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ABOUT THE COVER Kristian Faulk with her personal best trout while fishing the flats off South Padre Island. Kristian’s Independence Day celebration last summer started with a really big bang as she landed this gorgeous thirty-incher on a KWiggler plum and chartreuse Ball Tail lure. Kudos on the release Kristen! What a great way to celebrate the holiday!

JULY 2022 VOL 32 NO 3

CONTENTS FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

8 14 20 26

32 36 40 44 48 52 56 73 78

Rollin’ With the Changes…

The Fruitful Gift Signs of Recovery Catch Your Own Fish

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard

8

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

Houston Fishing Show Spotlights Science & the Sea Boat Maintenance

40

WHAT OUR GUIDES HAVE TO SAY

60 62 64 66 68

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

62

Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros

REGULARS 6 Editorial 58 New Tackle & Gear 70 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 74 Catch of the Month 76 Gulf Coast Kitchen

76 4 | July 2022

Jay Watkins Jason Jaworski Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Eric Ozolins UT Marine Science Institute Chris Mapp

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Patti Elkins Patti@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-649-2265 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Donna Boyd Donna@tsfmag.com CIRCULATION SUBSCRIPTION – PRODUCT SALES Vicky Morgenroth Store@tsfmag.com DESIGN & LAYOUT Stephanie Boyd Artwork@tsfmag.com SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Jen Shive Jen@tsfmag.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly.

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PRINTED IN THE USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.

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EDITORIAL

CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY… & JULY FISHING

Before getting into fishing I want to say a few words about Independence Day. My dad was a USMC veteran. As a child I was taught that we live in the greatest nation the world has ever known. To believe or think otherwise for even a fleeting moment would be pure nonsense by my reckoning. Just look at the world today, better yet, travel to any other country that interests you. I have; and I’m always anxious and happy to get back to the good old USA. The blessings of liberty and freedom Americans enjoy are the envy of every other nation and people. I am proud of my country.

God Bless America!

View The Video Another reason to celebrate is that July is Open Camera & hover chock-full of fishing opportunity. Any day now, over QR Code. When link appears, tap to hopefully soon, the wretched springtime winds open in YouTube. will diminish and the bays and gulf will beckon July Issue fishermen to take advantage.

Highlights At the top of many anglers lists will be red snapper. Our season is short, thanks to the socalled NOAA fisheries managers. That’s why you need to be sitting on go at the first sign of calming in the gulf. Small boats on seas more than a couple feet are not the best plan. Here’s to hoping July gives

us good weather.

Nearshore waters will be swarming with the greatest number of sportfish species we see all year. Chief among these are tarpon, king mackerel, cobia (ling), mahi-mahi, and sharks. Many a day I’ve waded the surf a few hours at daylight and then headed out to troll and jig for all the others.

Speaking of the surf, July is one of the best months for clean, green water to lap on the sand. The action can be unreal when it does. Bellydeep in the suds with angry surf trout crushing surface lures is nothing short of exhilarating.

Back in the bays, you can bet the farm it’s going to be busy. The July heat is reason enough to get out there early for a few hours, and maybe another session toward evening. The bite is sure to be more reliable, not to mention fewer boats zipping around. Some say boat traffic annoys fishermen more than fish, but I beg to differ. One thing is sure, an afternoon BBQ in the shade beats grinding under baking sun…the way I see it, anyway.

The biggest mistake any fisherman can make this month is to stay indoors. Gas the boat, load the tackle, and round up the family. Take a few minutes to get everybody registered for the CCA Texas STAR Tournament. It’s easy to do online. One of your youngsters could be the lucky winner of a STAR scholarship.

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KEEP SHARKS & STINGRAYS AWAY 6 | July 2022

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Ambassador David Mangum TSFMAG.com | 7

Rollin’ with the Changes…

Arial view of the San Luis Pass tidal delta. The Pass undergoes constant change with the ebb and flow of tides and sand migration making it necessary to relearn it almost every year. (GlobeXplorer)

Relearning Fishing Areas STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

W

hen we look at something every day we sometimes fail to notice subtle changes that others who have been absent for long periods see as glaring differences. Several examples come to mind: A relative or friend comes over to visit and says, “Wow! I can’t believe how much your daughter has grown!” Or, “Man, Steve! You’ve gained some weight!”

I recently had a client who hadn’t fished with me in a while make some comments about a particular area where we started our first wade of the morning. “Are you sure this is that cove we used to fish? Man! It sure doesn’t even look the same. I thought it was narrower than this. And where’s all the seagrass that used to cover the bottom?”

It got me to thinking about all of the little changes over time that continuously alter the characteristics of our shorelines, islands, reefs and sandbars and how we’ve had to adjust our strategies to effectively fish such areas. It’s funny how we don’t even notice the adjustments we make because they take place in such small increments over weeks, months, and even years, but someone who hasn’t visited our bays in a long time is visibly shocked by what they see.

Stephen Spielman with a really solid CPR speck he caught while casting a 5” Plum Saltwater Assassin onto a sandbar that was an island not too many years ago.

Texas Custom Lures - Jay Watkins Series Double D helped me trick quite a few solid trout on this particular morning (over 20 trout released).

Nathan Jacob’s 27-7/8 inch trout was caught on a Plum/Chartreuse Down South lure while casting into slicks along the windward edge of a sandbar. Released…of course.

wave and tidal action tends to push bait and subsequently trout along the outside drop-off of the sandbar. Like any stretch of shoreline I always try to focus on where the ripples along the shallowest parts lie and the direction of the current. In most cases the fish will be on the windward side. Wind and/or current-induced streaks of muddy water will typically show me the outline of the bar.

There are some coves that have actually gotten deeper to the point where they are now too deep to wade, even on an average tide. One in particular is Dana Cove on the south shoreline of West Galveston Bay. I caught (and released) one of my best stringers (for Galveston Bay) of trout in the back southeast corner of this cove in March of 2004 while prefishing for a tournament. There were two subtle troughs that intersected in that corner and there was a tiny patch of oyster reef there. That was the sweet spot.

I caught ten trout ranging from 5-½ to almost 8 pounds on the trusty Paul Brown Original Corky in the pearl/chartreuse pattern. It’s hard to believe that was more than eighteen years ago. Silt from Hurricane Ike buried that little reef in September of 2008. In addition, natural erosion and nearby erosion control projects, mainly in the form of breakwaters (revetment rocks), along with the overall loss of shoreline spartina (cord grass), have resulted in a deeper and wider cove.

As with all of the areas we fish that have undergone such transformations we tend to be initially disappointed because of the changes. Then, we force ourselves to relearn how to fish those areas and begin to realize that there are new sweet spots. In this case, because of the increased water depth, we target the back of this particular cove along with the eastern and western edges nowadays. While it’ll never seem to be as good as it once was it’s good enough for the time being. By “good enough” I’m mainly referring to the overall quality of trout compared to what we caught in years past.

Andrew Shaffer put on a catch and release clinic throwing a Borboleta slow-sink Hot Rod. Wave action is the main culprit when it comes to shoreline

Getting back to this particular cove; we used to anchor out on the northeast point and then wade through the grass-lined, silty bottom to get to the back. We would then methodically fish our way back toward the mouth, which was narrow at the time. The entire time we’d fan our casts while keying on a flipping mullet or two. Over the years erosion has not only widened the cove but the seagrass-lined bottom is now pretty firm sand void of vegetation. The point where I used to anchor my boat is now a sandbar that juts out into the bay and has actually become one of my favorite late-winter through early-summer spots, especially on windier days.

Like many other coves and small peninsulas that line our shorelines, erosion and habitat loss have significantly altered the contour as well as the water depths in and around the coves. These changes have caused us to entirely change our approach. We now wade more out in front instead of fishing the very back because this is where the

10 | July 2022

TSFMAG.com | 11

erosion. Waves hitting vertical surfaces reflect (bounce back) with most of their energy. Waves that wash over shallow reefs or sandbars first lose a lot of their energy, thus causing less erosion over a longer period of time. Wave energy is controlled by certain factors that are fairly obvious. Most of them are naturally occurring with the exception of tanker and container ship wakes. Wakes from barge traffic along the Intracoastal Waterway should also be included. The distance the wind blows (fetch), the wind speed, the length of time it blows, and the water depth all figure into the shoreline erosion equation.

While most of the shoreline erosion projects seem to be beneficial, some can actually contribute to opposite shoreline erosion due to the eccentric reflection of wave energy. Trying to prevent changes created by Mother Nature that have a negative impact is not always easy and it damn sure isn’t perfect. I applaud all the Mitchell DeAtkine tricked this pretty upper slot red on government and non-government organizations Jake White released this a Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad while casting to mud healthy one after she fell prey as well as the many volunteers involved for their boils that were popping up along what used to be a to a floating Borboleta LeLe. efforts in trying to slow what is a natural process. small Rangia clam lined peninsula (now a sandbar).

Many of the islands we used to wade are now but the natural longshore drift has been altered by rock groins that reefs and sandbars. Some examples include Bull Shoals (aka Bull Hill), extend offshore of the seawall. The groins were built to trap sand Mosquito Island, Shell Island and Dickinson Reef. Hodges and Little moving within the longshore drift system and to slow the rate of Hodges over in Trinity Bay are a couple more that come to mind. All of these spots still produce fish but wading opportunity has become very beach erosion. They have also slowed the rate of sand delivery to beaches west of the Galveston Seawall. Most of the sand eroded from limited compared to years past. The current sweet spots on all of them seem to be where the deepest drop-offs occur. Because of this, drifting Galveston beaches is transported westward and ultimately ends up in the San Luis Pass tidal delta. The beachside as well as the bayside of is sometimes more effective if the wind allows.

San Luis Pass undergo constant fluctuation for this reason: (Anderson, As we’ve seen the natural and man-induced changes take place John B. 2007. “The Formation and Future of the Upper Texas Coast”) in the areas mentioned, other projects have been constructed Deepening and widening of the Houston Ship Channel along with and rebuilt. The revetment Marsh Island project on the Trinity Bay construction of the Texas City Dike, construction of the North and side of the Houston Ship Channel was built several years ago and South Jetties as well as rock groins along our beaches have all altered offers some great summertime fishing near the rocks and along the transportation routes for sand and affected the hydrology and the sandy-bottomed drop-offs on the east and west sides. Redfish salinity balance of Galveston Bay. The jury is still out on the closure of Island is another area that has been rebuilt. The nooks and crannies Rollover Pass. Only time will tell. along with the reefs on the west side of the rocks are excellent target The shorelines of bays are eroding an average just over two feet per areas especially during the late summer months. Evia Island (aka year (http://www.beg.utexas.edu/coastal/coasta101.htm). With our Bird Island) in East Galveston Bay is another man-made island that shorelines staying in a constant state of change we have to pay close produces good results at times. attention and make the necessary adjustments to continue to have The power of the water is incredible. Naturally-occurring success targeting the species of fish we seek. In other words, we have phenomena such as tropical storms, hurricanes, and longshore to roll with the changes. currents transport sand and silt to and from beaches, estuaries,

View The Video

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

Adjusting to Changes

12 | July 2022

STEVE HILLMAN

CONTACT

and wetlands that causes constant erosion as well as attrition, not to mention habitat changes. In addition, ship traffic, barge traffic, and overall human activity as the population along the Texas Coast increases, further accelerates the process.

Along Galveston Island, sand is mostly transported to the west

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

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

TSFMAG.com | 13

Fruitful the

Gift

STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

I

n much the same way a boat pushes waves onto a distant shore before it arrives at a dock, significant future events can send subtle signals into the present. People sometimes receive these signals and adjust their actions in anticipation of what’s to come. Athletes and anglers do so by opening what some have called the doors of perception, allowing themselves to perceive the reality of an impending moment with crystal clarity.

Certainly, Jack Nicklaus opened the eyes of his mind while he played the final round of the 1986 Masters. Coming into the week, pundits gave the aging veteran little or no chance to win.

Halfway through Sunday’s round, he trailed by several strokes. But the old pro began to get on a roll on the back nine, and started to feel the effects of something imminent and special.

When he stood atop the hill on the par-5 15th, gazing across the pond at the pin tucked into the right side of the green, he said to Jack Jr., his caddy that week, “How far do you think a three would go here?”

“I think it’s a four,” the son said.

“No, I mean an eagle,” Jack corrected him. Then the Golden Bear drilled a four iron onto the green and sank the putt, continuing his comeback, helping all in the audience begin to believe we were seeing what we wanted to see.

After the father hit his tee shot on the par-3 16th, he took his gaze off the ball mid-flight, turning to look at his progeny, who followed the shot intently. “Be right!” Junior yelled.

Softly, in a matter of fact tone, Papa Bear said, “It is.” He already knew the truth. The ball spun within a few feet of the flag, setting up another birdie. By the time the game’s greatest champion watched his putt on the 17th curl into the cup and raised his putter in defiance of Father Time, we all knew what was happening. A while later, in Butler Cabin, they took the Golden Bear’s green jacket out of his locker and slipped it over his shoulders for a sixth and final time, in what not only felt like a fitting finish, but also an inevitable one.

