOWS: Houston Boat Show Reliant Cente January 3-12

Austin Boat Show Austin Convention Center January 16-19

San Antonio Boat Show The Alamodome January 23-26

www.dargel.com | 8 0 0 - 7 4 9 - B OAT | 9 5 6 - 3 6 1 - 7 7 4 4

All Valley Boat Show McAllen Convention Center Febuary 7-9

Photo credits: Lisa Laskowski

By John Blaha | CCA

T S F M a g Conser v a tion N e w s

CCA Texas – Habitat Project Review It was a great year for CCA Texas and Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT). 2013 saw the total amount of funds committed and expensed to habitat restoration and creation grow to $3,329,600 for twenty-one projects since HTFT’s inception in 2009. Several projects that have been in process were completed and new projects begun.

East Galveston Bay Oyster Restoration Project (TPWD) - $3,700,000 CCA Texas has partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to secure $3,700,000 in funding to restore of 130-acres of oyster reef in East Galveston Bay. CCA Texas originally funded $500,000 for the project and then jointly secured an additional $3,200,000 with TPWD through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP). Currently CCA Texas is working with TPWD and volunteers in a pre-construction study that will create a fishing success baseline in the areas to be restored.

Once restoration is completed the study will continue and judge the fishing success post-construction.

Construction is expected to begin and be completed in the spring of 2014.

Restoration of Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough (Aransas County) - $1,420,000 CCA Texas has been active in the efforts to restore Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough for many years, giving up to $25,000 in the past for early stage feasibility, engineering and environmental studies. In February of 2012, CCA 68 | January 2014

Texas’ State Board approved $500,000 in funding to assist Aransas County. An additional $20,000 was committed to the project through the efforts of the Babes on the Bay fishing tournament, sponsored by the Aransas Bay Chapter, located in Rockport and CCA National’s Building Conservation Fund has committed $100,000 to the project as well. At the recent CCA Texas Executive Board meeting held in November, CCA Texas approved another $800,000 commitment for funds to the project as needed.

Bid packages are out and Aransas County will open all sealed bids on December 17, 2013. Construction is expected to begin in April 15, 2014 and be completed by October 15, 2014, pending the acceptance of one of the submitted bids.

Matagorda Nearshore Artificial Reef (TPWD) - $200,000 In June of 2009, CCA Texas approved an initial funding of $35,000 for the new 160-acre nearshore reefing site located between Sargent and Matagorda. After some delays, the project was finally fully permitted in December of 2010. Since the original $35,000 funding approval, CCA National’s Building Conservation Fund has contributed an additional $150,000 to the project and also secured $15,000 from the Shimano Corporation making the total commitment $200,000. The goal of TPWD is to completely reef this project at one time and TPWD is currently waiting on funding status from the Deepwater Horizon settlement dollars.

Aransas Bay Oyster Reef Restoration Project

Oyster Lake Shoreline Stabilization Project and marsh Restoration Project / west galveston bay (galveston bay Foundation (gbF) - $200,000 This project was approved in August of 2012 and is a partnership with the Galveston Bay Foundation. The project will eventually create 5,200 linear feet for shoreline protection for Oyster Lake, a valuable estuary adjacent to West Galveston Bay. Phase one of the project has been completed and 1,000 feet of breakwater has be placed in the most severely eroded areas. This initial 1,000 feet of break water is made up of 500 linear feet of reef balls on the West Galveston Bay side and 500 feet on the Oyster Lake side. corpus christi Nearshore artificial Reef (TPwD) - $100,000 In November of 2011, CCA Texas approved $100,000 in funding to the Corpus Christi Nearshore reefing project. This reefing site is a 160-acre site located in Texas state waters between Packery Channel and Port Aransas. This project was completed in October 2013 with the placement of 470 pre-fabricated reef pyramids, and an additional 100 plus large concrete culverts secured by SEA. This deployment has resulted in approximately 50 acres of the 160 acres total reefed. copano bay Oyster Reef Restoration at Lap Reef (HRI)- $75,000 CCA Texas partnered with Harte Research Institute (HRI) to create a 1.5 acre oyster reef complex on Lap Reef, in Copano Bay, to enhance fish habitat. This project is part of a large mapping effort to identify and prioritize locations for oyster reef restoration based on long-term water quality and oyster health and expanded an existing 3.8 acre project, resulting in 5.3 acres total. Recycled materials were used as base material for the site and it was then be topped with reclaimed oyster shells through a program initiated by Dr. Jennifer Pollack at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and HRI. This project was completed in October 2013.

Nueces bay Delta water management System - $70,000 CCA Texas has partnered with the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP) to install a water management system that will ensure water pumped into the delta stays in the delta and does not backflow into the Nueces River, thus bypassing this critical habitat.

This project will install a water control gate type system in Rincon Bayou to keep water in the delta. CCA Texas approved $70,000 funding to be used for matching funds in November of 2011. The 70 | January 2014

project is ready for construction, has received all approvals and is anticipated to be out for bid by the end of 2013. The scheduled completion date is the 1st quarter of 2014. bird Island cove marsh Restoration / west galveston bay (TPwD) - $50,000 CCA Texas funded $50,000 to this project in May 2011. This project will restore 52-acres within an existing 115-acre marsh site. CCA Texas dollars have been used as matching funds by TPWD to secure dollars from USFW Coastal Wetland Grants Program. All funds have been received, final engineering completed and bids are set to be awarded in late November or early December 2013. The estimated completion is first quarter of 2014. j. D. murphree wildlife management area Shoreline Stabilization (Texas Ducks unlimited) - $50,000 This project was originally funded in August of 2010 in the amount of $50,000. This project is a partnership with Texas Ducks Unlimited to construct approximately 2,500 linear feet of breakwater along sensitive salt and fresh water marsh along the Gulf Coast Intra Coastal Waterway within the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management area. Texas DU used the CCA commitment as leverage dollars to secure further funds from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) that are being matched with Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) dollars. The bids for the project have been awarded and construction is expected to begin in December 2014.

Dickinson bayou marsh Restoration Project (TPwD) - $75,000 CCA Texas funded $25,000 to this project in May 2011 and another $50,000 in February 2013 for further matching funds. This project will provide protection for over 30 acres of marsh and restore an additional 10 acres. Bottom topography will also be restored to original flows to allow proper water flows through this portion of the bayou and provide increased estuary health to this portion of the Galveston Bay System.

Engineering is completed and bids are expected out in early 2014 and construction completed. aransas bay Oyster Reef Restoration at goose Island (HRI)- $75,000 The project was approved in February 2013 and its objective is to create a 1.5 acre oyster reef complex in Aransas Bay, Texas, to enhance

water filtration capacity and recreational fishing. This project will expand an existing 6.5 acre restoration project funded by the Gulf of Mexico Foundation, Fish America Foundation, the National Fish

and Wildlife Foundation, and NOAA to a total of 8 acres of reef complex. In addition, we are working with the Texas Department of Transportation to restore an additional 1-2 acres at this location within the next two years to mitigate for oyster reef losses related to construction of the new Copano Causeway.

Construction was completed in September 2013.

Establishment of Port O’connor Nearshore Reefing Site (TPwD) - $100,000 At the August 2013 Executive Board meeting, $100,000 was approved to fund the efforts of TPWD to create a new 160 acre nearshore reefing site out of Port O’Connor.

CCA funds will pay for this permitting process and give naming rights of the site to CCA Texas. The permitting process will be completed during 2014. Once the permit is received, materials and onsite storage will be sought

by CCA Texas and TPWD.

Transport and deployment of pre-fabricated reef pyramids – Corpus Christi Nearshore Artificial Reef Project

72 | January 2014

The Future of Texas coastal Habitat CCA Texas is committed to continuing the restoration and creation of critical habitat along the entire Texas coast including inland and nearshore waters. This habitat is essential to the health of the marine ecosystems that we all enjoy as recreational fishermen and conservationists of our coastal resources.

INSIDE THIS t Stay In

ISSUE:

REquEST OuR CuRRENT CATALOG AT TACKLEdIRECT.COM/CATALOG

Als AsT INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

ed In VegasNew ArrivAls From Vegas! Live eatures. from icAsT What Happened In Vegas 2 Stay In Vegas! Live From Didn’t Vol. 2, Issue ICAST 2013 Video Library Features.

2013-2014 Product Guide | Vol. 2, Issue 2

PACKAGES VALUE KAG ES PACrod reel combos VALUE reel com&b Selection of Rods rod & Spectacular on of Rods Selecti and Reels from the Top Fishing Spectacular the from Tackle Manufacturers and Reels rs acture See Pages 39-43 Tackle Manuf See Pages

39-43

FISHING FISHING ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL HoLIDAy E NEEDSNEEDS Ay GUIDE TACKLTACKLE Ho GIFT HoLID , Daiwa, Daiwa, From Shimano, From Shimano Check Out Our GIFT GUIDE Many More! and Yo-Zuri and Many More!

