July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

contents 10 Tales from the Dark Side

Mike McBride

16 The Hermit

10

Kevin Cochran

22 Bodie Saves a Life Part I

Martin Strarup

26 High Adventure

Billy Sandifer

28 Explore and discover

Chuck Uzzle

30 Trip of a lifetime, and then a bonus.

Bill Pitts

27 Coastal Birding

Billy Sandifer

27 34 Let’s Ask The Pro 38 Fly Fishing

42 Tournament Trails

56

86

Jay Watkins

Casey Smartt

Brandon Jenewein

46 Offshore

Bobby Byrd/John Cochrane

50 Conservation

CCA-Texas

54 Science and the Sea

UT-Marine Science Institute

56 TPWD Field Notes

Robert Vega

60 Kayak Fishing

Scott Null

64 According To Scott

Scott Sommerlatte

68 Youth Fishing

Aaron Cisneros

72 The Lore and Legend

Jim Dailey/Everett Johnson

76 New lure technology…

Everett Johnson

80 Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene

Dickie Colburn

82 Mickey on Galveston

Mickey Eastman

84 Capt. Bill’s Fish Talk

Bill Pustejovsky

86 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays

Shellie Gray

88 Catching up with Cliff

Cliff Webb

90 Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report

Capt. Tricia

92 South Padre Fishing Scene

Ernest Cisneros

98 6

Editorial

8

Letters to the Editor

Printed in the USA.

78 New Tackle & Gear 94 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 96 Photo Gallery–Catch of the Month 98 Gulf Coast Kitchen

103 Index of Advertisers

Dusty Mayer took this photograph of Casey Smartt releasing a redfish in a tidal creek near Aransas Pass, TX. Casey caught the redfish on a small Crease Fly.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 19359586) 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.

Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Victoria, TX 77901.

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

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July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

I

had an interesting discussion recently with a reader who phoned to voice concern regarding the direction he worried this magazine may be heading. “We have too many people on the water and your magazine is a big part of the problem,” he lamented. “The guides you have writing are publicizing this coastal fishing thing all out of proportion for their own promotion. They’ve got people coming out of every patch of woods and they’re out there every weekend covering all the good spots.”

My caller also wanted me to know that some of his past favorite outdoor publications had been ruined by success. “Success,” he said, “brought fancy layouts, glossy pages, and writers who lacked knowledge of their topics.” “Good magazines gone bad,” he called them. I listened intently, especially to the part about fancy presentations and clueless writers.

In closing, our concerned reader expressed his disappointment that our magazine had become too commercialized, too full of advertisements, with too little serious fishing stuff.

I assured my caller that his opinion was important and that we place great value on reader feedback. Most importantly, I wanted him to know that we have enough skin to accept criticism and bouquets. Because after all, if fishermen decide the magazine isn’t worth their time or their money, they’ll leave and take the advertisers with them.

Feeling a tad unprepared, and wanting to make sure I was thinking clearly and saying the right things; I politely asked if I could collect my thoughts and call back to continue the discussion. He agreed and we took up where we’d left off a day later.

Here’s what I told him…

True enough; we are all about the promotion of Texas saltwater fishing, our name says that, but we’re about a lot of other things that go with it. Longtime readers will remember that in the beginning we said our primary mission was to provide informative and entertaining content that would help readers become better anglers.

We also said part of the mission would be to teach them how to do things the right way — meaning they’d be getting a good dose of conservation ethic and a heightened respect for the resources we are using. I think one of the phrases I used was, “a saltwater fix that would keep anglers right-side-up between their trips to the coast and to be better stewards and good neighbors when they arrived.” This remains the cornerstone of our effort.

We still use our original criteria when selecting writers and not everybody makes the team. The guides, tournament anglers, and other Texas fishing personalities we invite to contribute reside at the top of their respective fields. They are fishermen who write occasionally, not writers who occasionally fish. They all have credentials and reputations earned with a rod and reel and spread by the tongue of good report. This magazine has never been nor will it ever become a showcase for self-proclaimed gurus or trumpeters who gained celebrity solely through the worldwide web.

While enameled paper and improved printing processes cannot improve the words that get printed, they certainly help us make better use of all the fine photos and artwork our readers, writers and advertisers send us. I’ve always believed that a turd wrapped in tinsel was still a turd and a good product should be delivered in a good package. I hope others agree with this logic.

As for too many ads, I would say that to the best of my knowledge we are the only outdoor publication in Texas that adjusts monthly page count based upon the number of ads sold. From the very beginning I promised we would not let this magazine become a glorified catalog of outdoor goods and I have kept that. Our goal was and remains the maintenance of a 50/50 balance. Most months we run between 45 and 50%; thus far our “worst” issue contained 52% advertising.

My caller friend agreed to continue reading when I offered a position on my Reader/Advisor Team. I told him we might not always agree but I’d listen if he would; so far I have ten members helping me with this magazine. Please email or call if you would like to join, and as always, the very best of fishing to you. (Email to: everett@tsfmag.com or call 361-550-3637.)

Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

April 22, 2007 Dear Editor, I have been buying the Gulf Coast Connections-Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine for a couple of months now and just signed up for a subscription. In your magazine I saw where you will send copies to our troops overseas. I would like to commend everyone associated with the magazine for this gift to our troops. I know everyone of them is thrilled to get any correspondence from home.

Enclosed is my son’s information who is currently serving a 15 month tour in Iraq. He shipped over in late October of 2006 so has until February of 2008 when he returns to Ft. Hood, Texas, God willing. He is the Executive Officer for a Med Evac Helicopter Battalion.

Being stationed in Texas before his deployment and his love to fish on the Texas coast I am sure he will appreciate and really look forward every month to your fine magazine being sent to him.

Thanks again for this commendable and generous gift.

Sincerely, William D. Price

Dear William, Thanks for writing. We’ll get your son added to our mailing list!

Editor

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Hello Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, My name is Joel Martinez and I live in Kyle, TX. I am currently serving my country in Iraq and I am a friend of SGT Moore who has written to you several times.

He said we should send some of our fishing photos from an R&R trip we took this past March to Hawaii.

I caught 6 mahi mahi fishing on the Wild Bunch; the largest of them being 48lbs. I want to thank you for supporting us and sending Texas Saltwater Fishing to the troops, it has been a boost to morale and given us a taste of home.

We love reading the magazine and look forward to when we will get back to Texas.

Again, I appreciate your support.

Hoohah!

Joel Martinez

July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

t seems like only last night, bobbing

articles written about wade fishing at night.

growing “Green Light” crowd, and basically

quietly at anchor, head resting on

I promised myself (and a few fraternal

an exponential number of anglers looking

a mildewed life jacket, patiently

brothers) that I would never speak of this,

for something interesting to do. Never mind

awaiting the sound of feeding fish to

much less write about it. After all this was

the other night traffic such as commercials,

pull me back into the water. Sleep

sacred territory and not something to be

flounder boats, dope runners, or slow kids in

deprivation and shooting stars made it easy

shared outside the most trusted inner-circle

daddy’s go-fast boat. We had several close

to contemplate the meaning of life, but the

of pluggers. I’ve held off writing about it

encounters back then, but it’s easier to get

reality of bloody mosquito bites kept most

for about eight years now, after doing it for

cut up out there nowadays… literally. It may

thoughts on survival plane. What in the world

about twenty. However, times have changed

be just a matter of time before we read about

was I doing in this physically exhausting,

and most of us could agree that with a

something that we don’t want to. So with that

cold, space-disorienting, fantasy world? I

growing population of boat-happy people

in mind, let’s try to review a few trivial bits of

knew full well what I was doing there, and so

there are increasing safety issues at hand,

reality here.

do a few others of like persuasion; because

and near-miss horror stories abound. I am

whatever the day might mean to fishing,

breaking my silence.

the secrets of the night surpass anything ‘normal’ people might experience.

Over the years there have been many

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

Unlike twenty years ago we now have

Navigating at night, much less wadefishing, is not something you just casually go out and do. It took us years to master the art

no-brainer GPS’s lending false confidence,

through many trials and Homer Simpson-like

more all-nighter tournaments, an ever-

tribulations. We started the hard way with a

July 2007

sudden storm blew my boat off

credit goes to Rudy Grigar), you may look

anchor and me off of a steep

down to see a large redfish resting on your

drop-off. The topwater bite

left bootie, or find humping dolphins doing

was awesome right before it

U-turns at your kneecaps as they herd trout

hit, though! Today you can see

against a shallow bar. When they do that, the

storms building on cell phone

smell of trout carnage rivals any summertime

radar, back then you went by

cleaning table. That is, of course, if you can

the ratio of hair stiffening on

smell it above your own emissions.

your neck.

I will forever deny running

Without a spotlight you’d never see that Green 29 channel marker.

Sharks are fun too, cruising in to check you out, leaving you bumping into each other

a Pathfinder forty feet up a

and seeing who makes the most whitewater

soft-shelled bank near Pepper

getting the heck out of there.

Grove Point, fooled by an un-

World class stingarees are interesting.

navigable fog, no sleep, and a

The adrenaline rush of being propelled three

slow-updating GPS. I did not

feet sideways when an errant footstep lands

cower in the three-cubic-foot front

on an underwater magic carpet will keep

hatch bleeding a slow death from

you awake.

intensely opportunistic marsh

You can also learn to fend off frigatebirds

mosquitoes. I did have the whole

with six-foot wingspans as they try to land on

point to myself though.

your head, and pelicans are fun to unhook

Neither did I punch a hole

from the only topwater that is working.

through the bow of my boat on a submerged piling along the edge of the ICW twenty-five

of the night, here are a few other random

miles from the ramp, right after a

observations:

barge blinded me with its spotlight

u Despite all associated rumor and

during an already blinding norther.

lore, full moons basically suck—except for

Amazingly, the big fish fed very

very specific circumstances. We’ve walked

well right up until that one hit too.

enough of them to figure that one out. And as

I have never nearly frozen to

the solunar stuff and where the solunar chart

wandering trying to find a lost

you see in this magazine came from. u Just like during daylight, there are

moved twenty yards after the

many hours of dead period at night, but

sun went down. I have not, and I

when everything turns on it is explosive to

repeat, have not, walked five miles

say the least.

out of the marsh after sticking the

u It’s also a myth that fish always pull

boat high on a nocturnal sandbar,

in shallow after dark. It seems like the most

nor taken a redheaded duck in the

productive water, for bigger fish anyway, was

head or a horse mullet in the face

universally found about crotch deep, perfect

after spooking it with a spotlight

for those curious bull sharks too.

going thirty mph. I have never

stopwatch, compass, depthfinder, and a few

a matter of fact, that’s how we learned about

death during disoriented winter boat, nor bounced off a reef that

When your boat is the only light shining it can get spooky.

Should you decide to address the magic

u While we’re at it the black topwater at

done a diving face plant trying

night notion is silly too. Both trout and reds

to avoid another nighttime boater

have incredible detection systems and will

with no spotlight. I/we

find anything you can move in or on the water

well-placed reflective stakes driven in key

have experienced many other valuable

if they are looking

spots just above the high tide line. By the

lessons, though.

for it, and so will

hard way, there are a few entertaining stories which come to humble mind.

I remember bobbing neck deep for over

Wading at night you will hear, see, and

ladyfish, gafftop,

smell things the daytime crowd probably

hardheads, and

never will. Life at night can be somewhat

all sorts of other

eight hours, toes barely touching bottom

interactive, though. Between “wall-to-wall”

critters you

between waves, waiting for sun-up after a

schools of surface-chomping fish (wall-to-wall

didn’t expect.

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

11

anchor light on. Although that tiny glimmer will do you zero good when heavy fog rolls in, and it eventually will.

Common sense is the best main ingredient when running at night. Rocks and reefs move, ducks fly, mullet jump, logs float, and distant lights will disorient even the best nighttime mariners. How many of you truly possess a good working knowledge of navigational lighting, such as on a dredge or tow boat, or their at-anchor lighting? These are things you will need to consider very seriously as the wrong side of a dredge is not a nice place to find yourself.

Although it cost me greatly in some ways, nighttime wade-fishing was an incurable compulsion for many years, regardless of other responsibilities or even common sense at times. It’s like the TV show Planet Earth up close and personal, where you get to experience nature in its true and unmolested element, but it is not something you should do on a whim. Y’all be careful. See you there, but only if you use those lights, reflectors, and mosquito dope.

You sure you want to do this?

Your nighttime navigation tools; and by the way, that GPS cannot show you a floating log. u They don’t always like a lot of noise

For one, a GPS is great, but so is a

either. Even when you can’t see your hand

buddy sweeping the forward path with a

in front of your face, they have no problem

spotlight. It’s hard to pay attention to both,

picking off a clear MirrOlure floating silently

and that GPS won’t show you floating logs

across a current-swept sandbar.

or other wacky waders standing in the water without headlights. It is imperative to have a

We could go on storytelling and there

me, some will still not see you or understand

of helping others become good night

what that little frantic light means.

fishermen. However, I personally believe

12

headlight to warn incoming boaters, but trust

are many topics to discuss in the hope

Anchoring your boat means making

that learning to do anything well needs

good decisions also. You want it out of

to come from experience, and I can’t

normal run lanes and with enough scope to

(and won’t) offer that. However, there are

hold it in case that bad storm gets on you…

certainly some how-to-be-safe-at-night

which it eventually will. Reflective tape on

subjects worth mentioning.

a boat is a good thing, so is leaving your

Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

13

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

15

I

n his prime, he had been willing to serve all the people. If they called and showed interest, he took them fishing, from the beginners, drifters and bait soakers, all the way to the hardcore, hardware chunking wade-only trout snobs. He put them on big fish in Baffin Bay and the Laguna Madre back in the good old days, when thirty inch trout were as easy to find as the whitetails along Park Road 22.

There was the time he took the host of a popular fishing show out for some live bait action in late-spring. The celebrity angler caught three trout over thirty inches! Everyone in the boat caught at least one, and together they boxed a limit of forty trout and twelve reds that weighed nearly three hundred pounds. In those days, few people considered putting some fish back for tomorrow, especially the big ones. There were egos to be stroked on the screen and bragging rights to be earned at the dock.

Squealing children, old ladies in floppy hats, frat boys, business executives in street clothes and all other sorts of folks caught giant trout and numerous redfish back then. The guide had fun watching all of them, sharing in their joy over the ridiculously easy fishing and sending them home with their share of the bounty.

Eventually, he became more interested in the clients who were willing to wade and throw artificial lures, particularly the ones who wanted to focus on trophy trout instead of the reds. Over time, as the old sow specks became more scarce, he came to relish the challenge of consistently finding and tricking them, and he reveled in the pleasure of watching the acrobatic antics they often display after they’re hooked.

He began to weed out the bait soakers and drifters in favor of those who wanted to fish his favorite way. They were content to wade, to chunk

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

and wind all day, waiting for one big bite, but normally catching plenty of quality trout and reds along the way. Lure designers began to dream up and make new and better tools for them to use to take the trout that made his home waters famous.

One foggy February morning, he and two clients found a school of titanic trout feeding on a shallow sand and grass flat surrounded on both sides by rocks and deep water. Casting at mud stirs and suspicious swirls, the three managed to hook twenty of the monsters, landing fourteen, the smallest at twenty eight inches, the largest at nearly thirty four, weighing over thirteen pounds.

Five others weighed in the double digits! They caught them all on a lure that was new at the time, a slow-sinking, soft-bodied mullet imitator that would revolutionize trout fishing in Texas.

His face was displayed in magazines and newspapers all over the state soon after the sun burned off the mists that morning; he was beaming behind those colossal specks who still had the lures dangling from their saffron-fringed lips in the pictures. Because of that trip, many other trophy seekers came, and times were good for the guide, his clients and the lure makers too.

They didn’t catch as many trout over thirty as they had back in the day, but the fishing remained better than in most of the rest of the state, and they let almost all of the big ones go. He began to limit the harvest they took, even offering a discount to those who fished purely catch and release. They were in it for the sport, and they came to his waters for the chance at a lifetimebest trout, not to take home a heavy sack of fillets.

For more than a decade, life was good; the money flowed down the serpentine highways south and east into his tan, callous hands. He was posting reports and pictures on the internet, finding new customers now and then and fishing

July 2007

regularly with those he had met earlier and kept.

Toward the end of his run, his business reached a plateau, then began to shrink, and the long years of wading and baking in the sun took some of the vigor from him.

Sometime after the turn of the millennium, the rising taxes and insurance on his home in Padre Isles subdivision threatened to price him out of the neighborhood. He’d raised his fees to equal those of the other prominent guides up and down the coast. But as the hordes of people scrambled to develop every inch of the last stretch of Texas beachfront, they drove the prices higher and higher, and he became unwilling or unable to afford to stay.

He knew he had to find another place to live, and by the time his last black Lab bitch could no longer stand on her worn out hips, he had her put to rest and resolved to go somewhere and start over again. Not wanting to move into town where the cost of living was cheaper, he devised an alternative plan, one that would take him away from the skyrocketing costs of living in such a popular place.

He called up a young friend who had rights to a floating cabin in The Badlands and worked out a deal where he could live there for a monthly fee.

Then he sold his home and all possessions that belong on land and stuffed the other things into his boat, leaving behind a modern life and returning to an ancient-seeming one. Living atop the waves, he plied his trade within them.

His young friend would bring food and supplies when he made his own fishing trips, always arriving with five brimming tanks of gas and leaving with empty ones. They’d talk about where the fish were biting and how the old guide had been. The young one would bring what little mail arrived in the old man’s box and sometimes

a newspaper for him to read; it didn’t matter how many days had passed since it was printed, as it was all news to him.

Like Santiago and Manolin in The Old Man and the Sea, they shared a mutual respect built from a love of fishing. The apprentice watched out for his venerable mentor, who tutored him on the ways of the fish and in the art of catching them.

At first, the hermit guide would drive his boat to Bird Island Basin to pick up the customers who called and wanted to fish. He did all of his bookings by cell phone, after setting up one of those antennae amplifiers so he’d have service in his tiny, bobbing home. But as more time passed, he didn’t even want to go as far north as the basin, so he made the customers come to him.

The clients came in their own boats and met him on the porch of his buoyant home. They then climbed into his yellowed, rusty craft to do the fishing from it; his GPS was stocked with all

the routes and waypoints, uncharted rocks and pipes, anchor sites and fishing holes. Mostly, he didn’t really need the gadget to get around safely, but there were places no one could possibly find without it, especially in the inky night or on a foggy morning.

He came to a point where he would only book those who agreed to come and stay for at least one night with him, knowing that two days of fishing would give a greater chance of hitting a hot bite and catching a few big fish. While they visited, he cooked for them and shared some conversation, but his social skills dulled as the days in the cabin turned to months and more.

When they left, he stuffed the cash he earned under the mildewed mattress next to the propane stove until he could give it to his young friend to pay for provisions and rent. Having no bank account or way to cash checks, he didn‘t even ask what was done with his money after the bills were paid.

July 2007

As the number of clients began to wane with the decline in his fame, he became more content spending time and fishing alone. Some nights, when he could hear tell-tale explosions through the open window of his cabin, he’d slide out among the rocks and potholes under the silvery light of the moon and watch the phosphorous fly when the fish blew up on his plug and shook their heads in attempt to deny the mistake they’d made.

Other times, people would see his boat anchored far up on some super-skinny flat and would spy him shin-deep in the middle grounds all alone, wandering slowly, not casting, merely hoping to spot and sight cast one great trout. They didn’t know, but he wouldn’t even try to catch those under about eight pounds or so; he would wait for the truly epic fish. Sometimes, he’d spend three days searching for one opportunity to satisfy his undying urge.

When the crowds of spring gathered, he could be seen sitting on his porch, legs dangling in

Texas Saltwater Fishing

17

the water, watching the people whiz by in their shiny, brightly painted speed boats. At night, his silhouette appeared framed in lantern light inside the square window on the side of his cabin, while he was reading, eating or simply staring across the water.

The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. He fished, he slept and he ate.

Some of the grease poppers he caught went into his frying pan; all of the long fish were released to live another day.

As the two of them got older, the young friend who was also the old one’s landlord began to worry about him. “You need to come in with me and go to the doctor for a check up,” he told him.

“Some of those spots on the back of your neck and hands should be looked at. And you might need some medication for high blood pressure or cholesterol.”