Similarly poignant events unfolded near the end of the 1998 college football season, when the Texas Longhorns faced their rivals, the Aggies of Texas A&M. Going into the game, Longhorn tailback Ricky Williams needed 63 yards to pass Tony Dorsett and become the game’s all-time leader in yards gained rushing. Near the end of the first quarter, Ricky had closed the gap to just 11 yards.

“I knew I was getting close,” number 34 would later say. “And I off the top of a wave, into the air between two crests. And then it wanted to break the record with a long run.” happened. The wide-open mouth and broad dappled side of my trout When the moment presented itself, Ricky was ready. Once he had emerged from the brine as she snatched the flying Ghost and caused a his hands on the pigskin, a crease developed in the left side of the white ball of suds to erupt around the end of my line. line, and the burly ball carrier flicked one Aggie aside with a stiff arm Time seemed to slow to a crawl while it all played out. I remember and broke into the clear, racing away from his chasers. After he had feeling as if I were watching myself from above, like a spectator secured the record, the young man clearly wanted more. When he in my own show. The fight didn’t last long; I won. When I had the bulled his way into the end zone, the capacity crowd in Austin roared fish securely attached to my stringer, I paused to consider what I’d like a stampeding herd. Like Jack in ‘86, Ricky had opened the valve in done. I can’t say I knew the fish would win the big trout prize in the his mind, freeing his body to fulfill its own prophecy. tournament, but it did. I can say I realized I’d become aware of the Famous writer and psychiatrist M. Scott Peck defines grace as the event before it happened, as if I had allowed it to happen, by getting ability to perceive ripe opportunity and seize upon it consciously. out of my own way.

Surely, Jack and Ricky displayed the gift of grace when they made That fish caused my name to begin to percolate in the trout fishing history on those days. One moment stands above all others in my own angling career, as bearing resemblance to their achievements.

The first Troutmasters Classic took place on the weekend of Halloween, in 1998. I chose to fish in San Antonio Bay during the event, mostly in what I and my friends call “Twin Lake on the right.” Heading into the tournament, a seemingly Biblical flood rendered most of that body of water fresh like Lake Conroe, forcing what little saltwater remained in the bay into its southern extremes, also concentrating many of its trout and redfish in small spaces.

In those days, between about April and November, I started almost every day of fishing by throwing a small topwater. If I could prove the fish would blow up using what I perceived as my “fish finder,” I’d often The Captain retired the Early Times bone Ghost shortly after the ‘98 TroutMasters Classic. replace the little plug with something larger, hoping to urge strikes from bigger fish. The plan paid off for me handsomely back then.

I caught two or three trout quickly on the first morning of the event, using one of my favorite Spit’n Images. Then, fully confident in the efficacy of a floating plug, I pulled out my wading box, looking for the perfect one. The night before, tournament organizers had given each contestant a bag full of lures and other swag. I’d placed one of the plugs, a bone Ghost, adorned with an Early Times Whiskey logo, into my wading box.

The lure lay beside others bearing teeth marks which proved I’d caught many fish on them. But my gaze fell directly on the shiny new one. I remember thinking, perhaps even saying out loud, “How could this not be the lucky one?”

While I tied the new Ghost onto the end of my line, I began smiling, not at someone else, since I was alone, but at what I suddenly knew was coming. Standing in the back right corner of the lake, I cast the cigar-shaped plug as far as I could downwind, toward the point of grass extending off the shoreline in front of me. Using my favorite retrieve for breezy conditions, I began to execute a presentation I call the “skim and pause.”

First walking the dog with a few sharp twitches of This image shows the location where Captain Kev fished most of the ‘98 Classic. the rod tip, then pausing, then turning the reel handle fast for several revolutions, I caused the lure to jump 16 | July 2022

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Michael Michell used a conventional Paul Brown Lure with its tail bent sharply down to catch this handsome trout in windy conditions.

18 | July 2022

another gear,” Turcotte later said.

They got out of Big Red’s way, let him run his race. After many years performing stud services in safe pastures, Secretariat passed away; when veterinarians performed an autopsy on him, they discovered the great champion had a heart twice the normal size.

Very few of us have the freakish physical traits and skills of Big Red, the Golden Bear or Ricky the running back. Most of us won’t win a green jacket, nor find a pathway to sporting immortality. But we can use the fruitful gift of grace to listen and react when a ghost drops a hint to reveal a sweet truth about the future.

View The Video

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

Lesson From the Past

KEVIN COCHRAN CONTACT

community. More than any other, it spawned my life as a fishing guide.

People don’t generally catch such big trout in San Antonio Bay, neither today, nor over two decades ago, when I did. Luck surely smiled on me that Halloween. But I take credit for feeling what I felt and doing what I knew was right to give life to the event urging itself into existence.

In a way, my actions remind me of a more significant sporting event, one which played out on the track at Belmont Park in New York, on June 9, 1973. Heading into the race, Secretariat had won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, both in record times. He stood on the cusp of immortality; if he could win the Belmont Stakes, he’d win the Triple Crown, American horse racing’s most treasured prize.

Observers on the scene say Big Red looked like he knew what was about to happen, that he carried himself with purposeful dignity. But let’s keep it real. Secretariat was a horse, not a human being. I seriously doubt he actually knew what he was doing. He simply wanted to run, because he loved to run.

His owner, Penny Chenery, did know exactly what she was doing.

The lady had forced the handlers of the most famous horse in racing history to hold him back a bit in the previous two events. But on that June day in New York, with history on the line, she said, “Let him run.”

And run he did. Big Red won the ‘73 Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, setting a record for 1-½ miles that stands to this day.

He crossed the finish line without another horse sharing his space on the TV screen, truly separating himself from the field. In doing so, he not only won the Triple Crown, he executed what I’d argue is the single most dominant performance in sports history. Credit must be given to the stallion’s owner, and to jockey Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat into the hallowed halls of fame.

“I whispered ‘easy boy’ into his ear to keep him going. When I saw we were going to win, I chirped, so he’d know not to let up. He found

Captain Kev’s long-time customer Michael Michell continues to catch some really big trout in the ULM and Baffin Bay in 2022.

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

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

TROUT TRACKER GUIDE SERVICE Phone Email Web

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

TSFMAG.com | 19

Gary Reicherzer with an absolute stud – 17-pound redfish from the marsh.

Recovery

SIGNS OF STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

L

ike a scene from a cheesy, low-budget soap opera; where you think the star has departed for the great beyond, and then suddenly you hear the beep and the heart monitor screen flashes the familiar peak and valley rhythm of another miraculous return to life – Sabine Lake appears to be on the cusp of resurrection.

No, it’s not like the old days when the summer meant every pattern you chose would almost guarantee a day full of satisfying action on the water. No, it’s not like the old days when a 5-pound trout would barely raise an eyebrow. What it is though could best be described as progress in the right direction. Finally, we have something to get motivated and excited about as the conditions throughout the entire estuary system seem to get better by the day. Salty green water chock full of bait continues to permeate the open lake. The ship channel and surrounding rivers have been virtually untainted by any sort of big rain or run off activity from either Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn to the north. The overall condition of our little bay is as good as it’s been in several years and that has most local anglers feeling at least cautiously optimistic for the coming summer months and beyond.

So far all the leading indicators that most fishermen judge the conditions by are about as good as we have seen them, especially compared to the last five years. Massive freshwater dumps courtesy of heavy rainfall from tropical weather events have been by far the worst enemy anyone could have imagined. There was one such deluge and runoff during the winter a few years back that quite possibly was the worst of all the storms Sabine has ever endured.

Many folks, including myself, believe the rush of runoff during the really cold conditions that year was exactly what sent Sabine Lake reeling into decline and has taken such a long time to recover from. During the runoff event speckled trout, which were staged up in the deeper water due to the cold temps, were easily the most susceptible to feeling the brunt of the conditions. The massive push of water escorted a huge majority of the trout population out to the gulf and proceeded to deposit those fish farther down the coast. This event left most Sabine anglers wondering if the lake would ever get back to resembling what it once was.

On occasion there would be flurries of activity on the lake that would get local anglers hopes up for recovery, but sadly they usually fell quite short. So far this year looks and feels like the real thing, a bona fide resurgence that potentially could signal some real deal recovery for the fishery. One of the things I judge our fishery by is the amount of bait we see in the system. Sabine lake, when it’s right, has just an astronomical population of all species of shad and that’s exactly where everything starts. The huge rafts of shad gather up in the open lake

TSFMAG.com | 21

A wide variety of bait; bream, crawfish, and crabs, have been showing up in the stomach contents of redfish and largemouth bass. Definitely a sign of a thriving estuary.

Redfish are looked at in a much different light this year post freeze.

Another great barometer of sorts is seeing fish normally reserved for the jetties and gulf prowling around the open lake, especially the north end where the freshwater dumps in. Sharks, jacks, and even turtles have been lurking around the lake already this summer and that just goes to show how salty the lake is right now. I ran into a few of these little mini-schools of jacks while scouting and just about had to make myself finally leave them because they were so much fun to tangle with. I have spoken to several anglers who have had occasion to lose fish to sharks already this year, which is really saying something because its early for that to be happening.

As the saltwater continues to creep its way up both the Sabine and Neches rivers, one of our most favorite programs should come back to life and that’s the live bait in the channel pattern that is an absolute joy to fish. Speckled trout and redfish will stack up on the main channel breaks and be there in great numbers when you find them. There is nothing like setting up on anchor while soaking a live shad on a Carolina rig as you socialize with friends and family. This ultra-relaxed style of fishing affords anglers the opportunity to not only catch some really good fish but to do it in a great atmosphere with anglers of all talent and skill levels. Learning this program may have been one of the most valuable lessons my good friend Dickie Colburn ever taught me. Each time I park on a spot that we found together or fished from time to time I smile and thank him for showing me this pattern because it’s so special.

Ken Reicherzer with one of many quality largemouth we caught along with our redfish.

Now my personal bread and butter for

and are nothing but a huge buffet waiting to happen for every species that swims or flies. Speckled trout, sand trout, redfish, catfish, and just about anything else with gills will shadow these big schools of bait until it’s time to eat, and that’s where the carnage starts. Right now the bait populations in the lake are the best they have been in a while, which is a great first step.

22 | July 2022

TSFMAG.com | 23

are still well below the long term average and need to be respected and cared for. I’m not saying we shouldn’t keep any, I’m saying be mindful of what you keep and only keep what you plan to eat fresh.

We have been praying for a recovery and now that we appear to be doing much better it’s even more important to do our part as conscientious anglers. Enjoy your time on the water, respect the resource and, whenever possible take a kid fishing.

View The Video

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

Count Your Blessings!

CHUCK UZZLE

CONTACT

the last fifteen years or so has been patrolling the marshes and backwater lakes that are so prevalent between Sabine and Calcasieu.

I am so excited at how incredibly good this water looks right now.

The water clarity is border line “too clear” and the vegetation is as perfect as one could ask for.

On a recent trip to the backwater with Gary and Ken Reicherzer, I almost had to pinch myself as I kept getting distracted by just how pretty both the water and vegetation was that we were fishhing. Water clarity was a good as any aquarium you’ve ever seen and the grass was so green it looked like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. All these gorgeous conditions and very little sunlight to help us appreciate the scenery but that did not matter, it was first rate beautiful. Our mission for the day was to locate and catch some redfish but that plan was derailed by the unreal numbers of largemouth bass we encountered.

The “green trout” kept us busy until we finally located some redfish and watched them put on a show in that beautiful water.

From the gulf to the marsh, Sabine is really showing signs of coming back to life. There have been some quality trout being caught as well as good numbers of keeper-size fish, which is a welcome sight for many who thought they may never see it again. I believe as long as we don’t have anything crazy happen during the next several months with tropical storms or other severe weather events, Sabine Lake may have finally turned the corner.

Now, not to throw a wet blanket on all this positivity, but I would be terribly short-sighted if I didn’t at least ask folks to practice stewardship and conservation in the numbers of fish they decide to keep. Our trout populations, while appearing to be on the rebound,

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

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Seatrout on driftwood at a Texas beach.

Catch Your Own Fish STORY BY JOE RICHARD

A

family discussion about where to buy fish had me going on about the checkered options available today in restaurants and seafood markets, for those who don’t catch their own fish. Mislabeling seafood in the industry has been rife for decades, and the word “truthless” comes close to describing some areas of the seafood industry. It’s kept me from buying seafood for the past 50 years, but then I’ve fished that entire period, some would say obsessively. And not always from boats. More on that in a moment.

There are exceptions to buying good seafood, of course. Some seafood markets work hard to earn a good reputation. It’s rare, but some even have their own offshore commercial boats, like in Galveston, where you can buy whole Gulf species easily identified that are fresh and filleted on the spot. In Miami last year, we stopped at a market in Little Havana on a Sunday afternoon, where lady customers in church attire and high heels were hand-picking big snappers, carrying them around by the tails, to be filleted. Fresh, local fish for supper.