Our Gift Guide!

Holiday Check Out G Gift Guide!

Holiday See Pages 26-27 See Pages

Yo-Zuri Details

Inside Details Inside

26-27 26

For Promotions & deals Text “TACKLE” to “33233” Photo: Marc Montocchio

Reward ity to earn the opportun Details Inside You have TackleDirect!

You have the opportunity to earn Reward Points from Points from TackleDirect! Details Inside

NS! CONGRATULATIONS! TULATIO CONGRA

Shop Over 20,000 Items at:

www.Tackledirect.com

GeT FRee V.I.P. GeAR When YOU PURchAse sT. cROIx ROds

UP TO A $ 60 value LOOK LIKE A PRO IN A ST. CROIX PERFORMANCE FISHING SHIRT • Incredibly light, fast-drying long-sleeve shirt • Super-sweet lime green St. Croix logo graphics • Made of 100% moisture-wicking polyester

A ST. CROIX CAP SAYS IT ALL • Choose from grey or black Scan QR Code or Visit tdire.co/STPR to View Details

LEGENd INSHORE GuLF GuLF COAST CASTING ROdS Starting at

MOjO INSHORE CASTING ROdS

27000

$

Starting at

11000

$

TIdEMASTER TRAvEL ROdS Starting at

21000

$

• Handcrafted in the USA

• Exceptional performance and durability

• SC graphite for strength and durability

• Super grade cork handle

• Premium-quality SCII graphite

• Premium saltwater-grade hardware

• Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART)

• Batson Forecast hard aluminum-oxide guides

• Batson Forecast hard aluminum-oxide guides

• Corrosion proof delrin reel seat trim pieces

• 316 stainless steel frames

• 316 stainless steel frames

• Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) Tooling Technology

• Improved corrosion resistance

• Two coats of Flex Coat slow-cure finish

SHOP WITH US:

WHY SHOP WITH TACKLEDIRECT?

Online:

TackleDirect.com

• Award Winning Service & Expertise

• Hassle-Free Returns & Exchanges

Mobile:

tdire.co

• Frequent Promotions & Daily Deals

• Loyalty Rewards Program

Toll-Free:

888.354.7335

• Huge Selection of In-Stock Inventory

• Product Videos with The Pros

Int’l:

609.788.3819

Store:

Egg Harbor Twp, NJ

High Quality Customer Service

FLAGSHIP RETAIL STORE 6825 Tilton Road, Bldg. C Egg Harbor Twp, NJ 08234-4426

REWARDS PROGRAM: Join Our Loyalty Rewards Program @ MyAccount.TackleDirect.com Earn points for purchases, referrals and product reviews!

Scan QR code or Visit tdire.co/TDHP TSFMAG.com | 73

NEW

TACKLE & GEAR

Angler Products – Texas Fish Identification & Limit App A clickable, searchable Fish ID app that works with all smart phones and tablets as well as some of the newer marine GPS Chartplotters. Free with hotspot or GPS purchase or purchase 1 time Download for $20.00 or get an annual subscription for $25.00 which includes the Texas Saltwater Fishing Regulations for 2014, GPS Tips & Tricks, GPS cheat sheets and valuable articles on marine electronics. More will be added to this section on a regular basis. You’ll have access online to it anytime with you iPhone, iPod or Computer.

GPS Fishing Hotspots on Chips Load hundreds of prime fishing locations to your GPS in less time than it takes to manually load one. Over 7,000 fishing hotspots along the Gulf Coast & Gulf of Mexico. Coverage of this area includes (1) Offshore: South Padre, Texas to Alabama; (2) Inland Lakes: 12 Texas Lakes; (3) Coastal: Coastal Bays from South Padre to Vermillion Bay, LA. We’re always expanding our fishing hotspots and are always open to suggestions for other areas to include or fishing map companies looking to team up.

Visit www.Angler-Products. com or Call Capt. John Brummerhop at 281.235.2035

74 | January 2014

Waterloo Rod Company USA announces Phantom Series The brand new Phantom Series is the latest addition to the proven line of high-performance Waterloo fishing rods.

Casting models will include 6’-6”, 6’-9” and 7’ foot lengths.

Spinning models will be offered in 7’ and 7’6” length.

The Phantom features a sleek black blank with EVA grips, quality guides and reel seats. The Phantom comes at a buyerfriendly MSRP of $109.99 – Made in the USA! Now even budgetconscious anglers can fish with a Waterloo!

Be watching for the NEW make-over of the Waterloo Salinity Series! Lots of classy changes coming: blank color, actions, grips, and more! www.waterloorods.com

Simms Windstopper-Hoody-CatchCamo-Agave-Fishing Jackets For years, Wyoming guides have rallied to eliminate “wind” from their judicious dialects. Say it. You’re doomed. Refrain and you might live to fish another day. When it rockets upstream, gusts down, and throws broadside sneak attacks, fight back and stay fishing with Simms’ proven WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell Hoody. Updated features include a longer length and narrower body that, combined with a bolstered collar, deliver ample reinforcement in any and all conditions.

Hunker under a 3-point cinch storm-hood, thaw your frozen meat in plush handwarmer pockets, and never speak the dreaded “W” word again. www.simmsfishing.com

products

Safefloor Safefloor is a family run company that takes pride in its workmanship and installation processes. Safefloor now has locations in Dickinson, South Texas, Coastal Bend, and Dallas/Ft. Worth to better accommodate our customers. Safefloor is a granulated rubber surface applied to your decks and walking surfaces. Benefits include superior looks, durability, easy cleanup, and safety. Whether you have a 50’ sport fisher or 10’ jon-boat there is no boat too small or large to install Safefloor. Safefloor provides free estimates to all customers and can provide rough or “ballpark” estimates over the phone. www.safe-floor.com

Look Sharp with the Playa Line from Mojo Sportswear Featuring a Tailored Look and Luxe Finish Sometimes it’s nice to reach for something a little more stylish than the usual fishing shirt but yet one that shares many of those same great features and fit. To bridge that gap from function to style, Mojo Sportswear has introduced the Playa line, which includes two new long-sleeve shirts in Linen and Plaid styles. A new long-sleeve signature tee and a flatback ribbed sweater round out the Playa line.

So when the occasion calls for something comfortable and a little dressier than usual, reach for a new Playa shirt from Mojo.

Style, fashion and function, all in a super-comfortable shirt that looks great day or night. Fishing is a lifestyle and so is the beach—live it with Playa from Mojo! For more information, visit www.mojo-gear.com.

Suzuki Joystick Control Suzuki now provides fully integrated electronic throttle and shift controls with joystick steering for new boats equipped with Suzuki DF250AP, DF300AP and new DF150G and DF175G “Next Generation” 4-Stroke outboard motors.

Skippers will appreciate smooth, precise shifting and throttle controls as well as fingertip joystick control when pulling into the fuel dock or entering a tight slip.

Suzuki is also offering several of its most popular outboards in either black or white, giving boaters the power of choice when selecting their new Suzuki. www.suzukimarine.com

TSFMAG.com | 75

DICKIE ColBuRn

DICKIE ColBuRn’s Sabine Scene

Sabine

Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.

Telephone 409-883-0723 website www.sabineconnection.com

76 | January 2014

Mother Nature suddenly decided it was time for winter and in less than eight hours another muggy fall was history, and then she hammered her point home with four straight days of wind, rain and near-freezing temperatures. Four days of winter would be enough for me if not for the fact that Big trout bite kicked off cold weather makes our week before Thanksgiving! largest trout more vulnerable.

Surprisingly, the big trout had already tired of running shrimp and headed to the flats bordering deeper water in search of mullet.

They apparently sensed the arrival of that frigid blast as that bite turned on the week before. They were sharing the flats with a few smaller trout but many were in the four to five pound class along with a few in the seven to eight pound range.

We are still seeing just enough bird activity to keep the less-demanding anglers

entertained, but those in the know are holding tight for a quality bite in lieu of hoping to hit a homerun chasing terns and gulls. For the most part the birds are ratting out only small trout and redfish. You cannot hang your hat on this bite as they are here today and nowhere the next.

Enough water was blown out of the marsh and the surface temperature dropped enough to ignite a deepwater bite in the Intracoastal and the river. Thus far, five inch paddletails such as Assassin’s Die Dapper and TTF Flats Minnow XL have worked better than the mullet imitating Corky and Maniac Mullet, but that will change by the end of the month.