“Don’t trust them city doctors,” the old guide replied. “If you can get one to come out here, I’ll let him look at me, otherwise forget it.” The wrinkles around his bright blue eyes testified to the sincerity of what he said. He simply did not want to return to land any longer, even if doing so might prolong his life.

Often, when the young one came, they said little or nothing to each other. When a war started and the old one was told of it, he simply nodded and grunted, “Hummpf”, not because he was

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

disinterested or insensitive to the plight of the soldiers whose lives were at stake, but because he no longer knew what to say or even cared to pretend that he did.

One weekend, the cabin owner found his tenant dead on the bunk in the corner of the floater, lying peacefully with arms folded over his chest, a book of faded photos in his hands, a dusty, stuffed thirty three inch trout hanging on the wall over his head.

When the young one pried the album from the stiff fingers of his cold mentor, he noticed that the picture book was not turned to a fishing photo, but to a blurred black and white image of a young woman, a girl really. Weeping softly, the apprentice shut the lifeless eyelids and wrapped his frail old friend in a sheet, then placed his body carefully in the stern of his boat for a final ride to land, realizing that he had never asked about his former life. He didn’t know who the woman was, if she had been his wife, lover, mother, sister or friend.

The old hermit who had been a fine guide died childless, homeless and all alone. But he had lived the way he wanted to and had spent his time doing what he loved. That’s a better fate than most people know.

The young man had him cremated, then donated what was left of his old friend’s money to a local university in the form of a scholarship

July 2007

to be given to a student pursuing a doctorate in marine biology, specifically one who would study Cynoscion nebulosus, the guide’s favorite quarry.

After the flames had reduced the old one to ashes, the young one took him back to The Badlands and sifted his remains into the waves washing over a familiar set of rocks that had produced memorable fish for both of them.

Some of us can feel the old boy’s presence there to this day. When the full moon comes out and paints its silver sheen on the dark, clear waters, the wind sometimes seems to whisper a soft dirge in honor of him. On nights like those, we are content to let the old guide turned hermit have the spot all to himself!

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odie saw the boat running in circles with no captain at the helm and his eyes quickly scanned the surrounding water for people who may have been thrown overboard. In the wake left by the boat on its last pass, he saw two heads bob up and he pushed the throttle of his own boat all the way forward.

The boat was now coming back in a slightly wider circle and, to Bodie’s horror, he saw the two people were swimming in a direction that would allow the boat to intercept and run over them. He changed course and rammed the side of the errant vessel, causing it to veer away from the hapless swimmers. He throttled back and watched as the boat began making a much wider circle and he idled over to pull the folks out of the water. The man and the young lady were already offering ‘thank you’ as he pulled them onto the deck. But before introductions and before he let them pat him on the back; he barked orders.

“I’m going to pull alongside your boat and I want you to climb in and shut it down, can you manage that?” The man didn’t speak; he just nodded his head up and down. Bodie brought his boat up onto plane and in a moment was sliding up against the circling craft. Bodie told the man to go but he froze and looked at Bodie as if he didn’t know what to do.

With his kill switch lanyard attached, Bodie jumped into the unmanned boat, pulled the throttle back then made a turn to the outside until he was heading back to his own boat, which was sitting dead in the water. Bodie noticed with disgust that the kill switch lanyard of the boat was looped neatly around the throttle and wondered if people will ever learn.

Easing up to his boat he pulled along side and looked into the frightened faces of the man and woman. “What happened?” Bodie asked. The man who at that moment looked like he wanted to be 22

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Story by Martin Strarup/Illustration by Ben Beaty anywhere but right there shrugged his shoulders and looked past Bodie focusing on something only he could see. The girl said, “We were idling along watching some birds working, I lost my balance and fell against the throttle.” “The next thing I knew I was in the water and Mr. Fails was swimming to me.” “The boat kept coming closer and closer and then you showed up.” “Thank you!”

The man looked at Bodie now and said thanks as well and Bodie told them to be careful and looking right into the eyes of Mr. Fails told them to wear their kill switch lanyard when the boat was in gear. He helped them into their boat, reattached the lanyard to the ignition and started his outboard. The girl looked at Bodie and said something about paying him for his trouble but Bodie shook his head, smiled and pushed away from their boat. As he got up on plane he looked back at them and he hoped that Mr. Fails would remember what he had told them. Bodie couldn’t help but think to himself that the girl was a looker and that was for sure and certain.

Tommy Meyers was cutting across the bay and he saw Bodie’s boat leaving a boat he didn’t recognize, so being the nosey fellow that he is, Tommy steered towards the unknown boat. As he pulled up, Tommy noticed the two people were putting on life jackets and asked if everything was all right. “Everything is fine thanks to that good July 2007

looking cowboy that just left”, said the girl. “I sure wish I would have gotten his name.” Tommy puffed out his chest and jabbing a thumb in the direction that Bodie had taken said, “Why that’s Bodie Allen, the ramrod of the Lazy C ranch and MY best friend!”

The girl smiled at Tommy who immediately turned four shades of red and asked if Tommy knew where she might find Bodie. “Why sure I do. Right now he’s probably heading in to put his boat in the sling and then he’ll be cleaning his fish, ‘cause Bodie always catches fish and then…”

Tommy stammered but the girl interrupted him and said, “Just tell me where he will be in an hour or so, please?” “Oh that’s easy; he’ll be at Haddon’s Place ‘cause that’s where ME and Bodie always go after a day of fishing.”

The girl and the man said goodbye to Tommy and sped away. As they turned to go the girl blew a kiss just as Tommy was shifting his chew of tobacco from one side of his mouth to the other.

Gagging and choking, and without Bodie there to slap him on the back, Tommy flopped around in the bottom of his boat until he swallowed the vile stuff and then peaked over the gunnels to see if anyone had seen his “near death experience.”

Tommy was pretty close at predicting where Bodie would be in an hour, and Bodie would have been at Haddon’s Place, except he decided to take a shower at the boat barn first. When he pulled up

to Haddon’s he noticed a large crowd out front and wondered if someone had brought in a bragging sized trout. Tommy Meyers waddled out from the crowd and grabbed Bodie as he was getting out of his truck. “Bodie you won’t believe it you won’t believe it in a million years I just know you won’t believe it”, Tommy said. Bodie grabbed Tommy and asked, “Now just what is it that I won’t believe Tommy Boy?” “The girl’s rich Bodie, I’m telling you she’s richer than rich, she’s plumb wealthy Bodie!”

Tommy said.

Curious now, Bodie made his way through the crowd and saw the stretch limousine idling across Haddon’s parking lot. “Now ain’t that a sight,” said Bodie to no one in particular. Bodie shook his head and started to walk into the bar when a hand grabbed him firmly by the left arm. Bodie turned to look at whoever had him and saw a man in a black suit wearing a funny looking cap. “Partner, Bodie said… unless you’re not particularly fond of that hand, I’d suggest you let go of my arm.” The man jerked his hand away and apologizing profusely asked, “I’m terribly sorry sir, might you be Mr. Allen?” Bodie squinted at the man and replied, “Mr. Allen was my Daddy but he passed a good number of years ago… I’m Bodie Allen.”

“Very good, Mr., ah, Bodie Allen, sir… I’m Bradley Shaw, Mr. Seller’s personal chauffer and I was told that you would be here and I was instructed to tell you that you are invited to Mr. Seller’s home for dinner.” Bodie knew the name Sellers. There was a Douglas Sellers who had just bought twenty thousand acres near the Lazy C and had built one humdinger of a mansion on the place.

They ran no cattle and they had no hired hands that Bodie had noticed and Mr. Connor had said that he thought they were going to subdivide the acreage and turn the old ranch into one big mess.

“Would Mr. Sellers be Douglas Sellers”, Bodie asked? “That he would be and he’s more than eager to make your acquaintance”, said Bradley Shaw. “Well, I’m sorry that you had to wait, but tell Mr. Sellers that Eloisa should have a cold beer sitting next to a big chicken fried steak for me and I would just hate to see that go to waste.” “But Mr., I mean, Bodie Allen sir, Mr. Sellers specifically told me to bring you back for dinner so he can thank you for saving his daughter’s life,” stammered a now flustered Bradley Shaw.

Tommy clawed at Bodie’s arm, “Bodie, they’re rich, wealthy even, and you done saved a rich girl from getting ran over by a boat and they want to thank you… seems the least you could do would be to go to dinner and take me along to watch your back for you.” “I mean they might have some of that Patty fur grass that I’ve seen them rich folks eat on the TV and we, I mean you, wouldn’t want to miss that would you?”

“Mr. Shaw, my friend would like to go with me, but I’m afraid that neither one of us is dressed right for a fancy sit down dinner”, said Bodie. “Posh

Tosh”, said Bradley Shaw, “I can assure you sir that your manner of dress is not important, not important in the least!” Bodie stuck his head into Haddon’s and yelled, “Eloisa, keep it warm for me and give my beer to EJ, he looks plumb thirsty… we’ll be back before closing.”

Tommy Meyers was so busy opening and closing the moon roof on the limo that he almost didn’t find the hide-a-way bar. He just happened to hit the release button with his knee and the top of a cabinet opened and crystal decanters of various types of booze rose up from inside just like Lazarus. “Holy Smokes Bodie”, Tommy exclaimed.

“There’s more booze here than there is at Mr. Connor’s Christmas parties!” “Can we drink some, can we?”

The partition that separated Bradley Shaw from Bodie and Tommy slid down and Bradley told them to help themselves to a drink. He also told them that they would find the ice and glasses below the bar. “I’ll mix the drinks Bodie,” Tommy said, and he went about pouring and mixing until he figured that he had them just right and handed one to Bodie.

Tommy took a big gulp of his and started sputtering and spitting, gagging and coughing, and luckily Bodie was around this time to slap Tommy on the back and bring him out of it.

“Don’t drink it Bodie, that Bourbon has done ruined,” Tommy said. Bodie laughed at Tommy and said, “That’s not Bourbon, Tommy, that’s Scotch. Judging from the taste and smell, I’d say really expensive Scotch at that.” “People PAY for that? That’s horrible stuff… I wonder if one of these here jugs has some Jack Daniels in it?” wondered Tommy.

The limo pulled up to a gate and Bradley Shaw rolled down the window and pressed a code into the keypad. The electric gates rolled open and they July 2007

proceeded down the recently paved road. Bodie could see the sprawling mansion, lit up brighter than an offshore drilling rig.

The limo pulled up in front of a huge flagstone staircase that led up to the biggest doors Bodie had ever seen. They reminded him of the big doors he’d seen at a museum in Houston. Bodie looked at the way the house had been made and thought that the architect had known what he was doing.

Everything was built up and it would take a really big storm tide for water to get inside the house.

Bradley Shaw opened the door for them and Tommy climbed over Bodie to be the first out of the limo. Bodie followed and the huge front doors of the mansion began to open.

To be continued next month…

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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Fast and seaworthy, this boat will offer a great fishing platform for inshore and nearshore big game fishing.

y entire life has been focused upon the search for high adventure and to feel the adrenalin pumping through my veins like the flow of seawater between coastal jetties. It has always been that way with me. Turning 60 years of age has only increased the desire for it.

For eight years now the sargassum has made life miserable for surf fishers during the first five months of the year. As of late May it is making driving conditions on the beaches of PINS horrible and often doesn’t allow fishing at all.

Attempts to fill this time frame with traditional bay boat fishing charters has not proven successful; especially since I have no interest whatsoever in “croaker soaking meat haul charters.” I love trout and redfish, but my interest is in big fish rather than numbers. Whenever

Jeffrey and Austin Wolda of Bulverde, TX. with a nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtle on PINS beach – 19 May 2007.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

possible I prefer to use artificials.

My favorite is big game style fishing for tarpon, sharks and large jack crevalle on all types of tackle. I have worked to formulate a plan for increasing my number of charters that would focus on big game fishing when conditions were not conducive to fishing in the PINS surf, but a piece of the puzzle was missing. Then the answer showed up in 8’ seas on the PINS beach one night with various federal law enforcement agencies in hot pursuit. The answer was a 25’ Mexican Panga carrying 3,000 pounds of marijuana, three 55 gallon fuel drums and 4 Mexican nationals.

It was true love at first sight and I knew she was the boat I had yearned for all these years. Narrow beamed, fast and exceptionally seaworthy; the Panga is utilized worldwide by commercial fishermen, inshore and offshore, and

Three generations of Sarradets with a nesting Kemp’s ridley, 6 June 2007.

July 2007

is designed for maximum results with minimum maintenance and horsepower. I spent 1½ years attempting to procure such a hull but I could tell that this particular boat exhibited a higher grade of workmanship than others I had seen.

Then out of the blue a friend called to tell me such a boat was being auctioned off by the U. S. Marshall’s Service locally. Upon investigation I was amazed to find it was the same boat I had yearned for so long. I bought it at auction and after four months of extensive outfitting for increased comfort, safety and big game fishing; I had spent a small fortune and launched her on 23 May. Richard Ridgway of Boat and Outboard Repair in Flour Bluff; (phone 361-946-1751), did a bang-up job of rehabbing the Yamaha 200 HP V6 outboard and John and Wanda Hobbs of John’s Fiberglass Specialty and Boat Repair in Port

One of three jacks Kyle Sarradet caught recently from the PINS surf.

Grandfather and father sharing and teaching as Kyle Sarradet fights 10# jack crevalle on light tackle.

O’Connor; (phone 361-935-4323), did a fine job of decking, building and installing the custom center console, fuel tanks and storage compartments.

John and Wanda rebuilt and re-rigged the boat in a very timely manner. Both of these companies were a pleasure to do business with and I would recommend them to anyone in need.

Long time readers may remember a story I wrote a while back about my papa and me encountering a very large lemon shark on the south shoreline of Copano Bay at night when I was a small boy. Since then I have never doubted the presence of various-sized sharks of several species being encountered in local bay systems.

On 18 May, 2007, Randall Rickerson landed a 9’ bull shark that weighed 513 pounds in Lydia Ann Channel near Mud Island in Aransas Bay. This fish is a new pending state record for the species and has stirred lots of interest from wade fishers.

Imagine that!

After the appearance of a mako on the shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay near Texas A&M last year that was reported to have been hooked earlier by bay fishers near Mud Island, biologists are pondering the abundance of large sharks in our bays. Studies are underway to see if this is a “new” behavior due to climatic change or a long overlooked one. Personally I much prefer to report data than read it and it has occurred to me that this is a wonderful opportunity to offer an unusual

type of charter in our bay systems.

The Mexican Pangas are known by the common name of “shark boats” and that is what many of them do for a living in the open sea around the world. So with an upgraded version of the right craft for such an endeavor, I will be offering artificial only wade-fishing charters for trout and reds for up to 5 anglers and big game fishing charters utilizing various tackle and techniques and targeting tarpon, sharks and large jack crevalle for up to 3 customers in bay systems as well as nearshore Gulf of Mexico in addition to my regular PINS surf charters.

The Panga brings new opportunity and I will be taking advantage by expanding my bay charter services. I will be offering charter trips from West Matagorda Bay to Port Mansfield. Espiritu Santo Bay is simply too well known for large tarpon and West Matagorda Bay is too well known for large numbers of large sharks to miss the opportunity of experiencing it firsthand and being able to share these fisheries with customers. It’s going to be exciting to offer multiple day packages with different agendas and targeting totally different species back to back.

I have been interacting with bull sharks for over 40 years and have upon occasion been able to target specific individuals that have become territorial in a particular area. Cool stuff.

Usually we catch it, although it may take a few days. An interesting thing I learned was that when you catch, tag and release an adult bull shark it immediately leaves the area and is not encountered there again.

Think about that a minute. Not only are we doing some high adrenalin catch and release big game fishing in bay systems and furnishing data to the scientific community but, we are also removing a very real threat to local wade fishers without even having to kill the shark. If that ain’t a win-win situation I don’t know what is.

No shark will be intentionally killed on these charters and we will always keep the safety of wade fishers in the area foremost in our minds

The newly reworked 25’ Mexican Panga on her shakedown cruise.

while engaged in bay shark fishing. The ordinary has never appealed to me; just ain’t my nature. But this scenario sure does. I would not recommend this for the faint of heart or infirm of body but those who would like to experience a genuine grand adventure just give me a call. What a hoot!

Be Careful, Be Courteous, Be Kind

CAPT. BILLY SANDIFER

Billy operates Padre Island Safaris.

His specialties are fishing for sharks to specks in the Padre Island surf and bayfishing for trout and redfish from a poled skiff.

Contact Billy Sandifer Telephone 361-937-8446 Website www.billysandifer.com

Boobies are large, fish-eating divers of the open sea. The masked booby is the species most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico. The specimen pictured here is a juvenile resting on PINS. These birds rarely come to shore other than to breed and raise their young. The adult has an all white head, black face mask, and broad trailing edges to its wings. The masked booby the largest and heaviest of the booby family, prefers deep water, and executes near vertical dives when fishing.

Colonial breeders on marine islands, the adult masked booby has a body length of about 34-inches and wingspan of 60-inches. Anglers will often mistake masked boobies for pelicans due to their diving, but their profile is more slender and their wing beat is smoother. Also white pelicans seem bay oriented while the brown pelicans are in the surf. So, large white birds with black wing feathers in the open gulf or near shore are more apt to be masked boobies than white pelicans. Their repeated diving alerts Gulf anglers to the presence of baitfish.

July 2007

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echnology is a great thing; the endless uses for gadgets and other electronic forms of communication have transformed a once very simple sport into a highly technical and ever evolving event.

Perhaps my most favorite piece of technology has to be satellite imagery found readily on the internet. The photos of any bay system are right there at your fingertips and only a mouse click away. I know from speaking with countless tournament anglers from both fresh and saltwater backgrounds that satellite images help them to “weed out� bad water in order to concentrate on more productive locales. In years past many B.A.S.S. anglers would rent planes and fly over lakes in order to get a better vantage point, nowadays, all you have to do is point and click. Once you find a potential fishing area there is still some work to be done and this is where it gets exciting. The thrill of running somewhere and the feeling of discovery is almost as much fun as actually catching fish.

Arriving at the vacant launch with temperatures already starting to climb, Ron Begnaud and I prepared to head out in search of some willing redfish in a stretch of marsh that we had found on a satellite map of the area. Begnaud, who lives

Aaron Hommel showing off a beautiful fly-caught marsh red from the border marshes.

Barry Teare with a bruiser marsh red.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

One of the rewards an angler can enjoy by seeking adventure in unknown water.

in Lake Charles Louisiana, is about as hardcore a marsh fisherman as I know and many of our conversations begin and end with thoughts of new and unexplored regions of the marshes that border Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes. Finding a prime redfish pond that has no fishing pressure is like finding the Hope diamond in a gumball machine; it probably won’t happen, but look out if it does.

Armed with aerial maps, topographical charts fly rods and other associated gear we set out in search of parts unknown, at least unknown to us.

Our quest to find some un-pressured water was soon rewarded as the Maverick skiff came down off plane and settled into the dark clear water of a large marsh pond. In an instant we could see the wakes of cruising fish as well as the tails of some feeding reds. This place was full of potential and void of any traffic, we had found a jewel.

After a coin flip to decide who would take the poling platform first, I got the honors of casting to the first fish. A small group of redfish were gathered up and feeding intently as Ron pushed the skiff into range. At first I didn’t know if I wanted to cast or take a picture, the redfish had their tails high above the water and they were backlit by the sun in an amazing display of red and copper. Much to my dismay the camera was still fogged up from the change of temperatures, going from the air-conditioned truck to the summer heat will do that. Without the camera option I was “forced” to go ahead and cast. The

Orvis T3 7-weight fly rod loaded up and sent one of Begnaud’s “Ron’s Red Chaser” flies directly at the feeding fish. The cast was accurate and the redfish were receptive, the strike was almost immediate.

The big redfish took plenty of line as the other fish scattered and muddied up the shallow water.

The fight lasted ten minutes or so until the big red finally gave up.

As Begnaud slipped the Boga Grip into the fish’s mouth we both were amazed at the size of this bruiser. The Boga registered 12 pounds and the fish taped out at 33 inches, an extremely nice fish for the marsh.

The day continued to be good as both Ron and I landed more redfish in our own private little pond. The plan had worked perfectly and we were rewarded with great fishing and no pressure from any other boats. As a matter of fact we never saw another boat anywhere close to our area, truly amazing by today’s standards. The effort we put forth to get away from the crowd is work that most folks are not willing to do. That little extra effort can mean the difference between fishing and great fishing. In almost every saltwater venue on the coast there are some out of the way places that receive little or no pressure, these places are the hidden treasures that many folks dream about. They are there for those who are willing to find them.