On the negative side, restaurants have been busted for mislabeling their fish dinners.

One scam is the “grouper sandwich” for $9.95 with the texture of…tilapia. One would hope tilapia is wild-caught from South Florida lakes, but most often it originates from Asia, where they’re fed almost anything, even pig poop. The fish are harvested from crowded ponds and sent off to American restaurants.

Forty years ago, 75 percent of shrimp consumed in America was from faraway lands, mostly Asia. During that same period, most freshwater catfish were raised in Mississippi grow-out ponds. Today, most catfish are from Asia, raised in pens, often in water quality that doesn’t even qualify for “sketchy,” like the crowded Mekong River.

(Check out the video on YouTube). There have been stories for many years of restaurants selling saltwater hardhead catfish as channel catfish, fed to tourists. One more tip: in a restaurant, don’t bother asking the wait staff what the “fish of the day” is, and where it came from. If they tell you the truth, they could lose their job.

Recent news about commercial salmon stocks is also disappointing. Wild-caught salmon are one thing, but pen-raised salmon in Norwegian fiords are fed food pellets.

That feed is ground up fish and eels from the Baltic Sea, which is almost a saltwater lake, bordered by nine countries.

It completely exchanges water with the Atlantic every 30 years, according to one excellent documentary. Recent tests for toxins in salmon fillets showed traces of many chemicals, but the PCBs spiked at the top of the chart. If PCBs won’t give you cancer, nothing will. Think about that, next time you see a big orange salmon fillet in the store.

Fortunately, Texans without boats have many options for catching healthy fish from ponds, rivers and reservoirs, on down to the Gulf of Mexico. On the Gulf (sticking with saltwater here) there are more fish-attracting rock jetties than anywhere in the country. All can be walked and fished, though two of them (Sabine and POC) can only be reached by boat. Which means those two jetties have a higher fish population. The remaining jetties (Galveston, Freeport, Colorado River, Port Aransas, Mansfield and Isabel) can be reached by car. The walking surface of each jetty varies and can be hazardous, so caution is advised. Protective clothes and fishing gloves are highly recommended. Jetties often stretch out to clear green water where the big fish bite.

Common summer and fall species include redfish, trout, black drum, Spanish mackerel and pompano.

The Texas coast is also famous for great wade fishing, and some fish can be caught in the bays without a boat, though reaching a productive area near car traffic means scouting, persistence, luck and often a hike past such hazards as stingrays, oysters and mud, even speeding boats in poor lighting. A more sensible solution is to fish our 367 miles of Gulf beach. Some of the coast offers barrier islands that can only be reached by boat, but many miles can still be reached by truck or even car. The biggest stretch is North and South Padre Islands, spanning 113 miles. Though often windy, that area offers the most reliable clear water in summer and fall, which fish appreciate. The wind generally calms down from July through September, even October, offering great trout, redfish and pompano action in the surf.

We used to camp and fish Padre Island where you could see good-sized trout cruising inside those small, clear green waves, a real treat. If the water was choppy and brownish, we’d switch to bait and catch redfish and whiting. I even caught silver mullet for bait with the castnet. Lip-hooking 28 | July 2022

South Padre Island jetty on a perfect morning with green water.

Party boat angler pulling on a stubborn amberjack.

Pier fishermen learning the trade at an early age.

TSFMAG.com | 29

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Hiking in for a little wadefishing action.

trips include deepwater tuna and reef fish.

So, there are many ways to eat a healthy diet of fish with memories and adventures thrown in. There’s even a chance your fish may taste better, because you’ve earned it.

JOE RICHARD

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

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

CONTACT

one of those four-inch mullet and tossing it way out there often gave that baitfish a short lease on life.

One summer afternoon while tossing a gold spoon, I hooked a small bluefish, whiting and ladyfish and all were attacked by big trout.

On the upper coast there are serious spoonslingers and pluggers who may have never owned a boat, but who have caught perhaps thousands of seatrout over the years. They wade out armpit deep if need be, ideally making the dawn patrol on an incoming tide, with a light SE wind, aiming for green water. Out there in the Gulf, predatory trout seem eager to grab flashing artificial baits, and serious stringers of fish have been caught. There are times when all factors don’t align and a pre-dawn trip down Hwy. 288 or IH-45 may be for naught. However when it’s right, it’s exquisite action. Today’s cell phones and weather forecasting make it easier than the old days.

Back then, everyone used baitcasting reels, namely the Ambassadeur. Today, I wouldn’t go without my long-reaching, graphite eight-foot spin rod, with a reel that doesn’t backlash. Cast as far as you can beyond the brown shore break where trout and Spanish mackerel cruise the green water.

Easiest of all Gulf fishing is reserved for fishing piers, which are even accessible by wheelchair, so there is no slipping on rocks or getting your vehicle stuck in beach sand. The downside is that action can be slow, depending on water clarity and time of day. Try to fish early mornings when fish are closer to the beach during an incoming tide.

A small bait bucket and aerator with live shrimp, carried on a cart or wagon, along with a chair and umbrella, makes for comfortable fishing. Surf piers are subject to hurricane damage and repairs, so check which piers are currently open.

For those hoping to fish from a boat, there are some 1,400 fishing guides and offshore captains in Texas. Browse through Fishing Booker. com, or try the big Gulf partyboats in Galveston or Port Aransas. There are loads of fish out there of a great many species, and it isn’t hard to catch enough for a number of meals, enough to warrant buying a shrink-wrapper that will preserve fillets for half a year. Shorter partyboat trips aim for snapper or amberjack, while longer combo

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TSFMAG.com | 31

J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

STRUCTURE & STRATEGIES

FOR MID-SUMMER HEAT It sure got hot in a hurry. Warmer weather combined with continuing drought has pushed bay water temperatures into the mid-80s range. Early is the key this time of year for me, along with choosing areas where I have some water movement over the bottom structure that I prefer to fish. Since the 2021 freeze I have spent very little time in the northern portions of Aransas, Copano, St. Charles and San Antonio bays. This means that I have spent little time on our mid-bay reefs in these bay systems. I will definitely work these areas more this summer than I did last season.

No matter where you might choose to fish along the middle to lower Texas coast, you will want to get an early start so that you can capitalize on slightly cooler waters in the morning due to some slight but very critical nighttime cooling. Everything is more active in the cooler waters of early morning, so your odds of catching fish are much improved, I believe. I definitely try to target the proper areas during solunar majors and minors but extreme water temperatures in shallow flats and back lakes can many times trump even that card.

We talk a lot about fishing windward shorelines and areas that are windblown that possess the right bottom

Laura Derkits makes every cast count.

32 | July 2022

structure for the season. I am all about submerged grass and shallow shell with moving water during the dog days of summer. With this heat I try to be in the water in gray light, maybe even the dark, and then off the water before the noon sun starts cooking us.

A few years back, prior to the 2021 freeze, I had a shoreline that was close and easy to get to in the dark and, on one particular morning I never got out of the boat. My guys stepped out and had them on three at a time so I just sat there and watched. Okay, I did eventually jump out and get in the game, but I did watch for a good while. I am not that sit in the boat guy and when I become him I am going to quit because my clients will be losing the true value of having the coach in the game with them.

On this morning we had received a little rain overnight, so the cloud cover and the cooler water from the rainfall had decreased the surface water temperatures up shallow. In the shallows I had similar submerged grass beds just like I had out in 4 to 5 feet of water, an area I had been fishing extensively. My thought process on that morning, when I noticed the decreased water temperature on my water temperature gauge, was to start on the shallow structure in the dark and then ease out and cast downwind toward deeper grassbeds where bait and trout had been holding very reliably.

Remember that when we are fishing downwind or leeward areas, it is very important to angle your casts so that your lure is being presented in front of your targets versus working it from behind.

The more angle you can create and still maintain good communication with your bait the better.

I prefer a medium or medium-light rod with a fast action if I am building a great angle with the line. Braided line is also a must for me fishing this type of presentation. I honestly no longer use monofilament, although I do use Seaguar Fluorocarbon much of the time when bass fishing with my son, Ryan. For me, I have much better communication with the lure with the above described setup.

I judge an angler’s skill level on his or her ability to fish with greater angle in their casts. A few weeks back I watched James Plagg and David Rowsey create angle in really high winds, and both were very effective. It is very difficult to catch what you cannot feel. The new Henri K4 along with the Waterloo Slam Mag are excellent choices and these

Your Catch Counts!

Report your Red

Snapper Landings

Get involved.

Help manage the red snapper fishery for future generations.

At the end of each day’s trip, parties that land red snapper are strongly encouraged to report their landings via a mobile app or online.

It’s fast, simple and easy!

load n w o D pp a e h t ! today

Download the free app at

www.iSnapper.org or report online at iSnapperonline.org Each submittal is important to the management of the red snapper fishery off Texas shores and beyond.

Anglers fishing from party boats are exempt as the captain reports for you.

FOR INFO ABOUT THE REPORTING PROGRAM Harte Research Institute iSnapper@sportfishresearch.org www.sportfishresearch.org

FOR INFO ON THE RED SNAPPER FISHERY TPWD Coastal Fisheries cfish@tpwd.texas.gov www.tpwd.texas.gov TSFMAG.com | 33

Allyson with one of a bunch released this day.

Lauren being Lauren like only she can do.

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

If You Want to Catch ‘Em…Don’t Crowd ‘Em

34 | July 2022

On a different note, I am seeing a much higher level of aggression displayed by the dolphin population this year. I know that nature always finds a way to correct herself and that both dolphins and sharks are apex predators in our bay systems. Noting this behavior, I have decided to try and not educate them further to our abilities to provide easy meals for them. I am going to make them work for it. I suggest you do the same if you can find your way to do so.

I am throwing the Texas Customs Double D and MirrOlure Lil John XLs, Lil Johns, and also Bass Assassins. This time of year we experience a lot of “tail bites” with the softer baits but with extreme heating that little extra action of the softer baits can earn you more strikes. Just be sure to check the tails on the lure after every bite and every fish. Just the smallest amount of the tail missing will keep you from getting as many bites, I promise.

I am very excited about the catch and release trend I am seeing coast wide by so many right now. I firmly believe that the more anglers who adopt and practice this the sooner we will see our trout fishery making a recovery toward the numbers we enjoyed before the freeze.

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

C O N TA C T

are two rods I have personally had in my hands almost exclusively under such conditions.

Due to the configuration of our shoreline drop-off zones, we many times are forced to fish leeward shorelines versus windward. Water depth will not allow us to position ourselves where it is possible to fish the deeper windward bottom structures that I prefer during the hottest times of the year. During periods of strong winds or strong tidal movements, I quite often see distinct water color changes developing over the top of my targeted bottom structures. A good working knowledge of exactly where the bottom structure exists along with good GPS marks enables my clients to fish over structure that they really can’t see.

When clarity turns off-colored to muddy, trout will often depend more on senses through the lateral line versus actual sight or smell in their feeding. Truth be told, larger trout often feed more aggressively when water clarity trends in this direction. This past week I had a couple of days where the color change moved in close enough to cover the submerged grassbeds I was targeting. One day in particular it was lights out for about two hours. On that particular morning the peak solunar feeding influence also occurred in the very early morning hours, which no doubt aided in our success.

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

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

TSFMAG.com | 35

B y J a s o n J a w o r s k i | S a n A n t o n i o B a y M a n a g e m e n t Te a m

FIELD NOTES

OSMOREGULATION IN ESTUARINE FISHES It might come as no surprise to some people that Texas’ coastal bays are constantly changing. Climate, seasons, weather, tides, and anthropogenic factors are all continuously altering the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of these waters. One of the many elements that affect a marine ecosystem is salinity.

Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Coastal Fisheries division monitors environmental factors - including salinity - in its routine sampling of all bay systems. Freshwater input from rivers, precipitation, and tidal interactions create an environment that requires local fish, shellfish, and even birds to find some way of surviving fluctuating salinities. Fish living in our bays, including some of Texas’s most popular sportfish species, use a biological process known as osmoregulation to make the most of their estuarine habitat. Osmoregulation allows these fish, along with a myriad of other marine organisms, to survive (and even thrive) in such dynamic waters.

Salinity levels vary from mostly marine to almost freshwater conditions depending on seasonal and locational changes to freshwater/saltwater inputs.

Figure 1

36 | July 2022

Freshwater is considered less than 1 parts per thousand (ppt), while ocean water is usually considered 35 ppt, with other states of water including brackish water that is a mixture of salt and fresh and hypersaline water that is saltier than regular ocean water. In Texas bays, there is generally a salinity gradient from north to south, with Sabine Lake on average being the freshest marine ecosystem and the Lower Laguna Madre being the saltiest. This salinity gradient is due primarily to higher annual rainfall patterns observed in the northern bays, and higher evaporation rates combined with less freshwater input in the southern bays. With the spring and summer months underway, the Texas coast will see more precipitation than in other times of the year. Spring rain and summer weather events, such as hurricanes, both contribute to immediate input of freshwater from rain and higher inflow from rivers and runoff, thereby decreasing salinity. Conversely, lower precipitation, incoming tides, and evaporation contribute to increases in salinity. Salinities observed

by TPWD from 2000 to 2021 show that all bays exhibit near-freshwater salinity levels at some point, while

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select systems, such as the Upper Figure 2 Laguna Madre (including Baffin Bay) show instances of extreme salinity around 90 parts per thousand (ppt; Figure 1).