Once I can mark multiple fish packed on deep structure, the Corky, Maniac Mullet and four inch Usual Suspect are usually the better choices. I occasionally “stroll” these fish

Redfish bite turned on following first big freeze.

with the troll motor on weak tide changes, but “scraping the wall” is the preferred presentation. Also, regardless of your affinity for braid, zero-stretch line makes a huge difference in detecting a subtle tap in deep water.

Incoming tides are the name of the game, especially when they start in the warmer afternoon hours. You never know exactly what time the bite will light off and it may be brief, but the odds swing in your favor between lunch and that inevitable, “Why did you stay so long” greeting when you drag in after dark. These hours don’t work well for guiding but they sure work well for catching big trout!

The presence of bait on the surface bolsters angler confidence but not a show stopper when wading or drifting Sabine. The same is true when forced to fish muddier water than you would like. We are currently finding clearer water and more mullet on the flats on the Louisiana shoreline, but the Intracoastal provides a safe haven for both bait and trophy trout regardless of water clarity and it is only a cast away from the shallow flats on the north end of the lake.

The mouths of Johnson and Madam Johnson, Whiskey, Greens and Willow bayou (if you can avoid the crab traps) have been very dependable of late and should only get better this month. Most of these feature small patches of shell that are fish magnets on the tide changes.

On the other hand, the bottom is much more wader-friendly on the lake side of the islands on the north end and the Intracoastal hosts an endless supply of fish holding structure only a short swim from nearby flats. The most reliable spots on these massive flats that run all the way from the tip of Pleasure Island to East Pass are isolated patches of shell. For that reason alone, most of the wade fishermen on Sabine homestead a clam bed or patch of oyster and wait for the fish to arrive.

When at least modestly protected from the wind, the north revetment wall can also be lights out for boat fishermen this month.

Bouncing a five inch tail or crankbait off the rocks works well at times, but the more dependable choices are the Corky Fat Boy and Maniac Mullet in day-glow or pink. On days when fish hit but won’t take the lure, I have occasionally saved the day by switching to the smaller Catch 2000 or MirrOdine. Don’t fret over the absence of slicks, just know that the fish are there!

And finally, if you have been waiting on a great redfish bite the wait is over. They abandoned the marshes following the freeze and it has been incredibly good ever since. Now is the time to put the kids on solid redfish and lots of them!

TSFMAG.com | 77

mICKEY Eastman

mICKEY On Galveston

Galveston

Mickey Eastman is a full-time fishing guide out of Baytown, TX. Mickey has over 30 years guiding experience on the Galveston area bays and is the founder of Gulf Coast Troutmasters, the largest speckled trout tournament series of all time.

Telephone 281-383-2032

Fishing has been much hotter than the weather lately, other than a few slow days following the front that blew through during the week of Thanksgiving.

Water temps plummeted instantly as low as 45° across much of the Galveston Bay System but fishing returned to red hot for speckled trout and redfish as quickly as I can ever recall in the wake of an earlyseason arctic blast.

Big trout are now shallow for the most part and numbers of fish are staged over deeper shell. The pattern for all Galveston area bays is very similar behind frontal systems. West Bay is usually good right behind a frontal system for a day or two but, East Bay, Trinity Bay, Tabbs Bay, and Burnett Bay are by far producing the best at this time.

Most all the traditional wintertime baits are working for specks and reds; your MirrOlure Series 51 and 52, Corkys, Maniac Mullets, and soft

ROY’S Bait and Tackle Outfitters Upon first impressions, the Stradic C14 posseses both ultra smooth and sleek panache yet resonates elements of aggression and power. Leave it to Shimano to create the ultimate combination of style and advanced technology! A rapid weight reduction is sure to set the tone for micro-sized spinning reels in the future, boasting up to 25% weight reduction to that of similar sized reels.

Introducing Shimano’s latest in comfortable and light weight footwear - the Shimano Evair Marine/Fishing shoes. The Evair features an ultra lightweight EVA material, meaning even after a full day of fishing or boating, your feet will not feel fatigued at all. Being an ‘open’ style shoe means they’re quick drying and allow your feet to breathe even in the hottest day time conditions. A non slip sole gives the wearer added confidence when navigating slippery decks.

78 | January 2014

plastics in an array of colors are catching fish.

Water depth, water temperature, presence of baitfish, water clarity, cloud cover, sunshine, moon phase, and tidal flow all come into play this time of year. Keeping a log of as many of these influences as you are able to observe during a day of fishing is one of the cornerstones to identifying staging areas and understanding feeding patterns.

Some freshwater runoff has affected certain

7613 SPID Corpus Christi, TX 78412 www.roysbait-tackle.com

361-992-2960

The Shimano Torium range of overhead reels are built on tough foundations for saltwater fishing. The range comes in four models ranging from a smaller but very versatile and capable Torium 14 size up to the tough and larger Torium 30.

The Shimano Curado bait caster reel has been a leader in the field for over ten years now and is set to continue its winning ways. The iconic green Curado with it’s superior drag and casting ability has made it a favorite amongst kiwi anglers chasing large snapper, blue cod, kahawai, and kingfish with lures.

CHOICE OF

COLORS

LIMITED

7 YEAR

WARRANTY

COMPOSITE

100%

AVAILABLE

FRONT LIVEWELL

RICHMOND, TX 77406

3925 FM 359

B-240 B-210 & B-190

281.238.0060 www.JHperformanceboats.com

areas of Trinity Bay but the fish are established in areas where they’ll pretty much spend the winter without much movement unless we receive a major flood event. Chances are wherever you’re catching fish right now, this pattern should hold throughout the winter. Fish will just move shallow to deep between frontal systems. The bite might change from time to time on lures, colors, and presentations but the fish will continue to hold tight until the spring run begins.

For a big trout bite, you’ll want to go shallow on northern shores after a frontal system passes and when prevailing southerly winds and tides return, concentrate your fishing effort on southern shorelines near drains, towheads, and soft mud bottom. For numbers of fish concentrate on deeper reefs and mud-shell mix bottoms for some consistent drift fishing on calmer days. These patterns have done the trick for me for more than 35 years and I apply them daily to deliver the type of fishing trip my clients indicate their preference to be.

I like sticking with darker colors for all water and light conditions but, when water becomes air-clear I will definitely lean toward more of a natural-toned bait, white, or day-glo colors for overall better results and more positive strikes when they do accept the lure.

Play the weather the best you can but the more time you spend on the water the better success you’re going to net. You can’t catch them on the dock, just dress appropriately for the weather and the more comfortable you are the better.

I have recently made the acquaintance via email and telephone with some anglers who reside in Virginia; David Moss, Randy Brown and John Brown. They are avid speckled trout fisherman who listen regularly to my outdoors show on Sports Radio 610. David has been sending some awesome photos of big trout they have been catching on the Elizabeth River which is part of the Chesapeake Bay System. It reminds me a lot of some of the areas we catch big trout on the upper Texas coast with the dark tannic water and bottom structure they find and catch big trout in.

Ironically enough they target these big fish in the same manner we do by kayak and wade fishing flats and bars near deepwater guts and dropoffs. They’ve been listening to the discussions on the show about lures and techniques and I have included two of their photos, caught on Maniac Mullets. One of the fish measured over 30 inches and both are very healthy and winter-fat.

Speckled Trout are amazing fish and are sought by the purists among the plugger fraternity from Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and all the way north to Virginia and Maryland. It just goes to show that speckled trout, no matter where they live, can be taken with the same style of lures and techniques. His description of patterning these fish is nearly identical to some that I describe in this column each month. Small world!

TSFMAG.com | 79

BInK GRImEs

thE VIEW fRom Matagorda

matagorda

Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing and hunting guide, freelance writer and photographer, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay.

Telephone 979-241-1705 Email binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net website www.binkgrimesoutdoors.com

80 | January 2014

“Nobody fishes in January, much less catches anything, right? That’s why they schedule the boat shows because fishing is so bad.”

That, my friends, is perhaps the grandest misconception associated with coastal fishing!

While January can be bitter and blown at times, those days following a front when the water warms and winds calm can be awesome.

Goose hunters look forward to January days before fronts when the dew point meets the thermometer at somewhere in the 60s, and thick fog sets in over the marsh and coastal prairies. Those same days are a boon on the bays as well. Ask any seasoned angler who targets big specks how good a foggy day on a shoreline can be with

a Corky or MirrOlure. It’s the stuff you think about awake in bed, and end up dreaming about.

Expect to deal with low tides and use them to your advantage. Sometimes waters are so low it is tough to find water to float duck decoys. So where do fish go when the wind continues to blow 20 from the north and reefs are sticking three feet

above the surface?