The day ended with a bang as Ron landed the final redfish and we headed for the dock.

The endless maze of marshgrass-lined canals promised more fishing in the July 2007

near future. Even though we had found a great new place to fish both Ron and I knew that surely there must be others in the same area. Over the hum of the Yamaha outboard in the background we both agreed that we would back, and soon.

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29

t all started with a phone call from a friend, Keith

important. Walt said he consistently catches

Kolaja, and then an invitation to join a

more big fish around a

fishing trip to Baffin Bay. I just turned

full moon or a new moon

50 this year and have been trout fishing

that any other time of

all my life, but never been to Baffin. We went down Sunday, March 15th and fished Sunday

the month.

Five of us met Walt

afternoon, Monday all day and Tuesday morning.

on Sunday, April 15th

The wind was howling all three days. I’m talking

about noon and headed

30 MPH sustained winds with gusts 35-40. Our

out on the water. He said

guide, Walt Kalinowsky with Riptide Fishing

they had been catching

Adventures, said it was going to be tough but we

some nice trout in

managed to catch some nice trout. The thing I

Alazon so we sent there

was amazed with was the number of large trout

first. We managed to

that we caught. I have a house in Port O’Connor

catch some fish, but not

and fish for trout pretty much all year long there.

what we were looking

I might catch 4 or 5 specks over 25” in a year.

for. Monday morning we

But in Baffin we caught more than that on this

went back to Alazon and

one trip.

waded a big sand flat but

I was hooked. Keith and I talked with Walt

only picked up a few nice

Paul Kooi getting in on the act with a Baffin heavy.

and booked another trip a month later. Both of

fish. The wind had come

these trips were on a new moon which was very

up and was blowing 25 – 30 MPH by noon. We

you, we are all lined up doing the same thing.

area on the King

We were all getting blow-ups and catching solid

Ranch Shoreline that

trout. I’m kind of known as “The Camera Man”

we had fished the trip

in our group. I always try to carry a camera

before when the wind

with me while wading. It’s easy when wearing

was blowing so hard.

waders but you have to get creative during the

Wow, what a

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

summer months.

difference. The water

Danny English was the first to catch a big

was about waist deep

trout; it was 28” and weighed about 7# on the

and full of mullet.

Boga. I waded over to him, took some pictures,

We all lined up and

helped measure the big girl and he let her go

began chunking top

to be caught another day. I was walking away;

waters. Walt had

I made a cast and immediately hook up on

been catching his big

another big fish. We couldn’t believe it! I caught

trout on an orange

this fish and got her in my new Ego-Brand

Skitterwalk with

net. Danny was right there, so he helped me

gold sides. I didn’t

measure this one. It was 29” long and weighed

see any reason to

about 8# on the Boga Grip. We took some more

try anything else.

pictures then I let her go.

As with most fishing Bill Pitts with first Baffin Bay trophy — 31 inches and 9 pounds.

bet each day for the largest trout. Now, mind

moved to a protected

buddies we had a July 2007

In a matter of about 10 minutes we had both caught out largest trout ever. I had caught

Paul Kooi netting a fat 28’er in Baffin Bay.

a couple of 28’s in my lifetime fishing from Galveston to POC, but never had reached the 29” mark. We all continued our wade, catching

Dr. Danny English with a nice Baffin 29’er.

solid trout, some in the 25” – 26” range. We had all decided we were going to let all our fish over 25” go. I think Walt appreciated this; as a pro fishing guide, most of his clients want to keep their big trout. Now I’m not against someone keeping a big fish to be mounted but now days you can measure it, weigh it, photograph it, and let it go. I have a pair of replica mounts that look as good as or better than the old traditional skin mounts.

It was about 4:30 pm as we continued twitching and walking the topwater lures. I got another big explosion! This was unreal. I loosened my drag and played her out. She made some good runs but I got lucky, she was hooked firmly in the jaw with one of the 2 treble hooks from the orange Skitterwalk. Danny and I had kind of separated ourselves from the rest of our

friends had planned to go home today. Danny

before. Great, the bait was still there. You could

buddies, so he waded over to take some more

and I looked back and the other guys had made

see the big mullet come to the surface clearly

pictures. This one measured 31” and weighed

it back to the boat. We were probably 300

concerned about something after them. Walt

at 9# on my Boga Grip. It was tough but I let

yards away so we called them on our hand held

said lets slip out of the boat but don’t get in a

her go.

radios. They were ready to go because it was a

hurry. He said we should work the area real

I have been fishing for trout for about 30

long drive back to Houston. It was OK because

slow; we probably walked through some big

years now and I had finally caught one over 30.

we knew where we would be at daylight the

fish the day before. The wind was still up; it was

What a great feeling!

next morning.

probably blowing about 25 MPH and it was just

We continued on with our wade and caught

We were up early and waiting for Walt to pick

daylight.

some more keeper trout. I had one more huge

us up. There were three of us now, Paul Kooi,

topwater explosion and had her hooked up for

Danny English and myself. Walt pulled up to the

As usual, I waded over to take some pictures.

a minute or two before she let go. It was now

dock; we jumped in his boat and ran across the

It was a 27 incher. We took the pictures and he

about 5:00pm on Monday evening. Two of my

bay to the spot we had left them the evening

released her. The talk had started; he was on

July 2007

Paul was the first to hook upon a big trout.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

31

The bonus!

Author’s 30 inch beauty from POC back lake.

the board with our daily bet. It wasn’t long before

boat when it happened. A

Danny hooked up. His turned out to be 28” long,

huge splash erupted on my

his second on this trip. We took pictures and

topwater. Walt was standing

he released her. Then it was Paul’s turn again;

about 20 yards from me; he

he caught one that measured 28” also. I was

had just released a big sow

beginning to wonder if I was snake bit. I had

that measured 29”. He said

caught four or five trout but nothing over

“ Bill I don’t want to scare

20 inches.

you but that’s a huge trout,

Then boom! A big blow up and I had her on.

I managed to land this one and Walt measured

probably over 10 pounds.”

She made some good

it. It was 29” long and pushing 8# on the Boga.

runs but never came to

hooked her on his Boga, “she’s pushing 12

We all continued our wade only moving about

the surface. All I remember was saying to

pounds,” he shouted. She measured 32” long.

five steps then working the area thoroughly. We

myself, “stay on, don’t get off,” I hoped I had

He said “No one releases a 12 pounder” and I

caught more fish, quite a few over 25”. It was

her hooked good enough to get her in. The

agreed. We took her back to a bait camp; their

now almost noon. We had been fishing hard for

good Lord must have blessed me on this trip;

certified scale said 11pound - 3oz.

more than 4 hours.

I got her in my net. I was shaking like I had

We were thinking about heading back to the

buck fever; it was wild! Walt waded over and

What a trip. When it was all over we had caught 20 trout 25” or better. All were released except the last one. I had caught the four biggest trout of my life on this trip, 2 at 29”, a 31” and a 32”. I thought what else could happen, will I even enjoy fishing in POC after this Baffin trip?

Well, here’s the bonus: My blessings continued. I was fishing one on the back lakes in POC on Saturday, May 19th in a small tournament we put on called the Port O’Connor and Huntsville Open, it is all within a small circle of friends and we call it the POCAHO. I caught a 30” trout that weighed 8 pounds – 6 oz. on a bone color Super Spook Jr about 7:15 that morning. As you can imagine, my friends are about to disown me! Three trout 30” or bigger, all on topwaters, all in one month… what a ride! I hope it continues, but I know it cannot go on forever. You can bet one thing though, I will be out there whenever I can fire at them. It’s a blast!

Bill Pitts

Smiling guide Walt Kalinosky looks on as Bill and friend Danny English (yellow jacket) pose with Bill’s 11 pound-3 ounce Baffin giant.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

Huntsville, TX – Full Time Port O’Connor, TX – Part Time

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

33

Story & photos by Jay Watkins

What is a GAME PLAN, and

why is having one a critical part of everyday fishing success?

Now there’s a familiar question, one that I probably hear more than most guides. If you know me, or maybe if you frequent my website, you know that one of the off-the-water services I provide is a subscription to my Game Plan for fisherman wanting to learn more about what’s been going on in the Rockport area. The price of one of my Game Plans is not important when measured alongside what it can do for you.

The whole game plan idea started many years back when a client that did not know exactly when he would be able to get away for a day or so to come down and fish asked if I would be interested in giving him some advice on where he might find some fish on his upcoming trip to Rockport. He had fished with me many times and already knew of the daily logs that I keep.

For years I have been logging where I had located fish each day, what the weather conditions were, the moon phase, tidal movements, water conditions, bottom structures and lure choices. He wanted a general ideal of where to go, where not to go, and what to catch them on. In return, he would send me a small portion of my daily fee as payment. Sounded easy enough to me and from time to time he would call and I would receive a check along with a note of thanks.

Over the years, through seminars, newspaper articles and local speaking

Game plan should always include an accurate weather forecast. Time to head for cover.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

engagements, I often told my audience how important is was for an angler to have a GAME PLAN before they hit the water. The combination of everything that transpired over those years led to what I have today on the website. A game plan is just what it says, a plan for the game.

To me the sport of fishing is a game; it is me against the fish. I termed it as a war at one time, but that was when I was younger and did not realize that in war everyone loses something.

With much more attention being paid to catch and release these days, both the anglers and the fish win in lots of cases.

To start your own game planning strategies you will need a log of each trip that you take.

Simply pay attention to the conditions of the day. If it is cloudy or sunny, cold or hot, summer or spring, etc., write it all down. Write down the type of structure you found the fish over.

Logging water temperature and tidal movements along with Peak and Minor feeding periods is critical, so be sure and record them carefully.

Here in the Texas Saltwater Fishing magazine, we have a terrific source of this information contained in the TIDES and SOLUNAR Tables. You can obtain local tidal movements from my website as well, www. jaywatkins.com. List the types of bait you caught your fish on as well as the time in the day when you felt the fishing was best.

OK — Let’s say you have done this and are now planning another trip to your favorite bay system. Look at the weather conditions and a forecast for the week you are planning to fish.

Now go to your log and find similar conditions for that same time of year. Obviously, the more you fish and the longer you keep a log, the better the odds of being able to formulate a successful game plan.

With over 30 years of logs, in fact I now have entire books put together on each month of the year, I can predict with rather consistent accuracy WHERE the best chances for finding fish might be on any given weather condition.

One thing you need to keep in mind though, even with all of our carefully recorded detail, we still cannot make them eat whenever we want them too. A detailed game plan though, will July 2007

Jay Watkins Jr with the results of good game planning.

tell you the conditions in which they feed most often, and this can be the difference in catching or not. I have found that from season to season, given the same sets of circumstances and patterns, I can predict where the fish should be and what they will be feeding on.

As a guide and tournament angler I am constantly game planning. Every good game plan has at least one backup plan in it, and many times two or three. In the winter months for instance, I have game plans for both north and south winds and high tides and low tides each time I leave the dock. Lucky for me, I get to fish often enough that I do not have to go back each day and look at the log of previous weeks and years gone by, but you can bet I still build that game plan in my head.

I think one of the biggest things game planning does is build confidence. Every plan that brought success increased my confidence and encouraged me to build better plans for the next day’s fishing. The other thing that planning does—it helps you get your mind right for the day ahead. There is no worse feeling than leaving the dock and not knowing where you’re going or what you’re looking for.

The patterns that govern each bay system that you fish will be seasonal so it is important to break your log up into those specific seasons.

Springtime patterns will not work for summer and winter patterns are not for summer. You notice I left the fall out. Fall is one of the best times of the year to be on the water. Everything seems to work well no matter what your preference or where you are along the Texas coast. Becoming familiar with the seasonal patterns and the changes that accompany them can only be done by consistently logging each trip.

I’m guessing you are beginning to get bored already so let’s just go ahead and build a July

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

35

Scouting and searching for signs is a big part of a successful game plan.

game plan that you can use if you’re coming to Rockport.

In July, water temperatures will be reaching the mid-80’s. Tides after the 4th of July will probably be low and daytime high temperatures will be in the mid-to-upper 90’s. Winds will have become light to variable and tropical weather patterns will have set in over the Gulf of Mexico.

Morning and late evening thunderstorms will be common and the cool-downs will be very welcome.

I will still be wading but long wading pants will be necessary in most area bays due to a rapid growth in the jellyfish population. Early morning departures will be necessary due to rapid water temperature rises during the day. Expect to see 84-degree surface water temperatures rise as much as 5 degrees by 4:00 pm. Water movement is critical when fishing for all species but this is especially true for speckled trout.

Look for small tight areas of tidal movement.

Cuts in reefs and guts around points are my favorites. Plan your day around the tidal movements when possible. Obviously, days with stronger tidal movements, two highs, and two lows in a 24-hour period, will be the best. Not everyone will be able to select the ice cream days. If your trip falls on a day with minimal tidal movement, rely on wind-driven current in and around the reef passes, windward shorelines and points along the shoreline. Even the slightest amount of movement on these types of

36

Texas Saltwater Fishing

days can be a big advantage.

I will start my trout wades up shallow and move out to deeper secondary structure as the sun rises. It can be a fish a minute for that first 30 minutes of gray light in the morning if you are in the right area. On days with hard-falling tides in the afternoon hours, I will fish deeper potholes just offshore of the grass lines along the spoils of the I.C.W. Falling water and rising water temperatures will pull the redfish off the skinny shoreline and concentrate them in the potholes. Do not discount the occasional big trout present among the redfish when this happens. One of the biggest trout I ever caught in San Antonio Bay came a few years ago in 86-degree water out of a school of oversized redfish.

If drifting is your choice, the deep water reefs in San Antonio Bay, and also Copano and Aransas Bays can be excellent. You still need water movement and a food source over the reefs so look for bait activity over the structure.

Lure choices in my play book are simple.

For numbers, it’s the Bass Assassin 5-inch shad, 4-inch sea shad, and the new BLURP shrimp patterns. Rig these with a 1/16-oz screw lock chartreuse jig heads and you’re in business. I like the 2/0 size hook, the smaller, shorter shank is the best in my book. Mirrolure’s Catch 5 and Top Dog series will be productive as well. Never forget spoons, I like the Johnson weedless and the new H&H weedless spoons on the market now.

In July, there is always the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes. Tropical systems in the gulf will cause tides to rise and with this comes stronger tidal movements. Both of these factors will do nothing but help you this time of year.

Now you do not want to be on the water during the storms or winds that accompany such storms but prior to and after such events the fishing can be fantastic.

With all game plans, there are exceptions

July 2007

but the above-described game plan should hold true for most of the days in July. Maybe now you have a better understanding of what a game plan is and why having one is so important.

In closing, I want to say something that has been on my mind. I hope that those of you that so generously support this magazine NEVER get the impression from me that you are not important to me or that I think I am some sort of fishing GURU. I am a regular guy, just like you. I have been blessed to have a job I love for almost 28 years now. I simply get to go more than you do!

My articles are meant to be simple, just meat and potatoes, an account of what I have seen over the years. I hope it helps you in your quest for whatever it is you’re looking for in your everyday fishing ventures. Sometimes I forget that what is important is you learning, me continuing to learn, and me continuing to share those experiences with you. Have a great July and be sure and pick up a log book so you can record each trip you take. The more knowledge, the better the game plan.

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

37

The entrance to the lake was marked with a slender white-washed bamboo stake that had mysteriously withstood the assaults of the wind and tide and remained upright under the grip of countless off-balance birds. My friend Dusty Mayer and I paddled quietly toward the stake, navigating around the elbows and oysters of a narrow creek. As we closed in on the bottleneck leading to the lake, mullet accelerated and boiled around us and I looked over my shoulder to make sure Dusty hadn’t disappeared. To my surprise he was paddling quietly only a few feet away. It reminded me that although Dusty was new to fly fishing, he was a veteran paddler.

We hopped out of our boats and dragged them around a shallow mud bar and through the neck of the lake. The far side of the lake was barely visible and the expanse of water before us was crystal clear. Mullet leaped in the distance, silenced by the steady wind. I prepped a small root-beer colored shrimp by dunking it in the water a few times and then laid my fly rod across the bow hatch of the kayak with a few loops of line beneath it. The plan was to lead our kayaks across the lake, sightcasting reds as we went.

A few yards into the wade I spotted a big purple redfish floating across the sand. My first cast landed a few feet out in front of the red and I gave the shrimp a little twitch. “This is gonna’ be good,” I thought as the red spotted the fly and surged toward it. But he stopped short with the shrimp at the tip of his nose, gave it a sniff, and turned away. As he

swam off, his body language left little doubt we were going to have to do better than that. The same scenario repeated itself 3 more times over the next seventy yards.

Remembering some photos of a minnowstuffed redfish Aransas Pass angler Charlie Golla had sent me several days earlier, I thought about the micro-sized Crease flies stuck between the Clousers in my fly box.

“I’m thinkin’ we ought to put on a baitfish pattern Dusty… maybe a small topwater.” Dusty glanced at the shrimp pattern I had given him a few minutes earlier. “That’s alright, Case. I don’t want to use up all your flies.” I opened the lid on a large flat box in the kayak and flies literally

pink tail appeared mid-current and began to wiggle in the evening glare.

I made a cast toward the red but it landed a few frustrating feet short. The Crease fly zigged and zagged in the current and all I could really do was hope the redfish would see it before he saw me. I gave the fly a little tug and the redfish’s tail slipped below the surface.

A second later, he came up from below and lurched over the top of the fly with a sharp “chuck” sound. I paused a moment and then set the hook. He was on.

The current pushed on the backs of my legs and strengthened the red as he bulldozed downstream. My fly line stretched and sagged

spilled out of it onto the floor. Dusty looked at the pile of flies and said, “Dude… you have way too much time on your hands.” I plucked a small Crease Fly out of the creepy tangled mass of legs and hair and tossed it to him. “Here, put this on.” He obliged and we moved on, following the current up the bank.

A hundred yards up, we noticed some nervous water along a finger of grass that jutted out into the lake. Dusty anchored his kayak and flicked out a cast. I was watching for a blow up on his popper as I made a half-hearted cast toward the other end of the grass. A surprise fish darted out of the grass and whacked my Crease fly. In a classic topwater blunder, I jerked it away from him. “Nice move,” I thought.

We made a few more hopeful casts and then slipped up the shoreline.

Near the top of the lake there was a beautiful comma-shaped creek that careened through the grass and emptied onto a small crooked flat. Windblown lake water surged through the creek and we figured the fluvial area on the other side would be holding a few fish. As we entered the creek, a big fat

toward the sun. For a moment under the broad swash of evening sky in that narrow creek, I felt almost like I was fishing on a prairie. A few minutes later the red swam out of my hands and back into the warm current of the creek. What a privilege. What a place.

The following day, Dusty and I were back at the lake. We made a long drift down the lake’s western shoreline toward a distant corner. The corner was shouldered by a series of small crescent-shaped sloughs and was split by a broad flat creek too wide to cast across. This meandering creek too looked like it had been lifted straight from the Wyoming grasslands.

We anchored our boats near the creek and waded toward one of the horseshoe sloughs.

The slough looked suspiciously like one of those quiet backwaters that lures you in with the promise of fish and then breaks your spirit with thigh-deep mud. Dusty recognized things might get ugly in there, so he opted to stay on the hard sand, and meet me around on the other side.

As it turned out, the mud was only shindeep and it was dotted with rooting redfish. I

Small Crease fly.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

Go with the flow of a tidal creek.

Dusty Mayer casting for redfish.

glanced back to the mouth of the slough to wave at Dusty, but he had disappeared behind the grass. All I could see was his fly line whipping back and forth above the mangroves.

“That’s a good sign,” I thought.

Thirty minutes later I reached the other side of the slough and Dusty came sloshing through the grass sporting a nervous smile. “Case… I scored on a red! I saw something moving in the grass and cast up toward it. This red came charging out of nowhere and just nailed my fly. Man it was cool!” “Did you land him?” I asked.

“Heck yeah I landed him.”

We were both all smiles making a careless wade back to the kayaks, talking about flies, fish, and fishing… thinking we had somehow unraveled yet another secret of the marsh. When we got to

the boats I remembered there was some spicy fried chicken stashed in the ice chest. I don’t know what it was… maybe we were just ravenous from the sun and salt, but man that was some good chicken! Evidently the gulls thought so too, because in a matter of minutes there were forty of them squawking over the slick that had formed downwind of our boats.