So what does this mean for the fish having to contest with such wide salinity ranges? Well, it all comes down to how estuarine fish osmoregulate. Osmoregulation is the process through which an animal maintains preferred fluid (water) and ion (salt) concentrations inside the body, regardless of its surrounding environment. Two contrasting examples are seen in fishes that live strictly in either fresh or marine waters. These organisms are known as stenohaline, meaning they’re adapted to a narrow salinity range. In freshwater species, salt concentrations are higher inside the body than in the surrounding water. As a result, freshwater fish must rid themselves of excess water while retaining salt. They do this by excreting a large amount of dilute urine to retain as much salt as possible.

In marine fish, the opposite occurs. Marine fish have a lower salt concentration inside the body than the surrounding seawater and must rid themselves of excess salt while retaining water. They do this by drinking sea water and excreting a small amount of concentrated urine. Osmoregulation requires energy from the fish, so it may not always be the best available option for navigating changes to salinity. To avoid osmoregulation, some species will steer clear of wide salinity fluctuations altogether by moving with the changes in the salinity gradient. Many species of catfish like blue and channel, though tolerant of some salt, tend to be found where the salinity levels are lower and where rivers flow into bays as their primary habitat is freshwater. When bays experience a large inflow of freshwater, catfish can often be found over a greater range as the area of lower salinity has increased. However other species are adapted to tolerate wider salinity ranges (known as euryhaline) and can make the most of their constantly changing environment.

Three well-known examples of euryhaline fish are Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, and Black Drum. TPWD gillnet catch rate data for these three species can be graphed showing their presence from 0-70 ppt salinity (Figure 2). In the graph, Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout show a relatively consistent catch rate across the salinity gradient. Red drum specifically show a minor negative correlation, seemingly preferring fresh to normal ocean salinities before declining in abundance in hypersaline environments. Spotted seatrout gain abundance towards the 20-25ppt salinities, decline slightly towards standard ocean salinity, but show a peak towards hypersaline environments. Black drum increase in abundance peaking significantly in hypersaline environments with a minor decline from around 50 ppt to 70 ppt salinity. Black Drum are especially known for their spring spawning run where they seek conditions from 18ppt to full-blown saltwater, their eggs preferring 38 | July 2022

polyhaline (18-30ppt) conditions for survival. In most cases, Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout will seek similar conditions for spawning.

However, TPWD has successfully stocked Red Drum in several freshwater cooling reservoirs, low salinity impoundments, and inland systems, exhibiting the capability for even early life stage fish to be adaptable to an incredible range of conditions. All the while, this is the same species of fish that can be caught off the jetties of our coastline or gulf shores. Trout can be found from hypersaline all the way into the fresher upper bays in later life stages as they search for food sources that change with seasonal availability.

So why does this matter to anglers? All three species discussed above have preferred water chemistry conditions for spawning, larval survivability, food availability, and allocated energy expenditure to exist in any one salt concentration for a given amount of time. Therefore, aggregations or assumed locations of these target species can be partially attributed to the fish’s needs and how salinity plays into that. Many anglers like to capitalize on the opportunity to target black drum during the spawning run when larger individuals are found together in the lower parts of our bays towards the gulf. In other times of year, Black Drum can just as easily be caught by anglers on rod and reel or trotlines in upper bay areas where river inflow makes the waters far less saline. These preferences, depending on time of year, life history, and need, mean that anglers can track down their favorite fish across the dynamic salinity gradients of our bay systems – and we have osmoregulation to thank for it. This adaptability is yet another reason to celebrate these three iconic sportfish that call our Texas bays home.

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

TSFMAG.com | 39

DAV E R O B E R T S

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

BOHEMIAN BONEFISH

PART 1

A few years ago I received a call from a friend asking if I might want to go on a fishing trip. He and a group of guys were headed back to Andros Island in the Bahamas to target bonefish. I agreed to join them without hesitation as bonefish has been on my species bucket list and I have been looking for the opportunity to check it off. Well we all know what happened two years ago (Covid) and our trip got pushed back until this year.

After meeting with the guys and discussing timing issues with the lodge, we finally pinned down our dates.

We had decided to arrive to Andros on a Tuesday but that got me thinking. With my work schedule, I was already off from the Friday before, so I figured maybe I could spend a little extra time on Andros. This would give me an opportunity to visit some of the other parts of the island and maybe I could get a chance to do a little DIY fishing on my own.

With the days leading up to my trip, I studied maps, fly tying tutorials, and just about everything I could think of that was bonefish related. Between the white sand flats, the crystal clear water and the lore of these fish, I felt that I was out of my element. However, it is just a fish and they must certainly adhere to some sort of pattern; it was just going to be a matter of putting some time in to become familiar.

The time finally came and I was off to a remote island 40 | July 2022

in the middle of the Bahamas. It was just me with a bag of clothes and two fly rods— let the adventure begin!

I touched down on Andros on Friday afternoon, got my rental car and headed to unpack my things at the cabin I had rented. I was excited to explore the island and as I drove around, I pulled off the main road to find access to some of the beaches in hopes to find something that looked good enough to fish. After finding a few areas, I decided to head back and get my gear ready for the next day.

As the next morning came, I made a pot of coffee and lazily gathered my stuff, planning some further reconnaissance along a stretch of secluded beach I had found the day before. The walk was enjoyable with beautiful scenery, but all that I found were a few conchs. I then headed north on the island and came to an area that I thought looked a little more promising.

A creek flowed to the beach and near the mouth of it was a bunch of broken sand flats covered with pods of mangroves. I just had to check it out.

As I walked the sand flat, I kept looking for signs of fish when I received some help from above. A seagull was hovering above the water just as they do in the Texas marshes with redfish, but as I continued watching I soon noticed a pair of tailing bonefish. No sooner than I spotted them though, they eased off the point and

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View The Video

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

DIY Bucket List Andros Island Bonefish

42 | July 2022

cast and for some reason they both completely dodged it and never stopped. I continued on and eventually found a few cooperative fish on the white sand flats. Getting to watch multiple fish come across these flats and head your way is an awe-inspiring rush. Especially when you get to make a cast to them and one breaks away to follow your fly all the way to the tip of the rod! I landed four fish that day and decided that I had enough.

I ended the last solo day sitting in the shade and relaxing by the beach. I got to see a large portion of Andros and every aspect about it was just as unique as it was beautiful. The next morning I was going to meet the rest of my group at the airport and head to our lodge. We had six more days of fishing and our adventure was just beginning!

C O N TA C T

back into the depths of the channel. Looking back at it now, I believe both of those fish were well into the ten-poundplus range. I continued exploring the rest of the day with little luck. I finally decided to call it quits and opted for some conch fritters and a cold Kalik.

The next morning I decided to go south and look at something new. I parked on the beach front and walked a few hundred yards down to a big pocket, or a bight as they call it. When I arrived, I noticed that there was a small channel that went all the way from the beach front to the very back of the bight. On the other side was a large white sand flat and in the back was mounds of mangroves. Judging by the size of it, I knew that I could spend all day in this area.

I took off and started making my way toward the back; the tide was coming in so I was hoping that it would push some fish in that direction. A few hundred yards into my walk I spotted my first bonefish. I laid out a cast and the fish paid no attention, continuing to swim unfazed. Continuing on toward a clump of mangroves, I spotted a pair of bones easing from behind them. I gingerly placed a cast of about twenty feet into what I hoped would intersect their path and waited as the pair approached. I made a long, slow strip and one of the fish turned and ate my offering. I was so excited that I overreacted on the strip-set and broke my line. Failure on my part!

I quickly retied and, before I knew it, there was a group of 6-10 fish tailing behind me. I ease into position to cut them off and laid out another cast. The reaction was identical to the first and within seconds my line was shooting across the water! I heard the backing knot zipping through the guides; this fish meant business! By the time I gathered myself, I realized that upon her exit, she had centerpunched three separate mangrove clumps. I got untangled from the first clump when she headed straight for another. Thinking all was lost, I decided to abandon my rod and attempt a landing by hand-lining. Far from pretty, but it worked. I hurried snapped a few photos and released a perfect Bohemian Bonefish. Getting my tackle and line untangled from the mangroves was a whole other story.

Another afternoon thunderstorm was brewing and I didn’t relish the thought of being caught in it wading the flats. On my way back I got to cast at a handful of fish and only had one taker. Nonetheless, I had finally found some fish and I knew exactly where I was going to be the next morning.

Morning arrived and I was off to see if I could repeat my success of the previous day. What I soon discovered was a receding tide with the water level about a foot or so lower than the day before.

Scanning the bight I noticed a portion of the sand flat exposed so I figured that would be a good place to start. Not long into it, I saw a pair of tails come up and they began heading my way. I made a

Dave Roberts is an avid kayak-fishing enthusiast fishing primarily the inshore Upper Coast region with occasional adventures to surf and nearshore Gulf of Mexico.

Email: TexasKayakChronicles@yahoo.com Website: www.TexasKayakChronicles.com

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Materials staged and ready for Phase III of the St. Charles Bay Big Tree Unit Living Shoreline Oyster Restoration Project. Credit John Blaha

JOHN BLAHA

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

ST. CHARLES BAY BIG TREE UNIT LIVING SHORELINE PROJECT EXPANSION Oysters are natural buffers against rising tides and storm surges created by extreme weather events. One of the main benefits is that they protect our shorelines and wetlands from erosion. The Goose Island State Park Big Tree Unit is a wintering ground for many species, and most importantly it plays host to the annual winter migration of whooping cranes to the Coastal Bend. The St. Charles Bay Living Shoreline Project was originally born in 2016 and led by Harte Research Institute’s Dr. Jennifer Pollack. The project’s original scope was to create approximately 2,000 feet of oyster reef along the western shoreline of St. Charles Bay to help prevent erosion in this area of wetlands and upland habitat.

Oysters grow vertically into reefs that provide complex, three-dimensional habitats for reef-dependent

organisms including small fish and crustaceans. These resident organisms are consumed by juvenile fish and larger crustaceans that use oyster reefs for foraging and predator refuge, and in turn are consumed by economically important sportfish, enhancing recreational fishing in Texas bays.

As a foundational species that build habitats benefitting numerous other organisms, oyster reefs are a priority for conservation and restoration activities.

Not only do these types of projects provide eco-system services, they provide important buffers which help prevent and slow down erosion along coastal shorelines.

Phase I of the project was completed in early August of 2017, only weeks before Hurricane Harvey. This phase constructed seven reef beds that measured

Contractors placing cultch materials to new reef beds. Credit John Blaha

44 | July 2022

Proposed reef bed layout, which has now been completed. Credit John Blaha

approximately 120’ long, 30’ wide, and 1’ high. The center of the eye of Hurricane Harvey passed only four miles away, creating much concern about the survivability of the new project. Luckily, the project was affected only minimally by the storm, and the 2017 fall “spat set” yielded a very good “set” on the new reef mounds. The original partners in this effort included Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, CCA Texas, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Texas General Land Office.

With solid success on Phase I, a second phase was planned to add additional reef beds in the area. Phase II was constructed in September of 2020 and added an additional 10 reef beds to the permitted area.

Partners in this phase included Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute, CCA Texas, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Texas General Land Office. CCA Texas contributed $75,000 to this phase, which included $50,000 from Lone Star Breweries and their Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. The Lone Star Breweries funds were dedicated to habitat restoration in the Coastal Bend area, in particular Rockport and Aransas County.

While the first and second phases showed very good success, the desire was to work towards filling the entire permitted area. Phase III was planned and was recently completed in May 2022, again with Dr. Pollack and the team at Harte Research Institute leading the effort.

Phase III’s original scope consisted of 15 new reef beds. CCA Texas and Building Conservation Trust once again moved to support the TSFMAG.com | 45

project and did so by contributing $350,000 to expand the project from 15 to 22 reef beds. Lone Star Breweries contributed $100,000, and Cheniere Energy contributed $60,000 through Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries. Partners in this phase included Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, CCA Texas, Building Conservation Trust, Lone Star Breweries, Cheniere Energy, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, NOAA, and Texas GLO. Member of CCA National Staff, Aransas Bay Chapter Volunteers, and Yamaha Marine participated in an Oyster Bagging event hosted by Harte Research Institute. Credit IG-@patrickdmurray

46 | July 2022

Long‐term success of the reef will continue to depend upon larval oyster settlement onto the reef structure and survival and growth of these oysters to larger size classes. Dr. Pollack and her staff of graduate students and research associates continue to conduct seasonal monitoring to measure structural and functional characteristics of the restored oyster reefs. Nearby reference locations on existing oyster reefs are used for comparison purposes to measure the success of these projects.