Head to deep bayou or a drain. Everything in those back lakes has to come through there when the tides fall. Many times the fish are still pretty warm even though the water is chilly. That means most of the fish are lying deep on bottom somewhere, in the mud.

Tides this low are not always a negative. Bars and reefs that normally hold fish are exposed, most out of the water long gone, a perfect time to take a boat ride and mark these fish magnets. I find

reefs and guts I didn’t know were there every winter and use those spots in the spring when tides swell.

There are some guts I wade in January that are over my head during the summer. Keep all that info logged in the old coconut and use it when tides fall to winter or summer lows. Pay attention to the spots that have water now when everything else is dry and mark it for the next cold front.

In East Matagorda Bay we will be drifting some days and working the same deep shell we work all year. Our deep shell at high tide is about six feet deep, but with winter tides it sometimes plays at about four feet. Water gets so clear you can see the clumps of shell on a calm day. It gets almost too clear at times, so we switch to clear baits like Opening Night Bass Assassins and make long casts.

It’s hard to get a cold fish to bite in clear water close to the boat. If you are tall enough, you can actually wade chest-deep on some parts of the shell when the water is really blown out.

Most of our trout hang close to the Intracoastal on a cold January and move back and forth from the shallows to the deep according to the thermometer and barometer.

With that being said, the north shoreline is the closest intercept point. Waders who want a good shot at a big speck on a moving tide should find a piece of shell from Boggy Cut all the way east to Bird Island and camp out with their favorite mullet-imitation. Be patient.

Nobody catches fish in January, right?

TSFMAG.com | 81

CaPt. shEllIE GRaY

mID-Coast BaYs With the Grays

Port O'Connor Seadrift

Captain Gary and Captain Shellie Gray fish year-round for trout and redfish in the Port O’Connor/ Seadrift area. Gary started his Bay Rat Guide Service 20 years ago.

The Grays specialize in wade and drift fishing with artificial lures.

Gary and Shellie also team up to fish many tournaments.

Telephone 361-785-6708 Email Gary@BayRat.com website www.bayratguideservice.com

82 | January 2014

Finger numbing cold and blustery winds will keep inhabit the shallows during the warmer months will be most fair-weather anglers off the water during the moving out to the deeper waters of the bays. Because month of January but for those seeking a cure for of this, most reds and trout will be eagerly accepting cabin fever or maybe needing stress relief following most any artificial offerings but, color will play an a taxing holiday season; a day on the bay can be just important role when fishing clearer waters. what the doctor ordered, especially with a little help Fishermen are captivated by the array of lure colors, from the weatherman. but this time of year we often find that “less is more.”

Colder water temperatures affect just about Very few baitfish that inhabit our coastal waters are everything in the wintertime, even the tiniest of brightly colored. The colors of most are very basic to marine organisms. Various plankton and algae that inhabit our warm bay waters are greatly Windy day back lake trout diminished in winter months and this often for an Oklahoma angler! produces exceptional water clarity. And while high winds from cold fronts can turn even deeper water somewhat off-colored, our back lakes stay protected from the winds so water will remain clear even during the windiest days. While I have to admit I am enamored by the gin clear water, I know that it often creates some angling challenges.

Natural and live bait will be rather scarce at the bait camps during the coldest months.

This really doesn’t present a problem due to the fact that most of the smaller baitfish that

their habitat, thereby providing natural camouflage. Juvenile shrimp are at least translucent, sometimes nearly completely transparent, and all but disappear in water of average clarity. So to be successful when fishing these clear winter waters, anglers are going to have to push the brightly colored lures aside and go with something more natural. Bass Assassin’s 3.5 inch Die Dapper in either Crystal Shad or Houdini are two that work well for me. The Die Dapper is also impregnated with BANG fish attractant, making them even harder to resist.

Locations I will be fishing will depend a lot on the wind. No surprise that San Antonio Bay reefs will be my go-to spot on calm days. Here lately the reefs have been producing good numbers of trout for us. Most have been decent size but I have to admit it is not uncommon to hit reefs that hold only undersized fish, and lots of them. When you come

Healthy wintertime San Antonio Bay trout.

across this scenario it is best to leave these small guys alone and move to a different reef in order to find a better keeper ratio. These smaller trout are eager to eat and tend to inhale your offerings, making it harder to unhook them and lessening their chances of survival.

Working soft plastic baits with a slower retrieve is often necessary this time of year and this calls for light jigheads to avoid hanging up on shell. I like rigging with the 1/8 ounce Bass Assassin jigs and allowing the lure to settle deep into the water column until I can feel it tickling the shell, and then continuing with a “slow hop” retrieve to keep it down there. Quite often during colder months we find the trout unwilling to rise to a bait, hitting it only when it is within inches of the bottom. And when they do decide to eat it, don’t expect an aggressive strike like they do when water temps are warmer. Nope, it’s more like a slight “tick” and that’s all you’re gonna get. The use of braided line and a high-quality rod like my Waterloo HP Lite can be two of the best tools you have out there when trying to catch these deeper-dwelling coldwater fish.

The hardier redfish will still be out in full force but will be more agreeable midday after the flats have had some time to warm up. This is a good time of year to dust off those silver and gold spoons and put them to good use. I prefer to use a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce weedless Johnson spoon and it seems the more scuffed they are the better they work, perhaps it’s their natural reaction to more naturally-colored lures in the generally clearer water.

Make sure to bundle up before you go. Layers are easy to remove and being cold is only fun if you’re a polar bear. Happy New Year!

TSFMAG.com | 83

DaVID RoWsEY

hooKED uP WIth Rowsey

Hope this column finds you well during this holiday season and ready to bring in 2014 with a bang, and a bent rod. Trophy trout fishing is in full swing on the Upper Laguna and Baffin Bay. My most sincere thanks to all of you who have booked a trip to get in on the Upper action, and hopefully a trout of a lifetime. If our fall Laguna/ success is any indication of what is around the corner Baffin for winter and spring, we are going to be catching some studs.

Quoting Shannon Tompkins in the Houston Chronicle: “At a public meeting in Austin earlier this David Rowsey has 20 years month, the nine-member TPW Commission instructed experience in the Laguna/Baffin the agency’s Coastal Fisheries staff to look at the region; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty. David has a potential effects of expanding the five-fish daily bag limit for speckled trout currently in effect in the Lower great passion for conservation Laguna Madre to other areas of the coast.” and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.

We have been down this road before and there are many opinions on the subject. Mine has never Telephone wavered. From the perspective of 250 days a year 361-960-0340 on the water between guiding and recreation, a website www.DavidRowsey.com reduction in the trout limit has been needed for years Email on the Upper Laguna and Baffin. Fishing pressure has david.rowsey@yahoo.com probably tripled since current regulations were set in

84 | January 2014

the 1980s, putting the ratio of fish to fishermen way out of whack. Anyone who thinks “It’s as good as it’s ever been” hasn’t been around very long or has no true understanding of what has taken place over the past fifteen years. The reduction to five trout per angler is long overdue on our part of the middle coast.

Old Man Winter has settled in down here. It has been unusually cold and that to me is wonderful. Yes, I said wonderful. The past two winters have been super warm and delayed the timing of productive cold-weather fishing. These cooler November water temperatures have put us on what I consider a normal winter schedule and the big trout are following suit.

Things will be perfect when this coastwide high tide falls out. So far, it has been slow to retreat. In fact, I have never experienced water this high, this late in the year.

The upside to these high tides is the pretty water pouring into Baffin. I am seeing rocks at the mouth of the bay that I have not seen in a couple years due to brown tide. I am more than a little excited about the prospects for 2014. Add that to the water clarity in the Upper Laguna, and on down through Yarbrough, and you are looking at a lot more fishable water than we

This exceptional trout fell for a Morning Glory Bass Assassin; water temps holding steadily in the low 50s.

have seen in a long time.

Cold water temperatures will put the fish on the soft, muddy bottoms and this is always a good place to start a morning wade in January. I would advise that you avoid tunnel vision on the old winter fishing cliché that you must fish the mud to catch the biggest of the species. Bottom line is that trout not only need to stay warm, but, most importantly, they must also eat. Regardless of the type of bottom you are wading, there needs to be somewhat of a bait supply.

Believe me when I say this, “A little bit goes a long way” during these cold months. You cannot expect to see rafts of mullet this time of year.

Focus on areas that have the right structure, i.e., muddy flats leading to deep water dropoffs, with some amount of bait, and you will be well on your way to learning the sport of catching large trout. Folks, it’s not rocket science. Leave the smartphone and ipod in the boat and pay attention to your surroundings. Think like a predator and you will be way ahead of the game.