We watched the gulls for a while and then hopped in our kayaks, both knowing it was time to go. Funny how you and your fishing buddies just sort of quietly know “when it’s time to go.” We took a slow steady pace back toward town, riding the currents from lake to lake, telling stories, and marveling at the wonder of it all.

Originally published in 1950, Salt Water Fly Fishing by angling pioneer Joe Brooks was one of the first books ever written on the sport. Brooks’ outlined how to fly fish for tarpon, snook, redfish, speckled trout, striper, and a host of other saltwater denizens. What is remarkable about Brook’s book is that even today, nearly sixty years later, Salt Water Fly Fishing is still a great guide and resource for fly fisherman.

But, Joe Brooks was not your average angler. With tackle and flies modern anglers would consider primitive, Brooks hooked and landed more big fish than most folks will ever see. Not only was he a gifted angler, but Brooks was a keen observer of the natural world as well. And, he took the time to write about what he learned.

When I began reading Salt Water Fly Fishing, I expected it to be a book of nostalgic stories set in places that have long since been drained and paved… sort of a, “How good it used to be,” book. To my surprise, I instead found deeply interesting stories about the feeding habits and fighting characteristics of saltwater gamefish and the mysterious places they inhabit. Brook’s text is fresh and the angling adventures he writes about are exciting and full of surprises. It’s no wonder Salt Water Fly Fishing is considered a classic.

Salt Water Fly Fishing 200 pp. The Derrydale Press $21.95

By Joe Brooks ISBN: 1-58667-007-7 July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

39

6

7 If I was forced to choose just one fly pattern for the rest of my days, it would certainly be a Clouser minnow. And if I had to choose a single color combo, it wouldn’t be red/white or

8

even chartreuse/white. The color would be chrome. Why? Of all the hundreds of flies I have thrown over the years, no other fly has consistently produced as many fish for me as the Chrome Clouser. It has nailed everything from smallmouth to jackfish, and after years of throwing this pattern, I have developed complete confidence in it.

In general, the basic shape and structure of a Clouser Minnow is known to fly anglers across the globe. But there are a few features of a Chrome Clouser that differ slightly from the original design.

Traditional Clouser Minnows are tied with sparse amounts of bucktail and synthetic fibers. The net effect of this scant design is a somewhat

4

9

translucent and wispy fly that gives the illusion of prey. The fly’s fluid action is dependent on the fibers having a little breathing room. When the fibers are overloaded and crammed together on the shank, the fly becomes flat and heavy and the prey appeal is largely lost. So when tying a traditional Clouser, less is more.

The Chrome Clouser on the other hand is a relatively big flashy fly, with a body made from an oversized section of chrome Krystal Flash synthetic flash material. Unlike bucktail and some synthetics,

5 6

chrome Krystal Flash fibers come to life when tied full. They shift and pulse and shine, creating a bold wriggly baitfish effect. More is actually better, so it is an advantage to stack on the flash. But achieving this live-body action of a Chrome Clouser depends on more than simply anchoring a huge clump of Krystal Flash to the hook.

First, the Krystal Flash fibers should taper to a gentle point at the rear of the fly. This ensures a good fluid baitfish profile rather than a “blocky” look. Second, make sure the Krystal Flash brand is used. Krystal Flash has an inherent spring and tangle-resistance that is absent in many of the other look-alike materials I have tested.

The metallic varieties of Krystal Flash (chrome, gold, and copper) lack a plasticized feel and are resistant to stretching, deforming, and tarnishing. Lastly, remember the “jig effect.” Heavy eyes ensure a

Hook: Tiemco 800S (or equivalent) #6 through 2/0 (#2 shown) Thread: Clear nylon mono Belly: White synthetic or bucktail fibers (synthetic duster fibers shown)

Body: Chrome Krystal Flash Eyes: Lead dumbbell (white with black pupils) Back: Grey bucktail Cement: Clear Sally Hansen’s Hard-as-Nails

good up-and-down-jiglike action and keep the fibers moving. For this reason, I almost always tie Chrome Clousers with lead eyes.

Chrome Clousers are my first choice for casting at fish-eating predators anywhere the water is more than knee-deep. Work them with a mix of short erratic strips and vary the depth and the speed of the retrieve until you key in on what draws a strike. If you cast a Chrome Clouser on the flats make it a small one (# 6). Larger versions are way too bold and bright for skinny water fish.

You won’t find Chrome Clousers on the shelves of a tackle shop or in any catalogues. You’ll have to tie them yourself or find someone to tie them for you. But I think you will find they are well worth the effort.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

1. Attach eyes to hook shank using figure 8 thread wraps. 2. Attach white belly fibers. Fibers should be at least twice as long as hook shank. 3. Coat the thread wraps with Sally Hansen’s. 4. Rotate fly or vise as shown to access the top of the fly. Fly will ride oriented in this position. 5.

Cut a large section of Krystal Flash and slightly pull a few fibers on each end to give a tapered effect. 6. Secure the center July 2007

of the clump behind the eye of the hook on the top of the hook shank. 7. Fold the forward fibers rearward and secure them with more wraps. Try to taper the head to a point with tight thread wraps. 8. Tie an accent of long firm grey bucktail fibers over the Krystal Flash on top of the hook shank. 9. Liberally coat the head and throat of the fly with Sally Hansen’s. Done.

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

41

Recently I received a reader’s email that asked why I was pushing so many tournaments and encouraging participation in tournaments. The reader felt tournaments, including the CCA STAR tournament, have negatively impacted fish populations in Galveston Bay. I responded to the reader thanking the person for their opinion and reiterated that I write about tournaments and the business side of tournament fishing for anglers that participate in them. Well, this month, I am strapping on my flak jacket and want to address some common complaints about tournaments. I believe tournaments and tournament fishermen get unfairly blamed as a group for issues that are not substantiated or may be linked to only a few individuals. So here goes.

Do tournaments negatively impact the fishery? Being an engineer, I concluded that data is needed to answer this question. Yes, we can answer this off the top of our head, but

Texas for one of the larger events

I like to stick to facts. The fact is, the only long

in Galveston Bay. There is a

term assessment of the fishery is the Texas

common argument that there is

Parks and Wildlife (TP&W) surveys. TP&W has

a large concentration of anglers

been performing gill net surveys for over 30

pressuring redfish in one area and

years. Currently, other than the Lower Laguna

the fish population will be hurt. I

Madre speckled trout populations and catch

agree that there are more anglers,

rates, speckled trout and redfish catch rates

but I do not think that there is a

have been healthy and overall show increases

negative affect to the fishery.

up and down the coast. Now not everyone

42

Tournaments do put a lot of boats on the water at events, but the range covered by the boats and the fish kept by the anglers has not been shown to affect fish populations.

Most tournament anglers keep more fish when out with their families than when prefishing or tournament fishing.

During prefishing activities,

may agree with the TP&W data, but I do not

tournament anglers are scouting

know of any other scientific data collection

and looking for fish. If there is

that has run for such a long period and under

an area found with fish, one or

the same conditions. Quoting your dad who

two may be caught, but if the

said that in his day fishing was always better

fish are in the upper slot, they

bringing in 2 live fish versus being out on the

is not a scientific study. If tournaments are

will be released for tournament day. Since I

water catching limits for the freezer.

impacting catch rates, it would be having the

have started tournament fishing, I take home

effect that catch rates are increasing slower

less fish than I ever have in the past. I am

their limits as long as the fish does not go to

than without tournaments.

more interested in learning where the fish are

waste. If people want to practice catch and

There is no scientific data to support the

than bringing in limits and filling my freezer. In

release or take their limits, the law and TP&W

statement that tournaments are affecting catch

addition, a number of tournament anglers are

surveys support this. The worst case scenario

rates, just as there is no data supporting the

guides who spend time prefishing and fishing

for the Redfish Cup is that the 100 teams

statement that croaker fishing is affecting catch

tournament days versus taking parties out

all brought in 2 fish for 2 days. 400 redfish

rates. This year the Redfish Cup visited Kemah,

in search of limits. Tournament anglers are

would be removed from Galveston Bay over 2

Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

I have no problems with anglers taking

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

43

Another complaint

Participants in major redfish tournaments typically keep two fish and go to great lengths to keep those fish alive for release later that day.

is that tournament

grounds for products

fishermen are tearing

and spawn product

up the grass flats and

improvements and development. Each year,

harassing fish. Well

sponsors supply new products to tournament

I will admit that there

anglers for feedback and improvement ideas.

are some tournament

The recreational angler never sees the original

anglers that practice

spoon design that did not have proper welds

“burning” flats looking

and broke loose on big fish. The recreational

for fish, especially

angler never sees the soft plastics that don’t

redfish. There are

swim right or get snubbed by fish. Boat designs

some that own boats

evolve based on tournament angler feedback.

specifically set up for

Better aeration systems, shallow water

this practice. Again,

performance without sacrificing speed, Power

out of 100 teams in a

Poles, wireless trolling motors and other design

tournament, I would

enhancements come about based on feedback.

say that no more than

Tournaments bring a positive economic impact

30 are going to be

to the areas they are held. Motels, restaurants

practicing burning.

and marinas all benefit from the tournament

days. I do not think that 400 fish will impact the

The grass flats destruction in Redfish Bay is not

revenue. Tournaments such as the Texas

Galveston Bay system especially considering

due to tournament anglers, but from years of

Oilman’s Invitational Charity Tournament in

the areas that the anglers fish. For the Kemah

abuse by all types of anglers and boaters using

Matagorda have raised over 1.25 million dollars

Redfish Cup, anglers fish from Lake Calcasieu

this bay system.

for various charities.

to Matagorda Bay. Not every team brings in

Do I condone tearing up grass flats? Of

So will I rub people the wrong way with

2 fish, and a majority of the fish weighed are

course not. Every boater should be responsible

my views? Most likely. The bottom line for me

later released alive. Out of 400 possible fish

for his actions and any damage imposed on the

is that if you want to condemn tournaments

brought in, assume 10 teams zeroed both days.

environment. Do I think all tournament anglers

and its anglers, show me some facts. A few

This means 360 fish (the actual number was

are burning flats, harassing fish and tearing up

tournament angler actions do not mean the

less in Kemah) were brought to the scale. If

the grass flats? No, there are some that are,

sport should be put away. I believe like anything

only half of the fish survive, the impact was 180

but there are plenty of non-tournament anglers

else, if you see something wrong, report it to

fish taken from Galveston Bay. I have a hard

that do the same thing. I believe it is just easier

tournament officials or TP&W. I do not condone

time understanding how that could impact the

to blame someone in a highly visible wrapped

illegal behavior. I do not agree with hurting

fishery. There are other smaller tournaments

boat that can be lumped into a group such as

our resource. If data shows tournaments are

that do catch and weigh dead fish, but again

“tournaments”. I really do not think the issue is

hurting our resource, I would agree to changes.

there is nothing that suggests this hurts catch

harassing fish as much as tearing up shallow

There is no data that shows tournaments are a

rates other than someone’s opinion stating it

grass flats. Let me pose this question. Is driving

detriment. I believe tournaments have a positive

does. Many of the people fishing tournaments

around the bay looking for birds working and

effect on saltwater fishing. If you do not agree

would be fishing anyway and normally keeping

driving up to them harassing fish or burning? If

with me, that is OK, I’m hunkered down with my

more fish than the tournament limit.

you are going along in your boat and you see a

flak jacket on waiting for responses. Just make

big school of redfish in 2-3 foot of water busting bait on the surface, do you stop and fish or do you just keep going because you consider this burning or harassing fish? How many times has your motor hit bottom or stirred some mud?

What good do tournaments do?

Tournaments like the FLW have been on the leading edge of reducing stress on fish and keeping fish alive to fight another day.

44

fishermen are the proving

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Tournament boats and July 2007

sure it is backed by some data.

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

45

It had been a very busy morning of dodging lightning and rain and we finally managed to find a rig that wasn’t covered up by thunderstorms. The conditions looked good – dark blue water, plenty of current and lots of bait.

There were several outboards around the rig also, some trolling, some fishing live bait for tuna. We set out a couple of baits and started fishing the up-current side of the rig. Three frigate birds were following a school of dorado, trying to pick off some of the flying fish they were kicking up. A big black cloud was looming

Even Keel and her crew with our mate aboard.

nearby but it looked like it would miss us. Some of the wind off the storm started kicking up the seas a bit, but it was still OK. One of the outboards was passing near the rig when all of a sudden a blue marlin came up jumping behind their boat. We could see it was a small blue and was hoping the bite was on, so we might get a shot. A call comes over the radio. “Hey this is our first blue, can you give us some advice?”

We didn’t really know the situation on board so it was hard to help much. “How big is the fish?” The answer came back, “We don’t know, we’ve never caught a blue before.” That made sense.

“Keep the line tight,” we advised. The angler looked like he was near the bow, a good place to be when fighting a big fish on an outboard.

“How big does it have to be to keep?” they asked. “Well, around 100-inches short length,” the other boat fishing nearby added. “Take a picture and let it go, there’s no reason to bring it in.”

“We can’t find the camera, and what’s a short length?”

“The short length is from the lower jaw to the fork in the tail. The federal minimum is 99, but 46

Texas Saltwater Fishing

you better give yourself some room for error and

sons were watching the action and trying to do

make sure it’s at least 100 inches” we replied.

what they could. “We’re going to put the mate

“Maybe we’ll just measure it back at the dock.”

on board to help you.” “That would be great” the father replied.

“Bad idea, if it’s undersize and you’re

We got the mate transferred to their boat

caught, it could be a large fine (we’ve heard as

without killing him or the boat, so that part was

much as $25,000), you’re better off letting it go,”

good. We handed over the tag stick and backed

we advised.

away to give them some room. The fish was

“Can you come take a picture for us?”

tiring and the seas didn’t help as the angler was

Our baits were looking real good. We had a

trying to walk around the boat fighting the fish.

nice blackfin tuna on the short bait and a blue

In a few minutes, the blue was beside the boat

runner long. The seas were also real choppy,

and we could see it was about 150 lbs. Not big

not good conditions for getting close to other

enough to meet the federal minimum, but still a

boats offshore and doing much. We discussed

blue marlin and a great catch.

the situation for a minute and then decided to

The mate grabbed the leader and was

go over and try to put the mate on their boat to

reaching for the tag stick when the leader

help them. Also, it would be nice if we could get

parted. We watched the fish swim away to fight

a satellite tag in the fish. We would take pictures

another day and give some other angler the

of the action from our boat.

thrill of a lifetime. “You made a great decision, it

We called the small outboard back. “The boss says its OK, we’re coming over.”

When we arrived at the boat we realized the

was a small blue” “Well how big was he” the angler replied.

“About 150 lbs” “Well it’s my first one! Sorry we

situation. Dad was on the bow, strapped into

didn’t get a tag in it” “Don’t worry about it, that’s

a harness and fighting the fish. His two young

a great catch, you’re one ahead of us today!”

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

47

Even though the leader parted everybody got to see the fish. What a thrill!

We retrieved the mate back on board,

with your family and friends onboard is an

once again without killing anybody and told the

experience that you will remember for a lifetime.

father we would find them back at the marina

We can’t think of a better way to enjoy the

that evening. We continued fishing until late

outdoors with your family (hunting is real close,

afternoon with no success and then ran on in.

however!) If you need help getting started or

All the way in we talked about the father with his

if you want to talk about fishing or rigging your

sons and how it was a great experience for his

boat, give us a call at Byrd & Cochrane. It’s time

boys. Hopefully, that experience will stay with

to go fishing!

them and encourage them to continue fishing.

Back at the dock we finished cleaning up

Remember, Byrd & Cochrane is an authorized broker for Fox Yacht Sales, the

and headed over to find the triumphant crew.

Texas dealer for Cabo and Riviera Yachts. Fox

We found the boat, but it was late and they had

has an extensive inventory of brokerage boats

left for the night. The pictures we had taken

as well and will be glad to help you find a boat

offshore were put under the console and as

or sell yours. We specialize in sportfishing boats

we expected, no marlin flag was flying. No

and motor yachts. Come by and get a great deal

problem, the mate had brought one of ours. We

on your next boat. For more information call our

would love to have seen their reaction the next

office at 281-291-0656 or check out our website

morning when they saw the blue marlin flag

at www.byrd-cochrane.com or

flying proudly from their boat.

www.foxyachtsales.com.

Catching a blue marlin on your own boat 48

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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49

The continued commitment of CCA Texas volunteers throughout the

state continues to put the organization above all others in the marine conservation world. As CCA Texas moves out of the first half of 2007 and into the second half, the organization has seen continued fundraising success and several fundraising records set for many local chapters.

In addition to a successful fundraising campaign, membership continues to remain strong with all time records being set for banquet attendance for several chapters, renewals and new members.

These results continue to show the un-matched dedication by local chapter boards and their vision to ensure a healthy and sustainable coastal resource for future generations to come.

Because of the success achieved by local chapters, CCA Texas is able to continue funding valuable projects and research throughout the state. Most recently, $7,500 was approved for funding fifteen generators for Texas Parks Wildlife Department game wardens along the Texas coast. This funding along with matched funding from John Eagle Honda of Houston, will provide these generators which will be a valuable asset to law enforcement up and down the Texas coast, providing them with much-needed power in remote areas while tracking coastal game law violators.

NEW ORLEANS - The most significant bycatch reduction measures ever imposed on the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fleet were announced today, paving the way for a steady recovery of Gulf red snapper stocks. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted to put limitations on the shrimp industry despite its persistent position denying any responsibility for the current status of the red snapper fishery. In response to a lawsuit filed by CCA against the National Marine Fisheries Service last year, a federal judge ruled in March that NMFS violated the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by its continuing failure to take timely and appropriate steps to rebuild red snapper stocks in the Gulf of Mexico or to regulate the harm to red snapper caused by shrimp fishing. The judge’s ruling overturned a 2005 rebuilding plan for red snapper because it failed to address and regulate the shrimp fishing industry. “We are very 50

Texas Saltwater Fishing

“We continue to patrol very remote bay waters in search of ongoing illegal net fishermen,” said Captain Kevin McDonald, TPWD Region game warden. “These generators are another important tool in our enforcement efforts.”

The TPWD hatchery and research facility in Flour Bluff was recently the beneficiary of a $25,500 grant from CCA Texas for a Calorie Meter. The piece of equipment will be beneficial to the research biologist as they dig deeper into the feeding habits of coastal fish species that we all love to chase. CCA Texas also approved $5,500 in funding for a TPWD summer intern working out of the Corpus Christi research station.

This ongoing program has been invaluable to TPWD and has provided summer students an opportunity that might not otherwise exist.

Two projects previously funded by CCA Texas are well on the way and worth an update. The Sportsman’s Road grass planting project recently took another step forward with the placement of reef domes. The domes’ primary purpose is for erosion control and also serves as a basis for a developing reef system. CCA Texas volunteers from the Mainland and Galveston Chapters were on hand to assist the volunteers from the Galveston Bay Foundation and other partners.

The $700,000 CCA Texas Laboratory for Marine Larviculture at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas is on schedule and looking towards a mid to late summer grand opening.

“The building is close to a finish,” said Dr. Joan Holt of UTMSI, “and we are thrilled that everything is on schedule. The air conditioning, ceilings, heat pumps and filters are all in, just waiting for the tanks to be placed.”

This state of the art facility will be the leading center for the study of the critical early stages of marine life forms. The opportunities for knowledge and new science are endless.

As CCA Texas enters the summer, a much needed short rest is on the way for all of our volunteers and staff as we gear up for the second half of 2007 with our final banquets in the fall. It has been a great first half of the year and we look forward to the second half as we head off to Port Aransas for the annual Inter-Chapter Challenge.

We will let you know who the winners are in the August issue. Special thanks again to Everett and Pam Johnson and the rest of the staff at Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine for allowing CCA Texas to be part of a great publication.

Have a great summer!

disappointed in the ‘just say no’ attitude of the shrimp industry,” said Bob Hayes, general counsel for Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). “It’s a shame we had to get a federal judge to force conservation measures on an industry that thinks it’s immune from regulations.” CCA President David Cummins noted, “There are measures in this management plan that will force significant reductions in the amount of shrimp trawl bycatch so that the sacrifices made by recreational anglers to recover Gulf red snapper will no longer be in vain. The action taken today by the Gulf Council will impact recreational anglers in the short term, but for the first time there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Among other regulations approved for the red snapper fishery, the shrimp industry must reduce trawl bycatch mortality by 74 percent. The management plan also stipulates a two-fish bag limit and a 16-inch minimum size for recreational anglers during a 107-day

season between June 1 and September 15.