In addition to the monitoring program, Dr. Pollack and staff host hands-on oyster bagging events. These events present a handson opportunity for participants to hear from researchers and graduate students about oyster reef ecology, and why reef restoration is important.

Hands-on work is done by bagging recycled shell collected from partner restaurants in the area and placing it back into the bay to create new reef structure. At the end of May, representatives from Yamaha Outboards, CCA National staff, and Aransas Bay CCA volunteers participated in a bagging event. This event gave participants the opportunity to gather a deeper understanding of the ecology and benefits of this important habitat.

CCA Texas, Building Conservation Trust, and partners are proud to be a part of these projects and are committed to the efforts to ensure healthy oyster reefs and eco-systems for present and future generations.

THE BEACH A BOAT? OR

Either way, I’ll get some fabulous summer fishing in.

I can enter a tournament and head offshore to bring home a trophy or stroll down to the jetties to fish for dinner and let a local restaurant prepare it just right.

Time to get my tackle box ready.

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TSFMAG.com | 47

Photo by Peppe Cirotti - Universidad de Costa Rica - near Manzanillo, Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica. CC BY-SA 3.0.

STEPHANIE BOYD

F I S H Y FA C T S

NURSE SHARK It’s definitely not qualified to care for hospital patients, so how did this barbel-faced bottom dweller get the name “nurse” shark? It’s an etymological mystery, but historians have their theories. Some believe it comes from the word nusse, an archaic term given to an unrelated family called catsharks. Others have suggested the name comes from the Old English term hurse which means “seafloor shark.” Or the name might simply come from the unusual sucking sound they make while hunting, which resembles the suckling of a nursing baby. All of these theories seem equally valid, so we may never know where the common name originated. But its scientific name, Ginglymostoma cirratum, is another matter. The shark’s genus name Ginglymostoma means “hinged mouth” in Greek, while the species name cirratum means “curled ringlets” in Latin.

The nurse shark is famous for its docile nature. It is a distinct species from the grey nurse shark (a.k.a. sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus) and the tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus, another type of carpet shark).

An adult nurse shark is light yellowish-brown to dark brown (though they may have the ability to slightly change color in response to their environment), with smooth skin, a broad head, an elongated tail fin, and rounded dorsal and pectoral fins. They also have two conspicuous barbels between the nostrils that they use to search for prey, and very small eyes. Adults don’t normally have spots, but juveniles are covered in little 48 | July 2022

black dots that fade as the sharks age. Females are slightly larger than males, averaging 7.5 to 9 feet in length and 165 to 230 pounds. Their long tails can reach a fourth of their total body length. This length allows for more energy-efficient swimming, which helps combat their slow metabolisms.

This species occurs in the Western Atlantic from Rhode Island down to southern Brazil; in the Eastern Atlantic from Cameroon to Gabon; in the Eastern Pacific from the southern Baja California to Peru; and around the islands of the Caribbean. Juveniles are mostly found on the bottom of shallow coral reefs, seagrass beds, and around mangrove islands, whereas older individuals typically reside in and around deeper reefs and rocky areas, where they tend to seek shelter in crevices and under ledges during the day and leave their shelter at night to feed in shallower areas. They live in tropical and subtropical waters around coastal shelves, from inshore to a depth of about 430 feet – but only to a depth of about 200 feet in the Gulf of Mexico. Generally, they’re found in waters less than 40 feet deep, though they will hunt in deeper waters if they have no choice. They show a strong preference for certain resting sites, repeatedly returning to the same spot to chill after hunting for food. Individuals tend to have small home ranges, and the species was considered non-migratory until in January 2018, Environmental Biology of Fishes published a 23-year nurse shark tracking study of 76 adult nurse

sharks. The scientists behind it looked at a wild population near the Dry Tortugas (part of the Florida Keys). Tagging revealed that some of these fish stayed in the Keys throughout the year. However, others ventured as far north as the Tampa Bay area in between mating seasons, making nurse sharks “partially migratory.” That means some individuals within the species migrate, but others don’t.

For certain sharks, lounging on the ocean floor is an impossibility.

Species like the great white and the whale shark breathe by swimming nonstop; as they swim, water constantly flows through their open mouths and across their gills, supplying oxygen en route.

If the shark stops moving for too long, that flow ceases and they can suffocate. However, nurse sharks are perfectly capable of breathing while resting on the sea floor. By facing against the current and using oral muscles to actively suck water into the mouth – called buccal pumping—nurse sharks can supply oxygen to their gills without needing to swim anywhere. Generally sluggish, nurse sharks spend most of their day resting in groups on the sea bottom or hidden under ledges, with up to 40 individuals piled on top of one another.

It’s thought that they stay in these groups for protection purposes only, with very little dominance or hierarchy. Even when they do get up and move, they tend to only travel at about 1.5 mph. However, when they are hunting, they are capable of quick bursts of speed of 25 mph. Hunting occurs at night. They become more active, but also more solitary, wandering the waters alone.

Nurse sharks eat a variety of sea life, from sea snails, crustaceans, mollusks, squid, and sea urchins to bony fish. Most of their prey hangs out on the sea floor, and they catch them by slurping them into their mouths. A cavity within the throat generates a powerful suction, like a sort of bellows valve, that vacuums prey up into the nurse shark’s mouth, which is lined with rows of tiny, serrated, backward-curled teeth designed for crushing hard-shelled prey.

Their teeth are constantly being replaced. New rows pop up towards the back and gradually push older ones forward until they fall out,

like a conveyor belt. How long an individual row lasts depends on the season. During the winter, a nurse shark will acquire a fresh row of teeth every 50 to 70 days. But in the summer, that wait shortens to only 10 or 20 days.

Their method of hunting means a nurse shark will inevitably make an unmistakable “slurping” or sucking sound, unique to this species. They can generate enough pressure to suck a queen conch right out of its shell – among the highest recorded pressure of any aquatic vertebrate to date – and like many suction feeders, nurse sharks swallow their prey whole. Since their small mouths limit the size of prey (that can be swallowed whole), they sometimes engage in a suck-and-spit behavior and/or shake their head violently to reduce the size of their meal item. They are opportunistic predators, using their barbels (fleshy sense organs) to detect prey animals and disturb bottom sediment to uncover them, taking advantage of dormant fish which would otherwise be too fast for the sharks to catch. Since nurse sharks inhabit environments where food is in an abundance, they tend to have quite a varied diet. They’ve even been seen grazing on algae and coral. So they’re basically a typical couch potato – lying around and eating anything easily accessible.

Nurse sharks have few predators, but other large sharks – such as lemon, tiger, bull, and great hammerhead – do occasionally prey on them. Also, where nurse sharks and alligators are found together, the two species attack and eat each other.

The species is ovoviviparous, meaning the young develop in eggs and hatch within the female, and then are born. The young get their nutrition during development from the yolk (as opposed to an umbilical cord). During mating season, females will mate with multiple males. As in some other shark species, the male bites the female to hold her for mating. Since many males may attempt to mate with a female, it’s not uncommon for a female nurse shark to bear numerous scars. Sometimes multiple males will attempt to mate with the same female simultaneously, resulting in violent shoving matches. Gestation typically lasts 5 to 6 months, and the female gives birth in summer to litters of 20 to 40 pups. A single batch of newborn pups may include the offspring of up to six different fathers. The young nurse sharks are born fully developed at about a foot long. Cannibalism between pups does occur, with the larger and stronger pups eating the runts. After giving birth, it takes another 18 months before the female produces enough eggs to successfully mate again. Nurse sharks exhibit mating site fidelity, returning to the same breeding grounds year after year. Males reach sexual maturity at 18 years; females 25 years. They live about 35 years in the wild. So a generation length is about 30 years.

Nurse shark in turtle grass, Puerto Rico.

Nurse sharks are an important Photo by NOAA species for shark research because CCMA Biogeography they are robust and tolerate capture, Team. CC BY 2.0. handling, and tagging extremely TSFMAG.com | 49

well. Because they are inactive during the day and aren’t targeted by commercial fisheries (though some small operations hunt them for leather, and their livers are harvested for certain types of oils), nurse sharks are one of the most common species of shark that divers and snorkelers experience on reefs (within their range). Historically, other sharks were probably more common, but heavy fishing pressure has changed the reef community in many areas. Though they seem harmless while they lay about during the day, it is unwise to pet nurse sharks (or pull their tails). Some individuals have been known to bite swimmers who startled them awake.

They are currently listed as Vulnerable, with a decreasing population trend, in the IUCN Red List. In the Northwest and Western Central Atlantic, it is suspected that the nurse shark has undergone a population reduction of 20-29 percent over the past three generation lengths (90 years): in the Southwest Atlantic, a reduction of more than 80 percent; and in West Africa, a reduction of more than 30 percent. The bulk of the species’ distribution is in the Northwest/ Western Central Atlantic and West Africa, so overall, this species is suspected to have undergone a population reduction of 30-49 percent in the past 90 years due to actual and potential exploitation levels as well as habitat loss and degradation.

Oceana oceana.org/marine-life/nurse-shark/ Shark Sider www.sharksider.com/nurse-shark/ www.sharksider.com/nurse-sharks-ten-facts-couch-potatoes-sea/ IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/species/144141186/3095153 Animal Corner animalcorner.org/animals/nurse-shark/ ThoughtCo www.thoughtco.com/nurse-shark-facts-4177149 Mental Floss www.mentalfloss.com/article/559319/nurse-shark-facts Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_shark

View The Video Where I learned about nurse sharks, and you can too!

National Aquarium aqua.org/explore/animals/nurse-shark

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

Nurse sharks snooze on the sea floor | Oceana

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TSFMAG.com | 51

Wesley Seigmund shows off the business end of the 13-plus great hammer.

ERIC OZOLINS

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

SETTING THE BAR:

GIANT HAMMERHEAD LIVES TO FIGHT AGAIN Back in May, the time of year when spring begins to feel like summer, I and some friends and customers succeeded in catching and releasing a great hammerhead shark measuring over 13 feet in length.

To my knowledge, this marks the first documented live release of a great hammer of this size in Texas. Though this wasn’t the longest hammer I and my people have landed on these beaches, the fish represents an achievement of epic proportions, one which might change the landscape of shark fishing in the Lone Star State for the better.

Like others around the world, Texas anglers adapt their methods to best match the places and conditions in which they operate. In the wide world of shark fishing, some locations provide a user-friendly interface which better facilitates catching and releasing big sharks than do the surf waters of Texas. Our beaches present numerous challenges, including super shallow water close to shore, insanely strong currents and colossal waves crashing over steep sandbars. To further complicate things, currents run in both directions up and 52 | July 2022

down the beach.

While our techniques are often compared unfavorably to those used in Florida, people making those comparisons don’t realize the advantages anglers in the Sunshine State possess. We rarely experience the easy conditions they have on a regular basis. Other than relatively rare calm weather anomalies, we deal with intense and confounding variables most of the time, except during the mid-summer doldrums.

Accordingly, as the beginning of this summer approached, spring had been brutal to fishermen. The relentless wind basically never backed down. Those of us who fish the Texas surf expect to deal with wind, but this year’s blow felt ridiculous. In a normal spring, a few breaks in the wind usually materialize, sometimes for a couple days, sometimes up to a week. This year the calm windows just didn’t materialize. The wind blew hard and harder, and the water warmed up earlier than normal.

The sharks were around, but extremely difficult to effectively target most of the time. About a week before the scheduled charter on which we caught the giant

Finally in the first gut, preparing to cut the leader cable.

hammerhead, things looked questionable. However, I told the guys to remain hopeful and stick to the plans. In the end, a brief window of prime weather coincided perfectly with this trip, which had been scheduled as part of a bachelor party.

The Seigmund crew, led by brothers Quick photo of the Wesley and Randy, wanted to join their Seigmund crew with closest companions at the edge of the the giant hammer. ocean, in a search for sea monsters.

I’d taken Wesley, Randy and their father Warren on similar trips in the past. Their good luck seems to accompany us on every adventure.

On the charter before this one, we put their better halves on some solid, beefy bull sharks. The photos that followed rank among the coolest I’ve shot. On this trip, the boys were ready to shift the balance of power in this friendly teeter-totter competition.

On a gorgeous Saturday morning, I hit the beach around sunrise and ventured down to meet the crew. I relocated them from their temporary camp to a stretch farther south. The

surf cooperated with our wishes, moderately kayakable for the first time in a while, but the wind still blew fairly strong from the south, keeping the current rolling with intensity. Nonetheless, I sought out a location that would allow us to kayak baits around a break in the sandbars where the waves weren’t too big. By late-morning, we had cast several baits out, and were actively fishing.

I asked Wesley, “Are we going for numbers, or are you guys wanting to take our best shot at Jaws?”

“Go big or go home,” he answered, playing right into my wheelhouse.