Although it may happen occasionally, topwaters will be way down the list for catching monsters this month. The 5” Bass Assassin will prevail when it comes to locating workable numbers of fish to target. Besides locating large fish, I expect to catch just as many on the “worm” as I do anything else. The Paul Brown Originals (Corky) by MirrOlure will be filling in the gaps and getting major play time to try and pluck out the most wary of the big girls.

This goes for all lures: Clear water equals natural colored lures, offcolor water warrants shades of dark and bright. It’s a simple rule but works well when digging through bags, upon bags, of choices.

Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey

TSFMAG.com | 85

CaPt. tRICIa

tRICIa’s Mansfield Report If I was allowed only one word; different would probably best describe the fishing in the Port Mansfield through late-November and earlyDecember.

There seems to be a lot of fish in the system right now, albeit countless small ones, and a few very large Port ones. What’s different is that we are finding very few mansfield mid-slot fish to speak of, both redfish and trout; and one can only speculate many reasons why. This one wishes she could hypothesize, but you will have to come fish with me to hear. But, let’s not let this Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water discourage, as early December fishing improved Adventures operates out of dramatically of late and, hopefully will get even better.

Port Mansfield, specializing in As December rolled in the higher water levels wadefishing with artificial lures. finally receded, a couple of really good blows and less boat traffic seemed to help fishing overall. After these events, redfish became easier to target and, the Telephone 956-642-7298 deeper trout holding on grass beds became wade-able Email again, meaning we could reach them. While not as shell@granderiver.net crazy-good as past years, Mansfield is still a place like website www.SkinnyWaterAdventures.com no other for artificial wade fishing enthusiasts.

It’s a New Year full of promise for both big trout hunters and the future fishery. As a whole, January can be one of the most illustrious months of the

86 | January 2014

year for a real likelihood to catch a giant trout in Port Mansfield. It can be one of the bitterest months too, but if you keep in mind the probability, it is certainly worth going.

Danny Rocha showing off a career-best, for now anyway.

During this month the water temperatures should be the coldest dinks occupying prime habitat grow to big ones. A guide’s career we will see so you can bet the big trout will be seeking the warmest depends on these methods and, if you too give it time and a few good spots available. These should also be the winter home for good shots, you will be personally rewarded for your extra efforts. supplies of baitfish.

In a nutshell – For best January results, search for scattered grass in Pre-Norther days can find us on lee sides of grass flats, windgenerally muddy areas that are also holding bait. Utilize shorelines on pushed backwater areas, and shorelines. Shorelines are also a sensible the coldest of days, and be aware of boats burning shorelines ahead place to begin on calm mornings both pre and post blows because of you. Try to get out there first and work promising areas thoroughly. of bank heating. Find spots on the bank with You will often see me fishing an area all day A serene view of the Lower Laguna thigh to waist deep drops nearby and you can from the bay front at North Port. waiting for the big bite. Slow sinking baits will bet there are some giants soaking up the heat come more into play and so will our steps. in this structure. Another bonus is not having When not waiting it out, redfish with big ol’ to dwell in boot sucking mud for a while, bellies and strong shoulders are always fun. maybe the entire day if we are lucky.

Never discount the possibly of a truly giant Trophy trout fishing in traditional areas trout hanging in a school of reds. is always good but, more and more folks are Wishing you and yours a Joyous and crowding smaller spaces. This winter will find Memorable 2014! me in areas off the beaten path, less traveled, and often overlooked. This takes time and, for Tricia’s Tips: those willing, I think you may end up being -Always run at least 200 yards off shorelines; pleasantly surprised with the results. don’t ruin it for other fishermen.

I have been doing this exact thing a long -Try on wading boots with new waders. When time and, I continue to surprise myself with your feet hurt; everything hurts! the water I have passed up. The key to big -Good fitting neoprene gloves are a lifesaver. results is to have many areas to choose from -Rain-X on your windshield and sunglasses year to year, not just two or three. Try to really helps. remember grassy and muddy wintertime -Don’t bring a buddy that does not have the areas that had only smaller fish in years past; same expectations as the rest of the group.

TSFMAG.com | 87

CaPt. ERnEst CIsnERos

south PaDRE Fishing Scene

A rr oyo C olorado t o Port I sabel

A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel.

Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.

cell 956-266-6454 website www.tightlinescharters.com

As we move into the New Year I want to thank all the people that have fished with me over the years and also my sponsors and everyone in the fishing industry that contributes to my success. A big thanks also goes to Everett and Pam Johnson for giving me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences through this great magazine.

Looking back, I would say 2013 turned out to be an average year, from my experience. We struggled with our redfish at times but the trout almost always made up for it. Late fall and early winter have been very good and I’m optimistic we will have better than average fishing in 2014. I mentioned in an earlier article that I have been impressed with the numbers of big trout we have been finding since late summer and I expect this will get even better throughout our winter season.

Water temps fell to 51° following the powerful Thanksgiving norther and this produced a minor fish-kill in parts of the Lower Laguna. Mostly mullet, some skipjack and a few sheepshead; I saw but a few small trout and do not believe any of these species

2013 Catalog_Sampo 9/17/12 11:26 AM Page 1

Since 1957 88 | January 2014

119 Remsen Rd PO Box 328 Barneveld, NY 13304 315-896-2606 sampoinc@dreamscape.com www.sampoinc.com

suffered real damage. Bay water temps are currently fluctuating between the mid-50s and high-60s. Cooler water usually stacks the trout and reds in deeper guts and muddy potholes but a few warm days and they’re right back out on the flats.

January will give us the lowest average tides of the year and we can work this to our advantage. Quite often I’m asked whether I prefer high tides or low tides.

I believe the best situation for the way I fish would

This hefty winter redfish sure put a smile on tenyear-old Freddy’s face!

be the current of a falling tide during a period of generally low tides.

I say this because generally lower tides concentrates fish on certain structure and tidal current definitely influences feeding.

A few years ago our editor wrote a piece on the importance of water temperature in winter angling, saying he carried a digital thermometer to monitor warm flows exiting bayous and sloughs on falling tides. I agree with this completely, even going as far as delaying the start of winter charters to take advantage of late afternoon warming and it gets even better when we are able to combine this with the current of an afternoon outgoing tide.

It would be great if I could say we are catching solid fish at every stop but such is not the case. However, there are plenty of known winter holes that are holding good fish consistently. During warming trends the trout have preferred muddy potholes in very shallow water and during cold weather they are moving predictably into the nearest

Expectations are high for excellent trout fishing this winter.

deeper water. Even a few degrees warmer and they will begin to feed.

However, even during warming, I find the trout have been waiting for the tide to move before the bite becomes steady.

The trout bite is often only a tap in colder weather and if you’re not paying careful attention you will be missing bites. Slow-sinking suspending baits such as the Corky Devil, Fat Boy and Original Corky are all good on cold days with a moderately slow retrieve that keeps them in the lower half of the water column. Kelley Wigglers Ball Tail Shad in Flo Mingo and Plum-Chartreuse are also excellent producers with slower retrieves in these conditions.

Our redfish have been a bit more concentrated lately; we are seeing them in small schools around spoil islands and areas with sandy-muddy bottoms. The presence of active bait has been one of the keys to finding them. Some days they seem so well fed that we have to place the lure right in front of them to draw a strike. Calm days have made it easy to spot the tell-tale wakes of these schools on the flats and most have been concentrated around spoils and along main bay shorelines, not in the back lake areas.

I look forward to fishing during the winter season all year and it is finally here. And as I said earlier, the number of large trout we have been catching since late summer has me really excited for the trophy fish that I expect to see coming steadily over the next several months.

I begin every wade and make every cast believing this is one that will produce my next career-best trout. The days are shorter so fishing all day is not so tiring. Plus, there is very little boat traffic on the bays.

January is going to be a great month on the Lower Laguna, so don’t miss out on an awesome way to start the New Year.

TSFMAG.com | 89

FISHING REPORTS

Lake calcasieu Louisiana jeff and mary Poe - big Lake guide Service - 337.598.3268 January is one of the best months to catch the trout of a lifetime. The problem is, the fish are cold, so sometimes bites are hard to come by.

Don’t get me wrong; we will have days when we catch forty or fifty fish, but a typical day fishing for big trout is eight to fifteen fish. We will fish shallow sand flats and oyster reefs on the north end of the lake.

Turners Bay is THE spot. Mullet are key. When we are fishing in winter, we have a Corky tied on 85% of the time. MirrOdines, Redfins, Jointed Thundersticks, and Catch 2000’s are great baits as well. If the water is crystal clear, natural/translucent colors work wonders. If it’s stained, brighter/solid colors work great. The key to fishing in January is your rate of retrieve. If you think about it, the fish are just trying to survive the winter. They need to conserve energy as much as possible and maximize feeding opportunities which present themselves. Moving around really fast to catch your darting mullet doesn’t do much for conserving energy.