Additionally, the use of circle hooks and venting devices requested by CCA will be required for all reef fishing in the Gulf. The minimum size limit for the commercial fishery will be set at 13 inches in an effort to reduce the near-100 percent bycatch mortality in that sector. However, the Council refused requests by CCA to physically separate the commercial and recreational sectors in anticipation of problems associated with the different minimum size limits. “We have fought NMFS on the issue of shrimp trawl bycatch for more than two decades,” said Cummins. “Its refusal to address bycatch adequately at any point in the past has forced recreational anglers to accept tighter and tighter regulations while doing nothing to recover red snapper. With the successful conclusion of the lawsuit and the action taken by the Gulf Council, those days are hopefully over.”

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52

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54

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Field Notes

food. In general, factors such as survival, growth, Texas Parks and Wildlife appearance, and health of hatchery-reared fish Department (TPWD) managers use the practice also differ to some degree from those of wild of “stock enhancement� as one of the tools to ones. In all cases, however, the overriding goal supplement declining wild fish populations. This of fisheries managers is to improve upon the process involves rearing juvenile fish in outdoor hatchery fishes’ skills and abilities. culture ponds, and then placing these young In culture ponds, hatchery fishes are fishes into coastal waters. Some 24 million reared in large numbers and in predator-free juvenile fish (2-3 inches long) are released into environments. They are fed at optimum levels Texas coastal water, annually; and new research to increase their growth rates and chances of indicates that a significant number of such survival. One vital food source for larval fishes hatchery-reared fish survive in the wild. are tiny marine organisms called zooplankton. In A number of state agencies around the the wild, zooplankton densities occur at a rate of country are currently using or evaluating stocking 30-50 organisms per gallon of seawater. While as a fisheries management tool, and generating in an aquaculture setting, zooplankton densities some fascinating scientific research. Questions can be ten times that number. Therefore, such as what is the best size to release hatcheryhatchery fish have a much easier time locating reared fishes into the wild, and how many fishes prey to eat and have to invest only a fraction of should be released at any given time are being their energy to secure food. The energy saved studied. For instance, researchers in New from searching for food can be channeled into Hampshire are doing some cutting-edge work metabolic growth. Thus, hatchery-reared fishes with a flatfish called winter flounder. Researchers tend to have high-end growth rates (Figures 1 have developed methods to raise them, and are and 2). Also interesting is that less than 1% of now investigating different ways to release these the fishes spawned hatchery-reared flatfishes so as to maximize 1 in the wild actually their survival. One researcher , Dr. Elizabeth survive to the age Fairchild (University of New Hampshire) says of reproduction. So, that actually raising the juvenile flounder, in many ways, is the easiest part of the whole process.

She has reported that many questions come Hatchery-reared into play when the flatfishes are ready to join southern flounder the wild population in the shallow coastal waters where young winter flounder 90-day old hatchery-reared naturally occur. southern flounder.

Other factors are centered on the idea that fish reared at hatcheries are different from their wild counterparts. Fish typically reared in an aquaculture setting are not exposed to predators; nor have they had to forage extensively for 56

Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

when you think about it in those terms, any fish that is caught for commercial and recreational purposes is indeed a very special fish. The odds (a billion-to-one) are very high that a typical marine fish will not survive from the egg stage to reach sexual maturity.

Fisheries managers recognize that for stock enhancement to effectively work, hatcheryreared fishes must be as fit and natural as the wild fish. A great deal of scientific effort is being focused on the challenge of making the cultured fish more wild, and helping the fish make a successful transition from a hatchery setting to the wild. Researchers are examining factors that might make hatchery-reared fishes more vulnerable to predators. At TPWD hatcheries, artificial habitat structures are being placed in rearing ponds (Figure 3) to simulate sea grasses and other vertical structures that are common to our coastal waters. In the estuaries, larval fishes are known to congregate around and use sea grasses as primary shelter, and as an area to forage for food. TPWD researchers

July 2007

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are comparing the growth and survival of hatchery fish reared in ponds with structures to those reared in structure-less ponds. But the bigger goal is to simulate a more natural environment in the ponds that will help the fish develop avoidance reactions to predators, and to give them some familiarity with their preferred habitats.

One of the questions that Dr. Fairchild is investigating involves the amount of time it takes hatchery flounder to conceal themselves by changing their skin color and pattern and burying themselves in sediment. Do hatchery flounder behave in the same manner as wild flounder? This research has direct application to TPWD’s southern flounder stock enhancement efforts and we are asking the same type of questions. One idea that could provide some answers is the use of acclimatization cages in the field, where hatchery-reared fish can be placed for a short period of time (2-3 days) prior to being released into coastal waters.

The thinking is that once the fish acclimate to natural conditions, they will be better adapted both physically and mentally to forage on their own, and become more familiar with the

neighborhood, so to speak. Also, sometimes, when fishes are released from stocking trailers they are disoriented from stressful handling activities that occurred during pond harvests.

During this critical time period, the fish seem particularly vulnerable to predation and could be better protected using acclimation cages.

Other strategies being evaluated include releasing larger sized fishes (3-6 inches), or releasing them several months ahead of when they would normally be present in the estuaries.

Predators normally present at certain times of the year may be absent then and the hatchery fishes chances of survival increase.

As part of an ongoing collaborative genetic study2, Dr. John Gold (Texas A&M University) reports that some Texas hatchery-reared red drum did survive through the first year of life in the wild. In 2005, as part of TPWD’s marine resource monitoring program-gill net sampling, 200 yearling red drum were taken from Galveston Bay. Dr. Gold genetically identified that 17 (8.5%) yearling red drum recovered in the gill-net samples from Galveston Bay were of hatchery origin.

Fish currently being cultured for purposes

of stock enhancement at TPWD’s three hatcheries are red drum, spotted seatrout, and southern flounder. By evaluating the performance of hatchery-reared fishes released into the wild, managers may gain a better understanding of the whole stock enhancement process. This course of action could effectively solidify the use of hatchery-reared fishes as a very powerful and well documented fisheries management tool. But in the mean time, TPWD managers and researchers are committed to taking a responsible approach in the use of stock enhancement.

1 Fairchild, E.A., N. Rennels and W.H. Howell. In Press. Effectiveness of acclimation cages for winter flounder stock enhancement. Reviews in Fisheries Science.

2 Gold, J. R. 2005. Texas Parks and Wildlife: Monitoring Survival of Hatchery-Released Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in Texas Bays and Estuaries (TPWD Contract Project, 2005-2008).

Do hatchery flounder behave in the same manner as wild flounder?

Artificial habitat structure (AquaCrib) in TPWD ponds.

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Scott asked me to step in this

month and give an update on the happenings in the ever-changing Texas kayak tournament scene. I’m fresh off appearances at the Texas Redfish Series event in Port Aransas and the Redfish Cup stop in Kemah. Fishing with the big boys in the “go fast boats” is fun but I’m ready to get back to the world of paddle power and plastic.

No kill switches to test, no lower units to lose, no electronics to short out, no gas to buy… it’s just you, your little plastic boat, and the fish. That’s the way I like it.

When most people think about fishing tournaments, they think big… big boats, big engines, big entry fees, and big personalities.

Many anglers envision a sport where the only thing that exceeds the horsepower is the amount of money you have to spend in order to compete.

Trying to break into the world of “big-time” tournament fishing can be intimidating to say the least. It’s tough to show up for an event and hear Trouty McRedfish talking about how he’s been on the water every day for two straight weeks and how he’s running 250 miles round trip to catch 18 pounds a day. Been there, done that. But let’s face it; that is the reality you have to be ready for when you put it on the line to compete at the highest level.

But, there is an alternative.

What if I were to tell you there is an alternate universe where the only limiting factor on how far you can run is not the size of your gas tank or the speed of your boat, but rather how determined you are to reach your destination? What if I told you that in this strange universe, you could compete with some of the most knowledgeable

Kayak tournaments are held throughout the year in a variety of conditions. In order to be successful, competitive kayak anglers will need to be able to locate and catch fish in a variety of conditions.

60

Texas Saltwater Fishing

and dedicated anglers in the state of Texas and all for the price of an entry fee that doesn’t require a bank loan to pay off?

It’s not a dream or the far-fetched ravings of a mad man. This is the world of competitive kayak fishing. There is a stigma among the general coastal fishing population that kayak anglers fish from kayaks simply because they can’t afford a boat. After all, nobody would actually CHOOSE to fish from a kayak if they had access to a boat right? Wrong. Some of the most gifted and die-hard tournament anglers I’ve ever had the pleasure of fishing with are members of the kayak fishing community. We’re talking about guys that will endure gusting north winds in the middle of February and blistering temperatures during the dog days of August just to bring a fish to the scales. Oh, and let’s not forget, they have to reach all their destinations by paddling.

That means no engines, no props, and no highoctane fuels (unless you count what they ate for breakfast). Dedicated or downright crazy? Even I wonder sometimes.

Texas kayak anglers have a couple of new and exciting events to look forward to in 2007 but before we discuss the new kids on the block, we have to give credit where credit is due.

The Stars & Stripes Saltwater Kayak Series is one of the longest running and most successful kayak tournaments in the state.

From the beginning, the focus of the Stars and Stripes events has been fun and fellowship.

These tournaments provide a great platform for new kayakers or first-time tournament anglers to get their feet wet and see what the world of tournament kayak fishing is all about. You

A typical day of tournament weather.

It’s best to prepare for the worst.

July 2007

won’t get rich off the payouts but that is a result of the low-risk, low-cost entry fees and the payouts are always supplemented with a lot of great prizes from various sponsors. Throw in a laidback atmosphere, a weigh-in on the beach, some good food and plenty of drinks, and you’ve got a recipe for success. Even if you get skunked, the fun, food, and camaraderie shared among anglers are worth the entry fee alone. To learn more about the Stars & Stripes events visit: www. starsandstripesco.com.

The “Speck”tacular Kayak Series is in its second year and still going strong under the direction of Sal Bautista. This year the “Speck”tacular kayak division has stepped up with a first place prize package in each tournament worth nearly $1000 and the angler of the year will receive a new kayak courtesy of Wilderness Systems (www.wildernesssystems. com). Anglers can turn in any combination of two fish (trout, redfish, or flounder) and there is a ¼ lb. live weigh-in bonus for each live fish weighed.

Individual anglers also have the option of entering a team side pot. Teams may consist of up to four competitors and the heaviest combined stringer of four fish (any species) will take home the team money. The “Speck”tacular tournaments are extremely well organized and are smooth from the point of sign up, to the captain’s meeting, right down to the weigh-in. Another added bonus of these events is the fact that the weigh-in is held in conjunction with the boater events. This gives kayak anglers an opportunity to rub elbows with some terrific trout anglers and show their stuff in

It’s not all about redfish. These two saddle blankets were weighed in at one of the Stars & Stripes events last season.

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$80.00 for non-members per event WWW.SPECKTOURNEY.COM June 16, 2007 Port O’Connor, TX August 18, 2007 Rockport, TX

Redfish like this are what kayak anglers anglers in the Galveston Redfish Series and the Texas Kayak Series will be looking for this Summer.

front of the big boys. For more information about the “Speck”tacular Kayak Series check out: www. specktourney.com Now let’s talk about two exciting events that I believe have the potential to elevate the sport of competitive kayak fishing to levels that kayak anglers have never experienced before. The first is the Galveston Redfish Series. Again, kayak anglers owe a debt of gratitude to tournament director Sal Bautista and his staff for providing a venue where we can compete and exhibit our skills to the Texas saltwater fishing community at large.

The Galveston Redfish Series is unique in that it’s the first redfish tournament series in Texas that will allow kayak anglers to compete head to head with boaters. Teams of two competitors can boat, wade, kayak, or use any combination of the three in their pursuit of two slot redfish. Kayak anglers pride themselves on the fact that they can fish and explore water where even the shallowest boats can only dream of going. This series will finally let them pit their redfish catching prowess against some of the best redfish anglers in the state. Based on the entry of 100 two-man teams, these one-day events will pay out ten places and the top dogs will take home $3450. A fifth place finish will net you $1050 which ranks right up there with one of the most lucrative paydays kayak anglers have ever had the opportunity to attain in a single-day event. You think you’re ready to compete with the big boys? Now you can step up and prove it! For rules, payouts, and other information go to: www.specktourney.com

New For 2007 July 28, 2007 August 25, 2007 September 29, 2007 Two man team format Entry Fees: $75.00 for members 62

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Entry Fees: $95.00 per event SOUTHWEST $2500.00 first place payout WWW. SALTWATERSERIES.COM The guys at the Texas Saltwater Series must be doing something right. The Texas Trout Series is one of the most popular trout tournaments on the Gulf Coast. This is evidenced by the fact that the tournament has nearly doubled in size since last year. The Texas Redfish Series events are busting at the seams and there are teams literally waiting in line to get in on the action. But the boys at Simrod Outdoors aren’t content to just ride the wave of popularity they’ve garnered in the boater world. New for 2007, they’re introducing the Texas Kayak Series.

The Texas Kayak Series is offering kayakers a level of competition and exposure that exceeds anything that’s ever been done before. Segments of the Texas Kayak Series will be featured on the Texas Saltwater Series television show, which is broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.

One innovative aspect of this series is the fact that a livewell apparatus will be required on ALL competitors’ kayaks. While this will present some considerable challenges to many competitors, I applaud this requirement. I believe if we want to see the sport of competitive kayak fishing move forward, then we must work to develop a way to sustain live fish while in a kayak. I, for one, am thankful that a reputable organization such as Simrod Outdoors has stepped up to help us in this quest and I hope the kayak community as a whole appreciates this opportunity and embraces the challenge.

For years, the competitive kayak fishing community has struggled with the notion of a live weigh format. In the past, catch/photo/release (CPR) tournaments have been used with some success. However, the excitement and crowd appeal of a live fish weigh-in is tough to imitate through photos. The staff at the Texas Saltwater Series took the live weigh-in challenge head on and initiated a livewell design contest to see what the anglers could come up with. They are working closely with some of the winning designers to come up with an affordable way to transport live redfish that is safe for both the fish and the paddling angler. To get the details on the Texas July 2007

Kayak Series visit their site at: www.saltwaterseries.com I have been fortunate enough to fish other events put on by Simrod Outdoors and given their reputation for excellence and their dedication to get things right, I foresee a bright future for the Texas Kayak Series and the anglers who participate in these events. I believe this series, along with the Galveston Redfish Series could prove to be the stepping-stones that help take the sport of competitive kayak fishing to the next level.

To sum it all up, I’d like to encourage every competitive kayak angler, novice and veteran alike, to do two things…

First, I’d like you all to take a sense of ownership over this sport. Each and every one of us is an ambassador of this new and exciting way to fish and it is we who will determine how the competitive aspect of this sport will grow for years to come. In order for our sport thrive, we must always be good stewards of the three C’s: conservation, courtesy, and the competitive spirit.

Second, I encourage you to get to know the tournament directors and their staff members who help to put on these events and be sure to thank them for giving us a place to compete and exhibit our skills. These individuals work incredibly hard, often times for very little or no compensation, all so that we can show off a few fish. Next time you’re at a tournament, be sure and shake their hands and let them know you appreciate what they do for us. See you at the weigh-in.

Other tournaments of interest: Jerry B’s lures tournament, held monthly in Corpus Christi, TX – call 361-937-5340 for details.

P.A.C.K. Tournament, June 9th, Galveston, TX – check packtx.org for details Shrine Tournament, June 23rd, Galveston, TX – email rudystaudt@yahoo.com for details

• • •

To stay up to date on upcoming kayak tournaments, keep an eye on these websites: www.CoastalKayakAngler.com www.TexasKayakFisherman.com www.PackTX.org www.starsandstripesco.com

• • • •

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In the grand scheme of things,

the region’s estuaries, but also directly into the

Bay. In recent times, though, I have changed my

the art of fly-fishing has not been common

gulf. These tributaries, interestingly enough, are

tune and can routinely be found sight-casting to

place along the Texas coast for very long. In

partially responsible for quite a few of the upper

fish in areas adjacent to West Galveston Bay.

fact, the sport is still very much in its infancy

coast’s unique characteristics. Because the

The reason for my change in attitude and recent

in that it only started becoming popular in the

sources and watersheds for these waterways

successes is that I have learned to approach

last 15 years or so. And, while just about every

either start or flow through eastern Texas, they

these waters from a totally different perspective.

species of fish that swim in our Texas waters

typically see more runoff than the more westerly

can be caught on a fly, fly-fishermen as a rule

rivers (because of higher rainfall averages) not

years ago after a conversation with good friend,

tend to head south to sight-cast to redfish while

to mention, they get quite a bit of that runoff

and veteran guide (over thirty years experience),

overlooking the fertile waters of the Upper

from areas that have rich soil and quite a bit of

Blaien Friermood. While Friermood is not a fly-

Texas Coast.

clay. This muddy and nutrient rich runoff is often

fisherman, and will admit he knows very little

responsible for the more turbid water conditions

on the subject, he made an observation that

that anglers experience.

made me take pause and then rethink my whole

The Upper Texas Coast, as defined by many, is the area that stretches from Sabine Pass (situated on the state line between Texas and

approach to fishing in general.

Louisiana) to the west and south to the mouth

a pretty picture. In fact, many fly-fishermen

of the Colorado River. What makes this area

avoid the region because it lacks the shallow,

two totally different approaches to locating fish.

so much different is that the bays are typically

gin-clear flats that are typically associated with

When I looked at him puzzled, he simply said,

much deeper and they lack the lush grass beds

saltwater fly-fishing.

“Where I spend time looking at and reading the

common in the bays of the middle and lower

64

When it is all added up, it does not paint

This new perspective was gained several

Years ago, I thought the same way, despite

The observation was that he and I used

water, you actually look for the fish.” Then he

coast. Another distinct feature is the number of

the fact that I grew up fishing in the bays and

went on to explain, “When fishing in the skinny

rivers, creeks, and bayous, not only flowing into

marshes near Freeport and in East Matagorda

water that you are accustomed to down in Port

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The Upper Texas Coast, though not commonly seen as a fly anglers destination, holds lots of opportunity.

The signs are often the same no matter where you fish...

Upper or Lower Coast.

O’Connor and Seadrift, you spend more time

fly-fishing trips I got fired-up about fishing the

shake on the water for nervous water, but there

looking for the actual fish, whether it be tails or

waters, mostly near Freeport, and began to

is a big difference. Nervous water is created by

wakes. But because Trinity and Galveston Bays

explore new areas. And, over past couple of

baitfish being herded and chased by gamefish.

are so deep, we look for signs of fish. We have

years I have learned that the upper coast of

By learning to determine between the two,

to be able to look at the water and determine

Texas has much more to offer the fly-fishing

anglers will know when to spend the time blind-

if conditions are right for holding fish and then

enthusiast than meets the eye — even some

casting and when to move on.

decide, by looking at the bait activity, if the fish

sight-casting (no pun intended).

are feeding.”

Granted, to be successful fishing the Upper

and is an essential skill that anglers can apply

After absorbing what he had said, I realized

Coast, anglers must be willing to occasionally

to any and all situations to regularly catch fish,

that I had not fished anywhere where I actually

blind-cast. This term typically makes most fly-

especially along the Upper Texas Coast. Also

had to ‘read’ the water in so long, that I no longer

fishermen cringe, but it is an effective way to

remember, to learn you must be a student and, if

used the technique. Shortly thereafter, on a

fish. The key is to know when to spend the time

you ask me — there is not a finer classroom than

fishing trip back to my home waters, I had the

casting and when not to. This is where reading

the great outdoors.

opportunity to relearn and apply the technique

the water comes in to play.

and we caught several fish using our fly rods because of it. Then after several successful

Anglers should look at the current, water quality, and bait activity to determine if fish are present and feeding. Learning to do this does not come overnight. Spending time on the water is necessary, which if you ask me is not a bad thing. Some tips to help shorten the learning curve are to look for nervous water and slicks.

Slicks are obviously self-explanatory but nervous water is something of a mystery to most anglers.

Many fishermen often mistake the presence of baitfish swimming near the surface creating a

66

Again, reading water is a learned technique

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67

Back in the month of May, my dad had the pleasure of fishing with former

and trout at the end of my line.

professional baseball player Balor Moore.