I live for trips like these, so without hesitation, I grabbed some stingrays from the ice chest and rigged them for deployment. Right before noon, I kayaked the two large baits out beyond the bars, dropping the first about 400 yards out, the other closer to 450 yards from the beach.

As soon as I beached the kayak, the wind started to blow harder, fueling the strong current that was running up the beach. I rigged up one more fairly large bait, fought through the waves, and deployed it about 200yds out. The plan was to leave these three baits out until late-afternoon. If they weren’t taken by then, I would change things up right before dark.

Beautiful green water fronted the beach, and far offshore some bird activity had begun. We continued to relax and fish, waiting on the big ones, but the action was slow, almost feeling like a latesummer pattern, though the calendar said May. Even the smaller baits we’d cast out weren’t being touched.

Then, late in the afternoon, something picked up the most distant of the big baits and started slowly offshore. A couple minutes into the drag-stripping run, we knew we’d found what we wanted. The brothers let their good friend Cody take the rod, and we coached him through the battle. From the nature of the fight, I knew the shark’s species, and that it would provide a pleasant surprise for the boys. After about a 45 minute duel, Cody pulled his opponent into view atop the first sandbar where I could grab the leader of a healthy 10’2” male tiger shark.

The crowd went wild while we snapped a few killer photos and

TSFMAG.com | 53

54 | July 2022

It took a team effort to get her turned around and headed back out to sea.

Swimming their prize over the second bar… what an accomplishment!

A few of us swam out and helped her cross the barrier, then watched as she continued to swim off just under the water’s surface. We all felt the gravity of the moment. This memorable shark did much more than set the tone of the trip. By proving what’s possible, she might well have started a trend of Texas anglers catching and releasing giant hammerheads to live and fight again.

C O N TA C T

quickly released the prize. As we shared high fives and headed back toward the truck, another shark hit one of the remaining big baits. I jumped up on the platform and the bait bounced, moved, stopped, moved again, then began to roll out. Still curious, I observed as the fish started to swim faster and faster, eventually just melting line off the reel. I knew exactly what kind of monster we’d succeeded in hooking, but would we be able to stop it?

Our only chance of landing this fish would be with a group effort; the brothers took turns waging the battle. Several times they succeeded in stopping the shark for just for a few seconds, before it continued swimming offshore. Eventually we were down to a quarter spool left, with line still disappearing quickly. With the drag on the Avet 80W reel pegged to the max, the Jawbone 1053 rod bent horizontally, we started to see bare spool, with line still disappearing. At the last possible moment, by some miracle, the fish slowed with each spin of the spool, finally stopping and turning toward the beach.

Very little line remained on the reel when our adversary turned, and I began coaching the guys hard. I told them to crank as fast as they could and keep the line tight. Within fewer than five minutes they recovered about 300 yards of line, about a quarter spool. The shark then turned and headed back offshore, the situation looked about as grim as before, when the fish stopped and turned back toward us the second time.

The process repeated a third time, taking us well over an hour into the battle. On a final attempt to dump the reel, with less than 50 yards on the spool, our opponent stopped and turned toward us again.

While they cranked line back onto the spool, packing it ultra-tight, I realized the guys didn’t grasp how big a shark we had on the other end. As the fight neared its conclusion, the shark could still slowly take out a few yards of line, but stopped making strong runs. After about an hour and 45 minutes, our worthy foe swam diagonally over the second sandbar, revealing her size. With two guys following, I ran into the waves with a rope and lassoed the beast by the tail. At that point, I knew every second was critical. With hammers being notorious for dying during the final stages of the fight, especially the big ones, I wanted to do everything possible to release the fish alive.

I quickly cut the cable; the 24/0 hook should rust out in a couple months or less. In mere seconds, we took our measurements, snapped a few photos, then dragged the shark out into the first gut, and she immediately began swimming in the shallows, something almost unheard of for a shark so big. Taking a direct path toward deeper water, the great hammer became high-centered on the second bar.

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

Email Websites

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

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EZ Drainer Solves Ice Chest Drain Clogging Draining water created from melting ice poses an annoying problem. RainsCo, a small Houston-based company has introduced a problem-solving product for fishermen, hunters, or anyone who owns an ice chest. EZ Drainer eliminates the problem of ice chest drain clogging while attempting to drain the water, without removing the items. Normally a person would need to remove the items from their ice chest or stick their hands in freezing water to remove the blockage. However, EZ Drainer solves this problem for good.

RainsCo claims EZ Drainer is Guaranteed Not to Clog. At a recent trade show in Houston, we offered a free EZ Drainer to anyone who could clog it with a plastic ice bag. Guess what? We still haven’t given one away! The video on the company’s website [http://ezdrainer.com] verifies the company claim. http://EZDrainer.com

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BINK GRIMES

THE VIEW FROM Matagorda

Yes, it is hot. But trout love topwaters in July. We look forward to calm days and we love wading mid-bay reefs in East Matagorda Bay. Spots like Drull’s Lump, Three Beacon Reef, Long Reef, Barefoot Reef and Halfmoon Reef are all players M ata go r d a with topwaters, Bass Assassins, Down South Lures, and MirrOlure Lil’ Johns.

Halfmoon Reef in West Matagorda Bay has been on fire when Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing the wind allows. The 54-acre and hunting guide, freelance project built by the Nature writer and photographer, and Conservancy is a trout owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay. magnet. It’s like fishing a 6-7 foot underwater jetty. I can’t tell you how many days I have Telephone 979-241-1705 caught limits in less than an Email hour. The key is fishing it on a binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net day with 5-10 knot winds.

Website July normally affords lower matagordasunriselodge.com tides due to southwest flow, so working the incoming tides for waders is best. When tides are below normal it may take a chest-deep wade to find fish hanging on the edge of the drop-off.

We are going to keep praying for light north winds and a tranquil, green surf; and, it normally happens at least five days in July. Beachfront trout are a different breed. They seem angrier and hit a topwater with viciousness like no other place in the bay. Surf trout also eat MirrOlures and soft plastics in the first gut.

For redfish in July, fish incoming high tides in spots like Cut Off Flats, Zipperan Bayou, Oyster Lake and Crab Lake. Work the mouths of these lakes and bayous as the tides begin to fall.

East Matagorda Bay loses almost two feet of water in July. When this happens, most all of the redfish pull off the shorelines and congregate in the middle of the bay. The reds give themselves away by producing big slicks and we drift right through them. The reds are not small ones either - mostly upper-slot fish with attitude. When the reds start slicking, you can literally make one drift and have all the fish you need.

Jetty redfish hang out around the holes on the ends of the granite in Matagorda. We like to catch trout early, then slide near the rocks on the way back to the dock.

It is encouraging to see how our bay system has bounced back since the freeze. We are catching and releasing those big trout in East Matagorda Bay again. The good news is many anglers are taking a different approach to harvesting trout and only keeping male fish in the slot. Many anglers are not keeping fish near the 20-inch class. Even before the new regs, we rarely put a knife in any speckled trout over 18 inches. When a fish makes it to three pounds, it has a real chance to grow to a Matagorda monster if it doesn’t die in a cooler.

It also gives me great pleasure to release those two-pound, 16 60 | July 2022

½ -inch fish the new regulations protect, and knowing trout in this age-class will have another year to distribute their offspring with the flowing tides.

Please err on the side of conservation when you consider harvesting speckled trout. Things are getting better in our bays because most anglers are doing what is best for the betterment of the bays.

Matagorda is a great place to spend a family vacation. Our bays, bayous, beaches and businesses will welcome you.

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Excited About Matagorda’s July Surf Fishing

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CAPT. SHELLIE GRAY

MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays

The temperatures have heated up and schools of glass minnows, or shad. Failing to find bait activity is a good so has the fishing. After dealing with sign to move to another reef that has bait activity clearly visible. What gusting winds almost daily the first half I’m saying is that if you are hungry you don’t go to the library, you go to of the year it is quite the relief to finally your favorite restaurant. Think of fishing the same way. get some calmer weather. Calmer days Matagorda Bay also shines brightly this time of year. Due to the means I have been able to venture extremely hot weather we see here on the Mid Coast in the summer, bay Port O'Connor out onto open bay waters rather than water temperatures will also be at their highest. This is when moving Seadrift protected back lakes; however, calmer water can be most beneficial because of its cooling effect. Areas that winds makes for hotter days. Let’s have the strongest current are the areas closest to the passes to the Gulf. discuss the areas I will be targeting over In our area, that would be Pass Cavallo and the Matagorda Ship Channel Captain Shellie Gray was born the next couple of months. jetties. The fish in these areas are tide dependent, meaning that they in Port Lavaca and has been If you have been reading my articles typically feed best when the water is moving. Because of this, when I guiding in the Seadrift/Port fish close or nearby the passes, I definitely watch my tide chart to know O’Connor area full time for the you are probably already aware that I past 19 years. Shellie specializes had to bypass San Antonio Bay nearly when the currents will be strongest. in wading for trout and redfish all of 2021 due to exceptional local Another area that has good water movement are the spoil banks year round with artificial lures. rainfall and Guadalupe River inflow. along the ship channel just north of Port O’Connor. If you have never That pretty much limited me to fishing fished this area before I strongly suggest learning and exploring from Espiritu Santo, West Matagorda, and the boat where the drop-offs are using your GPS sonar. The drop-offs Telephone the surf, when conditions allowed. can be severe and unexpected in much of these areas. If you decide to 361-785-6708 While I love to fish all of these bays wade, which can be very rewarding, make sure to take a buddy with you Email bayrats@tisd.net I tend to avoid them on weekends just in case you get yourself into a tricky area.

Website due to the extreme The new emergency speckled trout www.bayrat.com amount of boat regulations are currently in effect – 17 Facebook Samantha Butler landed this nice flounder traffic. Now that to 23-inch keeper slot, three fish bag @captsgaryandshelliegray with her proud dad, Greg, cheering her on. the daily wind limit – until August 31, 2023, at which has calmed I have been able to venture out into time they are scheduled to revert back San Antonio Bay and revisit all the reefs that I to the previous regulation of five fish frequented before the freshwater inundation. bag limit at 15 to 25-inches. I totally I am happy to say that the bay has rebounded support more conservation and I am in beautifully. Many reefs have small oysters growing high hopes that these new regulations and bait fish seem to be on almost all of the reefs. I help increase the trout population. have also noticed large migrations of shrimp and that With that being said, I also wonder is really what makes San Antonio Bay such a huge what the morality rate is of all the trout attraction for feeding fish. Look for birds hovering released that don’t meet the 17 inch over or nearby reefs for your best odds of catching. If minimum length. you see birds working in 4-foot or deeper water you So many of the smaller trout are such can pretty much disregard them as they are most ferocious eaters that they tend to inhale likely covering schools of small trout, gafftops, and anything you throw at them, causing ladyfish. If there are no birds working anywhere near many of them to get deeply hooked, you, focus in on bait activity. Look for jumping bait, reducing their chance of survival. I almost wish TPWD would have kept the 15 inch minimum in place with a maximum of 19 inches. I’m not claiming to know it all but with my experience as a fishing guide over the last 20 years and talking with other anglers, I can’t help but think that a lower minimum size would have been more beneficial in helping the trout numbers to grow while lessening the wasteful release of fatally injured trout.

View The Video Beautiful early summer sunrise as Karen Petru reels in a nice reef trout.

62 | July 2022

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Tips for Picking Productive Fishing Spots

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DAVID ROWSEY

HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey

I hope this finds y’all sitting in the recliner, relaxing and beating the heat after a morning wade. Forecasts are calling for 100° heat the next several days. If you’re heading to Baffin hoping to catch some good trout I advise an early start. Summer weather Upper got REAL in a real big hurry. On a side Laguna/ note, meteorologists are predicting a Baffin super-active hurricane season. Gotta love Texas!

We are experiencing a pretty darn good trout bite. Much better than I David Rowsey has 30 years certainly expected, considering the in Baffin and Upper Laguna freeze sixteen months ago. I said it last Madre; trophy trout with month but will say it again; I do not artificial lures is his specialty. believe the majority of the trout we’re David has a great passion for catching in the Upper conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish. Laguna system are resident fish. Some are Telephone likely wondering why 361-960-0340 I would say that, and I Website get it, but to me it’s no www.DavidRowsey.com Email different than looking david.rowsey@yahoo.com at a favorite pet you see every day. In your @captdavidrowsey eyes your Lab looks different than any other Lab. Same with trout…to me anyway.

Laguna trout are a dark-backed fish, more golden tones than silver, with multitudes of spots and tendency to be long and slim. Baffin trout have a more stereotypical or traditional look; generally stouter body shape, lots of silver, and quite often fewer spots than fish from the Rockport area or the surf.

Admittedly, the distinction between Baffin trout and those that have migrated in from elsewhere can get a little blurred, or harder to identify to someone not handling them every day. The Laguna trout have not showed themselves hardly at all, and I believe they were just devastated during the freeze. The few we have caught are, mostly, tiny; which tells me that a few made the freeze and did in fact spawn.

Regardless of being local or not, they are all fun to catch and deserve our stewardship to be released, especially now during a post-freeze recovery.