So, low and slow retrieves are deadly.

Trinity bay - East bay - galveston bay | james Plaag Silver King adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James raved about the quality of the fishing both before and after the cold spell just prior to Thanksgiving. “We were on a typical fall pattern, finding plenty of keeper trout under birds in a variety of places.

Trinity Bay was best; one day we hit a school of three to five pound

QUALITY HAND CRAFTED SALT WATER LURES SINCE 1980 Complete Line of Proven Lures For All Seasons

Shrimp, Shad, Mullet, Mud Minnows, Rat Tail Worms, Sand Eels, Glass Minnows, Cork Lures, Spinner Lures, Popping Corks, Baby Croakers, Baby Crabs

Best Prices Anywhere

To place an order, visit our website at:

www.tobyhoganfishinglures.com Authentic Site of the Original Toby Hogan 90 | January 2014

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

trout with one over 28 inches mixed in. That’s like the old days for bird fishing. Once the weather got cold, everything changed. Now, we are catching them well out in the middle over a muddy bottom when water temperatures drop. On the warm-up the fish move shallow, and we’re catching them wading. Redfish have been easier than the trout, but the size of the trout is impressive. Had one about seven and a half pounds today. Best lures have been salty chicken Sea Shads when the water has a little color to it. MirrOlures are working better when the water is really clear. We are using classic colors like Texas chicken, pink/silver and chartreuse/gold, 52Ms when we’re fishing from the boat, 51Ms when we’re wading. A steady retrieve without any twitching is working best.” jimmy west - bolivar guide Service - 409.996.3054 The fishing leading into the time of this report was in a predictable fall pattern, with easy limits of trout biting under birds, but Jim expects a big change after this recent cold snap. “We will be fishing mostly out of the boat come January, working bayous, drains and deep areas with a mix of mud and shell. And, we’ll also be making some of those late afternoon wades. This time of year, the best bite of the day often happens right as it is getting dark, into the first couple of hours of the night. I like to take advantage of that, especially when we are going after the big trout.

Speaking of big trout, there have been some caught during this cold weather in the far upper reaches of the bay, places like Burnets and Tabbs Bays. Those areas should be good during cold stretches this month. Of

course, I’ll be splitting time between the bays, marshes and fields. Duck and dove seasons are both off to a great start, and the shooting should remain steady throughout the month. When the weather’s nasty, the hunting usually offers up better potential than the fishing.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Randall was driving home from the deer lease when we talked. He said the fishing had really turned on before he left to do a little hunting.

“The bull tide finally went out and the water went back to basically normal in terms of salinity and color. With the cold weather, the pattern was predictable, and we had some easy fishing. Most of our bites were coming in five to ten feet of water, over a bottom with a mix of mud and shell. We were catching best on Norton Sand Eel Juniors in Salty Chicken.

Some of the less-experienced anglers were doing better on Sand Shads. They seem to have enough built-action to work with minimal presentation skills. All that’s required is a lift and drop. Three eighths ounce heads were working best. We also had a good topwater bite on pink Skitterwalks at times. I stocked up on those to take advantage of it!

These patterns should hold through January. I expect good drift fishing on soft plastics when the weather is cold, and good topwater action while wading when it warms up.”

Matagorda | Charlie Paradoski Bay Guide Service - 713.725.2401 When we talked, Charlie was in the boat fishing deeper areas of East Matagorda Bay. “We’re doing okay. Not catching a lot of fish, but we have caught a couple of twenty seven inch trout. If we were wading, we’d have the potential for a really incredible day. When the weather warms up this time of year, most of the big trout in East Bay move

into the shallows. So wading is a better way to catch them. Out here, we use heavier jigheads and soft plastics, bumping the shells on the bottom and short-hopping them up, then letting them sink again. On the shorelines, when wading, it’s often better to throw slow-sinking twitch baits like Paul Brown’s Original Lures and Fat Boys, or even topwaters when the bait is active and the water is at its warmest. January is one of the best months of the year in which to catch a trophy trout in East Matagorda. Patience is required on some days, but we do have days where we catch plenty of trout and dozens of redfish too, including some really big trout. It will be good if the weather is reasonable.”

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Our recent cold snap has pushed our fish to deep water. We have responded to the conditions by making the main focus of our fishing in the Palacios Harbor where we are probing the deep holes for specks and reds by slow-rolling lures in fifteen to twenty feet of water. The best colors have been chicken on chain and pearl/chartreuse rigged on quarter ounce jigheads. Most of the time, the best bite in the deep water seems to occur on the drop. When we get some warmer temperatures, the fish will move back out on the flats, where we will go back to targeting them with Paul Brown’s Original FatBoys and Catch 2000s. The shrimp are gone from the bays, and our focus will be strictly on mullet. I know it sounds like a broken record, but in the dead of the winter when you see mullet, stop and fish; the predators will be nearby. The Tres Palacios River, Caranchua River, Palacios Ship Channel and the spoils adjacent to it will be great spots to try in the upcoming month.

CHECK OUT THE NEW 2014 CATALOG!

(866) 790-Rods TSFMAG.com | 91

Port O’connor | Lynn Smith back bay guide Service - 361.983.4434 January’s typically cold weather normally causes Lynn to prefer fishing a familiar way. “We’ll be targeting muddy flats adjacent to deep water most of the time. I like to throw at areas with a soft bottom, with some dark grass, some mud and some scattered shell. Normally, I’ll wait until the middle of the morning to leave the dock, to allow the sun to get up and warm up the muddy shallows some. Once that happens, the bait is much easier to locate. Catching big trout in winter usually means wading areas close to deep water during the middle of the day and into the afternoon and making lots of casts around areas which are likely to be holding a few big fish. We’ll wade most of the time, moving slowly and working our lures slowly, keeping watch for all signs that bait fish are present. Best lures for this type of fishing are Paul Brown’s Original Lures and Fat Boys, in both sinking and floating versions, depending on the depth of water on the flats. Topwaters work well on the best days, when the fish are most active.”

Rockport | blake muirhead gator Trout guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake will be running as many cast and blast outings as he can in January, and hunting doves too. “This recent cold weather brought some great duck hunting. The winds and low temperatures had the birds really active. I look for great shooting to continue through the month. I’ll be doing my typical mid-winter thing, hunting the dawn and early morning hours, then fishing my way into the day. We usually find good fishing for trout and redfish in the deeper parts of the back lakes, in holes in the bayous, around the mouths of the drains leading into the backwater areas, and around reefs and dark grass beds in shallow water over a mushy bottom. Most of the best catching will be done on some kind of

92 | January 2014

soft plastic, either a Norton Sand Eel or a Gulp! of some sort. When the colder weather hits, we’ll target the fish in deeper areas and use really slow presentations and light jigheads. When it warms up, we’ll try twitch baits and topwaters some in the shallower areas. Some good topwater action does occur in the winter when it warms up.” upper Laguna madre - baffin bay - Land cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 Boat traffic on the Upper Laguna Madre during January is light. The whitetail deer hunters are running out of time to take that elusive monster buck, but that’s not the case for those who are looking for that monster sow speckled trout. The passage of cold fronts will take the water temperatures down and the trout will go down into deeper water, preferably to areas with muddy bottoms. I will be using soft plastics like Assassin Die Dappers in dark colors like morning glory/chartreuse tail on quarter ounce Spring Lock jigheads that will get to the bottom quickly and use a very slow retrieve. After a couple of sunny, warmer days, shallow water will begin to warm up and this will bring bait fish and the trout into the those areas. At this time, I will use a lighter jig head, sixteenth ounce, and use lighter colored Die Dappers like salt & pepper, silver phantom or chartreuse dog, using a medium speed retrieve. Look for shallow areas that have deep water nearby. Carolina-rigged live shrimp will work for reds and black drum along the edge of the ICW. corpus christi | joe mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961 At the time of this report, the cold weather has the fish in the Laguna Madre huddled close around the intracoastal waterway, and the birds are working up and down the ditch. “Once we get cold weather like this, the fishing usually gets pretty predictable. There will be trout in the channels, pushing the shrimp and other bait fish to the surface and attracting the attention of the sea gulls. Even when the birds aren’t working, it’s possible to catch plenty of trout by keeping the boat over

the deeper water and casting toward the edges and secondary ledges of the channels. Best lures for this drill are soft plastics. If winds are light and currents relatively slow, light jigheads work best, especially if the water is cold. When winds and current speeds ramp up, heavier jigheads will be required to maintain contact with the edges and dropoffs. When the weather heats up, especially on sunny afternoons, flats adjacent to the channels will hold plenty of redfish and some big trout. Sightcasting is then possible in the clear, cool waters.”