As the bite came to a standstill,

Balor in his day was an overpowering pitcher

we relocated to our last stop of

and once called a left-handed Nolan Ryan. He

the day. Before arriving to the

played for Montreal and Toronto between the

last stop, my dad surprised us

years of 1970 and 1980. Soon after Mr. Moore’s

all. He stopped all of a sudden

first fishing trip with my dad, another one

and made us wonder what this

was scheduled. On the second trip, I had the

stop was all about because

opportunity to join them along with Mr. Moore’s

we could clearly see

son and his son-in-law. As we were introduced

this spot looked void

to each other, I felt pretty honored to meet

of any life. My dad

someone of his talent and fame.

pulled out a baseball

As we left the dock and arrived on the

Mr. Moore and me

with the right equipment in hand. We didn’t

standing in the water

carry baseball gloves or bats with us, but we

holding a baseball.

had the right equipment for the sport we were

This photo further

playing. The enthusiasm and expectations

inspired me and

were high as we waded a crystal clear flat that

reminded me that in

was filled with nervous bait. I opted to work a

baseball a strike out

shoreline, and the rest of the group stayed in a

can be a good thing or

tight line in the middle of this particular flat. On

a bad thing depending

this wade I could see the group was hooking up

on what side you’re

on redfish while I was on the receiving end of a

on, but in fishing,

strike out.

a strike out can

Whether you strike out or score a grand slam — it’s all fun.

Balor Moore pitched his topwater over home plate — end result was a hit.

and took a photo of

playing field, we all spread out into our positions

This trip got me into thinking on how

always be a positive

baseball is related to fishing. In baseball, the

thing. Sure everyone

ultimate goal is to score runs and strike out the

wants to go out and

opposing team. In fishing, the goal is to catch

catch something, but

fish and not strike out which is called a skunk

that doesn’t always

for better terms. Baseball requires having the

happen. If you take

right equipment for different situations and

it as a learning

conditions, all the way from the catcher’s glove

experience and a joy

to the right bat and everything in between. It

just to be out there,

is no different in fishing than baseball; having

then you will never go wrong.

the right equipment for the present conditions

There will be days where you will hit a grand

is equally important if you want to catch fish.

slam, and days where you will strike out, be

Sometimes topwaters will do the trick as in this

humbled, and benched early. Fishing should not

trip, but at other times a plastic tail or perhaps a

be just about the catching but about the overall

spoon will score you a perfect game.

experience. I personally have had my share

After a successful first inning, we relocated

68

pitch of my bait to entice redfish

of both kind of days, and the no-hitter days

to another side of the field. It was in this spot

have not and will not cause me to stop doing

that I took the spotlight in choosing the right

something I have a passion for.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

I will never forget the day I literally scored a super gram slam in fishing. A super grand slam means catching four different species of fish in one day. We were out pre-fishing for a tournament when this particular spot yielded a redfish, a trout, and out of no where a snook into my hands. It was then that my dad made it a point to put me on a flounder so that I could score a rare feat. It happened at our next stop; I scored a flounder in one of our favorite flounder

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

69

Author’s Super Grand slam Day — this flounder was the final score.

Author’s Super Grand Slam Day — snook was released.

holes. I felt pretty good about my first super grand slam, especially when everyone on the boat was telling me how hard that was to accomplish.

Unbelievingly, three days later I scored my second super grand slam of fishing.

Of course, I will remember the grand slams more so than the strike outs, but without the strike outs there would be no learning, and without

the strike outs there would be no grand slams.

Fishing is a sport just like baseball, and the day when players don’t enjoy the game they retire. Fishing is just the same. Get out there and enjoy the time with family members and friends. Part of the fun is meeting people and spending time with people like Mr. Balor Moore. The one thing that constantly ran through my mind on the trip with the Moores was what it must have been like to stand in front of many people in such a large arena and try to strike out some of the best players in the world. I will probably never stand on the mound of a stadium, but I can say I have had many strike outs and two super grand slams. Thank you, Balor Moore, for inspiring me to write this story and autographing my baseball. Enjoy the game.

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71

jim dailey

“A look back at the way it was,” in the words of the fishermen who were there! fortunate that Alcoa was there to help foot the bill.

It’s a lot different you know when some chemical

Jim Dailey was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital

company closes down and then 30 or 40 years

– Houston, Texas in 1938. Jim’s father was a

later you have to go back and try to figure out

thoracic surgeon and served in the US Armed

what happened, how long they polluted, what

Forces during WWII. His father moved them to

chemicals they released and all the records are

California during the war and they returned to

gone. You know without that company still there

Houston in 1946. Being devout Catholics, Jim was educated in parochial schools and then began his college education at Notre Dame.

Jim says, “As a youngster all I cared about was hunting and fishing, that’s what led me to my career in fisheries biology.” Leaving Notre Dame, Jim also attended University of Texas and the University of Houston before serving in the United States Navy. After the Navy, Jim attended Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in wildlife science and fisheries in 1968.

“I had a job before I got out of school,” Jim told me. “When I left A&M I moved to Palacios and worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife as a biologist for 30 years. I retired in 1998 and I guess I’m right back where I started, all I do now is hunt and fish.”

Jim Dailey’s contribution to Texas coastal fishing is considerable. Jim joined the TPW team when modern fisheries management was in its infancy and helped forge many of the strategies and procedures that are the backbone of today’s management programs. Thanks to Jim Dailey and others like him, we enjoy some of the best fishing to be found anywhere on the gulf coast.

Come along and let’s listen to some of his tales of the way it was in Part III.

the taxpayers foot the whole bill and it’s a lot The program we followed back there in

more work. Alcoa wasn’t too cooperative at first

the late 1960’s wasn’t nearly as formal as

but they eventually gave up their stalling tactics

things are today. We sometimes had opportunity

and they pitched in and helped us and helped

to work on own projects, things that we thought

fund a lot of it. Probably the biggest thing was

were important. Bob Calura and I developed

getting them to change their processes to stop

what we called our Special Projects and we

the pollution from going into the bay.

had several. We went into the Chocolate Bay area, Powderhorn Lake and the Upper Lavaca

While we doing all that work, the storm that

system. These were areas that weren’t included

eventually became known as the Redfish Wars

in our other programs and we went in there to

was beginning to brew. It brought a monumental

learn more about those areas and we wrote

task for the guys in TPWD because the first

them up and published our findings to the

part of the job was to come up with a good

department. That work proved valuable on down

assessment of the populations to prove we

the line when those areas fell into the normal

even had a problem. Everybody knew we had

sampling schemes.

a problem but we couldn’t prove it. Up until that time nobody had done much in that area so they

We also had the Alcoa mercury deal and we

didn’t have a lot to go on. Before we could go

had to go in and gather data and send it to the

anywhere we had to come up with a sampling

feds. We didn’t understand yet the extent of the

plan and get some data together. Everybody

mercury contamination that had occurred there.

was working on it coastwide and things really

We picked up a lot of crabs, shrimp, oysters

happened quick. The early 70’s were the true

and various species of fish. It seemed to be

formative years for Coastal Fisheries as we know

in the crabs the worst, but you could find it all

it now and the sampling regimes they are using

throughout the food chain. That whole area right

out there today were formulated through our

there became an EPA Super Fund site and a lot

efforts to understand that redfish problem.

of our effort set the groundwork for it and it is still going on. There are still some areas up there that

The Department hired two individuals to

remain closed to this day because mercury never

come in and help us. Gary Matlack and Jim

goes away. We did a lot of work there and it was

Weaver came in and these guys were really sharp. Weaver had his PhD and Matlack didn’t have his yet, but they were very intelligent individuals. Weaver eventually went to work for the feds and Matlack did too, but Matlack stayed a great number of years before he moved on and he was brilliant. They got us to try a great number

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

July 2007

TM

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73

of things and we learned a lot from those guys.

We were trying to do our redfish population sampling work with trammel nets like I told you earlier, but nobody really knew how efficient a trammel net was and that makes it hard to convince somebody that you’ve got good data. When we first started we used to think that every time we put a net in the water every fish was dead and gone when we pulled it out. But we later learned that just wasn’t true. We soon learned that the trammel net is an active fishing device and the success rate depends on how well you set them and how well you strike them. There is just an awful lot of human effort required and if you didn’t do it the same way every time, well your data isn’t any good.

Striking the net means making noise to drive the fish into it and we tried various methods. We needed to know how effective that trammel net was before we could make accurate statements about fish populations so we began placing a block net around the trammel net. The block net we used was actually pogie netting off the menhaden seining boats that they were getting rid of. We’d place that block net around our trammel net to hold anything the trammel net hadn’t caught and then we’d Rotenone the area to kill any that we’d missed. That’s when we really began to understand how inefficient those trammel nets could be.

We tried to come up with ratings so that when we counted what we had in the trammel net we could then predict how many fish total had been in the space the net occupied. I think we decided the trammel net was something like 35% effective on trout above the size our webbing could catch and about 40% on redfish. We put a lot of work into learning to catch fish with the darn things and it was finally decided that what we were doing wasn’t good enough and that’s when they switched over to gill nets.

Now Rotenone was very common back then and some people believed it was all we needed. Rotenone is a commercial pesticide and it is very deadly to fish in the right concentration.

It was widely used at one time and still is in freshwater fisheries management to kill out lakes that held undesirable species so they could stock back the ones they wanted and we tried it down here in the saltwater. We began putting the Rotenone in coves and so forth but it wasn’t a good survey method at all. You either used too little and it didn’t have the right effect or you used too much or maybe the current pulled it the wrong way and you killed everything way down the shoreline. The other problem you get with Rotenone is it kills everything. You’re interested in some species and not others and that stuff kills them all. It was a fiasco and I was glad when we quit using it.

Join us again next month as Jim tells us how they started the redfish hatcheries program to help build the fisheries we enjoy today.

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75

If I could somehow get my greatgrandfather, Pappy Joe Shepherd, to join me for a day on the water, I’m sure he’d flip at the first sight of my present tackle and methods. Pappy Joe was a WW-I veteran and diehard fisherman all his life and; he left us while JFK was living in the White House. I got all his fishing stuff and I’ll never forget those True Temper solid steel rods and directdrive Pflueger Supreme reels. Even though the designs were decades old, I was the baddest cat at the fishing hole when my buddies were using cane poles. With a sparkplug for weight I could cast to the middle of the lake. I gave them a lesson in tackle technology.

Technology will always rule the day and I guess that’s what I like about competitive fishing and innovative lure designs. They’re a lot like auto racing. The hot setup on the track finds its way into the family sedan, and the stuff designers put together to win fishing tournaments finds its way onto tackle dealer’s shelves.

Sebile’s new line of fishing lures caught my eye at the ICAST Show last July and I finally got the chance to fish them a couple weeks ago. Keeton Eoff, Sebile’s U.S. marketing man, joined us for a day of backcountry topwater work. Our primary target was Matagorda Island’s marsh reds, and we caught trout too.

Now the concept of noise-making lures is hardly new. When I was a kid lure makers used chug plates, propellers and spinner blades on their plugs to attract fish. Over the past couple

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Texas Saltwater Fishing

decades we’ve seen a plethora of rattlers, clickers and clankers blowing the competition away; now everybody’s making them.

Sebile’s approach is similar, yet new and technologically different. They are offering a line of lures that emit low-frequency sonic vibrations by way of liquids that flow and shift within the lure body. For fish-catching flash, they place metallic flakes in the liquid. The concepts are novel and the combination is effective. Weight transfer of fluid to the tail of the lure on the backcast lends bullet-like casting performance, another innovation.

The Bonga Minnow is part of Sebile’s Possessed Series and a true floater that “walks the dog” easily and can be whipped several inches under the surface with a sharp downward stroke of the rod tip- another feature I found useful for enticing temperamental fish. This bait has a bulbous head that tapers quickly to a slender tail, perfect for creating surface disturbance and that side-to-side swish with little forward travel required.

And even though we cannot hear them, the sonic waves created by the fluids also add enticement.

We caught reds and trout in gin-clear water less than two feet deep… not exactly the easiest scenario for tricking them with a surface lure.

The Bonga Minnow is 95mm in length, about 3.75 inches. The surface finish imparts realism beyond what we normally find on surface plugs.

Lips, gill plates and scale features are molded into

July 2007

the body and the eyes are prominent and highly reflective, even more features that enhance clearwater appeal. Keeton says the glitter imitates scales falling from the sides of a baitfish struggling away from a near-miss encounter with a predator.

During our trial run with the Bonga Minnow we kept one angler working tried and true favorites as a control measure. It would have been difficult to rate the new bait without this control in place. The Bonga kept pace with our personal go-to plugs and that’s a good start in my book. Being a stickler for staying with what works, a new lure has to earn a place in my tackle box. From what I saw on the first go ‘round I’ll be setting up another interview with the Bonga Minnow.

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New Tackle & Gear Braid Products

www.braidproducts.com

Braid Products is launching a fantastic new line of high-end iceboxes and coolers. This new line is unique because of the special blended refrigeration foam insulation that is applied under tightly controlled conditions to ensure that the foam bonds to the inner and outer shell which keeps the temperature colder for longer periods of time then the average

cooler from 5 to 14 days. The strong lightweight construction with non-slip rubber feet makes these coolers suitable for camping or fishing and other outdoor activities. There are many sizes and styles to choose from plus they come with a limited 5-year warranty.

Check out the new line of coolers from Braid Products.”

Contender® SS

If you’re fishing in saltwater, you better have the right reel. Anything less is coming back in a plastic bag. For 2007 Pflueger® took that concept to the extreme with the Contender® SS Low Profile Baitcast Reel.

Drag performance, corrosion resistance, torque, and every component was addressed to make this reel not only saltwater friendly,

SeaEagle.com FoldCat

Built for the harshest environment in fishing.

www.shakespeare-fishing.com 800-334-9105 (ext. 3105)

but truly saltwater tough. Features and components on the Contender® SS Low Profile Baitcast Reel include: 5 stainless steel ball bearings Corrosion resistant bearings in key locations One-way clutch instant anti-reverse bearing Rugged aluminum frame with aluminum side plate

• • • •

Storm’s New Spin Tail Shad™ From saltwater to freshwater, fish find it hard to resist.

Catch-up isn’t fun. Storm introduced swimbait-style lures featuring lifelike swimming action and competitors fell over themselves playing catch-up. Storm now announces the Wildeye Swim Shad with tail spinner for enhanced flash and vibration.

The Storm Spin Tail Shad™ makes for a

661-266-9791

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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www.stormlures.com 800-874-4451

unique combination that no other lure on the market can offer.

You get classic Storm lifelike swimming action, holographic WildEye®, premium red VMC® needle point hooks and holographic swimmin’ flash foil for added attraction.

The Spin Tail Shad will swim shallow at slow speeds, making it easy pickings.

“Storm has set another mark for swimbait-

www.seaeagle.com

July 2007

style lures, the spinner will drive all species of fish nuts,” says fishing pro Mark Fisher.

“The Spin Tail Shad will provide lots of action.”

631-473-7308

SeaEagle.com, the leading internet seller of inflatables, has developed an innovative inflatable Pontoon Fishing Boat called the FoldCat. The FoldCat uses a patent pending folding frame system that can be assembled without tools in

5 minutes.

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•

Machined and double anodized aluminum spool Patented six-pin adjustable centrifugal brake system Titanium line guide Precision cut brass gears with 6.3:1 gear ratio Main gear applied 6 disc drag system Dual soft touch knobs Soft touch thumb bar spool release

A full-featured fishing boat, the FoldCat comes complete with two seats, rod holders, a motormount and many other accessories. Sea Eagle has also many optional accessories like a nifty casting bar and a sun/rain canopy. No trailer is necessary because the boat can be launched almost anywhere. Rows with ease, motors with an electric trolling or gas motor.

Weighs just 75 lbs.

Bimini Bay Outfitters Air Wave Rod Bimini Bay Outfitters announces the introduction of their high performance Tsunami Airwave rods. Lineup includes light tackle fresh through serious inshore as well as surf rods, there is an Airwave for all anglers.

Each Tsunami Airwave rod is constructed on a strong, powerful, High-Fiber-Density blank. The result is a stronger, more powerful, lighter weight, high performance rod for freshwater, inshore or surf fishing.

www.biminibayoutfitters.com 800-688-3481

Airwave design incorporates high-density blanks, genuine Fuji® graphite reel seats, Fuji® Concept™ Alconite guides on freshwater and Inshore, and Fuji® Hardloy™ guides on the Surf series and Grade A cork or durable, X- Textured vinyl grips.

The high fiber density blanks provide sensitivity and power for more distance and accuracy with less effort. Once the hook is set,

Fishbites Pro Bait

www.fishbites.com

Fishbites Pro is an uncut sheet of Fishbites, a product that came about because of growing demand from anglers everywhere who like to create their own shapes and sizes—all you need is a little imagination.

Fishbites Pro bait is extra durable so it can withstand numerous strikes from bait stealers without coming off the hook. The Inshore/Nearshore formula is available in

Skeeter ZX22V Bay Boat

the designed-in reserve power in each blank helps beat braggin’ size game fish. If your arms are tired after a day of fishing with Airwave rods… it just means you caught more fish!

877-840-2248

five colors and mimics the scents of clam, crab, and shrimp. The Offshore formula is thicker and comes in the crab, shrimp and squid scents in flesh color. Fishbites Pro will catch all of the most sought-after saltwater species.

For the offshore pro I say that they are, “super tough for super teeth.”

MSRP for 3.5” x 6.5” pro sheet is $8.87.

www.skeeterboats.com 800-753-3837

Kilgore, Texas is home to Skeeter Boats.

The company prides itself on understanding Texas angler’s needs, both freshwater and saltwater. The company’s ZX Saltwater Series carries the same attributes as its bass boats performance, speed, comfort and reliability.

Skeeter’s ZX22V Bay Boat is easy to trailer, and versatile enough to tackle Texas’ big freshwater lakes, bays and coastal waters.

A 19” interior depth allows boaters to run

smooth and dry in rough waters when seeking gamefish outside of protected waters, while its 14”-16” draft allows anglers to float shallow for inshore sportfish.

At 22’ 6 ½” with a 101” beam, the ZX22V can accommodate eight passengers and gear.

Its length and beam provide ample space for gear storage, and with a 60-gallon fuel tank, long-range fishing is not a problem.

Build your customized ZX22V at www.

Ugly Braid™ America’s Strongest Most Sensitive Line From the makers of Ugly Stik®, the world’s strongest and most sensitive, comes Ugly Braid™, a line that combines amazing strength with superior fishing

skeeterboats.com. The MSRP for the ZX22V powered by a reliable Yamaha F250 is $54,740.

www.shakespeare-fishing.com 800-334-9105 (ext. 3105) performance. Using advanced technology in both the braiding process and the coating process, Ugly Braid™ provides superior strength, durability, and effortless casting.

Ugly Braid™ is available in 10lb, 15lb, 20lb, 30lb, 40lb, 50lb, and 65lb in 125 yard one shot spools and 20lb, 30lb, 40lb, 50lb, 65lb, 80lb, 100lb in 300 yard filler spools.

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•

July 2007

• Outstanding abrasion resistance • Ugly Armor™ unique anti-fatigue and

color-fastness coating Small diameter of roughly 1/3 or less of standard monofilament diameter Round shape for better line lay and longer casts Superior knot strength Low-Visibility green color

• • • •

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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SABINE

Dickie Colburn

Adam Jaynes launched his chartreuse Top Dog Jr. in the direction of a lone gull pecking at shrimp between the white caps. The Dickie Colburn is a full trusted topwater disappeared with time guide out of Orange, the unmistakable slurp of a fat threeTexas. Dickie has 35 years experience guiding on Sabine pound trout before he could even and Calcasieu Lakes. retrieve the wind-blown slack in his line. Glancing back over his shoulder Contact while enjoying the tug of war, he Colburn’s Sabine asked a question repeated many Connection Telephone times over the past two months on 409-883-0723 Sabine, “Do you think we will ever Website get to fish the rest of the lake again?” www.sabineconnection.com My answer was, “yes,” only because Adam is a young fisherman.

We had been in a survival mode most of March, April, and early May, relegated to fishing only the eastern shoreline of the lake due to relentless winds on the best of days. All of that changed the second week of May with the exception of a rogue cold front. From that point on, we enjoyed a more forgiving southeasterly gale and much clearer water.