As the Texas heat unfolds, so does my fishing.

Specifically, I know I have a really good opportunity to catch some quality trout until about 9:30 in the morning. Come 10:00 a.m., the fast bite will typically fall off pretty hard. Saying that, you can certainly catch them all day, but you will need to be willing to grind it out and make more casts for fewer bites, that might still produce a trophy. Been there, 64 | July 2022

done that a thousand times.

It is no secret that many large trout are caught in the skinniest of hot summer water, but if going to grind in 100° heat, I’m finding me a deeper ledge or drop-off that has structure like deep rocks and grass lines. Time and time again that pattern has paid off for me during the dog days. As a guide, I let my clients dictate how the day is going to go after that morning trout bite. We will either start the rest of the day grind on the trout or I will give them the option to chase some redfish and do some sight-casting. Personally, I’m good with either one, but every group is different, so I let them make the call.

Trout are slobs when hungry and will eat just about any manmade object you can throw at them. That is especially true early on a summer morning, and why my wade box has more MirrOlure She Dogs in it than just about anything else. As much as I love a topwater bite; I use She Dogs as fish-finders as much as lures for catching. Every time I shut my Haynie down to put clients on a wade, I am 100 percent certain there are gamefish present. Whether they will eat good is a whole other story, as we all know.

Corey Ferguson with Regardless of my one of many reds confidence in where and trout caught I choose to fish, fish over two days with his group of close have tails, move a little, friends. Fun crew that and sometimes a lot. do it for the sport So every day we go and camaraderie. out there, every wade Catch and release! has the potential of needing a tweak. I can cover a tremendous amount of water quickly by casting a heavy topwater during my search for them. Even if they are not willing to eat the surface plug, they will slap at it and swirl on it enough to let me know they are there.

At this point they are either crushing it or giving me a clear sign that I need to go subsurface with a Bass Assassin or MirrOdine for more hookups than air balls and misses.

Fish them smart and let them tell you how they want it!

Remember the buffalo!

-Capt David Rowsey

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WAYNE DAVIS

WAYNE’S Mansfield Report

Greetings from Port Mansfield! With July upon us we are staring summer’s heat dead in the face. No worries though, lots of fishing opportunities lie Port ahead, we just need to adjust our game plans and execute accordingly.

Mansfield Fishing has been good and thank goodness the fierce winds we have dealt with all spring have begun to diminish. I heard recently that April’s Captain Wayne Davis has wind was the third highest on record. been fishing the Lower That may be true but I cannot imagine Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes anything worse. in wade fishing with lures.

A big surprise recently has been the sudden increase in our flounder Telephone population. We have been averaging 210-287-3877 two and more flatties per trip working Email the flats for trout and reds, without captwayne@kwigglers.com even targeting them.

I wondered why the surge in the flounder population and what makes one year stellar and the other poor. I reached out to Dr. Greg Stunz Grinding the shallows over at Harte Research Institute and posed that on a windy day was very question. Without getting into the weeds, the key to Ron Roader connecting with this generally speaking, flounder do better during fine specimen. cold winters, the colder the better. We should note the last two winters (especially 2021) got extremely cold and may have been contributing factors. The recent enactment of regulations that closed the fishery during the spawning run between November 1 and December 14 may have contributed as well.

Summer is definitely fishing tournament season and nearly every coastal community will be hosting one or more events each weekend.

Looking back at where we were and how far the fishing community in general has evolved in the past few years, I tip my cap to the event organizers and promoters that have adopted more conservation-minded formats.

On that note, the 47th Annual Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament is being billed as a “Catch 22” in reference to the maximum length of two redfish and one flounder that each boat team can submit to the weigh team. Live weigh-in is strongly encouraged and being incentivized with 1/4-pound bonus per fish weighed alive. I will be participating again this year and you can bet I will be doing my best to weigh my team’s fish in the healthiest condition possible. I would like to invite all readers to come down and have a go at it. Talk about a level playing field, this is about the fairest and most challenging tournament format I have ever been involved in.

Back to fishing during summertime heat. I will be evaluating my outings and executing them with a four-pronged approach. One – Go 66 | July 2022

early. Two – Schedule your outings according to best solunar and tide days. Three – Fish weekdays whenever possible. Four – Consider fishing during late afternoon and evening. I will do my best to utilize at least two of the strategies mentioned for each trip the rest of summer, while giving the best solunar days highest priority. This does not always work based on folks’ schedules, but I believe if you follow these guidelines you can improve your odds for success.

Bait is plentiful throughout our bay system and we continue to have strong tide exchanges through the recently dredged East Cut. Our trout population is still in recovery mode and daily landings include a wide range of sizes, which is very encouraging. Elevated water temps have most mid-slot trout coming from deeper water with a few still showing shallow. I do not target the deeper bite trout based on my preferred fishing style, but reds are keeping me plenty busy with the occasional big trout as seen in the accompanying photo.

When winds are light my primary summertime target areas will be humps, spoil islands, and ledges. On breezy days I concentrate my efforts in back bays early in the day or close to the ICW. Floating grass is in play, meaning that single hooks on topwaters are not only suggested but required.

Mansfield Knockers continue to be steady producers when fish are feeding actively on the surface and can be worked almost effortlessly when paired with Fishing Tackle Unlimited’s G2 Green Rod Classic model.

I’m still a soft plastic guy at heart, with Willow Tails and the Wig-A-Lo worked just above grassbeds and fluttered through potholes being steady money on my charters.

I will be slipping away to Florida this month to attend ICAST where I’ll be checking out all the latest gear, swag, and everything under the sun fishing related. We also have the Hunters and Sportsman Expo in McAllen July 22-24. Swing by the KWigglers booth and check out the new items being presented.

Until next time, stay safe and be courteous on the water. Fresh Is Better Than Frozen!

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Wayne Says Support CCA and Catch and Release

THE NEW STANDARD FOR SALTWATER CASTING REELS HAS ARRIVED

TSFMAG.com | 67

CAPT. ERNEST CISNEROS

SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene

I remember vividly, it was 1996 and I temperature and major and minor solunar feeding periods. Of course, was in Mexico City, reputed to be the boat traffic also plays a significant role. Unlike redfish, trout are more second-largest city in the world at the sensitive to elevated water temps. During summer we focus our efforts time. The city was incredibly congested in depths of three to five feet and quite often along the edges of the Arr o y o and the traffic was horrible. It took me ICW. Tidal movements will also influence feeding activity, especially C ol o ra d o at least fifteen minutes to cross a main during early morning and late evening hours. One of the most t o Po rt boulevard intersection that was only recognizable signs of trout feeding activity is the appearance of slicks on I sa bel about fifty yards wide. That memory the surface that emit a distinctive sweet smell. got me thinking whether our fish are Trout will take topwaters this month but soft plastics worked low in about to experience something similar the water column are far more effective for me in July’s heat. The bite A Brownsville-area native, this month. along the ICW can be steady but the trout tend to be much smaller on Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Many families will be enjoying average. When targeting bigger trout, you may want to concentrate Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. and sharing the water this month. In your efforts on flats that contain potholes or slight to deeper dropErnest specializes in wading addition, it’s one of the most active offs. Remember that the deeper drop-offs are magnets for trout this and poled skiff adventures for months for fishing guides. Let’s not time of the year. snook, trout, and redfish. forget to mention that several fishing I continue to be impressed with our flounder catches, even without tournaments will be held every targeting them. The East Cut seems to be holding a good number Cell 956-266-6454 weekend. It will be a busy month! of flounder along the channel edges. The ICW alongside the shacks Website We’ve been finding small pockets south of Port Mansfield has produced good numbers, and the flats www.tightlinescharters.com of redfish, but that will soon change. with rolling elevations and sandy potholes have produced most of With the increase in boat traffic they our incidental catches. We are not seeing doormats, but surprising will definitely become more scattered and leerier. Trout will be found numbers of sixteen- to nineteen-inchers. Let’s hope their numbers deeper and near the ICW during peak fishing hours. A suggestion to continue to improve into the future. get on a good bite is to fish early morning or late in the evening when July is usually a month when we wish for a breeze to cool things boat traffic is the lowest. down. Another negative impact will be the amount of dead grass on July is also one of the hottest months. As I mentioned in previous the surface. We are already seeing it. Dead grass on the surface greatly articles, monitoring the water temperature is never more critical hinders the use of surface lures and sometimes even our soft plastics. to success. By midday, fish will have moved to deeper water where Add this to the elevated water temperatures, lower tide levels, and boat temperatures are cooler and then return to the shallows in the early traffic and we are facing a challenging month. evening and through the night to feed once again.

Again, I suggest fishing early in the morning and late in the day to get Tides will fall drastically, as they do every year. With lower tides better results and hopes of getting your line stretched often. The busy and elevated water temperatures, fishing deeper holes will pay good season has arrived; use precautions while boating and fishing. No fish is dividends, especially during the day’s hottest periods. worth the risk of endangering yourself or others. Best fishing!

Redfish catches David Gower also have been fair to good recorded his best and small schools can trout recently… still be targeted on another CPR! calmer days. Plastic baits fished low in the water column have been producing the most bites.

Locating redfish in July should be easier as the mornings are Silver Garcia notched his often slick-calm and personal best recently with their tell-tale wakes this 10.25-pounder…CPR! are more noticeable in shallow water. Getting them to bite can be challenging, though. All fish View The Video become very wary when the flats are calm, so downsizing your offerings Open Camera and hover over QR Code. When link makes sense. I’ve become a believer in attaching a short leader and a fly appears at top of screen tap to open in YouTube. to the rear hook of a small topwater under these conditions. Give it a try; Study the Moon for Better Fishing you might get a pleasant surprise.

During summer, trout feeding is heavily influenced by water 68 | July 2022

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FISHING REPORTS

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James looks forward to fishing by wading some in July, but also predicts a change over to fishing out of the boat quite a bit too. “We’re still catching fish pretty good by wading sandy areas around some of the reefs and spoil banks. Bite has been best some days on the little topwaters. I like to throw a pink/silver ShePup this time of year. On other days, we’re catching better on hard sinking twitch baits. Some days, the fish like ‘em wobbling some, but on others, the bite is better just reeling ‘em straight in, varying the speeds. And, of course, soft plastics like Assassin Sea Shads draw more strikes than all the others lures on some days. In the coming weeks, as the heat wave settles in, we’ll start working some of the well pads and other structures in deeper water, or with deeper water close by, fishing out of the boat.

We’ll key on slicks when doing that, and set the boat up in precise locations, so we can throw our lures in specific directions and work lures with the current in places close to the structures. Light winds and good tidal flow make this drill work best.”

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Jim recommends a variety of productive options for fishing eastern parts of Galveston Bay in July. “We’re able to fish quite a few patterns and catch fish this time of year. I don’t do it much, but some people like the surf, of course. The area just north of the North Jetty holds up well in fairly windy conditions, as long as the winds have no east in them. Out in the middle of both East and Trinity bays, all the reefs hold schools of trout and reds in the hot weather. Catching them often involves finding slicks and mud stirs. Sometimes, lots of mullet in an area and/or working gulls help too. The bite can be good on topwaters out there, especially on calmer days. We also catch plenty of fish in the bayous at times in summer, especially when it’s windy, and the water’s moving good through the holes. Tails work best in there, most of the time. Wading can be best, around drains or in stretches with relatively deep water close to the bank. If it’s windy enough, wading is almost always the only way to have much of a chance to catch fish.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Multiple species of bait on which predatory trout and redfish feed had arrived in Lower West Galveston Bay by the time Randall gave this report. “We should have consistent fishing by the middle of summer.

We’ve already got lots of shrimp, shad, glass minnows, ballyhoo, needlefish and ribbonfish in the area around San Luis Pass. And, of course, lots of mullet. When winds are calm in July, I spend plenty of time fishing the surf. In the mornings, topwaters like SkitterWalks, SheDogs, Super Spooks, One Knockers and others tend to work great.

Later in the mornings, we do better throwing old school 51 and 52M MirrOlures and other sinking lures. When the bite is toughest, small soft plastics like Norton Sand Eels rigged on three-eighths ounce jigheads produce best. In that situation, we do best when we’re working the lures fast, and with frequent starts and stops. The erratic actions seems to stir reaction strikes better than more conventional retrieve styles. One of the keys this time of year is to stay in areas holding copious amounts of bait. Diving terns and pelicans, hovering gulls and swimming and 70 | July 2022

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

diving cormorants often lead us to those places.”

Matagorda | Bay Guide Service Charlie Paradoski – 713.725.2401 Catching fish in the Matagorda area is not always dependent on having good weather, but in summer, lighter winds help, when most of the fish move out into the middle of the bays. “Wading has not been up to par on the south shoreline of West Bay lately. Normally, in summer, we do great over there catching plenty of keeper trout and lots of slot reds in the coves and around the bars. Lately, more fish have been hanging out around the reefs in deep water, and we’re doing well out there, when winds allow us to get at the fish. Over in East Bay, the fishing has been good for waders on some days, in shallow areas in the east end of the bay. But, like in West Bay, the fishing has been consistently better in areas around the main reefs, where scattered shell covers a muddy bottom. Birds are working in some places, and there’s lots of mullet too. We have our eyes on the surf right now. Normally, after a windy spring like we’ve had, the surf will bust wide open once winds subside. In lots of years, this happens right around the 4th of July, or shortly after.”