Padre Island National Seashore Billy Sandifer - Padre Island Safaris - 361.937.8446 Good catches in January are usually not a matter of location nearly as much as timing. Many days this month will bring conditions that are simply unfishable as high winds and heavy seas accompany the passage of cold fronts through the area. The days of moderate conditions inbetween these fronts should be targeted as they afford anglers the opportunity for successful bottom fishing. Species available will be redfish, pompano, black drum, whiting and sheepshead. Fresh dead shrimp and Fishbites are the baits of choice although reds will also take gold spoons quite readily at this time. Sandbar, bull and blacktipped sharks are available at times and most success will be on baits kayaked some distance from the shore. Avoid periods of NE winds which will stack water high on the beach and avoid traveling during daily high tide. Avoiding breaking new trails; staying in the main track will keep a “good” road packed down for everyone to drive on. Make sure you have emergency supplies as the winter beach can be quite isolated and help a long time in coming.

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 With fronts approaching more regularly and with greater strength,

possibly giving us strong northerly winds and very cold temperatures lasting several days, finding the right time to go can be a challenge.

Ideally, anglers would keep their schedules open and select only postnorther recovery days or, better yet, fishing during warming trends. But on days that you have no choice, you have to make the most of it. When the weatherman gives me a tough one, I tend to head north of Port and fish the oil field guts. There is less walking involved and more casting into one general area. Stick with 1/8 ounce jigs and Kelley Wigglers Ball Tail Shad. Don’t forget about working bigger baits like a MirrOlure Corky Fat Boy. They often produce better fish, especially on these cold and nasty days when a lure has to hang in the strike zone longer to draw a strike. When fishing deeper guts or channels, I recommend a loud popping cork like Cajun Thunder with a soft plastic or Gulp Shrimp. Until next time, tight lines and calm seas.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty – www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 The fish have been feeding regularly on outgoing tides, especially the reds. We’ve had our most successful outings with the Cajun Thunder round corks, hitting potholes and popping just as hard as normal, but slowing down every other part of the retrieve. We’re rigging the Norton quarter ounce jighead at about twenty four inches with a three inch Berkley Gulp! Shrimp in pearl white, new penny, and molting colors.

Freddy says, “Always slow everything down in the winter when the water is cold; concentrate on the holes where the water is warmer, and set the hook by reeling and lifting at the same time, without jerking too hard.

Changing a few things to accommodate chilled fish will increase the number of hook ups and result in more fish landed.” We’re still catching a couple of trout in the twenty six to twenty nine inch range, but not as many limits as when the water is calm and warmer. The latest norther really churned the LLM into a mess, but calmer winds will get things back to normal quickly. Stop open bay dredge disposal.

VANISH at AQUADESIGN.com

AQUA SKY

Skyward Camouflage Clothing

888-359-5644

For sunny to partly sunny skies

GREEN BAYOU

PACIFIC SAND

Blends with trees Earth tones that and shoreline conceal in sandy, vegetation rocky areas

MISTY SKY

Compatible colors for an overcast sky

TSFMAG.com | 93

Melissa Craig East Bay - 26” trout

Dalton Bearden & Hunter Leschber San Luis Pass - first ling & first wahoo!

Shalor Craig East Bay - red CPR!

Johnny Guzman Nueces Bayou - 31.75” 9lb trout 94 | January 2014

Leah Cantu Port Mansfield - 28” trout

Kevin Davis Freeport - ling

Tanner Johnson 5’7” 150lb bull shark CPR!

Heather Charron Galveston - 27” 7lb first red!

Kiley Brown Copano Bay - 26.5” trout

Tyce DiStefano & grandpa POC - first redfish!

Andrew Justag Sylvan Beach - 26” trout

Ricca Gentry Galveston - 7lb trout

Gibby Lambert Rockport - 24” trout

Jeffrey Long Rockport - 20” trout

Cristin Ledbetter Galveston - 24” redfish

Raul Garza III South Bay - 31” first snook!

Cody Shelton Matagorda - 4.1lb flounder

Elyanna Calle POC - 27” red, first time fishing!

Lauren Partida Laguna Madre - 21” trout

Brenton Spry Kemah - 43.5” jack

Jack Moore & Michael Carr Port Mansfield - 7lb flounder & 29.5” trout

Mike Praslicka Christmas Bay - 22” flounder

Audrey Winemiller POC - 26” trout

Melissa Webb Land Cut - 30lb redfish

Carl Price Port A - 25lb red snapper

Nathan Trotter Surfside - 50lb 10oz kingfish

Robert & Karen Spencer SPI surf - tarpon, a few inches shy of the Texas record TSFMAG.com | 95

Richard Cuellar Quintana Jetties - 41” bull red

Richard Vasquez Port Mansfield - 29” trout

David Soto Arroyo City - 27” trout

96 | January 2014

Brittany Gill Chocolate Bay - first redfish!

Arabella Rodriguez Port Mansfield - 17” trout

J.R. Rodriguez Port Mansfield - 27” trout CPR

Jacob San Leon - 28” redfish

John Menchaca Packery Channel - 23” redfish

Desi Martinez Port Mansfield - 26” trout

Kristy Lynn Cantu Aransas Wildlife Refuge - 27” red

Jose Garza Pleasure Island - 39” 28.5lb redfish

John LaViola Matagorda surf - bull reds

Will Gill Halls Bayou - flounder

Bernie Amaya Seawolf Park - 18lb first bull red!

Terri Adams POC - 43” jack crevalle CPR

Nathan Pustejovsky - Matagorda 29” 9lb - personal best! CPR

Larry Baez Matagorda - 43” redfish

Leah Cantu Port Mansfield - 28.5” trout

Lisa McCarty personal best red!

Mark Rendon Texas Triple, 6lb flounder

Tracy Deadman Holly Beach - 25” 6.5lb -trout

Kristine Metcalfe Steamboat Pass - bull red

Payne Walker CC - 35” first keeper red!

Meri Rek POC - 38” first bull red!

Nicholas (Eric) Monroe Galveston - 41” 19lb bull red

Please do not write on the back of photos.

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

RC Rodriguez Sievers Cut - 27” first red!

Caleb Biondo Galveston - first flounder!

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

Pam Johnson

Gulf Coast Kitchen

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

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

CRAB POT PIE Ingredients 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter 4 Tbsp. flour 2 1/2 cups heavy cream 1/2 cup milk 4 Tbsp. Better Than Bouillon Lobster Base (find it at HEB) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 small carrot, peeled and cut into 1/8” cubes 2 small new potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8” cubes 3/4 cup frozen peas 1/2 cup chopped onion 4 large button mushrooms, stemmed and minced 2 small ribs celery, minced 1/2 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and minced 1 1/2 lb. jumbo lump crab meat 1- 9”x11” sheet store-bought frozen puff pastry, thawed 1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water, to brush pastry * SERVES 4

98 | January 2014

Instructions Heat oven to 350 Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, 1–2 minutes. Add cream, milk, and crab soup base and bring to a simmer; cook; whisking often, until smooth and thick, 3–4 minutes. Season cream sauce with salt and pepper and set aside.

Heat 4 tbsp. butter in a 10” skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrots and potatoes and cook, stirring often, until just soft, 4–5 minutes. Add peas, onions, mushrooms, celery, and bell peppers and cook until hot, 2–3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl, gently stir in reserved cream sauce and the crab meat, and season with salt and pepper.

Unfold one pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Place 4 ovenproof bowls or large ramekins rim down on the pasty and cut out 4 squares a bit larger than the bowls (you may need to roll the pastry out a bit to accommodate all the bowls) brush with egg wash. Divide crab mixture between four 4”-diameter, 8-oz. ovenproof ramekins or mini-pie pans, brush the rims of the bowls with the egg wash, lay a pastry square over each, and seal the edges.

Cut steam vents in the pastry. Transfer pies to an aluminum foil–lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 35– 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

TSFMAG.com | 99

tEXas saltWatER fIshInG holEs mataGoRDa

Vitamin Sea Charters Galveston Bay Complex Captain Chad Handley USCG# 3475367 CaptChadHandley@gmail.com www.VitaminSeaCharters.com 281-755-3643

M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish

PoRt o ConnoR/RoCKPoRt USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan

832.693.4292 fintasticcoastalcharters.com

GalVEston • Bay Fishing, Offshore, Floundering, Waterfowl, Dove • Night Fishing off Lighted Pier • Right On The Water • Lodging with/without Meals www.matagordasunriselodge.com 979-241-1705

TROUT REDFISH FLOUNDER

Capt. Lynn Smith’s Back Bay Guide Service Port O’Connor Area

Wade & Drifting the Back Bays & Surf

Call 361.983.4434 (cell 361.935.6833) Email lynn@tisd.net (tswf.com/lynnsmith)

CoRPus to PoRt IsaBEl Designer & Manufacturer of Specialized High Performance Fishing Rods Office: 361.573.0300

805 B. South Bridge Victoria, TX 77901

Fax: 361.573.0304

Sharkman Surf Fishing South Padre ISland

Specializing in big game & light tackle for Shark, Pompano, & Snook.