The bull tides of late spring flooded the marshes with saltier water and the anticipated June madness that we feared would never arrive was in full swing. While we still had to pick our days to run the open lake, the dilemma for most folks was not locating fish, but deciding which species to chase.

We have enjoyed one of our most consistent flounder runs in years and it looks as though it will extend well into the month of July in spite of the inevitable rise in water temperatures.

We have caught the lion’s share of our flounder tipping tube jigs or curl tail grubs with pieces of shrimp, but a surprising number of our larger flounder have been taken on Catch Matt Horelica took advatage of V’s and spinner baits worked over flounder bite on Sabine. shallow mud flats.

Tides that are more normal will back the flounder out into deeper water in July and most of the big fish will stack up on the ship channel and along the flats bordering the bayous and Sabine River. Live finger mullet or shad fished on Carolina rigs will account for the better catches. The full moon in May and June produced our largest trout of the late spring and we are looking forward to more of the same in July. You can look for bragging size specks to stack up on the mud flats adjacent to the mouths of bayous on the east side of the lake. If you opt to fish at night, wear plenty of 80

Texas Saltwater Fishing

mosquito dope and tie on a larger topwater like a Top Dog, Spook, or Skitterwalk.

During the day, look for the larger trout under slicks in the open lake with a smaller version of the same topwaters. Pearl chartreuse, bonechrome sides, and chrome-blue back are very consistent colors for us.

We also do well with longer plastics like the Assassin Shad rigged on oneeighth ounce heads. Depending on salinity and water clarity, your chances are equally good fishing topwaters and Catch Fives on the flats bordering the Intracoastal at first light.

If numbers are more Dallas important to you than size, Hale started his July is a wonderful month morning to tie a two-foot leader off right below a Mauler type cork with this nice trout. and drift a soft plastic like the Sea Shad or Chub Minnow on a quarter ounce jig head. A scented lure like the Gulp shrimp or Assassin’s Slurp also works well, but you will attract far more gafftop than you may care to remove from the hook.

If you opt to fish this program, you can eliminate a great deal of non-productive water by taking the time to seek out the huge schools of shad that raft up in the mid-lake area each day. You will not need the help of gulls if you find a school of trout working on one of these mobile buffets.

The wildcard in this type of fishing is the unexpected intrusion of thick shouldered redfish that occasionally crash the party when least expected.

They will initially hit anything you throw in front of them, but will always hit a Hoginar or trap well after the surface melee subsides. Make long casts and allow the lure to settle to the bottom before beginning your retrieve.

We spend a considerable amount of our fishing time in July simply sitting in the middle of the lake during the hotter afternoon hours listening for schooling reds. The whole experience is very much akin to a bar room brawl requiring more muscle than finesse. You can get by with ten to twelve-pound test, but a 20 to 25-pound test shock leader is mandatory.

To maximize the thrill of the moment, try working a topwater lure through a minefield of reds on a “fast food” binge!

I would recommend buying at least a temporary non-resident Louisiana license when planning a trip on Sabine. If you launch in Texas you can only keep Texas legal fish, but the Louisiana license will keep you out of trouble fishing the bayous on the east side of the lake as well as the east side of the jetties.

You can look for the fishing to be as hot as the weather on Sabine in July!

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Let’s start out with Trinity Bay. Everything is going real well at this time if your focus is redfish.

By now most everybody has heard that Wayne Webb, my tournament partner, and I did very well in the Kemah-Redfish Cup two weeks ago.

We did not win but we were right there all three days and we felt good about it. Lifelong friend and fellow guide from right here in Baytown, Blaien Friermood, along with another good friend, Robert Scherer of American Rodsmiths, weighed the heaviest fish all three days. We got second and there was only 1.58 pounds difference between our weights if you add all three days together.

We had a ball fishing that tournament and want to congratulate Blaien and Robert on their win.

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So anyway, back to Trinity Bay, the water is still real muddy and fresh in lots of places. The redfish are there despite the conditions; it never seems to bother them as much as it does the trout. We have had a few trout over here however the redfishing is by far the better option. We are catching a lot of redfish working the deepwater structure in about 7 or 8 feet. We have been using a lot of Berkley Gulp Shrimp, the 4-inch in size with a 3/8 oz jig head. The fish have been close to the bottom so we are fishing deep. Once you get them going you can occasionally get them to come up a little bit but most of the time you have to grind on the bottom.

This is not my favorite way to fish but it is productive. Upstream, above Trinity Bay, in all of the small back bays, there are a few redfish holding on a structure like rocks and tow heads and along the drop-offs in San Jacinto Bay, Burnett Bay and Crystal Bay. They are in the rock groins all along the ship channel going up north. Basically the bonus right now is our reds.

East Bay I do not think you can get another trout in there. It is just stacked full of trout. They have been hanging out there due to all the freshwater in Trinity Bay. I would say that the best areas are from Smith Point to Marker 54 in the ship channel and all the way over to East Bay, make a big circle. That is where your trout are. Mid-bay reefs, any type of structure, in anywhere from 4 – 8 feet of water, is real hot right now. Anything is working; live baiters are doing real well in the ship channel, especially the guys using croaker. You can still catch them real good out there on lures, though. I had limits out there yesterday. We worked around the croaker boats, just working slicks and the deep shell. All the reefs are stocked full of trout right now, from the north shoreline to the south shoreline and also down the middle. When the winds are down it’s a no brainer. The shorelines are holding a few redfish in knee deep water. The majority of the reds are in the back area towards the tide gate. Just work the slicks and the mud boils in about 6 feet of water. The south shoreline is holding a few limits of trout, the majority of them are out deep, therefore no one is really wade fishing, they are just catching them by boat. This is pretty much the norm for this area. All the guides I know, plus myself, if we go here we normally limit out by 7 or 8 o’clock in the morning. It is better than working birds. We are seeing lots of 20–22 inch trout and we’re hearing of occasional 6-7 pounders. On a good day someone will pop an 8 pounder.

West Bay There has been some good wade fishing behind the San Louis Pass; it’s the right time of year for it. There all also good reports of reds and trout in the jetties, and it is the right time of year for that too.

Overall — The hot ticket right now is going to be Hannah’s Reef and Deep Reef and all of the shell reefs in East Galveston Bay. This pattern should continue through the 4th of July weekend and on into the middle of the month. Soft plastics, soft plastics and more soft plastics, that is pretty much what everyone is catching them on, unless you like live bait. There is not much topwater fishing going on right now. If I had to rate the Galveston Bays on a scale of 1-10, East Bay is running at a 15 right now.

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It’s July and it’s hot!

Wake up call about July fishing... when you are out there wading, even though you may think all is well with your body temperature, it may not actually be. When the sun has heated the saltwater to near body temperature it provides little relief for waders and has a way of robbing your body’s fluids and strength reserves. Try to drink plenty of water and sports drinks, no alcohol. Use your sunscreen, wear a good hat and long sleeves, and polarized glasses to protect your eyes from those glaring ultraviolet rays.

Every year you hear about people having heat strokes and take it from someone who has been there it’s no cakewalk. A few years back, I didn’t take the time to eat or drink properly to keep pushing myself to find fish because it was a slow day. Boy did I pay the price for the following few weeks. I decided right then and there that no fish was worth that sacrifice. What I’ll do lots of times is prepare my body before leaving the dock in the morning by drinking a bottle of water right off the bat. So be smart and protect yourself from the harsh saltwater environment facing us July through August.

Looking back at past East Matagorda Bay records, June has produced some quality fish with good top water action on some days and lots of Assassins in different flavors being chunked as well.

July will be a little tougher just because of the heat mainly in the latter part of July. Wading the deep reefs or drifting Raymond’s Reef and surrounding areas while fishing slicks, water color changes, and mullet bait lines out in the middle of the bay will be viable options. The bite will likely be early to mid-morning and then again before dark.

Again this year, if the winds are right Frances Kendrick (meaning light winds); I will try night enjoyed a nice day with the East fishing under a full moon about seven Matagorda trout.

Steve Wells and son Chris had a good day with friends fishing with Captain Bill.

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nights in a row. This is one smart way to beat the heat. Fish do bite at night and the bay is virtually boat free. Game fish have no concept of day or night seeing as well David Niles in darkness as light. Two and Capt. quick examples: About Bill took it two years ago three guys over to East showed up to fish under a Matagorda full moon. All three fellows Bay. had topwaters in mind.

They asked me if their top waters would work and I told them maybe but you see what I have tied on, Morning Glory Assassins.

We started wading Long Reef in East Matagorda Bay with very clear water. Every time you took a step the water would glow from the phosphorous in the water around your legs. I could hear the topwaters clicking but no blows. We got about 50 yards from the boat and I hooked up with a trout using my Morning Glory, then another, and by the time the other guys decided to switch I had five trout on my stringer. That night those boys caught their limit of trout and reds on Morning Glory Assassins and Keith Hill caught his best trout ever, it measured 29 1/2”.

Another classic event in night fishing took place back in 1997 while fishing with Bruce Baugh and Dr. Steve Williams during a Galveston Bay TroutMasters Tournament. Back then we could start fishing at 5:30 AM in the pitch black dark. All three of us had Super Spooks on wading a shoreline of mud and shell. We all hooked up, Bruce and Steve with big reds and as I was reeling in my fish, thinking along those same lines, up popped a big trout a little over six pounds. This trout won the tournament for big fish and put me over the top by ten points to win Pro Angler of the Year for TroutMasters that year. So folks, night fishing is possible. You just have to decide to take time and go try it, it’s different and fun!

Take your chance in the Matagorda surf if you see green to the beach and one-footers rolling in. You can fish the surf by boat or four-wheeler.

The only way to fish west of the Matagorda Jetties is by boat. Turning to the east, you can drive the beach or go by boat, whichever suits you. Four-wheel drive vehicles are a must for driving the beach. Some fishermen drive all the way to Mitchell’s Cut in Sargent. Look for deep guts right off the shoreline, watch for diving seagulls and pelicans, fish an incoming tide, and fish the first gut. Any artificial bait you use in the bay will work in the surf, especially your topwaters and Mirrolures.

Now for a look at West Matagorda Bay, try fishing the south shoreline from the Cullen Houses all the way down to Airport Flats. Look for big long lines of finger mullet moving while fishing sandbars, grass beds, and guts. Also, fishing an incoming tide will enhance your catching chances.

The gas wells out in the middle of West Bay are always good summertime producers as well. Bait selections for me will not change much. I’ll keep chunking what works best for me, Saltwater Assassins, Mirrolures, and She Dogs in different colors. Have a great time fishing and remember to protect yourselves while you’re doing it!

July 2007

July 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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Our busy season is now in full swing and we have had many memorable trips so far this year. We have had the pleasure of helping some bass fishermen catch their first saltwater redfish and the excitement of watching others land their personal best of other species.

Since Gary and I guide together as a team, we get quite a few trips where customers like to put on what we call a mini-tournament. We have done this many times in the past with lots of people but until recently we had never been asked to fish a minitournament pitting an all-girls team against an all-guys team.

Chris Tucker, owner of Inland Inspections, has been fishing with me for several years now. We met when another of my customers booked a trip and brought Chris along. Ever since that first trip Chris has made it a point to schedule two days of fishing in May right around his birthday.

This past May Chris once again scheduled his annual trip only he wanted to add a little twist. He decided to make it more exciting by bringing along some buddies and their better halves. The guys would team up with Gary and the girls with me. I forewarned Chris that it would be tough to beat Lady Luck and Girl Power but he insisted that the guys would prevail.

On the first day of the two day tournament Mother Nature had other plans that kept us off the water until later in the day. When the weather finally cleared about midday we met at Charlie’s Bait Camp where we were presented with our tournament shirts. This was a nice surprise to say the least. The guys wittingly named themselves “Team Power Poles” while we girls were given the name “Team Red Hot Happy Hookers”. After some laughs we also noticed we were all given different names for each day of the tournament. On the first day Gary was given the name “Captain Tail Dragger” and mine was “Captain Red Hot.” It was even funnier after we discovered it wasn’t the girls who had gone the extra mile by getting the shirts made, but instead it was the guys who were so imaginative. Go figure!

All adorned in our new tournament shirts we left the docks talking trash. On the first day of the tournament it was decided in advance that we would only keep two to three fillets per person, just enough to get grilled up at Josie’s Mexican Restaurant later that night.

With the skies still threatening we decided to fish close to the docks.

Fishing was somewhat slow but we still had some exciting moments to keep us entertained. Jennifer Anderson, one of my teammates who is also expecting her first child, hooked up with a nice 26-inch redfish. It was really funny watching her reel in the big fish because she giggled the whole time and even admitted she didn’t know why she was laughing but she couldn’t stop. This was the first time she had ever caught a redfish and 86

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Michael & Lory Tauber, Jennifer & Eric Anderson, Ellen Scheffers and Chris Tucker, anglers who fished our mini-tournament.

even though she has been offshore many times she agreed that the fight of a redfish is hard to beat.

After catching some keepers and many undersized fish we decided to call it a day. We met up with the guys back at the docks and soon discovered that while they had us beat with numbers, we brought back the biggest.

The weather was more in our favor on day two. This day I was “Captain Pony Tail” and Gary was “Captain Topwater”. While the guys were still talking their trash from the day before we let them in on a little secret of ours. After talking with the girls the day before I found out that we were all extreme dog lovers and they encouraged me to bring along one of my favorite fishing buddies, Maggie, my yellow lab. With this added boost of “good karma” we girls knew winning would be in the bag!

The fishing didn’t start out too good for us. At our first stop Jennifer once again hooked up with another big fish but before I could get to her to tighten down the drag she was completely spooled. It was a great way to start the day and we had good conversation for a while pondering what could have been on the other end of that line. After that things slowed down for us and we soon found ourselves fishing close to where the guys were.

After speaking with Gary over the phone we found out the guys were once again beating us by numbers. Since this second day was catch and release we girls were naturally skeptical of their winning status… that was until we pulled along side of them and watched them catch one after another.

Feeling somewhat disgusted and a little like sore losers we shouted out a few come backs and encouraged Maggie to do so as well. As she tossed Jennifer Anderson showing how much she loved catching her first redfish!

July 2007

Ellen Scheffers strikes a pose with her 27 1/2 inch Trophy Trout!

Releasing the big girl to fight another day.

her head back and barked quite a few distasteful “woofs” we girls bent over with laughter. We then pulled up next to the boat to steal the guy’s Oreos and told Maggie to feel free to board their boat and steal their “Mojo”. After walking around Gary’s boat a few times and touching each man on board she then leaped back on our boat and we continued on to the last spot of the day.

The last location proved to be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

After landing a few nice reds Ellen Scheffers, Chris’ girlfriend, had hooked up with what we all thought was another big red but ooh were we so wrong. As Ellen was busy trying to keep the big fish away from the motor I got a glimpse of the big girl and thought “Boy that sure looks like a big trout”. Low and behold it was!

It was a wonderful battle between the big girl and lady angler, but Ellen managed to keep her cool and after one last run managed to get her to the boat. Getting the big girl into the net was a whole different ball game. Because of her large size it took several attempts but finally with me halfway in the water and Ellen guiding her trophy into the net we were able to bring her on board.

July 2007

The excitement on board grew after Ellen announced she was entered in the Star Tournament which started the day before. The big trout measured in at 27 ½ inches long but unfortunately fell short of the 8 pound minimum requirement to be eligible for the tournament.

We placed the big girl in the live well and made a phone call to the guys.

After sharing our exciting news Chris made the conservative call to release the big girl. He assured Ellen he would have a fiberglass mount made of her trophy. So after some very quick pictures we released the beautiful big trout back to the water from where she was taken. It was a great ending to a perfect weekend.

And Mr. Tucker if you are reading this article don’t forget, it’s hard to beat Lady Luck and Girl Power especially when they are teamed up with one lucky dog named Maggie!

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The fishing has been excellent. We’ve had a good wave of big trout caught by

can hardly see them and they wouldn’t move.

everyone, no complaints. This is the payoff right before the weather

Early in the

gets too hot and the trout bite

mornings at first

slows down.

light I’ll ease up on the shorelines

We finally had a few days of

and see the big

a much needed rainfall. We had

trout making

several inches of runoff into the

wakes as they

bays. This along with the full moon

feed right on the

pushed the tides high by a couple

water’s edge.

of feet. The water is not quite as

They are able to

clear but, the conditions are still

pin the mullet down

really good.

in the shallow water. As the day progresses the fish move out to deeper

Joel Soriano, Brett Carter and Mike Weaver got into some nice redfish.

structure. The trout will hang deep in the structure of channels and watch This saying, by one of my good old fishing buddies, Chatter Allen, has never been truer, “Fish are where you find them.” The guys would ask

the edge for anything to fall off into their hideout and ambush it. Always look for baitfish and look for structure.

Chatter, “Where are you going to fish?” he’d say, “Where I find them.” One of the many things I learned from the old fishermen is to fish the signs

A perfect example of the bait drifting over structure and being

— not the spots. If you fished the same spots as you did last year at this

ambushed by trout was on a recent trip. We were wading a shallow

time you would be disappointed. At least, that is what I’ve found. The fish

flat behind some rocks. The baitfish were bunched in tight circles and

aren’t always in the same spots as they were last year at this same time.

heading toward the outside rocks. It was like an old Western movie when you tell the boys to, “head ‘em off at the pass.” We waded to the

You’ve got to look for the

outside rocks where the baitfish were going. This was in the middle of the

right signs. The right baitfish,

morning and we could see the dark spots made by the grassbeds and

the right bottom and structure,

scattered rocks. We were standing shallow and casting toward the deep

and the right water clarity. I

structure. We knew there would be big trout in this area ready to ambush

look toward the shorelines

this bait. Sandy Saxe caught and released the first big trout; it was 29-

to locate the mullet. I’ll see

½ inches. Joe Peddie stuck another good one in the six-pound range. I

several miles of mullet but,

caught and released another trout that was twenty-nine inches long. I was

not the right size, usually too

casting a small gold Rapala with a jointed tail. It had been customized by

big. Then, I’ll see the right size

ED’S LURES. Johnny’s Sport Shop in Eagle Lake gave me a couple to try

mullet, six to ten inch sizes.

and they were hot. We wade-fished all day long for two days and caught

That is a dead giveaway for

and released dozens of good trout and a few reds. But, we didn’t catch

trout. Next, see if there’s any

any trout larger than thirty inches, which is what the guys were looking for.

structure around for the trout to hide in. Look for a little

Grant Watson caught this big red while fishing with his Dad, Brad Watson and guide CR Webb.

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The next day I fished with Dr. Wayne Laster. We went to the same

uneven bottom, ditches or

spot to fish the rocks and grass beds. Since we were drift-fishing, we

holes or grass beds or rocks,

worked out deeper with the trolling motor in water depth of five to six feet

something that will give the

around the rocks and deep grassbeds. We cast the Saltwater Assassin

trout a place to hide. I’ve

five-inch shad in plum/chartreuse tail, working it deep, right down on top

seen trout just hang in grass

of the grass. Our first drift produced this huge sow trout with a head that

beds totally covered and you

looked like a football. She was more than thirty inches long. The biggest July 2007

Joe Peddie fighting and landing a nice trout on May 21.

Dr. Wayne Laster with a 30” plus trout on May 23.

trout I’ve seen all week. So, don’t forget about working the deep structure, especially when the weather gets hot.

The redfish have been plentiful. We had a great day with some wade-fishermen that got their fill of reds. We were wading the spoil islands targeting the sand pockets with the Saltwater Assassin in pumpkin seed/ chartreuse tail. The redfish were feeding and the bite was on, we also caught some good-size trout in there, too.

A few days later we were drifting again and the trout fishing was slow that morning. The reds saved the day. The wind was calm and the water surface was slick, the redfish were schooled up in what looked like a big orange ball. You could see them turn and flash their white bellies as they fed off the bottom. The fishermen really enjoyed it and got a workout fighting redfish.

The middle of the summer brings calm winds and I will be sight-casting.

We will do some Fly-fishing too, should be fun.

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89

The Lower Laguna Madre remains as awe

immediately take advantage of it and move far into the back lakes and

inspiring as ever but fishing with

high onto the sand and grassy shorelines. Although some of that occurred,

lures is becoming somewhat of a

most of our success was consistently found out deeper. We suspect that

dedicated grind as of this writing.

unusually strong easterly winds and little sun had an effect. It kept the

Water levels rose more than a foot

shallows cooler than normal, which makes sense to us why fish may have

during late May, plus we had a

been deeper. The fish that were holding deep were often tricky to locate.

considerable amount of rainwater

And once located, wading was the best method of staying on them. We

to deal with. That is quite a change

termed them “localized fish” since they were holding in very small areas

for an area with an average depth

and moving very little.