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 We’re already fishing as though it’s summer, leaving the dock early and coming in before it gets too hot. Fishing for redfish has dominated the scene lately, because it’s been so good! We’ve been catching them around reefs and drains, using live shrimp rigged about a foot under popping corks. In some of the areas, we’re also finding good numbers of black drum averaging about 16 inches while we’re targeting the reds. These provide some of the best table fare in the bays. Trout fishing has been slower because the steady winds have not allowed us to get out to the deep structures and target them on a consistent basis. This is both bad and good. In the near future, when the winds finally die down, we should have a great trout run for a while, since the fish have been left alone for so long. The tripletail have started to show up; we’ve already caught a few in the 10 to 12-pound class on markers over close to Port O’Connor, using live shrimp rigged about four feet under popping corks. In July, the fishing should get better in a variety of places, including the surf, the wells and reefs in deep water.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 Lynn likes to fish shallow, sandy, grassy flats close to deep water, where tides move with good intensity during the heat of summer.

“We’ve got good areas close to the pass and the jetties which hold lots of trout this time of year. Usually, fishing is best early in the mornings, when the tide’s coming in. We throw topwaters a lot this time of year, especially early, and when we’re seeing lots of mullet flipping around on the surface, and jumping. We also catch well on topwaters on outgoing tides at any time of the day, around the mouths of the lakes and drains dumping water into the bays. Lately, the birds have been working in the areas around the pass, mostly over school trout. We’ve also got lots of gafftops under some of the flocks. We’re catching good numbers of trout running about 17 to 23 inches while the birds are working, throwing at rafts of mullets in the same general areas. We will

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be hitting the surf as much as we can in the coming weeks. Catching the medium-sized trout out there on topwaters in the shallow guts close to the beach is usually steady when winds are light.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake plans to fish in a variety of ways and in quite a few different kinds of places in July. “This is a great month to fish the surf, when winds cooperate. Out along the beachfront, we usually do well throwing topwaters like black/silver Baby SkitterWalks in the shallow parts close to the sand early. Later, live bait and sinking lures work better in the deeper guts. That’s true for fishing along sandy, grassy shorelines too. We do pretty good on some days early in the mornings throwing topwaters, then switch over to the dark Norton Sand Eels with chartreuse tails later. And, we use live bait on the tougher days, always wading, if we can. All of the mid-bay reefs have excellent potential this time of year too, on some of the same days when the surf is good, meaning when it’s not windy. Whether on a reef, or along a shoreline, we normally stay closer to the shallow parts early and then work the drop offs later. If the wind is blowing at a shoreline, catching fish in the shallows with some steady wave action is often better in the heat of the day than on leeward shorelines.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 When the wind isn’t blowing too hard, the water in the ULM and Baffin Bay is in great shape lately. Even when it’s windy, we have quite a few areas available with decent water clarity. For the last three months, we’ve had excellent fishing, and I expect it to continue through July.

With the warm water temperatures, the trout and redfish will favor water less than two feet deep early in the mornings, then move into deeper water as the sun rises higher in the sky. This is a good time of year to throw MirrOlure SheDogs early in the days, along grass lines, around sandy potholes in the grass and around rocks in shallow water.

If the trout are blowing up but not sticking, switching over to Bass Assassin Die Dappers in colors like sand trout, opening night and chicken on a chain often works better. Rig them on sixteenth-ounce jigheads when fishing in the shallows. Inevitably, the best catching occurs in places with lots of flipping mullet and popping slicks. Once the trout bite dies down, we’re having great luck catching both red and black drum on shrimp-flavored Fish-bites cast into water less than a foot deep around sandy potholes on grassy flats.

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230 In July, when the heat wave starts up in earnest, one pattern consistently provides the best results for anglers fishing the Baffin/ ULM complex, according to Joe. “We have lots of redfish schooling on the grassy flats early in the mornings this time of year. This happens in places close to the JFK, also on the east side of the lagoon, in Nighthawk Bay, The Meadows and around Baldy, in Yarbrough, also in the Gutters and Middle Grounds and Nine-Mile Hole. When in the shallows early, these schools are often easy to find, because they push wakes and send nervous baitfish and shrimp scattering away from them. Later in the mornings, many of these fish will move off the shallow, grassy areas and roam around in the deeper basins adjacent to them. When this happens, anglers still wanting to connect with them do best by riding around slowly and looking for the dark red patches in the water. This works best when the water’s relatively clear, skies are bright, and the wind is blowing at a moderate level, to break up the glare on the water’s surface.

Whether targeting the schools in shallow or deeper water, the best bet is to stay out of the school and cast around its edges.”

72 | July 2022

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins 361-877-3583 | Oceanepics.com July in the Texas surf usually means calm winds, warm water and excellent trout fishing. Targeting trout usually works best early in the mornings and late in the afternoons. Catching muscular surf trout on topwaters provides plenty of excitement for most folks. Best action is usually around holes and cuts in the sandbars. Spoons and swimbaits work well at times too, as do live mullet, which also attract a variety of other fish. King mackerel and tarpon also roam the waters close to shore in summer. Both can be caught on fairly light gear, and both put up fun fights. This month also gives us a glimpse of what’s to follow, in terms of the migrations. Schools of dusky anchovies usually show up, followed by skipjacks and Spanish macks. Shark fishing is normally somewhat slow during the days, unless lots of baitballs are present, but big tigers and hammerheads come into the surf during the dark hours, and readily take both routhtail and southern stingrays presented whole. Both species of rays are abundant in the summer surf, giving birth to pups. Bigger baits generally get the attention of bigger sharks; adult tigers can consume rays weighing 100 pounds.

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 Now that the water has warmed up and winds have stopped blowing so hard on a regular basis, the fishing in the LLM for both trout and redfish should become more consistent. On the west shoreline, from Century Point down to Gladys Hole, the bite is usually good in the mornings, before the daily wind cranks up. Topwaters cast close to shore usually draw the attention of solid trout and reds up that way.

We’ve had great luck lately throwing Mansfield Knockers, rigged with single hooks. They work great to help us cope with the floating grass.

Most of our bite along that side comes in water ranging from about thigh-deep to waist-deep. Most of the fish hang around areas with some sandy potholes breaking up the grassy bottom. Occasionally, we also catch some bonus fish throwing off the break, into water too deep to wade. On the east side, fishing over the bright sandy bottom works well this time of year. Once the sun rises somewhat, it’s often possible to see cruising schools and pods of redfish, and catch them by sight-casting. Topwaters sometimes work well in this situation, but KWiggler paddle tails earn bites a bigger percentage of the time.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com – 956-639-1941 Catching has been best lately in water ranging from about three to five feet deep in the LLM, Aaron says. “We’ve mostly been fishing around sandbars and in channels near spoil islands. Our lure of choice has been a plum/chartreuse KWiggler Ball-tail rigged on a screwlock quarter-ounce jighead. Best retrieve has been slow, maintaining contact with the bottom, and using sharp twitches now and then to hop the lures up a little. The redfish have been prowling around on the shallow grassy flats in a foot or two of water early in the mornings, chasing finger mullet. We’ve had some blow ups on topwaters when we’re throwing them, but we’re hooking more fish on KWiggler Willow-tails in Mansfield Margarita rigged on sixteenth-ounce heads.

We’re working it fast to keep it just under the surface and under the floating grass, also to keep the line tight when we get a strike. On windy afternoons, the bite has been good under birds in shallow, dirty water. We’re catching both trout and reds in this situation. In the coming weeks, we expect the fish to move a bit deeper, and to bite best when tides are moving the water pretty good.”

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Many people have heard the cry “Save the whales,” but these massive creatures aren’t the only marine mammals at risk of disappearing. In fact, the smallest of the whales, the vaquita porpoise, is on the verge of extinction: just 10 individuals are estimated to remain in the world.

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Despite high genetic diversity, vaquita porpoises may still disappear due to illegal gillnet fishing. Credit: Alfokrads, CC BY-SA 4.0 Vaquita porpoises measure just 4 to 5 feet long and live only in the Gulf of California, the strip of water between the Baja Peninsula and mainland Mexico. With only about 10 individuals left, biologists didn’t know what their chances of survival were, especially if inbreeding could endanger their survival. But a study published in May revealed good news. Scientists analyzed the genomes—the complete genetic code— of 20 vaquita porpoises that lived between 1985 and 2017. The findings suggest the species has an excellent chance not only of surviving, but of fully recovering as a population, at least in terms of their health and genetic diversity. Of the dozen marine mammal species whose genomes were analyzed, vaquita porpoises had the fewest possibly harmful mutations—encouraging news for future breeding.

Less optimistically, though, the only way vaquita porpoises can survive is if officials adequately enforce bans against gillnet fishing. Gillnets are long nets that resemble a tennis net, with holes large enough for fish’s heads to fit through, but not their bodies. When fish get their heads caught and try to back out, their gills get caught in the net. Poachers still use gillnets, even though Mexico has outlawed gillnet use. Vaquita easily become tangled in gillnets and drown. If gillnet bans are enforced, the vaquita porpoise has a far better chance of seeing the next decade.

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute TSFMAG.com | 73

Ava Wukasch Matagorda - 22” first keeper red!

Vicente Easley Port Aransas - 24” first redfish!

Jetson Shive first redfish!

74 | July 2022

Kevin Miller Landcut - 24.75” 6.9 lb flounder

Israel Gomez 25.5” trout CPR

Madix Caden-Avery Diaz San Leon - 23” black drum

Stephanie Dobos Gulf of Mexico - wahoo

Eddie Garcia Laguna Madre - 28” redfish CPR

Brendan Gonzales East Galveston Bay - 31” redfish

Christopher Casillas Estes Flats - 24” redfish

Karter Hare POC - 28” redfish

Tracy Smith San Luis Pass - redfish

Samantha Harris Matagorda - 65” bull shark CPR

Harrison Lee Matagorda - surf trout CPR

Photo Gallery Guidelines First come – first published!

Photos are judged on artistic merit and sporting ethic displayed.

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

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

Kerry Jackson Channelview - 28” redfish

Kim Anderson Galveston - 27.25” trout CPR TSFMAG.com | 75

PAM JOHNSON

Gulf Coast

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

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

Shrimp Maque Choux INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 cups whole kernel corn – fresh is best, frozen or canned 1 large red bell pepper, chopped 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 3/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1/2 Tbsp Zatarain’s® Concentrated Shrimp & Crab Boil, for spicier flavor use 1 Tbsp 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/2 tsp Zatarain’s® New Orleans Style Creole Seasoning

76 | July 2022

Pronounced, “mock shoe.” This is an easy-to-make Cajun recipe that is sure to please with the blend of shrimp, heavy cream, and corn flavors. Great as main course or a side dish with any seafood dinner.

PREPARATION For the Maque Choux, melt butter in large skillet on mediumhigh heat. Add shrimp, corn, bell pepper and garlic; cook and stir until shrimp turn pink. Stir in cream, lemon juice and crab boil.

Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir 2 minutes or until heated through. Stir in green onions and 1/2 teaspoon Creole Seasoning.

Yield: 4 entrees or 6 side servings

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CHRIS MAPP

R E PA I R & M A I N T E N A N C E

SERVICING YOUR BOAT & OUTBOARD… MORE CRITICAL NOW THAN EVER In today’s marketplace there are many basic parts, including many outboard engines of various Chris Mapp, owner of horsepower ranges, that are almost Coastal Bend Marine and Flats Cat Boat Company. impossible to get right now. We Great Service, Parts & Sales. have many Suzuki and Mercury “What can we do for you?” engines in stock, yet not the full scope we normally enjoy. The best way to avoid most repairs and parts delays is the professional once a year annual service and some self-service.

Washing the boat and flushing the engine with Salt Away or Salt Terminator quickly removes salt. Using Corrosion X Green on exterior steel parts and Corrosion X Red for steering and all other electrical circuits and connections is a must. PRI-G fuel additive should be run in every tank, it Badly corroded trim and helps the engine’s economy and also reduces tilt motor casing; regular carbon build up. Woody’s Wax is the best at application of CorrosionX aluminum protection. We stock the full line of would have prevented this.

these products.

The accompanying pics of a Mercury tilt and trim motor and a powerhead are the results where salt has destroyed both aluminum and steel because of corrosion. Avoid costly repairs by self-servicing and seeing your dealer for annual maintenance visits.

Thank you and have a safe summer Chris Mapp

Coastal Bend Marine | Port O’Connor, TX 361-983-4841 | coastalbendmaring.com Damage to power head caused by inadequate flushing of engine after use in salt water.

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78 | July 2022

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

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