Capt. Billy Penick III

USCG & TP&W Licensed • Galveston Bay System • Full and Half Day Trips • Trout, Redfish, Flounder

281-415-6586 www.gypsyguideservice.com penickbilly@yahoo.com

100 | January 2014

956.566.7744

14 years

Guiding Experience Kayak & Shore Fishing

Adventures

Sharkmansurffishing.com

tEXas saltWatER fIshInG holEs fIshInG REtREats

ClassIfIEDs

BENTLEY’S INTERCOASTALS HOUSE RENTALS Port O’Connor, Texas: 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6, Fully Furnished. Great Location between the little Jetties & Clark’s Restaurant. Boat Slip upon availability. Guide service available with Capt Keith Gregory. Call Steve or Lydia at 361-983-4660 or 361-482-9095. Special winter rates available.

Dolphin Point 50 x 150 drive-through lot between Maple & Commerce, Port O’Connor. Wet Boat Slip included!

361-649-2265

Split Ring Pliers

New, “PATENTED,” Easier/Faster/Better •Roy’s Bait&Tackle •Cabela’s •Fishing Tackle Unlimited •TackleWarehouse.com •Henry’s-Pitman Creek

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! for rates call 361.785.3420 or email ads@tsfmag.com

TSFMAG.com | 101

FISHERMAN’S SPECIAL WHILE SUPPLY LASTS

FLOUNDER LIGHTS

FLUORESCENT GREEN

LIGHT BULBS

9

$ 95 each F40

or

Halogen

F20 Green Lamp

200 Par 50 - 30V

LOCOMOTIVE LAMPS

Two-100 Watt Bulbs, 12 Volt

2 Lite

each each

SPORTS FLOODLIGHT

each

1000-WATT

( 12 Volt )

7400 $ 9400

$

FIXTURE with/GREEN LAMP

2885 $41900 4’ 1 Lamp BALLAST$ 3895 $

1 Lite

each

1000W GREEN METAL

Perfect For Pier Lighting

$

HALIDE LAMPS

99EA

“PIER FISHERMANS DREAM FIXTURE”

400 WATT SPORTSMAN PIER LIGHT

Uses Less Energy throws out plenty of light!

34900

Science and the Sea

TM

Math Under the Waves When most people think about math, they’re probably not thinking of marine creatures. Yet one of the most famous sequences of numbers in the world actually shows up throughout nature, including under the waves. Fibonacci numbers, named for the Italian mathematician who first identified them in the 1200s, show up in everything from starfish and sand dollars to dolphins and hurricanes.

w/400 Watt Green Lamp

1003 N. William - (361) 578-5292 Victoria, Texas Open Mon-Fri 7:00-5:00 www.goyenelectric.com

$

/EA

do not Prices ipping e sh includ ndling d an ha

A Fibonacci spiral, a nautilus shell cut in half, and a hurricane all share links to Fibonacci numbers. Credits: Raiana Tomazini-Wikipedia, Wikipedia, NASA Though the numbers look random at first — 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55… — they actually follow a simple pattern: the next term in the series is the sum of the previous two terms. As the series increases, the ratio of any two consecutive Fibonacci numbers becomes increasingly closer to the “golden ratio,” which is approximately 1.618.

So where do these show up in the ocean? For one, the Fibonacci numbers themselves are common: Sea stars and sand dollars, for example, have five points, while squids and octopuses have eight arms. Yet, the golden ratio is far more common among all living creatures, including those in the sea. For example, the distance between the tips of a starfish’s arms compared to distance from tip to tip across the entire body is very close to the golden ratio, and the eye, fins and tail of dolphins all fall at points along the dolphin’s body that correspond to the ratio.

South Texas Aluminum Worx and Upholstery

Perhaps the most famous example of all is the Fibonacci sequence expressed in the nautilus shell. If you place squares next to one another in which each new square has the width of the next number in the Fibonacci sequence, the resulting formation is a spiral that appears exactly in the nautilus — and in the spiral of hurricanes. As random as nature may appear at times, occasionally there is an underlying order.

Custom Aluminum Fabrication & All Your Upholstery Needs

Come See Us!

The University of Texas

10020 Compton Road (behind Gulf Coast Marine)

Marine Science Institute

Corpus Christi, TX 78418 Phone: 361-657-0555 Fax: 361-939-8973

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org Console covers and full boat covers custom fit

102 | January 2014

© The University of Texas Marine Science Institute

CHRIS MAPP

b O aT m a I N T E N a N c E T I P S PREVENTING ELECTROLYTIC CORROSION What is a trim tab anode? Where is it located on my outboard and what is its purpose? Are there other anodes on the typical outboard engine? Do they ever Chris Mapp, owner need to be replaced?

Coastal Bend Marine.

These all are great questions.

Yamaha, Evinrude, Suzuki, Depending on the engine manufacturer, Mercury, Honda, BlueWave, the trim tab anode is located above SilverWave, Haynie, El Pescador the prop on the underside of the Service, Parts and Sales. anti-ventilation plate. Other common locations are under the engine bracket, and depending upon the number of cylinders, one anode per cylinder is usually bolted to the engine block under the cowling.

In this context anodes are sacrificial. Electrical current that exists in the water from a variety of sources, and also current generated by the propeller spinning through the water, can create electrolysis; a process that consumes or erodes unprotected metal surfaces. The anode is offered sacrificially, interrupting the process by satisfying the electrolysis, and thereby protecting the aluminum alloy castings of the engine.

The anode must be in contact with the water to function correctly.

The anode is bolted to the engine which is bonded to the battery negative with battery cables; this transfer of current is absorbed by the battery, thinking of the anode as a current magnet makes it easier

For all Cleaning and Repair of your Rods and Reels

Professionally Trained

Tidal Surge baits are available.

Mail order available on reels, we pay postage to you.

See website for details.

www.thereelinn.com Susie Montgomery 281-703-7982 / 281-383-3205

ON THE WATER

Saltwater Fishing Clinics WITH

Capt. Robert Zapata

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

For Information Call 361-563-1160

104 | January 2014

to understand.

When to change?

The exterior anodes that contact the water should be changed every year at annual service time or if you keep your boat in the water for extended period, you should inspect every six months.

The remaining anodes are inspected annually only and replacement is as needed.

There are some engines with no external anodes and they must be added at the time the boat is rigged. Flats boats are critical.

The Yamaha SHO in the photo is a good example of an engine that does not offer a factory installed trim tab anode. The engine has a trim tab in the location described above but it is not designed for cathodic protection.

The lower unit paint starting to bubble is an indicator of poor cathodic protection whether it is the lack of anodes or poor bonding.

Happy New Year!

Chris Mapp coastal bend marine – Port O’connor, TX www.coastalbendmarine.com – 361.983.4841

The BEST Choice‌ Any Place, Anytime!

To find a location near you, please visit us at www.speedystop.com

Tidal Corrections Location Calcasieu Pass, La. Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass (jetty) Sabine Pass Mesquite Point Galveston Bay (S. jetty) Port Bolivar Texas City, Turning Basin Eagle Point Clear Lake Morgans Point Round Point, Trinity Bay Point Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, Trinity Bay Christmas Point Galveston Pleasure Pier San Luis Pass Freeport Harbor

High -2:14 -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14 +0:33 +3:54 +6:05 +10:21 +10:39 +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -0:09 -0:44

Low -1:24 -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06 +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15 +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:38 +2:33 +2:31 -0:09

For other locations, i.e. Port O’Connor, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and Port Isabel please refer to the charts displayed below.

Please note that the tides listed in this table are for the Galveston Channel. The Tidal Corrections can be applied to the areas affected by the Galveston tide.

Minor Feeding Periods are in green, coinciding with the moon on the horizon, and the last from 1.0 to 1.5 hrs after the moon rise or before moon set.

Major Feeding Periods are in orange, about 1.0 to 1.5 hrs either side of the moon directly overhead or underfoot.

Many variables encourage active feeding current flow (whether wind or tidal driven), changes in water temp & weather, moon phases, etc. Combine as many as possible for a better chance at an exceptional day. Find concentrations of bait set up during a good time frame, and enjoy the results.

Te x a s S a l t w a t e r F i s h i n g M a g a z i n e l

w w w. t e x a s s a l t w a t e r f i s h i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m