As far as higher water levels go, we might think the fish would

of two and one half feet. Mother Nature required us to work harder

We have been catching most of our larger trout early in the day along

most days to earn the title of angler.

spoil banks, near cuts with good current flow, or along deeper drops

Seismographic activity down

adjacent to shorelines. (Deep — meaning waist or more.) Working in these

south took away a lot of otherwise

depths has changed some things for us, we are using 1/8 and sometimes

productive water, and persistent high winds also encouraged us to be

1/4 oz jigs with our soft plastics more often than our normal 1/16 ounce

more creative. However, despite the challenges, we’ve been catching our

size. Topwater action has been spotty; smaller plugs like the Spook Jr.

fish and are having a great time as always down here in paradise.

have been producing better than larger and louder baits. This may be due to the plentiful amount of shrimp in the Laguna Madre at present. We are

Trout will still be high on the list, but you trophy hunters know that this is not the prime time for heavy weights.

still using Skitterwalks and She Dogs when things get choppy; however the plastics are the best bet by far over the past several week period.

Our redfish are starting to pod up, but again, when you find a group of them, don’t leave until you feel you have exhausted every effort. We have many small redfish prowling the flats as singles, but groups of the better ones are more elusive. It pays to launch early before boat traffic drives them off of the shallow flats, and then to follow them as they move towards deeper, mid-day sanctuaries. As hot as it has been, and with the pesky winds, most of it is over by 2:00pm or so and won’t pick back up until near dark.

The month of July will offer more of the same, but things should get considerably better with the tide dropping out making fish become more concentrated. An exciting opportunity we are looking forward to will be sight-casting to tailing redfish early, and then throwing at wakes as they terrorize the deeper mid-day flats. Trout will still be high on the list, but you trophy hunters know that summer is not the prime time for heavy weights.

Most fish will be thinner, and except for the most dedicated efforts, harder to come by on lures. “STAR” quality fish will certainly still be here, just expect to manage you expectations accordingly.

Back to sight-casting. Of all the fishing opportunities available here, sight-casting is by far my first passion. It is also one of the things which make the clear waters of the Laguna a world class destination. It requires a trained eye, very precise casting skills, patience, and above all, the love of the hunt. In my opinion it is the most challenging (and rewarding) fishing

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July 2007

Wading can be essential to staying on “localized” fish when they are found.

we can do. Sight-casting is usually defined as throwing to fish we can clearly see, but to me, identifying other signs caused by shallow feeding fish count as well. Those signs can be many, and many are very subtle.

Low-light, glare, and off-colored water can make it difficult to actually see individual fish, but their positions can be betrayed by watching for any unusual movements. Those movements can be small dancing shrimp, flat-hopping mullet, or a nearly imperceptible difference in surface chop. This is the first skill to learn in sight-casting and often the hardest.

“Captain, I just don’t see what you see,” is a common lament. However, once you learn what to look for it becomes easier. Determining direction and lead time is an art, and so is figuring the wind to ensure accurate presentations. There are many times where you only get one shot, and it needs to be made within seconds. This is one of the elements that make sightfishing exciting.

As a matter of fact, we should never toss a lure without aiming at something. Making this a rule will make us better casters and better fishermen.

Pick something, anything, and do not take your eyes off it as you cast, much like never taking your eye off of the ball during a golf swing.

There are a lot of ways we can catch a fish, but catching them the way I want to catch them makes my heart pound. Finesse and accuracy, coupled with discipline and tenacity is a fine combination in any sport. When fishing gets tough, as it often can, put your head into it and make something happen.

Good luck, and keep your eye on the ball.

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Weatherwise — July is typically the hottest

Lenny’s last cast yielded this brute.

time of the year to be on the water.

Luckily, your catching opportunities in July can be equally as hot if you make all the right moves. Successful fishing outings in July could mean getting your feet wet as the sun begins to expose itself long before boat traffic begins to stir up the movement of fish. The summer months usually bring much boat traffic on the water so getting to your desired spot early can make a huge difference when looking for a good morning bite.

Calm nights and mornings with little or no boat traffic will allow the fish to feel safe as they venture onto shallow flats and shorelines overnight to feed. So getting out there before the blast of 100 outboards scatter the fish is something you’ll certainly want to consider.

In July the winds are usually fairly calm until mid-day, so there is a window of opportunity to experience fun-filled wades on shallow flats that hold tailing redfish. A barely rippled surface early in the morning is ideal for spotting your target before you catch it.

Currently, our bays are Chartreuse sea devils were the ticket in clear water.

full of baby shrimp, pin fish, mullet, and nickel-size crabs.

The good news is that our bay waters have continued to stay in great shape, and if July continues to be anywhere near where late May and all of June took us, then we are in for many entertaining and fun catching days.

As of this writing, the current water levels remain higher than normal for this time of year. The higher tides have made the back bays an excellent choice to start off the morning. Although, I would like to add that in some parts of our bay system, the higher tides have caused the fish to scatter with more acres of water to roam. In areas where we know

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the fish are holding, but are more widely scattered than normal, we are compensating by picking up the pace of our wading and fanning our casts across wider zones to find them. As soon as somebody hooks a fish or gets a blow-up we slow down or stop to explore more thoroughly. These are the type of changes we are making to help us find fish during these high tide periods. Small changes such as changing the pace of your wade according to how the fish are situated can bring about better results.

Another scheme that has been very productive for us of late is to rewade a productive flat. Let me give you an example: Early this summer I had a really fun group of experienced fishermen on board. While running a crystal-clear flat, I happened to run into a good size school of redfish.

I shut down and gave the guys some instructions. I also mentioned that I would be dropping them off and relocate approximately five hundred yards off to their right. As I waded into a cove, I lost sight of the group for about an hour. But, upon my return I saw that everyone had their stringers out, and they were all smiles. With excitement and enthusiasm, they recounted the awesome redfish bite they had just experienced.

So getting them back in the boat, I discussed what I thought were their options for the rest of the day. Now, privately, I knew the fish were still there, but I didn’t expect them to have as much faith as I did. “Guys, I said, “We could change to another location and hope to get into some new fish, or we can repeat this wade and continue having a blast catching and releasing these redfish.”

They unanimously opted for the latter choice. We all (including me) hopped on the boat and positioned ourselves for the exact same wade as before. Our walk was a swift one until someone would be at the receiving end of a hook-up. As one’s rod would bow down then another would follow seconds later. The second wade through the same area was as productive if not more as the first. I could see the guys were having a blast. As for me, they kept me working really hard, running back and forth from angler to angler trying to get some good action shots with my camera. As the trip came to an end, their comments were, “We are sure July 2007

The redfish came out to play on this day.

glad we decided to stay put.” So was I. In July as the “Heat Is On” by mid-afternoon, the fish will tend to migrate to cooler, deeper water. This is where the edges of guts and channels, drop-offs near spoil islands, or the ledges of the ICW can bring good results. Working plastics or spoons in belly deep potholes can also bring desired results during the heat of the day. When working guts and drop-offs, your chances of hooking up on flounder will be good. July historically has been a good month for catching flatties. In addition, July is a when redfish begin to school up in large groups. If your yearning is to fight oversize brutes, July is the time to be out on the water.

Summer time also means that we will begin to see an increase in stingray sightings and stingray injuries. Be careful out there, and make sure you shuffle your feet or wear some kind of protection. I recently went out and purchased a small propane burner, a pot, and a tripod to carry on the boat. Placing the wound in heated water will bring some relief from the pain inflicted by the barb and the released venom. Hot water helps to break down the complex proteins of the venom that a stingray releases. If you happen to be a victim of such a painful ordeal, I highly suggest you seek medical attention afterwards. The risk of infection is something you would want to avoid.

If you like smoking drags and red hot fishing, summer time is an excellent choice and sure to bring you some memorable trips of fun catching days.

Bring plenty of water for your thirst and also to pour on your scorching drags as they sing to the tune of “The Heat Is On.”

First aid—Be prepared for minor injuries on the water.

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July is one of Jeff’s favorite months. The temperatures may be hot, but the fishing is even hotter. All the spots that are good in June are usually even better in July.

Added options in July include the Cameron Jetties, the Calcasieu Ship Channel, the surf and the close rigs in the Gulf. Soft plastics are still the lures of choice, primarily in lighter, brighter colors. Clear, opening night and glow Sand Eels will all be quite productive. Dark colors such as smoke and avocado in H & H beetles and grubs will also produce their share of bites. The largest speckled trout ever taken in Jeff’s boat was caught on topwater in mid-July at high noon on a slick, calm day. Don’t be afraid to throw topwaters throughout the month at any time and place because the big trout are still around. July begins the prime season for offshore trips since the weather is generally calm and the seas light. Cobia should be available around the deeper structures, with tripletail abundant around shallower structures and under floating debris. Spanish mackerel will roam nearshore in big schools.

Freshwater runoff from the Brazos River has things messed up somewhat in the San Luis Pass area, according to Randall. “It’s orange water out there in a lot of places and that’s not good. We tried the beachfront this morning, and it was calm, bait everywhere, but the water in the first hundred yards or so from the beach was just a mess. The winds lately have been pushing it over here and holding it right on the beach. We took a drive yesterday afternoon on the four wheeler looking at the surf for about forty miles, and it seems to be clearing up over by the San Bernard,

Action in the Galveston area has been about as hot as the weather, James reports.

“We have been catching some pretty good trout in East Bay over the last few

“You can catch limits all over the place when winds are light. The Ship Channel spoils, East Bay reefs and open water areas in Lower Galveston Bay are all producing good numbers of fish, mostly two to four pounders, with the occasional five pounder. Best action has been on Bass Assassins in dark colors like pumpkin/ chartreuse when drifting, though the topwaters are working well for waders early in the morning. Locating fish has been relatively easy with all the slicks and birds working. When it gets windier, wading will work better, especially on leeward shorelines.” James expects the trout action to continue to sizzle throughout the summer, especially if the calm conditions hold. “We’ve sighted a few tarpon in the bays, but none yet offshore. We are catching some sharks and mackerel, and the silver kings should show up with them any time now. Usually, July is the standard time when we start to see and hook up with some tarpon on a regular basis.”

“When tides are right and winds are light, the fishing is real easy around here,” Jim says. “On windier days, the bite is a little tougher, but even on those days, we are managing to catch some decent numbers of fish. Best lure of late is the Stanley Wedge Tail, particularly in light colors when the water’s muddied up by the wind.

Primarily, we are working slicks in open water to locate our best fish. Birds are working too, and some of the schools under them are solid keepers, but focusing on the slicks produces better fish on average. When you find slicks popping on unmarked deep reefs, you’ll likely find easy limits of trout. The four tide days allow for good fishing closer to the channel, whereas the stronger tide movement on the two tide days makes the back of the bay better.” He mentions that the beachfront has started to show some promise and give up some big trout, in areas from the North Jetty to Rollover Pass. “There was a run at the pass not long ago. Some really nice trout were caught on the outside on a strong outgoing tide.”

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so it should be good for us in the next week or so. We are mostly drifting open water in West Bay and keying on slicks in about five feet of water. Best lure has been a Norton Shrimp in glow color. Some topwater action too, especially when we can get into the surf and it’s right.” Like others, he reports shark encounters lately. I’ve taken to using a plastic box rigged to float. The sharks try to get into it, but wind up just pushing it around like a man with no fingernails trying to pick up a nickel.”

weeks,” says Don. “I had a customer catch one last week that was barely over twenty six inches and weighed seven and a half pounds. Topwaters have been taking most of the good trout over there, with some coming on live shrimp too. Best bet for fishing East Bay is to pick the light wind days. North shoreline reefs are producing best, especially when there is good tide movement. The mid-bay reefs just haven’t kicked off for us yet, but they might any time now.” He says the wading in West Bay is good for reds lately. “We are catching fairly easy limits of reds at times wading West Bay. Skitter Walks are best over there, and we get some decent trout mixed in too. But the sharks are back and making life difficult. You just can’t expect to string fish without having them eaten by “the man in the gray suit”. Keep an eye out for sharks when handling your fish when wading. They won’t hesitate to try and take your catch right out of your hand!”

With ten inches of rain flowing into the bay system, the fish have congregated in back lakes and around deep structures out in front of Palacios. Local back lakes are stacked with bait fish and hungry reds. Quality slot fish up to 27 inches have been feeding on pearl Skitterwalks, clown Shedogs, and halloween Super Spooks.

Gulp soft plastics in rootbeer gold and new penny continue to be hot when the reds want something under the surface. Trout have moved off the shorelines and can be located at the sunken barges and gas wells out in Tres Palacios Bay. DOA shrimp fished about five to six feet below Cajun Thunder corks have been coaxing lots of bites lately. The tripletail action has been fair, but the freshwater runoff has moved most fish back towards POC. Barring any more floods, next month should be a great one for redfish, trout, and tripletail too. Our focus will be on sand and grass shorelines early, and then we’ll move out to deeper water around structures in the bay as the temperatures rise during the day.

July 2007

The fishing in the Laguna Madre has been good, but the catching has been only fair in recent weeks. We have been catching good numbers of speckled trout on my charters, but the average size of the fish has decreased. We have also been catching many redfish that we’ve found in schools. I believe the recent cold fronts have been responsible for creating some tough fishing days, but on days when the weather has been nice we’ve been able to catch limits of both speckled trout and redfish. The Bass Assassin Slurp in pearl and good penny and Exude RT Slugs in bone diamond, plum/chartreuse and bloody white rigged on eighth ounce jig heads have been effective on both trout and reds. Live croakers have been available recently and they’ve been almost the right size to be really effective. About one half of my charters involve wadefishing and we almost always do better when we can get off of the boat and cover more of the area. Wading provides a quieter approach and allows us to stay in the fish longer once we locate them.

Lynn expects to be fishing deep grass flats with scattered sand pockets throughout the remainder of the hot period. “We’ll be wading anywhere from waist to chest deep water, as deep as we can stand it in the heat of the day. Of course, we’ll be throwing topwaters a lot of the time, especially chrome ones. Chrome with blue back has become my favorite. When the topwater bite slows, we’ll switch over to the worm mostly. I like the Bass Assassins in plum/chartreuse and bone diamond, which is a nice color when the water’s real clear. Clear water should be prevalent more and more of the time as we get into the light winds of summer. Then the beachfront will be the place to be. I’ve been able to get out there twice so far, and we whacked ‘em both times on topwaters. Should be able to get out there a lot more in the near future and easy limits of solid fish should be snapping at our floating plugs.” Like Don Wood, he reports that the sharks in West Matagorda have shown up. “I’m dragging a cooler on a float to keep them off our fish.”

“Fishing is fair to good to at times excellent in the Rockport area,” Blake says. “We are catching enough trout on topwaters to justify the effort, especially early in the morning. Calm nights seem to make for a better topwater bite in the morning. When the wind blows all night, it’s not as good. When we get off the floating plugs, we turn to our old standby offerings, the Norton Sand Eels in dark colors with chartreuse tails. In July, I’ll be targeting flats close to deep water, starting shallow early and moving closer to the drop offs as it gets warmer. I’ll throw my topwaters as much as possible, especially the chrome ones. When we go to the surf, I really like the topwaters. Down here, the surf will stay clear in medium winds, but you really need a fairly calm night to get out there and function properly. Anchoring the boat can be difficult, even dangerous, in winds over twelve to fifteen knots. I will be heading to the beachfront as much as I can as we get into summer. Normally, we have west winds early morning, which flattens the surf and makes it easier to fish.”

Typically July has some of the calmest and clearest water of the year in the surf of PINS and tide levels remain low throughout the month. Although patchy Sargassum is still possible in this summer month, it is usually not a severe problem. This is the best time of the year for speckled trout on topwater lures. Soft plastics, rattletraps, silver spoons and flies are also productive at times. By driving slowly along the water’s edge, it is often possible to spot trout and redfish in shallow pockets and sightcast to them productively. Don’t slam the truck door upon exiting in calm conditions. Sharks are numerous until inshore shrimping season begins around the 10th, and then they tend to pull more offshore and feed behind the shrimpers. Shark fishing from the beach is most productive during this time frame at night although sightcasting opportunities occur regularly in mid day. Tarpon, king mackerel, Atlantic bluefish and some redfish are available. Often live pilchards (shad) are the preferred bait for game fish. Whiting are present in good numbers as usual.

July 2007

Joe says that he’s been on some good trout and redfish in a variety of locales in the last month or so. “I’ve been targeting flats and dropoffs from two to three foot depths and doing well on both trout and reds lately. We’ve been rigging Bass Assassins and Exude RT Slugs on eighth ounce heads mostly. Hot areas have been scattered from the south shoreline of Baffin through the meadows and up the spoil banks to the bridge area. I’ve actually been catching decent fish on both sides of the bridge on the flats. I’ll probably continue to key on shallow areas up north most of the time this summer. With the clear water all over, it doesn’t seem necessary to make the runs way south. In fact, I haven’t heard many positive reports from the Land Cut and Nine Mile Hole this year. I would rather fish north if possible. During summer, I do well sight casting reds in shallow water in Shamrock and other flats off Corpus Bay. Whenever you get around good numbers of shallow reds in areas like those, there are usually a few big trout mixed in too.”

Bruce mentions that strange weather patterns have made for some interesting fishing in the Port Mansfield area. “This weather is really funky. The predictions just don’t seem to hold true and with all the changing winds, fishing gets a little tough. We have been catching fish both inshore and offshore, but a little dose of regular summer weather patterns would help right now. In July, we’ll be doing some night wading, throwing topwaters and dark soft plastics on flats adjacent to deep water. Most of the time, we’ll stay in the immediate vicinity of the intracoastal. For our daytime fishing, we will start off super shallow after clear nights, then target the outside drop offs for trout when the sun gets up and the bait moves deeper.

Mid-day, we’ll fish waters falling from the chest deep to five feet or more. With the onset of the shrimping season, we’ll be trying to get offshore as much as we can.

There will be all manner of pelagic species behind the culling boats. Catching king mackeral on topwaters will be a priority.”

Trout fishing has been phenomenal with the extra high spring tides. We’re not sticking as many of the giant sows like in the 80’s, but we’re finding nice solid eighteen to twenty five inch fish on a regular basis with the occasional muy grande.

The reds are still first priority on the daybreak drift, throwing half ounce gold or silver weedless spoons under windy conditions and the smaller chartreuse or red/white topwaters when it’s slick calm. Running herds isn’t necessary to bring in oversized fish; we’re picking them up on the Maulers mid-morning drifting murky, slightly deeper potholes just off the back of the flats using Gulp shrimp in new penny or molting colors. Freddy says, “The west side still resembles a war zone with all the wiring, detonators, and screaming airboats; we’re seeing a lot more floating victims of this attack on the environment, so be careful and keep your eyes open for survey poles. We won’t pretend there’s not a problem, but we’ll work around it to enjoy some really great summer family fishing.”

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Thomas Barlow snagged this 28” trout while fishing West Galveston Bay. Chris Puckett hooked this 22 pound jack crevalle on a yellow Top Dog.

Cliff Wilkins proudly shows off his multi spotted red caught while fishing in East Bay.

Hunter King and father, Dial King spending time together fishing.

Joe Chaney caught and released this 28.75” trout while fishing the Laguna Madre.

Micayla Sneed tackled her biggest red to date. Way to go!

Chris Wolff proudly shows off his nice red he landed while fishing Matagorda Island shoreline.

Foley Bunk boated this 57 lb yellow fin while fishing out of South Padre Island.

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Jason Vickers snagged this 33” red while kayaking Seawolf Park.

July 2007

Sarita Gutierrez caught this redfish fishing on Bill Day Reef in POC.

Anthony Roses landed his first red fish on a pink Gulp.

Joy Emshoff tackled this jack crevalle while fishing in Port Aransas.

Leonard Hester displays his red with 150 spots he caught on a Bass Assassin while fishing Copano Bay.

Bridget Manchaca landed this nice red fishing at POC. Capt. Randall Groves shows them how it’s done with this nice flounder.

Scott Iguess tricked this 28� 7# 1oz trout while fishing in Matagorda Bay. Maria Maldonado shows off a nice red.

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